How a teenager became council leader just weeks after election
Finch's appointment follows the resignation of the previous Reform leader, Rob Howard, who cited health challenges.
Labour MP Preet Gill criticised the decision, stating that the people of Warwickshire "deserve better" and that the role is "not work experience."
Reform UK councillor Finch secured the leadership after a tie vote with the Liberal Democrat nominee, Jerry Roodhouse, which was broken by the council's chair, Edward Harris.
The appointment occurs amidst recent turmoil for Reform UK, including several councillor resignations post-local elections and suggestions from a leading pollster that the party's support has "topped out."
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Corbyn claims 200k signed up to his new party
Jeremy Corbyn has claimed 200,000 people have now signed up to register their interest in his new hard-Left party. Mr Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, his fellow now-independent MP, launched a new movement on Thursday that will fight Sir Keir's Labour at a national scale. It comes after a difficult first year in power for Sir Keir and the upstart party is likely to further harm Labour in a similar way to how the rise of Reform UK has hurt the Tories on the Right. Mr Corbyn and Mr Sultana have invited voters to sign up via the website although the party's name will not be Your Party and is yet to be officially confirmed. The former Labour leader was also forced to deny tensions with Ms Sultana after performing media duties alone and taking a day to respond to her initial announcement of the new party earlier this month. Speaking during a visit to Birmingham amid the ongoing bin strike by the trade union Unite, Mr Corbyn said: 'The launch is and so far, as of the last minute or two, 175,000 people had signed up for it, which is enormous.' As he finished speaking to reporters, he was told that 190,000 people had registered before adding: 'Another 15,000 have signed while we were talking.' And in a social media post on X, Mr Corbyn said: 'Wow. In under 24 hours, 200,000 people have signed up to build a real alternative to poverty, inequality and war. 'Something special is happening – be part of it.' Wow. In under 24 hours, 200,000 people have signed up to build a real alternative to poverty, inequality and war. Something special is happening - be part of it at — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 25, 2025 Bin workers walked out indefinitely on March 11 over cuts by Birmingham council that Unite claims will cause 50 workers to lose £8,000 a year and 20 more to lose about £2,000. The strikes have prompted fears of a public health crisis and seen rubbish piling up in the streets. The council insists Unite's figures are wrong and has repeatedly called on the union to end the walkouts. Asked how he would handle the situation, Mr Corbyn said: 'We would look obviously at the situation of Birmingham city [council] finances but insist that no worker's wages go down and you restructure the finances accordingly.' It came as a Cabinet minister dismissed Mr Corbyn as 'chaotic' and mocked the new party. Asked about the launch, Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, told Times Radio: 'I was a Member of Parliament in the Labour Party when Jeremy Corbyn was leader and the chaos and instability that he brought to our party, I'm now viewing him wreak in his new party. 'And I'm just very glad that I'm looking on it from the outside this time, rather than having to experience it from the inside.' Mr Corbyn led Labour to two general election defeats in 2017 and 2019, with the latter being the party's worst performance at the ballot box since 1935. He survived a leadership challenge in 2016 after more than 170 of his own MPs passed a non-binding motion of no confidence in his leadership. However, polling suggests a party led by Mr Corbyn could pick up about 10 per cent of the vote at a general election, splitting the Left and making it significantly harder for Labour to defend its majority. Mr Kyle was also asked about Mr Corbyn's criticisms of Labour as 'top-down' and 'full of control freaks'. He said: 'Well, look, Jeremy says a lot of things, but the thing that worries me the most about what he says is that he doesn't want to spend money defending our country, that he is against the money that Labour is investing into the defence of our country. 'At the moment, these are the things that should fundamentally worry us about the words of Jeremy Corbyn. He's not a serious politician. He doesn't think about governing, he thinks about posturing.' Noting that Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana did not agree on a name before Thursday's launch, Mr Kyle continued: 'We see Keir acting incredibly well on the international stage in recent months, tackling some of the big issues facing the world and its economy and he's thrown himself into fixing our public services. 'I think this is the kind of leadership that people respond to, not that of the chaotic Jeremy Corbyn.' When it was put to Mr Corbyn on Thursday that his party 'looked a bit messy', he replied: 'It's not messy at all. It's a totally coherent approach. It's democratic, it's grassroots and it's open.' Ms Sultana also said on Friday that more than 200,000 people had already signed up to register their interest in the new party. She wrote on X: 'From Farage to Starmer, the political establishment smears people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists. We say: not in our name.' In their joint statement earlier in the week, Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana said the party will campaign for the redistribution of wealth, higher taxes on the rich and a pro-Palestine foreign policy. Their movement comes after months of tensions between Sir Keir and the Labour Left over issues including the ongoing war in Gaza, the two-child benefit cap and the Prime Minister's botched attempts to reform the welfare state.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26trim%3D221%2C0%2C2219%2C0%26crop%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
How premium logistics can power Scotland's exports
Mark Rosenberg | Supplied Ask a Scot to name their finest food and drink export and you're likely to spark a fierce debate, says Mark Rosenberg, Chief Commercial Officer, Ports & Terminals, at DP World Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whatever their preference, everyone can agree that the sector is a phenomenal global success story. The numbers speak for themselves. Last year, Scotland's food and drink exports were valued at £7.1 billion. That's up from £4.9bn in 2014, an increase of roughly 46 per cent over the past decade. This is driven by a strong appetite for its premium produce, such as Scottish salmon which had shipments topping £844 million in 2024. More than a key contributor to the UK economy, Scotland's food and drink industry has become a global benchmark for excellence. However, despite extraordinary market growth, exporters are not immune from trade challenges. Post-Brexit border friction, fluctuating global tariffs and shifting consumer expectations have all made the operating environment increasingly volatile in recent years. The good news is that new trade opportunities are opening routes to growth at a critical moment. Most notably, the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which was signed yesterday (24 July). By cutting levies on 90 per cent of the produce from Scottish exporters - and those elsewhere in the UK - the landmark deal will transform the presence of the UK's exports in India. This is especially promising for food products like Scottish salmon, which have faced prohibitive 33 per cent tariffs. Once they are