good evening. he's insisted numerous times since the general election was called that he would not stand as a candidate — but today he changed his mind, and possibly how the election will play out. nigel farage says he's going to take over leading the reform uk party and will run as a candidate for it in the seat of clacton in essex. he put down his sudden change of heart to the millions of people he says he doesn't want to let down. our special correspondent lucy manning has all the details. mr farage, are you standing? well, we'll find in a moment, won't we? why did you change your mind? who knows? who says i have? well, you said a few weeks ago, well, you said ten days ago you weren't going to stand, so why the change? did you ever change your mind about anything ever? he said he wouldn't, but now he will. a major u—turn. a change of heart thrust nigel farage into the heart of the general election campaign. i've changed my mind. it's allowed, you know. it's not always a sign of weakness. it could potentially be a sign of strength. so i am going to stand in this election. margaret thatcher famously said she wasn't for turning. you are obviously for turning. why the massive u—turn all of a sudden? this is the old thing about hearts and heads, isn't it? you know, i rationally thought this was too difficult. i've changed my mind because i can't let down millions of people who would feel let down by me, unless i was at the front and led this charge over the course of the next five and a half years. a reform uk source says mr farage loves the theatre of it all and he certainly put himself centre stage at this election. the worry for the conservatives is that he will divert votes away from them. mr farage, who'd been called a chicken for not running, was also announced as the new reform uk leader. unlike other parties, without any sort of vote. when the election was called, mr farage had said it was too soon and he was also too busy with us politics. six weeks is such a short period of time to fight a parliamentary constituency and promote the cause around the country. and you know, i think rishi sunak has wrong—footed an awful lot of people, myself included. nigel paul farage. he's tried seven times before to be an mp, so will it be eighth time lucky in clacton, in essex? the seaside town, big brexit voters and previously had a ukip mp. today's announcement making waves. i wouldn't want in running the country. but some of the things he says and does, it is good old british style. you know, i think if he run for the clacton, i he will win, win it. i don't understand why people focus so much on him when he doesn't bring anything other than division and difficulties. the tories say reform uk won't win any seats, so voting for them only helps labour and they claim nigel farage is giving keir starmer a blank cheque. but the reform uk leader says he will surprise everyone again, and that will worry the conservatives. lucy manning, bbc news. and here is the list of candidates we know about so far standing in the clacton constituency. the bbc news website will have a complete list, once they're all confirmed. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says if he becomes pm he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend the uk. at a campaign event in bury, he said his party would increase defence spending and update the country's nuclear arsenal. both the tories and labour are keen to make national security a prominent issue in this election, as our political editor chris mason reports. the fusilier museum, in bury, in greater manchester is a shrine to military service. today, the man who wants to be prime minister wants to convince you the country would be safe in his hands. look at those around him — they have each served in the forces. they are now labour candidates. national security is the most important issue of our times. something which, of course, is always true. and which, for us, if we are privileged to serve our country, will become our solemn responsibility. and labour is promising to keep the uk's nuclear weapons if it wins. keir starmer, you could be prime minister next month. if circumstances necessitated it, would you authorise the firing of nuclear weapons — yes or no? it's a vital part of our defence, and of course that means we have to be prepared to use it. how things have changed. i can't imagine being invited to a place like this for a speech by his predecessor, jeremy corbyn... i want to be here because of my belief in a nuclear—free future! ..here addressing a campaign for nuclear disarmament rally in 2016. in that same year, half a dozen members of the current shadow cabinet voted against renewing the uk's nuclear weapons. has the labour leopard really changed its spots on defence? i lead this party. i've changed this party. if we are privileged to come in to serve, i will be the prime minister of the united kingdom. and i have got my whole shadow cabinet behind me. one of those opponents eight years ago, labour's now deputy leader — she backs the current policy, but chose to mention something today her boss did not. globally, we should be looking at disarmament of nuclear weapons, but that has to be done in combination with other countries. the scottish national party are opposed to nuclear weapons, the liberal democrats criticise conservative cuts to the army, and the tories are having a go at labour. you have got starmer promising everything on defence, 2.5%- when conditions allow. i would love to do everything i when conditions allow, it's just, you can't believe a word this guy says _ so, let's talk about money with the man who could be keir starmer�*s defence secretary in a matter of weeks. you've talked about labour spending 2.5% of national income on defence, but you've not put a timeframe on it. it's meaningless, isn't it, without a time frame? we must increase defence spending to deal with the increasing threats we face. but by when? we'll undertake a defence review within the first year, where we'll look at the threats we face, the capabilities we need, and we will set the plan to hit 2.5% as part of that review. labour look and sound very different on defence than they did. the question for you is how that might change your view of them, or not. chris mason, bbc news, in bury. the conservatives have pledged to update equality laws, to define sex as someone�*s biological sex at birth. they say current confusion over definitions cannot be allowed to continue — and updating the law would make biological sex a protected characteristic. they claim that means it would be easier