A shocking new advertising campaign by the Conservatives has appeared to suggest the party could be reduced to just 57 seats in the Commons as worries over Labour's ever-increasing projected vote share and the emergence of a Farage-led Reform UK continue to mount.
In the video, circulated on Facebook, the Tories warn that Britons pledging their votes to Reform could split the right-wing vote, and lead to what some call the "most successful political party in the world" relegated to third place behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The clip depicts a possible future in which Labour get a 43 per cent vote share and 490 seats, the Lib Dems who get 61 seats with 10 per cent of the vote - while the Tories get 19 per cent vote share and a mere 57 MPs.
But Reform UK - who are given an 18 per cent vote share in the ad - are shown as having "still no seats".
It comes after Nigel Farage raged against the "violent left-wing mob" after an activist hurled wet cement at the Reform UK leader during his visit to Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Farage, who is on the campaign trail to shore up support for the populist party, released a 35-second video showing the incident in full.
The 60-year-old was seen waving at cheering supporters but suddenly ducked as a member of the public lobbed an object at his battle bus - but as the camera panned to a man wearing a red jumper, workmen quickly intervened to chants of "scum, scum, scum".
The anti-Farage protester ran down the street and was soon apprehended by a police officer.
Responding to the incident, Farage said: "My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today. I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country."
Despite a large number of supporters lining the streets of Barnsley, Farage was also met by a group of protesters, with photos from the northern town showed some people holding placards saying "f**k Farage" and "immigrants are welcome".
THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED.
ONE MILLION potholes fixed every year vows Labour as shadow transport sec sets out roadmap ahead
Labour has pledged to become the "party on the side of drivers" through a proposal to fix "up to a million more" potholes every year if elected to cut down on "neglect" on British roads.
Last year, pothole damage cost drivers almost £500 million with the average damage worth £250, the party claimed.
Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "Cars are a lifeline for millions up and down the country. They get people to work, allow parents to get kids to school and help carers support relatives, but drivers have been totally failed by this Conservative Government.
"The Conservatives have left Britain's roads plagued with potholes and have sat back as car insurance costs have spiralled out of control.
"Labour is the only party truly on the side of drivers. Our plan will fix up to a million more potholes every year, saving drivers hundreds of pounds in lower repair costs, and will crack down on soaring car insurance costs.
"We will make our roads safer for all who use them and remove the barriers which bog down our planning system, speeding up infrastructure improvements and cutting costs for taxpayers."
How would the party fund the infrastructure drive? By deferring the A27 bypass in the South of England, freeing up an estimated £320million.
More Labour in-fighting as Liverpool candidate slams Starmer's Sun advertising over Hillsborough links
Kim Johnson slammed her party
The Sun/PA
Labour are the latest party to become embroiled in an online ad row after one of the party's own candidates in Liverpool slammed its advertising in the Sun.
Kim Johnson, who is standing for re-election as a Labour MP in Liverpool Riverside, slated party leader Sir Keir Starmer for breaking his "promise to boycott" the paper over its historical coverage of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 in which 97 Liverpool fans died.
When campaigning for party leadership in 2020, Starmer had told an audience in Liverpool he would boycott the Sun throughout the contest, saying: "This city has been wounded by the media - the Sun... I certainly won't be giving an interview to the Sun during the course of this campaign."
The paper - "the Scum", as Johnson called it - remains divisive in Liverpool after it published a front-page headlined "The Truth" which falsely alleged Liverpool supporters were responsible for the deaths.
The Labour candidate said: "When he was seeking support to be the leader of the Labour party, Keir stood in my constituency and pledged that he would not write in the Scum newspaper.
"So myself, Riverside residents and the whole city will now be very disappointed that he has broken his promise to boycott.
"By U-turning on this pledge, he fails to recognise just how deep the hurt runs in this city."
