Election latest: Leaders make final plea to voters as general election campaign enters final 24 hours (2024)

Away from the election campaign, and former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is facing further sex offence charges, bringing the total to 18.

The Northern Ireland politician has been charged with seven more offences after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) reviewed the police evidence, as is the normal practice.

When he appeared in court in April, the ex-MP was accused of 11 sex offences.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, was facing four charges including aiding and abetting him and will now face five.

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

The couple were released on bail after appearing at Newry Magistrates Court in Co Down on 24 April.

You can read more from our political reporter Alix Culbertson below:

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika is back with Beth and Ruth for the last few days of the election campaign.

On this episode they discuss how Beth is preparing for election night– what constituencies to look out for and they give a listener advice on election snacks.

They also discuss the final days of campaigning and why theTories are attacking Keir Starmer for suggesting he willfinish work at 6pm on aFridaynight if he becomes Prime Minister.

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Email Beth, Ruth, and Ayesha at electoraldysfunction@sky.uk, post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.

Finally, after six long weeks, the final 24 hours of campaigning is upon us. Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will be dashing around the country as they make their final pitch to voters.

The prime minister, who may well be out of that job in less than 48 hours, will be sticking to Tory territory in Hampshire and the South East.

The man who is looking almost certain to replace him - Sir Keir - will be touring the three nations of the UK where he is fielding candidates, as he begins the journey to Number 10 via Wales, Scotland and England.

In the Labour camp, they are still intent on turning out the vote and assuming nothing.

One insider suggests to me there are still, as polling day arrives, 60-70 seats which are a "toss up and could go either way".

But there is a quiet admission too that, after four election defeats on the bounce, Labour's time has finally come.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

With just 24 hours to go, the Tories and Labour have taken a drop, while support for Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats is on the rise.

Read more about the trackerhere.

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 Britons.

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.

An average of all polls with fieldwork completed during the seven days to 2 July puts Labour on 40%, 19 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21%, followed by Reform on 16%, the Lib Dems on 11% and the Greens on 6%.

But, appearing to have conceded a Labour victory, Mr Sunak has continued to warn against allowing Sir Keir to win what the Americans call a "supermajority".

Mr Sunak has not explained what he regards as a "supermajority" - but, for the purposes of example, it is not clear what difference a majority of 150 would make over one of 50, as both would give Labour a mandate and clear parliamentary authority to carry out their agenda.

Other soundbites you can expect from the PM today: a vote for the Liberal Democrats would help to secure a Labour victory; Reform UK is only likely to win a handful of seats; Labour will impose £2,094 in tax rises for the average household.

The last of these is disputed - the Tories have been criticised for their methodology, not least because the figure is actually stretched out over the entire next parliament, not a single year.

Labour described it as "desperate nonsense".

A spokesman said: "The only way voters can avoid the risk of five more years of Tory government, is by voting for change with Labour."

Good morning!

Today will be a busy day of campaign visits as politicians make a final attempt to secure your vote before polls open tomorrow morning.

Here's what you need to know:

• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be in the South East today, as he makes a last-ditch plea to voters not to back an "unchecked" Labour majority;

• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will also be busy on the campaign trail, scrambling to visit three nations of the UK;

• Labour remain 19 points ahead in the Sky News poll of polls on the eve of the general election, but Sir Keir has continuously stressed the party must fight "for every vote";

• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will call on the public to vote for a party that will "build a caring nation", after the Lib Dems "brought care out of the shadows";

• And - away from the general election campaign - a hearing will today take place as part of proceedings against former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who is charged with a number of historical sexual offences;

• Donaldson resigned as leader and was suspended from the party when charges were announced on 29 March. He denies all allegations.
  

We'll be discussing all this and more with:

• Labour's Pat McFadden at 8.15am;
  
• Munira Wilson for the Liberal Democrats at 9.20am;
• And we once again welcome Mel Stride - who has been one of the most offered up Tory voices in the media round this campaign. Catch him at 7.15am.

Follow along for the very latest in the general election campaign.

Thank you for joining us on the Politics Hub for the second-to-last day of the general election campaign.

It ended with something of a bang, with Boris Johnson making a surprise appearance on the campaign trail with just one full day left until polls open.

Join us again tomorrow from 6am for live coverage of the last full day of this general election campaign.

We've had some reaction from the Liberal Democrats to Boris Johnson's surprise appearance at a campaign event alongside Boris Johnson.

Referencing Partygate, the scandal that led to the demise of his premiership, the party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "This is an insult to everyone who made heartbreaking sacrifices during the pandemic.

"Rishi Sunak has reached a desperate new low, turning to a man who discredited the office of prime minister and lied to the country time after time.

"It is time to boot out this tired and sleaze-ridden Conservative Party."

Our deputy political editor Sam Coatesdescribes Boris Johnson's campaign appearance with Rishi Sunak as "a surprise and a gamble".

He says: "Rishi Sunak has pulled the emergency ripcord with one full day of campaigning left to go in this election, and summoned Boris Johnson - his predecessor but one - to front a rally here in central London, just as so many different candidates face disaster in this election."

Sam describes the move as "extraordinary", noting that Mr Sunak helped oust Mr Johnson two years ago.

"Now he is relying on him for an election campaign boost at the 11th hour."

Sam says the crowd "cheered" Mr Johnson and "loved to see him".

But Sam also notes: "He talked about himself, he talked about his 2019 election victory, he talked about his record in government".

The ex-PM also rolled out some of the Tory campaign's attack lines on Labour, but Sam adds: "What he didn't say was just as important.

"He did not lavish praise on his successor, Rishi Sunak, and he did not shake his hand after his appearance."

Rishi Sunak is on his feet at a campaign event in London as the general election campaign enters its final hours.

He thanks Boris Johnson for his support, and says it is "shameful" to suggest Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better a prime minister.

"Boris was right to say now is the time for all Conservatives to come together to deny Labour that super majority that Keir Starmer craves," he adds.

"We have 48 hours to save Britain from the danger of a Labour government."

He says the Conservatives need to "fight for every vote" and he knows that the election result is not a "foregone conclusion".

"Every single vote matters... we have got to give it one more push," he adds.

He urges people to "get out" and support a number of Tory candidates.

Addressing the Conservatives' record, his says the party has rescued the UK from "Labour's bankruptcy" under David Cameron's leadership, and has delivered the third-fastest growth in the G7.

He also notes the introduction of the pension triple lock, support for Ukraine, the COVID vaccine rollout, and Brexit.

But, he acknowledges that people are "hesitant" to support the party.

"I am not blind to their frustrations with me, with our party. It has been a very difficult few years for our country," he says.

"We haven't got everything right, we haven't made as much progress in every area as we would have liked, but I would say to everybody that this Thursday is not a by-election.

"It is a choice about the future of our country, and that choice has severe consequences for your family if you get it wrong."

He takes aim at Labour's plans for the country, saying it will not tackle illegal immigration, will make the UK "more reliant on foreign energy" and will "raise everyone's taxes".

"You name it - they will tax it," he adds. "A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for lower taxes."

He says there will be tax cuts under a Conservative government, which sparks cheers from the crowd.

"We want Rishi," one person can be heard shouting.

Mr Sunak concludes by saying he will work "day and night" to deliver for the country.

"Do not surrender to Labour. Let's get out there and fight for every vote," he says.