Political protests: Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners?
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Political protests: Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners? Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo The Houses of Parliament are a magnet for protests of all kinds. Here’s who has been making their voices heard in the rain on Monday. Who are they? Steve Bray, a 48-year-old rare coins dealer from Port Talbot, in South Wales, says he spends every day, from 11am to 6pm, protesting against Brexit opposite the Houses of Parliament. He met fellow protesters Jane Pierce and Helen Campbell, both from London, through an anti-Brexit Facebook group, which is trying to keep a permanent protest going, while Parliament is sitting. They stage a daily evening vigil outside nearby Downing Street, for protesters who have to work during the day. Steve says he has funded his campaign by selling some of his stock and has been staying with friends in the London area. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 What do they want? “Our message is that it’s never too late to stop Brexit,” says Steve, “it’s a wrong turn for the country.” Their big hope is that there will be another general election and that public opinion will shift their way when the final Brexit deal is revealed. So where were they before the EU referendum? “We were living in cloud cuckoo land,” says Jane, who runs a charity, “thinking it could never happen”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s How is the protest going down? “We do get people hollering at us ‘get a job’,” says Helen, “but I’m self employed.” Taxi drivers have been particularly hostile, she adds, but she has noticed a change in their attitude in recent weeks. “I think they are starting to realise it is not turning out how they wanted.” Steve says: “We’ve had people trying to rip the flags out of our hands. One man said I should be hung as a traitor. I said ‘I’d like to see you try’.” But he says they have had a positive response from a lot of passers-by, as well as MPs and members of the House of Lords, one of whom wandered over to give him £20 to get a drink. “I spent it on flags,” he adds. What is the government’s position? In its response to a petition to calling for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, external, to be debated next month the government says: “There must be no attempts to remain inside the European Union, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum. “The country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the Government to make sure we do just that. “Rather than second guess the British people’s decision to leave the European Union, the challenge now is to make a success of it – not just for those who voted leave but for every citizen of the United Kingdom, bringing together everyone in a balanced approach which respects the decision to leave the political structure of the EU but builds a strong relationship between Britain and the EU as neighbours, allies and partners. “We want a deep and special partnership with the EU. We aim to get the right deal abroad and the right deal for people here at home. We will deliver a country that is stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
General election 2019: Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to stand for Lib Dems
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel General election 2019: Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to stand for Lib Dems Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray is to stand for Parliament for the Lib Dems. The activist is a familiar figure in Westminster where he regularly bellows his ‘Stop Brexit’ message through a megaphone outside the House of Commons. He has been selected to fight the seat of Cynon Valley in south Wales. It has been held by Labour for more than 30 years but its longstanding MP Ann Clwyd has retired and is not standing again. The Lib Dems have vowed to cancel Brexit if they win power. The party’s leader Jo Swinson dismissed suggestions Mr Bray’s candidacy was a stunt, saying the Lib Dems needed people prepared to put themselves on the line to stop the UK leaving the EU. “He cannot be accused of not being committed to his cause,” she said. “To have candidates who care so passionately about that is a positive.” Who are the Stop Brexit campaigners? Mr Bray, a rare coins dealer from Port Talbot, has spent every day since September 2017 protesting opposite Parliament, where his anti-Brexit antics having become a tourist attraction in their own right. He and fellow protesters who he met through an anti-Brexit Facebook group also stage a daily evening vigil outside nearby Downing Street. The 50-year-old says Brexit is a “wrong turn” for the country and must be stopped. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Mr Bray would appear to have little chance in Cynon Valley, where the Lib Dems polled only 585 votes in 2017, finishing fifth behind UKIP. Wales, as a whole, voted to leave the EU in 2016 but the Lib Dems have made gains there in recent times, winning the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire in a by-election in August. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The Lib Dems have formed a loose electoral pact with other anti-Brexit parties, including Plaid Cymru, which will see the parties not fielding candidates in some of their respective target seats to try and maximise the pro-Remain vote, Plaid Cymru has already selected a candidate in Cynon Valley, where it came third in 2017. Ms Clwyd retained Cynon Valley with a majority of more than 13,000 in 2017, having represented the seat since winning a by-election in 1984. Labour has selected Bethan Winter to fight the seat. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Brexit: Steve Bray vows to carry on ‘Mr Stop Brexit’ protest
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Brexit: Steve Bray vows to carry on ‘Mr Stop Brexit’ protest Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A man who uprooted his life to protest against Brexit has vowed to carry on protesting outside Parliament. Steve Bray, from Port Talbot, has become known as “Mr Stop Brexit” for his divisive hollering in Westminster. He said he was prepared for the “longest protest ever” and would “not give up” until the UK rejoined the European Union. Supporters of Brexit celebrated the moment the UK left the EU with a party in Parliament Square on Friday. In the 2016 referendum, 52% of UK voters backed the Leave campaign. But grandfather Mr Bray has protested outside Parliament every day MPs have sat since 5 September 2017 – and has become something of a tourist attraction in his own right. The 50-year-old has interrupted live broadcasts with his shouts of “stop Brexit”, and gate-crashed interviews with placards. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 While Mr Bray has scaled down his campaign there is no sign of him going away any time soon. “This is my first ever protest, I was never that political before, but so much is at stake,” he said. The self-employed rare coin dealer has vowed to remain outside Parliament for as long as it takes for the UK to rejoin – but only every Wednesday, when Prime Minister’s Questions is held. “It is not a question of if or when – we will join the EU. It could be 10 years, it could take 50 years, it could turn into one of the longest protests ever.” His interruption of Theresa May’s farewell speech with his “stop Brexit” cry led to her replying “I think not”, while her replacement as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told him to “put a sock in it”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s He sold some high value coins to fund the campaign and made merchandise to sell. “I sold some of my collection, rather than leave them to the children I thought I would use it to leave them a better future,” he said. A crowdfunding campaign raised more than £70,000 for him and other protesters to rent a flat near Parliament. They moved there after living on the same street as pro-Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg – who he said he bumped into “quite often”. Mr Bray said some of the hardest times were during the Beast from the East in 2018, when he said a member of the House of Lords came outside to give him a coat. “I’ve been spat at a few times, assaulted a few times, all very minor things. “It does take a toil, but the hatred drives me on more than the support,” he said. In his home county, Neath Port Talbot, 56.8% of people voted to leave during the poll in June 2016. Mr Bray stood in the Cynon Valley for the Liberal Democrats in the 2019 general election, but only secured 949 votes. “People just have different views,” he said. “We need the government to know we are not giving up and not going away”. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
MP Nigel Adams filmed swearing at Mr Stop Brexit Steve Bray
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel MP Nigel Adams filmed swearing at Mr Stop Brexit Steve Bray Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A minister has been filmed swearing at a veteran pro-EU campaigner who approached him outside the Houses of Parliament. Steve Bray, known as Mr Stop Brexit, uploaded the clip of his exchange with Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams. The footage shows Mr Adams give the four-letter response at least twice as Mr Bray attempts to question him. A spokesperson for the MP said his remarks “no doubt reflect those of many democratic representatives”. The video, shared on social media by Mr Bray, shows the pair talking in the street on Wednesday evening following the Commons vote on a tax increase to help fund health and social care. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 After questioning Mr Adams about the tax increase, the MP responds: “I’m really not interested in talking to an odd bloke with a top hat on chasing me down the street”. He then tells Mr Bray, from Port Talbot in Wales, to “talk to your own MP” and swears at him. The 52-year-old campaigner became a regular sight outside Parliament following the EU referendum, with Mr Bray repeatedly interrupting live TV broadcasts with his cries of “stop Brexit”. Speaking to BBC Radio York, he said: “You should be able to ask an MP a question without being told where to go. “This is at Parliament, it’s not as if I’m on his doorstep at his house, this is the seat of power – if you write to these MPs, half of them don’t reply. “I don’t harass MPs, I ask them questions and I like to think I’m speaking for other people who can’t be there to ask those questions.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s In a statement, a spokesperson for Selby and Ainsty MP Mr Adams said: “Mr Bray has spent the last few years harassing, following and hurling abuse at elected Parliamentarians as well as interrupting journalists, preventing some from doing their job of reporting the news and conducting interviews. “Mr Adams’ remarks no doubt reflect those of many democratic representatives trying to deliver on the will of the people and others seeking to go about their business who have been harassed or had their work disrupted by this individual and his handful of followers.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Brexit protester Steve Bray: We’re not giving up
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Brexit protester Steve Bray: We’re not giving up Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Brexit protester Steve Bray has reacted to police removing his amplifiers after his noisy protest outside Parliament. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Officers reminded him of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which came into effect on Tuesday, with maps showing where he could and could not make a noisy protest. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s But the anti-Brexiteer, who has been seen and heard in the background of many TV broadcasts in recent years, vowed he would carry on, despite the “North Korean” law. Without a loudspeaker for once, he told the BBC: “If you can’t be seen and you can’t be heard, what’s the point of the protest?” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Reform row poses danger for party that wants to win
