China has started two days of Military Exercises around taiwan as a strong punishment. The drills come after lai ching te was sworn in as taiwans new president this week and made an Inauguration Speech that china denounced as a confession of independence. The late president Ebrahim Raisi was buried in his North Eastern hometown in the last day of state organised funeral ceremonies. The state media have praised the funeral in mashhad, stressing that millions attended the ceremony. Good evening. As theyjourneyed into work yesterday, recess looming, the mps At Westminster were probably planning for a Long Bank Holiday weekend. So much for that today they were coming to terms with six weeks of frenetic campaigning, many of them already back in their constituencies, the lucky ones with Party Leaders alongside. There will be miles and miles of travel before voting day onjuly 4th. Even if they� re are mostly guided by the maps that lead to target seats, not the same maps that we might use. The Prime Minister started his day at a Distribution Centre in ilkeston in derbyshire, sir keir starmer was in gillingham in kent, the Liberal Democrat leader, sir ed davey, headed to cheltenham. Our Political Editor, chris mason, was tracking them. Applause. Placards and cheers and a baby is getting attention from politicians. Keir starmer is quite a fan of visiting Lower League Football grounds and places he hopes labour can win. He was in gillingham in kent this morning, his deputy with him too. Thank you. Whatever Service People try and access these days, they find its like wading through treacle. Red cards arent usually welcome for folk on a Football Pitch but expect to see plenty of these in the next month or so, spelling out labours core message. We have had 14 years of going around and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. Chaos and division, Feeding Chaos and division. If you want to change you have to vote for it, and if you vote labour its a vote to stop the chaos, a vote to turn the page and its a vote to rebuild our country together. Thank you very much. Thank you. A General Election is about winning seats and staying in them. Rishi sunakjust about managed that in ilkeston in derbyshire, as he made the case the economy is on the up. Inflation down from 11 when i got thisjob, down back to normal, just over 2 . Energy bills, now falling by hundreds of pounds. Wages have been rising by faster than prices for almost ten months now. The conservatives and labour might have very different approaches to people crossing the channel in small boats. Labour would scrap the tory plan to send some migrants to rwanda, which Rishi Sunak Claims could make a big difference. How do we stop the boats . I am very clear, that requires bold solutions. That is why we need rwanda. Got to make it Crystal Clear to everybody, if you come to our country illegally, you will not get to stay. But the Prime Minister told us today he didnt expect anyone to be sent to rwanda before the election. Within hours, mr sunak was at a brewery in barry in south wales, having a go at the kit. There was then an awkward moment when he said this. Looking forward to all the football . Not so much my bag, but. But thats because you guys arent in it. Wales have not qualified for the euros, the Football Tournament starting next month. England and scotland have. In edinburgh today, the new look Scottish National party had their General Election launch. Onjuly the 4th, independence day, make sure your voice is heard. I expect over the next six weeks we will see the tories and labour really going at it. They will be going Hammer And Tongs to discredit each other. I will also be going Hammer And Tongs, but not against anyone, i will be going Hammer And Tongs to put scotland first. Ready . Right, cheering, lets go cheering. And in cheltenham in gloucestershire, the Liberal Democrats were sorting out their choreography, some in Party Colours from head to toe. Leader ed davey has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. A fair deal where everyone can have a decent home thats secure and clean, and an affordable, comfortable retirement when the time comes. A fair deal for every child has a Decent School where they can have the opportunity to realise their potential. The next six weeks will involve a fair bit of ticker tape and assorted electioneering paraphernalia. Luckily there are those keen to pick it up. Chris mason, bbc news. Im joined by lizzy buchan, deputy Political Editor at the daily mirror, brian taylor, political commentator and columnist for the herald, and lucy fisher, Whitehall Editor at the financial times. Lucy, lets start with you, the announcement today was that no flights will take off her wand until after the election. Labourers say that conservatives have spent Something Like £400 million on this project, which might well be cancelled if labour win. Is there a moneyback guarantee . Cancelled if labour win. Is there a moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, i moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, ifeel moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, i