Labour forecast huge majority as Tories face worst result in 100 years - live

Grant Shapps says a vote for Reform is a vote for Sir Keir Starmer

Grant Shapps says a vote for Reform is a vote for Sir Keir Starmer.

500 deaths is criminal and you can't blame it on strikers - Voice of the Mirror

The Tory minister's comments come after Nigel Farage announced he was standing for parliament a little earlier today.

The only possible outcomes on 5 July are either Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak become prime minister, Mr Shapps says.

On backing Reform, he says the party's voters would only end up with the Labour leader "being handed more power to do things you really don't want him to do with this country".

"I always accept that my seat is at risk."

Defence secretary @grantshapps reacts to the YouGov poll that projects him to lose his seat.#PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii

Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/HGYiAzYl6e

— Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) June 3, 2024

Grant Shapps 'always thought his seat has been marginal'

Grant Shapps was the MP for Welwyn Hatfield before parliament was dissolved, and is contesting the seat again.

He says that polling in his seat that took place recently had him down as winning it.

But Mr Shapps deploys one of the most well-worn of political phrases - that "the only poll that matters is the one on election day".

He also told Sky News he has "always thought of it as being marginal".

Conservatives’ first election broadcast has a glaring blunder

Conservative Party's first election broadcast appears to show the Union Flag flying the wrong way up - which is a distress signal.

Images of the shot in the clip have been shared on X, which was known as Twitter.

The video features the Union Flag but to deliberately fly the flag upside down is a signal indicating a situation of distress.

Oh dear. The Conservatives’ first election broadcast shows the union flag flying the wrong way up, which is a distress signal…
(h/t @Markwmw_02) pic.twitter.com/smWO5y7nHC

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) June 3, 2024

Labour promises to crack down on 'unfair' car insurers as quoted prices leap 56%

Labour has called for an ­investigation into the “out of ­control” cost of car insurance.

Millions of drivers have been hit by the rocketing price of motor insurance over the past two or three years.

Insurers say they are passing on a sharp rise in the cost of claims, driven by a big increase in everything from car parts to second-hand motors.

Many in the industry insist they have been making a loss on motor policies. But Louise Haigh, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said the Financial Conduct Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority needed to probe the sector.

She said: “Car insurance is a legal requirement and an essential – not a luxury. Labour won’t sit back and watch while drivers are punished by the out-of-control cost of cover.

“We will urgently call in the regulators to crack down on any unfair practices and to come clean on the causes of soaring costs for consumers.”

Keir Starmer warned it'd be 'Boris-esque' to ignore WASPI compensation report

WASPI campaigners have warned Keir Starmer that failing to commit to compensation would be "Boris-esque".

The Labour leader last week blasted the Government for not responding to a bombshell watchdog report calling for payouts. But he has yet to say if he will sign off on a compensation package for victims of the state pension age shambles.

In a letter to Mr Starmer, campaigners from the Women Against State Pension Inequality ( WASPI ) group say Labour MPs have been "endlessly supportive" of calls for justice. But they say it would be a "travesty" if a Labour Government doesn't deliver.

Tens of thousands of women born in the 1950s were plunged into poverty when the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to properly inform them the pension age was going up. In March the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman suggested women should get £1,000 to £2,950 each. Its report called on Parliament to urgently set up a compensation scheme.

Photographs of a Women Against State Pension Injustice (Manchester Evening News)

Clacton residents react to Nigel Farage's decision to stand for the constituency

Residents of Clacton have given a mixed reaction to Nigel Farage's decision to stand as the Reform UK candidate for the constituency at the General Election.

The party's founder announced on Monday that he will be contesting the Essex seat and is taking over from Richard Tice as party leader.

As the announcement was made, the high street of the seaside town was quiet despite the mild weather and people did not seem keen to speak about the upcoming election or about Mr Farage's announcement.

However, Edel Ruddy, 58, who has lived in Clacton for 40 years, told the PA news agency she would "definitely" be voting for Mr Farage on July 4 as she believed "his heart was in the right place" and he would "stand up" for the local area.

Ms Ruddy added she felt it was "unfair" that businesses in Clacton were closing down and that the town has been "forgotten". She added: "No one wants to fight for Clacton."

When asked what she supported about Mr Farage's politics, Ms Ruddy said: "I think he's the sort of person that will try and encourage people to do what they can to make things better.

"It's the fact that he wants to try, especially here in Clacton. Clacton is so forgotten in so many ways - it's just utterly ridiculous and unfair."

Sophie Cassen, 21, a catering industry worker who works and lives in Clacton, said she would not be voting in the upcoming election and that she did not know who Mr Farage is.

When asked for her thoughts on the former MEP's announcement, she said: "I don't know who he is. I don't really keep up to that sort of stuff - I don't really pay attention to politics. I just don't really know how to - I don't really go on the news or anything like that."

