Farage has moaned about accusations that Reform is becoming ” bunch of Tories” saying he just can’t “win”.

Nigel Farage has revealed another sacked Tory as his latest recruit to Reform UK. James Evans – a former senior Welsh Conservative – was let go from the party last month over speculation he was going to join Reform.

Farage announced him as the latest defector at a press conference in Wales. The party leader also confirmed that Dan Thomas, a former Tory who defected to Reform last year, will be Reform’s new leader in Wales.

During a Q&A, Mr Farage complained about accusations that Reform is becoming a “bunch of Tories” and said he just can’t “win,” reports the Mirror.

He said: “On the national level, I’m told: ‘Well, you’ve got no track record. You’ve got no one has been in Cabinet.’ So Robert Jenrick joins us and: ‘Oh, you’re just a bunch of Tories.’ But I can’t really win can I?”

Asked if there were “one too many Tories in Reform now”, Farage said if five to eight per cent of candidates at the local elections are ex-Tories then there wouldn’t be. He added that he believes in “Christian forgiveness” in allowing former Conservatives into his party.

He said: “We welcome former Conservatives who’ve seen the light. We welcome former Labour people. We welcome people, despite their political pasts. We believe in Christian forgiveness. And we’re very happy to welcome them to the bright side.”

Mr Evans – the current Senedd member for Brecon and Radnorshire – conceded on stage that he has criticised Reform UK in the past but said he has “done it publicly, and I’m not hiding away from it.”

He said he has reassessed and now believes Reform is the only party dealing with the “truth” that Britain and Wales are broken.

He also launched a scathing attack on the media, suggesting it was driven “by left wing activists who pass themselves off as journalists”.

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Mr Evans was sacked by the Tories over suspicions he was planning to defect to Reform. Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, dismissed Mr Evans as shadow cabinet secretary for health and social care and withdrew the party whip. Since then Mr Evans, who was first elected in 2021, has sat as an independent.

At the time, Mr Farage insisted he had not spoken to Mr Evans. He said: “This is not true. I have not spoken to Mr Evans for a couple of years.”

Welsh-born former London council leader Mr Thomas was also unveiled by Farage as the leader of Reform UK in Wales before the Senedd elections in May.

Mr Thomas, who grew up in Wales, was the Tory leader of Barnet Council from 2019 to 2022 and joined Reform UK last year. In December he quit as a councillor for Finchley Church End after returning to Wales with his family.

Reform had one Member of the Senedd after former Conservative Laura Anne Jones defected to join the party in July, and now have a second, after Mr Evans’s defection.

Keir Starmer has said sorry to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for having believed the ‘lies’ of the paedophile’s friend Peter Mandelson before appointing him as ambassador to the US.

The Prime Minister is under enormous pressure from his own MPs as the full extent of Mandelson’s relationship with the convicted sex offender emerges from files released at the weekend.

At yesterday’s PMQs, Starmer revealed he knew that relationship continued beyond Epstein’s conviction on child sex offences when Mandelson was hired last year.

The controversy has thrown a spotlight on the PM’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, who was close with the former business secretary.

Speaking in East Sussex today, Starmer said: ‘The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend, and they’ve had to live it again and again.

‘They have seen accountability delayed and too often denied.

‘To them, I want to say this: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.

‘Sorry that even now, you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.’

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MORE: How the Mandelson scandal spiralled into an existential threat for Keir Starmer

MORE: How did Jeffrey Epstein make his money and what happened to his fortune after he died?

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s replacements are yet to be announced

Alan Carr has dismissed the possibility that he could present Strictly Come Dancing. The 49-year-old comedian and his pal Amanda Holden have both been tipped to take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the Saturday night favourite.

However, Alan, who won the first series of The Celebrity Traitors last year, claims that the job should be given to somebody who “really loves” the show. Speaking to Best magazine, Alan said: “I like watching the show, I don’t love it.

“I think it would be better for someone who really, really loves it. I just think, wouldn’t it be great to get someone fresh and new? That show is so adored and you want someone in there who’s like, ‘This Paso Doble is amazing’ – and I don’t give a s***! So give it to someone else.”

Alan had recently quashed hopes that he and Amanda – who have starred together on shows such as Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job – could present Strictly together as he revealed that the pair had turned down the opportunity “ages ago”. Speaking as the duo appeared on the Table Manners podcast recently, he said of the job: “No, we said no ages ago.”

