General election latest: Tories warn of ‘Labour permanent government’ as Starmer says only Left beats far right

A poll suggests the Tories are set to be “all but wiped out” in London at the general election on Thursday

Sunak on Farage

With six days to go until the general election, party leaders are giving the final push of the campaign trail.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has warned voters Sir Keir Starmer will “gerrymander” the system to secure a “permanent Labour government”.

The Conservative candidate accused the party of plotting to “pack out the House of Lords” and rise voting age 16 to stay in power for longer.

Amid the rising of the nationalist party in France, the Labour leader said only the progressive parties can beat the far-right and he blamed the surge on “disaffection among voters”.

He said people feel “the country is too broken to be mended” and they “can’t trust politicians” after 14 years of “Tory chaos”, but Sir Keir added: “Only progressives have the answers of the challenges that are facing us.”

It comes as Labour is still holding a strong 24-point lead in the latest polls on voter intentions, with the Tories struggling to close the gap.

Key Points

• Cleverly insists Labour would set out a ‘permanent government’
• Starmer: Only progressives can beat the far-right
• Poll: Tories to be 'all but wiped out’ in London
• Tories warn extremist parties to take advantage on immigration
• Sunak vows to work ‘my socks off for you'
• Cleverly criticises Banksy migrant artwork at Glastonbury

[1 July 2024 06:00 · Holly Evans]

From Daddy Dragon to AI Steve: The strangest political parties in the general election

With less than a week to go until the general election, voters checking their ballot papers may be surprised by some of the political parties running in their constituencies.

While most people are aware of the political big hitters, there a few underdog parties that fly under the radar. Some of these parties are set up with satirical intent to provide comic relief to voters, while others attempt to make real political statements.

From Count Binface Party to A Blue Revolution, The Independent has put together a list of those fielding candidates in the general election.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 05:00 · Holly Evans]

Voters in ‘blue wall’ seats bombarded with Lib Dem ads as party steps up moves to oust Tories like Jeremy Hunt

Voters in the blue wall have seen an average of eight Liberal Democrat adverts as the party steps up its bid to oust high-profile names like Jeremy Hunt, according to sources.

The Lib Dems are climbing in the opinion polls, with some even suggesting they could be fighting for second place in the event of a Tory meltdown.

Forecasts indicate the party could take more than 50 seats on Thursday, after a campaign noted for leader Ed Davey’s stunts.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 04:00 · Holly Evans]

It cannot be denied any longer – Reform is riddled with racism

[1 July 2024 03:00 · Holly Evans]

Bad actors or conspiracy theories? The inside story of Farage’s battle for Clacton

As you drive into Clacton there are scores of pro-Farage Reform posters asking people to “save Britain” in what is becoming a struggle for the soul of right-of-centre politics.

Only as you travel out to the more genteel areas of the constituency, like Frinton, do they give way to “I stand with Giles” boards. But Giles Watling, the Tory MP defending his Clacton seat, may be the only Conservative candidate in this election with a wide coalition of support across the country willing him to win.

In the wake of the Channel 4 News expose of the Reform Clacton team and the racist comments by one of the canvassers Andrew Parker, Watling received a telephone call from Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, in normal circumstances no lover of Tories.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 02:00 · Holly Evans]

Rishi Sunak says he is proud of disastrous election campaign - and claims he will win

Rishi Sunak has said he is “proud” of his disastrous election campaign and claims he will win Thursday’s general election.

The prime minister has come under fire in recent weeks for a series of calamities that included a rain-soaked announcement of polling day, leaving D-Day commemorations early and a gambling scandal.

But in a crunch interview with just days to go before the vote, Mr Sunak told the BBC‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg “this campaign is something I am very proud of” as he sought to disparage Labour’s plans.

Read the full article here:

[1 July 2024 00:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Keir Starmer warns ‘hardest mile’ ahead as he tries to rally Labour activists for final push

Keir Starmer has warned Labour activists the “hardest mile” is still ahead as he attempted to rally his troops for a final push towards polling day.

The Labour leader told an event in central London: “This is the final furlong. This is the last push. The last mile, the hardest mile.”

He asked them to imagine waking up to a Tory government on 5 July, saying that the millions of undecided voters mean “it could happen”.