Election latest: Starmer denies Labour are giving up battle against Farage (2024)

Rishi Sunak took questions from workers at a pottery plant in Derbyshire a short while ago - but they didn't exactly heap on the praise.

One worker told the PM that things had got "infinitely worse" since 2010 when the Tories took office, including soaring use of food banks which he labelled "not acceptable".

The PM replied: "I don't want anyone to have to use a food bank.

"But I'm also very grateful to all those people who volunteer for them, who support them, so that they are there for those who need."

He acknowledged there are "lots of frustrations that you, and others, will have about some things in the past".

But he argued the election is "about the future", and pitched the Conservatives as the party of financial security.

He was pushed on the matter of taxing "the millionaires and the billionaires" more, but replied: "Actually the proportion of tax paid by the richest people in income tax is higher today than it was in 2010 ... so that is already happening.

"And I want to keep cutting taxes for everyone who's working hard."

Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak took part in an election event hosted by The Sun, which saw both take questions from the newspaper's readers.

One moment that has since caused a stir on social media was when the Labour leader appeared to single out people from Bangladesh when discussing illegal migrants not being deported quickly enough.

He has today sought to clarify that he values the "massive contribution" Bangladeshis have made to the UK - and the "longstanding and strong relationship" they have with the Labour Party.

Sir Keir said his first overseas trip as a Labour MP was to Bangladesh, and that many of his constituents are from the country.

"The reference in the debate the other day was an example of a country considered safe as far as asylum is concerned, and one of the countries that's actually got a returns agreement with us," he added.

"That is actually a good thing," said the Labour leader, adding: "I certainly wasn't intending to cause any concern or offence."

Reports in recent days have suggested Labour may have all but given up fighting for the seat of Clacton ahead of the election next week.

According to The Guardian, the party isn't doing much to help their candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul because officials are upset at how much traction he's been getting on social media - with some posts apparently getting more engagement than those by Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Owusu-Nepaul has reportedly been deployed to the West Midlands for the campaign there instead, with his party seemingly abandoning the Essex seaside town.

Clacton has been in the spotlight during the campaign since Reform's Nigel Farage entered the race there.

Labour leader Sir Keir has insisted there's still a fight to be had.

"We are fighting everywhere, including in Clacton," he said.

"We want to take the fight to the Tories and Reform wherever they are.

"We are not backing down in Clacton, we are not backing down anywhere across the country."

The other candidates besides Mr Owusu-Nepaul and Mr Farage are:

• Matthew Bensilum, Lib Dems;
• Craig Jamieson, Climate Party;
• Tony Mack, independent;
• Natasha Osben, Greens;
• Tasos Papanastasiou, Heritage Party;
• Andrew Pemberton, UKIP;
• Giles Watling, Conservatives.

Rishi Sunak has refused to say if he told one of his closest parliamentary aides the date of the election before he placed a bet on it.

Just to remind you, Craig Williams, who has now been suspended as the Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, admitted he "committed a serious error of judgment" but "not an offence" and declared he would continue to fight to win his seat.

Speaking to broadcasters, the PM insisted he was "furious" when he first learned about the allegations, and added "if anyone is breaking the rules, they should face the full consequences of the law, whether that's the Gambling Commission or the police."

Pushed repeatedly on whether he told Mr Williams - his parliamentary private secretary - the date in advance, Mr Sunak refused to say.

"It's absolutely not right when there are ongoing independent investigations, that those aren't compromised in any way, shape or form, they are rightly confidential," he said.

On behalf of all broadcasters, Sky's Sam Coates pointed out to Mr Sunak he cannot prejudice an investigation, only a jury.

But Mr Sunak still refused to say if he told Mr Williams the date of the election before it became public.

"Whilst there are ongoing independent investigations, including, as you said, by the police, it's important that those matters are allowed to proceed properly."

The other candidates for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:

• Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party;
• Oliver Lewis, Reform UK;
• Glyn Preston, Liberal Democrats;
• Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru;
• Steve Witherden, Labour.

It's the morning after the night that saw Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash for the final time before the general election.

Here's everything you need to know - and some of what's still to come.

