General election latest: Latest poll has more bad news for the Tories – as Labour accused

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By Dr Hannah Bunting, Sky News elections analyst, and Joely Santa Cruz, data journalist

The prime minister has taken a defensive approach, signalling the Conservatives’ worry about being so far behind in the polls.

Sir Keir Starmer’s visits show the scale of their ambition and highlight Labour’s awareness of the challenge they face. They need to gain 125 seats to win the smallest possible majority.

Labour ambitious

Labour’s visit to nearby Derbyshire Mid in the East Midlands shows the scale of their boldness. They need more than a 16-point swing to take the seat from the Tories, but their recent mayoral wins might mean they are feeling confident about convincing the voters here.

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These stops in the Midlands show the regions to be a key battleground between the two main parties. The Conservatives had 76 MPs across the East and West, so it’s crucial for their general election fortunes. The extent of Labour’s success here could be the difference between them being the largest party or gaining a decisive majority.

The range of seats visited by Sir Keir demonstrate just how ambitious Labour are in their targets. They aren’t shying away from places with big Conservative majorities, and kicking off their campaign in Kent tells us they think they can win in regions only Blair managed to conquer.

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Labour’s eyes on the prize

Eight Conservative-defended seats have had the pleasure of a visit from Sir Keir Starmer, but he has also found time to venture into SNP territory in Scotland. Why? Well, Labour are also taking aim at John Swinney and his party’s troubles.

Every seat Labour can win off the SNP in Scotland reduces the number they need from the Tories directly in England and Wales for a majority.

The Glasgow constituencies that were once dominated by Labour are key battlegrounds. So, unsurprisingly, the Labour leader chose to head to Glasgow East. This has had significant boundary changes, resulting in an estimated 15% majority for the SNP.

Here is the full breakdown of Sir Keir Starmer’s campaign visits so far: