Election 1) Sunak calls snap election for 4 July
“Rishi Sunak gambled on an early general election as he declared that “now is the moment for Britain to choose its future”. Taking his own cabinet by surprise, the prime minister announced that the country would go to the polls on July 4. He said that he was the man to protect Britain in “the most uncertain of times”, vowing never to “leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone”. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, promised “a politics that treads more lightly on people’s lives” as he argued that only a change of government could bring stability after 14 years of Conservative rule, when “nothing seems to work any more”… Sunak is trying to pull off a comeback unprecedented in modern political history against Labour’s 25-point lead.” – The Times
- Prime Minister kept date secret from all but a few trusted insiders – Daily Telegraph
- Inside the Cabinet debate where election decision was made – The Times
- Seemingly snap decision was secretly months in planning – Daily Mail
- How Sunak shocked Westminster with a snap general election – FT
Analysis:
- What the polls say ahead of election… it’s not good news for Sunak – Daily Telegraph
- Sunak faces a desperate defence of Tory seats in ‘Red Wall’ areas – Daily Mail
- Labour and the Tories gear up for a brutal fight – The Times
- Key battlegrounds to watch as Cabinet big beasts face showdown – The Sun
- Why is Sunak calling a general election now and what happens next? – The Guardian
- He had to go bold – Daily Telegraph
Sketches:
- Sunak’s message of hope drowned out – Patrick Kidd, The Times
- Things can only get wetter as Rishi’s big day proves a washout – Madeline Grant, Daily Telegraph
- Cringing in the rain – John Crace, The Guardian
Yesterday:
Election 2) Tory MPs ‘launch plot’ to oust him and revoke snap election
“Tory rebel MPs are submitting letters of no confidence in Rishi Sunak, in a desperate attempt to prevent the snap general election. According to the report by GB News’ political editor, one senior Tory MP has warned that today’s announcement is “not irrevocable”, and suggested there is still time to launch a coup to oust Rishi Sunak. Earlier today it was reported Tory MPs were indeed submitting letters of no confidence to the 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, before Mr Sunak’s Downing Street announcement. Asked about the report, a Tory rebel source confirmed that the analysis is legally true, but it’s up to MPs as to whether they detonate a political bomb underneath No. 10… A 1922 Committee source told the Express the plan is “lunacy and unpractical”.” – Daily Express
- Backbenchers saying early poll date is a ‘death wish’ – Daily Mail
- Sky News forcibly dragged out of Conservative lection campaign event – Daily Express
- Prime Minister accused of ‘condemning the Tory party to oblivion’ – Daily Mail
- Johnson speaks out minutes after Sunak calls election – Daily Express
More:
- Soaked Sunak joins list of most cringeworthy political photo-ops – Daily Mail
- Just when we were looking forward to some sunshine, Rishi calls a bloody election… – The Sun
- Wages, the NHS and migration: the Tories’ record in charts – FT
- Seven key issues which will dominate the contest – The Sun
- What effect will the timing have on voters? – The Guardian
- ‘Sunak surely cannot believe the Tories can win an election’ – Writers’ Verdicts, The Times
Analysis:
- Election call means Prime Minister thought the worst was yet to come – Jessica Elgot, The Guardian
>Today:
>Yesterday: Daniel Hannan’s column: The Cold War may be over, but NatCons and FreeCons still need each other
Election 3) Could Reform UK’s refusal to stand down candidates help deliver election victory to Labour?
