here in the uk, campaigning is continuing in the run—up to the general election on ajuly. sir keir starmer has pledged to reduce the number of people legally migrating to the country, if labour wins the general election. in a newspaper interview, he set out plans to prioritise british workers and crack down on businesses that break employment laws. the conservatives are focusing on health policies for england today. they say they'll build or modernise 250 more gp surgeries, open more local diagnostic centres and expand treatments offered by pharmacies to cover conditions such as acne and chest infections. the scottish national party will launch their general election campaign today in glasgow. the leader, john swinney, will say that a vote for the snp is a vote to put scotland's interests first, and that independence would offer a better future. earlier, laura kuenssberg on her sunday show interviewed green party co—leader, adrian ramsay, and began by asking him about his party's plans for the the economy. well, we have got a strong message about the sort of economy we want to see. we want to see investment in a transition to a greener economy, which will have all sorts ofjob opportunities in things like renewable energy, public transport, producing more of our food locally, insulating our homes in ways that bring people pass bills down and keep people's homes warm up. we want a farfairer economy as keep people's homes warm up. we want a far fairer economy as well and we are the only party being honest in this election that if we are going to tackle the crisis in our nhs, the dental desert that we have, the fact that hospitals have patients in the corridors and people can get the procedure is that they want and need done we are going to have to ask the very richest in society, the multimillionaires, the billionaires, to pay modestly more in tax in a way that would raise tens of billions that would raise tens of billions that enable us to invest in our health service. and so we want to have a fairer society and we are talking about the type of economy that we want to see. but talking about the type of economy that we want to see.— that we want to see. but the important — that we want to see. but the important distinction - that we want to see. but the important distinction behind | that we want to see. but the i important distinction behind all that we want to see. but the - important distinction behind all of thatis important distinction behind all of that is that you don't believe, as the others do, that the economy should just keep growing, it should always be bigger. that is a very important principle for you, isn't it? , . , ., ., it? the principle that for the greens is — it? the principle that for the greens is that _ it? the principle that for the greens is that just _ it? the principle that for the greens is thatjust using - it? the principle that for the | greens is thatjust using gdp it? the principle that for the - greens is thatjust using gdp is a blunt instrument. it doesn't tell us whether our children have clean air to breathe, whether our rivers are full of storage, whether our public services are working properly. we need to have a wide range of economic measures which are about health and happiness, prosperity, jobs, public services, notjust one blunt measure about the amount of activity in economy was white but your policy document also says the population of the uk is consuming more than its fair shape and you cite food and farming which most people would say is a big source of harmful emissions. your document then says the green party will use rationing to reduce the amount of meat and dairy consumed in the uk. so how much less milk would you want people to drink and should people put down their bacon sandwiches right now? we put down their bacon sandwiches riaht now? ~ ., �* , put down their bacon sandwiches riuhtnow?~ . �* , ,., . ., right now? we haven't yet produced a manifesto for — right now? we haven't yet produced a manifesto for the _ right now? we haven't yet produced a manifesto for the next _ right now? we haven't yet produced a manifesto for the next five _ right now? we haven't yet produced a manifesto for the next five years... i manifesto for the next five years... but this is in your policy platform, it is available on the website. we have looked at it properly. it says the green party would use rationing to reduce the amount of meat and dairy. i to reduce the amount of meat and dai . ., to reduce the amount of meat and dai . . . . , to reduce the amount of meat and dai . . . ., , ., ., dairy. i am certain it is not meant to be the next — dairy. i am certain it is not meant to be the next five _ dairy. i am certain it is not meant to be the next five years. - dairy. i am certain it is not meant to be the next five years. what i dairy. i am certain it is not meant| to be the next five years. what we are going to put forward is how we make our food system more resilient. we are living at a time when we see food prices and fuel prices going up and up. we are really in a vulnerable situation in the uk because we are not producing anywhere near enough of our food at home. and the farmers i speak to in suffolk and norfolk all the time say to me that there is far more that the government could be doing to support ourfarmers to the government could be doing to support our farmers to produce far more of ourfood support our farmers to produce far more of our food locally, to support our farmers to produce far more of ourfood locally, to improve the grants that are available for nature friendly farming, where farmers tell me there is nowhere nearas farmers tell me there is nowhere near as nothing money in that pot, it is too difficult to access. if we work with our farmers we can produce far more of our food locally, we will be far more resilient to a changing climate, to international political affairs, which as we have seen with the war in ukraine can shoot these prices up. so the greens are alone in recognising we need a far more resilient approach to farming, energy, to the way we run our economy. and that's a vision we are setting out. find our economy. and that's a vision we are setting out-— are setting out. and you have candidates — are setting out. and you have candidates standing - are setting out. and you have candidates standing around i are setting out. and you have i candidates standing around the country on that platform. there have been a number of allegations of anti—semitic comments made by some of your people who are standing to be mps, including one who recently promoted a