Election latest: Green Party to unveil manifesto with 'dramatic' tax changes - as Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer prepare for Sky leaders' event (2024)

We've just had a response from the Labour Party to the news that the economy flatlined in April (see previous post).

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, said in a statement: "Rishi Sunak claims we have turned a corner, but the economy has stalled and there is no growth.

"These figures expose the damage done after 14 years of Conservative chaos."

Ms Reeves went on to say that Labour, by contrast, has "set out its plan to grow the economy by bringing back stability, unlocking private sector investment and reforming our planning system".

"All the Conservatives are offering is more of the same, with a desperate wish list of unfunded spending promises that will mean £4,800 more on people's mortgages," she added.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson, Sarah Olney, said the lack of growth shows the Tories had "utterly failed" to deliver on their promises.

"As Rishi Sunak's time as prime minister peters out, so does the UK's economic growth," she added.

The UK economy flatlined in April, according to early official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there was zero growth in April compared to the 0.4% growth recorded during March.

A Reuters news agency poll of economists had predicted zero growth for April.

Experts blamed a negative impact from wet weather, knocking both retail sales and construction output.

Read more here:

By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter

The "super rich" will be asked to pay more tax in the Green Party's manifesto to "mend broken Britain".

The party, led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, will tax "multimillionaires and billionaires" to fund improvements to health, housing, transport and the green economy.

Speaking before the official manifesto launch in Brighton - where the party hopes to elect a new Green MP following thedeparture of former leader Caroline Lucas- Mr Ramsay said he wanted to end the "conspiracy of silence" on taxes by creating a "fairer system" that would ask those "with the broadest shoulders to pay more".

The Green co-leader echoed the language used by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which has accused the two main parties of not being upfront about the tough spending choices ahead.

He said Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak "would rather hide their plans for cuts to public services than confront the need for a fairer tax system that asks those with the broadest shoulders to pay more".

Read more below - and follow live coverage of the launch later this morning across Sky News.

By Jon Craig, chief political correspondent

The countdown is almost over. In just a matter of hours, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will answer questions from Beth Rigby and audience members in the Sky News leaders' special event.

The Battle for No 10 will be broadcast live from Grimsby with each leader facing 20 minutes of questions from Sky's award-winning political editor and 25 minutes of questions from audience members.

In an FA Cup-style draw for which leader goes first, on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, I pulled the red ball out of a bag first and the blue second, meaning Sir Keir goes first, followed by Mr Sunak.

Earlier this week, speaking to Sky News, the Labour leader said: "I'm really looking forward to it because I enjoy being able to talk directly to Sky viewers and to the audience there in Grimsby.

"I think having slightly more time will allow us to develop some of the answers that we need to give."

The Sky News programme, starting at 7pm, is the second live TV grilling of the two rivals for 10 Downing Street during this election campaign, following a one-hour debate on ITV.

Read Jon Craig's full preview of tonight's special event here:

Good morning!

Welcome back to our live coverage of the general election campaign - and with polling day just over three weeks away, the race is really heating up.

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will face questions from Beth Rigby and members of the public during Sky News' special leaders' eventin Grimsby from 7pm tonight - follow live build up and coverage here and across Sky News throughout the day.

Here's what else is happening:

• The Green Party will be launching their manifesto today, which will call for tax hikes on the wealthy to fund sweeping pledges to "mend broken Britain";
• The party, led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, will pledge to tax "multimillionaires and billionaires" to fund improvements to health, housing, transport and the green economy - follow live coverage across Sky News this morning;
• Rishi Sunak will be out and about speaking to voters about the Conservative Party manifesto he launched yesterday, before spending time preparing for tonight's grilling on Sky News;
• Sir Keir Starmer will also be getting ready for the Sky event this evening - but before that, he will be out with his shadow transport secretary to unveil their promise tofix one million potholes every year if the party is elected;
• Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey will out on the campaign trail promoting his party's plan for a "Clean Water Authority" to regulate the water industry;
• SNP leader John Swinney is expected to be out campaigning as he pledges a "cast iron guarantee" that only his party will "protect Scotland's values" after "fourteen years of cuts" from Westminster;
• And both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Tories will be out trying to win over voters as polling day approaches.

