Early evening summary
Keir Starmer has said the actor David Tennant should have been more respectful when he criticised Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary and minister for women and equalities minister, at the British LGBT awards. (See 3.41pm.)
Starmer has said the allegations against the two Tory candidates suspended over election bets were more serious than the incident that led to a Labour candidate being suspended over a bet. (See 2.36pm.) He also said he did not want to ban MPs from betting on politics; what was needed were higher ethical standards, not new laws, he argued. (See 2.47pm.)
Martin Lewis, the journalist, campaigner and founder of the MoneySavingExpert website, has accused the Conservative party of misrepresenting him in a clip it has used on social media. (See 3.13pm.)
That is all from this blog now. But we are covering the Sunak/Starmer debate on the BBC on a separate live blog. It’s here.
More than third of voters say there's still chance they may change mind about how to vote, poll suggests
Labour is worried that all the MRP polls we have been getting recently, like the latest Find Out Now/Electoral Calculus one (see 5.28pm), will make its supporters complacent, and lead them to assume that it does not matter if they vote next Thursday. This Labour campaign video makes the point quite well. It works best if you watch it wearing headphones.
Wasn’t expecting that 😳 pic.twitter.com/hlj0qEUCKm
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 26, 2024
As well as potential voter complacency, voter volatility is another factor cited as a reason why the polls cannot be trusted. Ipsos has published its latest political monitor today and one of its findings is that that the number of people who say they might change their mind about how they will vote is higher than normal at this stage in a campaign. It says:
More than one in three say they may change their mind before the election (36%). At this stage in December 2019 it was 27%.
That sounds like good news for the Conservatives. But when you look at what people say about where they might go if they do change their mind, it is not such good news. Ipsos says:
Among those who may change their mind, 21% are considering Labour, 19% the Lib Dems and 14% the Greens, 7% are considering the Conservatives and 7% Reform UK.
Overall, the polling is very bad for Rishi Sunak. It says 72% of people say they dislike the Conservatives – the highest figure since Ipsos started asking this question in 2007. A year ago the figure was 67%.
This is how Gideon Skinner, the senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, described the results.
The Conservatives are finding themselves unable to turn the tide of public opinion, with 7 in 10 or more unhappy with the prime minister and with the government’s performance, disliking the Conservative party and overall just wanting a change. Whilst a relatively high one in three say they may still change their mind, at the moment there is little sign of this benefiting the Conservatives.
In fact, with Labour ahead on the key issues of this election, people have become more open to the prospect of a [Keir] Starmer government since the campaign began, and there are also signs of tactical voting among Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters. At the same time the Conservatives are also being challenged on the other flank by the rise of Reform, particularly on the issue of asylum and immigration, with Nigel Farage as popular among 2019 Conservatives as Rishi Sunak.
So far this has been a campaign to forget for the Conservatives, but the fundamental challenges they were facing in public opinion were in place even before the election was called.
SNP leader John Swinney spent the afternoon meeting member of a youth project in a park in Drumchapel, one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas and also in one of the constituencies where the SNP is facing strong challenge from Scottish Labour.
He questioned whether Scottish secretary Alister Jack should still be heading to the Lords after revelations that he joked about placing a bet on the timing of the election, and said that – unlike Keir Starmer (see 2.47pm)– he believes there is a need for a ban on politicians and candidates betting on politics. He said:
I don’t think there should be a need for it, but if it dawns on you to do it, there should be a ban. The football comparison is the one that’s really apposite here. I recall people have been disciplined in the past [for betting on football if they are players] so it should be the same in politics.
Swinney, who also said that to the best of his recall he had never placed a bet, added:
We are in possession of insider knowledge. That’s how I win elections, you gather that knowledge and you use it for that purpose. You don’t use it for personal aggrandisement, personal gain.
Swinney was also asked about remarks made by former SNP leader Alex Salmond as he launched the manifesto for his new party Alba earlier today that it would be a “major disaster” if his former party won fewer that 20 seats (the SNP held 43 up to when the election was called).
Swinney said he was focused on winning a majority of seats (Scotland now has 57 after boundary changes). He went on:
And I think we’ve fought a campaign that has the potential to do that, because we’ve related independence to the concerns that are uppermost in the minds of people in Scotland today: austerity, Brexit, the cost of living.
Welsh government's future budget challenges will be 'no less difficult' with Labour in power at Westminster, report says
Wales Fiscal Analysis, a research body at Cardiff University, has published a short report today saying the Welsh government will face significant spending challenges whichever of the two main parties wins the election. It says:
The Conservative plan would increase the Welsh budget by just 0.8% annually in real terms, and if NHS England consequentials are directly passed on to the Welsh NHS this would necessitate an additional £870m by 2028-29 to avoid cuts to non-protected areas of the budget. Labour’s plan proposes a slightly higher increase of 1.1% per year, but this remains just 0.2 percentage points higher than the current government’s spending plans. If implemented, an extra £248m in 2025-26 and £683m by 2028-29 would be needed to prevent real-term cuts to areas such as rail, bus and road transport; business support; communities and regeneration; arts, culture and sport; and housing and homelessness.
Finally, both parties’ plans imply real-term cuts in capital spending, further straining the Welsh government’s ability to spend on new schools, hospitals, and transport infrastructure. Because both parties have ruled out increases to all the major taxes and have pledged to adhere to strict fiscal rules, the feasibility of these plans hinges on a rapid return to economic growth: an area in which the UK has continuously struggled since the financial crisis of 2008. Even with a change of governing party at Westminster, upcoming Welsh budget rounds therefore promise to be no less difficult than they have been in recent years.
Commenting on the report, Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, said:
From the outset of this general election campaign, Plaid Cymru has been honest about the challenges facing public spending and outlined a series of measures to raise funds for public services that would mean big corporations and individuals making vast unearned income are taxed fairly. It is deeply regrettable that other parties’ plans fail to address these challenges.
Today’s report reveals a stark truth: Labour is not being honest about the deep cuts it plans to inflict on Welsh public services when it gets into power in Westminster. It is proof that the ‘change’ being offered by Keir Starmer is nothing but more austerity wrapped in red packaging. The analysis completely undermines Vaughan Gething’s assertion that a UK Labour government working with a Labour Welsh government would be good for Wales.
The Daily Mirror has published details of a new MRP poll produced by Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus suggested that Labour is on course to win a majority of 250, and that the Liberal Democrats would be the next official oppositon, not the Conservatives. In their write-up John Stevens and Dave Burke say:
The bombshell survey of almost 20,000 people suggests 20 Cabinet ministers could lose their seats in the bloodbath - including Rishi Sunak.
The poll by Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus predicts that Keir Stamer is heading for a Labour landslide with an unprecedented majority of 250 seats. This would be an even bigger victory than Tony Blair’s historic win in 1997.
If the results are repeated next week on election day, Labour would pick up 450 seats The Tories would be reduced to just 60 MPs, behind the Lib Dems on 71.
The Find Out Now/Electoral Calculus MRP polling model has produced bigger projected Labour majorities than other MRPs. In an MRP poll for the Daily Mail at the end of May, it suggested Keir Starmer was on course for a majority of 302.
🚨Exclusive: Bombshell MRP poll shows Tories pushed into third place behind Lib Dems in election bloodbath
— John Stevens (@johnestevens) June 26, 2024
20 Cabinet ministers projected to lose seats including Rishi Sunakhttps://t.co/5e9qvlBn6E
Labour to bring in automatic voter registration under plans to boost franchise
Labour is planning to introduce automatic registration for voting under plans to add millions more people to the electoral roll for future elections, especially young people, Peter Walker reports.
