Tories have ‘grave concern’ Russia could be giving boost to Nigel Farage
Oliver Dowden has expressed ‘grave concern’ Russia could be giving boost to Nigel Farage
PA/X/REUTERS
The Conservative Party has said it has “grave concerns” that Russia could be providing a boost to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has weighed in on allegations of Russian interference uncovered by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and is calling for an investigation.
According to the Australian outlet, the Russian operation is supporting Nigel Farage by repeatedly sharing images, text and talking points across five co-ordinated Facebook pages with 190,000 followers.
“These revelations reveal the real risk our democracy faces in this uncertain world,” Dowden told the Times.
“Malign foreign actors, promoting British political parties, policies and views that fit their agenda is just another example of the challenges in the increasingly volatile cyberspace of the 21st century and is gravely concerning to see during an election campaign.”
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden has also voiced his support as he wrote to cabinet secretary Simon Case and national security adviser Sir Tim Barrow asking for the claims to be investigated.
When asked about his thoughts on the allegations, Nigel Farage said: “This is the Russia hoax.”
Richard Tice says 'dark forces at play by desperate Tories'
GettyIn a statement posted on social media, Reform UK chairman Richard Tice has claimed Tory candidates were offering jobs and inducements to Reform candidates "to persuade them to talk badly of Reform, stand down and then endorse the Tory candidate.”
"This shows dark forces at play by desperate Tories," he said.
'A vote for Reform is a vote for Keir Starmer', say Tories
PAThe Tories have said that if 130,000 voters joined the Reform UK candidate who switched to back the Conservatives, "it would be enough to stop Labour’s supermajority”.
A party spokesman said: "(Liam) Booth-Isherwood knows a vote for Reform is a vote for Keir Starmer.
"If just 130,000 voters like him currently considering a vote for Reform or Liberal Democrat voted Conservative, it would be enough to stop Labour’s supermajority which means higher taxes and an illegal immigration amnesty.
"There is no doubt, only a vote for the Conservatives can prevent an unaccountable majority for Labour, and the ruin this would bring for the country."
Reform UK candidate leaves party and backs Tories amid 'widespread racism and sexism'
Liam Booth-Isherwood
Reform UK candidate for Erewash, Liam Booth-Isherwood has left the party and is instead endorsing the local Conservative candidate.
He said there is a "significant moral issue" in parts of the party following "reports of widespread racism and sexism".
In a statement, Booth-Isherwood said that "over the past few weeks" he has become "increasingly disillusioned with the behaviour and conduct of Reform".
He added: "Whilst I have campaigned alongside many decent, honest and hardworking people during the course of the General Election campaign in Erewash, the reports of widespread racism and sexism in Reform have made clear that there is a significant moral issue within certain elements of the party, and the failure of the Party’s leadership to not only take this matter seriously, but also to fundamentally address it, has made clear to me that this is no longer a party I want to be associated with."
James Cleverly wades into Glastonbury row after inflatable small boat full of dummy migrants seen crowd surfing
James Cleverly wades into Glastonbury row after inflatable small boat full of migrants seen crowd surfing
PA/X
James Cleverly has waded into a Glastonbury row after an inflatable lifeboat carrying dummy migrants was seen crowdsurfing at the music festival.
He wrote on X: "Small boats crossings are deadly and have cost the lives of too many people.
"Festival goers cosplaying as migrants, and celebrating the actions of people smugglers, while they party is awful.
"Whatever your political views, this isn’t something we should trivialise."
Stephen Flynn claims election campaign kept him from joining Tartan Army during Euros
SNP Westminster leader Stephen FlynnPAStephen Flynn has claimed the election campaign kept him from joining the Tartan Army during the Euros
When asked about mistakes he had made during the election campaign, The SNP's Westminster leader said: “I don’t believe that I spent enough time in Germany with the Tartan Army because of the election, compared to just one day.
“I wanted to be there for the full 10 or 11 days.
Steve Clarke’s side lost 1-0 to Hungary in Stuttgart last Sunday to leave them bottom of Group A in the Uefa European Football Championship, putting them out of the competition after 10 days.
