Reform Party's Grant StClair-Armstrong resigns over blog comments - BBC.com

Reform UK candidate resigns over 'unacceptable' blog posts

Grant StClair-Armstrong said he "bitterly" regrets comments he made on a blog "years ago"

Reform UK’s parliamentary candidate in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency has resigned from the party after it emerged he previously urged people to vote for the BNP.

Grant StClair-Armstrong, who is standing in North West Essex, also used a blog to post jokes using racial slurs and made a joke about “female hormones”, according to the Times.

He told BBC News he had “never supported the BNP” and “bitterly” regretted the comments.

Mr StClair-Armstrong will still appear on the ballot paper as the Reform UK candidate because the deadline for nominations has passed. But if he is elected he would stand as an independent.

The Times reported that, in 2010, the candidate had written: “I could weep now, every time I pick up a British newspaper and read the latest about the state of the UK. No doubt, Enoch Powell would be doing the same if he was alive. My solution … vote BNP!”

Mr StClair-Armstrong told BBC News he posted the comment some time between 2004 and 2007 and he was an “angry man” at the time.

“I have never supported the BNP. I think they are a disgusting organisation,” he said.

Asked whether he had chosen to resign, he said the party had forced him to.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t have stepped down. I would have let the people decide,” he said.

According to the Times, on a blog he called the “Joli Triste” Mr StClair-Armstrong wrote about the Scottish politician, Kenny MacAskill, wishing serious illness on them.

On the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, he wrote: “The simple solution is to extradite Blair ... [and] the odious Alistair Campbell to a country that routinely indulges in torture and execution”.

Speaking on Sunday, he said: “I bitterly regret all of those comments made many years ago and I am just sorry that some people deemed it necessary to hunt for them when I am not the person I was then.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he did not find Mr StClair-Armstrong's comments acceptable, but stressed he "was never a member of the BNP".

Mr Farage said the party had put a process in place for vetting candidates, but the calling of a snap election had cut this short.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “Mr St Clair-Armstrong has tendered his resignation as a member of Reform UK due to the revelation of unacceptable historic social media comments and we have accepted his resignation.”

The list of candidates standing in North West Essex:

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2024-06-17 08:40:08Z
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Tactical voting could defeat Tories in once safe seats, campaigners say - The Guardian

The Conservatives could lose once safe constituencies such as Theresa May’s former seat in the coming general election, with nearly 40% of people willing to vote tactically to oust the Tories, a campaign group has said.

Setting out its recommendations for how people could maximise their chances of not electing a Conservative, Best for Britain said particularly efficient tactical voting could even unseat Liz Truss and Suella Braverman.

While May has stepped down, her former seat of Maidenhead, held by the Tories since it was created in 1997, is now seen as a three-way marginal, with Best for Britain saying the Liberal Democrats are best placed to defeat the Tories.

But the group said there were more likely “Portillo moments” – election night defeats of Tory big beasts – through tactical voting. These could include the cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt, Robert Jenrick, Grant Shapps and James Cleverly.

The group’s recommendations, based on multilevel regression and poststratification (MRP) polling, which gives seat by seat projections, include voting Labour in 370 seats, Lib Dem in 69, Green in three, SNP in seven, Plaid Cymru in two, and to “vote with your heart” in 181.

The seat by seat recommendations, with the reasons behind them, are available at GetVoting.org, run by Best for Britain, along with data on how many constituents could vote tactically.

The data is based on a poll of 22,000 people conducted for the group, which found that 39.6% of people said they would consider voting tactically to change the current government. Another 13.6% said they would do so to keep the Tories in power.

The polling showed that a fifth of people who said they were planning to vote Labour on 4 July would be doing so tactically, and a third of Lib Dem voters.

As well as the constituency by constituency website, Best for Britain is launching a parallel advertising campaign based on an entreaty to voters to do what they can to get rid of the government.

At a launch event in central London, Naomi Smith, the group’s chief executive, said the UK was “now a nation of tactical voters”, a factor that could worsen the Conservatives’ electoral fortunes.

Lewis Baston, a psephologist who also spoke at the event, said MRP polling showed that even where Conservative candidates remained ahead, for many this involved securing little more than a third of votes, making them vulnerable to opponents joining forces.

“The Conservatives are under siege in a way that they really haven’t been before,” he said. “There’s no heartlands left, they’ve got serious competition on the right. The polling shows that anti-Tory voters are mobilised and in a harsh mood.”

While the seat by seat recommendations are largely based on the sole factor of how to stop a Conservative winner, some take in more complex ideas, including Best for Britain’s view of other parties and even of specific MPs.

For example, the group does not recommend voting Reform UK even if this could remove a Tory MP. The guide also makes recommendations in some seats where there is no prospect of a Conservative winning.

