BBC general election debate LIVE: Mordaunt says Sunak leaving D-Day ‘completely wrong’ and clashes with Rayner over tax

Leading figures from seven UK political parties are going head-to-head in a debate on the BBC on Friday evening.

The 90-minute broadcast is not featuring Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer, with Penny Mordaunt representing the Tories and Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner appearing .

Reform UK’s new leader Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper, Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer are also taking part in the debate.

The leaders from Northern Ireland's main parties are not taking part.

Ms Mordaunt is expected to field attacks from her opponents over Rishi Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations in France early.

The Prime Minister apologised on Friday, as a veteran accused the Tory leader of “letting down the country.”The debate is being shown on BBC1 and will end at 9pm.

Follow the latest updates in the lead up and during the debate below.

Live coverage ends

22:31 , Jacob Phillips

The Evening Standard's live coverage has ended.

Read all the latest political stories from the Standard here.

Tory tax claim 'an established lie', says shadow business secretary

22:01 , Jacob Phillips

Labour's shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the BBC the £2,000 figure tax figure has been established to be a lie.

He told the broadcaster he was surprised the Tories keep repeating it.

He added he was also surprised Mordaunt "went in so hard" on the Prime Minister.

Reynolds added that Angela Rayner was "straight-talking" and that the Labour deputy leader spoke to the country clearly about what her party wanted to deliver.

Key moments in the debate

21:47 , Jacob Phillips

The leading figures from seven UK political parties clashed over D-Day and support for war veterans, immigration and the state of the NHS.

The D-Day row rumbles on following the Prime Minister's decision to leave D-Day commemorations early on Thursday.

Penny Mordaunt said Rishi Sunak's call was "completely wrong" and added: "I'm from Portsmouth, I have also been defence secretary and my wish is, at the end of this week, is that all of our veterans feel completely treasured."

Nigel Farage also claimed it was "one vs six" over immigration.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed he was "on a platform tonight with six other people whose parties have been wholly unconcerned" with immigration.

Read the full story here.

Mordaunt used debate to 'hammer Rishi Sunak three times'

21:28 , Jacob Phillips

Pat McFadden, Labour’s National Campaign Coordinator, commenting on tonight's BBC debate, said Penny Mordaunt used the broadcast to “hammer Rishi Sunak three times for leaving the D-Day commemorations early”.

He added that she defended Liz Truss and “put on record that the Conservatives have raised taxes to the highest level in seventy years”.

Mr McFadden added: “Angela Rayner talked about the change Labour will bring to Britain.

“It’s time to end the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild with Labour.”

'Everything feels broken' - Lib Dems

21:25 , Jacob Phillips

Wrapping up the Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper said that everything feels broken”.

She urged for people to vote for the Lib Dems to fix the NHS, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and “put an end to the scandal of filthy raw sewage being dumped in our rivers and streams”.

She said every vote for her party was a vote for a fair deal for the change “we desperately want and need”.

Mordaunt warns Labour will 'have your pension raided'

21:22 , Jacob Phillips

Penny Mordaunt finished by saying “we have come through tough times and now there is a choice to be made”.

She said that choosing Labour would leader to higher taxes, higher bills and “having your pension raided”.

The Commons leader urged voters to stay with the Tories.

She said: “We will cut your taxes, we will protect your pension and we will defend this nation.”

Farage urges voters to 'join the revolt'

21:20 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has urged voters to "join the revolt" as he claimed Reform UK will become a "political phenomenon".

In his closing statement, the party's new leader said: "Labour are going to win, the debate is: who forms the opposition in the next Parliament? Who fights for the rights of ordinary British people? Who fights to control our borders? Who fights for men and women running small businesses?

"Reform UK is about to become a political phenomenon, a historic one, so I urge you, join the revolt."

'Stop taking Wales for granted' - Plaid Cymru

21:18 , Jacob Phillips

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said he is standing up for Wales but also a "different kind of politics".

He added: "There's a real chance here to send Labour a message too, stop taking Wales for granted. It is true that communities throughout the UK feel as if they are being ignored, well I won't let Wales be."

