Sir Keir Starmer has dodged questions about Diane Abbott as he launched Labour’s battle bus in west London.
The Labour leader was asked about saying she could stand – after an intervention by his deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, who said Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand, in a break with her party leader.
But at the launch, refusing to be dragged into the debate again, Sir Keir repeatedly claimed: “I dealt with this yesterday”.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak attacked Sir Keir over the Diane Abbott row as he opened the Conservatives campaign bus launch in northeast England.
The Tory leader said: “Just see what’s happened over this Diane Abbott situation. And it confirms what we know about him: it’s that he doesn’t stick by anything he says, just constantly changes his mind.
“And it’s clear that Angela Rayner is in charge of the Labour Party and not him.”
Sunak says he ‘loves the merch’ as he arrives at Conservative busy campaign
The Conservative Party’s election campaign battle bus was emblazoned with the slogan “clear plan, bold action, secure future”.
Ahead of Rishi Sunak’s arrival for a stump speech, a soundtrack of indie and pop from the 2000s and 2010s played while Tory supporters held placards.
Songs included Mr Brightside by the Killers, and Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People, two US bands.
Tory candidates Jill Mortimer and Matt Vickers were present, as was housing minister Jacob Young, who introduced the Prime Minister.
“I love the merch,” Mr Sunak said to Ms Mortimer, who was wearing a navy polo shirt with the party logo which read “Jill Mortimer for Hartlepool”.
Tom Watling1 June 2024 13:15
Tories heading for election wipeout as new mega-poll suggests they could win just 66 seats
Tom Watling1 June 2024 13:00
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle says party made him ‘sacrificial lamb’ after suspension
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle says party made him ‘sacrificial lamb’
Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle says the party made him a “sacrificial lamb” after he was suspended following a complaint was made about his behaviour. The MP for Brighton Kemptown will not be able to stand as a candidate at the general election on 4 July. He has described the complaint as “vexatious and politically motivated.” “They could have allowed me to stand and investigated afterwards, like they will do with many complaints. There’s no accusation I’m a current danger to anyone or the campaign,” Mr Russell-Moyle told Politics Live on Friday, 31 May. “[Labour] would not have dealt with these complaints in this way if it was [Sir Keir Starmer].”
Tom Watling1 June 2024 12:45
Sunak attacks Labour proposals in speech at campaign bus launch
Rishi Sunak has attacked Labour’s proposals for getting people back to work, saying he is the only one “that’s actually got a plan”.
Speaking during a campaign stop in Redcar, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: “They might say a lot of things but the question is, ‘what are they actually going to do when it comes to people’s standard of living?”’
He went on to claim that Labour has “£2,000 worth of tax rises coming for every working family” and that “they’re not going to help anyone build any wealth or have security in retirement”.
“When it comes to getting people back to work, I set out a few weeks ago the most comprehensive set of reforms to our welfare system in an incredibly long time to get people off welfare and into work.
“And you know what, the Labour Party criticised me for those plans, didn’t support any of those plans.”
Tom Watling1 June 2024 12:24
D:Ream ban Labour from using their song ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ in election campaign
Tom Watling1 June 2024 12:15
Labour has a new song – but they won’t tell us what it is
Keir Starmer has revealed Labour has a new song as he said “we’re not in 1997” when asked about a snub from the pop group behind New Labour’s victory anthem Things Will Only Get Better.
D:Ream’s founding members said they would deny any request from Labour to use the track.
At Labour’s campaign bus launch in Uxbridge, Sir Keir told LBC: “Well, look, we’re not in 1997. We’re in 2024.
“The choice before the country is absolutely stark. We’ve had now 14 years of chaos and division. And if the Tories get back in there’s just going to be more of the same.
“We can turn the page, we can start anew rebuild our country with Labour. And we will have a song for that moment if we’re privileged enough to come in to serve.”
Tom Watling1 June 2024 12:00
Sunak unveils Conservative campaign bus
Rishi Sunak has unveiled the Conservative campaign bus in Teesside during his tour of the North East on Saturday.
In a speech in front of the blue coach, the Prime Minister sought to draw dividing lines with Labour.
He said the Tories are “the ones taking bold action, getting the planes off to Rwanda”, despite the Prime Minister confirming earlier in the campaign that no deportation flights are due to take off before the General Election on July 4.
Mr Sunak also attacked Sir Keir Starmer over the Diane Abbott row, after the Labour leader gave the veteran left-winger the green light to stand for the party as a candidate, following calls from his deputy to allow her to run.
The Tory leader said: “Just see what’s happened over this Diane Abbott situation. And it confirms what we know about him: it’s that he doesn’t stick by anything he says, just constantly changes his mind.
“And it’s clear that Angela Rayner is in charge of the Labour Party and not him.”
Tom Watling1 June 2024 11:42
We have some photos from Labour’s campaign launch in Uxbridge
Below, we have some of the latest photos dropping on the wires from Uxbridge, where Sir Keir Starmer, alongside deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, is launching the party’s battle bus tour.
Tom Watling1 June 2024 11:30
Starmer launches Labour’s campaign bus along with six key election promises
Tom Watling1 June 2024 11:12
Rishi Sunak and the truth about a ‘Canada 1993’ election wipeout
Tom Watling1 June 2024 11:00
