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Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on 'what the papers don't say' - without fear or favour. To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis. Help us build the better media Britain deserves It's only been two weeks since I last wrote in these pages, but so much has happened since that even one of the most extraordinary public political spectacles in history is already old news. The Oval Office showdown between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy stunned any right-minded people watching, but incredibly, the US has since taken yet more steps to beat Ukraine into submission. The most significant was the freezing of US military aid and intelligence sharing. Ukraine is being deprived of its ability to fight back against Russia's full-scale invasion, while Moscow has yet to concede a single thing. Perhaps it's not surprising then that even British MPs and American lawmakers are questioning whether Trump is actually working for the Russians. Regardless, here's how the latest developments are being felt in Ukraine. For Ukrainian Survivors of Putin's War, Donald Trump is Yet Another Threat to Their Lives "Let the Trumpists come and spend a few days [here] and feel, hear, and see how Putin 'wants peace'" a mother of a fallen Ukrainian soldier tells Kris Parker Kris Parker The Battlefield There are potentially incredibly significant things developing on the battlefield this week as Ukraine's positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast come under intense pressure. The situation appears to have deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of days, with Moscow's forces making a concerted effort to target the logistics routes Ukraine uses to keep its troops supplied. Soldiers currently fighting there have described the situation as "critical" and said they face the threat of being cut off. According to reports, the decision by Trump to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine has been a major factor in allowing Russia to make such advances. The potential political ramifications are massive - Ukraine launched its incursion into Kursk Oblast in August and has since desperately tried to hold on to some of the Russian territory to use as a bargaining chip in peace negotiations. Last month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly said that he hopes to trade Russian territory for Ukrainian lands occupied by Russian forces. If Russia succeeds in pushing Ukraine out of Kursk Oblast, Kyiv loses one of its biggest cards in any upcoming talks. Vulnerable Cities It's not only the front lines that have been affected by the US intelligence freeze - Ukraine relies on long-range radars to monitor the launch of Russian missile attacks, and some of this information comes from American Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) planes. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russia launched yet another mass missile and drone attack against civilian infrastructure in cities across Ukraine. While the air raid alert system appeared to function, it's not known if the response was degraded due to the intelligence freeze - successful missile hits were recorded in several areas of Ukraine. 'Georgia is Descending Into a Pro-Putin Mafia State' As Trump axes all aid and humanitarian efforts grind to a halt, the country's Pro-Russian Government is cracking down on dissent, reports Will Neal Will Neal Then there's also the issue of the US military aid freeze - one of the most crucial components of US military aid are the interceptor missiles used for air defense systems like the Patriot. This is one of the few systems capable of protecting cities like Kyiv against Russian ballistic missiles, and Ukraine only has a finite supply. In Kyiv, people interviewed by the Kyiv Independent were understandably concerned about the possibility of Russian missiles landing without warning. "It will be a catastrophe," one person said....

Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on 'what the papers don't say' - without fear or favour. To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis. Help us build the better media Britain deserves The full extent of former Conservative Party Chairman, Lord Feldman's involvement in the PPE VIP lane scandal during the pandemic has been exposed by new documents released by the Covid Inquiry. Records released to the Good Law Project, following a lengthy Freedom of Information request battle in 2021, had already revealed that Feldman had referred three suppliers on the VIP lane - also known as the High Priority Lane. These firms (SG recruitment, Maxima Markets and Skinny Dip) then went on to secure lucrative PPE contracts from the former Conservative Government. However, the Covid Inquiry has now published documents that suggest the Conservative Peer's involvement in the VIP lane scandal was much more extensive. Michael Gove Told Officials to Buy 10,000 Ventilators From Dyson During Pandemic in 'Affront' to Procurement Rules Evidence published by the Covid Inquiry reveals that the Conservative Minister was "insistent that an order" was placed with leading Brexiter Sir James Dyson's firm Russell Scott Feldman was 'secretly' hired by the Department of Health and Social Care in early 2020 to advise ministers on PPE procurement. It has now been revealed that he lobbied officials on multiple occasion on behalf of another VIP lane supplier, Meller Designs - owned by Conservative Party Donor David Meller and long time acquaintance of former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove. Furthermore, evidence published by the Inquiry suggests Feldman referred a further 18 companies onto the VIP lane - albeit they didn't subsequently secure a deal. Here's what the new evidence reveals: Lord Feldman and Meller Designs On 3 April 2020, Lord Feldman and Lord Bethell emailed civil servants working in the VIP lane to chase progress on an offer of FFP3 face masks by Meller Design. The company's owner, David Meller has donated circa £60,000 to the Conservative Party. According to records, Feldman stated in his email that Mr Meller was "a good friend of Michael Gove". In early May 2020, Feldman came to Meller's rescue again after civil servants had raised concerns over the suitability of IIR Masks being proposed by Meller Design. According to a witness statement published by the inquiry, the firm needed to obtain approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), known as a "derogation" to allow the masks to be used in the NHS. Feldman lobbied officials at the Cabinet Office to "expedite the process". Feldman's Private secretary also liaised directly with officials at the MHRA to ensure the "derogation request recieve their immediate attention". Two weeks later "a contract for the type IIR masks was subsequently awarded" to Meller Designs. Meller Designss went on to secure six PPE contracts via the VIP lane worth circa £160 million in value. ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE? HELP US TO PRODUCE MORE Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account. PAY ANNUALLY - £39.50 A YEAR PAY MONTHLY - £3.75 A MONTH MORE OPTIONS We're not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe. Lord Feldman and 18 Further VIP Referrals The true extent of Lord Feldman's influence over civil servants in the VIP lane has started to emerge from the Covid Inquiry. A witness statement provided by a Cabinet Office civil servant provided explosive new evidence, namely: Lord Feldman was involved in the referral of three companies to the HPL who later received contracts, and "referred at least 18 othe...

Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on 'what the papers don't say' - without fear or favour. To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis. Help us build the better media Britain deserves Keir Starmer's Government has pledged to tackle loopholes in Britain's political funding system, amid growing concerns over foreign interference in UK political parties. MPs debated the "urgent need" to reform political finance rules on Thursday, as public trust in political parties remains at record lows. The debate followed warnings from multiple independent bodies, including the Intelligence and Security Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, about the dangers of unchecked political donations. From Z to X: How Russian Information Warfare Primed the World for Trump and Musk "Money and information are the twin tactical nukes of modern politics" according to Steve Bannon. But the the seeds for this tech dystopia were sown more than a decade ago Peter Jukes Political finance regulations have come under intense scrutiny in recent years - and are a national security issue given Russia's intense disinformation and influencing campaigns to destabilise Western democracies. It has also been given fresh urgency by suggestions that Donald Trump ally and the world's richest man, Elon Musk, is considering giving up to $100m (around £80m) to Nigel Farage's far-right Reform UK party. Transparency International UK notes there is "widespread evidence" of opaque donations, foreign interference, and unchecked big money influencing elections. Research from the non-profit campaign group revealed that nearly £1 in every £10 donated to political parties since 2013 comes from unknown or questionable sources. ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE? HELP US TO PRODUCE MORE Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account. PAY ANNUALLY - £39.50 A YEAR PAY MONTHLY - £3.75 A MONTH MORE OPTIONS We're not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe. In Thursday's debate in the main Commons chamber, MPs called on the Government to take immediate action to close legal loopholes that allow potentially dark money to flow into UK politics. Proposed reforms include: Capping political donations and spending to reduce the influence of big money. Strengthening transparency by lowering donation reporting thresholds to £500. Protecting democracy from foreign interference by ensuring corporate donations only come from UK profits and improving checks on donations made by unincorporated associations. Restoring the independence of the Electoral Commission and increasing fines for breaches to £500,000 per offence or 4% of a campaign's total spend. The Government is set to publish a document outlining its approach to elections and electoral reform before the summer recess, with legislation likely in the next King's Speech. Speaking for the Government, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Rushanara Ali MP said: "This Government [is] committed to strengthening our democracy and ensuring full participation in our elections. We will set out the Government's approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament in a published document before the summer recess." Responding to concerns over foreign donations, she added: "Foreign money has no place in the UK's political system, which is why the law is clear that foreign donations are not permitted, with the exception of donations from certain Irish sources to Northern Ireland political parties." From Murdoch to Musk: Hacking the State While the media mogul spent more than half a century building up...

Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on 'what the papers don't say' - without fear or favour. To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis. Help us build the better media Britain deserves Despite the global implications of the horrible car crash meeting in the Oval Office last week and how President Donald Trump and his Deputy JD Vance piled into President Volodymyr Zelensky, there would have been some relief among Labour's media managers. Only hours before, the Cabinet had suffered its first voluntary resignation as Anneliese Dodds stood down as International Development Secretary because of the biggest overseas aid cuts in history. It quickly lost its top billing on the news rounds - but make no mistake, this is a big deal. Labour's hard right bureaucrats will have been doubly delighted, not only did the resignation get muffled by the bullies in the White House, but another member of the 'soft left' has this time removed themselves from high office, leaving a vacancy that can be filled by a safer and sounder pair of hands. Because for the Labour First fixers, the tiny faction of old guard right wingers who now boss the party, there is only one thing worse than the hard left and that's a soft left, who are viewed as the gateway drug to the likes of Jeremy Corbyn. It's why Louise Haig was dropped so quickly and savagely from the transport post for a historic event she'd been completely transparent about. And is why there are regular briefings against Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham. 'Keir Starmer Must Embrace Proportional Representation and End the Coercive Duopoly Throttling Our Democracy' Britain will never truly change for the better as long as Britain's deeply unfair voting system remains in place, argues Neal Lawson Neal Lawson One even stated recently that Miliband was by far and away the most effective member of the Cabinet, and that's why they didn't want him to succeed - both because he offered an alternative to the left of them and because they were highly sceptical of the political value of any net zero goals. The cynicism is off the Richter scale. Dodds is one of the most unusual frontline politicians I've ever come across. To an almost unique extent, she seems devoid of the ego and hubris that goes with so many of her colleagues. It's as disarming as it is refreshing. As is the fact that she resigned on the basis of political principle. She takes with her not just her dignity and self-respect but the admiration of many across the country. She's replaced by the more compliant Baroness Jenny Chapman who helped run Keir Starmer's leadership election. On the day of her resignation over 130 aid and development organisations sent a letter to the Prime Minister bitterly making the case against the overseas aid spending cuts. This is a big and strong community in British politics, a constituency that can be mobilised in favour of progressive politics. But one that is enthusiastically alienated by the Labour machine who now seem intent on shedding any hint of progressive ideas and intent, witness the number of people from the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and radicals of no party who around discussions of a progressive alliance worry that Labour simply isn't progressive anymore. An agenda dominated by cuts, deregulation, and kicking down on migrants and asylum seekers makes it a hard one to argue against just now. 'It's Time to End the Trump Denialism and Admit the US Is No Longer Europe's Ally' Keir Starmer's attempts to be an "honest broker" with Donald Trump are doomed to failure, argues Adam Bienkov Adam Bienkov Dodds could be described as the soft end of the soft left. But this is still the heart and soul of the Labour Party membership, people who want a new social democratic settlement that makes the country more equal, democratic and sustain...

Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on 'what the papers don't say' - without fear or favour. To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis. Help us build the better media Britain deserves Nigel Farage's Reform Party is the biggest far-right political threat to Britain, according to a report by Britain's leading anti-fascist group. HOPE not hate's State of Hate 2025 report , billed as the "most comprehensive and analytical guide to the far-right in Britain today", comes in the wake of last summer's riots and waves of extremist sentiment being stirred up by media personalities and billionaires, like Elon Musk. The report, Reform Rising and Racist Riots, highlights a stark change in the far-right landscape from 2024, which focused on an increasingly radicalised Conservative Party. With the Conservatives sidelined, and right wing politicians having lost their seats or defected to Reform, the focus has shifted onto more pressing threats, split into three prominent areas. First, the rise of Reform as a political force, from securing five parliamentary seats at the last General Election, which would have been inconceivable just a few weeks earlier, before Farage decided to take the helm. Then, there's the support it is likely to receive from malign actors with undue influence, like Musk. After securing 4.1 million votes, 14% of the total, Reform's results represent the biggest win for a far-right party ever at the ballot box. The Party also came in second in 98 constituencies (89 of which were secured by Labour) and secured over 20% of the vote in 148, all despite lacking any real political infrastructure or informed data-led insights. Since the election, the party has been establishing hundreds of local branches, and increasing its activists on-the-ground. It now claims to have over 219,000 members and is recruiting more seasoned campaigners to fight the upcoming local and mayoral elections. The Party is also regularly topping opinion polls, and according to HOPE not hate polling, could secure 169 seats if a General Election was held today. Going forward, the party is likely, the report explains, to also receive the backing of Musk, either directly through donations or via his manipulation of the algorithm on X to favour the party, part of a trend of his weaponising influence to promote far-right parties across Europe. It remains to be seen, however, how this will affect Reform, as the majority of the country dislikes Musk and disapproves of him meddling in our politics. The report also highlights the return of currently incarcerated far-right agitator Stephen Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson), who Musk has also been championing. In July 2024, Lennon held the largest far-right demonstration seen in the UK for decades in central London, attended by as many as 30,000 people and watched by 500,000 over livestream. During the event, he thanked Musk for restoring his X account, where his extremist content reaches millions. EXCLUSIVE Tommy Robinson Supporters Network Has Links to Neo-Nazi Groups and a Library of Terrorism Manuals A Byline Times investigation finds members have access to an online library of bomb-making manuals, and instructions for assembling home-made firearms Katherine Denkinson In January, it was reported that Musk was to start funding Lennon, as he called for his release from prison, triggering a backlash from parliamentarians. The move caused a rift between Musk and Farage, who was forced to distance himself from the comments, causing the billionaire to, for a time, call for Farage's replacement as Reform leader. Lennon, who is currently serving time for contempt of court, is due to be released as soon as this summer. HOPE not hate's report also reflects on how the riots - which erupted across 18 towns and cities across England in July and Augus...