General election - latest: Sunak condemns Farage’s Ukraine comments as ‘playing into Putin’s hands’

Nigel Farage is “playing into Putin’s hands” by suggesting the West provoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rishi Sunak has said.

The prime minister described Mr Farage’s comments as “completely wrong” as he accused the Reform leader of appeasing the Kremlin leader.

“This is a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain, who’s doing deals with countries like North Korea,” Mr Sunak said of Putin.

“And this kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain’s security, the security of our allies that rely on us and only emboldens Putin further.”

Appearing on a special election BBC Panorama show last night, Mr Farage was asked by Nick Robinson if he still believed the Russian advancement was a result of EU and NATO expansion.

The Reform UK leader, a former member of the European parliament, said: “I stood up in the European parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, ‘there will be a war in Ukraine’.

“Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say ‘they’re coming for us again’ and to go to war.”

Key Points

• Sunak: Farage’s ‘completely wrong’ Ukraine comments ‘play into Putin’s hands'

• Home secretary slams Farage over Ukraine war claim

• Main points from Farage interview

• 'I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior’ - Farage

• West provoked invasion of Ukraine – Farage

PM defends Home Office over Windrush scandal

11:05 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has defended the Home Office amid claims from Windrush campaigners that thousands of people still have not been granted citizenship.

The prime minister told broadcasters: “So many people suffered an injustice under successive governments over a long time. And since all this came to light a while ago, the Home Office has been working hard to rectify things.

“I think over 16,000 people now have been given the appropriate documentation that they deserve and tens of millions of pounds in compensation has been paid out and something like 200 different community and outreach events have also been organised.

“But of course the Home Office is always reflecting, taking on feedback and seeing how it can improve and make sure that we right the wrongs of the past.”

I love the UK ‘deeply’, says Sunak after Farage’s culture comments

10:52 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has said he loves the UK “deeply” after being accused of not understanding “our culture” by Nigel Farage.

He told broadcasters: “I love this country deeply for what it has done for my family.

“My grandparents emigrated here with very little and two generations later I have the enormous privilege of being our prime minister.

“And that’s why I will work my hardest to repay this country for everything that it has done for my family.”

Farage’s Ukraine comments ‘play into Putin’s hands’, Sunak says

10:36 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has said Nigel Farage was “completely wrong” to say the West “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The prime minister told reporters: “What he said was completely wrong and only plays into (Vladimir) Putin’s hands.

“This is a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain, who’s doing deals with countries like North Korea. And this kind of appeasement is dangerous for Britain’s security, the security of our allies that rely on us and only emboldens Putin further.”

ICYMI: Tories ‘held in contempt by the electorate’ as pressure mounts on Rishi Sunak over betting scandal

10:05 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of “total lack of leadership” after the prime minister failed to deny cabinet ministers are among senior Tories who placed bets on the election date.

As pressure mounted over the betting scandal, Labour also condemned Mr Sunak’s decision not to suspend two candidates who are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Full report:

Tories ‘held in contempt’ by voters as pressure mounts over betting scandal

Labour should join the Tories in ignoring the polls

09:45 , Matt Mathers

With less than two weeks until election day, Keir Starmer’s high command is so concerned about the effect their 20-point lead in opinion polls might have on the result, they are considering banning them during the final stretch of future campaigns, says Andrew Grice.

Read Andrew’s piece in full here:

Labour should join the Tories in ignoring the polls

Starmer: I would not go private even if my children were ill

09:22 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer has said he would not use private health care even if his children were ill as he denied being “ideological” about the health service.

The Labour leader said he would not be willing to “jump the queue” as he praised the NHS as “absolutely the best” for treating acute health problems.

“On acute care, people said, ‘well, what if your child was really ill?’,” he said. “On acute care, the NHS is absolutely the best, so much so that private hospitals refer into the NHS. So if we had an acute case, I’d want to be treated by the NHS.”

When pressed on the issue, he added: “No I wouldn’t. I’m not going to say to the country, ‘I’m going to drive down your waiting lists but I’m going to pay to sort of accelerate myself to the front of the queue’”.

The Labour leader went on to add that t if he became prime minister his cabinet would be free to go private if they wished, adding: “I’m not ideological about it.”

Starmer will reverse Brexit, Badenoch claims

09:14 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer will reverse Brexit if Labour wins the general election, Kemi Badenoch has claimed.

The former business secretary said leaving the EU was a “10 to 20 year project” as she suggested the UK had not yet seen the benefits of leaving the bloc.

“Making sure everyone is focused on getting those benefits is absolutely critical. I think that’s one area where I’ve tried to do as much as possible, but we need more of that strategy,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

“That’s something that’s going to disappear if Labour come in; they will take us backwards. They will take us back to square one. They’re just going to copy what the EU does.”

Labour has said it will not rejoin the EU or customs union and there are no plans in the party’s manifesto to do so.

Farage is a ‘pub bore’ who doesn’t understand ‘real world’ of politics

08:38 , Matt Mathers

Nigel Farage is akin to a “pub bore” who does not understand the “real world” of politics, Conservative former defence secretary Ben Wallace said.

Mr Wallace, who is not standing in the general election, was asked about Mr Farage’s admiration for Vladimir Putin and his suggestion the west provoked the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think Nigel Farage is a bit like that pub bore we have all met at the end of the bar who often says if ‘I was running the country’ and presents very simplistic answers to actually I am afraid in the 21st century complex problems.

“It is not that easy to govern a country but also to find international solutions to problems.”

Mr Wallace added: “If he became prime minister tomorrow morning, what is his solution to dealing with a President Putin that he alleges he admires? A man who remember was involved in the murder of a British citizen Dawn Sturgess with deployment of nerve agent in Salisbury.

“Is his answer to that we provoked him? He is going to have to deal with the real world.”

Farage is wrong on Russia - Wallace

08:22 , Matt Mathers

Nigel Farage is wrong to suggest that the West provoked Putin into invading Ukraine, the former defence secretary has said.

Ben Wallace told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme that the Refom leader had been “consistently wrong” on the subject.

Mr Wallace pointed to a 7,000 word essay written by Putin in 2021 titled the “historical unity of Russia and Ukraine” which mentioned Nato in “only one paragraph.”

The piece talked about ethnic nationalism and the right of Russia to “effectively expand itself”, Mr Wallace added.

His comments came after Mr Farage last night doubled down on his remarks about Ukraine, saying he has been “consistent and honest” about the war.

JK Rowling accuses Labour of ‘abandoning’ women over transgender rights

08:05 , Matt Mathers

Author JK Rowling has criticised Labour for “abandoning” women concerned about transgender rights.

The controversial Harry Potter author said she would struggle to vote for Sir Keir Starmer, saying she had a “poor opinion” of his character.

Full report:

JK Rowling accuses Labour of ‘abandoning’ women over transgender rights

Johnny Mercer urged to apologise for accusing Labour rival of lying about military service

07:55 , Matt Mathers

Johnny Mercer has been urged to apologise for accusing his Labour general election rival of lying about his military service and withdraw the “deeply disrespectful” remarks.

The veterans minister, who is standing for re-election in Plymouth, Moor View, has been widely condemned for suggesting former Royal Marine Fred Thomas lied about leading men into combat to boost his political career.

Full report:

Mercer urged to apologise for accusing Labour rival of lying about military service

What’s happening on the campaign trail trail - continued

07:45 , Matt Mathers

SNP leader John Swinney will visit the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, where he will put the spotlight on his party’s drive for “sustainable funding for farming” with financial backing rising “to at least pre-Brexit levels”.

The party has also called for a rural visa pilot scheme to “mitigate against the severe labour shortages” which it attributes to Brexit, and a veterinary agreement with the European Union.

“We will always seek to protect Scotland from the damage of decisions taken by Westminster,” Mr Swinney said.

In southern England, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will also visit a farm on the campaign trail in a week where the Conservatives have sought support from rural communities – and some sheep, perhaps with less success.

In southern England, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will also visit a farm on the campaign trail in a week where the Conservatives have sought support from rural communities – and some sheep, perhaps with less success.

Outrage continues over ‘Putin apologist' Farage’s ‘disgraceful’ Russia comments

07:35 , Matt Mathers

Nigel Farage is a “Putin apologist,” Labour’s shadow defence secretary said after the Reform leader claimed the West provoked Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Mr Farage told the BBC in an interview broadcast last night that the “ever-eastward expansion” of Nato and the EU gave the Russian president an excuse to start the war.

John Healy said: “These are disgraceful comments, which reveal the true face of Nigel Farage: a Putin apologist who should never be trusted with our nation’s security.

“Up until now, there has been a united front amongst Britain’s political leaders in supporting the people of Ukraine against the unprovoked and unjustifiable assault they have suffered at the hands of Vladimir Putin.

“Nigel Farage has put himself outside that united position, and shown that he would rather lick Vladimir Putin’s boot than stand up for the people of Ukraine. That makes him unfit for any political office in our country, let alone leading a serious party in Parliament.”

What else to expect on the campaign trail today

07:20 , Matt Mathers

Labour’s shadow environment secretary Steve Reed will visit a county on the south coast to talk about sewage.

His party has pledged to give the water regulator powers to block the payment of any bonuses to polluting water bosses until they have “cleaned up their filth” and go further – to “make water bosses who continue to oversee lawbreaking face criminal charges”.

Water companies would also be unable to mark their own homework, with new independent water monitoring, plus “severe and automatic fines that companies can’t afford to ignore for illegal sewage discharges”.

Mr Reed claimed the Conservatives have “just folded their arms and looked the other way while water companies pumped a tidal wave of raw sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas putting the nation’s health at risk”.

And Reform UK campaigning continues on the Tendring Peninsula in Essex, as Nigel Farage hosts a bumper set of campaign days in the Clacton constituency he is contesting – against the Liberal Democrats’ Matthew Bensilum, Climate Party’s Craig Jamieson, independent Tony Mack, the Green Party’s Natasha Osben, Labour’s Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, the Heritage Party’s Tasos Papanastasiou, UKIP’s Andrew Pemberton and Conservative incumbent Giles Watling.

What to expect on the General Election campaign trail on Saturday

07:09 , Matt Mathers

Here is your guide to the main developments in the general election campaign on Saturday:

In advance of Saturday night, prime minister Rishi Sunak will trail his party’s plan for pubs, clubs and festivals.

The Conservative Party has also timed its announcement ahead of the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, as fans pack their bags before the gates open on Wednesday.

Ministers would look into ways to “crack down” on councils imposing “disproportionate conditions” on licences, according to party figures.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “We’ll continue to back our night-time economy – Labour would cripple it further with higher taxes and more burdensome regulation.”

The Tory betting scandal - what is it?

05:50 , Alex Ross

The Tory party has been dogged by a betting row with Rishi Sunak forced to address it while launching the party’s Welsh manifesto on Friday.

But what is it?

It started when Craig Williams, the party’s candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr and Mr Sunak’s parliamentary aide, admitted to having “a flutter” on the date of the election after it was disclosed he was under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

It has since been reported that another candidate, Laura Saunders, and her husband, Tory director of campaigning Tony Lee, were also facing a Gambling Commission investigation, while a member of Mr Sunak’s close protection team has been arrested and removed from operational duties over similar allegations.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which said, at this stage, the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards should investigate.

Ms Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, said she “will be co-operating with the Gambling Commission” investigation, while Mr Lee took a leave of absence from his role with the party on Wednesday, just 15 days before the polls open.

Another challenging day for Rishi Sunak

04:50 , Alex Ross

Rishi Sunak faced further questions on Friday on gambling by Conservative candidates, as he sought to move on from the scandal, telling voters not to “sleepwalk to July 4”.

Speaking at the launch of the Tories’ Welsh manifesto, the Prime Minister acknowledged voters’ “frustrations”, but suggested the general election is too important to be used to send the party a message.

The questions he faced after his speech continued to focus on allegations that a string of people with links to the Conservative Party or Number 10 bet on the timing of the contest before he announced it.

Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on whether he is aware of other Conservative candidates or officials who placed bets on the date of the election, saying there are “multiple investigations” under way that are “independent” and “confidential”.

Labour responds to Tory plans to boost night-time economy

03:50 , Alex Ross

The Conservative party says it would look into ways to “crack down” on councils imposing “disproportionate conditions” and restrictions on licences as part of a bid to boost the UK night-time economy.

But Labour criticised the scale of ambition behind the announcement and said it was time to call “last orders” on the Conservatives.

A party spokesperson said: “After 14 years in power, Rishi Sunak’s offer to voters is ‘a review’.

“On the Tories’ watch, “night fever” is dead. Nightclubs, venues and music festivals have shut in their droves, and thousands of pub landlords have pulled their last pint.

“The Prime Minister simply has no answers to the problems facing the country.”

Tories also promise to strengthen planning enforcement

02:50 , Alex Ross

As well as announcing support fo the night-time economy, the Tory party has promised to strengthen enforcement of the “agent of change” principle in the planning system, whereby developers take responsibility for problems that might arise from building near a music venue, for example by soundproofing new properties.

