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Category: News
May 8, 2025
Immigration
UK

Farage Slams Labour for ‘Betraying British Workers’ in India Trade Deal.

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❓What Happened: Nigel Farage has slammed the new trade deal between Britain and India, accusing the ruling Labour Party of betraying British workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA).

📍 Where & When: The trade deal was agreed upon in London and Delhi on May 6.

💬 Key Quote: Nigel Farage stated, “This Government doesn’t give a damn about working people.”

⚠️ Impact: The deal may make it cheaper for companies to hire Indian migrants over British natives, sparking criticism and concerns over increased migration.

IN FULL:

A new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India has sparked controversy, with Reform Party leader Nigel Farage accusing the Labour government under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of betraying the British working class. The agreement, described as the largest post-Brexit trade deal yet, aims to boost bilateral trade by $33.3 billion and potentially add $6.3 billion to British GDP annually. It includes significant tariff reductions on British exports like cars and whisky, while also lowering import taxes on Indian goods such as textiles and seafood.

However, Farage has criticized immigration elements in the deal, as it will make it roughly 20 percent cheaper for companies to employ Indian migrants rather than British workers, citing recent increases in National Insurance payments for British companies. “This Government doesn’t give a damn about working people,” Farage said.

Prime Minister Starmer has hailed the deal, claiming it will improve living standards and strengthen Anglo-Indian ties. However, critics have raised concerns over migration concessions included in the agreement. The deal allows Indian chefs, musicians, and yogis access to the United Kingdom’s contractual services visa route, which was previously restricted. More controversially, a “double contribution convention” exempts some Indian migrant workers from paying National Insurance contributions for three years. This also applies to British workers in India—but migration in this direction is negligible.

“The Labour Party have this time in a big, big way betrayed working Britain, and that’s why many people voted for us last Thursday, but for some reason the Government just doesn’t seem to understand,” Farage said, referencing Reform’s significant gains in last week’s municipal elections.

Indian-heritage former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, of the Conservative Party, echoed these concerns, noting her previous opposition to similar visa concessions. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added that taxpayers would be outraged by the exemptions granted to Indian workers while British workers face higher taxes.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 8, 2025
News

Dealers Cut Electric Vehicle Prices as Demand Falls.

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❓What Happened: Discounts on electric vehicles in Germany increased in April, with average markdowns reaching 16.7 percent. The consumer incentives come as the European auto industry is under increasing pressure to boost sales in order to help meet European Union (EU) carbon emissions targets.

👥 Who’s Involved: European auto dealers, consumers, and the European Union.

📍 Where & When: Germany, April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “In April, the threshold for offering higher discounts on electric vehicles has fallen,” said auto industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer.

⚠️ Impact: The price gap between electric vehicles and conventional cars has narrowed, hinting at a potential artificial upswing in the EV market.

IN FULL:

In Germany, discounts on electric vehicles (EVs) saw a notable increase in April, with the average markdown rising to 16.7 percent, according to automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. This marks an increase of 1.8 percentage points from March. Since the beginning of the year, EV discounts have risen by three percentage points, translating to savings of over €1,000 (~$1,135) on typical models.

Dudenhöffer’s analysis focused on online prices for the 20 most popular fully electric cars in Germany. He noted, “In April, the threshold for offering higher discounts on electric vehicles has fallen,” suggesting that further price reductions could be expected in the near future.

The push for increased EV sales is driven by the need for carmakers to meet European Union CO2 targets. Some brands have adjusted their distribution strategies, reviving dealer incentives and promotional campaigns to counter weak demand. In contrast, discounts for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and plug-in hybrids saw a slight decline in April and have not increased as much as EV incentives since January.

As a result, the price gap between electric vehicles and conventional cars has narrowed to its lowest level since Germany discontinued state-funded EV subsidies. Dudenhöffer believes this could signal a “new upswing driven by more attractive pricing” in the German electric vehicle sector. Following a decline in 2024 due to the expiration of government subsidies, new EV registrations in Germany rebounded in the first quarter of 2025.

Image by Avda / www.avda-foto.de.

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May 8, 2025
News

Disney Expands Empire with First Middle East Theme Park.

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❓What Happened: Walt Disney announced its first theme park in the Middle East, located in Abu Dhabi. This will be Disney’s latest park since the company opened its Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.

