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Saturday, March 30, 2024

Labour not treating election as done deal as Sunak makes Starmer wait

No wonder the Labour Party is desperate for a general election now and bitterly disappointed that Rishi Sunak has "bottled it", in Keir Starmer's words, and is sticking to his plan not to hold it until the autumn at the earliest.

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Sunak and Starmer both praise Christians in Easter messages - but Labour leader seizes chance to talk of 'new beginnings'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has spoken of a time for "new beginnings" in his Easter message, as he looks towards the coming general election.

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Justin Welby says he will not block Rwanda Bill as he concedes 'open borders' are not the answer


The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has indicated that the Church will not block Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill.

Welby said he accepted that the Commons was the "senior house" and that he would not oppose the Bill if MPs rejected the Lords amendments next month.


However, he acknowledged that he was still morally opposed to the Bill, if not legislatively.

MPs are expected to reject this second round of amendments by the Lords and send the Bill back to the Upper House to be ratified.


Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Rishi Sunak

Speaking on LBC’s Full Disclosure podcast, The Most Rev Justin Welby said: "In the end, on the Rwanda Bill, the Lords will say, OK, we’ve made our case, you don’t accept it and that’s the end of it.

“My arguments with Rwanda have got nothing to do with it being Rwanda. If it was Sweden, I’d have the same problem."

Despite the fact the Bill was not a manifesto pledge, parliamentary convention dictates that the Lords does not block legislation backed by the democratically elected lower chamber.

The Bill is currently in limbo after the House of Lords defeated the Government on seven amendments earlier this month, forcing it back to the Commons on April 15 after the Easter recess, reports The Telegraph.

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Justin Welby

Welby added that the "immense evil" of people trafficking had to be tackled and that "open borders" were not the answer as neither Europe nor the US was big enough to be able to take the 100 million displaced people and refugees.

He said: "So what we’ve been arguing, many people in the Lords arguing, is we need a better system that shares out this burden in a way that is fair to the countries that get the most refugees.

"Seventy two per cent of refugees end up in the country next to the one they come from, which is almost certainly going to be really poor. Now it’s fine they stay there, if the country can manage it.

"How do we make sure that country has the resources to do that in a way that enables the people to go home, or to build new lives, rather than having to travel at great risk halfway around the world?”


It comes as the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has toughened up the requirements for migrants seeking to block deportation flights to Rwanda.

In a statement issued earlier this week, the ECtHR set out a new codified version of Rule 39 orders, which were used by Strasbourg judges to block the first deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

In the new version, judges can only issue the injunctions where there would be an "imminent risk of irreparable harm" if a migrant was deported to Rwanda.



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Donald Tusk issues urgent warning over 'real' threat of conflict as he claims Europe has entered 'pre-war era'


Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that there is a "real" threat of conflict between the West and Russia.

The former President of the European Council has warned that Ukraine must not be defeated by Russia for the good of the whole of Europe.


It comes as Ukraine's air force said that Russia fired four missiles into eastern Ukraine overnight, as well as 12 Shahed drones across the country.

Russia has launched an air strike campaign on Ukraine's energy infrastructure over the past week, causing significant damage in several regions.


Putin, Tusk and Zelensky

Tusk said that in his part of Europe, war was no longer an abstract idea, warning that "literally any scenario is possible".

He told a press conference alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Warsaw: "I know it sounds devastating, especially to people of the younger generation, but we have to mentally get used to the arrival of a new era. The pre-war era.

"I don't want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a concept from the past....It is real, in fact it already started more than two years ago."

"We must be ready. Europe still has a long way to go."

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Tusk and Shmyhal

He added: "Today we have to spend as much as we can to buy equipment and ammunition for Ukraine, because we are living in the most critical moment since the end of the Second World War...the next two years will decide everything.

"If we cannot support Ukraine with enough equipment and ammunition, if Ukraine loses, no one in Europe will be able to feel safe."

Over the last week, Russian missile and drone attacks hit thermal and hydroelectric plants in central and western Ukraine.

President Zelensky said the Kaniv hydropower plant was among the targets along with the Dnister plant, which is located on the Dnister River, flowing through neighbouring Moldova.


Tusk

PM Tusk added that Vladimir Putin's attempt to blame Ukraine for the attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall without evidence was being used for justification for escalation in the region.

He told the press conference that the Russian president: "Evidently feels the need to justify increasingly violent attacks on civil targets in Ukraine."



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'I am NOT for sale!' Nigel Farage SHUTS DOWN rumours of joining Tories


Patrick Christys has shared a direct message from Nigel Farage after it has been reported that Tory MPs have urged Rishi Sunak to offer Nigel Farage a deal to make him the UK’s ambassador to the US or hand him a peerage in return for not standing for Reform at the election.

