Labour purges left-wingers Faiza Shaheen and Lloyd Russell-Moyle

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The team will be back soon with the latest politics as we head towards the ballot box on July 4.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed former Tory MP Mark Logan’s decision to back Labour in the General Election.

Sir Keir said: “Voters across the country are looking to Labour for change. I am pleased Mark Logan has taken the decision to vote for Labour at this upcoming General Election.

“After 14 years of Tory failure, voters are returning to Labour because they can see that we are a changed party and back in service of working people. It’s time to stop the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain.”

A Tory parliamentary candidate has said “excrement” was put through the letterbox of her constituency office.

Katherine Fletcher, who is standing for re-election in South Ribble for the Conservatives, said the act was an “attempt to bully me”.

She added that a volunteer discovered the substance and police are looking into the matter.

Nigel Farage has slammed Labour’s planned VAT raid on private schools as “not morally right”. Independent schools do not currently have to charge VAT on their fees because of an exemption for the supply of education.

But one of Labour’s headline policies is to begin charging the 20% levy. Mr Farage said: “It’s not morally right to take away choice from parents and the opportunity for some young people the best possible education available."

Piers Morgan has taken aim at Nigel Farage for “bottling it” by failing to get selected as a candidate in seven attempts to run for election.

The TV presenter, who is appearing on BBC's Question Time alongside Reform UK's honorary president, shouted "he's bottled it" when a member of the audience quizzed him over why he chose not to stand.

Reform's Nigel Farage and TV presenter Piers Morgan will face each other on BBC's Question Time tonight.

The pair will be joined by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Minister Damian Hinds and the Bishop of Dover the Rt Rev’d Rose Hudson-Wilkin.

They will all debate before a studio audience in Epsom, Surrey, which will be broadcast on BBC One at 8pm

A former Tory MP has said he is quitting the Conservatives to back Labour at the General Election.

Mark Logan, who represented Bolton North East for the Conservatives until Parliament dissolved on Thursday, has said a government led by Sir Keir Starmer was “going to be better for the UK”.

He said his application to join Labour was “going in today”.

A Tory spokesman has claimed the Labour chaos has "descended into complete chaos".

"Keir Starmer changed major tax policy overnight in response to a press release, and today he's being undermined by his own deputy.

"Starmer's central claim is that he has 'changed' the Labour Party has been exposed as nothing more than a con which is falling apart before the public’s eyes."

Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has vowed not to stand as an MP at the upcoming election if his party strikes a deal with the Tories.

Rishi Sunak has ruled out a conversation with Reform after Nigel Farage "sarcastically" commented he would be open to a conversation.

Mr Anderson, who quit the Tory party in March, said: " “This is silly season. In the next couple of days, we’re going to enter the short campaign of the general election for this year.

Rishi Sunak was asked how he could be trusted by a worker whose mother died during the pandemic as lockdown-busting parties were happening in Downing Street.

The man told the Prime Minister his mother died in 2020, a month after Mr Sunak attended a gathering for which he got a police fine.

Mr Sunak replied: “Well, I’m really sorry that you lost your mum, and particularly in those circumstances, because it wasn’t easy for so many people during the pandemic, the impact it had on everyone’s life.

“I can’t imagine what it must have been for you not to be able to be with her at that time. It’s really tough.

“I’m sorry for what was going on in Downing Street. For my part, I apologise that I showed up to a meeting earlier.

“As you know, I was working on things to help you and your business, and many other families like that."

Hard-left Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen is said she's going to launch a legal challenge against Labour's decision to block her as their candidate in Chingford.

Among her complaints, she claims she has faced “a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying”.

She also cites a series of recent issues, including having a local organiser removed from her team and being blocked from producing videos blaming inflation on “corporate greed”.

Ms Shaheen claims that Labour has “a problem with black and brown people”.

Writing for the Express, Reform UK's honourary president Nigel Farage says voters have been lied to about migration.

He argues: "Mass immigration has led to a housing crisis, record NHS waiting lists and huge pressure across our crumbling public services. The poorest have been hit the hardest".

"Mass immigration has also made integration impossible and our country has become far more dangerous.

"Separate communities have grown up that reject British values. Most illegal migrants come in with no criminal checks."

Angela Rayner has sparked further Labour civil war this afternoon, in diverging from Keir Starmer and saying Diane Abbott should be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate at the election.

Amid a two-day war about the veteran Labour MP, Ms Rayner also turned on some Labour colleagues, whom she claimed had not treated Ms Abbott "fairly or appropriately".

In a significant undermining of Sir Keir's authority, Ms Rayner said she "doesn't see any reason" why Ms Abbott could not stand as a Labour MP now the whip has been restored.

Reform UK leader Richard Tice has described levels of immigration as “simply unfair, and it’s particularly unfair for young British people – youngsters leaving school, leaving university”.

Mr Tice said: “If I take you back to the 1980s and the 1990s, yes, I’m old enough to remember, we had real GDP growth of 2.5-3.5% per year.”

