six means biological six. now, labour like to talk the country down. they want to pretend that everything would be great if they have never left office and pretend that somehow we have not achieved anything, but that is just simply not right. remember the note that said there is no money left, when labour left office in 2010, unemployment was higher than when they came into government. public and private debt was accumulating, the banking system is broken, the deficit was ballooning, and even labour accepted that after years of spending, significant cuts in expenditure were required. they went into the 2010 election admitting they would have to make cuts. labour left britain on the brink of bankruptcy. and worse, the money that labour had put into public service had not been accompanied by sufficient reform. labour's welfare system was more about disguising how many people are out of work than actually getting people back into employment, and for all the money that labour had put into education, our schools were falling down international league tables, and almost half of labour's increase in the nhs budget has been swallowed up by higher pay and more bureaucracy. and despite that awful inheritance, we have delivered the third highest rate of economic growth in the g7, created 4 million jobs, 800 a day, with kemi creating new freedoms, and we have now become the fourth biggest exporter in the world and we conservatives under david took the difficult decisions to repair the public finances and control the national debt, and that meant that when covid hit, we could support people and businesses with furlough, deliver the fastest vaccine roll—out in the world, and provide record funding to the nhs. we reformed welfare by capping benefits and introducing universal credit. the reforms mean that work always pays. we have reduced absolute poverty, child poverty, pensioner poverty. we have cut carbon emissions by a third, maintained our position as nato's second biggest defence power, and boris and ben and grant put the country at the forefront of defending ukraine against russian aggression because britain will always stand up to tyrants. applause we have halved violent and neighbourhood crime thanks to the work of home secretaries from theresa to priti to james, and improved standards in our schools. thanks to a generation of inspiring teachers, english schoolchildren are not just the teachers, english schoolchildren are notjust the best readers in the united kingdom, they are the best in the western world. we strengthened our united kingdom, with the forces of separatism in retreat. we legislated for equal marriage and now it is not even surprising for so many people from diverse backgrounds to sit around our cabinet table. i know you will agree with me we may not have got over them perfectly right, but that is a record i am proud of. cheering this country has a proud past and a bright future. and i believe in that innate confidence in ourselves that has always run through our island story. and just as we have always created, invented and discovered in our past, so we can be optimistic about what we achieve in the future. but i'm not blind to the fact that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me. things have not always been easy, and we have not always been easy, and we have not got everything right. but we are the only party in this election with the only party in this election with the big ideas to make our country a better place to live. labour offer no solutions to our problems. they would only make them worse. and all vote for reform or the liberal democrats does is allow labour to do whatever they want to our country. do not forget that keir starmer is asking you to hand him a blank cheque when he hasn't said what he will buy with it or how much it is going to cost you. just think about what labour would mean. higher taxes for every working household. can you afford £2000 more in taxes? french style labour laws that will lead to higher unemployment and more strikes? a ballooning welfare bill, higher immigration and more net zero costs? to their policies will mean as they let slip this weekend bigger class sizes because of their desire to slap vat on school fees. labour would cave in to the demands of the public sector unions, putting up your taxes to meet the unions�* extortionate demand, and keir starmer will also use that blank check to change the rules of the game to his benefit, giving 16—year—olds the vote not because he believes they are adults, he doesn't want to serve on a tsiori or do any of the other things that adults do, but because he thinks they will vote for him, and that will make it harder to remove him from power. if labour win this time, they will change the rules so that they are in power for a very long time. change the rules so that they are in powerfor a very long time. so if you don't know what labour will do, don't vote for it. if you are concerned about what keir starmer isn't telling you, don't vote for him. and if you are worried about what labour's £2094 of tax rises would mean for yourfamily�*s what labour's £2094 of tax rises would mean for your family's tax security, don't vote for them. applause in conclusion, let me say this. we conservatives will always stand for our values, for aspiration, for freedom, for opportunity, for security. your conservative mp will deliver lower taxes, lower immigration, protected pensions and a sensible approach to net zero. 0ur a sensible approach to net zero. our country wants a clear plan and bold action. 