No slack for Sunak, no drama for Starmer
Welcome to the daily ITV News digest direct from the campaign trail. Each afternoon we'll bring you analysis and insight from across the nation as the General Election 2024 gathers pace.
Evening, everyone. Robert Peston, ITV News’ Political Editor here. I’ve never known quite so much jeopardy around a leaders’ debate as there will be for Rishi Sunak in tonight’s ITV face-off against Keir Starmer (more details on how to watch below).
The reason is that he called an election that most of his candidates did not expect or want to fight till the autumn. And since he fired the starting gun, very little has gone right for him.
This means that his candidates and supporters will cut him no slack tonight.
As for Starmer, his imperative is different, namely not to appear smug or triumphalist.
I believe he will painstakingly and methodically build the case against Sunak and the Conservative Party - which will be remorseless if rarely entertaining. Read more on my thoughts here.
And don’t forget, you can watch our daily take from the campaign on our Talking Politics podcast live from 4pm on ITVX, with me, ITV News at Ten Presenter Tom Bradby and Anushka Asthana, deputy political editor. Or catch up on demand on ITVX or where you listen to your podcasts.
Thanks for reading and enjoy some of the best content brought to you by the rest of the ITV News team below.
How to watch the ITV Leaders’ Debate and what happens after
The hour-long ITV debate, moderated by News at Ten presenter Julie Etchingham, will be on air tonight from 9pm. It will take place live in front of a studio audience.
The head-to-head debate will be followed at 10.10pm by The ITV Election Interviews. Party leaders of the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Reform UK and the Green Party have been invited to take part in this live programme featuring extended interviews.
The debate and interviews will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX and STV and STV Player.
Julie says: “This is the ultimate stress test of politics.”
ITV has also announced a second, multi-party General Election debate, which will feature leaders or representatives from seven political parties.
The ITV Election Debate 2024 will be broadcast on Thursday, June 13 at 8.30pm, on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Leaders or senior representatives from the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform UK, Green Party and Plaid Cymru will take part.
Sir Ed Davey: A rare glimpse behind the theatre of campaign stunts
We're only a week into the election campaign and Sir Ed Davey is already becoming something of a social media sensation, writes ITV News Correspondent Rachel Younger.
His determination to get the Liberal Democrats noticed has seen him falling off paddle boards on Lake Windermere, freewheeling down a hill in Wales and plummeting along a 95-metre waterslide in Somerset.
In a frank conversation, recorded as part of The Leader Interviews on ITV's Tonight programme, to be shown at 8.30pm on Thursday June 6, Sir Ed revealed just how at odds his clowning is with the reality of his usual daily routine caring for his disabled 16-year-old son.
You can read more of Rachel’s interview with him on our website and you can watch part of his Tonight interview on ITVX.
His pitch to voters today was on the subject of free personal care for people either at home or in care homes
Farage left shaken, Tories eye immigration and Labour talk Putin
Nigel Farage’s pitch for votes in Clacton-on-Sea got off to a shaky start after the Reform UK leader was drenched by a milkshake.
He had earlier pledged to be a "bloody nuisance" in parliament as he launched his latest bid to be an MP in the Essex seaside town.
Our Political Correspondent Harry Horton was there with him.
Meanwhile, the Tories unveiled proposals for an annual cap on worker and family visas in their efforts to ensure immigration figures fall year on year in a future parliament.
Home secretary James Cleverly was quizzed on Good Morning Britain about the plan.
Sir Keir Starmer met pensioners in the North West of England on Tuesday to discuss the cost of energy and talk about Labour’s plans for GB Energy.
He promised to “close the door” on Vladimir Putin with homegrown energy, and reducing Britain’s reliance on fossil fuel from overseas.
You can get the latest from today’s campaigning on ITVX.
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‘No one wants to fight for Clacton…’
Voters in Clacton have given a mixed reaction to Nigel Farage’s decision to stand as the Reform UK candidate for the Essex constituency at the General Election.
The party’s founder announced on Monday that he would be contesting the Essex seat and was taking over from Richard Tice as party leader.
But people in the town centre had varying views on Mr Farage's candidacy and what it might do for the area, when questioned by ITV News Anglia. (You can see who else is standing in Clacton here).
So why did Mr Farage change his mind and plump for the Essex constituency? ITV News Anglia’s Political Correspondent Emma Hutchinson offers her insight here.
Conservatives to lose all but one Welsh seat - ITV Wales poll
The Conservatives look set to lose all but one seat in the upcoming General Election, according to an exclusive ITV Cymru Wales poll.
The latest seat projections reveal Labour are heading for a landslide victory, with Plaid Cymru on track to win two, perhaps three, seats in July.
Whether the Liberal Democrats will end their absence on the Westminster stage in Wales remains too close to call.
Those are the results of ITV Cymru Wales and Cardiff University's latest opinion poll as we enter the second full week of the General Election campaign.
For the full story, head to the ITV Wales website.
What’s coming up…
Tuesday June 4: ITV hosts the first head-to-head leaders’ debate, featuring Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer - from 9pm tonight.
Friday June 7: Deadline for confirming constituency candidates.
Thursday June 13: ITV hosts the ‘Election Debate’, featuring leaders or senior figures from most parties - from 8.30pm.
Monday June 18: Midnight deadline for registering to vote.
Tuesday June 19: Deadline for new postal vote applicants or amending existing absent voting arrangements.
And finally … the election has been called, are you registered to vote?
Now that the prime minister has set a date, the countdown begins in what will be the first UK General Election where all voters will have to show a valid form of photo ID before casting a ballot.
How do you register to vote, when is the deadline and what sort of ID do you need to have? ITV News explains all.