He added: “Yes, if it was less than 2% people would get worried. If it was less than 1% people thought it was a moral recession, now the Chancellor gets excited at half a percent

“But here’s the real point, we didn’t have mass immigration in those two decades.”

Reform UK is calling for an employer immigration tax to incentivise businesses to hire British workers and get wages growing.

Richard Tice said: “UK economy has a deadly addiction. And it’s the drug of cheap immigration.”

Labour's Diane Abbott claims the party is carrying out a "cull" of left-wing candidates ahead of the general election.

The veteran left-winger was reinstated as a Labour MP on Wednesday after a long suspension.

But she says she has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate in 4 July's election - something the party leadership has denied.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted he was not purging left-wing candidates and praised Diane Abbott’s political record.

Asked if he was blocking left-wingers from standing, he said: “No. I’ve said repeatedly over the last two years as we’ve selected our candidates that I want the highest-quality candidates.

“That’s been the position for a very long time.”

The Financial Times reports that a Labour shadow Treasury minister misspoke twice on Thursday by suggesting his party would freeze thresholds for income tax, national insurance and VAT.

Darren Jones told the Today Programme: “Income tax, national insurance, VAT thresholds — all of these, the current status of affairs, will not be changing under a future Labour government.”

"Income tax, national insurance, VAT — tax thresholds on those measures of tax will not be changing under a future Labour government.”

Labour officials have now clarified that Mr Jones misspoke and said the party’s pledge is about rates on income tax, national insurance and VAT, which it has vowed not to raise.

Welsh Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething may be dragged back before the Covid Inquiry, after it emerged he confessed to deleting official Whatsapps during the pandemic.

In a letter to Welsh Secretary David TC Davies this morning, inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett didn't rule out such a move, adding that they were aware of the claims surround the First Minister.

She added that they take "allegations of destruction of potentially relevant materials very seriously”.

Mr TC Davies says: "He needs to be recalled".

"Sir Keir Starmer also needs to discuss this with him today."

Sir Keir is due in Wales this morning alongside his new First Minister, who is facing a vote of confidence next week.

The Conservatives have launched their first poster of the election campaign.

Focussing on the economy, it starkly warns voters who think Labour will win the election to "start saving".

They warn that Labour will cost each household over £2,000 each in order to fill their £38.5bn blackhole.

After a day of rows about Diane Abbott and Lloyd Russel-Moyle, Corbynite candidate Faiza Shaheen has now also been blocked from standing as a Labour MP at the election.

The Conservatives have rubbed salt into Labour’s wounds this morning, after the party was left humiliated last night with a major U-turn.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party had repeatedly refused to rule out a hike in VAT since the general election was called.

However Tory warnings last night that Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves were planning to fill the £38billion black hole in his spending plans with a rise in the levy forced a hastily written pledge from the party.

This morning a Conservative spokesman told voters: “If this is how they make major tax policy decisions in opposition, imagine how chaotic they would be in government.”

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing revolt over the party’s disastrous handling of the veteran left-wing MP.

The opposition leader was forced to deny Ms Abbott, 70, had been barred from standing for Labour despite having the whip restored following a party probe.

Ms Abbott, at a rally in Hackney, said: “I will not let myself be intimidated. I am going to be your MP.”

Six of Britain’s most senior union chiefs have published a letter demanding Sir Keir urgently answer questions about Diane Abbott, as last night’s row shows no sign of abating.

The letter, which it says represents the voices of hundreds of thousands of members, requests an update regarding Ms Abbott’s position in the party.

They say that the whip must be restored, and she must be confirmed as Labour’s candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

It’s signed by Mick Whelan (ASLEF), Maryam Eslamdoust (TSSA), Sharon Graham (Unite), Chris Kitchen (NUM), Dave Ward (CWU), Matt Wrack (FBU).

This morning Sir Keir sparked confusion after denying widespread reports that Diane Abbott has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the General Election.

Sir Keir confirmed that the Labour whip has been returned to Ms Abbott, but insisted that “no decision has been taken to bar her going forward”.

Angela Rayner does not owe capital gains tax for the sale of her former council house, HMRC has ruled.

The Labour deputy leader has been told she will face no further action after a probe into her tax affairs.

HMRC concluded the house in Stockport was the Labour deputy leader’s principal residence the whole time she owned it.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle has been suspended from the Labour Party after a complaint was made about his behaviour.

The Brighton Kemptown MP said in a statement that he received an administrative suspension letter "out of the blue".

He said: "Someone (who remains anonymous to me) has made what I believe to be a vexatious and politically motivated complaint about my behaviour eight years ago. This is a false allegation that I dispute totally and I believe it was designed to disrupt this election.

"There isn't enough time to defend myself as these processes within the party take too long, so the party have told me that I will not be eligible to be a candidate at the next election."

He said he aims to cooperate with the investigation and clear his name.

It is understood Mr Russell-Moyle was suspended from the party pending investigation after a serious complaint was received last week.