👥 Who’s Involved: Walt Disney Company and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Miral.

📍 Where & When: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; with the announcement made on May 7, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Disney CEO Robert Iger called the project a “thrilling” moment, emphasizing it would be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”

⚠️ Impact: The park may boost tourism and economic growth in Abu Dhabi.

IN FULL:

Walt Disney Company has unveiled plans to establish its first theme park in the Middle East, marking a significant expansion in the region. The new resort will be situated on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in collaboration with local leisure and entertainment company Miral. This development will be Disney‘s seventh theme park, adding to its existing locations across North America, Europe, and Asia, with the last park having opened in Shanghai in 2016.

“This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity,” Disney’s CEO Robert Iger said in a statement announcing the new park and partnership with Miral. He added: “Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati—an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come.”

Miral, known for its role in developing Yas Island into a major tourist destination, already manages attractions such as SeaWorld and Warner Bros World. The company is also working on a Harry Potter-themed park. Disney’s statement highlighted the strategic location of the UAE, within a four-hour flight of one-third of the global population, positioning the new park as a “significant gateway for tourism.” Additionally, the Emirates is recognized as one of the largest global airline hubs, with 120 million passengers passing through Abu Dhabi and Dubai annually.

Yas Island, encompassing 25 square kilometers, is conveniently located 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Miral’s CEO, hailed the introduction of a Disney theme park as a “milestone” in their mission to elevate the island’s status as a premier global destination for entertainment and leisure. He emphasized that the project would contribute to sustained economic growth in the region.

In March, the UAE agreed to a $1.4 trillion investment framework with the United States after top leaders from the Gulf state met with President Donald J. Trump. According to the White House, the agreement will significantly increase existing UAE investments in the American economy—with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and energy technologies.

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May 7, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Fact Check
Media

The Atlantic Quietly Edits Joe Kent Hit Piece After The National Pulse Intervention.

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❓ What Happened: The Atlantic quietly edited a hit piece smearing Joe Kent, Trump’s nominee for Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, after falsely suggesting his ‘panzer’ (‘tank’ in German) tattoo was a Nazi dogwhistle. The National Pulse produced evidence that he served in an anti-tank unit and has a matching ‘jäger’ (‘hunter’) tattoo.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joe Kent, The Atlantic writer Ali Breland, The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

📍 Where & When: Online, with edits made to The Atlantic’s article in May 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “After this story was published, The National Pulse… released a photo featuring a man with a jäger tattoo on his right arm whom Kassam identifies as Kent,” The Atlantic’s edited article states.

⚠️ Impact: The controversy exposes media bias and sloppy reporting, undermining The Atlantic’s credibility and partisan efforts to discredit President Trump’s nominees.

IN FULL:

The Atlantic has edited its Who Gets Panzer Tattooed on Their Arm? hit piece on Joe Kent, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, which smears the war veteran for having a tattoo reading ‘panzer’—German for ‘tank’—on one of his arms.

Writer Ali Breland suggested the tattoo may be a Nazi dogwhistle, dismissing social media users who cautioned that U.S. servicemen in anti-tank roles often have the words ‘panzer’ and ‘jäger’ tattooed on each arm, for ‘tank hunter.’ This was popularized in the U.S. Army after the Second World War, as Americans were posted to West Germany—a NATO ally—to face off against Soviet forces.

Breland’s article originally stated he “couldn’t find any evidence that Kent was part of an anti-tank unit… or that he even has a jäger tattoo on his other arm.” However, Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, soon produced photographic evidence that Kent does have a matching ‘jäger’ tattoo, and did serve in an anti-tank section of the 2nd Ranger Battalion from 1998 to 2001—forcing The Atlantic to edit Breland’s hit piece.

“After this story was published, The National Pulse, a right-wing website founded and operated by the Steven Bannon ally Raheem J. Kassam, released a photo featuring a man with a jäger tattoo on his right arm whom Kassam identifies as Kent,” the article now reads, as if the image published by The National Pulse—in which Kent’s face is clearly visible—is somehow open to question. “I reached out to both Kent and ODNI to inquire about the photo’s authenticity, but did not immediately hear back,” the edit adds, further trying to muddy the waters.

The image, as seen below, is clearly Kent:

Even more disingenuously, the section of the article in which Breland notes he “couldn’t find any evidence that Kent was part of an anti-tank unit” has been altered—with no editor’s note to inform readers of the alteration—to state that “Kent was part of a battalion that, in part, did anti-tank work.”

