‘Don’t hand a blank cheque to Labour’, PM pleads

Rishi Sunak has called on voters not to hand a “blank cheque” to the Labour Party as the Tories continue to fall in the polls.

This comes after a bombshell YouGov poll showed the Conservatives had fallen behind Reform for the first time.

“If this poll was replicated it would hand a blank cheque to Labour,” Mr Sunak said.

“It would be handing Labour a blank cheque to tax everyone… to tax their home, their pension, their car, their family and I’ll be fighting very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Tory minister dismisses bombshell poll

Treasury minister Bim Afolami has dismissed yesterday’s poll showing Reform is ahead of the Conservative Party.

Speaking to LBC, he said: “Does anybody really believe [the poll]?

“One poll? You’re only going off one poll?”

Nigel Farage claims Rishi Sunak has ‘no connection’ to working Brits

Nigel Farage has hit out at Rishi Sunak, claiming he has “no connection” to working people due to his wealth.

Speaking to the BBC, Farage, who attended the fee-paying Dulwich College and worked as a broker in the City, said: “He doesn’t know where the centre-ground of opinion in this country is.

“Rishi is Winchester College, Oxford University, Goldman Sachs – he has no connection to working people in this country at all.”

Rishi Sunak responds to bombshell poll showing Reform leads Tories

Rishi Sunak has responded to the YouGov poll placing the Reform party ahead of the Conservatives.

The prime minister said: “We are only halfway through this election, So I’m still fighting very hard for every vote.

“And what that poll shows is – the only poll that matters is the one on July 4 – but if that poll was replicated on July 4, it would be handing Labour a blank cheque to tax everyone, tax their home, their pension, their car, their family, and I’ll be fighting very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“And actually, when I’ve been out and about talking to people, they do understand that a vote for anyone who is not a Conservative candidate is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in No 10.

“So if you want action on lower taxes, lower migration, protected pensions or a sensible approach to net zero you’re only going to get that by voting Conservative.”

Labour confirms plans to grant 16 and 17-year-olds the vote

Labour confirmed its plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote yesterday.

The measure – set to hand voting rights to an extra 1.5 million teenagers – was one of the most high-profile commitments made by Sir Keir Starmer in the lead-up to his manifesto launch.

The plans read: “To encourage participation in our democracy, Labour will improve voter registration and address the inconsistencies in voter ID rules that prevent legitimate voters from voting.

“For example, in the case of HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards.

“We will increase the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy, by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections.”