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Reform row poses danger for party that wants to win Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Political parties led by Nigel Farage are prone to the occasional outbreak of spectacular acrimony and the most colourful rows. In 2016, there were allegations of a punch up between two UK Independence Party members of the European Parliament. In 2014, a UKIP councillor suggested the legalisation of gay marriage had caused a spate of bad weather. Nigel Farage used to be the leader of UKIP. This current tit for tat spat involving the Reform UK leader Farage and the MP for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe, has seen both sides flinging a lot of mud at each other. So far, so conventional. But, in a novel twist, I revealed that the referee has now got involved too. When I say the referee, I mean the senior lawyer hired by Reform UK to look into an element of the row. Vitriol, insults and anger are there for all to see, from pretty much everyone involved. Let’s be clear: Reform UK are not unique when it comes to volcanic rows – just ask the Conservatives or Labour within the last decade. And both those parties will tell you the impact it has. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 It is a cliché to say divided parties don’t win elections because it is broadly true and Nigel Farage gets that. This is more than just a clash of personalities too. There are differences of policy instinct between the two men. Lowe has advocated mass deportations, something Farage doesn’t think is practical or popular. Lowe has praised the jailed far right activist Stephen Yaxley Lennon, known by his supporters as Tommy Robinson. Farage refuses to have anything to do with him. One of the standout trends in British politics since the general election last July has been the rise and rise of Reform UK. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Granted, opinion polls years and years out from the next general election should be treated with some scepticism, but Reform’s growth in popularity has been sustained and has certainly been enough to spook their political rivals. But this is a turbulent moment for the party. Farage criticised Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for not wearing a suit at the White House and the Reform leader’s critics like to point to admiration he has expressed in the past for the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s abilities as a “political operator”. He has also made much of his closeness to and admiration for President Trump, when opinion polls in the UK suggest America’s leader is not popular here. Both Labour and the Conservatives have seized on this in various ways – keen to point to instincts from Farage that are not wildly popular. And some opinion polls suggest Reform’s march upwards in popularity may be easing. Now this humdinger of a row with Rupert Lowe. Nigel Farage’s parties have bounced back from spats like this one before. The question this time is whether these are growing pains of a rapidly expanding and professionalising outfit or something more chronically limiting. To Nigel Farage’s admirers, he is one of the politicians of his generation without which Reform and its predecessors would be nothing. To his critics, he is allergic to rival tall poppies and has a long history of provoking simmering resentments and colossal bust ups. If Reform is to achieve its stated ambition of winning the next general election, it will need to channel all of what Farage offers and much, much more – and not descend into the kind of bickering which opponents will quickly seize upon and exploit. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Twenty-nine councillors defect to Reform UK
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Twenty-nine councillors defect to Reform UK Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has welcomed 29 councillors who have defected to his party in recent weeks from parties including the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. It takes the party’s total number of council seats to more than 100. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster, Farage said the defections demonstrated how his party was “broadening and deepening”. However, it comes as some Reform members are expressing concern about the party’s leadership and the suspension of MP Rupert Lowe from the party. On Sunday, Maria Bowtell, a councillor on East Riding of Yorkshire Council, quit the party. She accused, external the leadership of “a lack of integrity and resolve” and said the treatment of Lowe had been “the final straw”. Farage acknowledged that his party had experienced a “little bit of turbulence” over the past few weeks. He said the suspension of Lowe had caused “consternation” adding: “Any argument that’s seen to happen within 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.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, was suspended by the party and referred to police over allegations he made “threats of physical violence” against party chairman Zia Yusuf. The party also said it had received allegations of bullying in Lowe’s parliamentary and constituency office. Lowe has said the party’s allegations are “untrue and false”. He argued he had been suspended for criticising Farage in a newspaper interview. Addressing the row, Farage said: “We’ve been increasingly concerned about the behaviour of one of our members of Parliament, and when we found out that some serious complaints have gone in, we thought, you know what, let’s just suspend the whip and let’s find out what the truth is, and we will wait.” He said the report they had commissioned into to the allegations could be completed this week. Farage also criticised “the online abuse and frankly outright racism” directed at Yusuf in recent weeks. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s He said the public spat with Lowe would not “put a dent” in Reform UK’s electoral chances, as the party gears up for local elections on 1 May. “We’re going to be out there canvassing, campaigning, and doing our best to prove that the polls aren’t virtual, actually, the real votes exist out there on the ground.” The party has said it plans to stand in all the council seats that are due to hold elections in May. Of Reform UK’s 113 councillor seats, 15 have been won through elections, including seven from Labour and four from the Conservatives. The remaining 98 seats have turned Reform UK through defections – 62 of those defections have happened since the beginning of the year. The majority of the defections (66) were originally elected as Conservative councillors. Three came from Labour and one came from the Liberal Democrats. The rest were independent councillors or came from local parties. Farage has previously spoken about his aim to “professionalise” Reform UK and the importance of vetting the party’s candidates. Following Monday’s press conference, Farage was questioned about reports, external that in 2022 his party’s head of vetting Jack Aaron had said Adolf Hitler was “brilliant” at inspiring “people into action”. Asked if Reform UK would be investigating the comments, Farage said: “No, don’t be ridiculous. “This is an orthodox Jew who said Hitler was evil but he acknowledged he was very good at getting a crowd.” Questioned about his comments by the Times last year, Aaron said:, external “Yes, Hitler was as brilliant as he was utter evil. How is that controversial to say, given that he was able to turn the Germans to such destructive acts, including killing many members of my own family?” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Branch officers quit Reform UK over treatment of MP
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Branch officers quit Reform UK over treatment of MP Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo All three branch officers of Reform UK in a constituency have resigned from the party in protest at the treatment of their local MP, Rupert Lowe. The chairman, branch secretary and treasurer of the party in Great Yarmouth have all resigned their membership and say that with no officers the local party has effectively left Reform UK. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Mr Lowe, who currently sits as an Independent MP, has been suspended from the party while allegations of bullying are investigated, claims which he denies. He has praised “the courage” of his local officers. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s In a joint statement, the three officers said: “Rupert is a good man and the best, most proactive MP our town has ever seen. “All of the local branch officers can no longer support Reform following the leadership’s disgraceful treatment of our MP. “Rupert has supported our community. Our community now supports him.” ‘Good people’ Treasurer Barry Gravenell told the BBC: “All the officers felt they could no longer support Reform UK after the way Rupert has been treated. “We want to show Rupert that he has our full support. “There are no plans for the future of the Great Yarmouth Reform party, the officers have all resigned we are now normal members of the public.” The former Southampton FC chairman is currently under investigation by the party and the police over claims he made verbal threats of violence towards Reform chairman Zia Yusef, and allegations of bullying made by former staff members at his parliamentary and constituency offices. Mr Lowe has strenuously denied the allegations and has threatened Reform with legal action. In response to the Yarmouth Reform branch closing, Mr Lowe said: “These are good people who have shown huge courage. “I sincerely appreciate their support.” A spokesman for Reform UK said: “We have 450 branches – so that’s 0.2% of our total branches. “During the last eight months, Reform has delivered the greatest political acceleration in British history. We have added 160,000 new members and opened 400 branches.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Grassroots anger tests Farage’s grip on Reform UK
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Grassroots anger tests Farage’s grip on Reform UK Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Reform UK leader Nigel Farage put on a brave face this week, as he sought to put a blazing row with one of the party’s now suspended MPs behind him. The party is still neck-and-neck with Labour in the polls, and on Monday, it showed off 29 councillors who had recently defected to Reform UK. While Farage acknowledged there had been “a little bit of turbulence”, he stressed the upset was “very much at the edges”. But does the disquiet within the party go deeper than he suggested? Divisions have become more acute in a party that now boasts more than 200,000 members and 400 local branches across the country. Much of the anger is directed at Farage and Reform’s chairman, Zia Yusuf, over their efforts to professionalise the party. The party is being more ruthless in its vetting of candidates. It’s also investigating – and in some cases expelling – members because of their activity on social media. Farage is said to be desperate to avoid another election campaign where he faces constant questioning about the controversial comments of his candidates. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 But as the party gears up for local elections in May, it faces a huge challenge to control unruly elements in its grassroots membership who resent the way they are being treated by the leadership. The BBC has learned at least 12 interim chairs of local Reform UK branches have resigned over the conduct of the party’s leadership in recent months. A Reform UK spokesman said the resignations amounted to 2% of its branch chairs. “Our understanding is that the other parties have much higher churn than that,” the spokesman said. “We are sorry that we have lost 2% of our branch chairs, some of whom failed vetting. But we’re the only major party that does this sort of vetting.