After a whirlwind of activity during the first week of campaigning in which all the party leaders took part in at least two events a day – or stunts (delete where necessary) – the second week was a more gentle affair. It was as though everyone had realised if they kept up that pace for the duration they would all be knackered by the end. Plus, there was the law of diminishing returns: many people were already sick of the sight of politicians racing up and down the country making promises of which many were sceptical. So there was a more low-key feel this week. Still, there was time for the first leaders’ debate – a head-to-head between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer – which turned into a fairly bad-tempered affair in which the tetchiness of the prime minister was again to the fore. Wednesday and Thursday were largely set aside for the D-day commemorations. A time to honour the men who didn’t come back and those who did. Unlike many of our politicians, we will remember them.
