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☆ The King and Keir: Is Charles About to Get a Prime Minister He Likes?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nearly 20 years ago, a wry young human rights lawyer, Keir Starmer, told a documentary filmmaker that it had struck him as “odd” to receive the title of Queen’s Counsel, “since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy.”Mr. Starmer, now the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, has long since disavowed his anti-monarchy statements as youthful indiscretions. In 2014, he knelt before Charles, then the Prince of Wales, who tapped him on the shoulder with a sword and awarded him a knighthood. If Sir Keir Starmer is swept into 10 Downing Street in the general election next week, as polls suggest he will be, he may end up more politically in sync with Charles then the last two Conservative prime ministers, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, whose terms have overlapped with the king’s reign. On issues including climate change, housing, immigration and Britain’s relations with the European Union, experts say, Mr. Starmer is likely to find common ground with a king who holds longstanding, often fervent, views on those issues but is constitutionally barred from taking any role in politics.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Mr, Starmer, Charles, Prince of Wales, Sir Keir Starmer, Charles then, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss Organizations: Britain’s Labour Party, Conservative, European Union

Learn moreThe July 4 UK election draws ever closer, and tonight's final televised debate between the two party leaders could be essential viewing. If you want to know how to watch the UK election debate online between Rishi Sunak (Prime Minister, Conservative Party) and Keir Starmer (Labour Party leader), we can get you ready in just a few clicks. How to watch UK election debate: quick links UK: BBC1 (FREE)BBC1 (FREE) Access the BBC from outside of the UK with ExpressVPN (try risk-free for 30 days)ExpressVPN (try risk-free for 30 days) When: Today, 3:15 p.m. ET / 8:15 p.m. BST / 9:15 p.m. CEST / 3:15 a.m. AWSTHow to watch UK election debate from outside the UKIf you're outside the UK right now, chances are the UK election debate isn't being broadcast on your local news channels. How to watch the Sunak vs. Starmer with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Laura Kuenssberg, Clive Myrie, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, Conservative Party, Labour Party, BBC, CNN, BBC1, ExpressVPN

☆ How Support for Britain’s Conservative Party is Collapsing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Josh Holder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +16 min

How Support for Britain’s Conservative Party is Collapsing2024 polls suggest the Conservatives may lose most of their seats. Most Conservative voters plan to vote for somebody else 2019 election 2024 election polling Fewer than half of Conservative voters say they are sticking with the party. 3% Other Most Conservative voters plan to vote for somebody else 2019 election 2024 election polling Fewer than half of Conservative voters say they are sticking with the party. 3% Other Most Conservative voters plan to vote for somebody else 2019 election 2024 election polling Fewer than half of Conservative voters say they are sticking with the party. How party support has changed since the 2019 election Conservative party Conservative support has dropped across the board, even among older voters who formed their base.

Persons: Mori, Ipsos Mori, Survation YouGov Ipsos Mori, Nigel Farage, Rishi Sunak’s, Liz Truss, David Cameron, pollsters, —, Keir Starmer, It’s, Starmer, Boris Johnson, Farage, ”, Will Jennings, ” Mr, Jennings Organizations: Britain’s Conservative Party, Conservatives, Labour, Conservative, Health, Crime Defense, Housing Education Education Brexit Defense, Welfare, National Health Service, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Conservative Party, Bristol Central, Green, Labour Conservatives S.N.P, Dems, Greens Plaid Cymru Reform, Northern Ireland, Northern, Brexit, University of Southampton, “ Locations: British, Britain, YouGov, Russia, Europe, Britain’s, Israel, Gaza, England, Northern Ireland, Midlands, England's, London

☆ Betting scandal inside the UK's ruling Conservative Party mars election race
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( April Roach | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — Britain's ruling Conservative party has become embroiled in a scandal concerning allegations that senior officials used inside knowledge to win bets on the date of the general election. Nick Mason, chief data officer for the Conservative Party, is the latest Tory official to be probed by the Gambling Commission, according to a report in The Sunday Times. CNBC was unable to immediately confirm this and the Conservative Party has not yet responded to a request for comment. Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire Craig Williams, who is also a close aide to the prime minister, was the first to face questions regarding a bet on the election date. The Conservative Party's campaign director Tony Lee, and his wife, Laura Saunders — the party's candidate in Bristol North West — are also being looked into by the Gambling Commission.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Nick Mason, Sunday Times . Mason, Montgomeryshire Craig Williams, Williams, Tony Lee, Laura Saunders —, Lee, Saunders Organizations: Conservative, Conservative Party, Tory, Gambling, Sunday Times, British, CNBC, Montgomeryshire, Bristol North, Commission, Independent, Metropolitan Police, Professional, Independent Office, Police

