In Pictures: Sunak tries to regain pole position with manifesto launch

Rishi Sunak tried to regain pole position on the election campaign trail on Tuesday as he launched the Conservative manifesto at Silverstone racetrack, home of the British Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer went back to school in Middlesbrough, Ed Davey found a new friend in a candidate’s guide dog, and Nigel Farage dodged a cup of coffee thrown at his bus in Barnsley. Rishi Sunak in a suit and his wife Akshata Murty in a yellow dress surrounded by campaigners holding ‘vote Conservative’ signs (James Manning/PA) Mr Sunak captured through the viewfinder of a video camera as he outlined key points of the manifesto (James Manning/PA) Defence Secretary Grant Shapps looks pensive as he listens to Mr Sunak’s speech (James Manning/PA) Mr Sunak visited Silverstone University Technical College in Towcester, Northamptonshire after launching his party’s manifesto (James Manning/PA) Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was driving home his party’s message on education at a school in Middlesbrough. Wes Streeting and Sir Keir Starmer sit either side of a young blond boy in school uniform sitting at a low desk in a classroom " data-title="General Election campaign 2024" data-copyright-holder="PA Wire" data-copyright-notice="PA Wire/PA Images" data-credit="Stefan Rousseau" data-usage-terms="" srcset="https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/9979a1cbda3c6b16b830a159a7948ac3Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4MTg4NDYz/2.76486644.jpg?w=320 320w, https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/9979a1cbda3c6b16b830a159a7948ac3Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4MTg4NDYz/2.76486644.jpg?w=640 640w, https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/9979a1cbda3c6b16b830a159a7948ac3Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE4MTg4NDYz/2.76486644.jpg?w=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px">Sir Keir and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (left) met future voters when they visited Whale Hill Primary School in Eston (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Brushing up on his people skills: Sir Keir helped the pupils during a lesson on oral hygiene, demonstrating the right amount of toothpaste to squeeze out (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was forced to take evasive action during his visit to Barnsley. Something was thrown towards Mr Farage as he rode on an open-top bus during his visit to Barnsley in South Yorkshire, but missed the Reform UK leader (Danny Lawson/PA) A possible suspect was seen with a cup in hand in the crowd (Danny Lawson/PA) Earlier, Mr Farage had a nail painted when he stopped at On The Lash beauty salon, in Hoyland (Danny Lawson/PA) Mr Farage then joined Lee Anderson, Reform UK parliamentary candidate and former Conservative MP, in a cafe in Ashfield (Dominic Lipinski/PA) In the South West, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey steered his campaign on to disability issues. Sir Ed met Jenny, a guide dog belonging to parliamentary candidate for Torbay Steve Darling (left) (Ben Birchall/PA) Sir Ed also joined Mr Darling on board the Disabled Sailing Association boat DS Freedom during a visit to Torquay Harbour (Ben Birchall/PA) Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross went behind the scenes of the refurbishment of the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during a visit to the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, which is undergoing refurbishment (Jane Barlow/PA)