General Election 2024 LIVE: Boris Johnson joins Tory election campaign in surprise appearance

Boris Johnson has joined the Prime Minister on the general election campaign trail to warn against Britain electing a “Labour super majority”.

The former Tory PM made a surprise appearance at Rishi Sunak’s rally at the British Army Museum in Kensington on Tuesday night.

He told the crowd of several hundred Conservative activists that voting for Labour or backing Reform on Thursday would “achieve nothing but usher in the most left wing government since the war. “We must not let it happen,” he said.

Meanwhile in east London Reform UK candidate has defected to the Conservatives just 48 hours before polling day, citing concerns at racism within the party.

Georgie David, who is standing in West Ham and Beckton, said in a statement she was standing down from Reform UK and endorsing the Conservatives claiming some other candidates in the party were “racist, misogynistic, and bigoted.”

Ms David, who stressed she did not believe the party’s leadership was racist, is the second Reform UK candidate to back the Tories in recent days over concern at fellow candidates’ views.

Rishi Sunak on Tuesday defended his handling of the Conservative campaign, saying he was “fighting for every vote”, despite polling experts suggesting there is more chance of lightning striking twice than him remaining Prime Minister after July 4.

It comes as Labour’s Wes Streeting hit back at Conservative attacks on Sir Keir Starmer for wanting to spend time with his family after 6pm on a Friday as a “total disgrace.”

Health minister Maria Caulfield earlier on Tuesday suggested that Sir Keir only wanted to work a four-day week as Prime Minister, a claim that was swiftly rebutted by Labour.

Follow the latest updates below...

Live coverage ends

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:37 , Jacob Phillips

Our live coverage has ended.

Read all the latest political stories from the Standard here.

'Every single vote matters' Sunak tells supporters

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:31 , Jacob Phillips

Rishi Sunak, who is trailing his Labour rival by around 20 points in the polls, thanked Boris Johnson for his support.

Following a speech by his predecessor, Mr Sunak said: "Isn't it great to have our Conservative family united, my friends?"

He added: "Just think, just think, it was just the other day when Keir Starmer was saying that Jeremy Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Boris.

"Shameful. Can you imagine what that would have meant for Ukraine? What it would have meant for our country's security, our defence, the damage it would have done to our economy?"

The Prime Minister said: “Every single vote matters… I know you are tired, I know you have worked hard but we have got to give it one more push.”

'Don't let the Putinistas deliver the Corbynistas' warns Johnson

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:28

Boris Johnson told supporters: "Don't let the Putinistas deliver the Corbynistas.

“Don't let Putin's pet parrots give this entire country psittacosis - which is a disease you get by the way from cosying up to pet parrots.”

Speaking at the rally days before Britain goes to the polls he added: “Friends, if you actually - everybody if you actually want higher taxes next week, this year, if you feel you've got a few thousands to spare, then vote Labour on Thursday.

“If you want uncontrolled immigration and mandatory wokery, and pointless kowtowing to Brussels again, then go right ahead, make my day, vote for Starmer.”

Tories must stop Labour 'sledgehammer majority' says Johnson

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:25 , Jacob Phillips

In an impassioned speech, Boris Johnson said Tory voters needed to draw the party back “from the brink” and prevent Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer winning a “sledgehammer majority”.

“If you want uncontrolled immigration, and mandatory wokery, and pointless low-towing to Brussels, then go right ahead and vote for Starmer,” he told the crowd.

“But if you want to protect our democracy and our economy and keep this country strong abroad by spending 2.5 per cent of our GDP on defence, then the only way to do that is to vote Conservative on Thursday.”

Boris Johnson hits campaign trail

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:22 , Jacob Phillips

Boris Johnson has joined the Prime Minister on the general election campaign trail to warn against Britain electing a “Labour super majority”.

The former Tory PM made a surprise appearance at Rishi Sunak’s rally at the British Army Museum in Kensington on Tuesday night.

He told the crowd of several hundred Conservative activists that voting for Labour or backing Reform on Thursday would “achieve nothing but usher in the most left wing government since the war.”

“We must not let it happen,” he said.“If you actually want higher taxes, if you feel you have a few thousand to spare then vote Labour on Thursday.”

Michael Gove introduces 'pre-clubbing' Conservative campaign event

Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:55 , Jacob Phillips

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has introduced a “late-evening, pre-clubbing” Conservative Party campaign event.

Before the arrival of former prime minister Boris Johnson on stage, Mr Gove said: “Just for once, I won’t be dancing tonight. Instead, over the next 36 hours, I’ll be fighting. This is the final countdown.”

He said: “We reformed welfare to make work pay, we cut crime, we built more than two million homes, we had the best Olympics ever, we were the greenest government ever, we took millions out of tax, we got Brexit done, we rolled out with furlough the best programme for the vulnerable during Covid, we had the fastest vaccine rollout anywhere in the world, we were the first country out of lockdown, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine, we stood up for freedom, we stood up for liberty, we stood up for democracy – let’s stand up and say we’re proud to be Conservatives.”

Of Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Gove said: “This Corbyn-hugging, tax-raising, referendum-denying, flip-flopping apology for a leader should never be allowed anywhere near Number 10.

“He’s the jellyfish of British politics – transparent, spineless, and swept along by any incoming tide.”

Who will be elected in London?

Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:12 , Jacob Phillips

Battles for key marginal seats across London were being dramatically ramped up after the General Election campaign entered its final days.

Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Ed Davey’s parties were pouring resources into constituencies they hope to win or cling onto in the capital.

With the clock ticking ever quicker towards July 4, the political parties, which also include Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, the Greens, as well as independents such as Jeremy Corbyn, were particularly focusing on the seats which could switch hands.

The Standard has compiled this interactive map to highlight these battleground and the likely outcome in every constituency across the capital, with each seat’s profile also including estimated declaration times and a list of the candidates from the main parties.

Pollster 99% sure Labour will win bigger landslide than 1997

Tuesday 2 July 2024 19:28 , Jacob Phillips

A pollster is 99 per cent certain that Labour will win more seats than it did in 1997.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party is on course to win 484 seats, Survation has found.

“The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are in a close race to form the official opposition,” the pollster said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A probabilistic seat count, based on 34,558 interviews conducted online and on the telephone, puts Labour on course to win 484 seats, the Conservatives on 64 and the Liberal Democrats on 61.

It expects the SNP to win around 10 seats, Reform UK seven, leaving Plaid Cymru and the Green Party with three each.

Tories closing gap on Labour, second poll shows

Tuesday 2 July 2024 18:39 , Jacob Phillips

The Tories are closing the gap on Labour, a second poll showed just days before the general election on July 4.

The Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey put Labour on 41 per cent (down one point), Conservatives 22 per cent (up three points) and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK 16 per cent (down two points).

The Liberal Democrats were on ten per cent (down one point), Greens six per cent (up one point), and SNP three per cent (up one point), all compared to June 26/27. The changes mean Labour’s lead has dropped from 23 points to 19 points, still a large gap.But polls often get closer as election day approaches as voters focus more on the choices between the different parties and their leaders.

Read the full story here.

Farage says Reform defector 'wouldn't know' if party was racist

Tuesday 2 July 2024 18:36 , Jacob Phillips

Georgie David “wouldn’t know” that in Reform UK “the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted”, Nigel Farage has said.

Reform UK’s candidate in West Ham and Beckton made her claim earlier on Tuesday and suspended her campaign in the London seat.

Speaking to Channel 5, Mr Farage faced questions about her statement and said: “Well, she wouldn’t know would she?”

He added: “Well, well, again, I just discovered earlier on today she was what we call, she was what the party called a democracy candidate, i.e. ‘will anyone please stand?'”

The party leader, who is listed on Companies House as a director of Reform UK Party Limited since March 29 2019, earlier said: “Well, I mean, I don’t know where these people came from.

