General election latest: Sunak laughs off idea for extra bank holiday - as Reform's only MP hits back at 'load of rubbish' claim about Farage (2024)

Rachel Reeves is a former Bank of England economist who is vying to be the UK's first female chancellor.

Alongside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, she has worked to change the party's image among voters after it suffered its worst defeat since 1935 at the 2019 election.

Ms Reeves has sought to portray Labour as fiscally responsible, saying she would never "play fast and loose" with the nation's finances.

She is seen as a crucial component in making Labour appear more credible to voters and in providing business with the reassurance it craves following years of upheaval.

She could be one of the most significant political figures in the years ahead, so Sky's political reporter Alexandra Rodgerstakes a look at her background, and how her political career has unfolded:

By Gurpreet Narwan, political correspondent

This was billed as a policy event, but it was really the Nigel Farage show.

He made his first appearance on the campaign trail in Dover today, where he warned about the threat of illegal and legal migration.

The event was light on actual policy announcements, but Reform will be grateful for his intervention.

It's a relatively new party, and doesn't have the money, personnel or machinery of more established political parties - something that was painfully clear in Skegness last week, where only 17 people showed up.

Farage offers a certain celebrity appeal that allows the party to punch above its weight.

He had fans outside, asking for selfies and calling him a hero.

Others were less kind, yelling expletives.

He is, of course, a divisive figure. The problem for the Tories is that in the areas they need to win, his party may be more popular than they are.

By Tim Baker, political reporter

Reform UK's honorary president Nigel Farage has been speaking to Sky political correspondent Gurpreet Narwan in Dover.

Understandably, given the location, Mr Farage wanted to talk about migration.

He also reiterated comments he made to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, in which he said there were issues with young, Muslim, men being radicalised.

"I'm being accused of intolerance for calling out intolerance," Mr Farage says.

He highlighted Angela Rayner meeting a group in her constituency in which he claimed no other women were present.

Mr Farage said the marginalisation is something seen in "extreme forms" of Islam - and women have a "different place in their society".

This is something he "hadn't noticed in the Church of England".

Asked about his rhetoric being used by racist people, Mr Farage says "they are a tiny, tiny, irrelevant fringe minority" - and that he has "never had anything to do with them".

Reform UK's honorary president, Nigel Farage, announced last week that he will not be standing as an MP due to his desire to participate in the US election later this year.

We asked Reform's only MP, Lee Anderson, if he is disappointed that Nigel Farage is not standing as an MP, he replied that he is "chuffed to bits" because it means he can campaign much more in different seats.

"From a selfish point of view, it's much better for me," he said.

'I don't know what you've been smoking'

Sky's Wilfred Frost suggested that a party leader can still travel, and Mr Farage's decision to not stand is because he knows he wouldn't win.

But Mr Anderson replied: "What a load of rubbish you're talking - I don't know what you've been smoking recently."

He said the difference between Mr Farage and people like the PM and Labour leader is that they have safe seats with "whopping majorities", and so do not have to spend time in their constituencies in order to win.

So rather than fighting a seat, Mr Anderson said his time is "better spent" helping Reform candidates win across the country.

We heard a short while ago from Reform's only MP, Lee Anderson, and we asked what they would do to stop small boat crossings.

He replied that Nigel Farage and leader Richard Tice have been very clear, as has he over the last few years - and that the plan is to turn them back in the Channel, adding: "They need to be sent back the same day."

He said he spoke directly to people in migrant camps in Calais last year, and he claimed they told him that if the boats were being turned around, or they knew they'd be sent to a third country for processing, they would not make the journey.

"There's the deterrent - it's very simple."

Mr Anderson conceded that Reform UK will not form a majority government to implement the policy, but said: "We are going to win seats".

He said the popular vote will be "crucial", saying: "If we can get millions of people to vote Reform - even in places where we might not win or have a chance - it sends out a clear message to the Labour Party and the Conservative Party that the people in this great country of ours are very, very angry."

We've just had a Conservative Party response to the speech by shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves setting out her plans to grow the economy (see the key points here).

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said in a statement: "Labour will not match our commitment to increase personal tax thresholds for pensioners and will instead raise taxes by £2,094 on hard-working families.

"They do not have the courage or conviction to name a single tax they would cut."

It was the Conservative government that froze income tax thresholds, but he labelled Ms Reeves' refusal to commit to unfreezing them for pensioners a "retirement tax".

He added: "Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a clear plan, backed by bold action, to end the double tax on work and ensure pensioners who have worked hard their entire lives will have a new tax-free threshold to protect them."

The PM is "fine-tuning his pitch on bedrock Conservative issues", our political correspondentRob Powell says.

He says the PM is "really re-emphasising" some of his core themes like security and the economy during his campaign.

"I think this is the sort of format where Rishi Sunak does pretty well," he says of the Q&A he just held in Stoke-on-Trent (see previous posts).

"With the questions, he was across a lot of the detail, and he spoke about things like a technical education and giving people the skills they need to fill skills gaps."

Rob says he also talked about the triple lock pensions allowance announced by the Tories if they win the general election.

"I think the intention of that is very clearly to appeal to traditional Tory voters," he explains.

He goes on to say the PM is "venturing into some of the constituencies which will decide this election".

He spent yesterday in Tory strongholds under threat from the Lib Dems, while today is focused more on seats targeted by Labour.

"Of course it will be these constituencies that decide who is victorious come polling day," Rob adds.

"And I think that is why he is fine-tuning his pitch on those bedrock Conservative issues."

Rishi Sunak is asked why there is no bank holiday for St George's Day - and he bursts out laughing.

He replies that he is "asked this a lot" and "we all love to have days off".

But he says there are "lots of things that come along" in terms of the impact of bank holidays.

On the broader point, the PM says the gentleman was highlighting "taking a moment to celebrate and be proud of who we are and our country".

"Whether we need a bank holiday for that is a separate thing, but we should never be ashamed of our identity, of who we are as a country."

He goes on to say that there are "forces trying to divide us" and "trying to emphasise all the differences".

"I think that's sad," says, adding that it is "wrong" to say that we "should be ashamed of part of our history and our past".

"Of course no country is perfect, but I'm enormously proud of what our country has done for everyone, not just here but around the world."

The PM adds that we should be "proud of that" every day, not just on bank holidays.

He touts himself and his family as a key example, saying he is "enormously proud of what we stand for, I'm enormously proud of what we've achieved".

Rishi Sunak is asked about one of the big talking points of the election thus far - his national service policy.

The prime minister says when it comes to service, "doing something that provides young people with skills and opportunities will transform their lives".

"I believe service gives you purpose," he says.

He also says it will be a "rite of passage" for young people that "just keeps them out of trouble".

He adds: "Whatever you might think of this idea, I hope you can see it is bold.

"It is transformational for our country."

UK 'has not prioritised maths' enough

He's also asked what the Tories will do to the education system to ensure skills gaps are filled.

The PM says "education is the most powerful way that we have to transform people's lives".

"I've been going on for a while now about the need for our society to prioritise maths because we're not going to be able to train people in the skills of the future, the jobs of the future, particularly in things like material science and engineering, unless we have more maths," he says.

"And we as a country have not prioritised maths in the way that we should have done."

He says he has created a new bursary for teachers who teach STEM subjects like maths.

Rishi Sunak is out and about campaigning today, and this morning he is in Stoke-on-Trent delivering a campaign speech at a local business.

He said it is local businesses that means "Brexit Britain" has "powered ahead of the Netherlands, France, and Germany" to become "the fourth-largest exporter anywhere in the world".

The PM also thanked local Tory MP Jonathan Gullis, saying there is "no more vocal - some would say gobby - champion of Stoke-on-Trent in Westminster".

'I had your back'

More broadly, Mr Sunak acknowledged that "the last few years have been tough", pointing to the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, but added: "I hope you saw during that time that I had your back."

He pointed to the furlough scheme and energy bill support, adding: "With all your resilience, hard work, and sacrifice, [we] have got through it."

The PM said inflation is down, wages are rising, the economy is growing, and the UK economy has "turned a corner" and "the plan is working".

In response to Labour saying they will bring stability back to government, the PM said the Tories have "restored economic stability because that's what you get with me, that's what you get with the Conservatives", and added that they will "always prioritise that".

Labour 'taking country for granted'

Turning to the election, he said the "choice" at the election is about "who do you trust to build on that foundation" for the future.

"The only certainty you're going to get with the Labour Party is that they're going to run out of money and put up your taxes - as clear as night follows day."

Mr Sunak also argued the world is a much more dangerous place, and "these uncertain times call for a bold plan, clear action so that we can secure the future of our country".

He touted his Rwanda plan, saying countries across Europe are considering similar schemes, but "not Keir Starmer", claiming he will "offer an amnesty to illegal migrants", making the UK a "magnet".

The PM claimed the Labour leader did not offer "a single new idea" in his speech yesterday because "he's taking the country for granted... without having the courage to tell you about his plans".

He closed by saying he will offer a "secure future" and appeals for voters to back his plan.