Election latest: 'You are the problem': Sunak attacks David Tennant - as leaders prepare for debate (2024)

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are preparing to debate head-to-head for the second and final time of this general election campaign.

The BBC's Mishal Husain - who also chaired a seven-way leaders' debate earlier this month - will referee the contest that will last 75 minutes, starting at 8.15pm this evening.

It will be in front of a live audience, that has been chosen by pollster Savanta, rather than the BBC.

It will include Conservative and Labour supporters, in addition to undecided voters.

Which side of the stage the two men will stand on will be decided by a coin toss - as will the order in which they deliver their closing speeches to the nation.

It is likely to be one of the biggest live audiences of the campaign, allowing the two men to potentially reach millions of voters.

The debate will run straight through the full 75 minutes, without any breaks.

In an article for the BBC, Husain said she will be "nudging the two men back to what was in the question, clarifying points, and yes, probably having to call a halt from time to time".

She said she wants "spontaneity and energy" from tonight's contest: "A proper debate, really, rather than speech-making."

We will have live coverage of the debate here in the Politics Hub, and when the debate ends at 9.30pm, we will have live analysis and reaction here and across Sky News - do join us.

Sir Ed Davey has admitted placing a bet on the 2010 general election.

Speaking to journalists on the campaign trail, he revealed he'd put money on the number of seats his party would win at that contest - but lost.

The Lib Dems ended up in coalition with the Tories, and Sir Ed was a minister during the subsequent five years.

Sir Ed also said he can't be sure whether any of his party's candidates have placed a bet on this year's poll.

Speaking to broadcasters this morning, he said: "I can't speak for every single Liberal Democrat candidate across the country, of course I can't.

"I really hope they would have behaved in the proper way."

Sir Ed said he has not personally placed any bets "on this election".

Was the Gambling Commission to make him aware of any problems with his party's candidates, he "would follow the recommendations".

'We can't allow this to happen again'

Sir Ed said he was "shocked" by the scandal engulfing the Tories in particular.

He drew a distinction with his 2010 bet, noting how those involved this time might have benefited from inside knowledge.

"The idea that people who had privileged access in Number 10 and may well have known the date of the general election, placing a bet when they knew the outcome, that is wrong," he said.

The Lib Dems are calling for a review of gambling laws, adding: "We can't allow something like this to ever happen again."

If you don't have any photo ID, today is the deadline to apply for an ID certificate you can use at the general election.

This is called a Voter Authority Certificate - and you have until 5pm to apply online.

That's also the deadline to apply for someone to vote on your behalf if you can't make it to the ballot box on 4 July - known as a proxy vote.

Tap here if you need to do that.

Remind me... what are these certificates all about?

This is the first time people voting at a UK general election will need to provide photo ID.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - including passports, driving licences, and other travel passes.

You can find a full list below:

But if you don't have one, get a Voter Authority Certificate.

To apply online here, you must have already registered to vote.

You also need a recent photo and your National Insurance number, or some other way of proving your identity - like a bank statement.

Remember, you have until 5pm. Don't forget!

It has been confirmed that former Dutch PM Mark Rutte will be the next secretary general of NATO after being selected by the alliance members this morning.

He will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on 1 October, who is stepping down after 10 years leading the alliance.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has congratulated Mr Rutte, writing on X he's "confident" he would continue Mr Stoltenberg's "outstanding work in keeping NATO strong and united, as we work to strengthen our collective defenec and support Ukraine's fight for freedom".

The defence secretary, Grant Shapps, added his congratulations, saying Mr Rutte is "the rightperson to lead our alliance".

He also made a political point, saying: "Together we must push towards a new NATO standard of 2.5% by 2030, for all allies’ defence spending."

The Tories have committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, but Labour only will when the economic conditions allow.

As we reported yesterday, four men were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass in the grounds of the prime minister's home.

The incident took place at Rishi Sunak's constituency address in Kirby Sigston, North Yorkshire, while he was attending events in London to mark the Japanese state visit.

The arrests were connected to a protest by campaigners from Youth Demand. It describes itself as a group of young people who want "the Tories and the Labour Party to commit to a two-way arms embargo on Israel, and to stop all new oil and gas licences".

A spokesperson for the group said three of those arrested were taking part in the demonstration, while the fourth person was an independent photographer.

North Yorkshire Police said they have been released on conditional bail "to allow for further enquiries".

"The investigation remains ongoing," the force added.

We spoke a short while ago to Labour's Liz Kendall, and we asked about the party suspending one of its candidates, Kevin Craig, after it emerged he is under investigation for betting against himself to win his constituency.

Ms Kendall said he was suspended because "people want politicians to abide by the rules just as they have to, and they want leaders who, when they see a problem, take action".

She said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wants "the very highest standards for our candidates and members of parliament".

We put to Ms Kendall that either Mr Craig reckoned he's going to lose, so might as well profit from it - or worse, that he planned to throw the race and profit from doing so.

She replied: "My personal take is I'm in the business of winning, and I'm in the business of change.

"My focus is not on betting on the next election. It is fighting for the next election and the next government."

She went on to say that she does not know why he made the bet, and that their "entire focus is on convincing people that if you want change, you've got to vote for it".

A man has been arrestedon suspicion of harassment and committing offences under the Online Safety Act following the Westminster honeytrap scandal.

This is the case where a number of MPs and parliamentary staffers received suspicious messages from unnamed senders.

In a statement, the Met Police said a man was arrested today at an address in Islington, London, and remains in custody.

The man is understood to be in his mid-20s.

The investigation by theMet's Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team began on 6 April following reporting, first published by Politico, of unsolicited messages being sent to MPs and people with links to parliament.

Read more here:

By Greg Milam, chief North of England correspondent

There is a rhythm to a night at the Bolton Interchange.

People dart from arriving buses, racing across the concourse to catch departing ones. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Each rush is followed by a brief lull.

Every night, hundreds of lives intersect at the Bolton Interchange. The night-shift workers and commuters, those out on the town and those just a little bit lost.

Each one has their own story, some are happy to chat, most lose themselves in whatever is playing through their headphones.

I spent a week on the night buses. With the election looming, what the politicians are experiencing on their campaign battle buses is not what ordinary people are seeing. Theirs is a very different perspective.

There is an unmistakeable despair about the state of the country, an indifference to what the political process might do about it and a dark humour about the future. There are very few flickers of optimism.

Read Greg's full report below - and watch it on Sky News at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.30pm, and on The UK Tonight at 8pm.

Rishi Sunak has this morning defended his business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, after actor David Tennant attacked her at an awards ceremony.

The Doctor Who star laid into her position on trans and women's rights while accepting an award for being acelebrity ally at the British LGBT Awards.

He said: "If I'm honest, I'm a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they're not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it's common sense, isn't it?

"It is human decency. We shouldn't live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist any more – I don't wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this."

Ms Badenoch defended herself on social media, labelling Mr Tennant a "rich, lefty, white male celebrity", adding: "I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls."

The prime minister has now weighed into the row in defence of his business secretary as he attempts to change the narrative from the gambling scandal engulfing his party.

Mr Sunak wrote on X: "Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy.

"If you're calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem."

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are in your podcast feeds with their guide to the election day ahead.

This is day 35 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss the final head-to-head debate - how have the two leaders fared through the campaign?

Also on the agenda - gamblegate, the story that won't die, and Reform going big on net zero - parliament's next big battle.

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