36 h. ago Could Nigel Farage really win the next election? Here’s what the polls say

Reform’s lead is persistent but pollsters themselves point out that their models come with significant uncertaintyUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has spent his political career disrupting the political order, but with Reform UK’s popularity on the rise, some in Westminster believe he could be on course to pull off the greatest political earthquake in modern British political history.Not only have recent polls pointed to Reform effectively replacing the Conservatives as the main opposition, some have even suggested Farage could enter Downing Street if such support is maintained at the next election. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Miliband vows to ban fracking, labels Reform ‘ideological extremists’ and tells Musk to ‘get the hell out of our politics’ – live

Environmental groups have welcomed the energy secretary’s fracking announcementAt the Labour conference Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has just started his speech.Responding to the news that he will announce a total ban on fracking (see 9.19am), Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said:By providing a clear vision for our energy future based on helping people, not on ignoring the science, the energy secretary has sent an important message that the government is listening to communities.Fracking is and always has been unpopular, both with people facing it off locally and the wider public. The government must now translate its plans to ban fracking permanently into policy, alongside closing a loophole in planning law that still allows it to happen by the backdoor.Andy Burnham is doing a fantastic job as the mayor of Manchester. I actually worked closely with him. We’ve reset that relationship between Westminster and our mayors, and we’re working well together. So ...

Politics

61 h. ago Ed Miliband vows to ban fracking and warns Reform would ‘trash our climate commitments’ – UK politics live

There is currently no permanent ban in law, just a temporary moratoriumAt the Labour conference Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has just started his speech.Responding to the news that he will announce a total ban on fracking (see 9.19am), Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said:By providing a clear vision for our energy future based on helping people, not on ignoring the science, the energy secretary has sent an important message that the government is listening to communities.Fracking is and always has been unpopular, both with people facing it off locally and the wider public. The government must now translate its plans to ban fracking permanently into policy, alongside closing a loophole in planning law that still allows it to happen by the backdoor.Andy Burnham is doing a fantastic job as the mayor of Manchester. I actually worked closely with him. We’ve reset that relationship between Westminster and our mayors, and we’re working well together. So I’ve got...

Events

62 h. ago Ed Miliband to announce total ban on fracking – UK politics live

There is not currently a permanent ban in law, just a temporary moratoriumSome people have argued that it is a mistake for Keir Starmer and Labour to talk about Nigel Farage and Reform UK as much as they have. There is a case for saying that this just shores up the credibility of a party with only five MPs, and it switches the news agenda towards immigration and small boats (issues where Reform UK polls well) and away from “Labour issues” like health.And art of this argument is that, by calling the Reform UK migration policy racist, Labour is also making it easier for Farage to leverage grievance (which, as Starmer himself argued in his speech yesterday, is part of what lies behind Reform UK’s electoral support.I think it’s a mistake to pretend this isn’t the fight of our times.If it is the fight of our times, we’ve got to recognise that, and we’ve got to be in it. I think simply ignoring it is a mistake, a political mistake.No, not at all. There is a political fight that has to be ...

Politics

62 h. ago PM brands Channel crossings ‘Farage boats’ because Brexit has hampered returns – UK politics live

PM also says he does not believe Nigel Farage or Reform voters are racistHelena Horton is a Guardian environment reporter.Ed Miliband is due to take to the stage to deliver his speech today, and he is set to announce a “total ban” on fracking.I am about to announce something you have been calling for and campaigning on, which is to ban fracking for good. You called for it, I’m going to do it, thank you for your campaigning.What an amazing result for our environment, our local communities, and the thousands of committed people and groups right across the country who’ve spent years fighting for fracking to be banned for good – including the many who signed 38 Degrees supporter Geoff’s recent petition. Not long ago, it felt like fracking might make a comeback, with Reform UK pushing to put it back on the agenda. But thousands of us stood up, demanded a permanent ban, and made our voices impossible to ignore. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Burnham claims ‘climate of fear’ in Labour as he refuses to pledge loyalty to Starmer: Labour conference live

Keir Starmer dismisses Labour calls to oust him as ‘navel gazing' and says battle with Reform UK is ‘fight for the soul of our country'

Society

5 d. ago Burnham claims Labour is in ‘peril’ as he refuses to pledge loyalty to Starmer

Prime minister dismisses Labour calls to oust him as ‘navel gazing' and says battle with Reform UK is ‘fight for the soul of our country'

