Keir Starmer’s high standards and how he can be a tough task-master, as told by three people with first-hand experience. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

Whoops. A Tory defence minister on Thursday said bringing back national service could damage morale and recruitment.

Interesting, via Peter Kellner. We all know the outright majority number (326 MPs) but for Keir Starmer to be PM Labour just needs to win around 270 MPs. Because that’ll mean an anti-Tory majority in Commons that won’t accept a PM Sunak.

Chuffed to have made the FT’s election reads list. Can buy over here if you are so inclined: linktr.ee/therighttorule

Very sad to be missing the Bath Festivals political chat this afternoon. Day 2 of an election campaign a terrible time to completely lose your voice🤦‍♂️. Sure Tatton Spiller will be able provide more than enough insights for the both of us!

🏝️NEW: Boris Johnson will be abroad for most of election campaign, The Sunday Telegraph understands

The former PM will actively support the Tories remotely but won’t stand as MP

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

Telegraph today publishes a long read on Keir Starmer - who, really, is the man who could be PM in six weeks? Based on chats with him and his closest advisers. Have a read over here: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

'When you discover that the PM was only two years old when you were first elected, you realise, it is time to move on' says former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman

Listen to the MPs standing down give their farewell speeches in the Commons👇

trib.al/Rx0iR33

Sky 501

Tomorrow’s The Telegraph:

🔴 Sir Keir Starmer exclusive interview on his plan for a decade in power

🔵 Jeremy Hunt exclusive interview on Inheritance Tax

🟢 Samantha Cameron exclusive interview on husband David

The best election coverage:
telegraph.co.uk

The Ayrton Light - aka the Democracy Lamp - shines at the top of Big Ben’s tower indicating Parliament is sitting tonight. Minutes later Parliament was prorogued and the general election campaign can start in earnest.

Also in here: **Every** Labour shadow cabinet team has now completed the first round of transition talks with their relevant government department.

Plus Labour would-be ministers and spads are undergoing “preparation for government” training with the Institute for Government.

enjoyably catty. From Ben Riley-Smith’s profile of Keir Starmer

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

Now **eleven** Tory MPs have said they’re standing down in the 2 days since Sunak called the election

Andrea Leadsom (just now)
Michael Gove
Greg Clark
Craig Mackinlay
John Redwood
David Evennett
Eleanor Laing
Jo Churchill
Huw Merriman
James Grundy
Michael Ellis

How many more??

Starmer on his hatred of opposition:

“I wasn't coming into politics to sit on the backbenches tweeting about voting and how brilliant my vote was, losing every single time”

“Tattooed on my head is that in the first 12 months as an MP I voted 172 times and I lost 171”

Starmer on being more ruthless than is appreciated:

'If I've got to take a ruthless decision in order to get to where I need to be to give them the country that they deserve, then that's an easy decision... In the end you have got to be single-minded.'
x.com/benrileysmith/…

For the last two months I’ve been spending time talking to Keir Starmer and his inner circle. The aim: To understand how he would approach power

Our long read below unpacking the motivations and instincts of the man who could be Prime Minister in 6 weeks
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

Boris Johnson has intervened in the election campaign with a 2,000-word article lambasting Starmer. It does not mention Rishi Sunak once.
dailymail.co.uk/debate/article…

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham criticises decision not to let Jeremy Corbyn run for Labour. Says on Wato just now it was an “error” and an “opportunity missed”.

Keir Starmer in Scotland outlines his core argument vs SNP

“Send a message. Send a message! That is the height of the SNP ambition. To send a message, a protest in Westminster. I don’t want Scotland to send a message. I want Scotland to send a government, a Labour Government'

In case you missed it last night… Brown dives deep on his beloved Raith Rovers.