The party said it would “work with” local government and the private sector to make licensing hours data openly accessible so that people can find venues that are open late in their area.

The offering will be touted by the Conservatives on Saturday as the Prime Minister attempts to move on from the row over allegations of gambling by Conservative candidates.

More on the Tory’s plan to boost night-time economy

01:50 , Alex Ross

On announcing the Tory party would provide greater support for the night-time economy, Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “The night-time economy is a vibrant sector that’s vital to our economy and our society as a whole.

“We’ve always supported our night-time economy, with business rates reliefs, economic support during the pandemic – but wherever Labour have been responsible for the sector, it’s suffered.

“We’ll continue to back our night-time economy – Labour would cripple it further with higher taxes and more burdensome regulation.”

Tory candidates should face consequences for backing Brexit - John Swinney

Saturday 22 June 2024 00:50 , Alex Ross

Scotland’s First Minister has said Conservative candidates should face the “consequences” of backing Brexit at the last election.

John Swinney has criticised Tories Andrew Bowie and Douglas Ross, who are standing to be elected to Westminster again on 4 July.

He said their actions of backing former prime minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit proposals at the 2019 vote was a “betrayal” to Scotland.

He was speaking ahead of a campaign visit to the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, at which the SNP will launch its rural manifesto.

He said: “During the last Westminster election, the Tories in rural Scotland shamefully sold Boris Johnson’s Brexit, making promise after promise, and every single one of them has now been broken.

Tories to focus on night-time economy ‘in first 100 days of government’

Friday 21 June 2024 23:50 , Alex Ross

Slashing red tape for Britain’s pubs, restaurants and music venues would be the focus of a review launched within the first 100 days of a Tory government, the party has said.

Ministers would look into ways to “crack down” on councils imposing “disproportionate conditions” and restrictions on licences as part of a bid to boost the UK night-time economy, the Conservatives say.

It comes as Rishi Sunak seeks to shift the focus of the campaign away from the betting scandal that has thrown his party into fresh turmoil in recent days.

The Tories used the announcement to attack Labour’s record on nightlife in London and Wales, as polls continue to put the opposition party on course for a historic victory on July 4.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “The night-time economy is a vibrant sector that’s vital to our economy and our society as a whole.”

The NHS

Friday 21 June 2024 22:50 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson asked Mr Farage about the French healthcare system, where patients face a 25-euro charge to see their GP and can get most or all of the cost reimbursed through their insurance.

“Well, it costs you nothing to go to the doctor, right, because you get it back.

“And the reason they do that – and by the way, British GPs have this problem – is people book appointments and don’t turn up, so actually, thinking about it, it makes sense.”

Farage on dropped Reform UK candidates

Friday 21 June 2024 21:50 , Alex Ross

When asked about the “really extreme and unpleasant views” expressed by some Reform UK candidates, Mr Farage said: “(We have) had an awful lot of candidates being stitched up in the most extraordinary way with quotes being taken out of context.”

North West Essex candidate Grant StClair-Armstrong resigned from the party after it emerged he previously called on voters online to elect the BNP.

Reform UK also dropped Hugo Miller, standing in Horsham, after he posted photos on social media of a van in Miami bearing a racial slur, which he described as “funny”.

Mr Farage claimed before he got involved “there was no national party structure”.

He said: “No, they’re not there because of me. No, no, no.”

The Reform UK leader, who served as the party’s honorary president between 2021 and June this year and has been listed as one of its directors on Companies House since 2019, added: “These candidates were recruited before I said I was going to play an active role in the party and frankly, they were so desperate for people to stand that people stood and then we employed a big vetting company that didn’t do the job.”

Johnny Mercer urged to apologise

Friday 21 June 2024 20:47 , Alex Ross

Away from tonight’s Panorama with Nigel Farage, Johnny Mercer has been urged to apologise for accusing his Labourgeneral election rival of lying about his military service and withdraw the “deeply disrespectful” remarks.

The veterans minister, who is standing for re-election in Plymouth, Moor View, has been widely condemned for suggesting former Royal Marine Fred Thomas lied about leading men into combat to boost his political career.

Mr Thomas has said he is unable to discuss large parts of his military service and cited a certificate of valediction signed by a Special Forces Support Group commanding officer.

