Kemi Badenoch reopens row with ‘misogynist’ David Tennant

Labour down four points in latest election poll

A Savanta poll for the Sunday Telegraph put Labour on 38 per cent, down four points and the party’s lowest share with the pollster since Rishi Sunak entered No 10.

But it is still a 17-point lead over the Conservatives, who were unchanged in 21%, and indicates a landslide majority for Sir Keir Starmer.

The poll put Reform UK unchanged on 14 per cent, the Liberal Democrats up one point on 11 per cent, the Green Party up one point on 6 per cent, the SNP down one point on 2 per cent and others up one on 7 per cent.

Reform UK co-deputy leader slams Andrew Parker as a 'disgusting human being'

Ben Habib said Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, is a “disgusting human being”.

Habib said he would “absolutely abhor any racism” in the party and suggested that Parker portrayed himself as a “gammon” character in the Channel 4 footage which was recorded by an undercover journalist.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, he said: “(Parker) is a disgusting human being if he stands by what he said, absolutely foul language, unacceptable behaviour, unacceptable sentiments.

“And we have made a complaint to the Electoral Commission and we will get to the bottom of that. It is a coincidence I think which does beg a lot of questions that he is an actor, that he used a voice when he was canvassing that wasn’t his natural voice, and he was bombastic.

“Exactly the kind of character that someone – if you’ve heard the expression – might wish to attribute to what they call a gammon.”

Starmer wants 'clear mandate' from the electorate if he becomes prime minister

He told a Labour rally in London: "We’ll need a clear mandate for this change, don’t doubt that. And if you don’t believe me, take a good look at the Tories.

"Chaos under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, two politicians who never had a clear mandate."

Sir Elton John backs Keir Starmer: 'Let’s get behind Labour!'

Sir Elton John was among a host of celebrities who came out to back Sir Keir Starmer and Labour to win the General Election.

Short video messages were played at an event in Westminster.

John, who sat beside his husband David Furnish, said: "Let’s get behind Labour to win on July 4."

Actors Kit Harrington and James Norton, singer Beverley Knight, businesswoman Deborah Meaden, and Neil Basu – the former head of counter-terrorism policing in England – also pledged support for Labour in video messages.

Sir Keir Starmer joins Labour supporters in Westminster

A standing ovation greeted Sir Keir Starmer as he joined Labour supporters at an event in Westminster on Saturday.

He walked into the venue alongside deputy leader Angela Rayner and musician and comedian Bill Bailey during the final weekend before polling.

Earlier, London mayor Sadiq Khan was also met with applause when he arrived. Khan was given hugs and high-fives as he joined more than 300 Labour supporters at the event.

French Election 2024: Marine Le Pen extends lead in polls on last day of campaigning

Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant, eurosceptic party has extended its lead in the latest poll on the last day of campaigning.

Official campaigning ended at 12am on Friday with no political activity allowed on Saturday ahead of Sunday's first round of parliamentary elections.

Le Pen's party has led polling since President Emmanuel Macron called a surprise snap election.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Reform UK candidate 'glad' that the party reported Channel 4 to Electoral Commission

Andrew Parker said he was "glad" that the party had reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission after the broadcaster released footage of him using a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Reform UK’s secretary Adam Richardson has claimed that Parker "was a plant" in the Channel 4 footage which was recorded by an undercover journalist.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission, Richardson said: "We request an immediate investigation into both Mr Parker and Channel 4 News, including any production houses that might have been used to create the piece."

When he was told that Reform UK had reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, Parker said: “Good, I’m glad."

Reform UK withdraws support for three candidates over inappropriate comments

Reform UK has confirmed it has withdrawn support from three of its candidates after they shared inappropriate comments.

Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley have all had support withdrawn by Nigel Farage's party.

Oakenfull is alleged to have penned social media posts about the intelligence of sub-Saharan Africans.

However, he later told the BBC that his comments were "taken out of context".

Lomas is alleged to have said black people should stop acting "like savages" and "get off [their] lazy a***s".

And Lilley is accused of describing migrants arriving on small boats as "scum".

It is understood that the candidates will remain on the ballot paper, but are no longer endorsed by the party.

John Swinney warns postal votes could affect election results

John Swinney has warned the public could become disenfranchised with the crisis surrounding postal votes.

The SNP leader praised a “vibrant” election campaign in Scotland, and said he was not taking any regions for granted.

