Want to help the poor? Don't chase out the rich

Have you come across Gary Stevenson yet? He's a former financial trader, author and wealth tax advocate whose angry eloquence is perfect for our TikTok age. His videos, viewed almost 150 million times, warn of a rigged economic system where the rich exploit and hoard, leaving the poor assetless and adrift. It's time to tax the assets and not just income of the wealthy, he says, to restore fairness to society. Many Labour MPs agree. His message is urgent, compelling, energising — and completely wrong.
First, he's being unfair to Rachel Reeves. She's doing her level best to go after the rich: taxing private schools, hitting non-doms and pursuing radical inheritance tax reform. We can see the results already, albeit not quite the ones she

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Powys County Times

24 minutes ago

• Powys County Times

PM urges Britons to contact Foreign Office for Israel evacuation flights

The Prime Minister has urged British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to make contact with the Foreign Office as it prepares for an evacuation flight early next week. It comes after the US attacked three nuclear sites in Iran overnight and Tehran then launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel. Speaking to Sky News, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I urge all citizens to make contact with the Foreign Office so that we can facilitate whatever support is needed.' He added that the Government will help evacuate British citizens on charter flights 'as soon as we can'. Sir Keir said: 'Well for British citizens, we've been saying for some time to register their presence. 'And so far as Israel is concerned, just as soon as we can get charter flights off, we will do so.' The UK is preparing a flight to transport vulnerable British nationals and their dependants out of Israel and the OPTs early next week. British nationals in Israel and the OPTs should register their presence to receive the latest updates and register their interest in the… — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 22, 2025 The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has continued to urge British nationals to register their details and interest in evacuation flights, the first of which it said will take off early next week. It said further flights 'will be considered depending on demand and the latest security situation'. According to the Israeli Government, some 22,000 tourists are seeking to board evacuation flights. It is unclear how many of these are UK citizens. British nationals who have already registered will automatically be contacted and provided with a link to the booking portal, the FCDO said. Those eligible for the flight will be expected to pay for their seat – and payment will be taken on registration on the flight booking form. The FCDO added that those with 'greatest need' will be prioritised, and British nationals plus their non-British immediate family members travelling with them are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document, and those non-British immediate family members will require valid visas/permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months, the FCDO said. The UK has been working on charter flights for Britons in Israel but none have so far taken off as the country's airspace has been closed. Business Secretary Jonathon Reynolds told Sky News on Sunday morning: 'We are in active conversations about chartering aircraft to get people out.' Asked if that will happen imminently, Mr Reynolds said: 'I believe our intention would be to do that as soon as possible… hours, not days.' Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel told Times Radio the UK 'must not be behind the curve' in evacuating its nationals. 'The Government's got to start moving fast now in terms of British nationals in Israel,' Dame Priti said. 'They've been talking about this for days… Israeli airspace is shut down. 'The Americans are ready to evacuate 25,000 US nationals — we must not be behind the curve.' The FCDO has warned British nationals not to make their way to the airport unless they are contacted. Register your presence: — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 22, 2025 A spokesperson said: 'This is a perilous and volatile moment for the Middle East. 'The safety of British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to be our utmost priority – that's why the UK Government is preparing flights to help those wanting to leave. 'Working closely with the Israeli authorities, our staff are continuing to work at pace to assist British nationals on the ground and ensure they receive the support they need.' Commercial flights remain in operation from Egypt and Jordan to the UK, and international land border crossings to these countries remain open. The FCDO said the situation 'remains volatile' and the Government's ability to run flights out of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories 'could change at short notice'.

Telegraph

an hour ago

• Telegraph

British rocket launch backed by Labour falls further behind in space race

A British rocket start-up backed by Labour has pushed back the date of its first launch and is hunting fresh funding as the UK faces falling further behind in the space race. Orbex, which in January received a £20m investment from the taxpayer, confirmed its first test launch from the Shetland Islands would be in 2026, rather than later this year as hoped. The start-up is building its 62ft Orbex Prime rocket at a factory in Scotland, which is intended to carry small satellites into space. After securing taxpayer support, Orbex is now seeking a further £120m in funding from private investors over the next four years to bring its ambitions to reality, it said in a submission to MPs. The company is also pushing for further government backing, calling for support for its bid to build a new, larger rocket for the European Space Agency. The space organisation, of which the UK is a member, is offering companies up to £144m for its European Launcher Challenge as Europe seeks alternatives to its current reliance on Elon Musk's SpaceX. Orbex has been lobbying for Labour's £7bn National Wealth Fund to back the space sector, which it said in a consultation filing to MPs could 'level the playing field and unlock significant value for the UK economy'. The delay to Orbex's mission comes after a series of setbacks for Britain's fledgling launch industry. After a failed launch from Cornwall in 2023, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit went bankrupt. Since then, no new attempts at an orbital mission have gone ahead. Now, a number of small rocket companies are seeking to launch from UK soil, largely from Saxavord, a spaceport on the Shetland Islands, although they have faced delays. German start-up, Rocket Factory Augsburg, is still targeting a mission this year from Shetland, although its last test ended with its rocket exploding on the launchpad. Skyrora, a Scottish start-up, is hoping to launch from Shetland next year. A spokesman for Orbex said: 'There are many factors at play in determining our launch schedule, including licensing and launch logistics. This is not unusual.' The spokesman added government support would be needed to build a European rocket: 'National funding commitments and private investment will both be needed for winning bidders. 'UK Government support for our sector will send a clear signal to ESA that UK orbital launch companies like Orbex are a smart choice and long-term partner.'

The Independent

an hour ago

• The Independent

Palestine Action member says potential ban ‘absurd'

A Palestine Action member has said the governments plans to proscribe the group, effectively branding them a terrorist organisation is "absurd." Saeed Taji Farouky said it "rips apart the very basic concepts of British democracy and the rule of law... something everyone should be terrified about." It is understood the home secretary is preparing a statement to put before Parliament on Monday, after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two planes with red paint. Farouky said Palestine Action's "whole reason for being is to break the material supply chain to genocide" and said Friday's incident was an "escalation in tactics because the genocide has escalated". Israel continues to deny allegations of genocide relating to the ongoing war in Gaza.