Patrick said: "Unfortunately, I've got some bad news for you. I called Nigel at about 4 p.m. today, and I asked him whether or not there was any chance of this happening."

In the conversation, Nigel told Patrick: "I am not for sale. If they wanted to do this, they should have done this in 2017.

"Rishi is finished. The fact that they are thinking of doing this now shows what dreadful people they are."

Patrick quipped: "I don't think he's taking the job, do you?"

READ THE FULL STORY HERE



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'You can't buy me!' Nigel Farage's SCATHING response to rumours Tories hope to use him to win votes


Patrick Christys has shared a direct message from Nigel Farage after it has been reported that Tory MPs have urged Rishi Sunak to offer Nigel Farage a deal to make him the UK’s ambassador to the US or hand him a peerage in return for not standing for Reform at the election.

Speaking on a leaked tape Tory MP Danny Kruger said Reform UK's attacks on the Conservative Party are "mostly valid."


Speaking on GB News host Patrick Christys said: "Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hasn't just given up. He's already moved on. Tory MP Danny Kruger is being caught on tape saying what everybody's thinking.

"He raises the issue that he thinks that Reform could replace the Tories and also says that they are bang on the money when it comes to the key issues.


Patrick Christys

"Well, the Reform Party is now beating the Tories with working-class voters in the North, and it's level with them in the Midlands as well. And they're neck and neck, apparently with the 50 to 64-year-old age bracket.

"Rishi Sunak appears to be not attempting to win them back. He could have done something about legal immigration, but now it turns out that he never actually cared about it.


He added that Robert Jenrick told him directly: "Both Suella and I wrote on several occasions, often together, sometimes on our own.

"I wrote privately to the Prime Minister setting out the case for reducing illegal migration, and we didn't routinely get responses."


Patrick added: "Any conservative politicians holding out hope that Rishi might develop an urge to buy Nigel Farage off and stop him from wiping the Tories off the map by giving him a cushy job as our envoy to America.

"That was doing the headlines earlier on and that was the rumour today.


Nigel Farage

"Unfortunately, I've got some bad news for you. I called Nigel at about 4 p.m. today, and I asked him whether or not there was any chance of this happening."

In the conversation, Nigel told Patrick: "I am not for sale. If they wanted to do this, they should have done this in 2017.


"Rishi is finished. The fact that they are thinking of doing this now shows what dreadful people they are."

Patrick quipped: "I don't think he's taking the job, do you?"


According to recent YouGov polling, the party is on track to get 16 per cent of the vote, with the Tories on 21 per cent and Labour on 40 per cent.

The Tory MP for Devizes, whose mum is Bake Off judge Prue Leith, said Reform UK was a "destructive force" that was "absolutely killing" his party.



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Friday, March 29, 2024

Chopper's Political Podcast episode 3: Andrea Leadsom and Jenny Chapman - WATCH IN FULL


Sit back, pour yourself a drink and join GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope at his regular table in a Westminster pub where he will discuss the latest insider political intrigue and gossip with everyone from pop stars to politicians in a seismic general election year.

New episodes released every Friday.

Chopper's Political Podcast Christopher Hope with Andrea Leadsom and Jenny ChapmanGB News

This week Health Minister Andrea Leadsom and Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Jenny Chapman join Christopher to talk politics, social media trolling and the threats facing MP security.

Watch Chopper's Political Podcast in full above, or listen to it on Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.



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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Arrests, £11,000 iPad bill and council tax freeze: The highs and lows of Humza Yousaf's first year in Bute House

It has been a rollercoaster 12 months for Humza Yousaf as he marks one year as Scotland's first minister.

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Michigan lawmaker sparks outrage after mistaking student athletes for 'illegal invaders'


A Republican lawmaker has come under fire after he mistook a plane full of student basketball players as "illegal invaders".

Michigan state Republican Rep. Matthew Maddock posted a picture on social media of buses at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, claiming the buses were transporting immigrants.


However, Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates the Airport, confirmed that the buses were transporting four men’s basketball teams competing in a competition in Detroit.

Fellow politicians have called the outspoken Donald Trump supporter's posts "dangerous."


Matt Maddock and buses

In the post on social media, the 58-year-old wrote: "Happening right now. Three busses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?"

In a text message, Maddock didn’t answer whether he would delete the tweet after it was called out for misinformation; instead claiming immigrants are "dangerous."

Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow commented on the post: "A sitting State Representative sees a group of busses at the airport and immediately yells 'illegal invaders' which is a pretty rude (and also, frankly, dangerous) way to greet the Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Team arriving for March Madness."

HuffPost reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddock and his wife spread misinformation about the virus, and they denied the 2020 election results. Maddock’s wife, Meshawn, claimed to have organized 20 buses to transport Trump supporters to Washington DC for the January 6, 2021, rally.

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Matt Maddock

Executive director of campaign group Progress Michigan Sam Inglot warned about the dangers of this rhetoric.

Inglot said: "A lot of people are making fun of Maddock for this, but it’s important to acknowledge the dangerous rhetoric he used while spreading his misinformation.

"Maddock and so many Republicans across the country are carelessly using militaristic language to describe an already-marginalized group of people.

"This type of dehumanization inevitably leads to violence and we cannot let Republicans get away with using it to divide our communities and put people in danger."


\u200b Former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party Meshawn Maddock

Social media users blasted Maddock for his claim in the replies to his initial post.

One user wrote: "Probably teams for the NCAA Mens Sweet 16 playing at LCA on Friday and Sunday" along with a number of clown emojis, to which Maddock replied: "Sure kommie. Good talking point."




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Donald Trump 'may not face trial for Georgia case until AFTER the election', legal expert warns


A US Senior Counsel has branded Donald Trump's case against Fulton County as a "conspiracy", as the former President continues to dominate the polls ahead of November's election.

The proceedings of the case are continuing after District Attorney Fani Willis was allowed to remain on the case, following the revelation of Willis's alleged affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade.

FULL STORY HERE.



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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Mayor Eric Adams’ desperate $700m bid to stop flow of migrants into New York debunked: ‘This is a STUNT!’


New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been criticised by The Lawfare Project's Gerard Filitti, after filing a lawsuit worth $700million against the transportation of migrants into the city.

In January, Mayor Adams announced he is taking legal action against 17 transport companies that have bussed migrants from Texas, claiming they violated New York Social Services Law.


Adams has accused the companies in the lawsuit of "knowingly" bringing migrants from Texas, and has also accused Texas Governor Greg Abbott of implementing a "scheme" to transport tens of thousands of migrants "in an attempt to overwhelm our social services".

In a statement, Adams said New York City "will continue to do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis", but they "cannot bear the cost of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone".


Eric Adams and Gerard Filitti

The operation, known as Operation Lone Star, transported more than 33,000 people into New York City from Texas in 2021, to help curb illegal immigration in the United States.

Adams said Governor Abbott’s "continued use of migrants as political pawns" is "not only chaotic and inhumane, but makes clear he puts politics over people".


Appearing on GBN America, Senior Counsel at The Lawfare Project Gerard Filitti branded the lawsuit a "stunt", and predicted that Mayor Adams "may not be successful" in his efforts.

Speaking to host Mark Dolan, Filitti explained: "He is trying to stop southern states like Texas from sending migrants to New York by prohibiting buses from dropping them off without prior permission.


Gerard Filitti

"The problem is, you don't need to actually be dropped off in New York City by these buses. They can simply drop people off in New Jersey, the neighbouring state, where they can take essentially a subway or a train into New York and end up there anyway."

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In criticism of the lawsuit, Filitti told GBN America: "This lawsuit is in many ways a stunt, and an attempt to stop some of this migrant traffic going into New York.

"Ultimately it's not very successful because most people, when they come to America, don't want to live in the middle of nowhere in a state that they haven't even heard of. They want to come to the Big Apple. That's the land of opportunity."

Filitti explained that Mayor Adams's "success" at making New York a "good economic stronghold" is also the "downfall" for the city in attracting a large number of migrants from the border.

He added: "New York has always been somewhat of an open city, a sanctuary city providing housing, clothing, benefits, food and job opportunities to migrants. But right now, it's beyond the capacity to take any more on."


Eric Adams

When asked by Mark about the ongoing tensions in New York surrounding the migrant crisis, Filitti said there is "incredible tension" as the city is feeling "overwhelmed" by the number of people arriving for help.

Filitti detailed: "The city is starting to restrict some of the benefits that it provides. Mayor Adams has gone to South America and Latin America to discourage migrants from coming, because this is really having a negative effect on overall liveability of what was once a magnificent city, but played to the idea that any city in America can be a sanctuary city.

"We are seeing the issue now of many decades of progressive policies. Elected officials wanted to welcome immigrants with open arms and with no questions on whether they had the ability to work, no questions on their criminal background. And now we're seeing the consequences.