“You know, I started a month ago, all these candidates were in place, but I learned that a lot of them were sort of a last minute call ‘please would anyone stand?’ And clearly, as a result of that, there are some people there that ought not to be there. That’s not reflective of me, the party or the vast majority of people.”

Ed Davey goes surfing

Tuesday 2 July 2024 18:23 , Jacob Phillips

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey continued his action-packed campaign tour with a surf lesson as the General Election fast approaches.

During a trip to Big Blue Surf School in Bude, Cornwall, Sir Ed practised lying and jumping up on the board.

He then hit the waves and fell from his board.

He earlier visited Taunton and Wellington, a marginal constituency, and knocked over a line of big blue dominoes with a Lib Dem yellow one as he called for voters to help his party topple Conservative MPs.

Starmer urges activists to 'get this over the line'

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:19 , Jacob Phillips

Sir Keir Starmer urged Labour activists to “get this over the line” as they prepared for the final day of the General Election campaign.

Speaking to party members in a community centre in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, Sir Keir said: “The choice is stark, to continue with the same as we’ve had for 14 long years which is not going to change, or to turn the page and start to rebuild our country with Labour.

“So if you want to change, you have to vote for it. Change doesn’t happen unless you vote for it.

“So let’s take that out to every doorstep, to every voter, let’s get this over the line, let’s get that Labour government.”

Reform accuse police of failing to protect candidates from ‘attacks and threats’

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:04 , Jacob Phillips

Reform UK have accused the police of failing to protect their candidates from “attacks and threats” on the campaign trail.

The party claimed that one of their candidates was “robbed, punched and kicked”, while another was told to “go home” by police while leafleting.

In Falmouth, Reform have accused police of doing nothing in the two weeks since the party said a candidate was assaulted and robbed in a “hate crime” while out canvassing.

Read more here.

Dawn Butler likens Kemi Badenoch's policies to The Handmaid’s Tale

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:51 , Jacob Phillips

Labour’s Dawn Butler reignited a feud with Kemi Badenoch on Tuesday with a video attacking the Conservative minister that invoked The Handmaid’s Tale.

The dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, which spawned a successful TV series, envisions religious fundamentalists seizing power in the United States and depriving women of all rights.

Ms Butler, who is bidding to return to the Commons as the Labour candidate in Brent East, shot the video to promote Issy Waite, who is standing against Ms Badenoch in the new seat of North West Essex.

Most polls project a comfortable win for the Business Secretary and Equalities Minister. But one large-scale MRP survey by JLP Partners had her just one point ahead of Ms Waite on 26% to 25%.

Read more here.

UK set for mixed weather on polling day

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:44 , Jacob Phillips

The UK is set for mixed weather on polling day with a split between the north and south, the Met Office has said.

Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said temperatures would be average for the time of year and said there were no weather warnings for any part of the country as it votes in the General Election.

Mr Dewhurst said: "Thursday's weather will be divided into two halves.

"Areas south of Liverpool should be mostly dry with sunny spells. Temperatures there will be around average for this time of year with most places seeing high teens and early 20s.

"London will see the highest temperatures, somewhere between 21 and 22 degrees.

"The far south-west corner of the UK could see some showers by the end of the day in places like Cornwall, Devon and south west Wales, where we're expecting bigger and patchy light rain clouds to form towards the end of the day."

Starmer refuses to name potential cabinet ahead of polling day

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:30 , Jacob Phillips

Sir Keir Starmer has been asked about rumours surrounding his cabinet, if the polls are correct and he becomes Prime Minister.

But the Labour leader refused to comment about rumours that Tottenham MP David Lammy may not become Foreign Secretary.

"I'm not naming a cabinet two days before the election, which isn't won," he said.

"We have to stay focused until 10pm on Thursday, because it will come down to quite narrow margins. The polls don't predict the future."

Certain constituencies are "very, very tight", he said, adding the party has to be "absolutely laser focused as we go into the last few days".

