Tory MP reports deepfake Reform defection video to police

A Conservative former minister has reported a deepfake video of him announcing he had joined Reform UK to the police, according to reports.

George Freeman, the Tory MP for Mid Norfolk, said he had “no intention of joining Reform or any other party”, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

A deepfake video of the politician, which was widely circulated on social media, appeared to show Mr Freeman announcing he had joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

In the video, Mr Freeman appeared to say “the time for half measures is over” and that the “Conservative party had lost its way”, as he announced he was defecting.

But the video was a fake, and Mr Freeman has reported it to the police, the LDRS said.

Responding to the fake clip, Mr Freeman said: “The video is a fabrication, created without my knowledge or consent, and uses my image and voice without permission.”

“Regardless of my position as an MP, that should be an offence.”

He added: “This sort of political disinformation has the potential to seriously distort, disrupt and corrupt our democracy.”

Mr Freeman said he did not know whether the incident was a “politically motivated attack” or a “dangerous prank”.

But the former science minister said it was clear there had been a “huge increase in political disinformation, disruption and extremism” in recent months.

“I have reported this matter to the relevant authorities, and I urge anyone who sees the video to report it immediately rather than share it further,” he added.

Norfolk Police was contacted for comment.

Brexit impact on UK economy ‘negative for foreseeable future’, Bailey warns

Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic growth “for the foreseeable future,” Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned.

The economy is, however, likely to adjust and find balance again in the longer term, Mr Bailey, who was speaking at the G30 40th annual International Banking Seminar on Saturday, added.

The event in Washington, DC saw Mr Bailey highlight a decline in the UK’s potential growth rate from 2.5% to 1.5% over the past 15 years.

He linked this to lower productivity growth, an ageing population and trade restrictions – including post-Brexit economic policies.

“For nearly a decade, I have been very careful to say that I take no position per se on Brexit, which was a decision by the people of the UK, and it is our job as public officials to implement it,” Mr Bailey said.

“But, I quite often get asked a second question: what’s the impact on economic growth?

“And as a public official, I have to answer that question.

“And the answer is that for the foreseeable future it is negative.”

“But over the longer term, there will be – because trade adjusts – some at least partial rebalancing,” Mr Bailey added.

Referencing the works of 18th-century economist and philosopher Adam Smith, he continued: “Why do I give that answer? Because that’s the Smithian growth model: making an economy less open restricts growth over the long term.

“Longer term, you will get some adjustment. Trade does adjust, it does rebuild.

“And all the evidence we have from the UK is that is exactly what is happening.”

Investment in innovation and new technologies, including AI, may help address the decline in productivity growth in the long run, Mr Bailey said.

“If we take account of the impact of ageing and trade restrictions, we’re really putting our chips on investment,” he said.

“We’re putting our chips on general-purpose technology, and AI looks like the next general-purpose technology, so we need to work with it.

“We need to ensure that it develops appropriately and well.”

Mr Bailey warned that, although AI is likely to usher in a breakthrough in productivity long-term, it may “in the current circumstances, be a risk to financial stability through stretched valuations in the markets”.

“It doesn’t undermine the fact that AI, in my view, is likely, in addressing this slower growth issue, that we have and the consequences of it – that it is actually the best hope we have, and we really do need to do all we can to foster it,” he said.

The Bank of England governor’s prediction comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure ahead of next month’s Budget, with official figures showing muted growth in August following a surprise contraction in July.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.1% month-on-month in August and fell by 0.1% in July, in a revision to the previous estimate for no growth.

In the three months to August, GDP grew by 0.3% compared with 0.2% growth in the three months to July, the ONS said.

The latest figures come after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this week forecast UK inflation was set to surge to the highest in the G7 in 2025 and 2026.

Tutankhamun’s tomb in Luxor at risk of collapse experts warn

This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Arabia

The tomb of Tutankhamun in Luxor is in its most fragile state since its discovery in 1922, with cracks spreading across ceilings, rock layers peeling under humidity, and mural colours fading under the assault of fungi.

The tomb, one of the smallest royal burials in the Valley of the Kings, is suffering from a major fracture running across the ceiling of the burial chamber and entrance, causing fissures that have allowed rainwater to seep inside.

Given the nature of the Esna shale rock used in the tomb, which expands and contracts with changes in humidity, the risk of deformation and collapse now looms over both the structure and its intricate decorations.

