UK Politics

Where a person went to school may be a deciding factor in how they vote at the next election, a new poll has revealed. Reform UK is now the most popular party among former pupils of state schools, new findings from polling firm More in Common show.Around a third (32 per cent) of this group would vote for the Nigel Farage-led party tomorrow if an election were called, reflecting its overall lead in nationwide polls.Labour is only attracting 20 per cent of this group in comparison, while its popularity among the privately educated is much higher. In this group, which makes up a much smaller proportion of the population, the government’s popularity is at nearly 40 per cent.The results mark More in Common’s first survey of voting intention, but the results are “consistent in other recent polls”, director Luke Tryl said.Mr Tryl told The Telegraph: “One of the things we know is that Reform polls very well with people who are understandably very unhappy with the status quo.“The truth is we have exceptionally volatile electorates, and I think the battle of the next few years is going to be which party can convince people it can bring about the change that they need.”The challenge for leading parties is to prove they “authentically speak for the working class, the middle class [and] show they get their concerns,” he said, adding: “I think Farage, because he’s plain-speaking, because he connects, has clearly done a good job of doing that so far. If Labour are going to get back in again, they need to show that they get it.”Labour’s success among former private school attendees may be surprising, considering its move to impose higher VAT on these types of schools shortly after coming into power last year.The survey of 2,037 adults in September found 38 per cent of privately educated people would vote for Labour in any immediate election.Reflecting on the results, top polling expert John Curtice told The Independent: “The folk who are voting for Reform are overwhelmingly people who voted for Brexit. Brexit was a division by age and by occupation.”Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has taken first position in several national polls of voting intention More

The former head of the Royal Navy has hit back at Donald Trump’s call for the UK to draft in the military to end the small boats crisis, calling the suggestion “a load of nonsense”.The US president on Thursday warned that illegal migration can “destroy” countries as he told the prime minister to “call out the military”, as Sir Keir Starmer struggles to bring illegal migration under control, with the number of crossings at a record high. Labour minister Peter Kyle on Friday admitted that the Royal Navy could be called upon to tackle small boats crossing the English Channel “if needed”. But former first sea lord Admiral Lord West said Mr Trump’s suggestion would make “no difference at all” because the UK cannot easily return boats to France.Lord West of Spithead rejected Donald Trump’s proposal More

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suffered another blow after unexpectedly high borrowing figures led to warnings that tax rises in November’s Budget now look “inevitable”. The highest August borrowing for five years outstripped predictions at £18bn, £3.5bn more than in August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Soaring interest on government debt also wiped out any boost from Ms Reeves’s controversial national insurance tax raid unveiled at last year’s Budget, according to the ONS.Martin Beck, chief economist at research and policy firm WPI Strategy, said: “The £10bn buffer the chancellor pencilled in against her key fiscal rule in March has almost certainly gone. That means tax rises in November look inevitable.”Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suffered another economic blow More

The King is set to be invited to the White House next year to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as the royals continue to play a leading role in “keeping Donald Trump sweet”.Talks are underway for a major royal visit to mark the historic anniversary, and The Independent understands Prince William is prepared to attend in his father’s place if King Charles’s schedule does not allow.Sources say a visit by either King Charles and Queen Camilla or Prince William and Princess Kate is a key part of Britain’s diplomacy with the current White House administration.President Trump has always made clear his admiration for the royal family, describing the King as “my friend” while using his speech at the state banquet this week to praise the Prince of Wales as “a great man”.The state visit this week was a key part of Britain’s diplomacy with the Trump administration and helped ensure that the UK received favourable trade terms after he imposed global tariffs.Trump has always admired the royal family, describing the King as ‘my friend’ More

The stakes were high for Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK this week. From questions over the appointment of Peter Mandelson and the US president’s links with Jeffrey Epstein, to criticism of the UK’s free speech laws – there was certainly no guarantee of success. After a nightmare return to parliament for Keir Starmer, who saw the departure of both Mandelson and his deputy Angela Rayner in the space of two weeks, the prime minister needed a boost amid growing speculation that he may not remain in post until the next election.There were a few sticky moments, such as when Trump told the prime minister to call the army in to tackle migration. He also admitted disagreements over the recognition of Palestine.Keir Starmer held a joint press conference with Donald Trump at Chequers on Thursday More

The Royal Navy can be brought in to tackle small boats crossing the English Channel “if needed”, a minister has said. After Donald Trump called on Sir Keir Starmer to use the military to bring illegal migration under control, Peter Kyle said Britain’s armed forces are currently focused on “key issues around the world”. But he said “we do have the functional relationship that we need between our military and keeping our borders safe and secure”.A small boat carrying people thought to be migrants near the French coast on Friday morning More