WTWN: Six pledges, sex education and Sunak's grilling

Top – Keir Starmer MP

It’s game on! Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer just dropped his (not-a-pledge) pledge card, revealing six key policies at a big Essex event. The election buzz is getting louder than ever!

With a confident vibe and his top team in tow, Starmer presented his six “first steps,” echoing Blair’s game-changing 1997 pledges. This launch kicked off Labour’s biggest ad blitz since 2019, with Starmer and his shadow cabinet storming battleground seats that had flipped to the Tories over the last 15 years.

Starmer, sleeves rolled up, dominated the stage, making Labour’s victory seem almost certain. It’s a stark contrast from two years ago when the roles could have been reversed. Now, it's hard to see how the Tories could pull off a similar feat.

Critics slammed Starmer for a lack of ambition. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt called it “visionless,” lacking plans and principles, and others noted the absence of concrete figures. But Starmer fired back, insisting that stability is the first step before bigger changes can come.

Today’s event proved Labour has the momentum. The big question: Can they keep it up for the next six months? The Tories might be crumbling, but for now, Labour is locked, loaded, and ready. Bring on the election. Bring on the showdown.

Middle – Gillian Keegan MP

This week has been a whirlwind for the education secretary as the government unveiled its long-awaited shake-up of relationships, sex, and health education in schools.

The new rules drop amid a heated UK debate on trans rights, banning sex lessons for kids under 9 and any talk of changing gender for under-13s. Since the announcement, Keegan has been under fire by different organisations and campaigners, accused of flip-flopping on trans views and rolling out guidance with flimsy evidence.

Teachers’ unions aren’t buying it, slamming the plan as a political football. To make matters more complicated, Labour hasn’t promised to stick with the new guidelines, adding more uncertainty to the mix. With the public so divided, is Labour taking a gamble by not committing to a side of the argument? In any case, whilst Keegan is taking refuge from the criticism in the nearest (crumbling) school, she has at least reminded the public that the Tories are willing to be outspoken. It could be alleged the same cannot be said for Starmer.

Bottom – Rishi Sunak MP

While all eyes were on Labour this week, our Prime Minister had another rough ride, nabbing bottom spot…again. Rishi Sunak faced a roasting at PMQs over the early release of criminals, and the latest Red Wall poll from Redfield and Wilton handed the Tories their lowest vote share since Sunak took the helm... yikes!

The public thought only low-risk prisoners would get early release, but that story fell apart when HM Inspector of Prisons dropped a bombshell report on HMP Lewes. Inspectors slammed the early release scheme for wrecking safe release planning and risk management. Shockingly, a high-risk prisoner with a history of stalking, domestic abuse, and a restraining order had his release date moved up.

Sunak defended the scheme, claiming no one dangerous would be let out early. But after the HMP Lewes report, that defence looks shaky.

With the Conservatives eager to uphold their tough-on-crime image, this early release fiasco is politically explosive, especially in an election year. With eyes now turning to the Government’s Sentencing and Criminal Justice Bills, Sunak will look to double down on his commitment to public safety to salvage the party's reputation.