As we mentioned in our last post, Rishi Sunak's anti-smoking bill seems unlikely to make its way through Parliament by tomorrow evening - when MPs and Lords pack up for the election.
But what was covered in the bill that, if passed, would've made the UK among countries in the world with the toughest anti-tobacco laws?
To start, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would've ensured anyone turning 15 from this year on would be banned from buying cigarettes. It also aimed to make vapes less appealing to children.
Sunak, who announced the plan last year, headlined it as a law that would both "save thousands of lives and billions of pounds for our NHS" and effectively "create a smoke-free generation".
It would've also introduced curbs on flavours, packaging and the sale of vapes to make them less appealing to children.
BreakingAnti-smoking bill likely to be ditched before Parliament wraps
Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor
Rishi Sunak’s big plan to create a smoke-free generation
seems to have been ditched but is likely to become a Tory manifesto pledge.
The
legislation has not gone far enough in its journey through Parliament to make
it through by tomorrow evening, when MPs and Lords pack up for the
election.
Bills making the cut are the
Digital Markets Bill, Post Office Offences Bill, Media Bill and the Victims and
Prisoners Bill, which includes the compensation scheme for victims of the
infected blood scandal. Details are still being thrashed out on that.
This is all to be confirmed by Commons leader Penny
Mordaunt at around 13:00 BST.
Watch: How the election announcement unfolded
At this point yesterday, we still had no word on when a general election would be called - with Rishi Sunak saying only it would take place "in the second half of the year".
Here's how that six-month period was narrowed down rather sharply...
Video content
Video caption: How the election announcement unfoldedHow the election announcement unfolded
Ann Widdecombe takes aim at government's migration record
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Ann Widdecombe, seen here between Lee Anderson and Richard Tice, spoke at Reform's campaign launchImage caption: Ann Widdecombe, seen here between Lee Anderson and Richard Tice, spoke at Reform's campaign launch
Before Richard Tice spoke at the launch of Reform UK's election campaign, veteran politician Ann Widdecombe said a few words.
The former Tory minister turned Reform UK member said immigration was the "crucial issue" at the election.
Widdecombe said that having once been immigration minister, "I know very well that immigration has a tremendous impact on the country.
"There is no such thing as an economic movement which doesn't impact right across the scale."
Reform UK will field 630 candidates - Tice
Let's go back now to Reform UK leader Richard Tice, who's speaking in London.
Tice says his party will stand candidates in 630 seats in the election - there are 650 seats across the UK - and confirms that he personally will stand in Boston and Skegness.
"Contrary to what all the commentators say... we are going to win seats," he says, adding that his party is the only one offering real change over the economy and immigration.
"The choice for everybody is whether you vote Tory, or whether you vote Labour, you will get the same form of socialism," he says.
BBC Verify
By Anthony Reuben
Is Keir Starmer right to talk of '£46bn of unfunded tax cuts'?
Earlier in Gillingham, Labour leader Keir Starmer referred to
what he calls the £46bn Tory black hole, saying: "What is Rishi Sunak's
plan? £46bn of unfunded tax cuts.”
He is talking about the government’s
ambition to abolish National Insurance (NI) for workers, and £46bn is a
reasonable estimate of what that would cost.
But the Conservatives have been
clear they do not expect to be able to do it before at least 2030.
They also say
it would not be unfunded - they would not get rid of NI until the economy has
grown by enough to make it affordable.
Video caption: Tories 'terrified' of Reform Party - Richard TiceTories 'terrified' of Reform Party - Richard Tice
Earlier we brought you the news that Nigel Farage won't stand in the general election as a Reform UK candidate - but will help the party's campaign.
Now let's bring you some lines from Reform UK leader Richard Tice, who has been delivering a speech in Westminster.
He started off by poking fun at Rishi Sunak, who he pointed out was "drenched" during his speech yesterday, before saying the PM has "bottled it" by announcing an election.
Tice said that Sunak is "terrified" that Reform UK "is going up and up in the polls" while the Tories "have been sinking".
He added that he's "delighted" that his "good friend" Farage will be campaigning for Reform UK and "driving home" the party's message.
Lib Dems rule out another Conservative coalition
You may remember the 2010 general election, in which no party won a majority of seats - meaning the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats governed in coalition for five years.
Well, that won't happen again, the Lib Dems' deputy leader insists.
"We have ruled out doing any deal whatsoever with this Conservative government," Daisy Cooper tells Sky News.