Starmer has written and appeared in Sun coverage on numerous occasions; in 2023, he defended this by saying: "I have to make sure that what we have to say is communicated to as many people as possible in the time that we've got available - and that is why I am very happy to work with the Sun, to write for the Sun, to do interviews with the Sun."
Reform just ONE POINT behind Tories as 'inflection point' draws closer
Reform UK are just one point behind the Conservatives, a new poll has revealed, further stoking Tory fears that they may sink to third place in the minds of British voters - with just over four weeks until election day.
Data from pollsters YouGov has the Tories languishing at just an 18 per cent projected vote share - a joint-record low since January 2020.
And Reform, buoyed by the addition of Nigel Farage to their ranks, are right behind them at 17 per cent - the party's highest ever vote share.
The miniscule gap between the two blue parties has only grown closer in recent weeks - and, at current rates, they're heading for "inflection point": the moment Reform UK crosses the Tories in the polls for the very first time.
But it's not just the Conservatives who will be shifting in their seats at the figures - Labour, despite a more than healthy 20 point lead, have seen their ratings drop by 8 points since the end of May to a 38 per cent vote share.
Right now, it seems, Britain's two largest parties are losing ground to plucky outsiders; the Liberal Democrats, perhaps on the back of an outside-the-box campaign by leader Sir Ed Davey, have jumped to a 15 per cent vote share.
Tories in turmoil as campaign ads suggest they could win a mere 57 SEATS in July
The Tory ads cast Sir Keir Starmer in an intimidating light
Conservatives/Facebook
A shocking new advertising campaign by the Conservatives has appeared to suggest the party could be reduced to just 57 seats in the Commons as worries over Labour's sizeable projected vote share and the emergence of a Farage-led Reform UK continue to mount.
In the video, circulated on Facebook, the Tories warn that Britons pledging their votes to Reform could split the right-wing vote, and lead to what some call the "most successful political party in the world" relegated to third place behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The clip depicts a possible future in which Labour get a 43 per cent vote share and 490 seats, the Lib Dems who get 61 seats with 10 per cent of the vote - while the Tories get 19 per cent vote share and a mere 57 MPs.
But Reform UK - who are given an 18 per cent vote share in the ad - are shown as having "still no seats".
The advert's narrator says: "The more votes for Reform, the Liberal Democrats or anyone else will hand Labour a hundred extra seats, giving Keir Starmer the largest majority Labour have ever had.
"A vote for Reform or the Lib Dems means you'll have no one holding Keir Starmer to account on your behalf.
"This means you'll be handing him a blank cheque to spend on anything he wants with no control over what it'll cost you.
"Are you sure that’s what you want to vote for?"
Farage continues campaigning after Barnsley bust up by joining Anderson in Ashfield
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (centre left) and Lee Anderson, Reform UK parliamentary candidate for Ashfield
PA
Nigel Farage has continued to campaign for Reform UK just hours after wet cement was hurled at the Brexit stalwart in Barnsley.
Reform UK's leader joined Ashfield's Lee Anderson, who defected from the Tories earlier this year, to shore up support for the populist party.
Farage is hoping to break his election hoodoo by winning Clacton on July 4, with Reform UK also setting sights on Ashfield and Boston & Skegness.
Labour blasts Tory manifesto as ‘recipe for five more years of Tory chaos’
Rishi Sunak after launching the Conservative Party General Election manifesto at Silverstone
PA
Labour's National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden has claimed Rishi Sunak's manifesto is a “recipe for five more years of Tory chaos”.
He said: “This Conservative Manifesto is a recipe for five more years of Tory chaos. After 14 years in power, the Prime Minister’s desperate manifesto published today is stuffed full of unfunded spending commitments.
“The Prime Minister that was brought in to be the antidote to the chaos of Liz Truss has instead become the next instalment of the same thing.
“Tory desperation leads to costs for the British people. The public is still paying the price of the Conservatives crashing the economy. Now they promise a repeat if they win again leading to higher mortgages and a weaker economy.