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Amanda has also rejected speculation that the pair will be replacing Tess and Claudia. Speaking on her Heart Radio show in December, the 54-year-old star said: “I want to say now that me and Alan are 100 per cent not doing Strictly. We are so flattered to be in that mix. We both are not doing it.”

As Strictly fans know, Tess and Claudia announced in October last year that they would be stepping down from fronting the show at the end of the 2025 series, which at that time was at the mid-way point.

They issued a joint statement confirming their plans to depart the popular show together, saying it was the “right time” for them to bow out of the beloved programme, before hosting they were later seen hosting their last show live on December 20.

The 2025 series final, which saw Karen Carney and Carlos Gu crowned Strictly champions, featured a number of tributes to Tess and Claudia, including from the Queen, as well as fans of the show. They were greeted by a standing ovation from the audience, which included Tess’ husband Vernon Kay, as they opened the episode.

Rachael Maskell asked “what else does Peter Mandelson know?” after new details emerged about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein prior to him being appointed as UK ambassador to the US.

“Where else have his [Lord Mandelson’s] tentacles of power of power run into? And, I think, they’re the kind of questions which are being asked across the Parliamentary Labour Party,” the Labour MP for York Central told Sky News.

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central (Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire)

“He may not hold an office, he may not hold a membership of the Labour party, but clearly his phonebook will be full of numbers.

“And will he control from his own now very much lower position, or what will happen next?

“I think we need an independent investigation into this.”

Lord Mandelson, who has quit the House of Lords, resigned from the Labour Party, been removed from the Privy Council and faces a criminal investigation following new revelations from the so-called Epstein files.

Ms Maskell presented a bill in 2022 to give the monarch new powers to remove titles or for parliament to determine that a title should be taken away. 

The MP said the legislation, which is awaiting its second reading, is “timely” and parliament could “rush that through and address the issue of [Lord Mandelson’s] peerage”.

Lord Mandelson, a political appointment rather than a career diplomat, was sacked from his Washington role in September last year over his links with Epstein, who died in 2019.

His continued association with Epstein following a 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor had been widely reported before his return to the political front line, when he was named as ambassador in 2024.

But documents released as part of the US Department of Justice’s Epstein Files raised new concerns in recent days.

Recommended reading:

MPs on Wednesday (February 4) approved the release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US.

It followed the prime minister backing down from his original plans for top civil servant Sir Chris Wormald to decide which documents could not be released on national security grounds or because they could prejudice international relations.

Under pressure from Labour MPs, led by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer accepted the decision could be made by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) instead.

However, a minister told the House the documents would not be released immediately after a request from the Metropolitan Police.

The Metropolitan Police has told the government not to release “certain documents” that would “undermine” their investigation into the disgraced peer.

Sir Keir earlier told the Commons he knew about the former business secretary’s ongoing friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him ambassador to the US.

But he said the peer “lied repeatedly” about the extent of the relationship.

He tried to cover up his crimes using fake WhatApp messages

A head chef at a Michelin Star restaurant has narrowly avoided going to prison after trying to cover up a sexual assault using a fake WhatsApp generator. Shannon White, 31, attacked a woman at the Chubby Castor in Peterborough Road, Castor, at around on October 18, 2024.

The victim, aged in her 20s, rejected his advances. White ignored her and put his hands around her neck, applied pressure, and whispered sexual comments. White sexually assaulted her, touching the victim several times and resisting her attempts to push him away.

After examining White’s phone, officers found he had used a fake WhatsApp generator to create a message pretending it had been sent by the victim to use as his defence.

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 26, White, of Verde Close, Eye, near Peterborough, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after being found guilty of sexual assault by a judge. He has also been handed a two-year restraining order against the victim.

DC Stacey Caley, who investigated, said: “White shamefully attacked the victim and then used a fake app in an attempt to cover up his tracks.

“Although the sentence was not custodial, I hope it reassures the victim that justice has been done. It also highlights how seriously we take all allegations of violence against women and girls. If you or someone you know has been a victim, we urge you to get in touch.”

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Heavy rain may lead to some flooding and travel disruption

The Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for parts of Northern Ireland. The yellow rain alert comes into force at 12 noon on Thursday, February 5, and will remain in force until 23.59pm on Friday, February 6.

It covers all of counties Antrim, Armagh, Down Derry and Tyrone with the weather forecaster warning that heavy rain may lead to some flooding and travel disruption.

The Met Office added: “Areas of rain will continue to spread northwestwards across Northern Ireland during Thursday, Thursday night and much of Friday. Rain will be heavy at times and may lead to some flooding and travel disruption in places.

READ MORE: Spain red alert: Irish holidaymakers warned as Storm Leonardo hits MalagaREAD MORE: ‘Exceptional’ rainfall brings one of wettest Januarys on record for Northern Ireland

“The majority of places are most likely to see 10-20 mm of rain and low level impacts, with some southeast facing hills seeing 40-50 mm through this period.

“Rain is expected to be particularly persistent over the east and southeast facing slopes of the Mourne Mountains and Antrim Hills, which may receive 60-80 mm; here low impacts are most likely overall with a small chance they could be medium.“At the same time, strong to gale forecast east to southeast winds may lead to some difficult travel conditions and large waves along Irish Sea coasts.”

What should I expect?

• Spray and flooding will lead to difficult driving conditions and possibly road closures
• Bus and train services probably affected with journey times taking longer
• Some interruption to power supplies and other services possible
• Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible
• Strong winds, generating large waves and spray, may present dangerous conditions for exposed coastal communities.

What should I do?

• Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
• Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
• People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
• Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: Caleb Chabolla, 9, was left with second-degree burns after a friend showed him a TikTok video about making a popular toy more flexible by placing it inside a microwave

A 9-year-old boy was left with severe burns and nearly blinded after being inspired by a social media clip to microwave one of his toys.

Caleb Chabolla placed his NeeDoh Nice Cube sensory toy into a microwave after a pal told him it would make the rubber toy more flexible. His mum recalled the horror moment she heard her young son’s blood-curdling cry coming from the kitchen.

The schoolboy cried: “It burns, it burns.” The outside layer of the toy is made from non-toxic silicone but its inside contained a glue-like substance that expands and bursts when exposed to significant heat.

READ MORE: Mum rips up son’s bedroom carpet and can’t believe what she findsREAD MORE: Sleep expert warns ‘genuinely worrying’ trend could be dangerous

Caleb’s mum Whitney Grubb told ABC7 the substance flew all over his face when he opened the microwave at their home in Chicago, Illinois. Speaking to CBS News, she said: “I heard him scream and I saw him take off running towards one of our bathrooms and that stuff had popped on his face.”

The mum then rushed Caleb to the emergency room after he suffered second-degree burns on one side of his face and his hands. She added: “By the time, you know, we were settled in at Loyola, his eye was completely swollen shut, so I was immediately worried about his eye.”

At a nearby hospital, staff washed the burns and cut away dead skin before applying ointment. An ophthalmic check on his eye found his vision was unimpaired by the incident.

Doctors said Caleb was not the only child to have fallen victim to the trend. Kelly McElligott of the Loyola Medicine burn centre said: “A child who heated it up in the microwave, then put her finger on it and her finger went through, and it burned her finger.” She said Caleb went on to spend two days in the hospital and did not need to have skin grafts but that he might develop scars.

Caleb’s mum and Ms McElligott have now urged families to be cautious. McElligott added: “Do not heat these up in any way, shape, or form. Whether it’s the microwave, hot water, those things can really be dangerous.”

There are warning labels on the NeeDoh Nice Cube that state the toy should not be heated up. Caleb will undergo a follow-up appointment at the burn clinic and is slated to return to school in the coming week.

Analysis by BBC Sport Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English

Outside Scotland, this selection is going to cause sharp intakes of breath. Maybe inside Scotland, or in parts of it, this selection is going to cause sharp intakes of breath.

It really shouldn’t.

Yes, Blair Kinghorn has been a shoo-in at 15 for the longest time, but there are mistakes in his game that tend to come tumbling out when Scotland are under the pump.

The inclusion of Tom Jordan – playing his in his third-best position after 10 and 12 – is a nod to having a more mentally robust outfit when the heat comes on. Kinghorn will get plenty of game-time in this Six Nations, but not in week one.

Yes, again, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are record-breaking mainstays, but the pair of them have been dragged down by Edinburgh’s malaise and, quite honestly, it would have been a shock had Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie not started.

They’re both in flying form and are both leaders in their own way. Mental fortitude has been a problem for Scotland, but not for Glasgow.

Steyn and Dobie were nailed on to start if form over reputation was any sort of guide.

Grant Gilchrist survives the challenge of a battalion of second rows, but there are two seriously impressive operators to come off the bench.

