General election latest: Reform drops three candidates in racism row and reports Channel 4 to election watchdog

Nigel Farage refuses to apologise over Reform campaigner’s racist slur about Sunak as PM ‘hurt and angry’

Rishi Sunak reveals anger after being called 'effing p***’ by Reform UK canvasser

Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its parliamentary candidates as the party is caught up in a deepening racism row.

The party, spearheaded by Nigel Farage, is no longer endorsing Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford after alleged comments made by the three candidates emerged in the media.

It comes as Reform has said it has reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, after the broadcaster released footage of an activist campaigning for Mr Farage using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak.

Andrew Parker was exposed referring to Rishi Sunak as a “f****** p***” in a Channel 4 investigation.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission, the party’s secretary Adam Richardson claimed that it was “entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant within the Channel 4 news piece”.

He added: “The Channel 4 broadcast has clearly been made to harm Reform UK during an election period and this cannot be described as anything short of election interference.”

Key Points

• Reform UK withdraws support from three candidates
• Reform reports Channel 4 to Electoral Commission claiming race row canvasser was 'plant'
• Farage to blame for ‘lack of leadership’ amid Reform racism storm- Starmer
• Sir Keir warns Labour activists ‘hardest mile’ still ahead
• Channel 4 dismisses Reform claims Andrew Parker was ‘paid actor’

[29 June 2024 19:03 · Holly Evans]

Deborah Meaden says Starmer is ‘caring’ and ‘reflective’

Businesswoman Deborah Meaden has given her support to Labour at the General Election, saying she was “very impressed” with the party’s plan for small businesses.

She said there was a focus on business rates, skills and clean British energy at a time of energy price fluctuation and a need to do “good” for the environment.

In a video message played to hundreds of Labour supporters at an event in Westminster, she said: “Having spent some time with Keir, I find him thoughtful, caring, reflective.

“You know, he listens, he takes away the things you’ve talked about and formulates a plan. I think that’s everything you really want in a leader.”

[29 June 2024 18:43 · Holly Evans]

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 means “it could happen”.

Read the full article here:

[29 June 2024 18:23 · Holly Evans]

David Furnish among celebrities to back Labour

David Furnish, who is Sir Elton John’s husband and the chief executive of Rocket Entertainment, said he is backing Labour in the General Rlection.

Furnish said he believed that backing Labour was also a way to support the arts sector.

In a video message that was played to Labour supporters in Westminster on Saturday, he said: “It’s madness to treat a hugely successful sector with such disdain, particularly one that has been the envy of the world for decades and contributes billions to the British economy every year, and has given us unrivalled soft power across the globe.

“We spent years trying to engage with the UK government in a meaningful and productive manner on these issues.

“Now, Labour’s manifesto sets out sensible and practical proposals that promise to give every young person a creative education and help young and emerging musicians achieve the routes to success that have been cruelly and pointlessly snatched away from them.”

[29 June 2024 18:10 · Holly Evans]

Starmer warns ‘hope has almost been kicked out’ of voters

Sir Keir Starmer warned hope has been “kicked out” of voters as he said Labour still has to convince people to go to the ballot box.

At a major rally ahead of Thursday’s General Election, Sir Keir told activists in London: “British people want change but the hope has almost been kicked out. They need to be convinced that change is possible, and most of all they need to be convinced to vote for it.

“Because change doesn’t happen unless you vote for it.

“Nothing is decided, not a single vote has been won or lost, and each and every vote is out there.”

[29 June 2024 17:58 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Keir Starmer warns Labour activists ‘hardest mile’ still ahead

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Labour activists the “hardest mile” is still ahead of them as he attempted to rally his troops for the final push towards polling day, Kate Devlin reports.

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”.

[29 June 2024 17:43 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Elton John appears in video endorsement at Labour rally

At the Labour rally, Elton John appeared in a video endorsement as he said he is “backing Keir and Labour to win this election,” Kate Devlin reports.

He added: “Let’s get behind Labour on July 4.”

Actor Kit Harrington also appeared in a video at the rally as he said: “Vote for change and vote for Labour.”

(Kate Devlin )

[29 June 2024 17:16 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Angela Rayner warns Labour activists ‘right now we have won nothing’

Labour’s deputy Angela Rayner has delivered a tough message to Labour activists - “right now we have won nothing”, Kate Devlin reports.

At a rally in central London she also warned than it was “disrespectful” to voters to take anything for granted.

(Kate Devlin )

[29 June 2024 17:12 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Keir Starmer rally in central London underway

Kate Devlin is at a Labour rally in central London where the party leader Keir Starmer is expected to rally his activists with less than a week to go until polling day.

The London mayor has arrived to a round of applause.

For years he has been the highest elected Labour politician in the country.

If the polls are correct that could all be about to change on Thursday.

(Kate Devlin)

(Kate Devlin )

[29 June 2024 16:40 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Reform UK withdraws support from three candidates

Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its parliamentary candidates.

The party, spearheaded by Nigel Farage, is no longer endorsing Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford.

The announcement was made after alleged comments made by the three candidates emerged in the media.

[29 June 2024 16:30 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Reform campaigner ‘glad’ party reported Channel 4 to Electoral Commission

Reform UK campaigner Andrew Parker said he was “glad” that the party had reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, after the broadcaster released footage of him using a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Reform UK’s secretary Adam Richardson has claimed that Mr Parker “was a plant” in the Channel 4 footage which was recorded by an undercover journalist.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission, Mr Richardson said: “We request an immediate investigation into both Mr Parker and Channel 4 News, including any production houses that might have been used to create the piece.”

When he was told that Reform UK had reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, Mr Parker said: “Good, I’m glad.”

He declined to say whether he had been paid by Channel 4 to appear in the footage, instead telling the PA news agency that “it’ll all come out in the papers, what’ll come out is the truth”.

Mr Parker declined to comment further.