Key points
- Bulletin:What you need to know this evening
- Starmer defends plan for VAT on private schools
- Hugh Grant backs Greens co-leader in key contest
- PM won't say if he told aide election date before bet
- Minister hints at bid to run for Tory leadership after election
- Politics At Jack And Sam's:One week to go
- Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill and (earlier)Ben Bloch
Election essentials
- Manifesto pledges:Conservatives|Greens|Labour|Lib Dems|Plaid|Reform|SNP
- Trackers:Who's leading polls?|Is PM keeping promises?
- Campaign Heritage:Memorable moments from elections gone by
- Follow Sky's politics podcasts:Electoral Dysfunction|Politics At Jack And Sam's
- Read more:Who is standing down?|Key seats to watch|What counts as voter ID?|Check if your constituency is changing|Guide to election lingo|How to watch election on Sky News
With one week to go until the general election, there aren't too many teatime bulletins left to bring you!
Here's everything you need to know - and some of what's still to come:
- Sir Keir Starmer tells Sky News there is "no evidence" private schools will be forced to close due to Labour's plans to impose VAT on them;
- Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge,the Labour leader defended his party's education policy to use the money to support state schools;
- You can watch the full interview with the man who could be Britain's next prime minister onPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgefrom 7pm.
- Rishi Sunak has refused to say if he told one of his closest parliamentary aides the date of the election before he placed a bet on it;
- Craig Williams, who has now been suspended as the Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr,admittedhe "committed a serious error of judgment" but "not an offence";
- Meanwhile, theMetropolitan Policehave issued an update on their investigation into bets being placed on the date of the election - there are nowseven officers under investigation.
- Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker will launch a bid to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader after the election, it is understood;
- The Brexiteer is expected to attempt to replace Mr Sunak if the party is defeated next Thursday.
- Reform UKhas won the backing of Sir John Hall, a former Tory donor and Newcastle United owner;
- And the Greens have been endorsed by actor Hugh Grant, who is backing co-leader Carla Denyer to beat Labour in Bristol Central.
Stick with us through the evening for the latest news and analysis from the campaign trail.
And don't forget, Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live from 7pm.
A special guest joins our politics team...
Friday brings a new episode of Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast and this time we've got someone very much outside the Westminster bubble.
Joining our political editor Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson this week is none other than Rylan Clark.
👉Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts👈
Having expressed his admiration for Beth's epic stint reporting from outside Downing Street on the day Rishi Sunak called the election, how could he have possibly resisted the invitation.
It'll be published in all the usual places tomorrow morning - including here in the Politics Hub and on the Sky News website and app.
'No evidence' Labour's plans will force private schools to close, Starmer tells Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is "no evidence" private schools will be forced to close due to Labour's plans to impose VAT on them.
Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday, the Labour leader defended his party's education policy to use the money to support state schools.
"I think they will adapt," he said. "They've had lots of increases in costs over the last 14 years, and they've accommodated it.
"There's no evidence to show these schools will close. They don't have to pass the cost on to parents."
Addressing parents' concerns, he added: "It's a difficult choice. But they're businesses in the end, and they're very successful in the round.
"I want them to thrive. But we need to make this choice.
"If I want the teachers we need in our state secondary schools, I have to answer the question you'd put to me: how are you going to pay for that?"
Read more below:
You can watch the full interview on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm, and we'll also have more from Sir Keir here in the Politics Hub.
Badenoch: 'I will never shut up - no matter how many Doctor Whos tell me so'
Not content with taking on Labour, this week has also seen the Conservatives take up arms against David Tennant.
Rishi Sunak and Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Doctor Who star after he told the former to "shut up" over her views on sex and gender.
He made the comment while accepting an award for his support of the LGBT community.
Ms Badenoch described Tennant as a "rich, lefty, white male celebrity" who was "blinded by ideology" - and during a speech today doubled down against the actor.
Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference, she said she was "never going to shut up" about the "divisive agenda of diversity politics" - "no matter how many Doctor Whos tell me so".
Ms Badenoch is the business secretary and the equalities minister and has been touted as a potential future Tory leader.
Coming up on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge
Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.
The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.