☆ Can Keir Starmer give Britain the change it desperately wants?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Barring a major shock, Labour leader Keir Starmer will be the person walking through the famous black door of 10 Downing Street in less than three weeks’ time. His parents were political, naming their eldest after the first Labour leader in parliament, Keir Hardie. “He’s the first Labour leader in a generation to talk about class and snobbery,” Tom Baldwin, author of “Keir Starmer: The Biography,” told CNN. Jeremy Corbyn, then the Labour leader, made Starmer his Brexit chief following the 2016 referendum. Starmer, left, and then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn talk to the media at the EU Commission headquarters on March 21, 2019 in Brussels, Belgium.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Conservative Party –, –, Keir Starmer, Starmer, John Stillwell, Keir Hardie, “, ” Tom Baldwin, “ Keir Starmer, ”, …, ” Baldwin, Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn, Osama bin Laden, Thierry Monasse, Boris Johnson, James Schneider, Dominic Grieve, ” Grieve, Grieve, ” Starmer, Stefan Rousseau Organizations: CNN, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Labour, Downing, Great, Great British Energy, European Union, Public Prosecutions, Crown, Service of, Wales –, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, NATO, EU, Conservative, Conservatives Locations: Britain, Great British, Service of England, London, Brussels, Belgium, Lancing, West Sussex

☆ UK’s Nigel Farage sparks outrage from political opponents after saying West ‘provoked’ Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Nigel Farage, a figurehead of the UK’s populist right, has sparked outrage from political opponents after saying the West “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We’ve provoked this war – of course it’s his fault – he’s used what we’ve done as an excuse,” he said. Farage – a former EU parliamentarian – claimed to be “the only person in British politics” to predict the invasion of Ukraine. “I am one of the few figures that have been consistent & honest about the war with Russia,” he wrote. He added that Farage has “shown that he would rather lick Vladimir Putin’s boot than stand up for the people of Ukraine.”

Persons: Nigel Farage, ”, Farage –, Brexit –, Farage, Putin, Nick Robinson, “ We’ve, –, “, “ Putin, Rishi Sunak, ” James, Ben Wallace, John Healey, Vladimir Organizations: CNN, BBC, NATO, European Union, ”, Conservative, Labour Locations: Ukraine, Brexit, EU, Russia, ”

☆ Human rights lawyer to political reformer: Who is Keir Starmer, the UK's new would-be prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks ahead of the U.K.'s general election on July 4, 2024. The left-of-center opposition party retains a commanding lead of around 20 points over current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, according to the latest YouGov poll. But who is Keir Starmer — Labour's leader and the clear favorite to become prime minister after Britain's July 4 election? Starmer also served as a human rights adviser during former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair's Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement. Labour leader Keir Starmer takes a selfie with students after a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School on May 29, 2024.

Persons: Sir Keir Starmer, Anthony Devlin, Rishi Sunak's, Nigel Farage's, Keir Starmer —, Starmer, Margaret Thatcher's, Tony Blair's, Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer, Christopher Furlong Organizations: Labour Party, Getty, Conservative, Britain's Labour Party, Labour, Conservatives, British, National Health Service, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, Shell, Tony Blair's Northern, Service, Counties Medical School, Wealth Fund Locations: London, England, Victoria, EU, Britain

☆ UK PM Sunak could cease to be a lawmaker in landslide election defeat, new poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to farmers as he campaigns on a farm near Barnstaple on June 18, 2024 in North Devon, United Kingdom. North Devon has been held by the Conservative Party since the 2015 general election. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could become the country's first sitting prime minister to lose their seat at a general election, according to the findings of a shock new poll. If correct, the upcoming vote would deliver Labour a supermajority of 382, comfortably more than former Prime Minister Tony Blair's historic 1997 victory. The analysis showed that left-leaning Scottish National Party is set to win 8 seats, while Wales' pro-independence political party Plaid Cymru is expected to win 4.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Tony Blair's, Savanta, James Cleverly's, Jeremy Hunt's Organizations: Conservative Party, British, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Wales, Plaid Cymru, Greens Locations: Barnstaple, North Devon, United Kingdom, Richmond, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Braintree, Essex, Godalming, Ash, Surrey

☆ Britain’s embattled ruling party roiled by election-related gambling scandal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Britain’s governing Conservative Party has been rocked by a gambling scandal in the middle of the campaign for an election that it is expected to lose. The UK’s PA Media news agency reported on Thursday that Conservative candidate Laura Saunders is facing a gambling watchdog investigation into alleged betting offenses. Prior to standing as a candidate, Saunders worked for the Conservative Party. A Conservative spokesperson told CNN in a statement: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals. It would be the first time Labour has entered power from opposition since 1997 and would end 14 years of controversial government by the Conservative Party.

Persons: Laura Saunders, Saunders, Tony Lee, Lee, ” Saunders, Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak, Williams, “, …, ”, It’s Organizations: CNN, Conservative Party, Media, Conservative, BBC, Commission, UK’s, Sunak, The Metropolitan Police, Professional, Labour Party, Labour, Conservatives

☆ Britain Election Winner’s First Problem: Fix a Stagnant Economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Our economy has truly turned a corner,” Rishi Sunak, Britain’s prime minister, said last week as he introduced his party’s election manifesto, buoyed by recent data showing that Britain’s economy had exited from a recession more strongly than expected in the beginning of the year and that inflation had slowed substantially. Justifying the optimistic mood, data released on Wednesday showed that consumer prices rose 2 percent in May from a year earlier, touching the Bank of England’s target. That was way down from 11.1 percent in October 2022, when Mr. Sunak started his premiership. Polls suggest there is a desire to eject the governing Conservative Party from Downing Street, after 14 years, in next month’s general election. But lawmakers in the opposition Labour Party have already warned that — should they win — they will inherit a hobbled economy with little room for bold changes.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak Organizations: of, National Health Service, Conservative Party, Downing, Labour Party

☆ Just Stop Oil protesters spray Stonehenge with paint
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A video posted on X by Just Stop Oil shows two of the group’s activists spraying the landmark using fire extinguishers. “The Just Stop Oil protestors demanded the incoming government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030,” the group posted on X. The protesters were a 21-year-old student from Oxford and a 73-year-old man from Birmingham, Just Stop Oil said in a press release. The official Stonehenge X account described the incident as “extremely upsetting.”“Orange powdered paint has been thrown at a number of the stones at Stonehenge. The protesters were a 21-year-old student from Oxford and a 73-year-old man from Birmingham, Just Stop Oil said in a press release.

Persons: ”, Rishi Sunak, Mona Lisa, Van Organizations: CNN — Environmental, Oxford, Wiltshire Police, Police, Heritage, Northern, British, Magna Carta, British Museum Locations: Birmingham, Salisbury, England, London

☆ UK prime minister’s protection officer arrested over alleged bet on election timing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Sharon Braithwaite | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A police constable working as part of the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s protection team was arrested this week for allegedly making bets related to the timing of the general election, police told CNN. The officer was arrested on Monday “on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said Wednesday. The arrest comes days after the Guardian newspaper reported that a close aide of Sunak made a £100 ($127) bet on a July election date before the prime minister had publicly announced the date. Many people in the comments have since reacted by highlighting the news of the police constable’s arrest for allegedly betting on the election. The UK general election will take place on July 4.

Persons: Rishi Sunak’s, “, ”, Sunak, Craig Williams, that’s, Sunak’s Organizations: CNN, UK, Metropolitan Police, Commission, Protection Command, Professional, Guardian, BBC, Met, Sunak’s Conservative Party, Labour, Labour Party Locations: ”, Sunak, Britain

☆ Officer in Sunak’s Protection Team Accused of Placing U.K. Election Bet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A protection officer working for Britain’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was arrested over allegations he had made bets on the timing of the country’s general election, which was recently called months earlier than had been expected, the police said on Wednesday. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police, the force that covers London, said the officer had been removed from operational duties and had been arrested on Monday “on suspicion of misconduct in public office.” The force added that the officer, who was not identified by name, was free on bail “pending further enquiries.”News of the arrest came a week after Craig Williams, a Conservative lawmaker and parliamentary aide to Mr. Sunak, apologized after having placed a bet on the timing of the election before the date of July 4 was officially announced. “I put a flutter on the general election some weeks ago,” Mr. Williams, who is running for re-election in the July 4 vote, wrote on social media. He noted that the Gambling Commission, which oversees the betting industry in Britain, was making inquiries. “I confirm I will fully cooperate with these,” he said.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Craig Williams, Sunak, “, Mr, Williams, ” Organizations: Metropolitan Police, ”, Conservative, Gambling Commission Locations: London, Britain

