In Pictures: Farage doused while Starmer and Sunak prepare for first TV debate

The new Reform UK leader had what appeared to be a milkshake thrown at him as he left a pub following his Clacton-on-Sea rally.

Nigel Farage was surrounded by crowds in Clacton in Essex as he left a pub, where he told those gathered that the Tories should 'pay a big price' for betraying the promises of Brexit

Newly installed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage returned to the political fray on Tuesday as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer prepared for their first televised showdown of the General Election campaign.

Day 13 saw Mr Farage address hundreds of supporters at a rally in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex where he hopes to become an MP – although he did not get the warmest of welcomes after being doused with a milkshake.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir met pensioners in the North West of England to discuss the cost of energy and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey focused on care provision, as he played a giant game of Jenga in Greater Manchester.

General Election campaign 2024 — Nigel Farage was splattered with a milky drink as he left the pub (James Manning/PA)

Home Secretary James Cleverly meeting staff during a visit to Swain Group in Rochester, Kent — As Rishi Sunak took a day off from election visits, Home Secretary James Cleverly picked up the campaigning mantle with a trip to the Swain Group in Rochester, Kent (Yui Mok/PA)

Home Secretary James Cleverly dons a hi-vis vest as he arrives for a visit to Swain Group in Rochester, Kent — Mr Cleverly sought to play down the impact of Mr Farage’s decision to stand, while also flagging his party’s plans to give Parliament a direct role in setting migration levels (Yui Mok/PA)

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall meet pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and cost of living during a visit to the Bridge Cafe in Bolton whilst campaigning in the north west of England — Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer and shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall met pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and the cost of living during a visit to the Bridge Cafe in Bolton (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall meet pensioners in Bolton — Sir Keir was appearing in a televised debate with Mr Sunak later on Tuesday (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cheadle, Tom Morrison play Jenga during a visit to Cheadle, Greater Manchester — Elsewhere, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey and the party’s parliamentary candidate for Cheadle, Tom Morrison, played giant Jenga during a visit to Greater Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA)

Vicky Gilbert of Shropshire Flower Farm, left to right, Liberal Democrat candidate for North Shropshire Helen Morgan and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey make flower bouquets picked from the wild garden at Shropshire Flower Farm, during a visit to Whitchurch, Shropshire — Sir Ed – who later helped make flower bouquets at Shropshire Flower Farm in Whitchurch – highlighted his party’s plans to make day-to-day care for adults in need free in England if elected (Peter Byrne/PA)