Closing summary
Nigel Farage faced criticism by the other parties for suggesting the west “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said his comments were “completely wrong” and played into Vladimir Putin’s hands, while Keir Starmer described the Reform party leader’s remarks as “disgraceful”.
Officials told Bloomberg that over half of the cabinet is at risk of losing their seats, including Sunak, who represents the constituency of Richmond and Northallerton.
Water companies will not be allowed to “get away” with sewage dumping, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey warned on a campaign visit to Lewes. He has vowed to bring in a Blue Flag scheme to try to stop sewage being dumped in Britain’s rivers and chalk streams.
When asked by broadcasters if he was “deluded” for thinking he could win the election, amid dire poll predications for the Conservatives, Rishi Sunak said Labour should not be allowed to “sleepwalk into Number 10”.
Keir Starmer denied claims made by the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, that Labour would reverse Brexit if it wins the general election. The Labour party leader told reporters that Labour has no plans to rejoin the EU, the single market or the customs union.
Keir Starmer said he is proud of Labour’s history on women’s rights after JK Rowling said she would struggle to support the party because of its stance on transgender rights. The Labour party leader told reporters on Saturday that he was “very proud of the progress” of past Labour governments, which made a “material difference” to women’s lives. Writing in the Times, Rowling, a former Labour member and donor, said she would struggle to vote for the party “as long as Labour remains dismissive and often offensive towards women fighting to retain the rights”.
The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, promised to re-establish the Home Office’s Windrush unit, promising a Labour government would “turn the page” on the scandal with a series of measures such as expediting compensation claims.
Thank you for reading and all your comments today. This blog is closing now but you can read all of our politics coverage here.
Updated
The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg has said Labour will start to shift its messaging as we enter the final weeks of the general election campaign. The party will tell voters to not vote for minor parties, arguing this could help keep the Conservatives in power.
She has seen a memo that Pat McFadden, Keir Starmer’s election chief, sent out to Labour candidates yesterday.
McFadden is essentially instructing his candidates to tell their voters … ‘Do not assume anything about the result. Do not vote for a minor party, which only help the Tories. The only way to stop the Tories is to vote Labour’ …
I think there is a genuine nervousness about the impact of poll after poll after poll after poll suggesting that they are these sort of crazily wild, enormous majorities for the Labour party. And there is a bit of superstition in there. But there is also the reality that Labour doesn’t really think these numbers stack up.
'We're going to see Labour shifting its message'
— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) June 22, 2024
Laura Kuenssberg reveals what Labour HQ is asking candidates to tell voters, on the latest #BBCNewscast pic.twitter.com/MbbUTsrTH6
Updated
