General Election 2024 LIVE: Nigel Farage launches Reform UK manifesto as Rishi Sunak insists Tories 'can win'

Nigel Farage has launched the Reform election manifesto which he describes as a "serious plan to reshape the way our country is run" as his party pledges to tackle the "population explosion".

Reform has chosen to title its election document "Our Contract With You", with the leader having previously stated the party believes people associate the term "manifesto" with "lies".

The contract was launched in a run-down community centre in Gurnos in South Wales, as the party sought to drive home "exactly what happens to a country when Labour is in charge".

Reform claims it would "stop the boats" in its first 100 days with a four-point plan that would involve leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), with zero illegal immigrants being resettled in the UK, a new Government department for immigration, and migrants crossing the channel in small boats being returned to France.

The remaining three core pledges ask voters to "imagine no NHS waiting lists"; "imagine good wages for a hard day's work" and "imagine affordable, stable energy bills".

A raft of tax cuts are also promised, including raising the minimum threshold of income tax to £20,000 a year, abolishing stamp duty, and abolishing inheritance tax for all estates under £2 million.

Reform plans to fund these tax cuts by raising £40 billion from reducing the interest paid on Bank of England reserves, but the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said such a measure is "unlikely to raise even half" of that sum.

It came as Rachel Reeves highlighted Labour’s plans to boost investment and set up a national wealth.

The shadow chancellor pledged to hold a global investment summit in the first 100 days of entering government when she hosted members of her British infrastructure council.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak was returning to the campaign trail, heading to East Yorkshire, the East Midlands and East of England as opinion polls continue to show his party crashing to defeat.

Mr Sunak said he understands peoples’ frustrations but insisted the Conservatives “can win”, after Grant Shapps suggested a Tory election victory is unlikely.

Follow the latest developments below...

Key Points

• Nigel Farage launches Reform UK's 'contract' with voters

• Conservatives 'can win' insists Rishi Sunak after Grant Shapps suggests Tory victory unlikely

Nigel Farage: 'I don't want to work with OBR'

Monday 17 June 2024 15:46 , Jacob Phillips

Reform leader Nigel Farage said he doesn't "want to work with the Office for Budget Responsibility".

Asked about the comparisons between Reform's plans and former prime minister Liz Truss' mini-budget, he said: "I don't want to work with the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility).

"I mean they're part of the problem, not part of the solution. We need radical, fresh thinking, we haven't had it for years in this country. We are getting poorer.

He added: "Britain is broken, we're presenting some radical ideas for how we can change that."

Asked why his party has faced repeated controversies with former candidates engaging with right-wing groups on social media, Mr Farage said: "How you define extreme of course is very difficult and we can find many people in the Labour Party and call them extreme left.

"Look, we've had some problems, the Greens have had even bigger problems than I've had. All I will say is that we did put in place a proper vetting system, we paid a fortune for it, someone didn't deliver."

What are the key battleground seats in London?

Monday 17 June 2024 15:10 , Jacob Phillips

Political parties are dramatically ramping up their campaigning across London with less than three weeks to go to July 4 polling day.

A number of seats could change hand in London with the Tories holding slim majorities in some seats in the capital.

Find out more about the key seats in London in our interactive map below.

Pictured: Sunak on North Sea platform trip

Monday 17 June 2024 14:38 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak and Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho have been pictured on a trip to a North Sea gas platform.

Farage defends 'radical' £141bn-a-year spending plans

Monday 17 June 2024 14:26 , Josh Salisbury

Nigel Farage, when told his party was proposing to spend an extra £141 billion every year, has replied: "It's radical, it's fresh thinking, it's outside the box, it's not what you're going to get from the current Labour and Conservative parties who are virtually indistinguishable, frankly, from each other.

"Is this radical fresh thinking on economics? Yes. Is it radical fresh thinking on constitutional change? Yes. Is it very radical change on the way our education system is currently bringing up our young children? Yes.

"Britain is broken, Britain needs reform, that's what we're here for, that's what we're trying to do, and Richard has also suggested some very interesting, radical changes to pay for it."

Reform UK chairman Richard Tice acknowledged there are spending costs before claiming: "But we also outline all of the savings."

