We reported that there was a possibility they would call and go this summer but after the local Election Results which were very bad for the tories, i had thought as most people did, why would they go now . It looks like it would be so terrible. And lots of mps think its absolutely crackers to go now even the tories are 20 points behind but here we are. Notjust here we are, here we are. Notjust here we are, here we are. Notjust here we are, here we go. Here we are. Not ust here we are, here we go. Newscast by the bbc. Hello, it is here we go. Newscast by the bbc. Hello, it is laura here we go. Newscast by the bbc. Hello, it is laura and here we go. Newscast by the bbc. Hello, it is laura and paddy. Here we go. Newscast by the bbc. Hello, it is laura and paddy. And i hello, it is laura and paddy. And so, this has been for rishi sunak it is fair to say a not good getting out of the traps and i think hes tucked away what should be a first move or advantage. Hes the one who knew when it was coming and notjust the in Downing Street but some sort of gaffes on the road, pictures going wrong, things like imposing at the titanic in belfast, you do that if it looks that things are going badly. It if it looks that things are going badl. , ~ , if it looks that things are going badl. ,. , badly. It takes me back to theresa ma with badly. It takes me back to theresa may with letters badly. It takes me back to theresa may with letters falling badly. It takes me back to theresa may with letters falling off badly. It takes me back to theresa may with letters falling off in badly. It takes me back to theresa may with letters falling off in the l may with letters falling off in the conference. We should all learn to love this about campaigns, events. If id been running, strangely enough i did not, it is raining very hard so you go inside. You go into the room the public paid millions for, then in there. The room the public paid millions for, then in there. Amine, several eo le for, then in there. Amine, several peeple have for, then in there. Amine, several people have suggested for, then in there. Amine, several people have suggested to for, then in there. Amine, several people have suggested to me, for, then in there. Amine, several| people have suggested to me, why nafta do not use the £2 million media suite where he has given many announcements in the warm and dry. The number 10 answer to that is well, its the done thing to stand in the street. Although there was the other alternative like trusted which was drive around for 20 minutes were waiting for the rain to stop but it definitely got things off to an unbelievable start and people closely involved looked at it and thought, oh, dear. And thought, oh, dear. Timing still questionable and thought, oh, dear. Timing still questionable and and thought, oh, dear. Timing still questionable and style and thought, oh, dear. Timing still questionable and style very questionable and style very questionable. I was expecting someone to throw fish heads at him. It looks like a monty python sketch. And a know it was your Home Standing in Downing Street for a long time but its of Public Protest now, if it is not the bbc with the helicopter drowning things out, it is the man from the speaker Playing A Song from 1977. ,. ,. ,. , from the speaker Playing A Song from 1977. , a, , a, 1977. There was also an extremely loud, massively 1977. There was also an extremely loud, Massively Loudspeaker 1977. There was also an extremely l loud, Massively Loudspeaker playing the new labour anthem, things can only get better. Things can only get wetter was the joke within about 30 seconds. Thats the power and authority Downing Street is meant to confer upon you butjust didnt work at all. You end up on day three or four or whatever with Rishi Sunak Making jokes with veterans this morning with, oh well, at least catching pneumonia. Buti morning with, oh well, at least catching pneumonia. But i think is more serious, campaigns are long, gaffes happen, no reason they cant shake out that problem just by Running Events tightly than they have been in not doing things like letting him pose in front of the exit sign. Dont do that. More serious is the continuing level of departure from the conservative benches like michael gove, huge political heavyweights, love or loathe him, very significant figure in the conservative party is Standing Down. In the conservative party is Standing Down. In the conservative party is standin down. �. ,. ,. , Standing Down. And would you as someone who Standing Down. And would you as someone who follows Standing Down. And would you as someone who follows his Standing Down. And would you as someone who follows his career. Standing down. And would you as someone who follows his career from the start really when he was elected. The start really when he was elected the start really when he was elected. � ~. ,. , � elected. Dont know what youre auoin to elected. Dont know what youre going to ask elected. Dont know what youre going to ask me elected. Dont know what youre going to ask me. Would elected. Dont know what youre going to ask me. Would you elected. Dont know what youre i going to ask me. Would you confess to a surprised . Going to ask me. Would you confess to a surprised . I going to ask me. Would you confess to a surprised . I was going to ask me. Would you confess to a surprised . I was surprised going to ask me. Would you confess to a surprised . I was surprised im i to a surprised . I was surprised im not a political boffin. I thought he is going to do the election then go. He was always a mine may be list because the conservatives know the lib dems are breathing down their necks, targeting him heavily even though he has a majority of 18,000. Though he has a maority of mount though he has a maority of 18,000. A, a,. , a, , 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at seven 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at seven on 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at seven on friday. 