Tributes to firefighters and member of public killed in blaze at ex-RAF base
The two firefighters and member of the public who died in a huge blaze at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire have been named by officials.
Firefighters Jennie Logan, aged 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38 were both killed along with 57-year-old David Chester after a massive fire ripped through what is now the Bicester Motion business park at 6.30pm on Thursday.
Ten fire crews rushed to the inferno at the former RAF Bicester – where several businesses now restore classic cars and planes – and workers were evacuated from the scene, as neighbours reported multiple explosions and clouds of dense black smoke.
In a statement on Friday evening, Thames Valley Police said the families of the two firefighters and Chester were being supported by specially trained officers.
Police said both firefighters worked at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) and Sadler was also part of the London Fire Brigade. He was described by the capital’s fire chief as a leading member of staff on retained duty in Oxfordshire.
The force has launched an unexplained death probe but it is “currently not a criminal investigation”, assistant chief constable Tim Metcalfe said.
Mr Metcalfe added: “This is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police are with the families, friends and colleagues” of the victims.
The head of the London Fire Brigade, Commissioner Andy Roe, said Sadler “exemplified courage and selflessness”, adding: “We are devastated by the loss of our colleague and friend.
“This is clearly an incredibly difficult time for us all; we have lost a well-respected and much-loved colleague who exemplified courage and selflessness in the service of others.
“It has been an incredibly challenging day for the UK Fire and Rescue Service. This incident highlights the high-risk nature of the service we provide every day.”
Two further OFRS firefighters suffered serious injuries and are in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council previously said.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Neasham Glasgow, said the King would want to “pass on his sincerest condolences to all those affected”.
Members of the public started to lay flowers and tributes at the scene of the fire on Friday, including a handpicked bunch of daisies and written messages, while a group of schoolchildren also arrived to pay tribute at the scene.
Bouquets were laid under the Bicester Motion sign outside the former RAF base where a heavy police presence remained in place.
A handwritten note read: “Thank you for your service. Our hearts are with the services and families.” The note featured hand-drawn pictures of an ambulance, police officer, doctor, and firefighter.
Another card read: “Our hearts have broken for the loss of two heroes. All our love and prayers.”
With his voice breaking and appearing to fight back tears, Oxfordshire’s chief fire officer, Rob MacDougall, told reporters at the scene: “I am immensely proud and grateful for the exemplary multi-agency response and unwavering bravery demonstrated by all the emergency services personnel.”
An electrician who was one of the first people at the site of the fire described how fire brigades “poured in” to the site amid thick smoke. Fatih Ozzoksel, known as Ozzy, said he saw “massive plumes of smoke” from his garden on Thursday night and went straight to the site.
“The smoke was unreal, I couldn’t breathe,” the 54-year-old owner of Ozzy Engineers told The Independent. “There were explosions that just wouldn’t stop for at least an hour and a half. One sounded like thunder, I think it was a roof collapsing.”
Mr Ozzoksel said he “had never seen anything like this” in his life, adding: “I feel so sorry for the people who lost their lives. Their bravery was unreal they were literally pouring in.”
Kieran McGurk, a product director who lives opposite the site, said he heard “multiple bangs” and saw a plume of smoke while out walking.
Bicester resident Janine McKenna Jones, 48, described seeing “black ash” near her home following the fatal fire. “It felt very apocalyptic, if that makes sense, because you see the sky and there’s this big black cloud of smoke,” she said.
Historic England claims the famous airfield is “the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase” in Britain. Having served as RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War, it ceased to be a military site in 2004.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the three deaths as “devastating”, adding: “The bravery of our firefighters is astounding. Hoping those in hospital make a full and swift recovery.”
Describing the firefighting community as “heartbroken”, Sherine Wheeler, chief executive of the Fire Fighters Charity, told BBC Radio Oxford: “It’s very rare and tragic to have the loss of two firefighters alongside a member of the public and I think the impact of that is being felt deeply.
“For a lot of people who serve in the fire service it brings the reality of the risks they hold crashing home.”