These areas include Brighton Pavilion and Bristol Central, both Labour-Green battles. In the former it recommends voting Green, and in the latter Labour.

Asked how such recommendations were made, Smith said it was in part a trade-off between the parties, but also because Thangam Debbonaire, the Labour frontbencher at risk from the Greens in Bristol, “has been an excellent MP on the issues that we care about, including Europe”.

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2024-06-17 11:18:00Z
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Live updates as seriously-hurt man airlifted to hospital after attack involving a pitbull-type dog - Wales Online

A man has been seriously injured after an early morning dog attack in Aberavon. Police were called to Blair Way in Aberavon at around 7am on Monday (June 17).

South Wales Police say that a 24-year-old man was taken to hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries. A spokesman added: "The dog has been sedated and removed from the scene by police dog units."

Investigations are continuing after armed police were sent to the scene. The area has not been cleared and roads re-opened. Police said the dog was a "pitbull/staff cross".

There was a high police presence in the area, including armed police, just around 7am and the public were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible.

The air ambulance landed at the scene to provide support and the Welsh Ambulance Trust has confirmed that one person was taken to hospital. Their condition is not known at the point.

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2024-06-17 10:06:00Z
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Three arrested as boy killed by falling tree in Carlton-in-Lindrick - BBC.com

Three arrested as boy, 16, killed by falling tree

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene

A 16-year-old boy has died after being injured by a falling tree in Nottinghamshire.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the death in Carlton-in-Lindrick on Saturday, including two held on suspicion of manslaughter.

Nottinghamshire Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service were called to Rotherham Baulk in Carlton-in-Lindrick, at about 11:20 BST.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two men, aged 28 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter while a 28-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All three remain in police custody.

Det Insp Simon Harrison said the boy’s family were being supported by specialist officers.

He said: “This was a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the boy’s family.

“The family are being supported by specially-trained officers as we continue to investigate exactly what happened.”

The village sits about three miles (4.8km) to the north of Worksop and about 17 miles (27km) east of Sheffield.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation has been asked to make contact.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

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2024-06-16 20:38:52Z
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Labour capital gains tax rise speculation grows as top aide backs 'politically wise' post - The Telegraph

Sir Keir Starmer’s most senior aide has sparked fresh fears Labour is planning to raise capital gains tax for property owners and businesses.

Morgan McSweeney, the Labour leader’s chief of staff, “liked” a social media post which said the party would be “politically wise” to increase the levy.

He later removed the “like” and is understood to have told colleagues that it was accidental.

But the revelation will further fuel speculation that Sir Keir will look to raise billions by putting up the rate of capital gains if he wins the election.

Mr McSweeney liked a post on the social media site LinkedIn which was written by a parliamentary adviser to Labour MPs.

The post, put up on Saturday, said: “Labour would be wise politically to raise capital gains tax, it is an easy sell to the 3 in 100 that currently pay it – we have to ask ourselves what sort of society we want to live in. A small rise would bring in over £15bn – lifting the two child cap would cost £1.6bn. Sounds a good idea to me!”

The levy has to be paid on the profit made on assets including second homes, shares and business resources such as land and buildings.

It is charged at a basic rate of 20 per cent – half the 40 per cent higher rate income tax level – which some Labour politicians have suggested is unfair.

Some, including Angela Rayner, the deputy leader, have previously suggested equalising the two rates meaning that capital gains would be doubled.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, is among those opposed to a rise having argued that one would hammer many small business owners.

But she is said to be under growing internal pressure to change her tune.

Sir Keir was last week forced to rule out applying the tax to the sale of family homes following relentless pressure from the Tories.

At the same time Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, refused to rule out future council tax rises as he said Labour wants to spend more than is set out in its manifesto.

The Conservatives have looked to hammer home warnings that Sir Keir is planning to unveil massive tax rises once he gets the keys to No 10.

They have accused Labour of planning 17 separate “secret” tax rises including the raising of capital gains tax on businesses.

Laura Trott, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “Labour think they can hide these secret tax rises until after the election, but we won’t let them get away with it. 

“Keir Starmer should come clean with the British people.”

Labour has repeatedly insisted that it has no plans to raise taxes beyond the targeted raids it has already announced on private schools and non-doms.

But the party has also failed to rule out any increases except to rates of income tax, national insurance and VAT, plus capital gains on family homes.

Mr Streeting failed to rule out an increase in council tax - either by upping the rate or re-evaluating property prices - if Labour wins the general election.

He insisted there would be no “tax surprises” beyond the £8.3 billion worth of increases that his party unveiled in last week’s manifesto.

But he pointedly refused to categorically commit to keeping council tax down, telling the BBC: “We don’t want to see the tax burden on working people increase.

“None of those pledges in our manifesto requires increases in council tax or increases in fuel duty or any of the other number of taxes the Tories are claiming we want to increase.”

