Manifesto week
- Bulletin:What you need to know this afternoon
- Greens launch manifesto - see the key pledges
- Sunak not the only one who went without Sky TV…
- Gurpreet Narwan:Greens could have a big role to play
- Check parties' manifesto pledges:Conservatives|Greens|Lib Dems
- Live reporting by Ben Bloch
Battle For No 10 - Sky leaders' event
- Watch and follow live on Sky News from 7pm - with build-up all day
- Sunak and Starmer to be grilled by Beth Rigby and Grimsby voters
- PM and Labour leader visit venue
- Sunak 'pumped' for live event|How will it work?
- What to watch out for|How leaders prepare for debates
- Politics At Jack And Sam's:The Day… Of the biggest clash yet
Election essentials
- Campaign Heritage:Memorable moments from elections gone by
- Trackers:Who's leading polls?|Is PM keeping promises?
- Follow Sky's politics podcasts:Electoral Dysfunction|Politics At Jack And Sam's
- Read more:Who is standing down?|Key seats to watch|How to register to vote|What counts as voter ID?|Check if your constituency is changing|Your essential guide to election lingo|Sky's election night plans
What you need to know from the campaign trail ahead of Sky leaders' event
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have been out and about this morning before spending time preparing for the Sky News leaders'event in Grimsby from 7pm.
Manifesto week has also continued in earnest, with the Green Party unveiling theirs.
Here is what you need to know this lunchtime:
- The Green Partyhas published its manifesto, pledging to raise taxes on the "super rich" in order to fund massive investment in the NHS, social care, housing, education, and the green transition;
- Co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer acknowledged they will not be forming the next government, but argued the public should elect Greensto "push a Labour government to "stop backtracking on their promises" and drive them to be "braver" and "not take timid baby steps towards change";
- They dodged questions about a potential antisemitism problem within the party, noting they are standing more candidates at this election than the Tories, and four were removed before nominations closed;
- They also mocked the PM's statement that he went without Sky TV as a child.
- Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a pledge to fix one million potholes every year if Labour is elected;
- His shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told Sky News fixing the roads will help bring down insurance premiums, which have "risen far faster in this country than it has in our European counterparts";
- She also defendedSir Keir's controversial assertionthe Tories have published a Corbyn-style manifesto (given that he backed the former leader's plans), saying Labour has learned from that era, but the Tories have not learned from Truss.
(Below: Starmer speaks to Sky News about preparing for tonight's leaders' event)
- Rishi Sunakhas travelled to Grimsby ahead of tonight's Sky News leaders' special;
- He visited a school in the area, and will now be preparing to face a grilling from our political editor Beth Rigby, and the voting public in our audience;
- The PM told our political correspondent Darren McCaffreyhe is "pumped" for it;
- But he suffered a blow this morning as new official figures showed that the economy flatlined in April, with no growth recorded, despite his insistence the economy has "turned a corner".
- Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has done a water obstacle course to promote his plan for a "Clean Water Authority" to crack down on water companies and sewage dumping;
- SNP leader John Swinney has been out and about speaking to voters about his"cast iron guarantee" that only his party will "protect Scotland's values" after "14 years of cuts" from Westminster;
- And a 28-year-old man has been chargedafter objects were thrown at Reform UKleaderNigel Farage yesterday.
That's all your lunchtime bulletin, but stick with us as we build up to The Battle for Number 10- live on Sky News from 7pm.
The Battle For Number 10 leaders special event will take place tonight from 7pm-10pm on Sky News - free wherever you get your news.
Freeview channel 233, Sky 501, Virgin 603, BT 313 and streaming on the Sky News website, app and across social channels. It is also available to watch on Sky Showcase.
SNP wants to focus campaign on Brexit 'damage' and 'prolonged austerity'
The SNP intends to focus its election campaign on highlighting Brexit "damage" and "prolonged austerity" under the Conservative government, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has told Sky News.
He argued those "real issues" would be "sustained" should Labour win the election, with Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak "avoiding them".
The SNP leader has been out and about speaking to voters today about his"cast iron guarantee" that only his party will "protect Scotland's values" after "14 years of cuts" from Westminster.
Our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies asked him what he would like to hear from Mr Sunak and Sir Keir at the Sky News leaders' special event in Grimsby this evening.
He claimed the SNP "should be there" as the third-largest party in Westminster.
"We should be represented on that panel, in that discussion, because we've got lots to say in this election," he said.
The Sky News programme, starting at 7pm, is the second live TV grilling of the two rivals for 10 Downing Street - Mr Sunak and Sir Keir - during this election campaign, following a one-hour debate on ITV.
They will face 20 minutes of question Sky's award-winning political editor Beth Rigby and 25 minutes of questions from audience members.
Analysis: The Greens won't get into power - but could have a big role to play
The Green Partyis not going to form the next government, but it does have big ambitions.
Explaining his goals for this election, co-leader Adrian Ramsay said he plans for the party to be in parliament "in greater numbers" to "push Labour to stop backtracking" and "be braver".
As the local elections proved, the party has now become a refuge for disaffected voters on both sides.
Left-wing voters are drawn to positions like a Middle East ceasefire and bold climate targets, while those in the Tory shires like the focus on nature and frustration at local developments.
With their manifesto today, the party attempted to straddle these different positions.
Along with calls for a ban on the sale of arms to Israel, a plan to build 150,000 new social homes a year, and a £40bn a year green transition plan came promises on new cycleways, footpaths, bus services, and ending the sewage scandal.
