Nigel Farage’s Nephew Dodges Jail After Admitting to Upskirting
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Nigel Farage’s Nephew Dodges Jail After Admitting to Upskirting Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo • Joseph Farage, nephew of Nigel Farage, admitted to upskirting a woman but avoided the sex offenders register and jail time, sparking criticism over perceived leniency. • He was fined £1,091 in total, including a victim surcharge and prosecution fees, with no further legal action to be taken. Joseph Farage, nephew of far-right Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, confessed to placing his mobile phone beneath the clothing of his victim with the intent to record and share the footage with a third party, aiming to distress and humiliate the victim. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The offence occurred at the Orpington branch of Co-Op on July 17 last year. Farage of Orpington, pleaded guilty to the offence and appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court for sentencing last Friday (January 17). Despite the gravity of the act, the 31-year-old, who owns an electrical firm in Kent and is a father of two, was not added to the sex offenders register. Authorities assert that, since the victim was over 18, automatic inclusion on the register does not apply. This ruling has sparked controversy, particularly given Nigel Farage’s outspoken criticism of so-called two-tier policing. The incident does little to bolster the credibility of such arguments. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s In addition to a fine and compensation for the victim, Joseph Farage was ordered to pay £230 victim surcharge and an £85 in prosecution fees, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,091. Astonishingly, no further legal action will be pursued. Upskirting has been recognised as a criminal offence following the introduction of the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019. Before this legislation, upskirting incidents were typically prosecuted under the common law offence of Outraging Public Decency or existing voyeurism laws outlined in Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. 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
Nigel Farage’s nephew dodges prison after upskirting woman in a shop
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Nigel Farage’s nephew dodges prison after upskirting woman in a shop Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo After admitting to the courts that he committed the act of upskirting, Nigel Farage’s nephew Joseph escaped with a fine. It’s not been a great few weeks for Reform, or its leader. Following rumblings from Elon Musk and lacklustre by-election performances, a new PR nightmare has emerged – after Nigel Farage’s nephew was found guilty of upskirting. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 What is upskirting? The offence, criminalised six years ago, is the practice of placing a photographic device beneath a woman’s clothing without consent, with the intention of enabling oneself or a third person to observe the genitals, buttocks or underwear of the victim. Appearing in the dock last Friday, Nigel Farage’s nephew – named Joseph – pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court. Although this crime is punishable by a prison sentence, the defendant escaped with a fine of £576 – plus £200 in compensation. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Who is Nigel Farage’s nephew? Details of the case are not extensive, but Joseph Farage admitted to placing his mobile phone beneath the clothing of his victim, for the purpose of sharing with a third-party and with the intention to ‘humiliate and distress’ the woman in question. The offence took place in the Orpington branch of Co-Op. The 31-year-old also runs his own electrical firm in Kent, and has two children of his own. In what may come as a surprise to some, he was not placed on the sex offenders register for this offence. Why Nigel Farage’s nephew will only pay a fine for his upskirting offence… Authorities state that, because the victim was over the age of 18, there is no automatic submission to the register. At a time where Nigel Farage and his colleagues are sounding off about ‘two-tier policing’, this incident does very little to help their cause. Alongside the fine and compensation, Nigel Farage’s nephew was also ordered to pay a further £230 for a victim surcharge, and £85 in prosecution fees, taking his total bill to £1,091. No further action will now be taken. 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
Thousands join Tommy Robinson march in London
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Thousands join Tommy Robinson march in London Banzai Japan Music Video Thousands of supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson have filled Trafalgar Square in central London after a march. He claimed the event was the “biggest patriotic rally” the UK had ever seen. A counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project also took place in London. The Metropolitan Police said a major operation was in place to “keep the peace” between the two protests, amid fears of serious disruption. A Trans Pride event was also held in the capital. Book Novotel Hotel Amid a sea of England and Union Jack flags, Tommy Robinson’s supporters listened to speeches attacking immigration and promoting “patriotism”. He received a loud cheer in Trafalgar Square when he asked the crowd how many of them had voted for Reform at the general election. He revealed he had asked Nigel Farage to speak at the protest, but said the Reform leader had told him he “couldn’t make it”. At the anti-racist counter-protest nearby, Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech, and demonstrators held placards reading “no to racism, no to hatred” and chanted “we won’t be silent”. Banzai Japan Music Video The Metropolitan Police said five arrests had been made: Two men were arrested on suspicion