UK Politics

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentChannel 4 is facing demands to stop running betting companies adverts ahead of attempts to bring in a full ban on the “harmful” commercials.A letter from Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel has been sent to chief executive Alex Mahon, pushing for an end to accepting paid adverts from betting companies.Mr Sobel has targeted Channel 4 because it is still in public ownership despite an attempt by Boris Johnson to sell it off.The letter has arrived amid growing momentum behind demands to end betting company advertising to help tackle gambling addiction.Leeds MP Alex Sobel has called on Channel 4 to take paid for gambling adverts (PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentChancellor Rachel Reeves is considering increasing alcohol duties in next month’s Budget, it has been reportedMs Reeves has not ruled out putting up tax on beer, wine and spirits as part of a plan to restore public finances.She has been presented with forecasts that show that putting up alcohol duty would raise an extra £800m next year, the Telegraph reports. Alcohol duty rises each year in line with inflation unless the chancellor decides to freeze it. While the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation is set to be 2 per cent next year, industry sources told the paper that forecasts produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility point to a potential increase in duties by more than 6 per cent. Drinks industry bosses warned that tax takings could actually go down if customers baulk at higher prices and buy less.Ms Reeves has said that next month’s Budget will involve “difficult decisions” on tax, spending and welfare. She said she faced a £22bn “black hole” in public finances this year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that hard decisions will be made in next month’s Budget More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentReform UK’s conference had the buzz of a party punching well above its weight. And that is exactly what the party’s leadership is attempting to do. Nigel Farage and other senior figures spent today’s conference – the largest it has ever held – trying to persuade its members, and the wider public, that it is a credible electoral force.They even went so far as to suggest Mr Farage could be the next prime minister.With just five sitting MPs, the most the party has ever secured in its short history, it’s certainly a bold ambition.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during the party’s annual conference (Joe Giddens/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentKeir Starmer has said he will not accept any more free clothes from donors after days of negative headlines over “wardrobe-gate”. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves have also made the same pledge, in an abrupt change of policy just before Labour’s annual conference opens this weekend.But the move still leaves Labour’s top team free to accept thousands of pounds worth of other gifts and hospitality. The row erupted after it emerged the prime minister did not initially declare clothing bought for his wife Victoria by Waheed Alli, who has given more than £500,000 to Labour over the last 20 years. As the row raged Lady Starmer made a surprise appearance at London Fashion Week, in a borrowed outfit. Keir Starmer has defended accepting free Arsenal tickets More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentNigel Farage has said Reform UK must “model itself on the Liberal Democrats” if it wants to succeed in upcoming elections.He outlined plans to “professionalise and democratise” the party, saying it was “amateurism” that let Reform down at this year’s general election. Mr Farage used his speech at his party’s conference to announce the creation of hundreds of local associations, as well as overhauling the party structure to hand back ownership to its members.Farage said that ‘amateurism let us down’ More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentHarrods boss Mohamed al-Fayed was a bully “used to getting his own way” the home secretary who rejected his application for citizenship has said. Jack Straw also told The Independent Fayed was “absolutely furious” after the decision was taken to refuse him a British passport in 1999.Fayed has been described as a “monster” whose case involves the “most horrific elements of … Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein” after five women alleged that they had been raped by the tycoon. A number of others allege sexual misconduct against the businessman, who died last year at the age of 94.A BBC documentary Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods features more than 20 female former employees speaking out, while lawyers say the allegations against him include serial rape, attempted rape, sexual battery and sexual abuse of minors.Jack Straw More

Farage says there’s some truth in Trump’s claim Haitian migrants are eating petsYour support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefReform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to deliver a keynote speech at the party’s conference in Birmingham. Mr Farage is expected to announce plans to “democratise” the party structure after he “relinquished” control of the company by giving up his majority shareholder position.It comes Richard Tice has defended Mr Farage’s attendance record in parliament. The Party’s deputy leader claimed “no one works harder than Nigel Farage.” Mr Farage has spoken seven times in parliament since he was elected.“As leader, you’ve got a huge job because you’re campaigning everywhere,” he said. “You’re sorting out the professionalisation with the chairman and so we’re sharing and sharing alike and that’s an important part of it.“You can’t be everywhere all the time. It’s really difficult. But let me tell you, no one works harder than Nigel Farage.”Mr Tice also defended his party leader’s frequent trips to the US, supporting his “friend” former president Donald Trump. Mr Farage has visited the US three times since being elected as the MP for Clacton, including attending the Republican national convention in Milwaukee two weeks after the election.Show latest update 1726818114Reform UK conference: Key timings to keep an eye onHere are some key timings to keep an eye on this afternoon during the Reform Party Conference in Birmingham:3pm: Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth3:15pm: Chief whip Lee Anderson 3:30pm: Deputy Leader Richard Tice 3:45pm: Zia Yusuf, Reform Chairman4pm: Grand finale speech from party leader Nigel FarageJabed Ahmed20 September 2024 08:411726844124’I want my country back’, says Lee AndersonSpeaking to the Reform UK conference, Lee Anderson said it was a “disgrace” for children to be “taught they could be a different gender”.Opening his address on the main stage, Mr Anderson was met with loud applause. He told the audience: “I want my country back.”The MP for Ashfield continued: “I remember a time when our children went to school and they were taught how to read and write and become good citizens. They were not taught they could be a different gender.“They did not have to sit down and listen to a six-foot-five drag queen read stories to them.“This has been happening under our watch in this country. It is an absolute disgrace.”( More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentDavid Lammy is looking at contingency plans to evacuate UK nationals from Lebanon as tensions rise in the Middle East. The foreign secretary has already urged Brits to leave the country amid the conflict with Israel.Ministers are keen to avoid a repeat of the chaotic scenes three years ago when as Britons attempted to flee Afghanistan as the Taliban took over the country.Mr Lammy has urged people to leave Lebanon “while commercial options remain” warning that the situation “could deteriorate rapidly”.On Friday Hezbollah launched more than 140 rockets into Israel in the wake of fresh airstrikes on southern Lebanon by the Israeli military – with Beirut warning the conflict is spiralling out of control.Smoke rises from Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon More