our panel tonight — from edinburgh, the bbc political correspondent rob watson, and from plymouth, our south west's political editor martyn oates. later in the programme, vladimir putin has just arrived in north korea for a two—day summit with kimjong—un. and we are watching events at the white house tonight — joe biden about to sign an executive order that will grant an amnesty to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who are married to us citizens. a very warm welcome to the programme. the british billionaire entrepreneur and businessmanjohn caudwell, who gave the conservatives half a million pounds before the last general election, has told the bbc he will vote labour for the first time in his life next month. the founder of the phones au buisness invited our political editor chris mason to his house this afternoon and told him he thought rishi sunak was an "absolute dud" and that the labour leader sir keir starmer is, for him, hitting all the right notes. no, i've no idea how many bulbs there are in those chandeliers either. mayfair and the labour party are not words that often feature in the same sentence, but the party wants to show off their new supporter and invited me to interview him. the last general election, you gave £500,000 to the conservatives, you're now saying "back labour." why? well, the reason, of course, for backing the conservatives was i couldn't possibly stand a corbyn government, and i'm still exactly the same view there. but what i've witnessed, especially over the last couple of years, is a complete change, getting rid of what i would call the loony left, where extreme socialist policies, rather than creating a wealthy britain. tell me about the courtship between the billionaire and the socialist, between you and keir starmer. i don't know whether i'd call it a courtship, to be honest. my thoughts on labour historically were very negative, and what i've seen now, the more and more i've looked at labour, is a transformation. is this going to be the first time you'll have voted labour? first time in 51 years, yes, and honestly it took a lot of me soul—searching. because i guess you voted for the conservatives a lot in the past, is that right? yeah, and it wasn't really because it was the conservative party, it's the conservative principles i believe in. what, in your view, has gone wrong for the conservatives? is rishi sunak a dud? 0h, absolute dud. all the criticisms that i made of rishi during his chancellorship i think were pretty much evidenced in the d—day situation, where... a complete lack ofjudgment. are you going tojoin the labour party? will you consider giving money to them in the way that you have to the conservatives in the past? the labour party, in my estimation, as much i disagree with some of the policies, are the absolute very best for britain going forward. it's quite possible i might support them financially if they needed it next time round, if i think they've done an amazing job. it's nice to talk to you, and thanks for having us. chris mason, bbc news in mayfair. let's get a reaction to that, rob watson was watching. john caudwell i think straightaway from the conservative party a long time ago, but when you have a big business leader like that saying the tory leader like that saying the tory leader is a dud, although chris mason led him into that little bit, that doesn't help, does it? it that doesn't help, does it? it certainly doesn't. i think you could say the on the one hand, does one very rich person, one voter out of 41 million eligible voters make a difference? probably not. on the other hand, if you think about what the labour party's message is, what's your keir starmer has been constantly trying to say, which is, "we are not a classic centreleft party, we won't be immediately reaching for the levers of taxation and taxation, we are all about wealth creation and growth, so it doesn't get you any harm to get you someone who's fab fabulously wealthy on your side." the other thing that looks bad for the governing conservatives is when you've had a whole string of bad news mishaps, to have you another person deserting you even if it's one person doing so very public publicly is not good for the vibes, is it? m0. very public publicly is not good for the vibes, is it?— the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the money. _ the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the money, rob, _ the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the money, rob, we _ the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the money, rob, we don't- the vibes, is it? no, in terms of the money, rob, we don't talk. the vibes, is it? no, in terms of - the money, rob, we don't talk about money in terms of elections when it comes to uk elections — at least pretend to refer to a law and american elections — but when you have a donor of that scale walking away from the party, what is that due to how you run the campaign? we've all been brought up very well, not to be brought up —— not to bring up not to be brought up —— not to bring up money and politics, not like america. but it doesn't help, there have been reports the conservative party is nowhere near as flush as they used to be, and that it's been outspent by the opposition labour party which is amazingly unusual in british elections. doesn't make much difference? i guess it must, otherwise why on earth with the parties be spending this money? so it's one more thing for rishi sunak and conservative headquarters to be worrying about. find and conservative headquarters to be worrying about-— worrying about. and it's something the lib dems, _ worrying about. and it's something the lib dems, down _ worrying about. and it's something the lib dems, down there - worrying about. and it's something the lib dems, down there in - worrying about. and it's something the lib dems, down there in the i the lib dems, down there in the southwest, of course as is ever the case in the southwest, you tend to get a number of seats being contested by the conservatives and lib dems. ed davey saying, "if we just get a bit more money out of our donors, we could reach these target seats." , , , . seats." the lib dems have limited resources compared _ seats." the lib dems have limited resources compared to _ seats." the lib dems have limited resources compared to the - resources compared to the conservatives. going into this election. _ conservatives. going into this election, it looked as if — peripherally, we've only got 25 seats _ peripherally, we've only got 25 seats here, so the real focus of the