The Daily Trend

Today’s news, with the data and without the spin

Reform UK Donations Investigation — Evening Standard

L 25%

12%

R 63%

13 articles across 8 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

Sentiment

Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 13 articles

What happened

The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into Reform UK over allegations of illegal foreign donations. The inquiry follows an undercover Channel 4 News broadcast that allegedly showed senior party officials discussing how to disguise foreign payments. Reform UK denies wrongdoing and says it will fully cooperate with the investigation. Police say they have identified potential electoral law offences requiring investigation.

Donations by Party

Reportable donations accepted by each party in each calendar year, back to the register's start in 2001. Election years spike, because that is when parties raise and spend. Public funding is excluded, as is money from impermissible or unidentified donors, which a party must return rather than keep. A year appears once the register covers it in full.

Reform UK · 2025£18,706,062

Conservative · 2025£14,009,069

Labour · 2025£8,985,417

Liberal Democrat · 2025£5,036,762

SNP · 2025£52,476

Green · 2025£345,376

Reform UKConservativeLabourLiberal DemocratSNPGreen

ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Electoral Commission register of donations

Coverage: Great Britain

See the full data

How each side sees it

Left
Headline
Police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations after undercover sting
The Independent
Summary
The Independent and HuffPost UK reported that police launched a criminal investigation after a Channel 4 undercover documentary. Both outlets noted the Metropolitan Police said there were potential offences requiring investigation.
Sentiment
Across left-leaning outlets · 2 articles
Centre
Headline
Police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations
BBC News
Summary
BBC News covered the police investigation into Reform UK donations, reporting it followed the Channel 4 broadcast and was being folded into an existing inquiry.
Sentiment
Across centre outlets · 1 article
Right
Headline
Reform UK under criminal investigation amid allegations of donation rules breach
Evening Standard
Summary
Evening Standard ran multiple reports on the police investigation, including Reform UK's denial of wrongdoing and commitment to cooperate with the probe.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 10 articles

Other News

The next most-covered stories, measured the same way. Each one sits on a board where the numbers behind it live.

Trending · Transport
Air Traffic Control
C 33%
R 67%
5 articles across 3 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage
Sentiment
Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 5 articles
Trending · Transport
Air Traffic Control
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told MPs an air traffic control failure that caused over 2,000 flight cancellations was avoidable. She has ordered an investigation into the Tuesday glitch.
Data
All Passengers
Passengers passing through United Kingdom airports, shown as a rolling twelve-month total to smooth out the heavy summer-peak seasonality. It measures the country's appetite for air travel, closely tied to incomes and the cost of flying.
300.7m1.7%May 2026
May 2021May 2026
See this and every other transport figure Trend holds on the Transport board.
Centre
Headline
Air traffic failure was avoidable, says transport secretary
BBC News
Summary
BBC News reported that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ordered an investigation into the air traffic control glitch. Alexander stated the failure was avoidable.
Sentiment
Across centre outlets · 1 article
Right
Headline
Transport Secretary does not believe air traffic control issue was ‘unavoidable’
Evening Standard
Summary
The Evening Standard and Belfast Telegraph covered Heidi Alexander telling MPs the air traffic control issue was not unavoidable. Both outlets reported she said safety must remain controllers' over-riding priority. Coverage included details of flight cancellations and knock-on delays at major airports.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 4 articles

Trending · Society
Channel Crossings
L 25%
C 25%
R 50%
5 articles across 4 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage
Sentiment
Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 5 articles
Trending · Society
Channel Crossings
The UK and Belgium have agreed to share intelligence on people smuggling and organised crime. Belgian officers will join the UK-France intelligence cell in northern France.
Data
Small Boats
People detected arriving in the United Kingdom in small boats across the English Channel each month, recorded by the Home Office since 2018. It is one route of irregular migration, not the whole of it, and it counts arrivals, not asylum claims or grants.
2,31335.2%August 2026
August 2021August 2026
See this and every other society figure Trend holds on the Society board.
Left
Headline
UK and Belgium strike deal to target 'vile' small boat gangs
Daily Mirror
Summary
The Daily Mirror reported on a new UK-Belgium agreement to disrupt people smuggling gangs and covered the trial of 14 alleged smugglers charged with involuntary manslaughter following a Channel crossing disaster where migrants paid at least £2,500 per place.
Sentiment
Across left-leaning outlets · 2 articles
Centre
Headline
Fourteen go on trial over deadliest Channel small boats disaster
BBC News
Summary
BBC News covered the opening of the trial of fourteen people over the deadliest small boats disaster in the Channel. It reported that at least 30 men, women and children drowned when their dinghy capsized on 24 November 2021.
Sentiment
Across centre outlets · 1 article
Right
Headline
Mahmood agrees Channel migrant intelligence deal with Belgium
Evening Standard
Summary
The Belfast Telegraph and Evening Standard covered the Home Secretary's intelligence sharing deal with Belgium to stop migrant boats. The Evening Standard also included details on how the agreement could help tackle wider organised crime including drugs and firearms smuggling.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 2 articles

