Key points
- Bulletin:What you need to know this lunchtime
- Tories drop support for candidates over betting scandal
- The controversy explained|Will candidates still be on ballots?
- Analysis:PM was under a hell of a lot of pressure to act
- Idris Elba joins Labour event on knife crime
- Starmer says children 'worried' about possible move into No 10
- Sunak takes break from campaigning for Japanese emperor's visit
- Live reporting by Tim Baker
Election essentials
- Manifesto pledges:Alliance Party|Conservatives|DUP|Greens|Labour|Lib Dems|Plaid Cymru|Reform|SNP|Sinn Fein|Workers Party
- 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|What counts as voter ID?|Check if your constituency is changing|Guide to election lingo|Sky's election night plans
Metropolitan Police sent information on five more officers over betting allegations
The Gambling Commission has sent information on five more Metropolitan Police officers to the force over the election betting scandal.
They are alleged to have placed bets relating to the timing of the general election.
One officer - who was a member of the prime minister's protection detail - was placed on restricted duties last week.
Sky News reported that additional officers were being considered as part of the investigation.
The officer who was put on restricted duties last week was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.
In a statement released in the past few moments, the Met said it remains the case that just one officer is under criminal investigation.
The force said: "We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.
"The officers are based on the Royalty and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the Central West Basic Command Unit. None of them work in a close protection role.
"Decisions on whether they will be subject to any restrictions will be taken in due course."
What did Idris Elba discuss with Starmer?
As we reported this morning, Hollywood star Idris Elba has joined the Labour leader at an event on knife crime.
The actor has been vocal about the issue, and the party has today announced its plans for a crackdown - including a review of how blades are sold online.
Elba has since posted a video on Instagram revealing details of his conversations with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
They had a "very important" meeting with campaign organisations and victims' families to discuss "what we need to do as a country to fight this".
The Wire star added: "It was non-political, and I'm making that clear because this is a societal issue.
"But as someone that might be taking the hot seat, it was really important to hear what he had to say about his plans.
"He listened. He listened to what the organisations had to say."
Elba said he was at the event "as a concerned parent, concerned citizen", and stressed the need for "cross-party" cooperation.
"We are trying to get both sides of the political agenda to look at this, because it's something that affects all of our society," he added.
Why is there a state visit happening during election campaign?
Away from the campaign, we've brought you pictures today of the Japanese emperor and empress enjoying a state visit to the UK.
It's day one of a three-day trip - and its timing is indeed unusual.
During the entire 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the country never hosted state visits during election campaigns.
As recently as 2017, a planned trip by Spain's King Felipe VI was quickly rescheduled after then prime minister Theresa May called a snap poll.
This one has still gone ahead, with Rishi Sunak and some of his top ministers taking part in the pomp and ceremony.
But Buckingham Palace did say the trip had been "slightly adapted".
Missing elements appear to be the usual Downing Street talks with the prime minister, the visitor's speech to the Palace of Westminster, and meetings with opposition leaders.
However, Labour's Sir Keir Starmer is expected to join Mr Sunak at a state banquet this evening.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said the emperor and empress's visit would not be a political one, and it was hoped it would forge "friendly relations across generations" between Japan's imperial family and the British royal family.
Tories would think they could 'get away with anything' if they win election
Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, has been speaking to broadcasters about Conservative candidates having their support from the party pulled while they are investigated in connection with the betting scandal.
He said: "It's taken Rishi Sunak the best part of two weeks to act on this.
"That is just weak leadership - and what the whole thing shows is that if the Conservative Party won again on 4 July, they would think they could get away with anything."
Asked if he was worried about Labour candidates placing bets on the date of the election, Mr McFadden pointed out his party did not have advanced knowledge of the date.
Starmer's children 'worried' about potential move into Downing Street
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been on This Morning on ITV.
At one point, the discussion turned to the Labour leader's children.
Sir Keir has a daughter aged 13 and a son aged 15.
Asked if the pair are worried about a potential move into Downing Street, Sir Keir said "they are".
As children, they "don't want things to change" and have "things set up at home exactly as you would want them".
This includes their friends and "first little bits of independence".
Sir Keir says he and his wife Victoria will "fiercely protect" the privacy of the children should they end up in 10 Downing Street.
This means things like photoshoots are off the cards - with the Labour leader admitting this means the public does "lose" the chance to see him with his family, which "gives you a sense of what person you are".
The names of the Starmer children are not publicly known, with Sir Keir saying he wants them to be able to walk to school "as their own people".
He says the situation would be different if they were older.
