Talk about an eleventh hour endorsement. This afternoon, one long-anticipated announcement dropped less than a day ahead of the general election. The Sun newspaper has now officially backed Sir Keir’s Starmer’s Labour party – just hours before polling stations are due to open.

Tweeting out an image of its front page splash, Rupert Murdoch’s famed red top has officially given its seal of approval to Starmer’s army this afternoon in just five words: ‘Time for a new manager’. A play on the ongoing Euros tournament – and, perhaps, a nod to the England team’s own extraordinary last-minute turnaround at the weekend – the election special of Britain’s most-read tabloid depicts a glitzy football pitch emblazoned with the endorsement: ‘As Britain goes to the polls, it’s time for a new manager. (And we don’t mean sack Southgate!)’

The Sun Says: It’s time for a change…
Here’s an early look at tomorrow’s front page.https://t.co/YpYkKeY3ND pic.twitter.com/uaZr4ELdZX

— The Sun (@TheSun) July 3, 2024

Its Scottish counterpart has released its own version too – a more classic election splash that bashes the SNP and screams: ‘Things can only (& will have to) get better’, adding: ‘And we’ll be watching carefully making sure they do.’ More a veiled threat than a full-throated endorsement, Mr S thinks…

BREAKING: Scottish Sun election editorial: It’s time for a change of management at Westminster and for Scotland to send a message to the failing and sleaze-ridden SNP that their time is up. That means it’s time for Labour. https://t.co/pxnYBt7MS9 pic.twitter.com/H5tYjYjx3K

— Chris Musson (@ChrisMusson) July 3, 2024

The newspapers join the rest of Murdoch’s fleet in backing this election’s likely victors – although they are some of the last national papers to come out for Starmer. Talk about going into extra time…