Kemi Badenoch reopens row with ‘misogynist’ David Tennant

WATCH: Ann Widdecombe says media have ‘AGENDA’ to SMEAR Reform UK

Starmer blasts ‘ridiculous’ Tory claim Labour would be threat to national security

Starmer blasts ‘ridiculous’ Tory claim Labour would be threat to national security

PA

Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at “ridiculous” Tory suggestions that Labour would be a threat to national security after one minister branded him a “danger” and another claimed he would leave the UK vulnerable to foreign powers.

The Labour leader said he had been granted access to sensitive intelligence by the Government so it was wrong for ministers to now claim he would be a danger.

Speaking on a campaign visit in Aldershot, known as the home of the British Army, Sir Keir told reporters: “I think this is desperate stuff from the Tories.

“We are the party that was a founder member of Nato. If you go to Brussels and see the treaty there for Nato, it’s a Labour secretary of state that signed that and our support for Nato has been unshakeable since then.

“On the nuclear deterrent, we’re clear about the triple lock that we’ve put in place, not only the current deterrent but the future upgrades of that deterrent and the jobs that go with it.

“We have also – and this is why it is really desperate from the Tories – united with this Government, the Tory Government, on really important issues of national security.

“As a result of that, they have given me high-level sensitive briefings, so much do they trust us on national security.

“I’m very glad that they have and I do thank the Defence Secretary for facilitating that, particularly during Ukraine when they gave us very regular, very sensitive briefings.

“To now turn around and make this ridiculous claim just shows how desperate they have become going into this election. It does them no good.”

Justin Welby encourages people to vote on July 4

Justin Welby is the archbishop of Canterbury PA

The Archbishop of Canterbury urged people to avoid “personalised abuse” in the closing stages of the election campaign as he encouraged voters to go to the ballot box.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby said: “In these last few days before the election, let us pray for all candidates taking part in this most essential act of democracy.

“Let us encourage courteous and kind debate and not use personalised abuse.

“Let us carefully consider issues and the common good, and above all vote.”

WATCH: Furious Nigel Farage blasts mainstream media and urges Brits to join Reform UK ‘revolt’

Starmer REFUSES to say whether Lammy would be Foreign Secretary in Labour Government

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the media during a visit to a veterans’ coffee morning at Aldershot Town Football Club in Aldershot to mark Armed Forces Day

PA

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether David Lammy would be his Foreign Secretary under a Labour Government.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Labour leader said he will “work hard until 10 o’clock on Thursday” to get votes, adding: “I’m not going to announce anybody who may be in a cabinet after Thursday if we win.”

Asked if he was concerned about the prospect of a super-majority, Sir Keir said that “the numbers are really tight, it’ll go down to a few hundred in many constituencies”.

He added: “We have to win every vote, earn the trust across the country.”

Tom Tugendhat refuses to rule out Tory leadership run if Sunak quits following General Election

Tom Tugendhat refuses to rule out Tory leadership run if Sunak quits following General Election

PA

Tom Tugendhat has not ruled out a run at the Tory leadership if Rishi Sunak quits following the General Election.

Asked if he wanted to be leader, the security minister told Times Radio: “What I want to do is to make sure we’ve got a Conservative leader in this country and that’s why I’m supporting Rishi Sunak.

“Because the alternative with Keir Starmer, I’m afraid, is higher taxes, more regulation, worse growth and more unemployment.

“What we need to do is to make sure that Conservatives across this country win their seats and that’s exactly what I’ve been focused on.”

Pressed again on the issue of what happens after the election, he said: “Well, we’ll deal with hypotheticals in a different way.

“I mean, the reality is Rishi Sunak is the candidate, there’s only two candidates for prime minister, there’s Rishi Sunak and there’s Sir Keir Starmer.

“One of them is committed to lowering your taxes, protecting your borders and making a difference in everybody’s lives. The other, I’m afraid, is Sir Keir Starmer who is committed to raising your taxes, to making life a little bit harder for everybody and to lecturing you on how to live your life.”

BBC Question Time sinks to ‘cynical bias’ with Nigel Farage facing grilling from ‘rigged audience’

BBC branded ‘appalling’ as Question Time sinks to ‘cynical bias’ with Nigel Farage facing grilling from ‘rigged audience’BBC

BBC Question Time has been branded “appalling” after being accused of showing “cynical bias” as Nigel Farage faced a grilling from a “ripped audience” less than week before polls open on July 4.

Comments from the floor were not seemingly reflective of opinion polls on immigration, with a survey conducted earlier this year suggesting nearly nine in 10 UK parliamentary constituencies want to see net migration reduced and controls tightened.

However, Fiona Bruce suggested audience members reflected the views of the wider electorate, including Reform UK voters.

“Each of our two guests will face 30 minutes of questions from our audience who represent a mix of political sentiments, including many who are still making up their minds and supporters of both the Greens and Reform,” the veteran BBC presenter said.

Responding to Question Time’s final leaders’ special, conservative commentator Connor Tomlinson said: “This Question Time is appalling. They’ve packed out the entire audience with people shouting at Nigel Farage and calling him a racist.

“Every question is identical and tiresome If I believed Ofcom would uphold impartiality standards against the BBC, I would complain about bias.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

​Party leaders to discuss support for veterans on Armed Forces Day

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer

PA

Party leaders will be on the election campaign trail on Armed Forces Day discussing defence and support for veterans.

On the campaign trail on Saturday, Mr Sunak will hail the “duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice” of servicemen and women and claim his is the only party to meet the Help for Heroes Veterans’ Pledge.

The pledge requires parties to commit to keeping the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, commissioning an independent review of the medical discharge process and ensuring veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve.

Sunak said: “It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us.

“It’s why it’s so important that we get defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.”

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said: “Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to support our armed forces and secure the future of our country. Don’t vote to let Starmer put us all in danger from Downing Street.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to introduce a new armed forces commissioner and lead a “Government of service” if Labour is elected.

Sir Keir 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.”

Analysis shows Sunak has only visited five top Tory at-risk seats

Best for Britain previously advised to vote for Labour in Richmond and Northallerton to tactically vote Rishi Sunak from his seat

PA

Rishi Sunak has only campaigned in five of 45 constituencies where Cabinet members and other prominent Tory politicians are at risk of losing their seats, according to an analysis of his campaign route.

The Prime Minister has visited Central Devon, where a poll commissioned by Best for Britain puts Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride in second place with a margin of 6.94.

Sunak has also visited Melksham and Devizes, where Science Secretary Michelle Donelan is predicted to win with just 7.8 points between her and second place, and Suffolk Coastal, where Tory candidate Therese Coffey is expected to lose with a margin of 5.5, the poll shows.

He also visited Stoke-on-Trent North, where the poll puts Jonathan Gullis as the loser with a margin of 17.79, and his own seat of Richmond and Northallerton, where the Prime Minister is set to retake his seat with a margin of 6.89.

He has not visited the other 40 constituencies identified as of Friday.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “Sunak’s problem is that even his own party doesn’t want him around, let alone the public.

“We need a clean break from him, his party, and the damage they have caused over the past 14 years, and the best way voters can ensure the Tories are locked out of power for at least a decade is by voting tactically.”