General election 2019 latest: Labour government ‘would save families £6,700 a year’
The Week’s daily round-up of how the election campaign is unfolding
With just over a week to go until the general election, Labour is making a last-ditch bid to win votes by claiming that the party’s policies would save families an average total of £6,700 a year.
In a speech today, shadow chancellor John McDonnell will say that households would save cash as a result of the nationalisation of public services; reductions in the cost of rail season tickets; free childcare and school meals; and the axing of prescription charges.
The renewed focus on the cost of living and the total touted saving for families reportedly comes in response to concerns that the key messages in the party’s manifesto are getting lost.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“The manifesto is good – it’s just long and confusing. You need a few targeted, short messages and keep repeating them,” an unnamed Labour candidate in a Leave-voting seat told The Guardian.
In other news, Boris Johnson met with Donald Trump at No. 10 last night, where the two “discussed the future of Nato, what is going on in Syria and various other matters”, according to the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has apologised for alleged anti-Semitism within Labour, telling ITV’s This Morning that “our party and me do not accept anti-Semitism in any form” and that he is “sorry for everything that’s happened”.
The latest polls show the Tories on top but with Labour gaining. A Sky News/YouGov poll puts the Tories on 42% and Labour on 33%.
As campaigning reaches its peak, all of the parties have been warned over sending out election leaflets that mimic local newspapers. Industry group the Society of Editors said that doing so could undermine the public’s trust in local press and that voters wouldn’t forgive politicians who “attempt to take them for mugs”.
The Liberal Democrats have suffered a further image blow as leader Jo Swinson suspends a party member for faking an email that was sent as part of a legal battle with the openDemocracy political website. The row relates to a story about the Lib Dems selling personal data - something the party denies.
Swinson’s party has also come in for criticism over a leaflet with advice from a “polling expert” urging locals to vote tactically for the Lib Dems, with just a small disclaimer that the correspondence was from the party.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Labour risking the 'special relationship'?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer forced to deny Donald Trump's formal complaint that Labour staffers are 'interfering' to help Harris campaign
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why are Democrats suddenly focused on Donald Trump's mental acuity?
Today's Big Question As Election Day looms, Kamala Harris and her allies are mounting a late-stage attack on the former president's mental health — but why now? And will it matter to voters?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Men in Gray suits: why the plots against Starmer's top adviser?
Today's Big Question Increasingly damaging leaks about Sue Gray reflect 'bitter acrimony' over her role and power struggle in new government
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published