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The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
You can tell PM is scared of Farage…he took jacket off and was in serious mode when he launched latest salvo against him
YOU can always tell when a politician wants us to take them seriously. They take off their jacket and tie, roll up their shirt sleeves and stand in front of an impressively big bit of factory machinery, in the desperate hope that, as they read an autocue in front of cameras, they look more down-to-earth and honest. 6 6 It's a gimmick that rarely convinces voters, but we absolutely KNOW that Sir Keir Starmer was in 'serious mode' when he did just that to launch his latest salvo against Nigel Farage. The Prime Minister, despite having a whopping great majority of 165 MPs and four more years in office before the next general election, appears to be remarkably agitated by the potential threat posed by a man who leads a party with just five MPs. Smell desperation Indeed, barely a speech, or an interview or a PMQs now passes without Keir talking about Nigel. But while the PM pretends to laugh at the Reform leader, often treating him with undisguised contempt, it is obvious to everyone that Starmer is now a VERY worried man. It's not just Reform's first place in the opinion polls that scares Keir, or even the party's victory in the recent local elections and seizing one of Labour's safest seats. It's also the prospect that Farage is seeking advice from proven campaigners including Dominic Cummings. The Vote Leave chief, who led the Brexit vote and the architect of Boris Johnson's 2019 victory, claimed this week that Farage could 'definitely' become Prime Minister at the next election if he follows his advice, saying: 'Reform has been a one-man band, it's been Nigel and an iPhone,' but now it's time to make a proper plan for government. Not surprisingly, Labour are throwing everything they can at Farage but, so far, nothing is sticking. They've tried calling him a far-right bigot, and that didn't work. They dismissed him as a posh public schoolboy and ex-City trader, who doesn't care about ordinary Brits. But that didn't work either. So the latest tactic is to tell us that Reform's numbers don't add up. Starmer dismissed Farage's economic plans — announced to much fanfare on Tuesday — as 'fantasy' policies and 'a mad experiment' that will result in a Liz Truss -style economic meltdown. You can almost smell the desperation coming from Labour as they seek to head off Farage's turquoise army at the pass. 6 Certainly, Farage's pledge to bring back Winter Fuel Payments for all pensioners will be a very popular policy across the political spectrum. And more generous tax breaks for married couples would appeal to many families with young children. But his plan to scrap the two-child benefit cap is a sop too far to the left for many Reform supporters — and probably wouldn't help a single child in poverty. His 'ambition' to raise the personal tax allowance from £12,571 up to £20,000 a year, pulling millions of people on low wages out of tax altogether, is laughably unaffordable at upwards of £50billion a year. All that said, voters know it's a bit rich for Starmer to criticise Reform for uncosted policies when he himself happily backed Jeremy Corbyn's free-spending manifestos in the 2017 and 2019 elections — and indeed his own manifesto costings in 2024 were a fairytale fiction. Not to mention the small matter of Labour's Net Zero target for 2050 coming with an unaffordable price tag of seemingly more than £1trillion. Fraught with problems Meanwhile, on the other side of the political aisle, the Conservatives are getting openly jittery at how Farage, not the Tory's Kemi Badenoch, is increasingly viewed as the official Leader of the Opposition. The local elections proved that Reform is now appealing to both Labour and Tory voters. 6 That presents its own difficulties for Farage because trying to be 'all things to all men' is fraught with problems. Every policy that will appeal to one set of voters may also put off the other side. Yet when the Prime Minister is worried enough about Farage to go on the telly to attack Reform's policies, instead of announcing his own, it shows the upstart party's main man is leading the political agenda, not Keir. The next general election may still be four long years away, but the political rivals' shirt sleeves are well and truly rolled up ready for the fight for No 10. Khan is wrong SADIQ KHAN has called for cannabis possession to be decriminalised, insisting that the current law, which classifies it as a Class B drug, 'cannot be justified'. The Mayor of London claims the law is damaging 'community' relations because black people are more likely than whites to face police stop-and-search for suspected cannabis use. As per usual, Khan is wrong. There's plenty of evidence about the harms caused by regular cannabis use. Decriminalising possession for personal use will simply create even more demand for the organised criminals supplying the drug. We're told that the 'war on drugs' hasn't worked