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Farage Says Reform to Replace Traditional Tory Party

Farage expressed little astonishment that Conservative MPs were defecting to Reform, citing the latter’s greater dynamism.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has stated that his party is poised to supplant the traditional Conservative party, which he characterizes as outdated.

Nigel Farage gesticulates in the Political Thinking studio. He wears a dark navy suit with a blush pink shirt and a violet tie. — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

In recent months, several high-profile Conservatives, including Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Danny Kruger, and former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, have defected to Reform UK.

Notably, Farage's party now boasts a greater number of former cabinet members from Liz Truss's administration than Kemi Badenoch's current shadow cabinet.

When questioned by Nick Robinson on Radio 4's Political Thinking, Farage downplayed the significance of Conservative MPs joining Reform UK, suggesting it was a natural consequence of the party's appeal.

Farage predicts that the upcoming Scottish, Welsh, and English council elections in May will mark a significant decline in support for the two major parties in British politics, ultimately leading to the demise of the Tories as a national force.

According to Farage, Reform UK represents a revitalized center-right movement, bringing a renewed sense of energy and passion to the political landscape.

Following Robert Jenrick's defection in mid-January, Farage hinted at an imminent defection from the Labour party, sparking speculation about potential new recruits.

One month later, Farage reiterated his expectation of multiple Labour defections to Reform UK, although he declined to provide a specific timeline.

He cautioned that such developments often unfold gradually, saying, "I haven't got a magic wand. Things don't always happen immediately, but it will happen."

The next key electoral test for Reform UK will be the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester, scheduled for Thursday, 26 February, where Farage hopes his candidate, Matthew Goodwin, can secure the party's ninth parliamentary seat.

During the campaign, Goodwin sparked controversy by suggesting that some UK-born individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds may not necessarily identify as British, prompting questions about the definition of Britishness.

When asked to clarify his stance on the issue, Farage proposed that the true test of British identity lies in an individual's instinctive response to the question of their nationality.

According to Farage, one must instinctively identify as British to be considered part of the national community, saying, "You've got to instinctively respond 'I'm British' to be part of it."

Farage framed nationality as an extension of familial identity, emphasizing the importance of shared values and priorities.

He argued that Reform UK's vision of Britishness is inclusive, citing the party's performance in the 2024 general election, where it allegedly garnered more votes from the Black, Asian, and minority Ethnic community than the Liberal Democrats.

Farage attributed the erosion of British identity to a "Marxist… poisoning of the minds," criticizing the teaching of "twisted interpretations" of British history in schools and universities.

He expressed concern that some individuals in the UK have been indoctrinated to harbor negative feelings towards their country, saying, "I think the concern and the worry is there are a lot of people here who have been brought up to actually loathe the country."

Farage also expressed support for Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently sparked controversy by suggesting that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants."

Although Sir Jim apologized for any offense caused by his remarks, which were criticized by the prime minister, Farage defended the sentiment behind the comment, saying it was "accurate and right" if one disregards the term "colonise."

Farage cited east London, where signs in foreign languages are common, as an example of how mass migration has led to the transformation of certain areas, making them "unrecognisable" and ultimately harming the country.

The Reform UK leader contended that Sir Jim's comments, though provocative, highlighted the need for an open debate on the impact of immigration.

A Labour spokesperson responded by highlighting the significant number of former Conservative MPs and councillors who have joined Reform UK, questioning the party's potential impact on public services.

The spokesperson argued that the presence of former Tories in Reform UK's ranks raises concerns about the party's intentions, saying, "You simply can't trust them" due to their past records.

The BBC has reached out to the Conservative party for comment on the developments.

A comprehensive list of candidates for the Gorton and Denton by-election can be found on the BBC's website.

To stay informed about the latest political developments, readers can sign up for the Politics Essential newsletter, which provides in-depth analysis and insights from across the UK, delivered directly to their inbox every weekday.

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Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards — James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026 — Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

News

Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

News

FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.