General election latest: Starmer says Tories ‘hysterical’ on 6pm row as Reform candidate quits over ‘racism’
Sir Keir Starmer said the Tory campaign is getting more ‘desperate’ as we approach polling day
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Parties have begun a 48-hour blitz in constituencies across the country as they make their final appeals to voters ahead of polling day.
Rishi Sunak began Tuesday visiting businesses in Oxfordshire, insisting predictions of a heavy Tory defeat were not going to stop him from continuing his fight to remain in No 10.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is campaigning across the Midlands. The Labour leader has said Tory attacks on his desire to spend Friday evenings with his family were a sign of “increasing desperation bordering on hysterical”.
It comes as the Conservatives said his comments would make him a “part time prime minister” if he wins the election on Thursday, with Mr Sunak saying: “I haven’t finished at six ever.”
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has been struck by yet more accusations of racism and misogyny, as a second candidate announced she is defecting to the Tories.
Georgie David, who was due to stand for the party in West Ham and Beckton, claimed the “vast majority” of Reform candidates are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.
What to expect on the General Election campaign trail on Tuesday
Sunak in last-ditch attempt to rally Conservative voters with threat of a Labour ‘supermajority’
Is Starmer right to stop work for his family at 6pm on Fridays? Join The Independent Debate
Is there real reason to fear a Labour ‘supermajority’?
Tories attack Starmer over his desire to spend Friday nights with family
VOICES Claire Cohen (non-Premium): Will your kids thank you for clocking off early at No10, Sir Keir?
Will your kids thank you for clocking off early at No10, Sir Keir?
If he gets the keys to Downing Street, the Labour leader hopes to finish work at 6pm on a Friday, to spend a few hours with his family. That doesn’t make him a ‘slacker’ says Claire Cohen – as anyone who’s shared a house with teenagers knows…
Pictured: Sunak packs boxes during warehouse visit in Banbury
Sunak: ‘No point fretting about the past'
Rishi Sunak said there is “no point fretting about the past” when asked if he feels frustrated by the “poisoned chalice” he was given when taking on the role.
The prime minister said “I don’t focus on these things in the past”, adding to reporters: “You’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt. It’s a great privilege to do this job.
“Has it been tough? Of course it’s been tough. I got made chancellor and I had to do a budget in three weeks, and then a pandemic hit. Things happen, how you respond to them is what defines you as a person, your character, your actions, your values.”
Mr Sunak said he is now at a point where it is “quite nice for me to be able to talk about what I’d like to do in the future”, adding: “There’s no point fretting about the past. I’ve delivered what I’ve delivered, this is about the future and that’s what gives me the energy and motivation to go around and get up and talk to many people about it.”
Sunak tucks into ‘comeback’ breakfast wrap
Rishi Sunak revealed he has three breakfast before 10am while campaigning.
The prime minister said his favorite morning food is a McDonald’s breakfast wrap.
Sunak: I work ‘day and night’ as PM
Rishi Sunak said he works “day and night” to do the best job possible as Prime Minister, noting that making sacrifices to serve the public “comes with the territory”.
In a nod to Sir Keir Starmer saying he does not usually do anything work-related after 6pm on a Friday, Mr Sunak was asked if he believed the Labour leader would have got up at 3am to match his day of campaigning.
The Prime Minister told reporters: “Everyone is going to do this job differently, so that is just the way it is.
“I can just tell you from my experience about doing this job that it is demanding, and rightly so, because there’s a great responsibility that rests on your shoulders, there’s always work you can do, there’s always decisions that need to be made, and that’s what comes with the privilege of doing this job.
“Public service is about service, service means sacrifice. You go into these jobs knowing that, that’s why we recognise and respect people who do public service, they are putting themselves at the service of others and that comes always at a sacrifice to you.”
Starmer says Tory attacks on on 6pm row ‘laughably ridiculous'
Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Tory attacks on his wish to spend Friday evenings with his family as “laughably ridiculous”.
Speaking to Times Radio from Nottingham, the Labour leader said: “I think it’s laughably ridiculous that this is even being talked about.
“All I said was that on a Friday night, I tend to try and protect that time for my family as protected time for my wife and my kids.
“Now, of course, I’ve had to work Fridays in the past, I’ll work Fridays in the future.”
He added: “I’m still in that mode, putting the positive case for change and saying if you want change, you’ve got to vote for it. And they’re in this ridiculous spiral of desperation.”
Burger King blasts ‘things can only get better’ after Sunak’s visit to McDonald’s
Sunak claims ‘racist and misogynistic views’ in Reform go ‘unchallenged'
Rishi Sunak has said candidates and campaigners for Reform UK openly express “racist and misogynistic views, seemingly without challenge”.
It comes as a Reform candidate defected from the party accusing candidates of being “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”.
Reacting to the news, the prime minister told reporters in Banbury: “We’ve seen some appalling comments that have been made that I addressed last week and what we have seen is candidates and campaigners openly espousing racist and misogynistic views, seemingly without challenge.
“That tells you something about the culture within the Reform Party overall, that’s questions for Nigel Farage.
“But on Thursday there’s a clear choice for people, and if you want your taxes cut, if you want your pension protected, and you want our border secure, and you want to vote to prevent a Labour supermajority, the only way to do that is to vote Conservative.”
Starmer ‘determined’ play football on Sundays as PM
Sir Keir Starmer said he is “determined to continue playing football” if he enters Downing Street after the election.
Speaking to Times Radio from Nottingham, the Labour leader said: “I’m determined to be able to play five-a-side. Whether I’ll be able to play on a Sunday or not, I don’t know. I suspect I’ll be busy.
“But I’m determined to continue playing football, maybe not as regularly. I’m determined to continue to go to watch Arsenal play with my son and my friends.”
He added: “I’ve played football pretty well every week since I was 10 years old and I’m not planning on stopping now.”
Sir Keir also said his children have been “ramping up” their campaign to get a family dog and that Rocket Man is his favourite song by new Labour endorser Sir Elton John.
Pictured: Starmer serves customers hot drinks at Hucknall Town FC
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