George Charalambous, 59, who moved to Clacton from east London around five months ago, said he thought voting for the Reform UK candidate was a "wasted vote" as Mr Farage "wouldn't achieve much" if elected to Parliament.

The former factory worker said he would be voting for Labour but would also consider voting tactically either for Reform UK or the Liberal Democrats in order to defeat the Conservative candidate.

When asked for his opinion on Mr Farage's decision to contest the Essex seat, he said: "He's not going to achieve much because we've done Brexit.

"I am a Labour supporter, so would I vote for him? If he was a second choice, I say yeah, I probably would. At the end of the day, it's sort of tactics really - I mean Clacton is a Conservative area, so obviously I want someone else to win."

Jason Matthews, 51, who works in the care industry, said he "loved" Mr Farage and welcomed the news that he would be standing in Clacton.

He said: "I just love him as a person. Given the chance, I feel like he should be leading the Conservative Party really to be honest."

When asked whether there were any Reform UK policies in particular that he supported, Mr Matthews replied: "Not really - I just like Nigel Farage as a person."

Rishi Sunak's election campaign in meltdown as he needs TV debate 'game changer'

Rishi Sunak’s election campaign has been sent into meltdown as a mega-poll shows the Tories are heading for wipeout.

His nightmare got even worse tonight as Nigel Farage announced he’s making a return as leader of Reform UK.

Mr Sunak desperately needs to land a knockout blow in Tuesday night's TV debate, but even his own party appears to have given up hope. He will face Keir Starmer in the first televised showdown of the election campaign. A Tory source said: “Rishi needs a game changer. But it won’t happen.”

The pair will take part in a 70-minute head-to-head on ITV at 9pm on Tuesday. They will face questions from host Julie Etchingham as well as the audience, made up of members of the public.

Meet the military veterans standing for Labour at the General Election

Keir Starmer has hailed Labour as the party of "national security" as he was flanked by military veterans standing for the party at the General Election.

The decorated heroes - with over 100 years of service among them - stood on stage with the Labour leader as he vowed to make the country's safety the number one priority if he wins the keys to No10.

In a speech at the Fusiliers Museum in Bury, Mr Starmer made clear his commitment to the Trident nuclear deterrent system was "absolute" and the "foundation of any plan to keep Britain safe". Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Thursday he remembered the bravery and courage of soldiers that served.

But he warned the world is "perhaps more dangerous and volatile than any time since then" as he said the "post-war era is over" and a new "age of insecurity" has begun with conflicts across the globe.

Sir Keir Starmer and John Healey meet with some of the 14 former military parliamentary candidates Labour has selected (PA)

'It would be a historic result' - reaction to YouGov's poll

Patrick English, an expert from YouGov, has spoken about the results of his organisation's poll.

It's predicting Sir Keir Starmer will become prime minister with a majority of 194 seats.

It would be a "historic result", Mr English told Sky News tonight.

Though he notes developments like the announcement of Nigel Farage as a candidate today - not account for in the polling - will have an impact on the results. He also highlights the scale of the analysis - with almost 60,000 people having spoken to YouGov in the last week.

Nigel Farage's strategy is modelled on Canada’s Reform Party - which attacked that nation's Conservatives

Reform could contribute to Conservatives' defeat in some areas, it is thought.

The UK’s first-past-the-post electoral system — in which the candidate with the highest number of votes in each area wins — makes it unlikely that Reform could win many seats.

But Nigel Farage said he is modelling his strategy on Canada’s Reform Party, which helped push that country’s Conservatives to the verge of wipeout in a 1993 election before reshaping Canadian conservative politics.

And the UK Conservatives, trailing in the polls, have focused their campaign on shoring up its vote by targeting older voters and social conservatives — the groups most likely to defect to Reform. Conservative campaign promises include a boost to the state pension and a plan to make all 18-year-olds undertake a year of civilian or military national service.

Reform will act as 'the voice of opposition in the next parliament,' says Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage said there had been "no attempt at seduction at all" from the Tories when asked if Reform UK had been approached about a potential electoral pact.

He said he was aiming for "this political party to become the voice of opposition in the next parliament" which he claimed the Conservatives are "incapable" of being.

"There has been no attempt at seduction at all, at least not that I've noticed," he said.

Asked what qualities he thinks he has which Richard Tice lacks, Mr Farage said: "Look, I've been doing this longer than Richard... there's a people's army out there that I built up over many, many years and they're still there.

"And they're very fond of Richard but they know me a little bit better. It's just as simple as that."

Nigel Farage pictured during a press conference to announce that he will become the new leader of Reform UK (PA)

Incredible moment Grant Shapp hangs up on Sky News journalist - live on air

This is the bizarre moment Grant Shapps hung up on Sky News Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates live on TV.

Sam asked the Secretary of State for Defence about polling that has him losing his seat - Welwyn Hatfield.

