Election latest: Love Actually star backs Green candidate in key contest - as minister hints at bid to replace Sunak (2024)

Not content with taking on Labour, this week has also seen the Conservatives take up arms against David Tennant.

Rishi Sunak and Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Doctor Who star after he told the former to "shut up" over her views on sex and gender.

He made the comment while accepting an award for his support of the LGBT community.

Ms Badenoch described Tennant as a "rich, lefty, white male celebrity" who was "blinded by ideology" - and during a speech today as doubled down against the actor.

Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference, she said she was "never going to shut up" about the "divisive agenda of diversity politics" - "no matter how many Doctor Whos tell me so".

Ms Badenoch is the business secretary and the equalities minister and has been touted as a potential future Tory leader.

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Actor Hugh Grant has endorsed Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer as a candidate for Bristol Central.

The star of Love Actually and Paddington 2 (an excuse to share one of the all-time great Sky News articles) described Ms Denyer as a "politician with integrity" in quotes which have been included in an election leaflet.

Grant said: "It's so refreshing to see a politician with integrity, who puts the public first. Bristol Central would be very lucky to have Carla Denyer as its MP."

Bristol Central is a key target seat for the Green Party in its bid to get four MPs in the Commons in the 4 July election.

The seat has been held by Labour's shadow culture and sport secretary Thangam Debbonaire - who is standing for re-election - since 2015.

During the 2019 election campaign Grant went door-knocking with the Lib Dem candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, Luciana Berger.

Other candidates running in Bristol Central besides Ms Denyer and Ms Debbonaire are:

• Samuel Williams, Conservatives;
• Nicholas Coombes, Lib Dems;
• Robert Clarke, Reform;
• Kellie-Jay Keen, Party of Women.

Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker will launch a bid to become leader of the Conservatives should they lose the election on 4 July as expected, it is understood.

Mr Baker hinted at a bid to replace Rishi Sunak if he retains his Wycombe seat at the election.

He said: "One thing at a time. I want to represent the people of Wycombe the best that I can, as I always have done.

"Then let's see what happens."

It is understood that he will announce his intentions after polling day.

Speaking to HuffPost, Mr Baker cited his leadership experience through Brexit, COVID and net zero rebellions as reasons why he would be a suitable candidate.

"It's a fact my colleagues sent for me four times to provide leadership through crisis to success: before and after the referendum, in COVID and in relation to the cost of net zero," he said.

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Rishi Sunak took questions from workers at a pottery plant in Derbyshire a short while ago - but they didn't exactly heap on the praise.

One worker told the PM that things had got "infinitely worse" since 2010 when the Tories took office, including soaring use of food banks which he labelled "not acceptable".

The PM replied: "I don't want anyone to have to use a food bank.

"But I'm also very grateful to all those people who volunteer for them, who support them, so that they are there for those who need."

He acknowledged there are "lots of frustrations that you, and others, will have about some things in the past".

But he argued the election is "about the future", and pitched the Conservatives as the party of financial security.

He was pushed on the matter of taxing "the millionaires and the billionaires" more, but replied: "Actually the proportion of tax paid by the richest people in income tax is higher today than it was in 2010 ... so that is already happening.

"And I want to keep cutting taxes for everyone who's working hard."

Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak took part in an election event hosted by The Sun, which saw both take questions from the newspaper's readers.

One moment that has since caused a stir on social media was when the Labour leader appeared to single out people from Bangladesh when discussing illegal migrants not being deported quickly enough.

He has today sought to clarify that he values the "massive contribution" Bangladeshis have made to the UK - and the "longstanding and strong relationship" they have with the Labour Party.

Sir Keir said his first overseas trip as a Labour MP was to Bangladesh, and that many of his constituents are from the country.

"The reference in the debate the other day was an example of a country considered safe as far as asylum is concerned, and one of the countries that's actually got a returns agreement with us," he added.

"That is actually a good thing," said the Labour leader, adding: "I certainly wasn't intending to cause any concern or offence."

Reports in recent days have suggested Labour may have all but given up fighting for the seat of Clacton ahead of the election next week.

According to The Guardian, the party isn't doing much to help their candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul because officials are upset at how much traction he's been getting on social media - with some posts apparently getting more engagement than those by Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Owusu-Nepaul has reportedly been deployed to the West Midlands for the campaign there instead, with his party seemingly abandoning the Essex seaside town.

Clacton has been in the spotlight during the campaign since Reform's Nigel Farage entered the race there.

Labour leader Sir Keir has insisted there's still a fight to be had.

"We are fighting everywhere, including in Clacton," he said.

"We want to take the fight to the Tories and Reform wherever they are.

"We are not backing down in Clacton, we are not backing down anywhere across the country."

The other candidates besides Mr Owusu-Nepaul and Mr Farage are:

• Matthew Bensilum, Lib Dems;
• Craig Jamieson, Climate Party;
• Tony Mack, independent;
• Natasha Osben, Greens;
• Tasos Papanastasiou, Heritage Party;
• Andrew Pemberton, UKIP;
• Giles Watling, Conservatives.

Rishi Sunak has refused to say if he told one of his closest parliamentary aides the date of the election before he placed a bet on it.

Just to remind you, Craig Williams, who has now been suspended as the Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, admitted he "committed a serious error of judgment" but "not an offence" and declared he would continue to fight to win his seat.

Speaking to broadcasters, the PM insisted he was "furious" when he first learned about the allegations, and added "if anyone is breaking the rules, they should face the full consequences of the law, whether that's the Gambling Commission or the police."

Pushed repeatedly on whether he told Mr Williams - his parliamentary private secretary - the date in advance, Mr Sunak refused to say.

"It's absolutely not right when there are ongoing independent investigations, that those aren't compromised in any way, shape or form, they are rightly confidential," he said.

On behalf of all broadcasters, Sky's Sam Coates pointed out to Mr Sunak he cannot prejudice an investigation, only a jury.

But Mr Sunak still refused to say if he told Mr Williams the date of the election before it became public.

"Whilst there are ongoing independent investigations, including, as you said, by the police, it's important that those matters are allowed to proceed properly."

The other candidates for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:

• Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party;
• Oliver Lewis, Reform UK;
• Glyn Preston, Liberal Democrats;
• Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru;
• Steve Witherden, Labour.