Trending · Work & Pensions
State Pension Triple Lock
L 34%
C 33%
R 33%
4 articles across 3 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage
Sentiment
Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 4 articles
Trending · Work & Pensions
State Pension Triple Lock
Senior Labour figures are urging the government to scrap the triple lock mechanism that raises state pensions each year by the highest of inflation, wage growth, or 2.5 per cent.
Data
State Pension Rate
The full new State Pension in cash per week, paid to people reaching pension age from April 2016 onwards. 5%, which tends to lift it faster than prices or pay.
£241.304.8%Apr 2026
Apr 2021Apr 2026
See this and every other work & pensions figure Trend holds on the Work & Pensions board.
Left
Headline
HMRC top officials grilled by MPs over how new tax on state pension will work
Daily Mirror
Summary
The Daily Mirror reported on HMRC officials being questioned by MPs about how a new tax on state pensions will operate, ahead of an October deadline.
Sentiment
Across left-leaning outlets · 1 article
Centre
Headline
Grandparents prop up the economy. They deserve their triple lock state pension
The i
Summary
The i covered mounting pressure on the Government to end the triple lock, citing the Office for Budget Responsibility on its £16bn annual cost, and reported senior Labour figures urging the Prime Minister to scrap the policy.
Sentiment
Across centre outlets · 2 articles
Right
Headline
What is the state pension triple lock - and why is it due to rise £902?
Daily Mail
Summary
The Daily Mail detailed what the state pension triple lock is and reported the expected £902 annual rise to the full state pension from next spring.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 1 article

Other News

The next most-covered stories, measured the same way. Each one sits on a board where the numbers behind it live.

