Cabinet minister Michael Gove was tasked with handling questions about fresh Tory Party turmoil over allegations of betting on the date of the General Election, instead of talking up the party’s housing policies as planned on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was forced to deny that a party official had suggested a future government could “flatten the whole green belt” to achieve its homebuilding plans.
Both the Labour and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey were visiting seats in Yorkshire on Thursday, ahead of their appearance on BBC1’s Question Time in York.
![Cabinet minister Michael Gove on a housing visit in west London on Thursday](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/d5ea2449f710863740e3add7ac72caf7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTg3NDA2/2.76585242.jpg?w=640)
![Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Michael Gove during a housing visit in west London](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/44516814ce3a250386a042748f41b033Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTcyMjAy/2.76585239.jpg?w=640)
![Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in a hard hat and hi-vis jacket during a visit to see homes being constructed in York](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/021f55e1b82c38a8cb70cda998db47caY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY2Njg0/2.76584930.jpg?w=640)
![Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talking to a resident during a visit in York](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/11c7d62a11c7850f94d7285bfc07e4c5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY2Nzcw/2.76585350.jpg?w=640)
![Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking to people seated during a visit to Catton Hall in Frodsham, Cheshire](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/ef7353b68195c14930444097d5282102Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY2NjMy/2.76585104.jpg?w=640)
![Reform UK leader Nigel Farage takes part in clay pigeon shooting during a visit to Catton Hall in Frodsham, Cheshire](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/d68e6ff10b862bf6e16036c00efcd971Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY5ODU1/2.76586082.jpg?w=640)
![Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey during a visit to Whinfell Quarry Gardens, Sheffield](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/276f772f5ba169733a0d331dee093056Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTcyMjMy/2.76585986.jpg?w=640)
![Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey with an insect hotel during a visit to Whinfell Quarry Gardens, Sheffield](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/37151f708d03ec727bda25b8c108ece0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY2NTgy/2.76584949.jpg?w=640)
![Alliance leader Naomi Long, centre, with the party’s Westminster candidates during the party’s General Election manifesto launch at a hotel in Belfast](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/aa0a642a7cfc07b734878efcc1a514ceY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTY5OTQ4/2.76585634.jpg?w=640)
![Scottish Green Party co-leader Lorna Slater launches the party’s General Election manifesto](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/feff90d521751402953e837e50d49446Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTg2NDM3/2.76584820.jpg?w=640)
![Nigel Farage standing in the middle of two female supporters wearing Reform UK T-shirts, including one featuring a picture of Farage smoking a cigarette with the words 'The King' beneath it](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/f9efc3127521150bce528c9bd3a5bb68Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4OTk3NTM2/2.76586440.jpg?w=640)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here