“Reform UK’s refusal to stand down candidates could help deliver victory to Sir Keir Starmer in the General Election. Richard Tice, who inherited the leadership of the insurgent party from Nigel Farage, hopes to stand a candidate in every seat. He has repeatedly ruled out reaching any ‘deals’ with the Tories, saying the Conservative Party ‘has to be punished for what it’s done to this country’. And last night he again indicated that he would not stand down his candidates, including recent recruit former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson, saying it was only his party ‘that can now save Britain’… But many Tories fear Reform could put a real dent in Rishi Sunak’s hopes of a return to Downing Street come the election.” – Daily Mail
- Farage breaks silence on election plan with four-word statement – Daily Express
- He warns he could still join election battle – Daily Express
Election 4) Starmer will make UK ‘magnet for every illegal immigrant in Europe’, says Sunak…
“Labour would make Britain “a magnet for every illegal immigrant in Europe”, Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday as he launched the Tory election campaign. The Prime Minister attacked Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on border controls as he addressed a crowd of around 100 Conservative MPs and activists in East London. As senior members of the Cabinet watched on he unveiled a new slogan – Clear Plan, Bold Action, Secure Future – on which his party will fight the July 4 poll. Mr Sunak used the event at the Excel Centre, near London City Airport, to launch a series of attacks on Labour’s proposals as he looks to overturn a 20-point deficit. He reserved his most stinging assault for Sir Keir’s position on immigration, demonstrating how the Tories see the issue as a clear election dividing line.” – Daily Telegraph
- Labour fears complacency will cost them a majority at the election – Daily Mail
- It could struggle to hold on to seats with high Muslim populations due to Gaza conflict, insiders have warned – Daily Mail
Election 5) …as Labour leader promises change and an end to Tory ‘chaos’
“Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he had changed his party and now wanted to change the country and “return Britain to the service of working people”. In a statement moments after Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a July 4 general election, Starmer promised a break from the “chaotic” Tory governments of recent years. Rivers were full of sewage, mortgages and food prices had gone “through the roof”, the NHS was struggling and borders were insecure, he said. “We will stop the chaos,” added Starmer. “A vote for Labour is a vote for stability — economic and political.” The mood in Starmer’s office was described as “cool, calm and collected” as he waited for Sunak to pull the trigger on the contest he has been preparing for ever since he became Labour leader in 2020.” – FT
- He says country’s problems were a ‘direct result’ of the Tory chaos in Westminster – The Sun
- Starmer used the word ‘change’ eight times in his 610-word address – Daily Mail
- Labour leader expected to make it to No 10 despite his low personal popularity – The Guardian
More:
- We must tax meat to force Brits into vegan lifestyle, Labour donor claims – The Sun
Comment:
- Starmer isn’t ready for this fight – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
- Brits who must now choose who to vote for might finally begin to scrutinise Labour – Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun
- Voters must now face up to the reality of a Labour government – Lord Frost, Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Alex Thomas in Comment: Truss would have had much better odds of seeing through her plans if she’d trusted the ‘deep state’
Election 6) SNP will be ‘in despair’ at early election during Scottish school holidays
“SNP MPs will be “on their knees” despairing at the prospect of a July 4 general election, Labour and Tory strategists have said as they dismissed complaints about it being held in the midst of Scotland’s summer holidays… But the Tories and Labour rejected complaints that the Prime Minister’s choice of date disrespected Scotland, predicting it would not damage turnout as those away on holiday could apply for postal votes. They welcomed the prospect of a summer election, saying they were “ready to go” with their candidates, target seats, messaging and financing in place. In contrast, they said the SNP is in disarray and has little funding for a campaign, with a poll this week showing the Nationalists could win only 11 seats compared with 48 in the 2019 election.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Lee Reynolds in Comment: Minister’s cannot wash their hands of the Prime Minister’s Windsor Framework
Election 7) Henry Hill: Tory MPs didn’t expect a July poll – and now they are rightly furious
“Having taken a lot of heat from ministers and backbench MPs for ignoring the armed forces in March, Downing Street suddenly announced to great fanfare a boost to defence spending. It seemed rushed – the Treasury’s interpretations of the figures didn’t even line up – but the timing was also odd. If the government was planning a pre-election fiscal event, that would surely be the time to try to wrongfoot Labour with more cash for the troops. Why take all the flak, and then launch it two months’ later? On the organisational side, there remain about 150 constituencies where no Conservative candidate has been selected – not the conduct of a party secretly putting itself on a war footing. By last week, the evidence was there for those (not I) with the courage to call it.” – The Guardian
- Four reasons why Sunak has gambled on July – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
- A last gamble for a prime minister who has run out of road – Robert Shrimsley, FT
- Sunak had better be an extraordinary campaigner – Sir John Curtice, The Times