• Reform UKhas won the backing of Sir John Hall, a former Tory donor and Newcastle United owner;
• He was introduced at a campaign event by Nigel Farage, as the party looks for more support with just a week to go until polling day.

• The Metropolitan Police have issued an update on their investigation into bets being placed on the date of the election;
• There are now seven officers under investigation;
• Meanwhile, a Gambling Commission source has told Sky News the force could take over all cases currently being looked into - including those involving parliamentary candidates and party officials.

• Junior doctors are on strike today and have expressed disappointment at the approaches of both the Tory government and Labour;
• The co-chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee told Sky News the prime minister had failed to offer a "credible commitment" on pay;
• He also warned Keir Starmer strikes would continue if his possible new government didn't "negotiate in good faith".

• Elsewhere, our political reporter Faye Brown has revealed more large donations from the chancellor to his local party;
• Jeremy Hunt is under huge threat from the Lib Dems in his constituency of Godalming and Ash and has donated another £32,000 of his own money, latest figures reveal.

You won't want to miss tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge at 7pm, which features the latest of our in-depth interviews with party leaders.

This time it's the man who could be Britain's next prime minister: Labour's Sir Keir Starmer.

Stick with us through the afternoon for the latest news and analysis from the campaign trail.

A donor who has given more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party since 2007 has defected to Reform UK.

Sir John Hall, the former Newcastle United owner, is at Nigel Farage's rally in County Durham that is under way now.

He was integral to funding the Conservative 2017 snap election campaign, called by then PM Theresa May.

Speaking at the rally, Mr Farage said he is "delighted" that Sir John has joined them and given a donation to the party.

The businessman did not join Mr Farage on stage, but waved from the back of the hall as the crowd stood up and cheered.

As the election campaign enters the final week, Rishi Sunak has acknowledged that voters have left the Conservative Party in recent years - but appealed for public support.

Speaking during a visit to a pottery factory in Derbyshire, the prime minister said: "I understand why many of you might be hesitant about supporting us again at this election.

"I'm not blind to the frustrations that you feel about me, about our party."

He blamed many of the struggles on COVID and the war in Ukraine, but did concede the Tories "haven't got everything right", saying: "We've made mistakes, and we haven't made as much progress in all areas as we would have liked."

But he went on: "This is not a by-election. This is a choice about the future of our country and a choice that is going to have profound consequences for you, your family finances and the direction of our nation.

"Before you make that choice, you should just think very hard about what a Labour government would actually mean for you."

The PM said "you can't be sure" because Sir Keir Starmer "changes his mind on almost every major position he has taken".

As the general election campaign enters its final week, the party leaders are out on the campaign trail making their pitches to voters.

Rishi Sunak has just given a stump speech at a pottery factory in Derbyshire as he tries to claw back a few of the voters who have abandoned his party, and is now holding a Q&A.

Watch in the stream below:

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is giving a speech in County Durham as he continues his attempt to destroy the Conservative Party and win seats in parliament.

You can watch that one here:

The Metropolitan Police has just given an update on the investigation into bets around the general election.

Seven police officers have so far been identified as having placed bets on the timing of the election, the force said.

One of Rishi Sunak's close protection officers was arrested 10 days agoon suspicion of misconduct in public office. The officer has been bailed and is subject to restricted duties.

A further six officers have been identified as having placed bets on the timing of the election, and are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

The Met also clarified exactly how the investigation will work.

Bets that are suspected to fall under the cheating section of the Gambling Act will be investigated by the Gambling Commission, and are "likely to make up the majority of cases".

The gambling watchdog is empowered to bring criminal prosecutions where crimes are suspected to have been committed.

Bets that are suspect to be in breach of the Gambling Act, but with "special features" that could mean other offences could apply, such as misconduct in public office, will be "assessed by the Met's Specialist Crime Command to determine what further investigation is required".

"The number of these cases is likely to be much smaller than those in the first category," the force said.

In a statement, Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said they are "focused on an investigation into confidential information being used to gain an unfair advantage when betting on the date of the general election".

He added they cannot provide the names of anyone potentially under suspicion "to protect the integrity of the investigation and to ensure a fair and just outcome".