General Election 2024: Parties stress key messages as polls approach
image source, Reuters/PA Media
- author, Paul Seddon
- stock, Political Correspondent
As the last day of the general election campaign prepares to enter full swing, party leaders are reinforcing their key messages to voters.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a Conservative party rally that he would « fight for every vote », adding that the outcome of Thursday's vote was not a « foregone conclusion ».
He appeared alongside Boris Johnson – the former prime minister's first appearance on the campaign trail – to repeat warnings about a Labor « majority ».
But he also sought to play down expectations of how quickly some things might change if Labor wins power, as all polls predict.
Johnson embarked on a campaign
The Conservatives, who started the campaign with a huge poll deficit, have been warning since mid-June that a landslide victory for Labor could give the party a « majority ».
It was a message Mr Sunak repeated at a party rally in London on Tuesday evening, saying a vote for the Tories was a « vote for lower taxes ».
But the event was notable for Mr Johnson's late intervention in the campaign.
« Of course when Rishi asked me to come and help, I couldn't say no, » he told party supporters.
He warned that a « massive Labor majority pregnant with terror » would see the party introduce « ever higher taxes » and « more vigilance » in schools.
He also urged Tory voters not to vote for Nigel Farage's Reform UK, saying it would « enjoy » a Labor government.
Mr Farage criticized the West for instigating Russia's invasion of Ukraine, urging activists: « Don't let the Putinistas deliver the Corbynistas ».
But Mr Sunak saw his campaign strategy destroyed by Suella Braverman, who sacked the Prime Minister's home secretary in 2023, and said the Tory vote was « evaporating from both left and right » and the race was « over ».
Ms Braverman, tipped as a future Tory leadership candidate, Wrote in telegram His party « bleed » votes for a reformed UK « because we failed to cut immigration or tax ».
He added that the reformist UK's rise in the polls at his party's expense was « predictable, avoidable and entirely our own fault », likening Tory ministers attacking Mr Farage to a « patient tormenting the doctor for an illness ».
« Millions of traditional Tory voters are not wrong. Door-to-door, lifelong Conservatives are angry at our party, » he wrote.
He also argued that his party was not in a strong position to criticize the reform.
She added that « cries of hurt and anger seem less powerful » when her party received money from donor Frank Hester, accused of saying earlier this year that Labour's Diane Abbott should « hate all black women ».
Mr Hester apologized for making « rude » comments about Ms Abbott, but said his comments had « nothing to do with her gender and the color of her skin ».
Elsewhere in the campaign:
- Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey took a surf lesson in Cornwall in his latest election stunt, touring target locations in south-west England where he said the Tories were « taking the electorate for granted ».
- SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney urged his party's supporters to turn out on Thursday, saying some races with Scottish Labor could be decided by « a few votes ».
- Reform UK candidate Georgie David has suspended her campaign and defected to the Conservative Party, adding that « most » of her fellow candidates in the party are « racist, misogynistic and bigoted ».
- Reform leader Nigel Farage rejected this but admitted his party had « teething problems » in selecting candidates because it was a « start up ».
Meanwhile, Sir Keir tried to avoid Tory attacks by saying in a radio interview that he would try not to work if he entered Downing Street after 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his family.
Mr Sunak took a swipe at the Labor leader's comments, telling reporters: « I don't finish at six o'clock. »
But Sir Keir said the attack was « laughably pathetic » and said he would try to protect the time « as much as I can », although he admitted it was « really difficult » to do so as prime minister.
Sir Keir also told the BBC that the Labor government should « in all likelihood » release prisoners early to reduce prison overcrowding.
The Labor leader said his party won't « magically conjure up a new prison on Friday morning ».