“After today the choice at this election could not be clearer: five more years of chaos with the Conservatives or stability and growth with Labour.”
TPA slams Sunak tax cut plan as 'not going far enough'
The TaxPayers' Alliance has poured damp water over Rishi Sunak's plans to cut tax if he wins on July 4.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TPA, said: "With the tax burden on course to hit an 80 year high, Brits of all ages are looking for concrete measures to get runaway spending under control and fundamentally reform the tax system to deliver the economic growth the country needs.
"Cuts to National Insurance and changes to stamp duty will be welcome, but do not go far enough.
“The harsh reality is that squeezed taxpayers cannot wait years to feel relief.
“Should the Conservatives manage to stay in office, they must focus on tackling the nation’s growing debt, wasteful spending, record tax burden, and suffocating regulatory regime.”
However, a self-employed worker will on average save £1,346 per year under the National Insurance proposals unveiled by the Prime Minister.
Shaun Moore, from wealth manager Quilter, claimed: “The policy would therefore alleviate a tax burden, potentially freeing up funds for reinvestment in self-employed businesses, which could foster innovation and growth. However, the broader economic impact may be muted. The total number of self-employed individuals, while significant, constitutes a fraction of the overall workforce.”
'Very worrying!' Nigel Farage responds to Barnsley cement hurling incident
Nigel Farage has responded to today's incident in Barnsley after South Yorkshire Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences.
Speaking from his battle bus, Farage said: "I tell you what I'm worried about, if you think about this, a week after we commemorate D-Day, which was done so that we could live in a democracy, where we can agree to disagree, we can be very passionate, but agree to disagree, what we've now got is a mob that want to close down all debate.
"A mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed."
He added: "I'm used to it. I don't like it, of course not. This is stopping me doing what I want to do. I'm at my best going out meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them. You know, going around the pubs or whatever I do.
"These violent youngsters are stopping me, it's very, very frustrating."
'Isn't worth the paper it's written on!' Lib Dems immediately rubbish Tory manifesto as Sunak sets out vision for UK
The Liberal Democrats have claimed the Tory manifesto “isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”.
Daisy Cooper, the party’s deputy leader, said: “Rishi Sunak got one thing right in this speech: people are frustrated with him and the Conservative Party. This manifesto isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. No one will believe anything they’re promising today.
“From his D-Day disservice to a Formula One flop, Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives have packed their campaign with desperation and lies.
“After years of taking people for granted, the Conservatives have overseen crumbling hospitals, sewage scandals and a cost of living crisis like no other. It’s time for a change.
“Frankly, it’s astonishing that they managed to sit politely in a room and agree with each other for long enough to publish something.”
Sunak claims tax buden will fall one per cent every year as PM warns about Labour levy
Rishi Sunak launches the Conservative Party General Election manifesto at Silverstone
PA
Rishi Sunak has claimed the tax burden will fall by one per cent year if he wins on July 4.
The Prime Minister said: “Because of the measures that are announced in the manifesto and you can see the document afterwards, the tax burden will be about one percentage point lower in every single year compared to the forecast that you saw at the spring Budget a couple of months ago.”
He also warned families "cannot afford" Labour's disputed plan to put up taxes by more than £2,000.
Sunak added: “There is a clear choice at this election. We are the only party putting bold action on the table to transform our country.
“Labour have nothing to say about the problems our country faces and how best to address them. Nothing. Keir Starmer is asking for a blank cheque and he will not tell people which taxes he is going to put up that are ultimately going to cost them £2,000.”
Sunak hints at huge ECHR move if it blocks Rwanda flights
Rishi Sunak has hinted at a huge move to take the UK out of the ECHR if the Strasbourg-based court blocks flights bound for Rwanda.
The Prime Minister said that the migrant deportation flights “will depart in July, establishing the deterrent that will stop the boats”.
