‘What A Shame!’ Trump Laments Decline Of Russia’s Oil Industry Amid Putin’s War

Posted on 21/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Donald Trump appears to be concerned about Ukraine’s ongoing attacks on Russia’s oil refineries – even though Kyiv is only retaliating again Moscow’s aggression.

Vladimir Putin is expected to “intensify” attacks on the Ukrainian capital after Ukrainians forces tried to “disrupt” Russian elections by firing drones at the Moscow region over the weekend while the public were voting.

It comes more than four and a half years after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in a land grab, triggering a long and bloody war as Kyiv consistently pushes back.

Putin continues to illegally occupy a fifth of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.

Ukrainian allies in Europe have been weaning themselves off Russia’s cheap energy experts to punish the Kremlin for its violence.

But the US president, who caused global oil prices to rise after his war against Iran triggered the effective closure of a major shipping lane, seemed to blame Ukraine for the decline of Russia’s own fossil fuel industry.

“Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine,” he wrote on his social media platform TruthSocial.

“A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission.

“This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended.

“The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame! President DJT”

President Donald Trump reacts during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at Trump’s statement.

He wrote on X that the war must end, adding: “Every new week of this war, let alone every new year, adds more and more problems.

“ From the very first minute, Ukraine has sought peace. We have already made dozens of diplomatic proposals on how to end this war with dignity, guarantee security, and prevent new Russian invasions.

“Right now, there is a dialogue with President Trump and America.

“There are also ideas on the table for bringing peace closer, starting with strong de-escalation steps.

“Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible.”

He continued: “We are ready to work on this, and we will discuss it with our partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I thank everyone who is helping! It will no longer be the case that only the country under attack suffers. The nature of war is now such that the aggressor will suffer as well. Technology makes this possible.

“The strength of countries’ leadership can – and must – deliver de-escalation, security, and peace. Thank you!”

The elections – widely disregarded as a sham vote to bolster Putin’s authoritarian rule – already appear to cement the Kremlin’s dominance over the country amid speculation Russia may need to call up more reserves for the war effort.

Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump at the United Nations’ General Assembly on Tuesday.

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Farage Plays Down Latest ‘Bump In The Road’ For Reform UK As He Unveils New Wales Leader

Posted on 21/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage has played down the loss of Reform UK’s last leader in Wales as a “bump in the road”.

The Clacton MP was unveiling the party’s new regional leader after Dan Thomas stood down last Tuesday.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviours. He has been bailed and says he has done nothing wrong.

The former Tory councillor is still a member of the Welsh parliament, and has been Reform’s Welsh leader since February.

The role was previously filled by Nathan Gill, who led the party in Wales for two months in 2021. He was jailed for 10 and a half years in 2025 for taking Russian bribes.

Reform’s main leader Farage announced today that his ally Helen Jenner, previously the deputy leader in Wales, would be taking over.

Alluding to Thomas’s exit, Farage said: “I am sorry for his personal difficulties that he is going through. No one’s life is ever seamless and I am quite sure he will come out of these before too long.

“But it was pretty much untenable for him to continue as leader while he had these domestic disputes, so we very quickly and rapidly have moved to electing a new leader.”

The new Welsh Reform UK Leader Helen Jenner speaks on the steps of the Sennedd beside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, on September 21, 2026

Farage said elections for a new Reform deputy leader in Wales would follow to fill Jenner’s old role.

He added: “We will carry on as if nothing has happened, waiting for Dan who is going to stay a member of this place, to come back more actively with us.

“We could have done without this bump in the road. But it has happened, we are making the best of it.”

Thomas announced last weekend that he had been released without charge.

“I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account,” he said.

Gwent police confirmed a 45-year-old man from Aberbargoed area was arrested on September 13 “on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. He has been bailed pending further inquiries”.

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny on Reform and its finances.

The party received £72 million in 48 hours from crypto-billionaires earlier this month, though Reform insists the donors want nothing in exchange.