Craig Williams, the Tory candidate and former parliamentary aide to Rishi Sunak accused of using inside information to place a bet on the timing of the election, has been interviewed by the Gambling Commission as part of its inquiry, Sky News reports.
In his Sky report, Jon Craig says the interview has been taking place today and that Williams was “cautioned and interviewed by two ex-police officers and a former HMRC official who are now investigators at the commission”.
Williams has claimed he made an error of judgment, but did not commit an offence.
Farage not campaigning in Scotland because he does not feel safe there, says Reform UK's Richard Tice
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has not been campaigning in Scotland during the election campaign because he does not feel safe there, his colleague Richard Tice said today.
During a visit to Grangemouth, Tice, who was party leader until Farage decided to take over and stand as a candidate at the election, said Farage would not be coming to Scotland because of the risk.
Tice said:
Last time he was here, it was frankly dangerous … it was not safe …
You have got to keep your leaders safe and secure, and we have the ability to share the load, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Tice may have been referring to an incident in 2013 when Farage had to be escorted to safety in a police riot van after a mob disrupted a visit he was making in Edinburgh.
Tice said that a Reform UK candidate in the south-west of England was assaulted and hospitalised earlier in the campaign in what he called “a really nasty incident”.
This is from Forth 1 News.
“Last time he was here it was frankly dangerous”
— Forth 1 News (@Forth1News) June 26, 2024
Speaking in Grangemouth today, Reform UK Chairman Richard Tice tells @jackfostr that his party leader Nigel Farage won’t be coming to Scotland due to “security and safety” concerns. pic.twitter.com/ygtFF1N7bv
Darren McCaffrey from Sky News has posted on X video footage of the Greenpeace protester climbing on the Tory battlebus.
🗳️🔵WATCH: My report live as a Greenpeace protester manages to mount the Conservative campaign battlebus ahead of a visit by the Home Secretary pic.twitter.com/GN9UfGjQiR
— Darren McCaffrey (@darrenmccaffrey) June 26, 2024
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood attacks Sinn Féin's abstentionism from Westminster, saying 'if you're not there, you don't count'
The public in Northern Ireland are sick of politicians who do not go to work, the leader of the SDLP, a nationalist party, has said. PA Media says:
Making a pitch to voters as he launched his party’s manifesto, Colum Eastwood criticised Sinn Féin’s long-standing abstentionist policy while also highlighting damage caused to public services in Northern Ireland by the two recent collapses of devolution – one triggered by Sinn Féin, the other by the DUP.
Eastwood predicted that Sinn Féin may ultimately show “common sense” and drop its abstentionist stance in the future.
He insisted “if you’re not there, you don’t count” as he urged voters to back his party to go to Westminster to “stand up and speak up” for their local constituents.
Speaking at the manifesto event in Londonderry, the Foyle candidate characterised Sinn Féin MPs as “absentee landlords” who are unable to exert any influence on behalf of those who elect them.
He told supporters he was aiming to retain the two seats the party held in the last parliament – his in Foyle and Claire Hanna’s in south Belfast – while it was also eyeing a potential gain from Sinn Fein in South Down.
“Some of our opponents are abstentionists,” he said.
“They’re very honest about it, they are very open about it. They have been that way for 100 years. Of course, they also used to not go to Dáil Éireann or Stormont, or support the European Union. So maybe, some day, they’ll get common sense around abstentionism.
“My view is when I’m speaking to people on the doors, they want MPs to go to stand up to speak up for you. But the choice is very clear.”
Greenpeace protester climbs on Tory election battlebus
A woman has climbed on to the roof of the Conservative election battle bus as it stopped for the first visit of the day in Nottinghamshire, PA Media reports. PA says:
The demonstrator held up a flag reading “clean power not paddy power” bearing the Greenpeace logo.
She apparently made it on to the roof of the coach using a ladder.
The woman, Amy Rugg-Easey, told broadcasters who had been travelling on the campaign coach after climbing down from the roof, the woman said:
On climate and nature, the Conservatives are the worst out of all the parties and it’s so obvious. I mean, what have they been doing?
We deserve better. We deserve better on climate and nature.
A Greenpeace spokesman said it was “legitimate and important” to stage a protest by climbing on the Tory battle bus.
Speaking to broadcasters after the demonstrator climbed off the coach’s roof, Paul Morozzo said: “We’re just making the point that if you want to vote with the climate in mind, if you want to vote for all the benefits the climate brings in terms of the economy and public services, then you vote for different parties.”
“In an election where the debate is so sort of poor and weak, and there’s so many lies and untruths about both the economy and climate, we think it’s legitimate and important to make our point, and in whatever way we can.”
The prime minister was not travelling on the bus.
Starmer says David Tennant should have been more respectful when he criticised Badenoch over her LGBT views
Keir Starmer has said the actor David Tennant should have been more respectful when he criticised Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary and minister for women and equalities minister, at the British LGBT awards.
As reported earlier (see 9.31am), after getting a prize as an LGBT ally and saying that should not be necessary because he was just standing up for “human decency” and common sense, Tennant said:
We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.
Asked about Tennant’s comment, Starmer said:
I think in politics, as in life, it’s really important that we are able to robustly disagree with others.
Obviously, that happens a lot in the general election campaign, but we should do it with respect for everybody involved in that robust discussion.
I wouldn’t have engaged in the way that he did. I think it’s right that we have these robust discussions, but we must do it respectfully.
In response, Badenoch said Tennant was “a rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government” (see 9.31am) and Sunak said: “If you’re calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem.” (See 8.47am.)
Consumer champion Martin Lewis accuses Tories of misrepresenting him in social media post attacking Labour
Martin Lewis, the journalist, campaigner and founder of the MoneySavingExpert website, has accused the Conservative party of misrepresenting him in a clip it has used on social media.
NO WHERE in this comment do I talk about taxes. And the policy that I discussed (i will keep private as it was private) was NOT about taxes, or tax rises, it was about something that would be a positive change. https://t.co/OejPZ5bmJv
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 26, 2024
NO WHERE in this comment do I talk about taxes. And the policy that I discussed (i will keep private as it was private) was NOT about taxes, or tax rises, it was about something that would be a positive change
He was referring to this post from the Conservative party’s official X account, posted this morning.
They're not telling you the full truth.
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) June 26, 2024
Labour have said they wouldn't put up your taxes. But it's now becoming clear that they have every intention to put them up 👇 pic.twitter.com/0XnasgrX6s
They’re not telling you the full truth.
Labour have said they wouldn’t put up your taxes. But it’s now becoming clear that they have every intention to put them up
Despite being told it misrepresents what Lewis was saying, CCHQ has not removed the post.
Picking a fight with Lewis might be unwise. The official CCHQ account has 627,000 followers on X. Rishi Sunak has 2.3m. Lewis has 3.1m. He has also been described as the most trusted man in Britain.
The Birmingham Dispatch - one of the new breed of local news start-ups - has an in-depth account of the battle for the Sutton Coldfield seat held by Andrew Mitchell for the Conservatives.
After mentioning that Mitchell has been endorsed by Bob Geldof, the reporter continues:
I begin asking [Mitchell] if he thinks he is out of touch with his constituents who earn an average salary of £38,000, but he cuts me off. I’m wrong, he tells me, and I must be referring to the average salary across the country, not in his constituency. “No, you wouldn’t know what the average salary is,” he assures me. “It’s much higher than that.”
