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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 argued a big majority for Labour predicted by many polls would be “better for the country”, after the prime minister repeatedly warned voters against giving the party a “supermajority” in recent days.
Reform UK’s 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”.
With only two days to go until polling day, an investigation has also been launched into reports of delays in the delivery of thousands of postal ballots.
Key Points
- Reform candidate defects to Conservatives
- Antisemitism tsar condemns ‘dangerous’ Tory attack on Starmer’s Friday family time
- Post Office minister ‘urgently’ investigates delays to postal ballots
- Richard Tice: ‘Tories have broken Britain’
- Labour hits back at ‘massive majority’ criticism
- Sunak promises to fight until the ‘last moment’
Lib Dems had ‘a bit of fun’ with campaign stunts
As the general election campaign comes to an end, Sir Ed Davey has said the Liberal Democrats have had a “bit of fun” with the leader’s stunts.
But he insisted there is “serious message” behind the stunts.
Speaking from campaign visit to Somerset this morning, Sir Ed said: “We are the only party putting the NHS and social care and carers right at the front of our election priorities.
“Yes, we have done it with a bit of fun but we have also got a serious message.”
Sir Ed Davey urges voters to knock over Tory dominoes on Thursday
Ed Davey has knocked over a line of big blue dominoes with a Lib Dem yellow one and called for voters to help his party topple Conservative MPs.
The Lib Dem leader visited Taunton and Wellington, a marginal constituency, to urge voters to return their ballots for his party in the General Election on Thursday.
Sir Ed said: “Thursday could be a historic moment for this country. It is an opportunity to vote for a Liberal Democrat local champion who will stand up for the NHS, tackle the sewage scandal and end the cost-of-living crisis.
“Conservative MPs have taken voters for granted, ignored their concerns and become more interested in fighting amongst themselves rather than fighting for their constituents.
“They have proven themselves utterly unfit to govern and unfit to represent the needs of those who have elected them. On July 4th, people have the chance to make sure the Conservative dominoes fall across the ‘blue wall’ and West Country, and make sure a Liberal Democrat MP can take your concerns right to the heart of Parliament.”
The Lib Dem candidate in Taunton and Wellington is Gideon Amos. He is hoping to unseat Tory candidate Rebecca Pow, who was MP for the previous Taunton Deane constituency.
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:53 1719916822Politics Explained | Is there real reason to fear a Labour ‘supermajority’?
As election day approaches and the Tories look set for a defeat of historic proportions, Sean O’Grady busts some myths about what Labour might do in the event of a landslide.
He writes: “Wisely or not, the Conservatives have tacitly concedednot just defeat but an appalling humiliation on polling day, and are now begging for mercy. Somewhat unconvincingly.
“The prime minister himself, in the dying days of his administration, has declared: ‘I don’t want Britain to sleepwalk into the danger of what an unchecked Labour government with a supermajority would mean.’
The home secretary, James Cleverly, agrees and says that Labour would ‘distort’ the constitution.” But not all such fears are fully justified.
Read the full piece here.
Royal Mail blames ‘stakeholders’ for delays in postal votes
After reports emerged that postal votes have not yet been delivered to homes, the Post Office minister launched an investigation “urgently” looking into it.
But Royal Mail officials have now said they “remain confident” that ballot papers were received on time and delivered before polling day.
Instead, it has suggested that “stakeholders” involved in “printing and administering” the postal votes could be responsible for the delay.
Royal Mail said: “Where specific concerns have been raised, we have investigated, and confirmed ballot packs are being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network.
“We would welcome a review into the timetable for future elections with all stakeholders to ensure that the system for printing and administering postal votes before they are handed to Royal Mail works as smoothly as possible.”
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:32 1719916222Join today's Q&A with Labour candidate Stella Creasy
The Independent is giving readers the chance to chat directly with candidates from some of the major political parties in a special general election series of Ask Me Anything events.
The Q&A today starts at 12pm and is with Labour candidate Stella Creasy.
If you have a question about Labour’s manifesto, pledges or policies submit it now.
Find out more here.
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:30 1719916084Starmer hits back at Tories’ attack spending Friday evenings with family
Sir Keir Starmer has said Tory attacks on his desire to spend Friday evenings with his family were a sign of “increasing desperation bordering on hysterical”.
Speaking at Hucknall Town FC’s ground in Nottingham, the Labour leader said: “Look, this is just increasingly desperate stuff.
“I actually can hardly believe that 48 hours before an election, the Conservative Party has got nothing possible positive to say as they go into it.
“I’ve been arguing throughout this campaign, you’ll have heard me many times saying they haven’t changed. They’re just the same. Nothing’s going to change. But they’re proving it.
“Because they’re not saying ‘look, if you vote Tory, vote Conservative on Thursday, these things will happen’. They’re just in this negative desperate loop.
“I just think it’s increasing desperation bordering on hysterical now.”
Sunak warns voters have ‘48 hours to put the brakes’ on Labour
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:26 1719915622Watch: Sunak reveals ‘worst moment’ of his time as prime minister as Tories face election wipeout
Sunak reveals ‘worst moment’ of his time as PM as Tories face election wipeout
The PM was asked for the highs and lows of his time in office in what could be one of his last broadcast interviews in charge of the country
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:20 1719915430In full: Backlash as Tories attack Starmer for saying he wants to spend time with his family after 6pm on Fridays
Tories attack Starmer for wanting to spend time with his family after 6pm on Fridays
Conservative Party facing criticism over attack on Starmer, and for apparently ignoring that his family observe Jewish Shabbat dinner on Fridays
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:17 1719915299Antisemitism tsar condemns ‘dangerous’ Tory attack on Starmer’s Friday family time
The Government’s antisemitism adviser has condemned “dangerous” attacks on Sir Keir Starmer over his desire to keep Friday nights free from work.
The Labour leader, whose wife is Jewish, has come under fire from senior Tories after saying he wanted to avoid work after 6pm on a Friday to spend time with his family – although he acknowledged that would not always be possible.
The Tories said that would make him a “part-time” prime minister while Cabinet ministers mocked him, suggesting he would refuse to go to work if there was an international crisis on a Friday evening.
Friday night Shabbat dinners are important in the Jewish faith and Sir Keir has talked about making sure his children are aware of their heritage.
Lord Mann, a Labour peer who was appointed as antisemitism adviser by Theresa May, said: “The attack on Keir Starmer for asserting his right to family time on a Friday night, as he has done for many, many years, is so dangerous.”
Salma Ouaguira2 July 2024 11:14 Newer1 / 6OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