so we may as well give up fighting. Given that people walk freely on the streets smoking weed these days, it has not really been a hard-fought battle. If we are going to decriminalise cannabis because the law isn't being enforced, then why not decriminalise shoplifting or carrying a knife while we are at it? Maybe if we bothered to ENFORCE the law, fewer people would risk breaking it. Luvvies should blame Hamas GARY LINEKER and his celebrity chums Dua Lipa and Benedict Cumberbatch have joined 300 other luvvies to signal their virtue in a letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to 'end the UK's complicity' in Gaza. They demanded that Sir Keir Starmer ban arms sales to Israel and push for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire to save 'the children of Gaza'. 6 6 It is a tragedy that innocent people die in wars but, for some reason, the children killed in Yemen, Syria or Ukraine don't hold as much interest for righteous celebs as those in Gaza. The people complicit in the deaths of innocent children in Gaza are the Hamas terrorist leaders, who have publicly stated that they want Palestinian kids to be martyred and paraded on camera for their cause. That's why their fighters use them as human shields. If Lineker and his grand-standing mates really want to save those kids, they should publicly back Israel's military efforts to defeat Hamas and free ordinary Palestinians from their evil clutches. So don't applaud the likes of Lineker for their moral stance on Gaza. They aren't helping Gazan children, they're just fighting Hamas's propaganda war for them.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Badenoch will be ousted this year, predicts Cummings
Kemi Badenoch will be ousted as leader of the Conservative Party this year, Dominic Cummings has predicted. Mr Cummings, who served as Boris Johnson's chief adviser in No 10, said Mrs Badenoch was 'going to go probably this year' and claimed that there were already people 'organising to get rid of her'. The Vote Leave maverick also said it was 'definitely' possible for Nigel Farage to win the next general election and become prime minister. His comments, made on a Sky News podcast, came as Mr Farage continues to position Reform UK as the true opposition to Labour while Mrs Badenoch tries to kickstart her leadership and a Tory recovery in the opinion polls. Mr Cummings said: 'Kemi is going to go probably this year. There's already people who are organising to get rid of her, and I think that that will work. 'If it doesn't work this year, it will definitely happen after next May. She's a goner, so there's going to be a big transition there.' He suggested that there could be an electoral pact between the Tories and Reform at the next election, but also said the Conservative Party may be past the point of no return. Asked about the possibility of a pact, he said: 'It all depends how the cards fall. Kemi can't do it, obviously, but she will be gone. 'Tories might not be salvageable' 'But also it is quite possible that the Tories have just, kind of, crossed the event horizon and actually aren't salvageable.' There have been calls for a pact from some senior Tory figures in order to unite the Right, but both Mrs Badenoch and Mr Farage have repeatedly ruled out an alliance. Mrs Badenoch is under pressure to deliver a turnaround in Conservative Party fortunes after the Tories were crushed at the general election last year and then suffered heavy losses at the local elections earlier this month. Opinion polls continue to paint a grim picture for Mrs Badenoch and her party. The most recent YouGov survey from May 19 put Reform in first place on 29 per cent, Labour in second place on 22 per cent, the Liberal Democrats in third place on 17 per cent and the Tories in fourth place on 16 per cent. Reform continues to ride high in the polls after its victory at the local elections. Mr Farage used an event in central London on Tuesday to declare that his party was now Labour's main rival for power. New Reform policies He sought to park his tanks firmly on Sir Keir Starmer's lawn by announcing new welfare policies, including lifting the two-child benefit cap and reversing the cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners. Mr Cummings said he had advised Mr Farage on how to turn Reform from a 'one-man band' into a party capable of winning a general election. He said Mr Farage would need to demonstrate to voters before the next election that he has a 'serious team' behind him. 'Can Farage stand up in 2028 on a platform and say 'look at the 10 people on this stage with me, this is going to be my chancellor, this is going to be my home secretary, man for man, woman for woman, these 10 people are obviously better both than the current farce in the Cabinet and the current farce in the Tory Party, look at me, look at these people',' he said. Mr Cummings said if Mr Farage followed his advice, then he could win power. Asked if the Reform leader could be prime minister, he said: 'It could definitely happen now, yeah, because the old system's just so completely broken.'