A Labour spokesperson said the party takes all complaints extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with rules and procedures, with any appropriate disciplinary action taken.

Mr Russell-Moyle said he would continue to contribute to public life in different ways under what he hoped would be a Labour government.

Rishi Sunak has ruled out an electoral pact with Nigel Farage's Reform UK ahead of the General Election.

It came after Mr Farage revealed he would be open to having a conversation with the Conservative Party, as he hinted at a possible deal.

But the Prime Minister warned voters that backing Reform UK would likely see the Tories' share suffer, making a Labour election victory more likely.

Jeremy Corbyn will launch his campaign to be re-elected as the independent MP for Islington North tonight.

The launch is being hosted at a community centre which was officially opened by the politician in 2018 as part of a social housing project.

In a speech, Labour's former leader will vow to be "an independent voice for equality, democracy and peace".

He will promise to stand up for those "who aren't being served by our political system...who aren't being heard" and whose "demands fall on deaf ears".

The demands include an end to the occupation of Palestine, a fully public NHS, the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, public ownership of water and energy, and rent controls, according to his campaign.

Scotland's former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a tentative return to campaigning for the SNP, but declined to say whether she would appear alongside new leader John Swinney.

She told reporters she would appear "from time to time" in ways she believed would be "helpful" to SNP candidates.

Since standing down last year as party leader and Scotland's First Minister, Ms Sturgeon has kept a relatively low profile amid a police investigation into the party's finances.

Her husband, former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell, was last month charged with embezzlement while Ms Sturgeon has previously been arrested and released without charge as part of the Operation Branchform inquiry.

Asked by reporters whether she remained an asset to the party she once dominated, she said that was not for her to decide.

A new opinion poll has suggested that the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, could lose his seat in the upcoming General Election.

The SNP could face humiliation on July 4 with the possibility Mr Flynn could lose his seat.

Polling shows the Conservative Party could snatch Aberdeen South from the SNP in a blow to the Nats.

Nigel Farage has revealed he would be open to having a conversation with the Conservative Party, hinting at a possible deal.

Speaking to The Sun's Never Mind the Ballots, Mr Farage accused the Tories of betraying voters on illegal immigration.

Reform UK's honorary president said: "I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside with Boris to help a massive majority. What are they going to do back for me?"

Asked if he would accept a peerage from the Conservative Party, he replied: "No, I'm not asking for anything other than: I've done them some huge favours over the years as a party, give me something back. We might have a conversation."

Mr Farage said he believes Reform UK will "win a few" seats at the General Election, but "not many because that's the system we're having to live with".

During the interview, Mr Farage described Conservative former minister and prominent Brexiteer Sir Iain Duncan Smith as an "ally".

But he added: "The betrayal, the lies, from the Conservative Party at every election since 2010 on illegal immigration, are just astonishing. And those people hate your party and they're not going to vote for them."

Sir Iain replied: "If your party, Reform, end up standing in all the seats, they will end up delivering what they don't want."

He added: "All you're intent on is destruction, you're not intent on achieving anything and all you'll get is a Labour Party that will come in and go in exactly the opposite direction to where Reform want."

Nigel Farage has opened up on why he's not currently planning to throw his hat into the ring ahead of July's General Election.

The staunch Brexiteer admitted he had been planning to run, and had even booked a venue to launch his campaign but ultimately decided not to because "the other side will cheat."

He said: "I had a plan, actually. I'll let you in on a secret. I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked, I had it all ready to go.

"But the problem is, you can't win in a constituency - or it's very difficult to win - without data."

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has claimed that Chinese spies are stalking him while he campaigns in the general election.

Speaking to The Sun this afternoon, Sir Iain came out with the sensational claim that he's being spied on while on the election trail.

He said: "I and others have 'Wolf Warriors' – low level operatives".

“Guys that imitate you and go all around the world saying you’ve changed your views.

“I get emails from various politicians around the world saying ‘I don’t understand why you have shifted your views back to being very much in favour of President Xi’. And I go back and say that’s not me that’s somebody else.”

Sir Bill Cash has issued a statement as he leaves Parliament for the last time, after an enormous 40 year career in the Commons.

In an open letter, Sir Bill said he is leaving with "fond memories" and paid particular thanks to the 17.4 million Brits who voted for Brexit.

He writes: "As Parliament is dissolved tomorrow and I retire after 40 years as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Stafford and then Stone, for whom I have had the privilege and honour to represent since May 1984, I send a massive thanks to all my constituents and my local Association".

"I also send huge thanks to all those MPs and colleagues of whatever political Party during that time who have contributed to our debates, whether they agreed with me or not.

"I also particularly thank the 17.4 million voters of our great country who voted in the historic Referendum of 2016 for Brexit and for the sovereignty for which I have campaigned since 1986.

"By this, we have regained our self-government and passed the legislation to guarantee that sovereignty following the General Election in 2019.

"So now, aged 84 and the oldest Member of Parliament, I leave the House of Commons with gratitude and pride in our democracy and our great country."

