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Sir Keir Starmer has said growing up “working class” has inspired him to fight in the general election.The Labour leader shared a new video on his social media account on Thursday 23 May, reflecting on his childhood.“My dad was a toolmaker, he worked in a factory. My mum was a nurse, but she was also sadly very ill. She couldn’t work for very long. It was tough going at times,” Sir Keir says in the video.“One of the things that helps me in the cost of living crisis we’re going through now is knowing what it’s like.”Sir Keir added that he has been “fighting” all his life and that he is ready to fight for the UK as prime minister. More

Rishi Sunak has refused to commit to getting legislation for compensation payments for infected blood victims passed through.Speaking during an interview with ITV News on Thursday 23 May, the prime minister said he would do “everything in his power” to make sure legislation is passed, but admitted “parliamentary process” could be an issue.“It requires conversations with other parties across parliament, it’s governed by parliamentary procedures and I’m very hopeful we can get that sorted,” Mr Sunak said.The prime minister announced a surprise general election on Wednesday, saying the King had agreed to his request to dissolve parliament.A vote will be held on Thursday 4 July. More

Rishi Sunak has explained why he decided to announce the general election date of 4 July while stood in the pouring rain on Wednesday, 22 May.The prime minister chose to make a statement at the lectern in front of the Downing Street steps rather than in the media briefing room that cost the taxpayer £2.6m, getting drenched in the process.Speaking to LBC the following morning, Mr Sunak said that his belief in tradition was behind his decision.“When you’re making a statement of that magnitude… I believe in just doing it in the traditional way, come rain or shine,” he said. More

Rishi Sunak asked Welsh brewery staff if they were looking forward to football later this summer as a potential source of revenue, despite the national team not qualifying for the Euro 2024 tournament.The prime minister met voters at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery in Barry with Wales secretary David TC Davies and Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns.Mr Sunak, who is teetotal, discussed his party’s support for the sector during a brief campaign stop.His question about the football was met with a brief moment of silence before laughter erupted. More

A Labour MP has claimed the rising prices of groceries such as milk and butter shows the Conservative’s economic plan is not working.Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth discussed his thoughts on Rishi Sunak calling a snap general election when he appeared on Politics Live on Thursday (23 May).Mr Ashworth said: “Rishi Sunak has been telling us the plan is working, but people are worse off.“Two years ago if you go to Asda a 250g of butter was £1.48 and it’s now £2.40.“If you’re going to tell the public they’ve never had it so good, I think you’ll find that attitude jars with real-life experiences.” More

A Gillingham voter offered a brutal response when asked for her opinion on Rishi Sunak.The prime minister on Wednesday (22 May) announced a general election for Thursday 4 July, but it appears he has work to do to make an impression on some members of the public.“What do you think of Rishi Sunak?” ITV News deputy political editor Anushka Asthana asked one woman on the streets of Gillingham.“Who is he? Is he the local?” the voter responded, before being informed he is actually the PM.“Oh him. Yeah. He hasn’t been prime minister long enough for me to know his name,” she added. More

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

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