POLL: Nigel Farage has had enough of the BBC - Have you? VOTE NOW
Farage told the crowd that his Question Time appearance was the "final straw" with the BBCBBCNigel Farage has said he has “had enough of the BBC” as he campaigned in Birmingham today.
He added that “the state broadcaster has abused its position of power” and said Reform UK will “campaign for the abolition of the BBC licence fee”.
In response to applause from the audience, he said: “That’s popular. You like that don’t you?”
Fury erupts after TikTok SUSPENDS Reform rally live stream
Fury has erupted online after TikTok suspended the live stream for Reform UK's rally.
Ann Widdecombe was addressing crowds in Birmingham when the social media platform ended the live steam and declared it "hate speech".
Widdecombe said Nigel Farage’s party would “bring common sense back to Britain” and “get rid of woke”.
She told thousands of Reform supporters: “We stand for two words above all – common sense.”
After accusing the Tories of putting all their “eggs in the Rwanda basket” without a plan B, Widdecombe said there was no reason why Reform UK should not form the official opposition following Thursday’s poll.
“These next four days are crucial,” she said, adding that she had “heard more common sense” in the last five years than in her previous 55 years in the Conservative Party.
Following the takedown, one social media user said: "That slippery phrase 'Hate speech' is yet again deployed as a censorship tool. In this instance, pre-election, also used as an assault on democracy & on audiences' right to hear all parties, diverse views; to be free make their own minds up.
"Dangerous times. For those who cheered on Online Safety Bill, a chilling reminder of consequences of emboldening social media companies to police our free speech."
Another wrote: "TikTok shut down Ann Widdicombe's live feed for ‘Hate Speech’ That's both pathetic and hilarious. Reform UK are certainly rattling some cages."
Reform rally audience BOO biased BBC
The BBC has been booed by Reform UK supporters as Nigel Farage renews his "popular" commitment to scrapping the broadcaster's licence fee.
Nigel Farage issues direct message to Channel 4 during major Reform UK rally
'Put that in your pipe and smoke it!' Nigel Farage issues direct message to Channel 4 after election 'stitch-up'REFORM UKNigel Farage has issued a direct message to Channel 4 after accusing the broadcaster of an election "stitch-up" following the release of its Reform UK racism report.
Farage, who was speaking to the populist party's supporters at the NEC in Birmingham, pointed out how a YouGov poll showed Reform UK were outperforming the Liberal Democrats among ethnic minority voters.
He said: "Channel 4, listen to this, YouGov polling published this morning, Reform UK is now polling higher with British ethnic minorities than the Liberal Democrats."
Following a rapturous round of applause, the Reform UK leader added: "So, Channel 4, put that in your bloody pipe and smoke it."
WATCH: Pat McFadden GRILLED over Labour's stance on female-only spaces
Kemi Badenoch demands apology from David Tennant over bitter trans row
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch says David Tennant should apologise to her personally over comments made at an LGBTQ+ awards ceremony.
The Doctor Who actor took aim at the minister as he picked up a gong for being a top celebrity ally.
Tennant called on Badenoch to “shut up” and referenced a world where she “doesn’t exist anymore”.
Asked by Camilla Tominey if Tennant should say sorry, Badenoch said: “I think he should. I think he is probably regretting making those remarks given the uproar across the country.
“It has had a lot of cut-through. It shows the scale of the problem we have.”
Nigel Farage aims to be Prime Minister in 2029
Nigel Farage aims to be Prime Minister in 2029
GB News
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he intends to run for Prime Minister in 2029 and wants to build a “mass movement” for political change before then.
Asked if he was planning to become Prime Minister in 2029, he told GB News: “Unless somebody younger and better and better looking comes along…it is a little start-up.
“I've done it before. We actually by 2015 had built UKIP into a proper professional structure with 400 branches around the country.
“And this is remarkable. We will go through 60,000 paid up members today. That's doubled in the space of a month, all paying their 25 quids. We have a mailing list of over 200,000.
“I am going to build a mass movement in British politics for real change. Because, you know something? Labour don't represent them.”