West of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is home to dozens of royal tombs carved deep into the mountains. Many of these have been eroded by sudden flash floods that periodically strike the area. In 1994, a catastrophic deluge submerged the valley in silt-laden water that eroded the rock layers and led to a sharp rise in humidity levels within the tombs.

As a result, fungi flourished and damaged precious paintings and murals, while the valley’s fragile geological makeup, dominated by weak Esna shale, further compounded the crisis.

In a recent study published in Nature’s npj Heritage Science journal, Sayed Hemeda, Professor of Preservation of Architectural Heritage at Cairo University, notes that Tutankhamun’s tomb is now suffering from compromised structural integrity. He identified the 1994 flood as the turning point: it allowed water ingress, raised humidity levels and triggered fungal growth that ravaged the wall paintings.

Dr Hemeda also highlighted that the major fissure cutting across the ceilings of both the burial chamber and the entrance had “allowed rainwater to penetrate and worsened the cracks, placing the ceiling under pressures exceeding the capacity of Esna shale rock to withstand, particularly given its tendency to expand and contract with fluctuations in humidity”.

The study concluded with a recommendation to “minimise humidity fluctuations to preserve the tomb by regulating its internal environment and implementing a focused programme of reinforcement and conservation”.

Known by the standard designation KV62 among Egyptologists, Tutankhamun’s tomb remains one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. It was discovered by the British archaeologist Howard Carter on 4 November 1922, after years of excavation, hidden behind a modest entrance, buried among the debris of other tombs.

The tomb, smaller-than-usual royal tombs of the 18th Dynasty, is believed not to have been originally designed as a royal burial place, but rather hastily repurposed following the young pharaoh’s sudden death.

Tutankhamun’s tomb consists of four main chambers: the entrance, the antechamber where furniture and chariots were found, the burial chamber holding three nested coffins, and the treasury, which once housed some 5,000 artefacts, including the famed golden mask, gilded statues, fine furniture, weapons and funerary objects, reflecting the complex rituals associated with royal burials.

Mohamed Atia Hawash, Professor of Architectural Conservation at Cairo University’s Faculty of Archaeology, explains that most tombs in the Valley of the Kings are cut deep into the rock, making them vulnerable to periodic flash floods that create cavities and sometimes fill with water, which damages the wall paintings.

He warns that the surrounding mountains themselves suffer from extensive fissures, not only in the valley but also in the Deir el-Bahari area where the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is located. These fractures pose the risk of large rock masses detaching and collapsing onto adjacent tombs.

Dr Hawash’s research stresses that Tutankhamun’s tomb is not the only site at risk, but it serves as a “stark warning that must be heeded”. He added that “a disaster could strike at any moment, and if the Valley of the Kings is to be preserved, action must be taken before it is too late”.

The area, though a part of the listed Unesco World Heritage site of Ancient Thebes and its Necropolis, remains far from secure. This raises urgent questions about the absence of risk management plans and the inaction of responsible authorities in the face of such threats.

Professor Hawash points out that earlier studies have already warned of new fissures and the likelihood of further flash floods, but no real action has followed.

Speaking to Independent Arabia, he noted that crisis management structures exist but remain ineffective in practice: “We have the ability to monitor risks scientifically, but the absence of a culture of prevention means we only react after disaster strikes.”

He highlighted that Tutankhamun’s tomb itself showcases sophisticated ancient techniques in colouring and the production of artificial pigments, such as Egyptian blue and green, and argued that practical solutions are needed – such as reducing the load on the mountain above the tomb or installing removable internal supports that preserve the site’s character while preventing potential collapse.

Emad Mahdi, a member of the Egyptian Archaeologists’ Union, said: “A high-level expert committee should be formed immediately to analyse the site geologically and archaeologically, assess the impact on the wall inscriptions, develop a precise risk profile, and prepare an urgent report for the highest authorities to enable swift action to save it.”

“As an archaeologist, I am deeply saddened by the state of the tomb. This crisis requires practical solutions, such as establishing a specialised risk-monitoring body composed of academics who issue reliable reports and continuously oversee the safety of archaeological sites. Where are the regular reports tracking threatened sites and outlining intervention and protection measures?”

Translated by Dalia Mohamed; Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar and Celine Assaf

Verstappen moves into F1 world title picture after super Saturday

Max Verstappen moved further into the F1 title picture by winning Saturday’s sprint and clinching a dominant pole position for Sunday’s race in Austin after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffered a costly collision.

The Dutchman charged to pole position in qualifying by almost three tenths from Norris as championship leader Piastri could manage only sixth to cap off a miserable Saturday for the Australian.