0ur country wants a clear plan and bold action. our country needs a secure future, and it is this conservative manifesto that will deliver it. applause cheering thank you. thank you, thank you. right, we've got lots of questions from the media to come, so the fun hasn't stopped. here we go. let's start with gb news. ~ , , ., , news. prime minister, christopher hoe news. prime minister, christopher ho -e from news. prime minister, christopher h°pe from bbc— news. prime minister, christopher hope from bbc news. _ news. prime minister, christopher hope from bbc news. you - news. prime minister, christopher hope from bbc news. you stand l news. prime minister, christopher| hope from bbc news. you stand in front of— hope from bbc news. you stand in front of a _ hope from bbc news. you stand in front of a slogan saying clear plan, bold action, secure future. why not be bold _ bold action, secure future. why not be bold and — bold action, secure future. why not be bold and commit to pulling out of the echr _ be bold and commit to pulling out of the echr if it keeps stopping you stopping — the echr if it keeps stopping you stopping the small boats?- the echr if it keeps stopping you stopping the small boats? thank you, chris. i stopping the small boats? thank you, chris- i have — stopping the small boats? thank you, chris. i have been _ stopping the small boats? thank you, chris. i have been clear _ stopping the small boats? thank you, chris. i have been clear throughout i chris. i have been clear throughout that i believe that our plan is compliant with all our international obligations, but i've also been clear, and the manifest was crystal clear, and the manifest was crystal clear, that if we are forced to choose between the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the echr, and our country's national security, then i'm going to choose our country bosman national security every single time. applause next, can we go to the ft. prime minister, george _ next, can we go to the ft. prime minister, george parker- next, can we go to the ft. prime minister, george parker from - next, can we go to the ft. primej minister, george parker from the minister, george parkerfrom the financiat— minister, george parkerfrom the financial times. minister, george parkerfrom the financialtimes. i represent —— might— financialtimes. i represent —— might you _ financialtimes. i represent —— might you represent a northern seat, richmond. _ might you represent a northern seat, richmond, you have seen keir starmer campaigning in the north of england. to reflect _ campaigning in the north of england. to reflect on the last five years and consider you may have let down the areas _ and consider you may have let down the areas you promised to level up, and whether indeed there a reckoning coming? _ and whether indeed there a reckoning cominu ? , ., ., �* and whether indeed there a reckoning comina? . ., ., �* ~ ., and whether indeed there a reckoning comina? , ., ., �* ~ ., coming? george, i don't know if you were here before, _ coming? george, i don't know if you were here before, i— coming? george, i don't know if you were here before, i don't— coming? george, i don't know if you were here before, i don't know- coming? george, i don't know if you were here before, i don't know if. were here before, i don't know if you heard the speech from the conservative mayor of teesside who is right here... cheering i will take a second to pay tribute to ben and all our fantastic mps i will take a second to pay tribute to ben and all ourfantastic mps in the tees valley for what they have delivered for the region. then gave you a flavour of it before, because we have been working together since i became an mp. you talk about the north. teesside was an area that labour neglected for decades. took it completely for granted. and it was ben and our mps and councillors that transformed the region, and i was fortunate to be able to work with them to help do that. but if you go round teesside now, every high street and town centre, stockton, darlington, hartlepool, is getting investment from our various levelling up funds. the new brexit enabled freeport is creating unbelievable high—qualityjobs in unbelievable high—quality jobs in the unbelievable high—qualityjobs in the industries of the future. the treasury campus is in darlington, and as ben said, it is one thing for treasury campus to be in the north, but it is not in newcastle, manchester, leeds, it is in darlington, because town matter, which is why we are also backing 130 towns across the country including in the north for £20 million each, so local people can invest in their priorities. but more than any of that, what ben and the team have done, what the conservatives have done, what the conservatives have done, is give everyone in teesside a sense of confidence and optimism about their futures. about theirfutures. applause next can we go to the bbc. thank ou, next can we go to the bbc. thank you. prime _ next can we go to the bbc. thank you, prime minister. _ next can we go to the bbc. thank you, prime minister. chris- next can we go to the bbc. thank| you, prime minister. chris mason, bbc news. for much of the last 18 months, you have tried absolutely everything to revive conservative fortunes and not much appears to have worked. can we rename this document is your last chance saloon? what you think is in this that can shift things that perhaps haven't shifted up until now? thank you. chris, i have been very clear when i got thisjob, we have been for a very difficult time as a country. but thanks to the hard work and resilience of the british people and the actions of the government, we have truly turned a corner. inflation back to normal, the economy growing, wages rising, energy bill is falling. and that is why this election is right to talk about the future. the future that we want to deliver for our country is one where above all families will have financial security because their taxes are being cut. look at what this manifesto contains. a tax cut that everyone in work as we have the right of national insurance. a tax cut for the self—employed, abolishing the rate of self—employed national insurance in the next parliament. a tax cut for pensioners, protecting the state pensioners, protecting the state pension from paying labour's retirement tax in the next parliament because we believe in a country where you have dignity in retirement. a tax cut for parents, because we want to support working families, making sure that they get support, and a tax cut for all young, aspiring