Will Hazell
@whazell.bsky.social
Whitehall Correspondent @ the i inewspaper. Story? will.hazell@inews.co.uk
Reform UK have been accused of a Monty Python-style farce on Kent County Council after two of their expelled councillors formed a rival “Independent Reformers Group”
Reform has lost 9 councillors (latest one today) - or 15% of its contingent - since May's local election inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform has lost 9 councillors (latest one today) - or 15% of its contingent - since May's local election inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform breakaway group forms on flagship Kent council
Kent County Council is crucial to Reform's hopes for national power
inews.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reform UK have been accused of a Monty Python-style farce on Kent County Council after two of their expelled councillors formed a rival “Independent Reformers Group”
Reform has lost 9 councillors (latest one today) - or 15% of its contingent - since May's local election inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform has lost 9 councillors (latest one today) - or 15% of its contingent - since May's local election inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Keir Starmer insists that Digital ID will be “voluntary”. Unless, er, you want to have a job inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Digital ID to be voluntary... unless you want a job (or benefits)
Keir Starmer has relaunched the controversial policy, stressing its use for every day life
inews.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Keir Starmer insists that Digital ID will be “voluntary”. Unless, er, you want to have a job inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform's administration on Kent County Council has been rocked by a leaked video of a chaotic internal meeting, with four councillors suspended as a result.
I took a look for @theipaper.com on whether the infighting could hurt Nigel Farage's party nationally inews.co.uk/news/politic...
I took a look for @theipaper.com on whether the infighting could hurt Nigel Farage's party nationally inews.co.uk/news/politic...
What Reform's Kent nightmare means for Farage's dream of becoming PM
Reform is hoping to prove it is fit for government by the way it runs local authorities
inews.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reform's administration on Kent County Council has been rocked by a leaked video of a chaotic internal meeting, with four councillors suspended as a result.
I took a look for @theipaper.com on whether the infighting could hurt Nigel Farage's party nationally inews.co.uk/news/politic...
I took a look for @theipaper.com on whether the infighting could hurt Nigel Farage's party nationally inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Bridget Phillipson announced today that tuition fees will rise annually in line with inflation (although unis will need to meet quality standards to benefit after two years’ time).
@theipaper.com revealed that indexation was coming back in August
Our story from then: inews.co.uk/news/politic...
@theipaper.com revealed that indexation was coming back in August
Our story from then: inews.co.uk/news/politic...
University tuition fees heading for £10,000 - as students face new hike every year
Ministers are mulling plans for automatic tuition fee hikes each year linked to inflation, though no formal decisions have yet been made
inews.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Bridget Phillipson announced today that tuition fees will rise annually in line with inflation (although unis will need to meet quality standards to benefit after two years’ time).
@theipaper.com revealed that indexation was coming back in August
Our story from then: inews.co.uk/news/politic...
@theipaper.com revealed that indexation was coming back in August
Our story from then: inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Starmer is facing a challenge from MPs on the Left to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom.
MPs, including Labour left-wingers, Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru want Parliament to formally remove Andrew’s titles inews.co.uk/news/politic...
MPs, including Labour left-wingers, Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru want Parliament to formally remove Andrew’s titles inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Starmer faces fight with Jeremy Corbyn over Prince Andrew's titles
MPs, including Labour left-wingers Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, want Parliament to pass legislation to formally remove Andrew’s titles
inews.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Starmer is facing a challenge from MPs on the Left to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom.
MPs, including Labour left-wingers, Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru want Parliament to formally remove Andrew’s titles inews.co.uk/news/politic...
MPs, including Labour left-wingers, Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru want Parliament to formally remove Andrew’s titles inews.co.uk/news/politic...
The Home Office is brokering extra police officers from forces outside the West Midlands so the ban on Israeli fans attending next month’s match at Aston Villa can be overturned inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Starmer set to overturn police ban on Israeli football fans
Ministers are racing to overturn a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending Aston Villa’s Europa League match after police safety concerns sparked a political row
inews.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The Home Office is brokering extra police officers from forces outside the West Midlands so the ban on Israeli fans attending next month’s match at Aston Villa can be overturned inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Will Hazell
Reform pledged to cut costs and taxes in local government with a 'Doge'-style approach, but instead their council taxes are rising
➡️ Read more: trib.al/4eTKWIn
➡️ Read more: trib.al/4eTKWIn
October 16, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reform pledged to cut costs and taxes in local government with a 'Doge'-style approach, but instead their council taxes are rising
➡️ Read more: trib.al/4eTKWIn
➡️ Read more: trib.al/4eTKWIn
Exclusive @theipaper.com: Ministers are looking at introducing salary sacrifice schemes for rooftop solar panels as part of efforts to cut energy bills inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Salary sacrifice for rooftop solar panels in new tax-break scheme
The policy may feature in the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which is expected this month, The i Paper has been told
inews.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Exclusive @theipaper.com: Ministers are looking at introducing salary sacrifice schemes for rooftop solar panels as part of efforts to cut energy bills inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Rachel Reeves has been warned that making changes in the Budget to the amount of cash people can withdraw tax-free from their pensions is a “high risk strategy” which would create a “political storm” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reducing pension tax-free lump sum to £100k a 'high risk', Reeves warned
Pensions minister Torsten Bell has previously called for the tax-free cash amount to be capped
inews.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Rachel Reeves has been warned that making changes in the Budget to the amount of cash people can withdraw tax-free from their pensions is a “high risk strategy” which would create a “political storm” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
The collapse of a case involving two men accused of spying for China is a “mess” which is “damaging” to Keir Starmer, an ex-head of MI6 has said.
