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Nigel Farage addresses Mandelson Epstein hyperlinks
Nigel Farage gave a Reform UK press convention right now as Sir Keir Starmer faces a disaster over Lord Mandelson.
The Reform chief unveiled his social gathering’s five-point plan to “save Britain’s pubs”.
The social gathering has promised to cut back VAT to 10% for the hospitality sector, scrap the employer nationwide insurance coverage enhance for hospitality companies, lower beer responsibility by 10%, implement staggered enterprise fee abolition for pubs and “change regulation to assist landlords”.
Through the press convention, Mr Farage questioned whether or not Lord Mandelson had breached the Official Secrets and techniques Act in his discussions with Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes because the Prime Minister is beneath intense strain amid the row over Lord Mandelson’s hyperlinks to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Conservative Social gathering has demanded the vetting file on Lord Mandelson be launched.
Posting on social media, James Cleverly stated: “Kemi is correct, we have to see the vetting file for Lord Mandelson.”
The Royal Household is dealing with its largest scandal because the abdication in 1936, Nigel Farage has claimed.
Talking at a press convention in central London the Reform UK chief stated: “I feel for the royal household, what began off as a humiliation, is quickly turning right into a catastrophe, and maybe it is the largest scandal to engulf the royals since 1936.”
5 days in the past16:51 Aaron Newbury
Gordon Brown writes to Met Police
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written to the top of the Met Police, Sir Mark Rowley, concerning their investigation in Peter Mandelson.
In an announcement to the Press Assocation, the Mr Brown stated he had written to Sir Mark with “data related to his investigation of Lord Mandelson’s disclosure of market delicate and confidential Authorities data”.
It comes simply hours after Mandelson gave up his seat within the Home of Lords.
6 days in the past16:44 Aaron Newbury
Mandelson should “face the hardest penalties attainable”
A Labour MP has referred to as for Peter Mandelson to “face the hardest penalties attainable”.
Posting on the social media platform X, Richard Burgon MP stated: “Tons extra horrific particulars popping out about Peter Mandelson – and he must face the hardest penalties attainable.
He added: “However what we already knew about his behaviour was appalling sufficient. So the query stays: why was he appointed US Ambassador? Who lobbied for it? And why?”
6 days in the past15:57 Katie Harris
No10 says Mandelson’s Lords exit is ‘proper’
A Downing Avenue spokesman stated: “It’s proper that Peter Mandelson will not be a member of the Home of Lords.
“Because the Prime Minister stated this morning, Peter Mandelson let his nation down.”
6 days in the past14:56 Katie Harris
Mandelson to stop Lords
Lord Mandelson is to step down from the Home of Lords, it has been introduced by the Lord Speaker.
6 days in the past14:55 Katie Harris
Farage provides replace on promised Labour defector
Nigel Farage stated he’s holding talks with “two or three” Labour figures about switching to Reform after he teased a left-wing defection final month.
The Reform chief stated: “Work in progress on that. In reality, there are two or three previously fairly senior Labour figures we’re in negotiations with.
“And I am completely assured that over the course of the following few weeks we may have some Labour names of some substance, possibly even one or two that need to stand for us.”
Nigel Farage stated the Lord Mandelson disaster is “but an additional blow” for Sir Keir Starmer.
He stated: “Troublesome for someone who was already essentially the most unpopular prime minister in dwelling reminiscence, this offers but an additional blow.
“I nonetheless stick with the view that after Might 7 whenever you see, in Wales for instance, Labour that is dominated the place, very troublesome for me to assume Keir Starmer will survive the summer time if he even will get by way of to Might 7.”
6 days in the past14:30 Katie Harris
Farage requested about Mandelson
Nigel Farage questioned whether or not Lord Mandelson had breached the Official Secrets and techniques Act in his discussions with Jeffrey Epstein.
He stated: “It’s extremely delicate market data. It’s authorities secrets and techniques.
“I additionally wonder if, in emails to Epstein, he talked concerning the safety equipment that exists beneath No 10 and on the coronary heart of Whitehall. That’s data that’s of nationwide safety significance.”
6 days in the past14:27 Katie Harris
Reform would fund pub plan be reversing Labour’s two-child profit cap modifications
Reform UK’s bundle for pubs can be funded by reinstating the two-child profit cap, aside from British workig households.
Nigel Farage stated: “So it is a constructive costed plan. Sure it means eliminating the proposed laws from the Labour authorities on the two-child cap.
“It’s decreasing the advantages invoice in favour of encouraging personal enterprise, jobs and wealth creation. That may be a snapshot of what you will see extra broadly when it comes to financial coverage popping out of Reform over the course of the following months and years. The general public sector and the welfare invoice can not go on rising until we begin to create extra wealth.”
(Picture: Getty)
Nigel Farage hit out at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s nationwide insurance coverage hike for employers in her first funds.