☆ UK millionaires are fleeing Britain in their thousands
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Mark Thompson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The continuing exodus from the UK — 16,500 millionaires left between 2017 and 2023 — is part of a global mass migration of the rich that appears to be accelerating. The Henley Private Wealth Migration report found that 128,000 millionaires are set to relocate this year, beating last year’s record by 8,000. By contrast, the ranks of the wealthy have grown in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and France over the same period. “The outflow of high-net-worth individuals already generated by the economic and political context is now being accelerated by policy decisions ahead of the election,” said White. Still, one very rich couple will apparently be staying, whatever the result on July 4.

Persons: Henley, ” Hannah White, —, ” Dominic Volek, Liz Truss, Keir Starmer’s, Rishi Sunak’s, Starmer, Rachel Reeves, ”, White, Akshata Murty, Sunday Times Rich, King Charles, Sunak Organizations: London CNN, Labour, Henley & Partners, Institute for Government, City of, Henley Private Wealth, European Union, Bank of England, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, Sunday Times Locations: United Kingdom, City of London, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Ukraine, England

☆ Nigel Farage: The US-style migration debate taking over Britain’s election
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“It’s a bit like God’s waiting room.”But Clacton is the front line of Britain’s migration debate. The Reform leader uses divisive language on migration, warning supporters of what he calls an "invasion" of asylum seekers. Despite years of tough rhetoric and policies aimed at deterring the arrival of asylum seekers – devised largely to placate Farage’s supporters – Britain’s asylum system is creaking. Laws prevent most asylum seekers from working, so while taxpayers fund their accommodation, they cannot contribute formally to the economy. That could widen even further the chasm in understanding between his voters and Britain’s asylum seekers, experts fear.

Persons: ” Danny Botterell, Nigel Farage, BEN STANSALL, Donald Trump, Nigel, ” Botterell, “, Farage, ” Farage, –, Rob Picheta, CNN Britain’s, Rishi Sunak’s, ” Zoe Gardner, “ Farage, “ They’ll, ”, Louise Brockwell, Danny Botterell, David Cameron –, Europe –, Sunak, Cameron, Farage’s, ted Britain’s, France –, ” Gardner, Masood, they’re, ” Masood, Brexit, Douglas Carswell, ” Carswell, ” “ There’s, Carswell, Bob Brace, Farage's, hasn’t, Jack, can’t, you’re, Bridget Tyril, Roy Whitehead, Keir Starmer, “ It’s, they’ve, Karen French, “ I’ve, He’s, James Johnson, Theresa May’s, pollster, Queen Elizabeth II, restauranter Dean Coles, Jehosh, Gardner Organizations: England CNN —, Seagulls, CNN, Getty, Clacton, Labour, Brexit Party, Tories, Jays, Sky News, Times, Home Office, Conservative, UKIP, EU, Brexit, Mississippi Center for Public, John, People, Trump, Downing, Partners, “, Conservatives Locations: Clacton, England, Clacton Pier, Europe, ”, London, “, AFP, United States, Britain, Westminster, India, France, Bibby Stockholm, Kent, Afghanistan, UAE, Essex, Jaywick, It’s France, Netherlands, Germany

☆ The leaders at this year's G7 summit look weaker than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe G7 summit has long been a showcase of global leadership and power. But 2024's group of leaders appears to be one of the weakest that has attended the summit for some time. French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the G7 summit. 'Brittle at best'Payne argued that some of the G7 leaders aren't outright weak; rather, they face circumstances that threaten their authority. And right now, the domestic foundations of most of the G7 leaders are brittle at best," he added.

Persons: —, Inderjeet Parmar, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz's, Rishi Sunak, Giorgia Meloni, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Antonio Masiello, Andrew Payne, Payne, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden's, Parmar, aren't Organizations: Service, Business, Politico, City University of London, EU, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, White House Locations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Italian, Ukraine

☆ G7 leaders huddle in Italy, escaping political peril at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Rarely has the yearly gathering of the world’s leading economies been so overshadowed by the political vulnerabilities of nearly all its members. She emerged as the only European G7 leader bolstered by last week’s European Parliament elections. “I am proud that Italy will present itself to the G7, to Europe with the strongest government of all. The leaders of France and Germany are contending with very different sets of political circumstances. Whether it is Trump at the G7 table next year or Biden is among the great unknowable questions hanging over the gathering.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, don’t, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Biden, –, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, Josh Lipsky, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Trump, Brothers, ” Meloni, Rishi Sunak, Canada’s Justin Trudeau —, Japan’s Fumio Kishida, who’s Organizations: CNN, Parliamentary, National Assembly, “, Ukraine, GeoEconomics, Atlantic Council, Italian, United, Conservative Political, Conference, Reuters, Trump Locations: Italy, Puglia, France, United Kingdom, United States, Paris, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, it’s, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Europe, Germany, Britain, Sicily, haggling, Quebec, Biarritz

☆ Weakened Leaders of the West Gather in Italy to Discuss an Unruly World
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Mark Landler | Steven Erlanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy convenes the leaders of the Group of 7 countries on Thursday at a luxury resort hotel overlooking the Adriatic Sea, she might be forgiven for thinking her guests are seeking a refuge. Britain’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is three weeks away from an election in which his Conservative Party is expected to be swept out of power. President Emmanuel Macron of France has called a snap parliamentary election after his party suffered heavy losses to the far right in European elections. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and his Social Democratic Party were humbled in those elections as well, while President Biden is in a dogfight with his predecessor, former President Donald J. Trump. Even Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan faces rising unrest within his Liberal Democratic Party and may lose his job this autumn.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, bode, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Biden, Donald J, Trump, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Conservative Party, Social Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party Locations: Italy, Ukraine, France, Japan

☆ Live Updates: U.S. to Sign 10-Year Pact With Ukraine as G7 Leaders Meet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( David E. Sanger | Steven Erlanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky will meet on Thursday and sign a security agreement, said Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s national security adviser. Mr. Biden faces the hurdle of convincing his allies, starting with Mr. Zelensky, that the United States plans to stay in the fight with Ukraine, no matter what happens in November. Mr. Biden told Mr. Zelensky last week, in France, that “I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what was going to pass,” and put the onus on Republicans in Congress. During a trip to Normandy last week, Mr. Biden appeared to have persuaded France, one of the last holdouts, to support the deal. “The administration has been quick to get aid to Ukraine once Congress moved, and that’s to its credit,” he said.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr, Zelensky, Jake Sullivan, “, ” Mr, Sullivan, we’ll, ”, Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, Donald J, Trump, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Biden’s, Vladimir V, Putin, Claudia Greco, John E . Herbst, Evelyn Farkas, Barack Obama, Ms, Farkas, ” Alan Rappeport Organizations: Ukraine, U.S, Kremlin, Group, Air Force, “, hobble, NATO, Mr, Reuters, European, World Bank, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council, United, McCain Institute, Arizona State University Locations: Ukraine, United States, Italy, Israel, Russia, hobble Russia, Europe, France, Congress, Savelletri, Normandy, Belgium’s, U.S, Eurasia

☆ UK GDP flatlines as PM Sunak pins election campaign on economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — U.K. economic growth ground to a halt in April, according to flash figures published on Wednesday, stalling the muted rebound from last year's recession mere weeks ahead of a national election. Economists polled by Reuters had expected growth to flatten, after the economy expanded by 0.4% in March. The picture was slightly brighter on a longer timeframe, with gross domestic product up 0.7% in the three months to April. Construction output declined 1.4% in its third straight fall, while production output was down 0.9%. Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors, attributed the April slowdown to recent gloomy weather.

Persons: Lindsay James, James Organizations: LONDON, Reuters, Quilter Investors Locations: Rotherhithe, London, United Kingdom

☆ ‘Just Disillusioned’: How U.K. Conservatives Lost a New Heartland
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Amid the drab parkas and pullovers was a figure in a striking red coat: Natalie Fleet, the Labour Party’s candidate for Parliament, wearing her party’s campaign color. She turned up late, having hiked up in heels. But she mixed easily, chatting with a 17-year-old high school student, Georgia Haslam, about her desire to get more young women engaged in politics. “It was reassuring to hear someone like her say, ‘I understand you,’” Ms. Haslam said afterward. “If you’re not from a city, if you’re not wealthy, it’s not clear that these politicians really care about you.”Ms. Fleet is on track to win back the parliamentary district of Bolsover for Labour, which in 2019 it lost to the Conservatives for the first time in almost 70 years.

