Reform UK axes bigwig as Yusuf pushes ahead with 'professionalisation' plan

Reform UK unleashes scathing attack on Reeves ahead of Budget

A Reform UK MP has launched a scathing attack on Chancellor Rachel Reeves after Labour promised in its manifesto that it would not increase taxes on "working people."

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock would not say this morning if that label would cover people who earn six figures as he failed to answer the question six times.

The MP for Aberafan Maesteg was asked during an interview onSky News if people who earn more than £100,000 were classed as a "working person."

He replied: “The Chancellor is going to set all of this out on October 30. Look, our manifesto made it absolutely clear that we will not be raising National Insurance, income tax or VAT on working people and that is the pledge that will be delivered."

When asked to define "working people" he said: "The Chancellor will make that absolutely clear on October 30."

Now, Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, said on social media: "Labour is going to drive thousands of wealthy and successful people out of this country. You know what they'll take with them? Jobs, investment and tax revenue. We are governed by morons.

Rayner warned workers' rights overhaul could cost employers up to £5billion a year

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been warned that her workers' rights overhaul could cost employers up to £5billion a year.

Data published by the Department for Business and Trade indicated that the shake-up will result in businesses raising prices, cutting back on salaries or reducing investment.

The report said: “We are confident that the total direct cost to business will be less than £5billion annually.”

'She's taking the mickey!' Nigel Farage blasts milkshake-thrower after 25-year-old pleads guilty to Clacton attack

Nigel Farage has blasted Victoria Thomas Bowen after the 25-year-old Only Fans model pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage following an incident in Clacton ahead of the 2024 General Election.

Farage, 60, who was also doused in milkshake during the 2019 EU Parliamentary Elections, was swilled by the drink after leaving the Moon and Starfish pub in the Essex seaside town on June 4.

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Lammy visits South Korea amid rising tensions in region following series of missile tests

The Foreign Secretary said: "The UK and South Korea are working together to bolster global security, pursue the clean energy transition and drive growth in our economies. Thank you, President Yoon and Foreign Minister Cho, for our discussions today."

It comes days after Ukraine's President Zelenskyy accused North Korea of preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to help Moscow's war effort, raising US concerns.

NATO chief Mark Rutte has said there was no evidence of Pyongyang's presence at this stage.

Clear majority of UK adults prefer Harris over Trump

Almost two thirds of Britons (64 per cent) want current vice president Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States, against just one in six (18 per cent) who are hoping for a return to the White House for Donald Trump.

Britons’ preference for Harris over Trump is clear across nearly all parts of the public, but is at its highest among Labour and Lib Dem voters, more than eight in ten of whom (83-86 per cent) want Harris to become the first woman president.

Tory voters are less overwhelming in their support for the Democratic candidate, but nearing six in ten (57 per cent) still hope that Harris wins out in the end, more than double the quarter of Tories (25 per cent) who want a Trump victory.

Reform UK voters are the sole exception among the British public in wanting to see Trump return to the White House, with a small majority (54 per cent) backing Trump and just a quarter (26 per cent) favouring Harris.

Woman pleads guilty to assault after throwing a milkshake over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

A woman has pleaded guilty to assault by beating after throwing a milkshake over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage outside a pub in Clacton-on-Sea during the general election campaign.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, also admitted criminal damage after causing £17.50 of damage to a jacket belonging to Mr Farage’s security officer, James Woolfenden. Farage, who is now MP for Clacton, was doused as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in the Essex seaside town on June 4.

He had earlier addressed supporters at a rally during the general election campaign and was left with the yellow liquid splattered across his dark blue suit.

Thomas Bowen had originally denied the charges and was due to go on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday but changed her pleas to guilty before proceedings began.

Labour risks u-turning on manifesto pledge over cut to farming fund

Critics have said the government risks breaching its manifesto promises if it cuts a flagship farming fund at the Budget.

Rachel Reeves has been warned that slashing a post-Brexit scheme aimed at incentivising farmers to make nature-friendly choices will put her party’s commitments to British wildlife in jeopardy.

A source from the One Nation Group of Conservative MPs told The Telegraph: "This funding plays a critical role in achieving their manifesto promises, they need to increase it, not cut it.

"By cutting it, they are undermining their environmental manifesto promises and paving the road to breaking it...70 per cent of all land in the UK is agricultural. Therefore, farmers will play a critical role in nurturing wildlife and encouraging nature restoration and will require financial support."

SNP slammed after claiming there are 24 genders - 'wasting time and resources'

In official guidance, the devolved administration clarified a list of two dozen terms it said the gender identity of members of the public could be recorded by public bodies.

Some of the definitions include "gender fluid", meaning how a person identifies regularly changes and "genderqueer", a term for those who believe they are something "other than male or female" or a "combination" of both.

This is despite First Minister John Swinney saying only three months ago that he believes there are only two genders - male and female.

Scottish Tory shadow equalities minister Tess White said: "Wasting time and resources on this shows how disconnected the SNP government are from the real world and why people are sick of politicians at Holyrood failing to focus on issues that concern them.

"The SNP need to stop playing to the minority and start governing for the majority by showing common sense and focussing on the real priorities of the people of Scotland."

Government launches major ‘national conversation’ on future of NHS

A major consultation on the future of the NHS will be launched today, promising to put patients and staff at the heart of its 10-year health plan.

Described as “the biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth”, members of the public will be able to share their views online via change.NHS.uk until the start of next year.

The consultation is part of the Government’s plans to transform the NHS into a “neighbourhood health service”, shifting more care from hospitals to communities. The plan, expected to be published in spring 2025, will also see greater use of data and technology, with easier sharing of patient data, saving an estimated 140,000 hours of staff time every year.