Election latest: Pub registered as political party; Farage to launch Reform manifesto in Wales (2024)

Covering a general election campaign as a journalist can largely be summed up in two words - battle bus.

Not too dissimilar to the coaches that rockstars use for their tours, battle buses are the vehicles each political party uses to transport their leaders, candidates, and advisers around the country during the election campaign.

Sky's political correspondents have each been following a different party - often joining them on the buses.

Here we take you behind the scenes on the campaign trail this week for the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats.

Sir Keir Starmer has urged England to "make it a summer to remember" ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, while Rishi Sunak told the squad "we're all behind you".

Thousands of Three Lions fans have descended on Gelsenkirchen, in western Germany, as they hope to witness Gareth Southgate's men's team make a winning start in Group C.

Sir Keir said: "There is no feeling like the build up to the first England game of an international tournament: the pubs filling up, the flags waving, the nerves and excitement building.

"As fans up and down the country get ready for kick off, I want to wish Gareth and the team all the best on behalf of the Labour Party.

"We will be with you for every twist, turn and VAR decision. England is behind you. Make it a summer to remember."

Sir Keir is expected to watch Sunday evening's game in a pub with friends.

Prime Minister Mr Sunak tweeted: "Come on England! We're all behind you. Make us proud."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted an image doctored to show him with his arm around Southgate on X with the caption: "Good luck tonight @England!"

The sister of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox says intimidation of politicians is "completely unacceptable".

Asked about Nigel Farage being attacked with a milkshake and Rosie Duffield avoiding hustings over fears, Kim Leadbeater tells Ali Fortescue: "I think Jo, along with myself and many others, would find some of that behaviour totally and utterly unacceptable.

"Wherever you are on the political spectrum, whatever your views are, there's no excuse for that abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour."

Ms Cox would have stood "firmly against that sort of behaviour", she says.

Politics should be about bringing people together and finding common ground as well as debating the issues, she adds.

Next speaking on the Politics Hub is Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox, on the eighth anniversary of her death.

Ms Leadbeater, who is standing for Labour, says the election campaign has not been "too bad" but there has been "inappropriate behaviour".

"I'm also quite sad that we've had people who have very openly said they are not standing in this general election because of the threats and the intimidation and the abuse that people in public life face."

Reform's clear objective is "to destroy the Conservative Party" regardless of the implications, says former tory cabinet minister Sir Liam Fox.

"Nigel Farage is not a friend of the Conservative Part, Reform is not an ally of the Conservative Party".

Asked about Conservative voters turning to Reform, he says: "I can understand their frustrations, but they have to understand that the price for what they think is a protest vote would be a Labour government that would do the very things, for example in the referendum, that they voted against. It is completely illogical."

Conservative politician Sir Liam Fox is first to face questions asked bypolitical correspondentAli Fortescueon the Politics Hub.

Asked whether he thinks his party has a good record on the NHS, he says: "Yes I do. We have been in charge of the NHS for longer than any other party since its inception."

He says it will "take time" for the effects of the pandemic and strikes to "settle down".

Analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank suggested both Labour and Tory pledges on the NHS would leave the health service with lower annual funding increases – at 1.1% and 0.9% respectively – than during the austerity era.

The Politics Hub is now underway, hosted by political correspondentAli Fortescue.

Coming up this evening:

• Sir Liam Fox, former Conservative cabinet minister
• Kim Leadbeater, Labour candidate and sister of Jo Cox

And joining Sky News on the panel is:

• John McTernan, former advisor to Tony Blair
• Mercy Muroki, former adviser to Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

Nigel Farage will unveil Reform UK's manifesto in Wales tomorrow.

Speaking ahead of the launch, he took the opportunity to attack Labour, saying Wales demonstrated "what happens to a country when Labour is in charge".

"Meanwhile, the Tories have been the official opposition almost solidly since 2016 and have achieved zilch," he said.

Reform's policies will be set out by Mr Farage in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, at 1pm.

The party is fighting the election on immigration, with policies already announced including an "employer immigration tax" on companies who choose to employ overseas workers instead of British citizens.

Reform UK has vowed to freeze lawful immigration with the exception of healthcare and leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

It has promised there would be no tax on earnings under £20,000 a year and that it would abolish the government's net-zero targets.

A 47-year-old pub manager has registered his establishment as a political party.

The Mitre will appear on thousands of ballot papers in Richmond Park in an advertising arranged by Chris French.

The publican, who is standing as an MP, doesn't have a manifesto, but he says would like 5% of the vote to get his £500 deposit back.

"About 12 months ago, I stumbled across that if I actually registered to run in the election, I would actually get the free advertising on 77,000 ballot papers."

He continued: "I'll be voting for myself so at least then I definitely get one vote.

"Now whether Gillian, my partner, votes for me, I'm not too sure. If I only get one vote, it might be quite a frosty evening."

Asked what political pledges he could make, Mr French suggested closing down all other pubs in Richmond or hiking their beer duty to 50p while cutting The Mitre's to 1p.

If elected, he would celebrate with an alcohol-free shandy, he added, as he stopped drinking alcohol three years ago.

And asked whether he was encouraging people to vote for him, he said: "I'd rather them come down and start spending some money in the pub than vote for me to be honest."

The full list of candidates running in Richmond Park are:

• Laura Coryton, Labour
• Sara Gezdari, Conservative
• Chris French, The Mitre
• Richard Harrison, Social Democratic Party
• Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrats
• Chas Warlow, Green Party
• Michael Hearn, Reform UK

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hubwill be live on Sky News from 7pm with ourpolitical correspondentAli Fortescuehosting this evening.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Joining Ali tonight:

• Sir Liam Fox, former Conservative cabinet minister
• Kim Leadbeater, Labour candidate and sister of Jo Cox

And on the panel are:

• John McTernan, former advisor to Tony Blair
• Mercy Muroki, former adviser to Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.