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    What is tactical voting – and why could it be a powerful tool in elections? | Decomplicated

    Tactical voting has hit the headlines once again in the build-up to the general election.According to a new YouGov study, one in five voters (22 per cent) say they will be using the tactic on 4 July.“Tactical voting” has been a common phrase on the lips of politicians and newsreaders for a long time – but why is everyone talking about it, and what does it actually mean?In this episode of Decomplicated, we take a look at how tactical voting works – and how it could be a powerful tool in elections. More

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    ‘Note to self’: Voter ID reminders broadcast ahead of 2024 general election

    Adverts reminding voters to bring ID to the polling station have been broadcast ahead of the general election.This year is the first time in the UK that everybody wanting to vote in person at a general election will have to show a correct form of ID before casting a ballot.Not all types of photo ID will be accepted at polling stations, but a passport, driving licence or blue badge are valid.Other forms of permitted ID include an Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass and an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card). More

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    Tory minister challenged by Sky News presenter over false claim Starmer wants to work ‘four-day week’

    A Tory minister was immediately challenged by a Sky News presenter after falsely claiming Sir Keir Starmer wants to do a four-day week as prime minister.Health minister Maria Caulfield was questioned about how important a “work-life balance” is during an interview on Tuesday morning (2 July).“Probably what you are alluding to is Keir Starmer saying he’s going to be doing a four-day week and finishing at 6 o’clock every evening,” she responded.Sky News presenter Matt Barbet quickly shut down her claim, clarifying that the Labour leader in fact said he would wish to finish work at 6pm on a Friday to spend time with his children. More

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    Sunak correctly guesses price of Morrisons tiger bloomer, but does not know how much it has risen by

    Rishi Sunak confidently answered a question about the price of bread ahead of the general election, but was unsure how much it has risen over the last five years.The question, posed to him on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday morning (2 July), is a tactic used for gauging a politician’s familiarity with the lives of ordinary voters.“It’s £1.35 for the best-selling tiger bloomer that Morrisons here sell,” the prime minister said, with confidence, while standing in the supermarket.However, he stumbled when asked how much the price of bread has risen in recent years.“I don’t have that figure to hand,” Mr Sunak admitted, before he was told it has gone up by 28 per cent. More

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    Victoria Derbyshire clashes with Chris Philp over Labour tax attacks: ‘You’re wrong’

    Victoria Derbyshire questioned why Chris Philp was “literally making things up” as they clashed over Tory attacks on Labour’s tax policy.Speaking to Newsnight on Monday 1 July, Mr Philp suggested Labour had not “ruled out” a number of tax changes.“Let me pause you there, Labour have ruled out both imposing capital gains tax on people’s homes and reevaluating council tax thresholds. So you’re wrong,” Ms Derbyshire responded.The pair then went back and forth on exactly who within the party had ruled out changes, with Mr Philp repeating the Conservative claim that tax will go up by £2,000 under a Labour government.“Is this how desperate you are now that you are literally making things up?” Ms Derbyshire then asked, a suggestion that Mr Philp claimed was “nonsense”. More

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    All the party manifestos for the 2024 general election explained

    With just 48 hours to go until the general election, it’s time for the British public to decide who will form the next government.The Labour Party, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are all battling it out for votes in the hope of securing important seats in the House of Commons.But what are each party promising voters in the 2024 election?Ahead of polling day, The Independent takes a look at the manifestos published by the five big hitters. More

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    Keir Starmer fights back tears as he reveals his one regret in life

    Sir Keir Starmer became visibly emotional as he opened up about his one regret in life.The Labour leader opened up about his strained relationship with his father during an interview with Chris Evans on Virgin Radio on Monday (1 July).Describing his father as a “complicated” man, Sir Keir said: “We didn’t talk, he never expressed his pride and he never said ‘I love you’.”The politician then went on to speak about the last time he saw his father in hospital before he died.“I knew he was going to die. It could have been the moment to say ‘I love you and I respect you’.“I had a fight with myself about saying it, but I didn’t and I walked away.“It is the one thing I do regret.” More

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    Ranking the last five Tory prime ministers from best to worst

    With the general election just days away, we delve into the premierships of the last five Conservative prime ministers, and rank them from best to worst.From David Cameron’s Brexit miscalculation to Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, join The Independent’s Chief Political Commentator John Rentoul and Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin as they discuss the last 14 years of Tory rule.Who navigated the complexities of governance most effectively? Who left a lasting positive legacy? Find out who (if any) comes out on top.Get the latest election news with The Independent. More