lifted, exporters will have access to the world's third-largest fish market and a middle class that is expected to grow to a quarter of a billion by 2050. Understandably, many are preparing for significant long-term expansion into the market. Logistics to power exports | Supplied Premium produce requires premium logistics While the potential for growth in both nearby and distant markets is clear, capturing these opportunities depends on the essential but less glamourous matter of logistics. Ageing infrastructure can increase costs and add complexity. Scotland has felt these constraints acutely. However, the challenges also present opportunities for strategic partnerships that can deliver far greater efficiencies across the supply chain. At DP World, we're not shy of the challenge and have invested to ensure UK exporters can seize the trade opportunities of the day. Our deep sea container ports connect exporters across the whole of the UK with overseas markets. In 2013, we opened London Gateway - the UK's first deep-water container port for more than 20 years - and have committed to its growth ever since. Just a few months ago we began work on a £1 billion expansion of its port facilities and rail infrastructure and announced a further £60 million investment in the Port of Southampton. Both will boost handling capacity and improve direct rail services, offering Scottish exporters fast, low-carbon routes to global shipping networks. As exporters hurry to capitalise on the new opportunities, undoubtedly there will be many pitfalls to navigate, whether that's complex regulatory challenges, untested consumer appetites and cultural nuance. That's where the right logistics infrastructure becomes a critical enabler. Labelling and packaging requirements, for example, vary by market and can create bottlenecks if not handled with care - something DP World supports through advanced, market-specific compliance services. Untested consumer appetites also mean shipments need to be agile, fresh and first-class. In this case facilities like The Chill Hub, our temperature-controlled warehouse at London Gateway, are indispensable for high-value perishable goods like Scottish salmon. Alongside connectivity and adaptability, exporters need flexibility. With rail or barge connectivity at 95 per cent of our 20 European sites, Scottish producers have the necessary options to move goods effectively and on schedule should congestion occur. This is an area we continue to invest in, helping to build the resilience that traders will need for the decades ahead. Scotland's food and drink exporters have a long and proud history, but with new trade agreements opening doors to major, high-growth markets like India, this feels like the start of an exciting new chapter. By strengthening the logistics networks and alliances that move goods from A to B, we can help the blue-and-white 'Made in Scotland' label find new admirers around the world. That's an opportunity we can all raise a glass to.
ITV News
3 hours ago
- ITV News
Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit
Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland later on Friday, on his first visit to the UK since his re-election. The US president will be met by both political leaders and protests during the visit, which is expected to last five days, and will see him inaugurate a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The trip comes two months before the King is due to welcome Trump for a formal state visit to the UK. The Trump administration continues to deal with turmoil on the home front, as the president struggles to salvage his reputation with voters amid reports around his friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. But Trump's visit to his ancestral home will hardly provide an escape from controversy. The visit has faced criticism from both political opponents and local residents, and will see a significant police operation across Scotland. Why is Trump visiting Scotland? Trump is expected to visit his Turnberry golf resort, as well as his course at Menie in Aberdeenshire. His trip also comes as a new golf course is about to debut on August 13, which the Trump family business has billed "the greatest 36 holes in golf." Trump is dedicating the new course to his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. But Trump's existing Aberdeenshire course has been mired in controversy in recent years, after it struggled to turn a profit, and was found by Scottish conservation authorities to have partially destroyed nearby sand dunes. Trump's company was also ordered to cover the Scottish government's legal costs after the course unsuccessfully sued over the construction of a nearby wind farm, arguing in part that it damaged golfers' views. Critics also argue the trip - which is expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars - is a blatant example of Trump blending his presidential duties with promoting his family's business interests. The White House has brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, arguing that Trump's business success before he entered politics was key to his appeal with voters. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers called his visit "a working trip", but added that Trump has "built the best and most beautiful world-class golf courses anywhere in the world, which is why they continue to be used for prestigious tournaments and by the most elite players in the sport." Who will Trump meet during his visit? The president will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay, when the pair are expected to discuss the UK-US trade deal. Trump said the meeting would likely take place at one of his properties. He will also meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would take the opportunity to raise various issues with the president, including tariffs, Gaza, and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides the opportunity to promote Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential, as well as to allow people to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice. "Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries," he said ahead of the visit. "The partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links - including, of course, with the president himself." The first minister said Scotland is a "proud democratic nation" that "stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world." Swinney has been vocally critical of the US president in the past, and openly endorsed Trump's political opponent Kamala Harris before last year's election - a move branded an "insult" by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. John Swinney has argued that it is "in Scotland's interest" for him to meet the president, and for the visit to go ahead. But some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. Thousands of officers are expected to be deployed by Police Scotland, who will deal with planned mass protests around Trump's golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups and American diaspora organisations are among those holding demonstrations in protest of the visit. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The people of Scotland don't want to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose government is accelerating the spread of climate breakdown around the world." They also said that people in Scotland "simply wanted to live in peace near what is now [Trump's] vanity project golf course", and have "experienced Trump's abusive and high-handed behaviour first-hand, long before he entered the White House." Protests are planned in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries. During Trump's visit to Scotland in 2018, similar gatherings drew thousands of protestors.
