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Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak’s faltering election campaign took another hit as a snap poll found Sir Keir Starmer won Wednesday night’s TV debate by a significant margin.A YouGov survey conducted after Sky’s Battle for Number 10 found that two-thirds of voters felt the Labour leader performed better than Mr Sunak in the clash.Some 64 per cent said Sir Keir performed better, with 36 per cent saying the prime minister was the winner. YouGov spoke to 1,864 voters shortly after the debate, during which the two leaders were grilled on their plans for government.The debate followed another frantic day on the campaign trail, during which Mr Sunak was forced to push back on suggestions that Labour was on course for a “supermajority” come 5 July.Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, claimed that Labour could record an even bigger victory than the 1997 landslide won by Tony Blair as he urged Reform voters to back his party.( More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe number of female parliamentary candidates vying to become MPs at the general election has sunk to 30 per cent – sparking criticism women are not properly represented by the political system.New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since the last election, according to figures by campaign group 50:50 Parliament.Lobbyists said they took action to boost the number of female candidates but the proportion is much lower than they expected – adding this is partially due to the increase in Reform candidates who are mostly men. Women make up less than a fifth of their candidates.Lyanne Nicholl, chief executive of 50:50 Parliament, said: “We have around 34 million women and girls in the UK and a vast pool of talent within that number.”New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since 34 per cent during the last election More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have gone head-to-head once again as the race to July 4 and Number 10 continues.The second programme featuring just the Prime Minister and the Labour leader saw the pair set out their commitments to the country in 20-minute interviews with Beth Rigby, Sky News’ political editor, before taking questions from the audience in Grimsby.Both insisted they would not raise taxes for working people, with Sir Keir adding: “I am not wanting to raise tax. I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission is to grow the economy.”Meanwhile, Mr Sunak insisted taxes for working people would “continue to come down” under a Tory government.Following the first standoff between Sir Keir and Mr Sunak, a snap poll by YouGov suggested the Prime Minister shaded by 51% to 49%. However, Independent readers appeared to be more team Starmer following the clash.We want to know if hearing from Mr Sunak and Sir Keir for a second time has changed your opinion on either politician or their party. Who was your winner tonight? Do you agree with the latest snap poll that put the Labour leader in pole position after the Sky News programme?We’re also keen to hear your views on the Tory and Labour pledges and whether you felt questions from the audience were adequately addressed tonight.Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Join the conversation with other Independent readers below. More

Keir Starmer appeared to freeze when called ‘a political robot’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA snap YouGov poll after Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were questioned on live television has found 64 per cent of viewers – nearly two in three – thought the Labour leader came out on top, and only 36 per cent said the prime minister did better. Both party leaders insisted they would not raise taxes for working people, as they were grilled in front of an audience.The prime minister said taxes for working people would “continue to come down” under a Tory government.The Labour leader said: “I am not wanting to raise tax. I think people are taxed too much already. What I want to do, my central mission is to grow the economy.”Sir Keir said he would negotiate with doctors over pay but the country could not afford their 35 per cent claim.Mr Sunak was repeatedly challenged on health service staff shortages by NHS workers.The prime minister pointed to funding provided by the government before noting: “What we have not done, for not just years but for decades, is train enough staff and then be reliant on having to bring people here from abroad.”Show latest update 1718244001Keir Starmer confuses Grimsby with Hull during election debateKeir Starmer confuses Grimsby with Hull during election debateSir Keir Starmer appeared to confuse Grimsby and Hull during Wednesday evening’s general election debate. The Labour leader took questions from Sky News political editor Beth Rigby and members of the audience as he attempted to win over the public ahead of next month’s vote. At one point, Sir Keir noted that he was impressed with apprentices he had met “here in Hull” – despite standing on stage 35 miles away. In another awkward moment, he was described as a “political robot” by someone in the audience.Tom Watling13 June 2024 03:001718240401Audience gasp as post-Brexit migration numbers revealed to Rishi SunakAudience gasp as post-Brexit migration numbers revealed to Rishi SunakPost-Brexit migration numbers shocked the audience at Wednesday’s general election debate. With Rishi Sunak sat on stage, host Beth Rigby noted that the total net migration figure into the UK in the past three years was 1.9 million, compared to 836,000 people in the three years running up to the 2016 referendum. As the Sky News political editor read the numbers, the audience gasped in shock. “Net migration into this country has more than doubled in the last three years, from before we left the European Union,” Ms Rigby concluded. In response, the prime minister called the figure “too high”.Tom Watling13 June 2024 02:001718236801Keir Starmer reveals his wife Victoria did not want him to go into politicsTom Watling13 June 2024 01:001718233201Top Sunak aide Craig Williams probed after placing bet on general election date days before announcementTom Watling13 June 2024 00:001718232300Why Brexit is missing from this election campaignTom Watling12 June 2024 23:451718231400Sunak’s campaign takes another blow as Starmer claims confident victory in YouGov poll after Sky debateTom Watling12 June 2024 23:301718230500Rishi Sunak declares he has not given up after minister warns of Labour ‘supermajority’Tom Watling12 June 2024 23:151718229780Jeers and laughter: Public have their say on Rishi Sunak and Keir StarmerJeers and laughter: Public have their say on Rishi Sunak and Keir StarmerTom Watling12 June 2024 23:031718228700Sunak pleads his case for a return to Downing Street Here we have some pictures from Rishi Sunak’s interview with Sky News as he fielded questions from a fired up audience in Grimsby Rish Sunak pleads his case to a member of the Grimsby audience More

