has this morning endorsed the centre—left opposition labour party. and a sky full of stars at coldplay�*s record—breaking fifth glastonbury headline set, with a few suprise guests. country star shania twain takes to the stage this afternoon, with r&b singer sza closing the festival tonight. here in the uk, campaigning for this coming week's general election is entering its closing stages. the prime minister, rishi sunak, has defended the conservatives�* record in government, as the general election campaign enters its final week. sir keir starmer has warned that a tory victory would keep britain in a "doom loop" of low growth, high tax and declining public services. damian grammaticas has more. yes, you saw the prime minister on the airwaves this morning with just a a few days to go until polling day and he was put on the spot about the conservative record. we have seen the sunday times newspaper, traditionally a conservative supporter, go out today and say it is time for a change of government, a verdict on m years of conservative government, their verdict of you is it is time for the conservatives to be in opposition and the prime minister was asked about that period of government and said he puts there were things to be proud of and defended his own record and here is a taste of what he had to say. {iii and here is a taste of what he had to sa . . ., , and here is a taste of what he had to sa . _, , , ., to say. of course i understand the last few years _ to say. of course i understand the last few years have _ to say. of course i understand the last few years have been - to say. of course i understand the last few years have been difficult l last few years have been difficult for everyone. we had a once in a century— for everyone. we had a once in a century pandemic followed by a war in ukraine _ century pandemic followed by a war in ukraine that drove up everyone's bills and _ in ukraine that drove up everyone's bills and that has been difficult for everybody but we have also made progress _ for everybody but we have also made progress in _ for everybody but we have also made progress in tackling all of those things. — progress in tackling all of those things, inflation back to normal and the economy growing and wages rising and we _ the economy growing and wages rising and we are _ the economy growing and wages rising and we are now able to start cutting people's— and we are now able to start cutting people's taxes to give them financial_ people's taxes to give them financial security so yes, it has been _ financial security so yes, it has been difficult, but we are now on the right— been difficult, but we are now on the right track with the prospect of more _ the right track with the prospect of more tax _ the right track with the prospect of more tax cuts to come to give people financial_ more tax cuts to come to give people financial security and that is our promise — financial security and that is our promise for this election, building on the _ promise for this election, building on the progress we have made. you tell the public— on the progress we have made. wi. tell the public very plainly, judge us by our record and the effort we have put in, and over the longer term, overili have put in, and over the longer term, over 14 years, the country has become poorer by many measures, sicker by many measures and by many measures public services are worse. that is the record of successive conservative administrations. i don't accept that, laura. i think education — don't accept that, laura. i think education is one of the most powerful— education is one of the most powerful things any government can do to transform people's lives and during _ do to transform people's lives and during those 14 years, thanks to the reforms _ during those 14 years, thanks to the reforms of— during those 14 years, thanks to the reforms of the conservative government, our schoolchildren are now government, our schoolchildren are how the _ government, our schoolchildren are now the best readers in the western world _ now the best readers in the western world and _ now the best readers in the western world and nine out of ten schools are outstanding and that was a huge improvement on what we inherited and all of those _ improvement on what we inherited and all of those reforms were opposed by the labour— all of those reforms were opposed by the labour party. it all of those reforms were opposed by the labour party-— the labour party. it was also questioned _ the labour party. it was also questioned on _ the labour party. it was also questioned on climate - the labour party. it was also l questioned on climate change the labour party. it was also - questioned on climate change and changing some of the uk's milestones on transition and on that, he said some of the ideas about what should be done with net zero transition, he described them as nonsense, and he said the idea that the uk was not a leader in that field was decline list narrative. brute leader in that field was decline list narrative.— leader in that field was decline list narrative. ~ ., , ., , ., list narrative. we only have days to no list narrative. we only have days to to now list narrative. we only have days to go now and — list narrative. we only have days to go now and so _ list narrative. we only have days to go now and so far, _ list narrative. we only have days to go now and so far, the _ list narrative. we only have days to go now and so far, the poll - list narrative. we only have days to go now and so far, the poll haven't| go now and so far, the poll haven't looked great for rishi sunak�*s conservative party. —— decline declinist narrative. how do they feel in the coming days? he declinist narrative. how do they feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident _ feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident and _ feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident and felt _ feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident and felt they - feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident and felt they had - feel in the coming days? he said he felt confident and felt they had ran l felt confident and felt they had ran a good campaign but interestingly we have seen this row about racism and comments caught on camera by members of the reform party and nigel farage has tried to distance himself from that and safe some of it was, he has doubts about some of that and called it a setup, but the prime minister was asked, he had criticised some of those comments but i'd taken money from a major conservative donor, frank hester, who has also had to apologise for racist remarks about labour politician diane abbott and rishi sunak addressed to the comments by reform and this is what he told laura kuenssberg.