Tag Archives: general election

The Sun Newspaper Officially Backs Labour Hours Before Polls Open

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The Sun newspaper has officially endorsed the Labour Party just one day before the public head to the polls in a major victory for Keir Starmer.

The best-selling tabloid, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, announced “it’s time for a change” in an editorial published online.

This afternoon, the newspaper shared an early version of Thursday’s front page, complete with the headline: “As Britain goes to the polls, it’s time for a new manager (and we don’t mean Southgate).”

The paper has a track record of backing election winners.

It famously claimed to have swayed 10 million readers to vote for Tory John Major in 1992, leading to its well-known headline: “It was the Sun wot won it.”

It later supported Labour shortly before Tony Blair took the party into three election victories, only to move away from the party in 2009.

It stayed loyal to the Conservatives over the next 15 years – which is why today’s switch is a major win for Starmer.

The editorial admitted that PM Rishi Sunak “has many policies which we can support” such as the Rwanda deportation plan, and the pledge to drop National Insurance contributions for workers.

It also praised the “ban on teaching harmful gender ideology in schools”, “putting the brakes on the headlong rush towards Net Zero” and Sunak’s commitment to “our Brexit freedoms”.

However, the pro-Brexit newspaper said the party has become “a divided rabble, more interested in fighting themselves than running the country”.

The Sun said the party needs to be in Opposition to unite “around a common set of principles”.

It also stopped short of endorsing Nigel Farage’s populist party Reform, saying those his manifesto “has struck a chord with millions” it is “a one-man band” – and swiftly described the Liberal Democrats as “a joke”.

The editorial seems to come around to Labour through a process of elimination, saying while it was “still a work in progress” and there are “plenty of concerns” remaining, Starmer has pulled his “party back to the centre ground of British politics for the first time since Tony Blair was in No.10”.

The endorsement comes as all signs point to a landslide victory for Labour.

A Survation poll of more than 30,000 people predicted the party would take more seats than Blair did in 1997, winning 484 in total – leaving the Tories with just 64 MPs.

The Sun joined the Financial Times, the The Sunday Times, the Daily Mirror and the Guardian, along with The Economist, in backing the Opposition.

The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph have backed the Conservatives.

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Police Say Reform Activists Did Not Commit Any Criminal Offences In Secret Footage

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Police have concluded “no criminal offence” was committed by Reform UK activists after reviewing the recent expose into the party’s activists.

Last week, an undercover reporter for Channel 4 News secretly filmed supporters of Nigel Farage’s party using racist and misogynistic language.

A party canvasser, Andrew Parker, was filmed saying: “I’ve always been a Tory voter, but what annoys me is that fucking P*** we’ve got in.

“What good is he? You tell me, you know. He’s just wet. Fucking useless.”

He was also heard advocating shooting people arriving in the UK by small boats across the England Channel, saying,“fucking just shoot them”, and suggested Reform should “kick Muslims out of mosques and turn them into Wetherspoons”.

A senior Farage aide was also seen in the footage looking at a police car with a Pride flag displayed. They said: “What are the old bill doing promoting that crap? They should be out catching nonces not promoting the fuckers.”

The investigation prompted the local police force to announce they were “urgently assessing” the material.

But on Wednesday, Essex Police said they had reviewed the footage and found no evidence of a crime.

In a statement, the force said: “Having assessed the comments made during a Channel 4 news programme, and all other information available to us, we have concluded that no criminal offences have taken place.”

PM Rishi Sunak responded to the racist term used about him last Friday by saying “it makes me angry” and said Farage “has some questions to answer”.

The Reform leader then released a statement saying he was ’dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign” and said they would no longer be with the campaign.

Channel 4 and Parker both had to deny last week that the activist was an actor who was paid to be in the video, after Farage stoked the conspiracy.

He claimed on X: “Andrew Parker was the man that made the astonishing racist comments that have given us so much negative coverage. We now learn that he is an actor by profession.”

Channel 4 said it stood by “our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself”, and explained its reporters first met Parker at Reform UK headquarters when he was a party canvasser.

Parker himself apologised to Press Association for his remarks, saying: “Of course I’m sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says.”

Reform confirmed Parker was a volunteer for the party but said he was longer part of the campaign.