“What is it?” I ask him.“No idea. But we are fortunate to be in quite a wealthy area.”
(According to the Office for National Statistics, the mean salary in Sutton Coldfield is £37,506.)
Police investigate attack on office of DUP's Sammy Wilson in East Antrim
Police are investigating damage caused to the offices of DUP parliamentary candidate Sammy Wilson, PA Media reports. PA says:
Windows and doors of the property were damaged in the overnight incident in the Lancasterian Street area of Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
Wilson is standing in the East Antrim constituency in the election.
PSNI district commander, Superintendent Ian McCormick said: “Police received a report shortly after 9.30am today, Wednesday June 26, that damage had been caused to the windows and doors of the premises at some time overnight. Officers remain at the scene as part of our investigation to establish the circumstances around this incident.”
He said officers were keen to speak to anyone who was in the area overnight and who saw anything suspicious or who may have CCTV, dashcam or other video footage.
“People standing as candidates in our elections or involved in canvassing are a key part of our democratic process and it is unacceptable when they become the subject of abuse,” the senior officer added.
Wilson said he would not be deterred.
“This was a senseless attack on an office that serves the people of East Antrim,” he said.
“Throughout my years as a public representative, I have never been deterred from putting forward my views and I won’t be deterred now.”
Starmer declines to back calls to ban MPs from betting on politics, saying better values needed, not new laws
Speaking to reporters today, Keir Starmer also suggested he was not in favour of placing a ban on MPs betting on politics.
This morning Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, was asked if such a ban should be introduced. He replied: “Quite possibly and I think we do need to have a debate about it.” And Alastair Campbell, the podcast host and Labour former spin doctor, told the Today programme that, just as footballers were banned from betting on football, politicians should be banned from betting on politics.
"If you work in top-flight football, you cannot bet on football. End of story. And I think it should be the same in politics."
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) June 26, 2024
Alastair Campbell @campbellclaret suggests betting in politics is 'a big thing now' and compares political betting to the football industry.#R4Today
But, as the BBC reports, when Starmer was asked if he favoured a ban of this kind, he said he was “resistant to go down the road of let’s change the rules”. He went on: “This is quite simple. It’s about the behaviour of the individuals under the current rules, which is why they’re being investigated.”
He said this illustrated a point that he has made repeatedly during the election campaign – that the culture of politics needs to change, and that it should move to “a politics of service”.
He went on:
It’s something that I’m determined we will do if we do win the election, because I think there’s been too much politics of self-advancement in the last 14 years. You’ve seen different versions of that during Partygate, covid contracts” and he added gambling too.
Starmer also sidestepped a question about whether he had been assured that none of his shadow cabinet ministers had placed bets on the election. Asked if he was confident they had not, he replied: “They know the standards that I expect of them and all candidates.”
Starmer says allegations against Tory candidates suspended over betting more serious than Labour suspension case
Good afternoon. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Amy Sedghi. I will be here for the rest of the afternoon and I will be covering the BBC Sunak/Starmer debate which starts at 8.15pm. At some point, about an hour before it starts, we will launch a new blog for the debate coverage.
Here is more from what Keir Starmer has been saying about the election betting scandal.
Starmer said the actions of the Tory candidates suspended by their party over betting were “materially different” from what action of the Labour candidate suspended over a betting complaint yesterday. By that, he meant the allegations against the Tories were more serious. Commenting on Kevin Craig, the Labour candidate who was suspended, Starmer said:
It’s materially different to the Tory being investigated – it’s one thing to use insider information about the date of the election.
It’s different to bet against yourself but you know, my decision was based on the fact that the Gambling Commission are investigating. That’s what I said I would do, and that’s what I did.
He implied that he suspended Craig as soon as he found he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission partly to show he was more decisive than Rishi Sunak. He said:
I made very clear that if any of my candidates were being investigated in relation to the Gambling Commission, I’d remove them straight away, which is what I’ve done. That’s in a sharp contrast to Rishi Sunak, who took days and days and days before he took action.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line (BTL) or message me on X (Twitter). I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word. If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use X; I’ll see something addressed to @AndrewSparrow very quickly. I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos (no error is too small to correct). And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
Updated
Summary of the day so far
I’ll shortly be passing over the blog to Andrew Sparrow who will take you through the rest of the day and the evening.
Here’s a summary of the key lines from Wednesday so far:
Keir Starmer has said that ‘inaction’ from Rishi Sunak over the gambling row is in line with how Tories have ruled for 14 years. Starmer said that, in contrast, his response to the Gambling Commission investigating Labour candidate Kevin Craig demonstrated his assertive style of leadership. Speaking to broadcasters on Wednesday, Starmer suggested he did not think the rules on political betting needed to change: “I don’t think that we should be lured into thinking this is a problem with the rules, it’s a problem with politicians.”
Liberal Dem leader Ed Davey said he had placed two bets relating to his party at previous elections, but he had never bet on himself. Davey drew a distinction between “having a flutter” and those accused of having inside knowledge before placing bets. Campaigning in Essex on Wednesday, Davey said there should be an urgent review into the regulations around politics and gambling.
Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has told Sky News viewers that the country appears to be heading towards “a massive majority” for Labour, with “very little opposition in parliament” and suggested they might be on course for at least two terms of government. Stride also defended the prime minister’s handling of the Conservative party election betting scandal, saying Sunak “has done exactly the right thing”.
The BBC’s Newsnight programme has said that up to 15 Conservative candidates and officials are being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting on the timing of the general election. The Conservative party told Newsnight they were cooperating with the Gambling Commission and that they “could not confirm how many of their officials or candidates might be facing scrutiny”.
On a visit to a housing development in Staffordshire on Wednesday, the shadow secretary of state of climate change and net zero Ed Miliband said it is “clear” the UK needs a future homes standard to help those struggling with the cost of living. He also said there was a “glaring contrast” between the way Sunak and Starmer have dealt with the gambling row.
Sunak has intervened in the spat between Kemi Badenoch and actor David Tennant, suggesting the Doctor Who star is “the problem”. Equalities minister, Badenoch, previously said she “will not shut up” after Tennant suggested he wanted a world where she “doesn’t exist any more” during a speech at an awards show.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told reporters that he had placed “flutters” on the outcome of races in the general election, but said it is was merely “showing confidence in his friends”.
Scotland is at a “pivotal moment in its history”, former first minister Alex Salmond has said as he launched the Alba party manifesto on Wednesday. Ahead of the launch, Salmond described his party as the “natural home” for supporters of independence.
The Green party is to set out a plan for the UK’s rivers, as it calls for a “drastic change” to be made to water and sewage infrastructure. Under its proposals, the party is pledging to nationalise water companies and invest £12bn in infrastructure to prevent sewage being dumped into rivers and seas.
Updated
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says he has placed small bets to show support for candidate 'friends'
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has placed “flutters” on the outcome of races in the general election, but said it is merely “showing confidence in his friends”, reports the PA news agency.
Cole-Hamilton said he has placed small bets in a number of seats, insisting it is very different from the allegations of insider betting: “These people had information nobody else had about a sure thing, and they went to the bookies on that. That is reprehensible.”
Cole-Hamilton was speaking to journalists during a campaign stop at Edinburgh Zoo on Wednesday. He said:
Like a lot of people who have an intense interest in politics, I have been known to have a flutter and I have put a very small number of bets on certain outcomes of races across the British isles at this election.