Tice: Unfunded spending 'has got us into mess'

Monday 17 June 2024 14:11 , Josh Salisbury

Unfunded spending has got the UK into a "right pickle", Richard Tice has claimed.

Speaking at Reform UK's manifesto launch, the former party leader said: "It's unfunded spending, that's what's got us into a right pickle. Our fiscal deficit in the last year to April, no one talks about, we spent about £120 billion more than we earned."

He added that Reform UK can "transform" the UK's economy by avoiding "wasteful public sector spending" in local authorities and government departments.

Mr Tice continued: "These are big numbers, about £1,000 pounds a head, this is real cash with which we can completely transform the way we run our economy ... in order that actually we can make work pay, we can make businesses grow, we can encourage risk taking."

Farage calls for tougher measures on crime

Monday 17 June 2024 13:55 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has rubbished the Conservatives' plans for national service saying the country has “neglected defence very, very badly”.

He said: "There were 100,000 people in the army in 2010, there are 72,000 people in the army now, let's not recruit 30,000 part-timers, let's actually recruit 30,000 people full-time to be in the services - and a similar principle will of course apply across the navy and air force.”

Turning to public services, Mr Farage said a "radical cultural rethink" needs to take place before he highlighted concerns over knife crime.

He said: "We've no doubt that an approach to policing such as stop-and-search and don't worry if you're called prejudiced or you're doing something wrong, actually you'll save lives.

"We're going to have to get much tougher on low-level crime. I mean shoplifting, can you believe it? You can all go out and shoplift, it's fine, up to £200 you can nick and no-one's going to prosecute you so I think a different approach culturally across crime and policing and, with the big one, the NHS."

Rishi Sunak urges football fans sing 'Hey Jude' instead of world war chants

Monday 17 June 2024 13:47 , Jacob Phillips

Rishi Sunak has urged England football fans to sing more of "Hey Jude" at the Euros tournament, after concerns were raised that some were chanting about German casualties during the Second World War.

Speaking from Centrica's Rough 47-3B gas rig, the Prime Minister said: "It's great to see England get our Euros campaign off to a winning start, the whole country is behind them to go all the way.

"And when it comes to the chants specifically, I agree (with) what Gareth Southgate has said about that chant in the past, and what we want is to represent the best of our country at these tournaments.

"And that means more goals for Jude Bellingham and more singing of 'Hey Jude'."

'I sense we are doing really rather well' Farage says

Monday 17 June 2024 13:38 , Jacob Phillips

Wrapping up his speech at Reform UK’s manifesto launch Nigel Farage said: “I’ve been back in this job for a couple of weeks. I sense we are doing really rather well.”

He then described how he was playing “Mr Nice” today before handing over to “Mr Nasty” Richard Tice to describe how Reform UK would change taxes.

Mr Tice said that Reform is really on side of workers not the “Cafe Latte” Labour Party who are on the side of big business.

Conservatives 'can win' still says Rishi Sunak

Monday 17 June 2024 13:31 , Jacob Phillips

Away from the Reform UK launch Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he understands peoples' frustrations but insisted the Conservatives "can win", after Grant Shapps suggested a Tory victory at the General Election is unlikely.

Mr Sunak insisted the Conservatives are "on the right track" amid opinion polls sliding away from the Tories.

Speaking from Centrica's Rough 47-3B gas rig, the Prime Minister said: "There's still two-and-a-half weeks to go in this election, I'm fighting hard for every vote because I believe we can win.

"And there's a very clear choice at this election: it's having your taxes cut by the Conservatives or facing significant tax rises with the Labour Party."

Asked if he understands people's frustrations with the Tory party with some deciding to turn to Reform UK, he replied: "Of course I understand people's frustrations with that, I mean that's undeniable, and I've been very clear that we have made progress but there is more to go.

"But the point now is we are on the right track and this election is about the future.

"The choice is clear: if you want your border secure and migration down, if you want your taxes cut, your pension protected, it's only the Conservatives that are going to deliver that for you."

What does Reform UK's 'contract with voters' say?

Monday 17 June 2024 13:28 , Jacob Phillips

Reform UK has made five core pledges to try and swing voters from Labour or the Conservatives.

