Latest news with #Reform-run
Spectator
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
James Cleverly's case against the revolutionary right
There is a revolutionary air on the right at present. Whether it is Kemi Badenoch's call to 'rewire the state' or Nigel Farage's attacks on 'broken Britain', few have much good to say about our current political set-up. Step forward James Cleverly to offer balm to all that inflammation. At a speech this morning at the IPPR think tank, the former foreign secretary gave his thoughts on the rise of Reform UK and how government must change to function more effectively. Cleverly began by contrasting two Reform-run councils: Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Both wanted to change the rules to allow only national flags to be flown from council buildings. The former quickly became embroiled in a vicious war of words with its chief executive, prompting threats, warnings and Zia Yusuf decrying a 'coup'. The latter simply held a meeting of their executive and quietly changed the rules. 'Guess which Reform HQ was proud of?' asked Cleverly. 'The one who had the row – or the one who got the result.' His point was: 'delivery requires discipline'. In a twenty-minute speech, the ex-home secretary criticised those elements within Reform who think that 'fighting the system is more important than getting a result'. Cleverly's argument was that – contrary to popular belief – conservatives can achieve success in the current political system. He spoke of the importance of working with civil servants and reeled off his own record in office: migration halved, aid waste cut and relations reset. The system, though, is not perfect. Cleverly pointed out how, as Foreign Secretary, he would find officials working in teams dedicated to 'ministers' priorities'. When he enquired as to which priorities, he discovered that they were the ones of predecessors who had left sometime earlier. Redirecting resources and ensuring Whitehall is both 'leaner and more effective': Cleverly's points here are ones with which few conservatives would disagree. He attacked the quangocracy – 'If power lies where accountability does not, then it has to be changed' – and noted his own record as a longtime Brexiteer, a vote 'I would take again in a heartbeat'. There were some nice Cleverly touches too. He evidently has little time for certain defectors to Reform, the ones who only realised that they were not Tories after they were 'booted out of office'. His boosterism won fans in the room, including his final remarks that evoked the Roman spirit after the Battle of Cannae: 'Rome is not defeated until Rome chooses to be defeated.' But others will be disappointed by Cleverly's lack of radicalism. At one point, discussing reform of the state, he used the analogy of a Formula 1 racing car, pulling in to a pit stop mid-race. He argued that no sensible crew team would tear apart the whole car mid-race: 'You've got work with what you've got and make incremental improvements.' The obvious riposte to that is that, far from being an F1 race car, much of Whitehall today appears to more closely resemble an Austin Allegro. Given his stated preference for 'doing stuff', what does Cleverly now plan to do next? When asked for his future intentions – be that a frontbench return or a bid for London Mayor – the Braintree MP declined to be drawn. He preferred to point to the frustrations of opposition and suggested he is 'taking time to think'. Making the case for incrementalism could well keep him fully occupied, given the strength of feeling among many of his own colleagues.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Councillor calls man-made global warming a 'hoax'
A senior Reform UK councillor has been criticised after claiming man-made global warming is a "hoax". Bert Bingham, cabinet member for transport and environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, made the comments during a public meeting on Thursday. He claimed data is "manipulated" and people have been "brainwashed over time through the media". Bingham declined the BBC's request for an interview. Bingham was speaking during a debate on a motion tabled by Labour councillors which called for the Reform-run authority to recommit to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. "I've been involved in award-winning sustainability projects for 25 years, and I've never seen such nonsense as the anthropogenic global warming hoax," he said. "The statistics are manipulated. I've followed it over decades, there's lots of science out there, but at the moment it seems to be as in a lot of matters with Covid, if you follow the money, you find the science or the pseudoscience." Scientists around the world agree human activities are causing temperatures to rise, and the year 2024 was the world's hottest on record. It was also the first calendar year to surpass 1.5C (34.7F) of warming, according to the Copernicus climate service. The UN's climate body - the IPCC - concluded in 2023 that "human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming". Bingham said Reform UK is opposed to net zero targets "but that does not mean we don't support environmental protection, sustainability, resource efficiency, industrial symbiosis - many areas I've worked in." He added that declaring a climate emergency was "absolutely ridiculous and nonsensical". "They'll have us back living in mud huts - if even living at all - by the time they're done," he said. He said he was "happy to debate people at any time on the price of energy and how it's manipulated". He declined to be interviewed by the BBC at the end of the meeting, saying he had a prior engagement. Labour county councillor Helen Faccio, who tabled the motion, said she was "stunned" by the comments. She added: "I don't think it's really appropriate that you think you know better than a whole body of evidence and scientists who present all this information all the time and have told us this is happening - we can see it is happening." Other Reform UK councillors applauded at the end of Bingham's speech. Council leader Mick Barton told the BBC he does not agree with Bingham that man-made global warming is a hoax, but is "more than happy" for him to continue in his cabinet role. "I'm the leader but I don't tell Bert what to say and I don't tell Bert what not to say, that's up to councillor Bingham." "Bert Bingham is one of the best cabinet members I've got and if he's got his own opinions on climate change, I ain't got a problem with that." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. How do we know climate change is caused by humans? A simple guide to climate change Reform takes control of Nottinghamshire County Council
ITV News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Who is George Finch - UK's youngest council leader and Reform's new leader for Warwickshire?
