Open Britain Reading

02/09/2026

Führage thinks rules don’t apply to him👇😖

“Anyone looking to film or take pictures on the parliamentary estate requires permission from parliamentary authorities.
In particular, there is sensitivity around the rooftop of the historic building due to safety and security concerns.”

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/nigel-farage-breaks-parliamentary-rules-on-first-day-back-409317/

On his first day back after a by-election he called because of allegations he had broken parliamentary rules, Nigel Farage appears to have broken parliamentary rules.

02/09/2026

This week’s edition of “Another one bites the dust”👇👋

Another one bites the dust. Solihull edition. 👀

Reform UK councillor Eleonora Gough has resigned from the Reform group on Solihull Council and will now sit as an independent.

And her resignation letter makes for some pretty grim reading.

She says the group has become:

👉 Divisive and unprofessional
👉 “Toxic and hostile” towards anyone who disagrees with its leader
👉 No longer conducive to good working relationships

She also says the impact on her mental health and wellbeing has been “significant”.

And perhaps most tellingly:

“I am not the first to reach this conclusion, and I doubt I will be the last.”

Another Reform councillor gone.

And yes, we’ve got Queen cued up for the next one. 👀🎶

Reform are not your friends.

02/09/2026

Yet the red lines still exist…👇🤦🏻 🇪🇺

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “It’s hugely welcome to hear a prime minister stand at the despatch box and say loudly and clearly that Brexit harmed Britain; far from taking back control, it shrank our economy, left us poorer, weaker, less safe and more divided.
If Burnham is serious about delivering a politics done differently – and giving the public what our polling proves they want more of – he must keep all options on the table to single-mindedly pursue the profound economic transformation – some £92bn at the very least – that rejoining the EU would mean for our economy, while persuading progressives who have abandoned the party to trust Labour with their votes.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-burnham-uk-growth-first-commons-statement-b3042922.html

Now that the Brexiters are out of government, he can say it.

'Andy Burnham has lashed out at the legacy of Brexit, saying it “ushered in a decade of low growth” which the UK is still paying for, as he made his first statement as prime minister to the Commons.

In an unexpected attack on the legacy of leaving the EU, he listed the “series of wrong turns” the UK has made since the 1980s and warned Brexit had embedded the problems caused by over-centralisation of government, deindustrialisation and privatisation of industry.'

Click for full image. Link in comments.

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

Now the investigation into Farage’s £5 million b**g begins…👇🍿

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/farage-heckled-westminster-clacton-election-37615478?

Returning to Westminster after defeating a candidate dressed as a bin, Nigel Farage was heckled by fellow MPs in the Commons as he returned to Parliament to be sworn in following the Clacton by-election. ‼️

The Reform UK leader was sworn in on Tuesday after winning the £250,000 contest he triggered in his Essex constituency. 💰

He had previously quit his seat in protest after facing questions regarding a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.

He boasted at the time that he was free to spend the cash on Ferraris or horse racing.

As the Speaker called for the MP who wanted to take his seat to come forward, an MP called out "who is it", prompting laughter across the Commons chamber.

After he completed his oath, another MP shouted "until the next by-election".

He walked into the chamber flanked by Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice and Tory defector Andrew Rosindell.

All major political parties boycotted the contest, calling it a gimmick to distract from the probe into his finances.

His main challenger was parody candidate Count Binface, whom he defeated by a majority of 12,784.

A Labour Party spokesperson said he should "drop the excuses, come clean and finally take some responsibility."

"Fighting a bin didn't clear his name – it just proved he had so much more to hide," the spokesperson added.

A Commons probe into his failure to declare the seven-figure donation was automatically paused when he resigned, but it has now restarted following his re-election.

Parliament's sleaze watchdog is continuing to investigate the matter, while the Electoral Commission is also considering whether to launch its own investigation.

02/09/2026

Tune in…

01/09/2026

By-election incoming…👇

Starmer said he will “focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.”

He added: “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.

“It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP.

“So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.”

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/keir-starmer-announces-he-is-standing-down-as-mp-409299/

Keir Starmer has announced he is standing down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 11 years representing the constituency.

01/09/2026

What could possibly go wrong?👇🤦🏻

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/kemi-badenoch-reshuffle-sacks-mel-stride-shadow-chancellor-b3042125.html

🚨 NEW: Kemi Badenoch has brought one of Liz Truss’s former Treasury ministers back to the heart of Conservative economic policy.

New shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith was economic secretary to the Treasury during the Truss government and worked in the Treasury during the disastrous mini-Budget.

He replaces Mel Stride in Badenoch’s major reshuffle.