Latest news with #Brexiteer
New European
9 hours ago
- Business
- New European
Farage unveils his DOGE squad: four Reform politicians and a 28-year-old
Upon winning control of 10 local authorities in May Nigel Farage's party said it would send teams based on Elon Musk's US Department of Government Efficiency into each one to seize and examine documents, reports and records and see what was being spent on consultants, climate change initiatives and 'areas that county councils shouldn't be getting involved in'. Reform have announced the make-up of its first-ever DOGE team being sent into one of the councils it newly controls – and what an elite unit it is! The first unit, to go into Kent Council, has now been unveiled. And while Farage said it would consist of 'software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors' it is actually comprised of four Reform politicians and a 28-year-old who has said he may be wanted for war crimes in the Philippines. The team is made up of Zia Yusuf (chair of Reform), Arron Banks (the Brexiteer businessman who funded and unsuccessfully contested the West of England mayoralty for Reform in May), Linden Kemkaran (Reform's leader of Kent Council), Brian Collins (Reform's deputy leader of Kent Council) and Nathaniel Fried. Who's the latter? Described as an 'entrepreneur and tech tycoon', the 28-year-old has curiously little presence online beyond his X account, where in the past he has awkwardly asked his 2,629 followers why his YouTube Shorts feed was 'just full of Nigel Farage's Cameo rubbish' (the Reform leader has a sideline selling personal messages on the video platform). Fried has also used X to publicly contact a business podcast to ask whether they'd be interested in having him on to discuss 'how data means I am probably going to be indicted for war crimes in the Philippines'. Where Farage's 'software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors' are is unclear. As is what authority the likes of Fried and Banks will have to demand relevant finance procurement, audit and contract data and correspondence on significant procurements, as Reform has claimed they will. Another question is quite what the entire point of this folly is, given that Kent already has an audit and scrutiny committee, detailed documentation of its finances is available online and any deep DOGE probe is most likely to yield that Kent's financial issues are the same as every other council's – the cost of social care and SEN education. But one thing has been cleared up, at least. When LBC journalist Henry Riley pointed out Fried was 28, the 'tech tycoon' was quick to take to X to point out he was '29 next month', with a little party horn emoji.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
SNP claim Nigel Farage is to blame for cost of living crisis
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The party's Westminster leader said Farage is the reason why Scots are struggling financially The SNP has blamed Nigel Farage for the country's cost of living crisis. and demanded he apologise to voters. The party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has launched a scathing attack on the Reform UK leader ahead of his planned visit to Scotland tomorrow. Flynn, alongside the party's Hamilton by-election candidate Katy Loudon told the Sunday Mail the prominent Brexiteer was the 'cause' of the current economic problems facing ordinary people. He said: " Farage is the cause of the cost of living crisis, not the solution. "He should have apologised to the people of Scotland long ago for the damage inflicted by Brexit – and he should take the opportunity to apologise when he makes his daytrip to Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse tomorrow.' Farage, a long-time Brexit supporter, was an integral part of the campaign to leave the EU and infamously claimed that an alleged £350m the UK spent every week on EU membership would be freed up for the NHS. Hours after the Brexit vote in 2016 the Reform UK leader backtracked on the claim, which had been repeatedly criticised as inaccurate by the UK Statistics Authority. Since Brexit, prominent economists have cited it as a reason for soaring bills and rising food costs in the UK including former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney. Carney, who is now the Canadian Prime Minister, said Brexit had 'slowed the pace at which the economy can grow'. Analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) published in January found that Brexit had 'permanently diminished trade efficiency in the UK by introducing customs checks, rules of origin requirements, and regulatory divergence from the EU.' It said: 'These barriers increase costs for both exporters and importers.' London mayor Sadiq Khan said last year that Brexit had already cost the UK economy £140bn, citing analysis he had commissioned. Farage will visit Aberdeen tomorrow as well as Hamilton to join Reform's candidate for the upcoming by-election. Loudon, who is hoping to become the SNP MSP for the area, said: 'Nigel Farage has done more than most to harm Scotland's economy and send costs soaring for Scottish households. 'People across this constituency know the damage he has caused because they feel it everyday in higher prices, but the once architect of Brexit is now portraying himself as the answer to the challenges facing people across Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. ' Farage's rhetoric isn't what improves lives, delivery does; and that's what the SNP is doing in government.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Find all articles on the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election
Initially, this looked like a two-way contest between SNP and Labour, but Reform UK have thrown everything at winnng over disaffected voters. The outcome could reshape Scotland's political map and offer clues about how the parties will fare at next year's Holyrood election. On this page, you'll find all of The Herald's in-depth reporting, interviews, analysis and opinion on the Hamilton by-election, including candidate profiles, campaign developments, and what's being said on the doorstep. We'll update this hub throughout the campaign — and through the night as the results come in. Explainer: Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election Why voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse are heading to the polls — and why this by-election could send shockwaves through Scottish politics. Hamilton by-election preview: candidates set out their stalls Profiles and strategies from the Hamilton by-election front-runners, plus insight on the seat's political history and campaign dynamics. Reform support in Hamilton should worry other parties On the streets of Hamilton: voters voice frustration — and many say they are turning to Reform UK. SNP will be the winner as Reform outflanks Labour from the left Neil Mackay on Labour's identity crisis — and how Farage is stealing its clothes while the SNP reaps the rewards. Reform can 'win Hamilton by-election and take power' in HolyroodRichard Tice tells The Herald why Reform UK believes it can win in Hamilton — and reshape Scottish politics from Holyrood to Westminster. Reform support in Hamilton should worry other parties On the streets of Hamilton: voters voice frustration — and many say they are turning to Reform UK. SNP will be the winner as Reform outflanks Labour from the left Neil Mackay on Labour's identity crisis — and how Farage is stealing its clothes while the SNP reaps the rewards. Tory candidate defends Orange Order and Apprentice Boys links "We are law-abiding organisations. We pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King. And, you know, we are not divisive at all, and people have their right to their own religion.' Farage defends Reform UK by-election ad branded racist Nigel Farage has accused Anas Sarwar of 'introducing sectarianism into Scottish politics.' Labour by-election candidate denies he has hindered campaign Scottish Labour's by-election candidate has rubbished claims he has a 'low profile.' Anas Sarwar challenges Nigel Farage to debate in Hamilton The Scottish Labour leader said the Brexiteer was a 'pathetic, poisonous, little man'.