As of the time of publication, the only editor’s note attached to the doctored article simply states, “This article previously misstated the name of Alexa Henning, a deputy chief of staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It has been updated to include additional context about Joseph Kent’s military service.”

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May 7, 2025
News

Second U.S. Fighter Jet Lost from USS Harry S. Truman.

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❓What Happened: An F/A-18 Super Hornet fell off the USS Harry S. Truman for the second time in a week, ending up in the Red Sea. This second incident appears to have been caused by an equipment failure on the vessel’s deck.

👥 Who’s Involved: The aircraft’s pilot and weapons systems officer ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were harmed.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred in the Red Sea on May 6, 2025, following a similar incident in late April.

💬 Key Quote: “Both aviators safely ejected and were rescued by a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11. The aviators were evaluated by medical personnel and assessed to have minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were injured,” a defense official said.

⚠️ Impact: The loss of the jet, valued at approximately $66 million, adds to a series of mishaps for the USS Harry S. Truman over the past year.

IN FULL:

In a troubling repeat occurrence, an F/A-18 Super Hornet has fallen from the USS Harry S. Truman into the Red Sea, marking the second such incident in a week. The pilot and weapons systems officer aboard the aircraft were compelled to eject after a failed arrestment, resulting in minor injuries. The two were promptly rescued by a helicopter, according to a defense official.

The mishap reportedly involved a failure of the tail hook to catch the arresting wire, a critical component in safely landing the aircraft on the carrier deck. This failure caused the jet to accelerate uncontrollably towards the bow and ultimately into the water.

“Both aviators safely ejected and were rescued by a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11,” a defense official said regarding the incident, adding: “The aviators were evaluated by medical personnel and assessed to have minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were injured.”

This latest aircraft loss involving the USS Harry S. Truman follows another in late April, where a similar aircraft slid overboard while being towed in the hangar bay. Some sources suggested the first loss occurred after the crew lost control during evasive maneuvers against Yemen’s Houthi militants. The financial implications are significant, with each F/A-18E valued at approximately $66 million.

The USS Harry S. Truman has faced a string of operational challenges over the past year. Notably, the vessel collided with a merchant ship near the Suez Canal in February, resulting in a change of command. Additionally, an F/A-18 fighter jet was mistakenly fired upon by another American aircraft carrier in December.

Image by Tim Felce (Airwolfhound).

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May 7, 2025
News

George W. Bush to Skip Melania Trump’s White House Event.

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❓What Happened: Former President George W. Bush is not expected to attend a White House ceremony honoring the late Barbara Bush with a U.S. Postal Service stamp.

👥 Who’s Involved: George W. Bush, Melania Trump, Dorothy Bush Koch, Alice Yates.

📍 Where & When: The White House’s East Room, Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: George W. Bush previously remarked that politics has become “a naked appeal to anger, fear, and resentment.”

⚠️ Impact: The decision underscores ongoing tensions between Bush and President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL:

Former President George W. Bush is reportedly not attending a White House event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump to honor his late mother, Barbara Bush, with a commemorative U.S. Postal Service stamp. The event is set to take place in the East Room on Thursday, with Dorothy Bush Koch, George W. Bush’s sister, and Alice Yates, CEO of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, among the featured speakers.

Despite attending both of President Donald J. Trump’s inaugurations, George W. Bush refrained from endorsing him in any of his presidential campaigns. This absence from the ceremony further highlights the strained relationship between Bush and Trump.

In a 2021 event marking 20 years since the 9/11 attacks, Bush expressed concerns over the current state of politics, stating it had become “a naked appeal to anger, fear, and resentment.” Trump interpreted these remarks as directed towards him, responding by criticizing Bush’s presidency as “failed and uninspiring.”

The tension between Trump and the Bush family extends back to Barbara Bush herself, who was critical of Trump. In the book The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of a Dynasty, she described Trump as “a symbol of greed.” Before her passing in 2018, Barbara Bush reportedly distanced herself from the Republican Party, despite being a prominent figure within it.

Trump’s past comments also reflect this contentious relationship. In 2019, he remarked on Barbara Bush’s criticism, linking it to his rivalry with her son, Jeb Bush. “Look what I did to her sons,” Trump said, referencing his political battles with the former Florida Governor.