'I'm not going to pretend that we could make tax cuts' says Starmer

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:02 , Jacob Phillips

Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC voters "(will) be better off" if he is able to grow the economy, but he refused to pledge a tax cut.

Quizzed about his party's tax pledges and the status quo, in particular that "the tax burden is going to remain high" if he wins Thursday's General Election, the Labour leader replied: "Well, no, no tax rises needed for the plans in our manifesto, other than the ones we've set out, but I'm not going to pretend that we could make tax cuts unless they're funded and sustainable.

"We have to repair the damage to our economy and that's why our central focus is on growth, on wealth creation, on making sure that people feel materially better off under a Labour government."

Sir Keir added: "(Voters will) be better off because we will grow the economy, people will feel their living standards are rising, and better off in the broadest sense of the word because we intended to get the NHS not just back on its feet but fit for the future, make sure our public services are what people expect, what they're entitled to, in fact."

Keir Starmer says Labour needs strong majority for stablility

Tuesday 2 July 2024 14:49 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir Starmer said Labour needs a "strong mandate" to know it has public support to push ahead with the change required to help the "broken" country.

Asked why people should not fear a "super-majority", Sir Keir said Labour needs to "fight for every vote" ahead of the polls closing at 10pm on Thursday.

He said during a visit to a warehouse in Derbyshire that: "People are saying the polls predict the future - they don't predict the future, every single vote counts, every single vote has to be earned and in places like this it'll probably go down to a few hundred either way and therefore the worst thing for people who want change is to think 'job done' and 'we don't need to vote because there's going to be a majority in any event'. It isn't job done."

Sir Keir added: "Given that the country is pretty broken at the moment, a lot of things aren't working, there's a big job for us to do if we come in to serve and we need a strong mandate for that.”

Sunak insists he is energised with two days to go

Tuesday 2 July 2024 14:03

Rishi Sunak has insisted the outcome of the General Election was not a "foregone conclusion" and that he was "feeling energised" with two days of campaigning to go.

The Prime Minister defended his focus on what should be safe Tory seats as Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of running "an increasingly desperate, negative campaign".

In Banbury, where the Tories' majority at the last election was 16,800, Mr Sunak was challenged over whether his defensive campaigning was a sign of conceding defeat.

He told reporters: "We have been to every part of the country, every type of seat. I don't take any vote for granted."

He denied the results coming in overnight into July 5 were inevitable.

"I know there are lots of people who want to tell everyone it's a foregone conclusion but I don't believe that,” he said.

Tory candidate: I never backed gay conversion

Tuesday 2 July 2024 13:25 , Josh Salisbury

A Conservative candidate has insisted she does not and has never advocated so-called "gay conversion therapy" after a church of which she was a member and trustee apologised to a man who said he underwent an "exorcism" which attempted to make him straight.

The Diocese of Sheffield issued a statement describing conversion therapy as "unethical, potentially harmful" and something which "has no place in the modern world" after a report upheld the survivor's complaint.

Miriam Cates, Conservative candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire, was a member of St Thomas Philadelphia Church in Sheffield between 2003 and 2018, and on the board of trustees between 2016 and 2018.

An independent investigation by the Barnardo's charity looked at the case of Matt Drapper, who said he "experienced prayer ministry, which he considers to be an exorcism, and which attempted to change his sexual orientation from gay to straight" in 2014.

But a statement on Ms Cates's behalf said: "During her time as a trustee, none of these allegations were raised to her knowledge, and no individual raised any such concern with her. If they had she would have taken them very seriously and investigated them."

Reform candidates 'express racist views', says Sunak after candidate defection

Tuesday 2 July 2024 12:40 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has said candidates and campaigners for Reform UK openly express "racist and misogynistic views, seemingly without challenge".

We reported earlier how a London-based Reform candidate became the second in recent days to back the Conservatives instead amid concerns about racism.

Mr Sunak told reporters in Banbury: "We've seen some appalling comments that have been made that I addressed last week and what we have seen is candidates and campaigners openly espousing racist and misogynistic views, seemingly without challenge.

