And the keys to the door behind me has started. The General Election is exactly six weeks today, on the 4th ofjuly. And politicians are wasting no time in launching their campaigns. Mr sunak has started a tour of all four nations, in deryshire. Sir keir starmer has kicked off his campaign in gillingham in kent. The Prime Minister is currently en route to another campaign event, but lets hear some of what he had to say at his first major event of the day in derbyshire. Even though theres more work to do and i know it will take time for you all to see the benefits of that, the plan is working and we have the economic stability back. But, with that economic stability comes a choice. Do we want to turn those foundations into a more secure future for you, your families and our country . Do we want to build on that stability . Or do we want to risk all that progress and, as maggie said, go back to square one with more uncertainty and no plan . Thats the choice at this election. Now, when it comes to economic security, you know that i want to do that for you, thats why we are cutting taxes, cutting all of your taxes on average by about £900. The only certainty you get with the labour party when i talk about certainty, is that they will run out of your money and they will put your taxes up, as clear as night follows day. We just wejust ran we just ran the calculations the other week. We just ran the calculations the otherweek. If we just ran the calculations the other week. If you title that up it amounts to £2000. £2000 of tax rises. Thats what i mean when i say want to get your taxes down and give you financial security. You know that the world is more uncertain and dangerous than it has been in decades. You see what china, iran, russia and north korea are doing. Notjust abroad, our proxies are Firing Missiles at airships and interfering with democracy at home, poisoning people on our streets, using migration as a tool of war to threaten the integrity of our borders, damaging our energy security, and these Uncertain Times call for bold action, a clear plan so that we can chart a course to a clear future. So that we can chart a course to a clearfuture. Thats so that we can chart a course to a clear future. Thats what im about delivering for all of you and our country. Delivering for all of you and our count. ,. , ~ delivering for all of you and our count. ,. ,~ , delivering for all of you and our count. ,. , country. Rishi sunak this Morning Sa In country. Rishi sunak this morning saying stick country. Rishi sunak this morning saying stick with country. Rishi sunak this morning saying stick with us country. Rishi sunak this morning saying stick with us because country. Rishi sunak this morning saying stick with us because our. Saying stick with us because our plan is working. Labour leader sir keir starmer also spoke to supporters this morning, he was in gillingham. At long last, the election has been called. The time has come, and the wait is over. And that means, through the power of our democracy, the voters now get to choose the power of the vote, the power each and every one of you has to change our country, our community, and your future for the better. Whether you are a family dealing with the cost of living, struggling with the cost of living, struggling with behaviour and seen chaos under this government, whether you have served your country in whatever way, this election is for you because you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild britain. And we have had 14 years of going round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. Chaos and division, Feeding Chaos and division. And that has a cost. A human cost. In milton keynes, i met will who was a fireman. He has a simple dream. Not an unreasonable dream. He wants to own his own home. He has two extra jobs on top of being a fireman, but he still cant afford it because the chaos and division of this government has robbed him of that dream. That is the price he is paying. Im robbed him of that dream. That is the price he is paying. Robbed him of that dream. That is the price he is paying. Im going to seak to the price he is paying. Im going to speakto ian the price he is paying. Im going to speak to ian watson, the price he is paying. Im going to speak to ian watson, our the price he is paying. Im going to speak to ian watson, our political. Speak to ian watson, our Political Correspondent in just a moment. Speak to ian watson, our Political Correspondent injust a moment. I want to run you through the State Of Play right now in terms of what the numbers tell us. With an election not far away, lets take a look at what the polls are telling us. What you can see here is the average level of Party Support across recent polls. The labour party are on 45 a significant lead over the conservatives on 235. Reform uk are on 11 with the Liberal Democrats on 9 . The greens are on 6 per cent with the Scottish National party on 3 per cent. Joining me now is our Political Correspondent iain watson. We were talking earlier about that Labour Message being all about change, but if you look at the polls, if theyjust do nothing, just stay where they are, that can be enough to get star made the keys to number ten. I think there are opportunities in Labour Dangers for labour. The opportunities as they would see it, the opportunity to win back a win overfor the first time, the opportunity to win back a win over for the first time, often through focus groups and behind closed doors, they have discussions. The key reason that people may change their vote and vote labour this time when they didnt in 2019 is this desire for change, the idea it is time for a change. That is why they are emphasising that