But you can’t predict the outcomes of elections, it’s never a sure thing. I’m just backing my friends who are working hard and deserve to win.”
Asked if it is right that politicians are betting at all, he added:
Society says it’s OK, there’s not a rule against it. Perhaps we do need to review that.
I think that when you can’t predict an election, nobody can predict an election unless you’re in North Korea or Russia, then I’m not sure where the advantage is.”
Cole-Hamilton said the highest bet he has placed on this election is around £40-£50, and that he has tended to lose more than win.
Scottish secretary Alister Jack – who is not standing in the election – has confirmed he placed bets on the date of the ballot but denied breaking any rules.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, meanwhile, has insisted he is “confident” all his party’s candidates are “behaving appropriately”.
Updated
Keir Starmer said he could not “build a prison in the first week” of government and would have to deal with the problem of overcrowding “as it is” if Labour wins the election.
The Labour leader has been critical of the Conservatives’ move to release certain offenders early to free up space but declined to say whether he would end the scheme.
Speaking to broadcasters on the campaign trail today, Starmer said:
We’re not going to be able to deal with this on day one, I’ll be completely straight with you. I can’t build a prison in the first week of a Labour government. It is a really shocking state of affairs that we don’t have enough prison spaces.”
He said the problem pointed to a “catastrophic failure” in criminal justice under the Tories and said he would “take the tough decisions that make sure we never get into this situation ever again”.
In the latest edition of the Guardian’s path to power series, Robert Booth reports that gentrification is pricing out people from the Hertfordshire town of Hitchin where voters are divided over plans to build new homes.
You can read the full piece here:
Updated
Starmer says he has never placed political bets, and only bets on horses
Keir Starmer said he only gambled on horse racing but suggested he did not think the rules on political betting needed to change, reports the PA news agency.
The Labour leader told broadcasters on Wednesday:
I’ve never placed a political bet, I only bet on the horses. So that’s where I stand on this.
And I don’t think that we should be lured into thinking this is a problem with the rules, it’s a problem with politicians.
You can see from the reaction of the public that they know straight away that what’s been going on in the Tory party, this sort of insider dealing, is wrong.”
Updated
Starmer says ‘inaction’ from Sunak over gambling row is in line with how Tories have ruled for 14 years
Keir Starmer said his response to the Gambling Commission investigating Labour candidate Kevin Craig demonstrated his assertive style of leadership.
He told broadcasters on Wednesday:
I made very clear that if any of my candidates were being investigated in relation to the Gambling Commission, I’d remove them straight away, which is what I’ve done.
That’s in a sharp contrast to Rishi Sunak, who took days and days and days before he took action.
There’s a wider story here about the choice at the general election next week, between carrying on with what we’ve had for the last 14 years or so – the inaction by Rishi Sunak was just absolutely in keeping with the way that they have governed for 14 years – or turning the page and starting to rebuild the country with assertive leadership that takes decisive action.”
Updated
Alex Salmond launches Alba party manifesto as he says Scotland is at a 'pivotal moment in its history'
Scotland is at a “pivotal moment in its history”, former first minister Alex Salmond has said as he launched the Alba party manifesto on Wednesday.
The party – which had two MPs in the last parliament as a result of defections from the SNP – has said every national election should be treated as a test of the desire for independence, with a majority resulting in negotiations for the country to separate from the rest of the UK.
But the SNP have said a majority of seats for their party should result in talks to deliver a second referendum on the issue – although Labour leader Keir Starmer has said he will not engage in such negotiations.
The UK Government, Salmond said, has vetoed the “democratic wishes of Scots” since the 2014 referendum. He said:
On 4 July Scotland goes to the polls in a UK general election – the Alba party believe that every single national election should be used to seek a mandate to begin negotiations for independence.
That means the election itself should provide the popular mandate for independence. Scotland stands at a pivotal moment in its history.
For too long Westminster governments have been allowed to veto the expressed democratic wishes of Scots.
Household incomes are under unprecedented financial pressure as families face a cost of living crisis which is squeezing household budgets to breaking point.
Eight separate national elections have come and gone since the referendum of 2014, including two mandates at Holyrood and three Westminster elections, all with an Independence majority.
But little or no action has been taken to move the dial on independence. We have the opportunity at this Election to make our votes count for independence.”
Ahead of the manifesto launch, Salmond described his party as the “natural home” for supporters of independence. Alba, he said, sought to “mobilise the independence vote disheartened by the SNP’s half-hearted campaign”.
One of the party’s other key pledges is to fight to save the Grangemouth refinery from closure.
One of Alba’s two MPs in the previous term, former Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, shifted the constituency he would be standing in from East Lothian to the newly formed Alloa and Grangemouth seat to position the refinery at the centre of the party’s campaign.
Owner Petroineos said last year the site could shift to become an import terminal as early as 2025, risking thousands of jobs.
“The Alba party wholeheartedly support the workers at Grangemouth and the work of Unite the Union in defending jobs dependent on the refinery,” the manifesto said. It adds:
At Westminster, the Alba party’s depute leader Kenny MacAskill has spearheaded the campaign to save Grangemouth.
We believed that the perilous position of Grangemouth makes the case for independence and control of our own resources.
We are an energy rich land but our people live in fuel poverty. If the Grangemouth oil refinery closes, Scotland will become the only top 25 oil producer in the world without a refinery capacity, showing there is a clear need to have Scotland’s oil refinery to be aligned with Scotland’s oil production.”
According to the PA news agency, the document also outlined proposals to increase staffing in the NHS, protect women’s rights and provide an annual £500 payment to households receiving the council tax reduction at a cost of £250m as well as increasing the Scottish child payment – controlled by the Scottish government – to £40 a week.
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Lib Dem leader Ed Davey says he placed two bets relating to his party at previous elections but 'never' on himself
Here is some more on Ed Davey’s comments about placing bets that were mentioned earlier (see 10.59 BST).
The PA news agency is reporting that the Liberal Democrats leader said he had placed two bets relating to his party at previous elections, but he had never bet on himself.
Davey said:
I’ve never placed a bet on myself in any election, and I don’t think we should. I think that’s one of the things that would go into this review that we’re calling for. It’s really important we get that review.
Some people might have thought it was OK to do that, they need greater clarification, they need to be told, no, you can’t do that. That’s why a really detailed review will be so important.”
Asked if he had ever placed a bet on any election he said:
The one I can remember because I got very excited was in 2010 when I thought we were going to win more seats than we did and I lost my bet.”
Davey stated:
I think lots of people would have placed bets on that sort of thing, I had no insider knowledge, I could see the polls like everyone else could see the polls and I got it wrong.”
Further pressed if that was the only occasion Davey said:
I’m trying to think of the last one, I think on the North Shropshire byelection I might have placed a bet when Owen Paterson stood down, I thought we might have a chance and I was right there. But I think lot’s of people in politics do this. One reason why we need, to be honest, this review of gambling regulations is to get real clarity on what is allowed but what isn’t.”
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The PA news agency has more from Ed Miliband on his visit to a “zero-bills” new-build in Staffordshire today.
Miliband said it is “clear” the UK needs a future homes standard to help those struggling with the cost of living. He also said he was “incredibly impressed” with the Octopus Energy initiative, which guarantees zero energy bills for five years on new homes kitted out with a combination of solar panels, a home battery and a heat pump.
Octopus Energy is partnering with housing developers to try to make their zero-bills tariff the standard for new homes.