But the Tory politician, who has previously served in various cabinet posts, swiftly ended the call.

The curious exchange on live TV came after Sky News discussed the bombshell mega-poll which predicts a Tory wipeout with worst result in more than 100 years.

Grant Shapps just rang @SamCoatesSky live on @SkyNews and Sam asked him about polling that has him losing his seat.

Grant Shapps then hung up. pic.twitter.com/whvTchCkZp

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) June 3, 2024

Nigel Farage has red wine in hand as he talks to journalists

Following his address, Nigel Farage remains in the room and is liaising with journalists from various newspapers.

He holds a glass of red wine in his hand as he talks.

Print journalists are getting a little huddle with Nigel Farage… who has a red wine in hand. pic.twitter.com/XqIcVYPsSV

— Sophie Huskisson (@soph_husk) June 3, 2024

The 12 Tory Cabinet ministers set to lose seats according to bombshell poll

Top Tories Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps face being ousted in an election wipeout, a mega-poll has found.

Twelve of the 26 ministers who sit around the Cabinet table are set to be kicked out. The Conservatives would lose 232 seats compared to 2019, dropping to just 140, according to YouGov's projection.

The bombshell survey of almost 60,000 people forecasts that Rishi Sunak is on course to lead the party to its worst result in history. Cabinet casualties would include Esther McVey, Mel Stride, Victoria Pentis, Johnny Mercer and Simon Hart.

The MRP poll predicts Labour would win a 194-seat majority, the highest number since Stanley Baldwin won a majority of 208 in 1924.

Conservative Party hits back after Nigel Farage's scathing criticism

The Tories said Nigel Farage is "doing exactly what Keir Starmer wants him to do" by entering the General Election fray.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Nigel Farage risks handing Keir Starmer a blank cheque to rejoin the EU, impose the retirement tax on pensioners and hike taxes on hardworking Brits up and down the UK.

"Farage knows that Reform won't win any seats, but he doesn't seem to care that a vote for Reform only helps Labour. He's doing exactly what Keir Starmer wants him to do.

"Just yesterday, EU insiders openly voiced their expectation that Starmer would seek a softer Brexit deal, opening the door to rejoining the EU all together. That would mean uncontrolled immigration and betraying the will of the British people.

"Is Farage really willing to risk undoing his life's work by handing Starmer a blank cheque to rejoin the EU? Only a vote for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives can deliver a clear plan, bold action and a secure future for our country."

Labour on track to beat 1997 landslide, new YouGov poll says

Labour is on track to beat its landslide of 1997, a new YouGov poll says.

The research suggests Sir Keir Starmer could be heading to Downing Street with a historic majority of 194 seats. With a central projection of 422 Labour wins, this result would be beyond landslide territory. Not only would Starmer’s majority be bigger than the number Tony Blair achieved in 1997 (179), but it would in fact be the second largest majority in British political history after Stanley Baldwin’s figure of 210 in 1924.

The data comes in YouGov's first MRP projection of the 2024 British general election.

It comes after Mr Sunak was dealt another hammer blow with news that Nigel Farageintends to stand for Reform UK.

The poll makes promising reading for Labour and Sir Keir Starmer (Getty Images)

Election history for Clacton

The Conservatives held Clacton in 2019 with a majority of 24,702 in an election in which the Brexit Party, led by Mr Farage, stood down candidates to help then Tory leader Boris Johnson.

Clacton was the scene of a Ukip by-election win in 2014, triggered by Douglas Carswell's defection from the Tories.

Mr Carswell held the seat in 2015 before the Tories regained it in 2017.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "The Conservative Party has already become the mirror image of Nigel Farage's Reform.

"Rishi Sunak's constant pandering to Reform has horrified former lifelong Conservative voters in the centre ground.

"Sunak must show some backbone and rule out Farage ever joining the Conservative Party in future, including if he gets elected to be an MP."

Nigel Farage quizzed on whether he sought Donald Trump's advice

Nigel Farage is asked whether he sought Donald Trump's advice - but Mr Farage responds stating: "the Donald has other things to be dealing with".

"He's been rather busy - including joining TikTok," he adds.

He says Donald Trump's conviction made no difference to his own decision to stand.

"I've now no doubt he'll win the presidential election - but America becomes ever more divided and the whole thing becomes ever more worrying."

Mr Farage is asked to address the fact Reform is already fielding a candidate in Clacton.

"He knew for many months that this was a possibility. For many, many months, this was a possibility. Not a probability, but a possibility," he says.

Mr Farage says he has changed his mind and is ready to stand (AFP via Getty Images)

Nigel Farage is out to win more votes than Ukip in 2015

Nigel Farage adds he wants to win more votes than Ukip did in 2015 - when they took four million.

The politican says some might expect Reform to take votes off the Conservatives but he is also targeting those who vote Labour, and those who are politically disaffected. He adds he is coming back for "the next five years".

Mr Farage then reiterates his party's focus on immigration, and criticises people shouting "Allahu Akbar" after the local elections.

Nigel Farage says he has 'changed his mind' (PA)

Who else is battling for Clacton?

The other candidates for Clacton are:

• Matthew Bensilum, Liberal Democrats;
• Natasha Osben, Green Party;
• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, Labour Party;
• Giles Watling, Conservatives.

Mr Watling has held the seat since 2017.

Nigel Farage to stand at General Election

Nigel Farage has confirmed he is standing at the Election.

He will battle to represent Clacton, Essex, as he says the Conservative Party is "incapable" and "split down the middle on policy". He says he is appealing to both Tory voters and the Labour Party.

Mr Farage says he "changed his mind" to make the big decision and run for the Essex seat.

Nigel Farage says “I’ve changed my mind” and will stand as an MP at the General Election pic.twitter.com/CgyIspplYP

— Sophie Huskisson (@soph_husk) June 3, 2024

'Starmer has won this election,' Nigel Farage declares

Nigel Farage has insisted "Starmer has won this election" - but said things "won't change but might get worse".

Mr Farage, 60, then refers to the Brexit vote. He says: "We believe that the Westminster political class are now even more detached than when they were before that referendum stunned everybody."

And he says he believes taxes will remain high, despite which party wins the election.

Nigel Farage is the new leader of Reform UK

Nigel Farage is taking over as the leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice says

Mr Farage calls the election campaign the "dullest" in our lifetime so far.

The former Ukip leader has gone on to attack Labour and the Conservatives on immigration. He is yet, though, to confirm if he is standing in the election.

Nigel Farage is the new leader of the Reform party pic.twitter.com/QwgH20W6EZ

— Caroline Coram (@CarolineCoramUK) June 3, 2024

Farage's 'emergency General Election announcement' set to begin

Nigel Farage’s "Emergency General Election announcement" is about to begin.

At the beginning of the campaign, the 60-year-old said he would not be standing for the party at the forthcoming election, though he has been heavily involved in Reform's campaign so far.

He earlier wrote on X: "I will be making an Emergency General Election announcement at 4pm today".

Sunak jokes he likes to walk around no.10 in his pyjamas

Rishi Sunak joked he wanders around the corridors of Downing Street in his night clothes “when no one is looking”.

The girls’ football team asked him if he ever walked around in just his pyjamas.

He joked: “When no one is looking, I do."

Rishi Sunak a Swiftie and country music fan

Rishi added to the girls’ football team he is “slowly” getting into country music - and he is also a Swiftie.

The Tory leader revealed he likes listening to The Cowboy In Me by Tim McGraw, which he heard in the television series Yellowstone. He added he also likes Taylor Swift.

Rishi Sunak's Nando's order revealed - and he likes 'good broccoli'

Rishi Sunak has revealed his favourite Nando’s order during a stop on the south coast - and he likes a little broccoli on the side.

The Tory leader was asked by a girls’ football team what he likes in the chicken restaurant. He said he likes to “mix it up”, adding his order is a half chicken, medium spiced, with chips and broccoli, adding: "It's good broccoli."

Sometimes he has boneless thighs, he added

'Only Lib Dems can protect rivers and beaches'

Fresh from the Lib Dems’ stunt on the river behind Tory leader Rishi Sunak, the party says “only they” would protect the country’s rivers and beaches.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the party wrote: “Only the Liberal Democrats would protect our rivers and beaches and end the sewage scandal for good.

“We would create a new Blue Flag status for UK rivers, setting legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping in those sites. This would give special protected status for swimmers and wildlife.

We would also introduce an expansion of the blue belt of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to cover at least 50% of the UK territorial waters by 2030, further protecting our coastal marine wildlife. Back our campaign to end the sewage scandal today.”

BREAKING NEWS:

Only the Liberal Democrats would protect our rivers and beaches and end the sewage scandal for good. pic.twitter.com/15uymNiv25

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) June 3, 2024

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak to face off in TV debate tomorrow

The first televised debate of the General Election is set to take place tomorrow - and it'll be a straight head-to-head clash between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

The ITV debate will start at 9pm on Tuesday and is scheduled to last one hour. It'll be moderated by Julie Etchingham, who also hosted debates in the last three national polls.

'Rattled Rishi' is 'on the run' say boat campaigners

After the initial boat stunt, a later video appeared to show the PM running away from the area as the Lib Dems turned their boat around to pass by him again.

A Lib Dem source added: "Rattled Rishi is on the run in former Conservative heartlands.. It’s not the first time the Prime Minister has run scared of the Liberal Democrats.

"Rishi Sunak’s desperate attempts to cling onto power simply won’t wash with voters after years of broken Conservative promises."