Labour offering 'more of the same' - Green party co-leader

21:17 , Jacob Phillips

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said the Labour Party was offering "more of the same".

In her final words of the BBC debate, she said: "We can all see the Tories are toast - thank goodness.

"But we deserve better than a Labour Party that is offering more of the same.

"Angela (Rayner) says that Keir (Starmer) has changed the Labour Party, and she's right.

"He's changed them into the Conservatives."

Stephen Flynn: 'We will always fight for Scotland'

21:16 , Jacob Phillips

Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn has promised to put Scotland’s interests first in Westminster.

He promised to invest in the NHS, take action on the cost-of-living crisis and try to rejoin the European single market.

He said: “Unlike the Labour Party we will never, ever get comfortable with the Westminster status quo. We will always fight for Scotland’s right to choose its own future.”

'If you want change vote Labour' - Angela Rayner

21:13 , Jacob Phillips

The debate has now turned to the parties final thoughts.

Giving her closing statement Angela Rayner said: “After 14 years of chaos it’s time for change.

“Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party. Our fully costed plan for Britain will secure our economy, will bring down NHS waiting times with 40,000 new appointments every week and we will secure our borders.

“Not with gimmicks but with a creditable plan to smash the gangs.

“We will create Great British Energy bringing down bills and creating thousands of well paid jobs.

“We will boost neighbourhood police to tackle antisocial behaviour and we will hire 6500 new teachers. So if you want change vote Labour.”

Farage calls for more stop and searches to stop knife crime

21:07 , Jacob Phillips

The debate has turned to the topic of knife crime.

When asked how he would approach the issue Reform UK leader Farage said: “We must do stop and search we must do it in a very tough way with proper sentences.

He continued: “You can go shop lifting now any of you. You can go out and nick up to 200 quids worth without being prosecuted. We are seeing a decline, a societal decline of law and order in this country.”

'You have failed the British people' Rayner tells Mordaunt

20:53 , Jacob Phillips

The debate once again breaks down as Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner take a question about the environment.

Rayner tries to begin speaking about how Labour would create a Great British energy company but she is interrupted several times by Mordaunt.

Rayner tells Mordaunt: “You have failed the British people. You have failed the British people and people can see that.”Earlier Mordaunt had said: "It's not just your taxes that I'm worried about, I'm worried about my constituents being able to afford a Labour government.

"Angela mentioned GB Energy, do you know what the GB stands for? It stands for giant bills, and more bills are coming with the net zero plans that Labour have.”

The pair both continue to speak over each other before host Mishal Husain tries to intervene.

Mordaunt continues to speak over the presenter before Nigel Farage also speaks over her.

Greens would remove 'cruel' two-child benefit cap

20:41 , Jacob Phillips

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Greens in England and Wales, said her party would remove the "ageist" cap on the £15 minimum wage and the "cruel" two-child benefit cap.

Outlining the Green's plan for addressing the cost-of-living crisis, Ms Denyer said: “We could have well-paid jobs, secure jobs and a welfare system that really acts as the safety net we need to catch people when they fall.”

She explains how a nationwide home insulation programme could bring down bills and help with the cost-of-living.

She went on: "The Greens would provide a real safety net starting with a £15 minimum wage for all ages, removing the ageist cap on young working adults, an immediate uplift to universal credit and, my final point, removing the cruel two-child benefit cap which both the Conservative and Labour parties support even though it holds 250,000 children down in poverty unnecessarily."

Heated clash breaks out between Rayner and Mordaunt over tax claims

20:36 , Jacob Phillips

The debate broke into a heated clash over tax claims as Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner spoke over each other for nearly a minute.

The Commons leader said that the economy was in recovery adding that the election must be about the Conservatives cutting taxes.

She said: “We have got to cut people’s taxes, we have got to alleviate burdens on business.

“Angela Rayner and the Labour Party, Keir Starmer confirmed this this week, they are going to put up taxes.”