From national insurance to migration: Key takeaways from Conservatives’ general election manifestoSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has insisted he had “absolutely not” lost hope of winning the 4 July general election despite Tory allies warned of the risk of Labour winning a “super-majority”.Defence secretary Grant Shapps claimed the Tories were fighting hard to prevent Labour from securing crashing win bigger than the 1997 landslide. The Tories fear the Blue Wall could be knocked down with chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned he faces a battle to save his Godalming and Ash seat, a key Lib Dem target.It comes as the Conservative party could make a surprising U-turn on its flagship pledge to bring National Service after the defence secretary suggested the scheme would last less than a month. The Tory manifesto confirmed the scheme would be a “year-long full-time placement in the armed forces or cyber defence”. But he today said it would be much shorter.The Green Party has launched its manifesto, which includes a pledge to raise taxes on the “super-rich”, and nationalise water, railways and energy companies, as well as scrapping university tuition fees. Meanwhile, Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are preparing to face a grilling live interview in front of an audience for Sky News in Grimsby.Show latest update 1718203772Poll: SNP and Labour tied in Scotland Salma Ouaguira12 June 2024 15:491718203224Conservatives mock Labour’s shadow transport minister Salma Ouaguira12 June 2024 15:401718203111Sunak ‘hardened on the battlefield’, Tory minister says A Conservative minister has said that Rishi Sunak has been “hardened on the battlefield” by almost a decade in Westminster. Postal minister Kevin Hollinrake told ITV: “We all kind of entered Parliament in 2015 full of the joys of spring.“And I think we’ve all got a dose of political reality, which I think every politician gets when they enter the fray.“So I think he’s been probably hardened on the battlefield.”Salma Ouaguira12 June 2024 15:381718202207SNP to focus election campaign on Brexit ‘damage’ and austerity The Scottish National Party wants to focus their election campaign on point out at the “damage” caused by Brexit and the “prolongued austerity” under the Conservative government. Scottish first minister John Swinney has promised voters that only his party will “protect Scotland’s values” after “14 years of cuts” from Westminster.Mr Swinney also said his party should have been invited to the Sky News leaders’ special event in Grimsby as the third largest party in the Commons. He said: “We should be represented on that panel, in that discussion, because we’ve got lots to say in this election.”First Minister John Swinney on an election campaign visit to an Asda supermarket More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA Tory MP who previously described Nigel Farage as a “true patriot” has put a picture of the Reform UK leader on her election leaflets.Dame Andrea Jenkyns has said the arch-Brexiteer is a “conservative to the core” and “one of the most influential politicians of our generation”.In fact, Dame Andrew admires Mr Farage so much that she has put a picture of the two fo them smiling together in a prominent position at the top of her re-election leaflet.As well as putting a picture of an opposing party leader on the handout it also contains no clear references to the Tory Party at all.Responding to the furore, she said on X, formerly Twitter: “Lots of excitement over my leaflet today… All conservatives must be prepared to come together to prevent a socialist supermajority and the end of Britain as we know it. #CountryFirst.”The threat of Reform to the Tory Party increased significantly after Mr Farage decided to stand in the Clacton-on-Sea seat last week.At a campaign rally he said that his goal was for the upstart party to effectively take over the Conservative Party and that he would be a “bloody nuisance” in Westminster if he succeeds in becoming an MP at his eighth attempt.The most recent poll indicates that Mr Farage’s party has moved to within one point of the Tories. The YouGov survey published after Mr Sunak launched the Tory Party’s manifesto on Tuesday, found Mr Farage’s party were on 17 per cent.Mr Sunak’s party is on 18 per cent, while Labour retain a 20-point lead, in the poll carried out between 10 and 11 June.The Independent exclusively revealed that Dame Andrea and former Leave.EU communications director Andy Wigmore attempted to make a deal between the Tories and Reform.Sources have suggested that Mr Sunak “was interested” but ultimately convinced not to go ahead by his advisers.Dame Andrea has previously admitted her admiration for Mr Farage and attended his 60th birthday party, along with former Tory Party leader Liz Truss.In a tweet, she said: “A pleasure to be invited to @Nigel_Farage‘s 60th birthday bash — a true patriot, conservative to the core, and, like him or loathe him, one of the most influential politicians of our generation. Cheers!”The Conservative Party has been approached for comment. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPrime minister Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will debate each other in a second live TV grilling tonight.It comes after broadcasters revealed their line-up of televised debates ahead of the general election on 4 July.The Conservative Party leader and the Labour Party leader first went head-to-head in a debate broadcast by ITV on 4 June.They will then be questioned on Sky News on 12 June live at 7pm, in front of an audience in the key seat of Grimsby.The two party leaders will face off against one another in a final head-to-head contest to be televised by the BBC on 26 June.Below is a full schedule of what each broadcaster has announced, including the date and time the programme will be aired, what format will be used and who will participate.The final head-to-head debate between Sunak and Starmer will take place on 26 June More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPolling experts have warned Rishi Sunak he is running out of time to woo voters with the first ballots set to be cast in the election within days. Postal votes will start landing on doorsteps early next week, the Electoral Commission has told The Independent. With one in five now voting by post time is running out for the prime minister to turn around Labour’s 20-point lead in many polls. One polling expert told Mr Sunak it was “now or not at all”. Applications to register to vote have jumped sharply in the past week (Peter Byrne/PA) More