"That tells you something about the culture within the Reform Party overall, that's questions for Nigel Farage.

"But on Thursday there's a clear choice for people, and if you want your taxes cut, if you want your pension protected, and you want our border secure, and you want to vote to prevent a Labour supermajority, the only way to do that is to vote Conservative."

'No point fretting about past', says Sunak

Tuesday 2 July 2024 12:28 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has said there is "no point fretting about the past" when asked if he feels frustrated by the "poisoned chalice" he was given when taking on the role.

He said "I don't focus on these things in the past", adding to reporters: "You've got to play the cards you're dealt. It's a great privilege to do this job.

"Has it been tough? Of course it's been tough. I got made chancellor and I had to do a budget in three weeks, and then a pandemic hit. Things happen, how you respond to them is what defines you as a person, your character, your actions, your values."

He added: "There's no point fretting about the past. I've delivered what I've delivered, this is about the future and that's what gives me the energy and motivation to go around and get up and talk to many people about it."

Sunak declines to repeat criticism of Starmer over Friday working

Tuesday 2 July 2024 12:04 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak did not repeat Conservative claims that Sir Keir Starmer wanted to avoid working after 6pm on Fridays, but cited "the sacrifice" that being prime minister entails as he said "there is always work to do".

Asked by journalists on the campaign trail what time he works until on Friday, the Prime Minister said: "Everyone is going to approach this job in a different way.

"In my experience there is always work to do, there's always decisions that need to be made, and that's what the job requires, that is... the privilege of this job, that's what public service is about and the sacrifice it entails."

Starmer 'concerned' at postal vote delays

Tuesday 2 July 2024 11:41 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir Starmer said he was concerned about delays to people receiving their postal votes ahead of polling day.

Answering media questions on a campaign visit to Nottingham, the Labour leader said: "I am concerned about the postal ballots because it is really important in this election that every single person has the ability to vote, and I hope vote for change.

"We must do everything we collectively can to ensure that those ballot papers get to people, that they can fill them in and have the vote to which they are entitled, so the country can move forward with the change that I hope will be delivered at this election."

But Royal Mail officials have said they "remain confident" that postal votes received on time will be delivered before polling day, adding there is "no backlog".

The Government has said it is urgently investigating delays to people receiving their postal votes.

Starmer hits out at 'hysterical' Tories over Friday night working criticism

Tuesday 2 July 2024 11:04 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir Starmer has said Tory attacks on his desire to spend Friday evenings with his family were a sign of “increasing desperation bordering on hysterical”.

The Conservatives have criticised the Labour leader for saying he would seek to spend Friday evenings with family barring emergencies if made Prime Minister.

Speaking at Hucknall Town FC’s ground in Nottingham, the Labour leader said: “Look, this is just increasingly desperate stuff.

“I actually can hardly believe that 48 hours before an election, the Conservative Party has got nothing possible positive to say as they go into it.

“I’ve been arguing throughout this campaign, you’ll have heard me many times saying they haven’t changed. They’re just the same. Nothing’s going to change. But they’re proving it.

He added: “I just think it’s increasing desperation bordering on hysterical now.”

Reform accuses Tories of 'desperation' over candidate defection

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:48 , Josh Salisbury

Reform UK has accused the Conservatives of “desperate corruption” after its candidate in West Ham and Beckton offered her support to the Tories.

Georgie David said she would no longer campaign for Reform, claiming the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.

In response, Reform chairman Richard Tice said on X: “More desperate corruption by Tories.“What jobs & safe seats have toxic Tories offered this candidate? As they have with many others. “Note same press release language… coordinated by dirty tricks central, CCHQ. Voters delighted to oust these Tories.”

London Reform candidate defects to Conservatives days before election

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:26 , Josh Salisbury

A Reform UK candidate in east London has defected to the Conservatives just days before Thursday’s election citing concerns at her fellow candidates’ views.

Georgie David, a candidate in West Ham and Beckton, said she would no longer campaign for the party, claiming the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.