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s One of the chairs was Maria Bowtell, a councillor on East Riding of Yorkshire Council who gave a speech at Reform UK’s party conference last year. In her resignation letter, she said she felt “abandoned” in her role, described the party’s candidate selection as “chaotic”, and accused the leadership of lacking integrity. Other members have quit on free-speech grounds, including Howard Cox, who stood as a Reform UK candidate in the general election and the London mayoral poll. He said he left the party after he was threatened with expulsion for criticising the treatment of Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right activist. Cox told the BBC “my inboxes are now flooded with grassroots Reformers who are incredibly upset and feel that their political optimism for our country has been betrayed”. “Over a dozen Reform branches have contacted me, stating that they have been replaced, overridden, and disrespected by Zia Yusuf’s headquarters team,” he added. Other branch chairs resigned over policy differences, particularly the issue of “mass deportations”, which Farage has called a “political impossibility”. Jack Davison, the former chair of the Dover and Deal branch, said in attempting to professionalise, the party was adopting the “very traits of the establishment it sought to challenge”. “This culture of ‘silencing’ was deeply troubling,” he said. Another former branch chair in Newcastle, Dan Astley, said the party had not been “properly democratised”. He said the Reform UK’s constitution, which was adopted last year, allowed the party’s board to have the final say on sacking and appointing a new leader. Rupert Lowe row But for many already disgruntled members, the allegations against Rupert Lowe have infuriated and disillusioned them the most. The MP was been suspended by Reform UK over accusations of bullying in his office, and a police investigation into alleged threats against the party’s chairman, Yusuf. Lowe has denied any wrongdoing and his supporters have rallied around him, accusing the leadership of trying to force him out for daring to challenge Farage. The row came as no surprise to Ben Habib, a former Reform UK deputy leader who quit the party citing “fundamental differences” with Farage. He told the BBC that Farage’s idea of professionalisation “would appear to be the wilful destruction of the grassroots movement”. “The playbook used against Rupert Lowe has been used across the grassroots,” he said. ‘Teething issues’ The BBC put some of these criticisms to the party’s chairman, Yusuf. He said Reform UK under Farage had delivered “the greatest political acceleration in British history”, with “a fraction of the resources of the two old parties”. Yusuf, who was appointed chairman after the general election last year, said the party had vetted thousands of people and “the majority have passed”. But some don’t, he said, adding that “just comes with the territory of being a professional party”. Reform UK’s vetting system, Yusuf said, was “meaningfully more rigorous than anything that the other parties do”. “Of course, anything growing at this scale, there’ll be some teething issues,” he added. The recent ructions do appear to have cut through to the voting public though. One recent survey suggested, external that the party was split with a third of Reform voters believing the party would be faring better under a different leader, but the same amount believing that the party would be doing worse. The survey also suggested that Farage’s net favourability with Reform voters had fallen since the Lowe row. Yet the latest YouGov poll put Reform UK on 23% of the vote, behind Labour on 24% but ahead of the Conservatives on 22%. Gawain Towler still believes in Farage’s leadership, despite being sacked as Reform UK’s head of press last year. Towler said he had been to several branch meetings as a speaker recently and had witnessed very little dissent. He said Reform UK won 4.1 million votes at last year’s general election “with a ramshackle operation and an army of volunteers who worked their socks off for no recompense whatsoever”. “We need to get
Notting Hill residents skip carnival for beach trip
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Notting Hill residents skip carnival for beach trip Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo More than 20 Kensington and Chelsea residents will be heading to the coast as part of a council scheme to provide them “respite” during the Notting Hill Carnival weekend. Since 2017 the local authority has partnered with the charity Age UK since 2017 to offer the break to older residents. They first need to meet strict criteria such as being over 65 years old and living directly on the carnival route. The local authority said this year’s outing would cost it £24,000 – about £1,100 per person. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The money will be used to cover travel, accommodation, some food and additional spends such as staffing and carers. Last year £31,000 was spent by the council on the 42 residents who took part. Places are prioritised for those most in need of getting away, who might not have the means to organise a trip themselves or have no alternative options. Kensington and Chelsea offers a number of services to vulnerable residents during the event which this year runs from from 24 to 26 August. These include providing 24-hour security at its housing estates and holding individual discussions about the event with anyone who has been allocated a social worker. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Notting Hill Carnival sees more than two million people attending each year. Masquerade dancing to steel bands and sound systems, go on show in west London over the bank holiday weekend, with more than 300 food and drink stalls. Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, overseeing culture at Kensington and Chelsea council, said: “Carnival is a vibrant celebration of our borough’s rich culture and diversity, and we are proud to play our part in bringing it to the streets of North Kensington for huge numbers of people to enjoy each year. “There are some older vulnerable residents who require respite from carnival weekend, and we work with Age UK to provide a seaside break for those most in need who meet certain eligibility criteria.” This year will be Notting Hill Carnival’s 56th outing. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol