Election latest: Starmer reveals biggest fear on final day of campaign - and it's not Boris Johnson's return (2024)

It's 12pm - time for your lunchtime general election update on the very final day of this fiery, six-week campaign.

Here's everything you need to know so far today:

• We're in the final 24 hours of the general election campaign, and both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will spend the day making their last-ditch pleas to voters;
• The prime minister will make the case for voting Conservative, and claim that Tory MPs will help to offer a counterbalance to what is expected to be a landslide majority for Labour;
• Poll after poll is now suggesting the Labour Party is expected to win a large majority in parliament, with the Sky News poll of polls putting Sir Keir 19 points ahead this morning;
• But the Labour leader tells Sky's Beth Rigby he still fears people not feeling the need to "go out and vote for change".

• Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, today said the Conservatives "know what the result is going to be if the polls are right - we know it's going to be a Labour landslide";
• But Mr Sunak has sought to downplay this since, saying Mr Stride "wasn't quite saying" that the goal for the Tories now is only avoiding a Labour "supermajority";
• And - if you wondered - the prime minister has revealed his favourite food is... a sandwich.

• Sir Keir has continued to insist that his party is not counting on a victory in tomorrow's election, despite Conservatives appearing to concede their own defeat;
  
• He also reiterated that Labour is "not in the slightest" worried about Boris Johnson's appearance at a Tory rally overnight;
• Meanwhile, in typical Liberal Democrat fashion, Sir Ed Davey has been tractor racing in Chippenham today - and there's more to come;
• And away from the general election, Ex-DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will face trial over allegations of historical sex offences.

This was a question posed to the Labour leader by our political editor Beth Rigby as he began the final stretch of the election campaign today.

He says: "My fear at the moment is that people will not feel the necessity to go out and vote for change.

"This is not a done deal, we need to fight all the way through to 10pm tomorrow night."

Sir Keir says the "prize" on Thursday is a "historic change in direction for our country, to take our country forward".

But, he adds: "This will only happen if you vote for it.

"I picked up the Labour Party in a pretty poor state four years' ago and set about the task of changing the Labour Party, putting it in the position where we are a day away from election as credible contenders for election."

He says now, Labour wants the opportunity to "take the country forward".

"I will always say country first, party second."

SNP leader John Swinney has insisted his party will win the most seats in Scotland despite polls suggesting a tight race with Labour.

Polling has varied considerably over the course of the campaign, but even those which suggest the SNP could remain the largest party north of the border predict they will do so while losing almost half their seats.

A Savanta survey for The Scotsman suggested Labour was on course for 22 Scottish MPs while the SNP would win 24 seats - down from 43.

Asked if he was resigned to the fact the party would lose seats, Mr Swinney said:"Very few people have cast their votes so far. Some people have done it by post. Many, many more will do it tomorrow on polling day, and we're going to win this election and that's what we're focused on."

He continued: "There's going to be a Labour government on Friday. If the people in Scotland want to be protected from Labour spending cuts, if they want to be assured that Scotland's interests will be protected, if they want a future made in Scotland for Scotland, they've got to vote for the Scottish National Party."

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are back with their guide to the election day ahead.

This is the day before polling day. Jack and Sam look atBoris Johnson's return to the Conservative campaign and how missing postal votes could affect certain seats.

They also talk about the final day of election campaigning for all the parties.

👉Tap here to follow Politics At Jack And Sam's wherever you get your podcasts👈

Email Jack and Sam:jackandsam@sky.uk

Ex-DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will face trial over allegations of historical sex offences.

Donaldson was charged with seven more offences on Tuesday, bringing the total to 18, after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) reviewed the police evidence, as is the normal practice.

He was originally charged with 11 sex offences in April.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, was facing four charges including aiding and abetting him but after Tuesday is facing face.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1985 and 2006 and involve two alleged victims.

Donaldson, who was Northern Ireland's longest-serving MP, resigned as DUP leader after he was charged on 28 March following a day of questioning.

He was suspended by his party and remained as an independent MP until the election was called in May. He is not standing to be re-elected as the Lagan Valley MP, where he served for 27 years.

