General election: Rishi Sunak has given up | The New Statesman podcast

Rishi Sunak has called a general election for the 4th of July. Why has the prime minister called an election now?
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After a day of increasing speculation, Rishi Sunak called the next general election which will take place on the 4th of July. Sadly, for him, he was almost drowned by the pouring rain, and drowned out by the pounding of D:Ream's ‘Things Can Only Get Better', the song widely known as Labour's 1997 anthem.
To kick off the New Statesman's general election coverage, the team review yesterday's events, the prime minister's potential motives, and the kickstarting of campaigns.
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[@MarkInOxford]

The dignity aspect? The Tories have no dignity, so I see no issue.

[@garyturner5739]

That went out of the window with the Euro Referendum of 2016.

[@dogzero1]

The Conseravtives have done all this: 1. Highest energy bills in Europe. 2. Highest taxes in 70 years. 3. Highest interest rates since 2008. 4. Highest train fares in Europe. 5. Longest waiting lists in NHS history. 6. Raw sewage pumped into rivers. 7. Lowest corporate taxes in 50 years. 8. Lowest State Pension in Europe. 9. Highest Immigration both legal and illegal ever. 10. Destroyed the NHS dentist service. 11. Brought the Brexit vote and ruined the country. 12. Oane failed Prime Minister after another. 13. Worlds shortest in post Prome Minister. 14. More corrupt MP's than any other party in parliament. 15. Europes longest Austerity for the loewr paid. 16. Highest Council Tax rates in the World. 17. Reduced our Armed Forces more than any other G8 country. 18. Highest number of MP's that have been arrested for sexual offences. 19. Highest number of MP's that have been sacked for corruption and Fraudulent acts. 20. Voted to allow Bankers to have unlimited bonus's even though the bankers caused the crash of 2008. 21. More libraries closed due to council cuts than any other modern country. 22. Ruined and destroyed the Train services by giving private companies tax payers money as subsidies. 23. Voted against Labours creation of the minimum wage. 24. And finally, wasted billions of Tax payers money on crony PPE contracts for their friends and other Tory donators.

[@henrydemonfreid1985]

it's a litany of transgressions

[@simplySY8]

Tip of the ice berg

[@methanedirigible]

It’s criminal and we ought to press charges.

[@judithphillips3073]

Vhbuh h ​@@methanedirigible

[@user-jg2nq6ll4c]

Lowest State Pension in Europe too.

[@slightlyconfused876]

Sunak is going to protect us, a man who couldn't work out how to protect himself from the rain.

[@hg82met]

"Labour doesn't have a plan" says man as he gets drenched in rain.

[@DarrenJamiesonJamieson]

​@TheStoicTowerYeah, but holding up a brolly is hard work and everybody knows. Hard work is for only for the poor!

[@putiodedra8834]

Good luck with Labour PM.

[@DarrenJamiesonJamieson]

@@putiodedra8834 You must be leaving.

[@stevev238]

On a par with Miliband's bacon butty episode.

[@MarkInOxford]

Tory MPs can still take the summer off. And the next one, and the next one, and the next one…

[@garyturner5739]

A permanent one.

[@richardmckenzie2809]

They should take the.next 50 years off

[@user-is9ci4te4x]

" Why does it always rain on me? is it because I lied when i was 17?" lol

[@surfer-uy5ys]

🛴

[@surfer-uy5ys]

NCA 🛴

[@isabellfox2915]

and he hasn't stopped

[@DarrenJamiesonJamieson]

Who was dumg enough to vote for the dollar to save the pound?

[@_surreal99]

Ah yes, the security risk of loud music.

[@garyturner5739]

Yeah danger of free speech and what comes with it protest.

[@vivienclogger]

Steve Bray finally has the last laugh. Well done, mate. Things CAN only get better.

[@isabellfox2915]

you wish

[@vivienclogger]

@@isabellfox2915 you think Rishi is the answer? You'll be telling me next that the earth is flat and Trump is innocent.🤣

[@norawright807]

Do you think tha this tweeter is a Botshite?​@vivienclogger

[@MegaBrownbanana]

Just an ordinary bloke with a couple of speakers has defined Sunak's premiership and its end

[@oitoitoi1]

Steve bray's protest makes me proud to be British, the nature of the protest literally couldn't be more British. Whinging about dignity is frankly an american nonsense.

[@garyturner5739]

Me too. I hope he does it again when he announces his resignation on 5th July after election defeat.

