Labour manifesto – Starmer proposes £8.6bn tax plan to fund NHS and teachers at election policy launch – £500m to support the manufacturing of green hydrogen.
Nigel Farage has claimed the Conservative Party are “about to implode” as his Reform UK Party overtook the Tories in the latest YouGov poll.
In his closing speech of the seven-way ITV debate on Thursday night, the Reform leader said: “Britain is broken, everyone knows it and Britain needs Reform.
“Rishi Sunak won’t do it, he’ll probably be in California by then anyway. And the Tory Party is split down the middle and about to implode in this election.”
It comes as he declared that his Reform Party is “now the opposition to Labour” after a YouGov poll published by The Times showed them one per cent above the Conservatives.
Mr Farage said, as he made his opening speech during an ITV debate:
Just before we came on air we overtook the Conservatives in the national opinion polls.
“We are now the opposition to Labour.”
Immigration, education and taxes were the centrepiece topics for the seven-way debate as Anegla Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, bore the brunt of the other leaders’ questions.
Key Points
- Farage claims that immigration is making the UK poorer
- We’re not to blame, says Mordaunt
- Reform overtakes Tories in poll ahead of TV clash
- Labour’s Rayner says ‘only we can be trusted on NHS’
- The Greens will introduce a £15 minimum wage, Denyer says.
Labour responds to ITV debate
22:27 , Tom Watling
The official Labour Party social media channel on X, formerly Twitter, has responded to Penny Mordaunt’s performance at the seven-way ITV debate.
Attached to the picture of the leader of the house, the channel wrote: “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.”
Nigel Farage trolls Rishi Sunak after appearing on Tory candidate’s election leaflet instead of PM
22:23 , Matt Mathers
Nigel Farage has mocked Rishi Sunak after a Tory candidate used pictures of the Reform UK leader on her leaflets.
The arch-Brexiteer, who is standing against Mr Sunak in the general election, is plastered across the leaflets of right-wing Conservative Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
Mr Sunak, meanwhile, is nowhere to be seen on the leaflets, which also make no reference to the Conservative Party or use of its branding.
It’s all about the clips
22:15 , David Maddox
It will be interesting to know how many people actually sat through the whole of tonight’s ITV seven-way debate.
The debate was undoubtedly the worst yet and once again featured the unedifying spectacle of Penny Mordaunt ripping chunks out of Angela Rayner who spent much of the event looking in a state of shock.
Basically though none of this matters. All that matters is that each participant has the carefully prepared social media clips. They must have been delighted that ITV said no interrupting (Mordaunt did not read the rule book).
Farage, Stephen Flynn and Ms Mordaunt will probably be happiest because they all got their points out cleanly.
Already their parties are posting the clips on Twitter and Facebook.
Unfortunately, for those of us who have to watch these awful spectacles professionally, there are still two more debates to go even though a Labour win looks inevitable.
‘You are the weakest link. Goodbye’
22:14 , Matt Mathers
Labour has gone straight on the attack against Mordaunt, who had a difficult evening.
The former Commons leader was the worst for interrupting her peers and drew laughs from the audience while giving several answers.
“You are the weakest link. Goodbye”, Labour said in post mimicking the popular quiz show.
22:10 , Matt Mathers
Rhun ap Iorwerth says his party offers a positive vision for Wales.
Westminster does not listen to voters in Wales, he claims.
I will always stand up for Wales, he says.
22:09 , Matt Mathers
Farage also claims the election is over.
He says the question is who the main opposition will be.
I will stand up for bringing down immigration, he adds.
22:08 , Matt Mathers
Flynn says the good news is that the Tories are finished.
But Labour doesn’t have a plan to fix the country, he claims.
Only the SNP will deliver for the people of Scotland, he adds.
22:07 , Matt Mathers
Rayner says the choice is simple: change with Labour or more chaos with the Tories.
She invites viewers to imagine what another five years would be like.
Our main priorities are to stabalise the economy and fix public services she says.
22:06 , Matt Mathers
Cooper says people are desperate for change.
It feels like we have been fighting a broken system under the Tories, she says.
We will fix the NHS and stop sewage being pumped into our rivers and seas, she adds.
22:05 , Matt Mathers
The audience giggles as Mordaunt says Labour has proven one thing tonight – they will put up taxes.