The first two of the party's five core pledges are on immigration, as it promises to freeze "all non-essential immigration" which it claims will "boost wages, protect public services, end the housing crisis and cut crime."

Reform claims it would "stop the boats" in its first 100 days with a four-point plan that would involve leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), with zero illegal immigrants being resettled in the UK, a new Government department for immigration, and migrants crossing the channel in small boats being returned to France.

The remaining three core pledges ask voters to "imagine no NHS waiting lists"; "imagine good wages for a hard day's work" and "imagine affordable, stable energy bills".

Read the full story here.

Election 'first important step on road to 2029' for Reform UK, says Farage

Monday 17 June 2024 13:24 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage acknowledged that Reform UK would not form the government after the July 4 General Election - but he said it was the first step on the road to the next contest which could be in 2029.

He said: "We are not pretending that we are going to win this General Election, we are a very, very new political party."

He added: "This is not something with which we're going to govern the country. That's not possible in this election.

"Although this election is for our party, and for me, the first important step on the road to 2029.

"Our ambition is to establish a bridgehead in Parliament, and to become a real opposition to a Labour government."

He said the Tories would not be able to provide opposition because "they spend most of their days arguing among themselves, and they're split down the middle when it comes to policy".

'We are running very fast to catch up' says Farage

Monday 17 June 2024 13:21 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has said he was “crestfallen” initially when Rishi Sunak announced the General Election.

Speaking at the Reform UK manifesto launch he said: “We would have much preferred this election to have taken place in October or November.

“I personally was a bit crestfallen initially when he announced July 4 but we are running very fast to catch up and I genuinely believe our campaign now has momentum around the country.”

Mr Farage said it was encouraging that more young people are now joining Reform UK’s cause.

'I've got used to people throwing things at me' says Farage

Monday 17 June 2024 13:17 , Jacob Phillips

Speaking at the Reform UK’s “contract” launch Nigel Farage has joked that he is used to being insulted and having things thrown at him as he said there is a “lack of leadership” in Britain.

He told crowds gathered: “I’m not going to say personally abusive things about Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak. I’ll leave that to the rest of the establishment to be rude about me because I couldn’t care less it doesn’t matter. I’m pretty used to it.

“I’ve even got used to people throwing things at me.”

He later added: “There is a lack of leadership. People actually need some sense of being inspired, some sense of believing there is somebody at the front that believes in what they say, says what they believe and is going to show a way forward for the country.”

Mr Farage added there is “the most enormous gap that exists between the two big Westminster parties” and the conversations he hears around the rest of the country.

'Guess who is back' says Nigel Farage

Monday 17 June 2024 13:08 , Jacob Phillips

Speaking at a community centre in Gurnos in South Wales Nigel Farage began by joking “guess who is back, back again”.

He added that he had come out of retirement because he believed that “Britain is broken”.

The Reform UK leader told reports that the UK was “in decline culturally” adding that young people are “being poisoned about what this country is and what it represents”.

He added that there has been a breakdown in trust in politics and that he was shocked that two seven way televised election debates he had taken part in had “descended really into a shouting match” between Conservative cabinet minister Penny Mordant and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.

He said: “When you listen to what they are arguing over it seemed to me the more they argued the more they seemed the same.”

Nigel Farage launches Reform UK manifesto

Monday 17 June 2024 13:03 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has revealed the Reform election manifesto which he describes as a "serious plan to reshape the way our country is run".

The right wing party has pledged to tackle the "population explosion" launching its manifesto in a run-down community centre in Gurnos in South Wales.

Reform has chosen to title its election document "Our Contract With You", with Mr Farage previously explaining the party associates the word "manifesto" with "lies".

In the foreword, Mr Farage says: "The Tories have broken Britain. Labour will bankrupt Britain. A vote for either is a vote for more dishonesty and defeat."

He adds: "Once and for all, we will take back control over our borders, our money and our laws."

Starmer and Reeves visit Southampton Docks

Monday 17 June 2024 12:48 , Jacob Phillips

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have visited Southampton Docks and taken questions from port workers.

The Labour leader took questions about how he will grow ports, Brexit and zero-hour contracts.

Sir Keir told a crowd gathered that "chopping and changing" in government under the Conservatives has discouraged investors from putting money into the UK.

