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Starmer Drops Plans To Delay Some Local Elections In Another U-Turn

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Starmer Drops Plans To Delay Some Local Elections In Another U-Turn

Keir Starmer’s government has just abandoned plans to delay local elections in Labour’s 14th recorded U-turn since getting into power.

The government had planned to delay local elections for 30 councils in England – which were originally scheduled for May – while re-organising the council system and abolishing some local authorities.

While Labour justified the decision by claiming their rejig of the system would make elections expensive and unnecessary, the move sparked outrage because it would have enabled some councillors to sit for an extended seven-year term instead of a four-year period.

Local government secretary Steve Reed has since confirmed that he has chosen to “withdraw his decision” in “the light of recent legal advice”.

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The announcement was confirmed in a letter from the government’s legal department, shared by Reform leader Nigel Farage.

The letter said housing minister Matthew Pennycook had been asked to reconsider the initial decision, and he decided the elections should go ahead in May 2026.

This U-turn is a win for the rising right-wing party who were planning to take the government to court.

A two-day High Court hearing was set to take place on Thursday, but Labour are now looking to “seek to agree an order” with Farage’s party.

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The government also promised to “pay the claimant’s costs of these proceedings”.

Farage wrote on X: “We took this Labour government to court and won.

“In collusion with the Tories, Keir Starmer tried to stop 4.6 million people voting on May 7th. Only Reform UK fights for democracy.”

This marks Labour’s 14th major U-turn since getting into office.

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Other U-turns include plans to look into grooming gangs, the measurement of government debt, trans rights, the two-child benefit cap, the WASPI women, winter fuel payments, sickness and benefits cuts, national insurance, income tax thresholds, unfair dismissal of new workers, inheritance tax on farmers, business rates for pub U-turn and digital ID cards.

We took this Labour government to court and won.

In collusion with the Tories, Keir Starmer tried to stop 4.6 million people voting on May 7th.

Only Reform UK fights for democracy. pic.twitter.com/TUS6YGT2Vp

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) February 16, 2026

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The Best Meal You Can Make With Leeks

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The Best Meal You Can Make With Leeks

Expert comment provided by Stuart Gillies, chef-owner for Number Eight, Sevenoaks and Bank House, Chislehurst, and Zoe Gill, development chef at Brakes Foodservices.

The other day, while I was eating okonimiyaki, I thought, “This is probably the best meal you can make with a head of cabbage”.

Which made me wonder – what about other ingredients?

So, this week, we asked chefs Stuart Gillies, chef-owner for Number Eight, Sevenoaks and Bank House, Chislehurst, and Zoe Gill, development chef at Brakes Foodservices, for the best meal they can think of with this week’s pick: leeks.

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Stuart Gillies: A classic poireaux au gratin

Leeks are in season this month, so to enjoy them at the peak of their flavour, Gillies doesn’t mess around too much with the ingredient.

″’At home we love a French family classic; poached leeks, wrapped in thin smoked cooked ham slices, laid in a gratin dish and topped with cheese sauce, grated cheddar and baked in the oven,” he explained.

Sometimes called poireaux au gratin, the recipe is a favourite of chef Anthony Bar, too.

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As Gillies explained, it’s “Super easy for anyone to make and incredibly satisfying.”

Zoe Gill: A spring veggie-packed leek risotto

“Leeks are a brilliant ingredient for a risotto because they can melt easily into the arborio rice, offering a delicate, subtle flavour that doesn’t overpower the dish,” the chef told HuffPost UK.

Those who’ve tried the combination seem to agree: a BBC Good Food recipe has earned nothing but five-star reviews.

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And because it complements “the likes of peas, asparagus, as well as courgette, red pepper and aubergine,” the cook loveds to make it in a “Mediterranean-vegetable risotto, topped with a light fish, such as monkfish.”

She added, “The meaty texture holds up against the creaminess of rice and offers a great source of protein”.

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Minister Refuses To Tell Laura Kuenssberg Trump’s Goal In Iran

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Minister Refuses To Tell Laura Kuenssberg Trump's Goal In Iran

Ed Miliband has refused to tell Laura Kuenssberg exactly what Donald Trump wants to achieve in Iran during a painful interview.