Farage is also subject to a parliamentary sleaze probe after he failed to declare a £5 million donation from Thailand-based Christopher Harborne once he became an MP in 2024.

Brits Must ‘Guard Against Normalisation Of Racism’, Bridget Phillipson Warns

Posted on 20/09/2026 by Boris Clair

A cabinet minister has urged Britons to “guard against the normalisation of racism” coming from some right-wing politicians.

Bridget Phillipson accused prominent members of both Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party of questioning Brits’ identity “on the basis of their skin colour”.

The equalities minister’s remarks come after former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak warned in The Sunday Times there is a risk “we start equating skin colour with nationality”.

Sunak, the UK’s first non-white PM, said immigration debates are starting to focus on “trying to turn Britishness into a DNA test”.

“Once we say that this or that person isn’t really English or British because they are not white, then we are on a very slippery slope,” he said.

“Some people will argue that English is an ethnic identity and British a civic identity. Though if you think those nuances are heard by most people, I fear you are being rather — perhaps even wilfully — naive.”

Phillipson told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “We are a fantastically successful country in terms of integration, in terms of the real strength we draw from that.

“But I find it extremely disturbing that it has become normalised in frontline politicians, both in Reform and the Conservatives, to question people’s British identity on the basis of their skin colour.”

Both Reform and the Conservative Party have been approached for comment.

The Labour Party chair continued: “My family come here from Ireland, built a life here, work in our NHS, and made such a big contribution but no one questions my identity, and that’s because I’m white.

“I’m really worried about what we are seeing around the questioning of the integrity and the identity of people who have a different skin colour.

“I think that is profoundly un-British, it is not in keeping with our traditions and I’m really pleased to see people like Rishi Sunak standing up and making very clear that actually it’s a good thing he could be the prime minister for our country – and I do believe with that.”

“We have to really guard against the normalisation of racism that we are seeing in our country,” she added.

The debate comes after Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf was accused of “straight-up racism” by a minister earlier this month.

Yusuf had questioned Labour’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, a Labour council leader, because she was born in Somalia.

The Conservative’s first Muslim chair, peer Baroness Warsi, called the party “institutionally xenophobic and racist” back in 2024.

Minister Torches Billionaire Man Utd Owner Who Claimed Britain Is ‘On The Slide’

Posted on 20/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Bridget Phillipson tore into Jim Ratcliffe after the British billionaire claimed the UK is “on the slide”.

Ratcliffe, who owns Manchester United football club and has lived in tax-free Monaco since 2020, claimed: “If you continue to tax everyone to death, they’re all going to leave. And that’s what’s happening.”

“I think the UK is on the slide,” he told the BBC, insisting “tough” politicians have to make decisions which are good for the country rather than their parties.

Ratcliffe, worth an estimated £17bn, alleged that high immigration and high taxes have forced Britain into a state of decline and that he would only return if things improved.

However, Labour Party chair Phillipson told BBC: “You’ll forgive if I do take with a pinch of salt what someone who is a tax exile has to say about our country.

“I am optimistic about our country’s prospects,” the minister said, while acknowledging there are large international headwinds in reference to the ongoing Iran war.

“But I fundamentally believe we are in a strong position going into this Budget because of decisions taken over the last two years,” she added.

The minister claimed “you lose the moral high ground” over such economic arguments if one “becomes a tax exile”.

Phillipson, who is also the equalities minister, tore into Ratcliffe’s history of supporting the UK’s exit from the EU.

“He was also someone, as I understand it, who was a big supporter of Brexit,” she said.

“That was over a decade ago now, but we’ve seen the impact of Brexit on our economy, and that’s why this government is committed to making sure we do have a better trading relationship with the European Union, which will be a central part of how we make sure we do see stronger growth.”

Her remarks come after Treasury minister Torsten Bell claimed on X Ratcliffe “hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it” and “laments the hit to manufacturing driven by a Brexit he supported”.

Chancellor John Healey is expected to hike taxes to close funding gaps in his Budget next month.

