General Election LIVE: Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria settle into No10 after historic win

Is Polling Day a public holiday?

Afraid not.

Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm on July 4, so there’s still plenty of time to vote if you have to work.

If unable to make it to the polling station on Polling Day, you can apply for a postal vote or task someone with voting for you by proxy.

Rishi honours Armed Forces Day

Rishi Sunak has taken to X/Twitter to honour Armed Forces Day.

The PM wrote: "The women and men who serve in our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain.

"We each owe them and their families a huge amount, and on #ArmedForcesDay I pay personal tribute to everything they do for us and our country."

Nigel Farage told to 'get a grip' of Reform UK amid racism row

Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey has told Nigel Farage to "get a grip" of Reform UK amid allegations of racism.

This comes after a Reform activist was captured using racial slurs in an undercover report by Channel 4.

Mr Healey told Sky News: "To some extent, I see him fuelling a row over this Channel 4 film to distract, really, from the fact that there are officials and there are candidates right at the heart of the Reform party, that have been responsible for racist, anti-gay, and other deeply offensive statements.

"And it's for Farage to take action on them. And in the end, the culture and the standards of any political party are set by the leader and Nigel Farage wants to be seen as a leader.

"He needs to get a grip of his own party and he's failing to do that at the moment."

Sir Keir reacts to disaster debate showing by Biden

Sir Kier Starmer has reacted to Thursday night’s US Presidential debate, in which Joe Biden appeared to freeze up on several occasions.

“I have to say I’ve got enough on my hands with my own election campaign to go too far into that,” Sir Keir said.

“In the end, the person who is president of the US will be determined by the American people in due course and if we’re elected into government to serve, we will deal with whoever is the president

” The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, it’s historic and obviously it’s above the individuals who are in office.”

Asked if worried about Biden, Starmer said: “Well, look, I don’t think me commentating on the American election is helpful. We’ve got our own election going on here. And in the end it’s not for me, it’s for the American people to decide and they will decide and we’ll deal with whoever they elect in as their president.”

When is polling day?

Rishi Sunak called the General Election for Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Speaking from Downing St, Mr Sunak said: "The last five years have been the most challenging times since the Second World War.

"Now is the moment to choose to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made, or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty."

Everything you need before polling day

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over on the day of the election (“polling day”)
• be a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen
• be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
• not be legally excluded from voting

Keir Starmer pledges probe into military housing

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to launch a probe into the lacklustre housing many members of the armed forces face.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “Labour is deeply proud of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the contribution they make to our country.

“Theirs is the ultimate public service and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world.”

Rishi slams Labour's military spending plans

Rishi Sunak today slammed Labour's military spending plans as he hailed the nation's armed forces.

The PM said: “The women and men who serve in our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain.

"In an increasingly dangerous world, our servicemen and women play an ever more critical role in keeping us safe . . . we are firmly on their side.

“Sir Keir Starmer on the other hand can’t match our veterans’ pledges, protect old veterans from being hauled before juries nor back our defence spending increases.”

Greens slam Reform UK amid clip of activist using racial slur

The Green Party has hit out at Reform UK after a clip emerged of an activist seemingly hurling racial slurs at the PM.

Green Co-Leader Carla Denyer said: “Farage’s Reform Party’s mask has not just slipped, it’s been well and truly trampled into the ground. Farage’s attempts to re-write history by distancing himself from these remarks just don’t wash.

“Just a few months ago he was accused by the Muslim Council of Britain for ‘horribly Islamophobic, racist and hate-filled rhetoric of misinformation’ and he stands surprised when the culture he has created allows supporters to spew Islamophobic hate.

“His racist, Islamophobic and homophobic chickens have come home to roost. Farage needs to take a long hard look at himself and ask how he has enabled this culture to take hold.”

Channel 4 denies claims Reform activist was a 'paid actor'

Channel 4 has dismissed claims a Reform activist featured using racial slurs in an undercover report was a "paid actor."

A spokesperson said in a statement: “We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself.

“We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser.