Put to her that Sir Nick Clegg said the same thing before the 2010 election, she says: "A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then."
On whether the party could work with Labour, she says: "We're not thinking about what happens the day after the polling day. We're determined to win over the trust and support of as many voters as possible between now and 10pm on polling day."
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Nick Clegg and David Cameron in the Downing Street garden 14 years agoImage caption: Nick Clegg and David Cameron in the Downing Street garden 14 years ago
BBC Verify
By Robert Cuffe
Is Rishi Sunak's £900 tax cut the whole story?
.Copyright: .
As the general election campaign begins, we've been hearing Rishi Sunak talk a lot this morning about his track record on the economy.
The prime minister was right when he told BBC Breakfast that “someone earning £35,000 will get a tax cut of £900”.
This year’s cuts to National Insurance are worth £900 a year for someone earning this amount - the average full-time salary. But they will also get some tax rises.
The government has made other changes to the tax system over the last three years that mean most people are paying tax on more of their earnings.
When you put those changes together, an average earner will have a tax cut of about £340 - from the combined tax changes - rather than £900.
People earning between £26,000 and £60,000 will be better off. But as you can see in the chart, people earning less than £25,000 or above £60,000 are actually worse off.
Video caption: A vote for Labour is a vote to stop the chaos - StarmerA vote for Labour is a vote to stop the chaos - Starmer
It's a tight squeeze over to Wales ...
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Derbyshire
BBCCopyright: BBC
If you want a sense of how manic election campaigns can
be, I’ve just jumped on a tiny plane with the prime minister, a bunch of
journalists and the Tory campaign team.
It’s pretty snug.
Rishi Sunak is
touring the UK today as he seeks to get on the front foot in the general election campaign.
Analysis
Why the Rwanda flight timetable is so tough to meet
The Home Office began detaining asylum seekers to potentially send to Rwanda on 29 April .
While they have all been given letters saying the government is "minded" to send them to the African nation, as far as the BBC can establish none of them have actually been given an order confirming they will be put on a plane.
That's because behind the scenes ministers have been battling on a number of legal fronts.
Government lawyers have told a High Court judge that flights would, in theory, leave between 24 June and 15 July - dates drawn from the prime minister's public statement after the Rwanda plan became law.
But major court challenges are already in the pipeline.
The first from the FDA, the union for senior government officials, could kill the Rwanda plan dead if judges rule the project forces officials to break international law.
Another, from charity Asylum Aid, has already forced the Home Office to rewrite guidance over who is chosen for the first flight.
At least 60 migrants in detention have lawyers fighting their case - and each of those cases could end up going all the way to the Supreme Court.
What's been happening this morning?
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Keir Starmer was joined by supporters at Gillingham Football ClubImage caption: Keir Starmer was joined by supporters at Gillingham Football Club
There's already been a lot going on this morning as the first full day of campaigning gets under way.
If you're just joining us now, here's a re-cap of what's been happening:
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak began the morning by saying that a flight will not take off for Rwanda - taking some migrants who crossed the Channel on small boats - before the election
Flights will, however, take off if he is elected as prime minister, he adds
At his first stop in Derbyshire, Sunak says he decided to call an election because economic stability is returning
Labour leader Keir Starmer has been in Kent, where he says "nothing will change" if the Tories get another five years in charge
What the Tories have done to the country is "unforgivable", he adds, and says it's time "to turn the page and rebuild Britain"
The Reform UK founder says he would "do my bit to help" the party in the campaign, but ended speculation he would be unveiled as a candidate by Reform leader Richard Tice later this morning
Analysis
What will voters think of Sunak's damp election announcement?
Chris Mason
Political editor
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Labour sources reckon their initial focus groups – when they talk to a collection of folks in-depth
about what concerns them and their impressions of politics – suggests the
nature of how the election campaign was launched by the prime minister plays
into Labour’s campaign messaging about change.
They claim people told them
Rishi Sunak’s rain-sodden statement in Downing Street on Wednesday looked chaotic because
people had no warning, and they couldn’t understand why he would do it during a
downpour.
Home Secretary James
Cleverly for the Conservatives hit back at this kind of stuff last night –
telling ITV’s Peston show that for Rishi Sunak “a
speech in the rain with some idiot blaring some music is one of the easier
things he’s had to do…he’s a tough boy...Keir Starmer had to run off inside to
do his speech.”
