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.
UK
Family of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ as teen appears in court charged with murder
The family of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death have said she was a “beautiful soul” who was brave, kind-hearted and “always put a smile on people’s faces”.
Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria Thorpe had suffered a single stab wound.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute released by Avon and Somerset Police on Friday, the girl’s family on her mother’s side said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.”
Tom Thorpe, the girl’s father, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us.”
It comes as a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared in court.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
Aria was a ‘precious girl’
In their statement, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said her death “has devastated us beyond words”.
“Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible,” they added.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.”
They said they were “truly touched by the lovely messages we have received”, before asking “that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl”.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
‘Wacky ways and outright madness’
Mr Thorpe said: “How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
He then said that Aria was “such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul”, and “always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness”.
Mr Thorpe added: “Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you.
“We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
Teenager in court
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where he was remanded.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested in the Somerset village of Worle at 6.19pm on Monday.
He is next due in court on 16 March 2026. Appearing via video link from youth detention accommodation, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for 15 June during the hearing.
A teenager charged with the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe will stand trial in June next year.
The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
The defendant, who appeared via video link from youth detention accommodation, spoke only to confirm his name.
During a brief hearing, Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, set a provisional trial date for 15 June 2026.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Avon and Somerset Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare just before 6.10pm on Monday, where nine-year-old Aria had suffered a single stab wound.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time later.
His father was among those attending in the public gallery.
The teenager is next expected to appear in court on 16 March.
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