Another crypto billionaire just handed Reform £36m – this is what it could mean

uk news

Migration protests planned in Portsmouth this weekend

Anti-migration protesters and anti-racism demonstrators are set to march in Portsmouth this weekend, after masked men took to the streets a week ago.

Groups from South Coast Patriots have called for a peaceful march in Portsmouth city centre on Saturday afternoon, while Stand up to Racism will host a counter protest march.

It comes after a 42-year-old man became the first to be arrested as part of an investigation into violent disorder in Portsmouth last weekend. Hampshire Police said the man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting a police constable; he remains in custody.

What happened at the last protest?

Overnight last Sunday, official vehicles were damaged and a handful of police officers were injured during a stand-off with masked protesters in the port city.

Hundreds of protesters blocked roads and vowed to stop migrants from leaving after they arrived in a dinghy reportedly carrying 140 people across the English Channel.

Home Secretary’s response

Given that people are dressed in black wearing balaclavas, there is a fear factor and obvious malign intent being communicated to our residents.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met police bosses on Thursday to ensure they are ready to move quickly to deal with the protests amid fears that more could follow.

DISPATCH

New migrant flashpoint where people fear more protests

Joe Duggan

Senior Reporter

In Portsmouth, one local resident described how staff at a nearby restaurant were trapped until 1am and officers were hit as the “swarm” of demonstrators tried to block three coaches taking the asylum seekers to a processing site in Dover.

UK POLITICS

What next for Farage as police investigate Reform donations?

The Metropolitan Police has widened its investigation into whether Reform UK broke electoral law regarding foreign donations.

Here’s what that could mean for Nigel Farage, who -along with his party – has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Police start their investigation

Nigel Farage is likely to be interviewed as part of the police investigation into Reform UK’s donations, The i Paper understands.

The Met Police launched an investigation after the Reform leader and other senior party figures were filmed undercover allegedly welcoming foreign donations which may have breached electoral law.

What happens next?

• The Met Police investigation is expected to focus first on Dan Jukes and James Orr, two senior Reform staffers.
• Still, The i Paper understands that Farage is also likely to be interviewed as part of the police investigation.
• A plot for a foreign donor to fund polling commissioned by a political party could amount to a criminal offence.
• Were a trial to be held, and held in a magistrates court, the maximum prison sentence could be six months.
• If held in a crown court, the maximum jail term would be one year for any parties found guilty.
• Both courts could also impose an unlimited fine on any guilty persons.

Conspiracy

Possible conspiracy charges can carry a maximum sentence of up to a year in prison.

Lines of inquiry

A key line of inquiry will be what was discussed between Reform figures and the party treasurer regarding the donations.

Reform’s response

Farage and Reform have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

What do voters think?

On evidence so far, the impact of the sting itself… it has not had any immediate impact.

Despite the allegations, top pollster Sir John Curtice said the impact on Reform has so far been “zero”. However, he added: “We now wait to see what the polling says that is after the announcement about the Met Police.”

UK-israel relations

This fateful line reveals why Britain is confronting Israel

Alexander Dragonetti

Former British Diplomat

The “Green Line” is, quite literally, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s line in the sand when it comes to Britain’s stance on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Perched high above Sheikh Jarrah, a neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, I used to watch the Friday protests from the British Consulate General – our Embassy to Palestine in all but name.

Outside the consulate, I spent most of my time in the West Bank working with the British Support Team. It was tasked with building a capable, peaceful Palestinian security force ready to take on responsibility if a two-state solution could be reached.

Israel’s countermeasures

• Now, both the British Consulate General and the British Support Team will close.
• Those closures are two of Israel’s four “counter-measures” against the UK in response to a ban on goods from Israeli settlements.

The Green Line

These settlements sit east of the “Green Line” – the 1949 Armistice Agreement that became the recognised dividing line between Israel and captured territory in 1967. It runs straight through the middle of Jerusalem and breaks out to delineate the kidney-shaped West Bank from Israel.

Now doubling as Miliband’s line in the sand, it brings a clarity to British foreign policy on the issue that we haven’t seen for some time.

‘Britain has drawn its line’

The places I knew are changing. The institutions I worked in are closing. And the political space for the solution they were designed to support is narrowing. Britain has drawn its line. Whether that makes the path to two states any clearer – or simply marks how far away it has become – remains to be seen.

alexander dragonetti, former british diplomat

Watch: Miliband reveals sanctions

Money NEWS

Savings rates at two-year-high – how to beat inflation

Emily Braeger

Money Reporter

Fixed savings rates are continuing to climb across the market.

Here’s you can make the most of it.

Why are savings rates rising?

There are three key factors that determine why savings rise: the Bank of England’s interest rate, inflation, and how much banks need your money.

• The Bank of England base rate is currently at 3.75 per cent, but it tends to go up or down depending on where inflation is projected to go.
• Experts say that the war in Iran is also set to cause an increase in inflation.
• This is causing traders to predict that the Bank of England will hike interest rates, in turn impacting savings rates.

Savings rates on the rise

Average one-year fixed rates have risen for six consecutive months, while longer-term fixed rates have risen for a seventh.

This is “positive news” for savers, with the majority of accounts offering more than inflation – currently 2.9 per cent – according to Moneyfacts. But why are they going up, and what can you do to take advantage?

Cash savings

MoneyComms encouraged savers to lock away spare cash now as rates can change very quickly.

Invest

Investing can offer a higher risk, higher reward alternative to cash savings.

What experts say:

Experts advise moving money from cash to investment accounts for those with available short-term funds.

How much are rates going up by?

Easy-access rates – where the figure can change at any time, but your cash can be accessed immediately – are lower than last year, but fixed rates are going up quickly.

Indeed, some fixed-rate accounts are offering near 5 per cent.

How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps

Gratitude

The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.

NHS GP dR RADHA

Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.

• The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
• This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
• We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
• Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.

Change your words

Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it. 

Journal

Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.

Express it

This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.

Notice more

Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?

The basics

By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.

Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality. 

• Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
• Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
• Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.

Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.

Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.

Renault 5 E-Tech

Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery

Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.

The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars. 

A champion of EV efficiency

It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.

It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.

Priced from £37,400

Porsche Macan GTS

It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.

The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.

The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.

With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.

MG IM6

It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion. 

All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.

• While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
  

Leapmotor T03

• It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps. 
• There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
• Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds. 

The kitchen gadgets and products a food editor swears by, all under £25

Victorinox paring knife

It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.

ProCook cast iron pan

For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice. 

Tesco chopping board

Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.

Pyrex jug

It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.

Salter scales

“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”

Microplane grater

It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match. 

Braun hand-held blender

It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce. 

Bodum cafetiere

As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.

Oxo peeler

What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.

Falcon pie dish

Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe. 

The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.

Start with your own behaviours

The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.

Express your needs

People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.

The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule

If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.

Lean on community

You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong. 

Stop blaming childhood

Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.

Reach for a
secure script

When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one. 

If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’

Loneliness elsewhere

When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.

• Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
• You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle. 
• Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
• Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.