Trump’s toga | Reform UK donations | Ben Delo | Word watch | Andy Burnham | The name game

Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), following his victorious battles of Illyricum and Actium, announced he would give 400 sesterces to adult male citizens. Will we see the US president wearing an emperor’s purple and gold toga soon (Trump promise of $5,000 for US citizens after midterms decried as ‘bribery’, 10 September)?
David Shannon
Ashton under Hill, Worcestershire

• Can we assume that the donations to Reform UK from the billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo (Report, 12 September) will be followed by some sort of cash offer for every adult in the UK should Mr Farage win the next election?
Phil Thomas
Frodsham, Cheshire

Reform doesn't have the dignity of the Tories' grand history, but its lack of historical baggage means it has more freedom to set out radical new policies, says Prof James Alexander. Together, they would be unstoppable.

The post It’s Time for a Conservative and Unionist and Reformist Party appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Labour has edged ahead of Reform for the first time in 18 months as more of its 2024 voters return to the fold, with Reform meanwhile leaking support to the Conservatives.

The post Labour Overtakes Reform in Polls for First Time in 18 Months as 2024 Voters Return appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

What happens to Reform if, for one reason or another, Nigel Farage exits stage right? In his latest Political Betting column, Mark Littlewood looks at who's waiting in the wings to replace him.

The post Who Next for Reform? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Standing for Reform against Ed Davey's wife in a Lib Dem heartland, Chris Larkin found shy supporters, hostile middle-class lecturers and an unexpected guardian angel in a tower block.

The post My Kamikaze Attempt to Beat Ed Davey’s Wife in the Local Elections as a Reform Candidate appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Can anyone or anything stop Andy Burnham becoming PM now, asks Mark Littlewood in his latest Political Betting column as he contemplates breaking his usual rule and taking the 2/5 odds-on bet.

The post Can Anyone or Anything Stop Andy Burnham Now? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

The net zero economy is booming, so claims that prosperity depends on oil and gas are bunkum – unless you’re a Reform backer with fossil fuel interests, of course

Really? You want to destroy a million jobs? Vote Reform UK for mass unemployment: is that your pitch? Hammer these questions home whenever you meet a supporter of the party. Or, for that matter, a Conservative, as their party now takes an almost identical line.

The figures are stark. They were compiled not by Just Stop Oil or the Green party, but by that bastion of conservatism, the Confederation of British Industry. They show that the net zero economy now directly employs more than 300,000 full-time workers, while supporting the jobs of 1.1 million. The net zero sector is worth £100bn to the UK already, and is likely to grow by hundreds of billions more. The rest of the green economy directly employs a further 600,000.

In his recent resignation speech, Wes Streeting attempted to merge Reform, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein into a mega-threat of "nationalism" to which he was the antidote. But it fell flat, says Dr Nicholas Tate.

The post Wes Streeting’s Attempt to Merge Reform With the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein into a Mega-Threat of “Nationalism” Falls Flat appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Firefighters in Manchester have been warned over support for Reform UK – and Andy Burnham is the Fire Commissioner. The Free Speech Union has written to him, demanding an explanation.

The post Firefighters in Greater Manchester Have Been Warned About Support For Reform UK – and Andy Burnham is the Fire Commissioner appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.