Election latest: Martin Lewis attacks Tories over 'private' talks with Labour - as PM takes aim at David Tennant (2024)

Those looking to drive to polling stations can park for free this general election.

JustPark are offering drivers 30 minutes of free parking near polling stations on 4 July.

They will need to pre-book online or via the JustPark app, however.

"We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to vote, but know that on the day it isn't always that straightforward," Mary Corrie, managing director of Just Park UK, said.

"By offering free parking on election day, we hope to make it easier for all voters, especially those with mobility issues or who are short on time, to find a place to park near their polling station.

"This is the second time we have offered this service, following its great success in the 2019 election, and we are confident it will help to get people to the polls once again."

Manifesto launches are still under way, and the latest to launch their proposals are the Alba Party, headed by Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond.

The ex-SNP leader pitched his party as the "natural home" of independence supporters, and hit out at the UK government for havingvetoed the "democratic wishes of Scots" since the 2014 referendum (which the independence campaign lost).

He told gathered supporters and activists: "TheAlbaParty believe that every single national election should be used to seek a mandate to begin negotiations for Independence.

"That means the election itself should provide the popular mandate for independence."

He went on to say "Scotland stands at a pivotal moment in its history", and that despite winning "two mandates at Holyrood and three Westminster elections, all with an independence majority", there has been "little or no action taken" towards it.

"We have the opportunity at this election to make our votes count for independence," he added.

Here are some of the key parts of the launch:

• Pledged to mobilise supporters of Scottish independence;
• Fight to save theGrangemouth refinery from closure;
• Increase staffing in the NHS;
• Protect women's rights;
• Provide an annual £500 payment to households receiving a council tax reduction;
• Increasing the Scottish Child Payment from £26.70 to £40 per week.
  

We spoke a short while ago with the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and we asked him about prisons, which will be a key issue facing the winner of the general election.

It comes on the day Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports more than 500 Scottish inmates, serving short term sentences, are set to be released early to tackle overcrowding - an issue across the UK.

Sir Keir told Sky News a Labour government is "not going to be able to deal with this on day one".

"I'll be completely straight with you on that. I can't build a prison in the first week of a Labour government," he said.

"But it is a really shocking state of affairs that we don't have enough prison places for people who should be in prison. It's a catastrophic failure within criminal justice."

He said Labour will "build the necessary prisons".

Pushed on whether they will scrap early release, Sir Keir replied: "We will have to deal with the problem as it is, and I can't promise that we can change that on day one, because I can't build a prison on day one of a Labour government.

"What I can do is take the tough decisions to make sure that we never get into this position ever again. We should not be here."

The Conservative Party has come under fire from Martin Lewis over a tweet using a clip of him speaking about a conversation with a "senior member of the Labour Party".

In the 22-second video, the "money-saving expert" and consumer champion was saying he had discussed an unnamed policy with them.

He said the senior Labour member - who he did not name - told him the policy is something they want to implement, but is not in the manifesto because they cannot commit to it.

It is apparently their "aim" to do it in the next parliament.

But the Conservatives wrote in their tweet it shows Labour will put up taxes, writing: "Labour have said they wouldn't put up your taxes. But it's now becoming clear that they have every intention to put them up."

Hitting back at the Tory party, Mr Lewis wrote: "NOWHERE in this comment do I talk about taxes.

"And the policy that I discussed (I will keep private as it was private) was NOT about taxes, or tax rises, it was about something that would be a positive change."

The Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.

A new poll from Ipsos has shown Labour is maintaining its lead going into the final week of the general election campaign.

The Tories are continuing to slump, falling four points to 19%, leaving Labour with a 23-point lead.

Meanwhile, Reform UK is continuing to surge, recording its highest ever score with the pollster.

Here are the full results:

• Labour: 42% (-1)
• Conservatives: 19% (-4)
• Reform UK: 15% (+6)
• Lib Dems: 11% (+3)
• Greens: 7% (-2)
  

The poll is of1,402 adults, conducted by phone from 21 to 24 June. The changes are from their poll conducted between 31 May and 4 June.

More than one in three say they may change their mind before the election (36%) - and that was at 27% at this stage before the 2019 election.

21% of those who might change their mind are considering Labour, 19% the Lib Dems and 14% the Greens, 7% are considering the Conservatives and 7% Reform UK.

64% of voters say they are voting for the party that best represents their views, while 19% are voting tactically, the pollster said.

In bad news for Rishi Sunak,83% are dissatisfied with the way the government is running the country - which is the worst scorefor a government in Ipsos' records at this stage of a campaign going back to 1979.

71% do not think the Conservatives deserve to be re-elected - an increase of four points since early June - while only 16% think they do (-4).

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are preparing to debate head-to-head for the second and final time of this general election campaign.

The BBC's Mishal Husain - who also chaired a seven-way leaders' debate earlier this month - will referee the contest that will last 75 minutes, starting at 8.15pm this evening.

It will be in front of a live audience, that has been chosen by pollster Savanta, rather than the BBC.

It will include Conservative and Labour supporters, in addition to undecided voters.

Which side of the stage the two men will stand on will be decided by a coin toss - as will the order in which they deliver their closing speeches to the nation.

It is likely to be one of the biggest live audiences of the campaign, allowing the two men to potentially reach millions of voters.

The debate will run straight through the full 75 minutes, without any breaks.

In an article for the BBC, Husain said she will be "nudging the two men back to what was in the question, clarifying points, and yes, probably having to call a halt from time to time".

She said she wants "spontaneity and energy" from tonight's contest: "A proper debate, really, rather than speech-making."

We will have live coverage of the debate here in the Politics Hub, and when the debate ends at 9.30pm, we will have live analysis and reaction here and across Sky News - do join us.

Sir Ed Davey has admitted placing a bet on the 2010 general election.

Speaking to journalists on the campaign trail, he revealed he'd put money on the number of seats his party would win at that contest - but lost.

The Lib Dems ended up in coalition with the Tories, and Sir Ed was a minister during the subsequent five years.

Sir Ed also said he can't be sure whether any of his party's candidates have placed a bet on this year's poll.

Speaking to broadcasters this morning, he said: "I can't speak for every single Liberal Democrat candidate across the country, of course I can't.

"I really hope they would have behaved in the proper way."

Sir Ed said he has not personally placed any bets "on this election".

Was the Gambling Commission to make him aware of any problems with his party's candidates, he "would follow the recommendations".

'We can't allow this to happen again'

Sir Ed said he was "shocked" by the scandal engulfing the Tories in particular.

He drew a distinction with his 2010 bet, noting how those involved this time might have benefited from inside knowledge.

"The idea that people who had privileged access in Number 10 and may well have known the date of the general election, placing a bet when they knew the outcome, that is wrong," he said.

The Lib Dems are calling for a review of gambling laws, adding: "We can't allow something like this to ever happen again."

If you don't have any photo ID, today is the deadline to apply for an ID certificate you can use at the general election.

This is called a Voter Authority Certificate - and you have until 5pm to apply online.

That's also the deadline to apply for someone to vote on your behalf if you can't make it to the ballot box on 4 July - known as a proxy vote.

Tap here if you need to do that.

Remind me... what are these certificates all about?

This is the first time people voting at a UK general election will need to provide photo ID.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - including passports, driving licences, and other travel passes.

You can find a full list below:

But if you don't have one, get a Voter Authority Certificate.

To apply online here, you must have already registered to vote.

You also need a recent photo and your National Insurance number, or some other way of proving your identity - like a bank statement.

Remember, you have until 5pm. Don't forget!