What you need to know is that they will put up your bills, she claims.
If you value your future, vote Tory she says.
22:04 , Matt Mathers
Closing statements now.
Denyer says politics is about choosing the future for our children.
She asks whether the two main parties are offering real change.
The Greens are on the cusp of breaking through, she says.
Vote for us for real hope and change, she adds.
22:02 , Matt Mathers
Plaid leader says people are “fed up” and lack trust due to a number of recent scandals.
Politicians need to be held to higher standard, he adds.
22:01 , Matt Mathers
Flynn says more power needs to be given to people in Scotland.
He says Westminster does not work for people north of the border.
22:00 , Matt Mathers
Farage agrees with the Greens that the voting system should be changed.
He says the House of Lords is a disgrace – we need to reform.
And, he adds, we need more referendums.
21:59 , Matt Mathers
Denyer says the Green will introduce proportional representation
She says the current voting system is not fair.
21:58 , Matt Mathers
The audience laughs again as Mordaunt gives her answer.
She says the Tories are the only party that won’t raise taxes.
21:57 , Matt Mathers
Rayner says Labour will be honest about what it can an can’t do.
The Tories have undermined trust through Partygate and other scandals.
21:56 , Matt Mathers
Cooper says the Lib Dems will devolve power to local communities
She was asked how she will improve trust in politics.
21:56 , Matt Mathers
Rhun ap Iorwerth asks Rayner what Labour will do to reduce poverty.
She says growing the economy is the key to doing so.
We won’t make any uncosted spending promises after the Tories crashed the economy, she adds.
21:55 , Matt Mathers
Cooper asks Mordaunt why anyone should trust the Tories with the NHS given the party’s record,
We have a plan to bring down waiting lists and train more medics, she adds.
21:53 , Matt Mathers
Flynn asks Rayner about the war in Gaza.
He asks if Labour will end arms sales to Israel on day one of entering government.
Rayner says the loss of life in Gaza is “catastrophic”.
She says a Labour governmentvwould review legal advice on arms sale.
21:51 , Matt Mathers
We are underway again after another break.
Rayner asks Mordaunt if she would let Farage into Tory party.
Mordaunt outlines the similarities between her and Farage.
But, she adds, what I’m standing for is stopping Labour.
Farage is helping Labour into power, she adds.
Mordaunt missed the Tory manifesto launch for a sparring session
21:50 , David Maddox
Penny Mordaunt was said to be peeved that some of her colleagues were briefing against her for missing the manifesto launch on Tuesday.
The fact is she was actually in a Tory organised “sparring session” to prepare for tonight’s debate.
Ms Mordaunt had to work through her tactics while Tory staffers pretended to be Angela Rayner, Nigel Farage and the others.
It turns out this involved her shouting at the one pretending to be Rayner and ignoring the one pretending to be Farage…or at least that is how it seems tonight.
21:45 , Matt Mathers
Farage asks Mordaunt why anyone should trust her party to bring down immigration.
The audience laughs when she points to Rishi Sunak’s record.
21:44 , Matt Mathers
Mordaunt is scolded for trying to interrupt – something she has done repeatedly throughout the debate.
It is now her turn – Mordaunt asks Rayner if she will rule out raising capital gains tax.
Rayner says there is nothing in her manifesto that needs funding through raising capital gains tax.
21:42 , Matt Mathers
Each party figure will now have the chance to ask one of their opponents a question.
Denyer asks Rayner which of her party’s U-turns she is most proud of.
What I’m not proud about is having 14 years of Tories, Rayner says.
We need to get elected to make change, she adds.
21:41 , Matt Mathers
Scotland is building more affordable homes than England and Wales, Flynn says.
He says a child poverty payment the party introduced has brought thousands out of poverty.
Is Nigel Farage now more leftwing than Angela Rayner?
21:40 , Tom Watling
Nigel Farage just said that he thinks the two child limit on child benefits should be lifted.
But when she was put on the spot Angela Rayner says they will not lift it even though it is linked to poverty.
Plaid Cymru describes it as “an embarrassment” for Rayner and Labour when Farage is more leftwing than them.
“People need help,” says Farage. “I would like marriage tax breaks too.”
But Rayner insists that there can be no policies unless “we can explain how they will be paid for”.
As Labour are likely to be in government then she may have a point.
