Asked whether his is aim to change the Conservative Party and if he would stand any Reform candidates down, Farage says "under no circumstances whatsoever" would he do that.

He says they were betrayed by the Tories, to whom he says he gave "considerable help", that they are "well past their sell-by date" and that their "brand is ruined".

"They've lost the election already and I am trying to is trying to establish a voice of opposition to what is going to be a Labour government that otherwise might be out of control," Farage says.

For context: In the 2019 election, Farage's Brexit Party did not contest hundreds of seats, in order not to split the pro-Brexit vote with the Conservatives.

He's challenged over previous comments he's made, suggesting that a growing number of Muslims do not subscribe to British values.

He says there was "sectarian voting" in the local elections, and later says if a large portion of "young British Muslims support in any way Hamas, jihad or any of these concepts we have a very, very real problem".

The interview moves on, and Farage says: "If people come to our country, don't speak our language, don't integrate in the community, then we have cities and towns that become literally unrecognisable."

Challenged for an example, he says: "I could take you to streets in Oldham right now where no-one speaks English."

It's put to him that people could speak more than one language, and he's asked if his children speak more than one language, but Farage says he won't comment on his own children and "it's pretty poor form" for others to do so.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Talk now turns to the asylum seekers coming to the UK.

Asked about Reform UK's policy that asylum seekers should have their claims processed in British overseas territories, Farage says he's not exactly sure about the policy, which is detailed on his party's website.

I've taken over yesterday, he says, "Give me more than 12 hours and sort a few things out."

Farage says the UK should deport people who come to the UK illegally and says this is something that used to happen.

He also says that one of the main things that the UK should do is leave the European Court of Human Rights and get "genuine sovereignty".

Farage is now asked about those currently eligible for skilled worker visas, which include kindergarden and primary school teachers, paramedics and veterinarians - could they continue to come in?

Farage says yes, but in limited numbers as there is now a "total abuse of system".

He says that coming to the UK on a work visa is different than coming in, being allowed to stay and bringing dependents.

Pushed further on the skilled occupation that the country needs, he says repeats that numbers would be limited.

He says if shortages occur, it would push wages up and encourage people to learn skills, "rather than heading off to university and doing social sciences".

Asked about total net migration - the difference between people leaving and arriving in the UK each year - he says zero would be his target.

He says that considering the number of people leaving the UK on a yearly basis, there would still be room for 600,000 people coming to the UK, which is "plenty" for the labour market.

Image source, .

The new leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage is speaking now to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He's asked about his party's pledge to freeze non-essential immigration - so what counts as non-essential immigration, he's asked.

He says the Conservatives have consistently pledged to reduce immigration but have not done so, adding: "We simply as a country cannot go on with an exploding population the way that it is."

Pressed again on what counts as non-essential immigration, he says "unskilled labour", adding he does think care workers are skilled, but when pressed for an example he says "physical, manual labour".

Asked about construction workers he says "we literally don't need any".

Next up, we'll be hearing Nigel Farage, as he returns to frontline politics as Reform UK leader.

He's being interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, after his announcement yesterday that he had "changed his mind" and decided to run as a candidate in this general election after all.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest lines.

A little earlier we heard from Rain Newton-Smith, the head of the Confederation of British Industry - a prominent lobby group.

She tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme she wants the political parties to put the private sector, growth and investment "at the heart of their plan for the country".

Asked if reducing the number of migrant visas is compatible with that, she says growth comes from the country's ability to attract talent from around the world, as well as innovation and business investment, adding the UK has "lagged behind" the rest of the G7 on the latter.

"We need to think about the needs of our economy" and public services in the overall approach to immigration "rather than just focusing on the overall number", she says.

Let's take a look at the frontpage headlines this morning.

All the papers feature the return of Nigel Farage to lead Reform UK, with most also pointing to a poll that suggests the Tories may only return with 140 seats.

"Rishi's darkest hour" is the headline in the The Daily Mail, while The i goes with "Farage blows apart Tory election plan".

Farage also announced he would attempt to become MP for Clacton in Essex. The Daily Express calls his announcement a "shock U-turn", while The Sun says bookmakers have him at evens to claim the seat.

Read more about what's making the headlines today here.

Image source, PA Media

It's going to be a busy morning on the broadcast round.