Mercer urged to apologise for accusing Labour rival of lying about military service

Home Secretary slams Farage over Ukraine war claim

Friday 21 June 2024 20:10 , Alex Ross

During his interview with Nick Robinson, Nigel Farage claimed the West provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He said: “It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say ‘they’re coming for us again’ and to go to war.”

The comments have been met by outrage by Home Secretary James Cleverly.

Writing on X, he said: “Just Farage echoing Putin’s vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.”

Main points from Farage interview

Friday 21 June 2024 20:07 , Alex Ross

Mr Farage made the following points during the half-hour interview from Nick Robinson:

• Repeated his accusation that Rishi Sunak “doesn’t understand our culture”

• Claimed western governments “provoked” Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022

• “It makes sense” for patients to pay their GP and claim the money back afterwards

• Said Brexit was not a failure, but the Tories had failed to deliver promise in immigration

• Blamed vetting company for not doing its job on checking candidates

• Described himself as a “fighter” and “warrior”

‘“I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior’ - Farage

Friday 21 June 2024 19:31 , Alex Ross

“I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior, I’m a campaigner. I stand up against big institutions when they behave badly, whether they’re banks or out of touch bureaucracies based in Brussels, and very often, I win,” says Nigel Farage as he’s asked if he is the man to restor trust in British politics.

Nick Robinson then curtains the show. He next interviews Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay.

Vetting company didn’t do the job - Farage

Friday 21 June 2024 19:29 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson now asks Nigel Farage about some of the Reform UK candidates.

He starts by saying how a candidate that claims Africans have a low IQ rally to his cause.

“We’ve also had an awful lot of candidates being stitched up in the most extraordinary way with quotes being taken out of context,” Mr Farage replies.

He adds that a “big vetting company” didn’t do its job on checking candidates.

‘No, no, no, no, no’ - Farage

Friday 21 June 2024 19:26 , Alex Ross

Farage denies he said climate change was a hype.

He says the country spends “too much time hyperventilating’ over climate change, but says he is not arguing with the science.

He adds: Right, listen, we’ve deindustrialized.

“Our steelworks close, where do they go? India. The same steel gets produced in India under lower environmental standards and then shipped back to us. Globally by closing those steel plants, the amount of CO2 put into the air has gone up. All we’ve done is to export the emissions.”

‘I still don’t know where the money is coming from’ - Robinson

Friday 21 June 2024 19:24 , Alex Ross

Nigel Farage now being scrutinising over the figures in Reform UK’s manifesto.

Nick Robinson says they are “nonsense”.

Mr Farage says: “I’ll tell you what is nonsense, real nonsense, the Labour and Conservative net zero policies.”

He adds the the UK can save £30bn a year by abolishing the net zero commitment for 2050.

Who can come into this country?

Friday 21 June 2024 19:19 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson asks who is allowed to come into the country under Reform UK’s policy for net zero immigration.

“L et’s go through, paramedics, midwives, pharmacists, carers for the elderly, they can all come in,” he asks.

Mr Farage responds: “Of course they can come in.”

He goes on to talk about students coming in, claiming they have brought with them 125,000 dependants.

If you put me in charge it’d be very, very different - Farage

Friday 21 June 2024 19:16 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson and Nigel Farage talk over Brexit, and its impact on immigration and the economy.

Mr Robinson says his cab driver to the show told him: “You tell Nigel, I voted leave and I regret it, because people like me are no better off.”

“I’m afraid that is what the Conservatives have done with it,” Mr Farage responds.

He adds: “If you put me in charge it’d be very, very different, but of course they didn’t do that did they.”

‘On your tombstone is would say ‘the man who brought us Brexit’ – Robinson

Friday 21 June 2024 19:13 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson turns the conversation to Brexit, asking Mr Farage if it was a failure.

Mr Farage responds: “No, it’s not a failure, but we failed to deliver. It can’t be a failure, we’ve left the European Union, we’re now self-governing; the question is then, what do you do with it.”

West provoked invasion of Ukraine – Farage

Friday 21 June 2024 19:09 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson asks if the West provoked the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Nigel Farage says: “Yes, and very interestingly, once again, 10 years ago when I predicted this – by the way, I’m the only person in British politics that predicted what would happen, and of course everyone said I was a pariah for daring to suggest it.

“George Robertson, former Labour cabinet minister, who went on to become the Secretary General of NATO has in the last couple of weeks said the war is a direct result of the EU expansion.”

