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Reform leader Nigel Farage has called on the UK to be “friendly” with the EU as he admits the post-Brexit deal is “not a very good one”.
“You can have negotiations, you can be friendly, you can do all those things,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after admitting the deal negotiated by Boris Johnson’s government has not succeeded.
But he warned that “industrial collaboration” with the EU could result in “less flexibility” in forming trade deals with the US.
Sir Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations with the EU bloc, amid threats from the Donald Trump administration of a trade war between the US and EU.
The prime minister downplayed the US president’s threats to impose tariffs on the EU and UK, after EU and US stock markets tumbled on Monday.
Meanwhile, Reform has topped a bombshell YouGov voting intention poll for the first time.
Nigel Farage’s right-wing party would take 25 per cent of the votes, the poll showed, while 24 per cent would pick Labour and 21 per cent would vote for the Conservatives.
But Reform’s lead in the major poll remains within the margin of error, YouGov said.
The NHS caught my cancer – but with AI it can save many more lives
The NHS saved my life. There’s no doubt about it. I went into A&E with kidney stones but came out with a cancer diagnosis. And that is the best of the NHS in action. Had that meticulous doctor not spotted my cancer on the X-ray, I may not be here today.
The tough reality is that, after years of neglect, too many patients face long waits, delayed diagnoses and critical gaps in the urgent care they so desperately need.
Limbo is a horrible place to be when it comes to your health – I should know. I had multiple follow-up appointments cancelled after my treatment and spent endless nights worrying about whether my cancer had gone, or worse, had returned. That’s why reducing lives lost to cancer is so personal to me.
Health secretary Wes Streeting writes for The Independent:
Alex Croft4 February 2025 10:21
‘Ruthless pragmatism’ needed in UK-EU relations, says minister
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the cabinet minister for European Union Relations, is currently speaking at the UK-EU forum’s annual conference.
“In a more uncertain world, we are regularly reminded that allies are more secure together than they are apart,” he told delegates.
“The time for ideologically driven division is over. The time for ruthless pragmatism is now. It is through a new partnership, between the UK and the EU that we will deliver for the people of the UK and for people across the continent
“The future of the EU and the UK lies beyond the status quo, reaching forward to deliver benefits for all our people to share.”
“Together, we will create a stronger UK, and we will create a stronger Europe.”
Alex Croft4 February 2025 09:58
Keir Starmer denies breaking Covid lockdown rules with voice coach
At a Nato press conference in Brussels, Sir Keir said “all rules were followed”.
Asked, “Did you break lockdown rules, prime minister?”, he replied: “Of course not.”
The Conservatives have said the Labour leader has “serious questions to answer” after he met Leonie Mellinger at the height of Covid restrictions.
Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor4 February 2025 09:51
In pictures: Starmer joins EU summit
Alex Croft4 February 2025 09:31
Nigel Farage confronted over Elon Musk calling for new Reform leader: ‘How embarrassing was that?‘
Farage confronted over Musk calling for new Reform leader: ’Embarassing?’
Nigel Farage was confronted over whether he considered it embarrassing for Elon Musk to have said Reform UK should replace him as party leader after his past support for the X owner. Just days before the billionaire called for Mr Farage to step down, the politician described Mr Musk as a “hero figure” and welcomed a potential party donation from him. Mr Farage insisted he “doesn’t get bullied by anyone” when questioned on the row in a BBC Radio 4 interview on Tuesday, 4 February. “Since then, we’ve had a very cordial relationship… Elon Musk has an awful lot of opinions, some of which I agree with and some of which I don’t,” he added.
Holly Patrick4 February 2025 08:58
Starmer was working when he met voice coach during Covid lockdown – minister
Sir Keir Starmer was working when he met a voice coach during lockdown of winter 2020, a minister has said.
Suggestions that Sir Keir broke lockdown rules are “mudslinging”, health minister Karin Smyth told GB News.
Sir Keir has previously denied breaking lockdown rules when he met a communication skills specialist to discuss a response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
“I think what we’re seeing again is more mudslinging by the Tories on this issue at a time when they were partying – and we’ve got all the evidence of that, and the sorry tale of that,” she said.
“Keir was working. Working was allowed in tier four in London at that time.”
Sir Keir was working to prepare for interviews in the run up to the UK leaving the EU, Ms Smyth added.
“And that was a working event at the time, when we know what the Tories were doing – partying – that’s well documented,” she said.
Alex Croft4 February 2025 08:57
Hundreds of Met Police workers begin strike action
More than 300 civilian workers at the Metropolitan Police have started a two-week strike in a dispute relating to flexible working.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) have been threatened with having their pay docked if they did not agree to a new attendance policy, the union said.
Staff refused to return to the office for additional days which they described as unnecessary. Hundreds of members in the reference and vetting department will now walk out from work from February 4 to 17.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our hard-working members in the Met are angry as they believe they have been continually disrespected and ignored by their bosses.
“If their pay will be docked when they’re not on strike, they feel they might as well lose pay by walking out.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We are disappointed the PCS feels such action is necessary and we remain committed to continuing to engage with the trade unions to resolve the dispute.”
Alex Croft4 February 2025 08:45
Farage says UK needs better post-Brexit deal with EU – but fails to explain what he would do in tetchy interview
“We can improve on that,” the arch-Brexiteer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent4 February 2025 08:23
What are Trump’s tariffs and who will be hit next?
Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China have come into force in a move that has caused panic for financial markets across the world.
He claimed the measures are designed to stop the flow of drugs and immigrants from the country’s two closest neighbours, Canada and Mexico.
He told reporters on Sunday “it might happen”, saying the UK is “out of line” but he is sure it can be “worked out”. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, he added, “has been very nice”.
Albert Toth with the full explanation
Bryony Gooch4 February 2025 08:02
Reform UK beats Labour in YouGov voter poll for first time
The poll showed that if a general election were held tomorrow 25 per cent of British voters would choose Reform, 24 per cent would pick Labour, and 21 per cent would vote for the Conservatives.
YouGov, who conducted the poll for The Times, said that Reform’s one-point lead over Labour in the poll is within the margin of error.
The survey of 2,465 people over February 2 to 3 gave Reform its joint-highest score to date, up from 23 per cent in its previous poll on 26-27 of January.
Athena Stavrou’s full report here:
Bryony Gooch4 February 2025 07:43