General election live news: Keir Starmer says he would do business deal with Trump if former president wins US election

Sir Keir has said he is willing to negotiate with President Donald Trump if US voters return him to the White House in November, our political editor David Maddox reports.

“Yes! We will do a trade deal with America if we can get a trade deal,” he told The Independent.

“Presidents are temporary, while countries and agreements may not be permanent, but they are certainly long-term.”

With an eye on not only Trump’s potential re-election but also the victory of right-wing leaders in allied European states, he added: “I will deal with the leaders of other countries as they are elected by the voters, whether in America or elsewhere . across Europe.”

It reflects his repeated message of “country first, party second”.

Rishi Sunak said Nigel Farage “has some questions to answer” after a racial slur against him by reform activist Andrew Parker caused him hurt and anger.

On a campaign visit to a school on Teesside, the Prime Minister said: “My two daughters have to see and hear people from Reform campaigning for Nigel Farage calling me a c***. It hurts me and makes him angry, and I think he has some questions to answer.

“I do not repeat these words lightly. I do so deliberately, because it is too important not to be said clearly for what it is.”

Asked if he was frustrated that some former Conservative voters were leaning towards Reform, Sunak said: “When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and views, seemingly unchallenged, I think that tells you something about the culture in the Reform party.

“Andrew Tate is not an important voice for men. He is a vile misogynist. And our politics and our country are better than that. As Prime Minister, but more importantly as a father of two young girls, it is my duty to call out this corrosive and divisive behaviour.”

The Independent is giving readers the chance to talk directly to candidates from some of the main political parties in a special series of Ask Me Anything events about the general election.

Today’s second Q&A session starts at 6pm and is with Green Party candidate Ellie Chowns.

The Greens have promised to create 150,000 new affordable homes every year by the end of the parliament, end the Right to Buy programme, introduce rent controls and end no-fault evictions.

The party also promises to stop “all new fossil fuel projects”; impose a 1% annual wealth tax on assets above £10m; invest £50bn in health and social care – including providing free personal social care at the point of use; and take water companies, the railways and the big five energy retailers into public ownership.

The Reform UK leader is expected to appear on ITV’s Loose Women at 1.30pm.

This came as he faced major backlash after several members of his party were fired for racist and homophobic comments.

UK reform activist Andrew Parker, who works as an actor, said he regrets making the comments which were caught on camera by an undercover reporter.

Parker claimed he made the comments “in the heat of the moment” because he was being “incited.”

He said: “Of course I regret what I said. Christ, I’m not racist. I had Muslim girlfriends. It was a typical bar boy conversation.”

Asked if he wanted to apologize, he said: “Of course I’m sorry. It was just off-the-cuff stuff that everyone says.”

He added that he had “lots of Pakistani friends” and “Muslim friends” and was “fed up” with being questioned about the filming.

Mr Parker confirmed he is an actor but said he got involved with Reform UK by contacting the party and offering to hand out leaflets because he believes in its message, and did not mention he was an actor.

Jonathan Ashworth attacked the Tories during a campaign visit to south London.

Speaking alongside Labour’s deputy chief campaign officer Ellie Reeves, he accused Rishi Sunak of revealing a manifesto “full of promises he cannot keep”.

The shadow minister said the plans meant the Prime Minister would make “exactly the same mistakes” as Liz Truss.

He added that a re-election would lead to “Liz Truss 2.0” and called on people to “vote for change next Thursday.”

John Swinney said politicians should not bet on the outcome of elections.

Speaking on BB Radio Scotland, the First Minister said: “I don’t think people involved in politics should be betting on the outcome of the election.

“We, in an individual sense, have knowledge that we have acquired throughout the election campaign, which obviously can inform our judgments better than most other people who may not know what is going on.

“I think there is an analogy to be made here with football, where players are not allowed to bet on games they participate in, and I think the same should be applied to politics.”

Asked if any SNP candidate had bet on the election, Swinney replied: “I’m not aware of anyone, nothing has caught my attention.”