Election latest news: Nigel Farage says Tories ‘screwed’ regardless of Reform as party warns against extremist right

Sir Keir Starmer has been asked about the lesson he takes from nationalism and populism around Europe, including the rising hard right in France.

The Labour leader replied: “We need to address the everyday concerns of so many people in this country who fear disaffected by politics.”

He said voters might feel on Thursday “the country is too broken to be mended or they can’t trust politicians”.

But Sir Keir added: “Only progressives have the answers of the challenges that are facing us.”

He said “after 14 years of Tory failure” Labour would come to re-define politics as “a force for good”.

The Lib Dem leader has done one of his riskiest stunts yet,  bungee-jumping from a crane.

After doing a Bungee Jump in Eastbourne, Sir Ed Davey said: “To get the change our country needs this week and beat the Conservatives in scores of seats, I am asking people to take a leap of faith and vote for the Liberal Democrats.

“A lot of people are on the cusp of doing something they’ve never done before on Thursday and voting for the Liberal Democrats, so I decided to do something I’ve never done before too.

“Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to fix the NHS and care, end the sewage scandal and tackle the cost of living crisis.”

Sir Keir Starmer is now speaking to activists in Hertfordshire.

The Labour leader said: “This is the final mile, these are the last hard yards, but the last steps are always the hardest.

“We have to remember that people need convincing. There are undecided voters out there. Every constituency is a fight and the polls do not predict the future, so we have to convince people.

“Convince people that change is possible. Convince people that if you want change, you have to vote for change, and that is what we have to do every hour of every day until 10 o’clock on Thursday night.”

Nigel Farage has labelled racist Reform members as “some bad apples” found in his “start up” party.

Reform has been engulfed in a racism row after several party members were using slurs and making Islamophobic and homophobic comments.

But the party leader insisted the “bad apples” are gone and he would be much “stricter” in the future

He Times Radio: “Look, let’s be clear, this is a startup party. I took it over a month ago. There were some people there that should never, ever have been there, and I’m sorry for that. And nobody is angrier than I am, particularly as we’re doing so well with black and ethnic minority voters.”

He added: “So yes, some bad apples in a startup. They’re gone. And I won’t have anyone like it in the future, in the party. I’m going to put this thing under a much, much stricter control. It was all done before I put my hat in the ring.”

Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay has said his the party would “push” Labour to be “bolder” on climate if it wins the general election.

With the polls indicating a record result for Sir Keir Starmer, he urged voters to back Green MPs to “bring diversity of views into this next parliament.”

Mr Ramsay told Sky News, he would “move Keir Starmer beyond the U-turns he’s been making on climate and on funding for public services”.

He added: “And that’s why we’re on track to having a record green result of this election.”

A recent poll has revealed Labour is 30 points ahead of the Tories in London.

The Savanta’s final survey shows 49 per cent of Londoners would back Sir Keir Starmer wile the Conservatives are on just 19 per cent, and Reform 11 per cent.

The Liberal democrats are on 10 per cent while the Greens have six per cent of the votes.

Chris Hopkins, Savanta’s research director, said: “Our research suggests that the Conservatives could be all but wiped out from London this week, if our results are replicated on election day.

“Their party is deeply unpopular in the capital, leaking votes to Reform UK and facing threats from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

“Labour is seen by Londoners as most trusted on every policy issue important to them, from housing to the cost of living. That ultimately will be likely what drives Londoners on polling day, with our research also suggesting they’re looking forward to a London Mayor and a national government working together.”

The Independent is giving readers the chance to chat directly with candidates from some of the major political parties in a special general election series of Ask Me Anything events.

Two of Reform’s core five pledges are to do with migration. The party says it would freeze non-essential immigration, but concedes there would be exceptions with work in healthcare considered essential.

Elsewhere, the party pledges big tax cuts for small businesses, an overhaul of the adult social care system, scrapping the net zero target, banning ‘transgender ideology’ in schools, and axing the rest of the HS2 rail link.