A critic of the pro-war foreign policy of the Bush era, President Trump has previously vowed the GOP is “never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush,” now the America First era of conservatism has been ushered in.

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May 7, 2025
Crime
News

Antifa and Transgenders Target Elderly, Throws Feces at TPUSA Event Featuring Riley Gaines.

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❓What Happened: Antifa militants and transgender activists disrupted a Turning Point USA event at the University of Washington, targeting attendees and volunteers.

👥 Who’s Involved: The protest involved Antifa militants, transgender activists, women’s rights activists Riley Gaines and Olivia Krolczyk, and Turning Point USA (TPUSA).

📍 Where & When: The incident took place at the University of Washington in Seattle on Tuesday during a TPUSA event.

💬 Key Quote: “I bet your old a** blood is beautiful on the concrete,” a female militant told an elderly couple.

⚠️ Impact: No arrests were made. The event highlights tensions between free speech and transgenderism on college campuses.

IN FULL:

A Turning Point USA event at the University of Washington in Seattle on May 6 saw far-left Antifa militants and transgenders throw feces at attendees and threaten elderly people with violence. The event, featuring women’s rights activists Riley Gaines and Olivia Krolczyk, was targeted by the far-left extremists.

The protest began with around 100 demonstrators, primarily transgender activists, arriving an hour before the event. Antifa members, dressed in black bloc attire to conceal their identities, acted as “security” for the group. Demonstrators carried pro-trans signs and shouted phrases such as “God is trans” to challenge the presence of Gaines and TPUSA on campus.

The situation escalated when protesters left their designated area, moving closer to the event venue. At approximately 6:32 PM, a protester threw a bag of dog feces at a TPUSA volunteer, an act captured on video. Despite police presence, no arrests were made.

Later, Antifa militants targeted attendees exiting the venue. An elderly couple, escorted by police, was followed and verbally harassed by militants who wished death upon them. One militant told the couple, “I bet your old a** blood is beautiful on the concrete.” Half-hearted police efforts to intervene were unsuccessful, but the couple eventually reached their vehicle safely.

A woman with health issues, using a cane, was also targeted and mocked by the same militants as she made her way to the parking lot. The militants hurled insults and threats, accusing her of transphobia.

The protest was organized by the UW Progressive Student Union, which circulated a flyer featuring images of firearms and the phrase “Protect trans youth.”

The protests highlighted the willingness to use threats and violence by transgender extremists. Earlier this year, a Border Patrol official was murdered by a transgender duo who are allegedly part of a transgender terror group known as the Zizians.

Their leader, Jack “Ziz” LaSota, was arrested in February after skipping a trial last December and faking his death to avoid prosecution. The group is believed to be linked to at least four murders, including the killing of a former landlord whom one of the group had previously stabbed in the chest with a sword.

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May 7, 2025
Immigration
News

Cost of Housing Migrants Set to Triple.

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❓What Happened: The cost of accommodating asylum seekers in the United Kingdom is now projected to be $20.3 billion, triple the initial $6 billion estimate by the Home Office.

👥 Who’s Involved: The British government, the National Audit Office (NAO), Serco, Mears, Clearsprings, and Britain’s Home Office.

📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, contracts signed in 2019.

💬 Key Quote: A Home Office spokesman blamed the prior Conservative (Tory) government for “disastrous contracts that were wasting millions in taxpayer money.”

⚠️ Impact: Rising costs are attributed to an increase in asylum seekers housed in hotels, with significant profits for private providers and ongoing challenges for the government.

IN FULL:

According to a report by Britain’s National Audit Office (NAO), the financial burden on taxpayers for accommodating asylum seekers is now expected to reach the equivalent of $20.3 billion. This figure is a significant increase from the $6 billion initially projected by the Home Office—roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—when contracts were signed in 2019.

The NAO report highlights that the rising costs are largely driven by the increased number of asylum seekers in hotels. The number of asylum seekers in hotels rose from approximately 47,000 in December 2019 to an anticipated 110,000 by December 2024. Despite hotels accommodating around a third of the asylum seekers, they consume three-quarters of the budget for accommodation.

