General election latest: Keir Starmer says ‘number one mission is wealth creation’ in bid to win the middle ground

Labour has launched its battle bus in Boris Johnson’s old electoral stomping ground of Uxbridge, west London, writes our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin.

The Labour leader joked to Angela Rayner to check the fridge on the bus, after Mr Johnson once famously hid in one.

He added of the one-time prime minister that “he used to be about these parts”.

Sir Keir Starmer, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have arrived in Boris Johnson’s former constituency to launch their battle busy tour.

Ms Rayner said she has been “looking forward to this day” at the launch of the party’s campaign battle bus tour.

The deputy Labour leader was flanked by Sir Keir and Ms Reeves in front of a red bus emblazoned repeatedly with the word “change” in Uxbridge, west London.

Ms Rayner said: “I’m going to really enjoy being out and about up and down the country on our bus.

“We want to send a message to the people of this country – we are a changed Labour Party, in the service of working people.

“And we will never ride high and roughshod on the economy.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said “wealth creation” is his top priority as the General Election campaign enters its second weekend.

Speaking to The Times, Sir Keir said his “number one mission” was creating more wealth in a bid to appeal to the middle ground voters.

He suggested the majority of England were a “tolerant bunch” occupying the centre of political leaning.

Sir Keir will on Saturday announce a number of proposed employment support and welfare benefits reforms aimed at increasing the employment rate from 75 per cent to 80 per cent.

This includes a new combined national jobs and careers service, local plans for work, health and skills support, and a guarantee of opportunities for young people.

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has paused campaigning for the weekend to spend time with his son.

“This weekend I get to do the most joyful and important thing I do: being a Dad,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Together, Emily and I care for our wonderful son John, who has severe physical and learning disabilities.”

He added that the carers are the “lifeblood of the NHS” and will be “front and centre” of the Lib Dems campaign next week.

Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner are to appear together this morning for the first time since the party said Diane Abbott was free to stand as an MP.

The dramatic U-turn came after Ms Rayner said Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand – in a break with her party leader.

This morning they will launch Ms Rayner’s battle bus tour of the UK alongside a pledge to “power up” every corner of Britain.

Sir Keir, and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will join Ms Rayner as she sets off on a 5,000-mile journey to battleground seats across the country.

The Green Party of England and Wales (the Scottish Greens are separate but linked) was unlucky with the timing of its election campaign launch. Though joint leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are hardly household names even in their own kitchens, and their plans for a more sustainable future were never going to hog the front page of the Daily Mail, the party does increasingly matter. Indeed, it seems set for a record share of the vote at this general election, polling at some 6 per cent, and may win at least one more parliamentary constituency. Its prospects are brighter than ever.