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Adam Vaughan

@adamvaughan.bsky.social
15K followers 815 following 853 posts

Environment Editor at The Times. Clean it Up water campaign. When not working, usually running. Previously New Scientist and Guardian. adam.vaughan@thetimes.co.uk Insta: www.instagram.com/adamvaughanjourna…

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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Britain will not deploy controversial technologies designed to bounce sunlight away from the Earth and cool the planet, the government has said www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Installing solar panels and a battery in a UK home saves £681 a year on average, the first study of its kind has found: www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Solar panels and a battery cut energy bills by two thirds
Private installations reduce costs even during winter months and would pay for themselves in 17 years, researchers found after analysing data from bills
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Reposted by Adam Vaughan
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 10/09/2026
🚨 Last month was easily the hottest August on record globally. In fact, it was over 0.1°C warmer than the prior record (2023/2024)! This was estimated to be about 1.65°C warmer than a pre-industrial (1850-1900) average Summary by @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social at climate.copernicus.eu/surface-air-...
Orthographic map showing 2-m air temperature anomalies in August 2026 relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. This visualization shows North and South America. Most all areas are warmer than average.Orthographic map showing 2-m air temperature anomalies in August 2026 relative to a 1981-2010 baseline using ERA5 data. This visualization shows Africa, Europe, and western Asia. Most areas are warmer than average.Orthographic map showing 2-m air temperature anomalies in August 2026 relative to a 1981-2010 baseline using ERA5 data. This visualization shows Australia, Antarctica, and Asia. Most areas are warmer than average, except for parts the Antarctic.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Climate protesters who were attacked while disrupting Nigel Farage’s speech at the Reform UK conference have called on Robert Jenrick to apologise for “trivialising” the violence. @ben-cooke.bsky.social reports 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Activists attacked at Reform conference demand apology from Robert Jenrick
The climate protesters, who interrupted Nigel Farage’s speech, accuse the party’s economics spokesman of ‘trivialising’ the violence from audience members
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The UK is loaning £400m to the TFFF, Brazil's pioneering fund to fight deforestation of rainforests. Make of this what you will, but this got go-ahead under Burnham less than two months after he became PM. Under Starmer, it was deemed bad optics to loan £400m for trees ahead of the autumn budget.
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 02/09/2026
Global warming is set to cross 1.5°C, pushing climate risks and impacts to increasingly dangerous heights, a new UNEP report warns.   Predicted impacts include extreme weather and threats to human health and economies.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
UK prime minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he will attend #COP31, the climate conference in Nov. Interesting he chose to announce it early, to avoid any "will-he-won't-he" stories as has happened with previous PMs. Also deliberate bit of climate leadership as he could've just sent Miliband.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The Forestry Commission barred public access to some of its forests over fears that warning signs would not be enough to avoid the risk of people accidentally starting wildfires. Interview with new FC chair, Baroness Young 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Public banned from Forestry Commission land over wildfire fears
Barbara Young, chair of the commission, calls for firebreaks, lakes in woodlands and aerial support to combat blazes
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
@zackpolanski.bsky.social: Put the brakes on data centres due to climate and water impact The Greens and @friends-earth.bsky.social are calling for a moratorium until environmental concerns are addressed 👇 ttps://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/zack-polanski-data-centres-greens-vsz2jmv0l
thetimes.com
Zack Polanski: Put the brakes on data centres due to climate impact
Green Party leader warns of water shortages and higher energy bills, after it was revealed that nearly 200 more centres are being built
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Simon Birkett, Clean Air in London @cleanairlondon.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Must-read by @adamvaughan.bsky.social | Defra launches sign-up texts for ‘HIGH’ days but still refuses to alert the news media or match warnings issued during all other ‘RED’ weather events eg rain. Simon Birkett says he’s “furious” about it cc @metoffice.gov.uk @carolinerussell.bsky.social
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The gap between deaths linked to the coldest and hottest days has narrowed in England and Wales as a growing proportion is estimated to be due to extreme heat. Heat-related deaths are starting to converge with those from cold as climate change continues, says ONS 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Heat-related deaths rising as sweltering summers become the norm
The number of deaths linked to hot weather is catching up to those linked to cold snaps, which used to be far higher, the Office for National Statistics says
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
What should we expect from this year’s “super” El Niño? Listen on the @thetimes.com The Story podcast 🎧🌍 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com
Why an extreme weather pattern has everyone worried
Podcast Episode · The Story · 25 August · 23min
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The world's oceans had their warmest day on record on Saturday, due to a combination of climate change and El Niño. Full details via @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social data site here: pulse.climate.copernicus.eu
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
No, a little bit of rain doesn't overturn months of below average rainfall. South East England, where I live, has had 5% of the rainfall it would usually have in August. We are going to be living with drought & restrictions for a while... www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Dry weather and drought in England: 14 to 20 August 2026
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
A Reform UK council has been warned that its cuts to net zero plans could end walking and cycling schemes, putting more children at risk of air pollution, car accidents and obesity. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Cut net zero schemes and you risk harming children, Reform council told
The party in Essex has been warned against ending walking and safe cycling projects in attempt to save £3 million
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
London's clean air zone linked to improvement in health of London children’s lungs www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Here's how the extreme heat and drought have affected farming in England this summer. “I feel like we are in unknown territory,” said @tommlancaster.bsky.social. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
How close are we to running out of food because of the drought?
