Labour and Nigel Farage have accused the Tories of a ‘con’ over plans to send more migrants to Rwanda during the election campaign.
The Independent understands plans are in place to fly a person from Nigeria and another from Pakistan, who are in the UK illegally, to the East African country before the election on 4 July.
But much like the first person who was sent in April, it is a voluntary move and so not an enforced deportation.
It comes as Mr Farage claimed Reform UK is the “new opposition” following a YouGov poll that put his party ahead of the Conservatives for the first time.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said Mr Farage is “incredibly divisive” and trying to “destroy” the Conservative Party.
Tory leadership hopefuls are already lobbying for support to take over as the next head of the party as fears abound that disaster will come in the general election under Rishi Sunak, The Guardian reports.
Labour and Nigel Farage accuse Tories of Rwanda ‘con’ over new voluntary flights
The Independent understands plans are in place to fly a person from Nigeria and another from Pakistan, who are in the UK illegally, to the East African country before the election on 4 July.
The flight, if it takes place, would be on the voluntary scheme rather than the deportation plan, which Rishi Sunak legislated for before the election.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 20:30
Keir Starmer denies he is hostile to those who use private healthcare
The Labour leader said he “completely understand why people would go private”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 19:30
Starmer wins TV debate and Farage’s Reform triumph: Key moments from election campaign trail – week four
It’s been another topsy-turvy week on the campaign trail as the political parties released their election manifestos to try and compete for your vote at the general election on 4 July.
The Independent has pinpointed these key moments:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 18:30
Voters’ trust in Tories on tax plummets as Rishi Sunak’s final election gambit fails
Trust in the Tories on tax has collapsed, a new poll has revealed, in another massive blow to Rishi Sunak as he tries to turn his party’s fortunes around with less than three weeks to go.
It comes after the Tories put all their efforts into using tax as the key dividing issue and launched an assault on Labour’s plans in a last-ditch effort to stop Sir Keir winning power with “a supermajority” on 4 July.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 18:04
Wes Streeting warns of ‘nightmare in Downing Street’
Speaking at Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on a visit with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow health secretary dodged a question about whether he had a “pet policy” from the 2019 manifesto which he wanted in the 2024 document.
“Look, I’m really proud of the manifesto that Labour’s put forward, because not only is it fully costed and fully funded, every promise in there is a promise we can keep and the country can afford,” Mr Streeting said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 17:30
SNP’s opposition to Trident puts national security at risk, Tories claim
The Scottish Conservatives have criticised the SNP’s opposition to Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Deputy leader Meghan Gallacher is visiting Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute on Saturday, near the Faslane naval base which is home to the UK’s submarine fleet.
She highlighted a report from the GMB union which said thousands of jobs depended on the Faslane base – 6,500 military and civilian staff at the base and 4,000 in the supply chain and local economy.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2024 16:30
Labour calls for tactical voting to oust Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch
Sam Rkaina15 June 2024 15:30
Starmer fears over right wing surge in Europe
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, whose party is leading the polls during the General Election, is “concerned” about the right wing “taking hold” in Europe.
Taking a question about the 2024 EU elections, Sir Keir said: “In Europe, obviously, it’s a different picture in different countries, and so there isn’t one picture.
“But, look, we’re a progressive party and I want to see progressive parties succeed in Europe, and I’m concerned where I see, you know, right or very right-wing politics taking hold.
“Obviously, what’s important here in the UK is that we fight this General Election in the progressive way that we are and hopefully bring about the change that we need.”
Sam Rkaina15 June 2024 14:58
Growth in the UK has been ‘missing’
Sir Keir Starmer said “growth” has been “the missing part” of Government since 2010, while on a visit to Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Pressed on whether his party’s economic proposals were confusing for voters, Sir Keir said: “I reject the idea that the only levers a prime minister has to pull are either the tax lever or the spend lever – there’s growth.
“This has been the missing part for the last 14 years. It’s been the missing part of this general election campaign, frankly, a discussion about growth.
“Our manifesto is a manifesto for growth and a serious plan for growth.
“That’s what I set out we’re going to do, I’m planning on infrastructure and industrial strategy, on the national wealth fund, on GB Energy, these all ladder up to our argument on growth.”
Sam Rkaina15 June 2024 14:30
‘Voters will choose opposition leader, not Farage’
Voters will choose who the Leader of the Opposition is, not Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader told the press: “Well, I don’t think it’s for Nigel Farage to declare himself Leader of the Opposition.
“I’m actually Leader to the Opposition just at the moment. I’m hoping to change that.
“But, look, my focus is on talking to the voters directly, that’s why I’m out and about every day, because it’s their concerns and, at the end of the day, this is a contest.
“But it is a choice between five more years of Conservative government after the failure of last 14 years, or turning a page and a Labour government will rebuild the country.
“There are only two candidates for prime minister, Rishi Sunak and myself.”
Sam Rkaina15 June 2024 14:00
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