He stated: “The nationwide insurance coverage will increase, we’re now instructed that the Chancellor did not perceive what the knock-on results can be.
“And positively bringing down the nationwide insurance coverage degree to £5,000 a yr has put paid to tens of 1000’s of younger individuals getting these part-time jobs they need.”
6 days in the past14:24 Katie Harris
Farage blasts internet zero
Nigel Farage stated: “The opposite kill for pubs is vitality payments. Vitality payments have closed as many pubs within the final 5 years as another issue.
“The online zero lunacy that we have been taken down by the Conservatives and now being adopted with a degree of fanaticism by Ed Miliband is one thing else {that a} Reform authorities would but additional assist our pubs and certainly our broader hospitality sector.”
6 days in the past14:18 Katie Harris
Farage warns of ‘catastrophe’
Nigel Farage stated: “What is going on to our pubs, what is going on to our hospitality sector, is nothing short of a catastrophe.
“They’re on the sting of falling off a cliff. It is severe. It’s extremely, very severe.”
(Picture: Getty) 6 days in the past14:13 Katie Harris
Farage now talking
Nigel Farage is now addressing the press convention.
6 days in the past14:12 Katie Harris
Anderson discusses the position of pubs
Lee Anderson insisted {that a} pub is “not only a place that sells beer”.
He instructed the press convention: “My native pub known as the Canine Home in Kirkby in Ashfield and that pub each single weekend is filled with England managers, politicians, medical doctors, rocket scientists, it is a spot stuffed with specialists on every part. However in fact they don’t seem to be specialists, they’re simply individuals with an opinion.
“My native pub can also be a spot the place individuals can go and search consolation if one thing traumatic has occurred of their life as a result of our pubs are stuffed with councillors as effectively, not educated however simply real people who find themselves all the time there to lend a serving to ear or hand and take heed to you and supply that additional assist.
“And pubs in our nation increase over £100 million a yr for charities and our pub goers are being hammered by the Exchequer with taxes on the pints they drink.
“In reality, pubs are a spot have been individuals from all walks of life can go and categorical their opinions on no matter topic they need whereas having a number of drinks.
“It does not matter who you’re or the place you are from, you possibly can stroll into most pubs, have a number of pints, have a dialog with pals or strangers then these strangers may turn into pals.”
6 days in the past14:07 Katie Harris
What’s Reform’s five-point plan?
Scale back VAT to 10% for the hospitality sector Scrap the employer Nationwide Insurance coverage enhance for hospitality companies Lower beer responsibility by 10% Implement staggered enterprise fee abolition for all pubs Change regulation (the ‘beer orders’) to assist landlords
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson is talking because the press convention will get underway.
He stated: “We all the time say in Reform that each pub is a parliament, however that parliament over there’s a little bit completely different because it nonetheless permits the Prime Minister in and we’ll put a cease to that over the following few years.”
(Picture: Getty) 6 days in the past13:56 Katie Harris
Reform press convention kicks off at 2pm
Reform UK’s press convention with chief Nigel Farage and Ashfield MP Lee Anderson is because of get underway at 2pm.
They are going to unveil the social gathering’s five-point plan to “save Britain’s pubs and reverse the injury inflicted by the Tories and now Labour”.
6 days in the past13:41 Katie Harris
Lammy broadcasts plans for brand spanking new ‘super-max’ prisons
New “super-max” type jail models might be launched by the Authorities to cope with essentially the most violent prisoners, the Justice Secretary has stated.
David Lammy stated the evaluation by Jonathan Corridor KC into an assault by Manchester Enviornment bomb plotter on three jail guards at HMP Frankland in 2025 had confirmed enhancements have been wanted.
He stated separation centres, particular models inside prisons to accommodate Islamic extremists have been vital to guard prisoners, workers and the general public. He stated extremism and violence in prisons are “actual, current threats”.
Mr Lammy stated the Authorities had accepted all 13 suggestions made by Mr Corridor.
Giving an announcement to the Commons he stated: “Mr Corridor identifies a transparent want to rework the way in which that separation centres are ruled and operated. That’s the reason we are going to discover all out there choices to overtake the system, together with on the subsequent spending evaluation, the creation of recent harder supermax type models for essentially the most violent, disruptive prisoners.
“This might be a tiered system, with motion between tiers solely permitted following rigorous new threat assessments. We are going to start designing this technique instantly.”
Reform UK is within the lead on 26% in a brand new YouGov ballot, with Labour second in 19%, the Tories third on 18% and the Greens subsequent with 17%.
Newest YouGov Westminster voting intention (1-2 February 2026)
Reform UK: 26% (+1 from 25-26 Jan)
Labour: 19% (-2)
Conservatives: 18% (+1)
Greens: 17% (+1)
Lib Dems: 14% (=) pic.twitter.com/DAfsFlxzobu2014 YouGov (@YouGov) February 3, 2026
6 days in the past12:10 Katie Harris
Lee Anderson says ‘solely Reform UK will save our pubs’
The Reform UK MP for Ashfield shared a video on X forward of his press convention alongside Nigel Farage this afternoon.