The shadow energy secretary said:
I think it’s really, really important to say to people, this is about the future and it’s about tackling the cost-of-living crisis that people are facing.
I think most people who’ve been offered the chance to buy a zero-bills home would say, ‘where’s the catch?’.
Well, as far as I can tell, there isn’t a catch and that’s because the combination of battery technology, heat pump technology and solar panels in a new-build home, can get you to a zero-bills home.
Now, obviously, when it comes to the future home standard, we’re going to look, if we get into government, at the details of that and so that will require thorough examination.
But I think what’s clear is we should have a future home standard and that’s the right thing for the environment, but crucially, it’s the right thing for tackling the cost-of-living crisis because year on year on year of lower bills or zero bills is something I think we’d all want to see.”
The PA news agency reports that applications for voter ID certificates have jumped in recent days, with 3,319 submitted on Tuesday and 2,915 on Monday – well above the average of 1,527 applications a day since the general election was called.
The highest daily total so far is 4,640 applications on Tuesday 18 June.
Photo ID rules were brought in as part of the Elections Act 2022, as the government said they were necessary to combat the risk of in-person voter fraud. The requirements were first enforced at the May 2023 local council elections in England.
Not all types of photo ID will be accepted at polling stations, but a passport, driving licence or blue badge are valid. Other forms of permitted ID include older or disabled person’s bus passes and an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram.
People in England, Scotland or Wales without the correct identification have until 5pm on Wednesday to apply for a free voter ID document, known as a voter authority certificate.
A report published in June 2023 by the Electoral Commission estimated that at least 0.25% of people who tried to vote at a polling station in those elections were not issued with a ballot paper because of the ID rules – the equivalent of approximately 14,000 voters.
Voter ID has been a requirement for elections in Northern Ireland since 2002.
Ed Miliband says there is a a 'glaring contrast' between the way Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have dealt with a gambling row
There is a “glaring contrast” between the way Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have dealt with a gambling row, Ed Miliband has said, according to the PA news agency.
On a visit to a housing development in Staffordshire on Wednesday, the shadow secretary of state of climate change and net zero said Starmer was right to suspend Labour candidate Kevin Craig and that it was a clear indication of a “changed” Labour party.
Speaking to reporters at the Bellway Homes Victoria Gate development in Stafford on Wednesday, he said:
Rishi Sunak had to be dragged kicking and screaming a week after the revelations and goodness knows how long after the Conservative party knew about them to withdraw his support from two candidates.
As soon as Keir Starmer and the Labour party knew there was an inquiry going on by the Gambling Commission, we suspended our support for our candidate, and I think that was the right thing to do.
I think it is exactly what the British people want to see, a leader who will put the country first, not their party.”
Miliband said the decision to withdraw support for Craig shows that the Labour leader “will rightly demand high standards of integrity”.
Miliband added:
I think the journey the Labour party has been on over the last four years is obvious to anyone and this election matters so much because after 14 years of the Conservative party and the Conservative government, which frankly you can see from the recent revelations on the betting on the election, this is just one more symptom of what has happened to the Conservative party and this is the chance for change.”
Updated
The PA news agency reports that the conservation charity WWF has accused politicians of going “awol” on the environment.
The charity warned the next five years will be “absolutely vital” in bringing nature back from the brink in the UK and abroad, with native wildlife from puffins to bluebells and mountain hares at risk from climate change, pollution and habitat loss. It is urging all parties to commit to action on nature and climate as the election campaign enters the final straight.
Polling by More in Common for WWF found four in five people (80%) say they care about issues relating to climate, nature and the environment, but only 45% feel politicians share their level of concern.
Nearly as many people are worried about pollution and damage to the countryside and nature (82%) as those concerned about conflict and war (84%), the survey of 2,369 people shows.
There are high levels of support for making big businesses that pollute the environment pay into a fund for restoring nature, with 80% backing such a move, and for tackling high energy bills through investment in renewables, supported by 78% of those quizzed.
Two-thirds (66%) back implementing legislation to end the UK’s contribution to global deforestation and land degradation, and 72% of those polled are in favour of supporting farmers to cut their emissions and restore nature.
The call from WWF comes after tens of thousands of people marched through London at the weekend, calling for political action to restore nature.
Tanya Steele, the charity’s chief executive, said:
Our polling shows the environment is clearly a key issue for the public and they deserve to hear what the next government plans to do to restore nature and meet our climate targets.
Unfortunately, politicians have largely gone awol on the environment during this campaign but the next five years will be absolutely vital in bringing nature back from the brink, both at home and around the world.
As the campaign enters the final straight, we’re calling on all parties to commit to action on nature and climate that’s hugely popular with the public.”
Rachel Reeves talks to business executives. She met some in December, after a £150,000 donation to Labour from a financial services firm. She met more in January, at capitalism’s annual jamboree in Davos. And just this week she told a meeting of City bankers their “fingerprints are all over” Labour’s manifesto.
But she does not talk so much to young people worried about the climate emergency. Or so 23-year-old Zak found when he tracked Reeves down to a cafe where she was campaigning on Wednesday morning. “I’m a young person with Green New Deal Rising,” he said, approaching her.
She peered at him, warily. “We’re literally just about to go,” she said, then picked up her handbag and walked away.
Green New Deal Rising (GNDR) does not block roads, smash windows or douse paintings with soup. Instead the youth-focused climate campaign tries to engage politicians and work the political system. It has a plan to short-circuit electoral politics by endorsing a cross-party slate of candidates it hopes will push progressive action on the environment on to the agenda.
“Rachel, please, you barely speak to young people, you barely talk to us,” Zak, who asked for his surname not to be published, shouted after the shadow chancellor, dodging besuited lackeys to pursue her into the streets of Swindon.
“Rachel, young people are desperate. Climate scientists are saying it’s a code red for humanity, but you’ve backed away from £28bn of climate investment, you refuse to tax the super-rich, you’re refusing to invest in our communities.”
Shortly after, the scene was broadcast on TikTok, Instagram and X, showing Reeves’s refusal to reply thousands of the campaign’s followers.
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has told the BBC that he placed a bet on the outcome of the 2010 election.
According to the BBC reporter, Jenny Hill, who is travelling on the Lib Dem campaign bus, Davey said he “had a flutter” on how well his party would do but lost the bet.
Hill says that Davey drew a distinction between “having a flutter” and those accused of having inside knowledge before placing bets.
Campaigning in Essex on Wednesday, Davey said there should be an urgent review into the regulations around politics and gambling. According to Hill, Davey also said he was “as shocked as anyone else” by recent developments.
Updated
Up to 15 Conservative party candidates and officials being looked at by the Gambling Commission, says Newsnight
The BBC’s Newsnight programme has said that up to 15 Conservative candidates and officials are being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting on the timing of the general election.
In its report, the BBC say it understands that the gambling regulator will conduct interviews this week.
The Conservative party told Newsnight they were cooperating with the Gambling Commission and that they “could not confirm how many of their officials or candidates might be facing scrutiny”.
A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission told the BBC: “Currently the Commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.
“This is an ongoing investigation, and the Commission cannot provide any further details at this time. We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”
Key application deadlines today for proxy votes and voter ID
There are some key general election voting application deadlines today worth keeping in mind:
The deadline for applying for a proxy vote for the general election on 4 July, for those in England, Scotland and Wales is 5pm BST today. You can apply via the gov.uk website.
While the proxy vote deadline in Northern Ireland has passed, you may be able to apply for an emergency postal or proxy vote on eoni.org.uk. The deadline for emergency postal or proxy vote applications is 5pm today.
