Newslinks for Sunday 21st December 2025

Reform takes aim at Labour’s plan to delay local elections

“Reform UK has drafted legislation aimed at scuppering Labour’s plans to delay local elections. The Right-wing party is hoping to garner cross-party support for its Local Election Guarantee Bill, which seeks to force ministers to hold local and mayoral elections in 2026. The Government has been accused of trying to subvert democracy after announcing that ministers were considering delaying ballots for millions of voters as part of its plans to reorganise local government. Nigel Farage has said the local election postponements were designed to prevent Reform UK winning a string of elections next May and shield Labour and the Tories from embarrassing results.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Electoral Commission slams delays to local elections – FT
• Reform councillors in Kent condemned for spending thousands on political assistants – Observer

Comment

Shrimsley: The myth of the imminent Conservative revival

“A few good reviews at Westminster will help keep her [Badenoch] job, but they do not herald imminent revival. Hope should be tempered by reality. The small poll bounce is off a catastrophic low. Next May’s elections in Wales, Scotland, London and other English councils are still likely to be very bad for the Tories and good for Reform. While Farage’s party is challenging for first place in Wales and second in Scotland, the Tories face a thumping in both. Their best hope is to recapture a couple of London boroughs. While the major story is likely to be Labour collapse, a weekend of Reform wins will sustain Farage’s momentum — and the belief that the next election is between him and Labour.” – FT

• Has Badenoch steadied the sinking Tory ship? – FT
• Badenoch is closing in on Farage, poll finds – Mail on Sunday
• Truss accused of trying to poach members of rival Tory club – Observer

>Today:

Tories will use Miliband’s ‘vanity’ Net Zero project cash to deter Putin

“Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce assault on Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, vowing to redirect billions from his “vanity Net Zero projects” to a £50billion Sovereign Defence Fund designed to strengthen Britain’s armed forces and deter Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tory leader Ms Badenoch unveiled the plan on Thursday, declaring: “The next Conservative Government will move funding from Ed Miliband’s vanity Net Zero projects and use it to back our military to accelerate their war readiness.” She continued: “We must ensure our armed forces are equipped and ready to defend our country. Because defence of the realm must be the first priority of any Government.” – Sunday Express

Miliband ‘pitching himself as next Chancellor’

“Ed Miliband’s allies are plotting to depose Rachel Reeves and install him as the next chancellor, The Telegraph has been told. The Energy Secretary, who is popular among MPs on the soft Left of the Labour Party, is said to have used a recent speech in the Commons on the cost of living to “audition” for the role. Rebel Labour backbenchers believe the Prime Minister will be so weakened following the local elections in May – where the party is predicted to suffer heavy losses – that they will be in a position to extract major concessions. “The soft Left are hoping that if the May locals don’t go well, they will use that as a point of leverage to get what they want out of the PM,” one Labour MP said. “One of the ideas being discussed is putting Ed in as chancellor.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Rayner ‘would get deputy PM job back in deal to be Burnham’s running mate’ – Mail on Sunday
• Former Deputy PM should come clean on her house scandal in memoir, says Lord Ashcroft – Mail on Sunday

Comment

New boss of Britain’s biggest union declares war on Starmer

“The militant new boss of Britain’s biggest union has declared war on Sir Keir Starmer – and threatened mass public sector strikes in 2026. Andrea Egan vowed to end Unison’s support for the Prime Minister’s “destructive right wing of the Labour party”. The hard left activist was elected general secretary of the 1.3 million strong trade union this week – in a massive blow to Sir Keir. Publicly setting them on a collision course, she blasted: “We will call time on our union’s inexcusable habit of propping up politicians who act against our interests, undermine our fundamental values and make our lives worse.” – Sun on Sunday

• New leader says Unison will end support for ‘destructive’ Labour right wing – Observer
• Furious row as Labour claims Brits are better off by £516 – Sunday Express
• Milburn to review rise in youth minimum wage – Observer

Other political news and comment

• Defence giant threatens to scrap all UK investment – Sunday Telegraph
• UK rules out using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine – FT
• In our post-Soviet world, we have lost sight of the new enemy within – Janet Daley, Sunday Telegraph
• If we don’t defend our open society now, there will soon be nothing left to defend – Jake Wallis Simons, Sunday Telegraph
• US seizes another oil tanker off Venezuelan coast – Sunday Telegraph
• Inside the fight to build China’s new ‘super embassy’ – Sunday Times
• Met using outdated powers to police pro-Palestine protests, say legal experts – Observer
• Watchdog orders West Midlands police to explain Tel Aviv ban – Sunday Times
• BBC chiefs set to review Middle East coverage after high-profile Gaza war errors – Mail on Sunday
• Labour nominee for Lords lied about having a PhD – Sunday Times

News in Brief