Gregor Brown is in at cover at six but he’s just as good at lock. And Max Williamson is the size of a house. You’re getting great impact there. Williamson was injured this time last year and missed the entire tournament. Big chance for the big man.

With three games in three weeks and five in six weeks, Gregor Townsend is going to use his squad more than ever, I suspect.

There are a lot of top-notch players turning out for the A team on Friday night or not turning out at all this weekend.

We’ll be seeing some of them down the track for sure. The schedule and the inevitability of injuries within that schedule will demand it.

That bench looks good. George Horne is having a whale of a season and what an impact he might have in Rome. Graham, if at his best, gives you massive X-factor. Adam Hastings deserves to be back in the frame.

It’s encouraging on paper. Now for the reality.

1) A “talking stage” (37%)

2) An almost-relationship (23%)

3) An emotional situationship (20%)

4) A convenience situationship (11%)

5) A placeholder situationship (10%)

There were emotional scenes between the pair and fans have a theory

Coronation Street fans think they have ‘worked out’ Carl Webster’s grim future amid backlash to his treatment of Debbie Webster, who is set to go to prison for his crimes.

Having only been mentioned by name previously, Carl was thought to be the son of Bill and Elaine Webster and was born in Germany, where his parents were living at the time. When he was nine years old, his father, Bill, left Germany and returned to Weatherfield after his mother, Elaine, had an affair.

However, it was recently revealed that a lie was hiding amid the Webster clan, as in Corrie scenes aired earlier last month, it was confirmed that Debbie is, in fact, Carl’s mother.

The revelation came to viewers of the ITV soap after Debbie pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing the death of Billy Mayhew following the horror multi-vehicle pile-up, which featured in the Emmerdale crossover, Corriedale, and saw multiple lives from both Weatherfield and the Dales at risk.

In the moments after they became involved in the carnage, which came after Carl left Debbie and Ronnie Bailey’s wedding in Yorkshire, driving the car drunk with Debbie in the passenger seat, Carl moved Debbie to be at the wheel as she was left unconscious after the smash, and then left her to take the blame for the accident.

Earlier this week, Debbie was continuing to get her affairs in order as she prepares for a prison stint, while also trying to create peace in her family, by staging an intervention for her brother, Kevin.

However, they were interrupted by a fuming Carl, who wanted to have it out with Debbie after discovering she had chosen Ryan to take charge of the Chariot Square Hotel while she’s gone. Later, as he visited her at the flat, Debbie admitted to Carl that she was frightened about going to prison, especially following her dementia diagnosis last year, and Carl appeared to show a glimmer of guilt.

And it was during Wednesday’s (February 4) edition of the ITV soap that Carl finally had a change of heart when a distressed Ronnie told him that Debbie had called him ‘Ray’ and expressed his concerns that her dementia will only get worse when she’s put behind bars.

Carl vowed to put things right and when Ronnie explained his confusing exchange with Carl, Debbie rushed to stop him from going to the police. As Carl admitted it was him driving, Debbie said she knew and eventually blurted out that he’s her son.

And emotional confrontation then ensued between the pair, in which Debbie explained she was 17 when she gave birth and that while her step-mother, Elaine, wanted her to have an abortion, their dad, Bill, agreed to bring Carl up as their own. But Carl admitted it wasn’t the dream childhood and that he now knew why Elaine never wanted him.

Carl continued to lash out at Debbie, blaming her for all his problems over the years and said she only wanted to go to prison for him to ease her own guilt, branding her selfish and a liar. In the end, he appeared pleased that she was going to prison instead of him, cruelly telling her to enjoy her time behind bars as he won’t be visiting.

And after seeing Debbie left devastated, Corrie fans think Carl could, and should, be the victim of the upcoming murder that is set to rock the cobbles in a special flashforward to air this month, before the victim is revealed in the months ahead.

@RyanSoapKing25 said: “Please let Carl get killed off in the Flashforward! #Corrie.” @BusesInChester commented: “I hope Carl is the one who gets Murdered #Corrie.” @roscoeleebarnes posted: “Carl is definitely dying in the flash forward surely?! #Corrie.” @TheConnorSwains added: “The only justification for how many storylines Carl is involved in right now has to mean he’s gonna be the victim in the whodunit #Corrie flashforward! Abi, Kevin, Tyrone, Debbie, Ryan, Jodie, Ronnie, Theo…. All gonna be the suspects!”