Admiration for Putin

Friday 21 June 2024 19:08 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson puts to Nigel Farage that he admired Vladimir Putin. Mr Farage responds by saying he admired the Russian leader as a political operator for managing to take control of the running of the country.

He adds that this was before the seizure of Crimea.

‘Voice of opposition to Labour’

Friday 21 June 2024 19:08 , Alex Ross

Nigel Farage says he, rather than a divided Conservative party will be the voice of opposition to a Labour government with a big majority.

He says: “Well, there isn’t a right of British politics, it’s gone, disappeared. I mean we’ve had 14 years of Conservative government, they may as well change their name to the SDP.

“It’s been high tax, big state, more control of our lives, damaging period for the 5 and a half million men and women running small businesses, they’ve not even been vaguely Conservative, low tax, free market.”

Tory wipeout

Friday 21 June 2024 19:04 , Alex Ross

Nick Robinson begins by congratulating Nigel Farage on playing his party in a projected wipeout for the Tory party according to latest polls, adding it could produce “the greatest Labour majority in history”.

Mr Farage swerves the question on if it gives him please.

Nick Robinson sets the scene

Friday 21 June 2024 19:04 , Alex Ross

We’re underway.

Like with all party leaders interviewed for the series, Nick Robinson tells Nigel Farage that he is asking questions on issues that people are telling the BBC are important to them.

“I just ask you to try and answer the questions, but to be clear you don’t know the questions before I put them to you,” he says.

West provoked Russia into Ukraine invasion

Friday 21 June 2024 19:03 , Alex Ross

Nigel Farage will claim the West “provoked” Russia into its deadly invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

The Reform UK leader will say the European Union’s expansion as well as Nato had provided Vladimir Putin with an “excuse”.

His incendiary comments will come in his interview with Nick Robinsom less than two weeks before voters go to the polls.

They are likely to prompt an angry backlash from politicians across the spectrum, who have supported Ukraine as it attempts to fight off the Russians.

West ‘provoked’ Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nigel Farage claims

Coming up: Nigel Farage faces BBC’s Nick Robinson in Panorama interview

Friday 21 June 2024 18:45 , Salma Ouaguira

The Reform UK leader is the next to be interviewed by Nick Robinson as part of the BBC special Panorama interview series.

The show is expected to start soon and we’ll bring you all the updates live.

Join The Independent WhatsApp Community for free

Friday 21 June 2024 18:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The Independent has launched a brand new WhatsApp Community, bringing you the latest news on the General Election as the campaign unfolds.

Never miss a big story as our dedicated politics team will keep you informed on the latest breaking news, exclusive features, gripping interviews and must-watch videos.

You can expect breaking news alerts, exclusive poll results and campaign updates, cutting-edge opinion from our commentators and Premium news analysis from our award-winning journalists.

To sign up to our free service all you need to do is click here.

For more details on how your data is used, our privacy policy, community guidelines and more, click here.

Windrush campaigners’ citizenship demand for new government

Friday 21 June 2024 18:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Campaigners are demanding citizenship to be granted for all families affected by the Home Office’s Windrush scandal within the first 100 days of the new government, our Race Correspondent Nadine White reports.

Ahead of Windrush Day celebrations on Saturday, a coalition of anti-racism charities and groups has unveiled a “Home Office scandal manifesto”, outlining key demands for new ministers after the 4 July general election.

The Manifesto for Windrush Justice is calling for the government to give British citizenship and waive passport fees for everyone affected by the Windrush scandal who arrived before 1 January 1973 and their children, as well as an amnesty for Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the UK for more than 30 years.

Campaigners say a significant backlog exists in the Windrush documentation scheme and that the government’s own estimates suggest more than 50,000 people may be eligible.

You can read The Independent full story here

What happened this week in the UK election campaign, from a betting controversy to Farage's ambition

Friday 21 June 2024 18:00 , Salma Ouaguira

What happened this week in the UK election campaign, from a betting controversy to Farage's ambition

Friday 21 June 2024 17:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Cleverly says Farage shouldn’t be allowed into the Tories

Friday 21 June 2024 17:35 , Salma Ouaguira

James Creverly claimed Nigel Farage shouldn’t be welcomed into the Conservatives as he would “destroy” the party.

The Cabinet minster told The Times: “Imagine someone said ‘I want to destroy Arsenal. I want to rip down the Emirates. I want to destroy everything that you stand for. Oh, and what are your thoughts on me playing for Arsenal?’ Well no.”

