UK

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLeaked posts from a Tory members-only Facebook group have revealed the deep discontent in Rishi Sunak’s Sky News debate performance on Wednesday evening.The Conservatives Party Members Group, a private group for verified members, has more than 3,000 Conservative members including MPs such as Andrew Rosindell, Joy Morrisey, John Penrose and Virginia Crosby. Previously, The Independent revealed their angry reaction to Mr Sunak’s ITV clash with Sir Keir Starmer in the first debate of the election.Now, in the two men’s second debate, the reviews emerging from the group are equally scathing.Prime minister Rishi Sunak tried to win over the audience on Sky News on Wednesday evening More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailBritain’s ageing and sickly population will start adding a further £20bn a year to the welfare bill by 2029, according to analysis that lays bare the financial challenges of the next government.The booming spending is fuelled by guarantees for pensioners, such as both main parties’ commitment to the pensions Triple Lock, and a growing number of people claiming disability or incapacity benefits, research by think tank Resolution Foundation has found. The welfare bill is forecast to increase by £20.8bn in the year 2028-29 financial year, and increase by £60bn in total over the next four years as spending rises. Nearly half of the forecasted increase in welfare spending will be driven by the cost of the State Pension between 2024 and 2029. Researchers expect a real-term rise of £9.5bn annually by 2029. This is due to an 8.2 per cent increase in the number of pensioners and a 3.6 per cent rise in the real value of the State Pension due to the Triple Lock guarantee, which means pensions rise by average earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest, each year.Spending on disability and incapacity benefits will also be a large and growing cost for any future government. These benefits account for 47 per cent of the projected boom in welfare spending, due to an expected increase in the number of people who will not be able to work due to disability and ill health. An additional 2.8 million people in the past four years have started claiming health-related benefits More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer faced audience questions on Sky News on Wednesday night as the general election campaign went to Grimsby.The two party leaders were grilled by political editor Beth Rigby, before taking questions from voters from the northeast town and across the country.The prime minister and Labour leader set out their parties’ visions for the country, answering questions on the economy, the NHS and immigration.Here are five key moments from the exchanges:Sunak and Starmer in the debate More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak’s seemingly inevitable path to defeat in the election saw him take another blow tonight after a snap poll of viewers of the Sky News debate with Keir Starmer saw him lose by almost two to one.According to the YouGov survey of 1,864 voters who watched the two take questions in Grimsby, 64 per cent named Sir Keir as the winner and 36 per cent Mr Sunak.It was a blow for a prime minister who needed to use the debate as a means of reigniting his campaign, which has seen the Tories trail Labour by more than 20 points and been dogged by a series of missteps.Noticeably he did not repeat his line from the first debate that Labour would raise taxes by £2,000 for which Sir Keir had accused him of “lying”, after the Treasury’s most senior civil servant disowned the figure. But the opposition leader also only once referred to Labour’s claim that the Tories would lead to a mortgage payment increase of £4,800 over five years after that figure also drew ridicule.Sunak answers questions More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak’s faltering election campaign took another hit as a snap poll found Sir Keir Starmer won Wednesday night’s TV debate by a significant margin.A YouGov survey conducted after Sky’s Battle for Number 10 found that two-thirds of voters felt the Labour leader performed better than Mr Sunak in the clash.Some 64 per cent said Sir Keir performed better, with 36 per cent saying the prime minister was the winner. YouGov spoke to 1,864 voters shortly after the debate, during which the two leaders were grilled on their plans for government.The debate followed another frantic day on the campaign trail, during which Mr Sunak was forced to push back on suggestions that Labour was on course for a “supermajority” come 5 July.Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, claimed that Labour could record an even bigger victory than the 1997 landslide won by Tony Blair as he urged Reform voters to back his party.