Image source, EPA

Here are the answers to some of the most common election-related questions people are searching online right now:

• What time do polling stations open? 07:00 BST on Thursday - and close at 22:00 BST
• Where is my polling station? Enter your postcode into the Electoral Commission's online tool here, external
• Who are the candidates in my area? Again, just punch your postcode into our tool here
• How do I know if I am registered to vote? If you're registered to vote, you will have been contacted by your local authority already in recent weeks and sent a polling card
• What happens if you don’t vote and are registered? You're under no obligation to vote if you're registered - it's your choice
• Can I vote without a polling card? You don't need to take your polling card to the polling station to vote - but you must by law take photo ID

Image source, Reuters

SNP leader John Swinney has written to the prime minister, calling for a review of delayed postal votes.

In his letter, he claims the problem was caused by a combination of factors: the selection of a general election date that falls during the Scottish school holidays - when many people are away from home - and an election timetable which left little time to address reported delays at printers.

Royal Mail has insisted there is no backlog of postal votes.

You can read more about the issue here.

Image source, Getty Images

Sticking with the theme of our last couple of posts, there have been reports circulating about missing postal votes.

Royal Mail says there's "no backlog" after the Telegraph reported that voters in more than 90 constituencies raised concerns about delays.

Here's what to do if you've found yourself in that boat:

• The first step is to contact your local council and apply for a replacement postal voting pack. You can do this up until 17:00 on Thursday as people head to the polls - find out where here, external
• There's still time for a delivery if you get it in before 17:00 on Wednesday - or you can choose to collect in person
• However, applications made after 17:00 on Wednesday can only be collected in person

Your vote must be returned to the address on your postal-voting pack - which may not be the main council building nearest to you - before 22:00 on Thursday.

You do not need ID but you must sign a form in person when you drop off a postal vote at either a polling station or your council offices.

If you can't go to the polling station yourself, you can ask someone you trust to hand it in for you. Everyone can hand up to five postal ballots for other people in, on top of their own.

One exception is for candidates and party campaigners, who are only allowed to hand in votes for family members or someone they provide care for regularly.

Read more here.

The BBC's polling guru Sir John Curtice also spoke to the World at One programme about the reported postal vote delays.

Curtice says the Conservatives are most likely to lose out if the delays end up having an impact.

He says this is down to postal voters typically being older and so more likely to vote Tory.

“What is the effect on those who applied only since the election was called? That’s more difficult to call. I don't think anyone knows how many people in the end have applied to vote by post because these things happen late,” he adds.

“All we know is that enough people are complaining" for this to "become something of a news story.”

Moving away from Labour now, let's turn our attention back to another top story - reported postal vote delays.

Earlier today, Royal Mail insisted there was no backlog of postal votes. The Electoral Commission's chief executive now offers a similar report, telling BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that "we’re not seeing major systemic problems at the moment".

Vijay Rangarajan adds: “We think about 6.7m postal votes have already been sent and people have voted and have been returned back to electoral administrators. That’s better than previous elections … we could have a record amount of postal votes this time, so there is a bit of the system creaking," he says.

The last batch "should have been delivered to people yesterday and today", he says, and postal votes should be in the post by tomorrow to allow the Royal Mail get all votes to the administrators in time for Thursdays election.

Image source, PA Media

Sir Keir Starmer has described as "laughably pathetic" criticism of him by the Conservatives for suggesting he would like to take Friday evenings off to spend time with his family.

Speaking to reporters, the Labour leader says he tries to "carve out" the evening to spend time with his wife Victoria, their children and her father.

His father-in-law is Jewish and Starmer says the evening is often used for "family prayers", but also clarifies: "That doesn’t mean I’ve never had to work on a Friday. Of course it doesn't."

He added there are many times he hasn't been able to do this, but "I try to protect that time".

"I’d like to try and protect it in the future but I know very well it’s going to be really difficult to do it."

Image source, Reuters

Finally, Mason asks Starmer about a subject weighing on the minds of millions: where Bukayo Saka should play for England.

The Labour leader - who is an Arsenal season ticket-holder and keen amateur footballer - says he was "very nervous" about Saka playing part of Sunday's match against Slovakia in an unfamiliar left-back position.

He goes on: "He actually did start in his early days at Arsenal playing as a left-back so you could see the logic in it - but I think he's been one of the major outlets on the right."

Starmer says he has been "through the shredder" with England but sympathises with Gareth Southgate - because both have jobs where "everybody in the stands and watching the television" has lots of advice.

• The Labour leader spoke to our political editor from Hucknall Town FC in the Sherwood Forest constituency. You can find a full list of candidates here.

Starmer has rejected the suggestion his plans to clear the asylum application backlog would lead to an "amnesty" for those already in the system.

