Election who has that plan. Who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a Better Future for our country and our children . Now, i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. No government should. But i am proud of what we have achieved together. The bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future. Over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote. I will earn your trust, and i will prove to you that only a conservative Government Led by me will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country, and with a clear plan and bold action, will deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily and our united kingdom. So, this is it a General Election is on. Power will leave this most powerful of streets, and you will be able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. And so the arguments, the persuasion begins. On days like this, one lectern leads to another, and the thrust of labours message hangs on one word. A chance to change for the better. Your future, your community, your country. It will feel like a long campaign, im sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. Over the course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party, returned it once more to the service of working people. All we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country, and Return Britain to the service of working people. And of course, the next six weeks are about lots of parties, Notjust Labour and the conservatives. The Liberal Democrat leader has been in surrey. In so many parts of the country, its the Liberal Democrats who can beat the conservatives, and i think people are crying out for change. They want to vote for someone who championed them, theirfamily and community, to sort out the crisis in the nhs and care, to get our economy back on track and end environmental scandals like the sewage scandal. Its a welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and to put scotland first. And thats what i will be saying to the public. But i also have to say that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government, to call an election during the Scottish School holidays. Tonight, campaigning is already under way. Prepare to see plenty of events like this. Friends, friends, thank you, it is great to be with you all this evening. Elsewhere, from norfolk to london, placards of a different colour, a different message. The promising and persuasion starts here. Polling day is six weeks tomorrow. Here goes. Chris mason, bbc news. Here goes indeed. Lets discuss theissues here goes indeed. Lets discuss the issues now. With me is laura beers, professor at American University and Executive Director of the North American conference of british studies. Laura, thanks indeed for joining us. Lets look at the timing of this election, it will be a summer like and, there was much speculation it would not happen until the autumn, untilthe would not happen until the autumn, until the fall, as you see here. What kind of decisions have led to rishi sunak going for that date, do you think . You think . The language that has been used you think . The language that has been used is you think . The language that has been used is he you think . The language that has been used is he is you think . The language that has been used is he is taking| you think . The language that. Has been used is he is taking a gamble, right. There is no good time for rishi sunak to call an election, the polls have been disastrous. But he has had some good economic news, inflation has been lower than anticipated. The hope that the disruption of Summer Travel and other distractions may under helping the conservatives as opposed to hurting them and is a calculated risk. Youre right, everyone assumed it would be in the autumn, the business taken the political world by surprise. Business taken the political world by surprise. Rishi sunak is kind of going world by surprise. Rishi sunak is kind of going into world by surprise. Rishi sunak is kind of going into this world by surprise. Rishi sunak is kind of going into this on i is kind of going into this on the back foot, even though the conservatives Abena Bougherra for so long, the polls and the recent by elections all point to a labour flip you, dont they . To a labour flip you, dont the . , ~ � , to a labour flip you, dont the . , ~ , they . Yes, think its because they . Yes, think its because the conservatives they . Yes, think its because the conservatives had they . Yes, think its because the conservatives had been l they . Yes, think its because | the conservatives had been in power for so long, the conservatives had been in powerfor so long, a the conservatives had been in power for so long, a fifth election win, which would be for conservatives, is unprecedented in modern politics and things have not been great in britain in terms of the impact of inflation, in terms of pressures on mortgages, a lot of things we have seen around the globe, but britain has had particularly difficult and there is a desire for change, that is something that keir starmer, the leader of the labour party, is trying to capitalise on in his speech this afternoon. This afternoon. What kind of campaign this afternoon. What kind of campaign you this afternoon. What kind of campaign you think this afternoon. What kind of campaign you think we this afternoon. What kind of campaign you think we willl this afternoon. What