to create protected spaces for women and girls. labour say the law doesn't need to be amended and accuse the conservatives of stoking a culture war. here's alex forsyth. flanked by young footballers, the prime minister claimed today he was tackling an issue to improve the safety of women and girls. the conservatives want to change the equality act so sex would mean biological sex. they say that would make it clearer that single sex spaces, from public toilets to refuges, can be for biological women and girls only, not those born male, even they have legally changed their sex on their birth certificate. the equalities minister claims this is necessary because there has been confusion and legal challenges over the issue. we have, you know, rapists being put in women's prisons and that being said to be legal. we can'tjust leave this and say, "oh, well, you know, we'lljust put out some more guidance." we've put out the guidance, it's not working, people going to court, endless tribunals. we need to settle this once and for all. labour point out there is already provision for single sex spaces. they would issue more guidance, but claim the tories are just trying to divert attention. we've seen, whether it's through this or national service, i think an attempt by the conservatives to generate some debates which are not about the economy, or the nhs, or law and order and criminaljustice to move away from those issues where the conservatives have an appalling record. even the lib dems, no stranger to political stunts of their own, called this a distraction to stoke a culture war. where a public service needs to have further guidance, we are happy to issue that guidance, but let's not pick apart legislation that reflects the hard—fought and hard—won protections given to women, to trans women, and to all sorts of people from protected characteristics. the conservatives have been accused of trying to stoke tensions, not least in other political parties. they say it's a point of principle. this is a complex and sensitive area that can involve balancing the rights of those involved, and it's already been proven this issue is not easy to navigate. tensions were brought to the fore when the scottish government tried to change the law to make it easier for people to change their legal sex, only to be blocked by uk ministers. now the tories say decisions on this issue should be taken in westminster — not something welcomed by the snp. it's just another example of undermining the powers of the scottish parliament. now, obviously i don't want to see that, because i believe we should have a parliament with the full range of powers to tackle all of the issues that affect the people of scotland. so, a policy change that's needed, or an issue being used as a political football? another point of contention in this campaign. alex forsyth, bbc news. let's go back to chris mason. rishi sunak and keir starmer are out on the campaign trail today. which is most likely to be affected by the announcement of a candidate for a sleet bear seat in clacton? without cuestion, sleet bear seat in clacton? without question. the _ sleet bear seat in clacton? without question, the conservatives. - sleet bear seat in clacton? without question, the conservatives. the . question, the conservatives. the kind of news that nightmares are made of for the conservatives. nigel farage, tory tormentor in chief, relaxed and jocular, enjoying the idea of making the conservative party, a party he once belonged to, really squirm. why? because plenty of conservatives conclude that quite a few of their recent voters are lowered by reform uk and already were. and they now fear the prospect of nigel farage being much more prominent will enhance the magnetism of that party. it's notjust that nigel farage is going to be a candidate, it is that he is assuming the leadership of the party, but will give him a platform and profile that he simply wouldn't have had in his other role as an honorary president. in other words, his other role as an honorary president. in otherwords, nigel farage isjust where he president. in otherwords, nigel farage is just where he loves to be, centre stage and disrupting. and this matters not because of him, loved by some, loathed by others, it's because of his capacity to shape the mood and the outlook of one of the big actors in this campaign. in other words, one of the big actors in this campaign. in otherwords, the conservative party. how do they react to the prospect of nigel farage out and about with much greater prominence? and all over this, on the eve of the first big set piece moment of the campaign, the head to head a prime ministerial debate between rishi sunak and keir starmer happening on television tomorrow night. the first televised leadership debate of the general election is taking place in glasgow tonight. and there've been robust exchanges between leaders from the snp, scottish conservatives, scottish labour and scottish liberal democrats. 0ur scotland editorjames cook has been watching. ready or not, here they come. the first of many election debates is under way. first of many election debates is under way-— first of many election debates is under wa . ,., ., ., .., under way. good evening and welcome to the leaders — under way. good evening and welcome to the leaders debate. _ under way. good evening and welcome to the leaders debate. with _ under way. good evening and welcome to the leaders debate. with scotland . to the leaders debate. with scotland centre stage. _ to the leaders debate. with scotland centre stage, the _ to the leaders debate. with scotland centre stage, the leaders _ to the leaders debate. with scotland centre stage, the leaders began - to the leaders debate. with scotland centre stage, the leaders began by l centre stage, the leaders began by pitching for votes. {lit centre stage, the leaders began by pitching for votes.