What should we make of Makerfield? Opinion Much analysis of the Makerfield by-election focuses on what it means for Keir Starmer and the Labour party’s national fortunes – but how should we assess it on its own terms? Asks Steve Akehurst It can be stated without much hyperbole that when the people of Makerfield go to the polls next week it will [...]
Reform UK vows to raise VAT threshold to £150,000 Politics Reform UK has announced it would raise the VAT threshold for small businesses from £90,000 to £150,000 despite long-running debates over the cost and benefits of reforming the tax. Reform announced on Wednesday it would create a “fair deal for the White Van man” by increasing the VAT registration threshold to £150,000. The party said [...]
Starmer: X is responsible for fake Farage and Bailey fight images Politics Sir Keir Starmer has said tech firms must take responsibility for fake images depicting a brawl between Nigel Farage and Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Multiple AI-generated images of Farage and Bailey fighting have been spread on X, with the links appearing to lead to a scam. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said “there is [...]
Billionaire Labour backer John Caudwell: I was misled by ‘disastrous’ Starmer June 3, 2026 Billionaire John Caudwell has said he was “misled” by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and revealed that he hopes to once again back the Tories at the next election. The entrepreneur and philanthropist said there is “no chance” of him voting Labour at the next election, which he says the government is bound to lose. Labour [...]
Is Zack Polanski’s honeymoon over? June 2, 2026 Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s approval ratings have dived as scrutiny over his past experiences has put him in an awkward position. CityAM/Freshwater Strategy polling has shown that Polanski’s approval ratings have dropped from a high of -5 in March to as low as -23 in this month’s data. On a monthly basis, his [...]
Labour sheds union member support to Reform, poll shows June 1, 2026 Trade union members are split between supporting Labour and Reform UK, a poll has found, reflecting the breakdown of Britain’s traditional voting patterns. A poll by JL Partners has suggested that support for the two parties from union members is tied at 28 per cent, with Labour dropping 20 percentage points in support since the [...]
Reform UK tax cut pledge raises doubts May 24, 2026 Reform UK’s tax cut pledge for workers doing overtime hours is facing criticism from economists across the political spectrum amid doubts it would boost productivity. The party said it would scrap income tax above a 40-hour week for workers on less than £75,000, costing around £5bn a year and paid for through cuts to welfare [...]
Farage to face probe on £5m gift from Harborne May 13, 2026 Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to be investigated by the parliamentary standards committee after he received a £5m donation from Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before being elected as an MP. Farage will be probed on whether he broke a code of conduct for MPs on failing to declare the large gift [...]
UK borrowing costs storm past five per cent after Starmer warns of ‘chaos’ if ousted May 11, 2026 UK government borrowing costs have stormed higher following an attempt from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to shore up support after a disastrous local election result. The yield on 10-year gilts rose nearly 10 basis points to over five per cent for the second time in mere weeks. It comes after Starmer sought to defy [...]
Backbencher threatens rebellion as Starmer vows to stay put May 10, 2026 A Labour backbencher has issued the Prime Minister with an ultimatum as Sir Keir Starmer battles to stay in Number 10 after taking a battering at the local elections. Catherine West, a former junior minister and MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet, said she will trigger a leadership bid on Monday if cabinet ministers fail [...]