of “GBH-level [grievous bodily harm] assault” after a participant in the Stand Up To Racism demonstration was assaulted in Victoria Embankment Gardens, the Met said. The victim sustained a head injury and was given first aid by officers A member of the public was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at Trans Pride, and another man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked One man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive remark. The Met Police has not said whether the five arrested people were participants in any of Saturday’s protests. Ahead of the marches, police barricaded Whitehall and mobile units were parked in side streets around Westminster. One thousand officers were on duty and Scotland Yard used powers under the Public Order Act to place strict conditions on the timing and location of both protests. The Met said officers would remain on duty after the marches had finished. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who is in charge of the weekend’s operation, said police would “intervene decisively” to deal with protesters who broke the conditions. He said: “Our first priority is to keep the peace to ensure that those exercising their right to lawful protest can do so safely.” Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces contempt proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday after being accused of continuing to talk online about a libel case he lost in 2021. Book Novotel Hotel 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
Lawyer probing Reform UK row contradicts MP Lowe
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Lawyer probing Reform UK row contradicts MP Lowe Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A senior lawyer who was appointed by Reform UK to independently investigate allegations against MP Rupert Lowe and his team has denied she told the MP she was “shocked” about the process. The Great Yarmouth MP was suspended by Reform and referred to the police over accusations he made threats of violence against the party’s chairman. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed they are assessing an allegation of “verbal threats”. There have also been allegations of bullying in Lowe’s offices, which are being investigated by the lawyer hired by the party. Lowe strongly denies all the claims, saying “there is no credible evidence against me”, and says he is the victim of “a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage”. Last week, Lowe said he had spoken to the senior lawyer looking at the claims and said she had told him she was “shocked” at the process, and that no evidence had been given. On Sunday, the lawyer, a KC who has not been named by the party but whose credentials have been verified by the BBC, said: “I have seen a number of statements made by Mr Lowe MP which are attributed to me and which describe my reactions to the process conducted by the party into the allegations made against both Mr Lowe MP and his constituency manager. “I find myself in the unfortunate and regrettable position of having to make this statement to correct the record.” The lawyer added: “I have not expressed either ‘dismay’ or ‘shock’ at any time as to the process. Nor have I said ‘there is zero credible evidence against [Mr Lowe]’, let alone said this ‘repeatedly’.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 ‘No credible evidence against me’ On Friday, Lowe took issue with a statement issued by Reform, which set out that there would be an independent investigation into what had happened. He wrote: “I have just spoken to the KC. She is dismayed that this statement has been made, and reiterated that no evidence against me has been sent to her. “She stated that this has been issued before the investigation has even started. “She is shocked at the process, shocked at the communication from the party, and shocked that no credible evidence has been given, despite her repeated requests.” The BBC put the lawyer’s statement to Lowe, who then issued his own statement in reply. “Ever since this malicious attack on my reputation was launched, all I have asked for from both Reform and the KC is credible evidence against me. None has been provided. It still hasn’t,” he said. “The KC has said she has been ‘chasing’ for that. I have received nothing. Because there is no credible evidence against me.” He added: “I have spoken with the KC at length, on the phone and through message. I’ve got to know her over the last week, and she has been very helpful, and is a charming lady who is trying to do her job in the very difficult position that Reform has put her in.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s ‘You have to stand up to bullies’ He accused the party of an “outright lie” in claiming he had not co-operated with the investigation, a claim Reform made in a statement on Friday evening. “I have been in discussions with my legal team this afternoon, and this will be followed by legal action in due course,” Lowe told the BBC. “I will not have my name dragged through the mud as part of a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage. You have to stand up to bullies, and I am doing exactly that.” He said the lawyer had told him on Friday night: “I advised that you should simply say that the party was precipitous to state that these allegations had been made without also saying that the party has commissioned an independent investigation and the investigation has not yet got underway to look at all the evidence and evaluate its veracity.” Lowe’s suspension came after the Daily Mail, external published an interview with Lowe where he said Reform under Nigel Farage’s leadership remained a “protest party led by the Messiah”. Reform has removed the whip from Lowe, meaning he now sits as an independent MP. Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe said the row was “temporarily damaging” to the party – but “not damaging in the long term”. Widdecombe told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “The fact is all parties have these eruptions from time to time. “But while the investigations are under way I think we should simply wait until they report, and then we will know where we are.” 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