Coming up on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the SNP's Communities Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will be on just before 07:00 BST, talking about oil and gas reserves in Scotland - a key electoral issue which the leaders of Scotland's political parties discussed in a debate last night.

Just after 07:00, back on the frontline of British politics, Nigel Farage will be speaking just before the official launch of his campaign later today.

Pushing out his party's policy on social care, the Lib Dem's Sir Ed Davey will be on just after 07:30, and with Labour's National Executive Committee rubber stamping their candidate list later today - the party's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden will be on just before 08:00.

And coming up just after 08:00, Home Secretary James Cleverly will be appearing alongside polling expert John Curtice. Expect yesterday's YouGov poll - projecting the Conservatives potentially ending up with 140 seats - to be discussed. Unlike some of his Cabinet colleagues, it projected Cleverly will likely keep his seat.

Late last night the Conservatives announced new plans to cap the number of visas available to migrants - with the number reduced each year.

Under the plans, MPs would get a vote on annual government proposals aimed at regularly reducing numbers, which would be based on recommendations from the expert Migration Advisory Committee.

Although no figures were suggested for a possible cap, Rishi Sunak said his was the only party willing to take "bold action to reduce immigration" if elected on 4 July.

A pledge to "stop the boats" and reduce overall migration numbers has been a central plank of Rishi Sunak's premiership, with net migration rising to record levels - topping 764,000 in 2022, and 685,000 last year.

The announcement comes as Nigel Farage announced he was returning to lead the Reform Party, with its focus on reducing immigration, which has heaped further pressure on Sunak.

Read more about the new policy here.

Sean Curran
Parliamentary correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

They've been part and parcel of US politics for decades but voters in the UK had to wait until 2010 for the first TV election debates.

And when Sunak and Starmer face each other at nine o'clock tonight it will only be the third time a prime minister and leader of the opposition have gone head to head in this way.

The two men will debate each other in front of a live audience and the programme will be moderated by ITV presenter Julie Etchingham.

The debate presents both an opportunity and a risk. It's a chance to reach millions of people but any sort of gaffe could end up being replayed for years.

But will tonight change anyone's mind? Research from the Harvard Business School last year suggested that presidential or prime ministerial tv debates didn't play "any significant role in shaping voters' choice of candidate".

Michael Sheils McNamee
BBC News

For Rishi Sunak, Tuesday’s papers paint a troubled picture - with the headlines dominated by the return of Nigel Farage and a major poll forecasting a landslide Labour victory.

Many of the papers focus on the problems an invigorated Reform UK party could present for the prime minister.

“Farage’s return and new poll deal blow to Sunak” reads the headline in the Times. The Daily Mail dramatically describes Farage’s return and the new poll as “Rishi’s darkest hour”, while the Guardian quotes a senior Conservative saying the former Ukip leader presents an “existential” threat.

A few of the papers, including the Mirror and Metro, highlight that senior ministers - people like Grant Shapps and Jeremy Hunt - find themselves at risk of losing their seats.

Sunak will be hoping he can move the conversation on, and draw focus to his pledge to put a cap on foreign worker visas in order to cut migration - a story which makes its way on to the front of the Daily Telegraph.

It reports that if re-elected, the Tories would “give Parliament an annual vote to set a cap for visas for skilled workers, including health and social care, family reunions and graduates”.

Read our full review of the morning's papers here.

Campaigning for the general election on 4 July moves up a gear today with the first TV debate between the leaders of the two biggest parties. The Conservative leader, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, will go head to head this evening with Labour's Sir Keir Starmer in a showdown hosted by ITV.

Before that, expect the theme of immigration to come up as the Conservatives outline their plans for reducing the number of visas made available to migrants. We will be interviewing Home Secretary James Cleverly on the issue this morning and also Pat McFadden, Labour's campaign chief.

One issue likely to be concentrating Tory minds is Monday's surprise move by Nigel Farage to join the campaign as a candidate and leader of Reform UK, a party that focuses on reducing immigration. We will be questioning Farage live on air too.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats say they would offer free personal care to older or disabled people at home, if they were the government.

Listen out too for an interview with Shirley-Anne Somerville of the SNP, the day after Scotland's political leaders held their first TV debate of the race.

Stay with us as our reporters and editors bring you the latest updates, plus expert analysis and colour, from the campaigns across the UK.