Swinney praised efforts by the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure people who had not received postal ballots were still able to vote and said he expected an inquiry to be carried out.

He said: “There are steps that can be taken by local authorities to make facilities available so people can vote – I very much welcome what the City of Edinburgh Council did yesterday, other local authorities are considering that as well.

“I’ve asked the election management board to address the fact that some local authorities have done that but others have not done so.

“I’m inundated in my inbox. I suspect there’ll be effects on all political parties.

“But I think the crucial point is the disenfranchisement of individuals.”

He said that the voter ID requirement brought in by the UK Government was “designed to put people off” and more effort should be made to encourage people to vote.

Swinney said: “What the UK Government’s decided to do, we will not be doing that in Scotland.

“We should be maximising the participation of people in elections, not making it more tricky.”

IN PICTURES: Nigel Farage celebrates Armed Forces Day

Happy to support #ArmedForcesDay in the oldest Garrison Town in England, Colchester! pic.twitter.com/1dsKpzXEHB

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 29, 2024

Nigel Farage REFUSES to join political show as he demands apology from 'biased' BBC

I have just been invited to appear on Laura Kuenssberg.

I’m refusing until the BBC apologises for their dishonest QT audience.

Our state broadcaster has behaved like a political actor throughout this election.

Reform will be campaigning vigorously to abolish the license fee.

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 29, 2024

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Reform UK reports Channel 4 to elections watchdog over ‘scandalous election interference’

Reform UK has reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog over “scandalous election interference” after an investigation by the broadcaster recorded an alleged canvasser spouting racist and homophobic comments.

In a letter to the Election Commission, Party Secretary Adam Richardson said: “The Channel 4 broadcast has clearly been made to harm Reform UK during an election period and this cannot be described as anything short of election interference.”

He added: “This is an absolute scandal, election interference on a national scale and potentially fraud.

“We request an immediate investigation into both Parker and Channel 4 news, including any production houses that might have been used to create the piece.

“Farage is standing for election within a regulated period and it flies in the face of the law and democracy itself if a national broadcaster can film an actor lying about his association with the leader of the second most popular political party and broadcast it with impunity.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH: Veterans to be 'PERSECUTED' by leftie lawyers, Tugendhat claims

WATCH: Ann Widdecombe says media have 'AGENDA' to SMEAR Reform UK

Starmer blasts ‘ridiculous’ Tory claim Labour would be threat to national security

Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at “ridiculous” Tory suggestions that Labour would be a threat to national security after one minister branded him a “danger” and another claimed he would leave the UK vulnerable to foreign powers.

The Labour leader said he had been granted access to sensitive intelligence by the Government so it was wrong for ministers to now claim he would be a danger.

Speaking on a campaign visit in Aldershot, known as the home of the British Army, Sir Keir told reporters: “I think this is desperate stuff from the Tories.

“We are the party that was a founder member of Nato. If you go to Brussels and see the treaty there for Nato, it’s a Labour secretary of state that signed that and our support for Nato has been unshakeable since then.

“On the nuclear deterrent, we’re clear about the triple lock that we’ve put in place, not only the current deterrent but the future upgrades of that deterrent and the jobs that go with it.

“We have also – and this is why it is really desperate from the Tories – united with this Government, the Tory Government, on really important issues of national security.

“As a result of that, they have given me high-level sensitive briefings, so much do they trust us on national security.

“I’m very glad that they have and I do thank the Defence Secretary for facilitating that, particularly during Ukraine when they gave us very regular, very sensitive briefings.

“To now turn around and make this ridiculous claim just shows how desperate they have become going into this election. It does them no good.”

Justin Welby encourages people to vote on July 4

The Archbishop of Canterbury urged people to avoid “personalised abuse” in the closing stages of the election campaign as he encouraged voters to go to the ballot box.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby said: “In these last few days before the election, let us pray for all candidates taking part in this most essential act of democracy.

“Let us encourage courteous and kind debate and not use personalised abuse.

“Let us carefully consider issues and the common good, and above all vote.”

WATCH: Furious Nigel Farage blasts mainstream media and urges Brits to join Reform UK 'revolt'

Starmer REFUSES to say whether Lammy would be Foreign Secretary in Labour Government

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether David Lammy would be his Foreign Secretary under a Labour Government.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Labour leader said he will “work hard until 10 o’clock on Thursday” to get votes, adding: “I’m not going to announce anybody who may be in a cabinet after Thursday if we win.”