homeowners as we abolish first—time buyer stamp duty up abolish first—time buyer stamp duty up to £425,000. abolish first—time buyer stamp duty up to £105,000. that is bold action from this conservative government, this conservative party, to deliver a more secure future. but it doesn't just stop with our tax—cutting agenda. we are spreading opportunity through 100,000 new apprenticeships in a modern form of national service. we are ensuring our border security with a new legal migration cap in parliament and a plan to get the flights of to rwanda, and we are ensuring our country cosmic energy security, but also doing it in a proportionate way that lowers people's bills, does not saddle them with extra costs in an ideological pursuit. that is our manifesto and there is a clear choice at this election. we are the only party putting bold action on the table to transform our country. labour have nothing to say about the problems our country faces and how best to address them, nothing. keir starmer is asking for a blank cheque, and he will not tell people which taxes he is going to put up that are ultimately going to cost them £2000. so if you want to secure future, if you want lower taxes, if you want your pension is protected, and you want your border secure, vote conservative at this election. applause time radio listeners often tell us they are — time radio listeners often tell us they are fed up, nothing works. they care a _ they are fed up, nothing works. they care a lot _ they are fed up, nothing works. they care a lot about the services they use every— care a lot about the services they use every day. there is nothing in this manifesto about the billions of pounds _ this manifesto about the billions of pounds of— this manifesto about the billions of pounds of cuts to local councils, justice. — pounds of cuts to local councils, justice, prisons that are coming down _ justice, prisons that are coming down the — justice, prisons that are coming down the track in the years ahead. what _ down the track in the years ahead. what is _ down the track in the years ahead. what is your— down the track in the years ahead. what is your plan to prevent the nteens— what is your plan to prevent the nreans of— what is your plan to prevent the means of pounds of cuts? investment in day-to-day — means of pounds of cuts? investment in day-to-day public— means of pounds of cuts? investment in day-to-day public services - means of pounds of cuts? investment in day-to-day public services will - in day—to—day public services will continue to rise in the new parliament, continued to rise... but we should look for efficiencies in the public sector, what we have seen is that public sector productivity since the pandemic has declined. quite significantly. as the chester set out a little while ago if we recover the levels of efficiency we had a few years ago, nothing heroic, nothing we haven't done before, that will free up £20 billion. £20 billion that could be reinvested in public services on everyone's behalf without raising a penny of the taxes, think that is the right priority. recoverwhere taxes, think that is the right priority. recover where we used to be before the pandemic, focus on efficiency, productivity, you can see that on the productivity planned for the nhs we have fully funded, that unlocks billions of pounds to reinvest back into the front line to deliver better, high quality services for people because of course i want to see high quality services and as a conservative i don't want to boost taxes to have to go don't want to boost taxes to have to 9° up don't want to boost taxes to have to go up when we can get efficiencies to fund them. applause itv. prime minister, toys and government since 2010 have been pushing _ government since 2010 have been pushing up the tax burden, share of national— pushing up the tax burden, share of national income taken, by tax to levels _ national income taken, by tax to levels we — national income taken, by tax to levels we haven't seen since the late 1940s. why should anybody believe — late 1940s. why should anybody believe you when you say you are going _ believe you when you say you are going to — believe you when you say you are going to cut tax?— believe you when you say you are going to cut tax? simply, robert, because we _ going to cut tax? simply, robert, because we already _ going to cut tax? simply, robert, because we already have! - because we already have! cheering i am upfront with people, i had to take difficult decisions after covid, that was the right thing to do because when i was chance that i thought the right thing to do was porting our country through covid, the nhs, the further scheme, the energy crisis in europe, when it hit was help everyone with their energy bills, that doesn't come for free and everyone watching knows that. don't build up the long—term financial security of the country by shying away from difficult decisions like that. that is not the type of leader i am, i made the difficult decisions, now our plan has worked, inflation is down, wages are rising, the economy is growing, we have started cutting people's taxes, everyone in work is getting a £900 tax at an average thanks to what jeremy has done, cutting taxes for businesses, the most attractive country in the world for businesses to invest, something hundreds of other leading businesses describe as the single most transformational thing we can do for growth and productivity in our country, delivered it. people can trust me when i say we are going to keep cutting their taxes, one because we set out a clear plan to pay for it, because i think there is an opportunity, againjust to reverse some of the damage covid has done to free up an enormous amount of savings we can reinvest in tax cuts but also because that is the type of country believing, that is why you can trust me, i believe in a country where hard work is rewarded. that is why i want to cut taxes for hard working, encouraging small businesses, risk—taking entrepreneurship. i want to cut taxes for the self—employed, everyone