The deadline for applying for a voter authority certificate in England, Scotland and Wales is 5pm today. You can find out more about that on the Electoral Commission.
And in Northern Ireland, get your applications in for an electoral identity card if you need one by 11.59pm tonight. You must be listed on the electoral register to get a card – you can then apply via this contact form.
Here is a bit more info on voter ID, courtesy of a handy explainer on voter registration by David Batty:
Do I need to show ID?
Yes. Voters across the UK now need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections, including a general election. Here is the list of acceptable forms of photo ID, which includes:
Passports
Driving licences
Older or disabled person’s bus passes
Oyster 60+ cards
Further details about eligible photo ID in each country of the UK are available on the Electoral Commission’s website.
If you are registered to vote but don’t have the correct photo ID, or you no longer look like your photo, you can apply for a free document called a voter authority certificate. You can apply by post or online, using this form, and the deadline is 5pm on 26 June.
After this deadline, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on polling day, but only if your ID has been lost, stolen or damaged, or if you have a medical emergency or are away for work.
In Northern Ireland, voters can use the electoral identity card.
Updated
The BBC’s Mishal Husain has shared some details of how the Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer debate tonight will look.
Where the two leaders will stand and the order in which they’ll deliver their closing speeches will be decided by a coin toss, says Husain.
A live audience chosen by Savanta will include Tory and Labour supporters, plus undecided voters.
Husain adds: “Once we’re into the flow, the debate will run straight through, for an hour and a quarter. Where necessary, I will be nudging the two men back to what was in the question, clarifying points, and yes, probably having to call a halt from time to time.”
Nigel Farage outperforms all other UK parties and candidates on TikTok
Nigel Farage is outperforming all other parties and candidates on TikTok throughout the general election campaign, analysis shows, eclipsing politicians considered most popular among young people.
Since the election was called, videos posted to the Reform leader’s personal account had more engagement and views on average than any other candidate – as well as the main channels of other parties.
Reform has recently decided to target younger voters as part of its campaign, with Farage appearing on podcasts aimed at young men and creating videos showing him mouthing Eminem lyrics. His posts have garnered more interactions per video than Jeremy Corbyn, Labour’s Zarah Sultana and the Greens’ Carla Denyer put together.
The switch in support for Reform is strongest among older voters – especially disillusioned 2019 Tories – but recent polling shows that Farage’s party is attracting more younger supporters than the Tories. A YouGov survey from 18 June has Reform on 11% among 18- to 24-year-olds and the Conservatives on 5% for the same group.
Across the four weeks of the campaign, the Labour party’s official account has posted more videos than the Reform leader, garnering the most overall engagement – measured as the number of likes, shares and comments – as well as views.
But Farage’s TikTok account posts the highest-performing content and easily beats Labour on a per-video basis by 30% – and the Tories by more than double – in the period between 22 May and 17 June by engagement.
You can read the full piece by Carmen Aguilar García, Michael Goodier, and Pamela Duncan here:
Updated
The PA news agency have a bit more detail on the comments from David Tennant and Kemi Badenoch.
Tennant won a prize for being a “celebrity ally” at the British LGBT awards last week and used his speech to target the equalities minister. Badenoch has faced criticism over her approach to trans rights.
Tennant said in his acceptance speech:
If I’m honest I’m a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they’re not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it’s common sense, isn’t it?
It is human decency. We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on.
However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.”
In response to Tennant’s comments, Badenoch said:
I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.
A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.
Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.
Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win.”
Updated
What's coming up on Wednesday
It’s another busy day on the general election campaign trail. Here are some of the events lined up for this Wednesday:
Labour leader Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting will be visiting a GP practice in the East Midlands this morning as Labour sets out plans to end the 8am scramble for GP appointments and bring back the family doctor.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Starmer will take part in a BBC debate in Nottingham this evening. It’s scheduled for 8.15pm.
The Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey is visiting a park in Chelmsford now and then will make a trip to a hotel in Oxfordshire this afternoon.
Home secretary James Cleverly will visit a business in the Sherwood Forest constituency later today. Cleverly will then drop in on another business in the same constituency.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole Hamilton is to visit Edinburgh Zoo with Edinburgh West candidate Christine Jardine this morning.
Ed Miliband, shadow secretary for climate change and net zero, will visit a ‘Zero Bills’ home in Stafford with Octopus Energy.
Reform UK chairman Richard Tice is scheduled to hold a press conference on net zero and the Scottish economy in Grangemouth.
The Ulster Unionist party will launch their manifesto at the Stormont hotel in east Belfast and the SDLP will launch its general election manifesto at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry.
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Sunak condemns what David Tennant said about Badenoch, telling actor 'you're the problem'
Rishi Sunak has intervened in the spat between Kemi Badenoch and actor David Tennant, suggesting the Doctor Who star is “the problem”.
Equalities minister, Badenoch, previously said she “will not shut up” after Tennant suggested he wanted a world where she “doesn’t exist any more” during a speech at an awards show.
Sunak said: “Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy. If you’re calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem.”
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Make this the last inaccessible election for blind people in UK, campaigners demand
Tens of thousand of people with sight loss will be denied their right to a secret ballot at next week’s general election, campaigners have warned, prompting calls to make it the last inaccessible election.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is calling on all political parties to commit to remove barriers that prevent blind people voting on their own and without help in future elections.
It estimates that 160,000 people in the UK of voting age with severe sight loss will struggle to vote independently because of the lack adjustments made at polling stations.
At the last general election, research for the RNIB found that only 13% of blind people felt they could vote independently and in secret.
In a 2019 court judgment, the voting arrangements for blind and partially sighted people were declared unlawful and a “parody of the electoral process”.
In polling stations, blind and partially sighted people are still only legally entitled to a selector – a plastic overlay on voting papers featuring braille numbers to help identify candidates. It involves being accompanied into the voting booth and having voting choices read out.
More sophisticated audio readers, which do allow secret voting, are available only to those who request them in advance.
Updated
Good morning. I’m Amy Sedghi and will be taking over the blog from Martin Belam now.
Cabinet minister Mel Stride said he did not know how many Tories would end up being dragged into the Gambling Commission investigation into the possible misuse of inside information on the election date.
The BBC reported that 15 Conservative candidates or officials were being looked at by the watchdog.
According to the PA news agency, Stride told LBC Radio:
I don’t know what the number is, what the number may or may not end up as, or indeed which parties may be involved, because we have obviously just heard that a Labour candidate has apparently betted against himself in the constituency in which he is standing and has been suspended as a consequence.
So I don’t know where all of this will lead, it could be that there will be others across different political parties going forward.
But what I do know is that in the case of those Conservative candidates, who are being investigated by the Gambling Commission, they have been suspended. They are not supported as Conservative candidates in this election.
Indeed, the prime minister has been very clear that in the event that they are found to have broken the rules by the Gambling Commission, they will be expelled from the Conservative party.”
Tory Mel Stride: Labour are heading towards 'massive majority'
Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has told Sky News viewers that the country appears to be heading towards “a massive majority” for Labour, with “very little opposition in parliament” and suggested they might be on course for at least two terms of government.
Stride, who was last elected in 2019 as part of a Conservative party general election victory that delivered an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons for Boris Johnson, told viewers:
We have a decision in a few days time. Well, the country has a decision. A big, big decision about what our country is going to look like over the next five, maybe ten years.
