General election latest: Sunak insists UK better place to live than in 2010, as Farage stages Reform rally

Rishi Sunak has said the UK is a better place to live in now than it was when the Tories took office in 2010.

In a fiery interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the prime minister acknowledged the last years have been “difficult” as he cited the pandemic and the war in Ukraine driving up energy bills, but insisted “we are now on the right track”.

Mr Sunak was also questioned about the tax burden, the party’s gambling scandal and his own faux-par when he left D-Day commemorations early, but insisted he is “proud” of his election campaign as the Tory leader has just days left to secure votes.

He also warned that Sir Keir Starmer would cause “irreversible damage within just 100 days of coming to power”.

It comes as a rally for Reform UK is underway, despite recent controversy over racism allegations within the party, as support for several of its parliamentary candidates has been withdrawn.

As of Saturday, the party is no longer endorsing Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, Robert Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley North, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford after alleged comments made by the three candidates emerged in the media.