Election latest: Protester climbs on to Tory battle bus (2024)

If you don't have any photo ID, today is the deadline to apply for an ID certificate you can use at the general election.

This is called a Voter Authority Certificate - and you have until 5pm to apply online.

That's also the deadline to apply for someone to vote on your behalf if you can't make it to the ballot box on 4 July - known as a proxy vote.

Tap here if you need to do that.

Remind me... what are these certificates all about?

This is the first time people voting at a UK general election will need to provide photo ID.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - including passports, driving licences, and other travel passes.

You can find a full list below:

But if you don't have one, get a Voter Authority Certificate.

To apply online here, you must have already registered to vote.

You also need a recent photo and your National Insurance number, or some other way of proving your identity - like a bank statement.

Remember, you have until 5pm. Don't forget!

Amy Rugg-Easey, the Greenpeace protester who climbed on to the roof of the Conservative battle bus, has criticised the prime minister's record on climate.

She had sat atop the bus in Nottinghamshire for a matter of minutes, before climbing down holding a flag reading: "We need clean power, not Paddypower."

The woman was one of four people charged with with criminal damage after a protest on the roof of Rishi Sunak's home in August last year.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge, with a trial set to take place in July.

Today, Ms Rugg-Easey said: "Fourteen years of Conservative governments has left this country broken.

"(Rishi) Sunak has gone backwards on climate action, ditching key pledges and promising to 'max out' the climate-wrecking oil and gas that are the cause of the cost of living crisis and our unaffordable bills.

"Our rivers are awash with sewage and our economy, NHS and public services are on their knees.

"Enough is enough. We've climbed onto Sunak's battle bus today to remind the British public that it is the Conservative government's consistent failure to deliver greener, fairer policies that has created the mess we're in.

"Don't back the wrong horse - a vote for the climate is a vote for a better future."

The prime minister was not travelling on the Conservative battle bus on Wednesday.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here.

A Greenpeace protester climbed on top of the Conservative battle bus while it was parked up in Nottinghamshire this afternoon.

Our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey was at the scene, where climate protesters were stressing the need to vote with the climate in mind.

Asked about the method of their demonstration, one man said: "I think it's an important way to make our point."

The protester - a young woman named as Amy Rugg-Easey - was on top of the bus for a matter of minutes, before climbing down holding a sign reading: "Clean power not Paddypower".

This banner is likely a reference to the Conservative betting scandal, which has seen the party withdraw support from a number of candidates over allegations of informed betting on the date of the election.

The general election is next Thursday, but smaller parties are still launching their manifestos to make a bid for votes - and seats - on 4 July.

The latest comes from the Ulster Unionist Party, which launched its manifesto, titled "Making Northern Ireland work", this morning.

Here are the key points of the UUP's election pledges:

• Its manifesto details that the Ulster Unionist Party is committed to defending and promoting Northern Ireland's place within the UK;
• On the economy, the party has said it is committed to fiscalresponsibility and effective financial stewardship. It aims to work with the Westminster to graduallyreduce Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland to15%;
• The UUP also vows to "commit to our long-standing policy of maintaining pay parity" in the health service in Northern Ireland;
• It also commits to engage with Executive colleagues in order to ensure independent pay recommendations are funded and delivered as quickly as possible;
• And the party vows to increase Northern Ireland's police force by 7,500.

Josh Greally, 28, has admitted a public order offence at after throwing items at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on 11 July.

Greally, from Chesterfield, was arrested in Barnsley town centre after he threw what looked like a coffee cup and another object at Mr Farage, who was campaigning on the top deck of his battle bus.

Neither of the objects hit the politician.

Greally pleaded guilty in a short hearing when appearing atBarnsley Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He will be sentenced on 28 August.

A man arrested in north London in connection with the Westminster honeytrap scandal was a Labour Party member, Sky News understands.

Met Police said they had taken a man in his mid-20s into custody in Islington this morning.

He was arrested on suspicion of harassment and committing offences under the Online Safety Act.

Labour said they had administratively suspended a member after police notified them of the arrest.

The honeytrap scandal saw a number of MPs and parliamentary staffers received suspicious messages from unnamed senders.

The investigation by theMet's Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team began on 6 April following reporting, first published by Politico, of unsolicited messages being sent to MPs and people with links to parliament.

Those looking to drive to polling stations can park for free this general election.

JustPark are offering drivers 30 minutes of free parking near polling stations on 4 July.

They will need to pre-book online or via the JustPark app, however.

"We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to vote, but know that on the day it isn't always that straightforward," Mary Corrie, managing director of Just Park UK, said.

"By offering free parking on election day, we hope to make it easier for all voters, especially those with mobility issues or who are short on time, to find a place to park near their polling station.

"This is the second time we have offered this service, following its great success in the 2019 election, and we are confident it will help to get people to the polls once again."

Manifesto launches are still under way, and the latest to launch their proposals are the Alba Party, headed by Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond.

The ex-SNP leader pitched his party as the "natural home" of independence supporters, and hit out at the UK government for havingvetoed the "democratic wishes of Scots" since the 2014 referendum (which the independence campaign lost).

He told gathered supporters and activists: "TheAlbaParty believe that every single national election should be used to seek a mandate to begin negotiations for Independence.

"That means the election itself should provide the popular mandate for independence."

He went on to say "Scotland stands at a pivotal moment in its history", and that despite winning "two mandates at Holyrood and three Westminster elections, all with an independence majority", there has been "little or no action taken" towards it.

"We have the opportunity at this election to make our votes count for independence," he added.

Here are some of the key parts of the launch:

• Pledged to mobilise supporters of Scottish independence;
• Fight to save theGrangemouth refinery from closure;
• Increase staffing in the NHS;
• Protect women's rights;
• Provide an annual £500 payment to households receiving a council tax reduction;
• Increasing the Scottish Child Payment from £26.70 to £40 per week.
  

We spoke a short while ago with the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and we asked him about prisons, which will be a key issue facing the winner of the general election.

It comes on the day Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports more than 500 Scottish inmates, serving short term sentences, are set to be released early to tackle overcrowding - an issue across the UK.

Sir Keir told Sky News a Labour government is "not going to be able to deal with this on day one".

"I'll be completely straight with you on that. I can't build a prison in the first week of a Labour government," he said.

"But it is a really shocking state of affairs that we don't have enough prison places for people who should be in prison. It's a catastrophic failure within criminal justice."

He said Labour will "build the necessary prisons".

Pushed on whether they will scrap early release, Sir Keir replied: "We will have to deal with the problem as it is, and I can't promise that we can change that on day one, because I can't build a prison on day one of a Labour government.

"What I can do is take the tough decisions to make sure that we never get into this position ever again. We should not be here."