Xbox prices rise as Harrod's hit by cyber attack and Reform claims big election win
Reform UK's solid showing in the local elections, and its narrow by-election win in Runcorn and Helsby, marks a continuation of a trend many had predicted: growing public support for the party as disillusionment with the political status quo deepens.
Assume, for a moment, that Reform can sustain this momentum and begin shaping policy in a meaningful way. What might that mean for the UK economy? While the outcome is impossible to predict, we can make a few informed guesses. If Reform continues to grow in influence, it could destabilise the long-standing two-party model. Some voters may welcome that shift, but markets tend to view political fragmentation with caution. Greater uncertainty, especially around general elections and legislative priorities, could lead to increased volatility.
The party's platform includes tougher immigration controls and a focus on deregulation. If mainstream parties adopt these positions to stem losses, it could impact the labour market, particularly in sectors like health, hospitality, logistics and agriculture, which rely heavily on overseas workers. Wage inflation could follow, even as some businesses benefit from looser red tape.
Reform's rise could also pull the Conservatives further toward populist economic policies, including lower taxation, trade protectionism and reduced commitment to net zero. That would have implications for investment, especially in sectors aligned with green growth, ESG goals or EU-facing trade.
Nigel Farage remains a polarising figure internationally. For some investors, a stronger Reform presence might trigger caution, delaying decisions until there's clarity around policy direction on regulation, trade and climate commitments.
Then there's the broader political impact: if the main parties feel pressure from Reform, they may shy away from bold economic reforms, particularly those involving tax, green investment, or public service restructuring, for fear of alienating voters.
Reform's breakthrough in Runcorn and Helsby may also trigger internal unease within Labour ranks, particularly as it follows a broader pattern of frustration among voters in traditionally safe seats. While one result doesn't undo Labour's national lead, it could prompt questions about Sir Keir Starmer's ability to connect with working-class and disaffected voters - the very groups Reform is targeting. If leadership doubts begin to simmer, Labour risks losing focus on its policy agenda, including key proposals affecting business confidence, investment and economic reform.
Of course, local and by-election results often serve as protest votes. But if Reform continues to gain ground, its worldview could begin to reshape, or even unravel, decades of relative economic consensus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump Zelensky meeting latest: Don says Ukraine can end war ‘immediately' in talks today as Russia launches more strikes
DONALD Trump has said Ukraine can end the war "immediately" as European leaders assemble today in Washington for high-stakes peace talks. The world leaders are expected to map out a Ukraine peace deal as Russia continues its campaign of deadly strikes against Ukraine. 4 4 4 4 An overnight Russian drone strike on Kharkiv killed three people, including a child, and wounded more than a dozen others, Ukrainian authorities said Monday. Russian strikes also pummelled the Sumy region, near the border, injuring two civilians. It comes just two days after Trump rolled out red carpets and flew a B-2 bomber to greet Vladimir Putin at Alaska for historic peace talks. Though the summit, which Trump hoped would help Russia inch towards a breakthrough ceasefire, appeared to be an utter failure in the eyes of Ukraine - and Europe. With no peace deal, Trump and Zelensky are now expected to meet one-on-one before being joined by a cohort of European leaders today. The top agenda will be to discuss the future of Ukraine and a possible end to the bloody war. Ahead of the crucial summit, Trump said that Zelensky can "end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight". However, he added that Ukraine will not get back Crimea, something Kyiv is already willing to give up if it means lasting peace. Kyiv is also set to be forced to abandon its dream of formally joining Nato, but is desperately seeking future guarantees for its remaining territory. America has now confirmed that Ukraine will be offered Nato-esque protection and will step in if Putin strikes again in future. US special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that following Mr Trump's talks with Putin: 'We were able to win the following concession — that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato.' Nato's Article 5 states an attack on one member is considered an attack on all — and allies must come to its defence. Witkoff said the move would be 'game-changing' as it was the 'first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that'. The meeting will be joined by Sir Keir, the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, alongside the heads of Nato and the EU in a firm show of solidarity against the Russians. It will be the first time Zelensky visits Washington since a bust-up with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February, when the two men berated the Ukrainian leader for being "ungrateful". Swathes of eastern Ukraine are on the negotiating table as the leaders discuss how to stop the Russian aggression once and for all. Last night, European leaders, including Sir Keir, held a video conference ahead of the White House meeting where they warned the Kremlin's barbarous invasion must not see 'borders redrawn by force'. Zelensky yesterday said territory haggling could only be discussed 'by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia' at his expected showdown with Putin. Follow The Sun's live blog below for all the latest updates...