should have the ability to own their own homes i want to cut taxes on stamp duty. i believe if you work hard all your life you should have dignity and security in retirement which is why we want to cut taxes for pensioners. and there is nothing more precious than life and my family and i'm sure that is the same for everyone in the room which is why want to support families and cut tax for them too, thatis families and cut tax for them too, that is what you can trust me. applause the daily mail. you are targeting the self-employed _ the daily mail. you are targeting the self-employed year, - the daily mail. you are targeting the self-employed year, do - the daily mail. you are targeting the self-employed year, do you | the daily mail. you are targeting - the self-employed year, do you think the self—employed year, do you think white _ the self—employed year, do you think white van _ the self—employed year, do you think white van man can swing the selection _ white van man can swing the selection for you and in the wider picture. — selection for you and in the wider picture, there is a lot to say and hear— picture, there is a lot to say and hear atrout— picture, there is a lot to say and hear about tax, but nothing about the overall— hear about tax, but nothing about the overall burden in case i have nrissed — the overall burden in case i have nrissed it. — the overall burden in case i have missed it, will overall taxes be lower— missed it, will overall taxes be lower by— missed it, will overall taxes be lower by the time you have finished? jason, _ lower by the time you have finished? jason, because of the measures that are announced in the manifesto, you can see the document afterwards, the tax burden will be about 1% lower in every single year compared to the four catches so at the spring budget a couple of months ago thatjeremy outlined. he talked about a particular group, i think there is something special about those who are self—employed, i come from a small business, myself, those people setting out on their own taking that risk, doing something incredibly brave, and our economy is built on people like that. they do not have the security of knowing that the paycheque is coming at the end of every month, they are out there working incredibly hard to provide a better life for their in the family hoping they can start like that, grow something bigger. i think that is enormously brave and they deserve all our admiration and our support, thatis all our admiration and our support, that is why we want to abolish the main rate of self—employment national insurance. demonstrating that we want to have security, the values in the type of economy will want to build. applause telegraph. manifestos are about olicies telegraph. manifestos are about policies and _ telegraph. manifestos are about policies and politics, _ telegraph. manifestos are about policies and politics, there - telegraph. manifestos are about policies and politics, there is - telegraph. manifestos are about| policies and politics, there is four weeks _ policies and politics, there is four weeks ago. — policies and politics, there is four weeks ago, you are 20 points behind in the _ weeks ago, you are 20 points behind in the polls. — weeks ago, you are 20 points behind in the polls, what you say to people who say— in the polls, what you say to people who say the — in the polls, what you say to people who say the manifesto isn't ambitious enough and this won't be a genre _ ambitious enough and this won't be a game changer?— ambitious enough and this won't be a game changer? then, to complete the watch -- repeat _ game changer? then, to complete the watch -- repeat what _ game changer? then, to complete the watch -- repeat what i _ game changer? then, to complete the watch -- repeat what i said _ game changer? then, to complete the watch -- repeat what i said before, . watch —— repeat what i said before, the tax cuts for everyone i work were £1300 in the next parliament as were £1300 in the next parliament as we health national insurance, tax cut for the self—employed where we abolish the rate of self—employment, tax cut for everyone wanting to start buying their own home as we abolish the stamp duty for first—time buyers at the 425 k, tax families to support them as they raise young children and tax cut for millions of pensioners in our society, i believe that is bold and comes on top of the action we have taken to secure our borders, getting flights off to rwanda, more proportional approach to net zero, all actions are ultimately a choice, either keir starmer or i will be published onjuly five, if it is me, you will have the bold action. we have from the labour party is a blank sheet of paper. not a single big idea put on the table in this election campaign so far. when the first announcement we made, a new form of national service, completely energised conversations across the country. not everyone necessarily agrees but no one can deny it is not bold action that can transform our country and i think transform our country and i think transform our country for the better. nothing comparable to that from the labour party. as people think about the choice, of course there are challenges we face as a country but they should ask themselves who has they should ask themselves who has the solutions to those, who is going to do things to deliver the change you want to see. the only thing certain about keir starmer and the labour party, they are going to put up labour party, they are going to put up everyone's taxes by £2000 labour party, they are going to put up everyone's taxes by e2000 and i will fight very hard to the last day of the election campaign so that doesn't happen. applause sky news. i will cut your taxes, you say to voters. — i will cut your taxes, you say to voters. a — i will cut your taxes, you say to voters, a recent poll says only one in six _ voters, a recent poll says only one in six voters — voters, a recent poll says only one in six voters believe you won't raise — in six voters believe you won't raise their— in