kind of. Campaign you think we will see for the next six weeks . I campaign you think we will see for the next six weeks . For the next six weeks . I think ou will for the next six weeks . I think you will get for the next six weeks . I think you will get cernak for the next six weeks . I think you will get cernak saying you will get cernak saying stick with the devil you know, essentially, you can trust the conservatives, you do not know what you will get with labour, labour has emphasised it is a james bailey from the last General Election in 2019 and is a party that can be trusted by the broad population and i think labour is going to make a hard case for the need for change and the conservatives are going to push an argument about the need for stability. Rishi sunak. D0 about the need for stability. Rishi sunak. About the need for stability. Rishi sunak. Do you think we will see as rishi sunak. Do you think we will see as weve rishi sunak. Do you think we will see as weve seen rishi sunak. Do you think we will see as weve seen in rishi sunak. Do you think we will see as weve seen in other. Will see as weve seen in other parts of europe arise in right wing parties and messaging . Rightwing parties and messaging . Rightwing parties and messauuin . ,. , messaging . Reform, previously the brexit party, messaging . Reform, previously the brexit party, has messaging . Reform, previously the brexit party, has been the brexit party, has been pushing the conservatives from the right and has shown itself to some appeal within significant portions of the electorate. In terms of a First Past The Post legal system it makes it hard for parties other than the principal Political Parties and it will be a largely centrist debate between labour and the conservatives, both of them arguing they can represent the broad majority of the population. I think you will see a less divisive politics than you have in parts of Continental Europe or the united states. Iii of Continental Europe or the united states. United states. If the signals are pointing united states. If the signals are pointing in united states. If the signals are pointing in the united states. If the signals are pointing in the right are pointing in the right direction and there is a Labour Government at the end of that what will it look like the uk, it has been such a long time . It has been a long time. 1a years. One of the things that will be notable will be will have the first female chancellor of exchequer, among the Big Parliament position it is the one that has never been held by a woman and Rachel Reeves as Shadow Chancellor is poised to step in as first female chancellor. I think you will see an emphasis the labour party has been very clear about the economic constraints under which it will operate when it comes into power and not making reckless commitments, but think you will see an emphasis on more investment in infrastructure, investment in infrastructure, investment in infrastructure, investment in the nhs, a commitment to growing a Green Economy and we willjust commitment to growing a Green Economy and we will just see how things, you know, pan out. I think there is a real cautiousness on the part of labour about promising too much that it cant deliver after years of financial austerity. What about International Relations then . The conservatives with the party that presided over brexit, what would be likely see andre Labour Government, we are in the us, particularly us uk relations, what more they look like . I relations, what more they look like . ~ relations, what more they look like . ~. ,. , like . I think with regards to breakfast like . I think with regards to breakfast it like . I think with regards to breakfast it has like . I think with regards to breakfast it has a like . I think with regards to breakfast it has a line like . I think with regards to breakfast it has a line draw| breakfast it has a line draw under it and it will not be really litigated. The Foreign Policy, the labour party and the Conservative Party are both committed to ukraine, they are both supportive of israel in the conflict in gaza and in terms of Foreign Policy you are less likely to see a dramatic shift than perhaps with Upcoming Elections in some other countries. There will be more continuity on that front. And is there anything that maybe we should look out for in this election campaign, do you think . I this election campaign, do you think . ~ this election campaign, do you think . ~ ,. , this election campaign, do you think . ~ , think . I think in some ways the auestion think . I think in some ways the question will think . I think in some ways the question will be think . I think in some ways the question will be the think . I think in some ways the question will be the role of question will be the role of the smaller parties, so the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National party, the Ulster Unionists in Northern Ireland. The Labour Party Needs to win significantly more vote in order to form a majorityjust because of the way the constituencies are drawn. So its possible if things break very well for the tories that there could be a Hung Parliament in which nobody has an outright majority. In which case, labourwould an outright majority. In which case, labour would be reliant on those smaller parties either to allow it to form a Minority Government or to go into coalition. Government or to go into coalition. ,. ,. , coalition. 