Election latest: D-Day blunder hasn't lost election, minister insists; Tories vow to scrap ULEZ expansion (2024)

Nigel Farage is the people's pick to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservatives if Labour wins the election, according to a new poll.

The poll of 2,000 people showed 19% think Mr Farage should take over from Mr Sunak.

The poll offered six other names - Penny Mordaunt (15%), James Cleverly (6%), Kemi Badenoch (5%), Suella Braverman (4%), Priti Patel (2%) and Robert Jenrick (1%).

However, the majority of those surveyed in the poll for The Independent were stumped as to who should take the Tories' top job - 48% said they did not know who should replace Mr Sunak.

The poll also found that 45% of all voters believe Labour will win the next two elections, with just 19% disagreeing.

But the poll said 49% of those surveyed believe the main reason for a Labour victory would be because of "Tory failures".

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds denies Labour is changing so much it's turning its back on unions.

He was speaking to Sky News this morning after it emerged last night that Unite, the country's biggest union and the Labour Party's biggest donor, did not endorse its manifesto due to concerns about fire and rehire and the banning of new oil and gas licences.

Mr Reynolds says it was "legitimate" for Unite to voice concerns over jobs linked to North Sea oil, but said Labour had a plan to get the transition right and make it economically beneficial.

"North Sea oil and gas production will be a part of the country's energy mix and energy future right up until 2050," he says.

Speaking to the "pro-worker" part of the manifesto, he says: "There'll be more secure work. Flexibility will not be one-sided.

"We will make sure not only that the economy is growing more strongly, but people feel the benefits of that."

Senior Tories can already be seen vying for the top job in the party during election campaigning, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds tells Sky News.

He joined us this morning and said if it wasn't for the general election, he thinks Rishi Sunak would be facing a no confidence vote from his party.

"You can see there is a leadership election already under way in the Conservative Party," he says.

That was clear when Penny Mourdant came out swinging in last night's TV debate, when she was "absolutely unequivocal" in condemning the prime minister for leaving the D-Day ceremonies early, Mr Reynolds says.

We've been speaking to Transport Secretary Mark Harper this morning.

Unsurprisingly, he is pushed on the prime minister leaving D-Day events early on Thursday.

He repeats that it was right for Rishi Sunak to apologise for his premature departure from Normandy - and that it was a mistake for him to exit in such a fashion.

Asked if this is the moment the Conservatives have "definitely lost this election", Mr Harper says: "No - I don't agree with that."

Pushed on whether the Conservatives' manifesto launch - expected next week - will save the campaign, Mr Harper says he hopes the document will "help frame the choice for people that we've already set out".

Mr Harper was also asked about the Conservatives' policy announcement today - their pledge to reverse the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London.

He said the expansion was motivated by money and not air quality - adding that parts of outer London had voted against Mr Khan to register their opposition.

Mr Khan won a record third term as mayor in this year's race, beating the Conservatives' Susan Hall by a quarter of a million votes.

ByJennifer Scott, political reporter

The Conservatives have pledged to scrap the controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London if they stay in power after the general election.

The party also promises local referendums on "aggressive" schemes like 20mph zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

The Tories said reversingthe policyof London mayor Sadiq Khan would form part of a new "backing drivers bill" that would stop the "war" their rivals had "launched" on motorists.

But Labour accuses their rivals of having an "abysmal record" on drivers.

Read more here:

Good morning!

We're approaching the end of the second full week of the fight for all 650 parliamentary seats - and the keys to Number 10.

Political parties are spreading out across the country to get their message out ahead of polling day on 4 July.

Here's what you need to know:

• The Torieshave pledged to scrap the ULEZ expansion in a "backing drivers bill" if they stay in power. The party also promises local referendums on "aggressive" schemes like 20mph zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. They will be campaigning in the North East this morning before heading to Yorkshire in the afternoon.
• Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeveswill be on the campaign trail for Labour in the South East while Sir Keir Starmer will be out in London;
• The D-Day row rumbles on, as a poll finds the majority of Britons think Rishi Sunak's decision to leave commemorations before they ended was unacceptable;
• A snap poll found Nigel Farage came out on top in last night's TV debate between leading figures from the seven main parties - while viewers thought Penny Mourdant would be a better PM than Sunak;

This morning's guests will be:

• Transport secretary Mark Harper joined us at 7.15am;
• Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds at 8.15am;
• SNP leader John Swinney at 11.15am;

Stick with us for all the latest political news throughout the day.

Snap findings from a More in Common poll of more than 1,000 viewers of last night's BBC debate suggest Nigel Farage came out on top.

According to the poll results, the audience is most likely to think Reform UK's leader won, with 25% picking him.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner comes in second with 19%.

Just 7% thought Tory Penny Mordaunt won, but 32% believe she'd be a better prime minister than Rishi Sunak - with 12% picking him.

Full Results

• Nigel Farage - 25%
• Angela Rayner - 19%
• None of the above - 14%
• Carla Denyer - 11%
• Stephen Flynn - 10%
• Penny Mordaunt - 7%
• Daisy Cooper - 5%
• Rhun ap Iowerth - 2%
• Don’t know - 8%

Almost half (47%) of 2019 Tory voters watching the debate thought that Mr Farage won the debate, while Ms Rayner leads among 2019 Labour and Lib Dem voters who tuned in.

The poll also shows viewers are most likely to think the SNP's Stephen Flynn (net +31), the Green Party's Carla Denyer (net +31) and the Lib Dem's Daisy Cooper (+30) did well in the debate.

Reform's original candidate for Clacton will stand as an independent against Nigel Farage in the upcoming general election.

Anthony Mack quit Reform after he was replaced by Mr Farage earlier this week to vie for the seat in Essex.

But that hasn't stopped him from trying to win there.

Mr Mack is expected to hold a press conference later today.

Olympic athletes, top musicians and an ex-soap actor are among those standing to become members of parliament at the general election.

The deadline for candidates to submit their nominations passed earlier today.

Notable names on the list include:

• Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, Labour, Mid Sussex
• Double Olympic gold medal rower James Cracknell, Conservative, Colchester
• Rock star Tom Gray from the band Gomez, Labour, Brighton Pavilion
• Former Coronation Street actor Marc Anwar, independent, Bury North
• Gogglebox'sJosh Tapper, Labour, Hertfordshire
• Olympian Marc Jenkins, Conservative, Gower

Count Binface has announced he will stand against Rishi Sunak in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

Speaking on his podcast, Trash Talk, Binface said it would be like "Fury vs Usyk times a billion" in the July 4 election.

"That's right, I am here right now in Richmond and Northallerton and I can announce that I will be taking on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in electoral combat on July 4.

"You shirked D-Day Rishi, you can't miss the B-Day.

"That's right. Binface vs Sunak is going to be Fury vs Usyk times a billion. Bring it on."

Binface recently came 11th in the London Mayoral Elections, where he earned 24,260 votes.