Inside story of ITV's agenda-setting Sunak interview
Hi, Paul Brand, ITV News UK Editor here with the story behind the furore behind our Rishi Sunak interview for the Tonight programme.
I’ve got to say, he clearly was moved by what he saw in Normandy, and he was keen to stress how much respect he has for the veterans.
He used the phrase “the whole thing ran over”, when referring to the D-Day commemorations. There is a lot of outrage on social media about that expression; the implication is you really should have all the time in the world for these veterans.
We also spoke about his background. His wealth is a double-edged sword; on the one hand, it’s a source of pride for his family, his party, he’s the grandson of immigrants, he’s climbed the ladder. But at the same time he’s a prime minister in the middle of a cost of living crisis - and can he walk in other people’s shoes?
For more analysis on the events of the day, check out Talking Politics, our daily podcast from the campaign live from 4pm on ITVX, hosted today by presenter Nina Hossain, with me and my political colleagues Robert Peston and Anushka Asthana. Or watch on demand on ITVX or where you listen to your podcasts.
Thanks for reading and enjoy some of the best content brought to you by the rest of the ITV News team below.
Sunak: ‘We went without lots of things… like Sky TV’
Rishi Sunak has told ITV's Tonight programme that his parents sacrificed "lots of things" when he was a child, including satellite TV.
Speaking to ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand as part of a series of interviews with party leaders in the run up to the General Election, the prime minister was asked about his wealth and what he had gone without when young.
When pressed for an example of something he had gone without, he said: "There are all sorts of things that I wanted as a kid that I couldn't have, famously Sky TV! That was something that we never had growing up."
The interview was filmed after the prime minister left the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations early - for which he later apologised.
You can see Paul’s full interview with Mr Sunak on the Tonight show, on ITV1 this evening, from 7pm.
Green Party pledges tax hike on most wealthy to 'mend broken Britain'
The Green Party wants to end the "conspiracy of silence" around tax with a promise to raise more money from the wealthy in plans due to be laid out in their fix "broken Britain" election manifesto.
The tax on multimillionaires and billionaires will be used to fund improvements to health, housing, transport and the green economy, the party said.
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said the party wants to create a fairer system and ask those "with the broadest shoulders to pay more".
He attacked the “conspiracy of silence” between Labour and the Tories, accusing both of hiding the scale of cuts to public services to come to pay for all their promises.
You can see the highlights from the manifesto launch on ITVX.
ITV News Westminster Producer Lewis Denison quizzed Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer earlier in the campaign on whether a vote for them was a ‘wasted vote’.
Check out how she responded on our YouTube channel.
No easy answers: Britain’s immigration dilemma
Immigration is complicated and contentious. That is no truer than in Liverpool.
ITV News' Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt has been exploring the biggest issues impacting people ahead of the General Election - including immigration.
Today Liverpool has become a sanctuary for lost souls, seeking shelter and safety, he reports. More asylum seekers live in Liverpool than almost any other area of Britain.
Daniel spent a few days in the city at the end of May and start of June. He heard from those seeking asylum with harrowing tales of why they fled their homelands.
And he spoke to Liverpudlians about the feelings of “resentment” and “fear” the influx of immigrants to the city can often engender.
Watch his report from Liverpool on ITVX.
Our social affairs editor, Sarah Corker, breaks down what the parties are pledging on immigration.
Motorists, maths and back in the water - Day 21 of the campaign
Ahead of their TV grilling later tonight, Rishi Sunak and rival Sir Keir Starmer looked to Lincolnshire and the north east to campaign today.
The prime minister was talking immigration and his plans to halve numbers should the Conservatives be re-elected.
He insisted he had “absolutely not” lost hope of winning the General Election as Tory allies warned about the risk of Labour winning a “supermajority”.
The Labour leader was focused on motorists with a better deal on insurance costs and a pledge to fix ‘up to’ 1 million pot holes a year.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey was back in the water today. He said it was “not good enough” that the Conservatives have allowed water companies to “pump their filthy sewage” into rivers and lakes.
Speaking at an aqua jungle in Warwickshire, he said he is going to put a stop to the “sewage scandal” by creating a “powerful, tougher” regulator.
Catch up the events of the day on ITVX here.
ITV News is one of Britain’s most trusted providers of news. You can access our expert analysis, correspondents and content on platforms beyond ITV1.
Our streaming platform ITVX has all our regional and national news programmes, plus original content and a regularly updated bulletin
Visit our website or download the news app on Apple or Android
We’re on social platforms: TikTok; Instagram; Facebook; X (Twitter); LinkedIn and You Tube
And we’ve a range of podcasts including Talking Politics and What You Need To Know
You can also follow the ITV News channel on WhatsApp for regular updates
All our journalists work to the Ofcom code
What will the election result mean for the future of Scotland?
Independence has defined Scottish politics for over a decade now, ITV News Correspondent Peter Smith writes.
The UK Government thought 2014 referendum would settle the issue; in fact it was just the beginning for an enthused, energised generation of independence supporters.
So what does Stephen Flynn, SNP leader at Westminster, believe this General Election result will mean for the future of Scotland?
You can read Peter’s take on the issue on our website and see what Mr Flynn has to say on ITVX.
Meanwhile, John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, has indicated he would be prepared to negotiate with a potential Labour government if it meant getting independence.
Gaza conflict among most important election issues for British Muslims
The Labour Party faces threats from independent candidates in certain constituencies as more than four in ten British Muslims rank the conflict in Gaza as one of their five most important issues.
New polling done for Hyphen by Savanta and shared exclusively with ITV News, shows that of British Muslims who ranked the conflict of Gaza highly in their priorities, 86% say they would consider backing an independent candidate.
Labour’s support does however still remain high among British Muslims, reports ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan.
They are the biggest party polling at 63%, with little change since the Autumn, but policy positions on the conflict in Gaza remains an issue that is influencing Muslim voters.
What’s coming up…
Thursday June 13: The Labour Party due to unveil its manifesto.
Thursday June 13: ITV hosts the ‘Election Debate’, featuring leaders or senior figures from most parties - from 8.30pm.
Sunday June 16: Eighth anniversary of the murder of MP Jo Cox. The Batley and Spen Labour MP was stabbed and shot by a far-right extremist in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
Monday June 18: Midnight deadline for registering to vote.
Tuesday June 19: Deadline for new postal vote applicants or amending existing absent voting arrangements.
And finally… Line up confirmed for ITV General Election debate
ITV has confirmed the seven people who will represent the leading parties at ITV’s second televised election debate.
They are: Penny Mordaunt - Conservative Party; Angela Rayner - Labour Party; Daisy Cooper - Liberal Democrats; Stephen Flynn - SNP; Nigel Farage - Reform UK; Carla Denyer - Green Party and Rhun ap Iorwerth - Plaid Cymru.
The ITV Election Debate 2024 will be broadcast on Thursday, June 13 at 8.30pm, on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.