Solely Reform UK will save our pubs ud83cudf7aud83cudf7b pic.twitter.com/UepHFalZgD
u2014 Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) February 3, 2026
6 days in the past10:42 Katie Harris
EU ‘open-minded’ to customs union with UK
Brussels can be “open-minded” to a customs union with Britain, the bloc’s finance chief has stated.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Finance, stated the EU is “prepared to interact” if the UK wished to look into the transfer.
Mr Dombrovskis made the remark after commerce talks yesterday with ministers together with Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Requested if Brussels would welcome talks on Britain rejoining the customs union, Dombrovskis instructed the BBC: “I can not leap to conclusions, however I can say that we’re prepared to interact with an open thoughts and search these areas of cooperation.”
He added that the EU was additionally “open to debate completely different areas as regards a single market”.
6 days in the past10:04 Katie Harris
Lib Dems name for Epstein probe
The Liberal Democrats have referred to as for a statutory inquiry into how paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was in a position to “achieve entry to the center of the British political institution”.
Social gathering chief Sir Ed Davey stated: “The victims of this scandal and their households deserve the complete fact and to see these accountable held to account.
“The Authorities ought to launch a full statutory inquiry into how a convicted paedophile with suspected ties to Vladimir Putin was in a position to achieve entry to the center of the British political institution.
“Epstein was leaked extremely market-sensitive data by a minister appearing as a mole in Whitehall, leaving our establishments dangerously uncovered and posing a grave risk to nationwide safety.
“A full public inquiry with powers to compel witnesses and entry messages and emails is crucial.
“Solely full transparency can restore public belief, ship justice for victims and forestall this degree of corruption from ever taking place once more.”
6 days in the past08:40 Katie Harris
Farage to unveil Reform’s plan for pubs
Nigel Farage will unveil Reform UK’s plan to “save our pubs and the hospitality business” at a press convention alongside Ashfield MP Lee Anderson at 2pm right now.
6 days in the past08:17 Christian Calgie
Former Labour deputy chief says Mandelson ought to be kicked out of Lords
Baroness Harman, who was deputy Labour chief beneath Gordon Brown, says Mandelson ought to be kicked out of the Lords.
She instructed BBC Radio 4’s As we speak programme she believes Labour’s manifesto pledge to take away disgraced members from the Home of Lords might be “obtained on with”, including: “Within the meantime, I feel the Prime Minister may very well be advising the King to cease him from being a privy counsellor.
“And I additionally assume that, he’s on depart of absence, for the time being, from the Home of Lords, having stepped out of the Home of Lords to be our ambassador, and I feel it will be good for the Lords to move a movement to say that he’s to not reapply to return again in.”
Labour minister Karin Smyth has stated she is hopeful that the Lords will work with the federal government to introduce reforms that may kick Mandelson out.
She tells Instances Radio: “It’s shameful. It does disgrace politics. And that is why the prime minister was clear that he does not assume that Peter Mandelson ought to proceed to be a Lord.
“However that is not within the authorities’s direct reward. It requires main laws. And that requires additionally being handed by the Lords.
“We do not have a majority within the Lords, which is why it must be approached on a cross-party foundation…I hope that every one events do come collectively to see that as a result of it does convey disgrace on the establishment.”
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6 days in the past07:55 Katie Harris
Mandelson has ‘forged a stain’ over politics
Lord Mandelson has “forged a stain” over politics amid accusations he leaked delicate authorities data to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Baroness Harman has stated.
Baroness Harman, who was chief of the Commons and deputy Labour chief when Lord Mandelson was enterprise secretary, instructed BBC Radio 4’s As we speak programme: “What’s so horrible about what Peter Mandelson has achieved is that it is performed into the sense that individuals have that politicians are all the identical, we’re all in it for ourselves, we’re all in it for cash.
“That isn’t the case, however what Peter Mandelson has achieved is forged a stain over, not simply this Authorities, however over politics as a complete. I am positive the Authorities are in completely little doubt concerning the seriousness of it, and might be taking motion and Peter Mandelson might be held accountable.”
6 days in the past07:24 Christian Calgie
Mandelson threatened to sue paper over questions on funds to boyfriend
Lord Mandelson threatened to sue the Monetary Instances in September final yr after they first approached him about claims Jeffrey Epstein could have despatched his accomplice 1000’s of kilos.
Jim Pickard, the paper’s political editor, posts: “The issue with this newfound ‘bursary’ argument aired within the Instances is that this:
“After we first heard about these funds in September, an individual near Mandelson stated it couldn’t presumably be the case and, er, threatened to sue us.”
Mandelson has now accepted his accomplice, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, did take cash from Epstein.
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