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at seven on friday. If 18,000. May ask another way . They came out at seven on friday. If that i came out at seven on friday. If that is key we can use a gender time, thats what took me by surprise. It thats what took me by surprise. It wasnt necessarily intended like that but i got a tip at about 530. So he was pushed . Molar that but i got a tip at about 530. So he was pushed . That but i got a tip at about 530. So he was pushed . Now but these thins so he was pushed . Now but these things dont so he was pushed . Now but these things dont necessarily so he was pushed . Now but these things dont necessarily always things dont necessarily always happen in precisely the way youd expect but someone as canny as michael gove who has been a journalist for a long time knows exactly what impact him announcing his departure would have on a friday night after a couple of very bumpy first days for rishi sunak and what is also significant is he only made the decision as i understand it in the decision as i understand it in the last 36 hours before the announcement. In other words, the last 36 hours before the announcement. In otherwords, he only made the decision after the not ideal launch of the general election. Thats of course makes you wonder, did he have a look at how this was unfolding and think, i dont want a part of this . This sentence. Dont want a part of this . This sentence. I dont want a part of this . This sentence, i do dont want a part of this . This sentence, i do one dont want a part of this . This sentence, i do one part dont want a part of this . Ti 3 sentence, i do one part of this, could apply to theresa may, kwasi kwarteng, matt hancock, sir charles walker, endless amounts of them. But Government Ministers who must answer what it means for these people to leave at the same time which is now a larger number than conservatives leaving in 1997, they say people in their 60s do retire, 15 years michael gove had in government is a long time. find michael gove had in government is a lona time. �. ,. , , long time. And that is absolutely true and michael long time. And that is absolutely true and michael gove long time. And that is absolutely true and michael gove is long time. And that is absolutely true and michael gove is only long time. And that is absolutely true and michael gove is only inl long time. And that is absolutely i true and michael gove is only in his 50s. Im sure fans of him will be in touch saying you, 0 connell, dont suggest he is a ready sexagenarian. At every thats already the right word. Lets leave the word in. I word. Lets leave the word in. I think youre right. He was elected in 2005 and has been in front line politics for a long time. Many people Standing Down likejohn redwood, greg clark who had lots of cabinetjobs, theresa may, lots of differentjobs, people who have been around for a long time going this time and also quite a few of the Labour Benches as well. Harriet harman, margaret hodge. However, whether it is fair or not, it absolutely adds to the impression that this election is hurtling towards a Big Generational Change and that is the impression all of these departures give out. I dont think they are done yet. These departures give out. I dont think they are done yet. There will be a fiuht think they are done yet. There will be a fight for think they are done yet. There will be a fight for the think they are done yet. There will be a fight for the conservative be a fight for the conservative party even if they kept a large numbers of seats, there will be a fight for which conservative party it is because a lot of people leaving were instrumental in leading the brexit to charge and in leading the brexit to charge and in leading the fight within the conservative party against theresa may he was also leaving. So the conservative party will be changed by the selection and by these departures more than the last five. I selection and by these departures more than the last five. More than the last five. I think that is absolutely more than the last five. I think that is absolutely right more than the last five. I think that is absolutely right and that is absolutely right and whatever the end results, and campaigns do change things, who knows what would now seem like an incredibly unlikely miracle could yet come to pass and they might somehow manage to hang on even though that is not what anybody in the conservative party at the moment believes will happen. But even if that were to happen and they end up with rishi sunak still in charge, the party he runs will be a very, very different beast. The assumption of course at the moment is that even managing to hold labourfrom a majority and ending up in a hung parliament, one described that as the most realistic thing they could achieve, like the best realistic scenario which even that they said would be a heroic outcome on the assumption we can say to all newscasters right now in the beginning of this is rishi sunak is on his way out and there will be a fight for a new Conservative Leader on the other side of the selection. But, you know aoac this, politics is very unpredictable on both sides of the political divide. There is an absolute knowledge and genuine belief that voters in this country are now a very volatile group of people and just as there are millions of people who have not yet made up their minds, millions may have told pollsters in the last few months theyve developed their minds but may yet change them. This Constant Churning of voters, both parties are well aware of that. find parties are well aware of that. And more people parties are well aware of that. fific more people voted for parties are well aware of that. 2 1c more people voted for small parties are well aware of that. 2. 