Tories criticised over claim Braverman defected to Reform after ‘mental health’ issues

Par :Ben Quinn · Priya Bharadia and Peter Walker

26 janvier 2026 à 21:04

Statement, since withdrawn, followed ex-minister becoming third Conservative MP to join Farage’s party in just over a week

The Conservatives are facing a backlash after claiming that Suella Braverman defected to Reform UK after “mental health” issues, as the former home secretary finally joined Nigel Farage’s party after months of denials.

Braverman, who was sacked from the cabinet by both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, became the third sitting Conservative MP to defect in little over a week. She immediately went on the attack against her former party.

Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp

The Guardian

Par :Ben Quinn Political correspondent

25 janvier 2026 à 17:05

Protesters walk to Sussex market town from base where Home Office plans to house up to 500 asylum seekers

Thousands of people have marched through an East Sussex market town to protest against UK government plans to house asylum seekers on a former military site.

Crowds of men, women and children walked to Crowborough from the base, where the Home Office plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers as part of plans to end the use of hotels for the same purpose.

Meet ‘Amelia’: the AI-generated British schoolgirl who is a far-right social media star

The Guardian

Par :Ben Quinn Political correspondent

25 janvier 2026 à 10:00

The avatar, created to deter young people from extremism, has been subverted and is breaking out of niche online silos

In certain corners of the internet, on niche news feeds and algorithms, an AI-generated British schoolgirl has emerged as something of a phenomenon.

Her name is Amelia, a purple-haired “goth girl” who proudly carries a mini union flag and appears to have a penchant for racism.

<strong>Warning: this image has been manipulated</strong><br>One of the AI-generated Amelias that have exploded across social media channels.

Red meat, no lettuce: Nigel Farage and Liz Truss attend private lunch after week of Tory defections

The Guardian

Par :Ben Quinn and Helena Horton

24 janvier 2026 à 08:00

Meal at Mayfair club took place on day Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick criticised former PM’s mini-budget

If it was on the menu, a side helping of lettuce never made it to the table. Over blood-red steak and chips, Nigel Farage and Liz Truss came together on Monday for a discreet lunch at a swish Mayfair club, organised by a climate-denying US thinktank.

Lois Perry, a former leader of the far-right Ukip party who is now Europe director of the Heartland Institute, posted photographs, now deleted, on X of Farage addressing others, including Truss, at the meal.

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