He said that if the Tories were “forced to choose between our security” and the jurisdiction of a foreign court “we will always choose our nation’s security”.
However, Sunak later conceded voters were "frustrated" after the Conservative Party had “not got everything right”.
Rishi Sunak vows to HALVE migration as he unveils manifesto plan... but it will still be HIGHER than 2019
Rishi Sunak has vowed to halve net migration to the UK while unveiling the Conservative Party's manifesto - but the target will still be higher than in 2019 when the party admitted migration was too highGB NEWSRishi Sunak has vowed to halve net migration to the UK while unveiling the Conservative Party's manifesto - but the target will still be higher than in 2019 when the party admitted migration was too high.
Speaking at Silverstone, the Prime Minister said: “Labour have no answer to this question. We saw the other week Keir Starmer simply can’t tell you what he would do with people who come here illegally because he doesn’t believe it’s a problem.
“Now, with Brexit we took control of our borders, but migration has been too high in recent years and we have a clear plan to reduce it.
“Last year we announced changes which means 300,000 people who were previously eligible to come here now can’t and we will introduce a migration cap that means parliament, your elected representatives, will vote on how many people should be able to come here every year.
“Our plan is this: we will halve migration as we have halved inflation, and then reduce it every single year.”
Farage takes fresh swipe at Sunak after PM admits he failed to control borders
Nigel Farage has taken a fresh swipe at Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister admitted net migration was too high.
In a short social media post, the Reform UK leader said: "For once, I agree with the Prime Minister!"
Farage's comments came just hours after Sunak last night admitted that he had not controlled Britain’s borders as Prime Minister.
BBC presenter Nick Robinson asked: “Last year 685,000 extra people came here. That’s twice the population of Coventry. You didn’t control our borders, did you?”
Sunak replied: “No, the numbers are too high.”
Sunak vows to abolish NI for self-employed
Rishi Sunak has announced the Tories will abolish National Insurance payments for almost all self-employed people.
The Tory manifesto stated: “To recognise the unique contribution of these risk-takers and entrepreneurs to our economy and the insecurity they face without the rights and protections that employees enjoy, we will abolish it entirely by the end of the next Parliament.”
Sunak set to take to stage in Silverstone
Rishi Sunak, and his wife Akshata Murty pose with supporters upon arrival to launch the Conservatives' general election manifesto
GETTY
Rishi Sunak will imminently take to the stage to launch the Tory Party's 2024 manifesto.
The Prime Minister, who is chasing Labour's 26-point opinion poll lead, looks poised to announce a new set of tax cuts.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen spoke ahead of Sunak's policy announcement.
Keegan claimed that the Tories have had a “clear plan” to improve the nation’s schools and to boost apprenticeships.
She also stressed Sunak had taken “bold action” on education reforms to deliver on the “central goal in education, giving young people the best chance in life”.
Houchen separately accused Sir Keir Starmer of “taking the Great British public for chumps” by failing to set out in detail Labour’s plans for power.
Starmer accuses Sunak of launching 'Corbyn-style' manifesto
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of launching a "Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto".
Starmer, who supported two manifestos under Corbyn, said the Tories' manifesto was not fully costed.
Speaking to journalists in Teesside, the Leader of the Opposition said: “We are being absolutely clear that all our plans are fully costed.
"We will not be increasing income tax, National Insurance, no tax increases for working people.
"None of our plans require tax rises. This is coming from a party that’s put tax at the highest level for 70 years, and they’re building the sort of Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto where anything you want can go in it, none of it is costed.”
He added: “I changed the Labour Party from top to bottom after the 2019 election because if you lose that badly you don’t look at the electorate and say ‘What were you doing?’ You look at your party and you say you need to change.
“And that’s why we are absolutely clear with Rachel Reeves that there’ll be no unfunded, uncosted proposition in our manifesto. We’re not going to make promises we can’t keep.”
He concluded: “That’s why I say it’s a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto, which is load everything into the wheelbarrow, don’t provide the funding and hope that nobody notices the money isn’t there.”
