Animal health ‘fundamental’ to rebuilding trust with rural communities, says Labour MP
A Labour MP has described animal health as “fundamental” to a wider attempt to rebuild trust with rural communities. Speaking on the Labour conference fringe, Josh Newbury, the MP for Cannock Chase, pointed to animal health and engagement on related issues as areas the government and the farming community “can all agree on”. He framed […]
Labour branded ‘nasty party’ after minister calls Ed Davey ‘fat bloke in wetsuit’
A senior minister has referred to the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, as a “fat bloke in a wetsuit”. Torsten Bell, who serves jointly as a pensions and Treasury minister, delivered the remarks while speaking to a fringe event at Labour Party conference. Bell said: “What Britain needs to tackle [Reform UK leader Nigel] Farage […]
Immigration crackdown necessary for ‘open, generous, tolerant’ society, Mahmood says
Immigrants will be required to meet stricter conditions in order to earn the right to stay in the UK permanently, under a new government crackdown. Labour has announced that a government consultation will be launched on plans to make settlement dependent on paying national insurance, claiming no benefits, learning English to a high standard, volunteering […]
Back electoral reform to embed ‘progressive majority’ and thwart Farage, Starmer urged
Keir Starmer has been urged to throw his support behind some form of proportional representation (PR) in order to embed Britain’s “progressive majority”. Paul Sweeney, member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region, warned that without electoral reform, the country could face a “horrendous scenario” leading to the “extinction of the United Kingdom”. […]
Andy Burnham criticises ‘climate of fear’ in Labour with vow to continue ‘debate’
Andy Burnham has vowed to continue the debate he has instigated over the direction of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer’s leadership, in a direct response to his internal critics. In his first major intervention at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, Burnham criticised a “climate of fear” in the party, which he suggested had been […]
Cross-party MPs publish ‘ready to go’ blueprint for electoral reform commission
A group of cross-party MPs have set out a “ready to go” blueprint for an independent review of the UK’s first past the post (FPTP) electoral system. The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for fair elections, the largest of its kind in Westminster, has developed the terms of reference for a “national commission on electoral reform” […]
Nigel Farage ‘on the side of predators’ with Online Safety Act criticism, says Labour
Nigel Farage is “on the side” of predators like Jimmy Savile with his criticism of the Online Safety Act, the technology secretary has suggested. Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, said Reform UK’s policy of repealing online safety laws means Farage has taken the side of “people out there who […]
Farage urged to rule out Liz Truss joining Reform UK after ally’s defection
Reform UK has been challenged to rule out recruiting Liz Truss to its ranks, after her one-time party chairman, Sir Jake Berry, became the latest former Conservative MP to defect from the Tories. The Liberal Democrats described Berry, who like Truss lost his seat at the 2024 general election, as an “architect of economic disaster” […]
Three out of five people think Keir Starmer does not respect them, poll suggests
A significant majority of the British public, 63 per cent, believe prime minister Keir Starmer does not respect people like them, marking a dramatic reversal in sentiment since the 2024 general election, a new poll indicates. The concept of “respect” was a central pillar of Starmer’s successful pitch in opposition. However, a report published by […]
Former Conservative cabinet minister David Jones joins Reform UK
A former Conservative cabinet minister has announced he has left the party to join Reform UK. Jones, who was the MP for Clwyd West from 2005 until standing down in 2024, said he had quit the Tories after “more than 50 years of continuous membership”. Jones served as secretary of state for Wales under David […]