And we have a Conservative party that has got growth going, has got inflation back down to targets, got real wages increasing for each of the last 11 months, and we can get taxes down still further than we announced back in the autumn.
And the Labour party are not being clean with the British people. They have a clear agenda to raise taxes. They’ve ruled some out, but they have not ruled many things out like council tax, taxes on pensions, on your car, on your family home, on your business, on your job.
These are things that we need to be talking about, because I’m extremely worried for the future, if we have a Labour government, particularly if we have one that is totally unrestrained because it has a massive majority which is what we appear to be heading towards, with very little opposition in parliament.
And I would just say to people on that score that I think it’s really important that we think very carefully about holding Labour to account if they are to win this coming general election. And that we do have, you know, people do vote Conservative so that we do have a decent opposition at least to an overweening Labour party.
Stride entered parliament in 2010. He is standing as a candidate in Central Devon.
Liz Kendall, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, is also doing the morning round, and has just had quite a tough time on Good Morning Britain on ITV, with three specific areas of questioning.
First off on the election gambling scandal, she repeatedly said that the Labour party had only been informed by the Gambling Commission of one case involving a Labour candidate, and she defended Keir Starmer handling it swiftly, saying he showed leadership. However, questioned about whether the Labour party would be proactively questioning candidates and holding its own inquiries, she would not confirm it would.
Next she was asked about any possible rebanding of council tax values, and a slightly exasperated Martin Lewis eventually concluded that what she was saying boiled down to “If I understand it correctly, what you are saying is it is unfair, but you won’t be doing anything about it” after she ruled out making changes to the system.
Finally Lewis had a specific question based on viewer’s call who was concerned about possible changes to tax-free allowances on pensions. Kendall was insistent that “there is nothing in our manifesto that requires us to make any other changes” to the tax system. Lewis pointed out that saying something isn’t in the manifesto, and categorically ruling it out are very different things.
Appearing on Sky News, work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has defended the prime minister’s handling of the Conservative party election betting scandal, saying Rishi Sunak “has done exactly the right thing”.
Four politicians and officials in the Conservative party are alleged to have been involved in the placing of bets and are being investigated by the Gambling Commission.
Stride said that if the Gambling Commission “concludes that rules have been broken” then they will be expelled from the party.
“I think the process has worked,” Stride said. Yesterday in the morning media round ministers were defending the decision not to withdraw support from the candidates under suspicion, until there was a later a major U-turn.
Criticising the Labour party, who acted almost immediately to suspend Kevin Craig after his involvement in election betting emerged, Stride said he thought he was being “even-handed” and that “it is fair to say that it is affecting other parties.”
He said “In the case of one Labour candidate he’s actually gambled against himself in an election in which he is standing, and I don’t think that meets the sort of requisite test either. So I don’t think this is just solely about one particular party.”
Tonight’s debate between Sunak and Starmer is seen as the two leaders’ closing arguments to the nation. It is their final debate before polling day next week.
The scandal over candidates and officials betting on the timing of the election will loom large over Wednesday’s clash. You can read our latest story here:
When the Conservatives launched their election campaign five weeks ago, 20 points behind in the polls and on their fourth prime minister in five years, it was unclear how things could get any worse.
The gambling scandal that has engulfed the party has answered that question. The extraordinary row began when the Guardian revealed on 12 June that Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide, was under investigation by the Gambling Commission for betting on a July election three days before one was called.
Since then, it has emerged that the investigation extends to at least four more Tories, six police officers and one Labour candidate.
Tory and Labour campaigners alike say the scandal is damaging to the government for two reasons. First, it is easy to understand – using insider information to gain advantage when placing a bet is wrong and potentially illegal.
Second, it reinforces the idea that there is one rule for politicians and another for the public. In that sense, it has echoes of the Partygate scandal that rocked Boris Johnson’s government and set in motion a series of events that led to its collapse.
Here is a what we can expect on the campaign trail today:
Labour will talk up its pledge to end the 8am scramble for GP appointments by training more doctors and updating the NHS app so slots are easy to book and rearrange.
Home Secretary James Cleverly, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer will all be out campaigning in the East Midlands during the day.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting will be promoting the message, saying his party is also committed to bringing back the family doctor, to give patients continuity.
While Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey continues campaigning across traditionally Tory heartlands in southern England, his Scottish counterpart will be in the south-east of Scotland.
Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party is focusing its aim on getting the SNP out of power and targeting the Uparty in some key seats ahead of the 4 July ballot.
Reform UK chairman Richard Tice will be in Scotland giving a speech on net zero and “saving the oil and gas industry”.
Tonight Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will make their closing arguments to the nation as they go head to head in their final TV debate before polling day next week.
Updated
Starmer to say he hopes to be PM for a decade
In his interview with Paul Brand on ITV tomorrow, Keir Starmer will say that if elected, he wants to be PM for a decade.
Here is that exchange, from a transcript released by ITV:
Paul Brand: You’ve talked about a decade of national renewal. Do you want to be prime minister for a decade. If that’s what the electorate wants?
Keir Starmer: Oh I want to see that through
[…]
Paul Brand: You’d be 71 if you were prime minister for a decade. Have you got the energy to be prime minister at 71?
Keir Starmer: I’m determined to see this through. I’ve got, certainly got the energy, the intent the steel.
Paul Brand: You’re not worried about your knee when you are 70?
Keir Starmer: You know, I’m still playing football every week, uh, managing 90 minutes. I’ve been playing since I was 10 years old. So these knees have been through a lot of games.
Green Party calls for 'drastic change' to water and sewage infrastructure, nationalisation
The Green Party is to set out a plan for the UK’s rivers, as it calls for a “drastic change” to be made to water and sewage infrastructure, PA reports.
Under its proposals, the party is pledging to nationalise water companies and invest £12bn in infrastructure to prevent sewage being dumped into rivers and seas.
During a campaign visit to the River Wye, the Greens are also expected to urge the next government to increase funding to the Environment Agency to give it “teeth”.
On Wednesday, the party will test the River Wye for phosphate levels, alongside TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, as they call for a water protection zone around the river.
Between 72-74% of phosphate pollution in the Wye is caused by agriculture, according to Government figures. This can cause the death of many species that are vital to the river ecosystem.
Therefore, the Greens are pledging to triple support for farmers who want to transition to nature-friendly farming.
Ahead of the visit, the party’s candidate for North Herefordshire, Ellie Chowns said:
We are reminded of just how much this shared resource means to the community and why drastic change is needed.
The decline in the Wye’s ecological status is a stark warning that has been ignored for too long. The river has no voice, but it does have a political manifesto that puts its priorities front and centre.
We are here both to demand a water protection zone around the River Wye and to put forward a bold vision for how we can protect all of Britain’s rivers. We need to tackle sewage pollution through real investment in water infrastructure and putting people before profit by taking water companies back into public hands.
And we need to tackle agricultural pollution through proper support for farmers to transition to nature-friendly farming, plus giving the Environment Agency the funding and teeth it needs to enforce the polluter pays principle. With these measures, we can restore our rivers back to health.”
NHS leaders say 'major disruption' expected
NHS leaders have said the service is expecting “major disruption” as a result of the heatwave and the junior doctors’ strike, PA reports.
Yellow heat health alerts are in place for many parts of the country and will end at 5pm on Thursday, the day junior doctors across the country will down their stethoscopes and pick up placards.
It will be the eleventh walkout by junior doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA) in England, as the bitter dispute over pay rumbles on.
While the weather will become more inclement during the five-day strike, NHS bosses said that the current heatwave has already put strain on the service.
