Reform now just TWO POINTS behind Tories in new poll as Farage return sees surge in support

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‘They didn’t mention Scotland once!’ SNP gives blunt verdict on first General Election debate

The SNP has accused Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer of neglecting Scotland as the Conservative and Labour leaders continue on the campaign trail.

Following a televised debate last night, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes gave her reaction on behalf of the party to the two candidates seeking election as Britain’s next Prime Minister.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Treasury minister rejects claims Sunak lied about Labour tax plans

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott has denied that the Prime Minister misled voters.

She added that the independent analysis did find a black hole in Labour’s funding plans.

She said: "What is absolutely clear is that due to independent analysis Labour have a £38bn black hole in their policies.

"That will lead to £2,000 in extra taxes for every family up and down the United Kingdom.

"This is underpinned overwhelmingly by Treasury analysis so if people think Labour are going to win this election they need to start saving."

Labour MP says Senedd motion is 'political stunt' by Tory Party

Corbyn slams Starmer over Labour’s defence policy

Jeremy Corbyn has condemned Sir Keir Starmer over the Labour Party's defence stance.

The former Labour leader said it Starmer was "right that security is important, but endless escalation is not the answer".

"What about standing up to the fossil-fuel giants jeopardising the security of our planet?” he wrote in the Guardian.

"Or abolishing the two-child benefits cap to end atrocious levels of food insecurity across our country?"

Reform UK 'could win four seats' thanks to Nigel Farage

A YouGov pollster has suggested that Reform could win up to four seats at the general election.

It comes after Nigel Farage announced he would be the new party leader and an MP candidate.

Patrick English, director of political analysis at YouGov said that following his announcement, Reform UK could get as many as four seats.

"I do think that Farage intervening significantly increases the odds of Reform UK winning one, perhaps even two seats in Westminster," he told The Independent.

"You might even put an upper band of four on that, depending on what exactly happens between now and July 4."

Welsh First Minister loses no-confident vote

Vaughan Gething has lost a no-confidence vote in the Senedd after it is passed 29 votes to 27.

The motion follows the collapse of the co-operation deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru and a series of rows involving Gething.

Concerns were raised after Gething accepted a donation from a man convicted of environmental offences during his run to be Welsh Labour leader.

He also refused to show any evidence to explain why he sacked Senedd member Hannah Blythyn from his government, after he accused her of leaking messages to the media.

Responding to the vote tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Vaughan Gething has lost the confidence of the people of Wales.

“He has lost the confidence of the Senedd.

“The only person who is still batting for Vaughan Gething is Keir Starmer.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Latest polling suggests Reform is just TWO points behind the Tory Party

A YouGov poll shows Reform UK's vote share rose by 3 points.

It comes after Nigel Farage announced he was standing as a Reform candidate.

Full poll results:

Lab: 40 per cent

Con: 19 per cent

Reform UK: 17 per cent

Lib Dem: 10 per cent

Green: 7 per cent

SNP: 3 per cent

Starmer accuses Sunak of breaching ministerial code over Labour tax plan 'lies'

The Labour leader has accused Rishi Sunak of "lying" after the Prime Minister claimed that a Labour government would lead to people paying £2,000 more in tax.

Speaking to members of the press in Portsmouth, Starmer said: "What you saw last night was a Prime Minister with his back against the wall, trying desperately to defend an awful record in office, resorting to lies - and deliberately lying."

During last night's debate, Sunak said "independent" civil servants checked Labour's plans and claimed it would mean working families would pay £2,000 more in taxes.

Starmer added: "What matters is the facts. All of our plans are fully costed, fully funded, don’t involve tax rises for working people.

"I’ll spell that out, no income tax, no national insurance, no VAT. What you saw is the prime minister with his back against the wall desperately lashing out and resorting to lies."

Former Labour candidate stands as an independent candidate

Faiza Shaheen has announced she will be standing as an independent candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green at the general election.

The former Labour candidate said she reached her decision following "hundreds of messages from people in my community, who say there are no options left for them."

She added: "They are tried of the Tories but now feel they can't trust Labour."

Shaheen was blocked from standing for Labour at the general election on July 4 after she allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations.

