Latest news with #Starmer
North Wales Chronicle
38 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Rod Stewart says country should ‘give Farage a chance'
The 80-year-old singer backed the Reform UK leader ahead of appearing in the festival's afternoon legends slot on Sunday, 23 years after he headlined the Pyramid Stage. 'I've read about (Sir Keir) Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular,' he told The Times. 'We're fed up with the Tories. We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well. Nigel? What options have we got? 'Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that. Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.' Admitting his wealth ensures 'a lot of it doesn't really touch me', he insisted he is not out of touch and expressed his support for Ukraine – criticising US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for their treatment of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on his visit to the White House – and Gaza. 'It's depressing, what's going on in the Gaza Strip,' he said. 'Netanyahu doesn't realise that this is what happened to his people under the Nazis: total annihilation. And Trump is going to turn the Gaza Strip into Miami?' Stewart said a prolonged bout of flu, which forced him to cancel five shows in the US, nearly forced him to withdraw from a Glastonbury appearance he described to ITV as his 'World Cup final'. 'This time last week I was thinking of cancelling,' he told The Sun, crediting his wife Penny Lancaster with nursing him back to health. 'I have had Influenza A. It's been so terrible. It's the worst thing anyone could possibly have, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 'Apart from (Vladimir) Putin. I'd wish it on him.' Stewart told The Sun he had negotiated an extra quarter of an hour on top of the allotted 75 minutes for his set. He confirmed he will be joined at Glastonbury by former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall and Lulu, as well as performing the song Powderfinger by Saturday headliner Neil Young.
The National
41 minutes ago
- Business
- The National
Mhairi Black: MPs swayed by Keir Starmer's U-turn are not left wing
Events across the globe this week have served as a timely reminder that change is possible when people organise, even if it is bit by bit. At the time of writing, Keir Starmer had just announced a partial climbdown on his planned disability benefit cuts after an organised rebellion by numerous Labour MPs proved to be enough to potentially stop the legislation passing through Parliament. Originally, Starmer planned to change who would qualify for certain disability and sickness benefits, in the hopes of saving £5 billion a year by 2030. UK Prime Minister Keir StarmerIn a last-ditch attempt to halt any rebellion, Labour announced that current claimants will continue to receive the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as will recipients of the health element of Universal Credit. The planned changes will now only affect new claimants. This concession is a test for all rebelling Labour MPs because what Starmer is effectively saying is that even if you share the same disability as someone currently receiving PIP – and you experience all the same disadvantages and difficulties – because you made a claim after an arbitrary date, you will not receive any of the support your peers enjoy. Actually, 'enjoy' is too strong a word considering the maximum amount a person will receive via PIP is £187.45 per week. Anyone swayed by the argument, 'I won't take support away from existing disabled people but future disabled people are fair game,' cannot claim to be a left-wing MP. READ MORE: Labour's 'minor' climbdown will leave benefits system 'woefully inadequate' It is worth noting that Starmer has not made these (pathetic) concessions out of the goodness of his heart, or because he realises it is abhorrent to cut support for those with disabilities during a cost of living crisis – especially when there are billionaires who don't pay the proper tax. He has suggested this concession in order to appear reasonable and lessen the embarrassment of potentially being defeated by his own MPs. People in power never concede or compromise unless they are put in a position where it is in their best interests to do so. But although we have yet to see how far they are willing to take it, Labour MPs have at this moment successfully banded together in numbers to resist the right-wing changes Starmer wants. Throughout history, it is only when people band together in numbers to defy authority that authority even thinks about changing. This week we saw billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos forced to relocate his wedding in Venice after protesters organised themselves to put pressure on him. A sign in St Mark's Square read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax'. A banner opposing Jeff Bezos in St Mark's Square. Image: GreenpeaceTommaso Cacciari, from a group called No Space For Bezos, put it nicely saying: 'We're just citizens who started organising and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world – and all the billionaires – out of the city." In the US, we saw the New York mayoral Democratic primary won by unknown socialist Zohran Mamdani. As Donald Trump's fascism runs rampant, the very corporate Democrats have so far failed to provide any kind of leadership in challenging him and his minions. Mamdani's campaign showed the Democratic leadership how it is done. He campaigned unapologetically on a plan for free buses, free childcare, new affordable apartments and a higher minimum wage – all paid for by new taxes on the rich – and he won handsomely. The world over, we are seeing that people are growing impatient waiting for social justice. Impatient that their quality of life is rapidly deteriorating while the richest continue to grow their wealth and influence. READ MORE: Wind, words, and willpower: Inside a pivotal week on Skye's energy future The UK is no different. Child poverty is rising, as is poverty overall, and the gap between the richest and the poorest is widening. Yet political parties are too afraid to act on their promises of change. There is a depressing timidness from political leaders to challenge those hoarding obscene amounts of wealth. This has created a vacuum which the likes of Nigel Farage can seize on. Rather than have the masses come after his wealth, he seeks to redirect our attention and anger to trans people, to immigrants, to disabled people and those who are unemployed. Right-wing populism unironically claims to answer the very problems created by right-wing policies in the first place. Despite this, a YouGov poll predicted Reform UK would win the most seats in a General Election, of which three would be in Scotland. READ MORE: Rod Stewart comes out in support of Reform UK and Nigel Farage I am reminded of a fable I once read where in ancient times a suggestion was made that the lords (who held all power and wealth) should wear red, and the peasants should all wear white so it was easy to distinguish who was who. The plans fell through the moment someone pointed out that if the peasants all wore the same thing, they might well realise how many of them there were compared to the few lords hoarding power and wealth. Now more than ever we need progressives and political parties to get real about the threat that is spreading, and realise the power we hold when we band together to make a stand.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Rod Stewart says country should ‘give Farage a chance'
