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      Election headache for Rishi Sunak as UK population grows by 685,000 in past year

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      Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailThe UK’s population grew by 685,000 people in 2023, a drop from record high net migration in 2022, official estimates show. The latest figures, published a day after Rishi Sunak called a surprise general election on July 4th, will feed the debate about immigration – a key campaign battleground. The Office for National Statistics said that it was too early to tell if the 10 per cent drop in net migration year-on-year was the start of a permanent trend, but pointed to signs that fewer people are applying to come to the UK on health care worker and student visas. Net migration to the UK hit a record 764,000 in 2022. Despite the provisional 2023 figures representing a 10 per cent drop year-on-year, they are still historically high.The 2023 figures mark the third year running that overall net migration has exceeded the pre-Brexit, pre-Covid levels of roughly 200,000 to 300,000. Migration experts at the University of Oxford said that the small drop from 2022 was fuelled by lower immigration on humanitarian visas, such as Ukrainians and Hong Kongers, and fewer non-EU students. Rishi Sunak has pledged to bring down net migration to the UK More

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      Watch again as Rishi Sunak kicks off Tory general election campaign in Derbyshire

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      For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsWatch again as Rishi Sunak kicked off Tory general election campaign in Derbyshire on Tursday (23 May).Mr Sunak began the first full day of the general election campaign with a visit to a distribution centre in Derbyshire to answer questions from staff.Speaking to around 50 staff at the warehouse, the prime minister repeated his message that the Conservatives would offer economic stability and “a clear plan”, while Labour would take the UK “back to square one”.After the astonishing announcement on Wednesday, political parties have wasted no time in launching their campaigns.Mr Sunak kicked things off touring broadcast studios this morning before visiting all four nations in the UK in two days. During an interview on BBC Breakfast, he announced Rwanda flights won’t take off before the July general election, insisting they will go “if I am re-elected”.Sir Keir Starmer is also officially launching Labour’s campaign and is heading to the south east of England to turn around key Conservative seats. More

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      Man in hi-vis jacket who questioned Rishi Sunak is Tory councillor asked to attend event

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      Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA man who questioned Rishi Sunak wearing a hi-vis jacket in a warehouse is a Tory councillor asked to attend the event. The prime minister kicked off a two-day trip around the UK with a visit to a distribution centre in Derbyshire to talk to staff.Speaking to around 50 people, he was asked about his flagship plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. He was told that the “biggest issue is going to be immigration over this election campaign” before he was asked whether “your Rwanda plan is going to see results and stop the small boats coming?”Broadcasters showed Prime Minister thanking the man for his “important question.”Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes part in a Q&A with workers during a visit to West William Distribution in Ilkeston, Derbyshire More

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      ‘Things can only get wetter’: The best Rishi Sunak memes as PM is drowned out during election speech

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      Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailNot another one! Rishi Sunak’s big election announcement was something of a washout as the prime minister swapped the £2.6 million Downing Street press briefing room for the Great British Outdoors. Standing outside No 10, Labour’s 1997 theme Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream was blasted from Tory arch nemesis Steve Bray’s amplifier – sheltering under the dignity of an EU umbrella.As the first verse kicks in and the penny drops as to what is about to happen, Mr Sunak tries to raise his voice to boast of his inflation achievements.He said: “For some it may still be hard to look at your bank balance… but this is only the beginning.”Of course social media users leapt on the moment and with a general election, Euro 2024, Glastonbury and Love Island coming up, the memes are going to be in full flow this summer.Here are some of the best jokes, memes and quips so far.Conservative peer and former party chairwoman Baroness Warsi tweeted a photograph of a drenched Rishi Sunak, saying: “Drowned and out.“Not good look to kick off a #GeneralElection campaign.”The general election represents a chance to change the country for the better, Sir Keir Starmer said.Labour insiders are reportedly aghast the Conservatives allowed Rishi Sunak to announce the election in those conditions.Responding to the announcement of an election, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Tonight, the Prime Minister has finally announced the next General Election, a moment the country needs and has been waiting for and where, by the force of our democracy, power returns to you.“A chance to change for the better your future, your community, your country.“It will feel like a long campaign, I am sure of that, but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about.” More

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      Sunak takes election question from ‘voter’ who turns out to be Conservative councillor

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      Rishi Sunak took a question from an audience member at a campaign event in Derbyshire this morning – who turned out to be a Conservative councillor.The prime minister was speaking at a McVitie’s warehouse when he called upon someone who appeared to be a member of the public, dressed in a high-vis jacket.Ross Hills, Leicestershire County Councillor for Mallory, then asked the PM about his Rwanda bill.Mr Sunak thanked Mr Hills for asking an “important question.”A Tory source told The Independent: “We do not control who asks questions – anyone can try and ask one.”Mr Hills’s office has been contacted for comment. More

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      Rishi Sunak admits no Rwanda deportation flights will take off before election

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      Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has admitted there will be no Rwanda deportation flights before the general election.The morning after calling a snap contest on 4 July, the prime minister said asylum seekers will be deported to the east African nation only “if I am re-elected”.Pressed repeatedly on whether any deportation flights would take off before voters go to the polls, Mr Sunak repeatedly said the scheme would only get up and running after the election.Rishi Sunak has promised to get Rwanda flights in the air by the second week of July More

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      Senior Tory MP won’t cancel holiday for general election campaign: ‘I’m going stick to my plans’

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      Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA senior Conservative MP has said he won’t cancel his holiday plans for his party’s general election campaign despite admitting he will likely lose his seat.Steve Baker, MP for Wycombe, said he would stick to his plans after admitting he was widely expected to lose his seat in July.Prime minister Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative Party’s general election campaign in London on Wednesday, with the country set to head to the polls on 4 July.Follow live updates hereWhen challenged by LBC if he would be putting his plans on hold, Mr Baker said: “I’m not going to announce any of my plans, but I can tell you I’m going to keep to my plans. Steve Baker said he would be sticking to his holiday plans despite admitting it was likely he would lose his seat in July More

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      Protesters who drowned out Sunak’s speech with Labour song unmasked

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      Those responsible for blasting New Labour’s 1997 anthem “Things Can Only Get Better” as Rishi Sunak made his general election annnouncement on Wednesday, 22 May, have been unmasked.Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray posted footage of himself and a group of people gathered round a speaker outside Downing Street as it played the D:Ream track while the prime minister spoke.Mr Sunak was drenched in the rain as he spoke over the music, confirming he had spoken with King Charles III to request the dissolution of parliament for the general election to be held on 4 July 2024. More