He said: "I think in the last few years we've had a lot of chaos, division and chopping and changing. It's politically funny we've been through five prime ministers, we're on our second unelected prime minister, we've had I don't know how many chancellors..."

Tactical voting campaign eyes 'heaviest possible defeat' for Tories

Monday 17 June 2024 12:32 , Jacob Phillips

Campaigners have made more than 450 tactical voting recommendations to give the Tories the “heaviest possible election defeat” and oust Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his predecessor Liz Truss and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Best For Britain has proposed supporting Labour in 370 seats, the Liberal Democrats in 69, the Green Party in three, the SNP in seven and Plaid Cymru in two to bring the maximum amount of damage to the Conservatives.

The group, which bills itself as "fixing the problems Britain faces after Brexit", has also recommended people in Clacton vote Labour in a bid to prevent Reform UK leader Nigel Farage becoming an MP for the first time at his eighth attempt.

Best For Britain said its recommendations have been made in a bid to deal the "heaviest possible electoral defeat for the Government, to keep them out of power for a decade and to avoid the election of Reform UK MPs".

'I'd work with Labour' says Andrea Leadsom

Monday 17 June 2024 12:08 , Jacob Phillips

Former Tory leadership contender Dame Andrea Leadsom has said she is willing to work with an incoming Labour government.

She told Times Radio: “I’m absolutely willing to talk to anybody who’s coming in, whether they’re of any party, about the priorities that I was working on as a minister.”

The veteran Conservative is not standing for re-election but will remain a minister until polling day.

Nearly two million applications to vote since General Election was called

Monday 17 June 2024 11:48 , Jacob Phillips

Nearly two million applications to vote have been submitted since the General Election was called, as the deadline approaches for people to register to cast a ballot.

A total of 1,978,540 applications were made from May 23 to June 16, Government figures show.

This includes 330,621 submitted on June 13 - the highest for a single day so far this year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the election on the afternoon of May 22.

Lib Dems share no values with Reform, says Ed Davey

Monday 17 June 2024 11:38 , Jacob Phillips

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said his party does not share any values with Reform UK.

Asked if Reform is making things harder for the Lib Dems, Sir Ed told reporters: "No, we don't share any values with Reform, I think people know that.

"And they've got a right to stand, that's fine, but I think if you look at the analysis of it they're not going to win many seats, if any at all frankly. And people know that we can win seats, we've got MPs at the moment, we've won historic by-elections in the last parliament, Reform didn't."

Speaking from Broadsands Beach, Paignton, Sir Ed said that "people are pretty angry" with the Conservatives in South Devon.

He added: "People who have always voted Conservative, families who've always voted Conservative are going to change that.

"It's quite difficult for some people to do that but they really want to do it this time because they can't bear the lack of integrity, the lack of competence, they're just out of touch. Rishi Sunak's Conservatives are just out of touch."

Ed Davey is building sandcastles

Monday 17 June 2024 10:44 , Jacob Phillips

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has arrived at Broadsands Beach near Paignton, Devon.

He has taken his shoes and socks off and is building sandcastles with children and their parents.

When he lifted up the bucket, a turret of his first sandcastle collapsed.

Sir Ed declared his first attempt a "seven out of 10".

A campaigner said: "Considering you haven't done it before."

Sir Ed laughed and replied: "Well, not for 40 years."

Hosting global investment summit in first 100 days of government would show Labour is 'pro-business'

Monday 17 June 2024 10:05 , Jacob Phillips

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has told business leaders that holding a global investment summit in the first 100 days of entering government would show Labour is "pro-business".

Ms Reeves said: "That is an opportunity to show that, with Labour, we are pro-business, we are pro-investment, and we are determined to seize for the UK the investment that we know is out there."

At a meeting on Monday morning of an infrastructure council set up last year by Labour, Ms Reeves said the group of UK-based and international investment firms is something the party wants "to take into government".

House of Lords has become 'bloated' says Labour frontbencher

Monday 17 June 2024 10:01 , Jacob Phillips

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth has been speaking to broadcasters this morning about Labour’s tax plans, investing in jobs and capping the age of members in the House of Lords.

On Sky News the Labour politician refused to say whether Labour would increase council tax, fuel duty or stamp duty.

