Tory candidate tells BBC election bet was ‘huge error of judgement’

The economy dominated as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss took part in their first head-to-head TV debate.

The Alliance Party has also increased its first preference vote, while the DUP’s has dropped.

Meanwhile, the UN says more than 1.5m people have now fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on 24 February.

The Russian assault is being fought on several fronts after it attacked from the east, north and south.

Sir Keir Starmer said securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was “essential” to deter Vladimir Putin from future aggression.