Suella Braverman has blamed immigration for the struggles the Tories are facing in this election, with the former Home Secretary claiming she had urged Rishi Sunak to take action and tackle the issue.
And as the topic gains prominence in election conversations, Nigel Farage has been backed for a leadership debate against Keir Starmer - which former political adviser Charlie Rowley has claimed would be "box office".
Long-time Farage adversary Lord Cameron has told Britons to reject the Brexit heavyweight's so-called "inflammatory language" and "dog whistle" politics as the Tories wrestle with the prospect of falling behind Reform UK.
But elsewhere, a spate of Conservative candidates have taken flak for appearing to distance themselves from their own party as it continues to drop in the polls.
This General Election live blog is now closed. Join us tomorrow for more updates as they happen.
PM slams Putin in Switzerland in what could be Sunak's final international summit pre-election
Rishi Sunak has claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin has "no interest in genuine peace" at a landmark Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland - a meeting which could be his last as Prime Minister on the world stage with fewer than three weeks until election day.
The PM had jetted off from Trooping the Colour festivities in London this morning to attend the summit, just a day after Putin had presented Ukraine with a pair of "absurd" ceasefire demands which would see the embattled nation cede four of its eastern oblasts to Russia.
Sunak told delegates: "We should ask why does Russia feel so threatened by a summit discussing the basic principles of territorial integrity, food security, and nuclear safety?
"We want to see an end to this war, and we want to make this the day that the path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine became that much closer."
Much to the chagrin of Western leaders, Putin - alongside delegates from Russian-aligned states like Belarus - had refused to show face at the summit, prompting the PM to slate his alleged lack of interest in a "genuine peace".
Sunak is expected back in the UK tonight to continue campaigning.
Candace Owens backs Nigel Farage to 'shake up' British politics
Candace Owens says Nigel Farage is 'the man for the job' ahead of the UK General Election
GBNA / Getty
US Political Commentator Candace Owens has shared her support for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, as the party continues to dominate the General Election campaign trail.
This comes as Farage has demanded to be placed in the BBC's upcoming leadership debate after being left out by the broadcaster.
Addressing the snub at a recent press conference, Farage told supporters: "I would also very much like to do a debate head to head with Keir Starmer. And the reason is very simple. We think that this should be the immigration election."
Ann Widdecombe says she turned down Reform gig for just one key reason
Ann Widdecombe, pictured with Reform heavy hitters Lee Anderson and Richard Tice
PA
Ann Widdecombe has revealed that she resisted Reform's attempts to get her to stand as an MP at this summer's General Election.
Widdecombe, 76, will be campaigning for Nigel Farage's party - and though she praised the Brexit heavyweight for "putting some fire" into "the dullest General Election campaign on Earth", she said she was "determined" not to stand because of the "ginormous" amount of work required while in office.
The former Tory MP said the Reform leadership tried to "twist her arm" into running - but added: "I was absolutely determined I wasn't going to because I'm 76."
She continued: "It isn't so much the parliamentary work I mean, that's fairly straightforward.
"But I think what people don't realise is how huge the constituency work is and you have to be there every single weekend.
"And you know what, I live in Devon... The casework is ginormous, the sheer volume of correspondence now that we've got email, and it's not it's not even as it was when I left, never mind as it was when I joined.
"The thought of doing that from scratch again, hiring staff and so forth, was just too much."
Lord Cameron: 'Inflammatory' Farage is trying to DESTROY the Conservatives
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has slammed Nigel Farage for his so-called "inflammatory language" and "dog whistle" politics in the wake of Reform's surge to second place in the polls.
Speaking to the Times, the ex-PM said Farage was "currently trying to destroy the Conservative Party by standing for Reform", and stressed his desire for "no Reform members of parliament" in order for the Tories to "move forward".
He told the paper: "I think there's room [in the Conservative Party] for people who care about immigration.
"I think there's room for people who want to stand up for strong defence. But the other baggage you get, which can be incredibly divisive, we don't want that.
"Don't forget Enoch Powell stopped Britain talking about immigration for 20 to 30 years. As leader of the opposition I was the first person to make a really big speech on immigration in 2006. I know it's too important an issue to leave on the side."