Persons: pullovers, Natalie Fleet, Georgia Haslam, ’, Ms, Haslam, you’re, it’s, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Labour, Conservatives, Conservative Locations: England’s East Midlands, Bolsover, France, London

☆ Why the far-right surge in European elections could be an omen for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

US voters don’t take direction from foreigners, and American presidential elections, which play out state by state, are far different from those for the European Union. Another lesson of the European elections is that in an age of inflation, incumbents are vulnerable to a disgruntled electorate. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are smarting from their rebuke in European elections that rewarded far-right parties that echo the continent’s dark past. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s low approval ratings mean he might not even lead his Liberal Party into elections due by the end of next year. Macron, who heads a centrist party that was routed in the European elections, may be betting that the higher turnout in legislative elections could reverse the trend.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Hillary Clinton’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, he’ll, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Justin Trudeau’s, Rishi Sunak, Macron, Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s, ” He’s, ” Organizations: CNN, European Union, Canadian, Liberal Party, British, Conservative, “ Make, GOP, Labour Party, Trump, National Rally, Paris Locations: Britain, Europe, Italy, Poland, Normandy, EU

☆ UK tech bosses urge focus on AI skills and growth in high-stakes election — no matter who wins
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Pa Images | Getty ImagesLONDON — British technology executives and entrepreneurs want the next government to focus on promoting skills around the development and use of artificial intelligence and growth-oriented fiscal measures. Upskilling in an AI ageOne thing U.K. tech executives are pushing for is fostering innovation in artificial intelligence and cultivating citizens' grasp on AI-centric skills — across multiple generations. Last month, dozens of business executives, entrepreneurs, and investors signed an open letter stating their support for Labour in the upcoming election. Leon Neal | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesSignatories included several influential names in the world of U.K. tech: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Founders Forum co-founder Jonathan Goodwin, and Atom Bank CEO Mark Mullen. Tech bosses CNBC spoke with found themselves unable to point to specific policies and plans from either of the main political parties.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Keir Starmer, Zahra, Salesforce, Einstein, Astro, Matthew Houlihan, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, Leon Neal, Jimmy Wales, Jonathan Goodwin, Mark Mullen, Sunak, Liz Truss, Jeremy Hunt, Danny Lawson, Rishi Khosla, Khosla Organizations: Conservatives, Labour Party, LONDON, it's, Labour, CNBC, Innovation, Cisco, coy, Centre, Getty, Founders Forum, Atom Bank, BAE Systems, Tech Locations: Downing, Salesforce's, Europe, Purfleet, United Kingdom, Ukraine, British, Barrow, Furness, England

☆ UK unemployment nears three-year high, wage growth firm as election looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A staff wanted sign in the window of a restaurant in the Soho district of London, U.K., on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. LONDON — U.K. unemployment unexpectedly rose to its highest level in two and a half years, data showed Tuesday, amid a heated general election campaign in which the economy is a key battleground. Simultaneous strong wage growth divided opinions from market-watchers mulling the timing of an interest rate cut from the Bank of England. While market pricing on Tuesday suggested next to no chance of a rate cut at the BOE's June meeting, and a 36% shot in August, that probability rises to nearly 60% for the September deliberations. Consultancy Capital Economics said that, while the stickiness of wage growth would be a "lingering concern" for the BOE, the rate should soon be on a "firm downward path" as unemployment rises.

Persons: Richard Carter, Cheviot, BOE, Capital's, Ruth Gregory, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Sunak, We've, it's, Starmer Organizations: LONDON, Bank of England, National Statistics, Reuters, Consultancy Capital Economics, Conservative Party, Labour, Conservatives Locations: Soho, London

☆ UK's Rishi Sunak announces election pledges, looking to bounce back from D-Day gaffe
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a Conservative party rally, after he called for a general election, in London, Britain, May 22, 2024. LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released his Conservative Party's official election manifesto on Tuesday, announcing help for first-time home buyers and promising more tax cuts. The pledges come as the Conservatives look set for a drubbing to the rival Labour party at the July 4 General Election, while Sunak has personally come under fire several times during the campaign. Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer are both forefronting economic growth, the cost of living and taxes in their campaign messaging. Polls have for some time been pointing toward a Labour victory in a General Election after the Conservatives' ratings tanked following a series of scandals under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's tenure.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Insurance —, Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson's Organizations: British, Conservative, LONDON, Labour, Insurance, Conservatives Locations: London, Britain, France

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