feelthis moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, i feel this was moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, i feel this was quite moneyback guarantee . Well, far from it. In fact, i feel this was quite a it. In fact, i feel this was quite a potentially significant misstep from rishi sunak today. Lets not forget that this Flagship Scheme to deport Asylum Seekers to rwanda was first floated in 2022, two years later, the government is still asking the public to trust them pass it. Come about to finally take off. See those flights take off. There is some scepticism we should also be aware that rishi sunak is trying to, you know, that create the Manoeuvre Room in case it doesnt happen but also hold back the Surprise Factor to that final week or so before the election in case some flights do get off the ground in order to try to enjoy a boost in the polls from that moment right before the public go to the ballot stations. So there is that potential as well but certainly immigration is shaping up to be quite the Dividing Line between the tories and labour at this General Election. ,. , tories and labour at this General Election. ,. , �. ,. , election. Indeed so. Brian, we have seen the new election. Indeed so. Brian, we have seen the new scottish election. Indeed so. Brian, we have seen the new Scottish First election. Indeed so. Brian, we havej seen the new Scottish First minister are launching their campaign today, he would prefer the headlines where about that, but then we get News Detectives investigating the funding and financing of the snp have sent their report to the Prosecution Service in scotland, the timing could hardly be worse. It considers scarcely could hardly be worse. It considers scarcely be could hardly be worse. It considers scarcely be worse. Could hardly be worse. It considers scarcely be worse. The could hardly be worse. It considersj scarcely be worse. The inquiries scarcely be worse. The inquiries going scarcely be worse. The inquiries going on scarcely be worse. The inquiries going on for scarcely be worse. The inquiries going on for some three years. Suddenly going on for some three years. Suddenly it seems that their report and fiscal suddenly it seems that their report and Fiscal Service a day after the uk General Election has been declared. Nobody really commenting all that much nobody really commenting all that much because if this is to turn into a court much because if this is to turn into a court case, much because if this is to turn into a court case, then charges are pending a court case, then charges are pending or a court case, then charges are pending or imminent end we presume that is pending or imminent end we presume that is now pending or imminent end we presume that is now being examined by the fiscal that is now being examined by the Fiscal Service as to whether they go ahead Fiscal Service as to whether they go ahead with Fiscal Service as to whether they go ahead with this. As you say, scarcely ahead with this. As you say, scarcely helpful, hes the first minister. Scarcely helpful, hes the first minister, but of course he is very well minister, but of course he is very well established within the snp having well established within the snp having been a member of the Scottish Pariiament having been a member of the Scottish Parliament since 99 and having been an mp Parliament Since 99 and having been an mp before that, he recalled he voted an mp before that, he recalled he voted for an mp before that, he recalled he voted for the act that established the Scottish Parliament, treading an extremely the Scottish Parliament, treading an extremely difficult and tricky path. Hes got extremely difficult and tricky path. Hes got to deal with the Flotsam And Jetsam of politics that surround and jetsam of politics that surround a party and jetsam of politics that surround a party that Spending Government for lon a party that Spending Government for long as a party that Spending Government for long as they have, these elections are about long as they have, these elections are about issues like health and education are about issues like health and education which are entirely devolved to the Scottish Parliament kimi s devolved to the Scottish Parliament kimi s got devolved to the Scottish Parliament kimi s got to cope with trying to reset kimi s got to cope with trying to reset and kimi s got to cope with trying to reset and revive the devolved government offer from the snp while at the government offer from the snp while at the same time, defending those westminster seats the party held in such large westminster seats the party held in such large numbers from the last uk generat such large numbers from the last uk General Election, particularly tricky General Election, particularly tricky position but then all the parties tricky position but then all the parties in tricky position but then all the parties in a tricky condition where they seem parties in a tricky condition where they seem to be abnormally anxious and fretfui. They seem to be abnormally anxious and fretful, why wouldnt they be after and fretful, why wouldnt they be after the and fretful, why wouldnt they be after the few years that we have endured after the few years that we have endured. ,. , after the few years that we have endured. ,. , ~. ,. , endured. Indeed so. Most people will be lookin endured. Indeed so. Most people will be looking rip endured. Indeed so. Most people will be looking on the endured. Indeed so. Most people will be looking up the economy endured. Indeed so. Most people will be looking up the economy when endured. Indeed so. Most people will| be looking up the economy when they go to vote in this election. They will want questions answered from all politicians as to what they are going to do about our prospects, wages, skills, investment, innovation, what they will do about public services, counsel services, do we have any of that detail from the parties and when are we going to get it . In the parties and when are we going to et it . ,. ,. ,. , get it . In short, not really. Obviously get it . In short, not really. Obviously all get it . In short, not really. Obviously all of get it . In short, not really. Obviously all of the get it . In short, not really. Obviously all of the parties | get it . In short, not really. Obviously all of the parties are 0bviously all of the parties are talking a lot about the economy and its because we know it is a key issue for voters and you can see that keir starmer to used his speech to talk about how theres been a major drop in Living Standards telling people that they dont need to put up with this. You saw on the bulletin that the Liberal Democrats moving about the economy as well, but the problem is because the government has been able to walk Back Inflation recently come down to 2. 3 , but thats not really being born out in peoples pay packets. People are still finding prices to be high. So thats going to be kind of the focus on a lot of the Election Campaign and at the moment we havent seen the manifestos, we havent seen any kind of great detail because they have been playing their cards quite close to their chest, i think this is something that everyone will be watching very closely, whoever wins the election does with this incredibly gloomy picture of squeezes on public finances, the challenges of overcoming the pandemic and the war in ukraine and all of the shocks that the economy has suffered, and how do you do that whilst trying to improve Living Conditions for everyone in this country . Edi conditions for everyone in this count . , country . Of course, lucy, The Conservatives country . Of course, lucy, The Conservatives will country . Of course, lucy, The Conservatives will be country . Of course, lucy, The Conservatives will be hoping, | country . Of course, lucy, The Conservatives will be hoping, given they are so far behind the polls, once that policy comes out under the heat of the political battle, they will be able to start closing the gap, but that is largely dependent on the candidates because although neither of them have stellar personalities, these two main candidates is something of a president ial race, this, it feels like a president ial race, yet youve got rishi sunak who didnt get off to a great Start Yesterday and then he dropped in wales over the football. How do conservatives feel about that . I football. How do conservatives feel about that . ~. , football. How do conservatives feel about that . About that . I think many feel quite bruised at the about that . I think many feel quite bruised at the fairly about that . I think many feel quite bruised at the fairly soggy about that . I think many feel quite l bruised at the fairly soggy Campaign Launch bruised at the fairly soggy Campaign Launch on bruised at the fairly soggy Campaign Launch on wednesday with rishi sunak getting launch on wednesday with rishi sunak getting drenched in that rather bizarre getting drenched in that rather bizarre spectacle outside number 10 downing bizarre spectacle outside Number 10 Downing St and being drowned out practically by things can only get better, practically by things can only get better, of practically by things can only get better, of famer Famous Labour Anthem better, of famer Famous Labour Anthem playing in the background played Anthem Playing in the background played by a protester, and of course, played by a protester, and of course, as played by a protester, and of course, as you said today, rishi sunak course, as you said today, rishi sunak trying to make small talk, but in a very sunak trying to make small talk, but in a very robotic fashion, bit of a gaffe in a very robotic fashion, bit of a gaffe thats in a very robotic fashion, bit of a gaffe thats made him look, again, a little bit gaffe thats made him look, again, a little bit odd, although the initiative was with rishi sunak to decide initiative was with rishi sunak to decide when to call the snap election. Decide when to call the snap election, somehow it is keir starmer who has election, somehow it is keir starmer who has ended up looking more prepared who has ended up looking more prepared for this initial moment. His iaunch p