General election 2024 newest: Starmer and Sunak gear up for ITV debate as Tories vow immigration cap | EUROtoday

• Home Secretary James Cleverly campaigning within the South East.
• Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey marketing campaign visits to Cheadle this morning and North Shropshire this afternoon.
• Rachel Reeves and Anas Sarwar will maintain a Q&A in Edinburgh with employees working in monetary companies.

• Nigel Farage to launch General Election marketing campaign in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

• Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer in ITV General Election debate.
• The debate will probably be adopted by interviews with leaders of different events with the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform UK and the Greens invited.

Sir Keir Starmer met folks on the Bridge Cafe in Bolton on a marketing campaign go to earlier than Tuesday’s ITV debate with Rishi Sunak.

The Labour chief, accompanied by shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, spoke to 77-year-old Mandy Snelgrove, a lifelong Conservative voter who stated she would now vote Labour due to her expertise with the NHS and the price of dwelling.

She stated she had just lately waited 12 hours at hospital earlier than being despatched dwelling with out being seen, after which went again the subsequent day and waited one other six hours with out being seen.

Asked what she thought of the present Government, she advised reporters: “It’s a bit of a mess, if I can say that. It’s a bit of a big mess.”

Asked what she considered Sir Keir, she stated: “He’s lovely. He’s more handsome today than I thought. I think he’s a very, very nice man.”

Sir Keir Starmer has stated he’s “looking forward” to Tuesday evening’s TV debate.

Asked how was feeling forward of the head-to-head with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Labour chief stated: “Very good, looking forward to the opportunity to speak directly to voters through the debate to put our case, because at the end of the day it is that clear choice, and I think voters will see that tonight.

“More of the same, we’ve had 14 years of this and after 14 years nothing is better than when the Tories started, we can end that, turn the page and start to rebuild our country with the Labour Party.

“I’m looking forward to be able to make that argument in the debate this evening.”

Asked if he had been getting ready for the talk, Sir Keir stated: “Well, look, I’ve got a team preparing with me, it’s much the same team as for PMQs, and I suppose the best bit for the staff is that they get the opportunity in the debate to put the difficult questions to them, so they’re relishing that.”

Asked concerning the resignation from Labour of seven councillors in Slough over the dealing with of Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen’s candidacies, Sir Keir Starmer advised broadcasters: “Across the country we’ve got brilliant Labour teams out in every constituency, fighting for votes in this general election.

“We’re in good form, we’re making a positive argument about the choice before the country.

“I’m really pleased that the prime minister has called an election because we’ve been waiting for this, we’ve been working for this for a very, very long time.

“It’s our chance to get out, to take our argument to the country and to every single voter about the choice at this election, about more of the same or turning the page and rebuilding with Labour.”

When questioned on bringing down net migration, Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: “Net migration is far too high. This government has lost control. It is almost twice as high as when we were in the EU. That’s the irony of it.”

He added: “This prime minister, for all his tough talk, is actually the most liberal prime minister when it comes to immigration. Those numbers have gone through the roof.

“They need to come down, we have a plan to bring them down.”

Sir Keir Starmer stated he has not spoken to Diane Abbott for the reason that row over her choice as a candidate, however added his group had been in contact along with her.

He advised broadcasters on the Bridge Cafe in Bolton: “I have spoken to Diane two or three months ago, my team have obviously been speaking to her, but that decision is taken, that’s clear.

“The question now before the country is about the decision, the choice, that will fall to be made on July 4, which is continuing with this chaos and division or turning the page and starting to rebuild the country with Labour.”

“We face unprecedented challenges here at home because of global insecurity, but by sticking with the plan Rishi Sunak is steadying the ship and making progress,” a deep-voiced narrator says over footage of the PM working.

Business teams, meals producers and a Labour-supporting union have warned Sir Keir Starmer that the UK wants overseas employees to assist ease labour shortages, after he vowed to chop immigration.

The Labour chief stated the online migration determine of 685,000 has “got to come down” and hit out at Rishi Sunak’s Conservative for failing to chop the numbers.

He stated that companies had develop into too reliant on employees from abroad and stated Labour would prepare extra Britons to do jobs in areas the place there have been labour shortages.