Election latest: Starmer incredulous over latest Tory attack line (2024)

One of our top stories today is the latest in a series of investigations by economics and data editor Ed Conway on how Russia continues to keep Western powers hooked on its gas supplies.

British firms are among those helping to keep Russian gas flowing into Europe, including an obscure company based in Glasgow.

You can read Ed's full report by tapping here.

We also asked Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer about it on the campaign trail earlier.

Referring to Ed's report, our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh asked him about Europe's reliance on Russian gas imports - with UK companies facilitating the trade through insurance and ownership:

By Laura Bundock, news correspondent

Two days before the polls open and there is still a sizeable group of undecided voters on the Sky News YouGov panel.

With a last political push from the parties, the undecided votes could be critical this week.

That's because significantly more of this group backed the Conservatives in the 2019 election.

Among the former Tory voters on our panel, there is a split on who to vote for this time.

Some are switching to Labour.

"Even though Conservatives do seem like they have clear plans, their clear plans don't seem genuine anymore," said one voter.

You can read more from Sky News below:

By Mark Kleinman, City editor

The Conservative Party will on Wednesday unveil a letter signed by scores of small business-owners in a last-ditch bid to convince undecided voters that they can be trusted as the stewards of Britain's economy.

Sky News understands the Tories are planning to publish a letter signed by between 100 and 150 SME bosses that will argue that a Labour government would risk damaging their business.

Sources said the letter was expected to be released on Wednesday, the final day before Britain goes to the polls.

Neither the text of the letter nor the names of the signatories were clear on Tuesday.

Sir Keir Starmer has risked the wrath of the Tories by suggesting it's not just family he'll want to make time for if he becomes prime minister.

The Labour leader is a keen footballer and wants to keep it up.

"I'm determined to be able to play five-a-side," he told Times Radio.

"Whether I'll be able to play on a Sunday or not, I don't know.

"I suspect I'll be busy."

Sir Keir has already said he wants to keep Friday evenings free for time with his wife and children. He currently clocks off work at 6pm that day.

That ambition has drawn the ire of Conservative ministers, who've suggested it's a sign he won't take the job of PM seriously.

Sir Keir acknowledged he likely won't be able to play football "as regularly" should he end up in Number 10 on Friday.

But he said he was similarly determined to keep going to The Arsenal with his son and friends.

Sir Keir, like his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, is a big Gunners fan.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked earlier about a Reform UK candidate's decision to suspend her campaign and back the Tories over concerns that many of the other candidates standing are bigoted.

"A vote for Reform is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in Number 10," he said, reacting to the news.

He was pressed on whether he agrees with Georgie David, who was the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, in saying the "vast majority of [Reform] candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic and bigoted".

The prime minister said he'd already addressed the "appalling comments" made by Reform campaigners last week, adding that "speaks to the culture" in Nigel Farage's party.

Mr Sunak also said the postal vote delay situation needs resolving quickly as every vote counts.

Royal Mail has blamed the government for voters not receiving their postal ballots ahead of Thursday's election - and said there is "no backlog" in its system.

Second breakfasts are exciting enough, but imagine being able to have threebreakfasts.

Rishi Sunak lived the dream of every hobbit from The Lord Of The Rings this morning by doing just that, saying it helped him feel "energised" at this late stage of the election campaign.

"How often do you get to have three breakfasts before 10am?" he told reporters accompanying him in Beaconsfield.

"That's only good news."

One of them was a McDonald's breakfast wrap.

He previously revealed it was his favourite item on its menu, though it had been discontinued when he said it.

The sausage, egg, bacon, potato, and cheese concoction returned from a four-year hiatus earlier this year.

"I love a comeback," the PM said as he tucked into one on the Tory campaign battle bus this morning.

Presumably his other breakfasts were a Twix and some Haribo.

Whether he enjoys a comeback in the polls is another matter.

Lord Mann, a Labour peer who was appointed antisemitism adviser by Theresa May, has warned it is "so dangerous" for Sir Keir Starmer's "right to family time" to be questioned.

He 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.

"So insidious from those aware of why he chooses to be with his family specifically on Friday evenings."

He pointed out that Friday nights had a wider cultural significance within the Jewish community, likening it to Sundays in Christian communities.

“There’s a reason parliament does not sit on Sundays,” he said.

Sir Keir's wife Victoria is of Jewish heritage.

Reform UK has said it is "very disappointed" that another candidate has suspended their campaign - and instead endorsed the Conservatives.

Georgie David, who was the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, said she is "in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist".

However, she said the "vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic and bigoted".

In response, a spokesperson for Reform UK said: "We are very disappointed with Ms David's course of action.

"We strongly disagree with her sweeping comments about the 'vast majority' of our 600-plus candidates, the vast majority of whom she can never even have met.

"And we find it sad and strange that she chose not to bring up any of her concerns with the party leadership before publicly trashing so many of her blameless colleagues who are giving their all to get Reform UK elected.

"Ms David was a last minute addition to our candidate list, and we apologise to the voters of West Ham and Beckton for any inconvenience."

The other candidates in West Ham and Beckton are:

• James Edward Asser, Labour;
  
• Lois Austin, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition;
• Emily Bigland, Lib Dems;
  
• Rob Callender, Greens;
  
• Sophia Naqvi, Newham Independents Party;
  
• Holly Alice Ramsey, Conservatives;
  
• Kayode Shedowo, Christian Peoples Alliance.

It's 12pm - time for your afternoon general election update as we enter the very final stretch of a fiery, six-week campaign.

Here's everything you need to know so far today:

• The Conservatives have kept up their attacks onSir Keir Starmerover suggestions he would keep up his commitment to not working after 6pm on Fridays should he become PM;
• Health minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News "it is slightly concerning" that the Labour leader would take this approach;
• Sir Keir - who keeps Friday nights free to spend time with his wife and children - has hit back, claiming the attack is evidence of a "desperation" from the Conservatives which is "bordering on hysterical".

• Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir are busy on the campaign trail today, in a last ditch effort to convince voters to back their parties on Thursday;
• And the government is "urgently" investigating delays to postal ballots being delivered, after postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake criticised Royal Mail for apparently failing to deliver some votes in time.

• Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, today criticised the "complete and utter shambles" of these delays, claiming it "disenfranchises" people in Scotland who have gone on holiday (schools have already broken up there);
• Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, is back on the campaign trail in the South East, knocking down Conservative blue dominoes in yet another stunt;
• And a second Reform UK candidate - Georgie David - has announced her decision to suspend her campaign because of "racism and misogyny" in the party - and back the Conservatives.

Stick with us for live updates throughout the day.

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman have denied being associated with website domains purporting to be for future leadership bids.

It comes as a source close to Penny Mordaunt told Sky News she kept her domain active from the 2022 contests "for the same reason you'd keep a spare tire in the boot" - and not to mount a challenge against the PM.

With Rishi Sunak widely expected to lose the election on Thursday, there has been mounting speculation about what direction the Conservatives will head in and who could take command.

While Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker has been open about fancying his chances, other senior Tories are keeping their cards close to their chests.