21:40 , Matt Mathers
Denyer notes that the cost of a one-bed flat in her area – Bristol – has doubled over the past decade.
She says more homes need to be built.
This will bring down prices, she adds.
21:39 , Matt Mathers
Rayer says her party will not make any unfunded spending commits when tackled on poverty.
She says Labour would introduce breakfast clubs to help feed the poorest.
Quick-fire question: If elected would you ever rejoin the EU or the single market?
21:35 , Matt Mathers
Quick-fire question: If elected would you ever rejoin the EU or the single market?
Angela Rayner: “No.”
Daisy Cooper: “They’re not on the table at this election unfortunately but at some point in the future we would very much like to do so.”
Penny Mordaunt: “No and if you have a Labour government they will take you back in, they will tie you on defence, migration and regulation without any of the benefits of membership.”
Carla Denyer: “Yes, when the time is right.”
Nigel Farage: “No, we’re free, unfortunately we’re governed incompetently but at least they’re our mistakes, not somebody else’s.”
Stephen Flynn: “Yes, absolutely..”
Rhun ap Iorwerth: “I have no doubt that Wales is best served by being in the European Union but for now let’s get back into the single market and customs union to help our economy.”
21:34 , Matt Mathers
We can’t afford another five years of the Tories, Flynn says.
He says the party has failed to grow the economy.
People in Scotland are not served by the interests of Westminster, he adds.
Mordaunt claims the economy is now growing.
Now is not the time to raise taxes.
She claims Labour will – but the party said in its manifesto it will not raise income tax, NIC or VAT.
21:32 , Matt Mathers
The Greens will introduce a £15 minimum wage, Denyer says.
Too many people are in poverty, she adds.
Labour and the Tories must to more to close the gap between the richest and poorest, she adds.
21:31 , Matt Mathers
We’re not to blame, says Mordaunt.
The way to improve people’s lives is to cut taxes, she adds.
Labour would put them up, she claims.
21:30 , Matt Mathers
Rayner says the Tories have not built enough houses.
Labour’s GB Energy will bring down bills.
We won’t be reliant on Putin anymore, she adds.
21:29 , Matt Mathers
Cooper says Lib Dems will close loopholes in the oil and gas windfall tax.
She says everyone deserves to eat well and have a warm home.
People are still really struggling with the cost of living crisis, she adds.
21:28 , Matt Mathers
Flynn also says the answer is simple – the Tories are to blame.
He suggests things will get worse due to incoming spending cuts.
21:28 , Matt Mathers
Rhun ap Iorwerth says the UK is one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Government needs to recognise this before making changes.
I’m disappointed Labour are not doing more on poverty, he adds.
21:27 , Matt Mathers
Farage says this answer is simple – people are getting poor.
The Reformer leader – a former banker – says elites have profited over the past decade while the poorest are worse off.
We need to get more people into work, he adds.
21:25 , Matt Mathers
The debate restarts after another break.
Party figures are now asked about housing.
An audience member asks why more people are at risk of becoming homeless.
Brexit gets a quick fire round
21:25 , David Maddox
Brexit still dominates everything as Lord Heseltine pointed out in The Independent at the start of this election campaign.
Heseltine warned that this would be “one of the most dishonest elections in history” because of a refusal to debate Brexit.
But the unwillingness of the parties (with the exception of the SNP and Reform UK) to talk about the issue is summed up by the fact it was reduced to a quick fire round on the ITV debate.
Yet at least the question was asked unlike all the other debates.
Laughs as Farage says ‘I have always told the truth’ punctures the poll result
21:24 , Tom Watling
Nigel Farage’s Reform party may have overtaken the Tories in an opinion poll tonight but the latest ITV debate suggests he may not inspire trust in many voters.
There was a large laugh in the studio when the former Ukip leader said: “I have always told the truth”.
While the YouGov poll put Reform on 19 per cent, one point ahead of the Tories on 18 per cent, both trailed Labour on 37.
Has Mordaunt toned down her hair style after being mocked at last debate?
21:21 , Matt Mathers
Penny Mordaunt appears to have toned down her large hair style after the last seven-way debate.
She was mocked online for the size of her barnet, with people online editing pictures of her to make it appear even larger.
