General election latest: Another Tory minister standing down at election - as Starmer claims PM 'doesn't believe' in key policy (2024)

Just like when Stranger Things gave Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill a chart boost, the launch of the UK's 2024 general election has helped D:Ream's Things Can Only Get Better back to prominence.

The official anthem of Sir Tony Blair's Labour landslide in 1997 was the unfortunate backdrop to Rishi Sunak's announcement yesterday, as a protester played it from a loudspeaker just outside Downing Street.

Since then, it's surged up the iTunes music chart - hitting number five.

We'll have to wait a few more days to see if it's made its way on to the UK's official music charts, but in the meantime, you can get the inside story on its return to public consciousness below:

Next, the SNP leader is asked about the last general election he led his party into, which was in 2001.

At that election under John Swinney's leadership, the SNP went from six seats in parliament down to five.

Asked what went wrong back then, and what has changed since, Mr Swinney says to laughter in the room: "I think I've kind of changed over the course of the last 24 years.

"I've maybe become slightly more assertive over the years."

More seriously, he says "a lot of water has gone under the bridge".

"I now find myself as the most popular politician in Scotland - that's not a bad starting point."

That concludes the SNP's general election campaign launch.

Sky's news correspondentSadiya Chowdhury is next to ask a question of the SNP leader, and she asks about the situation facing one of his MSPs.

Michael Matheson is facing a 27-sitting day suspension from Holyrood and could lose his salary for 54 days over his £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.

Mr Matheson was sanctioned by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee earlier today.

'I accept he's made mistakes'

But after First Minister's Questions today, the first minister provoked controversy by stating the process has "become highly politicised, which has compromised the process and the fairness".

Asked by Chowdhury what this says to the public as he launched his campaign, John Swinney launches a staunch defence.

"Parliament, I think, is in danger of falling into disrepute by the way this issue is being handled because one of the members of the committee that's looked at Michael Matheson's conduct has expressed opinions that, I think, prejudice the case."

He says there would be outrage from the media if a journalist was sanctioned by a panel with someone who had already expressed a view.

"I accept that Michael Matheson has made mistakes, I accept there's a process that has to be gone through.

"I just want to make sure it's fair."

Next, the SNP's John Swinney is asked about his party's finances, and if they have the money for this election campaign.

And with candidates putting out crowdfunders, he is asked how people can be confident that the money is going towards the election campaign, in light of the ongoing police investigation into the party's finances.

The first minister replies: "The money that's raised by the SNP goes to fighting campaigns - that's what we're about, and we're raising lots of money to do that."

He says their campaigns are "well-funded" - but dodges the question about the ongoing police investigation.

The SNP leader John Swinney is now taking questions at his party's election campaign launch (unlike other party leaders).

The BBC puts to him that his party that his party is slumping in the polls quite dramatically, and asks if voters are sending a message that they are discontented with the Scottish government, as well as the UK government.

The first minister replies: "I would be the first to admit that the SNP's had a pretty rough time over the last year or so."

But he goes on to say that the SNP is "recovering from that" and "building ourselves back up".

"I am very happy with the state of the SNP today - the SNP's a united, cohesive team."

He adds that he is "very optimistic and confident".

And as one campaign launch concludes, the next begins - the SNP leader John Swinney is launching the party's campaign in Edinburgh (watch live on Sky News now and in the stream above).

He tells party activists: "Make no mistake - I am up for the cut and thrust of the election campaign."

He says the election "is going to be different" and can be a "unifying moment" for Scotland.

"Most of you want to see the back of this disastrous Tory government, of course you do. They're even more extreme and shambolic - they don't even know when it's raining outside," he says.

"Never has a government deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunak's government."

'Brexit was a terrible mistake'

Mr Swinney says people want to "live happy, healthy lives", with an NHS you can "rely upon", and "most of you think Brexit was a terrible mistake".

He says voting SNP is the way to get rid of the Conservative government.

He also hits out at Labour, saying "Keir Starmer now supports Brexit, whatever the cost to Scotland. I don't think Scotland should put up with that any more."

Mr Swinney argues that an independent Scotland could deliver higher living standards as an EU member.

The Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, is launching the Liberal Democrat election campaign in Cheltenham.

He opens by declaring that the Tories are "out of touch" and "we have the chance to win the change our country so desperately needs".

He says families across the country are "finding it harder and harder to make ends meet", and accuses the Tories of having made it "worse".

"The NHS is on its knees under the Conservatives - they promised to build lots of hospitals, and they've not delivered.

"People are waiting hours just for an ambulance, they're waiting weeks for a GP appointment, months for urgent cancer treatment."

'It is time for change'

And on a key theme of the Lib Dems' campaign, he says the government has "allowed the water companies to get away with pumping their filthy sewage into our rivers and onto our beaches".

"It really is time for change, and that means the Conservatives have to go."

In many parts of the country, he argues, it is a choice between the Lib Dem candidate and the Tory candidate.

He says we need to "transform" the country to "get the fair deal that people so, so deserve".

The Lib Dem candidates in every area will be a "local champion", he says.

"Come and join us and help make it happen."

Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker of the House of Commons, has confirmed she is stepping down as the MP for Epping Forest.

She said: "I love this job, but it’s time for me to move aside and give others the opportunities that I’ve been fortunate to have.

"I told the PM several days ago and wrote formally to my @EFConservatives Chairman today."

MSP Michael Matheson is to be suspended from Holyrood for 27 sitting days and lose his salary for 54 days over his £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.

Mr Matheson was sanctioned by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee on Thursday.

The decision will now go before MSPs for approval.

It comes after the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) concluded in March that he had breached the MSP code of conduct.

The Falkirk West SNP MSP stood down as Scotland's health secretary in February, citing the SPCB investigation as the reason.

You can read more from Sky News below:

Conservative MP Tracey Crouch has revealed the Football Governance Bill will not progress any further - meaning plans for an independent football regulator are on hold.

The pause is due to the announcement of the general election yesterday.

Ms Crouch said there is a "ready-made bill" for the next government.

"A lot of people have poured their heart and soul into the Bill - officials, politicians, authorities, clubs and of course fans," she wrote on X.

"I am 100% convinced there will be an Independent Regulator for football, thanks to the efforts of others and the desire for sustainability."

The bill would have seen new rules for the regulation of football and would allow an independent body to oversee clubs in the top five men's tiers.

It had the support of MPs from all parties and there was broad consensus on its contents.

Labour previously said it would introduce a regulator if elected.