up their campaigns out across the country. let s take you through some of todays key events: rishi sunak and sir keir starmer go head to head in their second live tv debate later facing questions from voters on sky news in grimsby this evening. will either man change tack, or will it be more of the same? we ll be discussing all of that during the course of the day. and the green party launches its manifesto promising to raise taxes on higher earners and the wealthy to help fund 50 billion a yearfor the nhs and social care. also today: the cost of living is always important, and we ve just had figures out this morning showing that the uk economy failed to grow in april after particularly wet weather affected consumer spending. the office for national statistics recorded no growth for the month, which was in line with economists expectations. nevertheless it will be disappointing for the conservatives. here is hannah minna. the green party are pledging to mend what i call brok
katherine, i m rishi. ..as rishi sunak prepares to set out his party s plans for another five years in government. on the eve of his manifesto launch last night, the prime minister hinted at tax cuts to come. we will have a manifesto that builds on all the things that you ve just gone through that we ve already announced in this campaign that, yes, does continue to cut people s taxes, because i believe in a country where people s hard work is rewarded. after cutting national insurance last autumn and in the spring the manifesto will promise to cut it by a further two pence for employees. it will also pledge that the state pension will not be taxed, and make permanent an existing cut to stamp duty for first time buyers, as well as promising that parents will only have to start paying back child benefit when their household income reaches £120,000. the manifesto will also contain pledges to raise defence spending, reform the welfare system, and double down on plans to se
to tell us the truth. one other development, the government is proposing new rules to make sure that if a customer s account is closed, there s more opportunity to appeal and the bank must provide details of the reason why. votes are being counted in three importany by elections in england, that are being seen as tests of confidence in rishi sunak, and his conservative government. the constituences of uxbridge and south rice lip in london borisjohnson s old seat, selby and ainsty in north yorkshire, and somerton and froome in the south west, were all won with sizeable majorities by the tories, at the last general election. with sizeable majorities by the tories, at the last general election. but there are real fears within the party, that it could lose all three seats. our political editor, chris mason, explains why these results are important for the parties.
hello i m nicky schiller with a summary of the bbc news at midnight. votes are being counted in three importany by elections in england, that are being seen as tests of confidence in rishi sunak, and his conservative government. the constituences of uxbridge and south ruislip in london borisjohnson s old seat, selby and ainsty in north yorkshire, and somerton and frome in the south west, were all won with sizeable majorities by the tories, at the last general election. but there are real fears within the party, that it could lose all three seats. our political editor, chris mason, explains why these results are important for the parties. by elections are a big deal in making the political weather. do parties think they are on the up or sinking? and that s because they re not opinion polls they are actual votes, albeit in particular pockets of the country. let s head first to north west london, to uxbridge and south ruislip.
and zac crawley hits 189, putting england in a strong in the crucial fourth ashes test at old trafford. in half an hour. on newsnight at 10.30pm. as you hear this, polls are closing in three by elections. it s a triple threat for number ten, with the fear of the biggest by election reverse for any seeking government in half a century. hello. the polls have closed in three by elections in england that are important tests of confidence in rishi sunak and his conservative government. the constituences of uxbridge and south ruislip in london borisjohnson s old seat selby and ainsty in north yorkshire, and somerton and frome in the south west were all won with sizeable majorities by the conservatives at the last general election. but there are real fears within the party that it could lose all three seats.