Election news
- Starmer launches 'battle bus' - and makes Johnson fridge gag
- Sunak pledges £20m to 30 towns across UK
- New poll suggests Tories will lose all but 66 seats
- Watch: Teen asks Sunak 'why do you hate young people?'
- Be in the audience for our election leaders event
- Live reporting by Faith Ridler
Expert analysis
- Beth Rigby:Starmer made an unforced error
- Paul Kelso:How do Labour and Tory energy pledges measure up?
Election essentials
- Trackers:Who's leading polls?|Is PM keeping promises?
- Campaign Heritage:Memorable moments from elections gone by
- 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
'There's only one poll that matters'
Next, Rishi Sunak is asked about a new poll which suggests Labour could have a 303-seat majority after the July general election.
He says the only poll that matters is "the one on 4 July - the general election".
"We're just over a week into this and what is clear is that we're the only ones that have a plan that is working when it comes to the economy," Mr Sunak adds.
"We're the only ones who are putting ideas on the table."
The prime minister reiterates that the Conservatives can deliver a better future - in "direct contrast" with the Labour Party.
PM urges Hamas to accept ceasefire deal
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden.
He said: "It's very welcome news and I hope Hamas take this opportunity to take this deal that is on the table, that would ensure hostages can be released and be back with their families.
"That we can flood Gaza with far more aid than has been getting in.
"And then use that pause in the fighting to build a sustainable and lasting peace."
You can read more about the situation in the Middle East in our blog here:
Reform UK may be winning the first TikTok election
If this is the first TikTok election, you might be surprised at who's winning.
On the youngest, buzziest social media platform, Reform UK - whose vote tends somewhat towards the elderly - has the most followers, 125,500, just ahead of Labour on 108,500.
But others are catching up fast - and how they're using it reveals a lot about a key digital battleground in this election, one of the few arenas where money doesn't buy you influence.
Because this is new territory. "It's worth noting that the three major parties are really new to the game," says Kate Dommett, professor of digital politics at the University of Sheffield.
No major party had much of a TikTok presence before the election was called. Now they're racing to build them on the fly.
Read more from our online campaign correspondent Tom Cheshire:
PM unveils 'battle bus' in north east
Rishi Sunak is in the North East of England, where he is launching the Conservative Party campaign bus - just hours after the Labour Party did the same.
He says it is "only the Conservatives" that deliver "economic stability", pointing to lower inflation and a bounce back from COVID.
"The choice is who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future," Mr Sunak says, adding the "only certainly" with Labour is they will "run out of money".
He says this is as clear as "night follows day".
The prime minister says the Tories are the party taking "bold action" on the likes of immigration, with the Rwanda plan.
"In every way Labour would make our country less safe, and less secure," he says.
Continuing his attacks on Labour, he says it is "clear" Angela Rayner is the true leader of the party.
He then turns back to what his party offers, saying that "uncertain times call for bold action".
Mr Sunak says he wants to build "a Britain where your hard work, everyone's hard work is rewarded, where the opportunities that were there for the previous generation are there for the next".
Former Tory MP to stand as independent and calls Sunak 'disastrous campaigner'
Former Tory MP Julian Knight has announced he will stand as an independent in the general election.
The MP for Solihull was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party in December 2022 after it emerged he was being investigated by police over a claim of serious sexual assault.
Mr Knight has always maintained his innocence and on 2 April 2023, the Metropolitan Police dropped the investigation without questioning him.
But he remained suspended from the Tory parliamentary party as the chief whip, who organises the MPs, said "further complaints" had been made against him - allegations he rejects.
You can read more from Sky News below:
Be in the audience for our general election leaders event
On 12 June, Sky News will host an election leaders' event in Grimsby - a key marginal seat and one of our Target Towns this election year.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative leader Rishi Sunak have been invited to attend, and we are looking for a live audience to join us on the night.
If you would like to be part of this studio audience, and be given the opportunity to ask a question to one of the party leaders, please complete the short questionnaire in this link.
Davey spending the weekend 'being a dad'
You may have been wondering where the Liberal Democrat leader is today, as the Conservatives and Labour launch their "battle buses" in quick succession.
He's just confirmed exactly what he's up to: "Being a dad."
British ambassador to Mexico sacked after 'pointing gun at staff'
The British ambassador to Mexico has been removed from the post after a video emerged online of him apparently pointing an assault rifle at an embassy employee.
The video, shared on X, shows Jon Benjamin pointing the firearm at a person whose face has been blurred out.
"In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke," reads a post accompanying the clip.
On Friday, the Financial Times reported the ambassador had been removed from his post after the incident, which reportedly happened during an official trip to the states of Durango and Sinaloa in April.
Both states have a high presence of drug cartels.
You can read more from Sky News below:
Daily Podcast: Beth Rigby interviews Labour's Angela Rayner
Labour'sAngela Rayner speaks to our political editorBeth Rigbyin an extended interview for the Daily podcast.
The party’s deputy leader says that she believes Diane Abbott should be able to stand as an MP - and she denied leader Sir Keir Starmer was acting "in a factional way".
On the first official day of campaigning, she also spoke about the investigations into her living arrangements - and revealed the details of her campaign battle bus.
'I dealt with this yesterday': Starmer refuses to comment on Abbott row
We've just been hearing from Sir Keir Starmer, who stopped to speak to reporters at the Labour Party "battle bus" launch in Uxbridge.
He was asked about the row around Diane Abbott, and his decision to confirm she is not barred from standing for the party - after first saying he wouldn't give a view.
"I dealt with that issue yesterday," Sir Keir says, before changing the subject.
"Today is about taking our argument to the country and getting people back to work.
"There are millions of people who aren't in work, who are on benefits, who desperately want the dignity and respect of being back to work."
Pressed again on the situation around Ms Abbott, Sir Keir says: "I dealt with this yesterday."
He was then asked more widely about an unease from black voters to back Labour after the Diane Abbott row.
He dodges the question, pointing again to change.