[@clfm20]

Sorry, I disagree. His protest is just anti-social behaviour which must be incredibly irritating to everyone who lives and works in the area. Speaking as someone who was arrested in the XR demos there comes a time when persistence is counter productive. Having said all that, the music playing during Sunak's speech was rather amusing.

[@andrewharrison1194]

@@clfm20 I'd argue that Sunak is more anti-social than Steve Bray. Look what he and his party has done to the entire country!

[@RandomWandrer]

Was he the "Stop Brexit" guy? 😂 Can I vote for him as PM?

[@clfm20]

@@andrewharrison1194 Yes, but you can get rid of the tories AND do something to curb noise nuisance. It's not a binary choice.

[@SilverHalsen]

The NHS winter crisis is only seasonal when the tories are in power....

[@stevev238]

Have you forgotten 1979?

[@grahamandrew907]

There wasn't a crisis this last winter.

[@czhaok]

That’s simply not true. And I’d argue in the 90s we didn’t have as many people, requiring less resources anyway.

[@grahamandrew907]

You could argue that the NHS is a victim of its own success, With all the services it offers.

[@thinking_aloud.]

He hasn’t given up, he just knows the shitstorm coming and doesn’t want to be the one in charge when it does

[@norawright807]

Of course he's given up. Calling for an election when the Labour Party are 20 points ahead of the most malignant, truly evil Tory government that relish their performative cruelty to the most deprived and disadvantaged sections of society, in plain sight.

[@user-jg2nq6ll4c]

🎯

[@user-jg2yz5ki2t]

I'm voting for the party who understands how an umbrella works. We really have hit rock bottom.

[@isabellfox2915]

yeah good luck finding one

[@DarrenJamiesonJamieson]

Holding up an umbrella is hard work and hard work is for the poor!

[@kwl189]

Nah it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. Only until a right wing party comes in and unleashes chaos. Both parties are incompetent corrupt bastards that rob the tax payer blind.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

@@isabellfox2915maybe you find an umbrella hard to manage.. like Sunak and Johnson.

[@piccalillipit9211]

Ill keep you safe in a dangerous world. said the man in the rain without an umbrella

[@davidburrows499]

We're all paying the Lizz Trust Mortgage Premium. Mortgage interest rates from 2% to 8 % overnight. Labour must bang this home relentlessly.

[@gjthomas9770]

It's Liz .Jeeze ... sort it out 😊

[@norawright807]

Don't forget the renters. (Whose dreams of home ownership have been smashed to smithereens).

[@thedewberry_6399]

@@gjthomas9770 It's actually Lettuce

[@thecrimsondragon9744]

I hadn’t realised it. Thanks a lot Liz, just what we needed 🤦🏻

[@stevev238]

Truss was sabotaged by Sunak and his billionaire friends, who orchestrated wide scale selling to crash markets. She was never given an honest opportunity.

[@stephenodonnell619]

No 10 will be known as "10 Drowning st " from now on.

[@pastyman001]

BREXIT HAS MADE THE PASSPORTS BLUE!! AND THE RIVERS BROWN!!

[@tatata1543]

I’ve also given up, given up any hope that any of them have the first idea what they are doing.

[@juliewoolley8579]

They all.live in there own.bubble,they don't have a clue what it's like to be cold. Let alone have no food in there cupboards etc,even though your working twelve hours aday etc,to keep the UK Britain going,while all on.pip get free council tax ,holidays abroad and a lovely car to drive around in abd the list goes on,welldone rishi etc,stop working and jet the migrants imagrants all.on.pip etc pay for themselves ,we the working class sick of it we are done

[@funbarsolaris2822]

​@@juliewoolley8579Absolute nonsense, most people on PIP get just over £100 a month.... essentially nothing.

[@Zen-rd9np]

@@juliewoolley8579I doubt that highly. Pip is not meant to replace work, that would be universal credit. It’s the reason why it’s not means tested. Pip exists to try and close the gap between the disabled and the able. Pretending it’s anything different is just bigotry. You should really do some research before you start mouthing off about things you know nothing about

[@garyturner5739]

The Westminister bubble to the tune of £91000 a year.

[@richardmckenzie2809]

It took you 4 years to get it 😂

[@ianworley8169]

THANK GOD!! I'm really not sure I could've survived 6-8 months more of this bloody awful government.

[@vasilispatsalidis5683]

Those who will replace him, will be even worse than this absolutely terrible and awful lying man.

[@piccalillipit9211]

£6,000 he has cost ever MP that loses their seat HAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@stevev238]

Starmer would probably be worse- vote REFORM

[@BalmforthGG]

The reform party is one for, nightclub bouncers and jobbing builders labourers. They are sheep.

[@Irieboat]

It's doubtful that Reform will have anywhere near enough candidates to stand...and those they do keep getting de-selected due to showing their true racist/fascist beliefs on examination..so good luck with that.​@@stevev238

[@user-gi5nh6ng7g]

Empty the bins on your way out Sunak

[@albertbrammer9263]

Sunak's children already enrolling in USA private schools for August.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

..and dont let the door of no10 hit you in the ass on the way out.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Just like Labour last time, But they emptied the bank of England

[@sasserine]

Does he have the seven bins, he accused Labour of planning to impose?

[@garyturner5739]

I would of imagined they have been.

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

This feeble Tory government finally comes to an end

[@yousnotright]

Wait until Labour have finished this country, you will be begging for anyone else.

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

​@@yousnotright is that cope?

[@cv990a4]

@@TihetrisWeathersby 99.999% pure crystal blue copium, direct from Heisenberg himself.

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

@@cv990a4 He's gonna need some Los pollos Hermanos with that

[@paulgibbon5991]

@@yousnotright Which of their policies do you disagree with?

[@anthonysullivan3238]

Steve Bray 3 Rishi Sunak 0. Brilliant

[@richardmckenzie2809]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@peteratkin3788]

playing music is a security risk, what? stopped watching after that.

[@jamiebirley]

Completely read my mind, what utter nonsense. When you consider how the Tories have tried to criminalise peaceful protest, its almost perverse to suggest some music (by a protester they literally say they are familiar with) is some kind of security risk.

[@stephenodonnell619]

They should have played singing in the Rain by Gene Kelly

[@chriselliott726]

8:53 She said, 'it's not a security risk is it' so your comment makes no sense whatsoever.

[@jamiebirley]

@@chriselliott726 did you miss the part about stopping watching.... It actually makes perfect sense, I didn't see the part you are referencing because I was so put off by the initial proposition of it being a security risk. Enjoy your centrist slop mate.

[@chriselliott726]

​​@@jamiebirley Trust me I will. Enjoy being enraged by .......well everything. And, for the record, the phrase 'security risk' first appeared where I said it did, the previous comment 8:22 was 'serious security question'. So, as I said, you are not making any sense whatsoever. I guess detail is not your strong point.

[@JAMES_III]

Given up ? 😂😂😂 .... I think you'll fine they're evading the coming event so the opposing party face the music !

[@epilobia1]

How can a man protect us who doesn't even wear a coat in the pouring rain .

[@samuelmelton8353]

Tbf it did come about unexpectedly and not last very long. The rain was also quite sudden.

[@michaelfoy]

​@@samuelmelton8353NO excuses....The "PLAN" should have planned to cover all eventualities ..

[@petyrkowalski9887]

@@samuelmelton8353it was forecast… he couldnt even plan to have an umbrella

[@nicolemurphy2629]

@@petyrkowalski9887 surely it is the job of the PA to grab an umbrella?

[@stevev238]

He should have taken lessons from Steve McClaren

[@PrinceOfCats5]

Maybe Rishi didnt go with an umbrella because, as something leaving number 10, it would have been full of leaks before it was trotted out the door.

[@patriciafanning6643]

Dowden had a serious point about stock-piling food? What?

[@garyturner5739]

Most am on the panel are quite young and impressionable.

[@finianlacy8827]

Post office scandal...government scandal...same thing.

[@badcarlos551]

You can bring inflation down by taxing profits also; there is always a choice as to where the axe falls

[@davidwaddell6063]

“the Blairing (sic) of D:ream’s…” Brilliant!

[@sandraloginovaite4012]

but Rishi never listened, what is he blabbering about 'We would listen...' nah you are not and never were listening

[@hoztravels]

Exactly what security issues over playing music?

[@hg82met]

He's already bought his one-way ticket to California.

[@rusty911s2]

Frankly I'd have been delighted to buy it for him.

[@ianworley8169]

His wife's got the new Gulfstream jet on order.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Like Bliar then

[@stevev238]

Assuming they want him.

[@oitoitoi1]

probably got a tory donor to pay for it like usual

[@BalrogsHaveWings]

It's raining and pouring, everyone is snoring...

[@petersalmon2695]

Half of this lot has never heard of George Formby

[@tatata1543]

He’s been dead for sixty years so that’s probably understandable.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

​@@tatata1543So has Churchill and Buddy Holly.

