Newslinks for Tuesday 29th July 2025

Cabinet minister accuses Farage of being “on the side” of paedos like Savile

“Nigel Farage today demanded an apology after a Labour minister sensationally claimed he is “on the side” of paedos like Jimmy Savile. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle sparked a blazing row by alleging the Reform Party leader’s vow to repeal online safety laws amounts to backing predators gaining access to children. Mr Kyle declared: “If Jimmy Savile were alive today, he’d be perpetrating his crimes online. And Nigel Farage is saying he’s on their side.” Furious at the inflammatory accusation, Mr Farage hit back, branding the comments “disgusting” and demanding a retraction. He fumed: “Peter Kyle’s comments on Sky News are disgusting. He should do the right thing and apologise.” However, the Tech Secretary refused to back down, stating: “If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that.” On Monday, Mr Farage pledged to scrap the Online Safety Act should Reform win the next election, arguing it risks erasing free speech “at the stroke of a pen”.” – The Sun

• Nigel Farage is taking the side of Jimmy Savile and other child abusers by criticising Online Safety Act says cabinet minister in free speech row – Daily Mail
• WATCH: Peter Kyle Says Farage ‘On Side of Jimmy Savile’ Over Online Safety Act Opposition – Guido Fawkes
• Reform pledges to scrap Online Safety Act over free speech concerns – The Independent
• Online Safety Act could push children to dark web, Farage claims – The Times
• Online safety laws behind surge in VPN use – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• The Online Safety Act is an abomination – Fred de Fossard, The Critic
• Big Tech is the only winner of the Online Safety Act – Ella Dorn, The New Statesman
• Tech bros threaten to make serfs of us all – James Marriott, The Times

Trump gives Starmer his advice on how to beat Trump

“Donald Trump told Sir Keir Starmer how he should slash taxes and stamp out illegal immigration if he is to beat Nigel Farage during an extraordinary hour-long press conference on Monday. The two leaders held talks at the US president’s Turnberry golf course on the Scottish coast before flying together to Aberdeen. But when journalists were invited in for a quick chance to take pictures and ask a few questions, Mr Trump seized the opportunity to offer Sir Keir some advice. “You know, politics is pretty simple,” he said. “I assume there’s a thing going on between you and Nigel, and it’s OK. It’s two parties. But generally speaking, the one who cuts taxes the most, the one who gives you the lowest energy prices, the best kind of energy, the one that keeps you out of wars… a few basics. Keep people safe and with money in their pockets and you win elections,” he said. “And in your case a big immigration component, because I know that your attitude has become strong on immigration, strong on the toughness of immigration,” he said. The Prime Minister offered no reaction to the advice at a time when he lags behind Mr Farage’s Reform UK party. Mr Trump also addressed his plans to end the war in Ukraine, setting out a 10 to 12-day deadline to impose secondary sanctions, and deliver aid to Gaza.” – Daily Telegraph

• All the flashpoints of Trump’s meeting with Starmer: From awkwardly slating the PM’s ‘pal’ Sadiq Khan, and blasting UK’s ‘ugly’ wind farms to claiming he ‘never had the privilege’ of visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island – Daily Mail
• Stop the boats and cut taxes to beat Reform, Trump tells Starmer – The Times
• Donald Trump doubles down on ‘migrant invasion’ stance as he tells Keir Starmer crisis is ‘ruining’ Europe – The Standard
• Trump reignites row with ‘nasty’ Sadiq Khan as Starmer responds – Sky News

Comment:

• Forget DC — Trump makes Turnberry capital of the world (briefly) – Katy Balls, The Times
• Trump claims to like Starmer – but he’s not above trolling him – Kitty Donaldson, The i
• Starmer has just embarrassed Britain in front of the most powerful man in the world – William Atkinson, Daily Telegraph
• Sidekick Starmer can’t get a word in as The Donald dominates world’s most one-sided double act – John Crace, The Guardian

Cabinet called back to Downing Street for Gaza meeting

“Sir Keir Starmer will set out a Middle East peace plan that will put Britain on a path to recognising a Palestinian state amid mounting cabinet pressure. The prime minister will hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza this week to sign off his plan after discussions with Donald Trump on Monday. In the wake of the meeting Trump acknowledged that there was “real starvation” in Gaza and called on Israel to allow “every ounce of food” into the region. No 10 said that Starmer and Trump discussed plans being drawn up with France and Germany to bring about a “lasting peace” amid concerns of a humanitarian catastrophe. Senior government sources did not rule out joining France in recognising a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly in September if a ceasefire is secured. Peter Kyle, the science secretary, said that Palestinian citizens “need to be rewarded” with statehood. He told Times Radio: “No longer can we sit back and see what is happening in that region and think that the Palestinian people should not be rewarded for what they’ve been through and have the tools at their disposal to move them towards the kind of peace, stability and dignity that every citizen in every country is owed”. Kyle confirmed that the release of hostages would be part of a “pathway” to recognition. Seven members of the Cabinet as well as 130 Labour MPs, equivalent to a third of all backbenchers, are privately pushing Starmer to formally recognise Palestine.” – The Times

• Starmer prepares to unveil plan for recognising Palestinian state – Daily Telegraph
• Keir Starmer recalls cabinet to thrash out peace plan for Gaza – Financial Times
• Trump acknowledges ‘real starvation’ in Gaza and tells Israel to let in ‘every ounce of food’ – The Guardian

Comment:

• Push for peace now or the two-state dream is dead – William Hague, The Times
• West should demand that Hamas must surrender… unilateral declarations recognising a state of Palestine won’t defeat it – Nicole Lampert, The Sun
• Keir Starmer’s cautious approach on Gaza is leaving him isolated – Esther Webber, Politico
• Trump just exposed how irrelevant the Europeans have now become – Jake Wallis Simons, Daily Telegraph

News in brief:

• On Bonnie Blue and Roger Scruton: We have stripped sex of enchantment – Kathleen Stock, UnHerd
• Will the SNP get another independence referendum? – Lucy Dunn, The Spectator
• Of course we should stop kids from watching porn – Joesphine Bartosch, The Critic
• Ethnonationalism is rearing its head on Britain’s Right – Rakib Ehsan, CapX