conspiracy theory that israel had conspired to allow the october seven tax to take place when 0ctober seven tax to take place when more than a thousand people were killed and many taken hostages. should someone who stated that be allowed to stand as an mp? ida. should someone who stated that be allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't. allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't- and _ allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't. and the _ allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't. and the green _ allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't. and the green party - allowed to stand as an mp? no, they shouldn't. and the green party takesj shouldn't. and the green party takes any suggestions of anti—semitism or any suggestions of anti—semitism or any form of racism very seriously and any suggestions that have been made of inappropriate comments in recent weeks are being investigated by the relevant people in the party. that has to be separate from the party leadership. a clear message of good governance. iltiuiiiiii party leadership. a clear message of good governance.— party leadership. a clear message of good governance. will you be barring candidates then? _ good governance. will you be barring candidates then? there _ good governance. will you be barring candidates then? there are - good governance. will you be barring candidates then? there are at - good governance. will you be barring candidates then? there are at least l candidates then? there are at least three examples that have been reported of people who want to be green mps, they want to be standing, saying things on social media or liking posts on social media. 0ne saying things on social media or liking posts on social media. one of them said israel must be eliminated, for example. will those people be off list? there were three candidates _ off list? there were three candidates who _ off list? there were three candidates who were - off list? there were three - candidates who were selected who off list? there were three _ candidates who were selected who are no longer going forward. i understand there is a small number more who are still being looked at. and for the first time, the green party is looking to stand candidates right across england and wales, that is 570 seats. you have referred to a small number of examples here but in terms of those seats where we have a fantastic chance of winning in this election, seats like bristol central, waverly valley, north herefordshire, brighton pavilion, we plan to get at least four green mps elected to push the new government to be bolder. because rather than labour's to mid promises, if this new government is going to take the action is needed we need green voices in parliament to take the real hope and change this country needs. . ., ., ., , needs. the co-leader of the green pa that needs. the co-leader of the green party that speaking _ needs. the co-leader of the green party that speaking to _ needs. the co-leader of the green party that speaking to laura - party that speaking to laura kuenssberg on her sunday show. joining me now to discuss this week's campaigning is anthony pickles, former chief of staff to the conservatives in wales and sonia sodha, 0bserver columnist and former adviser to ed miliband. we have got a lot to get through but i dojust want we have got a lot to get through but i do just want to pick up on this idea of candidates. because both parties, the conservatives and labour, are trying to rally those candidates forward. sonia, how is labour doing in terms of getting their candidates forward? because their candidates forward ? because arguably their candidates forward? because arguably there has been a lot of criticism of what keir starmer has done towards diane abbott and this perhaps feeling sentiment that people are discussing that sir keir starmer is pushing through his allies. is that fair thing to say? i think it is a fair characterisation of what is happening. i think personally the diane abbott question whether she was going to be allowed to stand again, that was handled badly by the party and i don't think that anybody around keir starmer or in labour would claim that that was handled well. but i think more broadly when you look at what is going on with labour's candidate selection, it is very clear that some mps have resigned late and some candidates sir keir starmer�*s choice have been put forward for those seats. what i will say is that that is what every single labour leader does. it is sort of to be expected, thatis does. it is sort of to be expected, that is how politics works. you have some really high quality labour candidates being put forward in those seats. keir starmer has got an eye too if i am in government, where is the future potential going to come from in terms of the cabinet? and that is basically what you would expect a professional political party that is serious about getting into government to do. i think one contrast between labour and the conservatives is that labour's candidates are almost all selected now. the conservatives are quite some way behind that. so if you look at the candidates that they are selecting, they have still got well overi selecting, they have still got well over i think it is about 150 candidates to go. so it is clear, i think, that the conservatives were a bit less ready for this election then perhaps the prime minister might have thought.— then perhaps the prime minister might have thought. anthony, is that a fair point. — might have thought. anthony, is that a fair point, given _ might have thought. anthony, is that a fair point, given that _ might have thought. anthony, is that a fair point, given that the _ might have thought. anthony, is that a fair point, given that the prime - a fair point, given that the prime minister, the governing party, has the... well, they are in the strong position that they get to decide when to call the election. did rishi sunak catch everyone out? where are you with the conservative candidate? i think it is certainly true that a lot of— i think it is certainly true that a lot of people kept in the dark about the july— lot of people kept in the dark about the july general election being announced. so of course there is still a _ announced. so of course there is still a lot— announced. so of course there is still a lot of— announced. so of course there is still a lot of candidate selections left to _ still a lot of candidate selections left to go. i think nominations formally— left to go. i think nominations formally close this