The US president chose to strike Iran with Israel at the end of February, killing the country’s Supreme Leader.

The Middle East is now in a state of turmoil as Tehran strikes back and effectively blocks a major oil shipping lane known as the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK rejected initial US requests to use British military bases to launch strikes against Iran, much to Trump’s fury.

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The government has since allowed the US to use its sites for “limited and defensive” strikes.

But Trump also asked the UK, and other allies, to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which risks dragging the country further into the war.

When asked if the aims of this conflict are clear on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, cabinet minister Miliband said: “The US made its decision with Israel to launch this initial attack on Iran.

“We don’t want to see a nuclear Iran, that is shared by all of us. But I think it is in all of our interests to bring this war to an end.”

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Kuenssberg pointed out how even prime minister Keir Starmer said the war was unplanned and unlawful when it broke out and asked if anything had changed in the last fortnight.

Miliband smiled and dodged the question, adding: “Tempting as it is to talk about this is a public setting…”

Kuenssberg noted viewers would probably conclude the government is not sure what the Americans are trying to do.

Miliband just insisted that the war aims are up to the Americans, and it is the position of the UK government that the conflict must be de-escalated.

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She asked for his response to Trump’s claim that he might try and hit a vital Iranian oil hub “just for fun”.

He replied: “I think what you’re tempting me to do is to speculate or commentate…”

“I’m asking you about conduct in a war by our closest ally, that is not asking you to speculate,” she cut in.

Miliband said the British government was right not to join the initial conflict as they were worried about the initial plan and some of the consequences that would come with it.

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Asked if there was a proper plan now, the energy security secretary said: “I think I’ve answered that question.”

Only last week the president insisted the US did not want the UK’s aircraft carries to help him in Iran.

He claimed: “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”

In response to Trump’s latest request, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “As we’ve said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region.”

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Starmer’s bonfire of our liberties

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Starmer’s bonfire of our liberties

The post Starmer’s bonfire of our liberties appeared first on spiked.

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Trump Calls Media ‘Sick And Demented’ Over Iran War Coverage

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Trump Calls Media 'Sick And Demented' Over Iran War Coverage

President Donald Trump tore into the media over coverage of Air Force refuelling planes reportedly hit by an Iranian missile strike at a Saudi Arabian air base.

“The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War,” Trump wrote Saturday morning on Truth Social. “Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts!”

The president’s post took aim at what he called an “intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media” about the aircraft.

“In actuality, the Base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘struck’ or “‘destroyed,’” he wrote.

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The Wall Street Journal had reported on Friday that five tanker planes had been “struck and damaged” by Iran at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, citing US officials. Notably, the Journal did not state that the planes were destroyed, but in fact wrote that the planes were “damaged but not fully destroyed” and were “being repaired.”

On Truth Social, Trump said four of the planes had “virtually no damage” and that the fifth had “slightly more damage” but would be “back in the air shortly.”

He then called members of the media “truly sick and demented people” who “have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America.”

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What’s The Healthiest Way To Eat Eggs?

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What's The Healthiest Way To Eat Eggs?

Dietitian comment provided by registered dietitian Melissa Jaeger, head of nutrition at MyFitnessPal.

At HuffPost UK, we’ve already asked dietitians which bread is best for us and whether wholemeal pasta is always better than plain.

But what about eggs, which I’ve alternately heard are healthy, protein-packed additions and a speedy way to increase your cholesterol?

Here, we spoke to registered dietitian Melissa Jaeger about whether eggs are good for us, the best way to eat them, and which type of eggs benefits us most.

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Are eggs good for us?

“Absolutely,” said Jaeger.

Calling them a “nutrient powerhouse,” she added: “They’re a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids your body can’t produce on its own.

“They provide preformed vitamin A that’s ready for your body to use, and they’re packed with vitamins and minerals that support everything from muscle building to immune function.”

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So long as you remember a healthy diet is more about the balance of what you eat than any one food, she added, “they can absolutely be part of a heart-healthy diet”.

Which eggs are healthiest?

“There are slight variations in nutritional content between different types of eggs, such as chicken, duck, or quail,” Jaeger told us.

