With 10 days until polling day, the Conservative Party will be hoping they can steer headlines away from news that senior party members placed multiple bets on the election date, and back onto their attacks against Labour.
In a fresh blow, the Sunday Times reported over the weekend a fourth Conservative official, the Party's chief data officer Nick Mason, is being investigated by the Gambling Commission for potentially illegal betting activity. The PM is still refusing to suspend anyone from the party although he will have to face the music soon, as he and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer prepare for the final debates of the campaign - hosted by The Sun this evening and BBC on Wednesday.
Starmer, meanwhile, is facing a media headache of his own. This morning’s papers scrutinised the Labour Party’s announcement it will make it easier for people to legally transition and gain a gender recognition certificate (GRC). This includes the need for people to prove they have lived as their preferred gender for two years and it would replace the panel of doctors and lawyers who currently adjudicate on GRCs. Labour argues this will take out some of the unnecessary and degrading aspects of the process, whereas others have criticised the policy saying it would unravel the protections currently in place designed to protect women and girls.
No party is immune from criticism from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), who have accused Labour and the Conservatives of failing to address “stark choices” in their manifesto, claiming it is highly likely taxes will have to rise or spending must fall. Attacking the two parties of engaging in a "conspiracy of silence" in their manifestos, the IFS went onto state they are ignoring "painful choices".
Away from the two main parties, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party has once again been in the headlines after pollster Sir John Curtice reported they are just two points behind the Conservatives. This comes as senior Conservative figures have condemned Farage for claiming the West provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Viewed by Conservative Campaign Headquarters as his first misstep, which could turn away Conservative voters flirting with voting for Reform UK, the Tory campaign machine has been out in full force attacking the comments, with Boris Johnson – who has been uncharacteristically quiet during the campaign – tweeting that Farage’s comments were “morally repugnant”.
Elsewhere, the Conservatives launch their Scottish manifesto in Edinburgh today as they try and win over Scottish farmers ahead of the election, and last night saw the first TV debate in Northern Ireland, in which the five main parties went head-to-head. Clashing over Brexit, Stormont’s budget, and Irish unity, the key battle — in the absence of two Stormont leaders — saw a battle between the DUP's Gavin Robinson and Alliance's Naomi Long, both hotly contesting the Belfast East constituency.
Headlines
- Keir Starmer to appoint dozens of peers within weeks of taking office – The Telegraph
- Senior Tories turn on Rishi Sunak over failure to get a grip on election betting scandal – The Independent
- Conservatives have lost a third of their voters since January, poll finds – The Financial Times
The Week in Politics
Monday 24th June
Key Events:
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross speak at the launch of the Scottish Conservative Party election manifesto in Edinburgh. Rishi Sunak is also expected to hold a rally this evening with party activists.
- Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer appear in a live The Sun debate 'Never Mind The Ballots: Election Showdown' (5:00pm)
Tuesday 25th June
Key Events:
- Home Secretary James Cleverly and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appear for a debate on LBC
Wednesday 26th June
Key Events:
- The Alba Party releases its 2024 election manifesto
- The Social Democratic and Labour Party (Northern Ireland) releases its 2024 election manifesto
- Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer appear on the 'BBC Prime Ministerial Debate' (8:15am)
Thursday 27th June
Key Events:
- Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer appears on an ITV News 'The Leader Interviews' (8:30am)
- BBC Northern Ireland holds ‘The Northern Ireland Leaders’ Debate’ (9:00am). Panellists include speaks from Sinn Fein, Democratic Unionist Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party, Ulster Unionist Party, Alliance Party
Friday 28th June
Key Events:
- The Scottish Parliament rises for summer recess
- Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey appears on a BBC Panorama interview programme (7:30pm)
- The special edition of BBC Question Time takes place (8:00pm), speakers include: Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
Statistics
- Wholesale fruit and vegetable prices – 21st June
- Water situation: area monthly reports for England 2024 – 21st June
- Retail Sales, Great Britain: May 2024 time series – 21st June