Image source, PA Media

Rishi Sunak has been quizzed about the campaign advert that he posted this morning - warning voters not to "surrender" to Labour - which we just reported on below.

The advert features an image of a male, female and small child, taken from behind, each with their hands held up in the air.

On a campaign visit in Derbyshire, the Sunak was asked whether he would be happy to put his name to the advert.

Sunak told broadcasters that this was an "incredibly important" election, adding that he doesn't want people to "sleepwalk into something".

After acknowledging he understands "people are very frustrated with me and our party", he said the election is a "choice about our future" which he argued would have "severe consequences for people’s financial security".

Image source, PA Media

Labour leader Keir Starmer has criticised a Conservative campaign advert that depicts a man, woman and small child holding their hands up below the slogan "don't surrender your family's future to Labour".

Rishi Sunak posted the advert this morning on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a caption "I will never stop fighting for this country."

It was a theme the prime minister worked to establish during last night's debate - urging voters multiple times not to "surrender" to Labour's plans on areas including tax and migration.

Starmer called the advert "desperate stuff" and said he was surprised by it during a campaign visit in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire earlier.

Image source, PA Media

More now from Kemi Badenoch, who has vowed she is "never going to shut up" about the "divisive agenda of diversity politics".

Her comments hit back at actor David Tennant, who had earlier criticised her views on gender and said he wished Badenoch would "shut up".

Badenoch has a dual role in government, after being given the position of business secretary in 2023 in addition to her existing role as equalities minister.

Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce's annual conference, Badenoch says the Labour Party's proposals "divide the country into black/white, rich/poor [and] old/young" which she finds "morally repellent".

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson also responded to Tennant's remarks earlier, telling Times Radio she did not like "kind of language that was used".

Image source, PA Media

Kemi Badenoch told business leaders that while everything hadn’t been perfect post-Brexit, Labour's idea that the EU would give the UK a better trade deal without wanting something in return was "for the birds" and the price would be too high.

The business secretary also pointed to the UK's continuing success in exporting services.

She was responding to earlier remarks from shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who called for pragmatic and mutually beneficial changes around mutual food standards and qualifications to boost trade.

Director general of the British Chambers of Commerce Shevaun Haviland had opened the conference by saying the current deal wasn't working for business.

But Badenoch saved her most searing comments for Labour's proposals around workers rights. She said businesses should be "really worried" about Labour plans and that "their vision of the future economy is one that micro-manages your business to meet their political objectives."

Image source, Reuters

An aide to the Ukrainian president has called Nigel Farage’s latest comments on Ukraine “extremely disgusting on moral grounds and extremely short-sighted on political grounds".

Earlier in the week, Farage suggested Ukraine should agree to a peace deal, external with Russia and give up on its hopes of regaining all the territory taken by Moscow or run the risk that "there may be no young men left in Ukraine".

Speaking to the BBC, Mykhailo Podolyak describes the Reform UK leader as taking “a very, very strange position” and that to “indulge the aggressor” would only make the situation worse. He also asks why people thought Russia would stop after getting what it wanted.

The row began after a BBC Panorama interview last Friday in which Farage claimed Russia had been "provoked" into attacking Ukraine.

He then defended his comments in an article in the Sunday Telegraph in which he wrote: “Don’t blame me for telling the truth about Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine."

The latest comments from Ukraine indicate the anger in Kyiv about the suggestion it should compromise on its aims after the sacrifices the country has made.

It also reflects the view that Russia has not yet given up on its goal of the complete destruction of the Ukrainian state and that there needs to be accountability for what it has done.

• While out campaigning today, Farage told the PA news agency Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "very, very dangerous and evil man", but expanding Nato and the EU had been a "mistake".

It's possible that police will interview politicians under caution about bettingpublished at 16:14 27 June

16:14 27 June

Daniel Sandford
Home Affairs Correspondent

Misconduct in public office is when somebody who is on the public payroll does something wrong.

In this case that might include police officers, but it might also include people who were MPs at the time of making the bet, or people who were civil servants - and that will of course include ministers' special advisers.

Until now, we've known that the Met were looking at their own officers and whether any of them may have committed an offence.

But now the Met is taking the lead on those cases where somebody is suspected of having placed a bet on the election date with some confidential, inside knowledge, while being on the public payroll.

So suddenly those people who were MPs, civil servants, special advisers, at the time bets were made are potentially coming into the Metropolitan Police investigation - although I'm told the number is very small.

So that raises the possibility of former MPs (rememember there are no MPs while Parliament is dissolved in an election period) being interviewed by detectives under caution.