Additional reporting by PA
Primary school evacuated after student brings in grenade for class
A primary school in Derbyshire has had to be evacuated after a student brought a grenade in for a Second World War show and tell assembly, it has been reported.
Students and staff at Osmaston CofE Primary Care School, in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, were evacuated on Friday, and bomb disposal experts were called in.
Head teacher Jeanette Hart told the BBC said she was unsure if the device was live, so she took it from the boy and slowly placed it behind a “substantial” tree in the car park as the school was cleared and emergency services were called.
“It was quite an eventful assembly,” said Mrs Hart. “It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket. That, I was not expecting.”
Bomb disposal experts later established that the grenade was safe.
According to the report, the student had brought in the grenade, which was a family heirloom, without telling his parents.
Mrs Hart said, “It looked old and I thought it might be safe, but I didn’t want to take the risk.”
“I ended the assembly, took it off him and slowly carried it outside and put it behind a far tree in the car park. I wasn’t 100 per cent happy carrying it, to be honest.”
Police and army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene, and the children and staff moved to safety.
Derbyshire Police said army explosives experts determined the grenade was safe using X-ray equipment.
Officers praised the school staff for their quick thinking.
A spokesperson for the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “We even got to see those [X-ray] images and [were] told a detailed analysis of how there was nothing that would set the grenade off.
“Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians – double check what your kids are taking to show-and-tell, especially when they are family heirlooms.”
Trump claims ex-FBI director’s beach picture called for his assassination
Donald Trump has claimed a social media post by the former FBI director James Comey was a call for the president’s assassination.
On Thursday Comey posted a picture of seashells spelling out the numbers “8647,” which has been construed by some as a reference to the 47th president – Trump – and the term “86,” which is commonly used in bars and restaurants and means to cancel an order or toss someone out.
“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier in an interview on Friday. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant ‘assassination.’ It says that loud and clear.”
The president called him a “dirty cop” and said he will leave a decision on whether to prosecute him over the post to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
On Instagram, Comey posted an image of the seashells with the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
Administration officials quickly fell in line to denounce the post and demand investigations and prosecution.
Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, swiftly claimed Comey was calling for Trump’s assassination and announced the Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service were investigating. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is “aware” of Comey’s post and that “we take rhetoric like this very seriously.”
The White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich claimed the post “can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting president of the United States.”
Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard called it “a veiled call to action to murder the sitting president of the United States,” and suggested Comey should be imprisoned immediately.
“James Comey should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” Gabbard told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Thursday.
Comey — whose firing by Trump during his first term led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller — has long been a target of the president and his allies following his investigation to determine whether Trump’s associates coordinated with Russian figures to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.
He subsequently deleted the image of the seashells and explained in a separate post that he had posted a picture of “some shells I saw on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message.”
“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” he wrote. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
It’s unclear on what grounds federal law enforcement officials could investigate Comey, as it is not illegal to post pictures of seashells, even if they spell out something the president and his allies claim is offensive or threatening, which is largely First Amendment-protective activity.
Several high-profile right-wing figures have used the term “86” in recent years, including the now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who claimed last February that his allies in Congress had “86’d” Republican leadership.
In 2022, the far-right activist Jack Posobiec wrote “8646,” referring to then-president Joe Biden.
Trump himself has been repeatedly accused of using violent rhetoric against his perceived enemies and political opponents, which federal prosecutors and state attorneys have argued inspired a wave of threats against judges, lawyers, officials and their families.
During his 2016 campaign, he said that if his rival Hillary Clinton could appoint judges, there would be “nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”
In 2023, Trump accused General Mark Milley, who was then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, of “treason” over a phone call to a Chinese official. “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Throughout his criminal investigations and civil trials, prosecutors routinely warned judges that the president’s rhetoric and social media posts — including sharing an image of himself wielding a baseball bat against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg — could derail the prospect of fair trials and intimidate jurors. Law enforcement reported “serious and credible threats” of violence as well as hoax bomb threats and suspicious packages.
Last year, Trump shared a post on Truth Social suggesting former congresswoman Liz Cheney was “guilty of treason” and should be tried in “televised military tribunals” after she joined a congressional investigation into the events surrounding January 6.
“Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face,” he said to Tucker Carlson last year, referencing Cheney, whom Trump accused of being a “war hawk.”
During the 2024 campaign, Trump shared a video showing a supporter’s truck with a graphic depicting a hog-tied Joe Biden.
Second man charged over ‘bottle attack’ involving singer Chris Brown
A second man has been charged in relation to a reported assault at a London nightclub involving R&B singer Chris Brown, police have said.
Omolulu Akinlolu, 38, a US national, has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, according to the Metropolitan Police.
He and Brown have both been charged relating to an assault which reportedly took place at the Tape venue in Hanover Square in Mayfair on February 19 2023, the force said.
Brown, 36, was charged on Thursday with grievous bodily harm with intent and appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
During the 30-minute hearing, the American musician watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.
The court was told that the complainant, Abraham Diaw, was stood at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and was then pursued to a separate area of the nightclub where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
Brown was remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court, London, on June 13.
The singer is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for tour dates in UK in June and July.
He was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on Thursday by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
The Grammy-winning singer is scheduled to tour the UK in June and July, with dates at Co-Op Live in Manchester and Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Hundreds of MPs and peers call for Starmer to ban Iranian army
Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls from hundreds of MPs and peers to ban Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) amid a deteriorating human rights picture in the UK and after three Iranian men were charged with spying in London.
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock is among those urging the prime minister to outlaw the IRGC, warning “the human rights crisis in Iran continues to worsen”.
It came as three Iranian men living in London were charged under the National Security Act, accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.
More than 550 MPs and peers, also including former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-home secretary Suella Braverman, signed a letter criticising Iran’s “hijab and chastity law”.
They said it “mandatory hijab, suppressing women who lead the protest and resistance movement to prevent future uprisings”.
“Appeasing this faltering regime betrays democratic values, emboldens its repressive policies, and undermines global security as Tehran continues its nuclear ambitions and terrorism,” the letter said.
It added: “Given the regime’s complete blockade of all avenues for political activity, the international community must recognise the Iranian people’s right to regime change.
“The IRGC should be designated as a terrorist organisation,” the letter said.
The UK has previously resisted calls to ban the IRGC over fears it could sever the country’s diplomatic link with Tehran.
But Tory MP Bob Blackman, chairman of the influential backbench 1922 Committee, said “it’s time to change course on our Iran policy”.
Mr Blackman, who coordinated the letter, said: “Our ally, the US, rightly designated the IRGC as a terrorist entity several years ago. While the regime has never been weaker, we must set aside all wrong-headed political and diplomatic calculations and proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist entity — an action long overdue.”
Following the recent arrests and charging of the Iranian men, Mr Blackman said: ““Iranian terrorism has reached our soil. A serious terror plot, involving several Iranians, was recently thwarted in the UK.”
The letter came as Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service between last August and February.
Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, intending to commit serious violence against a person in the UK.
Manesh and Noori have also been charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that serious violence against a person in the UK would be committed by others.
Former Tory MP and minister David Jones said there is a “growing consensus among UK politicians that the time for a new policy on Iran has arrived”.
The MPs backed Iranian opposition group the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s 10-point plan to “end the religious dictatorship and transfer sovereignty to the people’s representatives”.
The group calls for an end to compulsory hijab and religion, an end to dictatorship and executions and a democratic Iranian state. The Foreign Office was asked to comment.
Following the charges brought against the three Iranian men, Yvette Cooper promised to strengthen national security powers.
The home secretary said: “I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities.
“The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings.
“But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case.
“The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions.
“We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.”
Celebration villa breaks: find your perfect luxury getaway
If you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, a villa holiday is hard to beat. Imagine clinking glasses on a rooftop terrace at sunset or gathering loved ones around a candlelit garden table for a leisurely dinner under the night sky.
These special occasions deserve much more than booking out a busy hotel, and nothing beats having your own sun-drenched sanctuary where you have the space and privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re heading to Marrakech in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, to the rolling hills of Tuscany, or a tropical oasis further afield, Villas are the perfect home-away-from-home for celebrating something, or someone, special.