Tonight, Sophy is joined by Labour's Sir Keir Starmer for the latest of her general election leaders interviews.
On Sophy's panel tonight are:
- Adam Boulton, Sky election commentator;
- Salma Shah, former Home Office adviser;
- Patrick Diamond, former head of policy planning under Tony Blair.
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.
Hugh Grant endorses Green Party co-leader
Actor Hugh Grant has endorsed Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer as a candidate for Bristol Central.
The star of Love Actually and Paddington 2 (an excuse to share one of the all-time great Sky News articles) described Ms Denyer as a "politician with integrity" in quotes which have been included in an election leaflet.
Grant said: "It's so refreshing to see a politician with integrity, who puts the public first. Bristol Central would be very lucky to have Carla Denyer as its MP."
Bristol Central is a key target seat for the Green Party in its bid to get four MPs in the Commons in the 4 July election.
The seat has been held by Labour's shadow culture and sport secretary Thangam Debbonaire - who is standing for re-election - since 2015.
During the 2019 election campaign Grant went door-knocking with the Lib Dem candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, Luciana Berger.
Other candidates running in Bristol Central besides Ms Denyer and Ms Debbonaire are:
- Samuel Williams, Conservatives;
- Nicholas Coombes, Lib Dems;
- Robert Clarke, Reform;
- Kellie-Jay Keen, Party of Women.
Northern Ireland minister to launch bid to replace Sunak as Tory leader - reports
Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker will launch a bid to become leader of the Conservatives should they lose the election on 4 July as expected, it is understood.
Mr Baker hinted at a bid to replace Rishi Sunak if he retains his Wycombe seat at the election.
He said: "One thing at a time. I want to represent the people of Wycombe the best that I can, as I always have done.
"Then let's see what happens."
It is understood that he will announce his intentions after polling day.
Speaking to HuffPost, Mr Baker cited his leadership experience through Brexit, COVID and net zero rebellions as reasons why he would be a suitable candidate.
"It's a fact my colleagues sent for me four times to provide leadership through crisis to success: before and after the referendum, in COVID and in relation to the cost of net zero," he said.
Politics At Jack And Sam's: One week to go
Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are in your podcast feeds with their guide to the election day ahead.
This is day 36 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss closing arguments, the morning after the final debate, junior doctor strikes, their impact and the Trump v Biden factor.
👉Tap here to follow Politics At Jack And Sam's wherever you get your podcasts👈
Sunak told things have got 'infinitely worse' since 2010 - as he defends taxes paid by millionaires
Rishi Sunak took questions from workers at a pottery plant in Derbyshire a short while ago - but they didn't exactly heap on the praise.
One worker told the PM that things had got "infinitely worse" since 2010 when the Tories took office, including soaring use of food banks which he labelled "not acceptable".
The PM replied: "I don't want anyone to have to use a food bank.
"But I'm also very grateful to all those people who volunteer for them, who support them, so that they are there for those who need."
He acknowledged there are "lots of frustrations that you, and others, will have about some things in the past".
But he argued the election is "about the future", and pitched the Conservatives as the party of financial security.
He was pushed on the matter of taxing "the millionaires and the billionaires" more, but replied: "Actually the proportion of tax paid by the richest people in income tax is higher today than it was in 2010 ... so that is already happening.
"And I want to keep cutting taxes for everyone who's working hard."
'I wasn't intending to cause offence': Starmer responds to backlash over Bangladesh remarks
Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak took part in an election event hosted by The Sun, which saw both take questions from the newspaper's readers.
One moment that has since caused a stir on social media was when the Labour leader appeared to single out people from Bangladesh when discussing illegal migrants not being deported quickly enough.
He has today sought to clarify that he values the "massive contribution" Bangladeshis have made to the UK - and the "longstanding and strong relationship" they have with the Labour Party.
Sir Keir said his first overseas trip as a Labour MP was to Bangladesh, and that many of his constituents are from the country.
"The reference in the debate the other day was an example of a country considered safe as far as asylum is concerned, and one of the countries that's actually got a returns agreement with us," he added.
"That is actually a good thing," said the Labour leader, adding: "I certainly wasn't intending to cause any concern or offence."