Metro
4 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Keir Starmer lashes out at Nigel Farage over 'Liz Truss 2.0 fantasy'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Sir Keir Starmer has lashed out at Farage, saying his pledges are 'fantasy' that would lead to Liz Truss-style meltdown of the economy. You would be mistaken for thinking that another general election is around the corner – so intense is the latest tit-for-tat between the Prime Minister and the Reform leader, Nigel Farage. The pair exchanged scathing remarks, with Farage throwing the opening punches by calling the government 'very low-grade' as he outlined Reform's pledges focused on 'family, community, and country.' He said Reform would scrap the controversial two-child benefit cap, but paired it with the caution that his party 'does not support benefits culture.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In a bid to position the right-wing Reform as the party of workers, Farage, a millionaire businessman, said Starmer 'doesn't know what it's like to get up at 5am in the morning to go to work.' Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sign up here. Scrapping the two-child benefit, which limits the number of children parents can get support for, is estimated to cost around 3.5 billion. Sir Keir said in a speech today that Farage's pledges are 'billions upon billions of completely unfunded spending.' He said: 'Precisely the sort of irresponsible splurge that sent your mortgage costs, your bills and the cost of living through the roof. 'It is Liz Truss all over again.' He continued: 'I want to protect working people from Nigel Farage because I want to protect them from what he will do, which is exactly the same as Liz Truss which will have a direct impact on their lives. 'I don't need lectures from Nigel Farage on what it means to be working and working people. I know what it means to work 10 hours a day in a factory, five days a week and I know that because that is what my dad did every single working day of his life.' Liz Truss, whose premiership lasted just over a month, triggered economic chaos with her infamous mini-budget in 2022, including £45 billion of tax cuts. However, the PM was less direct when asked about whether he would commit to lifting the two-child benefit cap. He swerved the questions about his plans regarding the cap, which campaigners say has made child poverty worse. More Trending While Starmer has remained tight-lipped on the cap, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that reversing the cap would not be easy or cheap. Farage labelled the recent UK-EU reset deal, which changed fishing, travel and trade red tape, as betraying 'the very essence of Brexit.' The Brexiteer's other, more niche announcements included Reform's own 'Doge unit' inspired by the US department previously spearheaded by Elon Musk. The spat comes after a new YouGov poll said that Britons think other party leaders would make a better Prime Minister than Farage. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Four people still 'very ill in hospital' after car crashed into Liverpool fans MORE: British fishing boat impounded in France accused of illegal fishing MORE: More pensioners will now be eligible for winter fuel payments
New European
4 days ago
- Politics
- New European
Robert Jenrick isn't running for Tory leader. Honest
Jenrick went to Stratford station to castigate unsuspecting fare dodgers he filmed appearing to break the law as he claimed lawbreakers were 'chipping away at society'. He also hits out at other crimes on the rise, including tool theft, drugs in town centres and 'weird Turkish barber shops'. Jenrick was defeated by Kemi Badenoch in last year's Conservative leadership election but, ironically for a hardline Brexiteer, while he lost, he's not got over it. The former immigration minister continues to wade into issues well beyond his brief, including Tube fare dodging (which comes under the Home Office and Transport rather than Justice). In numerous interviews today Jenrick has painted an apocalyptic image of the capital under the mayoralty of Labour's Sadiq Khan (who has defeated three Tory challengers to remain in the job), including the completely unsubstantiated claim that the closures of numerous night-time venues was due to young Londoners being afraid to go out. When challenged by Times Radio's Hugo Rifkind with the actual statistics which show that crime in London is lower than it was 20 and 30 years ago, Jenrick hit back: 'I'll call you out on that, because there is a big rise in London, as across the country, for things like mobile phone theft.' Could Jenrick think of one possible reason, perhaps, why more mobile phones are being stolen in 2025 than there were in 1995…?
