Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have reportedly agreed to take part in a televised debate for the first time since the election campaign kicked off.
The Tory and Labour leaders are expected to go head to head on ITV next week, with the exact date yet to be confirmed.
It comes as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out a summer budget if she gets into No 11 during a major campaign speech in Derby.
Attacking the Tories disastrous mini-budget, she said they are “singing from the same songbook” as Liz Truss and promised Labour won’t make unfunded spending commitments if elected.
In response to her remarks, Rishi Sunak claimed it would cost £2,000 to every household to pay for Sir Keir Starmer pledges.
Addressing voters in Stoke-on-Trent, the prime minister unveiled new plans for pensioners in a bid to boost their incomes with a “triple lock plus” pledge if elected.
Breaking: Angela Rayner to face no further action following investigation
The police probe into Angela Rayner’s tax and property affairs has now concluded following months of speculation.
According to reports, Greater Manchester police is expected to take no further action against the Labour deputy leader.
Is Labour trying to rig election system with plans for votes at 16?
Keir Starmer says he will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to have the vote, leading to claims by Tory MPs that he wants to ‘rig future elections’.
Rishi Sunak plays bowls during election campaign
The prime minister was visiting a bowling green in Leicestershire as part of his national campaign tour.
Speaking to the press, Mr Sunak said that “the penny is dropping across Europe” that the Rwanda scheme is the right approach to immigration.
Attacking Labour, he said Sir Keir Starmer is going to turn the UK into the “soft touch of Europe”.
Rachel Reeves recalls how mother’s upbringing influenced Labour economic policies
Rachel Reeves recalls how mother’s upbringing influenced Labour economic policies
Rachel Reeves recalled how her mother’s attitude to finances has inspired her economic policies in a major general election campaign speech on Tuesday, 28 May. The shadow chancellor described how her mother would sit at the kitchen table “combing over, line by line, her bank statements and her receipts. “Every penny mattered… The basic test for whoever is chancellor is to bring that attitude to the public finances.” Speaking from a Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, Ms Reeves said Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are “singing from the same songbook” as Liz Truss.
Cameron says Israeli bombardment on Gaza’s Rafah ‘very concerning’
The foreign secretary said the Rafah massacre “really did look very, very concerning, very worrying, and so we’re asking for that to be investigated rapidly”.
He added: “The Israelis have already said it was a tragic mistake, but we want to see that properly investigated.”
Asked about whether he would recognise Palestine as a state, he said there should be a two-state solution.
He added: “Recognition of course will come, but it shouldn’t come at the start of this process. It doesn’t have to wait until right at the end, but it should be part of bringing about a two-state solution.”
Do you back Rishi Sunak’s plans for national service?
In his first major policy proposal since the general election was announced the prime minister insisted his plans for mandatory national service would help unite society.
The exact plans remain vague, but the party said young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year “volunteering,” in their community.
Labour frontbencher Liz Kendall accused the Conservatives of merely “asking young people to solve the problems in the NHS, the police and the armed services that the Tories themselves have created”.
Now we want to know what you think. Do you back Mr Sunak’s plans for national service?
Pictured: David Cameron campaigning in Manchester
Rwanda flights: Judge asks gov to confirm deportations date
A High Court judge has asked the government to confirm the date it plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The prime minister previously confirmed the flights will not take off before the July general election.
But Mr Justice Chamberlain said: “The timetable for this claim was set on the basis that removals to Rwanda would begin at the earliest on July 1 2024.
“The Government then changed its position, saying that removals could begin in the week commencing June 24 2024.
“Following the announcement of a General Election, the Prime Minister has said that removals will begin ‘in July’.
“That provides insufficient clarity for the purposes of timetabling this claim.”
Angela Rayner vows to recognise Palestine as a state if elected
During an event on Sunday, the deputy Labour leader told voters in Ashton-under-Lyne that Labour backs the ICC’s bid to arrest Netanyahu.
But Ms Rayner, who previously claimed she completely opposes a policy of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, said that she can’t promise a ceasefire.
She added: “I won’t say things I can’t do, but that’s a failure of the international community.
“Qatar, Saudi Arabia, all of these people, we are all working to stop what’s happening at the moment, we want to see that.”
She then told voters: “I promise you that’s what we want to see. If Labour get into power we will recognise Palestine.”
Comment | Sunak hopes TV debates can change his fortunes – they might just make matters worse
“Party loyalists disapproved of my suggestion that there was bound to be at least one episode of panic at Labour HQ before election day, because the opinion polls were likely to narrow, either as a result of random variation or of events.
“They can be pleased that it hasn’t happened yet. If there is a Labour wobble, it will now happen during the campaign itself.”