He also opened the door to more big spending in future by admitting that the manifesto is not the “sum total” of Labour’s spending plans.

He told Sky News that the document does not cover all of his party’s budget plans, though he insisted it would only splash more cash if the economy grows.

“We will not make promises we cannot keep or that the country cannot afford,” he added.

Senior Labour figures have dismissed Tory claims as fabricated and have said they are a sign of Rishi Sunak’s campaign becoming increasingly “desperate”.

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2024-06-16 19:48:00Z
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Hunt for driver after boy, 12, killed by BMW - The Telegraph

Police have named a man they wish to speak to in connection with a suspected hit and run in the West Midlands in which a schoolboy was killed.

Dolars Aleksanders is wanted after Keaton Slater was hit by a black BMW car in Radford Road, Coventry on Friday afternoon. The child was pronounced dead at the scene. 

West Midlands Police said: “Have you seen Dolars Aleksanders? The 21-year-old is wanted on suspicion of death by dangerous driving after a 12-year-old boy died following a collision in Radford Road, Coventry on Friday 14 June.

“If you’ve seen him, or know where he is, please don’t approach him but call 999 immediately.”

In a tribute, released through the police, the boy’s family said: “We all will miss our fun-loving little comedian, he just wanted to make everyone laugh and smile.

“He was so beautiful inside and outside, our baby and little brother. Life can be so horrible.”

Police wish to speak to Dolars Aleksanders Credit: West Midlands Police/PA

A JustGiving page set up in the aftermath of the tragedy has so far raised £36,534, surpassing the target sum of £35,000.

Organiser John McDevitt said: “No parent should ever have to deal with the trauma of losing a child so young.

“His family has been told about the JustGiving page and is very grateful that it is being done as they try and deal with what has happened.

“It will help the family with funeral expenses and any other living costs giving them time to begin to process and mourn the loss of their son and brother without having the extra burden of worrying about paying for a funeral and going to work.”

The BMW was seized and is being forensically examined after it was found abandoned on Friday evening in the New Arley area of the city, police said.

Officers are looking at CCTV from around the area and have spoken to several witnesses as inquiries continue.

Sgt Rich Evans, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “A family has lost a 12-year-old boy in an appalling incident and our thoughts remain with them.

“We are offering them support at this most dreadful of times, and we’re keeping them informed as our work to trace those responsible goes on.

“We’d like to thank all those people who have already contacted us with information and our inquiries are progressing.

“But we’d again appeal for those involved, or anyone who knows them, to search their consciences, do the right thing, and tell us what you know.”

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2024-06-16 17:46:00Z
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Police officer who hit cow with patrol car in Staines removed from frontline duties - Sky News

An officer filmed deliberately driving a police car into a cow has been removed from frontline duties, Surrey Police have said.

It comes after the farmer's partner told Sky News he should "lose his job" over the "disgusting" incident.

"I fully appreciate the distress our handling of this incident has caused and will ensure that it is thoroughly and diligently investigated," Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp said.

"At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of these investigations," he added.

Home Secretary James Cleverly called for a "full, urgent explanation" after a video of the incident in Staines-upon-Thames on Friday was widely shared.

The animal, a 10-month-old breeding heifer called Beau Lucy, has no broken bones and is recovering in a barn with other calves but could still die of shock, said the farmer's partner Kate.

She called the footage "horrific" and said it "looked like they tried to kill it".

"Honestly, when I saw the video, I thought he should lose his job. I just thought it was disgusting, I couldn't believe it," she told Sky News.

Image: The video shows the cow being hit twice by a police car

The video shows the cow falling and skidding metres down a road after being hit by the police car.

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As it seems to be trying to get back on its feet, the vehicle approaches for a second time.

The cow's head and part of its torso then appear stuck underneath the front of the car as two officers get out.

'Cow may have swum river'

Surrey Police said the cow suffered "a large cut to one leg and cuts and grazes" and was being monitored by a vet.

It said the decision to use a car came after officers "tried a number of options to safely capture the cow" over a period of hours and were "extremely concerned about the public's safety".

The force said the public had called up to say the cow was running at people.

Read more from Sky News:
Police name man wanted over boy's hit-and-run death
Pernice dismisses Strictly allegations as 'simply false'

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Efforts were made to find a vet and identify the owner but they were unsuccessful, said DCC Kemp.

"Why these were unsuccessful and what more could and should have been done will form a key part of the investigation," he added.

A referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as well as an internal standards department.

Kate told Sky News the cow "wasn't that out of control, just spooked".

She said the animal, named Beau Lucy, along with other cows, were on the well-fenced Staines Moor and she believed it may have escaped by swimming across a river, adding: "I couldn't believe she ended up where she did."

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2024-06-16 15:22:30Z
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