James Heale

Labour's election campaign continues to get off to a good start. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has today confirmed that it will take no further action against Angela Rayner after accusations surrounding her living arrangements. Officers from the force launched an investigation into the party's deputy leader in April after Tory MP James Daly registered a complaint. It followed reports in the Mail which suggested that Rayner might have lived primarily at her then-husband's address in Stockport, despite registering to vote under her own – a potential breach of electoral rules. But this afternoon GMP released a 121-word statement which says that after 'a thorough, carefully considered and proportionate investigation' they have concluded that 'no further police action will be taken'.

The decision to call a snap election last Wednesday caught many in Tory and Labour high command by surprise. Both parties are now racing to finalise candidate selections for all 630 seats in Britain by the deadline of Friday 7 June, with Labour much further advanced in this process than the Conservatives. Fewer than 35 constituencies currently lack a Labour candidate, and some in Keir Starmer's team are keen to highlight the contrast in readiness between the two parties. The Tories now have 12 days to fill 160 vacancies – the equivalent of picking one candidate every 100 minutes. Within CCHQ, however, there is confidence that this target can be met, in spite of the onerous demands of the national campaign.

Today saw the first set of Sunday shows since the election was called on Wednesday. Rachel Reeves was interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg about Labour's fiscal plans if they win power on 4 July. The Shadow Chancellor said 'We won't increase income tax or National Insurance' but refused to rule out some public spending cuts as she vowed that there 'will not be a return to austerity' under a Labour government. Reeves also refused to put a timetable on raising defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, though she said the party supported getting there eventually. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hWj3WlTwso Cleverly rules out jail for national service refuseniks The big announcement of the day is the Conservatives' plan to introduce a new form of national service.

Rishi Sunak tonight made his first stump speech, kicking off the Tory election campaign with an appearance at the Excel Centre in the East End of London. The Prime Minister took to the stage after James Cleverly served as his warm-up act, reliving the role he played in the last election as party chairman and Tory cheerleader. The contrast between the two men emphasised the message which Sunak wanted to land. While Cleverly's speech was relaxed and off the-cuff and relaxed, Sunak stuck to his autocue and talked up the importance of security in this election, using variations of the word eight times in his ten-minute speech to the 100-odd attendees.

Throughout the last 25 years of devolution in the UK, one thing has remained consistent: Welsh Labour's stranglehold on Cardiff Bay. But in recent weeks, the party's grip on the Senedd has been shaken by a series of controversies, culminating in today's news that Plaid Cymru is pulling out of their power-sharing agreement. The two parties signed up to the three-year deal in 2021. However the Welsh nationalists have this afternoon withdrawn with immediate effect – seven months before the agreement was due to officially end.