UK general election latest: Boris Johnson boosts Tory spirits ahead of Rishi Sunak’s final day on the campaign trail – but PM loyalist concedes Keir Starmer is likely to score biggest ever majority when polls open
One of Rishi Sunak’s most loyal Tory colleagues has today conceded Sir Keir Starmer is likely to score the biggest majority in a general election when the polls open.
Mel Stride declared Labour was heading for a landslide victory less than 24 hours before voting opens across the country.
The damning forecast comes just hours after former prime minister Boris Johnson lifted Conservative spirits by addressing a rally in London in a dramatic 11th hour intervention in the campaign.
Follow live coverage from the final day on the campaign and join in the conversation in our comments section
Keir Starmer speaking in Wales
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is speaking at a campaign event in South Wales.
We will bring you the best lines from his speech.
Pat McFadden – I’ve had boiled eggs last longer than Tory unity
Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden, again a familiar voice on the morning interview round, is batting for Sir Keir Starmer on the last day of campaigning.
Let’s recap what he has had to say:
Mr McFadden has criticised the ‘show of unity’ displayed by the Conservatives at a campaign rally in London last night, insisting he’s had ‘boiled eggs’ that have lasted longer than Tories being on the same page.
Asked if he would ‘fear’ going up against Mr Johnson as a campaigner or prime minister more than Sunak, he said Mr Johnson had destroyed his credibility through partygate and destruction of standards in public life.
Challenged over tax, he was and asked if the party would rule out any changes to inheritance tax, including any changes to the threshold at which it comes in.
Asked what changes Labour could introduced if there is no economic growth, Mr McFadden said he would not admit defeat over plans to grow the economy.
Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine writes politics, as Kemi Badenoch once said, is not about achieving the perfect solution, it’s about taking the least bad option and making it work.
Read her latest piece, only available to Mail Plus subscribers, here:
Lib Dems insist Ed Davey has shone spotlight on ‘serious issues’
Lib Dems’ education spokeswoman Munira Wilson has insisted party leader Sir Ed Davey has struck a balance between ‘serious issues’ and making sure he has a better time than party leaders.
Asked on LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast if Sir Ed’s ‘boogie boarding to bungee jumping’ campaign has worked, Ms Wilson said:
Well, we’re all talking about it and we are talking about the issues.
I think he’s really taken himself not very seriously to shine a spotlight on serious issues.
I think he’s got a balance between really serious issues that people are worried about and also, frankly, making sure that he has a somewhat better time than some of the other party leaders – but also not taking himself too seriously, which I think politicians too often do.
The Lib Dem leader has spent six weeks carrying out a series of election stunts which have included falling off a paddleboard, conducting interviews on a waterslide and bungee jumping.
Mel Stride – Labour heading for extraordinary landslide
Rishi Sunak’s arch loyalist Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has toured the broadcast studios again this morning making it the umpteenth time he has batted for the Conservatives in the morning interviews.
Here’s the main points from his interviews earlier this morning with LBC, Sky News, GB News and BBC Radio 4.
Mr Stride warned Labour is heading for an ‘extraordinary landslide’ never before seen in this country and told voters they would ‘regret’ a situation in which Sir Keir Starmer is handed ‘untrammelled’ power.
He said there will be plenty of time for ‘post-mortems’ of the Conservatives’ performance after polling day, as well as the party’s future direction.
He insisted ‘many’ public services in the UK have improved after 14 years of Tory rule which had seen readers become the ‘best readers’ in the Western world with fewer pensioners living in poverty.
Work and Pensions Secretary said he was most proud of having ‘supported pensioners’ during his time in government.
Final day of the election campaign: Where will the leaders be?
So this it, in less than 24 hours the polls will open as six weeks of campaigning draws to a close.
But there’s plenty happening today with Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer on the road for the last time before the country votes.
The Prime Minister is expected to appear on the This Morning sofa before he heads to Hampshire this afternoon. Mr Sunak will also speak at a campaign event in the evening in his home county.
The Labour leader will give a speech in Wales this morning before heading to Scotland in the afternoon and then the West Midlands this evening.
Lib Dem’s chief will visit Chippenham this morning before also heading to Hampshire this afternoon and later Hertfordshire.
Reform UK leader will spend the afternoon campaigning in Clacton where he is standing in the election in his eighth attempt to enter Parliament.
Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader will visit Cumbernauld this morning before heading to Glasgow in the afternoon and will end the day with a speech in Leith this evening.
Plaid Cymru’s leader will join the party’s candidate for the Caerfyrddin seat, Ann Davies, for a campaigning event in Ammanford, Carmarthen, this morning.
Green co-leader will campaign in Bristol Central where she hopes to beat Labour in the election.
Watch: Boris Johnson wades into election campaign
Watch Boris Johnson make his surprise return to the campaign frontline as he spoke on stage at a Conservative rally in London.
During his speech, he attacked Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage and urged undecided voters to support Rishi Sunak at the polls.
There’s no better place to start than the dramatic return of Boris Johnson who appeared at a Conservative campaign rally last night.
MailOnline’s Eirian Prosser and The Daily Mail’s Political Editor Jason Groves report Mr Johnson was unleashed as the Tory party’s secret weapon last night, answering the Prime Minister’s calls as he warned undecided voters a Labour landslide would be ‘pregnant with horrors’.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as we embark on the final day of campaigning for the 2024 general election.
Britain will head to the polls in less than 24 hours as voters decide the next Parliament tasked with taking the country forward.
Last night, Rishi Sunak received a welcome boost when Boris Johnson addressed a Conservative rally in London, marking his first major return to the political frontline since his premiership.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will whizz across the nation on campaign stops in Scotland, Wales and the West Midlands where no doubt he will urge against complacency ahead expectations he is heading for a huge majority.
Follow our live coverage throughout the day as we bring you the latest news, reaction and pictures as the campaign enters its final hours.
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UK general election latest: Boris Johnson boosts Tory spirits ahead of Rishi Sunak’s final day on the campaign trail – but PM loyalist concedes Keir Starmer is likely to score biggest ever majority when polls open
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