Less than a week after those comments were first publicised, two Reform candidates officially defected to the Conservatives.

Georgie David said she believed the “vast majority” of those standing for the party are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”, while Liam Booth-Isherwood accused the leadership of not taking racism within Reform seriously.

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Here’s What Is Going On With Postal Votes – And What You Can Do If You Have Not Received A Ballot

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Concerns that postal ballots are not arriving at some voters’ doors have triggered a blame game between the Royal Mail and the government.

Here’s what happened, why it matters for Thursday’s general election – and what to do if you are yet to receive your own postal ballot.

What’s happened?

There have been widespread reports that thousands of postal ballots have not being delivered in time by their local councils.

According to The Telegraph, more than 90 constituencies across England and Scotland – including seats where cabinet ministers are standing for re-election – have expressed fears that ballots have still not been delivered.

Why does this matter?

Postal voters have until Wednesday to cast their ballot by mail, otherwise they can take their ballot to the address on their postal voting pack during office hours before 5pm on polling day.

In 2019, 21% of voters sent their ballot by post – but for this election, it’s expected to have shot up to 25%.

There were 1.3m postal vote applications made between May 22 and June 19, according to the Local Government Association, which represents councils.

It said: “This unprecedented increase adds more pressure to an already complex process and overburdened system.

“Councils and electoral staff across the country have been doing their utmost to ensure the smooth running of this election and that people can vote.

“We are aware of reports of incidents where delays have happened.

“The postal vote system could benefit from review and more could be done to support Royal Mail and printers to be ready to deliver elections.”

This delay with the postal votes is a particular issue in Scotland because school summer holidays have already begun – and some families have already left the country.

The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his party had warned the government this could happen if an election was held in July.

He told BBC Breakfast: “If their postal vote didn’t land in time then they’re now disenfranchised in this election.”

He told Sky News the blame “lies at Sunak’s doorstep”.

What does the government say?

On Tuesday, Conservative minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News the government is “urgently” looking into why some voters are still waiting to receive their postal ballots.

She said postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake is taking this “very seriously” and speaking to Royal Mail.

Caulfield added: “I know there’s extra resources going into this to try and do a sweep of all the sorting offices and make sure they’re out there.”

Hollinrake has publicly pressed Royal Mail to “do all they can” to ensure postal votes get to voters on time, while warning of a “resourcing issue”.

He told the Telegraph: “They have recruited extra people and I welcome that but they’ve got to make sure they’ve got the right number of people to deliver the mail at busy times like this.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission – which oversees UK elections – said there were pressures on the postal voting system due to the holiday season”.

It said it intends to carry out a review after the election, adding: “The vast majority of postal votes have been delivered, with tens of thousands landing on doorsteps over the weekend. We are not aware of any outstanding large-scale issues.”

What does Royal Mail say?

The organisation says it is delivering the postal ballots as soon as they can, and said where specific concerns have been raised, their investigations have confirmed they are “being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network”.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We have no backlog of postal votes and, whilst we are not complacent, we remain confident that postal votes handed to us on time will be delivered prior to polling day.”

It is now calling for a review into the timetable of how the printing and administration of the ballots are handled before they are given to Royal Mail for distribution.

PM Rishi Sunak praised the organisation’s approach, saying: “It’s right that the Royal Mail have said that they will look at any concerns where they’re raised, because obviously we want to make sure everyone can vote because this is an important election.”

What happens if you receive your postal vote late?

If you have not yet received your postal ballot, you are advised to contact your local authority for a replacement.

You can take your postal vote to your local polling station on Thursday if you receive it late.

It is no longer possible to apply for a proxy vote – where someone else votes for you – as that deadline has passed.

Some Scottish councils have set up emergency voting centres for those going on holiday who are yet to receive a postal ballot.

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Rishi Sunak Has Insisted He Is ‘Proud’ Of The Tories’ Disastrous Election Campaign

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Rishi Sunak has insisted has insisted he is “proud” of the Tories’ disastrous general election campaign.

The prime minister made the surprising comment during an ill-tempered interview with Laura Kuenssberg this morning.

With just four days to go until the country goes to the polls, the Conservatives remain as far behind Labour as they were when Sunak called the election nearly six weeks ago.

