Guardian UK Politics
Reform UK suspends mayoral candidate after he described Jewish security group as ‘cosplayers’ – UK politics live
Reform UK has suspended Hampshire mayoral candidate Chris Parry after he described a Jewish security group as "cosplayers," drawing swift condemnation from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The incident adds to a string of controversies around candidate vetting for Nigel Farage's party, raising fresh questions about its internal controls ahead of local elections. Both rival parties were quick to highlight the episode as evidence of deeper issues within Reform's ranks.
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Ministers tell HS2 to consider slower train speeds to cut costs
HS2 has been directed by ministers to evaluate whether capping train speeds at 186mph, down from the planned 224mph, could unlock significant cost savings and accelerate the project's launch date. The move reflects growing pressure to contain the scheme's ballooning budget, with potential savings running into the billions. A slower top speed would still place HS2 among Europe's fastest rail lines while potentially making the difference between the project's survival and further cutbacks.
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Labour lost white working-class voters to Greens in Gorton and Denton, party analysis finds
Labour's internal postmortem of its third-place finish in the Gorton and Denton byelection has found the party is haemorrhaging white working-class support to the Greens, a traditionally unlikely destination for that demographic. Senior figures, including Lucy Powell, are now questioning whether the party is giving voters a compelling enough reason to back it. The result, which saw the Greens win and Reform place second, has triggered serious debate about a strategic rethink.
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UK politics: Reform UK suspends mayoral candidate after he described Jewish security group as ‘cosplayers’ – as it happened
Reform UK has suspended its Hampshire mayoral candidate Chris Parry after he described a Jewish security organisation as "cosplayers," drawing swift condemnation from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The move signals ongoing scrutiny of Reform's candidate vetting as the party attempts to build credibility ahead of local elections. The incident adds to a pattern of controversies that threaten to undercut Nigel Farage's push to position Reform as a mainstream political force.
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Reform UK suspends mayoral candidate over comments on Jewish group
Reform UK has suspended Hampshire mayoral candidate Chris Parry after he dismissed members of Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group, as "cosplayers" and compared them to "Islamists on horseback" following an ambulance arson attack. The suspension marks Parry's second major controversy, having previously drawn criticism for telling Foreign Secretary David Lammy to "go home" to the Caribbean. The incident adds to growing scrutiny of Reform UK's candidate vetting process as the party attempts to position itself as a credible electoral force.
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