Thursday evening news briefing: Kemi Badenoch attacks council over missing postal votes
Good evening. Josh here to bring you the latest news as we approach the end of the 2024 general election.
Kemi Badenoch has attacked her local council over missing postal votes following delays in delivery and printing.
Elsewhere, a security guard has been found guilty of masterminding a plot to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby.
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Kemi Badenoch attacks council over missing postal votes
More than 2,600 postal ballots have been delayed in North West Essex, where the Business Secretary is seeking re-election, as a result of “human error”. The local council chief executive said last week that he was “mortified” by the delays and that council workers were hand-delivering ballots in an attempt to get them to voters in time – follow live updates here.
What time is the exit poll today and when will we know who won the election?
When polls close today after a six-week general election campaign, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will face a tense wait for results from the UK’s 650 constituencies to find out who will become the next prime minister.
The exit poll will give the Prime Minister and the Labour leader a snapshot of what to expect nationally, before the first results start to trickle in across the following hours – see all the key timings here.
Hour-by-hour guide | What time will we get results?
Revealed | The marginal seats where postal vote delays might swing results
The Secret Tory Candidate | I’ve already written my concession speech. I’ve no idea what I’ll do next
Gavin Plumb guilty of plotting rape and murder of Holly Willoughby
Gavin Plumb, 37, from Harlow, Essex, appeared to become emotional and shook his head in the dock as the jury announced its unanimous verdict. He could now face life imprisonment and will be sentenced on Friday July 12.
Speaking for the first time, Plumb’s ex-partner said he has “done it before and will do it again”. We reveal that Plumb encouraged a convicted paedophile and stalker to assist him.
Evening Briefing: Today’s essential headlines
Rebecca Joynes | A female maths teacher has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of having sex with two schoolboys. Watch the moment Joynes bought a schoolboy a £345 Gucci belt.
Tenerife | Jay Slater ‘left the house alive’, says Airbnb host
Politics | Biden ‘seriously considering’ leaving election race
Election | Democrats explore possibility of Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden
Watch | Horrifying moment husband wheels suitcase containing murdered wife from home while carrying child
The pictures that show Labour’s power-dressing makeover
From the ‘Starmer sweep’ to Bridget Phillipson’s sleek jackets, the key party players are polishing things up ahead of Friday’s verdict.
Comment and analysis
John Curtice | Just how bad will it be for the Tories? My final prediction
Michael Coren | When disinformation might really have swung an election
Stephen Davies | The real reason the Tories face years in the wilderness
Robert Taylor | The entitled British public have been dreadful this election
David Axe | Ukraine’s new F-16 fighter jets will be destroyed as soon as they arrive
Pictured: Washed-up giant shark removed from beach by forklift
A Basking shark measuring 24ft was found dead after becoming tangled up in rope off the Ayrshire coast.
Editor’s choice
Money | ‘I got two private car park tickets – here’s how I got out of paying them’
Ranked and rated | The best (and worst) US states
Life | My husband cheated on me with a woman young enough to be his daughter – here’s how I got over it
Sport briefing: Today’s essential headlines
Discover | What watching England play football does to your body
Wimbledon | Dart fights back the tears to beat Boulter
Football | England fans are seen as knuckle-dragging idiots – reality in Germany is very different
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