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Reform UK plan to limit postal voting following by-election loss

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Reform UK plan to limit postal voting following by-election loss

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Nigel Farage claimed postal voting has turned the UK’s elections into a “laughing stock”, adding that allowing non-British citizens to vote is “absurd”.

Currently, anyone eligible to vote in UK elections can choose to do so by post but under Reform UK’s plans this would be limited to the elderly, disabled, serving armed forces personnel and those working overseas during an election.

Under the proposals, Commonwealth citizens, who can currently vote in all types of UK elections if they qualify as a resident, would lose their right to go to the polls.

A spokesperson for Reform UK confirmed the changes would not affect Irish citizens, who also have the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

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The policy was born out of Mr Farage’s belief that allowing Commonwealth citizens to vote “undermines national sovereignty” and leads to elections being fought over international rather than domestic issues, Reform UK said.

In 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated there were around 1.2 million Commonwealth nationals living in the UK.

Mr Farage said: “For too long, postal voting has allowed our elections to be turned into a laughing stock, riddled with fraud, intimidation and outright cheating. It’s been allowed to go on for years and has poisoned trust in our democracy.

“Meanwhile, allowing non-Brits – people with zero connection to this country – to vote on our future is absurd. It is right that only British citizens should be able to vote in British parliamentary elections.

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“That’s why a Reform government will immediately ban wholesale postal voting and ensure only British citizens can vote in elections in order to bring back trust to British democracy.”

The announcement comes after Reform UK asked the police to investigate allegations of election fraud in the Gorton and Denton by-election this week.

The winner of the election was Bolton-born Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer, 34, who managed to overturn a significant labour majority to become the new MP for Gorton and Denton.

Green Party’s Hannah Spencer celebrates winning the Gorton and Denton by-election at Manchester Central. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne who cited health reasons for his decision. Picture date: Friday (Image: Peter Byrne)

Election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed “concerningly high levels” of “family voting” – an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting.

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Mr Farage promised to take “action” after the next general election if nothing is done about the allegations, adding: “If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes.”

Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said allegations of “family voting” taking place in the Gorton and Denton by-election are “deeply concerning” but branded Reform UK’s plans a “headline-grabbing” exercise.

He said: “Rushing to impose sweeping bans on postal voting is a kneejerk reaction that risks disenfranchising pensioners, disabled people and overseas British citizens who rely on postal ballots to have their say.

“We must safeguard our elections with proportionate, evidence-based reforms, not headline-grabbing measures that could lock law-abiding voters out of our democratic process.”

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The Reform UK leader has frequently complained about postal voting when his parties have lost by-elections.

When his former party, Ukip, lost the Oldham West and Royton by-election in 2015, Mr Farage alleged postal votes had been abused, saying the result raised questions about the conduct of elections in constituencies with large ethnic minority communities.

When his Brexit Party lost the Peterborough by-election in 2019, Farage again criticised the postal vote system.

The Brexit Party candidate challenged the result in court but later withdrew the challenge and was ordered to pay the winning Labour candidate’s legal costs.

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The latest Electoral Commission data, from 2024, shows no evidence of large-scale election fraud in the UK, with 94% of allegations resolved locally with “words of advice”, or resulting in the police taking no further action.

Reform UK MP Richard Tice questioned the validity of postal ballots when his party’s candidate lost the Rochdale by-election in 2024, stressing the result should act as a “serious wake-up call” to the electorate and those in power.

In none of those cases was postal voting fraud ever proved and none resulted in any convictions.

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Brick ‘thrown’ through home window in Scarborough – police

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Brick ‘thrown’ through home window in Scarborough - police

Officers are appealing for information about the incident in Fieldside, Scarborough, on Sunday (March 1).

North Yorkshire Police said it received a report at about 7.50pm that an “unknown person has thrown a brick through a living room window”.

The force is urging anyone with information about the incident to report it by emailing mark.burrows@northyorkshire.police.uk or phoning 101.

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Information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website.

Quote reference number 12260037658 when passing on information.

