‘Ministers cannot stand back – they and the Bank of England must act to shield and support those hardest hit and ease the pressure where possible’
We pay for Trump war
Millions of households face yet another cost-of-living crisis, and once again, it is events far beyond their control driving the pain.
The latest surge in inflation, fuelled by conflict in the Middle East and the reckless actions of Donald Trump, is a stark reminder of how fragile family finances remain.
Prices were meant to ease this year. Instead, inflation is rising again. Fuel costs have surged, food bills are set to climb sharply, and hopes of lower mortgage rates are slipping away.
For those already stretched to the limit, this is a punishing setback that will be felt week in, week out. The warning signs are unmistakable.
The weekly shop will get more expensive, borrowing will remain costly, and energy bills could rise again in the months ahead as the full impact feeds through.
Ministers cannot simply stand back. They, and the Bank of England, must act to shield households, support those hardest hit, and ease the pressure wherever possible. Ordinary people cannot be left to carry the can for a war they did nothing to start.
Reform divides
Reform UK has a problem it can no longer ignore: it is attracting candidates drawn to the ugliest ideas in British politics.
The latest? Andrew Mahon, a man pictured with Nigel Farage, is now exposed, praising Oswald Mosley and backing Enoch Powell. Such people are not fringe footnotes.
They are figures synonymous with division, extremism and shame. To hail them as “correct” is not patriotism; it is a deliberate rewriting of history.
The question is no longer whether Reform’s vetting is failing. It is why individuals with such views feel at home in the party in the first place. It is becoming a pattern, not an anomaly.
Voters deserve far better. Politics should bring people together, not give a platform to those echoing the wrongs of the past. This is about standards, and Reform is falling well short.
Save the King
A state visit should strengthen ties, not risk humiliation.
Donald Trump is unpredictable, and concerns that he could embarrass the King cannot be dismissed. The monarch’s visit to America next week is high-stakes diplomacy. It must be handled with extreme care to protect Britain’s dignity from a man who is only too happy to disrespect the UK.
