Farage to take part in TV debate
Nigel Farage will participate in the BBC’s televised debate this week involving seven prominent political parties.
The Reform party leader will appear instead of his predecessor Richard Tice — who he replaced in Monday — in an exchange hosted by Mishal Husain on BBC 1 at 7:30pm on Friday.
The seven parties taking part are the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and Reform UK.
Monday recap: Farage’s U-turn
Monday’s big surprise was arch-Brexiter Nigel Farage’s announcement that he would take over as leader of Reform UK and stand for the seat of Clacton — having vowed a fortnight ago that he would not run. Meanwhile, a YouGov forecast put Labour on track for a 194-seat majority on July 4. Elsewhere, a boat full of Liberal Democrats on the Thames photobombed the prime minister’s meeting with rowers in Henley.
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The BBC said Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer would hold a second head-to-head debate on June 26 in Nottingham, hosted by Sophie Raworth. Their first debate will be aired by ITV on Tuesday night.
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Trade secretary and women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch blamed doctors’ strikes for denting the Conservatives’ efforts to bring down NHS waiting lists.
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Starmer doubled down on his commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent, describing it as “absolute” while pledging to raise national defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product “as soon as possible”.
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The Labour leader also took aim at Sunak’s previous career in the City of London, accusing him of “betting against the country” when he worked for a hedge fund.
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The Liberal Democrats photobombed the prime minister on the campaign trail as he spoke to rowers at Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames.
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Nigel Farage caught other parties off-guard by announcing that he was taking over as leader of Reform UK and would stand in the election for the constituency of Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. He had previously said he would not run, as the earlier than expected election had not allowed him enough time to prepare. Farage said he would lead Reform for five years.
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A YouGov MRP poll indicated Labour could be on track to sweep to a 194-seat majority on July 4 while the Tories would come away with lowest number of seats since 1906.