He told Sky News: "No increase in income tax, no increase in national insurance, no increase in VAT or corporation tax. We're not doing council tax re-banding."

When pressed on the issue, he said: "We have outlined that all our policies are fully funded, they do not require additional tax increases."

On Labour's policy to cap the age of peers in the House of Lords at 80 years old, Mr Ashworth said: "The House of Lords has become so bloated - I can't remember the figures, but it's huge numbers of people now in the House of Lords - and we do need to look at reforms to make it a smaller chamber."

When told that Labour peer Lord Levy is turning 80 next month, he replied: "It is in our manifesto, and I'm sure Lord Levy supports our manifesto."

Mr Ashworth also told the broadcaster that this is "probably the most desperate Tory campaign" he has ever seen in his political lifetime.

Speaking to the BBC Mr Ashworth said Labour's figure of 650,000 jobs created over the course of the next parliament by investing £7.3 billion is "backed up by various independent experts".

He added: "There are great opportunities in the economy of the future if we're prepared to put the investment in now - great opportunities in clean steel, for example, which will benefit Cardiff, Port Talbot, Rotherham, Sheffield, great opportunities for us to be a world leader in electric vehicle manufacture, or wind turbine manufacture.

"Unless we invest now, we will fall behind other nations across the world, and a Labour government, we want to be the people manufacturing for the green industries."

Labour manifesto has business leaders' 'fingerprints all over it'

Monday 17 June 2024 09:30 , Jacob Phillips

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has told business leaders the Labour manifesto has "your fingerprints all over it".

Discussing the manifesto on Monday morning at a meeting of an infrastructure council set up last year by Labour, Ms Reeves said: "I really hope that when you do read it, or if you read the section on the economy, that you will see your fingerprints all over it.

"Because the ideas that we've set out in that manifesto on how to grow the economy are based on so many of the conversations I've had with businesses and investors over the last three years."

Attendees at the meeting in the City of London included M&G chief executive Andrea Rossi, Lloyds Banking Group chief executive Charlie Nunn, and Santander UK chief executive Mike Regnier.

'Matter of opinion' whether Trump tried to overturn US election

Monday 17 June 2024 09:07 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has argued that “it’s a matter of opinion” whether Donald Trump tried to overturn the 2020 US presidential election.

He also claimed that Trump, who recently became the first former or sitting president to be convicted of a crime, lost “because the law did nothing to prevent ballot harvesting”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today progarmme: “As far as Trump is concerned, of course I want Trump back in the White House.

But pressed that Trump allegedly tried to overturn a democratic election, the Reform UK leader added: “Well that is a matter of opinion.”

Read the full story here.

Farage 'plans to be Prime Minister by 2029'

Monday 17 June 2024 08:58 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has confirmed he has ambitions to be Britain’s Prime Minister by 2029.

He told the Today programme he wants to build a movement over the next five years “for genuine change”.

Asked if he would stand to be prime minister at an election in 2029, Mr Farage replied: "Yes, absolutely. I think the disconnect between the Labour and Conservative Westminster-based parties and the country - the thoughts, hopes and aspirations of ordinary people - are so far apart from where our politics is."

Who will be elected in London?

Monday 17 June 2024 08:51 , Jacob Phillips

Millions of voters across London will go to the polls on July 4 to elect the new Government.

The Standard has been looking at the key battleground seats across the capital, with the Tories facing a wipe out in the inner city.

Find out more about the fight for each London seat from our interactive map below.

'Every party is having problems with candidates' says Farage

Monday 17 June 2024 08:34 , Jacob Phillips

Nigel Farage has been quizzed on the Today programme about whether he has got rid of all the “unpleasant” characters standing for Reform UK.

Mr Farage said: “We spent a great deal of money on getting that vetting done. It wasn’t done and I will take more about that over the next couple of days.

“With a short general election every party is having problems with candidates.”

When asked specifically about former candidate Grant StClair-Armstrong, who resigned after it emerged that he had previously called on people to vote for the BNP, Mr Farage said “we don’t find that acceptable”.

He described Mr StClair-Armstrong as a "chap in his 70s" and that "he was never a member of the BNP".

