Simon Watts 🖤🧡

Piers Morgan asked Russell Brand which passages were relevant to him when he brought a Bible into court.

Excuse me. But banned why? Are we seriously saying Farage UK should have its own 24/7 news and propaganda channel with barely a peep from @Ofcom but if another party uses what Farage and Co have said in an election broadcast they can’t show it. Madness. Anyway do watch it. It is very powerful

This photo should be on the front page of every single newspaper in America today.

“Riddled with wrong assumptions”? Then name one. Mr Tice has identified zero errors in our reporting. Hasn’t even tried. Just vague whinging about how unfair it all is.

🚨 WATCH: Labour has released its banned party political broadcast containing quotes from Reform UK politicians

Holy Moly! The woman who was removed from her role as International Development Secretary due to a series of secretive, unauthorised meetings with the Israeli government … is preaching about national security. Post truth absurdity.

He does not want unity He wants power and control - a divided society so he can use lawfare to attack and set one demographic against the other. Benefit claimants are the new migrants targeted by the millionaires and billionaiures

Are we witnessing the birth of a cult in British politics? Last week, we surprisingly witnessed Nigel Farage being challenged on Reform's lies that they would cut taxes. His response, 'We did cut taxes. We raised them by less than others'. 🤷‍♂️ On Wednesday, RFK Jr. invented an entirely new form of maths in a Congressional hearing. One which Trump then backed up yesterday. We implicitly understand that populist leaders fare badly under scrutiny, but this complete suspension of reality is a new, ominous path. The MAGA base, I think, could be described as a cult at this stage — a very real one; Branch Davidians, Jonestown massacre level cult. It's not a stretch to imagine Trump calling for a mass drinking of Kool-Aid, and most of his members complying. In the UK, we are at least slightly luckier in the fact that Farage only commands around 23% of the vote share, unlike the 50/50 split in the US. But make no mistake, there is cult-like behaviour surrounding the Reform UK leader. Unfortunately, this coincides with a time when, by design or otherwise, our legacy media seem fully unwilling to challenge the torrent of lies that emanate from every Reform UK politician. Yesterday on LBC, Richard Tice was allowed free rein to avoid explaining his bizarre tax avoidance issues. Our broadcast journalists fail at almost every hurdle when applying scrutiny to Reform. When Angela Rayner was hounded from her position over a far less serious tax issue, the entire media ecosystem reported on little else for three weeks. Tice? Nada. Farage has been asked a few times now about his party's lies around cutting taxes, and every time he tells a reporter that they raised them but less than everyone else. Firstly, that's just a ludicrous load of hot air and secondly, why are journos not laughing in his face and pushing him harder. CALL HIM OUT. It feels to me that we're being drip fed a new reality. One in which two plus two can equal five — if you only believe it to be true. A deliberate Orwell reference, but are we witnessing the death of objective truth? I'm worried that we are. Apols for the bleak post this morning. It's a beautiful day, so I'm going for a walk. Happy Friday. 😊

This says a lot more about the culture in the Chelsea dressing than it does about Liam Rosenior btw

Nigel Farage would hate it if this went viral. So keep reposting 👇

This is an extraordinary story. Social media and right-wing journalists came close to causing riots in Epsom by broadcasting a claim that migrants had raped a white woman that turned out to be wholly false

If the Tories want to talk scandals Who put her in the House of Lords and WHY?

I categorically refuse to accept this TEMU SHEIN Americana gauche nationalism. Go wear your polyester flag in Ohio

Some things Nigel won't tell you as he heralds this 'great victory' The sitting councillor, who was also England's longest serving councillor died. Normally, when a death happens within six months of an election, the election takes place with the others. Reform used an old law to force a by-election at a cost of £20,000 to the taxpayer. This took place before David had even been buried. The turnout was 17% - reflecting the apathy and disgust felt by residents. On May 7th, the people of Barton and Winton will once again be asked to vote, just like everywhere else. This was a stunt that cost Salford council, and therefore the the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds. Michael Felse, the councillor who 'won' last night got 676 votes compared to Labour's 643. Reform are to be congratulated though - they seem to finally be becoming LGBTQIA+ friendly Mr Felse was parade queen at Manchester Pride in 2011.