Trending · Transport
Air Traffic Control
Evening Standard
C 33%
R 67%
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told MPs an air traffic control failure that caused over 2,000 flight cancellations was avoidable. She has ordered an investigation into the Tuesday glitch.
Sentiment
5 articles · 3 outlets
All Passengers
300.7m▲ 1.7%
May 2026 · Change since May 2025
May 2021May 2026
How each side sees it
- Centre
  Headline
  Air traffic failure was avoidable, says transport secretary
  BBC News
  Summary
  BBC News reported that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ordered an investigation into the air traffic control glitch. Alexander stated the failure was avoidable.
  Sentiment
  Across centre outlets · 1 article
- Right
  Headline
  Transport Secretary does not believe air traffic control issue was ‘unavoidable’
  Evening Standard
  Summary
  The Evening Standard and Belfast Telegraph covered Heidi Alexander telling MPs the air traffic control issue was not unavoidable. Both outlets reported she said safety must remain controllers' over-riding priority. Coverage included details of flight cancellations and knock-on delays at major airports.
  Sentiment
  Across right-leaning outlets · 4 articles
Headline
Transport Secretary does not believe air traffic control issue was ‘unavoidable’
Evening Standard
Summary
The Evening Standard and Belfast Telegraph covered Heidi Alexander telling MPs the air traffic control issue was not unavoidable. Both outlets reported she said safety must remain controllers' over-riding priority. Coverage included details of flight cancellations and knock-on delays at major airports.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 4 articles
See Transport data
Trending · Society
Channel Crossings
Belfast Telegraph
L 25%
C 25%
R 50%
The UK and Belgium have agreed to share intelligence on people smuggling and organised crime. Belgian officers will join the UK-France intelligence cell in northern France.
Sentiment
5 articles · 4 outlets
Small Boats
2,313▼ 35.2%
August 2026 · Change since August 2025
August 2021August 2026
How each side sees it
- Left
  Headline
  UK and Belgium strike deal to target 'vile' small boat gangs
  Daily Mirror
  Summary
  The Daily Mirror reported on a new UK-Belgium agreement to disrupt people smuggling gangs and covered the trial of 14 alleged smugglers charged with involuntary manslaughter following a Channel crossing disaster where migrants paid at least £2,500 per place.
  Sentiment
  Across left-leaning outlets · 2 articles
- Centre
  Headline
  Fourteen go on trial over deadliest Channel small boats disaster
  BBC News
  Summary
  BBC News covered the opening of the trial of fourteen people over the deadliest small boats disaster in the Channel. It reported that at least 30 men, women and children drowned when their dinghy capsized on 24 November 2021.
  Sentiment
  Across centre outlets · 1 article
- Right
  Headline
  Mahmood agrees Channel migrant intelligence deal with Belgium
  Evening Standard
  Summary
  The Belfast Telegraph and Evening Standard covered the Home Secretary's intelligence sharing deal with Belgium to stop migrant boats. The Evening Standard also included details on how the agreement could help tackle wider organised crime including drugs and firearms smuggling.
  Sentiment
  Across right-leaning outlets · 2 articles
Headline
UK and Belgium strike deal to target 'vile' small boat gangs
Daily Mirror
Summary
The Daily Mirror reported on a new UK-Belgium agreement to disrupt people smuggling gangs and covered the trial of 14 alleged smugglers charged with involuntary manslaughter following a Channel crossing disaster where migrants paid at least £2,500 per place.
Sentiment
Across left-leaning outlets · 2 articles
Headline
Mahmood agrees Channel migrant intelligence deal with Belgium
Evening Standard
Summary
The Belfast Telegraph and Evening Standard covered the Home Secretary's intelligence sharing deal with Belgium to stop migrant boats. The Evening Standard also included details on how the agreement could help tackle wider organised crime including drugs and firearms smuggling.
Sentiment
Across right-leaning outlets · 2 articles
See Society data
Trending · Work & Pensions
State Pension Triple Lock
The i
L 34%
C 33%
R 33%
Senior Labour figures are urging the government to scrap the triple lock mechanism that raises state pensions each year by the highest of inflation, wage growth, or 2.5 per cent.
Sentiment
4 articles · 3 outlets
State Pension Rate
£241.30▲ 4.8%
Apr 2026 · Change since Apr 2025
Apr 2021Apr 2026
How each side sees it
- Left
  Headline
  HMRC top officials grilled by MPs over how new tax on state pension will work
  Daily Mirror
  Summary
  The Daily Mirror reported on HMRC officials being questioned by MPs about how a new tax on state pensions will operate, ahead of an October deadline.
  Sentiment
  Across left-leaning outlets · 1 article
- Centre
  Headline
  Grandparents prop up the economy. They deserve their triple lock state pension
  The i
  Summary
  The i covered mounting pressure on the Government to end the triple lock, citing the Office for Budget Responsibility on its £16bn annual cost, and reported senior Labour figures urging the Prime Minister to scrap the policy.
  Sentiment
  Across centre outlets · 2 articles
- Right
  Headline
  What is the state pension triple lock - and why is it due to rise £902?
  Daily Mail
  Summary
  The Daily Mail detailed what the state pension triple lock is and reported the expected £902 annual rise to the full state pension from next spring.
  Sentiment
  Across right-leaning outlets · 1 article
Headline
Grandparents prop up the economy. They deserve their triple lock state pension
The i
Summary
The i covered mounting pressure on the Government to end the triple lock, citing the Office for Budget Responsibility on its £16bn annual cost, and reported senior Labour figures urging the Prime Minister to scrap the policy.
Sentiment
Across centre outlets · 2 articles
See Work & Pensions data

Reform UK Donations Investigation

What happened

Donations by Party

How each side sees it

Other News

Other News

Air Traffic Control

How each side sees it

Channel Crossings

How each side sees it

State Pension Triple Lock

How each side sees it