Top Starmer aide resigns over explicit Diane Abbott messages in further blow to PM – UK politics live

Director of strategy Paul Ovenden quits to avoid becoming distraction' after details of derogatory emails emerge

Nigel Farage has announced that Danny Kruger has defected to Reform UK from the Tories. Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire, is a leading social conservative, and co-chaired the New Conservatives group in the last parliament with Miriam Cates.

Farage said that Kruger would be in charge of preparing the part for government.