Our guests, Marie Le Conte and Ben Kelly, discuss the UK’s general election, which is now planned for 4 July. Then: we delve into European recognition of Palestinian statehood, the National Rally’s abandonment of one-time ally AfD and why the US embassy insists that it doesn’t have to pay London’s congestion charge. Plus: Our ‘On This Day’ historical series explores the caning of Charles Sumner in 1856.