Nigel Farage has given a news conference for the first time since senior members of his party Reform UK became embroiled in a bitter row. He said members ‘upset’ by the Reform row are “at the edges” of the party.
false,Monday 17 March 2025 12:49, UK
We’ve been hearing from the Downing Street spokesperson today in one of their usual briefings to journalists.
They were asked about the coalition of the willing (that’s the prime minister’s attempt at putting an alliance together to help keep the peace in Ukraine) and who would be a part of it.
The spokesperson said: “The prime minister said over the weekend, there’s going to be different capabilities from different countries, but these are now the operational discussions that are ongoing in relation to what the coalition of willing will be able to provide.
“We’re expecting more than 30 countries to be involved.
“Obviously the contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways.”
They added that a US security guarantee was still necessary for a successful plan.
Nigel Farage now turns to a row which erupted between Reform UK and one of its now former MPs – Rupert Lowe – earlier this month.
The Reform UK leader says the party had become “increasingly concerned” about the behaviour of one of its members.
He says that when complaints emerged, he decided “let’s just suspend the whip and let’s find out what the truth is”.
“First, we will get the report from the independent King’s counsel, who has been appointed, I don’t know exactly when that is going to be, but some anticipation that it might happen during the course of this week.”
Later on, he says, “we will hear from the relevant parliamentary committee too”.
‘Serious bullying’ allegations
Farage adds: “Has it caused some consternation? Of course, it has. Any argument that’s seen to happen in the family does.
“But I can promise you that in terms of our progress, and our planning, that upset is very much at the edges.”
Earlier in March, party chairman Zia Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson MP disclosed accusations that two female workers had complained of “serious bullying” in Lowe’s offices, and said he had been reported to police over allegations he threatened Yusuf with physical violence.
Lowe, who has been suspended by the parliamentary party, denies the claims.
Need a catch-up? Our political correspondent Liz Bates has all you need to know about the row:
Today’s announcement from Reform is about the local elections in May.
The party chairman Zia Yusuf announces that the party will stand councillors in all 1,641 seats.
Party leader Nigel Farage then takes the stage to again talk up his party’s chances, but criticises the government for delaying some local elections – and accuses the Labour Party and Conservative Party of colluding.
Farage also says that, once a date is chosen for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Reform will announce its candidate.
The party leader then slowly reads out a list of 29 councillors who are defecting to Reform, from a selection of parties including Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour and independent groups.
Nigel Farage is fronting a news conference from Reform UK.
It’s the first one the party has held since MP Rupert Lowe was kicked out over bullying allegations – which he denies.
Farage is due to welcome 29 new councillors who are defecting from other parties ahead of the local elections in May.
You can watch live in the stream below, and we’ll bring you any noteworthy updates along the way.
The notorious HS2 bat tunnel has become emblematic of the overly bureaucratic planning system in the UK, especially around infrastructure.
With the government looking to get 150 new projects greenlit in the next five years or so, it looks like the airborne mammals might have some of their safeguards removed.
In its new action plan on regulation, the government said it will: “Rapidly review and rewrite the existing catalogue of environmental compliance guidance so that it is fit for purpose, removing any duplication, ambiguity and inconsistency.
“Guidance should help businesses navigate regulatory requirements, not add additional complexity.
“This will include Natural England revising their standing advice to Local Planning Authorities on bats and removing the reference to the Bat Conservation Trust.”
However, our deputy political editor Sam Coates – who is keeping a close eye on this story – points out Natural England didn’t advise HS2 to build a bat tunnel.
Instead, a report from the company found that covering the railway was the cheapest option to avoid legal risk – a risk that remains in place.
On the environment more widely, the government says it will ease permit and licence restrictions on low-risk activities so not as many approvals have to be sorted.
This all forms part of the government’s plan to ease red tape for building.
Tomorrow the government will publish its plans to cut the welfare budget, but it’s the Labour benches that are likely to cause the most havoc.
After speculation that the Treasury was gearing up to freeze Personal Independence Payments for disabled people, stopping them rising in line with inflation, Sky News understands the payments will continue to rise as planned.
This mini U-turn will placate some Labour MPs nervous about the unintended consequences of the welfare crackdown and how it may affect disabled people.
On Sky News Breakfast today, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell welcomed the news, and said he understood the pressures the Treasury was facing.
His muted tone could be an indication that the government’s efforts to persuade backbenchers of the merits of the plan – by inviting them to Downing Street to speak their minds and be reassured the most vulnerable would be protected – is taking effect.
However, despite a relatively understanding tone from McDonnell, he also warned Rachel Reeves’s plans may turn out to create more problems than it will solve in the long run.
McDonnell accused the government of not understanding the world has changed, hinting the chancellor ought to follow Germany’s lead, break her fiscal rules and blame the policy pivot on unprecedented global events.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also attacked the government’s plans to crack down on the benefits bill, but Treasury minister Emma Reynolds launched the fightback on Sky News Breakfast, insisting the government had a duty to reform the welfare system “according to our values”.
Will tough talk pay off?
Reynolds argued there is dignity in work and that reforms were needed as “something has gone seriously wrong under the Tories”, arguing the cuts chime with Labour ideology.
And Health Secretary Wes Streeting – the self-proclaimed Tory whisperer – has hardened his rhetoric even further, claiming the over-diagnosing of mental health problems is in part to blame for the ballooning benefits bill.
This hardening of the government’s language is a clear attempt to talk tough, but will the government be able to follow through on the action the Treasury is desperate to see while many Labour backbenchers remain unconvinced Starmer has his priorities in the right order?
Newly minted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Europe today, where he’ll be meeting with leaders.
He has just arrived in Paris to speak with President Emmanuel Macron.
And later today, he will come to London to meet with Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles III.
Trade, and Trump’s tariffs, are likely to come up.
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Global economic growth has been downgraded by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – as the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs becomes apparent.
Major economies including the UK will have lower rates of GDP – a measure of an economy’s value and everything produced – due to the US’s imposition of taxes on some goods it imports, the Paris-based OECD club of 38 rich countries said.
The UK economy will grow only 1.4% this year, as opposed to the 1.7% previously anticipated.
Next year, the figure will be 1.2%, lower than the 1.3% forecast before Mr Trump took office in January, according to the OECD interim economic outlook.
It’s more unwelcome news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves after January GDP unexpectedly shrank.
In response to the OECD figures, Ms Reeves pointed out the UK is forecast to be “Europe’s fastest growing G7 economy over the coming years – second only to the US”.
“This report shows the world is changing, and increased global headwinds such as trade uncertainty are being felt across the board.”
The chancellor has met with regulators in Downing Street as the government continues to try and reduce bureaucracy.
Reeves told the room: “You know that the number one mission of this government is to grow the economy.
“There are a number of things over the last decade or so that have held back growth, and one of them – if we are honest, and you know better than anyone – is the regulatory landscape.
“Too much overlapping regulation, too much bureaucracy, too slow to get things done. It is something that myself and other ministers hear all the time.”
She added: “We really appreciated in the last few weeks being able to work with you and your organisations to identify things that you can see are making it too hard to get things done in this country, and we really appreciate the input you have given in a whole range of areas.
“What we want to do going forward is to work more closely with you to unlock those things that are holding back investment.”
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