[@tatata1543]

@@stephfoxwell4620 I hardly think a comparison of a music hall comedian with a wartime prime minister stands up to any scrutiny.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@@tatata1543 Formby was very popular.

[@tatata1543]

@@stephfoxwell4620 Churchill helped win a war. Admittedly he didn’t play the ukulele but I think his achievements are the greater.

[@stephenhodgson3506]

Whoever is leading the Labour campaign should get on the phone as soon as possible to Motley Crue and ask for permission to use their song 'Time for Change'. Then get it played on all the radio stations. Let's hammer it into peoples heads that the time has come for a change from the corrupt incompetent Tories.

[@Speegs23]

As anti-American as Labour is I doubt they'll reach out to an American band for an anthem. It's bad enough the election is on July 4th.

[@user-fu4iw5dx3f]

Labour is certainly a motley cruel!!!

[@Sassssky]

I'm pretty sure party political broadcasts are highly regulated and playing motley cruel might not be the best use of the alloted time lmao

[@stephenhodgson3506]

@@Sassssky who said they have to play it during a party political broadcast it could just be their campaign song.

[@PNETriffid]

Remind me what Labour propose to change?

[@isabellfox2915]

Well he gave up on actually doing anything for the country the day he stepped into number 10 what's changed

[@user-jg2nq6ll4c]

Because that's what the WEF told him to do.

[@garyturner5739]

His been squatting their now for 18 months.

[@EamonCoyle]

I think it was a beautiful metaphor for the state of government and governance in the UK that it seemed to have been organised on an hour notice and the entire thing become a scene from Fawlty Towers !!

[@worldoftrollsdom]

So basically no one is efficient enough to run the country 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@isabellfox2915]

please tell me you haven't just realised that

[@theshamanarchist5441]

@@isabellfox2915 better late than never.

[@garyturner5739]

Apparently so it seems.

[@worldoftrollsdom]

@@isabellfox2915 don't live in the UK so wouldn't care 🤣

[@michaeloconnor9465]

The number one issue for me is immigration. We can't sort out the economy until we sort out mass immigration.

[@danmayberry1185]

From Canada, we're picking up a 1966 vibe. Bank holdiay 5 July, surely.

[@malcolmrickeard6674]

I recon hes not the only one on the wanted list.

[@jsd8981]

Now you have a point that is entirely possible...

[@MegaBrownbanana]

Sunak should have kicked Truss out of the party as Starmer did with Corbyn and repositioned himself as a one nation Tory instead of cosplaying as a Farage tribute act.

[@jayedwards7520]

Perhaps, but Sunak may be in the same ball camp. I see little evidence to suggest he isn't a deeply right wing ideologue

[@garyturner5739]

Yes and with that One Nation Torism got rid at first opportunity Brexit, which is the thing that has destroyed the Conservative Party.

[@domm1341]

And let’s not forget he was beaten by someone who was beaten by a lettuce!

[@DivinaDeCampoTV]

The idea some music is a threat. This is where we are now. Just pure idiocy.

[@gsygsy]

You need to watch Gary’s Economics about the fall in inflation. He points out it was a statistical inevitability, nothing to do with the government.

[@christinemary7101]

He was drowning in tears yesterday

[@garyturner5739]

Good!

[@KevinMole-cj3kl]

Its gonna get real ugly

[@stephfoxwell4620]

What like Anne Widdecombe?

[@catherinemartin6258]

Can’t wait to vote these Tory’s out .

[@emer67]

Sunak made a big splash with that speech 😊

[@anastasiabeaverhausen5467]

We invented heckling.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

His pathetic damp annoucement was a perfect metaphor for his term as PM. Cant even plan to have an umbrella and says labour « dont have a plan ».

[@douglasgraham2774]

Got no balls Sunak.

[@celtickshatriya4306]

Kier doesnt know what they are.😂

[@ronstriebig2749]

Beatles he's a nowhere man song

[@stevev238]

That song always reminds me of Blair: "Doesn't have a point of view!" (At least until the lastest opinion poll tells him what to think)

[@garyturner5739]

Exactly that song could of been written just for him.

[@mathewgrover6455]

I heard tesco is trying to recruit the prime minister to serve behind the fish counter when he leaves number 10.

[@billywoodward584]

I remember Maggie Thatcher calling some Tories wets, well Rishi Sunak was soaking wet, Don't let the door of number 10 hit you on your backside as you leave Government Sunak.

[@redeyejedi68]

I wonder what world the Tories live in.

[@garyturner5739]

It certainly isn't ours by long shot.

