General Election 2024 LIVE: Rishi Sunak 'could lose seat', new poll suggests as leaders face BBC Question Time special
LIVE – Updated at 09:27
The Conservatives were reeling from a string of devastating election polls on Thursday as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer prepared to square off at a BBC Question Time special.
The Tory and Labour leaders will be joined by Scotland's First Minister John Swinney for the SNP and Sir Ed Davey for the Liberal Democrats.
There is no spot for Reform UK's Nigel Farage, who previously demanded a place given his party's strong showing in the opinion polls.
The BBC responded by insisting Mr Farage and Reform have received coverage across BBC outlets, adding: "The Ofcom guidance gives 'greater weight on the actual performance of a political party in elections over opinion poll data' taking into account the 'greater uncertainty associated with support in opinion polls'.”
It comes as three opinion polls predicted a near wipeout for the Tories across the UK and London at the July 4 election.
A Savanta poll suggested Mr Sunak could lose his Richmond and Northallerton seat in northern England - which would be unprecedented for a serving prime minister.
Savanta predicted the Conservatives would take just 53 parliamentary seats - with 516 seats for Labour.
Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta, said its projection put Labour on course "for a historic majority".
Polling by YouGov showed Labour on track to win 425 seats. A More in Common poll gave it 406.
YouGov forecast disastrous results for the Conservatives in London, with the party expected to hold on to only a handful of constituencies on the fringe of the capital.
Lib Dems call for Sunak to suspend candidate under investigation
09:27 , Jacob Phillips
The Liberal Democrats have called on Rishi Sunak to suspend Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate in Bristol North West, after she was put under investigation by the Gambling Commission for a bet relating to the timing of the General Election.
The party’s deputy leader Daisy Cooper has said “it would be an utter disgrace if Conservative politicians were shown to be more focused on turning a quick buck rather than the needs of the country”.
Ms Cooper added: "Rishi Sunak must find his backbone and suspend Laura Saunders from the Conservative party whilst this investigation is ongoing.”
She continued: “The Conservative party has proven itself utterly unfit for office. Voters are sick to the back teeth of this endless carousel of chaos, sleaze and scandal.
"People across the country are crying out for change and that is why in many areas they are backing the Liberal Democrats to get a strong local champion that will take their issues right to the heart of Parliament and not take them for granted any longer."
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has campaigned in the south-east England seat of Godalming and Ash (PA Wire)
'Pattern of cronyism' under Tories, says Labour frontbencher
09:17 , Jacob Phillips
A Labour frontbencher has described a "pattern of cronyism" under the Conservatives, following news a second Tory candidate is being investigated by the Gambling Commission.
Commenting on the reports, shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook told Sky News: "I think it does chip away at trust and confidence in the Government but in politics more widely, and we've had too much of that over the last 14 years.
"I sort of hesitate slightly but this appears with each one of these new allegations to be looking like a pattern of cronyism, if you like, with people benefiting directly potentially from information maybe passed on.
"I think it's really damaging to politics generally. We've got to have a different way of doing politics with integrity at its heart."
Asked how he would feel if a member of his team had placed such a bet, he said: "I think very angry. I don't think disappointment quite covers it."
Matthew Pennycook (Parliament UK)
Tory candidate being investigated over election betting married to party's campaign director
08:54 , Jacob Phillips
A Conservative candidate being investigated by the Gambling Commission over a bet relating to the timing of the General Election is married to the party’s Director of Campaigns.
The BBC has revealed that Laura Saunders, the party’s candidate in Bristol North West, is being looked into over an alleged bet.
It is not known when the bet was placed or for how much money.
The broadcaster has now revealed that the candidate is married to Tony Lee, who is the Conservative Party’s Director of Campaigns.
Saunders has not replied to the BBC’s request for comment.
A Conservative Party spokesman told the BBC: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals. As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.”
'We're not in Fergie time yet' says Gove
08:41 , Jacob Phillips
Michael Gove has insisted there was still time for the Conservatives to defy the polls, saying: "We're not in 'Fergie time' yet."
The Cabinet minister told Sky News: "There are opinion polls, as I've acknowledged and as we both know, that are not great, but it's not the 90th minute, we're not in 'Fergie time' yet.
"There is still an opportunity for us to make these arguments and as we make these arguments my experience - and I know it's just me and a range of seats, not every seat in the country - my experience is that when you do talk to voters, outline some of the tax dangers, outline some of Labour's plans for the future, then people do think twice and people do recognise that by voting Conservatives you are both ensuring that there is a strong Conservative voice in Parliament, but also you are doing everything you can to prevent a series of tax increases that won't just hit pensioners and first-time buyers, but also will hit the economy in the guts."
He added: "I'm a Scotland fan, so you wait until the final whistle.
"Sometimes it looks as though the odds are against you, but you keep on fighting."
Michael Gove has announced he will not be standing at the General Election (PA Wire)
Sunak under pressure to launch inquiry after alleged bets on General Election timing
08:33 , Jacob Phillips
Rishi Sunak has faced calls to launch an inquiry after one of his protection officers was arrested over alleged bets on the timing of the General Election.
The Metropolitan Police said it was informed by the Gambling Commission that a police constable from the force's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was being investigated over the alleged bets.
The Gambling Commission is leading an investigation into alleged betting offences, which has reportedly been extended to include a second Conservative candidate.
Rishi Sunak is under pressure to launch an inquiry after alleged bets were placed on the timing of the General Election (PA Wire)
Senior Tory Michael Gove has said it would be "reprehensible" for someone to use inside information to bet on the date of the General Election.
Asked about reports the Gambling Commission was investigating a second Conservative candidate for placing a bet on the date of the election, Mr Gove told the BBC: "If people have used inside information to place bets, that is deeply wrong.
"What I can't do is sort of get too much into the detail of the case while an investigation is going on.
"But I can talk about the broad principle and you're absolutely right, it's reprehensible."