Keir Starmer insists it's "not true" that Diane Abbott has been barred from being Labour candidate

He told Sky News: "The process that we were going through ended with restoration of the whip so she’s a member of the PLP and no decision has been taken barring her".

With Labour facing criticism over their handling of the Diane Abbott row, we are asking you whether Sir Keir's team is right to block the veteran MP from standing at the election.

Yesterday's news sparked fury among the left, with accusations of "disgraceful" behaviour from even those on the Blairite wing of the party.

Vote here on whether you think Ms Abbott should avoid early retirement.

The Tories will suffer an NHS blow just days before polling day, as junior doctors confirm new plans to strike in June and July.

In a statement this morning, the BMA said: “We made clear to the Government that we would strike unless discussions ended in a credible pay offer".

Staff will walk out from June 27 to July 2, with polling day falling just two days later on July 4.

Sir Keir Starmer has been slapped down this morning by Brussels, as his hopes for a new “security” deal with the EU have been left shattered.

Labour had recently suggested that a new security deal with the EU could be broadened to include concepts such as economic security and migration.

However the proposals have flopped in Brussels, with one EU diplomat telling the Politico website that the policy sounds like “cherry picking” aspects of EU membership.

They added: “We're not sure we see it the same way”.

ITV has confirmed that the first leaders debate of this election will take place next Tuesday at 9pm.

Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will square off, with Julie Etchingham to moderate.

It will take place in front of a live studio audience.

Sky News also planning its own leaders' event in the key battleground seat of Grimsby and Cleethorpes where voters will be given the opportunity to put questions directly to the leaders.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to attend, negotiations are ongoing with PM's team

Wes Streeting was torn to shreds by top Sky News presenter Kay Burley this morning, after an awkward joke caused toe-curling scenes.

After questioning Ms Abbott, Kay Burley turned to the NHS, asking Mr Streeting: “I’m a bit confused about what you’re doing about the backlog, because if I look at what Sir Keir Starmer says, he says…”

At this point Mr Streeting jumped in with an awkward jibe, accusing Ms Burley of spending “so much time on Diane Abbott!”

A deeply unimpressed Kay Burley drolly responded: “Oh I see, that was a joke. Sorry, I missed that.”

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has defended the decision to allow former Tory Natalie Elphicke to join Labour while Diane Abbott still had the whip suspended, insisting his party want to "welcome millions" of former Conservative voters.

The Ilford North MP told Sky News: "I think it speaks volumes actually that the Conservative MP for Dover, who has been seeing the challenge of small boats arriving on the shores of her constituency has said loud and clear that the Rwanda scheme won't work and only Labour has a serious approach for tackling the challenge at our borders."

He added: "At this General Election, we want to welcome millions of people who have seen the chaos and incompetence of the Conservative Party and are looking for change with Labour."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sir Keir Starmer should be transparent about Diane Abbott's position.

On a campaign visit to Cornwall, he told reporters: "The Labour Party has been telling everybody this investigation into Diane Abbott is ongoing, it now appears it concluded months ago.

"So really it's a question for them to clear this all up, what happened when, be transparent about it."

Labour MP Jess Phillips has written to Rishi Sunak about the conduct of Liz Truss, and demanded she is deselected as the Tory candidate in her South West Norfolk constituency.

In a public letter, Ms Phillips highlights a pending interview with Liz Truss on the 'Lotus Eaters' sight, founded by hard right commentator Carl Benjamin.

Ms Phillips accuses Mr Benjamin of having "despicable views about violence against women", having previously said he "would even rape [Ms Phillips]".

She says a failure by the PM to suspend Liz Truss will "show how weak you are".

Diane Abbott has said she is "dismayed" at suggestions that she could be barred from standing for Labour in the General Election, as the row which jeopardises her 37-year political career threatens to boil over.

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP tweeted: "Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour whip restored and to be a member of the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party).

"Thank you to all those who supported me along the way. I will be campaigning for a Labour victory. But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate."

Rishi Sunak has revealed that he is speaking to Boris Johnson once again after the pair badly fell out over the former prime minister’s exit from Downing Street.

Mr Sunak was accused of stabbing his predecessor but one in the back in 2022, when he sensationally resigned as Chancellor with a blistering letter attacking Mr Johnson’s conduct in office.

Mr Johnson was being pilloried at the time for his response to the partygate lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, for which he and Mr Sunak were fined.

The former London mayor also faced fury over the Chris Pincher scandal and what he knew of concerns raised about the former MP’s behaviour.

Nigel Farage has taken another swipe at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accusing him of ducking out of a debate with the former UKIP leader.

Mr Farage, now a GB News presenter, tweeted a brief, clip, commenting: "Yesterday I told you that Rishi can’t stop the boats. Well, now we know he can’t because he has refused to debate me.

"Only Reform’s plan can stop the boats and secure our borders."

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hailed Diane Abbott as a "phenomenal individual" as he branded the situation a "pretty sorry state of affairs" for Labour.

