The Daily T: Can Nigel Farage be PM?
A major new YouGov poll has revealed that Reform UK would win the most seats of any party if a general election were held today, making Nigel Farage the leading contender to become the next prime minister.
Camilla and Tim are joined by journalist and broadcaster Fraser Nelson, who is fronting a new Dispatches documentary – 'Will Nigel Farage Be Prime Minister?' – at 8pm tonight on Channel 4.
Fraser explains why Farage has been so effective at mopping up disillusioned voters; his masterful use of social media; and how Labour and the Tories have paved the way for a Reform political earthquake.
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Times
25 minutes ago
- Times
Glastonbury ‘appalled' at Bob Vylan's ‘death to IDF' chants
The organisers of Glastonbury Festival said they were 'appalled' after a punk act led chants of 'death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during a performance. In a statement the festival said the actions of Bob Vylan on Saturday 'very much crossed a line', adding there was no place for 'antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.' Rapper Bobby Vylan, of the duo Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival's West Holts stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF'. • Glastonbury 2025 live: Rod Stewart and Olivia Rodrigo set to headline final day Asked about the comments during an interview on Sunday, Wes Streeting, the health minister, said the chants were 'appalling' and that the BBC and festival had 'questions to answer'. Avon and Somerset police said video evidence would be assessed by officers 'to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its 'outrageous decision' to broadcast Bob Vylan. Belfast rap trio Kneecap gave a highly charged performance on Saturday that criticised Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, with expletive-laden chants. The prime minister said last week that it was 'not appropriate' for Kneecap to perform after one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a gig last year. He has denied the charge. Asked about the Bob Vylan performance, Streeting told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'I thought it's appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.' He said that people should be talking about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and that Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian Christian village in the West Bank this week, but added: 'The fact that we saw that chant at a music festival, when there were Israelis at a similar music festival who were kidnapped, murdered, raped, and in some cases still held captive; whether it's a Palestinian or an Israeli, whether it's a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, all life is precious. 'All life is sacred. And I find it pretty revolting we've got to a state in this conflict where you're supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it's a football team.' Asked if the BBC should have cut the live feed, he said the broadcaster had questions to answer, but that he did not know what the editorial and operational 'challenges' were regarding taking such action. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a spokesperson said. On social media, the Israeli Embassy said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. Ted Cruz, the Texas senator, wrote on X that the footage was 'Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming 'Death to the IDF.'' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque', writing on X: 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked.' A spokesperson for the CAA said 'Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions.' Leading music promoter Harvey Goldsmith, who helped organise Live Aid, said: 'I'm proud to have dedicated my life to Britain's music industry and I'm now horrified to see it become a platform for open hate. 'The BBC must have known the views of Bob Vylan and that there was a risk they would use this the stage in the way they did. 'I can't help but suspect the BBC chose to allow this to happen given the furore over Kneecap. 'If the kind of invective they used had been directed against any other minority, World War Three would have broken out. 'What's happened is an utter disgrace for the BBC and for Glastonbury.' Lord Austin, the government's trade envoy to Israel, said: 'This disgusting chant is totally unacceptable, and could be incitement to violence. I hope Avon and Somerset police will launch an urgent investigation and if necessary, arrest the band members responsible. 'They bring shame on Glastonbury festival which ought to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. 'And the BBC also needs to take responsibility to make certain that nothing like this is ever broadcast in future.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.'
