Sunak warns of 'dangerous, transformational' years in major speech

Rishi Sunak gave us no indication during his speech about when a general election could be called.

Though there's no official date on the books, this morning did have a pre-election feel, with Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer hitting the road (and railway) to get their policies known.

Here are some pictures from across the day:

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The latest a Parliament can be dissolved for a general election is on the fifth anniversary of the day it first met, external.

For the current Parliament, that means 17 December 2024.

However, 25 working days are then allowed to prepare for the election. So, the next election must be held by 28 January 2025.

Rishi Sunak said back in January that his "working assumption" was that there would be a general election in the second half of the year.

In March, the prime minister confirmed it would not be held alongside the 2 May local elections.

The following week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt suggested that the poll was pencilled in for October.

However, according to BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, there has been a lot of speculation about whether the election could be in the summer.

In big picture terms, we are seeing a classic dynamic being road-tested by either side.

Better the devil you know and be careful what you wish for, from the long time incumbent party of government.

Time for change, say the opposition.

Rishi Sunak, who was 44 yesterday and is the best part of 20 years younger than Keir Starmer, is attempting to personify the future.

Starmer is aiming to look like a winner, by surrounding himself with his newly elected mayors on the soil of Labour’s most eye catching victory, in the West Midlands, where Richard Parker beat the Conservative Andy Street.

He will return to his central critique of the near decade and a half of Conservative government: the absence of sustained economic growth.

You can read more on this here.

We've heard Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver an early version of his general election pitch and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer celebrate recent local election wins today.

Both party leaders hit out at the other, in an early indication of bitter general election battles to come.

If you're just joining us, here's a look back at some of the key lines:

• Sunak kicked off his speech by saying that the next few years would be the most "dangerous" but "transformational" the UK has faced in recent history
• The PM said Labour has "nothing to say" about the future, despite having 14 years of Tory rule to think about it
• On illegal migration, Sunak said the UK "can and will protect" itself, which is why the Conservatives were "pioneering" the Rwanda scheme

• Speaking after meeting Labour mayors in the West Midlands, Sir Keir Starmer said his party was "laser focused" on living standards in every part of the country
• Starmer also said that national security would be his priority if his party is elected, accusing the Tories of having "no credible" plan

A key part of Rishi Sunak's speech this morning was his claim that the UK would be "less safe" under a Labour government.

Sir Keir Starmer later rejected this, telling reporters in Wolverhampton that he understands "first-hand the importance of national security" from working as director of public prosecutions.

He added that the government does not have "a credible" plan for the future when it comes to national security.

You can watch that moment back below:

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Now over to the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who has also just given a response to Rishi Sunak's address from earlier this morning.

Ed Davey says the prime minister should stop "talking at people" and listen, by "calling a general election".

"Families are fed up with NHS failures, sewage scandals, and inaction on the cost of living crisis", he writes in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This Conservative Government is out of touch and running out of road."

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We're now getting some fresh reaction from Labour on Rishi Sunak's recent speech.

Shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth begins by echoing what Sir Keir Starmer said a bit earlier, by first accusing Sunak of having his "seventh reset in 18 months".

It's "just another desperate attempt to hide from the appalling record of this failed Tory Government", Ashworth says.

He goes on to say the Tories have "forfeited the right to talk about security", claiming 14 years of a Conservative-led government has left the country "less secure," both at home and abroad.

Quote Message: "Millions of people are paying more on their mortgages, crime is going unsolved, dangerous prisoners are being let out early, the armed forces have been hollowed out and the NHS is on its knees."

"Millions of people are paying more on their mortgages, crime is going unsolved, dangerous prisoners are being let out early, the armed forces have been hollowed out and the NHS is on its knees."

Safety and national security are shaping up to be major themes in this morning's political news.

Shortly after Rishi Sunak had finished speaking this morning, the BBC's political editor, Chris Mason, had a chance to ask the prime minister about this very issue.

After warning the next few years would be the “most dangerous”, Sunak said his track record showed his party has the “the bold action, the clear plan” to deliver a secure future.

You can watch that clip below:

Starmer is lastly asked about what his party can deliver for workers.

He says he is committed to a new deal for working people - which he says "will be the biggest levelling up of workers' rights in a generation".

"I fundamentally believe in dignity and respect at work", the Labour leader says.

