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Michael Gove has admitted he is “over the hill” in politics.The cabinet minister, who announced last month that he will not stand at the general election, believes it is time for the Conservative Party to “have a new generation coming forward” alongside Rishi Sunak.“I’m over the hill, I’ve been in parliament for 20 years,” Mr Gove told Kay Burley on Sky News, when asked why he is stepping down.He named Kemi Badenoch, Laura Trott and Claire Coutinho as the “new generation” of Tory MPs and said he wants to support them instead. More

It would be “reprehensible” to use inside information to bet on the general election date, Michael Gove said as three people with links to the Conservatives or Downing Street face investigation.Tory candidate Laura Saunders, who is married to the party’s campaign chief, is facing a Gambling Commission investigation into alleged betting offences.News of that investigation on Thursday 20 June followed the arrest of one of Rishi Sunak’s police protection officers and another investigation into his parliamentary aide Craig Williams over betting allegations.“If people have used inside information to place bets, that is deeply wrong,” Mr Gove told the BBC. More

The general election campaign is in full swing, and that means there are plenty of opportunities for politicians to go out and win vital votes.For Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, who are battling it out to be prime minister, every public appearance, speech and pre-planned engagement will be under the spotlight.There are, of course, many more party leaders and prospective MPs out on the campaign trail.And that means we have already seen plenty of bizarre moments ahead of the 4 July vote.From Sir Ed Davey’s amusing campaign stunts, to Dawn Butler’s rap video, here are some of the strangest things we’ve seen so far. More

The Conservative party have released an advert warning voters not to “bet” on Labour at the general election – amid two gambling scandals.The 19-second video was shared on social media on the same week that a police constable working as part of Rishi Sunak’s protection team was arrested over alleged bets made related to the timing of the vote.A statement from the Metropolitan Police said the officer was taken into custody on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and has since been bailed pending further inquiries.One of Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aides, meanwhile, is facing also a Gambling Commission probe after he “put a flutter” on when the election would take place. More

Sir Keir Starmer became emotional as he discussed his late parents with veteran football Gary Neville.The Labour leader was visibly moved after the former Manchester United star asked him about how his mother and father would feel about him running for prime minister, in a new clip released on Wednesday (19 June).In a party election broadcast, filmed in front of the Lake District cottages where he went on family holidays, Sir Keir appeared to fight back tears and said: “They’d be having a real moment, and so am I actually.” More

Rishi Sunak was confronted by the mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim over delays to introducing a law in her son’s memory.Figen Murray has been campaigning for tougher security measures at public venues after her son Martyn Hett was among the 22 killed in the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.The prime minister told her, just hours before he called the general election, that he would bring in Martyn’s Law before the parliamentary summer break.But on Wednesday 19 June, Ms Murray told Mr Sunak that “there has been nothing” since he promised her 18 months ago that he would “hurry up” and pass the law.The PM, appearing on LBC, responded by stressing his commitment to enacting Martyn’s Law if the Tories defy opinion polls and hold on to power at the election. More

Rishi Sunak has said he wants young people to experience the same “very special feeling” that he did when buying his first home.The prime minister now boasts an impressive multi-million pound luxury property portfolio, which includes the first pad he brought back in 2001.According to the Evening Standard, Mr Sunak purchased his first home – in South Kensington – when he was working as an investment analyst for Goldman Sachs.Speaking to LBC on Wednesday 19 June, the prime minister said he wants “everyone” to have the opportunity to buy a home under a Conservative government. “That’s the thing that peoople speak to me most about. They want to own a home and experience what that is like,” Mr Sunak said. “I remember it, it’s a very special feeling and I want everyone to have that opportunity.” More

Rishi Sunak was dubbed a “pound-shop Nigel Farage” during a bruising LBC radio phone-in on Wednesday morning (19 June).The prime minister was challenged by callers over a number of issues ahead of the general election, including his behaviour towards the trans community and being too rich to relate to food bank users.One man, who said he is gay and living with HIV, told Mr Sunak he has “become a pound-shop Nigel Farage” and accused him of being “obsessed with divisive culture wars”.“I’m very sorry to hear you feel that way,” the PM responded.“I don’t believe that at all. I care very much about making sure people, whatever their background, are respected.” More