The Conservatives have been warned against trying to “out-Farage Farage” ahead of a crunch series of electoral tests across the UK.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said his party should steer clear of “aping” the Reform UK boss – which he claimed would put voters off – as he laid down his vision for the future of the Tory Party’s principles.
With Farage’s party surging in the polls once again, Bowie was asked by Holyrood magazine how to respond to a right-wing challenger – to which he replied: “By being authentic and true to ourselves, by not trying to out-Reform Reform, by not trying to appeal to the common denominator in terms of chasing the voter.
“We need to stick true to who we are as Conservatives, offer a pragmatic, sensible, liberal, Conservative vision of what the future can be in Scotland, and indeed the UK.”
The party would not return to power “if we are purely focused on countering, responding to and aping Nigel Farage at every available opportunity, because nobody can out-Farage Farage”, Bowie added.
It comes as a cross-party “anti-Reform” summit in Scotland led by First Minister John Swinney looms – which has sparked fears of “stifling democracy” from the Liberal Democrats.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he had “deep concerns about anything which aims to stifle a democratically elected voice”.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: “I believe you defeat arguments you disagree with in open ground… You don’t try and shut them out, you don’t try and lock them in a dungeon somewhere, because that will martyr them, that will make them probably more popular, give them more air time and offer more grist to supporters’ mills.”
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Eritreans overtake Afghans as largest nationality of Channel migrants – but experts warn they could be LYING about where they’re from
As many as a fifth of all migrants crossing the channel are Eritreans, damning new figures have revealed.
Fresh data seen by The Times has unearthed that over 1,200 Eritreans crossed the Channel in the first three months of 2025 – making up a fifth of the 6,642 migrants who crossed in small boats this year.
Felix Sinclair, who heads the NCA unit responsible for gathering intelligence on people-smuggling networks, said that Eritrean organised crime groups held good relationships with Kurdish gangs who dominate the trade in northern France – but officials have also warned they could actually be Ethiopians lying about their nationality to circumvent asylum rules.
The migrants are said to have been told by smugglers to say they were Eritrean to increase their chances of being granted asylum – as the rate was 87 per cent compared to 58 per cent for Ethiopians.
And with fears of dubious asylum claims growing, the news has prompted fury from migration hardliner MP Rupert Lowe, who warned: “I do not want thousands of unvetted Eritrean men roaming our streets. Do you?
“Every single one should be deported. Those arriving, but more crucially – those ALREADY here. Flight after flight after flight, as many as it takes. Every single one needs to go.”
READ THE FULL STORY ON THE NEW MIGRATION FIGURES HERE
WEEKEND RECAP: Labour MP Dan Norris arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences
Dan Norris, 65, has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences
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A high-ranking Labour MP was arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences, it emerged over the weekend.
Dan Norris, 65, was quizzed by officers on Friday over claims of historic sexual attacks on a girl and a rape allegation from the 2020s.
Avon & Somerset Police confirmed that the North East Somerset & Hanham MP had been held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Labour also confirmed Norris, who is also seeing out his final days as the West of England’s Mayor, was immediately suspended after Southside had been informed of his arrest.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest.
“We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Labour to swing axe on ‘Quangos’ AGAIN in fresh crackdown on unelected busybodies
Quangos could be forced to close, merge, or have their functions taken back by Government departments under a new review.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has written to departments telling them that every arm’s-length body will be examined – and could be shut down altogether if its existence cannot be justified.
His is set to examine four areas in each organisation, including whether policy areas are of “national importance” and should therefore be looked after by Ministers, and looking to improve efficiency by reducing duplication of work.
McFadden said: “We are taking action to ensure decisions of national importance that affect everyone in this country are made by those who have been elected to do so.
“Only by fundamentally re-wiring the state, can we deliver our Plan for Change – kick-starting economic growth, rebuilding the NHS and strengthening our borders.”
It comes just weeks after Sir Keir Starmer made the shock move to abolish NHS England – where he vowed that he could not “honestly explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy”.
