Sunak reels from self inflicted D-Day wound
Welcome to the daily ITV News digest direct from the campaign trail. Each afternoon we'll bring you analysis and insight from across the nation as the General Election 2024 gathers pace.
Hi, Robert Peston, ITV News Political Editor, here. There are always moments in a General Election campaign that feel significant, and Rishi Sunak leaving the D-Day commemorations early is a significant error of judgement.
Remember Theresa May’s ‘death tax’ and Gordon Brown being particularly rude to a member of the public? This feels like one of those extraordinary unforced errors.
Much of what has gone wrong with Sunak’s campaign, you could argue, is down to bad luck. But this feels terrible.
The US president was there, the German leader, the leader of Ukraine - and we’ve got a former prime minister. Our leader was not standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies.
For more analysis about the fallout catch up on Talking Politics, our daily podcast from the campaign live from 4pm on ITVX, with me and Anushka Asthana, our deputy political editor. 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.
‘It was a mistake’: Sunak on back foot after leaving D-Day events early
Rishi Sunak has spent the day fending off widespread criticism for leaving D-Day commemorations in France early for an interview with ITV's Tonight programme.
The prime minister offered a breakfast-time apology via X (Twitter) saying the last thing he wanted to do was to see politics overshadow the events.
"On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer - and I apologise."
And, speaking to ITV News West Country later in the day after visiting a school on Veterans Way, he said: “Look, when I make a mistake, I'll own up to it and apologise and that's what I did very quickly.“
Political rivals have lambasted Mr Sunak’s decision. ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand, who conducted the Tonight interview, said on News at Ten on Thursday: “(It) was the slot that we were offered, we don't know why. Obviously, it's not our choice.”
You can see a clip of Mr Sunak defending his party’s Labour tax rises claim to Paul here.
ITV’s Tonight programme is interviewing the leaders of the UK’s largest parties. The Leader Interviews: Rishi Sunak - will be shown on Wednesday 12 June at 7pm.
Second TV debate to be staged after tax rows and stunts a-plenty
The second TV debate of the election is due to take place tonight, after the ITV’s leaders’ debate on Tuesday made the headlines for the prime minister’s £2,000 tax rise claim.
The BBC will be hosting Friday night’s action. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt will represent the Conservative Party, facing off against deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper, Stephen Flynn of the SNP, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, and Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru.
Swinney hits out at Labour and Tories for ‘concealing huge cuts to come’
SNP First Minister John Swinney has accused the Conservatives and Labour of “engaging in a conspiracy of silence” about the impact of their tax and spending choices.
Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Swinney said: “As the election gets closer, it is becoming clear that Labour and the Tories are concealing the true effects of their approach to fiscal policy from the public.”
In the ITV Leaders’ Debate, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and prime minister Rishi Sunak clashed over Tory claims that Labour would tax working families an extra £2,000.
ITV News’ Economic Editor Joel Hills did a deep dive into where that figure came from - and what the parties haven’t been telling you.
Housing, dad’s month and family benefits - the story of day 16
Getting more young people on the housing ladder was top of the agenda for Labour today.
First-time buyers could use the state as a guarantor for their mortgages under a future Labour government, the party has pledged.
Meanwhile, Labour’s highly secretive Clause V meeting, at which the party will hammer out the final version of its election manifesto, was taking place in central London. Details will be published next week.
Reforms to parental leave should include a “use-it-or-lose-it dad month” of paid leave for new fathers and a doubling of statutory maternity pay, according to the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems said the proposals, to be included in their manifesto, would cost £2.4 billion and would be paid for by a crackdown on tax avoidance and evasion.
As for the Conservatives, they have pledged to raise the high income child benefit tax charge threshold to £120,000 – and charge it to households rather than individuals.
Under existing rules, parents or parents’ partners start to lose child benefit if they earn more than the £60,000 threshold.
You can keep across the latest from today’s campaign trail on ITVX.
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Scramble to fill vacant seats
The deadline for candidates to file nominations for the General Election was today, with the statement of nominees to be published at 5pm, setting in stone the list of hopefuls running in the July 4 vote.
Parties have been scrambling to sort candidates into seats since Rishi Sunak called the General Election last month, with selection rows plaguing both the Tories and Labour.
You can see a full list here of the names of those stepping down at this election. And check out our website for the latest news on who’s standing.
What do the main parties say they will do about the pressures facing the NHS?
Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded, so whichever party wins this election faces some huge challenges, writes ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry.
Health is a devolved issue in the four nations of the UK. Rebecca has focusing on England because Westminster has responsibility for the NHS there.
From waiting lists to industrial action, whoever gets into No.10 will have a bulging in-tray. You can read more of what each party proposes to do about the NHS on our website.
What’s coming up…
Friday June 7: BBC stages its first election debate with representatives from seven parties. BBC One from 7.30pm.
Thursday June 13: ITV hosts the ‘Election Debate’, featuring leaders or senior figures from most parties - from 8.30pm.
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… sorting fact from fiction
How do you know what's real and what's not when it lands on your election feed on socials?
Is that clip of Rishi Sunak standing under a pair of ‘Mickey Mouse ears’ genuine? Did Keir Starmer really that about his tax plans?
Just how old is that video from the campaign trail - was it really filmed today?
Our Here’s The Story team has been investigating how you can sort fact from fiction…