- People will vote for change at the election… then go ‘what have I done’ – Rod Liddle, The Sun
- For Sunak and the UK economy, this might be as good as it gets – Larry Elliott, The Guardian
- There are just 1,000 hours to save Britain – Allister Heath, Daily Telegraph
- This is about Sunak taking control and fighting his case head on – Sarah Vine, Daily Mail
Editorial:
- It’s a simple choice: Sunak or Starmer – Daily Telegraph
- An end to Britain’s uncertainty and drift – FT
- Sunak never struck us as a gambler but his snap election is an almighty punt – The Sun
- Battle commenced – The Times
- Sunak is the right man for Britain and he deserves our support – Daily Express
NatWest share sale thrown into doubt
“Government plans to launch a mass sale of NatWest shares to the public have been thrown into doubt by an earlier than expected general election. Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, on Wednesday called an election for July 4, kicking off a period of “heightened sensitivity”, during which the government and civil servants must exercise caution about making decisions that could affect the election campaign. The move is likely to prevent the Treasury from launching a highly anticipated retail share sale of the government-backed bank, which was rescued by the last Labour government in a £46bn bailout at the height of the financial crisis. Jeremy Hunt had pledged to launch the mass campaign as early as this summer as part of a drive to create a “new generation of retail investors” ahead of an expected general election in the autumn.” – FT
- We’re returning Wylfa to its former glory to bolster our energy security – Andrew Bowie MP, Daily Express
>Yesterday: Wilfred Aspinall in Comment: Conservative councillors must have the confidence to establish Investment Zones
Met Police ‘seriously’ looking at prosecuting those responsible for Post Office scandal
“Post Office campaigner Alan Bates revealed last night the Metropolitan Police is looking “quite seriously” at prosecuting those responsible for the scandal as former CEO Paula Vennells broke down in tears recounting her role. Mr Bates said he met with “senior staff” at the Met today morning as the former Post Office boss began giving evidence to the packed Horizon IT inquiry. He revealed he was given “reassurances” by the police that senior executives involved in the scandal would be held “properly” to account… Mr Bates, 70, said he had “no sympathy” for Ms Vennells after she twice broke down in tears while giving evidence and dismissed her account as “figure-skating on the head of a pin”. He added that Ms Vennells’ repeated and fulsome apologies during her evidence were “just words”.” – Daily Express
- Vennells denies Post Office conspired to hide Horizon flaws – FT
- Tearful ex-executive blames senior colleagues for hiding truth – The Times
- She breaks down as she tells Post Office inquiry she was misled – The Guardian
More:
- Grenfell victims could wait ten years for justice, Met admits – The Times
- CPS admits charges won’t be brought before the end of 2026 – Daily Mail
Sketch:
- Silence more damning than chorus of disapproval – Patrick Kidd, The Times
Comment:
- Horizon, maternity, infected blood… what other scandals await corrupt Britain? – Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph
- Asking police chiefs to slash arrests is not the answer to overcrowded prisons – Esther Krakue, Daily Express
- How a Labour MP became a right-wing figurehead, and enabled the clampdown on protest – Andy Beckett, The Guardian
>Yesterday:
MPs 1) Mackinlay gets ovation in Commons after sepsis
“The Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay received a standing ovation as he returned to the House of Commons for the first time since losing all his limbs to sepsis. His wife, Kati, and Olivia, their four-year-old daughter who turns five on Thursday, watched from the public gallery as the Conservative MP for South Thanet, 57, joined his peers for the first time since September in time for prime minister’s questions. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, welcomed Mackinlay’s return, prompting more cheers from MPs. The Speaker described Mackinlay as “the man of the moment”. As MPs broke out again in applause, Hoyle joked that it was the only time he would “allow clapping” in the chamber. Rishi Sunak said he was “in awe” of Mackinlay’s “incredible resilience” as he welcomed the MP back.” – The Times
- What is sepsis, who is at risk and how can it be treated? – The Guardian
Comment:
- Stalkers are hounding MPs out of parliament – James Kirkup, The Times
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Miraculous return of Mackinlay the Bionic MP steals the show
MPs 2) Grayling named top green MP by Conservative Environment Network
“To the surprise of many, the Conservative Environment Network named their favourite MP as… Chris Grayling. Despite not being renowned for his action on the environment, the former Cabinet minister was chosen as parliamentarian of the year by the network, which said it was honouring his efforts to tackle deforestation internationally and restore the UK’s vital wildlife habitats. His particular passion was hedgehogs, and he brought their plight to parliament’s attention on several occasions. He was made a hedgehog “species champion” in an initiative led by the RSPB. Grayling told the Guardian one of his proudest achievements was securing, from the backbenches, a planning clause that should help hedgehogs.” – The Guardian
News in Brief:
- A summer election is suicide for the Tories – The Spectator
- Why Conservatives are furious with Sunak – Rachel Cunliffe, New Statesman
- Come July, apathy will be the only winner – Brad Evans, UnHerd
- Infected blood and infected institutions – Ben Sixsmith, The Critic
- We’ll never reduce crime unless we address family breakdown – Tanika D’Souza, CapX
