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Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPaula Vennells repeatedly burst into tears during her first appearance at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry as she mounted a desperate bid to salvage her reputation.The disgraced former boss of the Post Office offered an apology to subpostmasters caught up in the scandal, dubbed the worst miscarriage of justice in British history.But Ms Vennells, who ran the group from 2012 to 2019 as the scale of the scandal emerged, was blindsided by the inquiry’s lead counsel Jason Beer KC with a series of damning revelations about her time as chief executive.Vennells was surrounded by police and press as she arrived at the inquiry More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak is “either very brave or extremely foolhardy” to call a snap election, according to Britain’s leading election expert.Professor Sir John Curtice said the Conservatives face a “major challenge” to hold on to power and that the election is “for Labour to win”.The prime minister ended months of speculation on Wednesday, announcing that the general election will take place on 4 July. Mr Sunak made the decision to move after it was announced that inflation had fallen to 2.3 per cent, allowing the PM to push the message that “the plan is working”.Sir John said the task confronting him was as big as the one that confronted former Tory prime minister John Major in 1997, when he lost heavily to Tony Blair’s Labour.“On average, the polls show Labour on 44 points, 21 ahead of the Conservatives, an enormous figure to turn round,” said Sir John.Rishi Sunak was alone outside 10 Downing Street when he called the General Election (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has finally ended the anticipation and called a general election for 4 July. The prime minister confirmed rumours circling Westminster on Wednesday and announced the country will be going to the polls this summer. The Prime Minister has gambled that improved inflation figures and a recovering economy will help him overturn Labour’s 20-point opinion poll lead. In a sign that security and the economy will be key battlegrounds, Mr Sunak said: “This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”But the summer election will likely raise questions among voters, as many will potentially have holidays booked for when the schools break up. Click here for our live coverage of the election announcement. Rishi Sunak announced the election in the pouring rain More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.The prime minister made the announcement in a televised statement in the pouring rain in Downing Street at 5pm.It comes after the Tory leader declared inflation was “back to normal” in a “major milestone” for the country after official figures showed inflation slowed to 2.3 per cent in April.Speculation about an announcement had mounted in Westminster as Cabinet ministers were summoned for an unusually timed meeting throughout the day.For live updates on the election announcement – follow our blog by clicking hereRishi Sunak made the announcement as a loudspeaker could be heard playing D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak’s election announcement was drowned out by the sound of Tony Blair’s 1997 general election soundtrack Things Can Only Get Better, by D:Ream.The prime minister’s announcement outside Number 10 of a general election for 4 July was disrupted not only by the rain gradually soaking his suit, but by a protester blaring the song through a loudspeaker. The soundtrack to Mr Blair’s arrival at Downing Street was the last thing Mr Sunak wanted to hear.Rishi Sunak got drenched and was drowned out by the pop song More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.The Prime Minister has gambled that improved inflation figures and a recovering economy will help him overturn Labour’s 20-point opinion poll lead.In a sign that security and the economy will be key battlegrounds, Mr Sunak said: “This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”The “uncertain times” call for a “clear plan”, he said.When will the next election take place?The election will be held on Thursday July 4.What ID will voters need on election day and can you postal vote?Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (Pass) cards, Blue Badges and some concessionary travel cards. The Government has also said it intends to make veterans’ ID cards a valid form of voter identification after former service personnel were turned away from polling stations at local elections.Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech to announce July 4 as the date of the UK’s next general election More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has called a snap election for 4 July, following months of speculation about when the country would go to the polls.Previously, chancellor, Jeremy Hunt suggested that the general election could be held in October.And in March, Labour leader Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of “bottling” a 2 May general election, which could have been called to coincide with council and mayoral elections being held across the country.Now, it appears the prime minister has decided that improved economic figures and the prospect of flights heading to Rwanda could make up the difference with Labour’s huge lead in the polls.Parties will have up to four weeks to convince Brits to vote for them in the ballots.But why is Mr Sunak calling a snap election now? What significance will the date have on the results? And can we make any reasonable predictions on the outcome?If you have a question on the local elections or, once they come in, the results, submit it now, or when I join you live at 12pm on Thursday 23 May for the “Ask Me Anything” event.Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article.Scroll down or click here to leave your comment.If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Don’t worry if you can’t see your question – they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 1pm as I tackle as many questions as I can. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailAfter a day of fervent speculation, Rishi Sunak has finally called a snap general election on July 4.Mr Sunak confirmed the news in a speech outside No 10. Almost upstaged by the rain – and pranksters loudly playing D:Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’, closely associated with Tony Blair’s 1997 Labour victory – the prime minister reminisced on his time in office, before making the big announcement.Before now, the prime minister had resisted calls to go to the polls, despite constant pressure from the Labour Party to do so over the past year.Follow The Independent’s live coverage for the latest updatesHowever, it is speculated that Mr Sunak had been waiting for an opportune time to make his move. Bolstered by the positive downturn in inflation to 3.2 per cent, it appears his mark has been met.Taking a swipe at the Labour Party, the prime minister said: “I don’t know what they offer”, adding “they have no plan, there is no bold action, and as a result the future can only be uncertain”.Responding to the news, Labour leader Keir Starmer released a video saying “it’s time for change”.“They have failed. Give the Tories five more years, and things will only get worse,” he said.While neither party has released an official election manifesto yet, as they will only come after an election is officially called, both have dropped hints and promises over the course of the past few years, which offer a clue for their vision for the country.See how the parties are doing in the latest polls. Here’s where the UK’s two largest parties stand on some of the key issues:Economic policies have been a focal point of Mr Sunak’s premiership, making up three of the Conservatives’ five key priorities. They are: reduce inflation, grow the economy, and reduce national debt.The first of these aims has largely been achieved, with inflation falling since the pledge was made, from 10.1 per cent to 2.3 per cent, although it is still above the Bank of England’s target of 2 per cent.However, the respected IFS economic think tank has questioned Mr Sunak’s taking credit for the economic good fortune, with director Paul Johnson arguing that it is the Bank of England’s job to cut inflation and that the prime minister’s pledge was always “inappropriate”.The economy has shown signs of growth since Mr Sunak’s pledges were made, with the economy forecast to have grown 0.5 per cent in 2023, and wages rising steadily. However, debt has risen to 89.9 per cent of GDP, up from 85.1 per cent in late 2023, when the prime minister promised to reduce it.Jeremy Hunt delivers a speech on May 17, 2024 More