Vote for Reform gives Starmer 'unchecked power' says Shapps

Monday 17 June 2024 08:18 , Jacob Phillips

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said he understands the frustrations felt by those considering voting Reform UK, but said a vote for Nigel Farage’s party would give Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer "unchecked power".

Speaking to LBC Radio, Mr Shapps said: "I think there's a sense of frustration out there and I get that entirely. But I think in the end, there are only two people who can be in Downing Street, it's either Rishi Sunak or it's Keir Starmer.

"And if you vote Reform, or Lib Dem, or any other direction for that matter, that simply helps Keir Starmer go in with unchecked power to do things like release all the people who've already been rounded up to be deported, which is exactly the opposite to what a lot of Reform voters would want."

When questioned on polls continuing to show a Conservative defeat, Mr Shapps pointed to previous polls which suggested Britain would remain in the European Union and former prime minister Theresa May would increase her majority.

He added: "Polls have a history of showing a snapshot in time, which isn't necessarily the time when the vote happens."

Candidate's BNP comments 'daft' say Reform UK

Monday 17 June 2024 08:08 , Jacob Phillips

Reform UK said its former candidate Grant StClair-Armstrong made "daft" comments at a "difficult and angry time in his life", after he resigned from the party for previously calling on people to vote for the British National Party (BNP).

Mr StClair-Armstrong, who will remain on the ballot paper as an independent in North West Essex, posted on a blog called the Joli Triste in 2010: "I could weep now, every time I pick up a British newspaper and read the latest about the state of the UK.

"No doubt, Enoch Powell would be doing the same if he was alive. My solution ... vote BNP!"

A Reform UK party spokesperson said: "Some 15 years ago, by own admission made some daft, inappropriate comments at a difficult and angry time in his life.

"He regrets them, and has resigned."

Reform UK candidate quits over 'vote BNP' comments

Monday 17 June 2024 08:02 , Jacob Phillips

A Reform UK candidate who is standing in the same constituency as women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has resigned from the party after it emerged he previously called on people to vote for the BNP.

The Times reports Grant StClair-Armstrong, the party's candidate in North West Essex, posted on a blog called the Joli Triste in 2010: "I could weep now, every time I pick up a British newspaper and read the latest about the state of the UK.

"No doubt, Enoch Powell would be doing the same if he was alive. My solution ... vote BNP!"

When approached by the paper regarding the blog post, Mr StClair-Armstrong said: "I've got no excuses for that. I think they're a disgusting party. I don't like the English Defence League. I don't like them."

Read the full story here.

Prime Minister back on the campaign trail

Monday 17 June 2024 07:59 , Jacob Phillips

Rishi Sunak is hoping to turn opinion polls around as he returns to the campaign trail on Monday.

He will visit East Yorkshire, the East Midlands and East of England as he tries to convince voters to stick with the Conservatives.

His prime ministerial duties have kept Mr Sunak away from campaigning since he was at the G7 summit on Thursday and Friday, followed on Saturday by Trooping the Colour and a major international summit on Ukraine in Switzerland.

The Conservatives renewed their tax attacks on Labour, with Mr Sunak decrying his rivals' pledges as a "con" and Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho claiming their energy policy would be a "triple whammy" for the UK.

The Tories said Labour's ban on new oil and gas licences could lead to an estimated £4.5 billion in lost tax revenues over the next 10 years, though Sir Keir's party dismissed this as "more desperate nonsense".

Reeves kicks off week of campaigning on the economy

Monday 17 June 2024 07:54 , Jacob Phillips

Rachel Reeves will highlight Labour's plans to boost investment and set up a national wealth fund as she kicks off a week of campaigning on the economy.

The shadow chancellor will pledge to hold a global investment summit in the first 100 days of entering government when she hosts members of her British infrastructure council on Monday morning.

Bosses from Lloyds, Santander and M&G are among the group convened by Ms Reeves, who said a Labour government would "hit the ground running to show that Britain is open for business".

It comes after she signalled Labour would seek closer trade ties with the EU, including closer alignment in the chemicals and veterinary sectors, and a better deal for financial services workers.

After the London meeting, she is expected to head to a southern England port with Sir Keir Starmer to promote their wealth fund plan.

Labour has pledged to invest £7.3 billion in the fund over the course of the next parliament if it wins the General Election to help create 650,000 new jobs.