As heatwaves become more frequent, leaving fields parched, struggling farmers warn ‘we are in unknown territory’
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Firefighters were warning a year ago about exactly the sort of grassland wildfires in the Midlands yesterday. "Homes on the edge of towns ‘will soon be at risk of wildfires’", story from April 2025: www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Homes on the edge of towns ‘will soon be at risk of wildfires’
After a surge in spring fires up and down the country, firefighters are looking abroad for ways to prevent and fight the flames
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Don’t give in to North Sea oil lobby, climate scientists urge minister. “Atmospheric physics doesn’t care about what pleases the industry or is perceived as politically palatable,” said @profbillmcguire.bsky.social @frediotto.bsky.social & more Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Don’t give in to North Sea oil lobby, climate scientists urge minister
More than 50 researchers have written to Miatta Fahnbulleh to tell her that the evidence does not support approval of drilling at Jackdaw and Rosebank
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Homeowners will be encouraged to lease their electric car chargers to neighbours to cope with demand from motorists. Story feat @joelteague.bsky.social, @thecccuk.bsky.social and Louise Marix Evans 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/transport...
thetimes.com
Share your car charger to ease growing demand, say climate advisers
Letting neighbours use a home electric vehicle charger may encourage those without driveways to switch to greener cars as the UK tries to hit ambitious targets
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The UK's record heatwaves have made a chunk of voters more worried about climate change and impatient for help from the government Public First polling for Politico found - 36% now more supportive of renewables - over 40% now more concerned about climate www.politico.eu/article/heat...
politico.eu
The heat waves are Andy Burnham’s problem now
Worried voters want action on air conditioning and more clean power, polling shows.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
100+ travel companies are advertising a Thai resort where an abused elephant killed a British tourist. Tripadvisor, Expedia, Marriott Bonvoy and Booking.com all took down ads for Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden after @ben-cooke.bsky.social contacted them 👇 www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
booking.com
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
As efforts to alleviate the effects of climate change go, delivering a small jolt of electricity to clouds is among the more outlandish. Yet that’s exactly what British scientists hope to do next year as part of a £57 million programme to cool the planet. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
This summer's first two heatwaves led to more than 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales, experts have estimated. Toll likely to go up due to third heatwave in July, @frediotto.bsky.social said this morning. www.thetimes.com/uk/weather/a...
thetimes.com
North Wales wildfire: UK on alert as heatwaves blamed for 2,700 deaths
UK wildfire alert as residents near Conwy Mountain in north Wales evacuated. See forecast map of fire risk severity
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
A rare extreme marine heatwave has arrived around the UK coast More on what this means in story earlier this week: bsky.app/profile/adam...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
🌊Some good news for a Friday. The UK has ratified the high seas treaty (BBNJ to the ocean wonks) Britain a little late to the party. The treaty came into force this year after 60 countries ratified it last year. UK should take ratification total to 92 countries. www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
World’s ocean to be better protected as UK ratifies landmark treaty
UK ratifies the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Sizewell B nuclear plant to stay open 20 years longer than planned www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Sizewell B nuclear plant to stay open 20 years longer than planned
The Suffolk power station will continue generating electricity until 2055 under a provisional deal as other sites are being built
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
@frediotto.bsky.social: “If you don't want to live in a world that gets hotter and hotter, then there is just no other way than getting to net zero. It's not an ideological question." Story in Times T2, pick up a copy in print today. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
linkedin.com
I had my first story in The Times features supplement T2 today. It's an interview with Friederike Otto, professor of climate science at Imperial College London. She talks heatwaves, the causes, Wo...
I had my first story in The Times features supplement T2 today. It's an interview with Friederike Otto, professor of climate science at Imperial College London. She talks heatwaves, the causes, World ...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Britain is facing a very rare “extreme” marine heatwave that scientists warn could be the country’s worst on record. They said the exceptional sea temperatures could result in mass die-offs of fish and be contributing to the warm nights on land. Story: www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Anyone finding their fruit trees are ripening much earlier than usual, because of the ongoing hot and sunny weather? I'd like to hear your UK examples, please, for a The Times story later this week. Drop me a message here or email me (adam.vaughan@thetimes.co.uk).
