Metro logo
My AccountMy Account
Small logo
  • Home
    • Trending
    • Newsletters
    • Puzzles+
    • Video
  • News
    • UK
    • London
    • US
    • World
    • Crime
    • Tech
    • Science
    • Politics
    • News Updates newsletter
    • E-edition
  • Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
  • Sport
    • Football
    • Premier League
    • Transfer News
    • Cricket
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Snooker
    • Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
  • Lifestyle
    • Sex
    • Health
    • Property
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Horoscopes
    • Money
    • Shopping
    • Lifeline
    • The Slice newsletter
  • Soaps
    • EastEnders
    • Emmerdale
    • Coronation Street
    • Hollyoaks
    • Soaps Showbiz
    • Soaps Newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Columnists
    • Letters
    • Cartoons
  • Shopping
    • Beauty Products
    • Black Friday
    • Amazon Prime Day
    • Shopping Newsletter
  • Puzzles
    • Puzzles+
    • Quick Crossword
    • Cryptic Crossword
    • Word Wheel
    • Hangman
    • Easy Sudoku
    • Medium Sudoku
    • Hard Sudoku
  • Money
    • Metro Deals
    • Investing
    • Cost of Living
    • Deals
    • Hacks
    • Saving
  • Property
    • What I Rent
    • What I Own
    • Property Prices
    • Home renovations
    • Interiors
    • Renting
    • Better Living
    • The Key Newsletter
  • Travel
    • Travel Advice
    • Travel Reviews
    • Travel Inspiration
    • The Getaway
  • Horoscopes
    • Your Daily Horoscope
    • Astrology
    • Tarot
    • Chinese Zodiac
    • Daily Horoscope Newsletter
  • More
    • Games
    • Submit Stuff
    • Competitions
    • Advertise
    • Weather
    • Trending
    • Privacy Policy
  • Metro on Instagram
  • Metro on Facebook
  • Metro on X
  • Metro on TikTok

Readers discuss Reform defectors: Farage said he would ‘never ever’ trust a Tory

Letters Editor
Letters Editor
Published January 14, 2026 6:30pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 12: Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, (R) joins Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage during a press conference as he announces his defection to Reform UK, at the Institute of Directors on January 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Readers discuss Reform defectors, bus reliability and how Scotland are handling the cold weather (Picture: Dan Kitwood, Getty Images Europe)

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

Zahawi has gone 'running to Reform'

So, former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has gone running to Reform – the latest in a growing number of Tories who have jumped ship (Metro, Tue).

Nigel Farage has spent so long saying you should ‘never, ever’ trust a Tory – all as he scours their ranks to find members he thinks will help boost his party’s popularity. Likewise, Zahawi has said he would be ‘frightened’ to live in a country run by Farage and that he would be a Conservative until the day he died. I am curious what Farage is hoping for, though, given just how many of the former Tories he has welcomed into Reform have been ridiculed for being terrible at their job.
Matthew, Birmingham

Why is Reform called Reform?

‘Reformed’ meat is a processed meat product made by binding together trimmings, scraps and oddments of dubious provenance.

Since it is mostly composed of unidentifiable components or undesirable offcuts of, for the most part, the Conservative Party, presumably this is why Nigel Farage’s latest political vehicle is called Reform UK. Julian Self, Wolverton

Reader weighs in on bus reliability and the cold chill

Manchester UK yellow double decker buses on a historic street with architecture and city life
This reader says busses need to get better (Picture: Getty)

‘Wake up, it’s a beautiful morning.’ So sang UK indie band the Boo Radleys in their 1995 Top Ten hit Wake Up Boo!

As someone who once had to brave 5am starts and an hour’s bus journey, I’m sure it doesn’t always feel that way when you’ve been freezing your bits off at the bus stop hoping the bus isn’t going to be late again. Buses are an integral part of our public transport system yet are often overlooked. We need better standards for the early morning and late-evening commuters.

Got a question about UK politics?

Send in yours and Metro's Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email alrightgov@metro.co.uk or submit your question here.

Drivers can help by keeping doors closed to keep the heat in, ensuring the heating is on before the bus leaves the depot and leaving the vape break for the terminus or their own break.

Also, if train and rail station staff are getting bodycams, so should bus drivers – especially given they’re working alone and often in areas of high crime late at night. I would encourage drivers and passengers to write to their MPs if they agree. For now, I’m off, as it’s my stop. Matt, Wakefield

‘It can be a great city but a dangerous one’, says reader on London

Police officers at a station
This reader says the city dwellers get accustomed to it (Picture: Getty)

Regarding London recording its lowest annual murder rate since records began. While any reduction in crime is to be welcomed, let’s see if the homicide rate in London continues to drop.

Like Robert (MetroTalk, Tue), I also have a good knowledge of the capital.

More Trending

  1. The famous vintage double decker bus in London. The bus follows taxis and there is a man on a bike. The buildings are light coloured with glass windows, behind the traffic jam.

    Readers show support for bus driver sacked for confronting a thief

    Channel: Letters Letters 23 hours ago By Letters Editor
  2. Readers weigh in on the Beckham drama
  3. Should social media be banned for under 16s? Readers weigh in
  4. Is the NHS 'obsessed with AI'? Readers debate

It can be a great city but a dangerous one. When you have been here as long as
I have, you become accustomed to it.

