Steerpike

Poor old Paul Nuttall. Today was supposed to be a fresh start for Ukip as the party launched its election campaign event in the run-up to June 8. Instead, it's descended into chaos. A group of protesters from 'Stand up to racism' have gatecrashed the launch event, waving banners and shouting and screaming moments before Nuttall was due to take to the his feet. The demonstrators were booted out of the room in which the event was taking place. But they refused to leave the building: meaning that a group of journalists were left trapped outside. The show has gone on anyway, with Nuttall doing his best to spell out the party's election pitch. Outside the hotel, the protesters are refusing to budge and the hotel is on lockdown. It just wouldn't be a Ukip event without a spot of drama...

Well, this is a bit awkward. The Johnson family has a long history of Conservatism. This holds true today, with Boris Johnson is the Foreign Secretary and his brother Jo is a Conservative MP. Up until now, their sister Rachel was broadly supportive of the party -- voting 'nothing but Tory' in general elections as 'a matter of family duty'. So, it's slightly embarrassing for Boris that his sister has now jumped ship. Despite her brother's big role in shaping the country's future, the Mail on Sunday columnist has joined the Liberal Democrats. As a Remain campaigner during the referendum, Johnson is thought to have made the decision over concerns about Brexit. A second rumour swirling round Westminster is that Johnson is being lined up for a seat, perhaps Bath or Yeovil.

Earlier this month, Tim Farron appeared to cast doubt on the idea of forming a 'progressive alliance' where the Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems work together to stop the Tories. The Liberal Democrat leader said that (while he held the Green Party's Caroline Lucas in high regard) 'the only plausible route of any kind towards the Conservatives not winning a majority is a Liberal Democrat group'. But was Farron's issue simply that the suggested alliance was with the wrong parties? Mr S only asks after being passed Lib Dem campaign literature from the Tees Valley mayoral race.

Today Tim Farron attempted to put a stop to questions over his Christianity, as he declared that he does not think gay sex is a sin. However, just a few hours later and the party have been plunged into another row. David Ward has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Bradford East, where he lost his seat at the last election. The former Liberal Democrat MP is an interesting choice given Farron has said he wants his party to be a 'warm home' for Jews left alienated by Labour’s anti-semitism scandal.

Although children can't vote, Jeremy Corbyn today found time to visit Brentry and Henbury Children's Centre -- as he promised that a Labour government would put a stop to 'super-sized' school classes. Alas, this message was distracted from slightly thanks to the faces Corbyn pulled as he read Michael Rosen's We're Going on a Bear Hunt to the children. Captions in the comments.

Oh dear. Today Jeremy Corbyn kicked off Labour's general election campaign with a speech on his party's vision for a fairer society -- complaining that the current system was rigged. However, confusion over whether Labour would consider holding a second referendum, if elected, distracted from the message. Now Dawn Butler has dealt the party another blow with a disastrous interview on Radio 4's PM. The Labour MP appeared to be having a bad day as she blustered through the interview with Eddie Mair -- claiming this election was May's attempt at rigging democracy: 'Labour will make this country fairer and that's how they will overturn a rigged system. This election is Theresa May trying to rig democracy.