The Penny v Angela fight is back on
21:19 , Tom Watling
They patted each other on the back after the last seven way debate but the one on BBC was dominated by Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner shouting at one another.
ITV separated them and banned interruptions in the hope that it would allow the others to speak.
The tactics have not worked and Mordaunt and Rayner could not contain themselves from the red and blue corners.
“You won’t let me finish!” says Rayner to Mordaunt.
Stephen Flynn shook his head and Farage noted “dear, dear”.
They do not mind the unedifying sight too much of a Tory/ Labour battle.
21:18 , Matt Mathers
Rayner says the Rwanda plan is a gimmick that won’t work.
Labour would target people smuggling gangs, she adds.
Mordaunt interrupts again.
21:17 , Matt Mathers
Farage says neither party will bring down immigration numbers.
The audience laughs as he says he never lies.
The vast majority of the public wants the numbers to come down, he says.
21:16 , Matt Mathers
Rayner hits back by saying that Labour respects the results of referendums – unlike the SNP.
She is interrupted again by Mordaunt, who says Labour has no plan for immigration.
Mordaunt also claims Labour will take health care workers.
21:14 , Matt Mathers
Mordaunt says Labour has had 14 years to think about a plan for immigration but still doesn’t have one.
Rayner hits back by saying the Tories have had 14 years in government but not done enough.
Flynn moves the debate onto Brexit.
After four debates immigration finally gets its question
21:14 , Tom Watling
In the fourth debate, this may be the first time that immigration is an actual question on its own, The Independent’s Political Editor David Maddox writes.
Farage is on happy territory here knowing that he can go further and harder than all the other parties on the issue.
He has actually answered every other question by talking about migration anyway.
But the questioner points out that immigration is needed for the economy and to fill vacancies and skill shortages.
Angela Rayner and Penny Mordaunt look distinctly uncomfortable on the issue.
The other parties of the left are very happy to say they want largely unrestricted immigration.
21:13 , Matt Mathers
Farage claims that immigration is making the UK poorer.
Plaid leader accuses him of dog whistle politics.
Rayner says the Tories talk about a cap but the numbers have gone up in recent years.
21:11 , Matt Mathers
Immigrants are more likely to work in – and prop up public services – than become a strain on them, Cooper says.
We also need to invest more in our domestic workforce, she adds.
21:10 , Matt Mathers
Mordaunt says the public wants borders controlled.
The Tories will put a cap on the numbers every year, she adds.
This will bring the numbers down, she adds.
21:09 , Matt Mathers
Cooper says Lib Dems will always welcome immigrants.
She adds that more investment is needed in public services.
21:08 , Matt Mathers
There isn’t enough immigration in Scotland, Flynn says.
The Tories and Labour are in a race to the bottom with the rhetoric on immigration, he says.
The SNP will always stand up for those who contribute to society, he adds.
‘Shameful’
21:07 , Matt Mathers
Denyer says it is “shameful” when politicians scapegoat immigrants to distract from their failure to invest in public services.
We will never do that, she adds.
Rayner: We need to train up UK workers
21:06 , Matt Mathers
Rayner says the UK has been too reliant on overseas Labour.
She says there will always be a need for immigration and high-skilled labour.
But we need to skill up our own workers too, she adds.
21:05 , Matt Mathers
The debate gets underway way again after a short break.
The participants are asked about immigration and how the UK needs foreign workers,
Mordaunt claims Labour will tax education
21:00 , Matt Mathers
Mordaunt claims Labour will tax education.
She claims that class sizes will get bigger under the opposition.
She was referring to remarks made by the shadow attorney general, which were later clarified by the party.
Labour said class sizes will get smaller.
Farage: Population explosion to blame for school issues
20:57 , Matt Mathers
Farage again claims that the issue with schools is the “exploding population”.
This is an issue the other parties are not addressing, he claims.
Greens will invest more in schools
20:56 , Matt Mathers
Our education system has been “run into the ground”, Denyer says.
Her party will invest more in schools and teachers, she adds
Education system is still world class – Mordaunt
20:55 , Matt Mathers
Mordaunt says the UK’s education system is world class.
Audience members could be heard laughing as she responded to the question.
Standards are going up, she adds.
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Labour manifesto – Starmer proposes £8.6bn tax plan to fund NHS and teachers at election policy launch – £500m to support the manufacturing of green hydrogen. source
