General election: Why was Things Can Only Get Better playing during Rishi Sunak’s statement?
Rishi Sunak was barely two minutes into his general election announcement yesterday when a song began blaring near No 10.
Younger or less politically astute viewers may have assumed the tune was part of the prime minister’s efforts to inspire the nation, as he didn’t miss a beat in his speech when the music came in.
Its purpose, however, was very different.
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Things Can Only Get Better started blaring around two minutes into the PM’s speech
The song – Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream – was the official anthem of Sir Tony Blair‘s landslide victory for Labour in 1997.
The party adopted the track which had already had mainstream success in the year after its release in 1993. It re-entered the charts during Sir Tony’s campaign, which featured the lead singer Peter Cunnah performing the song live at several rallies.
The physicist Brian Cox was the band’s original keyboard player.
Physicist Brian Cox was the original keyboard player in D:Ream
Of course, it wasn’t the Labour Party blasting the D:Ream song this time around.
It was in fact prominent anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray who sacrificed his two amplifiers in the soaking rain to get his message across to the nation.
Steve Bray at an anti-Brexit campaign in 2023. Pic: Jeff Moore/PA
‘I didn’t do it for Labour’
“I thought about what would be the best trolling tune if he announced the election,” Mr Bray said.
“And of course, it had to be Things Can Only Get Better. Because everybody can relate to that and the 1997 election.
“I didn’t do it for Labour. I did it because it was the top trolling song for the Conservatives.”
Irrespective of Mr Bray’s distancing from Labour, the song is still synonymous with the party decades on from Sir Tony’s campaign.
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer referenced the song himself in a conference speech last year, appearing to compare Labour’s previous reign with the current Conservative one when he said: “13 years of ‘things can only get better’ versus 13 years of ‘things have only got worse’.”
Wednesday wasn’t the first time a campaigner tried to interrupt one of the prime minister’s speeches – and it’s unlikely it will be the last.
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The speakers got soaked alongside Mr Sunak on Downing Street, “and they blew anyway,” said Mr Bray, who was draped in the blue and yellow colours of the EU.
But he vowed to buy more amplifiers and continue protesting during the election campaign ahead of 4 July.
Entertainment
Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne among celebrities at Olympics-themed Vogue World in Paris
Vogue World took over a square for the last day of Paris Fashion Week on Sunday night, putting on a spectacle themed around the Olympics.
One month ahead of the opening of the Games in Paris, the show marked 100 years since the last Olympics in Paris in 1924.
It also nodded to 23 June 1894, the day the founder of the modern Games French nobleman Pierre de Coubertin launched the International Olympic Committee.
Each decade since 1924 was reflected on the catwalk in the city square of Place Vendome, with the 20s featuring a cycling theme and the 90s focusing on football.
Musician Pharrell Williams and models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were among the stars.
Here are some highlights and a look at who else got the exclusive invite.
Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid coming in on horseback. Pic: Kristy Sparow/Getty/Vogue
Pharrell Williams. Pic: Reuters
Jared Leto donned an unorthodox outfit. Pic: Reuters
American singer Normani posed during a photocall. Pic: Reuters
Diane Kruger. Pic: Reuters
Emma Thynn Marchioness of Bath. Pic: Reuters
Actress Joey King. Pic: Reuters
Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Pic: Reuters
Eva Longoria arrived at the show. Pic: Reuters
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Social media personality Emma Chamberlain. Pic: Reuters
Anna Wintour. Pic: Reuters
Entertainment
Taylor Swift brings Travis Kelce on stage for the first time – sending fans into a frenzy
Taylor Swift’s American football player boyfriend made a surprise appearance on stage during her performance at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Travis Kelce, 34, appeared in a morning suit, bust out a few dance moves and carried the singer, who pretended to faint, to a red sofa during the middle of the show.
His appearance during the short skit, where Swift appears to “drop dead” during the song The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, sent the crowd of almost 90,000 wild.
The US pop star then changed into a two-piece sequin costume – while Kelce pretended to top up her makeup – and performed I Can Do It With A Broken Heart from her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.
In another nod to Kelce, Swift ended her show with the song Karma, changing the lyrics to say “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me” – referencing NFL team the Kansas City Chiefs he has played for since 2013.
It is the first time the footballer has appeared on stage, having been in the crowd for the first three shows out of eight Swift will perform at Wembley in total this year.
He has been romantically linked with the pop star since September 2023, with Swift having attended a number of football games, including the Super Bowl won by Kelce’s team back in February.
Pic: AP
Yesterday he joined Swift in meeting the Prince of Wales and his children George and Charlotte who attended the concert on Saturday, the same day as Prince William’s 42nd birthday.
The London concerts drew a host of other celebrity faces including rock legends Sir Paul McCartney and Jon Bon Jovi.
A video, widely circulated on social media, on Sunday showed Beatles star Sir Paul, 82, walking through an area of the stadium separated from fans, while a photo appeared to show rock star Bon Jovi, 62, in shades and a pink hat watching Swift’s performance.
Read more:
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Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour breaks Anfield’s attendance record
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Taylor Swift: Prince William ‘shakes it off’
Actor Hugh Grant, broadcasters Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis, Hollywood legend Tom Cruise, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also appeared to Shake It Off over the weekend.
The billion-dollar Eras Tour takes fans through Swift’s back catalogue, including hits from albums 1989, Red and Midnights.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The revamped set list, which she first unveiled at the Paris shows, also includes songs from her latest album, released in April.
To celebrate her arrival in the capital, murals, a special Tube map, a Taylor trail and a series of events were created.
The tour will now move to Dublin but Swift will return to London to play another five nights at Wembley in August.
The Prince of Wales has thanked Taylor Swift for a “great concert” as he shared a photo of the pop superstar taking a selfie with him and his children George and Charlotte.
Watching the US singer perform at Wembley Stadium, the future king was also spotted shaking his arms to Shake It Off as he celebrated his 42nd birthday.
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Prince William ‘shakes it off’ with dance moves at Swift gig
“Thank you Taylor Swift for a great evening,” Prince William wrote on Instagram.
Swift posted her selfie with William, George and Charlotte alongside her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce.
“Happy Bday M8,” Swift wrote on Instagram. “London shows are off to a splendid start.”
Taylor’s version. Pic: Taylor Swift/Instagram
William’s cousin Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall were among the star-studded crowd, which reportedly included Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan and model Cara Delevingne.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also present as he took time off from the campaign trail to attend the first night of the London leg of Swift’s record-breaking Eras tour.
Keir Starmer with wife Victoria. Pic: Keir Starmer/X
Prince William previously shared the stage with Swift and Jon Bon Jovi for a performance of Livin’ On A Prayer for a charity event at Kensington Palace in 2013.
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Prince William performs Bon Jovi hit with Taylor Swift
Swift is performing three gigs at the 90,000-capacity London venue this weekend – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – before returning to the venue for a further five in August.
Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium. Pic: AP
Pic: PA
London has been overtaken with Taylor-mania in recent days, with the city’s iconic Tube map redrawn to celebrate her arrival.
Her hit Shake It Off was also played at the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
On Thursday it was revealed that Swift’s fans were expected to boost the London economy by £300m as the capital hosts more Eras Tour shows than any other city in the world, with nearly 640,000 people expected to attend across the eight dates.
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