Earlier we told you that Sir John Hall - a former Tory donor, and former owner of Newcastle United - was now backing Reform UK.

The 91-year-old has now explained his change of allegiance. "English is my way of life, which I feel is under threat," he says.

"The Reform party are the only ones I feel who are going to speak about saving my English culture."

Sir John said he was not against immigration.

"But I am against people who are coming, not really to be part of our society, but to bring over their own ways and try and install them, the way they want to live."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Hugh Grant has endorsed Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer in her bid to get elected in Bristol Central.

An endorsement from the Love Actually star was included in an election leaflet, which quoted Grant as saying: “It’s so refreshing to see a politician with integrity, who puts the public first."

The Green Party is standing hundreds of candidates, but has placed great emphasis on trying to win four seats at this election, including Bristol Central, which Labour's shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire is seeking to defend.

It's not the first time Grant's weighed into politics. During the 2019 election campaign he went door-knocking with then Lib Dem candidate Luciana Berger, who was standing in Finchley and Golders Green.

• A full list of candidates standing in Bristol Central can be found here

Image source, PA Media

With just one more week until polls open on 4 July, the parties are gearing up for a final campaigning push.

For anyone in need of a round-up of the day so far, here's a look at what has been happening:

• The row over alleged bets made on the election continue to dominate the news, after the Metropolitan Police said seven police officers are being investigated
• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it wouldn't be right for him to say more while inquiries were ongoing - and also refused to say whether he had told his parliamentary aide Craig Williams about the election date, before Williams placed a bet on it

• Meanwhile, Keir Starmer told reporters that a victory for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party in the upcoming French election would not stop Labour working with France on small boats crossings

• And Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson criticised actor David Tennant for telling equalities minister Kemi Badenoch to "shut up"
• Lib Dem leader Ed Davey defended the party's policy of banning cigarettes but legalising the sale of cannabis
• And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage admitted to placing bets on Brexit and the electoral fortunes of Donald Trump, the former US president

Image source, Reuters

A Q&A with staff at the Denby pottery factory earlier was one of the most probing I’ve seen on this campaign trail.

Rishi Sunak was clearly buoyed up for it after last night’s debate.

His speech focused heavily on attacking Labour on the same points, such as tax, that he used successfully in the debate.

They’re the messages he intends to ram home over the final week until polling day.

In this forum, on the factory floor in Ripley in Derbyshire, it’s not clear they went down as well.

I caught up with some of the workers who were listening after he’d finished and they told me that, as he had come to see them, they had wanted to hear what he would do, not what he thought Labour wouldn’t.

• You can read more on Sunak's latest campaign visit here

The latest statement from the Metropolitan Police suggests that where there is suspicion of cheating alone then it is the Gambling Commission that will investigate.

The betting watchdog does not have the power to conduct an investigation where there is also the potential offence of misconduct in public office - which is where the Met comes in.

The definition of who is a public officer includes police constables, elected officials (MPs, councillors, ministers and mayors) and civil servants.

Rishi Sunak has insisted it wouldn't be right for him to say more about ongoing investigations into alleged gambling on the date of the general election.

Asked about the news that the Met Police could potentially investigate anyone accused of using insider information, the PM repeats that he was "furious" when he learnt of the allegations.

He says he's been clear that where anyone has broken the rules they should face the full force of the law, whether that was the Gambling Commission, or the police.

The prime minister also says he's been clear that they would be "booted out of the Conservative Party".

Asked if he'd told Conservative candidate and his former parliamentary aide Craig Williams the date of the election before Williams placed a bet, Sunak repeatedly says he can't say more and prejudice ongoing investigations.

The Conservatives Party withdrew its support for Williams earlier this week, following news that he's under investigation by the Gambling Commission over a bet placed on the timing of the election.

Williams has said he "committed an error of judgement, not an offence" and has apologised to voters.

Image source, Reuters

Sticking with Starmer's remarks to reporters today, he has called on England fans to "get behind the team" after a disappointing start to their Euros campaign

Sending a message to those following the fortunes of the team, whose performances have been criticised as lacklustre (and sometimes in words a bit stronger than that) - Starmer says there has been "too much criticism" and fans should support them to help "get them over the line".

"England always do a bit of this at the beginning of competitions," the diehard Three Lions and Arsenal fan says.

Image source, PA Media

Keir Starmer has been taking questions from reporters today during a campaign visit to Staffordshire, suggesting a Labour government would work with "whoever is in power in France" to stop small boat crossings.

In last night's BBC debate, Rishi Sunak – defending his Rwanda plan – challenged the Labour leader over whether he would “sit down with the Iranian Ayatollahs” or the Taliban in Afghanistan to get a deal to return asylum seekers.