[@Lynne76]

Well hes always been a drip.

[@mexplore4740]

If Rishi not win the election send him to Rwanda

[@yousnotright]

The WEF are finished with him.

[@davidmurphy563]

Good job there isn't a tinfoil shortage. 👍

[@user-jg2nq6ll4c]

Bang-on ......... he's done the job of wrecking the UK, just as the WEF put him into Downing St to do.

[@paulgibbon5991]

Spotted the QHead.

[@ripvanwinkle3509]

​@@davidmurphy563..or a shortage of shepherds.

[@immortaljellyfish1051]

The stupid is strong in this one

[@onenote6619]

I dislike Sunak, but in this case he made the right call. He knifed those who were going to knife him. Collateral damage? Yes. But you think he cares? Sunak dipped his toes into UK politics, got burned and is now walking away to America. I don't think he was a competent PM, but I give him points for stone-cold knifing those who were preparing those who were preparing to knife him.

[@rowellwilkinsonwilkinson5235]

You have got to give Sunak an iota of praise. He took over a very chaotic party and steadied it a bit. His predecessors were the worst PMs this country has ever had. Clown Boris was only interested in grandstanding.breaking rules and helping himself and his friends. And scatty Liz and crazy Kwarteng brought a loony-tunes aspect to the party. That's all folks.

[@Sierraomega1991]

Humiliation and dignity are not security issues

[@edwardanthony8929]

California is nice in the fall.

[@Roi_ioR]

GOOD.

[@raynicholl4446]

All those millions of pounds his wife saves on not paying tax in britain and she can't even by him an umbrella,penny pinching starts at home😂

[@elainepitkin3561]

We need people running this country with Britain and it's people in their soul. Where are they? Reform.

[@knightsnight5929]

I am not sure that there is a sufficient number of elderly racists to get reform over the line.

[@stevev238]

Agree totally- though very disappointed that Nigel bottled out of standing. The country doesn't have the 6 years he's planning for at the present rate of things.

[@stevev238]

They need to get some high profile candidates on board- I'd start with Rowan Atkinson. He certainly shares the values, and is almost universally respected.

[@user-cf3cr8ki7e]

Yes so does The Junk party (The Notorious Tories)😂😂

[@MsTravelady]

Freddie talking rot. It is the main Scottish summer holiday period and the time when most Scots go away.

[@EamonCoyle]

Given people from his previous jobs didn't have a massively high opinion of his abilities I think ultimately Rishi Sunak benefitting from his timing in entering politics. He was brought in by David Cameron and earmarked as one for the future so when Brexit happened and the leadership changed he had a high value as an MP without having proved himself. Even his successes as Chancellor were the result of Covid and decisions he was forced to make with "eat out to help out" being his only personal policy and it failing miserably !!

[@nessah23]

Given up now he caused nothing but hardship and poverty.left the sinking ship .

[@stevev238]

He did give support to many with the COVID furlough scheme, but didn't manage things efficiently to avoid saddling us with hundreds of billions of future debt, and a scheme open to fraud and abuse.

[@garyturner5739]

Then afterwards he going to run away to California US, to start a comfy and high paid job in Sikon Valley. That was overwhelming motive in why called it in July.

[@ACCPhil]

Doesn't anyone think it's a bit insensitive to greet a guy who has lost both his hands by clapping?

[@mrD66M]

lot of comments btl who rather not vote for anyone bc they're fed up of politics ...i mean wtf they here for then? Strange folk

[@methanedirigible]

True. Lazy comments like ‘Labour and Conservatives are the same’ ‘I won’t waste my vote’ ‘Labour won’t be any better/will be far worse’ etc etc. Uninformed, ignorant, but addicted to feeling outraged.

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

I'm not that enthusiastic about Kier Starmer as leader of the Labour Party. But compared to our current PM he looks like the best thing since sliced bread. And he does have a strong team behind him.

[@monikamon8790]

They said he wants out cos we r heading to the war and he doesn’t want to prime minister

[@stevev238]

He's ticked the item off on his bucket list and doesn't care any more.

[@grmav2900]

Good riddance fishi rishi !!

[@johnhayward7173]

Where was the Typo?

[@Busybee-tt1qu]

Love the way Pundits who nobody has ever heard of know exactly what’s going on and what’s in people’s minds. Usually people who they have never met and don’t who don’t know them. It might be nice if just once these nobodies start a sentence with the words “in my opinion based on my own prejudices”.

[@Daveza2]

... Are you seriously that naive?

