The Reform UK leader has staged a photo-opportunity on a boat in the Channel, even though he doesn't have a policy that would stop the migrant crossings either. And there are signs in two opinion polls published today that the rise in support for Reform may be stalling. JL Partners and Savanta show Reform down three and two points respectively compared with their previous polls a week or a few days earlier. Taken together with Deltapoll and Redfield & Wilton yesterday, who had Reform down one and no change – all four companies polling over the same four days, 21 to 24 June – there may be a pattern. This coincides with Nigel Farage claiming in a BBC interview on Friday 21 June that Nato had "provoked" Vladimir Putin into invading Ukraine. This is not a popular view – although personally I thought Farage's desire to replace the NHS with a French-style social insurance scheme would be even more unpopular. It is too early to say that the unpopulist has hit a ceiling in public support, but it is a possibility, isn't it? |
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Who in this election campaign promised to "roll up our sleeves in a grown-up way"? |
Answer at the bottom of today's email |
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| In an exclusive interview, the Labour leader criticises the prime minister's belated suspension of candidates |
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| Keir Starmer and JK Rowling agree to discuss their differences, while Kemi Badenoch promises to change the law |
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| Archie Mitchell on a Home Counties Labour-Tory battle |
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What else you need to know today |
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How is the general election likely to play out in Northern Ireland? |
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The election has come at a difficult time for the DUP, no longer the dominant party in Northern Ireland, although Sinn Fein's advance may be stalling... Read more |
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Tomorrow on the campaign trail |
Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for |
The final head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will take place on BBC1 at 8.15pm, moderated by Mishal Husain. The Conservatives will be praying for a knockout blow or a Starmer howler – but the Labour leader has looked increasingly confident during the campaign and has the luxury of being able to settle for a draw. Before the debate, Starmer and Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, will set out Labour's plans to end "the 8am scramble" for GP appointments.
The Liberal Democrats will outline proposals to double the number of specialist cancer nurses in England over the next parliament.
The Resolution Foundation think tank will publish research showing how demographic pressures and tax and benefit policies have shifted state spending in favour of pensioners since 2010. The Institute for Government will stage a discussion on the state of the public finances at 1pm. The deadline for applying for a proxy vote at the election is at 5pm. |
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"A good scandal should reveal staggering levels of recklessness on the part of those involved – how on earth did they think they would get away with that?" Prof Philip Cowley, in 2022 |
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Quiz answer: Keir Starmer, about the junior doctors' dispute, in an interview with Beth Rigby on Sky News |
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