The SNP politician said Sir Keir Starmer's party had welcomed former Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke - whom he described as a "right-wing populist" - with "open arms", contrasting that with its treatment of Ms Abbott.

Mr Flynn told Sky News: "I think this is a pretty sorry reflection of the Labour Party and where it stands, what its values are and what its principles are at the moment."

He said: "Diane Abbott gets her membership back at the very last minute but isn't allowed to stand.

"I'd just like to thank Diane for everything she has done, as a trailblazer for women in Parliament, but also as the first black female in Parliament.

"She's a phenomenal individual and her legacy is going to be long lasting."

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Shadow Health Secretary has claimed Sir Keir Starmer would trounce Rishi Sunak in a game of football.

The comments came after the PM was mocked for a poor dribbling performance while on a campaign trail visit to a sports centre.

It also came as a repost to Tory claims that Sir Keir's age is making him low energy and tired.

Mr Streeting said: "What have we seen so far? We’ve seen Rishi Sunak trying to paint himself as the youthful, dynamic candidate against his older opponent".

“Seeing that appalling stunt of Rishi trying to dribble a ball, Keir would take his ankles out in a second on a football pitch.

"Forget the TV debates – let’s have one-on-one in the midfield. I know who my money would be on.”

LBC presenter Iain Dale quit his broadcasting career last night as he announced plans to stand as a candidate at the election.

He told shocked listeners: "Now I am putting my hat in the ring again".

"Whatever the result I feel I can play a role in restoring trust and honesty in politics. I would forever kick myself if I didn't have a go."

He hasn't revealed which party he plans on standing for, though he previously stood as a Conservative candidate in 2005.

There are rumours he's going to try and get selected for the Tories in his home constituency of Tunbridge Wells, where local incumbent Greg Clark is standing down after 19 years.

The Conservatives have revealed their latest election pledge - to crack down on "rip off" Mickey Mouse university degree courses.

Rishi Sunak has announced plans to fund an extra 100,000 high-skilled apprenticeships every year under the next government, by taking an axe to Mickey Mouse university degrees.

In their latest bold policy offering, the Conservatives have set out plans to spend £889 million on the boost for young people’s skills and put an end to rip-off degrees.

A Conservative Government would save £910 million of taxpayers' cash by scrapping university courses that leave graduates no better off and with no chance of paying back their student loans.

The worst-performing university courses will be assessed on Government data including drop-out rates, job progression and future earnings potential.

A Labour candidate has announced he is resigning, in a move local Tories have described as "mysterious".

Alex Aitken was set to stand in the very marginal seat of Birmingham Northfield, however in a statement this evening that: "due to some personal challenges that have arisen recently, it has become clear that I am unable to [stand]".

He is also stepping down as a local councillor after six years.

The Tories have published a new attack ad, after Sir Keir Starmer described himself as a "socialist".

Speaking to the BBC this week, he said: "Yes, I would describe myself as a socialist".

In response, the Tories have published an ad featuring Mrs Thatcher's brutal swipe: "Socialists don't like people to do things for themselves!"

Steve Baker isn't the only Tory MP not in the country mid-election...

The Express has been told that Robert Jenrick is in Canada at a Conservative conference meeting with leader Pierre Poilievre (who, by contrast, has a 20pt lead over his left-wing rival)

Jenrick's office insists it's a 'flying visit' however.

Earlier in the week NI Minister Steve Baker was accused of 'giving up' on the election after jetting off to Greece on holiday.

Richard Holden, Chairman of the Conservative Party, said:

“On Friday Sir Keir Starmer said that the investigation into Diane Abbott’s conduct was ongoing and ‘not resolved’.

“Now it has been confirmed the Labour investigation into Diane Abbott concluded five months ago and she has already been given a formal warning. It's inconceivable that Starmer, the Labour Leader, wasn't told the process had finished and a warning issued.

“No ifs, no buts, this isn’t another flip-flop or yet another policy u-turn. Sir Keir Starmer has blatantly lied to the British people and has serious questions to answer.”

It's understood that Diane Abbott has finally been given the Labour whip back, after over a year suspended from the party.

It follows reports an hour ago that she will be blocked from standing as a Labour candidate at the election, but would be given the honour as a way of allowing her to retire with dignity.

Diane Abbott will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate at the general election, in a hammer blow to the Labour left.

According to a report in The Times this evening, the Labour leadership has concluded there "are no circumstances in which she will stand under its banner on July 4".

While the party hasn't said anything yet, the paper says an announcement could be made as soon as today.

Last week Sir Keir told LBC that the issue would need to be resolved very shortly, but refused to rule out allowing her back into the party.

While Diane Abbott has many hard-left supporters, she caused fury in 2023 when she wrote a letter to the Observer claiming that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives”.

Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said: “I welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, and confirmation that no further action will be taken.

“We have seen the Conservative Party use this playbook before - reporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their dire record. The public have had enough of these desperate tactics from a Tory government with nothing else to say after 14 years of failure.