0k. Thanks for all of those coalition. 0k. Thanks for all of those insights, coalition. 0k. Thanks for all of those insights, laura coalition. 0k. Thanks for all. Of those insights, laura beers from American University, Thanks Forjoining us. Thanks for oining us. Thanks forming Thanks Forjoining us. Thanks for having me Thanks Forjoining us. Thanks for having me on. Less than two weeks until mexicos General Election and violence against political figures and candidates is increasing most of it coming from drug cartels in the region. On tuesday, 12 bodies were discovered in the coastal city of acapulco in the latest explosion of violence. The most dangerous state to look for votes is the Western State of guerrero, where acapulco lies. Our correspondent will grant reports. Another grisly discovery on acapulcos violent streets. In just 2a hours, police found 12 bodies scattered across the city where not a night goes by without a murder. And in this most brutal of elections, scores of candidates have also been in the firing line. Even a leading candidate for city mayor was murdered as he ate dinner. Cynthia juarez, whos standing as a local opposition candidate in place of a murdered friend, knows full well the risks of running for office. Translation of course im afraid. Im scared that one day ill leave my house and never come home, she says. But politics is the only way we have to raise our voice. This is the most dangerous state. He was standing for congress when armed men appeared at his home. He has since abandoned the race. Translation i since abandoned the race. Translation since abandoned the race. Translation i dont want to become just translation i dont want to become just another translation i dont want to become just another motor i become just another motor statistic. I the authorities for protection and the security detail, but it fell on deaf ears. They have taken no action at all. Political violence perpetrated by the drug cartels is nothing new in mexico. But the extent of the problem in this campaign has shocked even seasoned politicians here. Names have been removed from the ballot by the bullet, and that means some voters will have to choose candidates who best serve the interests of organised crime rather than the needs of their communities. The violence spans the political spectrum, though candidates from the governing party, morena, have been the most affected. In guerrero, Felix Salgado macedonia is likely to be re elected as senator. Some 60 of voters consider their cities unsafe. But he denies president lopez obrador� s Security Strategy has failed. Translation we have to move forward little by little until we pacify the entire country. But we have another big problem. Our neighbour to the north. For the drugs to be bought and sold, there must be supply and demand. So whos consuming the drugs . Voters in acapulco have had a tough year. Eight months ago, they were battered by hurricane otis. The damage still evident across the city. Lives and livelihoods lost. This ladys mother and brother were killed in a landslide. While shes grateful for the governments response, she says security will also influence her vote. Translation we cant go out without fear. Even if youre not looking for trouble, you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Voters will soon choose the men and women to lead mexico in the coming six years. But whoever wins in acapulco, the endless war with the cartels will continue posing a deadly risk to politicians and the electorate alike. Will grant, bbc news, acapulco. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news in the uk. Survivors and families of the victims of londons Grenfell Fire will have to wait until at least 2026 for a final decision on whether anyone will face criminal charges. The metropolitan police and Crown Prosecution Service say the delay of almost ten years since the tragedy happened is down to the increasing scale and complexity of the investigation. The separate Public Inquiry into the fire is expected to publish its final report this summer or autumn. Wylfa on anglesey in wales has been chosen as the preferred site for a large Scale Nuclear power plant which the uk government say will bring thousands ofjobs to the area. Wylfas previous Power Station stopped Generating Energy in 2015. International Energy Companies have begun talks with the government to Start Building the new plant. Junior doctors across Northern Ireland have walked out for a two day strike over pay. The Department Of Health has warned that services will be affected during the strike and in subsequent days. Further strikes are also be planned forjune after pay talks broke down. Youre live with bbc news. Ireland, norway, and spain have all announced plans to recognise a Palestinian State next week. Spain and ireland said the decision was not against israel or in favour of hamas but in support of peace. Israel has reacted angrily and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries. Lucy williamson has more. And a warning some of the footage in her report may be distressing. There are things a future Palestinian State wont change. The loss of a daughter. A son in law. Her grandchildren. Ten members of this family, bombed in Deir Al Balah as they sought shelter from the war. But the creation of a Palestinian State living peacefully alongside israel is, for many western nations, the only way to end decades of co