Norris was no match for Verstappen but will be heartened to have Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton between him and title rival Piastri on the grid for the 56-lap race as he seeks to cut the 22-point gap in the standings.

Verstappen’s victory in the sprint earlier on Saturday enabled him to draw within 55 points of leader Piastri – and 33 behind Norris – after the McLaren pair crashed into each other at turn one and were dumped out of the 19-lap dash.

The Dutchman, who has also finished ahead of the McLaren pair at each of the last three races, will likely need more McLaren chaos to fire himself fully into the title fight, but there are still 166 points to play for.

The build-up to the weekend has been dominated by the unspecified “consequences” imposed by McLaren on Norris after the team held him responsible for banging wheels with Piastri in Singapore a fortnight ago.

That minor tap paled into insignificance compared to the carnage at turn one of Saturday’s sprint at the Circuit of the Americas as Norris was left with only three tyres on his car.

Starting from third, Piastri attempted to cut back up the inside of his team-mate but turned into Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and, as a result, smashed into the rear left of Norris’ car.

Norris was spun round as his left-rear tyre was sent careering across the track. Piastri limped on briefly but suspension damage also put pay to his involvement.

Verstappen took eight points for the win ahead of George Russell and Carlos Sainz.

McLaren’s decision to involve themselves in the title fight by sanctioning Norris after Singapore, for a first-lap manoeuvre which was deemed legal by the FIA, will prompt questions over what they decide to do after this latest collision.

Many observers, including former world champion Jenson Button, felt Piastri made a risky move – one which ultimately resulted in the papaya pair colliding – which the team say is their only unbreakable rule.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown initially told Sky Sports from the pit wall: “That’s some amateur-hour driving by some drivers up there at the front.”

Brown later changed his view, taking blame away from Hulkenberg but did not specify who he held responsible.

Norris and team principal Andrea Stella also refused to apportion blame in the aftermath of the sprint, but McLaren appear to be in a muddle of their own making by attempting to police relations amid the heat of an team-mate title tussle.

‘I contacted Nigel’: Reform MP Danny Kruger on defecting from Tories

It might already be a month since Reform’s newest MP Danny Kruger jumped ship to join Nigel Farage’s right-wing camp, but walking to the ex-Tory devotee’s Westminster office, you’d be forgiven for questioning if it really happened.

Two signs for his office – deep within the Palace of Westminster’s labyrinth of carpeted corridors and creaky stairwells – still show Mr Kruger as shadow minister for work and pensions under Kemi Badenoch.

Then inside, hung on the wall alongside Imperial War Museum recruitment posters and a painting of conservative philosopher Roger Scruton, is a framed map of Boris Johnson’s landslide 2019 election victory.

Swathes of Tory blue dominate many of the UK’s regions. The outcome of the snap election steered by Brexit not only saw Mr Kruger, then Mr Johnson’s parliamentary secretary, return his boss to No 10, but also got him his first seat in parliament as the new MP for Devizes.

“I’m not putting the 2024 election map up,” he jokes. “We need that whole map to go turquoise don’t we,” he adds with a smile.

Breakups in any walk of life are hard, but for Mr Kruger, it’s clear to see his split from the Tories was a particularly painful one.

“I regret to say, having been a member and an employee and an MP for the Conservative Party for many years, my whole adult life… I think the time for the Conservatives as that principal opposition, that main challenger from the right, has finished,” the married father of three explains.

His exit, probably the biggest scalp for Reform yet, was announced at a press conference alongside Mr Farage last month. A few weeks later, he wrote a letter to his 71,000 East Wiltshire constituents to explain his decision.

Reform, currently 14 points ahead of the Tories in the latest polls, was now the new opposition to the Labour Party, he said, bemoaning a loss in voter confidence in the Conservatives on issues such as mass migration and Brexit.

“We now have – in Nigel Farage’s party – the opposition that we need to Labour, so it’s not just a rejection of the Conservatives, which I deeply regret making on a personal level, it’s an active, positive choice to join Reform because I think they represent the change we need,” he says.

I push him on the emotional impact of his departure from the party he became involved in more than 30 years ago.

As a self-described “horrible little Thatcherite” in his youth, the Etonian later joined Conservative HQ in 2003, and would later work with former Conservative leaders Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard and David Cameron.

“It’s a very painful move,” he says, adding that he’s conscious he has “let people down” in Wiltshire where party members worked closely with him since his election win in 2019. “I regret that,” he says.

On those in Whitehall, he says: “I have good friends on the Conservative benches who I know feel dismayed, betrayed by me.” Although, he’s thankful of no personal attacks from former colleagues, including Ms Badenoch.

“However, in this business, you have to put what you think is the interests of your constituents and your country ahead of your personal loyalties,” he says. “Loyalty matters. Parties matter. We couldn’t exist without them, but we have to put country ahead of party, and even if that is personally painful, we must do it in practice.”

Has slipping into Reform – where the slogan is family, community, country – been an easy political marriage? Mr Kruger says so.

He already knew Reform MP Lee Anderson, and after “informal conversations” he says he went to speak to Mr Farage about joining the party, and was gratefully accepted.

“I expect there will be other MPs who move from the Conservatives to Reform,” he predicts, although rather hesitantly adds: “That’s assuming that Nigel actually invites them to do so.”

Mr Kruger’s defection to Reform was particularly surprising, not least following some of his recent criticism of the party.

Only in May he accused members of piggybacking on work by the Conservatives during a Commons debate on Brexit in a “desperate search to be relevant”. In July, he said Reform “would spend money like drunken sailors” during a debate on welfare.

“Well, literally since then, Nigel Farage stood up at his party conference and committed to significant welfare cuts,” says Mr Kruger.

“Tax cuts aside, we have to make spending reductions, not simply for the sake of the public finances, although that imperative is very, very real, but for the sake of the people who are currently languishing on out-of-work benefits.

“It is a scandal and a disgrace and a tragedy that so many people are being written off for life by a welfare system that is essentially inhuman in its judgement of what people’s capabilities are.”

And what about the two-child benefit cap?

Reform pledged to scrap the restriction, in a move that could appeal to left-leaning voters but would cost an estimated £3.5bn.

Mr Kruger supports the idea, but only for working families. “It’s right that the public are concerned that people whose livelihoods is benefits are able to have large families at the public’s expense,” he says.

Next month, Mr Farage will deliver a speech on Reform’s plans for the economy in what has been seen as a bid by the party to bolster its economic credibility, after its manifesto for £90bn in tax cuts, including an increase in tax-free allowance to £20,000, was widely questioned.

“We have to demonstrate, if we are to cut taxes, where the money is coming from for that,” says Mr Kruger.

Aside from the economy, immigration is at the centre of Reform policy, with plans unveiled last month to deport thousands of legal immigrants and scrap migrants’ indefinite leave to remain.

Mr Farage blames a so-called “Boriswave” of migration following the relaxation of post-Brexit rules by Boris Johnson. Mr Kruger agrees. “I’m afraid, yes, he does have to take responsibility as leader of the government,” he says.

The party also wants to deport 600,000 asylum seekers, while building detention centres for 24,000.

Asked where the centres will be, he says: “I don’t want to get into the details of where, but we will be able to stand up facilities that will accommodate all of the asylum seekers and illegal immigrants that arrive.” He insists, through, they won’t be enormous.

The Senedd elections next year should provide some indication on the prospect of a Reform UK government. There is also the Scottish Parliament elections coming up, too.

“We are the new national party of the right and my hope is that we take power in those countries and can demonstrate what a Reform government looks like ahead of the general election,” Mr Kruger says.

Winning power, so quickly after being formed – can Mr Farage’s achievement leading the Brexit referendum be replicated, perhaps heightened, by entering No 10 in a few years’ time?

Mr Kruger appears cautious. Such is the state of the economy and the Labour Party, he says an election could happen “sooner than you think”.

But an “enormous job” lies ahead in creating policy and showing it can work. “We can’t just arrive on day one with a couple of slogans and ask the civil servants to do it for us,” he insists.

There is also the task of bringing together candidates for 650 seats. There will be “very strict vetting”, Mr Kruger says.

“If we play our cards right, we will be in contention for government,” he adds.

After 35 minutes, the interview ends. Mr Kruger quickly makes his excuses and rushes out for a meeting. It gives me a chance to look up at his bookshelf.

There, among Lisa Nandy’s All In, David Skelton’s The New Snobbery and two books on Stonehenge (the ancient monument sits within his constituency), is Oliver Letwin’s book Apocalypse How?, which imagines a tech-dependent UK in crisis in 2037.

As the former minister looked into the future, I wondered if even he could have predicted a new party overtaking the Tories as the party of the right.

Such is the unpredictability of politics today.