Rayner quickly interjected saying “that is lie” before a heated argument breaks out

Mordaunt repeated the contested Conservative claim that Labour would cost working households £2000.The debate’s host Mishal Husain quickly warns Mordaunt: “You are using a figure that has been criticised by the UK statistics watchdog”.

"That was terribly dignified wasn't it?" Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said.

'We will never go fast and loose with public finances' - Rayner

20:27 , Jacob Phillips

Angela Rayner has said that Labour’s first priority would be to secure the economy if the opposition are elected.

She said: “Labour’s first plan and priority is to secure the economy we will never go fast and loose with public finances because it’s working people who are paying the price for that.

“Great British Energy, which is putting a windfall tax on the big oil and gas companies, will allow us to set up the publicly owned energy company which will give tax payers money back, bring down bills and make us secure for our energy needs for the future - and create thousands of jobs here in the UK.

“That is real change that is how we will deliver an economy that works for working people and the Tories should never be allowed to forget that the reason we are in a cost of living crisis now is because they crashed the economy.”

The crowd broke out into applause as Rayner finished speaking.

'Race to bottom on migration driven by Nigel Farage' says Stephen Flynn

20:23 , Jacob Phillips

Taking a question about immigration during the seven-way BBC election debate, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he wanted to offer the panel some "home truths".

"Migration is absolutely essential to our public services, it's absolutely essential to our businesses," he said.

"In Scotland, we have a declining working-age population despite a net number of people moving from the rest of the UK to Scotland.

"We need migrants, and this race to the bottom on migration driven by Nigel Farage, followed by the Conservative Party and hotly chased by the Labour Party, does not serve Scotland's interests, and it does not serve your interests either, so rise up against it."

To applause, Mr Flynn said voters had been "led down the garden path by the right wing in British politics for far too long. We need to stand against it, we need to promote our economy, promote our public services, and do so by promoting migration".

Reform UK leader and Clacton candidate Nigel Farage said he wanted to inject some "logic" into the discussion, to which Mr Flynn replied: "That would be a novelty for you."

Mr Farage claimed "most of those that come in are actually dependents", adding: "This ought to be the immigration election, because whether we talk about housing, whether we talk about the fact that rents are up between 20 and 30% in most of the country in the last four years, whether we talk about the roads, whether we talk about infrastructure, we are living through a population crisis."

Applause as Rayner claims Liz Truss 'crashed' the economy

20:14 , Jacob Phillips

Angela Rayner received applause from the audience at the BBC debate as she clashed with Penny Mordaunt over NHS waiting lists and claimed Liz Truss "crashed" the economy.

On reducing healthcare waiting lists, Ms Mordaunt said: "There are many things we need to do, but there are two really important things.

"We have to keep the budget strong. We need a strong economy."

She continued: "Labour's plans to tax your future pension, senior nurses and doctors, is going to get healthcare professionals to leave the service. That is going to lead to more waiting lists."

Ms Rayner responded: "Penny, that's rubbish and you've just said we need a strong economy - you backed Liz Truss and crashed our economy."

The studio audience applauded as Ms Rayner added: "You made people like me redundant when we were in the homecare service."

First applause of the night for SNP

20:12 , Jacob Phillips

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn received the first applause of the night from the audience after he said medical students in an SNP-controlled Scotland would not have to pay tuition fees.

A medical student asked the candidates how they can ensure that she will graduate into a functioning NHS.

Mr Flynn said the NHS in Scotland has "record funding" and no strikes.

He then received a round of applause when he added: "Given that you're going to university to study medicine I think it's also important to remind everyone in this audience the difference between the SNP and the Westminster parties.

"In an SNP-controlled Scotland you would not pay a single penny in tuition fees for your studies, what a difference that would make."

Farage accused of 'not believing in the NHS'

20:10 , Jacob Phillips

The second question of the debate turns to the NHS.

The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has accused Nigel Farage of "not believing in the NHS" and wanting to privatise it.