Sunak's slick pre-manifesto clip contains basic gaffe
Clear plan. Bold action.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 11, 2024
Our manifesto launch is live from Silverstone at 11.30. pic.twitter.com/r6jwiLHePK
Rishi Sunak's slick pre-manifesto clip has been released and it contains a very basic error.
The Prime Minister, who is at Silverstone to launch his manifesto at 11.30am, released a 60-second clip this morning.
However, the text accompanying the video appears to Americanise the spelling of defence.
Sunak has been keen to stress defence is a cornerstone of his candidacy throughout the 2024 General Election campaign.
However, the Prime Minister was dealt a major blow after being slammed for leaving D-Day commemorations early.
Rishi Sunak to unveil huge tax cuts in just HOURS after new horror poll published
Rishi Sunak attends a neighbourhood watch meeting at the Dog & Bacon pub in Horsham
PA
Rishi Sunak will soon announce a tranche of fresh tax cuts as the Prime Minister struggles to cut Labour’s lead and Reform UK trail the Tories by just two per cent.
Sunak, who was dealt a hammer blow last week after leaving D-Day commemorations early, will launch his manifesto in a bid to win over support as the Tories face electoral oblivion.
The manifesto will reiterate the Prime Minister’s pledge to introduce the so-called “triple lock plus” for pensioners and promise not to increase major levies.
Sunak will also hammer home fresh commitments to help young people get on the housing ladder, including the abolition of stamp duty on properties up to £425,000 for first time buyers.
The Tory Party’s manifesto, which comes shortly after Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey threatened to drag Brexit Britain back into the single market, will be revealed as polls point to a Labour landslide.
Redfield & Wilton Strategies revealed that Starmer has opened up a 26-point lead over the Tories, with Labour registering 45 per cent support.
The Conservative Party languishes behind on 19 per cent in a distant second, with Nigel Farage’s populist party Reform UK hoping to overtake them on 17 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats witnessed a slight dip to reduce its support to 10 per cent and the Green Party is hovering at around five per cent support.
Tory Chair Richard Holden doubles-down on £2,000 Labour tax claim with letter from Cabinet Secretary
NEW: I have received a response from the Cabinet Secretary.
— Rt Hon Richard Holden (@RicHolden) June 11, 2024
He has confirmed that 21 costings of Labour’s policies were produced by civil servants from HM Treasury and other relevant departments.
Contrary to Labour's claims he also confirmed that the letter from the Treasury… pic.twitter.com/qNnb5E9lPj
Tory Party Chairman Richard Holden has published his response from Cainbet Secretary Simon Case about Rishi Sunak's claim that Labour will raid UK households for an extra £2,000 in tax.
Holden, who came under fire after pitching up as the Tory candidate in Basildon & Billericay, said: "I have received a response from the Cabinet Secretary.
"He has confirmed that 21 costings of Labour’s policies were produced by civil servants from HM Treasury and other relevant departments.
"Contrary to Labour's claims he also confirmed that the letter from the Treasury Permanent Secretary made no reference to the Prime Minister."
In the letter, Case said: "I can confirm that civil servants from HM Treasury and other relevant departments produced costings which are publicly available."
‘I will ask you one more time’: Labour schools row erupts as Isabel Webster grills Wes Streeting
Wes Streeting was forced to defend Labour’s plan to levy VAT on private school fees this morning on GB News.
Confusion was sparked when Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said it may lead to larger classes in state schools due to the projected number of pupils that would leave the private sector as a result.
The Shadow Health Secretary told Isabel Webster that Thornberry made an “honest mistake” as he was grilled on the matter.
Isabel probed: “Your shadow attorney general admitted that your 20 per cent VAT on private schools could lead to larger class sizes in the state sector.
“Sir Keir Starmer said she got the policy wrong. Just explain to us where exactly these children are going to go as parents decide they simply cannot afford this huge hike in private fees.”