For instance, a duck egg contains more fat and weighs a little more than a chicken’s egg; duck eggs also contain a little more fat.

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But, she said, “the cooking method, serving size, and what you pair your eggs with will have a far greater impact on the overall nutrition quality of your meal than the type of egg you choose”.

Whether you hard-boil, scramble, or fry your eggs won’t change the nutritional content of the egg itself. But adding oil or butter will raise the fat content, while pairing it with veggies adds some much-needed fibre.

For instance, “It’s common for poached eggs to be served in dishes like Eggs Benedict with rich sauces or alongside bacon or sausage that are higher in saturated fat,” the dietitian shared.

“Instead, top your wholemeal avocado toast with a poached egg and serve with a side of fresh fruit for a well-rounded meal containing protein, fibre, and healthy fats.”

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Ultimately, you should “Aim to pair your protein-rich eggs with a source of fibre, including fresh berries, sautéed vegetables, or wholemeal toast to round out the meal and provide sustained energy”.

That protein and fibre combo, Jaeger added, will “keep you satisfied and support your daily nutrition goals, regardless of which type of egg or cooking method you choose”.

How does a dietitian make eggs healthier?

It’s all about that balance we spoke about earlier.

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“The key is what you pair them with,” said Jaeger.

“Swap out high saturated fat sides like bacon or sausage for nutrient-rich options like avocado or whole wheat toast, black beans, salsa, sweet potato hash or fresh fruit.

“Boiled eggs are perfect for salads or on-the-go snacks. Scrambled eggs are one of my favourites because you can easily add leftover pre-cut vegetables for a protein and fibre-filled combination,” she added.

And for a quick breakfast, the dietitian added, you can’t beat a microwave.

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“Grease a microwave-safe bowl with cooking spray, whisk in your eggs with seasonings, vegetables, and a splash of liquid, then microwave in short increments (no more than 30 seconds at a time) until done,” she said.

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Piers Morgan: Trump Tried To ‘Pull A Venezuela’ In Iran

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Piers Morgan: Trump Tried To 'Pull A Venezuela' In Iran

Piers Morgan has torn Donald Trump apart for assuming he could treat Iran in the same way he treated Venezuela.

The broadcaster, who previously had a close relationship with the US president, told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he does not think Trump has a “clue” what he is trying to achieve with his attacks on the Middle East.

Morgan said: “I think he thought he could pull a Venezuela here – decapitate the leadership of Iran and it would all get settled quite quickly.

“I think two weeks in, what is very clear, is this is not going to get settled quickly.”

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Trump kidnapped Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January, and his replacement has tried to keep America on side even as the US moved in to seize the country’s oil tankers.

While the US and Israel strikes on Iran did kill Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last month, it’s clear the regime is far from falling.

Morgan also noted that Trump has been inconsistent with his explanations for the attacks.

“All the mission statements he’s laid out change day by day, sometimes hour by hour,” the broadcaster said.

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“It was going to be regime change, it was going after nuclear capability which we’d been assured only 10 months ago had been dismantled already.”

He said the “tremendous overwhelming superiority” of the US and Israeli military which is “bigger than probably anything we’ve ever seen on planet Earth”.

But Tehran continues to hold its own by focusing on economic tactics by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

This has sent markets into turmoil as the price of oil skyrockets.

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“They are sending a signal that we can’t beat you militarily, but economically we can paralyse you,” Morgan said.

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9 Stylish Leather Jackets Perfect For Spring 2026

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9 Stylish Leather Jackets Perfect For Spring 2026

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

When it comes to dressing for transitional weather, you can do no wrong with a good leather (or faux leather!) jacket.

Perfect for layering and super versatile, you don’t need me to tell you that the right leather jacket can go with everything from your favourite pair of jeans to your sexiest party dress.

Whether you’re dressing for a wedding or a trip to your local pub, you’ll feel like the ultimate cool girl in any of these jackets that are particularly on-trend for 2026.

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Ex-MI6 Chief: Iran Was The Only Country Ready For Conflict

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Ex-MI6 Chief: Iran Was The Only Country Ready For Conflict

Iran looks like the only country which may have been prepared for this current conflict, the former chief of MI6 has suggested.

