Reform UK leader Nigel Farage attends Goodwood races as guest of multi-millionaire Tory donor
The meeting between the Reform UK leader and entrepreneur Dr James Hay is likely to trigger speculation over future political donations.
The Scottish businessman and his wife, Fitriani, who are based in Dubai and worth £325million, have given substantial sums to the Conservatives in the past.
Fitriani was one of the main financial backers of ex-PM Liz Truss's Tory leadership campaign, donating £100,000.
Racing fan Mr Farage was a guest of owners the Hays during Glorious Goodwood on Friday.
He was spotted in the parade ring with Mr Hay and later in a hospitality area.
Meanwhile, senior Labour figures expressed panic over big business backing Reform.
Industry chiefs will be at the party's annual rally next month.
Farage fury as cops admit ESCORTING pro-migrant protesters to Essex asylum hotel
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
23 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Police should release immigration information about charged suspects
The Reform UK leader said that he 'absolutely' believes that information should be made available by police forces. It comes as Mr Farage and the youngest council leader in the country, George Finch, have claimed there has been a 'cover-up' of details about an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. Two men who are reportedly Afghan asylum seekers have been charged in relation to the alleged incident in the Warwickshire town. Asked at a press conference on Monday whether the police should release the names, addresses and immigration status of people after they have been charged with an offence, Mr Farage said: 'What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker. 'That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online.' Pushed later on whether the details should be published, Mr Farage said: 'I absolutely think that they should.' At the same press conference, Mr Farage linked a perceived lack of information from police about what happened in Nuneaton to what happened in Southport last July, telling a Westminster press conference that he wanted to discuss a 'cover-up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year'. He later told the event: 'It is not … in any way at all a contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who allegedly have committed serious crimes. 'I felt that in the wake of the Southport attacks, and I feel that ever more strongly today.' Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was arrested on July 26 and charged the next day with rape, according to Warwickshire Police. He appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court last Monday and has been remanded in custody. Mohammad Kabir, 23, was arrested in Nuneaton on Thursday and charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting rape of a girl under 13, the force added. He appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday and has been remanded in custody. Warwickshire Police did not deny a Mail On Sunday report which said Mulakhil and Kabir are asylum seekers. In a statement, the force said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance, which 'does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status'. Mr Finch, the 19-year-old leader of Warwickshire County Council, told Monday's press conference that he was 'begging' for information about the two to be released in the wake of the charges. He said he had emailed the council's chief executive to say that he wished to speak to the police force and urge them to release information about the men's immigration status. Mr Finch also said he later had written a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police which called for the immediate release of the immigration status of the two. Mr Finch said he would be working to 'fight against' houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) that are housing 'illegal immigrants' and also claimed that Reform UK need to 'change things' and are 'the last line of defence against the blob, the cover-ups'. In his letter to Ms Cooper, published on X on Sunday, Mr Finch claimed that a 'cover-up' of immigration status 'risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire'. 'Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the county,' the letter adds. Asked if police should release the ethnicity of people charged with offences, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the police and courts were operationally independent but the principle was to be 'as transparent as possible'. He said: 'We've always said and continue to say that transparency is important. 'That is our position. For police up to central government, we should always be as transparent as possible when it comes to cases.' He added: 'This is clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about. In relation to this case, the individuals have been charged and we are now in a live investigation.'
Auto Car
23 minutes ago
- Auto Car
GWM launches Poer 300 in UK as diesel pick-up for £31k
Great Wall Motor (GWM), maker of the Ora 03 hatchback and Haval Jolion Pro crossover, is bringing a pick-up truck to the UK - and it will be one of the country's cheapest. The GWM Poer 300 is a diesel-powered double-cab with a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes, a one-tonne payload and a starting price of £31,495 (excluding VAT) - making it cheaper than the equivalent versions of the Isuzu D-Max, Volkswagen Amarok and Maxus T60 Max - and only a few hundred pounds more than the cheapest Ford Ranger and KGM Musso. The Poer 300 uses a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that sends 181bhp and 354lb ft through a seven-speed auto gearbox to both axles - and while GWM has not given full performance details, it says it returns 32.7mpg on the WLTP cycle. Headline off-roading specifications include an approach angle of 27deg, a departure angle of 25deg and 230mm of ground clearance, which, combined with the permanent 4x4 system and electronic locking rear differential, means the Poer 300 has "exceptional off-road capability", according to GWM. Already on sale in Australia as the Cannon Ute, the Poer 300 is due on UK roads from September in a choice of three trims: entry-level Lux, mid-rung Ultra and range-topping Vanta. Standard equipment includes a 12.3in touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, a 7.0in digital driver's display, a wireless phone charger, keyless entry, faux leather seats and 18in alloy wheels. Options fitted to higher-spec variants include heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, a 360deg camera and a sunroof. GWM UK boss Toby Marshall said: 'With the Poer 300, GWM UK is delivering unmatched utility, power and technology at a very competitive price point in the UK market. 'We fully expect the GWM Poer 300's combination of capability and value to resonate strongly with small business users and rural dwellers, who rely on vehicles such as this as a backbone of their businesses and lifestyles.'
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
New £100million indoor resort to open in the UK with ‘next generation waterpark' and thermal spas
A huge Therme spa complex with a huge indoor waterpark, pools and slides, is still coming to Glasgow. Therme Group has plans to open multiple new sites across the globe, including one in Scotland. 4 Since the announcement of its opening back in 2021, there haven't been many updates on the upcoming Therme Scotland. But the company confirmed the build was still going ahead in a recent Instagram update. On social media it created a post about Therme's new destinations across the globe which included Manchester and Glasgow. The new attraction is planned to open in central Glasgow next to the Riverside Museum at a cost of £100million. The site will have a "next-generation indoor waterpark" with 35 water slides, 25 pools which are both indoor and outdoor, and a wave pool. There will be more relaxing areas too like thermal spas, wellbeing garden, sauna, steam room and exotic relaxation areas. The initial plans in 2021 also included a bridge being built across the River Kelvin. This would link the Riverside Museum to Therme Scotland and expanding access to the Glasgow waterfront. At the time of its announcement in 2021, Therme Group CEO Stelian Iacob said: "Therme Scotland will create a fun and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all. "We look forward to engaging with the Glasgow community as we progress with the design and development of Therme Scotland.' 4 4 Forming part of Peel Waters in Glasgow, Therme Group is expected to update designs ahead of formal planning submission in late 2025. Therme Manchester was initially announced in March 2020 with an initial opening in 2024 - however it is still in the works. The attraction bosses have said the first major construction phase will start later in 2025. The huge complex was predicted to take between 24 and 30 months to build, so it could mean that it's might not be open until 2028. Costs have risen too, initially the build was set to be £250million, this has since jumped to £400million. When the Manchester site does open, it will have a waterpark with 25 swimming pools, 35 water slides and even an indoor beach. And it will be 33C all-year round so visitors can enjoy it whatever the weather. Therme Spa is known for its affordability, at the site in Bucharest, one day entry tickets cost from €36 (£31.28). One woman even flew herself and her mum out to the Therme Spa in Romania because it was cheaper than a spa day trip in the UK. Flights and spa passes for the pair set them back £315 - rather than the £400 at the spa in their neighbourhood. For anyone who can't get enough of spas, take a look inside the new spa woodland pods in the UK that make you feel like you're abroad. And check out this European beer spa where you bathe in hops with a pint - and you can get there by train. 4
