Latest news with #RedWall
Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Who still supports Keir Starmer?
Successful political leaders hold in their minds some idea of what Mrs Thatcher called 'Our People'. In this context, I do not mean the whole population of the country they seek to lead, or the core of the party they belong to. I mean that group of people with whose aspirations they most wish to identify. In making that identification, they combine direct self-interest – getting their floating vote – with a wider view about who are most important for the nation's future prosperity and good order. In the Thatcher era, such people were the famous C2s, first-generation home-buyers, millions who could expect not only to earn but also to own. In Tony Blair's time, the group was not so different, but a bit softer, as one expects when growth has seemed secure for many years. David Cameron made a mistake, I think, in eschewing the Our People idea in favour of a vaguer One Nation view. Obviously leaders must care about the whole nation, but if they do not advance any particular interest strongly, their support may be quite wide but never deep. In winning the election, Sir Keir Starmer tried to identify with 'working people', but then crushed the hopes of many of them with national insurance rises and attacks on farms and small businesses. Who are Sir Keir's people today? Public-sector workers, you might think, but they seem rebellious, despite above-inflation pay rises. Not Muslims, because of Israel/Gaza; not Jews, for the same thing the other way round; not police, armed services, Border Force; not Welsh or Scots; not oil and gas workers or car workers, but not net-zero fans either; not the young; not the old (even though Rachel Reeves reinstated the winter fuel allowance she had herself cut); not feminists, but not trans fans; not the Red Wall. Perhaps not even academia, as foreign students fall away and even the great liberal-lawyer blob has its doubts because of Labour's Faragiste noises about immigration. Successful prime ministers have periods – Thatcher from 1982-88; Blair from 1997-2003; Boris (much more briefly) between Brexit and mid-Covid – when they seem to chime with the way the country wants to go. Despite his vast majority, Sir Keir never chimes. Some may still think: 'Well, we could do worse' but almost no one thinks, 'Ah, yes, he understands what I and my family want.' Anas al-Sharif, the Al Jazeera reporter whom Israel blew up, intentionally, last Sunday, left what he described as 'my will and final message' to be published on Twitter once 'Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice'. Allah knows, says Anas, that 'I gave… all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people' since he was born in the Jabaliya refugee camp. Allah will also 'bear witness against those… whose hearts are unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women'. (Anas was less moved by the scattered remains of children and women on 7 October 2023, when he sent out an exultant post on Telegram: '9 hours and the heroes are still roaming the country killing and capturing… Great God, how great you are.' Being in close contact with the Hamas Nukhba brigade that day, he could post a picture of a Hamas terrorist placing his foot on a dead Israeli's head and comment 'All you feel is just high spirits. Remember, we hit them right on their heads in the midst of their military positions.') His testament continues: 'I entrust you with Palestine – the jewel in the Crown of the Muslim world, the heartbeat of every free person in the world.' Don't let 'borders restrain you. Be bridges towards the liberation of the land and its people'. 'O Allah,' he prays, 'accept me among the martyrs…and make my blood a light that illustrates the pathway for my people… I kept my promise and never changed or betrayed it.' The IDF says Anas was a Hamas operative and have produced evidence. I am not in a position to judge the exact truth. But he clearly loved Hamas, worked with Hamas, propagandised for Hamas, and was seemingly unacquainted, as Al Jazeera also seems to be, with clause I. iv of our own dear Editors' Code of Practice, which says reporters 'must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact'. His bias was all-consuming and his desire was martyrdom, not scoops. He was a jihadist, not a journalist. In the past three weeks, I have been sent 26 emails from the Tucker Carlson Network telling me my request has been received 'and is being reviewed by our support staff'. I have never sent a request to the Tucker Carlson Network. This assiduity in reply, absence of content in the reply and response to a request never made (or never made by the recipient of the replies) is a uniquely 21st-century form of customer service. British waters are 0.2 per cent hotter than in 1980, says a BBC analysis of Met Office data. This causes some species (cod, whelks) to flee and others (octopus, bluefin tuna) to burgeon. Obviously, this creates some problems ('Swarm of jellyfish shuts French nuclear power plant' was a good headline from Reuters), but there are benefits from the slightly higher temperatures. When my wife began keeping records of moths in our Sussex garden about 25 years ago, few beautiful southern species were to be found. Today, the exotic arrivals have increased, including Zelleria oleastrella – which traditionally inhabits olive groves – borne across the sea on the warmer air currents. The Jersey Tiger, admired for its orange hindwings and black and cream forewings, was excitingly rare then. Today, it has given up tax exile in the Channel Islands and is well ensconced with us. Its range is extending north. Nicola Sturgeon says she is moving to London because she 'can't breathe freely in Scotland'. That is how a great many of her fellow countrymen and women feel. Her party, the SNP, has now been in government in Scotland since 2007. Could these two phenomena be related?
Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘I've got more in common with Reform': More Tories consider joining Farage
Boris Johnson loyalists are among three former Conservative frontbenchers who are considering defecting to Reform UK. The trio all lost their seats at the general election last year and believe that they now have more common ground with Nigel Farage's party than with the Tories. This week, Adam Holloway, who served as a whip under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, became the eighth former Conservative MP to join Reform. The party's lead in the polls has prompted Sir Keir Starmer to regard Mr Farage as 'the real leader of the opposition' instead of Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader. One former MP in the Red Wall – Labour's traditional northern and Midlands heartlands which were won by the Tories under Mr Johnson in 2019 but lost to Labour in 2024 – claimed Mrs Badenoch was 'falling short'. They said: 'There's a lot of frustration that Kemi hasn't even defined what conservatism even stands for or means. It's leading people to wonder if they belong in the Conservative Party. 'Reform has details to work out but at least there's a much clearer definition of the country they want to see. And that's where Kemi's falling short at the moment. 'I don't feel that the Conservative Party is currently my home. I've got more in common with Reform than I have with Conservatives at the moment.' Reform outflanking Tories on immigration Another potential defector is understood to be Jonathan Gullis, another ex-Red Wall MP who represented Stoke-on-Trent North during the previous parliament. Mr Gullis, a former education minister, is said to view himself as more ideologically similar to Reform than the Tories as things currently stand. Both parties have vowed to cut taxes and red tape, slash legal and illegal migration and abolish the Labour Government's legally binding net zero targets. However, Reform has outflanked the Tories on the Right by vowing a 'one in, one out' immigration policy and committing to leaving the European Convention of Human Rights (EHCR). Mrs Badenoch has said she is 'minded' to withdraw the UK from the treaty but is expected to wait at least a couple of months before finalising her party's position. It is believed that Mr Gullis feels 'some temptation' to switch sides and join Reform. But he has yet to make a decision and is mindful of a mid-August deadline for would-be Tory candidates at the next election to register their interest. A third former Tory MP confirmed they have held informal talks with Reform figures and said they had received 'a lot of nudges' from people reaching out. They said: 'In future, if I stand again as a candidate, I don't know. I'm a lifelong Conservative and I want a genuinely Conservative government. 'But even if we won the next election and wanted to leave the ECHR, you'll always have those 20 or 30 MPs who are there who will sabotage any attempt to make any changes to things.' Reform 'fundamentally Left-wing on welfare' Mr Holloway's defection followed those of former cabinet ministers Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory chairman, and David Jones, who served as Wales Secretary, earlier in July. A former veteran, Mr Holloway was a stalwart of the Tory Right and one of the 28 'Spartan' MPs who voted against Theresa May's Brexit deal on all three occasions in 2019. Some of his former parliamentary colleagues lamented his decision to change allegiances but were clear they would not follow suit. One said: 'My general view is that obviously what Reform are saying on migration and culture war stuff is the sort of thing that the Tory Party should have been saying a long time ago. 'But why would I give up on the Tory Party to go and join a party which is fundamentally Left-wing on issues of welfare, state interventionist and protectionist? There is no plan for succession, it's a one-man band.' Another ex-MP added they were 'sad and frustrated' by Mr Holloway's defection but could 'understand' his logic. 'I'm a blue-blooded Tory,' they added. 'I will stay in the party and fight to help Kemi or whoever the leader is to help put things right. I love Kemi and I think she will make a great prime minister if she can get there. 'But I think we're in this really odd space at the moment, where the Conservatives still haven't been forgiven for being a wet bunch of w-----s during the last parliament and never quite doing anything. 'We said we were going to deal with immigration and ended up doing f--- all.' Reform is currently leading the polls with an average of 29.6 per cent of the vote, more than seven percentage points ahead of Labour, on 22.2 per cent, and almost 12 ahead of the Tories who are polling at 17.8 per cent. Mr Farage is currently in the midst of a six-week 'summer offensive' aimed at setting out his party's stall on crime and attacking the records of Labour and Tory governments on the issue.