( More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe number of female parliamentary candidates vying to become MPs at the general election has sunk to 30 per cent – sparking criticism women are not properly represented by the political system.New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since the last election, according to figures by campaign group 50:50 Parliament.Lobbyists said they took action to boost the number of female candidates but the proportion is much lower than they expected – adding this is partially due to the increase in Reform candidates who are mostly men. Women make up less than a fifth of their candidates.Lyanne Nicholl, chief executive of 50:50 Parliament, said: “We have around 34 million women and girls in the UK and a vast pool of talent within that number.”New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since 34 per cent during the last election More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have gone head-to-head once again as the race to July 4 and Number 10 continues.The second programme featuring just the Prime Minister and the Labour leader saw the pair set out their commitments to the country in 20-minute interviews with Beth Rigby, Sky News’ political editor, before taking questions from the audience in Grimsby.Both insisted they would not raise taxes for working people, with Sir Keir adding: “I am not wanting to raise tax. I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission is to grow the economy.”Meanwhile, Mr Sunak insisted taxes for working people would “continue to come down” under a Tory government.Following the first standoff between Sir Keir and Mr Sunak, a snap poll by YouGov suggested the Prime Minister shaded by 51% to 49%. However, Independent readers appeared to be more team Starmer following the clash.We want to know if hearing from Mr Sunak and Sir Keir for a second time has changed your opinion on either politician or their party. Who was your winner tonight? Do you agree with the latest snap poll that put the Labour leader in pole position after the Sky News programme?We’re also keen to hear your views on the Tory and Labour pledges and whether you felt questions from the audience were adequately addressed tonight.Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Join the conversation with other Independent readers below. More

Keir Starmer appeared to freeze when called ‘a political robot’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA snap YouGov poll after Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were questioned on live television has found 64 per cent of viewers – nearly two in three – thought the Labour leader came out on top, and only 36 per cent said the prime minister did better. Both party leaders insisted they would not raise taxes for working people, as they were grilled in front of an audience.The prime minister said taxes for working people would “continue to come down” under a Tory government.The Labour leader said: “I am not wanting to raise tax. I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission is to grow the economy.”Sir Keir said he would negotiate with doctors over pay but the country could not afford their 35 per cent claim.Mr Sunak was repeatedly challenged on health service staff shortages by NHS workers.The prime minister pointed to funding provided by the government before noting: “What we have not done, for not just years but for decades, is train enough staff and then be reliant on having to bring people here from abroad.”Show latest update 1718244001Keir Starmer confuses Grimsby with Hull during election debateKeir Starmer confuses Grimsby with Hull during election debateSir Keir Starmer appeared to confuse Grimsby and Hull during Wednesday evening’s general election debate. The Labour leader took questions from Sky News political editor Beth Rigby and members of the audience as he attempted to win over the public ahead of next month’s vote. At one point, Sir Keir noted that he was impressed with apprentices he had met “here in Hull” – despite standing on stage 35 miles away. In another awkward moment, he was described as a “political robot” by someone in the audience.Tom Watling13 June 2024 03:001718240401Audience gasp as post-Brexit migration numbers revealed to Rishi SunakAudience gasp as post-Brexit migration numbers revealed to Rishi SunakPost-Brexit migration numbers shocked the audience at Wednesday’s general election debate. With Rishi Sunak sat on stage, host Beth Rigby noted that the total net migration figure into the UK in the past three years was 1.9 million, compared to 836,000 people in the three years running up to the 2016 referendum. As the Sky News political editor read the numbers, the audience gasped in shock. “Net migration into this country has more than doubled in the last three years, from before we left the European Union,” Ms Rigby concluded. In response, the prime minister called the figure “too high”.Tom Watling13 June 2024 02:001718236801Keir Starmer reveals his wife Victoria did not want him to go into politicsTom Watling13 June 2024 01:001718233201Top Sunak aide Craig Williams probed after placing bet on general election date days before announcementTom Watling13 June 2024 00:001718232300Why Brexit is missing from this election campaignTom Watling12 June 2024 23:451718231400Sunak’s campaign takes another blow as Starmer claims confident victory in YouGov poll after Sky debateTom Watling12 June 2024 23:301718230500Rishi Sunak declares he has not given up after minister warns of Labour ‘supermajority’Tom Watling12 June 2024 23:151718229780Jeers and laughter: Public have their say on Rishi Sunak and Keir StarmerJeers and laughter: Public have their say on Rishi Sunak and Keir StarmerTom Watling12 June 2024 23:031718228700Sunak pleads his case for a return to Downing Street Here we have some pictures from Rishi Sunak’s interview with Sky News as he fielded questions from a fired up audience in Grimsby Rish Sunak pleads his case to a member of the Grimsby audience More