“I am grateful to all those who have stood by and supported me and my family. My focus now is squarely on securing the change Britain needs, with the election of a Labour government.”

Survation has published its first poll of the general election campaign, and it sees the Labour lead grow by 2%.

LAB 47 (-1)

CON 24 (-3)

LD 11 (+3)

GRN 3 (+1)

RFM 8 (-)

SNP 3 (-)

OTH 4 (-)

Labour has a 23-point lead.

Greater Manchester Police has announced they will be taking no further action against Angela Rayner amid allegations she had broken tax rules nine years ago around the sale of her house.

Ms Rayner was reported to the police by the Conservatives amid allegations she may not have paid the right amount of tax when she sold a home in 2015.

The Labour deputy leader owned a property registered as her primary address, however claims emerged she'd been living at her then-husband's address when it was sold.

A statement from GMP said: "Following allegations about Ms Rayner, GMP completed a thorough, carefully-considered investigation and concluded no further action is going to be taken".

David Cameron is out on the election campaign trail today, appearing at a pub in Macclesfield.

He joked to the cameras "I haven't done this for a while" while pulling a pint.

Angela Rayner has promised a Labour government would recognise the state of Palestine if the party wins the upcoming general election.

The party's deputy leader made the comments as she spoke to voters in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat, in a video circulating on social media.

Rayner acknowledged that "people are angry" about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the Gaza Strip following Israel's invasion of the enclave after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

Lee Anderson has doubled down on his previous demand that illegal migrants be sent to a “remote Scottish island” and build their own camps.

Speaking to the BBC this lunchtime, the Reform UK MP said: “This is probably going to get me into some sort of hot water again with you lot in the media”.

“I said this to a previous Home Secretary… if some of these migrants do land on the beaches, let’s take them to a remote Scottish island somewhere, Outer Hebrides where nobody lives, give them the building material, let them set their own camps up and I’m sure they’ll be safe and free from persecution in war-torn France”.

While Sir Ed Davey had problems on a paddleboard this morning, Sky News' Matthew Thompson had struggles of his own while trying to interview the LibDem leader on Lake Windermere.

In farcical scenes, Mr Thompson tried desperately to keep his kayak moored next to Sir Ed's paddleboard, with the mic tied to one end of his paddle.

One social media user joked it made them 'proud to be British' while Mr Thompson quipped: "I thought I made it look effortless, to be honest".

"Waiting for the call from Team GB any minute".

Labour will not announce any additional tax rises during the election campaign, Rachel Reeves has said.

The shadow chancellor also ruled out holding an emergency budget if Labour won the election, saying she would not hold a fiscal event without a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility - a process that would take 10 weeks.

Her statement means that a Labour government would be unlikely to bring forward a budget until at least September, given the timings of parliamentary recesses.

Standing in front of two jet engines at Rolls Royce's plant in Derby on Tuesday, Ms Reeves said her party's proposals meant there were "no additional tax rises needed beyond the ones I have set out".

Rachel Reeves declined to say she was "a socialist" just a day after Sir Keir Starmer described himself as one.

Asked whether she was a socialist during a campaign visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby, the shadow chancellor said she had "always called myself a social democrat".

She said: "What I mean by that is that I believe that children from whatever background they come from should get an equal start in life to the opportunities that our country offers.

"I believe in strong public services to support people all through their lives from the cradle to the grave, and I believe that work should always pay and offer security to people."

The SNP could face a "nightmare" at the hands of the Conservatives, Douglas Ross has said, as he launched his party's Scottish General Election campaign.

Mr Ross said the Tories could "bring the curtain down on the SNP's domination of Scottish politics" and make July 4 the day Scotland is "free of the SNP".

He kicked off his party's campaign in Perth, where former MP Luke Graham is looking to unseat Pete Wishart - the SNP's longest-serving MP. Boundary changes mean Perth is in a new constituency called Perth and Kinross-shire.

He said: "Let's seize on this one in a generation chance to deliver a fatal blow to the SNP.

"Let grab the chance to kick out their candidates in every part of Scotland, let's bring the curtain down on the SNP's domination of Scottish politics.

"Now is the time to give them the election nightmare that is long overdue."

Six more Conservative MPs have announced they will not be standing at the General Election after Rishi Sunak named the date as July 4. That means there are now a total of 121 MPs who have declared they will not be seeking re-election this time around.

Of these, 83 were elected to Parliament as Conservative MPs. Six of them made their announcement in the last 24 hours, with the latest to declare they are standing down including two former contenders for the party leadership - Michael Gove and Andrew Leadsom.

They join an exit list that includes former prime minister Theresa May and ex-cabinet ministers Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab, Nadhim Zahawi, John Redwood and Ben Wallace.

Since Mr Sunak announced the election date on Wednesday evening, a total of 15 MPs have publicly declared they would not be seeking re-election, eleven of them Conservative MPs.

On Friday, the Express published a piece raising concerns about the Labour Party, after a local branch demanded that Graham Jones be allowed to stand as their candidate in Hyndburn despite his suspension earlier this year for anti-Israel comments.