six voters believe you won't raise their taxes or raise major taxes — raise their taxes or raise major taxes compared with one in four for labour, _ taxes compared with one in four for labour, labour more trusted on tax than you _ labour, labour more trusted on tax than you at— labour, labour more trusted on tax than you at the moment, that is your record _ than you at the moment, that is your record as _ than you at the moment, that is your record as chancellor and now prime minister. _ record as chancellor and now prime minister, i'm sure it is a disappointment to you. haven't you hiown _ disappointment to you. haven't you hiown it— disappointment to you. haven't you blown it now, whatever you say? thank _ blown it now, whatever you say? thank you — blown it now, whatever you say? thank you. beth, i blown it now, whatever you say? thank you. beth, lam blown it now, whatever you say? thank you. beth, i am very proud of my record as chancellor. when i have thejob, 3a weeks, pandemic struck the country, so it was right to do something radical, bold, that was what was required to get the country through it, we delivered all that, my values, those of our party, we will always be there to protect the country through difficult times, we are also responsible party, also a part not afraid to take decisions in the country never make long—term interest even if they are difficult. we do also need to pay these things back and secure our children's financial futures. back and secure our children's financialfutures. he said back and secure our children's financial futures. he said that a couple of summers ago where i made the same argument again, no cutting taxes until we had tamed inflation. i'm not afraid to do things that are difficult, the only poll that matters is the pole onjuly four and i'm confident as we approach the date the choice will become increasingly clear for people, there is only one party that will continue to cut your taxes afterjuly four and it has the conservative party, one party putting them up, the labour party, the choice will be crystal clear. applause the son. you manifesto says you will rocess the son. you manifesto says you will process tens — the son. you manifesto says you will process tens of _ the son. you manifesto says you will process tens of thousands _ the son. you manifesto says you will process tens of thousands of - the son. you manifesto says you will process tens of thousands of us - process tens of thousands of us asyium — process tens of thousands of us asylum claims within six months but all we _ asylum claims within six months but all we have — asylum claims within six months but all we have most of the statistics says speeding up the claims that leads— says speeding up the claims that leads to — says speeding up the claims that leads to high levels of approval when _ leads to high levels of approval when labour suggested this exact policy. _ when labour suggested this exact policy, your own ministers coded an amnesty~ _ policy, your own ministers coded an amnesty~ is — policy, your own ministers coded an amnesty. is this what your policy accounts — amnesty. is this what your policy accounts too, an amnesty for asylum seekers, _ accounts too, an amnesty for asylum seekers, and— accounts too, an amnesty for asylum seekers, and haemorrhaging support to nigel— seekers, and haemorrhaging support to nigel farage, why on earth not... that is— to nigel farage, why on earth not... that is simply not right, harry, last year thanks to the improvements we have made, we process more crimes than at any point in the last two decades. —— more claims. that has helped us release over 150 hotels now back to local communities for normal use. the grant rate, that was down last year. it was down. because we changed how we evaluate the claims, we refused far more than we had in the past. the choice on migration is quite simple at this election. i believe you need a deterrent. we have done lots of things to help us get the numbers down by a third last year, good and sensible, but to fully solve the problem it needs to be clear that if someone comes to our country illegally, they cannot stay, that means you need a safe place to send them, that is what the fight to rwanda will you, establish the deterrent. i will also say our act specifically gives ministers the power to give decisions on all 39 things handed down by strasberg, i would not put that power in the bill if i was not prepared to use it. and also change the civil service guidance to make it clear that they need to follow the ministerial decisions. but i will also point out that as we have seen in the last month or so, multiple other european countries all agree that having a deterrent like that, safe third country is to return people, is a crucial part of solving the problem. when i made my speech after coming prime minister, i said where we read others will follow, that is now happening. the only person who has not got that memo, normally in favour of eu alignment, is keir starmer. the express. the manifesto promises a reuular the express. the manifesto promises a regular rhythm _ the express. the manifesto promises a regular rhythm of _ the express. the manifesto promises a regular rhythm of flights _ the express. the manifesto promises a regular rhythm of flights to - a regular rhythm of flights to rwanda _ a regular rhythm of flights to rwanda every month as part of a relentless — rwanda every month as part of a relentless process to remove illegal migrants, _ relentless process to remove illegal migrants, can you put a figure on the number of flights are expected to take _ the number of flights are expected to take off every month or a number of people _ to take off every month or a number of people please? no, to take off every month or a number of people please?