Party leaders kicked off the first day of general election campaigning by presenting their initial pitches to voters in Britain.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak embarked on a whirlwind tour of England, Scotland, and Wales, demonstrating his commitment to a “clear plan” for financial stability during a speech at a distribution centre in Derbyshire.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched his campaign at Gillingham Football Club in Kent, promising that a vote for Labour would be a vote to “turn the page.”
A significant point of contention between the two main parties is their approach to the government’s Rwanda plan. Sir Keir pledged to scrap the scheme that aims to send those arriving illegally in the UK to the East African country. Instead, Labour proposes establishing a ‘Border Security Command’ to dismantle criminal gangs and reduce the number of small boat crossings over the Channel.
The Conservatives, on the other hand, claim they are already implementing similar measures. Mr. Sunak asserted that the Rwanda plan would act as a deterrent against dangerous crossings. However, in a recent interview, the prime minister admitted that no asylum seekers would be deported to Rwanda before the election on July 4.
The core of the debate lies in the future of the Rwanda plan: it will either be implemented if the Conservatives win or scrapped by Labour before it begins.