Contracts were originally signed with three private companies—Serco, Mears, and Clearsprings—to manage asylum accommodation. Between September 2019 and August 2024, these companies reportedly made a combined profit of $511 million. Clearsprings, in particular, saw its contract in the south of England balloon from $0.9 billion to an expected $9.3 billion.

The Home Office, now under the control of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. A spokesman pointed fingers at the previous Conservative government for what they termed “disastrous contracts,” which have led to a significant waste of taxpayer money.

A senior Home Office source attributed the rising accommodation costs to the increase in people crossing the English Channel on small boats, a situation exacerbated by people-smuggling gangs. Despite the surge of migrants crossing the English Channel in recent years, and the migrants plainly not being in danger in France and the other Western European countries they launch from, a report from last year indicated very few have been deported. For instance, as little as 0.5 percent of those who entered illegally in 2023 were ever deported.

Image by Alisdare Hickson.

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May 7, 2025
News

Judge Greenlights Class Action Lawsuit Against Burger King Over Whopper Ads.

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❓What Happened: A federal judge ruled that a class action lawsuit against Burger King for allegedly misleading advertising can proceed. The plaintiffs allege that the fast food chain misrepresents the size of its burgers in its advertisements.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman, Burger King, and 19 customers from 13 states.

📍 Where & When: Florida, with the ruling handed down on Monday, May 5, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Judge Altman noted the plaintiff’s claims “go beyond mere exaggeration or puffery.”

⚠️ Impact: The federal court ruling will allow the lawsuit to proceed, potentially affecting Burger King’s advertising practices. Similar legal actions against McDonald’s and Wendy’s were dismissed late last year.

IN FULL:

A federal judge will allow a class action lawsuit against Burger King to move forward, with plaintiffs claiming the fast food giant misrepresents the size of its Whopper cheeseburger in advertisements. U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman, presiding over the case in Florida, determined that there is “some” merit to the argument that Burger King’s ads made their burgers appear larger than they are in reality.

The lawsuit, initiated in 2022, involves 19 customers from 13 states. These plaintiffs allege that the advertised burgers appeared approximately 35 percent larger and were shown to contain more than twice the meat of the actual product received. The plaintiffs provided side-by-side images comparing the vibrant, appealing advertisements to the less impressive burgers they received.

Judge Altman rejected Burger King’s attempt to dismiss the case, stating that the allegations “go beyond mere exaggeration or puffery.”

“The plaintiffs’ claims are false,” a Burger King spokesman commented, maintaining that the flame-grilled beef patties shown in advertisements are identical to those served to customers across the United States. Notably, similar lawsuits filed against McDonald’s and Wendy’s were dismissed last September.

Image by Amin.

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May 7, 2025
News
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Surges Ahead of Labour, Tories in Historic Poll.

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❓What Happened: Nigel Farage’s Reform Party achieved a significant polling lead following local election successes in England.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nigel Farage, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice MP, Luke Tryl, and the Labour and Conservative parties.

📍 Where & When: England, following the local elections on May 1, with polling data released shortly after.

💬 Key Quote: “Another record Reform poll… [and] these are before the latest Labour mass immigration blunder.” —  Richard Tice.

⚠️ Impact: Reform is potentially reshaping the political landscape by positioning itself as the primary opposition to Labour, displacing the formerly governing Conservatives on the British right.

IN FULL:

Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has taken a commanding polling lead after a successful showing in England’s municipal elections on May 1. According to recent YouGov data, the party, led by Brexit leader Nigel Farage, is now 12 points ahead of the Conservatives and seven points clear of the ruling Labour Party. Reform is the only major party to have gained ground since the last survey conducted in late April.

The latest figures indicate that 29 percent of Britons would vote for Reform if a General Election were held today, compared to 22 percent for Labour and 17 percent for the Conservatives. Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, highlighted this surge: “Another record Reform poll… [and] these are before the latest Labour mass immigration blunder.”

Luke Tryl, a director at More In Common and polling expert, observed, “Reform UK momentum continues as they hit 27 per cent in our voting intention poll, their highest we have recorded and [their] first lead outside the margin of error.”

A Reform spokesman said that the Conservative Party, which governed largely from the center-left from 2010 to mid-2024, is in “terminal decline,” suggesting that Reform has now positioned itself as the real opposition to Labour.

Reform dominated the local council elections in England, with Farage saying that his party’s triumph was an “apocalypse” for the two-party system in Britain.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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