Sunak turns to mental health in first stump speech
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Derbyshire
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Sunak in Derbyshire earlierImage caption: Sunak in Derbyshire earlier
Now over to Rishi Sunak, who has also just wrapped up his first stump speech of the day here in Derbyshire.
The PM has stuck to a familiar script, as he tries to draw election dividing lines on
issues like the economy and immigration.
But a slightly different issue was brought up by one of
the staff here: coping with mental health.
Sunak says he liked walking his Labrador, running and
spending time with his family.
He might struggle to find much time for them in the next
few weeks.
But on the wider issue of mental health, he warned
against “over-medicalising”.
This is something the Conservatives have been talking
about in recent months; concerns too many people are off work with mental health issues.
Starmer accuses Tories of making a 'mess' of economy
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Starmer now brings up former PM Liz Truss while speaking about the economy.
He tells the story of a family who decided not to have a second child due to the economic effects of Truss's brief time in power.
As a reminder, in her 49 days in power, she released a mini-Budget, which included £45bn of unfunded tax cuts, triggered economic turmoil and led to her downfall as prime minister.
"They will live with that decision for the rest of their lives," Starmer says.
"That is the price that they are paying for the mess that this government has made of this economy."
Labour in the 'service of working people' - Starmer says
Starmer says "nothing will change" if the Tories get another five years in charge.
"You do not have to put up with this," he says.
He again returns to his slogan used earlier in the speech, saying a vote for Labour is a vote to "turn the page".
"All we ask now humbly is the opportunity to change our country and put it back in the service of working people."
An election at long last, says Starmer
Building on yesterday's message - when he said the election was the "moment the country has been waiting for" - Starmer says "at long last an election has been called".
Voters have the chance to "change our country, our community and your future for the better," he says.
BreakingStarmer: Time to turn the page
We can bring you some lines from Labour leader Keir Starmer in Gillingham now.
He says: "This election is for you, because you now have the power, the chance to end the chaos, to turn the page and rebuild Britain."
He says what the Tories have done to the country is "unforgivable" and voters "do not need to put up with it".
BBCCopyright: BBC
SNP 'will stand up for Scotland', Blackford says
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
We've been focusing on Rishi Sunak this morning, but earlier we heard from the Scottish National Party - as a reminder the party holds 43 seats in the House of Commons.
Ian Blackford, former leader of the SNP in Westminster, tells the BBC's Today programme that "all of us want rid of this Tory government".
Asked about why people should choose the SNP over Labour, Blackford says Scottish voters need MPs "that will stand up for Scotland".
Blackford is asked why people should vote for the SNP in light of its recent problems, including Humza Yousaf's chaotic resignation and Peter Murrell, the husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, being charged with embezzlement.
Blackford points to the SNP's recent electoral success in Scotland, but says the party needs to put forward "the reasons why people should continue to trust us".
Live Reporting
Edited by James Harness
All times stated are UK
Get involved
What is Sunak's anti-smoking bill?
As we mentioned in our last post, Rishi Sunak's anti-smoking bill seems unlikely to make its way through Parliament by tomorrow evening - when MPs and Lords pack up for the election.
But what was covered in the bill that, if passed, would've made the UK among countries in the world with the toughest anti-tobacco laws?
To start, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would've ensured anyone turning 15 from this year on would be banned from buying cigarettes. It also aimed to make vapes less appealing to children.
Sunak, who announced the plan last year, headlined it as a law that would both "save thousands of lives and billions of pounds for our NHS" and effectively "create a smoke-free generation".
It would've also introduced curbs on flavours, packaging and the sale of vapes to make them less appealing to children.
BreakingAnti-smoking bill likely to be ditched before Parliament wraps
Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor
Rishi Sunak’s big plan to create a smoke-free generation seems to have been ditched but is likely to become a Tory manifesto pledge.
The legislation has not gone far enough in its journey through Parliament to make it through by tomorrow evening, when MPs and Lords pack up for the election.
Bills making the cut are the Digital Markets Bill, Post Office Offences Bill, Media Bill and the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which includes the compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal. Details are still being thrashed out on that.
This is all to be confirmed by Commons leader Penny Mordaunt at around 13:00 BST.
Watch: How the election announcement unfolded
At this point yesterday, we still had no word on when a general election would be called - with Rishi Sunak saying only it would take place "in the second half of the year".
Here's how that six-month period was narrowed down rather sharply...