South Wales Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Tory veteran Gove who suggested Lords decamp to Stoke takes seat on red benches
The Tory veteran, who was handed a peerage in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list, wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony at Westminster, where he swore the oath of allegiance to the King. Lord Gove was supported by close allies and fellow Conservative peers Baroness Finn and Lord Vaizey of Didcot. As he left the chamber, Lord Gove laughed loudly at a whispered comment made by leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon as she welcomed him to the upper chamber. The politician, who had been MP for Surrey Heath since 2005, was among the most high-profile members of the Conservative Party to call time on his Commons career at the last election. He cited the 'toll' of public office as he said it was time to let 'a new generation lead' following a political career spanning nearly 20 years. He conceded he had 'undoubtedly made mistakes' throughout his political career but said he had always 'tried to be a voice for those who have been overlooked and undervalued'. Lord Gove became editor of the Spectator magazine last year. The peer – who served in the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak – was a journalist before he became an MP. A political survivalist whose career has been marked by numerous comebacks to the front line, he first entered Lord Cameron's Cabinet as education secretary before siding against him on the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum. He then backed Mr Johnson to become the new Conservative leader before launching his own unsuccessful bid for the top job. When Mrs May took office, he spent a spell in the political wilderness before returning as environment secretary after she lost the Conservative majority in 2017. He then joined Mr Johnson's top team following the 2019 election. Mr Gove was sacked by Mr Johnson after telling the then-prime minister that his time in Downing Street was up as the government fell apart in 2022. But he returned afterwards to Cabinet, throwing his weight behind Mr Sunak's leadership campaign. When in Government he sparked controversy after he suggested the upper chamber could move to Stoke-on-Trent during the multibillion-pound restoration of the parliamentary estate. The then levelling up secretary put forward the idea after ruling out the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, which is just a few minutes' walk from the Palace of Westminster in London, as an alternative location. It led former Lord Speaker Lord Fowler to accuse him of acting 'like a 19th century mill owner'.
Leader Live
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Tory veteran Gove who suggested Lords decamp to Stoke takes seat on red benches
The Tory veteran, who was handed a peerage in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list, wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony at Westminster, where he swore the oath of allegiance to the King. Lord Gove was supported by close allies and fellow Conservative peers Baroness Finn and Lord Vaizey of Didcot. As he left the chamber, Lord Gove laughed loudly at a whispered comment made by leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon as she welcomed him to the upper chamber. The politician, who had been MP for Surrey Heath since 2005, was among the most high-profile members of the Conservative Party to call time on his Commons career at the last election. He cited the 'toll' of public office as he said it was time to let 'a new generation lead' following a political career spanning nearly 20 years. He conceded he had 'undoubtedly made mistakes' throughout his political career but said he had always 'tried to be a voice for those who have been overlooked and undervalued'. Lord Gove became editor of the Spectator magazine last year. The peer – who served in the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak – was a journalist before he became an MP. A political survivalist whose career has been marked by numerous comebacks to the front line, he first entered Lord Cameron's Cabinet as education secretary before siding against him on the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum. He then backed Mr Johnson to become the new Conservative leader before launching his own unsuccessful bid for the top job. When Mrs May took office, he spent a spell in the political wilderness before returning as environment secretary after she lost the Conservative majority in 2017. He then joined Mr Johnson's top team following the 2019 election. Mr Gove was sacked by Mr Johnson after telling the then-prime minister that his time in Downing Street was up as the government fell apart in 2022. But he returned afterwards to Cabinet, throwing his weight behind Mr Sunak's leadership campaign. When in Government he sparked controversy after he suggested the upper chamber could move to Stoke-on-Trent during the multibillion-pound restoration of the parliamentary estate. The then levelling up secretary put forward the idea after ruling out the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, which is just a few minutes' walk from the Palace of Westminster in London, as an alternative location. It led former Lord Speaker Lord Fowler to accuse him of acting 'like a 19th century mill owner'.
New Statesman
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Arise, Lord Michael Gove
Photo byWhen does a commoner become a nobleman? Michael Gove entered the House of Lords, bedecked in ermin, just after 11 this morning as an ex-MP, two-time (failed) leadership candidate, and lately editor of the Spectator magazine. He emerged less than five minutes later as all of those things still, but as first and foremost Baron Gove of Torry, in the city of Aberdeen. The Lords does pageantry in a way the Commons can only dream of, a wonderous juxtaposition of mundanity and tradition. The gold mace reclining behind the Speaker as he listed on the red velvet Woolsack, iPad in hand, like a student on a beanbag in the college library; sword-wielding officials next to peers in trainers; candles blazing with energy-efficient lightbulbs (we don't want a repeat of 1834 now do we); the adult children of the nobility jostling together on the steps of the glittering throne like fans on the football terraces keen to get the best view.. Surprisingly full of both peers and guests given recess is about to begin, Gove's ennoblement was top of the day's agenda in the Chamber. Known for his colourful expressions, the former education secretary, environment secretary and housing secretary, once decried by a furious teacher as a 'demented Dalek on speed', kept a straight face for his latest regeneration into one of the Lords Temporal. Or, if you will, a Time Lord. To begin his new era as one of over 800 members of the House of Lords, Gove was led up the aisle by two familiar faces from his past life in government. Ed Vaizey (Baron Vaizey of Didcot) was culture minister under David Cameron back when Gove was Dalek of Education, while his other chaperone, Simone Finn, was a government adviser. Baroness Finn briefly returned to frontline politics as de facto Downing Street chief of staff in 2022 when Boris Johnson, having just sacked Gove for suggesting his boss should resign as Prime Minister, found himself unable to field a cabinet. Time works differently in the House of Lords. The past that was the future once (as Cameron so pointedly put it) comes back as the ermin-clad present. Gove, of course, owes his ennoblement not to Johnson or Cameron (relations with both of whom remain cryogenic after small matters like hastening to their exits from Downing Street), but to Rishi Sunak, who put him top of his resignation honours list. Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, another Sunak appointee, seemingly had a prior appointment – although Baron (Michael) Elliott of Mickle Fell, an ally from Gove's Vote Leave days, elevated by Liz Truss, was there on the Conservative benches. 'For us our heirs and successors, do appoint, give and grant unto him the said name, state, degree, style, dignity, title and honour of Baron Gove, to have and to hold unto him for his life,' Gove was told by the Lord Clerk. With all the solemnity of a marriage vow (albeit one to 832 other people – or, perhaps more accurately, the King), he replied: 'I, Michael, Lord Gove, do swear by almighty God that I will be faithful' – breathe – 'and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors according to law, so help me God.' Amen. All that remained was to sign the Lords' Code of Conduct and, just like that, it was over. A flick of a gold baton, a handshake with the (still-lounging) Speaker, a chorus of laughter and hear-hears. Lord Gove of Torry (a nod to his adoptive father, who was born there) was barely out of the Chamber before the real business began: the Lord Bishop of St Albans asking his final question before retirement on the government's efforts regarding the Hong Kong activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai, imprisoned by the Chinese government. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Five minutes only – but what minutes! One of the most significant politicians of the 2010-2024 Conservative era, the prime minister who never was, who shaped British politics in ways the residents of the Commons, just across the lobby, will be grappling with for decades to come, while he gets to watch from his lofty abode. Will such an esteemed political machinator miss the psychodrama of the Commons? At least the good Lord has a newsroom to run. [See also: Will Labour's winter fuel U-turn work?] Related