We'll be discussing all of that and more with:

• Grant Shapps, defence secretary, at 7.15am;
• Louise Haigh, shadow transport secretary, at 8.15am.

Follow along for live coverage of today's general election campaign, and build up to the Sky News leaders' event.

Thanks for joining us on another manifesto packed day!

Don't forget, we have the Green Party touting their policies tomorrow, and Labour will take to the stage on Thursday, so plenty more to come.

For now though, we are pausing coverage, so pack yourselves off to bed and join us on the campaign trail again in the morning. Sleep well!

The Liberal Democrats will focus their energy on tackling sewage when they hit the campaign trail tomorrow, unveiling plans to launch a new water regulator.

Replacing Ofwat, the Clean Water Authority would require water companies to publish real-time data on the amount of sewage they dump into rivers and set legally binding targets on discharges.

They would have the power to ban bonuses for water company bosses and revoke licenses from firms who perform poorly.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: "People are rightly outraged that Conservative MPs have let water companies get away with pumping their filthy sewage into our rivers and beaches.

"Our plan to set up the Clean Water Authority would help end the Conservative sewage scandal once and for all."

But the Conservatives accused the party of "spreading misinformation" on sewage, saying they had already given Ofwat the power to ban bonuses and ensured all storm overflows are now monitored.

It has been a busy manifesto week so far, with the Tories taking to the stage today - and both the Labour and Green Party still to come.

Elsewhere, there has been an arrest after an incident at Nigel Farage's latest Reform UK campaign event.

And Labour came out with a surprise announcement for drivers.

So here is what you need to know from this day on the campaign trail:

• Rishi Sunak launched what he described as a "bold" Conservative manifesto at Silverstone racetrack;
• It promisesnational insurance tax cutsand reiterates several pledges from the campaign trail - including on immigration, housing, and the attention-grabbingnational serviceand pensions triple lock plus;
• But many will struggle to see it as the manifesto to get the Tory campaign out of the pits, saidour political correspondent Darren McCaffrey, while political editor Beth Rigby asked the PM if he'd already "blown it" given how far ahead Labour are in the polls;
• Labour and the Liberal Democrats have both criticised the spending and cutting plans in the manifesto.

• Nigel Farage has been targeted again while outon the campaign trail in Barnsley, South Yorkshire;
• As he attended an event on an open-top bus, objects were thrown at the Reform UK leader;
• South Yorkshire Police say a man has been arrested and Mr Farage thanked officers for their actions, saying he would "not be bullied or cowed";
• But in better news for his party, our latest exclusive YouGov poll showed Reform is now just one point behind the Tories when it comes to voting intentions.

• Elsewhere, Labour announced plans to fix one million pot holes a year if it gets into power;
• The party said it would also give long-term funding settlements to councils to keep up with repairs, and lower the cost of car insurance;
• Earlier, Labour also confirmed it wouldban energy drinks for under-16sif the party won on 4 July - and said they want to create 100,000 more dental appointments;
• Meanwhile,Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Rossis having his expenses re-examined by the watchdog following reports over the weekend.

That's all your evening bulletin, but stick with us for the latest news and analysis from the campaign trail.

Nearly a quarter of undecided voters are unhappy with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to leave D-Day commemorations early, the Sky News YouGov Voters Panel suggests.

We have teamed up with the pollster YouGov to create a unique online community representing over 40 different seats in the election.

When asked what, if any, campaign moments have stood out, 11 of our panel mentioned D-Day. This voter summed up the sentiments of many, saying: "Although he's apologised, I think it was very rude."

Read more from our correspondent Laura Bundock:

The Liberal Democrats have been reacting to the Conservative manifesto launched by Rishi Sunak this morning, saying it is "not enough" to make up for their mistakes.

Speaking to Sky News, Scottish Lib Dem Christine Jardine said it's not just that voters "don't believe them", but that "they're not even listening because of so many broken promises".

She claimed Mr Sunak's announcements were "yet another attempt to persuade people that what they've experienced over the past five years is going to be different in the future".

"It is not enough," she said.

She of course said it paled in comparison to the Lib Dem manifesto, which she said aimed to "save the NHS and social care".

You can read the pledges both parties have made via the posts in the key points above.