— he told laura kuenssberg. anyone cominu he told laura kuenssberg. anyone coming into _ he told laura kuenssberg. anyone coming into politics _ he told laura kuenssberg. anyone coming into politics is _ he told laura kuenssberg. anyone coming into politics is ready - he told laura kuenssberg. anyone coming into politics is ready to - coming into politics is ready to accept — coming into politics is ready to accept a — coming into politics is ready to accept a degree of criticism and that comes with the territory and that comes with the territory and that is— that comes with the territory and that is fine — that comes with the territory and that is fine but in this case, what was said — that is fine but in this case, what was said was deeply inappropriate and racist — was said was deeply inappropriate and racist and i did it deliberately and racist and i did it deliberately and i_ and racist and i did it deliberately and i hated doing it but i thought it was— and i hated doing it but i thought it was important to say it, to call out what — it was important to say it, to call out what it — it was important to say it, to call out what it was and that is why i did what— out what it was and that is why i did what i— out what it was and that is why i did what i did and i think the vast majority— did what i did and i think the vast majority of— did what i did and i think the vast majority of people in our country rightly _ majority of people in our country rightly believe it is not the colour of your— rightly believe it is not the colour of your skin or your background or your— of your skin or your background or your gender— of your skin or your background or your gender that define who you are and the _ your gender that define who you are and the fact i am the first british asian _ and the fact i am the first british asian prime minister, as you said at the beginning of the segment, is a wonderfui— the beginning of the segment, is a wonderful thing but it is also wonderful thing but it is also wonderful that it was not a big deal and that— wonderful that it was not a big deal and that is— wonderful that it was not a big deal and that is what so special about our country, i don't think my story could _ our country, i don't think my story could be _ our country, i don't think my story could be possible anywhere else, but we can't _ could be possible anywhere else, but we can't let _ could be possible anywhere else, but we can't let that views minority rent _ we can't let that views minority rent license like that and i had to call them — rent license like that and i had to call them out notjust for me and my family— call them out notjust for me and my family but— call them out notjust for me and my family but for the rest of the country _ family but for the rest of the count . , , ., ., country. this person wrote in and told us, i — country. this person wrote in and told us. i was _ country. this person wrote in and told us, i was appalled _ country. this person wrote in and told us, i was appalled at - country. this person wrote in and told us, i was appalled at the - country. this person wrote in and | told us, i was appalled at the way soon act was described, however to be his stance on racism hasn't been completely zero tolerance and said, why did he refuse to return the money of a conservative party donor who was accused of making racist remarks about diane abbott? i who was accused of making racist remarks about diane abbott? i caught out those remarks _ remarks about diane abbott? i caught out those remarks by _ remarks about diane abbott? i caught out those remarks by frank— remarks about diane abbott? i caught out those remarks by frank hester - out those remarks by frank hester and he _ out those remarks by frank hester and he apologised and showed genuine contrition _ and he apologised and showed genuine contrition and i think when someone is genuinely — contrition and i think when someone is genuinely contrite about what has happened _ is genuinely contrite about what has happened and accepts what they have done is _ happened and accepts what they have done is wrong that that apology is accepted — done is wrong that that apology is accepted. mr done is wrong that that apology is acce ted. ~ ,, , , ., accepted. mr sue dip in his own record and _ accepted. mr sue dip in his own record and throughout - accepted. mr sue dip in his own record and throughout that - accepted. mr sue dip in his own - record and throughout that interview try to turn that focus on two attacks on labour and i think you will see that campaign go that way in the next few days. —— mr rishi sunak. the conservatives and the prime minister trying to focus on their core message that people should be worried about the prospects of a labour government but at the same time, as you saw there, facing many questions about 14 years of conservative rule and the state of conservative rule and the state of the country now going into the election which is obviously what the labour party want to focus on. thank ou for labour party want to focus on. thank you for bringing _ labour party want to focus on. thank you for bringing us _ labour party want to focus on. thank you for bringing us that _ labour party want to focus on. thank you for bringing us that interview, i you for bringing us that interview, nee atticus, and laura quinn spoke also spoke to other politicians such as daisy cooper from the liberal democrats. and we have a bbc live page and a 24—hour election stream and you can go there and hear more about what all of the parties are up to today. england's footballers take on slovakia this evening, in their first knockout match at the european championships in germany. whoever wins that match will play switzerland — who've caused a major upset by knocking out the defending champions, italy, 2—0 in berlin. meanwhile, the hosts germany are also into the quarter finals after beating denmark 2—0. goals from kai havertz and jamal musiala proved enough to take germany through to the last eight. they will next play the winner of sunday's game between spain, who have looked one of the best sides so far, and the surprise package — georgia. but all eyes here on england, of course. let's speak to football fans, father and son, david and nick poulton. they're currently in berlin to the watch the game. lucky for you to have got tickets and it has been a reasonable performance so far from england in the tournament but i think it is fair to say it hasn't been outstanding. how do you see the team going into today? we outstanding. how do you see the team going into today?