Video content
Ann Widdecombe takes aim at government's migration record
Before Richard Tice spoke at the launch of Reform UK's election campaign, veteran politician Ann Widdecombe said a few words.
The former Tory minister turned Reform UK member said immigration was the "crucial issue" at the election.
She pointed to the latest net migration figures, which stood at a provisional 685,000 in the year to December 2023. She said this this was "nowhere near the 200,000 that we had been previously promised".
Widdecombe said that having once been immigration minister, "I know very well that immigration has a tremendous impact on the country.
"There is no such thing as an economic movement which doesn't impact right across the scale."
Reform UK will field 630 candidates - Tice
Let's go back now to Reform UK leader Richard Tice, who's speaking in London.
Tice says his party will stand candidates in 630 seats in the election - there are 650 seats across the UK - and confirms that he personally will stand in Boston and Skegness.
"Contrary to what all the commentators say... we are going to win seats," he says, adding that his party is the only one offering real change over the economy and immigration.
"The choice for everybody is whether you vote Tory, or whether you vote Labour, you will get the same form of socialism," he says.
BBC Verify
By Anthony Reuben
Is Keir Starmer right to talk of '£46bn of unfunded tax cuts'?
Earlier in Gillingham, Labour leader Keir Starmer referred to what he calls the £46bn Tory black hole, saying: "What is Rishi Sunak's plan? £46bn of unfunded tax cuts.”
He is talking about the government’s ambition to abolish National Insurance (NI) for workers, and £46bn is a reasonable estimate of what that would cost.
But the Conservatives have been clear they do not expect to be able to do it before at least 2030.
They also say it would not be unfunded - they would not get rid of NI until the economy has grown by enough to make it affordable.
You can read more about it here.
Tories terrified of Reform UK, says Tice
Video content
Earlier we brought you the news that Nigel Farage won't stand in the general election as a Reform UK candidate - but will help the party's campaign.
Now let's bring you some lines from Reform UK leader Richard Tice, who has been delivering a speech in Westminster.
He started off by poking fun at Rishi Sunak, who he pointed out was "drenched" during his speech yesterday, before saying the PM has "bottled it" by announcing an election.
Tice said that Sunak is "terrified" that Reform UK "is going up and up in the polls" while the Tories "have been sinking".
He added that he's "delighted" that his "good friend" Farage will be campaigning for Reform UK and "driving home" the party's message.
Lib Dems rule out another Conservative coalition
You may remember the 2010 general election, in which no party won a majority of seats - meaning the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats governed in coalition for five years.
Well, that won't happen again, the Lib Dems' deputy leader insists.
"We have ruled out doing any deal whatsoever with this Conservative government," Daisy Cooper tells Sky News.
Put to her that Sir Nick Clegg said the same thing before the 2010 election, she says: "A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then."
On whether the party could work with Labour, she says: "We're not thinking about what happens the day after the polling day. We're determined to win over the trust and support of as many voters as possible between now and 10pm on polling day."
BBC Verify
By Robert Cuffe
Is Rishi Sunak's £900 tax cut the whole story?
As the general election campaign begins, we've been hearing Rishi Sunak talk a lot this morning about his track record on the economy.
The prime minister was right when he told BBC Breakfast that “someone earning £35,000 will get a tax cut of £900”.
This year’s cuts to National Insurance are worth £900 a year for someone earning this amount - the average full-time salary. But they will also get some tax rises.
The government has made other changes to the tax system over the last three years that mean most people are paying tax on more of their earnings.
When you put those changes together, an average earner will have a tax cut of about £340 - from the combined tax changes - rather than £900.
People earning between £26,000 and £60,000 will be better off. But as you can see in the chart, people earning less than £25,000 or above £60,000 are actually worse off.
You can read more on this claim here.
Watch: Starmer asks voters to 'turn the page'
Video content
It's a tight squeeze over to Wales ...
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Derbyshire
If you want a sense of how manic election campaigns can be, I’ve just jumped on a tiny plane with the prime minister, a bunch of journalists and the Tory campaign team.
It’s pretty snug.
Rishi Sunak is touring the UK today as he seeks to get on the front foot in the general election campaign.
Why the Rwanda flight timetable is so tough to meet
Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent
As we've reported, Rishi Sunak this morning ruled out Rwanda flights before the general election on 4 July. So let's look at some of the background.
The Home Office began detaining asylum seekers to potentially send to Rwanda on 29 April .