When quizzed on whether he was conflating the ex-Ukip heavyweight with Enoch Powell, Lord Cameron said: "I didn't say that... My point is what I want is robust policy and measured language. I think with these populists what you get is inflammatory language and hopeless policy."
Responding to Farage's claims that Rishi Sunak didn't "understand our culture", the Foreign Secretary jabbed: "You don't have to watch sheep dog trials to hear a dog whistle."
Rishi Sunak sends heartfelt message to King Charles as monarch celebrates official birthday
Sunak took to social media before his appearance at Horse Guards Parade todayX/PARishi Sunak has taken to social media to show his support for King Charles on his official birthday as the Royal Family gathered to celebrate Trooping the Colour in the heart of London.
In a brief yet emphatic post, the PM simply said: "God Save The King."
The Princess of Wales's presence at events also prompted messages of support from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who took to social media to describe her re-emergence into the public sphere as "encouraging news".
Braverman said: "Chemotherapy is draining and exhausting so, on behalf of everyone in Fareham and Waterlooville, I wish The Princess of Wales strength and good health as she continues her treatment.
"Delighted that she will be at Trooping the Colour later today."
Sunak - alongside his wife Akshata Murty - was pictured amid crowds at a rain-soaked Trooping the Colour this morning, having returned from a G7 summit in southern Italy just yesterday.
His cameo at Horse Guards Parade prompted jibes about his prior drenching in May when he made the snap General Election announcement on a drizzly Downing Street.
Defence Sec on the defensive? Grant Shapps DROPS Tory branding for campaign ads
Grant Shapps has become the latest in a string of Conservative candidates to apparently distance themselves from party branding as they seek reelection on July 4.
In a promotional poster for "Grant Shapps for Welwyn Hatfield", the Defence Secretary makes no mention of any Tory affiliation - making him one of at least three of Rishi Sunak's cabinet members to drop any references to their under-fire party.
Though Shapps has mentioned the Conservatives elsewhere, a Sky analysis found that of 521 Labour and Tory candidates, 41 made no reference to their parties - a shocking 38 of which were Conservative.
Elsewhere, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay and veterans' minister Johnny Mercer have also failed to mention their party affiliation in certain campaign ads.
The fact that certain candidates have leant into personal - rather than party - branding follows worries over the result of a Reform-Tory vote split on the right, which Conservatives including Oliver Dowden have claimed would lead to a Labour "supermajority" in Parliament.
Nigel Farage backed for 'box office' leadership debate against Sir Keir Starmer
Charlie Rowley says Nigel Farage would be 'box office' against Keir Starmer in a debate
PA / GB News
Former Special Adviser to Theresa May and Michael Gove has claimed that Nigel Farage would be "box office" in a head-to-head leadership debate, as the BBC continues to snub the Reform UK leader.
This comes as the broadcaster announced another leadership debate ahead of the July 4 General Election, including the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour and the SNP, but not Reform.
Addressing the snub at a press conference this week, Farage declared that Reform are the "opposition to Labour" and demanded that the BBC "put us in the debate".
Offering a direct challenge to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Farage added: "I would also very much like to do a debate head to head with Keir Starmer. And the reason is very simple. We think that this should be the immigration election."
Suella Braverman blames immigration for Tory struggles
Suella Braverman believes that immigration split the Right
PA
Suella Braverman has blamed immigration for the struggles the Conservative Party are facing in the election campaign.
The former Home Secretary told the Telegraph that she had urged Rishi Sunak to tackle the issue soon and that doing so would have changed things.
She argues that this would have meant that the Right would not be divided as a result.
She said: However, she said: “We shouldn’t have this split on the Right.
"If we’re a proper Conservative Party that just does what we promised to do, like cut migration and cut taxes, we would not have this division… and we’d have another 15 per cent added on to our polling right now.
“I do think that had we done better on immigration, I don’t think we’d be dealing with this problem right now. I urged the Prime Minister for years to take some action on illegal immigration… I was blocked.”
Braverman however added that she was not attacking the PM with her statement and that she was not supporting Reform.
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