"The consequences are that we have been stretched thin with our economic resources and our ability to provide basic services and goods for all of these people who are also not taxpayers or contributing to the public good."



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Gove attacked by Labour, Tory MPs and Boris Johnson allies over leasehold U-turns

Are Michael Gove's promises to reform the "feudal" leasehold system in tatters? Is certainly looks like it.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/brShjQu

How Tory MPs can get rid of Sunak - and who could be in the running to replace him

Rishi Sunak looks to have seen off his backbenchers - at least for now.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/4h5yY0o

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Double Tory resignation marks 'another difficult day' for Rishi Sunak, says Christopher Hope


Rishi Sunak has been rocked by a double resignation with a cabinet reshuffle expected within hours.

James Heappey has confirmed his resignation as armed forces minister and Robert Halfon has resigned as skills, apprenticeships and higher education minister.

FULL STORY HERE.



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Children among migrants arriving in Kent after being rescued from English Channel

Children were among the people brought ashore in Dover, Kent, after crossing the English Channel - less than a week since the highest number of migrant arrivals was recorded for 2024.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/d8a197j

Monday, March 25, 2024

Donald Trump's bond victory is 'helping' Presidential campaign, claims advisor: 'Voters don't care!'


Donald Trump's ongoing legal cases are something US voters "do not care about", claims Republicans Overseas UK advisor Jennifer Ewing.

This follows the former US President's latest victory in his ongoing battle with the New York courts in a civil fraud case, where Trump is accused of deceiving banks and insurers by "inflating his wealth" on financial statements, used to secure loans and make deals.


Today, a New York appeals court has agreed to hold off collecting Trump's $454million bond (£359million), if he pays $175million (£138million) within 10 days.

Reacting to the ruling, Trump told reporters outside the court that the case is all down to "election interference" and "shouldn't be allowed to happen".


Jennifer Ewing and Donald Trump

Emerging from the court, Trump raged: "This is a case that could have been brought three and a half years ago, and now they're fighting over dates because they want to try and do it during the election.

"It's a disgrace and we will obviously be appealing. But this is a pure case of voter intimidation and election interference."


Reacting to the court's ruling, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK Jennifer Ewing says the "lawfare" against the former President is "getting very complicated" as his campaign continues, ahead of November's election.

Speaking to GB News host Martin Daubney, Ewing said it was an "egregious case to begin with" but suggested that Trump "will have the cash" to pay the new bond amount to the courts.


Donald Trump

Discussing the upcoming election and a suspected rematch between Trump and Biden later this year, Martin asked Ewing if the ongoing court cases, including the civil fraud case, would affect the strength of his campaign.

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Ewing explained: "It's surprisingly helping, although I don't think it should be a surprise anymore. If we go back to May of last year, Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump were neck and neck. And then all of a sudden, these indictments started coming up.

"And with each one, Trump's numbers went up. People do not care about this - they know that Donald Trump, especially in this case, has been one of the most well-known real estate moguls in New York City for half a century."

Highlighting the timing of Trump's indictments during his campaign trail, Ewing added: "Nothing like this has ever been brought up. He ran for president, as we know, nothing like it was brought up during his presidency. And so now when he decides to run again, this is coming out.

"Trump isn't wrong. The Attorney General, she ran on getting Trump. It was a case of 'here's the man, let me find the crime'."


Jennifer Ewing

Ewing also noted that people "who do not like Trump" are predicting an election win for the former Potus in November, despite the legal cases against him.

Ewing told Martin: "Frank Luntz, who's a very famous pollster, does not like Trump. And he came out over the weekend and basically said, if these people continue with all of this lawfare, Donald Trump will win."

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he will "abide by the decision" and post either a "bond, equivalent securities, or cash".

Donald Trump has always denied wrongdoing in all the standing cases against him.



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'Whoever controls information, controls the future': MP Bob Seely says UK should block China from buying AI


The future of humanity hinges on how the West defends itself from cyber-attacks by Russia and China, Conservative MP Bob Seely has claimed.

This follows the breach of the data of around 40 million British voters, in which China is accused of carrying out in 2022.


Outlining the findings today, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden condemned the "malicious" attacks on Britain and said there was a "clear pattern of hostile activity from China".

The two attacks, carried out by "China affiliate actors", saw both the Electoral Commission and China-skeptical MPs targeted.


Bob Seely

Dowden imposed sanctions on Zhao Guangzong, Ni Gaobin and the Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company Ltd, who they say work for the China state-affiliated cyber espionage group Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 (APT31).

The Deputy Prime Minister made clear that the attacks "do not compromise the security of any upcoming elections".