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tory MP refers himself to watchdog over ‘cash for questions' row
A Conservative MP has referred himself to Parliament's watchdog after allegations he was paid by a company that helped him write questions to the government. Former minister George Freeman submitted queries to Labour ministers about the sector in which the firm operates, The Times reported. He even asked what to ask about as he prepared written questions related to space data and emissions tracking, according to leaked emails reported by the paper. Labour and the Lib Dems have called on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to suspend him. Mr Freeman became a paid adviser with GHGSat, which monitors greenhouse gases, last April. At the time the appointments watchdog Acoba advised there were 'risks associated with your influence and network of contacts gained whilst in ministerial office' and noted he had made it clear 'to the company that you will not lobby government on its behalf, and this will not form part of your role'. The questions were directed at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Mr Freeman told The Times: 'As a longstanding advocate of important new technologies, companies and industries, working cross-party through APPGs (All-Party Parliamentary Groups) and the select committee, I regularly ask experts for clarification on technical points and terminology, and deeply respect and try to assiduously follow the code of conduct for MPs and the need to act always in the public interest. 'Throughout my 15 years in parliament (and government), I have always understood the need to be transparent in the work I have done for and with commercial clients and charities and am always willing to answer any criticism. 'I don't believe I have done anything wrong but I am immediately referring myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and will accept his judgment in due course.' A Conservative Party spokesperson said it would be 'inappropriate' to comment while the Commissioner's inquiries are ongoing. A Labour spokesperson said: 'Cash for questions was a hallmark of Tory sleaze in the 1990s, and three decades on the same issue has raised its head again. ' George Freeman has referred himself for investigation so now Kemi Badenoch must suspend him from the Tory whip.' Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said: 'This looks like the same old sleaze and scandal people have come to expect from the Conservative Party. 'Kemi Badenoch should immediately suspend the whip from George Freeman while this is investigated. ' Failure to act would confirm that even after being booted out of government, the Conservatives are still hopelessly out of touch.' Mr Freeman has been contacted for comment. The MP for Mid Norfolk is currently a member of the House of Commons science, innovation and technology committee and a trade envoy. He was responsible for the UK space agency in his previous role as a minister under Rishi Sunak.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Flag lady raising the standards in her village
For the last 30 years, wherever she has lived, Sue Wiles has had a flag pole in her is known as the "flag lady of Stapleford" - the village in Cambridgeshire she now calls home."I don't feel I'm making a statement flying a flag but I like to be patriotic," she said."I like to keep people amused and I know people notice my flags when they drive along the road."The 82-year-old always has one of her 20 flags flying when she is at home. Her flags include well-known national ones like the union flag, the St George's flag and the stars and stripes of America, along with quirkier options. "I've been flying the Ukrainian flag a lot so much I am now on my fourth one," she she also has ones for Christmas and other special occasions."I made three during lockdown. I made a 'Thank you NHS' flag and when the Queen gave a pep talk I made one that said: 'Never give up, never despair.'"She also made one following the Queen's address on the eve of lockdown which read "We will meet again"."I had a lot of reaction. I would look out the window and nearly every time somebody was on the pavement taking a picture," she said."People put notes through the door saying: 'Thank you so much for flying the flag and keeping us jollied along.'"You have to keep on the ball though because there are royal birthdays when it is appropriate to fly the union flag." Has flag flying become too political? The flying of flags has become a talking point with several local authorities restricting the number being flown outside council week the Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, held a special debate in parliament encouraging more authorities to follow suit."The flying of identity-based political banners especially those representing what is sometimes only a slim, exclusive and often exclusionary subset of a particular interest group of social movement is often seen as implicitly endorsing a specific view point" he said"If a town hall chooses to fly a banner for one group of people it would surely be obliged to fly one for another group and another group and so on. In doing so it will inevitably appear to be endorsing every cause identity and political campaign"And this week councillors at West Northamptonshire Council, which is run by Reform UK, approved new protocol which will see only the union, St George's and Northamptonshire flags regularly flown, alongside the occasional military people have expressed their disappointment that Pride and Windrush flags will no longer be council said it would "continue to give its backing to a busy and varied local community events calendar". Conservative-run Suffolk County Council has also limited the number of flags it flies. A Suffolk County Council spokesman said: "In the past we've flown a variety of flags on a fairly ad hoc basis. "We didn't have an agreed schedule or anything like that. We've wanted more rigour for some for Mrs Wiles, there can never be too many flags. "I don't think councils should restrict the flags they are flying."Obviously we don't want to have hundreds of flags but to restrict them to two or three would be very sad," she said. "To use flags to make a political point I think would be a great mistake in my opinion."I think people like to see public building flying flags. Maybe that would encourage more people to have their own flag pole." BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 29 June at 10:00 BST on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
