Free Republic

Rupert Lowe has said he could work with Nigel Farage if five conditions were met. The leader of Restore Britain, who left Reform UK in March 2025 posted on X this morning: "The Greater Manchester result showed what Restore Britain can deliver. "The next step is how we maximise the chances of delivering the change Britain needs - it means putting personal differences aside. That is why today I am making a public offer to Nigel Farage and Reform UK." Mr Lowe added in a video that Restore and Reform agree on "many issues" and disagree on others, but he...

Andy Burnham has said he has "concerns" about plans to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales and wants to look in detail at the proposals. The proposals were put forward under Sir Keir Starmer's government by former justice secretary David Lammy, who has since been fired by Burnham. Lammy had said reducing the number of jury trials would help tackle the huge backlog in Crown Court cases, but critics - including most barristers and many Labour MPs - fear it will undermine the justice system. Speaking to reporters on a visit to Sheffield, the prime minister...

Labour has stormed to a decisive victory in the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, seizing back areas that recently fell to Reform UK and the Greens. Labour’s Bev Craig, the Manchester city council leader, will now succeed Andy Burnham and hold one of the most powerful political positions outside Westminster. Labour won 47% of the vote, with Reform UK way behind on 21% and Greens in third on 12%. The contest took place under the supplementary voting system, meaning that as no candidate achieved more than 50% then voters’ second preferences were counted. When voters’ second choices were counted and other...