Events

5 d. ago Starmer calls Farage’s migrant plans ‘racist’ as he ramps up attack on Reform

Prime minister dismisses Labour calls to oust him as ‘navel gazing' and says battle with Reform UK is ‘fight for the soul of our country'

Events

7 d. ago Farage endangering women by failing to condemn paracetamol claims, says Bridget Phillipson

Labour deputy leader candidate criticises ‘scaremongering’ on autism and says party must be firmer in tackling ReformUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage is “endangering women’s health” by failing to condemn Donald Trump’s claims that using paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism, Bridget Phillipson has said.The education secretary and minister for women said she had used the painkiller throughout her second pregnancy, and she warned that Reform’s connections with medical conspiracy theories including anti-vaccine rhetoric made the party a danger to public health. Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago Royal Parks say no evidence to back Nigel Farage’s claim that migrants are eating their swans – UK politics live

Reform UK leader claimed swans and carp being eaten from parks by ‘people from different cultures’Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has hit back at Donald Trump after the US president yesterday accused him of introducing sharia law in the capital.In an interview with Sky News, Khan said that he felt he “appeared to be living rent-free in Donald Trump’s head”. He suggested that Trump’s antipathy towards him was related to the fact that he is “a Muslim man who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city”.When people say things, when people act in a certain way, when people behave in a certain way, you’ve got to believe them.I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he’s Islamophobic.One of the things about having a special relationship, it’s akin to having a best friend. I think when you have a best friend, you should expect more from them ..One of the advantages of having a special relationship with the USA is obvious...

Politics

9 d. ago Farage refuses to criticise Trump over paracetamol despite health experts dismissing autism claims

Reform UK leader says he has ‘no idea’ if US president is right to tell women to avoid drug during pregnancyUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has refused to criticise Donald Trump’s claims that paracetamol, sold in the US as Tylenol, could cause autism, insisting “science is never settled” and he would never “side with” medical experts.The Reform UK leader said he had “no idea” if the US president was right to tell pregnant women to avoid taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol and paracetamol, and suggesting that those who could not “tough it out” should limit their intake. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK politics live: Farage plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain ‘will tear families apart’

Chancellor says Reform UK’s plans have ‘no basis in reality’

Politics

1 week ago Reform UK’s immigration plans have ‘no basis in reality’, say Labour – politics live

Nigel Farage claims his party would save £234bn by scrapping indefinite leave to remainFarage vows to scrap indefinite leave to remainFarage and Yusuf are now taking questions.Q: [From the BBC’s Iain Watson] Will you withdraw the £230bn figure, because it has been withdrawn by the thinktank that produced it?What we are attempting to do today is to make people realise that large-scale migration into Britain, where 50% at least of those that come, will never work and live off the British state, is actually making this country substantially poorer. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK politics live: Farage warned expelling thousands of legal migrants would spark ‘legal and practical chaos’

Chancellor says Reform’s plans have ‘no basis in reality’

Events

1 week ago UK politics live: Farage says UK ‘not the world’s food bank’ as he vows to expel thousands of legal migrants

Reform UK holding press conference to outline new immigration policy

Politics

1 week ago UK politics live: Farage vows to expel hundreds of thousands of legal migrants from UK

Reform UK to hold press conference this morning to outline new immigration policy

Politics

2 w. ago Maria Caulfield becomes latest senior Tory to defect to Reform UK

Former health minister announces decision a day after MP Danny Kruger joined Nigel Farage’s partyUK politics live – latest updatesAnother senior Conservative has defected to Reform UK, with the former health minister Maria Caulfield saying she signed up to Nigel Farage’s party a month ago.Although Caulfield is no longer an MP after losing her Lewes seat to the Liberal Democrats last year, it is another blow for the Tories, a day after Danny Kruger, a sitting Tory MP and shadow work and pensions minister, announced he had moved to Reform. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Watch in full: Danny Kruger speaks after defecting to Reform UK from Conservatives

Nigel Farage announced that Conservative MP Danny Kruger defected to Reform UK on Monday, 15 September.

Politics

2 w. ago Watch live: Danny Kruger speaks after defecting to Reform UK from Conservatives

Watch live as Nigel Farage announces that Conservative MP Danny Kruger has defected to Reform UK on Monday, 15 September.

Politics

3 w. ago Nigel Farage live updates as he arrives in Wales to make announcement

The Reform UK leader is here ahead of next month's Caerphilly by-election

Politics