Labour has verve and drive whereas Tories are caught defending a gimmick

Rachel Reeves today vows to get the British economy growing again after Keir Starmer yesterday promised that voters could trust him and Labour to change the country for the better. This is a party moving up the election gears.

Contrast the Labour leader and Shadow Chancellor’s verve and drive with a Prime Minister stuck defending his National Service gimmick, ridiculed by senior military figures.

With Tory Minister Steve Baker on holiday instead of campaigning in his marginal seat and outgoing Telford MP Lucy Allan suspended for urging constituents to back Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, Sunak’s woes are mounting.

The choice becomes sharper: vote for change with Starmer and Labour or more failures from Sunak and the Conservatives.

Sunak rejected claims he plans to move to California if he loses the General Election on July 4. The way things are going, nobody could blame him if he had his bags packed already.

Cease fire now

Israel’s deadly airstrike that killed at least 45 Palestinians in a Gaza safe zone is fresh proof, if more were needed, that an urgent ceasefire is the only way to halt this heartbreaking slaughter.

A pause, linked to the release by Hamas of Israeli hostages, would be in the best interests of all concerned. The continuing bloodshed and senseless loss of life, including displaced children and women, is horrific.

Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s apology for a “tragic mishap” in Rafah will do nothing to assuage mounting criticism when looked at in the context of a series of humanitarian outrages which the International Court of Justice believes may constitute war crimes.

Ending the fighting is the only way.

Go Caerphilly

Everyone enjoys a cheese roll but the South West’s annual contest is no picnic.

Crowds tumbling helter skelter downhill after a 70mph wheel of Double Gloucester is hard cheese for those who finish in hospital.