UK Election 2024: The headlines | BBC News

Here are the UK's general election headlines for Wednesday 19 June.

Leading the headlines, a police officer working as partof PM Rishi Sunak's close protection team has beensuspended and arrested over bets about the timing of the general election.

On the Conservative campaign trail, at the Sizewell Bnuclear power station in Suffolk, Sunak said today'snews of inflation falling to 2% was a "very positive step".

The Scottish National Party launched its electionmanifesto, with a focus on major investment in theNHS. SNP leader John Swinney said if the party wins amajority of Scottish seats, it would trigger independence talks.

Irish republican party Sinn Fein also launched itsmanifesto. In the past two years, the party has won themost seats in Northern Ireland's devolved government and on local councils.

In Swindon, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer includedhimself in the definition of working people, who hisparty has pledged not to raise taxes for, while visiting asupermarket with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.