“We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”

Nigel Farage claims he has 'done more to rid the UK of far-right politics' than any other man

Reform Boss Nigel Farage has claimed he played a central role in destroying the far-right BNP party.

This comes after one of his activists was filmed by Channel 4 making a series of racist comments, just weeks after a different candidate was forced to step down for comments had made about Adolf Hitler.

"I took on the BNP just over a decade ago. I said to their voters, if this is a protest vote but you don't support their racist agenda, don't vote for them, vote for me, destroyed them," he told BBC Question Time

Nigel Farage claims Channel 4 doc was a 'set up'

Nigel Farage told ITV's Loose Women that a video showing Reform activists using racist and homophobic language was a "set-up."

Andrew Parker, who works part-time as an actor, was captured by Channel 4 suggesting migrants should be "shot."

Farage said: “I have to tell you, this whole thing was a complete and total set-up, I have no doubt about that.

“It was an act right from the very start.”

Asked whether he thought Parker had been paid, he said: “I don’t know whether he was paid or not.

"I’m saying it’s possible, I don’t know. Something is wrong here.”

When was Labour last in power?

The last Labour prime minister was Gordon Brown back in 2010.

Brown took over from Tony Blair following his resignation in 2007, becoming the sixth post-war prime minister to take office without having won a General Election at the time.

Blair was voted into Number 10 over the Conservative’s John Major in 1997 and served as PM for ten years.

The “soft left” politician led the party under the phrase “New Labour,” distancing himself from previous politics and adopting a newer style of Labour of government.

Blair resigned following mounting pressure from inside the Labour party and other factors, like the Iraq war in 2007.

Keir Starmer admits he cannot cut immigration deal with Afghanistan

Sir Keir Starmer has accepted his party would not be able to cut a returns deal with Afghanistan.

During Wednesday’s debate, the Labour leader suggested such an agreement could be possible.

But speaking yesterday, he said: “There are some things that are not sensible for the asylum policy.

“That was a throwaway comment from the Prime Minister — who himself had no answer.

“Of course, in relation to their particular cases, they’re not going to be returned to Afghanistan.

“But what we can’t do is stay with this absurd situation where there’s just a growing and growing number, to which the Prime Minister has got absolutely no answer.”

Rishi Sunak: My daughters have to hear people call me a p***… Farage has questions to answer

Rishi Sunak has said hearing a Reform activist use racist slurs against him "hurts and makes him angry” - warning Nigel Farage has “questions to answer”.

The PM spoke of the pain he felt knowing his two daughters heard the racist call him an “effing p***.”

The Tory leader said: “My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***.

“It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. I don't repeat those words lightly. 

“I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.”

Mr Sunak has spoken during the campaign at his pride of leading the UK after his grandparents came from India with very little. 

He added: “When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and opinion, seemingly without challenge, I think it tells you something about the culture in the Reform party.” 

When was Labour last in power?

The last Labour prime minister was Gordon Brown back in 2010.

Brown took over from Tony Blair following his resignation in 2007, becoming the sixth post-war prime minister to take office without having won a General Election at the time.

Blair was voted into Number 10 over the Conservative’s John Major in 1997 and served as PM for ten years.

The “soft left” politician led the party under the phrase “New Labour,” distancing himself from previous politics and adopting a newer style of Labour of government.

Blair resigned following mounting pressure from inside the Labour party and other factors, like the Iraq war in 2007.

Rishi Sunak tight-lipped on US election debate

Rishi Sunak has refused to comment on Joe Biden's performance in last night's US election debate.

He said: “The debate that I’m focused on is the one that we had this week in our country between me and Keir Starmer.

“Where people saw very clearly the choice that under Keir Starmer your taxes are going to go up, our borders aren’t going to be secure, and pensioners are going to pay tax for the first time in our country’s history on their state pension.

“In contrast, I want to deliver financial security for people, I want to cut their taxes at every stage of their life, I’m going to get migration down as it is, and I’ve got a clear plan to stop the boats.”

Reform activist apologises for racist remarks

Reform UK activist Andrew Parker has apologized after Channel 4 filmed him making a series of racist remarks.

He said: “Of course I regret what I said. Christ, I’m not a racist. I’ve had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk.”

And asked whether he would like to apologise, he said: “Of course I’m sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says.”

Biden is ‘totally unfit for office,’ blasts Farage

Nigel Farage has branded Joe Biden "totally unfit for office" after the President appeared to freeze up in last night's debate.

The Reform leader, and Trump ally, told The Sun that the performance was "worse than anything" he'd seen.

Biden's performance has even caused panic within the Democratic Party's top brass.

David Plouffe, a Democratic strategist and former Obama campaign official, called the debate “kind of a Defcon 1 moment.”

Vice President Kamala Harris admitted after the debate that her boss had "a slow start," but insisted there was "a strong finish."

Darren Jones: Labour would inherit a 'broken Britain'

Shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones thinks the Labour Party will be tasked with fixing a "broken Britain" should they win the election next Thursday.

“The inheritance will be difficult,” he told Sky News.

“The Conservatives have broken Britain. It will take time to turn things around.

“I think people are fed up with Britain not working.”

Nigel Farage 'dismayed' as Reform activists filmed making racist and homophobic comments

Nigel Farage has said he is "dismayed" after several Reform UK activists were filmed making racist and homophobic comments.

In an undercover investigation by Channel 4, one activist was filmed suggesting migrants should be "shot" and called Islam a "disgusting cult".

Another branded the pride flag "degenerate."

In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: "I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers. They will no longer be with the campaign.

"The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy. Some of the language used was reprehensible."

Keir Starmer confirms he will step down if Labour loses the election 'badly'

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he will step down as Labour leader if his party loses next week's election badly.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Starmer confirmed the plan but failed to define what "badly" actually means.

With Labour more than 20 points ahead in the polls, a "bad" loss seems unlikely at this stage.

How often are General Elections in the UK?

A full parliamentary term in the UK can last up to five years, with General Elections held on the first Thursday of May.

Now that the Fixed-Term Parliament Act 2011 is gone, prime ministers can call an election whenever they wish.

This tends to be every four or five years, when it is most beneficial to them and their party.

Leaders in a strong position typically go to the people earlier, with those fearing a loss while waiting out the full duration of their term.

Parties in a weaker position are more likely to wait until the term is up or resolve issues without a General Election.

Votes of confidence can be taken to vote out a leader who is not providing what the party needs — this can be done to a sitting PM as well as the leader of the opposition.

If a sitting PM is ousted from their party, a leadership contest takes place rather than a General Election.

Sir Keir reacts to disaster debate showing by Biden

Sir Kier Starmer this morning reacted to last night’s US Presidential debate, in which Joe Biden appeared to freeze up on several occasions.

“I have to say I’ve got enough on my hands with my own election campaign to go too far into that,” Sir Keir said.

“In the end, the person who is president of the US will be determined by the American people in due course and if we’re elected into government to serve, we will deal with whoever is the president

” The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, it’s historic and obviously it’s above the individuals who are in office.”

Asked if worried about Biden, Starmer said: “Well, look, I don’t think me commentating on the American election is helpful. We’ve got our own election going on here. And in the end it’s not for me, it’s for the American people to decide and they will decide and we’ll deal with whoever they elect in as their president.”

Labour’s Bridget Phillipson ‘doesn’t like’ David Tennent’s language in Kemi Badenoch row

Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has hit out at David Tennent after he told Kemi Badenoch to “shut up.”

She told Times Radio: “I personally don’t like that kind of language that was used.

“And I believe that where we discus these issues – and it is right that we can have an open discussion about them – that we do so in a way that is absolutely frank but respectful, tolerant, and in keeping with the best traditions within our country.

“And I know that politicians, particularly female politicians, receive an awful lot of abuse sometimes and do frequently face that kind of language being used against them and I don’t think it advances a more tolerant and respectful discussion.”