Rishi Sunak's D-Day Decision Looks Set To Define The General Election Campaign

Rishi Sunak’s decision on Thursday to leave D-Day commemorations in Normandy early looks like it could define the general election campaign.

The disaster came towards the end of a week in which the Conservatives actually did rather well. Having set the terms of the TV debate on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s attack line accusing Labour of secret plans for tax rises was dominating the narrative, even if there were doubts over its accuracy.

Labour’s crunch ‘Clause V’ manifesto meeting is still underway at the time of writing. Around 80 stakeholders arrived at 10am, handed in their electronic devices, and were given numbered copies of the manifesto. They had two hours to read the manifesto before running through the document, section by section.

Unlike the Conservatives, who have a small group of officials draw up and sign off their manifesto, the job of creating Labour’s comprehensive policy offer is elaborate. Labour sources were hopeful before the meeting that it would be quicker than the eight-hour ordeal in 2019, however, thanks to a slimmer document. That is also down to the chair – usually the job of the National Executive Committee chair but this time given to national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden. “Says a lot about his power,” one source noted.

Will the trade unions be happy with the final wording on workers’ rights? Unite is expected to release a statement after the meeting. “Unite will probably put something critical out regardless of what is agreed,” one Labour adviser predicted on Thursday. “What they don’t realise is, that’s what LOTO want.”

Labour will launch its manifesto on Thursday, July 13. The Lib Dems are going this coming Monday, July 10, and the Conservatives are expected to reveal all on Tuesday, July