— to take off every month or a number of people please? no, staff, we have deliberately not _ of people please? no, staff, we have deliberately not because _ of people please? no, staff, we have deliberately not because we - of people please? no, staff, we have deliberately not because we do - of people please? no, staff, we have deliberately not because we do not . deliberately not because we do not want to compromise operational security but i have been clear, it is notjust about one fight, you need a regular rhythm of flies because you need to build that deterrent. what i can tell you is that the airfield is on standby, illegal migrants have already been detained, escort have been trained, the flights have been built, case workers already working through it. all the plans are in place so that if i am re—elected as prime minister, if we are in government, the fights will go to rwanda and we can build that deterrent, that is the choice for everyone at the selection. if you want the boats stopped, there is no way to do that without having a deterrent. 0urs stopped, there is no way to do that without having a deterrent. ours is the only plan of the table. as i asked keir starmer repeated with the other night what would you do with the migrants who come here illegally, there simply wasn't an answer. just saying smash the gangs is not a plan, answer. just saying smash the gangs is nota plan, a answer. just saying smash the gangs is not a plan, a slogan is not a plan. you need to have something to do with illegal migrants, we have a point, he does not, the situation willjust point, he does not, the situation will just get worse point, he does not, the situation willjust get worse than. applause and i think lastly we have a local democracy reporter? i and i think lastly we have a local democracy reporter?— and i think lastly we have a local democracy reporter? i think i have sat on the wrong _ democracy reporter? i think i have sat on the wrong side, _ democracy reporter? i think i have sat on the wrong side, my - democracy reporter? i think i have sat on the wrong side, my name i democracy reporter? i think i have j sat on the wrong side, my name is nadia _ sat on the wrong side, my name is nadia linking, local democracy reporter— nadia linking, local democracy reporter for northamptonshire, in the county— reporter for northamptonshire, in the county we have had a massive prohlem _ the county we have had a massive problem with children, sen not getting — problem with children, sen not getting the proper provision, also reflected — getting the proper provision, also reflected nationally. in the most recent— reflected nationally. in the most recent report, systemic and widespread problems found. why have the family's been let down for so long. _ the family's been let down for so long. what— the family's been let down for so long, what would a conservative government do to help them? thanks, nadia, we government do to help them? thanks, nadia. we want — government do to help them? thanks, nadia, we want to _ government do to help them? thanks, nadia, we want to make _ government do to help them? thanks, nadia, we want to make sure - government do to help them? thanks, nadia, we want to make sure that - nadia, we want to make sure that children everywhere regardless of their backgrounds get all the support and opportunities they need to live thriving lives, when it comes to send, we will raise the figures for northamptonshire. and raise many more free schools, that is in the manifesto, funded, we know provision is to increase. as i said, this is making sure people matter where they grow up in society have all the opportunities to thrive and that will always happen under a conservative government. good, thank you very much. conservative government. good, thank you very much-— you very much. studio: there you have the tory _ you very much. studio: there you have the tory manifesto _ you very much. studio: there you - have the tory manifesto announcement from prime minister rishi sunak, it took a roundabout 17 or so minutes, something like that, he obviously can't help himself, silverstone race track, talking about the country having turned a corner in terms of the economy. not many surprises on what he had to say today, he talks a lot at the beginning about the challenges over the last decade, covid, energy prices following the invasion of ukraine, brought in defence spending, the rise in defence spending, the rise in defence investment, 2.5% of gdp by 2030, also talking about immigration, talking about a migration cap, we have already talked about. the unaffordable yuko zealotry, moving on to energy. a lot of what he had to say was about the economy, we have been talking about that morning here but he confirmed the tory party would take another 2p off employer national insurance. embellish the main rate of seven point national insurance by the end of parliament. he also said he would raise income tax thresholds for pensioners, talking about how he would fund all of this including money from cracking down on tax avoidance, £12 billion from lower welfare payments. there we have economic plan, the plan on tax that the conservative party have very much been focusing on and i'm happy to say we can bring in our chief economics correspondent, following rishi sunak put forward, and harry farley, political correspondent. i want to underline the fact tax and tax cuts are the cornerstone of the manifesto, what you make of the promises the conservatives have made and the costings they have basically put forward? i’m and the costings they have basically put forward?