Reform UK's leader told the BBC's election debate: "We all know that whilst you can get great care, the NHS model isn't working. You can't get GP appointments - things we have all grown up taking for granted - and they can argue about 'it's all money, I'm going to spend more money, you're going to spend more money'. It doesn't work."

Mr Farage added: "The more money we spend, the less delivery we get, which means the model is wrong, the model through which we fund health is wrong."

Intervening, Mr Flynn said: "This is Nigel telling us he doesn't believe in the NHS, this is what he's doing, he's telling the public he does not believe in the NHS, a national treasure. You want to privatise it, that is what you want to do."

Asked if he wants more private healthcare, Mr Farage said: "No, let's change the model."

Stephen Flynn: 'A prime minister who puts his own political career before Normandy war veterans is no prime minister at all'

20:05 , Jacob Phillips

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told the seven-way BBC General Election debate: "We need to be standing with our veterans. We need to make sure that our military is fully funded and that we have more people serving, and that we look after them when they become veterans."

He added: "A prime minister who puts his own political career before public service is no prime minister at all.

"A prime minister who puts his own political career before Normandy war veterans is no prime minister at all.

"So it's incumbent upon all of us to do our national service and vote the Tories out of office."

Prime Minister walking away from veterans 'completely and utterly unforgivable'

20:01 , Jacob Phillips

Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper has expressed her personal outage at the Prime Minister leaving D-Day commemorations early.

She said: “I started yesterday morning watching a recording made by the Royal Mint of my late grandfather where he recounts catching his best friend who fell from the top of a Sherman tank who was shot in the head.

“As he waded through the water he recounted in his words ‘men blown to pieces, hands, legs and heads.’

“If he had been there yesterday and seen the Prime Minister walk away from him I would have found that, as I do now, completely and utterly unforgivable.”

Mordaunt: Prime Minister leaving D-Day commemorations should not become 'a political football'

19:57 , Jacob Phillips

Penny Mordaunt says the Prime Minister's decision to leave D-Day commemorations early should not become "a political football".

She said: "Look, I think what happened was very wrong and I'm glad the Prime Minister has said that, and he's apologised - he's apologised to veterans - but I think he also has apologised to everyone because he was there representing us, and what I hope is that our veterans will feel treasured and their families will feel treasured at the end of this week."

Ms Mordaunt added: "I don't want this issue to become a political football."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage replied: "Well, it already is.

"It already is, because the veterans themselves are speaking out saying he's let the country down."

Prime Minister was 'completely wrong' to leave D-Day anniversary event

19:51 , Jacob Phillips

Conservative Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt told a BBC debate that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to leave the D-Day 80th anniversary events early was "completely wrong".

The Commons leader said: "What happened was completely wrong and the Prime Minister has rightly apologised for that, apologised to veterans but also to all of us, because he was representing all of us.

"I'm from Portsmouth, I have also been defence secretary and my wish is, at the end of this week, is that all of our veterans feel completely treasured."

Asked if she would have left D-Day commemorations early, Ms Mordaunt said: "I didn't go to D-Day. I think what happened was very wrong, I think the Prime Minister has apologised for that.

"But what I also think is important is we honour their legacy, they fought for our freedom, and unless we are spending the right amount on defence we can't honour that legacy."

Debate heats up between Conservatives and Labour

19:50 , Jacob Phillips

Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner almost immediately clashed during the debate.

The pair spoke over each other as they argued about their parties stances towards defence, with Rayner quipping “we have become a laughing stock because of your party”.

The pair continue to argue bringing the debate to a standstill as Rayner says she refuses to be “lectured” at to which Mordant replies “it’s surprising then that you’re not better informed”.

'We actually have a very unpatriotic Prime Minister' - Farage

19:42 , Jacob Phillips

The debate has begun with the parties quizzed about the armed forces and defence.

Just minutes in Reform UK candidate Nigel Farage attacks the Prime Minister for leaving D-Day commemorations in France early.He said: “Respect our veterans including those with the average age of 100 who were deserted by the Prime Minister in Normandy yesterday which I think was a complete and utter disgrace and shows us we actually have a very unpatriotic Prime Minister. It was dreadful.”

'Rishi Sunak’s scatter-gun approach is the latest sign of his desperation' says Pat McFadden

19:18 , Jacob Phillips

Speaking ahead of the BBC debate Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, said: “Tonight the British people will witness the choice at this election: five more years of chaos with the Conservatives or change with the Labour Party.

“The Conservatives’ campaign is in chaos. While Rishi Sunak’s scatter-gun approach is the latest sign of his desperation, Keir Starmer is offering a credible plan to change Britain.

“On 4 July, the British people will have the chance to vote for change. To stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild our country.”

Prime Minister heckled on campaign trail

19:11 , Jacob Phillips

An out-of-work GP heckled Rishi Sunak as he made a stump speech in Wiltshire.

Dr Jane Lees-Millais told the Prime Minister the NHS was "disintegrating" as he made a speech to Tory members.

He was heckled as he told Conservative members the economy was growing and wages had been rising for almost a year, adding: "That shows that we are on the right track."

Dr Jane Lees-Millais shouted from the audience: "But the NHS is disintegrating. I am one of 2,500 GPs in this country who are currently unemployed due to your policies.

"What are you going to do about that?

"37,000 GPs will not vote Conservative because of the constructive dismissal of general practice that is currently occurring."

She added: "The country is not stupid. They know when lesser-qualified people are being used to conduct consultations which are massively complex."

Blow for Labour as Unite do not endorse manifesto

18:51 , Matt Watts

Unite, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, has not endorsed Labour’s manifesto, according to reports.

Sources said the union believed the party had moved on a number of commitments relating to workers and industry, and its stance on fire-and-rehire and oil and gas meant that Unite could not back the document.

Labour signs off manifesto with pledge to recognise Palestinian state

18:40 , Jacob Phillips

Recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of any Middle East peace process is a Labour manifesto pledge, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed as party figures signed off on the final policy document.

The Labour leader suggested that such a move should not be blocked by a neighbouring country, saying it was an “inalienable right” of Palestinians and not in “the gift of Israel”.

It came as shadow ministers, union representatives, MPs and members arrived on Friday at the party’s secretive Clause V meeting, where they set the seal on Labour’s election manifesto in the afternoon.

Read the full story here.

Party representatives begin to arrive

18:34 , Jacob Phillips

Penny Mordaunt, Angela Rayner, Daisy Cooper, Stephen Flynn and Carla Denyer have arrived at New Broadcasting House ahead of the debate.

Holly Valance decides against standing for Reform UK

18:24 , Jacob Phillips

Rumours spread hours before the 4pm deadline for candidates on Friday that former Neighbours star Holly Valance was considering standing for Reform UK.

The actress and singer was reported to be considering standing against Tory party chairman Richard Holden in a bid to be elected as an MP for Basildon and Billericay in the July 4 poll.

But she told GB News that she ultimately decided against standing.

She said: “It's not going to work for me - it was very difficult logistics wise.”

Read the full story here.

Tories drop candidate hours before nominations close

18:22 , Jacob Phillips

The Conservatives dropped one of their parliamentary candidates hours before nominations closed on Friday after receiving a complaint about his conduct.

Jaymey McIvor had been due to fight the Hemel Hempstead seat for the Tories in the General Election, but announced on Friday afternoon that he was withdrawing from the contest "for personal reasons".

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, just 50 minutes before the 4pm deadline for submitting nominations, the Epping Forest councillor said he was "sad" to announce he was no longer a candidate.

He added: "I'm incredibly proud of my campaign and the people I've met along the way. Especially the members who put their faith in me."

Welcome to our live coverage

18:17 , Jacob Phillips

Welcome to the Evening Standard’s live coverage of the BBC election debate.

Leading figures from seven UK political parties are preparing to go head-to-head at 7pm on Friday evening.

The 90-minute broadcast will not feature Prime Minister Rishi Sunak or Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, with Penny Mordaunt representing the Tories and Angela Rayner deputising for Labour.