Sir Richard Dearlove told @theipaper.com that if the Govt had “caved” to Chinese pressure then it was “absolutely outrageous” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Sir Richard Dearlove told @theipaper.com that if the Govt had “caved” to Chinese pressure then it was “absolutely outrageous” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Former head of MI6: Starmer is damaged by spy trial row - China is a threat to UK
Sir Richard Dearlove, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, told The i Paper that China was indisputably a national security threat
inews.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The collapse of a case involving two men accused of spying for China is a “mess” which is “damaging” to Keir Starmer, an ex-head of MI6 has said.
Sir Richard Dearlove told @theipaper.com that if the Govt had “caved” to Chinese pressure then it was “absolutely outrageous” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Sir Richard Dearlove told @theipaper.com that if the Govt had “caved” to Chinese pressure then it was “absolutely outrageous” inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Jenrick is on his best behaviour in Manchester. But Tory insiders think he is playing a long game, knowing that any explicit show of disloyalty could fatally damage his reputation among the membership inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Jenrick is a picture of loyalty. But Tory insiders insist Badenoch should be worried
The shadow Justice Secretary is a popular draw amid the struggles of the party leader
inews.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Jenrick is on his best behaviour in Manchester. But Tory insiders think he is playing a long game, knowing that any explicit show of disloyalty could fatally damage his reputation among the membership inews.co.uk/news/politic...
House sellers will be forced to disclose problems with their homes before sale under plans by the Government to cut costs for buyers and speed up purchases inews.co.uk/news/politic...
House sellers will be forced to list problems with their homes before sale
The Government wants to speed up sales and cut costs of house buyers
inews.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 7:20 AM
House sellers will be forced to disclose problems with their homes before sale under plans by the Government to cut costs for buyers and speed up purchases inews.co.uk/news/politic...
The Home Office is looking at introducing outright bans on protests which risk intimidating minorities or threaten serious disruption, @theipaper.com understands inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Home Office could outright ban protests that risk ‘intimidation’ or ‘serious disruption’
The Home Secretary is considering giving police new powers to ban protests
inews.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Home Office is looking at introducing outright bans on protests which risk intimidating minorities or threaten serious disruption, @theipaper.com understands inews.co.uk/news/politic...
As Kemi Badenoch prepares for the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Tory MPs have warned she is “in the last chance saloon”.
Here’s our @theipaper.com weekend long read inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Here’s our @theipaper.com weekend long read inews.co.uk/news/politic...
‘It’s f**king serious’: Badenoch's last chance as Jenrick coronation threat looms
Some Tories preparing for their conference are contemplating 'amalgamation' with Reform UK after a series of dire poll ratings
inews.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
As Kemi Badenoch prepares for the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Tory MPs have warned she is “in the last chance saloon”.
Here’s our @theipaper.com weekend long read inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Here’s our @theipaper.com weekend long read inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Exclusive @theipaper.com: Sir Ed Davey has been told to raise his game by Liberal Democrat MPs amid growing concerns that the party is failing to cut through with the public inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Ed Davey told by his MPs to raise game and drop ‘bullsh*t stunts’
Dissatisfaction has been fuelled by a feeling that the party have not received the media attention that many MPs expected after their election performance
inews.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Exclusive @theipaper.com: Sir Ed Davey has been told to raise his game by Liberal Democrat MPs amid growing concerns that the party is failing to cut through with the public inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Will Hazell
Some Labour MPs have backed proposals to tax private healthcare, but the industry has hit back
🔴 @whazell.bsky.social reports trib.al/xIjDnqF
🔴 @whazell.bsky.social reports trib.al/xIjDnqF
August 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Some Labour MPs have backed proposals to tax private healthcare, but the industry has hit back
🔴 @whazell.bsky.social reports trib.al/xIjDnqF
🔴 @whazell.bsky.social reports trib.al/xIjDnqF
EXCLUSIVE: Tory to Reform switcher David Jones has told
@theipaper.com he is talking to current Conservative MPs who are thinking about defecting too inews.co.uk/news/politic...