battle _ seats here, so the real focus of the battle was — seats here, so the real focus of the battle was in the midlands and the north _ battle was in the midlands and the north if_ battle was in the midlands and the north. if you make everyone back to the 2015— north. if you make everyone back to the 2015 election where things were very close. — the 2015 election where things were very close, and clearly the conservatives failed to obtain a majority — conservatives failed to obtain a majority in 2010, and managed to get one in— majority in 2010, and managed to get one in 2015, _ majority in 2010, and managed to get one in 2015, in those elections the nationei— one in 2015, in those elections the national result i think it's fair to say did — national result i think it's fair to say did largely hinge on these few seats_ say did largely hinge on these few seats here. the 2015 election comes along, _ seats here. the 2015 election comes along, the _ seats here. the 2015 election comes along, the lib dems coalition collapses completely. so one of the hi i collapses completely. so one of the big questions in this part of the world _ big questions in this part of the world is, — big questions in this part of the world is, can they finally regain some _ world is, can they finally regain some of— world is, can they finally regain some of those seats? now rishi sunak down here _ some of those seats? now rishi sunak down here for the second time today - i down here for the second time today - i get— down here for the second time today - i get the _ down here for the second time today — i get the impression he's revisiting _ — i get the impression he's revisiting those seats previously held revisiting those seats previously hetd tty— revisiting those seats previously held by the liberal democrats. he's concerned _ held by the liberal democrats. he's concerned about that, and conservative mps were telling me leading _ conservative mps were telling me leading up to the that quite late in the day, _ leading up to the that quite late in the day, resources were being switched — the day, resources were being switched to seats here in the southwest — which frankly 2—3 years a-o southwest — which frankly 2—3 years ago would've been viewed as safe tory seats — ago would've been viewed as safe tory seats now. ago would've been viewed as safe tory seats now-— tory seats now. were it not bad enou~h, tory seats now. were it not bad enough. the — tory seats now. were it not bad enough, the statement - tory seats now. were it not bad enough, the statement from i tory seats now. were it not bad i enough, the statement from john caudwell tonight,. the guardian newspaper is leading their coverage tonight with a new ipsos mrp projection that suggests labour is heading for a landslide victory in two weeks' time. the paper say more than 100 conservative—held seats appear to be on a knife—edge, with the result in the hands of millions of undecided swing voters. that poll gives scottish labour real cause for optimism. after a pitiful showing in 2019, the party is now expanding its target to 36 seats north of the border, where today they were unveiling their scottish manifesto. in london, keir starmer was talking to voters on lbc radio. ahead of that appearance, the conservatives attacked him again for some mixed messaging on whether he would reopen the council tax bands. the labour leader told callers that none of his plans require a tax rise, beyond those already set out in the manifesto. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas reports. today is the very last day you can register to vote. these may not be the voters of today, but rishi sunak has been taking his campaign far and wide. this was lincolnshire yesterday. mr sunak, in his search for voters, is sticking to his strategy to subject labour to scrutiny. today in devon, repeating that again. the choice is crystal clear, tax cuts at every stage of your life. if you are in work, setting up a small business and self employed, if you are a young couple wanting to buy a home, if you are a pensioner or have got a young family, the conservatives will deliver tax cuts for you. in contrast, labour willjust put up your taxes, and that will not create any financial security for anyone. the labour leader, meanwhile, keen to slay dragons about his party's plans, was also in the south of england in basingstoke, accompanied by the investor and tv personality theo paphitis. he is highlighting labour plans to set up banking hubs in towns to give people and companies access to banking services. but it is part of the challenge for small businesses — whether it's hospitality, retail, we have just been talking about — and that's why i'm really pleased today to unveil our plan for supporting small businesses, for supporting high streets, to make sure that more people are out using those small businesses on their high street. it is all part of our manifesto, which is a manifesto for wealth creation, growth and making sure people genuinely feel better off with labour. his every move being filmed too, sir ed davey is also in the south of england. today he is up to more genteel stuff, dishing out croissants, but pushing one of the liberal democrats' favourite themes — water quality and their plan to spend £10 million to hire new inspectors to toughen up enforcement. his campaigning in hampshire is another sign the battlegrounds in this election extend into what has long been deep blue conservative territory. across the blue wall seats i have talked about in the home - counties, in surrey, _ sussex, hampshire, hertfordshire, 0xfordshire and cambridgeshire, so many parts of traditional- conservative heartlands, the liberal democrats i are the only party who can beat the conservatives. i i have just been i in the west country. in devon and somerset, i but also dorset and cornwall, we are seeing a revival- of liberal democrat support as people who traditionally have i voted conservative say they can't do it any more. and they will not vote labour, i they will vote liberal democrat. with just over two weeks until polling day, the parties are all fine tuning their campaigns ahead of what will be their final push for your vote in the coming days — if, that is, you register in time. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. martin, i'm looking at this model in the guardian tonight, the first one they've done, and it's only one pole — but it suggests labour would win 453 seats, the conservatives 115, giving labour a majority of 256. do you get the sense, given you've just told us that rishi sunak has been down there twice and quite short order, the actually the campaign is shifting for the conservatives and are now in a defensive crouch? i think that's right. i think there was a — think that's right. i think there was a sense even in the months leading — was a sense even in the months leading up— was a sense even in the months leading up to the election that they ntight— leading up to the election that they might need to be worried about this. in might need to be worried about this. in 2015, _ might need to be worried about this. in 2015, it _ might need to be worried about this. in 2015, it looked as if this was existential for the liberal democrats, and since then they've appealed _ democrats, and since then they've appealed on occasions to take two steps _ appealed on occasions to take two steps forward and three steps back. but on _ steps forward and three steps back. but on the — steps forward and three steps back. but on the last dose might have been three years. — but on the last dose might have been three years, they've made consistent gains _ three years, they've made consistent gains here _ three years, they've made consistent gains here in the region —— 2—3 years — gains here in the region —— 2—3 years in— gains here in the region —— 2—3 years. in devon, the unitary council in dorset, _ years. in devon, the unitary council in dorset, which they took for the first time — in dorset, which they took for the first time ever this year, dorset was always on their wish list but they never— was always on their wish list but they never managed to crack it like they never managed to crack it like they have — they never managed to crack it like they have now, the unitary authority in somerset. always difficult to extrapolate from local elections what _ extrapolate from local elections what will happen in the general — having _ what will happen in the general — having said that, historically the lib dems's pattern of success as they— lib dems's pattern of success as they build — lib dems's pattern of success as they build up strength and local government, and certainly those etection— government, and certainly those election results would point to success — election results would point to success. but the big question remains — success. but the big question remains as to whether they can crack it at the _ remains as to whether they can crack it at the parliamentary level. the other— it at the parliamentary level. the other thing in terms of westminster representation is they did take that safe tory— representation is they did take that safe tory seat, neil parish's seat — remember— safe tory seat, neil parish's seat — remember he resigned in the tractor pawn— remember he resigned in the tractor pawn incident — that was a sea that had never— pawn incident — that was a sea that had never been anything but tory previously, it's disappeared under the changes. again, is that changing in the _ the changes. again, is that changing in the big _ the changes. again, is that changing in the big revival? there's still a bil in the big revival? there's still a big question mark over that. i big question mark over that. wonder big question mark over that. i wonder whether this poll is an entire disaster for the conservatives, obviously the numbers are terrifying for the conservative party, but grant shapps has been out on the airwaves in the last two days warning about a labour super majority, and the report does say that all these seats are dependent on undecided swing voters. so presumably they will get hold of that and say to their own supporters, "this is why you need to come out." supporters, "this is why you need to come out-"— come out." hard to find a silver linin: in come out." hard to find a silver lining in a _ come out." hard to find a silver lining in a poll— come out." hard to find a silver lining in a poll like _ come out." hard to find a silver lining in a poll like this, - come out." hard to find a silver lining in a poll like this, but i suppose you're having a little attempt. by the way, greetings to martin, and if it doesn't violate bbc impartiality, i adore devon — but i adore all counties in england. he's coming after yourjob there. i suppose if you really are doing a christian fraser special of you are a political adviser trying to look on the bright side, might this terrify some of your voters coming out to support you? may be — to quote the great goo ruby always use, professorjohn curtis, the pollster from scotland, he wrote this fascinating piece over the weekend based on all the polling, saying it was pretty obvious the conservatives were going to get one helluva kicking — but the question isjust how big a kicking? there was quite a variety in it, and it depends on what the people who were voting conservative in 2019, but now say they don't, what do they do? if they go to reformat, it's bad for the conservatives, if they go to labour, it's bad for the conservatives. fin it's bad for the conservatives. on the it's bad for the conservatives. 0n the manifesto scottish labour put out today and this new target of 36 seats, from the two seats they currently hold, that's an extraordinary uplift — but when you look at the manifesto, is it about this election, or is he looking forward to years to the hollyrood election? �* ., �* , ~ forward to years to the hollyrood election? 1, �*, ~ i. ~ election? both - it's like you knew i would election? both - it's like you knew i would say — election? both - it's like you knew i would say that. _ election? both - it's like you knew i would say that. it's _ election? both - it's like you knew i would say that. it's about - election? both - it's like you knew i would say that. it's about the i i would say that. it's about the message being we need to get rid of the conservatives in westminster, and once we finish them off, we'll take them on in scotland, take the snp alone, and two years for the scottish elections. so it's absolutely both. let scottish elections. so it's absolutely both.- scottish elections. so it's absolutely both. scottish elections. so it's absolutel both. , ., absolutely both. let me show you some live pictures _ absolutely both. let me show you some live pictures before - absolutely both. let me show you some live pictures before we i absolutely both. let me show you some live pictures before we go l absolutely both. let me show you | some live pictures before we go to the break, becausejoe biden has just taken to the stage — there he is, alongside the first lady, jill, who isjust addressing people in the white house, abo