He adds that treating the workforce "properly" is "essential" for economic growth.

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The Labour leader replies to a question from a reporter asking if there should be be an independent investigation into claims the new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke tried to lobby over her husband’s trial and whether she is "a good fit" for the Labour Party.

Natalie Elphicke disputes and denies the allegations, Starmer says.

"I have to say, if the Tories put as much time and energy into running the country properly as they do into attacking Elphicke, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in."

He adds that Elphicke was "very clear" when she crossed the floor, as to why she was doing it.

"And her reason was, because the Tory Party, the Tory government, has become a byword for incompetence and only the changed Labour Party under my leadership can take our country forward."

We need now to turn a page, he says.

The Labour leader is then asked about Rishi Sunak's speech from earlier today, during which the prime minister played up the threat posed by ongoing wars and the need to prioritise national security.

The reporter asks: "Would the country be less safe with you as prime minister?"

Starmer says the first duty of any government is national security. That will be his first priority, he says.

Sunak is on his seventh reset in 18 months, Starmer says.

He adds that the choice at this election is between a changed Labour party or continuing with "chaos and division" with the Conservatives.

Keir Starmer remarks to reporters that it's been "really good" to get Labour mayors together in the West Midlands to draw up plans for growth.

He says Rishi Sunak's government keeps saying that everything is fine - but "everybody knows it isn't".

Labour is "laser focused" on living standards in every part of the country, Starmer says.

He then goes on to acknowledge how many voters put their confidence in Labour mayors and he wants to repay their trust.

Labour won 10 of the 11 elected mayoralties up for grabs in the local elections this month.

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With Rishi Sunak's speech now over, we're moving our focus north of the capital, with the opposition leader due to give further details on Labour's vision for the future.

As our political editor Chris Mason said earlier, there's a real pre-election feel to things today.

Sir Keir Starmer will speak after holding roundtable talks in Wolverhampton with Labour mayors about improving regional growth if the party wins power.

His choosing of today’s location for unveiling this manifesto will underscore an important point for the Labour leader, as it’s where his party recently grabbed the West Midlands mayoralty in a close win in the local elections.

We've just heard from Rishi Sunak, who gave voters a choice between the Conservatives' "optimistic" view of the future and Labour's "doomsterism" ahead of the general election.

In case you missed it, here are the key lines from his 30-minute speech:

• The next few years are going to be both "dangerous" and "transformational" for the UK, the prime minister warned multiple times while rolling out sample pillars of his election manifesto
• National security and the threat posed by ongoing wars and cyber attacks from abroad are chief concerns for Sunak's government going forward, he said
• New technologies, such as AI, can be dangerous, the PM conceded, adding that these innovations also offer new opportunities to keep Britain's economy growing
• He said delivering on cutting taxes, investing in key industries and the triple-lock system as evidence that he can be trusted with recovering the economy
• Sunak rarely missed a chance to hit out at Labour leader Keir Starmer, who he repeatedly accused of not standing for anything
• Ultimately, Sunak said Britain stand at a crossroads and only he can be trusted to have the "bold ideas" to deliver a secure future

The dividing lines are sharpening.

Rishi Sunak is often super cautious in his public utterances.

He is usually wary of blunt questions from reporters like me who seek direct answers to direct questions.

And usually, to be frank, the answer isn’t direct or even remotely close to it.

Today, it was very different.

We must be only a few months from polling day!

I invited him to be explicit in what had so far been implicit.

Does he think the country would be less safe under Keir Starmer?

Yes, he said.

Sunak is asked by Channel 4 about whether the West will force Ukraine to accept a peace deal with Russia.

Sunak says he can say "clearly" that that the UK has "led when it comes to Ukraine," including in providing "new capabilities" that he is proud of. Investment in Ukraine's security is an investment in our security, he adds.

And with that, Sunak's news conference ends. Stay with us here for analysis and a recap key lines from his speech.

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Sky News confronts the prime minister with his previous suggestion that the UK is heading for a hung parliament at the next general election.

Beth Rigby asks: "Why have you openly admitted that you're not going to stay on as prime minister?"

Sunak deflects and says that it wasn't him who said those things, but rather an independent analysis of the results from the recent local elections.

He then repeats that the general election will be a choice between the future and the past.