Amid the Rochdale by-election antisemitism row, Mr Jones was caught on camera referring to 'f***ing Israel' and saying Brits fighting in the IDF should be locked up.

Last week Labour told the Express: "Graham Jones is not our candidate, he is suspended from the Labour Party and the process is underway to select a candidate to fight the seat in the General Election".

Surprise surprise, today Mr Jones took to Facebook to announce his suspension from the Labour Party has now been lifted.

It doesn't take a genius to work out who is now about to be selected as Labour's candidate in Hyndburn...

Rishi Sunak has been offered a big boost as he bids to lead to Tories to a general election victory with a pollster suggesting he may yet win support from so-called "shy Tories".

Robert Hayward, a peer and former MP who highlighted the phenomenon before the 1992 election in which John Major defied the polls to defeat Labour leader Neil Kinnock, told The Guardian: “About 33 years on, I am yet again convinced that a statistical bias exists in the polls.

“I think the biggest problem for me is how you allocate the Conservative 2019 voters who are now ‘don’t knows’. I do believe the ‘don’t knows’ will vote in fairly large numbers, and the indications from local council results is that they are beginning to break towards the Conservatives.

“Because of the lack of commitment displayed so far, I’m not sure where things are going to end up, because events during this election could have more of an effect than in many elections because there are so many undecided.”

Rishi Sunak was asked by audience member Dawn about the Tories' national service plans during the factory Q&A.

She said it would have been good for her two sons.

The PM replied: “It will become a right of passage.”

He went on: "I hope you can see it is bold and potentially transformational for our country. Now is not the time for half measures.”

Rishi Sunak joined Stoke-on-Trent MP Jonathan Gullis at a ceramic manufacturing plant in Staffordshire this morning.

During a Q&A event with factory staff, the PM warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party will run out of money and “put up your taxes”. He added: “That’s as clear as night follows day.”

He said: “Labour wants you to think this election is over before it’s even begun. The British people don’t like being taken for granted.”

Sir Keir is assuming he can “waltz into” Downing Street without the courage to tell you about his plans, Mr Sunak added.

Nigel Farage repeated calls for Rishi Sunak to debate him on immigration and said he would also be willing to hold a debate with Sir Keir Starmer.

"He's very keen on debates. Haven't you heard?" Mr Farage said when asked what the incentive was for the Prime Minister to debate him during the campaign.

"He wants to have six debates with Keir Starmer. Well, all I'm saying is 'have one with me'."

There is a precedent for such a debate, he said, with Nick Clegg having challenged Mr Farage as "the leading voice for leaving the European Union" on LBC and then on the BBC at the time.

"If you can tell me somebody with a more prominent voice that has written, spoken more about the situation here, then please tell me who it is," Mr Farage said, referring to the small boat arrivals on the Dover coast and Mr Sunak's flagship policy to stop them.

He said he would also be willing to debate Sir Keir, and joked that he could "just about stay awake long enough".

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey crashed into Lake Windermere as he went paddle boarding while on the campaign trail.

During the visit to the Lake District, the Lib Dem leader outlined his proposals to hold the water industry to account.

Nigel Farage said he is not standing as an MP in the upcoming General Election because he is a "realist".

He said that "six weeks is not long enough to take on a Parliamentary seat", adding: "I've only stood once for Parliament seriously, and what happened? I stood just a few miles up the road here, and what happened?

"Third party campaign groups spent unbelievable sums of money, putting negativity through people's doors, the likes of which you can't believe. The Conservatives cheated, to such an extent that one of the agents got a nine-month prison sentence for mass overspending.

"So for me, to fight and win any constituency, I'm going to need a lot of time and a lot of data. I can't do that in six weeks, so you can call me what you like, but I think realist might be more accurate."

Asked whether he is prioritising the US election over the UK, he said: "I believe the world was a much better, safer place with Donald Trump in the White House than it has been with Joe Biden.

"So that's the context, I'm not saying Britain doesn't matter, far from it. Of course not, I'm British, I'm here. But I do think who wins in America for global safety is absolutely vital."

Nigel Farage revealed that Reform UK sees itself becoming a "brand new conservative movement".

He said that the Conservatives have "wrecked it for themselves" and pushed back against claims that a vote for Reform is a vote for Labour.

He said: "This election is a foregone conclusion. Labour are going to win and they're going to win quite big. And therefore, you could argue actually, that a vote for the Conservative Party is a wasted vote. And given that, you know, Labour are going to win, why not vote for something that you actually believe in?"

He said he changed the party's name from Brexit to Reform because the party is not after a "quick hit" but rather is seeking to "build a base" and "launch a serious assault" in the next election of 2028 or 2029.

"I hope and believe we can get a cohort of MPs in Westminster so that we can be the voice of opposition," he said.

On the possibility of joining the Conservatives, he said it was more likely that the party would become a "new party of the centre right" like Canada's former prime minister Stephen Harper did in his country 30 years ago with a party also called Reform.