Asked if he was concerned about the prospect of a super-majority, Sir Keir said that “the numbers are really tight, it’ll go down to a few hundred in many constituencies”.

He added: “We have to win every vote, earn the trust across the country.”

Tom Tugendhat refuses to rule out Tory leadership run if Sunak quits following General Election

Tom Tugendhat has not ruled out a run at the Tory leadership if Rishi Sunak quits following the General Election.

Asked if he wanted to be leader, the security minister told Times Radio: “What I want to do is to make sure we’ve got a Conservative leader in this country and that’s why I’m supporting Rishi Sunak.

“Because the alternative with Keir Starmer, I’m afraid, is higher taxes, more regulation, worse growth and more unemployment.

“What we need to do is to make sure that Conservatives across this country win their seats and that’s exactly what I’ve been focused on.”

Pressed again on the issue of what happens after the election, he said: “Well, we’ll deal with hypotheticals in a different way.

“I mean, the reality is Rishi Sunak is the candidate, there’s only two candidates for prime minister, there’s Rishi Sunak and there’s Sir Keir Starmer.

“One of them is committed to lowering your taxes, protecting your borders and making a difference in everybody’s lives. The other, I’m afraid, is Sir Keir Starmer who is committed to raising your taxes, to making life a little bit harder for everybody and to lecturing you on how to live your life.”

BBC Question Time sinks to 'cynical bias' with Nigel Farage facing grilling from 'rigged audience'

BBC Question Time has been branded “appalling” after being accused of showing “cynical bias” as Nigel Farage faced a grilling from a “ripped audience” less than week before polls open on July 4.

Comments from the floor were not seemingly reflective of opinion polls on immigration, with a survey conducted earlier this year suggesting nearly nine in 10 UK parliamentary constituencies want to see net migration reduced and controls tightened.

However, Fiona Bruce suggested audience members reflected the views of the wider electorate, including Reform UK voters.

“Each of our two guests will face 30 minutes of questions from our audience who represent a mix of political sentiments, including many who are still making up their minds and supporters of both the Greens and Reform,” the veteran BBC presenter said.

Responding to Question Time’s final leaders' special, conservative commentator Connor Tomlinson said: “This Question Time is appalling. They've packed out the entire audience with people shouting at Nigel Farage and calling him a racist.

“Every question is identical and tiresome If I believed Ofcom would uphold impartiality standards against the BBC, I would complain about bias.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

​Party leaders to discuss support for veterans on Armed Forces Day

Party leaders will be on the election campaign trail on Armed Forces Day discussing defence and support for veterans.

On the campaign trail on Saturday, Mr Sunak will hail the “duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice” of servicemen and women and claim his is the only party to meet the Help for Heroes Veterans’ Pledge.

The pledge requires parties to commit to keeping the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, commissioning an independent review of the medical discharge process and ensuring veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve.

Sunak said: “It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us.

“It’s why it’s so important that we get defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.”

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said: “Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to support our armed forces and secure the future of our country. Don’t vote to let Starmer put us all in danger from Downing Street.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to introduce a new armed forces commissioner and lead a “Government of service” if Labour is elected.

Sir Keir said: “Labour is deeply proud of our armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the contribution they make to our country.

“Theirs is the ultimate public service – and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world.”

Analysis shows Sunak has only visited five top Tory at-risk seats

Rishi Sunak has only campaigned in five of 45 constituencies where Cabinet members and other prominent Tory politicians are at risk of losing their seats, according to an analysis of his campaign route.

The Prime Minister has visited Central Devon, where a poll commissioned by Best for Britain puts Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride in second place with a margin of 6.94.

Sunak has also visited Melksham and Devizes, where Science Secretary Michelle Donelan is predicted to win with just 7.8 points between her and second place, and Suffolk Coastal, where Tory candidate Therese Coffey is expected to lose with a margin of 5.5, the poll shows.

He also visited Stoke-on-Trent North, where the poll puts Jonathan Gullis as the loser with a margin of 17.79, and his own seat of Richmond and Northallerton, where the Prime Minister is set to retake his seat with a margin of 6.89.

He has not visited the other 40 constituencies identified as of Friday.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “Sunak’s problem is that even his own party doesn’t want him around, let alone the public.

“We need a clean break from him, his party, and the damage they have caused over the past 14 years, and the best way voters can ensure the Tories are locked out of power for at least a decade is by voting tactically.”