message quite so much. Thats the word that keir starmer uses quite so much. At the football club, he used the word chaos. Change seems a good thing and chaos. Change seems a good thing and chaos seems a bad thing. You try to pin chaos and the conservatives. Incidentally, the former Prime Minister lizjust made a Guest Appearance in keir starmer� s remarks. She was in good their role as long as this Election Campaign is going to last. That said, people are only beginning to tune into the General Election now that it has been called. People that dont live and breathe politics, and who could blame them. Every day of their lives. There will be some questions where they will be saying, 0k, lives. There will be some questions where they will be saying, ok, you want change, but from what and to what exactly . So there will be some pressure on labour to set out the policies again to be very clear if that. We got a taste of that from keir starmer today, some very specific qualities, nhs and recruitment of more teachers for example, but the hope is that scrutiny of these policies will somehow put the heat on labour, and they will begin to wilt. But as you are pointing out, he has got a very big question of a poll lead which is impressive going into this General Election. From a conservatives point of view, i think we are going to see, Notjust Third Discussion Of Policy but also about personalities. We will also be putting keir starmer very much in the firing line of their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to yom their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to you. As their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to you. As i their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to you. As i said, their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to you. As i said, is their own campaigns for. Really good to talk to you. As i said, is six to talk to you. As i said, is six weeks, a very long time in politics i would or could change, couldnt it . Joining me are claire pearsall, former conservative advisor and sam white, former political advisor to sir keir starmer. Just looking at the polls, the Labour Leader is the biggest it has been all year. Why is he choosing to do it now . Its been all year. Why is he choosing to do it now . � ,. Been all year. Why is he choosing to do it now . 3. , been all year. Why is he choosing to do it now . � ,. , do it now . Its a very good question do it now . Its a very good question. Westminster do it now . Its a very good question. Westminster yesterday do it now . Its a very good question. Westminster yesterday was full of people who are either quite depressed, angry or confused or a combination of all of those. The timing is strange, i understand that your desire to miss out a Winter Election is very high, and i thoroughly agree with that. But it does seem as though all he has done is grasp hold of some good news, some good Financial News that came out, not the best news but better than we have had previously. So hes taken the economic news, run with it and decided it is now to go to the country. I can kind of see the reasoning behind it, this is good news, if you leave the campaigners later here, there is the potential that things could get worse or immigration plans are pretty scrappy to say the least. Youre not guinness get a flight. More votes will come in the summer. I think all of that concerned would lead to going earlier and i hope for the best. Going earlier and hope for the best. I best. Going earlier and hope for the best. ,. , the best. I notice all the Balling Banners were the best. I notice all the Balling Banners were there the best. I notice all the Balling Banners were there for the best. I notice all the Balling Banners were there for temp i the best. I notice all the balling. Banners were there for temp one the best. I notice all the Balling Banners were there for temp one i banners were there for temp one i notice all the banners with ever keir starmer this morning. But its very different being in opposition and then facing the scrutiny of a Election Campaign. Is labour ready for that scrutiny . For that scrutiny . Yes, labour is absolutely for that scrutiny . Yes, labour is absolutely ready for that scrutiny . Yes, labour is absolutely ready for for that scrutiny . Yes, labour is absolutely ready for this for that scrutiny . Yes, labour is i absolutely ready for this campaign. Far from absolutely ready for this campaign. Far from complacent, labour has a lon far from complacent, labour has a long history far from complacent, labour has a long history of not sealing the deal in an election, so i have spoken to some in an election, so i have spoken to some of in an election, so i have spoken to some of the in an election, so i have spoken to some of the senior team who are itching some of the senior team who are itching to some of the senior team who are itching to go and campaign, but they know that itching to go and campaign, but they know that not a single vote can go without know that not a single vote can go without being one. The party is already without being one. The party is already assuming that there is a chance already assuming that there is a chance of already assuming that there is a chance of an election this year so theyve chance of an election this year so theyve known that for some time, but the theyve known that for some time, but the calling yesterday was surprising for some people and the reason surprising for some people and the reason you surprising for some people and the reason you have so many people trying reason you have so many people trying to reason you have so many people trying to explain that scratching their trying to