Over to a question on lowering the voting age, something Sir Keir Starmer has previously spoken supportively about and was included in the Labour party's manifesto in both 2015 and 2017.

When pressed on this specific point, the Labour leader says: "Yes, I want to see 16 and 17 year olds voting".

He explains that if these young people are able to go out and work - and if they are working, he notes, they are also paying taxes - they should also be able to vote.

He adds that these age groups are also able to sign up for for the Army.

"If you serve in your armed forces you ought to be able to vote."

Back over to Stafford now, where we've just heard Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer answering questions from reporters during a campaign visit at the football stadium.

Starmer is first asked about what his plans are for tackling the economy and whether this means that the tax burden will go up under a Labour government.

The Labour leader replies by acknowledging that this election is shaping up to be one that's focused around the economy, "because that's what everyone talking about".

The cost-of-living crisis, he adds, has been top of mind for voters he's been speaking with this morning while knocking on doors.

"That's why the Labour Party has said the number one mission is to focus on the economy and grow the economy," he says, adding that the first step to doing that is by "stabilising the economy".

"Stabilise the economy, that is what we'll make an absolute priority," he says.

Sean Seddon
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

We've been covering Michael Gove's announcement that he'll be stepping down as an MP ahead of the general election.

But if you cast your memory back, it was when David Cameron returned the Conservatives to power in 2010 that it seemed his friend Michael Gove was earmarked for a top job.

The former journalist earned a reputation as a reforming minister as education secretary, pushing through changes which often proved controversial with the help of his close advisor Dominic Cummings.

He was moved to chief whip in 2014, which was widely seen as a demotion for publicly clashing with then Home Secretary Theresa May.

Gove stunned Cameron a year later by defying him to back Leave in the EU referendum campaign, demonstrating a propensity for tactics-over-loyalty politicking that many will forever associate with him.

He played a central role in the Brexit campaign and a Boris Johnson government with Gove in a key job looked likely – until he dramatically knifed his ally, calling him unfit to be prime minister.

Instead, Gove declared, he was done with being the power behind the throne and was running for the leadership himself.

Image source, PA Media

It backfired spectacularly and the eventual winner Theresa May promptly banished him to the backbenches.

Gove was brought back into government after the 2017 election and launched a second ill-fated tilt at the leadership in 2019.

He was seen as a key behind-the-scenes player but his relationship with Johnson ended in tears once more: the outgoing prime minister used one of his last actions in No 10 to sack him for disloyalty.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent, reporting from West Midlands

The Labour leader has made a habit of hosting campaign visits at lower league football clubs.

He was at Gillingham Football Club in Kent on day one of campaigning earlier this week. Today we’ve been at Stafford Rangers FC, who are in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division.

It’s a very deliberate campaign decision, a senior Labour figure tells me.

There are mundane practical reasons – it’s a ready-made venue with seating for an event. Visually it’s also very clear where you are (usually because there’s a whopping great sign in the background – in this case ‘Stafford Rangers’.) So when local people see the pictures on TV, they know Starmer has been in their patch.

But the party is also trying to promote the image of Sir Keir Starmer as a football-loving, ordinary bloke.

And the reason it’s often lower league clubs? Mainly, the senior Labour source tells me, it’s because the bigger premier league clubs are in cities where Labour are already confident they will win.

Their campaign is focused on smaller towns – parliamentary seats like Stafford that they need to take off the Conservatives in order to win a majority.

But the Labour leader will be hoping for better political fortunes than his footballing hosts today. Stafford Rangers lost their last game 6-0 and are being relegated.

During that same meeting with veterans this morning, a question again came up about the prime minister's decision to hold his election announcement in the pouring rain.

Vicky Rudd, who was sat next to her husband, Doug, says she was concerned that Sunak might have caught pneumonia "after seeing that picture" of him drenched standing in front of Downing Street.

"It was wet," he says.

"I thought, come rain or shine, it's the right thing to do. But no pneumonia yet, my suit on the other hand ... I'm not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London."

Watch that moment here:

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has kicked off his third full day of campaigning by heading to his Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire where he's spent the morning meeting veterans.

At a pub on the High Street, Sunak met a group of eight local ex-servicemen at one of their regular Saturday breakfast meetings.

During the meeting, staff brought over six large breakfasts. The prime minister did not tuck in but carried on sipping from his tea.

Image source, Getty Images

On the topic of Michael Gove's departure, we can now bring you a bit more from inside the party about how his departure is being received.

Treasury minister Bim Afolami has insisted it is "not unnatural" for Tory MPs - including high-profile figures like Michael Gove - to be quitting weeks ahead of the general election.

He told Times Radio it is normal for people "in their 50s or 60s coming to retirement or indeed retiring completely, that they choose to bring their political careers to a close".

Afolami says he had not considered standing down himself, saying the Tory party is "pretty confident" of winning in his Hertfordshire seat, where he has a majority of under 7,000.

"The Lib Dems are strong but, you know, we're confident that we'll hold the seat and we'll beat them," he adds.

Image source, PA Media

In you case missed it, on Friday evening we had confirmation of the biggest pre-election departure from Westminster yet.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who has been one of the most recognisable government figures over the last 14 years, announced he will not stand again on 14 July.