CV Villas’ luxurious ABOVE collection offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments – think breathtaking settings, total privacy, and the kind of comfort and space that makes everyone feel at home. All come with stunning interiors, sweeping views as far as the eye can see, and enviable locations in some of the world’s most sought-after spots. Each villa is hand-picked by dedicated CV Villa specialists, who are experts in helping people craft their dream getaway. Many come with their own infinity pools, breathtaking views and large alfresco dining areas, perfect for spending quality time together during life’s most important moments. Villas aren’t just places to stay, they’re a big part of the celebration itself.
From the moment you book your stay to your arrival back home, the CV Villas Concierge team is there to make everything as seamless and stress-free as possible. They are dedicated to looking after you and your party before and throughout your holiday so that you can focus on the things that really matter, like spending quality time together and celebrating without having to worry about the minor details. The team tailors each trip to exactly what you’re after, whether you’re looking to book a private boat day or need to organise a surprise celebration dinner, nothing is too much trouble. Many of the five-star villas even come with their own butlers and chefs so that you can be waited on hand and foot during your special getaway.
ABOVE villas are the epitome of luxury and come with designer interiors, infinity pools boasting panoramic ocean views, and terraces made for golden hour cocktails – properties with serious star quality. What’s more, they’re located all around the world, from the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Greece to the palm-fringed beaches of far-flung Sri Lanka and beyond.
Sampling delicious local food is a big part of a holiday, but catering for a large group can often mean juggling different requests and palates. Luckily for you, many of these luxury villas come with their very own in-villa chefs – perfect for when you’d rather toast the moment with a glass of fizz than spend time flapping around in the kitchen. Instead, let your chef whip up multi-course meals morning till night, using the freshest local produce, all based on your personal tastes and dietary requirements, before tucking into it alfresco under the undisturbed starry night sky.
The little luxuries make a big difference to a bucket-list trip: daily housekeeping to keep things spic and span, spa treatments for when you need a little R&R, wine tastings for the adults, yoga sessions with epic views, and even round-the-clock babysitting. All of this can be arranged to make your stay feel even more indulgent.
Maison Emilion, France
This rustic French villa is practically made for wine lovers, aptly located amidst the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux. This six-bedroom hilltop hangout boasts views of the working vineyards from every angle, including from the heated pool and surrounding sunbeds. Wander into the nearby village of Saint-Émilion, then enjoy the included wine-tasting experience before settling into the garden for dinner with nothing but the glow of flickering candlelight and the moonlit sky.
Oleander, Corfu
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than Oleander in Corfu, a five-bedroom villa overlooking Avlaki Bay and the picturesque town of Kassiopi. It’s located high above the Ionian Sea and is the ideal villa for memorable summer celebrations. Soak up the sunshine from the infinity pool while enjoying views of Albania’s craggy Ceraunian Mountains, or hang out on the wrap-around terraces and communal outside dining areas. During peak season at Oleander, chef service is also included, so you can enjoy meals with your loved ones without even having to leave the villa.
Spirit of Son Fuster, Mallorca
Spirit of Son Fuster in Mallorca is hard to beat for large groups and multigenerational stays. This five-star bolthole is set in a stunning natural landscape at the foot of the Alaro twin mountains, right near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, and is as secluded as it gets. This gorgeous 14th-century manor house sleeps twenty people across ten bedrooms and even has its own on-site spa and hammam where everyone can enjoy treatments in the dedicated treatment rooms. There’s even a private cinema room for movie nights and a well-stocked wine cellar filled with local vintage wines.
Masseria Giardini, Puglia
Masseria Giardini in Puglia is the height of luxury and the perfect home-away-from-home for families and large groups. It was built in 1750 and is surrounded by leafy olive groves and landscaped gardens curated by Chelsea Flower Show winners Urquhart & Hunt. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Canale Di Pirro Valley from this ten-bedroom farmhouse and spend days lazing around in the heated pool. This villa is an architectural masterpiece, with signature stone domed roofs and hand-carved stone baths in five of the ten bedrooms.