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Exact date you should turn off your heating revealed

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Exact date you should turn off your heating revealed

A new survey has revealed that almost a third of Brits argue every year over when it is time to finally turn off the heating.

However, after analysing years of Met Office date, heating experts can reveal the date you should stop heating your home this year.

According to the NHS, heating should be used whenever indoor temperatures fall below 15°C, and BestHeating’s research shows that from mid-April, the UK’s average temperatures typically stay above that threshold for the rest of the year.

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As a result, they recommend turning off your heating on Monday, April 20.



John Klee, heating technology expert at BestHeating comments: “There is a common misconception that when the clocks go forwards the heating is automatically used less, but that is not the case in Britain where warmer temperatures occur very gradually.

“There isn’t a specific temperature that heating should be turned off, but once the outside temperature reaches more than 15°C it is generally warm enough to do so.

“Research shows that this usually happens at the beginning of spring and with the rise in warmer temperatures this year, we can expect to have our heating turned off earlier than usual.

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“If it is below 15°C, and even dropping to 13°C, outside then health issues can arise, especially in vulnerable people.

“With many still worried about their finances after another energy price cap increase, it can be tempting to turn the heating off sooner rather than later but jumping the gun could cause more issues than its worth.”

To help Brits keep bills as low as possible until April, as Brits continue to battle cold conditions, John has provided three essential pieces of advice:

Only heat the room you are in

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“One of the simplest mistakes people make during winter is heating an unused space. Make sure to turn radiators off in rooms that are not in use such as bedrooms throughout the day.

“The one caveat to this is not to turn the radiators off in the room where the thermostat is located, or it could cause issues with the temperature of the rest of the home.

“Doing this will improve the boiler’s efficiency, allowing rooms you are in to warm quicker and saving over £100 for heating if used daily.”

Turn the thermostat down by one degree Celsius

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“Research shows that by reducing a home’s temperature by a little, good savings can be made on energy bills. 20.8°C is the average thermostat setting in the UK, but 18°C should keep you comfortably warm throughout colder spells.

“This can save up to 10% on a fuel bill or an estimated £80. A clever way to assess if the heating is too warm is to turn the thermostat down by one °C and see how you feel.”

Choose the best times of day to blast the heating

“To keep bills low, be clever with when your heating is turned on. If the temperature is going to be lower than 10°C, set it to come on an hour before your alarm to take away the chill. If you are out all day, then do the same in the evening.

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“Anyone with a Smart thermostat will be able to control their heating more easily, as they can make sure there is no wasted energy when out at work or shopping and can also set it so that they return to a warm house that is cost-effective.”

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Ryanair, easyJet, TUI, BA and Jet2 updates as Cyprus airport evacuated

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Daily Mirror

Passengers have been evacuated from Paphos International Airport in Cyprus amid reports of an unidentified drone flying into its airspace. Here are the latest updates from airlines with flights to the island.

Paphos International Airport in Cyprus ordered an ‘immediate and total evacuation’ this morning (March 2) amid reports that an unidentified drone had been flown into its restricted airspace.

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Some European airlines including easyJet have already been cancelling their flights to Larnaca International Airport, a major hub for package holidays, after a drone strike hit the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Cyprus is a popular destination for Brits, with over 1.3 million visiting each year, and with the busy Easter period on the way, many holidaymakers may be wondering how this will affect their travel plans. Around 60 flights have been cancelled to the island today, and airlines will be closely monitoring the situation in order to make a decision on resuming flights in the coming days and weeks.

Check out updates from airlines including British Airways and easyJet below. Travellers to the island should also keep up to date with FCDO advice for Cyprus, as the situation is likely to change quickly.

British Airways (BA)

BA said in its latest statement: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of flights to the Middle East. We understand it is a difficult time for customers in affected destinations and we are in contact with them to offer reassurance and support. Safety is our top priority and we will only operate a flight if it is safe to do so.”

It added: “We have cancelled flights to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv up to and including the 05 March and today’s Larnaca service [March 2].

“We have actioned a flexible customer booking policy which allows all customers due to travel between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv in the coming days the option to change their flights for free or get a refund. Customers travelling to Larnaca can rebook for free.