Since then, the PM has been hit by a string of gaffes, controversy and scandal.

Despite this, Sunak said: “This campaign is something that I am proud of, and that’s what I’m here to talk about.”

An incredulous Kuenssberg replied: “Really? After everything, you’re proud of the campaign.”

The PM said: “Yes, I am.”

Sunak’s troubles began on the very first day of the campaign, when he was soaked to the skin while announcing the election date outside the front door of No.10.

He was also forced to apologise following a furious backlash after he left the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings early.

The last two weeks of the campaign have also been overshadowed by the Tory gambling scandal, which saw Sunak eventually dump two candidates accused of betting on the date of the election.

Two senior party official have also taken leaves of absence over the controversy, while one of Sunak’s close protection team has been arrested.

Dozens of opinion polls throughout the campaign have also confirmed that the Tories are on course for their worst ever election result, with predictions that they could even end up with fewer than 100 seats.

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Keir Starmer Vows To Quit As Labour Leader If He Loses The Election

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He made the unusual announcement during a Radio 5Live phone-in this morning.

Asked by presenter Nicky Campbell is he will stand down should the Tories secure a fifth term in office, Starmer replied: “Yes.”

Usually, leaders dodge that question during election campaigns as it effectively puts their own personal future on the ballot paper.

However, the fact that Starmer was willing to say he will resign demonstrates that he is confident of victory.

Despite expectations that Labour’s commanding lead in the opinion polls would narrow during the campaign, the party remains around 20 points ahead with less than a week to go until election day.

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Nigel Farage Mocked Over Reform UK’s ‘Deeply Unserious’ Plan To Cut Taxes And Raise Spending

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Reform UK’s plans to cut taxes while also massively increasing public spending has been branded “deeply unserious” as the party unveiled its general election “contract” with voters.

The document – which party leader Nigel Farage refused to call a manifesto – was launched as the right-wing party threatens to torpedo any lingering chance the Tories had of staying in power.

It included plans to boost public spending by £141 billion a year – many times more than either Labour or the Conservatives have proposed – while at the same time cutting taxes by £70 billion.

Other pledges include scrapping the UK’s net zero commitments, pulling the country out of the European Convention on Human Rights and freezing “non-essential” immigration.

But at the launch of the 26-page document in Merthyr Tydfil, Farage endured a rough ride from sceptical political journalists who queried.

The BBC’s Alex Forsyth said: “You’ve talked about the costings, you’ve talked about the spendings, but some of the stuff in here – a freeze on immigration, NHS waiting lists down to zero, more police officers.

“You accuse other parties of broken promises, but isn’t this a list of unrealistic promises – wish-list rather than a serious plan? Aren’t you doing what you accuse others of, which is chucking out a load of things which sound popular in the hope you get votes, that you never plan to deliver on?”

Farage replied: “It is a promise that this is what we’re going to campaign for over the course of the next five years.”

He said that Reform UK would not win the election, but would be “a voice of opposition to Labour” in the Commons.

“We’ve laid out very clearly where we stand philosophically, ideologically, on a number of things and this is what we’re going to fight for,” Farage added. “I see no inconsistency with that whatsoever.”

Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates told Farage: “In your contract, your proposing to spend an extra £141 billion every year. That’s about 30 times the amount that Labour say they’re going to spend, 10 times the amount of the Tories and about three times what Liz Truss spent.

“You did say you weren’t going to win the next election, but the scale of this – it’s deeply unserious, isn’t it?”

Farage replied: “That’s right, it’s radical, it’s fresh thinking, it’s outside the box, it’s not what you’re going to get with the current Labour and Conservative parties, who are virtually indistinguishable from each other.

“Is this radical, fresh thinking on economics? Yes. Is it radical, fresh thinking on constitutional change? Yes. Is it very radical change on the way our education system is currently bringing up our young children? Yes.

“Britain is broken, Britain needs reform. That’s what we’re here for, that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re unashamedly radical – we want change.”

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‘Admission Of Defeat’: Laura Kuenssberg Calls Out ‘Desperate’ Tory Campaign Tactics

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Laura Kuenssberg laid into transport secretary Mark Harper on Sunday and said the Conservatives’ campaign tactics are “desperate”.