— put forward? i'm not looking at it word for word _ put forward? i'm not looking at it word for word but _ put forward? i'm not looking at it word for word but squinting - put forward? i'm not looking at it i word for word but squinting number of my number because alongside the plans we have full costings of how they intend to fund them, this is something, the emphasis here, pushing ahead, adding up to £17 billion by 2030, how does the government intend to pay for that? reducing the projected welfare bill and clamping down on those who aren't paying the right amount of tax, they are sound attractive ways for raising money to some but the problem without these kinds of estimates, highly uncertain. the welfare bill, we know for example from this morning's figured elsewhere the number of sick has risen to a new long—term high, getting the bill down is challenging. elsewhere we have various spending pledges, for example raising defence spending and other items like that, help to buy for homeowners, where they find that kind of money? when you are looking to save on other places. for example plans to reduce the number of civil servant started pre—pandemic levels. that sounds something that could be attractive for some again because the pandemic, civil servants deployed to help with efforts against that, some say reducing that bill by almost £4 billion at salary row by 2030 might be unrealistic. some of the civil servants are dealing with new trade deals. something else to manifesto talks about, lots of weighing up these numbers and as ever we should ask questions. underpinning all of this, don't forget we still have the stealth tax rises, freezing thresholds at which the new levels of taxable income is kicking, that means ultimately many people could still see their tax bills rise under a new tory government rather than fall in the short term. all the talks of tax cuts, still a stay in the tail. ., ~ talks of tax cuts, still a stay in the tail. ., ,, , ., talks of tax cuts, still a stay in the tail. ., ,, i. , ., , the tail. thank you, dharshini david. the tail. thank you, dharshini david- harry _ the tail. thank you, dharshini david. harry farley _ the tail. thank you, dharshini david. harry farley our - the tail. thank you, dharshini i david. harry farley our political correspondent has also been listening to rishi sunak, interesting notjust what he talked about, not that many surprises, but it is what he did not include in his manifesto, that might get some people particularly on the right of the party a little upset. yes. people particularly on the right of the party a little upset.— the party a little upset. yes, we heard, particularly _ the party a little upset. yes, we heard, particularly i _ the party a little upset. yes, we heard, particularly i suppose . the party a little upset. yes, we| heard, particularly i suppose you are referring to his comments on the echr, _ are referring to his comments on the echr, european convention on human rights, _ echr, european convention on human rights, if— echr, european convention on human rights, if he — echr, european convention on human rights, if he was forced to choose between — rights, if he was forced to choose between security and foreign because he would _ between security and foreign because he would choose hours of community -- security, — he would choose hours of community —— security, no pledge for a referendum on echr, no pledge to renew— referendum on echr, no pledge to renew the — referendum on echr, no pledge to renew the membership of it, swell a lrrother— renew the membership of it, swell a brother man of the party and the former— brother man of the party and the former immigration minister and home secretary. _ former immigration minister and home secretary, they wanted a tougher stance, _ secretary, they wanted a tougher stance, nothing on that. another thing _ stance, nothing on that. another thing as— stance, nothing on that. another thing as well as the tax measures dharshini — thing as well as the tax measures dharshini david was talking about, he was _ dharshini david was talking about, he was quite candid, saying i am not blind _ he was quite candid, saying i am not blind to— he was quite candid, saying i am not blind to the — he was quite candid, saying i am not blind to the fact some people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with our party and frustrated with our party and frustrated with me. he said we have not always _ frustrated with me. he said we have not always got everything right. but his main— not always got everything right. but his main pledge was that his part in the conservatives are the party of ideas. _ the conservatives are the party of ideas, repeating a number of policies — ideas, repeating a number of policies we have heard over the last few weeks. — policies we have heard over the last few weeks, national service for young _ few weeks, national service for young people, a further 2p at the national— young people, a further 2p at the national insurance, obliging the main _ national insurance, obliging the main rate — national insurance, obliging the main rate of national insurance entirely— main rate of national insurance entirely for self—employed people by the end _ entirely for self—employed people by the end of— entirely for self—employed people by the end of the next parliament, trying _ the end of the next parliament, trying to— the end of the next parliament, trying to purchase party is the one with the _ trying to purchase party is the one with the bold ideas and the big solutions, the problem of course for rishi sunak— solutions, the problem of course for rishi sunak is he is standing on 14 years— rishi sunak is he is standing on 14 years of— rishi sunak is he is standing on 14 years of conservative record, 14 years _ years of conservative record, 14 years of— years of conservative record, 14 years of conservative record, 14 years of conservative government, not just _ years of conservative government, notjust his — years of conservative government, not just his own years of conservative government, notjust his own premiership but the ones before him of liz truss, boris johnson, _ ones before him of liz truss, boris johnson, theresa may and so on. those _ johnson, theresa may and so on. those are — johnson, theresa may and so on. those are the questions. 