Government minister explains why Reform UK is leading polls
Reed cited austerity, Brexit, and the ' Build Back Better ' initiative as examples of broken promises by the previous Conservative government, stating the public desires to see the change they voted for become a reality.
Current polls show Reform UK leading with 29 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labour's 23 per cent, with a YouGov 'mega poll' suggesting Reform could secure 271 seats to Labour's 178 in a general election.
This projected outcome would make Reform the largest party, though without a majority, and could lead to the unseating of several prominent Labour cabinet ministers.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice described Labour's first year in power as disastrous, noting Keir Starmer had the 'worst start for any newly elected prime minister ' and that Labour's 35 per cent vote share was the lowest for a majority government.
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The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
New documents reveal behind-the-scenes Palace plot to replace royal yacht Britannia
Newly released official files have shared discreet manoeuvring by Buckingham Palace officials to influence the government's decision on replacing the Royal Yacht Britannia. By 1993, the 39-year-old royal vessel was nearing the end of its operational life, prompting John Major 's Conservative government to consider a significant £50 million investment in a new yacht. It was widely believed that Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht, but the Royal Family was keen to avoid any public appearance of political interference. However, documents from the National Archives at Kew reveal how senior courtiers privately approached Downing Street. Their aim was to persuade the then Prime Minister to issue a Commons statement highlighting Britannia's "inestimable value" to the nation. This thinly veiled attempt to garner support for a new vessel was swiftly rejected by the Cabinet Office, with officials warning that any such comments would be "highly prejudicial". One senior official caustically remarked that the Palace's assertion of the Queen's "indifference" regarding the yacht's future "hardly rings true". The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for the government and for the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill – which eventually ran to £36 million – for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her 'annus horribilis' – which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana – the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. With Mr Major due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, the Queen's private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. He asked the prime minister's principal private secretary Alex Allan if Mr Major would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queen's flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost 'but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us' in their public duties. 'It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country.' Sir Robin's proposed addition to Mr Major's statement went on: 'I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. 'Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter.' However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be 'prejudicial' to any future decisions. 'For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia,' he said. 'Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not.' Despite the palace's protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some not-so-subtle lobbying on behalf of a new yacht. On 13 May, 1993, senior government officials, led by the cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler, were invited to a 'splendid lunch' on board Britannia where they were regaled by the former lord mayor of London, Sir Hugh Bidwell, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to the master of the Queen's household, Major General Sir Simon Cooper, Sir Robin noted that the setting had 'brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way'. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists – unattributably – that the Queen and royal family were 'not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht'. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. When Britannia was finally decommissioned – after returning the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, following the handover to China – the Queen, who rarely displayed any emotion in public, was seen to shed a tear.
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why Tony Blair was unhappy with guitar gifted by Mexico's president
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was reportedly keen to hold onto a guitar gifted by U2 frontman Bono, newly released official files reveal. The documents, from the National Archives in Kew, west London, show Mr Blair was eager to use the rules on ministerial gifts to acquire the instrument from the Live Aid campaigner once he left office. He did, however, question whether he would have to pay "the full purchase price". Under the rules, Mr Blair, who was prime minister from 1997 to 2007, was allowed to accept gifts worth over £140, but had to pay for them himself, less the £140 difference. No 10 officials suggested that the prime minister might want to take the same approach when it came to a white Fender Stratocaster, worth £2,500, from the Canadian singer Bryan Adams. But while delighted with those offerings, Mr Blair's enthusiasm waned for a similar gift from the president of Mexico. Of the acoustic Vargas guitar, which was presented to him by President Vicente Fox during an official visit to Mexico in 2001, he said: 'I don't actually use it.' Mr Blair is a noted music fan and played guitar and sang in a rock band called Ugly Rumours while a student at the University of Oxford. In 2000, rock legends Pete Townshend, David Bowie and Mick Jagger bought a 1957 Fender Stratocaster, once owned by Eric Clapton, in a charity auction and gave it to Mr Blair. However, the prime minister gave the guitar back so it could be auctioned again to raise more money for flood and drought victims in Africa. Appearing on the BBC's Desert Island Discs on 1996, Mr Blair chose a guitar for his luxury item. The files also show that the prime minister rejected advice that he should not keep a Pro Braided tennis racket given to him by the manufacturer, Slazenger. Officials feared that it was part of a 'marketing ploy' by the company and suggested it should be donated to a children's charity as 'you cannot be seen to endorse any product'. Mr Blair, however, instructed them to simply thank the company, adding: 'It is very churlish to refuse to use it.'
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Peter Mandelson enlisted help to return to Tony Blair's government
Newly released official files reveal the extent of Peter Mandelson 's determination to re-enter government after twice being forced to resign from Tony Blair 's cabinet. The papers, made public by the National Archives in Kew, west London, show that Mr Mandelson even sought the assistance of Lord Birt, the former BBC director general, in his bid to secure a senior position. Mr Mandelson had been compelled to step down as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2001 amid allegations he had facilitated a UK passport for controversial Indian businessman Srichand Hinduja, in connection with the Millennium Dome. This followed an earlier resignation over an undeclared home loan from fellow Labour minister Geoffrey Robinson. Despite an official inquiry clearing him of impropriety in the Hinduja affair, Mr Blair was hesitant to reinstate his long-time ally, given his prior departures. However, in April 2003, Lord Birt, then a senior policy adviser in No 10, wrote to the prime minister, urging him to reconsider. Mr Mandelson's persistence was ultimately rewarded when Mr Blair appointed him Britain's commissioner to the European Commission in Brussels, with responsibility for trade. 'I gather from Peter that you still talk to him regularly – but, as a safeguard, you may like to know what he reports to me about his current state of mind,' he wrote. 'He feels this spring/summer may be the moment of decision for him. He's approaching 50 – and he is sorely conscious that time is passing and he has yet to fulfil his promise. 'As you know, Peter's deepest wish is to return to government. He stresses that he has already proved to be a capable minister, and that he would be a strong ally for you in cabinet. 'If you judge a return to government is not possible, then he would like you to consider appointing him as EC Commissioner. 'One way or another, he says he wants to settle his future this year, even if it means a career outside politics.' Just four months later, it was announced that he was to be the UK's next European commissioner. He was subsequently awarded a life peerage in 2008 and is currently the British Ambassador to the United States.
