The Latest Breaking News from Reform

Grant Shapps is running. The Tory MP has held what seems like every ministerial post possible and is famous in Westminster for his command of spreadsheets and data – in other words, for tracking the views and intentions of his fellow Tory MPs. He is ready for the battle ahead.

Watch as Nigel Farage launches Reform UK’s election manifesto on Monday 17 June.

In the two weeks since I announced I would be standing as a candidate, we have electrified the debate about Britain’s future and breathed life into this zombie General Election campaign.

Will Reform become the opposition in a new Parliament? And how likely is it Brexiteer Mr Farage will win a seat? All your questions answered in our exclusive Q&A with The Independent’s political editor David Maddox

Labour is the leading party in most polls

‘I think he lost it because the law did nothing to prevent ballot harvesting,’ the Reform UK leader added

StClair-Armstrong, 71, who was supposed to contest against business secretary Kemi Badenoch in North West Essex, said he made the comment ‘out of frustration’

Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out council tax band revaluation when asked about tax rises outside Labour's manifesto plans

Voters keep being warned to temper expectations. But a Labour party finally taking power should embrace that sense of opportunity, and be transformed by it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

Grant StClair-Armstrong will appear on the ballot paper but be an independent if he wins against Kemi Badenoch

Clacton gave Tory MP Giles Watling a huge majority of 24,702 in 2019 – now it may be a straight race between Labour’s Jovan Owusu-Nepaul and Nigel Farage