The question of funding is where things get fuzzy - there are huge multibillion-pound commitments, and the Institute of Fiscal Studies reckons taxes could rise by £170bn a year.
The Greens want those with the broadest shoulders to pay, but its policies would increase national insurance on anyone earning over £50,000 a year - that's one in five taxpayers.
Still, the Greens had just one MP before this election campaign and are targeting four after 4 July.
Polling at around 7% suggests they could get two - Caroline Lucas' old Brighton Pavilion seat and Bristol Central, home to Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire
They may not be in government to implement their policies, but the Greens could be on course for their best ever election result and both the major parties are watching closely.
Sunak and Starmer visit venue for Sky News leaders' event
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have arrived in Grimsby ahead of this evening's Sky News leaders' event.
A little earlier, the pair individually visited the set of the Battle For Number 10programme, airing live across Sky News from 7pm.
They were greeted by the Sky News managing director and executive editor, Jonathan Levy.
We will reveal the set in the next couple of hours as well, so stay tuned to the Politics Hub - and to Sky News for build-up throughout the day.
As Sunak and Starmer prepare for Battle For No 10, polls point to mistrust in both leaders
By Nick Martin, people and politics correspondent
Voters in the former red wall seats that turned Tory in the last election say they are unsure about who should be the next prime minister, a Sky News poll reveals.
Both leaders are taking part in theSky News Battle For Number 10 event tonight.
Ahead of that, we asked voters in 11 key seats about trust in politics, the big issues they are concerned about and who they like most.
The results show a deep mistrust in both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.
Most voters said they trusted Sir Keir more when it comes to the economy and the NHS.
But on immigration, nearly half of people we asked (46%) said they did not have faith in either party to address the issue.
The poll was conducted between 3 and 7 June and surveyed 1,028 adults in Yorkshire and the Humber and East Midlands.
It gives an insight into how the views of voters might have changed since the last election.
When asked who would be the best prime minister between Sir Keir and Mr Sunak, 34% thought the former, with 21% opting for Mr Sunak.
But perhaps more revealing, 44% were unsure about who they thought should have the keys to Downing Street.
PM arrives in Grimsby for Sky event
Rishi Sunak has made it to Grimsby for tonight's Sky News leaders' event, where the prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will face a grilling from a live audience and our political editor Beth Rigby.
The PM made the journey on the Tory battle bus, from where he told journalists how "pumped" he was for the programme.
"I'm always pumped," he said.
"I'm fuelled by an enormous amount of sugar."
He also revealed he'd been passing time while travelling on the campaign trail with online games (no, not Fortnite).
"Connections is really fun - my kids got me on to it," he said.
Wordle and Solitaire are his other favourites, apparently.
Lib Dem leader makes another splash on campaign trail
As Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are hard at working preparing for their grilling at the Sky News leaders' event in Grimsby this evening, Sir Ed Davey is making a splash elsewhere.
The Lib Dem leader has been on an obstacle course above water in order to highlight his party's plans to crack down on water companies.
He told Sky's Matthew Thompsontheir plan for a new "Clean Water Authority" is "really substantial", saying: "Our precious, wonderful environment is being destroyed by the sewage.
"It's affecting public health. It's affecting tourism and businesses."
He argued that the powers to crack down on water companies are split between too many agencies, such as Ofwat and the Environment Agency.
"The regulators have been failing, and the Conservatives have failed appallingly.
"Liberal Democrats have been raising this for over three years now, making the case for a stronger regulator for a sewage tax on the profits of the water companies for many other changes.
"And Tory MPs has refused to take action. So that's why we've made it an issue this election."
Manifesto checker: What are the Greens' key pledges?
The Green Party have released their election manifesto - and we've scoured their policy pledges, so you don't have to.
Scroll to the right in the interactive tool below to find out what the party has promised to do if they win the election.
We will produce a breakdown of all the other parties' manifestos here when they are announced - you can find the ones we've done so far in the key points above.
Starmer 'really looking forward' to Sky leaders' event - and Sunak is 'pumped'
From 7pm tonight, the two men vying to be the next prime minister will face a grilling from our political editor Beth Rigbyand take questions from voters in Grimsby live on Sky News.
We asked both leaders how they are feeling ahead of The Battle For Number 10, and Sir Keir said he is "really looking forward" to it, adding: "It is important to prepare."
"I have been interviewed by Beth Rigby many, many times, and I know how important preparation is when you’re interviewed by Beth Rigby."
He added that he is "really looking forward" to taking questions from our live audience of voters.
Rishi Sunak is on his campaign bus heading towards Lincolnshire, and Sky News political correspondent Darren McCaffreyasked him how he is feeling.
The PM replied that he is "pumped", and looking forward to it.
Follow live build up to the Sky News leaders' event throughout the day, and watch the special programme live on Sky News from 7pm.
The Battle For Number 10 leaders special event will take place tonight from 7pm-10pm on Sky News - free wherever you get your news.
Freeview channel 233, Sky 501, Virgin 603, BT 313 and streaming on the Sky News website, app and across social channels. It is also available to watch on Sky Showcase.
Sunak 'absolutely not' given up on winning election
The prime minister has been speaking to reporters on the Tory campaign bus today, and he was asked about his chances of winning the election given a series of damaging gaffes.
But Rishi Sunak insisted he has "absolutely not" given up hope of emerging victorious, in spite of the vast poll deficit that is not moving.
He went on: "What you saw yesterday is we've put a manifesto forward which has got a very clear set of tax cuts for the country, tax cuts at every stage of your life."
He insisted he is "really energised to now have a chance to put a very clear plan to the country and talk about all the things I want to do".
