Odd vibe as PM launches huge attack against Farage - as top Tory confronts Tube fare dodgers

Have your say: Was senior Tory right to confront Tube fare dodgers?

Robert Jenrick is keeping himself busy during the Westminster recess by confronting fare dodgers on the Tube.

He says it's an example of low level crime going unpunished, and wants his latest social media video to raise awareness of it.

What do you make of his tactics? Should politicians be taking matters like this into their own hands? Do you share his concerns about such offences? Or is it all just a bit of desperate attention seeking?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments box above, and we'll share some over the course of the afternoon.

'Bravo' or 'hypocritical stunt'? Your views on Jenrick vs the fare dodgers

Robert Jenrick confronting people he says have been dodging fares on London's Tube network has divided our readers so far.

Some of you think he's right to have done so… 

Jake is less convinced it was a wise move…

And others reckon there's some rank hypocrisy on display...

Thanks to everyone who's submitted a comment - we'll share more later this afternoon!

Dominic Cummings: If Farage listens to me, he'll be the next PM

Nigel Farage could "definitely" become prime minister at the next general election.

That's according to Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, who says he has held meetings with the Reform leader and advised him on how to win the keys to Downing Street.

On the Sky News Daily, Liz Bates speaks to Cummings about the current state of British politics, why the public feels let down, and who Farage needs to recruit if he wants to be the next prime minister.

Warning: contains strong language.

Reform denies being Truss 2.0 - but celebrates backing from mini-budget defenders

One of the attacks the prime minister is launching at Nigel Farage and Reform is they are a re-running of the Truss mini-budget.

The PM is pointing to billions of pounds of unfunded spending pledges around benefits.

Defending his party was Reform chairman Zia Yusuf - who is not an elected politician.

He told broadcasters: "Well, actually, the CPS and the IEA, two extremely reputable think tanks, actually published some commentary complimenting our proposals."

The Centre For Policy Studies and Institute For Economic Affairs are not politically neutral operations, and are both linked to the right wing of British politics.

It is not uncommon for Conservative politicians to have worked for either one, and they also contribute to the policy ideas.

Back in the heady days of 2022, when Liz Truss was prime minister and the economy spiralled, the CPS's chief economist said the mini-budget was "the best fiscal statement in years".

And many of the policies Truss champion proposed and backed by the IEA.

So celebrating their support might not be the trump card Yusuf was hoping it to be.

Jenrick vs the fare dodgers another sign he still wants top job

Today's video of Robert Jenrick confronting fare dodgers on the Tube is the latest from the Conservative shadow justice secretary that's trying to tap into the well documented frustrations many have in the country that low level crime is eroding away at civil society.

Being tough on crime is not an unusual stance for any politician to adopt, but what's a bit different about this approach is Jenrick is packaging up the message in a slick and provocative format that's explicitly designed for social media.

It has the effect of appealing to supporters while also enraging critics, giving the end result of boosting its prominence online and boosting the profile of this ambitious frontbencher too.

Reports he still really wants Kemi Badenoch's job aren't going anywhere, having lost out in last year's Tory leadership contest.

What has Nigel Farage promised to prompt PM's attack?

There's absolutely no attack line Keir Starmer enjoys using more than comparing someone to Liz Truss - truly no surer sign that he doesn't like you very much.

The prime minister dedicated an entire speech today to going on the attack against Nigel Farage, saying his economic plans resemble another "Liz Truss experiment" that risk crashing the economy.

What has Farage proposed?

In a speech earlier this week, Farage said a Reform government would reverse the winter fuel cut, scrap the two-child benefit cap, and introduce tax breaks for married couples to help them start a family.

He was pretty wishy-washy on how he'd pay for them, suggesting cutting net zero policies, accommodation for asylum seekers, and diversity initiatives would be enough.

And he's long talked about wanting to hike the salary allowance at which people start paying tax to £20,000.

Speaking to our political correspondent Tamara Cohen, he said think tanks have told him scrapping DEI initiatives could save £7bn, and slashing the net zero plans would be more like £45bn.

"Plenty of money in the bank," he claimed (watch more below).

What would it cost?

The winter fuel and two-child cap moves alone would cost billions of pounds - especially given on the former, he wants to reinstate it in full.

The PM has talked about wanting to make it available to more people, with critics suggesting his government was far too strict when it started means-testing the benefit last year.

On increasing the income tax allowance, the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that it would cost between £50bn and £80bn a year.

So, all a bit Trussy?

That's what Starmer would have you believe - he says unfunded tax cuts without proper funding plans is exactly what was wrong with the ex-PM's infamous mini budget.

And he thinks the same is true of Farage's plans. He's pointed out the Reform leader praised the mini budget at the time, calling it the best of its kind for decades. It included £45bn of unfunded tax cuts.

PM's speech had an odd premise - and an odd vibe too

Our political correspondent Rob Powell was listening to the prime minister speak just now, in an event where Sir Keir Starmer launched a huge salvo of attacks against Nigel Farage.

Rob says the speech was based on an "odd premise" and had an "odd vibe", especially at this stage of a government's lifespan.

It felt similar to a final speech in an election campaign, says Rob, "when they've been desperately trying to narrow the polls, and they're trying at the last minute to unsettle people from voting for that nearest rival".

But the reality is Labour has 400+ MPs and Farage has five.

"But clearly a decision has been made in Number 10 to come out fighting, not to just sit back and focus on what the government is doing," says Rob.

"So you had a whole speech there trying to link Nigel Farage to Liz Truss, saying his promises he's making on tax cuts on benefits were uncosted."

Tories 'sliding into abyss', says Starmer - with Labour and Reform the two options left

Sir Keir Starmer is asked whether Reform UK and Nigel Farage are now Labour's biggest opposition.

The PM doesn't hold back on the Conservatives with his response, saying the party has "run out of road" and its "project is faltering".

"They're in decline," he says. "They're sliding into the abyss. And it's very important therefore that we say that and identify that."

Sir Keir says politics "is about choice" and the only choice for voters at the moment is between Labour and Reform.

Does Farage understand voters better than Starmer?

The PM is asked whether Nigel Farage understands voters better than he does.

Starmer says it's important to remind everybody of the "absolute mess" the government inherited when it came into power.

"Our job was to pick that up and turn it around," he says. "And that involved tough decisions. But we did that because we knew that the foundation of economic stability is the single most important thing. 

"I vowed that people would never be put through the Liz Truss experiment ever again. And the reason I'm speaking out today in relation to Nigel Farage is precisely because that's what the policies he outlined this week risk for our country."

-SKY NEWS