News

‘Decency or division’: Starmer sets battle lines with Farage at Labour conference

Published

2 months ago

September 30, 2025

Prime minister warns of era-defining choice for Britain in fiery speech

KEIR STARMER has warned that Britain faces an “era-defining” choice between Labour and the populist right, launching a scathing attack on Nigel Farage at the party’s annual conference.

Addressing delegates in Liverpool on Tuesday (Sep 30), the prime minister accused the Reform UK leader of being a “snake oil merchant” who neither “liked nor believed in Britain”.

“This is a fight for the soul of our country every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war,” he told supporters waving flags from across the UK. “We can choose decency or division, renewal or decline.”

Starmer’s speech was light on policy detail but marked a more combative tone ahead of the next general election. He warned that the road ahead “will not be easy”, with difficult decisions to come in the autumn budget, but insisted Labour offered the only credible path to national renewal.

He said: “We must never find ourselves defending a status quo that has failed working people. The path of the populist right leads only to ruin, to chaos, to Britain being poorer in every sense.”

The Labour leader contrasted his vision of a “proud, tolerant, diverse” country with what he described as Farage’s politics of grievance. “Do they love our country, or do they just want to stir the pot of division?” he asked.

Starmer condemned racism outright, declaring: “If you think Britishness depends on the colour of your skin – that’s racism. You are the enemy and we will fight you.”

He also sought to reclaim patriotic symbols, describing Labour as the “patriotic party” and linking his vision of Britain to “the grit of the Lionesses, the swagger of Oasis, the strength of the Red Roses”.

The speech included a list of Labour’s achievements since coming to power, such as nationalising British Steel, scrapping zero-hours contracts and extending free school meals. He confirmed a new skills policy, replacing Tony Blair’s university target with an aim for two-thirds of young people to pursue either degrees or “gold standard apprenticeships” by 2040.

Farage responded with a live broadcast, promising to “teach Starmer a lesson next May that British political history will never forget”. He accused the prime minister of endangering his campaigners, claiming Starmer’s remarks would “incite the radical left”.

Ministry of Defence

Castlemartin range set for heavy activity as winter live-fire exercise begins

Published

12 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Army warns of late-night firing and increased traffic

CASTLEMARTIN Training Area will be extremely busy over the next few weeks as the Army begins a major live-fire exercise running from now until to 5 December.

The winter training block will see troops carrying out critical preparation ahead of future deployments, with extensive armoured manoeuvres and both daytime and night-time firing.

Extended firing hours

Live firing will take place between the following times:

Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Tuesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

There will be no live firing at weekends, although military vehicles will still be moving around the area.

Residents are being reminded that these times are the earliest and latest possible firing windows. Not every day will start or finish at the maximum hours listed.

Traffic expected on rural roads

The Army says there will be increased vehicle movements on local roads—particularly in Angle, Castlemartin and the Freshwater West area—in the week leading up to the exercise and throughout the training period.

A spokesperson said the support of local people is appreciated: “These exercises are essential for maintaining readiness and ensuring our troops are fully trained for any future operational requirement.”

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

13 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

13 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.