Rishi Sunak was today facing Tory fury over his gaffe-laden start to the general election battle.

The Prime Minister was told Conservative candidates 'deserve better' after a series of mishaps in the first two days of campaigning ahead of the 4 July vote.

In the latest setback, Mr Sunak was delayed by pro-Palestinian protesters picketing the final stop of his two-day tour of the UK.

A crowd of demonstrators carrying placards and Palestinian flags this afternoon took position outside the venue in the West Midlands where the PM was expected to hold another campaign visit.

Mr Sunak had earlier visited the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which prompted reporters to ask him whether he was 'captaining a sinking ship' in the election.

It came after the teetotal premier yesterday visited a Welsh brewery where he awkwardly asked workers if they were looking forward to the Euros - despite Wales not having qualified for the upcoming football tournament.

Thursday also saw two men dressed in high-vis clothing at a warehouse event, who appeared to be normal voters asking questions of Mr Sunak, later exposed as Tory councillors.

On Wednesday, the PM stunned Westminster by announcing the date of the general election on 4 July - much earlier than most MPs had expected - in a downpour as his address to the nation was interrupted by campaigners playing New Labour anthem 'Things Can Only Get Better'.

Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson expressed anger at the bumpy start to Mr Sunak's election campaign.

She posted on X/Twitter: 'The deluge launch drowned out by D:Ream. A brewery visit with a teetotal PM, so no chance of a piss up.

'Now a site visit to something famous for sinking. Is there a double agent in CCHQ, and were they a headline writer in a previous life? Our candidates deserve better.'

On a visit to the Titanic Quarter today, I asked the Prime Minister if he is captaining a sinking ship going into this election @BelfastLive pic.twitter.com/fjjPMhYX2B

— James McCarthy (@JamesMcCarthy97) May 24, 2024

Rishi Sunak was today facing Tory fury over his gaffe-laden start to the general election battle, with the PM told Conservative candidates 'deserve better'

Mr Sunak visited the Titanic Quarter in Belfast with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, which prompted reporters to ask the PM if he was 'captaining a sinking ship'

Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson expressed anger at the bumpy start to Mr Sunak's election campaign

 On the first day of the general election campaign, the PM was quizzed by what seemed to be ordinary workers at West William Distribution in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Mr Sunak's grilling at the biscuit distribution centre went well as two of the group asked unchallenging questions of the Conservative leader.

Yet it later emerged how they are both Tory councillors in what Labour claimed is evidence the PM is 'running scared' of the British electorate.

Mr Sunak's bumpy start to the six-week election campaign, ahead of the 4 July vote, began in Ilkeston when he stood in the centre of a group dressed in high-vis.

Two men who asked questions of the PM were later found to be Conservative politicians - with one of them also from a different county.

Erewash councillor Ben Hall-Evans and Leicestershire councillor Ross Hills were first identified by the Byline Times.

Mr Hills, who describes himself on social media as a 'part-time dentist', told the website he had been asked to appear at the campaign event.

During the Ilkeston event, Mr Sunak picked Mr Hall-Evans to ask him the first question, which saw the PM quizzed about what 'sets you apart' on improving people's finances.

Mr Hills was picked by the PM to ask the third question, which saw Mr Sunak thanked for attending the event as he is a 'pretty busy guy right now'.

He was then asked by Mr Hills about his Rwanda deportation plan and whether it would 'see results and stop the small boats coming'.

Neither of the men mentioned in their questions that they were Conservative councillors.

Two men dressed in high-vis clothing at a warehouse appeared to be normal voters asking questions of Rishi Sunak - but they have now been exposed as Tory councillors

Erewash councillor Ben Hall-Evans (left) and Leicestershire councillor Ross Hills were both identified as Conservative politicians

A Labour spokesperson said it showed that Mr Sunak was 'running scared' of the electorate.

'Rishi Sunak spent months dodging the verdict of voters and even now, he's still running scared,' they added.

'The reality is that 14 years of Tory chaos have cost the country dearly and have left working people worse off.'

A Conservative source: 'We do not control who asks questions – anyone can try and ask one.'

Labour included Mr Sunak's encounter with the two councillors in a mocked-up 'Rishi Sunak's Campaign Diary' video.

The 48-second clip also included footage of the PM's awkward meeting, later on Thursday, with workers at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery in Barry, South Wales.

Mr Sunak asked whether they were looking forward to the football later this summer as a potential source of revenue, despite Wales not qualifying for the Euro 2024 tournament.

There was an awkward pause after Mr Sunak asked: 'So are you looking forward to all the football?'

One brewery employee answered: 'We're not so invested in it,' to which another responded: 'That's because you guys aren't in it'.

The PM nonetheless insisted that 'it'll be a good summer of sport'.

Mr Sunak was also mocked by Labour for his rain-sodden address from Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, in which he announced the general election on 4 July

The Labour video also mocked Mr Sunak for his rain-sodden address from Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, in which he announced the general election on 4 July.

The PM himself took a light-hearted view of his soaking during his visit to Derbyshire yesterday by posing with an umbrella, quipping: 'Better late than never!'