For more travel information and inspiration and to book your perfect villa getaway, visit CV Villas
Calls for wealth tax as Rich List shows just 350 families have £772bn
Millionaires have called on the government to properly tax the richest people in Britain, after it was revealed that just 350 families hold over £772bn of the nation’s wealth.
Members of the Patriotic Millionaires have urged for a “long overdue” wealth tax to invest in “our much-loved country”, adding that the wealth of the top 350 people could cover the total cost of the UK’s annual healthcare spend three times over.
The call comes after the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List revealed the annual catalogue of Britain’s wealthiest people, with famous figures including Sir Elton John, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and the King all making the list.
Responding to the publication, Julia Davies, an angel investor who sold her stake in backpack and travel bag company Osprey Europe, said: “Once again this year’s rich list shows the phenomenal wealth that is stuck at the top with a whopping £772bn in the hands of a mere 350 people.
“Those wringing their hands about fewer billionaires and the threat of multi-millionaires leaving would be better off focusing on real British problems, like our crumbling NHS, than nursing the niche concerns of the super-rich.
“£772bn, held by just 350 families, would cover the total cost of the UK’s annual healthcare spend three times over. Properly taxing this wealth, to invest in our much-loved country, is long overdue.”
The 37th annual list reveals who are the 350 richest individuals and families in the UK, based on identifiable wealth, including land, property, other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly quoted companies.
At the top was the Hinduja family, who sat in first place for the fourth consecutive year despite a decline in their fortune.
Gopi Hinduja and his family, who are behind the Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group, were recorded as having £35.3bn.
The Hindujas were followed in the list by real estate moguls David and Simon Reuben, who moved up to second after increasing their wealth to £26.9bn.
They were followed by investor Sir Leonard Blavatnik, entrepreneur Sir James Dyson and shipping tycoon Idan Ofer.
Ms Davies, a member of Patriotic Millionaires, added: “Our media and political leaders need to stop focusing on the interests and habits of a small number of people who are hoarding extreme wealth at the expense of us all and instead prioritise the interests of Britain’s true wealth creators, our ordinary hardworking families, small businesses, entrepreneurs, teachers, health and other public-sector workers.
“These people are the backbone of the British economy, many of whom haven’t seen a pay rise in 15 years. Our government should treat the Rich List as the smelling salt it needs, wake up, and tax the super-rich.”
Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe came seventh in the list with a £17bn fortune.
However, the Ineos founder was the biggest faller on the list as he saw his wealth decline by around £6bn for the second consecutive year.
Other notable figures on the list included the King, who saw his personal wealth jump by £30m to £640m in the last year, making him as rich as former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty.
Charles, who acceded to the throne in 2022, ranks joint 238th in the list, up 20 places from 258th in 2024.
The monarch is £140m richer than David and Victoria Beckham, who are said to be worth £500m, with the former England captain being Britain’s richest sports star.
Meanwhile, the personal wealth of Mr Sunak and Ms Murty dropped £11m from £651m to £640m.
Since leaving Downing Street, the former prime minister has taken a part-time role at Stanford University and signed up to the Washington Speakers Bureau, while Ms Murty has a stake in Infosys, the Indian IT giant co-founded by her billionaire father.
The latest publication revealed a third consecutive slump in the number of billionaires residing in the UK, down to 156 this year from 165 in 2024.
“Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling,” said Robert Watts, compiler of the Rich List.
“We are also finding fewer of the world’s super-rich are coming to live in the UK.”
He said he was also “struck by the strength of criticism for Rachel Reeves’s Treasury” when speaking to wealthy individuals for the publication.
Mr Watts said: “We expected the abolition of non-dom status would anger affluent people from overseas.
“But homegrown young tech entrepreneurs and those running centuries-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax changes unveiled in last October’s Budget.”
Starmer’s power is built on borrowed votes – I won’t lend mine again
When Labour is in power, it’s customary for the left wing to spend much of its time grousing about how badly it’s doing, whereas those on the right have remained staunchly silent about criticism of its leadership, no matter how outwardly deranged.
Where then, to start on Keir Starmer’s Labour, which in its much-touted plans to be the Grown-Ups coming to clear up the British Playroom after the Big Argument, now seems more determined to cosplay as Nigel Farage than to take advantage of its massive majority and put some actual Labour policies in place.
As with many people staggered by the Conservatives’ plunge into self-destruction, I did what I could to avoid them getting into power again. I lent my vote to Labour. Unlike many people, my vote made little difference. My constituency, previously Streatham, was Conservative for 74 years until turning resolutely Labour in 1992.
Where Labour should not be complacent is that my vote, as with those of many who embraced tactical voting, came from fear. The prospect of another five years of political sleaze made me feel quite unwell. However, I had also hoped that things could only get better, as I dimly remembered from school.
As was the case in 1997, a 2024 vote for Labour was a vote for hope. Yet all I have seen since Labour came to power is shocking. A government whose only inspiration for the British public is repeated epithets about the Conservatives’ 14 years in power and the ensuing black hole.
I had hoped for bold steps towards helping the roots of Britain’s problems: reinvigorating youth clubs and Sure Start centres so young people didn’t turn to gangs and online influencers for connection, and supporting parents so future generations felt confident in affording to have children. I’d certainly hoped for appreciation of the workers from abroad who keep our health and care sectors running because successive governments are too miserly to pay their workers properly.
Instead, splendid: three more prisons to be built rather than anything positive to reduce poverty, increase opportunity and reduce reoffending. Well done, Labour! This isn’t quite “40 new hospitals” territory, but it feels awfully close. A conversation around immigration that is now in its fourth day of focusing on Starmer’s inflammatory language and apparent denigration of every migrant in the UK, rather than finding solutions.
Labour has been by no means alone in its inaction on Israel’s enforced famine of Gaza, but for a generation raised on Blue Peter coverage of Bosnia and genocide in Rwanda, its silence has said volumes. And it’s not just the very young that Labour is alienating, it’s millennials and Gen X. Recent decisions on PIP and disability benefits have seemed incomprehensible if not downright cruel. Labour seems to be chasing some mythical voter who doesn’t exist, rather than listening to those it has.
There is the odd flicker of the positivity and capability so many of us hoped for: its trade deals with the US and India, Ukraine and how Starmer has stepped up to lead the coalition of the willing and support Ukraine. Wes Streeting’s immediate deal with the junior doctors was impressive, but his capitulation to the vocal minority on trans healthcare simply baffling. There is arguably little more British than letting people be who they are. And by also denigrating migrants, LGBT+ people, and women, who will inevitably have to pick up the slack when care companies cannot afford to pay for British workers and hike prices accordingly, this feels like a very un-British Labour Party.
Most shamingly of all is the news that the UK’s reputation as Europe’s leading country on LGBT+ human rights is gone. In 2015, we were top with 86 per cent. This week, we have dropped to 46 per cent – in no small part thanks to baffling white noise nonsense around loos and trans people, which successive polls show Britain at large doesn’t care about in the slightest. Nigel Farage and his policy-free pot-stirring – rightly called out by the otherwise ghastly Rupert Lowe, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day – are not where the UK should be heading. Labour has four years until the next general election. Why on earth isn’t it promoting forward-thinking policies and communicating to the public with even a modicum of skill? Why isn’t it at least trying to make a positive difference to the country’s lives, rather than dealing in the populist fear wafting across the ocean from the United States?
As the local elections showed, Reform voters won’t be won over by mystifying attempts to out-light blue the light blue. Reform continues to lead Labour in the polls, by five points this week, and eight points last week. A new poll by Survation finds voting intention for Reform at 30 per cent. Meanwhile, those who held their nose for Labour previously are joining the flood of people heading to the Lib Dems and the Greens.
Reform voters do not want Labour. And there are other parties for Labour votes to join, however much Starmer and his team refuse to believe it. In 2025, the Conservative Party is almost annihilated. Unless the government looks to its voters, whether lifelong or borrowed, by 2029 Labour may join it in the wreckage.