Three empty ambulances received infinitely more news coverage and political commentary than this. Which says it all about the hierarchy of racism in this country.

you have to laugh

Are they resorting to this bullshit again? I remember the #Brexit campaign. They claimed that the EU was going to ban KitKats, pints, morris dancing, barmaids cleavage, bonfires, red buses, pork pies, cider, hair conditioner, leather belts, car engines over 1600cc, etc, etc.

Our media fixation with Keir Starmer is becoming a literal drag on the country now. As I write this, I can already see the replies forming below, accusing me of being a Labour shill etc. but, believe it or not, I am not. Maybe it's worth setting this out — I have no party affiliation. None. I'm not 'on the right' … but that's as far as it goes. There are policies and people that I admire across the Lib Dems, Greens and Labour. Conversely, there are policies and people I am vehemently against within each of those parties as well. There are some decent Conservatives left but fewer and fewer in frontline politics and I can have excellent discussions with those moderate Tories that remain. Where my line in the sand is drawn though, as I'm sure you're all aware, is the far-right. Reform UK and Restore Britain. I have no common ground with their populism — I see through the propaganda. This doesn't mean that I think every member of Reform UK is a bad person, far from it, but I cannot rationalise their top-line bravado into credible politics. So, with all that being said, I think the witch-hunt of Keir Starmer is distracting the public from some far more serious crises. Since the very day Starmer took office, there has been an onslaught from the media; desperation to try and topple him and his principal team. This played out successfully with Angela Rayner, and they have been vicious and relentless pursuing Rachel Reeves. I listened to Paul Brand on LBC at the weekend continuously comparing Starmer to Boris Johnson in terms of sleaze. Have we collectively lost our minds? There is no other Prime Minister in history that compares to Johnson for scandal. The elephant in the room — Peter Mandelson. But is it really an elephant still? Clearly, Starmer should never have brought the Prince of Darkness into his team, that was a madness and severe failing of judgement. One for which he has accepted responsibility and apologised on multiple occasions. The vetting process appears to be, pretty much, a non-story, despite what Dan Hodges and GB News are shovelling out. So … we should be moving on. Shouldn't we? Kemi Badenoch and her famously robust judgement felt not yesterday, and spent more of her diminishing political currency by pushing Starmer with six questions at PMQs on the subject. She was met with a well briefed lawyer, that, in all honesty, made her look a bit silly for continuing her defeated line of questioning. While this continues to dominate the headlines, other far more crucial issues are being missed — we're going to run low on fuel soon, the cost of living is about to skyrocket, holidays will be cancelled imminently. But mainly ... the cost of living is about to skyrocket. We saw in yesterday's inflation rise that food is already moving upward, if Trump's ludicrous war in Iran continues, then we're all going to suffer the consequences. Surely, this is a far more pressing matter? One in which the government should be fully engaged in order to help protect the public — it's number one duty. It is very telling that Reform UK are spending very little time on the Starmer issue. They sent Lee Anderson out to raise this issue, for goodness’ sake. LEE ANDERSON. Farage is hyper focused on the local elections, safe in the knowledge that the media is obsessing over Keir Starmer, once again. He's making hay while the S*n shines on Labour. Jeez! This went on a bit, sorry, but it feels critical to me. We are being led around by the nose by the legacy media outlets. They smell blood in the water, but I really don't think the story is there. Not yet. And while the sharks circle, Reform UK are flying under the radar, ready to swoop on the local elections [sorry for the weird mixed metaphors — it's early!]. Have a lovely sunny day. 🌞

@MittensOff Oh look. The racist twat at the Epsom Travelodge is the same twat at the home for vulnerable adults, when his flat cap got knocked off as he was arrested. And I'm sure the pink hatted dude has even better footage for @SurreyPolice. Isn't that right @MrMaryJaneee? HT @Dee54321Dee