The 80-year-old singer backed the Reform UK leader ahead of appearing in the festival's afternoon legends slot on Sunday, 23 years after he headlined the Pyramid Stage. 'I've read about (Sir Keir) Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular,' he told The Times. 'We're fed up with the Tories. We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well. Nigel? What options have we got? 'Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that. Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.' Admitting his wealth ensures 'a lot of it doesn't really touch me', he insisted he is not out of touch and expressed his support for Ukraine – criticising US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for their treatment of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on his visit to the White House – and Gaza. 'It's depressing, what's going on in the Gaza Strip,' he said. 'Netanyahu doesn't realise that this is what happened to his people under the Nazis: total annihilation. And Trump is going to turn the Gaza Strip into Miami?' Stewart said a prolonged bout of flu, which forced him to cancel five shows in the US, nearly forced him to withdraw from a Glastonbury appearance he described to ITV as his 'World Cup final'. 'This time last week I was thinking of cancelling,' he told The Sun, crediting his wife Penny Lancaster with nursing him back to health. 'I have had Influenza A. It's been so terrible. It's the worst thing anyone could possibly have, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 'Apart from (Vladimir) Putin. I'd wish it on him.' Stewart told The Sun he had negotiated an extra quarter of an hour on top of the allotted 75 minutes for his set. He confirmed he will be joined at Glastonbury by former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall and Lulu, as well as performing the song Powderfinger by Saturday headliner Neil Young.
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rod Stewart says country should ‘give Farage a chance'
The 80-year-old singer backed the Reform UK leader ahead of appearing in the festival's afternoon legends slot on Sunday, 23 years after he headlined the Pyramid Stage. 'I've read about (Sir Keir) Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular,' he told The Times. 'We're fed up with the Tories. We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well. Nigel? What options have we got? 'Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that. Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.' Admitting his wealth ensures 'a lot of it doesn't really touch me', he insisted he is not out of touch and expressed his support for Ukraine – criticising US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for their treatment of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on his visit to the White House – and Gaza. 'It's depressing, what's going on in the Gaza Strip,' he said. 'Netanyahu doesn't realise that this is what happened to his people under the Nazis: total annihilation. And Trump is going to turn the Gaza Strip into Miami?' Stewart said a prolonged bout of flu, which forced him to cancel five shows in the US, nearly forced him to withdraw from a Glastonbury appearance he described to ITV as his 'World Cup final'. 'This time last week I was thinking of cancelling,' he told The Sun, crediting his wife Penny Lancaster with nursing him back to health. 'I have had Influenza A. It's been so terrible. It's the worst thing anyone could possibly have, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 'Apart from (Vladimir) Putin. I'd wish it on him.' Stewart told The Sun he had negotiated an extra quarter of an hour on top of the allotted 75 minutes for his set. He confirmed he will be joined at Glastonbury by former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall and Lulu, as well as performing the song Powderfinger by Saturday headliner Neil Young.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Rod Stewart says country should ‘give Farage a chance'
The 80-year-old singer backed the Reform UK leader ahead of appearing in the festival's afternoon legends slot on Sunday, 23 years after he headlined the Pyramid Stage. 'I've read about (Sir Keir) Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular,' he told The Times. 'We're fed up with the Tories. We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well. Nigel? What options have we got? Rod Stewart has called on Britain to give Reform UK leader Nigel Farage a chance (PA) 'Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that. Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.' Admitting his wealth ensures 'a lot of it doesn't really touch me', he insisted he is not out of touch and expressed his support for Ukraine – criticising US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for their treatment of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on his visit to the White House – and Gaza. 'It's depressing, what's going on in the Gaza Strip,' he said. 'Netanyahu doesn't realise that this is what happened to his people under the Nazis: total annihilation. And Trump is going to turn the Gaza Strip into Miami?' Stewart said a prolonged bout of flu, which forced him to cancel five shows in the US, nearly forced him to withdraw from a Glastonbury appearance he described to ITV as his 'World Cup final'. 'This time last week I was thinking of cancelling,' he told The Sun, crediting his wife Penny Lancaster with nursing him back to health. 'I have had Influenza A. It's been so terrible. It's the worst thing anyone could possibly have, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 'Apart from (Vladimir) Putin. I'd wish it on him.' Stewart told The Sun he had negotiated an extra quarter of an hour on top of the allotted 75 minutes for his set. He confirmed he will be joined at Glastonbury by former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall and Lulu, as well as performing the song Powderfinger by Saturday headliner Neil Young.