"We're trying to make sure that they can have the lives of an ordinary teenage boy and girl," he added.
He confirmed the whole family would move in if he becomes PM.
Suited and booted
Rishi Sunak and two of his cabinet are taking a break from the campaign for today's state visit of the emperor and empress of Japan.
The prime minister has been seen all dressed up with Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, and James Cleverly, the home secretary, at a ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade.
The King and Queen are also present.
While the monarch is not expected to visit Downing Street or give a speech in parliament due to the election, he will be heading to a state banquet this evening at Buckingham Palace.
Both Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are expected to be in attendance at the dinner - a nice break from all the TV debates, we're sure…
It's lunchtime, and we have a new bulletin to get you up to speed.
Whether you're mid-bite of your sandwich or just polishing it off, here's a rapid rundown of what you need to know:
- The Conservatives have announced they will no longer be supporting the two candidates being investigated over placing bets on the election date;
- Laura Saunders and Craig Williams will still appear in on the ballots - but won't be supported by the party;
- The action came following pressure from both within and outside the Conservative Party, andSir Keir Starmer said the move should have come last week when the allegations emerged.
- Labour, meanwhile, has announced plans to tackle knife crime;
- Sir Keir appeared at an event with actor Idris Elba as they discussed introducing a long-term strategy to tackle the issue;
- Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has taken part in an hour-long debate with Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly, taking in both legal and illegal migration;
- The minister said he does not "envisage" a Tory government leaving the European Court of Human Rights, despite the PM's threats to do so;
- And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has opened up about looking after his disabled son in an interview with Beth Rigby.
You might also be interested in one of the key talking points from today's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, all about that photo of Sir Keir and his wife enjoying a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley over the weekend.
We've also got a fresh episode of Politics At Jack And Sam's, including chat about an unlikely dinner date...
Starmer: Dropped Tory candidates should've had support withdrawn 'a week ago'
Reacting to the news the Tory candidates involved in the betting scandal were having their support withdrawn, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Why didn't it happen a week ago?"
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the suspensions should have happened "immediately" - and said Mr Sunak needed to confirm the two candidates would not sit with the Conservative Party if they won their seats.
Sky News understands the candidates will not have the Tory whip if they win their respective seats, meaning they will sit as independents (see previous post).
Will suspended candidates still appear on ballots?
The Conservative Party has today announced it will no longer support its candidates Laura Sanders and Craig Williams.
But they will still appear on the ballot papers.
We are too far through the election cycle for the Conservatives to select new candidates.
Instead, they will just no longer enjoy the support of the Conservative Party.
This means they will not get any help with campaigning or visits from famous faces to back them.
It is similar to what happened to Labour in Rochdale ahead of the by-election there earlier this year.
Despite the fact that they will be listed as Conservative candidates on ballot papers as it is too late to change them, they cannot call themselves Conservative candidates.
It is understood that they will not have the Conservative whip if they win their respective seats, meaning they will sit as Independents.
However, if the Gambling Commission clears them of wrongdoing, the Conservative whip could be given back at a later date.
Laura Saunders is a candidate in Bristol North West, and Craig Williams is a candidate inMontgomeryshire and Glyndwr.
The other candidates in Bristol North West are:
- Caroline Gooch, Lib Dems
- Darren Jones, Labour
- Scarlett O'Connor, Reform UK
- Mary Page, Green Party
- Ben Smith, SDP
The other candidates in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:
- Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party
- Oliver Lewis, Reform UK
- Glyn Preston, Lib Dems
- Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru
- Steve Witherden, Labour
Analysis: Sunak has been under 'a hell of a lot of pressure' to suspend candidates
Sky political correspondent Darren McCaffreyis explaining the latest developments in the Conservative betting scandal.
He says it is interesting it has taken "this long" to make the decision.
Craig Williams, one of the candidates, admitted having a "flutter" almost a fortnight ago.
Darren notes Rishi Sunak has been under "a hell of a lot of pressure" from political opponents to make suspensions.
He adds that the Tory position - saying they could not take action due to the Gambling Commission investigation - "didn't seem like a credible line" given Mr Williams said he placed a wager.
"So it was kind of unclear why the Conservative Party had not already suspended him," Darren notes.
Laura Saunders, Darren points out, has not been willing to comment on developments.
"But clearly, the Conservative Party - carrying out those internal inquiries, which the prime minister talked about being launched over the weekend - have found enough evidence that they feel that as of this morning, they should no longer be parliamentary candidates that are supported," he says.
These cases are separate to the two Tory officials who have taken leaves of absence while they are investigated.
