Rage against the mainstream: did UK politics just change for good?
As Reform UK reaches new highs in the polls, it feels more and more likely that Nigel Farage's triumph at local elections will be remembered as a huge turning point in UK politics. With support for the Tories at historic lows, and Keir Starmer's government in deep trouble, is there a way back for the mainstream parties?
John Harris is joined by the Guardian columnists Gaby Hinsliff and Polly Toynbee to make sense of what could be the biggest political change to hit the UK in living memory
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
28 minutes ago
- The National
Reform in chaos as Zia Yusuf brands own MP's burka ban call 'dumb'
Zia Yusuf, the powerful chairman of Nigel Farage's party, hit out at Runcorn and Helsby MP Sarah Pochin's call at Prime Minister's Questions this week for Muslim women to be banned from wearing full-face coverings. Pochin's question was dismissed on Wednesday by Keir Starmer but provoked outrage. READ MORE: Outrage as Reform UK MP calls for burka to be banned However, Reform has also distanced itself from the call, with a party spokesperson saying that banning the burka was 'not party policy'. Farage himself also refused to explicitly back Pochin's demand, saying only that he thought there should be a wider debate about people wearing face coverings in public, 'of which I see the burka being a part'. (Image: Yui Mok/PA) Asked on Twitter/X about the party's position by right-wing pundit Katie Hopkins – who insisted that a 'burka ban MUST be party policy' – Yusuf (above) replied: 'Nothing to do with me. Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn't policy. Busy with other stuff. 'I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do.' READ MORE: Donald Trump announces travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries It is not the first time that Reform UK high command has found itself at odds with its own MPs. Rupert Lowe was removed from the party fold after backing mass deportations, with Yusuf and others alleging the Great Yarmouth MP was a bully. Lowe called these complaints 'vexatious' and said he had been culled because his hardline opinions put him at odds with Farage. Pochin was approached for comment.
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Farage's party in chaos after Reform chairman slams own MP over 'dumb' question
Reform MP Sarah Pochin, who was elected in last month's Runcorn by-election, demanded the government ban the burka face covering - but officials said this was 'not party policy' Reform UK's chairman has hit out at a "dumb" PMQs question asked by the party's newly elected MP. Sarah Pochin, who was elected in last month's Runcorn by-election, yesterday demanded the government ban the burka face covering. During Prime Minister's Questions, she asked Keir Starmer whether he would be joining countries including France, Denmark and Belgium in banning the face and body covering worn by some Muslim women. Reform UK distanced itself from the question, confirming that a burqa ban is "not party policy". They added there needs to be a "national debate" about it. Zia Yusuf, Reform's chairman, today said it was "dumb" for Ms Pochin to ask the question if it was not something Reform was behind. His comment came after controversial commentator Katie Hopkins asked him on social media if he had been the one to say it was "not party policy". The far-right TV personality added: "Burka ban MUST be party policy." Mr Yusuf replied: "Nothing to do with me. Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn't policy. Busy with other stuff. I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do." Labour slammed Nigel Farage's party for again descending into fighting in their own ranks, especially as the party was small enough that its five MPs could fit "in the back of a cab". It warned voters Reform "only guarantees more Liz Truss-style chaos". A Labour spokesman said: ' Nigel Farage could fit all of his MPs in the back of a cab, yet he can't stop them fighting among themselves. Reform only guarantees more Liz Truss-style chaos. Their £80billion of unfunded commitments would lead to economic meltdown and put up everyone's mortgage and bills. They're just not credible.' Ms Pochin faced disquiet and cries of "shame" from MPs in the Commons on Wednesday after she called for a burqa ban during PMQs. She asked the PM: "Given the Prime Minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burka?" Then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy introduced the ban in France in 2010. Anyone found wearing the covering in a public space can face a fine of 150 euros (£125). It has since been unsuccessfully challenged in the European courts. Belgium brought in a similar ban a year later, and other countries including Denmark and Austria have got similar laws. Switzerland was the latest European country to introduce a prohibition, which started on January 1 this year. The Prime Minister did not answer Ms Pochin's question, and instead used the opportunity to attack Reform's economic plans announced by party leader Mr Farage last week. Mr Starmer said: "Can I welcome her to her place, but I'm not going to follow her down that line. But now she is here and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80billion of unfunded tax cuts, with no idea how he's going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again. "Although considering I think (Ms Pochin) was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won't." His response drew criticism from Conservative former foreign secretary James Cleverly, who tweeted afterwards: "After failing to answer any of Kemi's (Badenoch) questions, he basically said to Sarah Pochin that he didn't like her question, so 'wasn't going to engage with it'. Refusing to answer MPs' questions isn't an option as a government minister."
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trai Hume wants Northern Ireland's young guns to set standard for squad
Trai Hume expects Northern Ireland to feed off the success that has been enjoyed by several of their young stars over the past few weeks. Hume and his Sunderland team-mate Daniel Ballard have been celebrating earning promotion to the Premier League after a dramatic play-off campaign that ended with victory over Sheffield United at Wembley. And that came at the end of a month in which Conor Bradley received his first Premier League winner's medal with Liverpool and fellow 21-year-old Justin Devenny lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace. Ballard, 25, and Hume, 23, will double the Premier League contingent in Michael O'Neill's squad, something that Hume believes can only help as they look ahead to their World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September. 'I don't think there's any doubt,' Hume said. 'You're exposing yourself to the best league in the world, so you want to try your best to do well there and if you can, you're going to become a better player because of it. 'Obviously me and Dan are still young, Conor and Justin are still young, so hopefully we can have a lot of years in the Premier League and that will only benefit Northern Ireland going forward. 'I have no doubt there's other players in the squad that will get themselves into the Premier League as well. Obviously it's us four at the minute and hopefully we can try and push the lads and bring them up to the standard that we're going to set.' Northern Ireland are preparing for Saturday's friendly away to Denmark and Tuesday's match at home against Iceland, but their eyes are already on September when they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away double-header against Luxembourg and Germany, with Slovakia also in Group A. Playing in high-pressure games like the Championship play-off final is valuable experience ahead of facing the likes of Germany, and Hume said: 'I think it will help us deal with the atmosphere a bit better. Obviously, the calibre of players will be a lot different. I think we will try our best to deal with that. 'I think the big games you do play in, you get used to the emotion of it and the challenge of playing in front of the crowd and not getting caught up in the emotion of the game. 'Germany is definitely going to be a lot different than Sheffield United. Like I say, we will just have to try our best to be ready and be focused for it.' Germany are obvious favourites to top the group, with Northern Ireland vying to beat Slovakia and Luxembourg to second place and the play-off spot that would bring. Ballard said they would treat their games against those two nations as cup finals. 'I think we can make a really positive start to the group,' he said. 'I think the games against Luxembourg and Slovakia are going to be really important for us. I think they will all be like cup finals. 'I feel like we have a real opportunity this year to go and put ourselves in a strong spot to qualify.'