Hidden gem holidays: An insider guide to the Dominican Republic

The advent of autumn sees us thinking ahead to how to keep that sunshine feeling going through till winter; and there’s nothing better for keeping our spirits up than the idea of booking a holiday somewhere tropical. Enter the Dominican Republic, a warm and welcoming Caribbean nation perched to the south of the Turks and Caicos islands, and east of Jamaica. Known for its beautiful beaches, premium resorts and some legendary golf courses, there is, as the saying goes, genuinely something for everyone. If you want to make your holiday more than just a fly and flop, there’s plenty to explore, from Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain, to historic sites in the country’s lively capital, Santo Domingo.

But first, where’s the best place to stay? Consider Costa Esmeralda, in the Miches area on the Island’s northeastern coast, a picturesque and pristine stretch of sand fringed with coconut palms that lean over the calm, turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbouring Punta Cana and the wider Bávaro area combine to form what’s known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive hotels which is also popular for windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

Base yourself at Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort Curio by Hilton, an oceanfront resort boasting 800-metres of secluded beach on the shores of Playa Esmeralda. Located just 90 minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the emphasis here is firmly on fun and relaxation. It features six restaurants, six bars and lounges, four pools and several water slides, and for those who like to keep fit while away, there’s a pickleball court, a paddle tennis court, and a full-service fitness centre which offers yoga and pilates classes. The Acana spa aims to reconnect soul and spirit with therapies inspired by ancient traditions, while you’ll also find a daily programme of art and cultural activities, plus live nightly entertainment. Bringing the kids? They’ll love spending time at the Coki Cove Kids Club or Palmchat Teens Club.

There’s a choice of rooms, suites or bungalows, all tastefully decorated with Caribbean flair, and offering stunning views. Select accommodations even feature private plunge pools, and Club Azure and bungalow guests have access to additional dining options and a rooftop pool. Talking of dining, you’ll experience a world of flavour, with menus inspired by the traditions of the Caribbean, Thailand, and the Amalfi Coast; think spicy, street-food inspired dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and local favourites. All this, and unlimited drinks and cocktails, too!

What’s more, booking with British Airways Holidays means you can secure your holiday now with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*. Once you’re ready to jet off, you can enjoy increased checked baggage allowance, a dedicated 24-hour helpline during your trip and the option of quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

Upgrade to Club World and you’ll also get lounge access**, increased baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and a spacious seat that converts to a fully flat bed. Members of The British Airways Club enjoy even more benefits in the form of collecting Avios (British Airways’ frequent flyer currency) and earning tier points, which unlock frequent flyer status and other benefits. Avios can also be used towards the cost of your holiday, presenting even greater value for money for members.

All this means you can totally relax during your stay at Hilton Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, knowing you’re getting the quality and peace of mind you’d expect from a British Airways Holidays.

If you can tear yourself away from the resort – tough, we know – there’s lots to experience throughout the Dominican Republic. Take a day trip to Santo Domingo, one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities; its walled, cobblestoned, historic centre, the Zona Colonial, has impressive Spanish buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Gothic Catedral Primada de America and the Alcázar de Colón palace, which sits on the laid-back, cafe-lined Plaza de España. The latter is now one of the city’s many museums, displaying striking medieval and Renaissance art. In the pretty Parque del Este is the Faro a Colón, a large mausoleum and museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who landed on the island known as Hispaniola (now divided into the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492. For a taste of life in bygone times, visit Altos de Chavón, a fascinating replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, featuring art galleries and studios, boutiques and a striking amphitheatre.

Looking for something a little more adventurous? Get back to nature at Los Haitises National Park, where you can explore mangrove forests, caves and unique rock formations, or the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua, a series of tumbling falls perfect for swimming, splashing and jumping into. And don’t miss the incredible Hoya Azul, a cenote, or sinkhole, with crystal-clear, aquamarine waters; it’s located in Scape Park, a natural adventure park featuring lush jungles and jaw-dropping cliffs, where you can go zip-lining or explore the caves. There is whale watching in Samana Bay – humpback whales can be found here during their breeding season, January to March. While Lago Enriquillo, a salt lake with surrounding wetlands, is home to crocodiles and various bird species, including flamingos. All in all, your holiday to the Dominican Republic is guaranteed to be unforgettable; so get booking now!

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Hilton Zemi Miches Punta with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due seven weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

**Subject to availability

Tommy Robinson is no one’s saviour – he is division in human form

On Thursday the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on the visit to the area around Gaza of “the leader of Britain’s growing far-right movement”, Tommy Robinson. Robinson is currently the guest of the Israeli government. He was invited by Israel’s minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, who said he was “proud to host British patriot” Robinson.