@theipaper.com he is talking to current Conservative MPs who are thinking about defecting too inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform defector says senior Tories want to join him - in blow for Badenoch
Nigel Farage is bolstering his party with defections - but it's a strategy not without risks
inews.co.uk
July 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Tory to Reform switcher David Jones has told
@theipaper.com he is talking to current Conservative MPs who are thinking about defecting too inews.co.uk/news/politic...
@theipaper.com he is talking to current Conservative MPs who are thinking about defecting too inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out granting a Bank Holiday if the Lionesses win the Euros in Switzerland on Sunday, @theipaper.com understands inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Starmer rules out bank holiday if Lionesses win Euros
The England women's team is likely to get an open-top bus parade through central London instead if they triumph against Spain
inews.co.uk
July 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out granting a Bank Holiday if the Lionesses win the Euros in Switzerland on Sunday, @theipaper.com understands inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Our latest @theipaper.com weekend long read is on the fallout from Starmer’s strike against Labour rebels and the apparent refusal of the UK economy to play ball with Reeves’ growth plans inews.co.uk/news/politic...
‘We’re told to eat s**t’: Resentment builds on Labour benches as economy stalls
Fears among MPs of a slide towards populist authoritarianism unless living standards are raised and backbenchers say they're treated like 'robots'
inews.co.uk
July 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Our latest @theipaper.com weekend long read is on the fallout from Starmer’s strike against Labour rebels and the apparent refusal of the UK economy to play ball with Reeves’ growth plans inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour MPs knew a VIP was imminent in Parliament’s old smoking room because when they turned up Mini Cheddars had been left out in advance.
Sure enough, the PM arrived to schmooze them.
Our @theipaper.com long read is on Starmer's bid to reset his troubled government inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Sure enough, the PM arrived to schmooze them.
Our @theipaper.com long read is on Starmer's bid to reset his troubled government inews.co.uk/news/politic...
‘Ministers are f**king sh*t’: Inside divided Labour as MPs prepare to rebel again
Starmer's on a charm offensive. But his rank and file think No 10's 'a mess' and are contemptuous of their frontbench colleagues
inews.co.uk
July 12, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Labour MPs knew a VIP was imminent in Parliament’s old smoking room because when they turned up Mini Cheddars had been left out in advance.
Sure enough, the PM arrived to schmooze them.
Our @theipaper.com long read is on Starmer's bid to reset his troubled government inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Sure enough, the PM arrived to schmooze them.
Our @theipaper.com long read is on Starmer's bid to reset his troubled government inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My latest @theipaper.com read is on Putin’s “shadow fleet” of sanction-dodging oil tankers.
Is the fleet being used for sabotage and hybrid warfare operations?
How can it be stopped?
And could it trigger a clash between Russia & NATO? inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Is the fleet being used for sabotage and hybrid warfare operations?
How can it be stopped?
And could it trigger a clash between Russia & NATO? inews.co.uk/news/politic...
How Putin's shadow fleet of ageing oil tankers could trigger a war with Nato
The foreign ships Russia uses to evade sanctions on oil exports are already suspected of sabotage. Now it is feared they could spark a major conflict
inews.co.uk
June 23, 2025 at 12:08 PM
My latest @theipaper.com read is on Putin’s “shadow fleet” of sanction-dodging oil tankers.
Is the fleet being used for sabotage and hybrid warfare operations?
How can it be stopped?
And could it trigger a clash between Russia & NATO? inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Is the fleet being used for sabotage and hybrid warfare operations?
How can it be stopped?
And could it trigger a clash between Russia & NATO? inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Exclusive: One of the frontrunners to be the next Chancellor of Cambridge has said he fears Reform could launch a Trump-style assault on UK universities.
Lord Chris Smith, Blair's first culture secretary, said: “Populism is always driven by a wish to kick the elite" inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Lord Chris Smith, Blair's first culture secretary, said: “Populism is always driven by a wish to kick the elite" inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform 'could launch a Trump-style assault on UK universities'
Labour peer Chris Smith, one of the favourites in the contest to be chancellor of Cambridge University, talks to The iPaper about Farage's threats, tuition fees and free speech
inews.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Exclusive: One of the frontrunners to be the next Chancellor of Cambridge has said he fears Reform could launch a Trump-style assault on UK universities.
Lord Chris Smith, Blair's first culture secretary, said: “Populism is always driven by a wish to kick the elite" inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Lord Chris Smith, Blair's first culture secretary, said: “Populism is always driven by a wish to kick the elite" inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Will Hazell
Everything you need to know about the British voting public
June 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Everything you need to know about the British voting public
Reposted by Will Hazell
It is certainly positive news for UK universities. The question is still how substantial it is going to be
Could Trump's decision to go to war with US universities inadvertently save the UK's cash-strapped higher education sector?
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
Trump's 'act of self-harm' could accidentally save UK universities
The US President’s clampdown on foreign students could rescue British universities facing tighter restrictions on their own overseas recruits
inews.co.uk
May 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
It is certainly positive news for UK universities. The question is still how substantial it is going to be