Election latest: Elton John backs Labour and Starmer in general election; Farage told to 'get a grip' on party (2024)

Our first story tonight on Politics Hub With Ali Fortescueis Reform UK withdrawing support from three of its parliamentary candidates as the racism row engulfing the party continues to grow.

The party led by Nigel Farage is no longer supporting Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford, after alleged comments made by them emerged in the media.

It comes as party leaders from across the political spectrum have lined up to condemn Reform UK, and told Mr Farage he needs to "get a grip" of his party.

Read more from political reporter Ben Blochhere:

Our daily politics showPolitics Hubis live now on Sky News with ourpolitical correspondentAli Fortescuehosting this evening.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Joining Ali tonight are:

• Mark Spencer, Conservative candidate and farming minister;
• Sir Anthony Seldon, educator and contemporary historian.

And on her panel are:

• Max Wilson, former Labour political adviser;
• Claire Pearsall, former Tory adviser.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has joked about needing a new job next week as she faces being one of the Tories' most high-profile election casualties.

The cabinet minister is projected to lose her Chichester seat in West Sussex to the Lib Dems, who are aiming to smash the so-called "blue wall" in southern England.

During a visit to a school in her constituency, Ms Keegan was asked by pupils what job she would do if she was not an MP.

"I might have to answer that question next Friday", she said.

Ms Keegan later told the PA news agency that the polls were "all over the place" and "I have never taken anything in my whole life for granted".

But her initial answer reflects the defeatist mood of some Tories as multiple polls suggest Britain's political landscape is about to be fundamentally re-drawn, with Labouron course for a historic majority.

Ms Keegan is one of more than a dozen senior figures at risk of having a so-called "Portillo moment" - a reference to Michael Portillo, the Conservative minister who was famously unseated as Tony Blair swept to power in 1997.

Read more here:

Our daily politics showPolitics Hubwill be live on Sky News from 7pm with ourpolitical correspondentAli Fortescuehosting this evening.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Joining Ali tonight are:

• Mark Spencer, Conservative candidate and farming minister;
• Sir Anthony Seldon, educator and contemporary historian.

And on her panel are:

• Max Wilson, former Labour political adviser;
• Claire Pearsall, former Tory adviser.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

The Labour campaign rally has just concluded - but not before party supporters were treated to a musical performance.

British singerLåpsley performed her song "Better Times".

The chorus is the line "moving on to better times" repeated on loop.

The bridge section includes the lyrics, "Wave the year goodbye,Moving on to better times".

Not exactly a hidden message there from Låpsley and Labour...

The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has just addressed party supporters and activists at a campaign rally in London.

Here is what he said, as he said it (this post was updated live):

• Sir Keir Starmer opens his speech by thanking the previous speakers - particularly the first time voter who addressed the crowd just before him;
• He says everyone has "one job" - which is "to make sure it's a summer of change, to restore hope, to restore spirit, belief in a better future";
• He says people can use their vote "to stop the chaos, to turn the page, and start to rebuild our country";
• Sir Keir argues that the last four years have been about changing the party to put it "back in the service of working people", adding: "Country first, party second";
• He thanks activists for their work not just during the campaign, but over the last four years, saying: "Thank you for everything";
• But he goes on to say that these final days of the campaign is "the hardest mile" of the campaign;
• "The hope has been kicked out" of the British people, he argues, and says people "need to be convinced that change is possible" and to "vote for it";
• Sir Keir pledges that if Labour wins the election on Thursday, the work "begins immediately";
• He says Labour needs a "clear mandate" from the electorate, pointing to "chaos under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, two politicians who never had a clear mandate";
• Britain will be "stuck" in a "doom loop" if there is not a "democratic reckoning" on Thursday - as he lists what Labour would view as the misdeeds and failures of the Tories;
• He concludes by saying: "Change only happens if you vote for it, and it's time for change."

Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party has secured the endorsem*nt of global superstar Sir Elton John, and his husband, David Furnish.

In a video message played to activists and supporters at the party's campaign rally in London, Sir Elton said it is "heartbreaking to see Britain's next generation of creative talent downtrodden and destroyed by democracy and red tape".

He says the cultural education that paved the way for his career and success is "drying up and in danger of dying out completely".

Mr Furnish says it is "madness to treat a hugely successful sector with such disdain, particularly one that has been the envy of the world for decades".

He goes on to say that Labour's manifesto "sets out sensible and practical proposals that promise to give every young person a creative education and help young and emerging musicians achieve the routes to success that have been cruelly and pointlessly snatched away from them".

That is why, Sir Elton explains, they are backing Labour and Sir Keir Starmer.

Sir Elton has previously backed the Labour Party, saying back in 2006 that he was a fan of Tony Blair.

Actor, musician, and comedian Bill Bailey is next to speak at Labour's campaign rally.

He is a lifelong Labour supporter, and has previously appeared in election broadcasts on behalf of the party.

He opens with jokes about his new haircut, but moves quickly on to more serious matters - the rapidly approaching election day.

"The Tories are now bracing themselves for a Liz Truss comeback - what is it with this 'don't surrender' business? It's a kind of mad wartime nonsense."

He is referring to the Conservative Party's latest message of not "surrendering" to the Labour Party.

"To say they've got a grip of things is an insult to grips and things," he quips, to laughter and applause.

He tells activists that this election is "the most important" of his lifetime, and "feels like a pivotal moment in Britain's fortunes".

He thanks party supporters and activists, but warns that it's "not over yet", saying that "every vote is crucial".

Appealing to the wider public to cast a ballot, he says: "Every vote counts."

"The fact that we now have a real possibility of a Labour government is in no small part [thanks] to the great efforts of Keir Starmer," he tells the audience, that breaks out in loud applause.

He praises Sir Keir's plan, as well as the team he has built around him.

Mr Bailey appeals to voters to back Labour, saying change only comes if you vote for it.

He says the feeling of the last 14 years is "neglect" and missed opportunities".

"These 14 years have diminished a sense of what is possible, of what Britain is capable of, of what we are all capable of.

"We say enough of that. 14 years of waste - it has to end."

Labour's deputy leader has just addressed party supporters at a campaign rally in London.

Here is what she said, as she said it (this post was updated live):

• Ms Rayner opens by thanking activists for their work on this campaign so far, on behalf of the entire shadow cabinet team;
• But she says there is still "a long way to go" and "millions" have not cast their vote or decided which way they will go, so slowing down would be "disrespectful to them";
• "Right now we've won nothing," she emphasises;
• "The past six weeks alone have shown we can't take another minute of this chaos";
• She argues that Labour has delivered change in government in past, and is now "ready to deliver a radical and responsibly plan for Britain's future";
• She reiterates that Labour does "not promise the earth", but that "stability is change and the bedrock upon which everything is built";
• Ms Rayner warns that "next Friday, we could all wake up to five more years of Tory chaos" - and appeals to the public to vote for "change" with Labour.

With days to go until polls open in the general election, the Labour Party is holding a major campaign rally in London.

Sir Keir Starmer is due to address gathered activists as they prepare to make their closing arguments to voters across the country.

The party is also expected to unveil celebrity endorsem*nts during the event.

Watch live in the stream at the top of this page, at the link below - and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.