Starmer Vows to Shut Out Putin as Sunak Targets Immigration Cap in Heated 2024 Election Race

Election 2024 Update: Starmer Vows to Shut Out Putin While Sunak Proposes Immigration Reduction

As the campaign reaches its second week, the Prime Minister aims to garner support amidst polls indicating his party may face unprecedented losses.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 06:

Sir Keir Starmer is set to commit to ending reliance on Vladimir Putin with a domestic energy strategy, while Rishi Sunak plans to introduce a yearly visa limit in efforts to decrease immigration, as they both hit the campaign trail today.

The prime minister aims to regain voter support following what many consider his most challenging campaign day yet, which occurred on Monday. This comes amid concerns among some Tories that Nigel Farage's choice to head the Reform party might divide the Conservative vote.

Mr. Farage is also campaigning for a parliamentary seat in Clacton and is set to kick off his campaign in the Essex district today.

Mr. Sunak's challenging day intensified after a YouGov survey indicated that the Labour Party might achieve an unprecedented landslide victory, potentially securing a majority of 194 seats.

Current updates on the general election: Stay tuned for

On the fourteenth day of the campaign, Labour chief Sir Keir is set to argue that his party’s proposal to establish a state-owned renewable energy firm, GB Energy, will shield the UK from fluctuations in fuel costs similar to those experienced after Russia invaded Ukraine.

He will state: "Through Great British Energy, my transformed Labour Party will shut out Putin.

Energy policy has become integral to national security. It plays a vital role in ensuring our nation's durability and ability to withstand upcoming challenges.

It is essential that we reduce our susceptibility to sudden increases in prices, which has been too high historically.

"Ensuring that our homes are lit and warm should not require us to be vulnerable to Russian influence."

The Labour Party has announced that GB Energy will be based in Scotland and will be financed by a windfall tax imposed on major oil and gas companies, starting with an initial funding of £8.3 billion over a parliamentary term.

Delve deeper into the general election:

Insight: After new poll results, anxiety intensifies among Conservatives

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Labour introduces its GB Energy strategy – is it necessary?

Potential pitfalls: Exploring the history of TV debates

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In their pursuit to reduce immigration numbers annually, the Conservative Party plans to introduce a yearly limit on visas for workers and their families, should they remain in power following the election.

This year, over 10,000 migrants have made it to the UK after traveling across the Channel, turning immigration into a major issue in political campaigns.

Under the suggested strategy, parliament would actively participate in determining migration quotas, as Members of Parliament would have the opportunity to vote on these figures.

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Mr. Sunak will state: "We have implemented decisive measures to reduce the influx of individuals into our nation. The strategy is effective, yet the numbers remain excessively high, therefore we are escalating our efforts.

Labour's proposal for an amnesty on migrants could potentially position the UK as an attractive destination for undocumented immigrants worldwide, and they lack a coherent strategy to decrease overall migration numbers. In contrast, our policy includes definitive measures to halt illegal crossings and establish a legal limit on migration figures.

"The Conservative Party stands alone in its commitment to implement the drastic measures required to reduce immigration numbers."

Each year, there will be a limit on the number of visas issued to individuals arriving in the UK for work or family reasons.

Work permits for seasonal agricultural jobs will not be subject to the limit.

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The Liberal Democrats have pledged to address a matter that is of significant personal importance to their leader, Sir Ed Davey. They propose to make daily care services for vulnerable adults, such as the elderly and disabled, free of charge.

The party stated that care services should be allocated based on necessity instead of financial capacity, as it committed to offering what it termed as complimentary personal care for individuals whether in their own homes or in residential facilities.

The proposal includes provisions for nursing assistance, support with movement, personal cleanliness, and managing medications, the report noted. However, individuals residing in care facilities would continue to be responsible for the costs of their lodging.

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Sir Ed stated, "Having been a caregiver for my disabled son and previously for my sick mother during my youth, the issue of care is profoundly personal to me."

"This is the reason I am making the resolution of the care crisis central to the Liberal Democrat proposal to the nation in this election."

The group announced that its strategy for England, inspired by the system established by the Lib Dems in Scotland in 2002, would require an annual expenditure of £2.7 billion by the fiscal year 2028-29. They assured that the necessary funds would be completely covered by undoing the tax reductions granted to major banks since 2016.

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