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

Sir Keir Starmer met some future voters, Sir Ed Davey petted a dog and Nigel Farage dodged another drink thrown at him.

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 — Rishi Sunak in a suit and his wife Akshata Murty in a yellow dress surrounded by campaigners holding ‘vote Conservative’ signs (James Manning/PA)

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps looks pensive surrounded by applauding Cabinet ministers during Rishi Sunak's speech — Defence Secretary Grant Shapps looks pensive as he listens to Mr Sunak’s speech (James Manning/PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was driving home his party’s message on education at a school in Middlesbrough.

Shadow health secretary 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 — Sir Keir and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (left) met future voters when they visited Whale Hill Primary School in Eston (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was forced to take evasive action during his visit to Barnsley.

Nigel Farage flinches on the top of a bus — 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)

Nigel Farage holds his hand out in a nail salon while a woman in a grey hoodie and black rubber glove paints his finger while a camera takes his picture — Earlier, Mr Farage had a nail painted when he stopped at On The Lash beauty salon, in Hoyland (Danny Lawson/PA)

In the South West, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey steered his campaign on to disability issues.

Ed Davey holds the paw of a guide dog as he pats its head watched by a man in an orange jacket and flat cap — Sir Ed met Jenny, a guide dog belonging to parliamentary candidate for Torbay Steve Darling (left) (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 in a blue construction jacket and hard hat during a visit to the Kings Theatre, Edinburgh, which is undergoing refurbishment — Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during a visit to the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, which is undergoing refurbishment (Jane Barlow/PA)