explain that scratching their heads, but there is only one reason, their heads, but there is only one reason, and their heads, but there is only one reason, and ive done 25 years as political reason, and ive done 25 years as political commentary, theres only one reason political commentary, theres only one reason to call one now than in six months one reason to call one now than in six months is one reason to call one now than in six months is because you think things six months is because you think things are six months is because you think things are gonna be worse in six months things are gonna be worse in six months than they are now. If you think months than they are now. If you think that months than they are now. If you think that on balance this is as good think that on balance this is as good as think that on balance this is as good as its going to get, my plan is not good as its going to get, my plan is not really working, then have a run, is not really working, then have a run. Go is not really working, then have a run. Go now is not really working, then have a run. 90 nova run, go now. Thats interesting,. Iven run, go now. Thats interesting, given what run, go now. Thats interesting, given what we run, go now. Thats interesting, given what we have run, go now. Thats interesting, given what we have heard run, go now. Thats interesting, given what we have heard from | run, go now. Thats interesting, given what we have heard from rishi sunak. He says, my plan is working and stick with me, stick with my plan. But your assessment is actually that it gets worse and not better. , ,. ,. , better. Honestly, after 25 years of olitical better. Honestly, after 25 years of political strategy better. Honestly, after 25 years of political strategy and better. Honestly, after 25 years of political strategy and advice, better. Honestly, after 25 years of| political strategy and advice, there is no political strategy and advice, there is no one political strategy and advice, there is no one saying to the Prime Minister. Is no one saying to the Prime Minister, your plan is working on things minister, your plan is working on things will minister, your plan is working on things will be better in six months so have things will be better in six months so have a things will be better in six months so have a election now. There is no logic so have a election now. There is no logic to so have a election now. There is no logic to that so have a election now. There is no logic to that. The only reason to do it now logic to that. The only reason to do it now is logic to that. The only reason to do it now is that logic to that. The only reason to do it now is that you know your plan is not working. It now is that you know your plan is not working, its only going to get worse not working, its only going to get worse. Immigration is going up, livihg worse. Immigration is going up, Living Standards are still down, and public Living Standards are still down, and Public Services at still crumbling. Things Public Services at still crumbling. Things are Public Services at still crumbling. Things are not going very well. | things are not going very well. I was interested as well in the way thatjust was interested as well in the way that just these early statements that just these early statements that we have had from Rishi Sunak On that we have had from Rishi Sunak On that Campaign Trail in ilkeston this morning, im very keen to sort of. It seems like he wanted to distance himself from the Conservative Party. He has laid out his pitch, his experience as chancellor during the pandemic. He talked about his record. He did not talk much about the conservatives record. Its record. He did not talk much about the conservatives record. The conservatives record. Its one of these very the conservatives record. Its one of these very difficult the conservatives record. Its one of these very difficult things. Of these very difficult things. Whenever you go out to start an Election Campaign, the candidates themselves want to get their name out there. They want to be recognisable within the local area, and i think that is pretty much what the Conservative Party are doing. We heard recently, the Defence Secretary had suggested to candidates that they take that view when they are doing their election literature. So i can understand where the conservatives are coming from and i can see what richey is trying to do i can see what rishi sunak is trying to do. He is trying to make this a Popularity Contest between himself and keir starmer. He wants it to be a Binary Choice for people, saying, stick with me, i have a plan, its going to work. Dont go with other guy because youll be back to square one. So i think that is what he is doing, he is trying to say, ignore everyone else, its between the two of us and im better. � ,. , else, its between the two of us and im better im better. And why would voters cive him im better. And why would voters give him more im better. And why would voters give him more time . Im better. And why would voters give him more time . He im better. And why would voters give him more time . He lay im better. And why would voters| give him more time . He lay down im better. And why would voters give him more time . He lay down his five pledges, didnt he . I think by everyones calculations, hes probably met one of them which is bringing inflation back down towards target, back down to us 2 . If he is not going to achieve those pledges and the time hes already had, why would people back him . I and the time hes already had, why would people back him . And the time hes already had, why would people back him . I think he is auoin to would people back him . I think he is going t