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Faiza Shaheen has spoken out after Labour did not endorse her for the Chingford and Woodford Green seat in north east London.Reports suggested the economist would be suspended by the party after she allegedly liked a series of posts on X that downplayed antisemitism accusations.Ms Shaheen says she was informed of the decision shortly before appearing on Newsnight on Wednesday, 29 May.”They briefed the press before they even had the decency to call me… I’m so shocked right now,” she added.A Labour spokesperson told The Independent: “The NEC has not endorsed Faiza Shaheen as candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green. She will not be the Labour candidate.” More

Jeremy Hunt was confronted over the Conservatives’ increases to VAT over the years during a live interview with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, 30 May.It came as the Tories and Labour ruled out hikes if either party wins the general election.“I am not pretending that there haven’t been times when Conservative governments haven’t put up taxes,” Mr Hunt said.Margaret Thatcher’s government increased VAT from 8 per cent to 15 per cent in 1979.It was then increased to 17.5 per cent, remaining at this figure until Labour lowered it to 15 per cent in December 2008, before raising it to 17.5 per cent a year later. More

Jeremy Corbyn declared “democracy has been denied” as he launched his campaign to be re-elected as the independent MP for Islington North on Wednesday night (29 May).The former Labour leader was suspended by the party in 2020 for refusing to fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s findings that the party broke equality law when he was in charge.“Islington North Labour members were denied any vote to decide who their MP is or who their candidate is,” Mr Corbyn said, before revealing that he had sent a message of support to Diane Abbott amid uncertainty over whether she will be able to stand as a candidate for Labour. More

Nigel Farage claimed people “loathe” the Tories and a Labour general election victory is “a forgone conclusion”.The honorary president of Reform UK said that even if his party stood aside, their voters would never go back to the Conservatives, making a Labour election victory a forgone conclusion.Appearing on the ITV Peston show on Wednesday (29 May), he said: “We can all pretend there might be a contest, but there won’t. It is over. “These people loathe the Conservatives. It is done.” More

A Conservative MP downed a pint of beer as he explained what his party’s national service pledge entails.Jake Berry, Tory MP for Rossendale and Darwen posted his “One Pint. One Policy” video on X on Wednesday (29 May), as he gave further details about the scheme his party plans to introduce if they win the general election.Mr Berry explains: “Everyone’s been asking me about this national service, so in one pint I’m going to explain to you how it works.”The Tory MP adds: “Being British isn’t just about what we can take from our country but what we can put back into it.”Mr Berry then says “Cheers” and proceeds to drink his pint in one go. More

Labour has not taken any decision to bar Diane Abbott from standing for the Labour Party.Taking questions from broadcasters on Wednesday (29 May), Sir Keir Starmer said it is “not true” that the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, who was suspended in April 2023 for comments she made about racism faced by Jewish and Traveller communities, is barred from standing as a Labour candidate again.He said: “No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott. The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she’s a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party and no decision has been taken barring her.” More

Wes Streeting refused to say why Diane Abbott has been barred from standing for Labour in the general election, but former Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke had been allowed to join the party.Ms Abbott today (29 May) claimed that the Labour Party will ban her from standing as a candidate at the upcoming general election on 4 July.Mr Streeting was asked about today’s events during an interview with Kay Burley on Sky News.Mr Streeting said: “At this general election, we want to welcome millions of people who have seen the chaos and incompetence of the Conservative Party and are looking for change with Labour.” More

Rishi Sunak served up bacon and sausage breakfast sandwiches as he arrived in Cornwall for the Conservative Party’s general election campaign.The prime minister took the overnight sleeper train from London Paddington on Tuesday (28 May) to embark on a day of campaigning in the southwest of England.Mr Sunak spoke with staff at a seafront cafe after disembarking from a train, describing his sleeper train journey as “jolly”.The prime minister also asked journalists which sandwich they would prefer, bacon or sausage, leading one to reply: “Bacon, prime minister.” More