Markus Andrews

Musician Bob Geldof once threatened to storm out of Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa, warning it was in danger of becoming “a laughable grotesque”, according to newly released government files. The Live Aid campaigner was instrumental in convincing Mr Blair to establish the commission, which was intended to examine the continent’s problems before a crucial G8 summit at Gleneagles, Scotland, chaired by the UK.However, official papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, reveal Mr Geldof’s outrage when – after just one meeting – the commissioners were sent a document setting its “emerging conclusions”. Mr Geldof wrote an angry letter, dated 9 August 2004 and addressed to the economist Sir Nicholas Stern, the commission’s director of policy.In it, the musician said it was impossible to have come to any conclusions in such a short period of time. He was not prepared to serve on a body which was simply there to push “pre-determined government policy”, he warned.Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair and singer Bob Geldof speak to the media at the G8 summit in Gleneagles on 6 July 2005 More

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was reportedly keen to hold onto a guitar gifted by U2 frontman Bono, newly released official files reveal. The documents, from the National Archives in Kew, west London, show Mr Blair was eager to use the rules on ministerial gifts to acquire the instrument from the Live Aid campaigner once he left office. He did, however, question whether he would have to pay “the full purchase price”. Under the rules, Mr Blair, who was prime minister from 1997 to 2007, was allowed to accept gifts worth over £140, but had to pay for them himself, less the £140 difference.No 10 officials suggested that the prime minister might want to take the same approach when it came to a white Fender Stratocaster, worth £2,500, from the Canadian singer Bryan Adams.But while delighted with those offerings, Mr Blair’s enthusiasm waned for a similar gift from the president of Mexico. Tony Blair with Bob Geldof and Bono in No. 10 Downing Street More

Nigel Farage has defended people protesting outside an asylum hotel in Essex, claiming most were “genuinely concerned families”.The Reform UK leader insisted violent scenes outside the hotel were caused by “some bad eggs”, alleging clashes were between the “usual far-right thugs” and far-left anti-fascist activists, known as Antifa. Some of the demonstrators have been seen wearing black face coverings, similar to those often worn by members of Antifa, but it has not been verified whether the group has attended the protests.Mr Farage also claimed “civil disobedience on a vast scale” will break out unless migrants stop arriving to the UK on small boats.Six people were arrested on Sunday evening after a string of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which is believed to house asylum seekers. Eight police officers were injured following clashes at what had started as a peaceful demonstration on Thursday evening, while the latest rally on Sunday saw more than 100 protesters assemble, with some chanting “save our kids”.The events were organised in response to the arrest of an asylum seeker, who was later charged with sexual offences against a teenager and adult in the town, eight days after arriving to the UK via boat. Hadush Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, who denies the allegations and remains in custody, is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.Nigel Farage has defended those protesting outside an asylum hotel in Epping, claiming most were ‘genuinely concerned families’ More

Former Conservative MP Tom Hunt has been expelled from the party after an investigation into a disciplinary matter.The party announced the decision after a long investigation into the former Ipswich MP, who lost his seat in last year’s general election.A spokesman for the party said: “Tom Hunt has been expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process. This process is rightly confidential.”However, Mr Hunt has said that he is “disappointed” about the decision and indicated that he now intends to appeal.He told The Independent: “I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision. I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so. I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It’s a confidential process.”Tom Hunt has been expelled by the Tories over a disciplinary issue following a complaintDuring his time as an MP, Mr Hunt was deputy chairman of the influential right-wing Common Sense Group of Tory MPs.In his role, he had pushed for the Rwanda deportation scheme, greater immigration control, leaving the European Convention of Human Rights and a tougher stance on so called culture war issues.His name had been mentioned in speculation over defectors to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, but he had remained loyal to the Tories.He was a key supporter of Kemi Badenoch when she first ran for the party leadership in 2022.At the time he wrote for The Ipswich Star: “I think she is genuinely courageous. Her delivery at the dispatch box is powerful. She speaks her mind, which is refreshing. She is passionate and patriotic, and I think she can excite and inspire the nation.”However, he since changed his mind and backed Ms Badenoch’s main rival Robert Jenrick in the contest last year before she won last year. More

David Lammy has joined other foreign ministers in condemning the Israeli government for depriving Gazans “of human dignity”.The foreign secretary and his counterparts from 24 other nations, including Australia, Canada and France, along with the European Union’s commissioner for equality, urged the Israeli government to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid”.They called for the war to “end now” and described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called “humanitarian city” in Rafah as “completely unacceptable”.In a statement shared on Monday afternoon, the politicians said: “The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.“The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. “We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.”Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza More

Traditional public service media is under threat and needs to be more discoverable on popular video sharing platforms like YouTube, regulatory body Ofcom has said.Its report, Transmission Critical: The Future of Public Service Media, says the Government should bring forward legislation to help “ensure that PSM content is prominent and easy to find on the platforms, and on fair commercial terms.”The regulator and competition authority has made a number of recommendations in its action plan that is seeking “urgent clarity from the Government on how TV will be distributed to reach audiences in the future.”Group director for broadcasting and media at Ofcom, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, told the PA news agency: “We’ve called it (the report) Transmission Critical because we think that public service media is under real threat.“Broadcasters are experiencing quite tough financial challenges. The business model changes with audiences fracturing everywhere.”According to research from Barb, which is responsible for calculating UK TV official viewing figures, viewing on linear channels has fallen significantly in recent years and this decline is expected to continue.The report says that public service broadcasters (PSBs) will have to work “much harder to create content that audiences want to watch” on platforms like YouTube as “they are competing with every other content creator in the world.”Ms Nicolotti Squires said: “We’re not saying they have to go on YouTube, but we’re just saying that public service broadcasters have got to make great content where audiences are, and audiences are increasingly going onto YouTube.“They all have different deals with YouTube in terms of commercial returns, and that’s down to them. But I just think it’s important that the programmes that they’re making, public service programmes, are available where people are.“So just delivering on the linear channels, obviously, we’re seeing that viewing has fallen significantly in those areas. So it’s a question of, as I said, pretty much putting these great programmes where people are watching them.”A key objective of the Media Act, passed in 2024, was to make it easier to find content from PSBs like the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 on smart TVs.Ms Nicolotti Squires said Ofcom is now calling for “a logical next step on video sharing platforms”.She added: “It might require some further legislative changes to regulation. We’re starting the conversation rather than finalising it all.”The report says that stable and adequate funding is needed from the Government and emphasises that discoverability on online platforms is particularly important for news and children’s content.It also recommends that online platforms invest in media literacy skills while forging ambitious strategic partnerships that can compete with global streaming platforms.On top of this, Ofcom is launching a review of its regulation of broadcast TV and radio that will seek input from stakeholders about the priority areas for reforming regulation.Sarah Rose, president of Channel 5, said: “We are pleased that Ofcom’s review highlighted the challenges producing specialist children’s content and called for commercially viable funding models among its recommendations.“Channel 5’s Milkshake! continues to navigate those challenges to remain the only public service broadcaster offering a daily programming block which targets preschoolers with original content rooted in the UK’s Early Years Foundation framework.”A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said: “We welcome Ofcom’s Public Service Media Review and we will now consider its recommendations.”YouTube has been approached for comment. More