— going into today? we are very excited to _ going into today? we are very excited to watch _ going into today? we are very excited to watch the - going into today? we are very excited to watch the game - going into today? we are very| excited to watch the game and going into today? we are very - excited to watch the game and we are not going to the game, we will watch it in the berlin fans zone today but we are hoping to see a better performance and the results so far have been 0k and topping the group was very important but we would like to see if you changes to the line—up and hopefully a much improved performance from the players. igrated performance from the players. we'd like to let england _ performance from the players. we'd like to let england take _ performance from the players. we'd like to let england take the game to the slovaks tonight and i think that has been _ the slovaks tonight and i think that has been lacking so far and we want to push— has been lacking so far and we want to push forward and get some balls in the _ to push forward and get some balls in the box — to push forward and get some balls in the box and get some energy going and this— in the box and get some energy going and this is— in the box and get some energy going and this is where it is at now, it is not _ and this is where it is at now, it is not group _ and this is where it is at now, it is not group stage, we really need to go— is not group stage, we really need to go for— is not group stage, we really need to go for this, it is important. indeed. — to go for this, it is important. indeed, knock out stage, as you say, indeed, knock out stage, as you say, i lets talk about the chances of england to go through and you talk about the line—up there. who do you think are the best assets for the team today?— think are the best assets for the team toda ? , ._ , , , team today? the players he is trying to net into team today? the players he is trying to get into the _ team today? the players he is trying to get into the team, _ team today? the players he is trying to get into the team, foden, - to get into the team, foden, bellingham, they are important to try and play but i think you have to play them in their proper positions and foden has to be in that ten position in the middle and that hopefully means bellingham are dropping back although i think that is unlikely and i would like to see gordon on the left and we need some balance to the team, there is no threat to the left and no threat in the high and so i would like to see gorton on the left and foden in the middle with bellingham dropping back alongside rice. i middle with bellingham dropping back alongside rice-— alongside rice. i think we would like to see _ alongside rice. i think we would like to see intervention - alongside rice. i think we would like to see intervention quickly l alongside rice. i think we would i like to see intervention quickly and if it is— like to see intervention quickly and if it is not— like to see intervention quickly and if it is not working, to make the changes, — if it is not working, to make the changes, and that has been frustrating so far that we have waited — frustrating so far that we have waited far too late to make the change — waited far too late to make the change and we need to make intervention sooner than later if what _ intervention sooner than later if what we — intervention sooner than later if what we are doing is not working. what _ what we are doing is not working. what you — what we are doing is not working. what you make of slovakia as an opponent? fin what you make of slovakia as an opponent?— what you make of slovakia as an o- onent? , ., , opponent? on paper, the team is nowhere near _ opponent? on paper, the team is nowhere near as _ opponent? on paper, the team is nowhere near as strong _ opponent? on paper, the team is nowhere near as strong as - opponent? on paper, the team is nowhere near as strong as the . nowhere near as strong as the england team. they have obviously done very well to reach the knockout stages. i can imagine the game will go in a similar way to the slovenia or maybe the serbia game, so on paper we should be stronger but you certainly can't underestimate anyone at this stage of the tournament. absolutely, it is our and they will raise _ absolutely, it is our and they will raise their— absolutely, it is our and they will raise their game and we have to make sure we _ raise their game and we have to make sure we do— raise their game and we have to make sure we do the same and it is important _ sure we do the same and it is important that we to get through to the next _ important that we to get through to the next stage tonight and get the film the next stage tonight and get the right result. you the next stage tonight and get the riaht result. ., , ., the next stage tonight and get the right result-— right result. you will beat with the fans later today _ right result. you will beat with the fans later today in _ right result. you will beat with the fans later today in the _ right result. you will beat with the fans later today in the fan - right result. you will beat with the fans later today in the fan zone. i fans later today in the fan zone. what is the mood in the england fan camp? —— you will be with. what is the mood in the england fan camp? -- you will be with.— camp? -- you will be with. morale has been very _ camp? -- you will be with. morale has been very high _ camp? -- you will be with. morale has been very high and _ camp? -- you will be with. morale has been very high and support . camp? -- you will be with. morale| has been very high and support has been fantastic in the games we have been fantastic in the games we have been too but it is just the frustration that we have such a strong squad and the performances aren't matching that level of strength so i think there is maybe a bit of optimism that they could improve and hopefully this game could be used as a springboard to get those performances improved. before i let you both go, i need to ask you, who would thought switzerland would be storming through the championships in the way that they do? if i'm correct, whoever wins tonight will play switzerland, so if, as you hope, england win, that is their next opponent and they have been pretty formidable so far.— opponent and they have be