The shadow chancellor has claimed the Labour Party is the "natural party of British business" while on a visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby.

Rachel Reeves said: "In five weeks' time, the British people will go to the polls to make a profound choice about the future of our country."

The shadow chancellor added: "Today, I want to put forward a simple proposition: that this changed Labour Party is today the natural party of British business.

"And I want to set out the central economic faultline in this election, the choice before the British people on July 4: five more years of chaos with the Conservative Party leaving working people worse off; or stability with a changed Labour Party."

Nigel Farage has claimed the UK is moving into "sectarian politics with women completely excluded".

Speaking in Dover, he said: "I think what we ought to be doing with this situation here is declaring a national security emergency and this is an emergency.

"I talked over the course of the weekend to Trevor Phillips, about the small but worryingly growing number of young men, predominantly young men in this country, adopting radical views, views that aren't just un-British, but views that frankly are extremely anti-British."

He added: "You might have noticed that Angela Rayner yesterday was campaigning in her constituency, begging, begging a group of Muslim leaders to please vote Labour, you will have noticed not a single woman in the room.

"So we're moving into an age in our inner cities and towns, I'm afraid, I'm worried to say, of sectarian politics with women completely excluded."

Reform's honorary president accused Rishi Sunak of calling an early General Election because flights to Rwanda will not take off.

He said: "I am absolutely convinced that the overriding reason for calling a snap early general election is because he knows those planes in July, as he promised, would not be going to Rwanda. They weren't going to go. Rishi can't stop the boats."

Speaking from Dover at a Reform UK campaign, Mr Farage said: "I said that I thought unless something dramatic was done, that there would be an invasion. Now, of course, for using that word, I was called all the names under the sun.

"But 3,800 boats later, 125,000 people later, you can use whatever word you want. I happen to think that invasion, frankly, was pretty appropriate.

"So I've campaigned hard on this issue throughout this four-year period. And I'm gonna say to you, frankly, I was ahead of the curve on this. I was right."

Nigel Farage said the General Election campaign has got off to "the dullest start I can ever remember in my entire life" as he appeared at a Reform event in Dover.

He said Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were "men with the appearance and energy of middle managers vying to become a national leader."

He added that Sir Keir has "no energy, no optimism", while Mr Sunak looks "more like a frightened rabbit than someone who is bold".

Howard Cox, the founder of FairFuelUK, confirmed he will stand as Reform UK’s candidate in Dover and Deal.

Reform's honorary president Nigel Farage told Good Morning Britain: "Until we leave the European Court of Human Rights we will never be able to solve this issue.

"Leave the European Court of Human Rights and make clear that nobody that comes via this route will ever be granted settled status in our country.

"And say to the French navy: 'We will not accept your navy escorting dinghies to our 12-mile line and then handing them over to our authorities'."

Asked how this would be enforced, Mr Farage said: "Well, if the French won't play ball, then the Royal Marines will have to take people back to France. It's just as simple as that."

Asked about the "Sir Sleepy" accusation by the Tories against 61-year-old Sir Keir Starmer, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Sky News: “It’s not a term that I have used or would use.

"I think whatever age you are in life, I think people have a huge amount to contribute. I’m in the same bracket so I should declare an interest.

"But equally what does matter is what you stand for. He’s trying to keep as low a profile as possible, not telling us what he stands for, having no plan and expecting to just drift over the line and that is not good enough and that is why Sir Keir Starmer should step up to the plate and debate with our Prime Minister every week.

“Every week we should be applying that scrutiny so we can actually find out what No Idea Keir is all about.”

On the Conservatives' proposed tax break for pensioners, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Sky News: "We will not only up rate by the triple lock across the whole of the next Parliament, but we will also up rate something called the personal allowance, which is the amount you can earn without paying income tax by the triple lock as well.

"And that will mean millions of pensioners are getting a tax cut through time. Now Labour have dismissed that, they say they wouldn't do it, which will drag millions of pensioners into tax."

He added that the "triple lock plus" will "stop millions of pensioners, as will be the case under Labour, getting dragged into income tax".

Nigel Farage will make his first major intervention of the general election campaign with an event in Dover on the small boats crisis.

Reform's honorary president said he would be setting out "all the solutions to this massive problem".

More than 10,400 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year.

The Conservatives have set out a £2.4 billion-a-year tax break to prevent more pensioners being dragged into paying income tax.

The "triple lock plus" will ensure that the tax-free allowance rises in line with the increase in the state pension.

The Conservatives said it would amount to a tax cut of around £100 for eight million pensioners next year, expected to rise to almost £300 a year by the end of the Parliament.

Mr Sunak said: "This bold action demonstrates we are on the side of pensioners. The alternative is Labour dragging everyone in receipt of the full state pension into income tax for the first time in history."

But Labour's Jonathan Ashworth said Mr Sunak had left the country with "the highest tax burden in 70 years" and it was "another desperate move from a chaotic Tory party torching any remaining facade of its claims to economic credibility".