Tory MP reports ‘AI-generated deepfake’ video announcing his defection to Reform UK

A Conservative MP has reported an “AI-generated deepfake” video of him announcing that he has joined Reform UK to the police, according to reports.George Freeman, the MP for Mid Norfolk, denounced the video and, in a Facebook post, called the deliberate spread of misinformation through AI-generated content a “concerning and dangerous development”.The video, which was widely circulated online, appeared to show the former Tory minister standing and speaking to the camera while saying he was switching allegiance and joining Nigel Farage’s party.It also showed the AI-generated Freeman saying the “time for half measures is over” and that the “Conservative party had lost its way”, while saying he was leaving the party.According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the MP said he had “no intention of joining Reform or any other party

‘Suck it up’: leaked video exposes bitter infighting at Reform UK’s flagship Kent council

Bitter divisions in Reform UK’s flagship county council have been laid bare in a leaked video of a chaotic internal meeting where members were told to “fucking suck it up” if they did not agree with decisions.Councillors can be seen complaining about “backbiting” and being ignored by their leader, Linden Kemkaran, who tells them they will be “screwed” and that Reform can forget about winning the general election if they don’t balance Kent’s budget.In an extraordinary recording, which shows the inner workings of Reform’s Kent operation, Kemkaran shouts down fellow members before telling them they will be “muted” in scenes reminiscent of the viral “Jackie Weaver” video from a parish council Zoom meeting in 2021.Kent county council, which has a £2.5bn annual budget and is one of 10 where Nigel Farage’s party has outright control, is considered to be a make or break showcase for whether Reform can be trusted to competently govern before a general election

‘Super Dom’ Cummings cunningly waits five years to reveal national security lapses | John Crace

And … relax. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Super Dom! At a time of heightened worries about national security, who better than Dominic Cummings to shine a light on the murky world of spying?The man who turned a drive to Barnard Castle into an advert for SpecSavers. The man who gave us Brexit. Which one of us didn’t vote for a 4% hit to GDP? The man who gave us Boris Johnson. Truly, Dom has enriched us all over the past 10 years

Revealed: UK Foreign Office staff pushed for Israel trip despite suspension of trade talks

The Foreign Office recommended that David Lammy endorse a trade mission to Israel, days after he suspended trade talks and rebuked the country’s government, internal documents reveal.In an unusual move, officials asked for ministerial advice over Ian Austin’s visit to Israel in late May. Bureaucratic dysfunction meant the trip by the trade envoy went ahead without the support of ministers or advisers.The Foreign Office had said the peer would not meet any representatives of the Israeli government. But photographs show him with senior Israeli trade officials on two occasions

Chancellor says she ‘can’t leave welfare untouched’ this parliament as budget looms

Rachel Reeves has said she “can’t leave welfare untouched” this parliament, with the Treasury understood to be considering axing up to £1bn in tax breaks for a scheme providing cars for disabled people.The chancellor set out her thinking on welfare before next month’s budget in an interview, having previously said she would need to make cuts and raise taxes.“We can’t leave welfare untouched,” she told Channel 4 News when asked about changes to the benefit system. “We can’t get to the end of this parliamentary session and I’ve basically done nothing … We have to do reform in the right way and take people with us.”The government had to abandon billions of pounds in cuts to disability benefits earlier this year after a revolt by Labour backbenchers, but it is still pressing ahead with cuts for future claimants of the health element of universal credit from April 2026

No 10 says talks happening ‘at pace’ across government to lift ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending Aston Villa match – as it happened

Downing Street has said that discussions are happening “at pace, across government” to resolve the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the Europa League match in Birmingham.At the morning lobby briefing, a No 10 spokesperson told reporters:Conversations began on this last night.You will have seen the West Midlands police and crime commissioner has asked police and Birmingham’s safety advisory group to immediately review the decision.Culture secretary Lisa Nandy is meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try and find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely.The secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Steve Reed, spoke to the local council this morning, and the Home Office is urgently working to support police to try and find a way through this