Election 2024 newest updates: Rishi Sunak vs Keir Starmer in TV debate

The polls have provided miserable reading for the Conservatives throughout the election campaign and even further back than that.

And this one is no different as a new poll released tonight has found more than a third of the public say the election betting scandal is the story they have heard most about recently.

As many as 15 Conservatives may be under investigation by the betting watchdog over money put on the date of the election, it was claimed today.

While Labour has also been dragged into the scandal after it suspended one of its candidates for placing a bet on him losing his constituency.

Before we look ahead to tonight’s action, let’s take a look at the goings on in Westminster today.

Here are just some of the stories published by our political reporters today.

The battleground for the final TV showdown between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer is set in Nottingham Trent University.

Rumours spread across campus this week following the sudden closure of two major buildings at the university.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Peck told the Nottingham Post:

They took up the building last Friday evening, so our colleagues haven’t been able to use it for three or four days.

Of course, we had to be very tight lipped about why we suddenly closed our major buildings. Some interesting rumours started to emerge about why these buildings closed.

Most of our colleagues didn’t work out what it was until very, very late, which is great because it is a major security operation for the BBC and the local constabulary. We just played our part by keeping shtum. It’s been a fantastic challenge.

BBC journalist Mishal Husain is tasked with performing the role of referee during tonight’s debate in Nottingham.

The Today presenter and newsreader is an experienced operator in the format, having already hosted a debate involving seven political leaders and senior representatives on June 7.

The 51-year-old was not meant to be involved tonight but stepped in when her colleague Sophie Raworth fractured her ankle during the London Marathon.

Speaking to BBC before the debate, Ms Husain said:

I see the role as a privilege, but I know it won’t be easy and there have been times I’ve wished someone else was at the helm and I could watch from my sofa. But those moments pass.

These events come around rarely and have a very special quality – at their heart is democracy unfiltered, where people can speak directly to those who have power and those who seek it.

MailOnline’s Political Editor James Tapsfield reports Rishi Sunak is gearing up for the critical final TV election debate tonight as he struggles to avert a Tory meltdown.

The PM will face off against Keir Starmer on BBC One with barely a week left until the country goes to the ballot boxes.

The primetime head-to-head clash in Nottingham is seen as Mr Sunak’s last major opportunity to revive his fortunes after a nightmare campaign.

Read his preview here:

Tonight’s debate in Nottingham is the second head-to-head debate between Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer with the first broadcast by ITV on June 4 in Salford.

Mr Sunak was declared the winner in a snap poll following that encounter which saw both men interrupt one another forcing ITV host Julie Etchingham to intervene.

Sir Keir was widely considered to have performed better than his counterpart during the Sky News election event which saw both men take questions from political journalist Beth Rigby and members of the audience.

The Labour leader agreed to only two head-to-head debates at the start of the election campaign despite Mr Sunak challenging him to face him once a week, meaning six separate occasions.

The leaders also appeared at an event for Sun readers on Monday.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the final TV debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

With the country heading to the polls this week, the showpiece event live on BBC marks a final opportunity for each leaders to attract voters and inflict damage on one another.

With Mr Sunak flagging in the polls, he will be desperate for a gamechanger tonight as he seeks to revive the fortunes of the Conservative campaign.

Follow our live blog for updates from throughout the debate plus reaction and analysis from Nottingham.

To watch the debate tune into on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8.15pm or you can also listen on BBC Radio 4.