With the local elections coming up don't let the news media bury the truth about Farage, Nathan Gill and Russia. On September 16, 2014, Farage and Nathan Gill made speeches to the European Parliament parroting several of the same Russian propaganda lies. Could this have just been a coincidence? I don't think so. It looks coordinated. Either Farage gave Nathan Gill his talking points, or Russia was providing its talking points to both of them. They both called Ukraine "The Ukraine," a term which refers back to the old Slavic word for borderland, which Russia uses to deny Ukraine's nationhood. They both used the expression "poking the Russian bear." They both parroted the Russian lie that there had been a coup in Kyiv in 2014. They both parroted Russian lies about NATO and EU expansion. They both repeated the Russian claim that the real threat was Muslim extremism, a claim that Putin had very effectively used to distract Western leaders from Russian aggression and its hybrid war against the West. Reform UK initially claimed Farage barely knew Gill. That turned out to be a filthy lie. Let's follow the Hungarian example and get off our sofas into the polling booths to give Farage and his media backers a kick in the brexits that they will never forget. And just in passing, here is Farage with the Russian Ambassador in 2013 – the same Ambassador Farage denied having met, and who later boasted of having "crushed the British to the ground". Finally, a reminder that Farage was heavily promoted by Russian TV before the BBC took up that role. A vote for Reform UK is a vote for Putin.

How it started..................How it's going

Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch calls for a root and branch review of sentencing guidelines, "it does feel there's one law for some... and another for others". "I want a society where paedophiles are going to prison, not just socially shamed". @JuliaHB1 @KemiBadenoch

BREAKING: In newly leaked audio, Kevin Roberts, the leader of Project 2025, says he knows Donald Trump is lying about not knowing about Project 2025 in order to fool Americans into voting for him. Retweet to make sure every American hears this.

Birmingham, the night of the count. Labour’s Jess Phillips is announced the winner on stage for Yardley. In an attempt to get a photo of the candidates on stage, am standing among a throng of men on the counting hall floor supporting the workers party candidate. They boo Jess, cat-call and chant the candidate’s name over and over as if it is a boxing match. They try to drown out her voice. It is ugly and it is shameful. As I extricate myself from the pack I shake my head in anger. There is nothing elegant in this brazen show of misogyny and bullishness. Shabana Mahmood gets the same treatment. Both women show defiance yet overall, it is an unpleasant, unnecessary and degrading experience. Elsewhere in Britain, post-election speeches were demonstrations of grace in defeat, and humility in success. As it should be. We aren’t tribal like America. We aren’t quick to protest like France. Sometimes we might admire the more direct approach of other countries. Yet I love our restraint. The passion is there. Reservoirs of it. But the speeches often follow unwritten protocols that show honour and valour almost to the point that the victor becomes indiscernible. Democracy is something to value and treasure. As Brits, I think we value it, although the disappointing turnout gives cause for concern. Isn’t it a prize that our individual vote counts every bit as much as the Prime Minister? Isn’t that fantastic? The workers party claimed to stand for Palestine. A cause I sympathise with, and one that deserves the attentions of the media. Hyped up and militant at 5am, it was clear that the main aim of the male group was to disabuse others of a respectful election. Particularly the female candidates. Jess shook hands with all candidates after the announcement. All except one. The workers party candidate refused her, which was received with cheers for him and jeers for Jess from his swarm of supporters. Surely a candidate standing on a single-issue platform, to improve conditions for Palestinian people, would appreciate the opportunity to build a bridge with his local MP. He could have used that opportunity to progress the cause. Suffragists fought hard for voting rights just over a hundred years ago. Anyone who values women’s rights should be concerned by activities that seek to block their access to democratic choice. There was overt and covert misogyny in this election. It needs investigating and fixing. If women don’t have voting rights, then we don’t have a democracy. @jessphillips @JaneRockHouse @5050Parliament @fawcettsociety @ShabanaMahmood @birminghamlive

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"Millions of Britons are barred from entering the EU by post-Brexit passport rules that are set to cause chaos over the Easter holidays." independent.co.uk/travel/new…