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Labour MP John McDonnell has said Jeremy Corbyn would still have “a lot of very personal support” if he stood as an Independent in Islington North.Mr McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, said he is still hoping leader Sir Keir Starmer will have a “Damascene conversation” and allows Corbyn to run as a Labour candidate.Mr McDonnell made his comments on the ITV Peston show on Wednesday (22 May), just hours after prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a snap general election will take place on 4 July. More

Rishi Sunak calling a general election during Scotland’s summer school holidays shows “disrespect,” John Swinney has said.On Wednesday (22 May), the prime minister confirmed the date the public will go to the polls is 4 July.Schools in all but two of the 32 Scottish local authorities will be closed for the summer on that day, meaning it is likely some voters will be on holiday when the general election is held.”This is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a Conservative government, to call an election during the Scottish school holidays,” the First Minister told reporters. More

A Sky News reporter appeared to be kicked out of from Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party general election campaign launch event on Wednesday, 22 May.Footage broadcast live on the channel showed political correspondent Darren McCaffrey being led away by security staff.”We were told because there were pool arrangements in place, we’re not allowed to be here,” the journalist explained. Mr Sunak was holding a rally in London’s ExCel Centre after confirming 4 July as the election date.The Independent has contacted Mr Sunak’s office for comment. More

A Labour shadow minister has revealed he’ll be spending his wedding anniversary campaigning – as it falls on the date Rishi Sunak announced as the general election.The prime minister announced that the public will go to the polls on 4 July after months of speculation.Many in Westminster had expected the election to be held in October or November.Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, 22 May, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “I wasn’t planning to be in Dukinfield town hall getting my election count on that day.” More

Rishi Sunak has explained why he has chosen 4 July as the date for the general election.In an Instagram clip posted after he made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street, the prime ministerHe appeared to be dry after getting soaked at the lectern as he made his speech to the public.Speaking into the camera, Mr Sunak said though the public are “only just starting to feel the benefits” of Tory plans, “this hard won economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning.”And that’s why I’ve called an election.” More

Sir Keir Starmer set out three reasons he believed why the public should vote for Labour on 4 July as he responded to Rishi Sunak’s general election date announcement on Wednesday, 22 May.The opposition leader vowed that Labour would “stop the chaos” and deliver a “long-term plan to rebuild Britain,” declaring it was “time for change.”In a speech shortly after the prime minister confirmed the election date, Sir Keir described the vote as a chance to change the country “for the better”.Today’s announcement came after months of Mr Sunak hinting that the election would be in the “second half of the year.” More

Rishi Sunak has announced the general election will take place on Thursday 4 July.The prime minister fired the starting gun during a speech outside Downing Street on Wednesday 22 May, naming the summer polling date.He made the economy and combating the global security threats facing the UK the key elements of his first pitch to the nation, saying that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could not be trusted to lead the country through “uncertain” times.Following the snap election announcement, The Independent takes a look at some of the key takeaways from Mr Sunak’s speech. More

Sir Keir Starmer said it was time for “change” as he responded to Rishi Sunak’s snap general election announcement.The prime minister confirmed the public will go to the polls on Thursday 4 July – earlier than many in Westminster expected.Within minutes, Sir Keir shared a video on social media – captioning it with one word – “change”.“Britain is a great and proud country, but after 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore,” the Labour leader said.“The answer is not five more years of the Tories, they have failed… Britain deserves better than that.”He added that a “changed” Labour Party will “serve working people” and bring “economic stability”. More