(Photo here of "Impossible - 100 apples, 1000 cherries" by Fabrice Hybert which is at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris)
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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 06/07/2026
NEW and EXCLUSIVE: One of the UK's most powerful supercomputers, called Dawn, spent a week offline after the late June heatwave. Uni of Cambridge says full cooling capacity for Dawn and other affected services has now been restored... My first for @thetimes.com: www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
thetimes.com
AI supercomputer shuts down in heatwave and cancer work is on hold
University of Cambridge says access to Dawn will be restored after technical problems during last month’s record-breaking temperatures
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Some Tuesday joy. Great video of beaver kits recently born at @healrewilding.org.uk in Somerset www.youtube.com/watch?v=twef...
youtube.com
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 beaver kits
YouTube video by Heal Rewilding
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Thames Water has significantly slowed the rate at which it reports pollution incidents to the authorities, figures released under transparency laws reveal. One campaigner accused the company of showing “contempt for the public”. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
This is very effective Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years
Guardian recreates audio landscape of past filled by loud morning symphony before 73m wild birds were lost
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The UK public's concern about climate change and support for renewable energy remain high, a long-running attitude tracker finds. Latest polling undertaken in March and April. www.gov.uk/government/s...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The UK government has gutted a £90m fund to save the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest. Boris Johnson first announced the support at the #COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Story here 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Ministers cut £90m fund earmarked to save crucial African rainforest
The collapse of the Congo Basin rainforest could lead to a rise in extremism and disruption to critical supply chains, according to a government report
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🌊 Ocean alert ⏰ The global average sea surface temperature hit a record high for June, of 21C. Meanwhile, parts of UK seas are 5C warmer than average for this time of year. climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-m...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
NEW Britain will make supermarkets stamp out ingredients in chocolate, shampoo and other products linked to the destruction of the world’s rainforests. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Supermarkets to ban ingredients linked to rainforest destruction
Regulations will target commodities such as palm oil and cocoa in everyday goods to clean up corporate supply chains and show Britain is ‘leading by example’
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Think this week is hot in the UK? In 30 years' time this could look mild, according to a new @metoffice.gov.uk forecast of a 1976-style heatwave in 2056. The forecast suggested a peak of 45C and nine consecutive days at more than 40C. Story soon.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Battery boom! 🔋UK household battery installations nearly double during Iran war 🔋Grid scale battery capacity has overtaken nuclear Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Plug-in solar panels costing only hundreds of pounds are poised to go on sale within months after a review found they were safe to use in the UK. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Plug-in solar panels on sale ‘within months’ after safety nod
Costing hundreds of pounds rather than thousands, the panels could help consumers offset the rise in energy bills when the price cap increases next month
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Any decision to lower the UK’s electric vehicle sales targets will give Chinese car manufacturers an edge and cost billions of pounds in investment, the government has been warned. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/transport...
thetimes.com
Relaxing electric vehicle target ‘will only aid Chinese firms’
Plans to water down the zero-emission vehicle mandate will cost billions of investment in British industry, a report has warned
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
A water company has pledged to restore Windermere to its natural levels of cleanliness through a seven-year mega-project that will divert pollution away from England’s largest lake Story feat @savewindermere.bsky.social 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Windermere ‘super-sewer’ plan to clean up England’s largest lake
A mega-project modelled on the Thames Tideway would aim to restore the health of the freshwater body after years of polluting sewage spills by United Utilities
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
A marine heatwave around the British Isles could have contributed to the UK's record 35.1C heatwave on land last month, according to scientists. Story feat @oceanterra.org & @noc.ac.uk 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Cattle vaccination should replace badger culls to end bovine TB, expert panel recommends www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Vaccination ‘should replace badger culls’ to end bovine TB
Experts have drawn up a 12-year plan to eradicate the disease and stop the slaughter of tens of thousands of cows a year
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
NEW Officials have admitted Britain’s data centre boom could draw 40 per cent more electricity than thought a few months ago, a surge that could push up energy bills. Story 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Data centre boom may need 40% more energy than previously thought
The increased demand, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, could push up household bills, campaigners say
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Almost four times as many areas of England are suffering from illegal levels of air pollution than official government figures suggest, according to local data. @asthmaandlung.org.uk & @healthyairuk.bsky.social accuse the govt of downplaying the scale of pollution. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The UK government has laid legislation to adopt a target of an 87% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Energy secretary Ed Miliband says the Iran war has made the case for the goal "stronger than ever". questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
England just had its warmest spring on record. The record was last set in spring 2025. Before that, spring 2024. 9 of the 10 warmest springs have occurred since 2007. It's almost like there's a long-term driver causing this... www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
NEW The UK will adopt one of the world’s most ambitious climate targets as Labour takes on Reform opposition to net zero and moves to neuter the Green Party’s rise. Ministers have accepted @thecccuk.bsky.social's recommendation for an 87% cut in emissions by 2040 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Labour to adopt some of world’s most ambitious climate targets
No 10 moves to lock in sweeping emissions cuts, seeking to outflank the Greens on net zero while setting up a clash with Reform UK and the Tories
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