UK Election 2024: The headlines | BBC News

Here are the election headlines for Monday 17 June.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched theparty's election pledges in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales,promising to cut income tax, allocate an extra £17bn ayear to the health service, cut fuel and stamp duty andfreeze all non-essential immigration.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has visited a gas platformin the North Sea, where he said he was fighting hardfor every vote. He said the election was a choicebetween Conservative tax cuts or Labour tax rises.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the election is a"straight choice" between Labour and the Tories.Today his party focused on a new national wealthfund, which it claims would help create 650,000 jobsover five years by investing more than £7bn.

SNP leader John Swinney said his party will argue forwhat he called a social tariff where people who areelderly, disabled or on low incomes pay lower energy bills.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey was campaigning inPaignton. He said their promise of an expansion offuel duty relief for rural motorists, would be a "realrescue plan" for rural communities.