No criminal sanctions for not signing up to national service, says Work and Pension Secretary

People not wanting to sign up for national service would not face criminal sanctions, Work and Pension Secretary Mel Stride said.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “When it comes to the national service, I think this is a great idea. We’re not unique in putting this forward, it’s something that for example, is happening in Sweden, where those young people that go through their version of what we’re suggesting, 80% of them actually come out the other end of say they would recommend doing it to a friend.

“And I think this is a real opportunity for young people to get experience that they wouldn’t otherwise have, to build friendships, to build skills, to build confidence, the kind of building blocks that will set them up give them resilience, to go forward in their lives.”

He added that the armed forces element of the policy would “provide the country with additional resilience in what is a much more uncertain world”.

Mr Stride continued: “There is no question of, for example, as some have said some kind of criminal sanction and people getting arrested and paying fines, and all that.

“We will set up a royal commission that will look into what kind of incentives there should be for people to engage, and also what kind of sanctions might be appropriate for those who decide not to, and also what kind of situations might mean that people would be exempt from that.”

Labour will bring back growth, Reeves to tell businesses

A Labour government will be both pro-business and pro-worker, Rachel Reeves is set to promise in her first major election speech today.

The shadow chancellor is expected to tell business leaders that, having brought business back to Labour, the party can now “bring growth back to Britain”.

She will say: “By bringing business back to Britain we can deliver a better future for working people.” Under Sir Keir Starmer, Labour has tried to woo businesses as a way of demonstrating it can be trusted with the economy.

Those efforts have brought success, with business attendance at recent party conferences higher than under Jeremy Corbyn and wealthy businessmen donating more to Labour’s war chest. But in her speech on Tuesday, former Bank of England analyst Ms Reeves is expected to stress the need for a partnership with business, government and workers.

She will say Labour offers “a government that is pro-worker and pro-business, in the knowledge that each depends upon the success of the other”. Her remarks come after Labour faced a backlash over an apparent rebranding of its “New Deal for Workers”, with Britain’s largest trade union Unite warning that the party must “stick to its guns” on workers’ rights.

Five Labour MPs say they will stand down at the General Election

Five Labour MPs, including shadow ministers, have announced that they will stand down from parliament at the General Election.

Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party John Cryer joined Kevin Brennan, Barbara Keeley, John Spellar and Virendra Sharma in announcing on Monday that he would not be contesting his seat.

Mr Cryer said he wanted to spend more time with his young children and that the next parliament was “likely to be extremely busy”. The MP for Leyton and Wanstead added that the next government would “inherit a very tough situation”.

In a letter to his constituents, posted on social media, Mr Cryer said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision, perhaps the most difficult I have ever had to make. It has been an immense privilege to have served as your MP for the past 14 years. As you may know, I have two young children and I feel I should try to spend more time with them.”

Mr Cryer, who was MP for Hornchurch from 1997 to 2005, is married to Labour’s deputy national campaign co-ordinator and MP for Lewisham West and Penge Ellie Reeves.

SNP urge ‘Scottish National Service’ to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Tories

The SNP is urging voters to complete a “Scottish National Service” – by voting against Rishi Sunak and his Conservatives.

It comes after the Prime Minister announced that if he wins the July 4 General Election, he will bring in a new policy which would see 18-year-olds either having to join the military for 12 months or voluntary work for one weekend a month for a year.

That could see teenagers either helping local fire, police and NHS services, or potentially working with charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly people.

Speaking about his first major policy pledge of the campaign, Mr Sunak said the initiative would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world” and give young people a “shared sense of purpose”. However, SNP candidate for Gordon and Buchan Richard Thomson claimed the “Sunak service” proposed by the Tories would take the country “back to the 1950s”.

He said: “Not content with destroying the hopes and aspirations of a generation of young people, the Tories now want to take them back to the 1950s with their National Service plans. Scotland wants no part in a Sunak service, which the Tories have even admitted will slash tens of millions of pounds of ‘shared prosperity’ funding to Scotland.”

Labour’s Ashworth blasts Sunak’s tax break plan for pensioners

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth questioned why people would trust Rishi Sunak after he offered a £2.4 billion tax break for pensioners.

He said: ”Why would anyone believe the Tories and Rishi Sunak on tax after they left the country with the highest tax burden in 70 years?”

Labour’s own claims to economic credibility received a boost with a letter signed by 121 senior business figures including chef Tom Kerridge and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in The Times.

The shadow chancellor will use a speech in the East Midlands to set out how Labour will be both pro-business and pro-worker. “If we can bring business back to Labour, then I know we can bring business back to Britain,” Rachel Reeves will say. “To bring investment back to Britain. To bring growth back to Britain. To bring hope back to Britain.”

The Prime Minister promised to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners, giving them a tax cut worth around £95 in 2025-26, rising to £275 in 2029-30.

Mr Sunak’s new tax policy would see the age-related allowance rise in line with the increase to the state pension under a “triple lock plus” guarantee. That would mean that both the state pension and the allowance – the amount that can be earned before being liable to income tax – rising by inflation, average wages or 2.5%, whichever is highest.

Labour leader Keir Starmer urges voters to end years of Tory chaos and self interest

Keir Starmer has urged voters to end years of disastrous Tory rule and choose stability under Labour.

Starmer said the election was a question of: “Who’s side are you on?” and promised to put the needs of working people at the heart of every decision after Labour win power on July 4.

In his first major campaign speech, the Labour leader vowed to stand up for working people, promising he could be trusted on the economy and on national security. Speaking in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex, Mr Starmer made an appeal to undecided voters.

• Read the full story here.

Rishi Sunak ordered to publish secret analysis showing Universal Credit cut impact

Rishi Sunak has been ordered to publish secret documents showing the impact of his cut to Universal Credit.

As Chancellor, the PM ignored pleas from campaigners including footballer Marcus Rashford by scrapping the £20-per-week uplift introduced during the pandemic.

The government has refused to release an analysis examining the impact of not extending the support. But in a victory for the Mirror, the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) has now ordered the Treasury to disclose the details.

• Read the full story here.

Rishi Sunak gambled on early election because his plan is ‘failing’, Rachel Reeves says

Rachel Reeves will today accuse Rishi Sunak of gambling on an early general election because his economic plan is failing.

In her first major speech of the General Election campaign, the Shadow Chancellor will promise to “bring growth back to Britain”. Ms Reeves, who has spent years wooing business, will say: “If we can bring business back to Labour, then I know we can bring business back to Britain.”

She will also blast the Tories accusing them of having left national debt more than double with the average mortgage holder now paying £240 more a month.

• Read the full story here.

Labour backed by 120 business leaders

A coalition of 120 business leaders have backed the Labour party in the General Election.

Signatories to a new joint letter sent to the Times include current and former bosses of a number of big-name brands, including JP Morgan, Heathrow, Aston Martin, JD Sports and Iceland.

It comes ahead of a major speech by Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves tomorrow, where she is expected to pledge that the party will be “pro-worker and pro-business”.

Rishi Sunak resurrects tax cut for pensioners his own party scrapped

Pensioners will be given a tax break worth £2.4 billion a year, Rishi Sunak is expected to promise.

The Prime Minister will announce on Tuesday that from April next year the income tax personal allowance for pensioners will be increased in line with the triple lock, as he continues the Conservatives’ election campaign.

The pledge would mean both the state pension and pensioners’ tax-free allowance will always rise in line with the highest of earnings, wages or 2.5%.

Billed the “triple lock plus”, the policy is estimated to cost £2.4 billion a year by 2029/30, a price tag which mirrors Mr Sunak’s proposed national service duty for all 18-year-olds, billed at £2.5 billion a year.

Rishi Sunak resurrects tax cut for pensioners his own party scrapped

Keir Starmer urges voters to end years of Tory chaos and self interest

Keir Starmer has urged voters to end years of disastrous Tory rule and choose stability under Labour.

Starmer said the election was a question of: “Who’s side are you on?” and promised to put the needs of working people at the heart of every decision after Labour win power on July 4.

In his first major campaign speech, the Labour leader vowed to stand up for working people, promising he could be trusted on the economy and on national security.

Speaking in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex, Mr Starmer made an appeal to undecided voters.

He said: “The choice is yours. You can stop the chaos, you can turn the page, you can join with us, and together we can rebuild our country.”

Voters faced a choice between “service or self-interest, stability or chaos, a Labour Party that has changed, or a Tory Party that has run away from the mainstream”.

Keir Starmer urges voters to end years of Tory chaos and self interest

‘Labour has verve and drive while the Tories are stuck defending National Service gimmick’

The choices facing the nation ahead of the general election could not be sharper: while Labour surge ahead with solid promises, the Tories are either floundering in their own mess – or on holiday instead of campaigning.

Labour has verve and drive while the Tories are stuck defending National Service gimmick

Rishi Sunak says California move ‘simply not true’

The Tory leader has denied again that he will be moving to California in the event of a Tory defeat – claiming the reports are ‘simply not true’.

It follows criticism from Boris Johnson ally Lord Zac Goldsmith, who said he believes the majority of Tory MPs will lose their jobs on July 4.

Lord Goldsmith wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The hope is that when Sunak disappears off to California in a few weeks there are at least some decent MPs left around which to rebuild”

But Sunak was forced onto the defensive, telling ITV’s Robert Peston: “It’s simply not true, I mean, it’s just simply not true.”

Tory National Service announcement branded ‘desperate’ as Labour vow to spend money on NHS

In his speech earlier today, Keir Starmer branded Rishi Sunak’s National Service policy announcement as “desperate” – and said he’d spend the money on the NHS instead.

He told an audience in Lancing, Sussex: “The desperation of this national service policy – a teenage dad’s army – paid for by cancelling levelling-up funding and money from tax avoidance that we would use to invest in our NHS.”

“All elections are a choice and this is a clear one: levelling up and the NHS with Labour. Or more desperate chaos with the Tories. That is the choice.”

Keir Starmer says Labour will ‘choose service over self-interest’

A new tweet from Sir Keir Stamer this evening has seen him vow to “choose service over self-interest” in a dig at the Tory government’s record.

The Labour leader has been on the campaign trail again today, giving a major speech in Sussex and meeting voters later in the day.

My Labour government will choose service over self-interest. Stability over chaos.

Good to spend time in Barnet today speaking with former Tory voters about Labour’s plan for change. pic.twitter.com/FXLmU8SGmH

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 27, 2024

Furious Tories say Rishi Sunak ‘must be stopped’ over National Service

Furious Tories have lashed out at “desperate” Rishi Sunak in a series of scathing WhatsApp messages about the controversial National Service plan.

Incensed right wingers said the PM “must be stopped” as they dismissed the plan as a gimmick.

The Mirror has seen messages sent to regional WhatsApp groups for members of activist group the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO).

They warn that Mr Sunak’s attempt to woo voters make him look “out of touch” and dismiss the unexpected policy as a “stunt”.

Furious Tories say Rishi Sunak ‘must be stopped’ over National Service

Rishi Sunak ordered to publish secret analysis showing Universal Credit cut impact

Rishi Sunak has been ordered to publish secret documents showing the impact of his cut to Universal Credit.

As Chancellor, the PM ignored pleas from campaigners including footballer Marcus Rashforcd by scrapping the £20-per-week uplift introduced during the pandemic.

The government has refused to release an analysis examining the impact of not extending the support. But in a victory for the Mirror, the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) has now ordered the Treasury to disclose the details.

The support – worth around £1,000 a year – was introduced in March 2020 as a temporary measure to help the most vulnerable families through the Covid crisis.

Rishi Sunak ordered to publish secret analysis showing Universal Credit cut impact

Top Tory will not stand for election after shock mayoral defeat

Former West Midlands mayor Andy Street – who lost to Labour’s Richard Parker in a shock defeat earlier this month – has confirmed he will not seek a seat representing this party at the General Election.

He said: “I have always said that I never wanted to go into Westminster, and that the job as Mayor of the West Midlands was the right political role for me.

“But the truth is that since losing the Mayoral election earlier this month I haven’t been able to shake the overwhelming sense of duty to continue to serve in a public role.

“I have therefore thought long and hard about whether to try to stand for Parliament at the forthcoming General Election and become an MP. Ultimately however I have decided against it.

“Being an MP is a job of great importance, but it has just never been for me. Truthfully I have been an executive leader for 20 years now, and would find it extremely difficult to step back from that at this time.”

‘Rishi Sunak’s National Service garbage is the latest sign of Tory desperation’

The Mirror’s Assistant Editor Darren Lewis has blasted Rishi Sunak’s National Service pledge – and says the Prime Minister conveniently forgets his government has utterly failed young people over the past 14 years.

You can read his full column below.

Rishi Sunak’s National Service garbage is the latest sign of Tory desperation

Internet reacts to Rishi’s dribbling fail

Rishi Sunak’s hapless attempt at dribbling a ball has not escaped the attention of people online – with the Labour party the latest to poke fun at his ‘skills’ this evening.

Embarrassing pic.twitter.com/w6vcwy5RTR

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 27, 2024

Rishi Sunak forced to deny he will flee to California

Rishi Sunak has said he is committed to a whole term of office as an MP – even if the Tories lose the election.

It comes after Tory peer Lord Zac Goldsmith suggested he would flee to California.

Speaking about the party’s future after a likely election defeat, he said: “The hope is that when Sunak disappears off to California in a few weeks there are at least some decent MPs left around which to rebuild.”

The Prime Minister later told reporters: “I am surprised that Lord Goldsmith, who I don’t think I have spoken to in a very long time, seems to have some intimate knowledge of my family’s arrangements.

“But no, of course not. My kids are at school, this is my home, and as I said earlier my football team has got promoted to the Premier League (Southampton) so I intend to spend many more happy occasions in St Mary’s watching them.”

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Tory MP’s support for Reform is latest embarrassment for Rishi Sunak

A departing Tory MP has dealt a hammer blow to Rishi Sunak by endorsing Reform UK to win her seat.

Lucy Allan gave her backing to Alan Adams, who is standing for the rival party in Telford. Tory HQ swiftly suspended her – but Ms Allan said she had resigned to support Mr Adams rather than Conservative Hannah Campbell.

She said: “I have resigned from the Conservative Party to support Alan Adams to be Telford’s next MP. I have known Alan for many years and he is genuinely the best person for the job.

“I want the best for Telford and I can’t just let the Labour candidate have a walkover.” She won the seat in 2019 with a majority of 10,941, but in 2017 the Conservatives won by just 720 – and she first won the seat in 2015 with a majority of 730.

Tory MP quits and backs Reform to replace her in hammer blow to Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak nearly falls over as he shows off ‘shocking’ football skills

Rishi Sunak’s turbulent start to the General Election campaign has continued as he was filmed dribbling though cones.

The under-pressure PM’s football skills were branded “shocking” by an onlooker, who quipped: “He’s as good at football as he is at being Prime Minister.” Mr Sunak attempted to run with the ball on a visit to Chesham United Football Club as he hit the campaign trail.

Youngsters looked on as the PM nearly tripped over the ball. A smiling Mr Sunak – a fan of Southampton FC, who were promoted to the Premier League on Sunday – was then shown shaking hands with young footballers.

The football club is in the Chesham & Amersham constituency – a seat the Lib Dems won from the Conservatives in a by-election three years ago. After footage was shared by ITV reporter Harry Horton, one viewer commented: “Controls the football like he controls his party.”

Rishi Sunak nearly falls over as he shows off ‘shocking’ football skills

Keir Starmer pays tribute to outgoing MP

Sir Keir Starmer has tweeted a tribute to long-standing Labour MP John Spellar after he announced he would be stepping down after the election.

John was first elected to Parliament in the 1982 Birmingham Northfield by-election, and went on to serve in a number of roles in Tony Blair’s cabinet after becoming MP for Warley in 1997.

Keir wrote on Twitter: “Without John Spellar the Labour Party would not be in the position it is today, changed and ready to serve the British people.

“John’s unwavering commitment to his constituents and our movement has spanned an incredible 30 years. I wish him well for his next chapter.”

Leaked Tory memo blasts MPs and ministers

Rishi Sunak has insisted he takes responsibility for the Conservatives’ election campaign after a leaked memo blasted MPs and ministers over a lack of effort.

Staff at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) accused MPs of going on holiday, refusing to knock on doors and focusing on ministerial responsibilities rather than the election effort.

News of the leak emerged as Government minister Steve Baker told the Mirror he had continued with his foreign holiday plans despite Rishi Sunak calling a snap election back in the UK.

The memo, obtained by The Times, said a “key theme” was that candidates had failed to “get behind” the campaign after Mr Sunak surprised Westminster by calling a July 4 General Election.

Steve Baker says he will do campaign work on Greece holiday

This morning, Steve Baker published a blog post entitled “Where I Am”.

But he didn’t mention that “where he is” is on a beach in Greece.

The minister defended his decision not to cancel his holiday plans, stating: “The Prime Minister told everyone we could go on holiday and then called a snap election.

“So I’ve chosen to do my campaign work in Greece.”

Tory minister accused of giving up after jetting off to Greece on holiday

A Tory minister has been accused of giving up after jetting off to Greece instead of campaigning in his marginal constituency.

Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker defiantly told The Mirror that he had continued with his holiday plans despite Rishi Sunak calling a snap election.

He said that before he booked his break, he and fellow MPs were assured by the PM that it would be ok to head off to the beach this week.

Labour claims it is a sign of MPs giving up on trying to get re-elected. Mr Baker has a slim majority of just 4,214, and a leaked recording reveals he admitted earlier this month that he might lose his seat.

His Labour opponent, Emma Reynolds, told The Mirror: “I am staggered that Steve Baker has decided to go on holiday in the middle of the General Election campaign. He clearly doesn’t care about his constituents.

“It’s time for change in Wycombe. During this campaign I will be fighting day in, day out for every vote to deliver a better future for Wycombe.”

Tory minister accused of giving up after jetting off to Greece on holiday

How many Tory MPs are standing down at this election?

A record 83 Tory MPs have confirmed they will be leaving the House of Commons after the General Election.

Michael Gove and Andrew Leadsom were two of the latest big names to announce their departure at the weekend – and join an exit list including Theresa May, Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab, Nadhim Zahawi, and Ben Wallace.

Full list of MPs standing down ahead of General Election – check map

Another bad day for the Tories as own MP supports Reform

Bank holiday Monday has showed no sign of improvement for Rishi Sunak’s beleaguered Conservative party on the campaign trail.

The fallout from his National Service has continued, amid questions over whether the army could cope with vast numbers of conscripted 18-year-olds.

And things have gone from bad to worse for the party this afternoon with the news that Telford MP Lucy Allan has backed Reform UK, leading to her suspension.