Woman charged after milkshake thrown at Farage

A woman has been charged with assault by beating and criminal damage after a milkshake was thrown at Nigel Farage.

On Tuesday, Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, allegedly launched a milkshake at the Reform party leader as he campaigned to become the new MP for Clacton.

Lee Anderson launches fight to keep Reform seat

The former Tory Deputy Chairman officially announced he was defecting to Reform in March this year.

At the time, Anderson said: "I’ll start by saying I want my country back.

"Over the last year or so I have done a lot of soul searching on my political journey. I don’t expect much in politics other than to be able to speak my mind and to be able to speak on behalf of my friends and family and some of my constituents.

"My opinions are not controversial, these are opinions shared by millions up and down the country."

Sunak doubles down on Starmer tax warning as Labour accuse PM of 'lying' 12 times

Rishi Sunak has doubled-down on his Sir Keir Starmer tax warning as Labour accuse the Prime Minister of "lying" 12 times during last night's first head-to-head debate.

Sunak, who emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins according to a snap poll, quizzed the Labour leader on hiking taxes by just over £2,000.

Starmer struggled to answer initially and Labour bigwigs went out to bat straight after.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves accused the Prime Minister of lying a dozen times.

Ex-Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth claimed Sunak “exposed himself as no better than Johnson”.

However, the Tories continue to claim Labour will hit millions of pockets.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: said: “We were fair to Labour in the production of the Labour’s tax rise briefing note and used only clear Labour policies, their own costings or official HMT costings using the lowest assumptions.

“For example, using Labour’s figures for the spending items in the Green Prosperity Plan - using £23.7billion over four years instead of £28billion a year.

“It is now for Labour to explain which of the policies which were Labour policy no longer are Labour policy.”

However, a top Treasury civil servant warned the Tories against presenting Labour's tax plan dossier as a Civil Service produced estimate.

James Bowler, the Treasury’s top civil servant, responded to Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones on June 3.

In his letter, Bowler said: “As you will expect, civil servants were not involved in the production or presentation of the Conservative Party’s document ‘Labour’s Tax Rises’ or in the calculation of the total figure used.

“In your letter you highlight that the £38billion figure used in the Conservative Party’s publication includes costs beyond those provided by the Civil Service and published online by HM Treasury.

“I agree that any costings derived from other sources or produced by other organisations should not be presented as having been produced by the Civil Service. I have reminded ministers and advisers that this should be the case.”

Diane Abbott anti-racism group blasted for 'encouraging' Nigel Farage milkshake attack

Nigel Farage has accused an anti-racism group headed up by Diane Abbott of encouraging violence against him after a milkshake was thrown over the Reform UK leader in Clacton yesterday.

Stand Up to Racism, which adopted Abbott as its president, posted a laughing emoji above an image of Farage drenched in the frothy drink.

In a separate social media post, Stand Up to Racism said: "Looks like Farage will be met with opposition in Clacton."

Responding to the post, Farage wrote: “The left-wing group called ‘Stand Up To Racism’ have encouraged and then celebrated violence against me.

“As the president of the group, will Dianne Abbott condemn this behaviour."

Nigel 'officially' standing as Reform UK candidate in Clacton

I am now officially the Reform UK candidate for Clacton. ✅ pic.twitter.com/Zxk4PgeWfw

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 5, 2024

Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage has confirmed he is officially standing as the populist party's candidate in the seaside seat of Clacton.

Farage, 60, declared his intention to run in the Essex constituency during a press conference on Monday.

He ventured up to Clacton to deliver a speech to constituents yesterday and was swamped by supporters.

Farage today confirmed his candidacy, sharing a photo of him signing a document.

It was accompanied with a caption which said: "I am now officially the Reform UK candidate for Clacton."

Top civil servant warned Tories over Labour tax claim

The Treasury's permanent secretary warned the Tories against presenting Labour's tax plan dossier as being produced by the Civil Service, a letter has revealed.

James Bowler, the Treasury’s top civil servant, responded to Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones on June 3.

In his letter, Bowler said: “As you will expect, civil servants were not involved in the production or presentation of the Conservative Party’s document ‘Labour’s Tax Rises’ or in the calculation of the total figure used.

