On the second weekend of campaigning for the upcoming election on July 4, UK party leaders unveiled their battle buses in a bid to garner support. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched his bus in west London, focusing on employment and reforms to increase the employment rate. He avoided questions regarding Diane Abbott, who was recently cleared to stand in the election, amidst internal party discussions.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented the Conservative campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse. He defended his promise to allocate £20 million to 30 towns, amid accusations of targeting mainly Tory constituencies. Sunak asserted that the selection process was based on established criteria such as economic opportunities and health metrics.

In separate developments, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey proposed making Premier League matches free-to-air on TV, calling for amendments to the Broadcasting Act 1996. The Lib Dems also aim to abolish voter ID requirements, arguing the policy disproportionately affects young voters.

As the election approaches, the mortgage crisis is also intensifying, with projections showing that over 100,000 more families will face increased payments before polling day. The Liberal Democrats have criticized the Conservative government for its handling of the economy, warning of significant voter backlash in key battleground seats.