She said in a statement: “I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist.

“However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.”

It comes as her fellow candidate in Erewash, Liam Booth-Isherwood, also said he would back the local Conservatives over racism concerns within Reform.

Ms David will still appear on the ballot as a Reform UK candidate despite the disavowal, as the deadline for changes has since passed.

Postal voting system urgently needs reform, says SNP

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:59 , Josh Salisbury

The postal voting system requires "huge reform", the SNP's Westminster leader has said, following reports some voters could miss out.

Some Scots have said they are without their postal voting pack and will not be able to cast a ballot ahead of Thursday's election due to being on holiday.

The July 4 poll is taking place in the first week of the school holidays north of the border, with a higher than usual number of people expected to vote ahead of time.

Speaking to the BBC, Stephen Flynn said the issues risk disenfranchising voters.

"I'm massively concerned about that, like almost every candidate across Scotland that I believe to be the case. I've had numerous emails from people who have not received their postal ballot, that's simply not good enough," he said.

Majority of voters have already decided who to vote for - poll

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:26 , Josh Salisbury

The general election result may already be partially baked in, new research suggests, as a majority of voters have already made up their mind.

The polling by YouGov found that 47 per cent of voters had already decided who to vote for, while a further 16 per cent had already voted by post.

It suggests that there is a relatively small group of voters whose choice is up for grabs, with only fourteen per cent saying they would either likely or probably change their minds.

Green and Lib Dem voters were the least likely to have totally made up their minds how they will vote.

Sunak defends Tory campaign despite dire polls

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:05

Rishi Sunak defended the Tory campaign, despite it having failed to narrow the opinion poll gap with Labour.

Asked if he had got the campaign wrong, he told the BBC: "No, actually. Everywhere I've been going, people are waking up to the dangers of what a Labour government would mean for them, particularly when it comes to taxes."

He said that under the Tories things are "undeniably" better than they were a few years ago.

He said: "When it comes to the things that we want to do, people can see that we have turned a corner.

"It has been a difficult few years but undeniably things are in a better place now than they were, people are starting to feel the benefits of that."

Sunak: Predictions of Tory defeat won't stop me fighting for votes

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:03 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has insisted he will fight for every vote until Thursday, despite the Conservatives being on course for a resounding defeat according to the polls.

Asked about the polls, he told BBC Breakfast: “That's not going to stop me from working as hard as I can over these final few days to talk to as many people as possible about the choice.

"And I was up at 4 this morning talking to workers at a distribution facility. I'm here talking to you. I'll be out till the last moment of this campaign because I think it's a really important choice for the country.”

He added: "I will continue as I've said fighting for every vote till the last moment of the campaign."

Rishi Sunak denies speaking language of defeat

Tuesday 2 July 2024 08:53 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has denied speaking the “language of defeat” despite repeatedly warning of a Labour supermajority.

Grilled on BBC Breakfast about a prediction by polling expert Sir John Curtice that there was more chance of lightning striking twice than him remaining Prime Minister, Mr Sunak insisted he was “fighting for every vote until the last moment of the campaign”.

Asked if he had adopted the “language of defeat”, Mr Sunak told the programme: “No. I am very much still talking to people about our plan and our plan is to cut everyone’s taxes, to protect their pension, to secure our borders and reduce migration.”

Streeting: Attacks on Starmer over Friday working 'disgusting'

Tuesday 2 July 2024 08:27 , Josh Salisbury

The attacks on Keir Starmer after he said he does not normally work past 6pm on a Friday are a "total disgrace", shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said.

Asked on Times Radio if he would work beyond 6pm on a Friday, Mr Streeting said: "I'm sure I will be and I'm sure Keir will be doing so too.

"The attacks on him are a total disgrace and it shows how far these people have fallen, how heavily they're scraping the barrel and why they need to be removed from office on Thursday."

He added: "Let me say something about the Conservative Party. The party that turned Number 10 into a giant lockdown party now wants to lecture others on their work ethic.”