The 56-year-old has represented Surrey Heath since 2005 and has held a range of high-profile jobs, including education, justice and a stint in the Cabinet Office as a key minister under Boris Johnson.

In his resignation statement, the levelling up secretary spoke of the "toll" of holding high office and said "a new generation should lead".

The Liberal Democrats, who are targeting his seat at this election, accused him of "running scared".

Gove is one of 121 MPs who have announced they are standing down ahead of the general election so far.

Treasury minister Bim Afolami has denied that Rishi Sunak is "taking the day off" from campaigning amid reports that the prime minister was taking a step back from partaking in public events.

"It's not right. He's going to be campaigning in Yorkshire," he tells Sky News.

When asked for specifics about what Sunak had planned for the day, including what events he would be attending, Afolami replied by saying: "I don't know what he's got planned but I know he's campaigning in Yorkshire today."

The Guardian reported earlier that Sunak would retreat from the campaign trail today and spend the day at home in his constituency and in London.

Questions linger over Labour's spending planspublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 25 May

09:15 BST 25 May

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

I’m on a train to the West Midlands this morning.

Sir Keir Starmer will be on a campaign visit there later on. Labour are looking to emphasise their core promise of economic stability, while accusing Rishi Sunak of overseeing high inflation and increasing household costs.

But there are questions for Labour over their own spending plans.

A respected economic think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, warns today that any incoming government faces three tough options – painful spending cuts to public services, more tax rises, or more borrowing.

I’ll have the chance to ask the Labour leader some questions later this morning.

Image source, PA Media

For the third full day, party leaders will again be criss-crossing the country as part of a six-week election campaign that will culminate on 4 July.

Today's Bank Holiday weekend will start with Rishi Sunak visiting the north-east after the prime minister completed a whistle-stop tour of the four home nations over the last two days.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer will be heading to the West Midlands to kick off the first weekend of campaigning where he is expected to focus on the cost-of-living crisis.

His shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will be picking up this same topic when she meets with supermarket staff in London later this morning.

Image source, Reuters

As we just mentioned, the King prorogued Parliament for the first time during his reign at the end of the day on Friday.

It meant yesterday was the final day for the government to get legislation passed - some bills made it, but not all.

For instance, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, which will make it cheaper and easier for more people to extend their lease, buy their freehold and take over management of their building in England and Wales, did make it through on time.

But a Conservative manifesto commitment to restrict ground rents paid by leaseholders to next to nothing did not make it into the Act.

A bill to enact the Conservatives’ promise to abolish no-fault evictions for renters failed to get over the line.

But a bill that paves the way to establish the body to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal passed, as did plans for a new criminal offence of “pet abduction”, which will now come into force in England and Northern Ireland in August.

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

A short ceremony, involving a lot of hats and a smattering of French, ended business in Parliament for this session on Friday night, ahead of the general election.

A Royal Commission, made up of five peers appointed by the King, take their places on the woolsack dressed in red ermine robes and black and two-pointed, bicorner hats.

They send a small group of Lords officials down the Westminster corridors to instruct Black Rod to summon representatives from the Commons, made up of the Speaker of the Commons, alongside the deputy speakers, the Clerk of the House and the Serjeant at Arms.

When they arrive, there is a ceremonial greeting, where the Lords doff their black bicorn hats and the Commons representatives acknowledge this by bowing.

The Acts passed this parliamentary session are then read from a parchment and the Clerk of the Parliament turns to face MPs and indicates they have Royal Assent in French, which translates as "the King wishes it".

Image source, PA Media

Need a recap of what happened on day two? We’ve got you covered:

• Michael Gove announced he will not be seeking re-election, bringing the total number of MPs standing down to 121
• Parliament was prorogued, with a handful of government bills rushed through before the cut-off
• Plans to reform homeowners' rights in England and Wales passed in time, but without the Tory manifesto commitment to restrict ground rents paid by leaseholders to next to nothing
• The Conservatives’ promise to abolish no-fault evictions for renters failed to get over the line, but a bill which paves the way to establish the body to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal passed
• Rishi Sunak admitted he was disappointed his plan to phase out smoking did not have enough time to become law, but he said it would be back if the Conservatives are returned to government
• Labour leader Keir Starmer said he can't commit to scrapping university tuition fees - which he backed when running to be Labour leader - or repealing the two-child benefit cap, blaming a lack of resources
• Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would stand as an independent in his Islington North constituency, meaning he will be directly competing with the party he once led
• Labour committed to two TV debates involving Starmer, with the Conservatives pushing for six such leaders events

Stay with us for updates and analysis as day three unfolds.

Johanna Chisholm
Live reporter

The first Saturday of campaigning for the general election is getting under way early this morning with leaders and MPs heading out across the UK.

The Tories and Labour are set to fight over the economy as Sir Keir Starmer centres Saturday's campaign on the cost-of-living crisis while the Conservatives are hinting at tax breaks for high earners.

Sunak is heading to the north-east after completing a two-day tour of the four home nations, while Starmer will be hammering home a message centred around public finances over in the West Midlands.

Elsewhere, we’ll see Lib Dems leader Sir Ed Davey visiting Chichester, while Reform UK leader Richard Tice is launching his campaign in Skegness this morning. Stay with us today as we continue to bring you all the live updates from the campaign trail.