Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4.

Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk.

UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement.

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Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4.
Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk.
UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirming the election will take place in July

I think we can all see the Nats stuffed up the 13 cancer drugs announcement on so many levels.

They should never have promised specific drugs, that's Pharmac's job.

But having promised them for the first year, they shouldn't have then broken that promise by leaving them out of the Budget. 

And then, it's never really a good look if you finally get dragged to delivering on your promise because of public outrage.

But having said all of that - sometimes I think we get a little too caught up on the political shenanigans and not focus enough on the end point.

And how good is the end point? 

We have just had the single biggest injection of cash into Pharmac ever, we've had more cancer drugs than ever promised to be delivered in one go.

That announcement yesterday of 54 new drugs wiped more a third off Pharmac’s wishlist.

Between the $600 million yesterday and the $1.7 billion announced in the Budget, this Government - which hasn’t even been in power for 9 months - has pumped $2.3 billion into Pharmac.

Now, I'm of the view that Pharmac is one of the most important things any Government funds, because it is literally the difference for some people between life and death.

And those people are people who, more often that not, have paid their taxes diligently and just been good people.

And good, normal, law-abiding Kiwis, I think, deserve access to as many drugs to save their lives as other people in the western world.

I will never complain about Pharmac getting more money, however we end up in that situation.

So in the end, I'm weirdly grateful for National stuffing this up, because we’ve ended up funding 54 new drugs we didn't have funded a couple of days ago. And that's the thing that really matters, isn’t it?

LISTEN ABOVE

I think we can all see the Nats stuffed up the 13 cancer drugs announcement on so many levels. They should never have promised specific drugs, that's Pharmac's job.
But having promised them for the first year, they shouldn't have then broken that promise by leaving them out of the Budget. 
And then, it's never really a good look if you finally get dragged to delivering on your promise because of public outrage. But having said all of that - sometimes I think we get a little too caught up on the political shenanigans and not focus enough on the end point. And how good is the end point? We have just had the single biggest injection of cash into Pharmac ever, we've had more cancer drugs than ever promised to be delivered in one go. That announcement yesterday of 54 new drugs wiped more a third off Pharmac’s wishlist. Between the $600 million yesterday and the $1.7 billion announced in the Budget, this Government - which hasn’t even been in power for 9 months - has pumped $2.3 billion into Pharmac. Now, I'm of the view that Pharmac is one of the most important things any Government funds, because it is literally the difference for some people between life and death.
And those people are people who, more often that not, have paid their taxes diligently and just been good people.
And good, normal, law-abiding Kiwis, I think, deserve access to as many drugs to save their lives as other people in the western world. I will never complain about Pharmac getting more money, however we end up in that situation. So in the end, I'm weirdly grateful for National stuffing this up, because we’ve ended up funding 54 new drugs we didn't have funded a couple of days ago. And that's the thing that really matters, isn’t it?
LISTEN ABOVE

Heather du Plessis-Allan: I'm weirdly grateful for the Government's cancer drugs stuff-up

It's been confirmed Julian Assange will return to Australia after being released from prison. 

The Wikileaks founder was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information - and spent seven years in Ecuador's London Embassy, and five in a British prison.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Assange is set to return to Australia by the end of the week - and there's plenty of excitement for his arrival.

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It's been confirmed Julian Assange will return to Australia after being released from prison. 
The Wikileaks founder was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information - and spent seven years in Ecuador's London Embassy, and five in a British prison.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Assange is set to return to Australia by the end of the week - and there's plenty of excitement for his arrival.
LISTEN ABOVE

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Julian Assange's return to Australia following prison release

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson will be sidelined for at least four weeks due to the re-emergence of an old Achilles tendon injury.

The 33-year-old was sidelined last month through a combination of the achilles issue, as well as a pectoral muscle strain.

He returned in Round 15 before suffering a hamstring strain in last weekend's heavy loss to the Titans.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked what this loss means for the Warriors.

LISTEN ABOVE

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson will be sidelined for at least four weeks due to the re-emergence of an old Achilles tendon injury.
The 33-year-old was sidelined last month through a combination of the achilles issue, as well as a pectoral muscle strain.
He returned in Round 15 before suffering a hamstring strain in last weekend's heavy loss to the Titans.
Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked what this loss means for the Warriors.
LISTEN ABOVE

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirming the election will take place in July

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