The Latest Breaking News from Nigel Farage

“We’re actually facing, in many parts of our country, nothing short of societal collapse.” This was the dire warning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, in setting out his party’s goal of halving crime.

Local Tory members fear that the Conservatives will lose control of both Bromley and Bexley councils to Reform next May

It remains to be seen whether any paper will back Farage at next election, but damage may already be done for Tories

In today’s newsletter: After years of industrial unrest, the pay dispute between NHS resident doctors and the government has reignited, threatening to undermine Labour’s central health pledge

Home secretary says Reform UK should back officers’ response to Epping asylum hotel unrest

Claims Essex police force bussed in antiracism activists have been denied but have spread on social media and rightwing news channels

With a huge profile and no one to appease, ‘Your Party’ starts on a better footing than new parties of the past

Brief letters: Vietnam war demo | Wombles’ residence | Nigel Farage’s magic money tree | Crime crackdown | Photo from Gaza

COMMENT: Protesters outside a hotel housing asylum seekers have accused the local force of ‘bussing in’ anti-racism campaigners, a fallacy repeated by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and which has taken hold on social media. But it’s not the police stirring up trouble, says Sean O’Grady

COMMENT: The prime minister has secured Britain’s biggest post-Brexit agreement – but it’s also one in the eye for Boris Johnson, who had promised to make it happen, but failed, says John Rentoul

Ex-Labour leader said it was ‘time for a new kind of political party’ to take on Starmer – but Labour grandee warns it will only help Tories and Reform