Rishi Sunak STILL believes he will win the General Election
Rishi Sunak STILL believes he will win the General Election on Friday
PAAsked whether he thought he would still be Prime Minister on Friday, he said: “Yes.
“I’m fighting very hard and I think people are waking up to the real danger of what a Labour Government means.”
Sinn Fein ‘wants to return as many progressive MPs as possible from N Ireland’
Michelle O’Neill says Sinn Fein wants to maximise the number of “progressive” MPs returned from Northern Ireland
PA
Sinn Fein wants to maximise the number of “progressive” MPs returned from Northern Ireland in this year’s General Election, vice president Michelle O’Neill has said.
The party is running 14 candidates, standing aside in East Belfast, North Down and Strangford where Alliance is challenging unionists, as well as South Belfast where the SDLP is hoping to return to the green benches.
O’Neill said it had not been an easy decision to stand aside in the four constituencies but said the party wants to see a “rejection” of those who had “propped up” the last Conservative government.
It comes after the DUP maintained a close relationship with the Conservatives, including taking part in a confidence and supply deal in 2017 following the return of a hung parliament.
“We want this election to return the maximum number of progressive candidates,” O’Neill said.
“The maximum number of MPs that want to make politics work here at home, the maximum number of MPs that reject Tory austerity and the cuts that have decimated our public services for the past 14 years, and also to reject those people that actually propped up the Tories throughout that tenure, so that we set aside in those constituencies to actually make space for that progressive candidate to come through.”
WATCH: Nigel Farage explains Lee Anderson’s campaign trail absence as election looms
Nigel Farage has explained why Lee Anderson has not been prominent in Reform UK’s recent campaign trail efforts.
The Ashfield candidate became the party’s first MP in March when he defected after being suspended from the Tories.
He was expected to play a key role in the insurgent party’s efforts to win seats at the upcoming general election, but he has not been spotted on the trail as much as other key figures like Richard Tice and Nigel Farage in recent days.
EXCLUSIVE: Reform race row leaves ethnic minority candidates raging against ‘smear’ campaign
‘Establishment stitch up!’ Reform race row leaves ethnic minority candidates raging against ‘smear’ campaignPA/REFORM UKReform UK is the victim of a “smear” campaign as the Establishment looks to “stitch-up” Nigel Farage, ethnic minority candidates standing for the populist party have told GB News.
A number of ethnic minority candidates from the rebranded Brexit Party have since spoken to GB News about Reform UK’s racism row and thrown their weight behind Farage.
Mid Norfolk candidate Kabeer Kher voiced support for the Reform UK leader’s response to the undercover report and echoed his belief that Parker is an actor.
Keir Starmer REFUSES to confirm whether he’ll allow trans people to use women’s spaces in toe-curling interview
Starmer was quizzed by GB News's Olivia Utley GB NEWSKeir Starmer refused to confirm whether he’ll allow trans women to use women’s spaces in a toe-curling interview.
Speaking to GB News’s Olivia Utley, the Labour leader said his party is committed to the Equalities Act.
But when asked to clarify if that commitment extends to trans women with penises using women’s facilities, Starmer did not give a clear answer.
Rishi Sunak warns Labour supermajority will WRECK Britain in just 100 days
Rishi Sunak PARishi Sunak has warned that Keir Starmer could inflict “irreversible damage” on the UK within 100 days of entering Downing Street.
As time runs out for the PM to save the Tories’ election hopes, Sunak said Labour “cannot be trusted” and predicted that the plan to impose VAT on private schools would cause “chaos” for families.
Sunak said: “It’s clear that Labour would do irreversible damage within just 100 days of coming to power.
“Whether it’s announcing a suite of tax rises or throwing thousands of families’ plans for the autumn term into chaos, with children wondering if they will have a desk at school to go back to.
“Labour would throw open our borders with their illegal migrant amnesty and free movement for under-30s in their deal with the EU, making us the soft touch migrant capital of the world.
“They cannot be trusted. We must not surrender our taxes, our borders and our security to them. Only the Conservatives will deliver tax cuts, a growing economy and a brighter, more secure future for everyone.”