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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

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