Election latest: PM 'disappointed' by aide's bet on election date - as Labour launch 'change' manifesto (2024)

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "rewriting history" during Sky's leaders' event, saying it was "sad".

Sky's political editor Beth Rigby challenged Sir Keir last night on his support for Mr Corbyn in 2017 and 2019, and his subsequent attempts to distance the party from his predecessor.

Beth put it to him that he told the country Mr Corbyn would be a "great prime minister", then expelled him from the party.

Sir Keir replied he was "certain" Labour would lose the election but made "no apology" for backing Mr Corbyn at the time.

You can watch that exchange here:

Responding to Sir Keir's remarks, Mr Corbyn said: "He never said that to me, at any time. Rewriting history is no help."

He said it "shows double standards" that Sir Keir claimed to have "always thought" Labour would lose the elections under his leadership, only to never speak about it at the time.

"He was part of the campaign. He and I spoke together at events and I find it actually quite sad," Mr Corbyn added.

He said Sir Keir campaigned alongside him, and he should "own it".

Mr Corbyn is standing as an independent in the London constituency of Islington North, which he has represented for 40 years, after he was barred from standing for Labour.

The other candidates there are:

• Vikas Aggarwal, Lib Dems;
• Karen Anne Harries, Conservatives;
• Paul Dominic Josling, independent;
• Sheridan Kates, Greens;
• Praful Nargund, Labour;
• Martyn Nelson, Reform.

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Joining Sophy tonight is Labour shadow minister Lisa Nandy following her party's manifesto launch today, and responding for the Tories is former cabinet secretary Sir David Davis.

On Sophy's panel tonight are:

• James Starkie, former chief of staff to Priti Patel;
• Matt Lavender, ex-Labour adviser.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

It was Labour's turn to launch its election manifesto today. It was a restatement of the party's main policies, with no surprise announcements in the 133-page document.

Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his key pledges including no new taxes on "working people" and a promise of "economic stability".

Niall Paterson digs into Labour's promise of economic growth with Ed Conway, Sky's economics and data editor, and speaks to political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh, who was at the launch in Manchester.

Plus, John McTernan, political strategist and former political secretary to Tony Blair, discusses the politics of their manifesto and whether it matters that there were no new announcements.

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Plaid Cymru have released their election manifesto - and we've scoured their policy pledges, so you don't have to.

Scroll to the right in the interactive tool below to find out what the party has promised to do if they win the election.

We will produce a breakdown of all the other parties' manifestos here when they are announced - you can find the ones we've done so far in the key points above.

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Sir Keir Starmer said he "rejects the argument" tax rises are required to rebuild public services - as he insisted there will be "no return to austerity" under a Labour government.

The Number 10 hopeful told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that he will "properly fund" the UK's creaking infrastructure - despite very few giveaways in his manifesto.

The Labour leader has ruled out raising income tax, national insurance and VAT in the policy document - prompting the Institute for Fiscal Studies to warn his flagship promise to deliver "genuine change" is in jeopardy.

It was put to Sir Keir that, given he does not want to raise taxes, he does not have enough money to rebuild public services after years of cuts.

But he said: "I reject that argument. I reject this suggestion that is out there - that all we can hope for with our economy is that we flatline, forever.

"I understand after 14 years why people don't necessarily believe that we can grow our economy. I do think we can grow our economy. We've got serious plans in here."

Read more here:

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the Conservative and Labour manifestos offer a "clear choice" between tax cuts and tax rises.

He says the Labour plan, unveiled today, "made clear that taxes are going to rise".

In contrast, he says the Conservatives would cut taxes for people "at every stage of their life" should they win the next election.

"Multiple independent sources demonstrate that the tax burden under Labour will rise to the highest levels in history," he says.

In their manifesto, Labour have ruled out income tax, national insurance and VAT rises.

But the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has once again accused Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats of participating in a "conspiracy of silence" over the financial difficulties facing the next government (see post at 15.18).

Rishi Sunak was speaking from the G7 summit in Italy, where he has announced new Russia sanctions and set out details of a £240m aid package that will be provided to Ukraine.

It is part of the £2.5bn aid package announced by the PM on a trip to Kyiv earlier this year.

Rishi Sunak has said news his close parliamentary aide Craig Williams placed a bet on a July election date is "very disappointing".

Mr Williams placed a £100 bet on a July election just days before Mr Sunak named the date as 4 July, The Guardian first reported (read more here).

He has apologised for placing the bet, but refused to say whether he did so on the basis of insider information.

The prime minister would not be drawn on questions about whether Mr Williams knew he was calling an election in July when he made his bet, saying it "wouldn't be appropriate to comment" while there is an ongoing confidential, independent inquiry.

Mr Williams served as Mr Sunak's parliamentary private secretary, his eyes and ears in the House of Commons, and is standing again as an MP in next month's election.

The leader of the Lib Dems is taking the assault course that is an election campaign literally today as he once again found himself on an adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

Three weeks of campaigning have seen Sir Ed Davey take a splash at an aqua park, join Sky correspondent Matthew Thompson on a waterslide in Frome and ride rollercoasters at Thorpe Park - to name just a few.

Today he found himself on an assault course near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

And he appears to have impressed the owner, Peter, who told him he was "quite fast".

Sir Ed's message was focused on getting young carers educational support, but he also commented on an investigation into a close aide of Rishi Sunak who has admitted placing a bet on when the election would be held (see post at 10.05am).

If he knew the outcome, placing a bet on it would have been "morally questionable", he said.

Sir Keir Starmer says Labour's newly unveiled manifesto rejects "fundamentally the proposal that Britain can't do better".

"Britain can do better. Britain will do better," he says.

He is speaking in Cheshire, hours after Labour launched its election manifesto.

Should Labour win the election, he says they will "take the country forward", and that will be felt "in every community across the country".

He says work to "secure and stabilise our economy" will "start on day one of a Labour government".

He goes on to outline Labour's key manifesto pledges.

You can read all the key points from Labour's manifestohere, and follow live reaction and analysis here in the Politics Hub.