UK politics: Labour’s Khan has 22-point lead over Tory rival in London mayoral race, poll suggests – as it happened

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visiting a foundation in Brixton last week. Photograph: Nicola Tree

6.38pm BST

We are closing this blog now, thanks for following today’s developments. You can read all our UK politics coverage here.

6.11pm BST

Afternoon summary

• The number of people being made homeless jumped by 16% in the final three months of last year, according to the latest government figures, which laid bare the scale of the country’s housing crisis.

• Importers of food from the EU into Britain have said newly introduced post-Brexit checks could increase their costs by up to 60%, pushing up prices for customers and driving some shops out of business.

• The Conservative party chair, Richard Holden, has four times refused to say whether the party continues to take millions from its biggest donor, Frank Hester, after it was revealed the businessman had made comments condemned as racist and misogynistic.

• Sadiq Khan is on course to win the London mayoral election with a 22-point lead, a poll suggests. (See 4.53pm.)

• John Swinney and Kate Forbes have both confirmed that they are seriously considering standing for the SNP leadership, but without yet committing themselves to being candidates. Swinney remains the clear favourite, but Forbes has denied claims she is coming under pressure not to stand so that Swinney can take the post as a unity candidate. (See 3.56pm.) Swinney has the support of senior figures in the party including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, health secretary Neil Gray and education secretary Jenny Gilruth.

• The former England cricketer Monty Panesar and a former Ukip MEP are among hundreds of candidates who will run under the banner of George Galloway’s Workers party at the general election.

• Plaid Cymru is trying to get the Senedd in Cardiff to pass a law that would make it illegal for any member to wilfully mislead the parliament or the public.

Updated at 6.13pm BST