It’s been a day fraught with rows, debate and upheaval -so just your typical campaign Monday.
At the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto, Prime Minister Theresa May set the touch paper alight by announcing what amounts to a major U-turn on the so-called dementia tax.
The Scottish Labour manifesto launch was slightly more predictable, meaning the big story of the day remains last night’s leaders debate and the online furore surrounding an NHS nurse who took the First Minister to task.
It’s been a busy day. Here’s everything you need to know…
Quickest election U-turn ever? PM announces climbdown on ‘dementia tax’ after backlash
Theresa May has been forced to climb down on key social care reforms announced in the Conservative manifesto after a public backlash over the so-called ‘dementia tax’.
The proposals, which would see elderly patients forced to pay for care in their own home if they have assets totaling £100,00 or more, have proven unpopular with Tory voters.
SNP MP apologises after repeating false rumours about nurse who criticised Nicola Sturgeon
An SNP MP has been forced to apologise after repeating false allegations about a nurse who criticised her party’s record on NHS wages.
During last night’s televised Scottish leader’s debate, Claire Austin, a registered health worker in Edinburgh, criticised Nicola Sturgeon for maintaining a 1% pay cap for workers in the service.
Labour and Lib Dems attack SNP as independence dominates Scotland campaign
Independence is set to dominate election campaigning in Scotland on Monday as Labour and the Liberal Democrats hit out at SNP plans for a second referendum.
Scottish Labour will launch its General Election manifesto with a key message of opposing a second Scottish independence referendum.
Tories distance themselves from report over ‘destitution built in asylum system’
Conservative members of a Holyrood committee have “dissented” from an official report which claims “destitution is built into the UK asylum process”.
The Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee investigated asylum and destitution, where people are left without adequate accommodation or the ability to meet essential living needs.
Scottish Labour reiterates independence vote opposition at manifesto launch
Kezia Dugdale offered Scots a “cast-iron guarantee” that Labour will oppose a second independence referendum as she made a pitch to supporters of other pro-UK parties in a bid to break the SNP’s “stranglehold” on politics north of the border.
Ms Dugdale told voters only Labour can oust the Tories from power on June 8 and that in Scotland only her party is strong enough to defeat Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP.
And finally…
Young people ‘face voting generation gap’
Young people in Scotland are half as likely to feel they have the option to vote for someone who “understands their life” compared to over-65s, a new poll has found.
The poll by BMG Research for the Electoral Reform Society Scotland found a generation gap in how people feel about voting ahead of the General Election on June 8.