The Tories have been trailing in the polls for weeks now – YouGov even put them in third place behind both Labour and Reform on Thursday.

The Conservatives have responded by telling voters supporting any party other than them is the same as giving Labour a “blank cheque” for a huge majority.

So, on her show, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the presenter said: “The message shifting somewhat in the last few days, not so much necessarily to say, ‘let’s win this,’ but to say ‘you should worry about a big Labour majority to stop the other side romping home’.”

She showed viewers one of the Tories’ more recent social media adverts, which predicts a Labour victory with 490 seats.

Kuenssberg showing Harper the Tories' own attack ad, which gives 57 seats.
Kuenssberg showing Harper the Tories’ own attack ad, which gives 57 seats.

“You seem to be resorting to just spooking people into some kind of massive majority.

“Isn’t that an admission of defeat, when as you said, not a single vote has been cast, apart from a few postal votes?” the BBC presenter asked.

The minister replied: “It’s not, it’s simply doing what you did before with me, just to point to the polls.

“All we’re doing is if you look at the polls, and if people voted the way the polls are suggesting, that’s what you’d get.

“And we’re saying to people is that what you want? And actually I don’t think it is what people want.”

He claimed the Tories are still fighting for every vote, and there’s still plenty of undecided voters.

According to research from consultancy firm More in Common, about 15% of voters are still undecided.

Kuenssberg hit back: “Isn’t that exactly the point?

“There are still millions of people in this country, probably many of them watching this morning, who haven’t decided what they’re going to do yet, and they’re hearing from you, is not ‘hey here’s our positive vision’.

“What they’re hearing is, ‘oh well you can’t give the other side everything they want so stick with us.’

“Isn’t that something that sounds a bit desperate?”

“Not really,” Harper said, and claimed broadcasters often talk about polls.

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Support For Tories Is ‘At Its Lowest Ever In British Polling History,’ Elections Guru Says

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Public support for the Conservatives have fallen to a historic low in polling history, John Curtice said today.

The famous pollster told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Standing at just 20%, Conservative support is now at its lowest ever in British polling history.

“Mr Sunak, whose own personal ratings have clearly fallen, must be beginning to doubt his decision to call the election early.”

He added that a eight-point lead over Reform last week has fallen to just a four-point.

But Curtice also noticed that Labour are “being challenged by the Greens and the Lib Dems”, and support has fallen by two points – to 41%, on average.

His remarks came after another wave of polls predicted a pretty bleak result for the Conservatives when the public go to the ballot box.

A Savanta survey of 2,045 adults for The Sunday Telegraph found the party were at the lowest point since the final days of Theresa May’s time in office in early 2019, having dropped down four points to just 21%.

The same poll, conducted between 12-14 June and released on Saturday, showed Reform UK had climbed up three points to 13%.

Political research director at Savanta, Chris Hopkins, said it showed “nothing short of electoral extinction for the Conservative Party”.

“The hopes of Conservative candidates are being shot to pieces by poll after poll showing the Conservative Party in increasingly dire straits – and we’re only halfway through the campaign,” he said.

“There’s a real sense that things could still get worse for the Conservatives, and with postal votes about to drop through millions of letterboxes, time is already close to running out for Rishi Sunak.”

It comes after a separate Survation poll for Best for Britain, published in The Sunday Times, suggested the Conservatives would secure only 72 seats in the next parliament.

It predicted Labour would win 456, meaning the party would win a stomping 262 majority, the Liberal Democrats 56 seats, Reform seven and the Greens one.

Survation – which had polled 22,000 adults between 31 May and 13 June – showed the vote share would have halved from 44% in 2 019 to 24%.

Meanwhile, YouGov poll released last Thursday caused a huge stir within Westminster as it put Reform ahead of the Conservatives for the first time.

Nigel Farage’s populist party was on 19% of the vote while the Tories were on 18%, prompting his party to position themselves as the “opposition to Labour”.

Rishi Sunak downplayed this poll on Friday.

Speaking to journalists from the G7 summit in Italy, he said: “We are only halfway through this election, so I’m still fighting very hard for every vote.”

He also pledged to stay in parliament as an MP even if the Conservatives lose the election.