“In your letter you highlight that the £38billion figure used in the Conservative Party’s publication includes costs beyond those provided by the Civil Service and published online by HM Treasury.

“I agree that any costings derived from other sources or produced by other organisations should not be presented as having been produced by the Civil Service. I have reminded ministers and advisers that this should be the case.”

However, a Conservative Party spokesperson insisted the tax claim was fair.

They said: “We were fair to Labour in the production of the Labour’s tax rise briefing note and used only clear Labour policies, their own costings or official HMT costings using the lowest assumptions.

“For example, using Labour’s figures for the spending items in the Green Prosperity Plan - using £23.7billion over four years instead of £28billion a year.

“It is now for Labour to explain which of the policies which were Labour policy no longer are Labour policy.”

Michael Gove launches scathing attack on Starmer over TV debate: 'Labour know their leader is a dud!'

Former Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has hit out at Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer's performance in the first key leadership debate, as he took on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the first time in the election campaign.

Hosted by Julie Etchingham on ITV, the Tory and Labour leaders came to blows on the main issues set to drive voters to the polls this July.

Rishi Sunak was audibly booed by the audience as he claimed the failures of the NHS can be blamed on "industrial action", and Keir Starmer was accused by the Prime Minister of having "no big ideas".

Speaking to GB News, Gove claimed Sunak "won the debate six nil" against the Starmer. A YouGov poll carried out following the debate revealed that voters also believed Sunak was the better performer on the stage, taking 51 per cent of the votes."

Second poll puts Starmer top in head-to-head clash

Another poll released after last night's clash on ITV has put Sir Keir Starmer ahead of Rishi Sunak.

Researchers at Savanta found the Labour leader beat the Prime Minister by 44 per cent to 39 per cent.

Respondents believed Starmer "came across as more honest", "remain the calmest", won on the NHS, economy and defence.

Chris Hopkins, Savanta political research director, said in a statement: "Presentationally, it felt like the prime minister had the upper hand at times - in particular towards the end of the debate - and although our figures suggest he lost narrowly, he probably still outperformed expectations."

‘Farage has never had a better shot at becoming an MP’

GB News reporter Jack Walters shares his thoughts on Nigel Farage’s parliamentary bid after spending the day at the Reform UK leader’s launch in Clacton-on-Sea:

The return of the right’s prodigal son couldn’t have come at a better time for Reform UK.

Holding around 12 per cent of the vote, the rebranded Brexit Party needed to unleash Nigel Farage if it had any hope of leaving its mark on British politics and wreak complete havoc for Rishi Sunak’s Tories.

Farage, who transformed his own standing from conservative court jester to kingmaker, is now looking to pull off yet another political feat.

“Nigel, Nigel, Nigel,” the crowd cried as Reform UK’s star-man marched towards Clacton Pier.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY

Tories ramp up pressure on Starmer over £2,000 tax claim

Rishi Sunak's Tories have been hammering Sir Keir Starmer after he failed to rule out hiking taxes by £2,000 on every working household.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, who stood as a Conservative leadership contender in 2022, wrote: "The Prime Minister rightly points out that Labour will put taxes up by more than £2,000. Sir Keir doesn't deny it."

Ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis wrote: "Very interesting that Keir Starmer isn't even attempting to deny that he will put everyone's taxes up by £2,000."

Former Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi added: "He [Sunak] was sharp and landed the tax rise threat under Labour."

Labour hit back by accusing the Prime Minister of lying.

Southside insisted Starmer will "not put up income tax, national insurance or VAT".

Sunak edges out Starmer in first General Election debate

Rishi Sunak has been handed a narrow victory over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the first General Election debate.

A survey conducted by YouGov found 51 per cent of respondents believed the Prime Minister won the debate.

There was not much to separate the pair, with 49 per cent backing Starmer.

However, 62 per cent of respondents described the debate as frustrating.

Starmer was also rated more trustworthy, likeable and in touch with ordinary people.

Despite national opinion polls, Sunak edged out Starmer on who was more prime ministerial.

When it came to key issues, Starmer scored better on the cost of living, NHS, education and climate change.

Meanwhile, Sunak came out on top on tax and immigration.