General election latest: Farage to make ‘emergency’ announcement as Starmer says he would use nuclear weapons
The honorary president of Reform UK will give a press conference in London at 4pm
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Nigel Farage has announced he will be making an emergency general election announcement today, sparking speculation that he could be standing for Parliament.
The honorary president of Reform UK posted the message on X this morning saying: “I will be making an emergency general election announcement at 4pm today.”
Sources have told The Independent that the former UKIP leader will declare he is going to stand for parliament in Clacton, in Essex.
Mr Farage has until Friday to submit his name as a candidate to stand for MP.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer said the nuclear deterrent is “fundamental” and “a vital part of our defence” during a speech on national security in Greater Manchester.
While the Labour leader noted caution on pressing the nuclear button, he ultimately said, “we have to be prepared to use it.”
Meanwhile, the Tories have pledged to change the Equality Act to define the protected characteristic of sex as “biological sex”.
The minister for women and equalities Kemi Badenoch said the change is about “protecting those who are vulnerable”.
Keir Starmer pledges to slash ‘sky-high’ migration numbers under a Labour government
How are Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak preparing for election TV debates?
Tories to amend Equality Act to make ‘biological sex’ protected characteristic- Sunak and Starmer to go head-to-head in final election debate on BBC days before general election
Nigel Farage expected to declare he is running for parliament
Nigel Farage is making an “emergency” announcement about the general election, with speculation mounting that the former UKIP leader will launch his latest bid to become an MP.
Sources have told The Independent that the honorary president of Reform UK will declare he is going to stand for parliament in Clacton, in Essex.
The seat is seen as a soft target with the pro-Remain former actor Giles Watling defending the seat for the Tories.
Nigel Farage expected to declare he is running for parliament
Nigel Farage is expected to confirm that he is set to run in Clacton, a Tory held seat in Essex, in an emergency statement at 4pm
Reform UK hints today ‘big day’ for Essex
Reform UK has sent supporters in Essex an email today about a mysterious announcement today, GB News reports.
Essex’s Reform UK organisers wrote that today was “potentially a very big day for the county”.
The Clacton constituency voted twice for Farage in 2014 and 2015.
Defence secretary Grant Shapps responds to Labour’s defence pledge
Grant Shapps has reacted to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech where he pledged to prioritise national security and push the nuclear button “if needed”.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Shapps says: “How can anyone trust [Keir] Starmer on defence when he tried to make [Jeremy] Corbyn prime minister twice?”
Starmer: ‘Sunak made money betting against country in financial crisis’
During press questions, the Labour leader has taken aim at the prime minister’s previous job before politics.
Sir Keir Starmer is asked why Labour has waited so long to scrutinise the PM’s record in his past career in finance.
He replied: “We have raised this before. I think it is relevant at this election for the voters to know what did the two candidates for prime minister do before they came into politics.
“I was working for the Crown Prosecution Service … trying to protect those who live in the United Kingdom from crime - Rishi Sunak was making money betting against the country in the financial crisis.
“I think that’s for him to answer as to what he was doing before he came into politics.”
Tory MP criticises the party’s jump into the culture wars
The Conservatives have announced they would amend the Equality Act if elected to change the definition of gender.
Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer sets out Labour stance on national security
Starmer defends handling of barred candidate Faiza Shaheen
Sir Keir Starmer is asked whether he is carrying out a battle against the left of his party and whether he is comfortable with the way Faiza Shaheen has been treated.
The Labour leader repeats that his party has “changed”, and “part of it is about making sure I’ve got the best possible candidates to put before the country”.
He then reminds the audience of to the veterans standing behind him who will be candidates for Labour.
“That is evidence of a changed Labour Party,” he says.
He adds: “So I make no apologies for the fact that I wanted the best possible candidates to go into this election. This is a changed Labour party. The Labour party back in the service of working people. The Labour party that puts defence of the realm and national security is our number one issue.”
Nigel Farage to make emergency general election announcement
Starmer vows to repel the Northern Ireland legacy bill
Sir Keir Starmer is asked whether he is still committed to repeal Northern Ireland legacy bill.
Under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill new cases from the Troubles would be stopped from starting and offers a conditional amnesty to people accused of killings.
But the bill was controversial because those who criticise it said it will remove access to justice for victims of those affected by the Troubles.
He replies: “It is not the right way to resolve this admittedly complicated issue.”
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