The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
Scotland's trade unions need to mobilise against the far right
The SSP were proudly present, as we have been since day one, arguing for an end to the genocide, to Labour's arms sales and SNP arms subsidies, supporting mass struggle for peace through socialism in the Middle East. By stark contrast, those of us in the SSP who joined the peaceful protest – initiated by Falkirk Trades Union Council – outside the Cladhan hotel housing refugees and asylum seekers in Falkirk, were faced with an ugly mass of racist bigotry across a narrow street. READ MORE: I went to Glenfinnan to see Harry Potter tourism chaos. Here's my verdict. At a peak, we had around 250-300 anti-racists protecting the 'hotel', its workers, and those who have sought sanctuary from wars and civil wars, from attack by a crowd whipped up into a frenzy by fascist and other far-right groups. The alarming fact is that at their peak, those screaming 'send them home', 'stop the boats', and singing 'Rule Britannia' numbered 800 to 1000. It was allegedly called as 'a peaceful protest' after an asylum seeker was convicted of rape and jailed. This inexcusable, heinous crime was latched on to to brand all asylum seekers, refugees and people of colour as rapists and paedophiles by unscrupulous far-right actors – including 'Tommy Robinson' – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – Ukip's Nick Tenconi, and grouplets like Great Britain National Protest. Some of the local people who joined this demo may well have concerns about women's safety, but where were they when Women's Aid and other services were being cut? Where did they protest against the most common of all crimes against women – rape, assault and murder by men in their own family, usually a husband or partner? At the very start of the demo, a few shouted about Grangemouth and the threatened closure of Alexander Dennis – issues the SSP has spearheaded campaigning on in the streets of Falkirk, calling for nationalisation under workers' control to build clean electric buses for free public transport. The full weight of the trade union movement has yet to take action on this and by doing so could answer the genuine concerns some locals were expressing. But yesterday, they were part of a baying mob, some of them giving Nazi salutes, chanting the fascist National Front's slogan of the 1970s, 'there's no black in the Union Jack'. In among this crowd were banners with a skull pierced by a bloodstained dagger, saying 'Kill Them All, Let God Sort 'em Out' – hardly a peaceful message or one of concern for women and children's safety. The lumpenised sections of this demo screamed abuse at women stewards on the entirely peaceful anti-racist demo, calling them 'c**ts', and described all of us as 'paedos'. It took great courage by all those of us who stood for hours, holding the line against likely attacks on the Cladhan hotel, but we did – despite the paltry police presence, with at first only half-a-dozen officers separating the rival crowds. If we hadn't held the line, the hotel and people within it would have been attacked, with unthinkable human costs. Tinderbox of anger This was a harsh reminder of the deep damage done by capitalist crises – including housing shortages, service cuts, job losses in Grangemouth and Alexander Dennis, and grinding poverty – and the unforgivable scapegoating and racist incitement, not just by Reform UK, Ukip and fascist grouplets, but also Starmer's Labour. They've created a tinderbox which flares up with the likes of a horrible rape incident, targeting all those fleeing wars and persecution for racist attacks and potential injury and death, as angry mobs are incited to target the 'hotel' they're cooped up in for ages, as the government fails to deal with their asylum applications. READ MORE: Reform councillor shares stage with 'neo-Nazi' at protest in Falkirk Saturday's events in Falkirk were possibly the ugliest I've witnessed since our battles against the fascist street fighters of the 1970s. However, the fact Saturday's crowds didn't just overpower the substantially smaller anti-racist demonstrators is further evidence they were overwhelmingly not fascist street fighters, but an angry, downtrodden crowd who have had their anger channelled into racist bigotry; blind hatred of people who had nothing to do with shoddy housing, benefits cuts, totally inadequate services and other privations. As we chanted a few times, 'Profit is the enemy'. A warning to the workers' movement Falkirk should be treated as a wake-up call to all trade unions (the STUC included) and socialists. We need to build a positive, working-class socialist alternative in communities ravaged by capitalist attacks, regardless of which 'mainstream' party is in office. Otherwise they'll be prey to the baying mobs and racist slogans of far-right outfits. The SSP will continue to help resist the poisonous antics of the far right, and call on the full power of the organised trade union movement to be mobilised in demonstrations in the likes of Falkirk, to build unity against poor housing, service cuts (including those for women and children), against the closure of Alexander Dennis, and for a positive socialist alternative, with massive wealth redistribution away from the millionaires who hoard it to the millions who need it. We need a sharp, socialist class appeal to people most affected by the crisis of capitalist rule, to break them from the millionaire demagogues of the far right, who want to divide us and rob us of even more wealth.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Benefit sanctions fall under Labour
Benefit sanctions have fallen sharply under Labour after a jump in the number of claimants who say they are too sick to look for work. Figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that 109,570 people claiming Universal Credit had their payments docked in May for failing to comply with benefit rules. This is down from just over 124,000 sanctions just before Labour took power in July and a peak of 137,000 under the Tories in 2023. The overall sanctions rate has fallen from 6.2pc to 5.3pc since Sir Keir Starmer won a landslide victory in July 2024. The fall comes after the proportion of people claiming benefits where sanctions can be applied fell to a record low, amid a surge in mental health claims from people who say they are too sick to work. Just 26.6pc – or two million people – can now be subject to sanctions when claiming Britain's main employment benefit. This means three quarters of people now have no conditions tied to their welfare. This is in stark contrast to 2017, when a series of benefit reforms spearheaded by George Osborne meant 64.8pc of people on benefits faced having them docked if they failed to attend a work placement, or did not show up for a job interview. Lockdown saw a surge in the number of people who stopped looking for work owing to ill health, with millions now parked on sickness benefits that have no requirement for people to look for work. Roughly 1,500 people a day have been signed off on incapacity benefits with no work requirements since Labour took power. Disability benefit claims are also rising, with the Government forced by backbenchers to shelve key reforms designed to reduce the financial burden on the state and encourage more people to go back to work. Millions of older welfare claimants who have been parked on benefits for years have also been moved onto Universal Credit as Labour completes a shift away from a series of legacy benefits. Official figures published last week showed that the number of working-age Britons who have been parked on joblessness benefits that do not require them to look for work has climbed by a million since Labour took power. There are currently 3.7 million Britons – or almost half of those currently claiming Britain's main unemployment benefit – who are now not required to look for a job. That is up from 2.67 million in July 2024, following Labour's landslide victory. By contrast, the figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed that the number of people who have to look for a job as a condition of receiving their benefits fell from 1.65 million to 1.6 million over the same period. Reforms to the benefits system that would have tackled a lockdown-related surge in benefit payments linked to mental health were shelved following a backlash from Left-wing Labour MPs. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has highlighted that just one in 20 people who have been out of work for more than a year ever go back to work. The tax-and-spending watchdog has also predicted the cost of footing Britain's sickness and disability benefits bill will approach £100bn a year by the end of the decade. A government spokesman said: 'We know that people face huge barriers to work – which is why we are overhauling jobcentres as part of our Get Britain Working Plan to give people the personalised support they need to get ahead. 'But as we shift the department's focus from welfare to work, it is right that there are obligations to engage with employment support, look for work and to take jobs when they are offered.'