Labour is prioritising speeding up the processing of existing applications - which stood at more than 86,000, external as of March - in order to reduce how much is spent on private hotel accommodation for those awaiting a decision.

Starmer says the government has created an effective amnesty because people are able to stay until their case is dealt with, which isn't happening fast enough due to problems with the system.

Pressed on whether his approach would mean some asylum seekers who are already in the system being able to stay, Starmer says: “Yes, but the percentage at the moment is 100% staying here at the taxpayers' expense.”

Asked what the percentage would be under Labour, Starmer says “it will come right down”.

He tells Mason he will draw on his experience as a prosecutor to coordinate police action around Europe against trafficking gangs.

Asked if he feels ready to become prime minister in just a few days' time, Starmer tells Mason he has changed his party so it can govern the country.

He says: “We are fully prepared, we are fully ready. We are not complacent because every vote needs to be earned and there are plenty of constituencies… where it will go down to just a few hundred votes.”

Mason presses Starmer on who would be in his cabinet - Rachel Reeves as shadow chancellor? David Lammy as foreign secretary? But the Labour leader won't be drawn.

Instead, he says the party has spent years working on plans for every government department, promising “purpose-driven government” and a “strong, confident team, sleeves rolled up”.

He is also asked if Labour would match the Conservatives' "triple lock plus" - meaning pensioners only receiving the state pension will not pay income tax.

"The position is exactly as it was set out under the last budget by this government," he says, meaning Labour won't match the Conservatives' position.

"What I'm not going to do is to follow the increasingly desperate attempts by this government to find money that isn't there."

BBC political editor Chris Mason has been speaking to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at Hucknall Town FC, in the Sherwood Forest constituency. The Tories won the seat by more than 16,000 votes in 2019.

Starmer tells Mason a Labour government will likely continue with the current government policy of releasing some prisoners earlier than intended in order to deal with overcrowding.

Last week, the Prison Governors' Association warned jails could run out of space within days. The most recent Ministry of Justice figures, external show there are fewer than 1,500 usable free spaces across England and Wales.

Starmer says he’s “not going to sit and pretend we can build a prison on the first day of a Labour government” and accuses the Conservatives of “absolute failure” in this area.

Asked if that means his government would continue with some early releases, Starmer says: "In all likelihood we will have to continue with that because it simply wouldn’t be realistic for me to say the prisons are overcrowded on Thursday at ten o’clock but somehow I’ve magicked up a new prison on Friday morning.”

Describing the prison system as "broken" and "shocking", he adds: “Our criminal justice system has got to a point where we’re releasing prisoners who should be in prison early and giving instructions to police not to arrest in certain cases.”

We'll bring you more from the interview shortly.

Mood of optimism among senior Labour officialspublished at 14:50 2 July

14:50 2 July

Jessica Parker
Reporting from the Labour campaign

The public message from Labour is one of relative caution. If you want change vote for it, Sir Keir Starmer is saying repeatedly.

They are eager not to appear arrogant and also combat any complacency, ahead of polling day, amongst would-be supporters.

Especially as the Tories tell voters they shouldn’t “sleep walk” into handing Labour a “super majority”.

But privately, amongst senior Labour officials, the mood is one of optimism, even excitement.

The last six weeks haven’t been wholly without hiccups and Sir Keir Starmer’s been accused of being too cautious politically and personally.

Today, again, he stood amongst Labour Party supporters in the sheltered confines of a local football club.

But party figures are pleased they the central thrust of Labour’s campaign hasn’t been blown off course while they’ve maintained a significant poll lead.

Let's check in on the Labour campaign trail now, where Sir Keir Starmer has just spent 30 minutes or so taking questions at a workplace in Derbyshire.

One woman asked what Labour will do to fix the NHS in the short-term and issues around waiting lists - to which Starmer answered: "We are going to put a plan in place for 40,000 extra appointments every week."

"There are not enough NHS dentists, we need to fix that with 700,000 more appointments particularly for children," he added.

Another man asked how Labour is going to tackle illegal immigration.

Starmer insisted this is an issue he wants to halt by "smashing the gangs" operating boats and getting migrants across the English Channel.

"The Rwanda scheme has cost you a fortune and no-one has gone," he says, adding that in his view the current Tory policy is not a deterrent.

The Labour leader also said he wants to push for a recruitment drive for teachers and to "broaden" the educational curriculum. Starmer also reiterated a pledge to allow 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote.

These campaign visits feel a bit like school trips at times. You jump on a bus, jump off the bus, get ushered to a visit and then repeat.

The prime minister has just been on a farm in Oxfordshire. I’m not sure the South Devon cows we saw were too bothered by all the fuss.