— pitching for votes. of the snp win, the will pitching for votes. of the snp win, they will claim _ pitching for votes. of the snp win, they will claim every _ pitching for votes. of the snp win, they will claim every seat - pitching for votes. of the snp win, they will claim every seat as - pitching for votes. of the snp win, they will claim every seat as a - they will claim every seat as a mandate for independence. they will be distracted from the local issues you care about. in key seats up and down scotland, if everybody who wants to beat the snp votes together for the scottish conservatives, we can end their obsession with independence for good. scotland can't afford _ independence for good. scotland can't afford five _ independence for good. scotland can't afford five more _ independence for good. scotland can't afford five more years - independence for good. scotland can't afford five more years of. independence for good. scotland | can't afford five more years of this rotten _ can't afford five more years of this rotten tory— can't afford five more years of this rotten tory government. we can't miss— rotten tory government. we can't miss this _ rotten tory government. we can't miss this opportunity for change. so every— miss this opportunity for change. so every vote _ miss this opportunity for change. so every vote for scottish labour is a vote to _ every vote for scottish labour is a vote to make sure we get rid of the tories, _ vote to make sure we get rid of the tories, maximise scotland's influence _ tories, maximise scotland's influence and deliver the change scotland — influence and deliver the change scotland needs. we influence and deliver the change scotland needs.— influence and deliver the change scotland needs. we all know the westminster _ scotland needs. we all know the westminster system _ scotland needs. we all know the westminster system is - scotland needs. we all know the westminster system is broken. l scotland needs. we all know the - westminster system is broken. it has delivered _ westminster system is broken. it has delivered austerity, _ westminster system is broken. it has delivered austerity, brexit _ westminster system is broken. it has delivered austerity, brexit and - westminster system is broken. it has delivered austerity, brexit and the i delivered austerity, brexit and the cost of— delivered austerity, brexit and the cost of living — delivered austerity, brexit and the cost of living crisis. _ delivered austerity, brexit and the cost of living crisis. scotland - cost of living crisis. scotland deserves _ cost of living crisis. scotland deserves better. _ cost of living crisis. scotland deserves better.— cost of living crisis. scotland deserves better. scottish liberal democrats _ deserves better. scottish liberal democrats are _ deserves better. scottish liberal democrats are all _ deserves better. scottish liberal democrats are all about - deserves better. scottish liberal democrats are all about help. i deserves better. scottish liberal i democrats are all about help. and deserves better. scottish liberal - democrats are all about help. and we are part of the change that is coming. in the next parliament, we will be working for a better britain, to restore yourfaith in politics and fix our broken relationship with europe. the debate cuickl relationship with europe. the debate quickly turned _ relationship with europe. the debate quickly turned to _ relationship with europe. the debate quickly turned to the _ relationship with europe. the debate quickly turned to the economy - relationship with europe. the debate quickly turned to the economy and l quickly turned to the economy and north sea oil. irate quickly turned to the economy and north sea oil-— north sea oil. we would do a windfall tax _ north sea oil. we would do a windfall tax on _ north sea oil. we would do a windfall tax on oil— north sea oil. we would do a windfall tax on oil and - north sea oil. we would do a windfall tax on oil and gas i north sea oil. we would do a - windfall tax on oil and gas giants, to make _ windfall tax on oil and gas giants, to make sure we are putting more money— to make sure we are putting more money into— to make sure we are putting more money into peoples pockets, to lower their bills, _ money into peoples pockets, to lower their bills, as well as investing in a clean _ their bills, as well as investing in a clean energy of the future to lower— a clean energy of the future to lower bills for good. the danger with our lower bills for good. the danger with your position _ lower bills for good. the danger with your position is _ lower bills for good. the danger with your position is that - lower bills for good. the danger with your position is that it - lower bills for good. the danger with your position is that it willl with your position is that it will lead to the loss of tens of thousands ofjobs in the north—east of scotland. that is a price not worth paying. of scotland. that is a price not worth paying-— of scotland. that is a price not worth -a inc. , ., , worth paying. the parties have been bereft of ideas, _ worth paying. the parties have been bereft of ideas, they _ worth paying. the parties have been bereft of ideas, they have _ worth paying. the parties have been bereft of ideas, they have not - bereft of ideas, they have not driven — bereft of ideas, they have not driven down reliance on fossil fuels until the _ driven down reliance on fossil fuels until the steps to bring about the transition — until the steps to bring about the transition. ., ., ., ., transition. you will not hear me at an time transition. you will not hear me at any time in _ transition. you will not hear me at any time in this _ transition. you will not hear me at any time in this campaign - any time in this campaign downplaving _ any time in this campaign downplaying the - any time in this campaign downplaying the difficultl downplaying the difficult circumstances _ downplaying the difficult circumstances facing - downplaying the difficult - circumstances facing people in scotland. _ circumstances facing people in scotland, across _ circumstances facing people in scotland, across the _ circumstances facing people in scotland, across the whole - circumstances facing people in scotland, across the whole ofl circumstances facing people in i scotland, across the whole of the circumstances facing people in - scotland, across the whole of the uk and in _ scotland, across the whole of the uk and in many — scotland, across the whole of the uk and in many parts _ scotland, across the whole of the uk and in many parts of— scotland, across the whole of the uk and in many parts of the _ scotland, across the whole of the uk and in many parts of the world. - already plenty of food for thought. here tonight, this debate is not over yet. clearly that was a snapshot but even in that snapshot we have learnt a few things about this campaign and also there has been a reminder of how much has happened in the last few years, because the principal discussion was about the economy, the cost of living and in that there was talk of covid, brexit, liz truss, the climate crisis, so a lot that has happened over the past few years. the second theme was there was discussion about policy areas that are not the responsibility