Huge Blow For Reform UK As Party’s Welsh Leader Quits After Assault Arrest

Posted on 15/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Reform UK’s leader in Wales has dramatically resigned after being arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling coercive behaviour.

In a hammer blow for the party, Dan Thomas said he was was quitting “for personal reasons”.

He said he did not want “the coming headlines to be a distraction” from Reform’s work in the Welsh Senedd.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “On Sunday, September 13, a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, was arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling coercive behaviour. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.”

Thomas was released without charge and insisted he has done nothing wrong.

In a statement, he said: “It has been the honour of my life to have been the leader of Reform Wales and see this party go from zero to 34 elected members and become the largest opposition group in Welsh history.

“With deep regret, I am now standing down from this position due to personal reasons.

“Over the weekend, I was reported to the police and was released without charge.

“I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account.

“I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader.”

Thomas’s resignation comes less than two weeks after he appeared on stage with Nigel Farage and other senior Reform figures at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham.

In a further blow for the party, a Reform member of the Welsh Senedd defected to Plaid Cymru.

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd said the national party “has no interest in Wales” so she was leaving.

She said: “Reform has no interest in the work I came here to do. They are not serious about governing Wales. They are far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions.”

‘Absolutely Vile’: Donald Trump Slammed For Urging Ukraine To Ease Up On Russian Attacks

Posted on 13/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Donald Trump has been slammed after he told Ukraine to ease up on bombing Russia because it is harming the world economy.

The US president said America had told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia”.

“Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” he said while attending the Irish Open golf championship at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare.

“This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine. We spoke to Mr Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets.

“Don’t hit diesel fuel because that’s hurting the world. We don’t want him to hit diesel fuel. He’s hitting diesel refineries.”

Online critics accused Trump of doing the Kremlin’s bidding – and ignoring the impact of his decision to go to war in Iran on global oil prices because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Labour’s Huge Commons Majority Would Be Wiped Out In Snap Election

Posted on 13/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Labour would lose its huge Commons majority if Andy Burnham were to call a snap election, according to new analysis.

A calculation based on the latest opinion polls shows Labour would be by far the largest in the House of Commons with 253 MPs.

But that would be 150 fewer than they have at the moment, and leave the party 73 seats short of an overall majority.

At the moment, Burnham has a working Commons majority of 166.

The forecast, by Election Maps UK, shows Reform UK coming second with 136 seats – 128 more than they have now – if an election were held tomorrow.

The Tories would be third with 101 seats, 17 fewer than they currently have.

The Lib Dems would be unchanged on 72 seats, while the number of SNP would jump from 8 to 43.

Although Burnham does not need to call an election until 2029, speculation continues at Westminster that he could be tempted to do so next spring.

Supporters of the move say he should capitalise on the boost in support Labour has enjoyed since he replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister.

An election victory would also give Burnham his own mandate, and another five years in power.

However, the Election Maps UK analysis suggests he would need to do a deal with another party, most likely the Lib Dems, in order to govern.

Speaking to the BBC in July, he said: “There’s no early general election. I don’t think people want it.”

Reform UK Receive £36 Million From Crypto Billionaire Who Gave Farage £5m Gift

Posted on 12/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Reform UK has received a £36 million donation from a crypto billionaire who gave Nigel Farage a controversial £5m gift.

Christopher Harborne’s donation comes just hours after another crypto billionaire, Ben Delo, gave the party the same amount.

Thailand-based Harborne also gave Reform £9 million last August.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Harborne said the donation was “a philanthropic gift to our country” intended to help Reform prepare for government.

He said: “Whilst I have been making donations to Reform of around £1 million a month, Ben Delo told me he was going to make a record donation of £36 million.

“My competitive spirit inspired me to match it, so that is what I’ve done. And I hope others may join us.”

Farage said: “I am honoured and humbled that Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have shown such confidence in Reform.

“Both men know that we are the only party that can turn the country around and win the next General Election – thanks to their generosity, we are now able to fight that election on a level playing field.”

The donation means Mr Harborne retains his position as Reform’s largest donor, having already given £9 million to the party last August.

The £5 million gift from Harborne to Farage is at the centre of an investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog after the Reform leader failed to declare it in his register of interests.

In his Telegraph article announcing the donation, the billionaire said the UK needed a “profitable and dynamic economy” to be able to address the three “existential threats” of nuclear war, AI and climate change.

His donation comes a day after it was reported Delo had given £36 million to the party, saying it would ensure a “level playing field” between Reform and its opponents.

Delo, who moved back to the UK from Hong Kong in order to avoid a proposed cap on donations from overseas voters, was pardoned by US president Donald Trump last year after a conviction for violating the US Bank Secrecy Act.

The Telegraph reported he had intended to give Reform £1 million a month up until the next election, but was donating the money in a lump sum in case the government introduced a cap on all political donations.

MPs last week backed measures including a cap on overseas donations at £100,000 and a suspension of funding through cryptocurrency, but the draft legislation still needs to be passed by the House of Lords to become law.

Backbench calls for a cap on all donations have not been successful.

The twin donations offer Mr Farage’s party a boost after a summer dominated by scrutiny of Reform’s finances, including the launch of a criminal investigation into allegations it breached rules on political donations.

Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and has said it will co-operate fully with the probe.

Police Launch Investigation Into Reform UK Donations After Channel 4 Documentary

Posted on 09/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Detectives have launched an investigation into allegations that Reform UK broke the law on political donations after an undercover Channel 4 investigation.

Senior Reform officials Dan Jukes and James Orr stood down from the party after the documentary was broadcast last Thursday night.

It appeared to show them discussing with a fake American donor how he could give money to the party.

Under electoral law, all political donors must either be registered to vote in the UK or a company registered in Britain.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said they had “assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offences requiring investigation”.

Detectives are “seeking to obtain relevant footage” from last Thursday’s broadcast.

The statement added: “Detectives continue to liaise closely with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as inquiries progress.”

A Reform spokesman said: “Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully co-operate with the investigation.

“We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is under way.”

The Met is already investigating whether payments to Reform before the last election broke donation laws.

The probe is examining money given to the party by Fiona Cottrell, who is the mother of longstanding Nigel Farage ally, George Cottrell.

Detectives are also investigating payments from a company controlled by Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice, which received £1m from Fiona Cottrell in June 2024.

Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson Lisa Smart said: “We welcome the Met Police’s criminal inquiry into Reform’s finances, and if proven, Nigel Farage and his cronies should face the full force of the law.

“Every Reform MP urgently needs to state whether they or their campaigns have benefited from any foreign money.”

‘The Politics Of Poison’: Andy Burnham Condemns Anti-Migrant Protests

Posted on 07/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Andy Burnham has accused anti-migrant protesters who took to the streets of Dover and Portsmouth at the weekend of representing “the politics of poison”.

The prime minister told a meeting of Labour MPs and peers that the party must “bring hope to a divided country”.

His comments are the strongest yet in response to the demonstrations against asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France.

Large crowds of masked, black-clad men blocked road access to the Port of Dover on Saturday, in scenes which have been condemned by politicians, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

On Sunday night, another protest took place after around 140 migrants in a single dinghy were rescued in the English Channel as it headed for the Hampshire coast.

The protesters, many of them wearing masks, said they were determined to prevent authorities from transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent.

They blocked traffic along the road leading away from Eastney Marina, with photos showing police carrying riot shields forming a line and protecting a number of coaches that were parked up.

Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), Burnham said: “There’s a lot at stake and it requires us to counter fear with positivity and hope. We have a responsibility in the times that we’re living in. It’s a solemn responsibility to prevent the politics of poison seeping into our streets.

“We are here to speak to the politics of hope and of positivity.”

He added: “We have to fulfil our historic mission all over again and bring hope to a divided country. To lift people and make them feel that things are possible. That we can make people’s lives better. Make them feel that politics can work.

“We can give people a sense of positivity again. We can change this country for the better. Never accept the narrative that there’s nothing we can do.”

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