Unrealistic for Starmer to finish at six on Friday, claim Tories

Tuesday 2 July 2024 08:15 , Josh Salisbury

It is "unrealistic" of Sir Keir Starmer to aim to finish working at 6pm on Fridays, Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has said.

She told LBC Radio: "I do think that it's pretty unrealistic for a prime minister not to work past 6pm.

"I also think it's a bit odd because they're also saying they want to make people in the NHS work overtime and at weekends, so I think to do that on one hand, and on the other hand say that you're not going to work past 6pm is a bit tin-eared.

"Like I said, I haven't really seen what he was driving at, but I think he's going to get a shock if he goes into government and thinks that he doesn't have to work past 6pm."

'Urgent' probe into postal vote 'delays', says minister

Tuesday 2 July 2024 07:52

The postal affairs minister is "urgently" investigating delays to postal ballots being delivered, a minister has said.

Kevin Hollinrake has criticised Royal Mail for failing to deliver votes in time for the General Election.

It comes as voters in more than 90 constituencies, including those of Cabinet ministers, have raised concerns about their ballots failing to arrive, the Telegraph reported.

Health minister Ms Caulfield told Sky News: "Kevin is investigating this urgently. I know there's extra resources going into this to try and do a sweep of all the sorting offices and make sure they're out there.

"If people have only just received their postal vote, they can take it to their polling station on election day and it will still be counted."

Minister claims Keir Starmer 'wants to work four-day week'

Tuesday 2 July 2024 07:48 , Josh Salisbury

A Conservative minister has claimed Sir Keir Starmer wants to work a four-day week if he becomes Prime Minister.

Sir Keir told Virgin Radio on Monday he would not usually do anything work-related after 6pm on a Friday, so that he can spend time with wife Victoria, their 16-year-old son and their 13-year-old daughter.

Conservative health minister Maria Caulfield, who is battling to be re-elected as MP for Lewes against a challenge from the Liberal Democrats, has criticised that approach on Sky News.

“I think what you’re alluding to is Keir Starmer saying he’s going to be a doing a four-day week and finishing at six o’clock every evening,” she claimed.

When challenged that this was not true, and that Sir Keir indicated he wanted to finish at six on a Friday in part-due to his wife’s family having Jewish heritage, Ms Caulfield replied: “I’m a person of faith as well and the work-life balance is extremely important, but he has indicated that he wants to have a kind of more flexible working life approach.

“That’s just not possible … It’s slightly concerning that that’s the approach he’s taking.”

Sunak visits Bedfordshire plant as penultimate day of campaign gets underway

Tuesday 2 July 2024 07:30 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has kicked off the penultimate day of the election campaign with an early visit to an Ocado packing plant in Bedfordshire.

The Prime Minister witnessed hundreds of washing machine-sized robots topped with blinking green lights scuttling along a grid of rails, picking up and sorting boxes of food items from above.

As he toured the warehouse, he also met with members of staff in their canteen for an early morning cup of tea, before picking up breakfasts for travelling media at a McDonald’s nearby.

Starmer asks for hefty majority as Tories plead 'no blank cheque' for Labour

Tuesday 2 July 2024 07:26 , Josh Salisbury

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today’s political developments 48 hours away from polling day.

Sir Keir Starmer has said a big majority would be "better for the country", as the Tories continue to urge voters to proceed with caution and not hand Labour a "blank cheque".

But Rishi Sunak has repeated the warning that Labour could achieve a "supermajority", allowing the party to raise taxes.

In an interview with The Times, Sir Keir said he needed a "strong mandate" to reform the planning system and improve the economy.

Asked if he was saying the bigger a majority, the better, he told the newspaper: "Better for the country. Because it means we can roll up our sleeves and get on with the change we need."

It follows weeks of warnings from the Conservatives of a Labour "supermajority", in a bid to prevent bleeding votes to Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.

But speaking at a campaign event in Leicestershire, Mr Sunak said: "Once you've given Labour a blank cheque, you won't be able to get it back.”