In a letter to the party, the 61-year-old said he would be strenuously contesting the charges.

Over the course of the campaign, the leader of the Liberal Democrats has developed a reputation for headline-grabbing, and at times comical, stunts.

We've seen him paddle-boarding, bungee-jumping, Zumba dancing and teacup riding.

Now, breaths are being held in newsrooms across the country as to what denouement Sir Ed Davey has planned today, the last one before voting begins.

We're getting a taste this morning in the first of three campaign visits by Sir Ed.

On a field in Chippenham, he gives a double thumbs up to the cameras before getting inside a yellow JCB tractor, with the phrase "he who dares wins" emblazoned on its window.

Another pulls up alongside him - it appears a race is about to begin.

Sir Ed pulls away at, well, the speed of a tractor, but appears to be winning.

Several laps in the tractors follow, the details of which are pretty identical to the first.

Pulling to a stop and leaning out the door of the vehicle, he tells reporters: "We've talked about the blue wall in the home counties, we've talked about the blue wall in the west country. This is the blue wall across rural Britain, and the yellow tractor is coming for it."

He continues: "I'm really proud in this election campaign that, as well as having a bit of fun, we have brought the issue of caring out of the shadows.

"We have made the argument that if you look after family carers, if you look after professional carers, you can rescue our NHS as well.

"That's the message I want people to have as they go into the voting booths."

The fastest results, the sharpest analysis and an award-winning line up - as the general election unfolds, Sky News will bring you the full story, first.

Whether you want to settle down in front of the TV, stay in the know on the move, or keep updated from work, we'll have live coverage across our platforms to bring you everything as soon as it happens.

We'll have expert commentary and analysis to help you digest key developments, kicking off with the exit poll and running through the weekend.

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has continued to insist that his party is not counting on a victory in tomorrow's election, despite Conservatives appearing to concede their own defeat.

Asked if he believes Labour has already won, Sir Keir says: "No."

He explains that his party will continue to "fight for every vote", saying: "There will be constituencies which will go down to the wire and therefore, we will continue to fight until 10pm tomorrow night, making the case to change only happens if you vote for it.

"But it is a huge opportunity for our country."

Does Boris Johnson's appearance at a Tory rally last night concern him?

"Not in the slightest," Sir Keir says. "I've been arguing that the last 14 years have been about chaos and division.

"Last night they wheeled out the architect of chaos and division."

And, asked how he is feeling on the precipice of what could be a historic win, Sir Keir says: "Very pleased and confident."

He adds: "I want to now get on with the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and bring about the change which I think the country deserves and to return politics to the politics of public service, not entitlement."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is in South Wales this morning, for the start of his tour of England, Scotland and Wales on the very last day of campaigning.

He was joined by the leader of Welsh Labour - Vaughan Gething - who hails the prospect of "two Labour governments working together" to deliver for Britain.

He says: "It is time for change - it is time to win."

Sir Keir now takes to the floor, making his last minute pitch to those in Wales to vote Labour tomorrow.

He says: "We've now had 14 years of chaos, of divisions, of failure - and the choice tomorrow is to bring that to an end, to turn the page and start to rebuild with Labour."

Sir Keir goes on to criticise the Tory campaign, noting Rishi Sunak began by campaigning with Lord Cameron, "then he borrowed Liz Truss' programme and put it in his manifesto of unfunded tax cuts, and last night they wheeled out Boris Johnson".

He adds: "When I say chaos, division and failure - they've just exhibited that in this campaign. Nothing is going to change."

The Labour leader reiterates his line that people need convincing that "change is possible" - if you vote for the party.

"There's no point in voting. They're all the same. Nothing ever changes anyway."

In the run-up to general electionspast and present, you may have heard various iterations of the above from friends, family, colleagues, and strangers.

Repeated political scandals have seen the public's distrust of politicians and voter apathy increase. At the 2019 General Election, roughly a third (32.7%) of the country didn't vote.

At the link below, we look back at changes brought in by both Conservative and Labour governments that have fundamentally changed day-to-day life in the UK - many for the better.