On the same day I caught a clip of a news item from last month that featured residents of a southern English suburb talking about the flag campaign, largely run by supporters of Robinson. One middle-aged white woman said they didn’t bother her because they were just national flags. But her friend, who was Black, hesitantly told the interviewer that the flags made her worried for her family. She said she felt that the intention behind them was to say to people like her that they weren’t welcome in their own country.

It all testified to the rise from the far fringe to the edge of the political stage of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson. And where he has led, others – including politicians who were once mainstream Tories – have followed.

Mainstream Jewish organisations have expressed horror at the invitation. Many of us have experienced the antisemitism that Robinson followers are routinely capable of expressing – indeed recently Robinson himself talked about how the “liberal Jews” had been selling out to Islam. For many on the far right, Israel is exactly where they would like all their Jews to be.

To anyone who desires a peaceful and harmonious society, it is beyond obvious that different faiths and different ethnicities have to find ways of cooperating. The casting of long-established communities as an existential threat to the nation can have only one long-term aim – their expulsion. That’s the logic of Tommy Robinson and why I now see him as so dangerous. Like many others, however, for a long time I thought of him as an irritation.

But Robinson’s rise from fringe pariah owes a lot to Elon Musk and the tycoon’s boosting of the far-right Briton on his X (Twitter) platform. It has brought Robinson an international audience of millions – Musk has 220 million followers and Robinson currently has 1.7 million – more than four times as many as the leader of the opposition. It has brought Robinson money, not least in the form of Musk paying for Robinson’s legal costs in a trial now interrupted by his Israel visit.

Ideologically, Robinson now fits squarely into a narrative of the threat to the West that is deployed by right-wing politicians all over the democratic world (and beyond – Vladimir Putin was one of its earliest proponents). It’s a narrative that serves different purposes in different countries, and in Israel it currently very much suits the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. After attracting initial almost total support, Israel has become isolated during the bloody, prolonged Gaza war, in which so many civilians have been killed. The recognition by several important countries of a Palestinian state has been a bitter blow to a coalition administration that contains at least two ministers who can credibly be described as fascist.

One part of the fightback has been to talk up disruptive far-right figures in these countries; figures who, for whatever reason, now express complete and unwavering support for Israel’s military campaign. The battle between Israel and Hamas is now reframed as the battle between Western civilisation and Islam. Indeed, when Chikli first made his invitation he described Robinson as “a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam”, adding “together with friends like Tommy Robinson we will build stronger bridges of solidarity, fight terror, and defend Western civilisation and our shared values”.

And there is one other function served by this two-pronged attack on progressive Jews: distraction. October 7 happened on Amichai Chikli’s watch. There is yet to be a reckoning within Israel for the incompetence, bad strategy and low-level corruption that helped lead the region into a humanitarian catastrophe. Polarisation – and Robinson is the very expression of division – is Netanyahu’s friend; his saviour almost.

The capacity for this new internationalisation of extreme politics to cause trouble or exacerbate tensions outside the region where they originated is illustrated by the aftermath of West Midlands Police considering banning fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC from coming to Birmingham for their team’s match against Aston Villa. As the debate over this stance was playing out in Britain, from Israel, Robinson – still the doyen of ageing football hooligans in the UK – posted a picture of himself in a Maccabi shirt and attached an invitation: “Who’s coming to support Maccabi at Villa Park on November 6th?”

If his followers do show up, one thing is for sure: it won’t be the football they are interested in. Last year Elon Musk delightedly predicted civil war in Britain: this autumn it seems his protege will be doing his best to fulfil the prophecy.

Louis Tomlinson: ‘Fame can be really dehumanising’

While checking into the hospitality area at Glastonbury Festival this summer, the entertainment journalist Ellise Shafer heard a stranger behind her yelling: “Glastoooo!” Only it wasn’t really a stranger, she later wrote. It was an exuberant Louis Tomlinson with a gaggle of friends, hauling a rucksack and primed for a week of live music.

Tomlinson laughs when I tell him about this. The solo artist and former One Direction member has become a regular fixture at Glastonbury – last year he was heralded as a “hero” when he brought a TV to the campsite so revellers could watch England play Slovakia in the Euros. “It’s the kind of place [where] I’m just in a better mood,” he says. “People might see me out and about looking a bit grumpy. At Glastonbury? Definitely not.”

You can understand why he might balk at the idea of going anywhere with large crowds. It’s just over 15 years since One Direction formed on The X Factor and became a global phenomenon, producing four No 1 albums and selling more than 70 million records. Its five members couldn’t go anywhere without being mobbed; their hotels were surrounded; cars blockaded; concerts rammed. Almost 10 years after the band split, the jitters remain. “It’s not about how many times you get recognised – it could just be once, or not at all,” explains Tomlinson. “It’s the potential of being.”

When One Direction split in 2016, he and his fellow band member Liam Payne – who died last year after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires – appeared to be the ones who struggled most. “I felt a bit petulant about it at the time,” Tomlinson told The Independent in 2020. “It actually hit me like a ton of bricks.” Meanwhile, Niall Horan benefited from his Irish cheeky chappy persona, Harry Styles was singled out as “the star” with his rock’n’roll charm, and Zayn Malik – who quit the band in 2015 – had that brooding, mysterious thing going on (at the same time enduring his own struggles with anxiety).

This is Tomlinson’s – indeed any of the former 1D members’ – first newspaper interview since Payne’s death. I’ve been told that he expects questions about Payne; in fact, the only topic I’ve been asked to avoid is Tomlinson’s girlfriend, TV personality Zara McDermott. “I naively thought that, at this point, I’d unfortunately be a little bit more well versed with grief than other people my age,” the 33-year-old Tomlinson says wearily. “I thought that might mean something, but it didn’t at all.” He’s talking about the loss of his mother, Joanna Deakin, who died from leukaemia in 2016, and the death of his 18-year-old sister Félicité from an accidental overdose just three years later. “It’s something I’ll never really accept. I don’t think,” Tomlinson says of Payne’s death. His eyes are watering a little.

It’s easy, he thinks, in the wake of such devastating news, to “point the finger”. After Payne died, fellow celebrities were quick to demand better protection for artists, particularly those thrust into the spotlight at a relatively young age. But in previous interviews, Tomlinson has said he believes the adults working with One Direction did a good job. “I would probably still stand by that statement,” he says. “Obviously, that statement was made before… [and] I can only speak about my own personal experience, [which] was fine.” He sighs. “Look, in any situation similar to this, hindsight is a really powerful thing. I don’t blame anyone for my experience in One Direction. Was it really hard work? Yes. Did we not have enough days off? Yes. But what was really challenging, more than any of those things, was being young and really famous and having people outside the hotels. If you wanted to just go and get a coffee… even wanting to go for a s*** and having to walk [there] with your security. It’s dehumanising, those kinds of things.” Although at least, in the band, they had each other. “No matter what, there was this feeling of togetherness.”

If there is fault to be found, he believes, it lies in the whirlwind of social media comment and online “journalism” that surrounded everything they did. There was a notorious 2022 interview with Payne on Logan Paul’s podcast, Impaulsive, on YouTube, which today makes for an even more uncomfortable watch than it did at the time. Payne, who appeared to be drinking whisky throughout the conversation, received a huge backlash from fans and the media for what were perceived as “arrogant” remarks about his role in the band – claiming that Simon Cowell formed One Direction around him – and for comments he made about his ex-bandmates, Malik in particular. Payne later apologised (“I was so angry at what was going on around me… I took it out on everybody else”) and revealed that he’d spent 100 days in rehab after the interview aired.

“I f***ing forever despise [Logan Paul], horrible, horrible little f***er,” Tomlinson says with quiet venom. “I think that’s also the problem with some of this new ‘media’… I would like to think most journalists” – he corrects himself – “some journalists have a duty of care.” Quite a lot of the fan upset appeared to be motivated by Payne’s claims that he was the de facto band leader. Yet Tomlinson confirms that this was essentially the case. “It was, definitely,” he says. “It was definitely a role that was assigned to him. That is the truth.”

The others looked up to him, he says, including himself (Tomlinson was the eldest of the five), because Payne was already a seasoned performer – “he’d already played at half time [at Molineux, at a Wolverhampton Wanderers game], we’d done s****y school shows” – having been told by Cowell to come back for a second audition after getting more experience. Tomlinson described Payne in a tribute shared after his death as the most “vital” part of the band, and stands by that today. “In between him playing that role and also doing a huge chunk of the songwriting… it’s not even up for debate.”

What are Tomlinson’s fondest memories of him? He smiles. “So many. Just real, fun moments. Liam would always entertain me. If I was bored and wanted to have a laugh, he would play that role.” Payne always showed up, too, whether at the London premiere of Tomlinson’s 2023 documentary, All of Those Voices, about his life after One Direction, or as his guest when he was a judge on The X Factor in 2018. “This is in no way a comment aimed at the other boys – but I know if it was me, I would have struggled with that idea,” Tomlinson says. “There [would have been] a feeling of inferiority there, because you’re the guest. But any opportunity Liam got like that, he was always, always there for me. Even if he might have been struggling, he put himself second and still turned up. Those moments are really testament to the truth of who he was as a person.”

Did his death bring the band’s surviving members closer, in any way? “Definitely,” he says. He gets mildly frustrated with the cycle they end up in, where they will text, saying they need to meet up, then never manage to bring it off. I think this is a plight affecting most thirtysomethings, I reassure him. “Yeah, and the best kind of friends are the ones where, when you eventually do meet up, it’s like no time has passed,” he agrees. “It’s also just amazing to see everyone doing so well in their own right.” He loved Malik’s last record, 2024’s criminally underrated, Americana-influenced Room Under the Stairs: “Everyone got to see a side to him that I’ve always seen.”

Tomlinson has his own new solo record to celebrate. We’ve met not in a plush hotel suite or swanky restaurant booth, but at The Independent’s headquarters in central London. It’s a small but significant sign of how down to earth he’s managed to stay, for all that fame. He pulls up in a blacked-out people carrier and strides up the steps, offering a polite handshake. Clutching his visitor’s pass, he walks with me and his publicist through the lion’s den (the newsroom) with his shoulders slightly hunched, head down. Once we’re in the soundproofed seclusion of a podcast studio, though, he unfolds himself – stretching out and reclining against his chair, wearing artfully ripped jeans, white trainers and a smart zip-up jacket.

His new single, “Lemonade”, the first to be released from his just-announced third solo album How Did I Get Here?, is a big surprise given the rock and indie-leaning sound of his 2020 solo debut, Walls, or the 2022 follow-up, Faith in the Future. Both it and most of the eight other songs I’m sent from the record show Tomlinson embracing the pop music he seemed eager to shake off after One Direction split, despite his evident skill in crafting a hook or memorable lyric (the band co-wrote many of their biggest hits). With its fizzing funk-riff swagger, “Lemonade” is a fantastic thirst-quencher of a track that’s not dissimilar to the euphoric pop-rock Styles excels at. It feels as though Tomlinson has finally found his own sound.

It’s taken a while. The critical consensus around his first two albums was that he had become lost in a “a sea of influences”, from Oasis and Snow Patrol to Arctic Monkeys. Critics complained that it had become difficult to discern who he was, artistically or otherwise.

“I appreciate you being honest about that,” Tomlinson says when I bring this up. “It’s definitely something that I’ve been aware of.” When he first emerged blinking from One Direction, his instinct had been to “push back” and run as far as he could in the opposite direction. “But actually, the most confident thing I could [have done] was to really embrace those pop sensibilities and bring more people to the party. I’m ready now to accept what I’m great at, which is a cool thing to be able to say out loud, to be honest.”

Tomlinson and I are the same age, but it feels as though he’s lived a few extra lives. During our conversation, I’m moved by how thoroughly decent he seems, and how surprisingly open he is, despite having every reason to clam up or be a bit prickly. Many of his friends are getting married, having kids. He’s a father himself to nine-year-old Freddie – born from Tomlinson’s brief relationship with Californian stylist Briana Jungwirth – and spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, where Freddie lives with his mum. “I’m pretty much playing full-time dad when I’m out there,” he says. “I don’t do loads of work or even [much] socialising.” Freddie is “good as gold”, according to Tomlinson, who loves dropping him off at school. “I’m still the youngest dad there,” he says, flashing a smug grin. “It kills me in the mornings though… I’ve never been great at early starts.”

Despite being three albums deep into his own solo project, he’s still afflicted by feelings of imposter syndrome. But he knows he has enough love from his fan base not to worry about them too much. “On my rainiest day, vocally, performance-wise, my fans are still going to be there for me,” he says. “I just got a cover shoot for Rolling Stone UK, and they told me that I was one of the most requested people to be on [the cover]. I wonder if I would have got that gig if my fans didn’t fight so hard for it. They get me what they think I deserve, which is beautiful. It’s really lovely.” That same humility shows up again when he speaks about the fellow artists and producers he got to collaborate with on this record, who helped bring a new vulnerability to his songwriting. “When I entered the music industry, I was in a band where we were working for each other as well as ourselves,” he says. “I think I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.”

‘How Did I Get Here?’, the new album by Louis Tomlinson, is out on 23 January 2026. The single ‘Lemonade’ is out now