1c more people voted for small parties than expected. Streaks tonight has put on discord, will be simply Standing Down, how much will it affect the demographics of the parties . In the conservatives, a lot. Labour may be 20. You have a couple of key bellwethers, diane abbott is a question everyone will be asking about, what happens in the inquiry and whether she keeps the whip and stands down of her own accord. �. ,. , accord. And there are questions while we record accord. And there are questions while we record that accord. And there are questions while we record that this accord. And there are questions while we record that this might | accord. And there are questions i while we record that this might be the long running dispute over whether or not she can be allowed back to sit as a labour mp. She cant because mp has been designed by the election but would she get the width back before it is likely she would stand down . There is the suggestion this morning this could be resolved even today but we dont have any clarity on that yet. As i understand it, it has been reported in other places that she wants to be allowed back in, given dignity restored to her place as a labour mp but then with that, she would be likely to stand down which in Labour Circles opens up a Plum Labour Seat and there will be a stampede of activists to get their hands on this one. , ,. , one. Cevert were sums big names still to come one. Cevert were sums big names still to come and one. Cevert were sums big names still to come and expect one. Cevert were sums big names still to come and expect more one. Cevert were sums big names i still to come and expect more tories to come . To go . I still to come and expect more tories to come . To go . To come . To go . I do. Someone said to me to come . To go . I do. Someone said to me rather to come . To go . I do. Someone said to me rather archly to come . To go . I do. Someone said to me rather archly yesterday, j said to me rather archly yesterday, one of the things ive written about this afternoon, one of the suggestions why a Campaign Sunak is not yet running at a Full Throttle shall we say and is perhaps misfiring is some of the staffers involved are said to be partly distracted by the hunt for their own seats in parliament. 1 distracted by the hunt for their own seats in parliament. Seats in parliament. I think you will see big seats in parliament. I think you will see big names seats in parliament. I think you will see Big Names Go Seats in parliament. I think you will see big names go at seats in parliament. I think you will see big names go at the i seats in parliament. I think you i will see big names go at the ballot box which is what we love about politics, not that people go that the public allowed to come to their mind and big names are humbled. That is what happens. find mind and big names are humbled. That is what happens is what happens. And the most likely candidate for is what happens. And the most likely candidate for that is what happens. And the most likely candidate for that is is what happens. And the most likely candidate for that is jeremy is what happens. And the most likely candidate for that is jeremy hunt, i candidate for that isjeremy hunt, grant shapps, alex chalk, less well known butjustice secretary, a very senior and big job In The South West of cheltenham, very much at risk from lib dems. Jeremy hunt, i dont think we will see him much in the Campaign Trail because he is fighting so hard for his seat but jeremy hunt, grant shapps at risk as well. Some people who are very well known who are definitely at risk this time round. It is known who are definitely at risk this time round. It is interesting because you this time round. It is interesting because you must this time round. It is interesting because you must talk this time round. It is interesting because you must talk about. This time round. It is interesting because you must talk about labour and what happens but i remember the speculation during the year that jeremy hunt would not stand if the election went on so its important sometimes to say what was said that was wrong, many bright and political people said jeremy hunt when stant he wont be sending find people said jeremy hunt when stant he wont be sending he wont be sending and he always said i will stand he wont be sending and he always said i will stand because he wont be sending and he always said i will stand because i he wont be sending and he always said i will stand because i care said i will stand because i care about my constituency and seat and you put lots of money into fighting his own seat recently. We will see because incumbency as it is known, the personal connection mps have with their constituents, is something that can be very potent and powerful and that is another problem for the tories because if incumbency gives you another two or 3 at the ballot box, if the swathes of mps are going, that incumbency and connection with local mp also disappears as a new candidate is turning out saying hi, i mean you candidate look how great things have been going on this campaign that is really tough. But there are things that are tough for labour as well. In things that are tough for labour as well. ,. , things that are tough for labour as well. , ,. ,. ,. , well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do for well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do for the well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do for the country well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do for the country is well. In a sixweek campaign, what she will do for the country is the she will do for the country is the point of it. Events are still fascinating, the rain, the titanic, the exit signs on the plane and keir starmer will have those moments as well. ~. Starmer will have those moments as well. ,. , , well. What will happen in the euros, exactl. Well. What will happen in the euros, exactly this well. What will happen in the euros, exactly this is well. What will happen in the euros, exactly. This is labours well. What will happen in the euros, exactly. This is labours plan well. What will happen in the euros, exactly. This is lab