UK Politics

The leader of Hungary’s largest opposition party on Sunday told thousands of supporters that he would guide his country out of its international isolation if he defeats Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in elections scheduled for next year. Péter Magyar, the leader of the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party, represents the most serious challenge to Orbán’s power since the right-wing populist leader took power in 2010. Recent polling suggests that Tisza has overtaken Orbán’s Fidesz party as Hungary struggles with a stagnating economy and has been politically sidelined in the European Union over Orbán’s policies.Speaking at a rally in Budapest on Sunday, Magyar said that, if elected, he and his party would restore Hungary’s relationships and reputation among its allies that have suffered as Orbán has attacked the European Union and pursued close relationships with autocracies like Russia and China. “We will finally put our common affairs in order,” Magyar said. “Our homeland, Hungary, will once again be a proud and reliable ally of NATO. Hungary will once again be a full-fledged member of the European Union.”Orbán, a self-described “illiberal” leader, has been accused by critics of having led Hungary out of the community of European democracies by eroding democratic institutions, violating judicial independence and taking over much of Hungary’s media. Since taking power in 2010, he and his Fidesz party have led the country with a two-thirds majority in parliament, and easily defeated any opposition. But recent polls suggest that Tisza has pulled ahead of Fidesz in popularity as Magyar’s campaign focuses on economic and social issues facing the country like persistent inflation, a poor healthcare system and alleged government corruption. On Sunday, Magyar said Orbán’s system “cannot be reformed, cannot be fixed, cannot be improved. This system can only be replaced, and that is what we will do — lawfully, democratically, but with determination, we will cut down the regime.”Nóra Farkas, a supporter of Magyar at the rally, said she had hoped for Orbán’s defeat in Hungary’s last national elections in 2022, but that with around a year to go before the next ballot, she is more confident that change is possible.“Anyone who thinks things are going well in this country is blind. Orbán and his circle are the main reason for the problems,” she said. ___Béla Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary contributed. More

The business secretary has refused to guarantee that the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe will get enough raw materials in time to keep its crucial blast furnaces running.Jonathan Reynolds also said he would not sell the business to another Chinese owner as he indicated there is now a “high trust bar” for Chinese companies to meet before they will be allowed to invest in sensitive UK industries.On Saturday the government pushed through emergency legislation to take control of British Steel, with Mr Reynolds warning MPs that once blast furnaces run out of raw materials, they can never be turned back on. British Steel needs to secure raw materials for its blast furnaces to prevent its Scunthorpe facility from shutting down irrevocably More

Tulip Siddiq has denied wrongdoing following reports Bangladeshi authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest in connection with corruption allegations.According to media reports, Bangladeshi’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had sought an arrest warrant on Sunday over allegations the Labour MP illegally received a 7,200 square feet plot of land in the country’s capital, Dhaka.The allegation is said to be separate from an investigation into Ms Siddiq’s aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, regarding a nuclear power plant deal in which the former City minister has also been named.Ms Siddiq resigned from her post in the Treasury earlier this year following an investigation by the prime minister’s ethics adviser into her links to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown last year.In a statement, Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had no knowledge of any warrant being issued, and described the claims against her as “politically motivated”.In a statement, Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had no knowledge of any warrant being issued , and described the claims against her as “politically motivated”. More

The Conservatives have called on the government to “get a grip” after the terrorist brother of the Manchester Arena bomber attacked three prison officers. Minister have ordered a review of the incident, which took place at a high-security prison, as they pledged to “do whatever it takes” to keep staff safe. Hashem Abedi, who is serving at least 55 years for helping his brother carry out the atrocity at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017, threw hot cooking oil over three prison guards at HMP Frankland on Saturday, according to the Prison Officers’ Association (POA).He then produced home made weapons and stabbed the officers, who suffered injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds, the union said.Hashem Abedi assisted his brother in carrying out the Manchester Arena bombing (GMP/PA) More

“Savage” cuts to UK foreign aid will leave 55.5 million of the world’s poorest people without access to basic resources, The Independent can reveal.Analysis by Save the Children, shared exclusively with this publication, lays bare the true impact of repeated cuts to the budget, the latest of which will see spending fall to just 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) – the lowest level in 25 years.Women and girls will suffer the most as the government is likely forced to scale back programmes across global education, family planning, water and food aid. British aid for maternal healthcare has been essential in countries like Nigeria, where projects supported the fight against pregnancy-related deaths More

Nigel Farage has claimed Elon Musk was “just trying to encourage” him when he called for him to be sacked as the leader of Reform UK. The former Ukip leader had a spectacular falling out with the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump earlier this year. At its height, just hours after Mr Farage claimed his friendship with the Tesla founder made his party “cool”, Mr Musk called for him to be replaced at the top of Reform. The Reform leader had a spectacular falling out with the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump earlier this year. More

Police have launched a probe after a transport minister was seen using a mobile phone while driving a vintage bus in London.Lord Peter Hendy, the rail minister, has apologised “in full for this error of judgment” which occurred during a charity tour last month.He was driving an old Routemaster bus, which he owns, at the time. The rail minister Lord Hendy (Lauren Hurley/PA) More

The UK government has moved to take control of British Steel following fears that the blast furnaces at its Chinese-owned site in Scunthorpe could be at risk of shutting down.Parliament approved the plans to seize control of the site after Sir Keir Starmer called for the Commons to hold its first Saturday sitting since the Falklands War in 1982. As the emergency measures were passed, dramatic reports emerged of workers at the plant preventing executives from the Chinese firm Jingye from accessing the site, amid fears of “sabotage” and “industrial vandalism” at the last remaining plant in the UK capable of producing virgin steel.Jonathan Reynolds accused Chinese company Jingye of failing to act ‘in good faith’ in negotiations over the future of the Scunthorpe plant More