The Know Daily - Tuesday 4 June 2024

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“Fluffy and fierce” wolverines are set to return to Colorado, thanks to new legislation aimed at encouraging the alpine animal to thrive. Though native to the US state, wolverines became extinct there in the 1990s due to hunting - and an environmental expert praised the rewilding effort as a first step towards “righting a century-old wrong”.

🗳️ Election catch-up

Nigel Farage has announced he intends to stand for Reform UK in the general election, as fresh polling predicts a landslide win for Labour. 

What’s the deal with Farage?
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, the former Brexit Party and UKIP leader said he will stand as a candidate in Clacton, Essex - and take over from Richard Tice as leader of Reform UK.

In his speech, Farage claimed he had felt a “terrible sense of guilt” for not previously putting himself forward. He also described the UK contest as the “immigration election”, making several bold claims about the economy and immigration, which The Guardian has fact-checked.

What does this mean for the election?
It’s not good news for the Conservatives. Farage may well win in Clacton, and commentators agree that his standing is likely to energise Reform UK’s national campaign, splitting the rightwing vote in other seats. 

Politico’s Esther Webber pointed out that where the Tories would have wanted to challenge Labour on “immigration, crime and culture wars”, they can now themselves expect challenges from Reform UK. Farage also holds “great personal sway” with his fans, said Webber - and in becoming Reform’s leader, he will likely be able to take part in TV debates.

So what do the polls show?
YouGov yesterday released a new poll, which predicts that Labour could be heading to Downing Street with a majority of 194 seats. This would be a bigger majority than Tony Blair achieved in 1997 - and the second-largest in British political history.

And what has Labour been up to?
The party has been embroiled in an internal row in recent days. Many on the left are concerned that the party is “lurching to the political right” under Starmer’s leadership, said NBC, with a number of left-wing candidates barred from standing for Labour on 4 July.

And speaking at an event in Greater Manchester on Monday, Starmer said he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend the UK, claiming his “changed Labour party” has left behind former leader Jeremy Corbyn’s opposition to the Trident nuclear weapons programme.