Time Out
29-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time Out
The Red Wall at 78 Grosvenor: A teaser campaign with a bite for Bryanston
If you've driven past 78 Grosvenor Road in Bryanston lately, you've probably noticed the now-infamous Red Wall, bold, cheeky, and impossible to miss. What began as a series of cryptic one-liners quickly sparked curiosity, social media buzz, and even some chaos, with brands like Tabasco and Spar jumping in to hijack the hype. There was a QR-coded playlist, local outrage, and plenty of laughs as Joburgers tried to figure out who was really behind it all. Turns out, the real masterminds were property developers Craft Homes, using guerrilla-style marketing to build intrigue around its next big launch, Bryanston Country Estate. Now that the cat is finally out of the bag, we can see the strategy behind the spectacle. Bryanston Country Estate is set to be one of Johannesburg's most exciting new residential offerings - a curated collection of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, and 3- and 4-bedroom duplexes, nestled in one of the city's most desirable suburbs. The development is being branded as a luxury lifestyle. I've always found Bryanston to be such a large, leafy and established suburb, so a development of this kind talks to the terrain. A modern country aesthetic inspires the architecture, characterised by classic pitched roofs, soft whites, timber textures, and earthy tones, all brought together with crisp lines, large windows, and a warm, grounded feel. It's Bryanston charm, reimagined. The interiors will lean into comfort and natural finishes: warm wood, matte metals, cosy textures, and clever layouts designed to let light in. As a lover of light, I am obsessed with the emphasis on large windows and natural light. From young professionals to established families, the development is built for how Joburgers actually live with space, flow, and soul. Whether you've lived in Bryanston your whole life or you're dreaming of your first move there, this development strikes a beautiful balance between heritage and forward-thinking design. Craft Homes isn't new to this. They've been around the block (and the construction site) for more than 30 years. As part of the Abcon Group, they bring a solid mix of expertise and attention to detail. They've made waves recently with a string of high-impact projects, each one designed with metered backup water and electricity, and a specific lifestyle in mind: The Hive Oxford in Rosebank: A silver winner at the Reside Awards, it's a sleek, investor-friendly development tailored for corporate tenants. Bright, stylish, and ideally located for the work-life crowd. Riverstone Wetland Estate in Fourways: Surrounded by wetlands, with solar and water backup systems, pet-friendly ground floors, and fibre-ready homes. Green, grounded and designed for off-grid-conscious living. Iconic in Melrose: Launching soon with studio to 3-bedroom options, this one is aimed at urban living with all the sleek and central trimmings. Craft Homes has built a reputation for more than just delivering buildings - they're about lifestyle design. Each development feels like it has its own identity. It's not just about ticking boxes; it's about crafting spaces that people actually want to live in. As someone who has been marketing real estate for close to 15 years, the Red Wall campaign was such a refreshing surprise in our traditional industry. Something we are not used to in the way property is marketed in South Africa. What made the red wall work was its playfulness. It sparked curiosity without giving everything away. They also adapted the campaign and held their own to humour global brands like Tabasco and Spar – this gave the wall life. It got the public involved, from playlist scavenger hunts to blood donation selfies. The success of the campaign wasn't just about visibility - it was about talkability. Creating content that is shareable and inspires conversation. It got people to ask, 'What is this?' 'Who did this?' 'When can I buy in?' The Red Wall in Bryanston may have started as a mystery, but it's ending as a masterclass in modern real estate storytelling. If this is the future of property marketing in South Africa, I am here for it. Keep your eyes on the wall and your ears on the playlist for her next chapter of development – the real heat has only just begun.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Euro 2025: Behind the scenes with Nina Blissett
We are more than half way through Euro 2025 - can England defend their title and become European Champions again?It's currently the quarter-finals, with eight teams playing each other to try get through to the next stage. On Thursday night England will face Sweden, and I'll be watching the game from Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich. I've been out in Switzerland for more than two weeks now, sharing all the action from the tournament with you, the Newsround audience. But when I'm not on your TV screens, I've been taking the chance to soak it all in. The atmosphere I have never been to a football tournament before and didn't know what to expect from Euro 2025. So far I have loved it, especially match days. The atmosphere is electric, with loads of people passionately cheering on their countries. There are faces painted in team colours, flags and bucket hats galore. But it's the noise that really builds the excitement, there are usually people with drums, sometimes even trumpets, to keep the chants going throughout the game. Fans, fans, fans During the competition I have spent time with England, Wales and Netherlands fans and all of them are super supportive of their teams. In particular it was my first time experiencing the Red Wall, as the loyal fans of Wales football teams are known. As it was the women's first time at an international tournament, people wanted to travel to Switzerland to be a part of that history. Although they were knocked out at the group stages, the fans I spoke to were very proud of their team and say they will have inspired the next generation. I also was lucky to meet loads of you guys. Lots of Newsround fans have been out enjoying the games, and I got to chat to you about what you enjoy about Newsround, which has been brilliant too. Switzerland - the host country Switzerland is quite a small country, found squished between France, Germany, Austria and Italy. It known for its wonderful scenery, cheese and chocolate - all of which I have been enjoying whilst out here. One super cool thing here is that there are free water fountains everywhere, which are for the public to drink from. So whenever you're thirsty from the summer sun, you can easily re-fill your water bottle.
New Statesman
16-07-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Letter of the week: Anti-social housing policy
Photo by Bettmann / Getty Images Harry Lambert (Cover Story) and Anoosh Chakelian (Bursting the Bubble, both 11 July) have written excellent pieces that have an unexpected link. Jenrick cites Charles de Gaulle and Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew as key influences. Both these iconic right-wingers (especially Lee) believed in and built high-quality, state-funded social housing. Indeed, 80 per cent of Singapore's residents still live in this public housing. Selling off more than a million of those flats and houses at a 40-60 per cent discount, and then forbidding local authorities to use the receipts to replace them, would have struck Lee as absurd. Yet that is what Right to Buy has done in the UK and, in the process, it has created much of today's housing and rental crisis. If Labour won't close this Right to Buy black hole and build public housing to help Britain's left-behind and Red Wall communities, perhaps Jenrick's reinvented right will? Robert Dear, London N14 Obstinate Bob Harry Lambert reports Robert Jenrick was 'furious' to not be made home secretary in November 2023, as 'he was the one who knew the department' (Cover Story, 11 July). A month earlier, he was forced to scrap a plan to take over a four-star hotel in Llanelli, Wales. He ploughed on despite opposition from the council; he wouldn't even meet the local MP to discuss residents' concerns. On police advice, the plan was reversed, but Jenrick's tin ear caused social division. Far from encouraging integration, his record is tough talk and divisive incompetence. Lee Waters, Member of the Senedd for Llanelli Frost bite I like the feisty new spirit of the magazine (Editor's Note, 11 July). The Labour go-to of watered-down Reform policy clearly isn't working, and the journalism has been brave. Upsetting Lord Frost and the Daily Mail should be worn as badges of honour. Rob Grew, Birmingham Behind the rebellion I have time a lot of time for Rachael Maskell (Diary, 11 July) so was very pleased to read the story behind the back-bench rebellion over the welfare reform bill. It was chaos, and she is correct to state that the notion of making life-changing decisions for sick and disabled people before the results of the Timms Review was unfathomable. You really couldn't make it up – but it appears the government was, until the last-minute concession. The bill has been passed, but the retribution will continue. You bypass back-bench Labour MPs at your peril. Judith A Daniels, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Overcoming boundaries I was once fortunate enough to live on Britain's first social housing scheme, London's Boundary Estate (Bursting the Bubble, 11 July). The flat looked over the Arnold Circus bandstand, built on Arts and Crafts principles, incorporating craftsmanship in community spaces. The area's rich cultural diversity is evident in the nearby Georgian chapel on Brick Lane. Built in 1744 as French Huguenot place of worship, it became a Methodist chapel in 1819, a synagogue in 1897 and, in 1976, a mosque serving the Bangladeshi community. Small wonder the members of far-right groups are in a lather about such social cohesion. Tower Hamlets still retains ownership of two-thirds of the Boundary Estate. And yes, Brick Lane's Jamme Masjid is still a mosque. What's not to like? Austen Lynch, Garstang, Lancashire No rowing back Finn McRedmond's account of her recent experience of Henley Royal Regatta (Vanity Fair, 11 July) was amusing. However, her description sounds more like the bad old days of the late-20th century, when the Regatta was wholly male and the event largely social in nature. The Regatta has achieved an equal balance between men's and women's events, including at junior level, from local club crews to Olympians. The event is now livestreamed, free of charge, so the races can be watched from the comfort of one's own home without the tedium of following a dress code or packing a picnic. Rowing still has quite a way to go in terms of social and ethnic diversity, but over the past 20 years the Regatta has changed for the better, not only in sporting excellence but also in encouraging greater access. Alison Salvesen, Oxford Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Doctor at large It's great to see that Phil Whitaker is already established in British Columbia and offering valuable advice to Wes Streeting from there (Health Matters, 11 July). People with their eyes open always have something to offer wherever they are in the world. Marina Marangos, Brisbane Write to letters@ We reserve the right to edit letters [See also: A question of intent] Related