Speaking to GB News, MP Bob Seely warned that China and Russia have been trying to destabilise the UK by spreading disinformation and targeting individuals and sensitive information.

Seely told hosts Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce that we "have to defend our own information" and we have to be "much more robust" in our approach to China.


Oliver Dowden

Seely explained: "There are two visions of the future of the world. There is effectively the Russia and Chinese vision, which is AI and big data will [mean] that murdering thugs will make revolutions against the state impossible."

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He continued: "We want a future where AI and big data are used to fulfil and enable human life, but not to oppress humanity and not to oppress freedom of thought."

In a discussion with Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce, he warned that people are being targeted by hostile states for different reasons.

Seely told GB News: "A politician, it could be to influence them to take a more benign line to China, somebody's working in an Artificial Intelligence laboratory in Cambridge because you want to approach them maybe, or you're building up a profile of them. You need the basic information.

"In future, it's about AI and big data. So information, who controls information controls the future, that's the Chinese approach."


Bob Seely

Seely also expressed his "frustration" with the Tory government, admitting that although he has "support for the most part", the Conservatives "don't have a coherent and consistent approach to China".

Seely said: "We have to have an approach. When people say we can't shut ourselves off to China, they're right. We can't, but we can be much more robust about putting down our own markers like the Australians do, and they still do big trade with China.

"We can do much more to protect ourselves…you don't allow the Chinese to buy AI and big data. You do allow them to invest in less sensitive technology and there is nothing wrong with that."



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Sunday, March 24, 2024

'Sadiq Khan won't listen but I will,' writes Susan Hall


Today, I went out in Uxbridge, west London – where I've kicked off my campaign to listen to Londoners.

I decided to start my official campaign amongst real Londoners, not in a cosy Westminster room filled with Labour MPs like Sadiq Khan did.


It was here in Uxbridge that Londoners sent a message to Sadiq Khan, a warning shot over ULEZ and his war on motorists – we said we will not be silent anymore.

For eight years Sadiq Khan has ignored Londoners. But I am listening.


Susan Hall is vowing to listen to Londoners

I have been out to every corner of our city, to find out more about what Londoners need to see at City Hall.

And many of the stories I’ve heard have been simply extraordinary.

One of the people I spoke to is a shopkeeper in Soho. Right in the heart of London.

His staff were threatened at knifepoint, and when he reported it to the police, they did little to help.

So many Londoners have told me that this isn’t just a one-off.

It’s becoming normal. Part of life in the city we call home, part of life in the city Sadiq Khan leads, a city where crime has been allowed to spiral out of control.

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Sadiq Khan

A few weeks later I spoke to a lovely young woman, still living with the impact of being grabbed by the neck and dragged down an alley on her way home.

She was lucky to escape, thanks to a good Samaritan who stepped in.

It was luck that saved her. But luck isn’t a strategy for public safety. Yet in Sadiq Khan’s London, it seems to be all we’ve got.

She said she doesn’t see much point in reporting crimes to the police, because they don’t take them seriously.

That’s the maddening nonsense we have to deal with.


Susan Hall

Women make up fifty per cent of the population – we will not be ignored.

Later in the campaign I had to opportunity to speak to the women’s safety campaigner, Georgie Clarke. She was sexually harassed on the Underground, and all she got when she reported it to Transport for London (TfL) was a leaflet.

Madness. When she reached out to the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, he ignored her. Just like he ignores everyone else.

Every door I knocked on, something became painfully clear to me.

Everywhere I go, the story was the same. London is being ignored.

We are being forgotten by a Mayor who no longer cares. The ULEZ expansion is absolutely hammering our City.


Sadiq Khan

The ULEZ expansion is absolutely hammering our City. I met a cafe owner who is seeing her customers vanish, and a funeral director who has had to hike up prices for grieving families to cover the charge.

My inbox is overflowing with messages from Londoners saying they’ve had enough. From Londoners who are crying out for a change.

Sadiq Khan’s London is a place where the police are a shadow of what they should be, where affordable family homes don’t get built, and where policies like ULEZ expansion are shoved down our throats with zero consideration for the people they hurt most.

He’s not listening, and frankly, it looks like he couldn’t care less. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m listening and I will put things right. As Mayor, I will get a grip of crime, scrap the disastrous and unfair ULEZ expansion on day one, and build more affordable homes.

My campaign is built on the voices of real Londoners. I will ensure that the voice of Londoners is front and centre in every decision we make.

My plan is written by Londoners, for Londoners. This election is a clear-cut choice. Keep being ignored by Sadiq Khan, or vote for a Mayor who listens. On May 2, that decision will lie with you.






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