“We are advising customers to check their flight status on BA.com for the latest updates before travelling to the airport due to the evolving situation.”

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EasyJet

EasyJet has been advising passengers on X (formerly Twitter) to check its Flight Tracker for the latest information on whether their Cyprus flight will be delayed or cancelled.

An easyJet spokesperson told The Express: “Due to the events overnight affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today will not be operating.

“Flights from 3 March are currently operating as planned but we would advise customers due to travel to and from Cyprus over the coming days to check our flight tracker for the latest information.

“We are doing all we can to minimise the impact for our customers and are providing options for rebooking including on other airlines or a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.”

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TUI

TUI haven’t released a specific statement on Cyprus holidays yet, either for passengers on TUI’s airlines or for package holiday customers. Paphos and Larnaca airport shows TUI flights scheduled from Wednesday onwards, with no cancellations or delays showing at the time of writing.

However, TUI has released a statement for customers due to fly out to the UAE or Qatar up to and including March 8, advising: “our pre-travel team will be in contact with you ahead of your departure date.” It also advises: “We are working though bookings in date order and will call you to discuss your options. However, if you would prefer, please call us on 0203 451 2688.” Should the current situation extend to Cyprus, it’s likely the process would be the same.

READ MORE: Emirates, British Airways and Wizz Air’s latest updates on UAE flight cancellationsREAD MORE: What travel insurance will actually cover if you’re affected by UAE travel chaos

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Jet2

Jet2 flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (March 3 and 4) are not yet showing as cancelled or delayed on the Paphos Airport website. Customers who have asked for advice via Jet2’s official X account have been advised to contact the Jet2 pre-travel team via Whatsapp to discuss their options.

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Shock as woman dies on footpath near Bolton church

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Shock as woman dies on footpath near Bolton church

Emergency services were called to Junction Road in Deane at just before 10am today, March 2.

But tragically upon arrival, a woman died at the scene.

Her age has not yet been released, but police have confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances around her death.

Officers unloading a forensic tent (Image: NQ)

A GMP spokesperson said: “Emergency services responded to reports of a concern for welfare on Junction Road in Bolton this morning, Monday, March 2.

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“Sadly, a woman died at the scene. The scene will remain in place whilst officers conduct their enquiries.”

A footpath which runs off Junction Road, down the side of the St Mary’s Church, Deane, cemetery, was seen cordoned off.

As of 10.45am, Junction Road itself had also been cordoned off, with at least eight NWAS vehicles on scene, including ambulances, rapid response vehicles and larger paramedic vehicles, as well as two air ambulances.

Forensic tent set up on the path (Image: NQ)

There were also a number of police vehicles on scene.

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But by 11am the road cordon was lifted, with the ambulance vehicles and air ambulance leaving. Police remained on scene to guard the cordon on the footpath, which remained in place.

More officers later arrived to set up a tent on the path.

To see this event as it unfolded, follow this link for our live blog: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25898612.emergency-services-scene-woman-dies-bolton/

Police and paramedics on scene (Image: NQ)

The path leads to The Middlebrook Valley Trail. The popular walking and cycling route connects Bolton town centre to the Middlebrook Retail Park/Horwich area, passing through Deane Church Clough, Ladybridge, and along the Middle Brook.

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The Bolton News spoke to residents on the scene about how events unfolded today.

One said: “I just saw police cars, helicopters and the ambulances. 

“There was a lot of police and ambulances, then a lot of them went.” 

Upon hearing that a woman had died, he said: “Aw bless, it’s not nice.” 

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CSI on scene (Image: NQ)

He added that there had previously been other police incidents in the area.

Another described it as “awful”.

One other added: “We didn’t see anything or hear anything at all until we heard the sirens at around 9.50am. 

“We heard a lot of sirens and helicopters, it was busy.” 

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The resident added that nothing like this “ever happens around here”, with dog walkers using the path to cut through.

Another resident concurred that the path is regularly used by dog walkers.

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Everything you need to know as police called following death of woman in Bolton

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Manchester Evening News
Everything you need to know as police called following death of woman in Bolton – Manchester Evening News

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