Today's key general election headlines as major polls set to be released

Parties are continuing to campaign ahead of the general election on July 4. Each day we'll be bringing you the biggest headlines so you can swot up on the big news of the day.

Today the Conservatives are focusing on gender issues and have pledged to tackle the "confusion" over the legal definition of sex by amending the Equality Act if they win the election. Under the Equality Act 2010 it is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of "protected characteristics" which include age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, and sex.

The Conservative Party is proposing to change the act so that it refers specifically to biological sex. That would mean that protections enshrined under the act on the basis of a person’s sex would only apply to biological sex. Single-sex spaces and services, for example, would not be open to those who are biologically male but identify as female.

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Labour is focusing on defence. Leader Sir Keir Starmer is in northwest England with shadow defence secretary John Healey for an event with military veterans. In shorthand it is Sir Keir's chance to show voters he is a very different leader to his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.

1. The row over Labour's candidate selection in Wales rages on

It emerged last week that two London candidates with no known links to Wales had been selected for two safe seats Labour seats in Cardiff West and Swansea West. Both are key Keir Starmer aides. While few can deny the experience or influence of Torsten Bell (Swansea West) and Alex Barros Curtis (Cardiff West) it has caused anger in the party ranks.

Over the weekend the voices of dissatisfaction grew. A former member of the Labour Party's executive committee, Darren Williams, said party leadership had "imposed" candidates on local members with "no previous connections" to their area. Welsh Labour Grassroots, a group which represents those on the left of the party, said the decision was an "affront to members' democracy". "Two candidates with no links to the area, or to Wales, were imposed from on high," it said.

This morning on BBC Radio Wales Beth Winter, who was until the dissolution of Parliament the party's MP for Cynon Valley, said it raised questions about the process and was a direct example of Keir Starmer breaking one of the promises he made in his election campaign that the party would not impose candidates. Welsh MPs have tried to defuse the row.

Stephen Doughty, who's standing for Labour in Cardiff South and Penarth, told the broadcast round it was a decision "made in Wales" and it was "simply not the case" the pair were parachuted in. Fellow Labour candidate Stephen Kinnock – who some may remember was himself put in Aberavon, where he campaigns again this time, against local wishes – said "in the end people want an MP that delivers".

But the row rumbles on. You can catch up on more here.

2. Two major polls expected

Today we have not one but two polls of interest. ITV Wales will be releasing their first Wales-specific poll of the general election which will no doubt ask things about popularity of leaders and their impact on the campaign so far but YouGov will be also be releasing a large-sample MRP poll. MRP (multi-level Regression and poststratification) poll is a type of polling which has successfully predicted the make-up of parliament after the last two British general elections.

We're expecting regional breakdowns for that, which is due to be released at 5pm. Over the weekend another MRP poll showed slightly better news for the Conservatives in that it projects they will keep three seats in Wales. You can see all the detail here.

3. Debate, debate, debate

Tomorrow night is the first major debate between the two men who want to be Prime Minister – Conservative Rishi Sunak and Labour's Keir Starmer. Their first head-to-head is on June 4 on ITV. And it isn't your only chance to learn more about the candidates/shout at your TV/send yourself to sleep.

On Friday, June 7, there is a seven-party TV debate on the BBC with another taking place six days later on June 13 on ITV. Sky News has a Starmer v Sunak debate on Wednesday, June 12. On June 20 the BBC has its Question Time Leaders’ special followed by a second head-to-head between Sunak and Starmer on June 26.

If the Welsh angle is what you're after then from June 11 Nick Servini will interview senior politicians from the main parties in Wales in four programmes on BBC One Wales at 7pm before Bethan Rhys Roberts hosts the Wales leaders’ debate live from Central Square on Friday, June 21. There will also be two special Hawl i Holi debate programmes for BBC Radio Cymru from Ystradgynlais and Wrexham.