Asked about it, Starmer suggests this line was a "throwaway comment" and argues that Sunak himself has "no answer to that question" about what to do with the tens of thousands of asylum seekers waiting to have their claims processed in the UK.

The Labour leader is also asked whether he's concerned it could be harder to get closer co-operation with France if Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party wins the upcoming parliamentary election there.

Starmer says they would work with "whoever is in power in France or elsewhere", adding that he does not think a Le Pen win would be an "inhibitor for a better set of working relations".

Ed Davey admitted he was a tad worried about his pristine white shirt as he dipped the paintbrush into the bright colours in front of him.

But there was an exuberance about the Lib Dem leader as he began to paint a – slightly lopsided – bee on to a piece of pottery.

He downplayed the significance of a single poll suggesting his party could emerge as the second largest, insisting that the only poll that matters is the vote on 4 July.

But he and his team are optimistic about their chances in previously Conservative seats like this one – Hazel Grove – and they’re pushing hard with campaign visits like this.

He was excited, he said, about the response the Lib Dems were getting, particularly from people who’d been life-long Conservatives.

• A full list of candidates standing in Hazel Grove is available here

Image source, PA Media

As you may know, Woman's Hour on Radio 4 are interviewing party leaders during the campaign - earlier it was the SNP's John Swinney.

Asked about his stance on transgender rights and self-identification, Swinney said the debate had to be conducted in a "respectful fashion", and that it's a "difficult subject".

He insisted he was listening to all the women in his party on this, saying he wanted "respectful debate", and that he has succeeded in "bringing my party back together again".

His deputy, Kate Forbes, previously said she would not have voted for the Scottish government's gender reform bill, which was ultimately blocked by Westminster.

It was put to Swinney that they're not on the same page.

"No, I think what we've got is people who are prepared to work together for common cause and to listen to each other with care... and to bring people to points of agreement," Swinney said.

The bill would allow someone to self-identify their gender. Asked about the impact on single sex spaces, Swinney said: "There is nothing, absolutely nothing I want to do that jeopardises the security and the safety of women and girls."

You can find more from Woman's Hour's election interview series here.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Conservative donor Sir John Hall has confirmed that he is switching support to Reform UK.

The businessman and former owner of Newcastle United Football Club said concerns about the level of immigration had prompted his switch of allegiance, adding he was moving away from the Conservatives with a "heavy heart".

Asked if he would be donating to Reform UK, Sir John confirmed that he would, but refused to say how much he would be giving the party.

Sir John was attending a Reform UK rally near Sunderland - where he was introduced to around 1,000 party supporters by Nigel Farage.

Image source, EPA

Nigel Farage says he has "absolutely not" placed a bet on himself at this election - adding the betting scandal demonstrated "a sense of arrogance and entitlement from a Westminster-based Conservative Party".

But the Reform UK leader - who is campaigning in Counrty Durham - tells the PA news agency he "did bet on Brexit...I bet on Trump twice, I won one, I lost one. Whatever I do is open."

Asked about offensive remarks made by some of his party's candidates, Farage admits that they have "had people say things that I'd rather they'd not".

"Politics sometimes attracts people who are a bit rough around the edges," he says.

Questioned on whether he has been attacking the Conservatives more than Labour during this election period, Farage says he is "very worried about a Labour government", but he believes Reform MPs would serve as "the voice of opposition" in Parliament, as the Tories are "too divided" to do so.

Sunak takes questions from within the pottery factory - and it is put to him that things are "infinitely worse" than in 2010 when the Conservatives formed a government.

A specific example is given of the increase in those resorting to food banks.

Sunak responds that he "[doesn't] want anyone to have to use food banks".

He adds that if re-elected he will deliver financial security for families - citing the recent cuts to National Insurance and the fact that inflation is back on target - "we're just starting to feel that change".

Someone injects to say that "the millionaires and billionaires" should be taxed.

Sunak replies: "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.”

Image source, .

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been speaking at a pottery factory in Derbyshire.

He says he is "not blind" to frustrations people may feel towards him and the Conservative party, and understands why people might be "hesitant" about supporting them at the election.

"It's been a very difficult few years with Covid, the war in Ukraine and we haven't got everything right, we've made mistakes and we haven't made as much progress in all areas as we would have liked," he says.

He emphasises this is "not a by-election" and that voters have a choice to make on 4 July, which will affect both their family finances and "direction of our nation".

He tells the audience to think "very hard about what a Labour government would actually mean for you".

"You may not agree with me on everything but at least you know where I stand - that's what leadership is about," he adds.