Theresa May commits to foreign aid spending amid 'uncertain' election

Speaking at a campaign event in her Maidenhead constituency, the Prime Minister offered an early indication of the contents of the new Conservative manifesto as she confirmed that the controversial aid target would remain.

She also refused to rule-out abandoning David Cameron's pledge to keep the costly pensions triple lock in place until 2020, stating only that her party is "[supporting] people in their old age".

And she once again insisted that the Tories are the only party with a plan that will "take this country not just through Brexit, but beyond Brexit" to deliver a "stronger [and] more secure future".

Addressing workers at the GSK factory in Berkshire, Mrs May claimed she is taking nothing for granted ahead of the June 8 poll.

This is despite some polls putting her party 24 points ahead of Labour, and forecasting a Tory majority in the Commons of 100 seats.

"The election campaign has only just begun, I'm not taking anything for granted, the result is not certain," she said.

"I'm going to be out and about campaigning across the whole of the United Kingdom and I'm going to be out and about campaigning and meeting people in all different communities across the United Kingdom."

Her comments follow similar assertions by the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that the result of the election is not a "foregone conclusion".

But they also follow claims that recent polls are inaccurate and the contest could be much closer.

Mrs May also said she will maintain Britain's commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid if the Conservatives win the general election.

Responding to a question from the media, she said the pledge "remains and will remain" and that she is proud of the work the UK is doing abroad, for example in helping to tackle the Ebola crisis in Africa or supporting Syrian refugees.