The best systems reward people who can build agreement. Manchester's election gave candidates a reason to appeal beyond their own supporters, and gave voters more confidence that their preferences would still count. That should be normal, not exceptional.

Count Binface works because everyone knows politics has become ridiculous. When the “serious” candidates dodge questions, chase headlines, perform outrage, and pretend it’s all normal, a man in a silver bin can end up looking like the honest one. https://www.uglypolitix.com/p/behind-the-bin

If this Government wants to rebuild trust, it has to fix the system that keeps weakening it. Start a National Commission on Electoral Reform. Ask whether our voting system fit for purpose. Build a democracy that actually reflects how people vote. www.uglypolitix.com/p/what-is-political-capital-for

George Cottrell is a convicted fraudster Richard Tice received a £78,100 loan from him through a private company, didn’t declare it, and says it had nothing to do with politics Another financial relationship around Reform that wasn’t declared and only surfaced when others started asking questions

Cover-ups thrive when institutions know delay and denial carry fewer consequences than honesty. The Hillsborough Law could begin to change that, but closing Britain’s integrity gap means fixing donations, lobbying, and the voting system. https://www.uglypolitix.com/p/closing-britains-integrity-gap

Reform UK’s bank account was frozen for around 2 weeks during the last general election. It adds to mounting questions about Reform’s donors, financial controls, and the people handling money around the party. Calling scrutiny an “establishment hit job” won’t make those questions disappear.

Farage’s favourite trick is turning scrutiny into victimhood. But the questions around George Cottrell and Reform UK's donor networks point to a wider problem – Britain’s political finance rules are weak, opaque, and easy to game. https://www.uglypolitix.com/p/can-farage-wriggle-his-way-out-of

Can Farage wriggle his way out of this one?

Damning revelations continue to emerge. And it may just be the tip of the iceberg.

uglypolitix.com

A Burnham bounce, and a Farage flop. Labour up four, Reform UK down two – while Farage fights a by-election of his own making against Count Binface.

Trumpism doesn’t stop at America’s borders. The same networks, money and tactics are being imported into Britain – with Farage, Truss and others trying to make them look normal, patriotic and inevitable. But the empty seats show that this politics is louder than it is popular.

Conservatives have asked HMRC to look into Farage’s £5 million “personal gift”. Reports he previously discussed needing £1 million a year to return to frontline politics have raised fresh questions about what the money was actually for. Those questions deserve proper answers.

Labour has surged in Andy Burnham’s first days as leader. The latest poll has Labour level with Farage on 28%. Political momentum can shift quickly. Division, grievance, and billionaire-backed politics are not the only forces shaping where things go next.

Farage’s White Lives Matter rhetoric marked a dangerous escalation in Reform’s race to the bottom with Restore Britain. What began as dog-whistles has become something much louder, uglier, and harder to control. Read the full piece over on Ugly Politix

Democracy is not only defended at the ballot box. It's also defended through secure infrastructure, resilient institutions, and public trust strong enough to resist hostile interference. GCHQ’s warning is a reminder that these things are now inseparable.

Our new report 'Russian Interference in British Politics' warns UK is dangerously unprepared for foreign interference in elections. We’re calling for a public inquiry into foreign interference in UK politics & stronger democratic safeguards. Full report: tinyurl.com/OB-RI-Report

One things for sure, it's not the taxpayer or his constituents. Shortly after receiving £5 million from Christopher Harborne, Farage reportedly bought a £1.4 million property in cash.

Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary to challenge Starmer's leadership. “It is now clear that you will not lead Labour into the next General Election. It needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this."

Harborne's donations now total over £27 million One ultra-wealthy man bankrolling a political project When Farage is championing crypto donations, a state-owned bitcoin reserve, deregulation, and lower taxes for the sector, people are entitled to ask Has influence been bought?

The far-right is building the machinery to shape the debate. 📰 Media outlets 📢 Campaign groups 💰 Donor networks It lets them bypass the rules, create false impartiality, and drag debate to the extreme. People deserve transparency and a level political playing field.

Pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister, following a calamitous set of elections and record low poll ratings. What do you think, is it time for him to go?

Expect even more candidates winning when most people voted against them. This is a warning sign for what could come at the next General Election. When votes are split, turnout is low, and our electoral system rewards division, people lose faith in politics. Our democracy is broken.

What does an ultra-wealthy donor get in return for an undisclosed £5 million "personal" gift? People have a right to know how money is shaping our politics.

Not a declared donation. Not party funding. A personal gift. So people are left asking the obvious question: What does someone get in return for giving Farage £5 million? Democracy should not be routed around transparency rules. And it should never be for sale.

Our democracy is dangerously open to foreign interference, but without an inquiry we'll never know the scale of the problem or how we can fix it. Agree? Add your name https://actionstorm.org/petitions/foreign-interference

Our democracy is dangerously open to foreign interference, but without an inquiry we'll never know the scale of the problem or how we can fix it. Agree? Add your name https://actionstorm.org/petitions/foreign-interference

Trump is attacking democratic norms. Whipping up division. And Britain is giving him the royal treatment. We should be standing up for democracy. Rule of law. Accountability. Not flattering strongman politics with pomp and ceremony. Authoritarian politics should be condemed, not celebrated.

When trust in politics is already dangerously low, the public deserve transparency, accountability, and the truth. MPs are set to vote on whether Keir Starmer should be investigated over allegations he misled Parliament on the Mandelson scandal.

Patriotism is more than flags and slogans 🇬🇧 If we want people to feel proud of this country, we need to give them a real stake in it. Homes, dignity, honest history, and a democracy they can actually shape. Read more at uglypolitix.com/p/patriotism-and-democracy-go-hand

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Shabana Mahmood was accused of “out-Reforming Reform”. She hit back claiming they were trying to “delegitimise” her “perfectly valid” views, saying they can "f*ck right off."

Olly Robbins said he was made to feel “uncomfortable” when pressured by Number 10 to find an ambassador role for Starmers Director of Communications, Matthew Doyle.