The BMA announced that some senior junior doctors would be given permission to work at the hospitals during the walkouts to “prevent dangerous delays to cancer care”.
Posting on X, it said:
To prevent dangerous delays to cancer care, we are granting a derogation for surgical registrars working on high-risk upper GI, head and neck, and lung cancers at three hospital trusts: Lewisham and Greenwich, Guys & St Thomas’ and Kings College Hospital.
This will help patients who have experienced dangerous delays to their care due to the difficulties of mitigation against the unplanned and malicious cyber-attack. We thank NHS England for raising their concerns with us in the interest of patient safety.
The derogation only applies to surgical registrars in upper GI, head and neck, and lung cancer services at the 3 trusts listed. All other junior doctors, including at these trusts, still can and should strike.”
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This morning's front pages
Let’s take a look at today’s top stories. The betting scandal, and election betting by people working in politics in general, dominate this morning’s front pages.
The Guardian leads with a fifth Conservative facing investigation by the Gambling Commission:
The Guardian: Fifth Tory faces investigation as
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
election betting scandal grows #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/cZZqXss99e
The FT and the Times lead with the Labour MP who bet on himself losing. Labour was drawn into the gambling row for the first time as the party announced it was suspending the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig after the Gambling Commission launched an investigation. In a statement Craig said, “While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Financial Times: Labour dragged into betting scandal
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
after candidate backs himself to lose #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/CR7i1FWGFx
The Times: Labour man suspended for betting on election: #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/zsdnu1XU6d
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
The Daily Telegraph, Daily Record and The National lead with the bets placed by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who admitted to placing three bets, and has denied any wrongdoing. He said he had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called’ and is not under investigation:
The Daily Telegraph: Cabinet minister claimed he won £2k on election bet #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/jQoFXEctUo
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
Daily Record: Top Scots Tory's £2k poll flutter #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/fWYF1ABhcN
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
The National: Jack claims to have won £2k with election date bets #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ZnZWBfQDYD
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
Daily Express: Farage - UK must end funding France #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QSjScSEoRr
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
Daily Mail: Starmer: Mail readers were RIGHT about Labour in 2019... that’s why we’ve changed #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/IxdnLTtWsS
— George Mann (@sgfmann) June 25, 2024
Tuesday's best campaign photos
Starmer met with a Pastor, Lorraine Jones, who lost her son to knife crime, with the actor Idris Elba, and, along with his wife Victoria Starmer, Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako of Japan.
Meanwhile four men were been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass at Rishi Sunak’s constituency home in Yorkshire, police said.
And Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty attended a banquet for Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako of Japan.
Today is the deadline to apply for a Voter ID certificate or a proxy vote
Today is the deadline to apply for a Voter ID certificate or a proxy vote for the general election next week. You must apply by 5pm.
A proxy vote is for someone to vote on your behalf. Voter ID certificates are needed for people who do not already have a valid form of photo identification.
This will be the first UK general election where all voters will have to show a valid form of photo ID before casting a ballot. The Guardian’s Andy Beckett wrote about the new rule in May:
Election betting: Fifth Tory investigated in growing scandal
The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar, Vikram Dodd, and Kiran Stacey have revealed that a Conservative politician has become the fifth party figure to be investigated by the gambling watchdog for allegedly placing a suspicious bet on the general election date, as the developing scandal continued to overshadow Rishi Sunak’s campaign.
The Gambling Commission has informed Russell George, a Tory member of the Welsh parliament who represents the same constituency as Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide Craig Williams, that he is part of its inquiry.
The disclosure came after the Tories finally dropped the two Westminster candidates, including Williams, who are under investigation for allegedly placing bets on a July election, after previously standing by them.
George represents Montgomeryshire in the Welsh parliament, covering the same area that Williams represented at Westminster.
In a statement to the Guardian, George said:
Whilst I will cooperate fully with the Gambling Commission, it would not be appropriate to comment on this independent and confidential process.
Doing so would only jeopardise and undermine the investigation. It is the Gambling Commission, not the media, that has the responsibility, powers and resources to properly investigate these matters and determine what, if any, action should be taken.
I have stepped back from the shadow cabinet while the investigation is ongoing. I have done this as I do not wish to be an unnecessary distraction to their work.”
In a separate development, Labour was also drawn into the gambling row for the first time as the party announced it was suspending the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig after the Gambling Commission launched an investigation.
Craig, a lobbyist and expert in political crisis management, confirmed that he was under investigation for betting that he would not win his own constituency.
Labour said it would now return £100,000 he had donated to the party under Keir Starmer’s leadership, while the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, would give back £13,000 donated for staffing costs.
Marsha de Cordova, another Labour candidate, also said she would give back £2,436 Craig donated earlier this year.
A Labour spokesperson said: “With Keir Starmer as leader, the Labour party upholds the highest standards for our parliamentary candidates, as the public rightly expects from any party hoping to serve, which is why we have acted immediately in this case.”
In a statement, Craig said: “Throughout my life I have enjoyed the odd bet for fun whether on politics or horses. A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities.
“While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.”
He added: “It is right that the party upholds the highest standards for its parliamentary candidates – just as the public expects the highest standards from any party hoping to serve in government. I deeply regret what I have done and will take the consequences of this stupid error of judgment on the chin.”
Scottish Secretary says he placed bets on date but has ‘not breached any gambling rules’, is not under investigation
Good morning and welcome to today’s live UK politics news with me, Helen Sullivan.
Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary and a Tory cabinet minister, revealed on Tuesday evening that he had placed three bets on the date of the general election, one of which was successful, but said that he wanted to make “absolutely clear I have not breached any gambling rules”.
“I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called. As I have said previously, I placed no bets in May and am not under investigation by the Gambling Commission,” he said.
The news comes as a Conservative politician has become the fifth party figure to be investigated by the gambling watchdog for allegedly placing a suspicious bet on the general election date, as the developing scandal continued to overshadow Rishi Sunak’s campaign.
The Gambling Commission has informed Russell George, a Tory member of the Welsh parliament who represents the same constituency as Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide Craig Williams, that he is part of its inquiry.
In a statement to the Guardian, George said:
Whilst I will cooperate fully with the Gambling Commission, it would not be appropriate to comment on this independent and confidential process.
Doing so would only jeopardise and undermine the investigation. It is the Gambling Commission, not the media, that has the responsibility, powers and resources to properly investigate these matters and determine what, if any, action should be taken.
I have stepped back from the shadow cabinet while the investigation is ongoing. I have done this as I do not wish to be an unnecessary distraction to their work.”
More on this and other developments shortly.
Here is what is coming up today:
9.30am: Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting on campaign visit in the East Midlands. They will visit a GP practiceas Labour sets out plans to end the 8am scramble for GP appointments and bring back the family doctor.
10.00am: Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole Hamilton and Edinburgh West candidate Christine Jardine to visit Edinburgh Zoo. They will feed the sloths and tour the soon-to-be completed solar meadow which will help power the zoo.
10.30am: SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn will join the SNP candidate for Gordon and Buchan, Richard Thomson, on the campaign trail in Inverurie.
12:00: Scottish Greens general election media call with co-leader Lorna Slater in Inverkeithing.
1pm: Reform chairman Richard Tice to give a press conference in Grangemouth.
3.20pm: first minister John Swinney on the campaign trail in Glasgow. He will be with SNP candidate Carol Monaghan.
8.15pm: Head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to air on BBC One, hosted by Mishal Husain.
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