A Reform UK-led council has a new interim leader, thought to be the youngest ever in the UK at 18 years old. Councillor George Finch was confirmed as the interim leader at Warwickshire County Council, after Cllr Rob Howard stepped down from his post just 41 days into the job. In a statement, Cllr Howard cited "health challenges", saying it was a "very difficult decision", but that he would continue as a county councillor. It left political rivals questioning whether Reform UK is "up to the task". Who is George Finch? Cllr Finch, who is from Nuneaton, is one of the UK's youngest councillors - with candidates only able to stand for election if they are 18 or older. He represents the Bedworth Central ward. He has been a main contributor for the Reform-run website The New Reformer, writing articles and featuring in social media videos. At one point, he was named as its Associate Editor. On a profile page, Cllr Finch describes his main principles: "having integrity, honesty and respect". He continued: "I've played rugby since I was four, which gave me great team-building skills and leadership skills. "If I was to be politically summed up in a few words it would be; Brexit, sovereignty, strong military and most importantly a strong and united family unit. "As I always say who has the strongest shoulder in society must support and help others, as long as they contribute in their own way." Cllr Finch has previously served as a Youth Councillor for Nuneaton and Bedworth. Before the General Election last July, Cllr Finch claimed on social media he was "kicked out" of the Conservative party. In another video, he said he spent three months as a Conservative Party member but was frustrated as he "saw illegal immigration. What happens next for Warwickshire? The county council will probably have to go through a selection process for a permanent leader. It confirmed on Wednesday Cllr Finch will 'serve as interim leader until the council confirms a new leader in due course'. That is because although Reform UK is the biggest party on Warwickshire County Council, it does not have 'overall majority' - fewer than half of the 57 councillors are Reform. The new leader needs support from more than half of the council - so Reform councillors in Warwickshire need to draft in support from other parties. Cllr Howard was appointed with votes from his own party and support from all bar one of the Conservatives who attended May's annual council meeting.
The Journal
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Leo Varadkar says he would sacrifice economic growth for a united Ireland
FORMER TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar has said that he would 'forgo two years of economic growth' for the unification of Ireland. Varadkar made the claim during an interview with BBC Northern Ireland's The View programme, where he described British politics as 'very vile'. He said that he did not think a date should be fixed for an Irish unity referendum, as nationalists did not have the numbers to win. He added that planning for a united Ireland should take place, however. 'I don't think a united Ireland is inevitable, I think it's something that we have to work towards,' he said. 'Look at the trajectory, and that is clear. We see it in elections. We see it in opinion polls. We see it in demographics. 'But I think there are a lot of factors that would suggest that we're on that trajectory,' he added. "Would I be willing to forgo two years of economic growth for the unification of my island? I would." Former Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar speaking to @MarkCarruthers7 about Irish unity. Read more on @BBCNewsNI Watch the interview on @bbctheview — Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) June 19, 2025 'Demographic factors, polling, even the most recent numbers showing that a very clear majority of younger people in Northern Ireland want there to be a new united Ireland.' I think those of us who believe in it have a duty to make the case for it He said Irish unity will not happen 'by osmosis or by accident', and said it is something that has to be 'worked towards'. Advertisement Last year, a report by the Institute of International and European Affairs found that a united Ireland would cost €20 billion every year for 20 years . Varadkar dismissed concerns of cost however, saying that he would 'be willing to forgo two years of economic growth for the unification of my island'. Northern Ireland 'would not like' Farage During the interview, Varadkar made clear that he hoped Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not become prime minister – though he conceded that it is possible that Farage will win the most seats in the next general election. Varadkar said he believed the possibility of Farage as prime minister 'would change the picture in terms of attitudes' towards independence in Scotland and unificiation in Northern Ireland. He added that Irish unity would become 'centre stage' if Farage took charge. 'It isn't just because a right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well,' Varadkar told BBC's The View. He explained that Reform-run councils in England were 'preventing people from flying pride or progress flags'. 'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that,' the former Fine Gael leader said. He believes there are people in Northern Ireland 'from both backgrounds, or both traditions, that have a liberal and European outlook'. 'If that's the kind of government they had in London versus a government in Dublin that was very different, it might make them more likely to vote yes to unification,' he added. With reporting from Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nigel Farage's pitch for Welsh elections: bring back coalmining
Nigel Farage has demanded the reopening of domestic coalmines to provide fuel for new blast furnaces, arguing that Welsh people would happily return to mining if the pay was sufficiently high. Speaking at an event in Port Talbot, the south Wales town traditionally associated with the steel industry, the Reform UK leader said it was in the 'national interest' to have a guaranteed supply of steel, as well as UK-produced fuel for the furnaces, a close echo of Donald Trump's repeated pledges to return heavy industry to the US. Pressed on whether this was a realistic plan, particularly given that even if Wales did elect a Reform-run Senedd next May it could be blocked by Westminster, Farage conceded that the idea was most likely only realistic if done in conjunction with the national government. 'Our belief is that for what uses coal still has, we should produce our own coal,' he told the event, intended to boost Reform's prominence in Wales in the run-up to next year's elections. 'I'm not saying, let's open up all the pits. What I am saying is there is coal, specific types of coal for certain uses, that we still need in this country, and we certainly will need for the blast furnaces here, that we should produce ourselves rather than importing. 'We are going to be using more steel over the next few years than we probably ever used, as we increase military spending and as we attempt a housebuilding programme … We are going to need a lot of steel. Our belief is we should be producing our own steel.' Asked during a media Q&A how long it would take to reopen defunct blast furnaces such as the Tata steel plant in Port Talbot which shut last year, and if this was even possible, Farage accepted it would be difficult, needing 'a change of mindset'. He said: 'Nothing's impossible, but it might be difficult. It might be easier to build a new one.' Quizzed on what evidence he had that young Welsh people would want to go down coalmines, Farage replied: 'If you offer people well-paying jobs, you'd be surprised. Many will take them, even though you have to accept that mining is dangerous.' Pressed then on whether even a Reform-run Welsh government could not achieve this alone, Farage accepted this was probably the case: 'It's difficult to know just how much leverage the Welsh government can have over these things. It probably needs to work in conjunction with a national government. It needs a complete change of philosophy. It needs a scrapping of net zero.' A YouGov poll last month of voting intentions in Wales found Plaid Cymru leading with 30%, but Reform on 25%, ahead of Labour and the Conservatives. In his speech, Farage said Reform 'hit a speed bump last week' with the sudden resignation of Zia Yusuf as the party's chair, although Yusuf did subsequently say he would return to carry on leading efforts to find costs to cut in Reform-run councils. Farage denied that he repeatedly falls out with colleagues, saying some people had worked with him for 25 years, and that he was still friends with former employees from his City of London metals trading job in the 1990s. But he added: 'I am someone that maintains long-term friendships, and I'll do that, but if ever anybody talks behind my back, or if anybody betrays that trust, then I'll never speak to them again. Quite simple, and they should expect the same level of trust back from me.'