The Home Secretary added: “Why don’t you ask me if I would embrace George Galloway into the party? He’s not a member of my party. He doesn’t share my party’s interests and he’s been very explicit that he wants to destroy my party.”

“Let’s take it away from politics. We are all watching football at the moment. I’m an Arsenal fan. Imagine someone said, ‘I want to destroy Arsenal as a football club. I want to rip down the Emirates. I want to destroy everything that you stand for. Oh, and by the way, what are your thoughts on me playing for Arsenal?’ Well no.”

Friday 21 June 2024 17:30 , Salma Ouaguira

What are the rules and law behind the Tory party election-betting scandal?

Friday 21 June 2024 17:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Rishi Sunak’s election campaign was dealt another blow on Thursday after it emerged that a second Conservative Party candidate was being investigated over a bet on the date of the general election.

Using confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence.

Section 42 of the Gambling Act. gamblers are not allowed to use inside information to place a bet or to instruct someone else to do so on their behalf.

The offence can carry a prison sentence of up to two years.

Nigel Farage has been condemned for saying Andrew Tate praise

Friday 21 June 2024 17:15 , Alex Ross

Nigel Farage has been condemned for saying Andrew Tate is an “important voice for men”.

The Reform UK leader claimed the online influencer had raised awareness of “men becoming feminine” and stood up for their ability to “be a bloke”.

Tate has been facing charges since December 2022 of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, all of which he denies.

Farage condemned for saying influencer Andrew Tate is ‘important voice for men’

Terror attack survivors urge politicians to make pledges for victims

Friday 21 June 2024 17:10 , Salma Ouaguira

Terror attack survivors urge politicians to make clear pledges for victims

Reeves being advised by Gordon Brown and George Osborne

Friday 21 June 2024 17:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Rachel Reeves has revealed she is receiving advice form former Labour leader Gordon Brown and George Osborne on becoming chancellor.

The shadow chancellor said she is also “very good friends” with Alastair Darling and his wife.

She told Times Radio: “But look, it’s always useful to seek advice and talk to people that have done a similar thing.

“There aren’t many people who have held the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer. I was very good friends with Alastair Darling, who died last year, the last Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I spent a lot of time talking to Alistair and also his wife Maggie about what the role entailed and I was very lucky to have that friendship with them.

“Gordon and George have also both given me advice, and that is useful.”

She added: “One thing that [Mr Osborne] and other people have said to me is that actually, when you go in from opposition, especially when you’ve done the job in opposition for quite a while, you go in with a very clear idea of what you want to achieve.

“And Gordon Brown, George Osborne and myself have all had, doesn’t feel like a luxury, I must say, at times, but have had that time in opposition to think very clearly and deeply about what we wanted to achieve as chancellor.”

Reform receives 2.5 times more money than Tories and Labour gets 75% of all donations

Friday 21 June 2024 16:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The latest data from the Electoral Commission has been published and it is not looking good for Rishi Sunak.

According to official figures, Nigel Farage scooped £742,000 in donations compared to only £292,000 of the Conservatives.

A large amount of the money donated to Reform came from one donor, party chairman Richard Tice, who gave £500,000. The party has seen a rise donors during the second week of the election campaign.

Labour is leading the list with over £4.3m of the £5.8m total donations.

This is how the numbers compare to the first week of the campaign:

VOICES John Rentoul: Who’d have thought ‘stuntman’ Ed Davey could be the next leader of the opposition?

Friday 21 June 2024 16:30 , Salma Ouaguira

Who’d have thought ‘stuntman’ Ed Davey could be the next leader of the opposition?

Cleverly: It would be ‘daft’ to ignore the polls

Friday 21 June 2024 16:20 , Salma Ouaguira

James Cleverly has admitted it would be “daft” to “completely ignore” the polls, which indicate a landslide majority for Labour.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Cleverly said: “We’d be daft to look at the opinion polls and just completely ignore them. But I talk to people on the doorstep and there is no affection for Labour at all.

“There’s frustration in parts with us. We’ve had a good record, but it’s been tough headwinds. I don’t think Labour have sealed the deal.”

“Am I going to stop campaigning and just spend the rest of the campaign watching the football? What am I supposed to do, other than continuing to do what I was going to do anyway, which is taking the Conservative message to voters, highlighting the deficiencies in the Labour position? We have agency.”

