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In today’s newsletter: Breaking down what was in the Tory manifesto, more items lobbed at the Reform leader, and a surprising defection in Scotland• Don’t get Election Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood afternoon. The Guardian’s John Crace called it the first manifesto launch presented in a “demotivational speech” – and Rishi Sunak was surely feeling the pressure as he presented it this morning. The event was held at Silverstone racing course, but what were those messages? That he likes to move fast and break things? That he’s committed to a petrol future? Or maybe that this is where a rich man thinks regular people hang out?Sunak’s introduction was downbeat: “I’m not blind to the fact that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me,” he said. “We have not always got everything right. But we’re the only party in this election with the big ideas”.Nigel Farage | Various things were thrown at the Reform leader as he passed a Yorkshire building site from the top of a bus today. Farage thought it was wet cement and a disposable cup, but either way it was serious enough that police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences. It will surely reignite the increasingly heated debate on milkshakes: statement of politcal absurdity, or gateway missile to something worse?Robin Harper | The first ever Green parliamentarian in the UK, Harper has crossed the floor (sideways?) to join the Labour party, saying they are the only ones with a serious prospect of fighting climate change. The move will be much less contentious than Conservative defections, some of which have dismayed Labour members. It’s unlikely to cause too much distress in the Scottish Green party, which Harper left last year, disagreeing with its support for trans rights.Unemployment | The latest unemployment figures were released by the Office of National Statistics. They showed jobs down on the same time last year across a number of sectors, including manufacturing, retail and IT. The overall rise in the number of unemployed people is 138,000. Economists, who previously were looking forward to a rate cut from the Bank of England, now anticipate it being delayed until August at the earliest. Continue reading...