'Two-faced' John Swinney accused of 'BEGGING' supporters for donations as cash-strapped SNP scrambles to stay afloat
John Swinney has been accused of "begging" SNP supporters for donations, as the cash-strapped party scrambles to keep its election campaign funded.
The letter, titled, "Westminster General Election campaign appeal 2024", pleads with activists, saying: "Your donation can make all the difference."
Swinney has also been accused of being "two-faced" with senior figures from the rival Alba Party claiming the SNP is no longer prioritising independence.
The letter, sent to party supporters and seen by the Daily Mail, said: "In a UK election, the SNP faces particular financial challenges.
"While Westminster parties take money from millionaire donors, our party relies on funding from you, our members, and your financial support is perhaps more crucial now than ever.
"We know money is tight, but we are asking you to invest in Scotland's future as an independent nation. Every pound you donate will be used to promote our shared vision that decisions about Scotland should be made by the people who live here."
Tories tear themselves apart over Farage
Reform UK Nigel Farage at an announcement of the party's economic policy during a press conference at Church House in London
PA
Leading members of the Tory Party have been left tearing themselves apart as Nigel Farage plots to enter the House of Commons at his eighth attempt.
Farage, 60, who is standing in Clacton, vowed to supplant the Conservative Party as he hopes to "realign the centre-right".
Home Secretary James Cleverly labelled the Brexit stalwart a "spoiled child", with Tory Wet Tobias Ellwood voicing opposition to Farage joining Conservative ranks.
Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is seen as a leading contender to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, was among Conservative MPs most supportive of a realignment.
She said: "I would welcome Nigel into the Conservative Party. There's not much difference really between him and many of the policies that we stand for."
However, Farage said: "Well, look, I mean, Suella Braverman said I should rejoin the Conservatives because our policies are very similar.
"I don’t think so. I don’t think so. What they’ve done, allowing nearly two-and-a-half million people to settle in the country in the last two years is most certainly not our policy.
"So I do like her, I do admire her, but I’m afraid at the moment all marriage plans are off."
Tory Right plot 'rebel manifesto' if Sunak's plan falls flat
The Tory Right has been tipped to present a "rebel manifesto" if Rishi Sunak's imminent tax-cutting measures fall flat.
MPs look poised to demand tougher action on immigration and human rights law before polls open on July 4.
Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick have been identified as among those waiting to see how the public react to Sunak's manifesto.
Braverman made the headlines yesterday after urging CCHQ to embrace Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The UK's membership of the ECHR has been identified as an area rebels could look for the Prime Minister to develop a more hardline stance on.
A Tory source told The Guardian: "Sunak doesn’t want to leave.
"This is just language to appease the right. It’s signalling.
"There’s no way he wants a cabinet row over this in the middle of the campaign, and some of his ministers are firmly against."
However, a spokesperson for the New Conservatives said: “We have no plans to publish any so-called ‘rebel manifesto’.”
Ed Davey's four-step plan to rejoin the EU's single market
Sir Ed Davey accused the Conservative Party of having "poisoned" the UK's relationship with Brussels, outlining a four-step process to rejoin the Single Market.
This came after Liberal Democrats promised to reverse Brexit in their General Election manifesto, saying it would "aim to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market."
Asked by GB News' Christopher Hope how long he sees the process taking, Davey said: "It's difficult to say, because the Conservatives have so poisoned Britain's relationship with our nearest neighbours in Europe that it's going to take quite a while to rebuild the trust.
"I genuinely don't know and I know you like me to say it's going to happen then, but I genuinely can't know.
"We have a four-stage process. We couldn't be clearer about the things we'd like to do.
"One of the things we'd like to do is get a better trade deal. The trade deal that Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have got, it's been a disaster.
"It's a chance to review it and we'd get a much better deal. I've spoken to European politicians who say, you know what, trade is in our mutual benefit."