While they have all been given letters saying the government is "minded" to send them to the African nation, as far as the BBC can establish none of them have actually been given an order confirming they will be put on a plane.
That's because behind the scenes ministers have been battling on a number of legal fronts.
Government lawyers have told a High Court judge that flights would, in theory, leave between 24 June and 15 July - dates drawn from the prime minister's public statement after the Rwanda plan became law.
But major court challenges are already in the pipeline.
The first from the FDA, the union for senior government officials, could kill the Rwanda plan dead if judges rule the project forces officials to break international law.
Another, from charity Asylum Aid, has already forced the Home Office to rewrite guidance over who is chosen for the first flight.
At least 60 migrants in detention have lawyers fighting their case - and each of those cases could end up going all the way to the Supreme Court.
What's been happening this morning?
There's already been a lot going on this morning as the first full day of campaigning gets under way.
If you're just joining us now, here's a re-cap of what's been happening:
What will voters think of Sunak's damp election announcement?
Chris Mason
Political editor
Labour sources reckon their initial focus groups – when they talk to a collection of folks in-depth about what concerns them and their impressions of politics – suggests the nature of how the election campaign was launched by the prime minister plays into Labour’s campaign messaging about change.
They claim people told them Rishi Sunak’s rain-sodden statement in Downing Street on Wednesday looked chaotic because people had no warning, and they couldn’t understand why he would do it during a downpour.
Home Secretary James Cleverly for the Conservatives hit back at this kind of stuff last night – telling ITV’s Peston show that for Rishi Sunak “a speech in the rain with some idiot blaring some music is one of the easier things he’s had to do…he’s a tough boy...Keir Starmer had to run off inside to do his speech.”
Sunak turns to mental health in first stump speech
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Derbyshire
Now over to Rishi Sunak, who has also just wrapped up his first stump speech of the day here in Derbyshire.
The PM has stuck to a familiar script, as he tries to draw election dividing lines on issues like the economy and immigration.
But a slightly different issue was brought up by one of the staff here: coping with mental health.
Sunak says he liked walking his Labrador, running and spending time with his family.
He might struggle to find much time for them in the next few weeks.
But on the wider issue of mental health, he warned against “over-medicalising”.
This is something the Conservatives have been talking about in recent months; concerns too many people are off work with mental health issues.
Starmer accuses Tories of making a 'mess' of economy
Starmer now brings up former PM Liz Truss while speaking about the economy.
He tells the story of a family who decided not to have a second child due to the economic effects of Truss's brief time in power.
As a reminder, in her 49 days in power, she released a mini-Budget, which included £45bn of unfunded tax cuts, triggered economic turmoil and led to her downfall as prime minister.
"They will live with that decision for the rest of their lives," Starmer says.
"That is the price that they are paying for the mess that this government has made of this economy."
Labour in the 'service of working people' - Starmer says
Starmer says "nothing will change" if the Tories get another five years in charge.
"You do not have to put up with this," he says.
He again returns to his slogan used earlier in the speech, saying a vote for Labour is a vote to "turn the page".
"All we ask now humbly is the opportunity to change our country and put it back in the service of working people."
An election at long last, says Starmer
Building on yesterday's message - when he said the election was the "moment the country has been waiting for" - Starmer says "at long last an election has been called".
Voters have the chance to "change our country, our community and your future for the better," he says.
BreakingStarmer: Time to turn the page
We can bring you some lines from Labour leader Keir Starmer in Gillingham now.
He says: "This election is for you, because you now have the power, the chance to end the chaos, to turn the page and rebuild Britain."
He says what the Tories have done to the country is "unforgivable" and voters "do not need to put up with it".
SNP 'will stand up for Scotland', Blackford says
We've been focusing on Rishi Sunak this morning, but earlier we heard from the Scottish National Party - as a reminder the party holds 43 seats in the House of Commons.
Ian Blackford, former leader of the SNP in Westminster, tells the BBC's Today programme that "all of us want rid of this Tory government".
Asked about why people should choose the SNP over Labour, Blackford says Scottish voters need MPs "that will stand up for Scotland".
Blackford is asked why people should vote for the SNP in light of its recent problems, including Humza Yousaf's chaotic resignation and Peter Murrell, the husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, being charged with embezzlement.
Blackford points to the SNP's recent electoral success in Scotland, but says the party needs to put forward "the reasons why people should continue to trust us".