[@Busybee-tt1qu]

@@Daveza2 Are you seriously that brainwashed.

[@Denscaff82]

Because war is on the horizon!

[@garyturner5739]

Going to a coshy job in US isn't conspiracy theories to why Sunak has called the election now instead of waiting until Autumn to do it.

[@Bob-bo8ik]

During the Scottish school holidays. F the jocks.

[@jsd8981]

Not that you would be capable...

[@Speegs23]

18 years of Tories, 13 years of Labour, now 14 years of Tories coming to an end, it's all cyclical. A decade from now Labour will be the political villains again, rinse and repeat.

[@methanedirigible]

Do you expect that one day we will get the ‘perfect’ situation? Trying to compare a nation from 45 years ago with one today isn’t too useful. Things change and people do the best they can. For some this includes asset stripping the nation (deindustrialisation, privatisation) and for others it’s about trying to progress as a society (NHS, national minimum wage). Do you want progress? Or keep the status quo?

[@debb6393]

@@methanedirigiblereally well said 👏 that is the difference. As a family we were much better off under Labour last time because things worked! If you’re someone who is satisfied with the Tories it’s probably because you’re wealthy anyway and public services and NHS don’t mean anything to you although they all benefit from roads and street lighting (two long busy roads here had none for over six months in winter 🙄) .

[@stevev238]

So vote REFORM to break the cycle- nothing to lose.

[@methanedirigible]

@@stevev238 Jesus Christ no - May as well vote Nazi.

[@jayedwards7520]

Reform are libertarian. Everything to lose. Some of us actually believe in social causes and protecting the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Having a safety net. Having a civilised society where we look out for each other rather than just our own wallets

[@KlausT]

The Tories were terribly adamant that the rise in inflation was entirely due to outside factors, so how can they possibly claim that the reduction in inflation is due to them???

[@AlanTufrey]

Let's get a campaign started. Can't Vote Won't Vote. None of them know what we really think. Pass it on.

[@ltm277]

Does having an election during the summer have an affect in voter count?

[@user-lk9lp3br3g]

1966 the british pound was 11deutsch Mark when my mother came from UK with her Parents to germany and 1998 it was roughly 3 Deutsch Mark...that says it all...RIP beloved BRITISH EMPIRE

[@stevev238]

Suppose I were a politician... Suppose I were a crook... Sorry- I repeat myself.

[@peterdixon7734]

It serves him right for nicking Liz Truss's job. Whatever one might think of Liz Truss, she was elected by the due process of a members' vote, a procedure which was transparent and public knowledge.

[@rogerpitcher2636]

Remember what happened to Kinnock. Hubris again?

[@tfive24]

A little correction, each state in America chooses themselves when school starts.

[@garyturner5739]

22.06 'some are quite young MPs and are lowly paid.' My Jaw dropped to floor with that comment from this journalist,given their now paid £91000. a year.

[@franceslothian1319]

No they were talking about assistants and people who work in MP's offices

[@tomharris5169]

Security issue?? Give over hahaha

[@TheRealRedAce]

Such a shame about that "almost"!

[@georgedowson2987]

When listing campaign wobbles - why isn't Boris Johnson hiding in a fridge the top of every single list?

[@owengameing6182]

yes

[@sgtgrash]

I give you Liz Truss: The Conservative partys' very own, Jeremy Corbyn...

[@sasserine]

Nobody suggesting that the recent successful Labour bill, to name nonces on arrest, not charge, might have had some part to play in an earlier election announcement?

[@NicoleCardozo-ly1wi]

How??

[@nathandougherty7058]

Where's Anush?

[@donmac7780]

You're no understanding Sunak's viewpoint. He is a Goldman Sachs Finance Bro. UK PM and Chancellor of the Exchequer are seen as the public Service aspect of his career. Some become US Treasury Secretary, some become head of the IMF or World Bank. His accession to PM is ssen as an accident, and will not be held against him.

[@minimango1]

The track record hasnt been on the side of the tories caring about the lower ranks. Its all about who is will sit in the top seat after the election.

[@san-chil]

PM Rishi was announcing a fight not a tea party. You don't bring brollies to a fight. If you are getting ready for a fight you can't seem to be bothered by rain worth a few drops. And if you call that a rain then I can only presume most Londoners haven't seen one really. Besides, what is wrong with getting wet in rain? It is fun and rejuvenating. Carrying un umbrella for a few drops of rain appears quite lame and cattish.

[@richardmckenzie2809]

Looks like a lot of dandruff or pigeon,not rain droppings