Image source, PA Media

Are waiting lists coming down?published at 14:00 2 July

14:00 2 July

By Robert Cuffe

Rishi Sunak told BBC Breakfast this morning: “The waiting lists are now on a downward trajectory over the past several months, down by about 150,000 from the peak”.

The NHS waiting list in England currently stands at nearly 7.6m.

That is far higher than when the Conservatives came to power in 2010.

It is also higher than when Sunak pledged to reduce it in January 2023 - when it stood at 7.2m.

But the backlog is lower than at its peak of nearly 7.8m last September.

Progress on reducing it has “stalled”, according to independent health think tank the Nuffield Trust, external and the backlog has gone up slightly, according to the latest NHS figures.

Sunak acknowledged that “we have not made as much progress as I would have liked”.

On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer, who has a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter, told Virgin Radio he and his wife Victoria have a strategy in place which they "will try to keep to" in order to spend time with their children.

The Labour leader explained he "carves out" protected time for his family on Fridays.

"I've been doing this for years," he told host Chris Evans. "I will not do a work-related thing after six o'clock, pretty well come what may. There are a few exceptions, but that's what we do."

But Rishi Sunak took a swipe at the Labour leader, telling reporters: "I haven't finished at six ever."

Tory deputy chairman Jonathan Gullis also chipped in with: "Let's hope Putin doesn't choose 18:01 when he wishes to go any further with his illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine."

Following the series of attacks from senior Tories branding him a "part-time prime minister", Starmer responded this morning to say the Conservatives are "bordering on hysterical".

"They're just in this negative, desperate loop - and it is really desperate," he told reporters in Nottinghamshire.

"My family is really important to me, as they will be to every single person watching this."

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Labour's shadow health secretary has branded attacks on Keir Starmer a "total disgrace" following comments from the Conservatives that the Labour leader would be a "part-time" prime minister if he wins on Thursday.

Starmer has come under fire from senior Tories after saying he wanted to avoid work after 18:00 on a Friday to spend time with his family - although he acknowledged that would not always be possible.

Earlier this morning, Streeting gave his reaction to Times Radio describing the criticism as "scraping the barrel".

Asked if he would work beyond 18:00 on a Friday, Streeting replied: "I'm sure I will be and I'm sure Keir will be doing so too."

Image source, Reuters

Let's return again to our headline story.

Rishi Sunak has told reporters that some Reform UK campaigners and candidates have "openly espoused racist and misogynistic views".

The prime minister was responding to the news that a second Reform UK candidate has defected to the Conservatives, saying that the "vast majority" of party nominees are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted".

Georgie David, who's standing in West Ham and Beckton, denies Reform's senior leadership is racist, but says she does not want to be "directly associated" with its candidates.

Asked about her comments, the prime minister says: "We've seen candidates and campaigners openly espousing racist and misogynistic views, seemingly without challenge and that tells you something about the culture within the Reform party overall, that's questions for Nigel Farage."

• A full list of candidates standing in the West Ham and Beckton constituency is available here

SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes are campaigning in the Highlands this morning.

Swinney has said the election race in Scotland is too close to call between the SNP and Labour.

He was challenged by a man in Alness about what he was doing to deliver independence.

Swinney has repeatedly said throughout this campaign that independence is the best way to overcome austerity, Brexit and the cost of living crisis.

With just two more days to go before polls open, the parties have ramping up their campaigns.

Let's quickly recap this morning's key moments:

• A second Reform UK candidate, Georgie David, has defected to the Conservatives, saying the "vast majority" of party nominees are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted"
• In response, Reform UK chairman Richard Tice has accused the Tories of offering candidates “jobs and safe seats” to defect
• Earlier, Rishi Sunak appeared on BBC Breakfast where he denied he had given up on a Tory victory as he warned of what he called the "dangers" of a Labour government

• Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party would be better for the country, asking voters for a strong mandate to get on with what he called "the change we need"

• And in his latest stunt, Sir Ed Davey knocked over a line of big blue dominoes as he called for voters to help the Lib Dems topple the Conservatives
• Meanwhile, Royal Mail insists there is "no backlog of postal votes" after some people said their ballots had not arrived

More from Reform UK now, whose spokesperson says it's "very disappointed" that its candidate Georgie David has defected to the Conservatives.

“We strongly disagree with her sweeping comments about the ‘vast majority’ of our 600-plus candidates, the vast majority of whom she can never even have met," the spokesman adds.

As a reminder, David - who was the party's candidate for West Ham and Beckton - suspended her campaign saying the “vast majority” of her fellow candidates were “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.

The spokesman accuses David of choosing "not to bring up any of her concerns with the party leadership before publicly trashing" her colleagues.

“Ms David was a last minute addition to our candidate list and we apologise to the voters of West Ham and Beckton for any inconvenience.”

A full list of candidates standing in West Ham and Beckton can be found here.