Indy TV

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

ToryministerMark Harper was asked if his party “has a problem with young people” as he was grilled on the Conservative plans to bring back national service.The transport secretary was quizzed on his party’s plans by Victoria Derbyshire when he appeared on BBC Newsnight on Tuesday (28 May).Referring to the Consevative’s pledge to bring back national service, the extension of student loan repayment terms and rising rent costs, Ms Derbyshire asked: “Have the Tories got a problem with young people?”Mr Harper responded: “No, not at all.” More

The investigation process into Diane Abbott was “designed to humiliate” her, Tony Blair’s former director of political operations has said.John McTernan, who advised Blair from 2005 to 2007, said whoever is responsible for the investigation into Ms Abbott should “hang their heads in shame” when he was interviewed on Times Radio today (29 May).Ms Abbott has said that the Labour Party will ban her from standing as a candidate at the upcoming general election.The MP for Hackney North had the party whip restored on Tuesday after she was suspended last April over a letter she wrote in The Observer suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities. More

Bim Afolami defended Conservative Party smears of Angela Rayner after it was announced the police would be taking no further action over the house row.The deputy Labour leader had faced claims she may have broken electoral law and dodged council tax because of the way she and her then-husband used separate homes.Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council both confirmed on Tuesday (28 May) they would take no further action against the Ashton-under-Lyne MP.Economic secretary Mr Afolami was asked if he would like to apologise to Ms Rayner when he appeared on Sky News, telling presenter Sophie Ridge: “No, I’ve got nothing else to add.” More

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. More

Sir Ed Davey fell off a paddleboard into Lake Windermere as the Liberal Democrats hit the campaign trail on Tuesday, 28 May.The Liberal Democrat leader visited the Lake District to outline his proposals to hold the water industry to account.In the run-up to the general election, the party has unveiled plans to abolish Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, and introduce a new water regulator to tackle the sewage crisis.The party would also ban water CEO bonuses. More

Labour would not commit to a similar policy to the Conservatives’ “triple lock plus”, shadow business minister Jonathan Reynolds has said.Rishi Sunak has promised to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners, giving them a tax cut worth around £95 in 2025-26, rising to £275 in 2029-30.Mr Reynolds told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, 28 May: “We think it’s absolutely desperate.“The only reason the state pension is anywhere near the personal allowance is because the Conservative Party has frozen the personal allowance for so long… I’m not going to say what will happen in future budgets.” More