Sir John Scarlett, who headed up the intelligence service between 2004 and 2009, told Sky News he was surprised when he first heard Donald Trump and Israel had attacked Iran last month.

“It wasn’t because I was surprised by the idea of an attack,” the former intelligence officer said. “But because negotiations were going on.”

He said there was quiet optimism about the progress around Iran’s talks with the US about capping Tehran’s capabilities to prevent the country from building its own nuclear weapons.

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Scarlett said: “It was clear [Israeli prime minister] Benjamin Netanyahu was concerned President Trump was reluctant to go in[to Iran].

“And then suddenly he did. So what caused that change in mind? Maybe in one evening?”

He theorised that some intelligence may have come through to sway Trump.

“There’s also the reporting from Marco Rubio that they were convinced the Israelis were going to do it anyway,” Scarlett said.

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“I’m leaning towards a misunderstanding maybe, or an over-interpretation of what was happening or not happening in the negotiations in Muscat.”

He said the Iranian proposals may have been suggesting some flexibility towards a nuclear deal comparable to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Scarlett claimed that could have been interpreted by the White House as “an effect rejection of the US demands”.

Asked if the west should have been better prepared for this conflict, Scarlett said, “wisdom of hindsight is always right”.

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“It is clear that almost nobody expected this to happen in quite the way it has,” he said.

“The people who expected it best is perhaps the Iranians, actually, which goes back to the resilience and forward-planning of the Iran regime – and it is very very important that is properly understood.

“Yes, in terms of deployment, weapons deployment, ships deployments, planning and so on – planning for what should have been obvious, which is the vulnerability of the strait of Hormuz.

“That was not there. And that perhaps includes us.”

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Iran has effectively closed the waterway by targeting ships using the strait.

Around a fifth of the world’s oil supply travels along Hormuz, so the conflict has caused oil prices to skyrocket.

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Miliband Distances UK From Trump’s Decision To Ease Sanctions On Russia

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Miliband Distances UK From Trump's Decision To Ease Sanctions On Russia

Ed Miliband made it clear Britain will not be following Donald Trump’s example by easing sanctions on Russia.

The US president has temporarily relaxed penalties on Moscow to help its oil trade while the Iran conflict puts global supplies under pressure.

The controversial move risks undermining a united western effort to punish Vladimir Putin for his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

But, due to Trump’s aggression against Iran, Tehran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately a fifth of the global oil supply, by attacking any ships using the waterway.

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The cost of oil has skyrocketed just two weeks after the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Russia used to supply much of Europe with cheap oil, but the continent weaned itself off such exports in the wake of the Ukraine war.

Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, told Sky News: “We’ve not lifted our sanctions against Russia because it is very, very important that we continue to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people

“This was an illegal invasion launched more than four years ago. Our solidarity with the Ukrainian people has been incredibly important throughout these four years,”

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“We continue to believe that for the good the UK, we continue to maintain sanctions on Russia. We think it is incredibly important that we send a clear message to Putin on these questions.”

On Trump’s call for allies to send warships to help reopen the strait of Hormuz, Miliband simply said it is important to reopen the waterway and the UK is working with European leaders and Gulf partners.

“We need to de-escalate this crisis, because the best and most conclusive way to get the strait reopened is to get this conflict it to end,” he said.

President Trump says he hopes allies such as the UK will help reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz oil passage.

Sky’s @TrevorPTweets questions Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband on the government’s position.

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📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/UfN5DSDMXW

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 15, 2026

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Politics Home Article | Are New Right-Wing Parties A Problem For Nigel Farage?

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Are New Right-Wing Parties A Problem For Nigel Farage?
Are New Right-Wing Parties A Problem For Nigel Farage?

Rupert Lowe and Ben Habib were both previously members of Reform UK (Alamy)


5 min read

Last month, former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe launched a new party: Restore Britain. Some former Reform councillors have signed up. Another former colleague of Nigel Farage, Ben Habib, leads Advance UK. What effect, if any, will these right-wing parties have on Reform?

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Reform UK has led in the opinion polls for well over a year. While there have been signs of its popularity dipping in recent weeks, Farage’s party remains in a strong position. Its senior ranks expanded by several former Conservatives, Reform is expected to make significant gains at the 7 May local elections, and could even win power in Wales.