0ne johnson, theresa may and so on. those are the questions. one other thing _ those are the questions. one other thing to— those are the questions. one other thing to draw out not mention before, — thing to draw out not mention before, we were talking about housing — before, we were talking about housing earlier in particular, in the conservative manifesto, a commitment to build 1.6 million new homes _ commitment to build 1.6 million new homes of— commitment to build 1.6 million new homes of the necks of the dash over the next _ homes of the necks of the dash over the next parliament was about how the next parliament was about how the conservatives would achieve that. _ the conservatives would achieve that, whether it is feasible given they placed in their 2019 manifesto to build _ they placed in their 2019 manifesto to build and never hit the targets. an interesting nugget we never heard before _ an interesting nugget we never heard before. . , �* ., before. harry, i'll come back to ou, before. harry, i'll come back to you. the _ before. harry, i'll come back to you. the team _ before. harry, i'll come back to you, the team at _ before. harry, i'll come back to you, the team at bbc _ before. harry, i'll come back to you, the team at bbc verify - before. harry, i'll come back to| you, the team at bbc verify has before. harry, i'll come back to - you, the team at bbc verify has gone through the conservative manifesto, here is... what is on the 2024 general election manifesto for the conservatives? do the costings add up? big picture, £18 billion per year of pledge tax cuts and spending in the next parliament. among the tax cuts, additional 2p cut to national insurance costing £10 billion per year, raising income tax personal allowance at which you pay tax for pensioners, £2.4 billion, per yearfigures. the tax for pensioners, £2.4 billion, per year figures. the spending pledges including the youth national service scheme, £1 billion price tag, 100,000 new apprenticeships costing £1 million —— £1 billion, taking defence spending to 2.5% of gdp. how will these things be paid for? this is where there are questions. the two proposed revenue raises, £16 billion from tax avoidance come down. £12 billion welfare reform. provided hmrc is given extra resources and is well directed by stress how much in pounds and pass an avoidance comp would raise but it is uncertain. bigger problems to the £12 billion welfare seven figure, according to public finance experts, the institute for fiscal studies said raising this figure looks difficult in the extreme, and easing bigger issue, the manifesto doesn't address, underthe issue, the manifesto doesn't address, under the current spending provisions, unprotected departments like justice, provisions, unprotected departments likejustice, environment, the home office are pencilled in to collectively take cuts adding up to 10- £20 collectively take cuts adding up to 10— £20 billion by the end of the next parliament. many experts are extremely doubtful there is achievable and suspect those departments' projects would inevitably have to be topped up by billions of pounds to prevent those cuts from happening. if this is right, another reason for a dose of scepticism about the extent to which these numbers presented today by the pm in the conservative manifesto truly add up. fantastic stuff there from ben. all the latest with my colleague now time for the bbc news one, before that the weather. the area chilly for this time of year, a cold start earlier on this morning, loss of morning sunshine, the sun is strong at this point in june, it helps to lift the temperatures, feeling warm and the best of the sunshine, for this afternoon, sunny spells, still summer showers around as well, high pressure towards the west edging its way east, still a brisk north—westerly wind blowing for the northern isles, northern scotland, down through these easter and facing coasts as well, he went lighter than yesterday, a drier working day across scotland and northern ireland, some isolated showers here and there, heavy showers still to come across parts of england in particular, turning drier in the past, temperatures disappointing for this time of year, 11—17 c. 0vernight tonight another cold one, every bit as cold as it was last night was showers fading away, long quest both developing, some early mist patches, temperatures widely 6-9 but mist patches, temperatures widely 6—9 but some of our rural spots could get down as low as just 1—3 c into tomorrow morning. a cold start to the day, particularly for this time of year, tomorrow a drier day, exerting its influence, showers for eastern areas of england, elsewhere drier, some sunny spells, more cloud through the afternoon, temperatures could be a degree or so higher. still rather cold for this time of year but all change into thursday, looking out towards the atlantic to find the atlantic fronts sweeping in from the south—west, west, south westerly wind, which start today across northern ireland, when not getting into northern scotland are eastern areas of england perhaps until the end of the day, brisk winds up through the irish sea coast for devon and cornwall, feeling milder, particularly for parts of the north and west. milder nights to follow as we head through the end of the week, low pressure stays very much in charge so it is going to be very unsettled but temperatures will be higher, here's the outlook for some of our cities towards the north, temperatures back up to the seasonal average, some sunny spells at times, also from showers and longer spells of rain, the same goes for our cities further south to, goodbye. today at one, the conservatives launch their manifesto ahead of the general election. they're promising cuts to national insurance and help on housing, but rishi sunak acknowledges some voter frustrationhe hasn't got everything right. i'm not blind to the fact that people are frustrated i'm not blind to the fact that people are frustrated with policy and with me. things have not always been easy and we have not put everything right. a ban on selling highly—caffeinated energy drinks to under—16s — labour sets out its proposals to improve children's health. also on the programme... uk unemployment sees a surprise rise, to its highest rate in more than two years. and football fakery. fans are warned not to buy counterfeit shirts in the run—up to the euros. and coming up on bbc news... keeley hodgkinson cruises into tomorrow night's 800m final