thursday, so there _ formally close this thursday, so there is — formally close this thursday, so there is this tremendous rush this weekend — there is this tremendous rush this weekend to get people in place. but that said. _ weekend to get people in place. but that said, what we have seen over the weekend is that we still have shortlists — the weekend is that we still have shortlists going through to local parties — shortlists going through to local parties and the local parties are still choosing that local candidate that they — still choosing that local candidate that they want. so whilst there are a lot of— that they want. so whilst there are a lot of people to choose, there is a lot of people to choose, there is a good _ a lot of people to choose, there is a good democratic process under way across_ a good democratic process under way across the _ a good democratic process under way across the country this weekend. gk, across the country this weekend. ok, so when it comes _ across the country this weekend. oi, so when it comes to the party leaders themselves, then, sonia, is sir keir starmer doing enough to get his personality across? we saw him reintroduce himself to voters, to be electorate, last week. and he was talking about earning money by clearing stones for farmers. it was almost like that theresa may moment when she was talking about being naughty running through fields. has he done enough to get his personality across? i he done enough to get his personality across? i mean, there are two ways _ personality across? i mean, there are two ways of — personality across? i mean, there are two ways of looking _ personality across? i mean, there are two ways of looking at - personality across? i mean, there are two ways of looking at this. i personality across? i mean, there l are two ways of looking at this. one is looking at the polls where labour, every poll pretty much is showing labour around 20 points ahead. there is a bit of difference there between different polling companies but labour are ahead in the polls and all of the predictions are getting on for a labour majority. when you look at the lido ratings, though, so the number of people who give them favourable and unfavourable ratings —— the leader ratings. keir starmer is way ahead of rishi sunak but his poll ratings are still slightly negative and i think what that shows what we found in the local elections last month is that there is a very anti—conservative mood in the country. but people are also generally quite anti—politics. they are not massively engaged in politics and the election campaign yet. and i think there is a certain amount of cynicism from the public that they think that the country is facing some really serious issues when it comes to things like the economy, nhs waiting lists. some peoplejust economy, nhs waiting lists. some people just aren't so sure that politicians can fix it. but there is a very anti—conservative mood. the conservatives have been in month 1a years. what the polls tell us is that they are blaming the conservatives for that. i think you can say that keir starmer, voters do tend to tune in more during the general election campaign, we are only one week in. you can save keir starmer has a way to go in terms of telling the public who he is but at the same time that is not really affecting what is going on in the polls. affecting what is going on in the olls. ., y�* , . polls. 0k, sonia they're very much talkin: polls. 0k, sonia they're very much talking about _ polls. 0k, sonia they're very much talking about the _ polls. 0k, sonia they're very much talking about the polls, _ polls. 0k, sonia they're very much talking about the polls, anthony, i talking about the polls, anthony, when i was talking to lord cameron yesterday he echoed what rishi sunak said in yorkshire when he was launching the conservative party battlebus that they are not looking at the polls. the only poll they are interested in is the one on the 4th ofjuly. they have got to look at the poll surely when labour are so far in the lead?— far in the lead? everyone looks at the olls far in the lead? everyone looks at the polls i — far in the lead? everyone looks at the polls i think _ far in the lead? everyone looks at the polls i think people _ far in the lead? everyone looks at the polls i think people are - far in the lead? everyone looks at| the polls i think people are kidding themselves when they don't. as particularlyjust how stark they have _ particularlyjust how stark they have been in recent times. that said, _ have been in recent times. that said. if— have been in recent times. that said. if you _ have been in recent times. that said, if you look at the style of this first — said, if you look at the style of this first week in terms of where both— this first week in terms of where both parties are act, the conservatives obviously the big incumbent party here, they have had 14 years _ incumbent party here, they have had 14 years of _ incumbent party here, they have had 14 years of government, as sonia 'ust 14 years of government, as sonia just said — 14 years of government, as sonia just said. and labour know that this is a big _ just said. and labour know that this is a big moment for them to try and capture _ is a big moment for them to try and capture the — is a big moment for them to try and capture the mood, try and capture this mood — capture the mood, try and capture this mood for change. that is oversee — this mood for change. that is oversee their slogan. what the conservatives have been trying to do is to demonstrate that there is still plenty of ideas in the tank. so i still plenty of ideas in the tank. so i think— still plenty of ideas in the tank. so i think every day of the last week— so i think every day of the last week we — so i think every day of the last week we have had a new policy announcement. we started the week with the _ announcement. we started the week with the national service announcement but from there we have .one announcement but from there we have gone to— announcement but from there we have gone to tax. _ announcement but from there we have gone to tax, the triple lock on pensions _ gone to tax, the triple lock on pensions and then an exploration of labour's _ pensions and then an exploration of labour's vat policy. so lots of things — labour's vat policy. so lots of things going on over the first week of the _ things going on over the first week of the campaign and i think what the conservatives tried to demonstrate is that— conservatives tried to demonstrate is that they have still got plenty of ideas — is that