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‘We Want To Be A Party Of Power’: Keir Starmer Slaps Down Heckler At Labour Manifesto Launch

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Keir Starmer declared Labour is now “a party of power” as he unveiled his election manifesto.

The Labour leader had to slap down a heckler who accused him of following “Tory policies”.

“We gave up being a party of protest five years ago,” Starmer said. “We want to be a party of power. That’s not in the script but that is part of the change.”

As expected, the 133-page manifesto contained no new policies as the Labour tries to protect its huge poll lead over the Conservatives with just three weeks to go until polling day on July 4.

Instead, it contained pre-announced pledges including plans to put VAT on private school fees, extend the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, and reform planning rules to build 1.5 million more homes.

Other policies include lowering the voting age to 16, recruiting 6,500 more teachers, delivering 40,000 more NHS appointments to bring down waiting lists and setting up a Border Security Command to tackle the small boats crisis.

Rejecting accusations that he is too boring, Starmer said: “It’s not about rabbits out the hat, it’s not about pantomime. We’ve had that.

“I’m running as a candidate to be prime minister, not a candidate to run the circus.”

The Labour boss said the election was a chance for voters to “stop the chaos” of the last 14 years of Tory rule.

“I have changed the Labour Party, and I am ready to change Britain,” he said.

“Labour’s first steps for change are a downpayment on our long-term plan for the country – an immediate repair job on the damage that has been caused under 14 years of Conservative chaos and decline.

“We know we can’t wave a magic wand and pretend that everything will be fixed overnight.

“But with Labour, our first steps for change will deliver economic stability, cut NHS waiting times, launch a new Border Security Command, create Great British Energy, crack down on ant-isocial behaviour and recruit 6,500 new teachers. They are the first steps towards our long-term plan.

“But to get change, you have to vote for it. The choice at this election is another five years of chaos under the Conservatives, with people paying £4,800 more on their mortgages, or change with Labour. It’s time to stop the chaos, turn the page and start rebuilding Britain.”

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‘Why Should Anyone Believe You?’: Rishi Sunak Monstered By Journalists At Tory Manifesto Launch

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Rishi Sunak endured a torrid grilling from journalists as he launched the Tories’ underwhelming election manifesto.

The 76-page document only contained one major new policy – a plan to abolish National Insurance contributions for the self-employed.

The party has also vowed to cut another 2p off the overall rate of National Insurance, despite previous reductions doing nothing to improve their poll ratings.

But the prime minister risked a backlash from Tory right-wingers for refusing to commit to removing Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a clear sign that he expects to lose on July 4, Sunak begged voters not to hand Keir Starmer a “blank cheque” in government as he once again repeated his hotly-contested claim that Labour will put up taxes by £2,000 per household.

Although he got a warm reception from the Tory ministers and supporters gathered at Silverstone Grand Prix race track, the PM was monstered during a question and answer session with reporters.

ITV political editor Robert Peston said: “Tories in government since 2010 have been pushing up the tax burden to levels we haven’t seen since the late 1940s. Why should anyone believe you when you say you’re going to cut tax?”

BBC political editor Chris Mason told him: “For much of the last 18 months, you’ve tried everything to try and revive Conservative fortunes and not much appears to have worked.

“Could we rename this document as your last chance saloon? What is in this to shift things that perhaps haven’t shifted up until now?”

Sunak told him the country had “turned the corner” thanks to his leadership.

He said: “There is a clear choice at this election. We are the only party putting bold action on the table that will 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.”

Ben Riley-Smith, political editor of the Daily Telegraph, asked the PM: “What do you say to those who say the manifesto isn’t ambitious enough and this won’t be a game-changer?”

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby said: “A recent poll shows only one in six voters thinks you won’t raise their taxes, compared with one in four for Labour.

“Labour’s more trusted on tax than you at the moment – that’s your record as chancellor and now prime minister. I’m sure that’s a disappointment to you.

“Haven’t you blown it now, whatever you say?”

But Sunak insisted he was “very proud” of his record as chancellor, pointing out that he had brought in the furlough scheme during the Covid pandemic.

He said: “We will always be there to protect this country through difficult times.”

Labour campaign chief Pat McFadden 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 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.”

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