‘Farage and Lowe need their heads banged together’
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. ‘Farage and Lowe need their heads banged together’ Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A public spat involving the leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage and one of the party’s other high-profile MPs has caught the attention of political figures as much as constituents. Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, now an Independent, was suspended by the party over an allegation of “verbal threats” – a claim which he has denied. Farage, MP for Clacton, said the row had “dented” Reform’s “unity” but wrote in The Telegraph, external that it would have been “inconceivable” not to take action. The ordeal has since prompted the launch of a police investigation, but what do voters in each of their respective constituencies make of what has happened? Reform UK won five out of 650 constituencies in the July 2024 general election, but with Lowe’s suspension they now have four MPs in the House of Commons. Mention of Lowe’s election win has been removed from Reform UK’s homepage, external list of the other four wins. In Lowe’s constituency on the Norfolk coast, retired police officer John Dupen, who voted for Reform, said he felt the row and in-fighting had “taken the impetus” out of the party. “They were becoming a credible force, but I think Farage has done the right thing to remove him from the party, but mud sticks doesn’t it?” he suggested. “Farage is a man of conviction and if he says something, he normally does it. “They could have done without it, but I think they will get around it and time will heal it.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Lowe is accused of workplace bullying, and also of making threats of physical violence against the party’s chairman Zia Yusuf. The MP has said there was “zero credible evidence” against him, and claimed he was suspended in response to him previously criticising Farage in an interview. The 67-year-old former chairman of Southampton FC also said he would be “seeking legal advice”. Great Yarmouth resident, Carmel Westgate, 67, said she believed Lowe was “a good man” who “stands by his words” and had tried to help the town. “I personally don’t think this should have been public and Nigel Farage should have come and met with Rupert and spoke with him behind closed doors,” she said. “You’re innocent until proven guilty, but people will believe what they want to believe. “Why has it all of a sudden come out now? Is it jealousy? Is it because he has spoken his mind? Is it because he is loved by a lot of people?” Gloria Reynolds, 78, agrees that “the job he was doing was fairly good” and said, “as a Christian”, she would continue “praying for him”. “There is a lot of witch-hunting going on amongst the parties nowadays, but as long as he carries on doing a good job I can’t see it makes any difference,” she said. “Nigel is Nigel and he is very full of himself I feel, but until we know the whole situation it is difficult to say.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Retired midwife, Francis Baxter, 70, did not vote for Lowe because of his association with Farage, but said since being voted in he had been “positive” for the coastal constituency, which also includes Hopton, Gorleston, Caister and Winterton. She added: “I do think he is getting things moving and shaking up the area and I have quite admired what he has done. “I feel quite strongly actually that he is being set up and that is quite a fashionable thing to do now. “He might have done it, I don’t know, but I feel there is more to it than meets the eye. Reform had been riding high in recent polls, but some now believe the spat could see its popularity decrease. Christopher Lambert, 84, believes Farage has made the right decision in suspending Lowe. “I think Nigel Farage’s party has done exceptionally well until now, [but] when you get in-fighting in a party it does the party no good at all,” he said. “I am on the fence about Reform and I should think I will stay on the fence. I have seen many, many general elections, but where you get in-fighting it just kills it. “I think the Conservatives and maybe Labour are rubbing their hands. “I liked Nigel Farage and I still like him. He speaks as he feels it is, and I think he is good.” Further down the coast… Heading south along the east coast, we arrive the Essex constituency of Clacton, which also includes the towns of Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and the village of Jaywick. Farage voter and Clacton resident, Dorothy King, 82, said: “It is probably a storm in a teacup to a certain extent and I cannot see what they are going to achieve by pushing each other about. “I don’t know where it will go and if they will keep their little argument going or if it will just peter out.” Jan Green, who lives in Kirby Cross next to Frinton, did not vote for Farage. “I think they are behaving like children and are acting rather silly and I do not agree with it,” she told the BBC. “Both of them are very strong-willed people and I don’t think either of them will back down. “Farage is our MP here, although we don’t see him.” Joan James, who lives in Walton-on-the-Naze, said Farage and Lowe needed “their heads banged together”. “They need to get on with it,” she added. Frinton resident Lorraine O’Louthlin, who voted for Labour last year, said Farage was “definitely” right to suspend Lowe. “I think he has done good because some parties do not act on these things, but if someone has done wrong in the party then get rid of them,” she said. Frinton resident Lorraine Rodwell, meanwhile, described the spat as “boring”. “I can’t say I have read about it because it
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