independent treasury officials have costed labour s policies and they amount to a £2000 tax rights for working family. it looks like now the chief treasury civil servant actually wrote to labour at two days ago saying the conservative assessment of their tax plan should not be presented as having been produced by the civil service. the debate sought the labour leader sir keir starmer challenged over hospital waiting lists among other things. with a rant out of the highlights from that debate, this is our political correspondent ian watson. the first debate of the campaign was a head to head clash between the prime minister and the man who wanted to replace him. if you re still wondering about the key messages they want to hammer home at this election, wonder no longer. this election is all about a choice more of the chaos and division we ve seen for the last 14 years, or turning the page and rebuilding with labour. no one knows what labour would actually do. but you know
candidate 80% of the vote went to the labour candidate. you might be questioning why that candidate. you might be questioning why that is candidate. you might be questioning why that is an issue in birmingham. it is why that is an issue in birmingham. it isa why that is an issue in birmingham. it isa very why that is an issue in birmingham. it is a very diverse city, particularly in ladywood. there is a very large particularly in ladywood. there is a very large muslim population. why is that important? there was a very big clue that important? there was a very big due at that important? there was a very big due at the that important? there was a very big clue at the local elections we recently clue at the local elections we recently saw, particularly the west midlands recently saw, particularly the west midlands elections in birmingham. there midlands elections in birmingham. there was midlands elections in birmingham. there was an independent candidate, he stood
so by the time they came to the stage, we will know whether it is going to be the political status quo or which candidate s dream have been busted. t or which candidate s dream have been busted. ., .,, or which candidate s dream have been busted. ., , , busted. i love those political puns. i t to busted. i love those political puns. i try to get busted. i love those political puns. i try to get them busted. i love those political puns. i try to get them out busted. i love those political puns. i try to get them out of busted. i love those political puns. i try to get them out of bristol - i try to get them out of bristol yesterday but i did not get as many. i have some fond memories of glastonbury myself. great to talk to you. let s cross to simon gilbert. talk me through what we expect to be the key issues in the heart of that battleground in birmingham ladywood? quite right, it is at the heart of birmingham. it is in the city centre. birmingham. it is in the city centre, wh
there is another system which means every member between the opposition and the ruling party can be paid up so if someone is not available, a member of the opposition would not vote, but the leader of the welsh conservatives have made it clear they will not be appearing in this circumstance. as you mentioned, the vote is not binding, but during a general election campaign, this is another huge dent to the confidence in the first minister and it is not a great look during this time. thank ou. within the wider general election, it s the battleground seats where the fiercest campaigning is taking place. we re focussing on two of those constituencies today. in somerset, we are looking at a battleground between the conservative party and the liberal democrats in taunton and wellington. and in birmingham, we will be discussing the key issues at play in the central constituency of birmingham ladywood. joining me now, from taunton, is bbc radio somerset s ruth bradley. and from the mailbox, in
to this area of the country from any of the major to this area of the country from any of the major party leaders. if you leave of the major party leaders. if you leave a of the major party leaders. if you leave a vacuum in politics, someone will fail leave a vacuum in politics, someone will fail it. leave a vacuum in politics, someone will fail it, and that is exactly what will fail it, and that is exactly what has will fail it, and that is exactly what has happened this week in birmingham. 0n what has happened this week in birmingham. on monday, we had a visit from birmingham. on monday, we had a visit from george galloway, the leader visit from george galloway, the leader of visit from george galloway, the leader of the workers party of britain leader of the workers party of britain. he was here campaigning, endorsing britain. he was here campaigning, endorsing independent candidates and candidates standing for his party. and the candidates standing for his par