General election latest: Anas Sarwar backs Abbott as Labour attacks Tories and SNP over green energy failures

Labour is maintaining 45 per cent of voting intention, according to today’s polls from Techne UK, with a 24-point lead over the Conservatives.

The Tories have clawed back 2 per cent in the polls, after Rishi Sunak’s shock election announcement caused a dip in support last week, writes data correspondent Alicja Hagopian.

The Lib Dems and Reform UK have been neck-and-neck across the UK for the month of May, currently at 11 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.

For more polls, approval ratings and top issues on the ballot read here.

The party pledges to extend free meals to children in primary schools.

The plan would include an immediate extension to all 900,000 children living in poverty.

The Lib Dems say they would fund the pledge by taking a four per cent levy on the share buybacks of FTSE 100-listed companies, which they say could raise about £1.4 billion a year.

Sir Ed Davey said: “It is time for change. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for a local champion who will fight for the wellbeing of children and their futures.”

ITV has announced today that its General Election multi-party debate will take place on Thursday, June 13 at 8.30pm.

The ITV Election Debate 2024 will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

Leaders or senior representatives across all main parties will participate including, Cnservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, SNP, Reform UK, Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

The debate will be moderated by Julie Etchingham and it will run for 90 minutes.

In another headache for the Tories, Conservative MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme Aaron Bell has announced he is stepping down.

The former Conservative MP previously faced allegations of serious sexual assault himself which were investigated then dropped by Essex Police earlier this year.

He has now confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate at the general election.

He said: “Solihull deserves more than a whips appointed candidate who doesn’t get the issues.”

Donald Trump’s trial is not “my focus”, Rishi Sunak has said when asked if he would work with the convicted former US president if the Republican returns to power, David Lynch reports.

The Prime Minister refused to comment on the ex-president’s hush money trial conviction when asked by reporters.

A New York jury found Mr Trump guilty of falsifying business records becoming the first to be convicted of felony crimes.

Asked whether he was willing to work with a convicted felon in the White House if he wins July’s election, the Prime Minister said: “You wouldn’t expect me to comment on another country’s domestic politics or judicial processes.

“I’m focused squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election.

Human right’s activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Lawyer has accused Sir Keir Starmer of carrying an intentional and calculated strategy to dehumanise Black, Brown and Muslim MPs.

Speaking to BBC, Ms Mos-Shogbamimu said the treatment of Diane Abbott has been “absolutely diabolical”.

She added: “It is clear Keir Starmer has been running an intentional and calculated strategy to dehumanise, disrespect and disgrace Diane Abbott.

“She is not just the first Black female MP, she is the most racially abused MP in the entire and British and Parliamentary history.

“The Labour party, what should have been her home, has become a nest of systemic racism which has been consistently put out against her and against Black, Brown and Muslim MPs.

“What should have been a safe place is not a safe place anymore. It was his intention from day one to oust her and he lied about the investigation from day one.”

Attacking Sir Keir Starmer, she furiously said: “He has no respect for the British Black community. He has ignored many exposures of hate.

The wannabe Tory MP has dropped out of the race to represent Tunbridge Wells after two days after a clip emerged of him saying he never liked the area.

LBC presenter Iain Dale, who quit on Tuesday night to run for the Conservatives in the general election, has announced he was throwing in the towel.

It came after a clip from his For the Many podcast from 2022 where he told his co-host, former Labour home secretary Jacqui Smith: “I have lived in Tunbridge Wells since 1997, slightly against my will.

“I’ve never liked the place. Still don’t, and would happily live somewhere else.”

The Green party took aim at Labour’s plans to create a publicly owned energy company saying it will “not offering the real change we need”.

The party’s co-leader Carla Denyer told Today on BBC Radio 4: “If you compare it to Labour’s original commitment to spend £28 billion per year on green investment, this announcement of just £8.3 billion over the course of an entire parliament is tiny in comparison. It’s nowhere near enough to deliver Labour’s promise of green electricity.”