Hoping to thwart its momentum, however, are parties to its right: Restore Britain and Advance UK. 

Their leaders, Lowe and Habib, who have both fallen out with Farage, say their former party is not right-wing enough on key issues and point to the Reform leader welcoming swathes of former Tories as evidence that he is not serious about taking on the status quo.

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PoliticsHome analysis of councils where full elections took place in May 2025 shows that Reform has lost more than 7 per cent of the councillors it had elected last year. Of the 50 councillors Reform has lost from its ranks due to suspensions, expulsions or defections, 17 — a third — had joined Restore Britain or Advance UK at the time of writing.

Kent County Council now has a Restore Britain group comprising seven former Reform councillors: Brian Black, Dean Burns, Isabella Kemp, Maxine Fothergill, Oliver Bradshaw, Paul Thomas and Robert Ford. All bar one (Burns) had previously been suspended or expelled from Farage’s party. There have also been defections outside of councils that held elections last year.

Restore Britain has also seen defections in Leicestershire, North Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire, while Advance UK has seen joiners in Cambridgeshire, Devon, Doncaster and Durham.

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Maria Botwell, a former Reform councillor who now heads Restore Britain’s local government unit, said “every single” former Reform councillor who has contacted Lowe’s party about joining had made the first approach. 

Lowe’s party hopes to be approved by the Electoral Commission in time for the Great Yarmouth MP to stand candidates under his banner on 7 May. The deadline for nomination papers is 9 April. Currently, councillors who have moved over to Reform UK are still listed as ‘Independent’.

Speaking to PoliticsHome, Habib, who once sat alongside Farage in the European Parliament for the Brexit Party, said that people most disposed to joining Advance UK are those who “joined Reform before it became the politically expedient vehicle that Farage has made it”.

However, in the grand scheme of things, how much of an electoral threat do these parties actually pose to Farage?

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Reform points to the recent by-election in Gorton and Denton, where Advance UK candidate Nick Buckley received five fewer votes than The Official Monster Raving Looney Party’s Sir Oink A-lot, as a sign that it has little to worry about. “I suppose you could say they have a long way to go,” a Reform source told PoliticsHome.

Reform’s second-place finish in the Greater Manchester constituency, where it secured 29 per cent of the vote to push Labour into third, showed that the party was on course “for another major wave of gains in May”, political scientist Rob Ford recently wrote.

Alex Wilson, a Reform London Assembly member, told PoliticsHome: “Getting beaten by the Monster Raving Loonies shows that when push comes to shove, most of our target voters can see that Reform is the only viable option to take on both the established parties and the new sectarianism of the Greens.”

Farage

According to Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University Tim Bale, Lowe and Habib’s parties are “really very small fry” as things stand: “They’re gnats, not mosquitoes.”

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He explained that their impact will be determined in large part by how Farage reacts to them.

“On the one hand, it’s always helpful for Farage to be able to point to outfits on his right that he can differentiate himself from and suggest that because they’re more extreme than he is, he’s therefore not far right and actually quite mainstream,” said Bale.

Ford, speaking on a recent episode of PoliticsHome podcast The Rundown, agreed.

“We are about sovereignty, we are about controlling immigration, we are about a more assertive approach on integration, on deportation, but we are not racists. We are not thugs, we are not street fighters. This is a useful distinction [for Reform] to be able to draw.”

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However, Bale said that there can be a tendency for political parties to be drawn to talking policies promoted by parties further to the fringes. He added that Farage must resist the temptation to move closer to Restore Britain and Advance UK positions, as doing so would risk damaging his party’s overall electoral appeal.

Restore Britain policies include the “mass deportation” of all illegal migrants from the UK — something Farage previously described as a “political impossibility”. Lowe’s party has also been endorsed by Elon Musk, the hard-right billionaire owner of X.

“There is a distinct possibility that once the other smaller splinter parties start raising those kinds of alternatives, that Reform will follow them,” said Bale.

“That does run a risk of [Farage] moving too far out of the kind of what is sometimes called the zone of acceptability, as far as most voters are concerned.”

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