Rishi Sunak repeated ‘incredibly angry’ line but refused to say candidates will be suspended

Friday 21 June 2024 16:10 , Salma Ouaguira

Rish repeated the line that he is “incredibly angry” about the Tory election betting scandal.

But the prime minister said there is “not much more I can add to what I said previously”

He told an audience in Wales: “There are multiple investigations that are currently happening. It’s right that those investigations are allowed to proceed. they are independent, they are necessarily confidential, as you will appreciate.

“There’s also a criminal investigation and these are potentially criminal matters. and the police are conducting those you’ll be aware of that and because of that, I hope you can appreciate there’s not much more I can add what I can tell you is, as I said, If anyone is found to have broken the rules, they should not only face the full consequences of the law when I will ensure that they are booted out of the conservative party too.”

VAT on private school fees will not come in until 2025, Reeves says

Friday 21 June 2024 15:55 , Salma Ouaguira

Labour’s VAT on private school fees would not come in until 2025, Rachel Reeves says

Lib Dems receive £335,000 in the second week of the campaign

Friday 21 June 2024 15:50 , Jabed Ahmed

The Liberal Democrats have received £335,000 in the second week of the campaign, taking their total for the election to £789,999 in donations.

This included another £150,000 from businessman Safwan Adam and a £100,000 bequest from John Faulkner, a long-standing party member who left the party £1 million in his will in 2023.

Reform UK raise £742,000 in the second week of campaign

Friday 21 June 2024 15:49 , Jabed Ahmed

Reform UK have raised £742,000 in the second week of the campaign, largely thanks to a £500,000 donation from Britain Means Business Ltd, a company controlled by party chairman Richard Tice.

The party also received £50,000 from former pop star and Neighbours actor Holly Valance, who hosted a fundraising event for former US president Donald Trump in London two weeks after his conviction for falsifying business records.

It had been reported that Reform had received £1.5 million since Nigel Farage declared he would stand as a candidate in Clacton.

But the figures released on Friday show the party had raised £882,000 in major donations during the first two weeks of the campaign – only just below the figure received by the Conservatives.

Tories raised less than £1 million in first two weeks of campaign

Friday 21 June 2024 15:45 , Jabed Ahmed

The Conservatives raised less than £300,000 in the second week of the election as the party’s campaign continued to falter.

Figures from the Electoral Commission released on Friday show the party raised just £292,500 between June 6 and 12, taking its total donations for the campaign to £889,000.

That figure is significantly below the £8.7 million the Tories raised in the first two weeks of the 2019 campaign.

In contrast, Labour raised £4.4 million in the second week of the election thanks in part to a £2.5 million donation from former supermarket boss Lord David Sainsbury.

Lib Dems urge Sunak to take ‘tougher action’ over probed Tories

Friday 21 June 2024 15:45 , Salma Ouaguira

The Lib Dem leader has said that Rishi Sunak should be taking “tougher action” on Tory candidates probed over election date betting claims.

Sir Ed Davey said: “Too often in this parliament we have seen members of the Conservative party looking like they’re in it for themselves, not for public service and what’s in the best interests of the country.”

Tories ‘held in contempt by the electorate’ as pressure mounts on Rishi Sunak over betting scandal

Friday 21 June 2024 15:40 , Jabed Ahmed

The Conservatives have been warned they are “held in contempt” by voters as Rishi Sunak failed to deny cabinet ministers were among senior Tories to place bets on the date of the election.

As pressure mounts on the prime minister over the Downing Street betting scandal, Dominic Grieve, the former Tory attorney general, said the party was getting what “they deserve” after years of chaos.

Paul Scully, a former Tory minister, described it as a “punishment election” for the party, that the outcry over gambling allegations would exacerbate.

Read the full article:

Tories ‘held in contempt’ by voters as pressure mounts over betting scandal

‘Total lack of leadership’ - Starmer on Sunak

Friday 21 June 2024 21:08 , Alex Ross

Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of a “total lack of leadership” over his decision not to suspend two candidates caught up in a betting row.

He said: “Of course he should suspend these candidates. If they were my candidates, they’d be gone by now, out of the door. He needs to take tough action. He’s not even saying today whether there are more involved.”

Craig Williams, the Tory party’s candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, admitted to having a bet on the date of the election.

Another candidate, Laura Saunders for Bristol North West, it’s been reported is also facing a Gambling Commission investigation.