My advice is to live your life – you can’t worry about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Otherwise you would go nowhere. Dec, Essex

Scotland are doing the cold weather right, says reader

Jean (MetroTalk, Mon) says it’s pavements that need gritting during cold snaps, not just roads.

I have not long been up to Scotland and as I walked around Glasgow on Friday night and Saturday morning – where the walkways are gritted – I thought exactly the same – why don’t we grit the paths where I am, down here in England? Matt, Sheffield

Arrow MORE: Love Island: All Stars start date confirmed after wildfires delay

Arrow MORE: Beat dull winter skin with the LED mask that’s now offering 80% off

Arrow MORE: Moon to get first hotel by 2032 (but don’t look at the price tag)

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Puzzles Newsletter

Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

HomedividerOpiniondividerLetters
Related topics
  • Metro newspaper
  • Nadhim Zahawi
  • Nigel Farage
  • Reform UK

The famous vintage double decker bus in London. The bus follows taxis and there is a man on a bike. The buildings are light coloured with glass windows, behind the traffic jam.

Readers show support for bus driver sacked for confronting a thief

Channel: Letters Letters 23 hours ago By Letters Editor
U.S. President Trump Attends World Economic Forum In Davos. There is a purple screen behind him with 'World Economic Forum' written on it. he wears a dark blue suit and a red tie and speaks into a microphone.

Supporters are going cold on Trump due to his claims on Greenland

Channel: Letters Letters January 21, 2026 By Letters Editor

Must Read

Nigel Farage Campaigns In Gorton And Denton Ahead Of By-election

Outrage from readers as Reform show support for ICE

Channel: Letters Letters 3 minutes ago By Letters Editor
The famous vintage double decker bus in London. The bus follows taxis and there is a man on a bike. The buildings are light coloured with glass windows, behind the traffic jam.

Readers show support for bus driver sacked for confronting a thief

Channel: Letters Letters 23 hours ago By Letters Editor
BRITAIN-POLITICS-OPPOSITION. A picture of Kemi Badenoch, wearing a white suit jacket.

Kemi making the right moves but is Biden to blame for Trump madness?

Channel: Letters Letters 4 days ago By Letters Editor
Young Asian female nurse in blue scrubs using voice recognition technology on phone while reviewing patient care documents on a clipboard in living room at home. Nurse sustainable lifestyle concept.

Is the NHS 'obsessed with AI'? Readers debate

Channel: Letters Letters 4 days ago By Letters Editor
A high school girl ignores her friends as she browses on her phone during a lunch break in a cafeteria. The girl on her phone has curly blonde hair and wears a black and white school tie and a school shirt.

Should social media be banned for under 16s? Readers weigh in

Channel: Letters Letters 4 days ago By Letters Editor
Remembrance Sunday Service In Manchester

Was Starmer right to block Burnham's attempt to stand in the by-election? Readers discuss

Channel: Letters Letters 4 days ago By Letters Editor
EGYPT-US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-TRUMP

Is it 'impossible' for Starmer to deal with Trump? Readers discuss

Channel: Letters Letters 5 days ago By Letters Editor
The 2024 Met Gala The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" - Arrivals/. A zoomed in shot of Brooklyn Beckham wearing a light blazer. He has dark hair and an eyebrow slit.

Readers weigh in on the Beckham drama

Channel: Letters Letters January 22, 2026 By Letters Editor
U.S. President Trump Attends World Economic Forum In Davos. There is a purple screen behind him with 'World Economic Forum' written on it. he wears a dark blue suit and a red tie and speaks into a microphone.

Supporters are going cold on Trump due to his claims on Greenland

Channel: Letters Letters January 21, 2026 By Letters Editor
Female business owner speaking to office workers in modern conference room. There is a dark wooden desk, a house plant and lots of windows with light streaming through.

Is it time for those working from home go back to the office? Readers discuss

Channel: Letters Letters January 20, 2026 By Letters Editor

Trending Now

Read more storiesRead more stories
  1. Kat Storr: 9 kids parties in a fortnight: Am I cruel if I start saying no?

    Children's birthday parties are ruining my life

    Channel: Families Families 2 hours ago By Kat Storr
  2. Kemi Badenoch: Spineless Starmer has shown his true colours over Peter Mandelson
  3. Trans people like me are rightly welcome at Hampstead Ladies’ Pond
  4. I raced my partner to see if airport FastTrack is worth it
  5. I sat in a near-empty cinema for Melania - here's what I thought

metro deals

more offersmore offers
<strong>Bannatyne Spa</strong>
Bannatyne SpaSpa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco — save up to 57% off.
<strong>Mystery Escape</strong>
Mystery EscapeHotel stay with return flights from as low as £92pp — save on worldwide holiday packages.
<strong>Beach Retreat (Lanzarote)</strong>
Beach Retreat (Lanzarote)4* Lanzarote beach holiday with flights — save up to 58%.
<strong>UK Getaway</strong>
UK Getaway4* Radisson Blu Durham stay with breakfast, spa access & late checkout — save 60% off.
<strong>Drive Supercars</strong>
Drive Supercars 3–12 lap supercar driving experiences from £16.99 — save up to 65%. 
Metro logo
  • © 2026 Associated Newspapers Limited
  • Powered by WordPress.com VIP
  • Your ad choices
  • IPSO Regulated
  • Contributors
  • Newzit
  • Daily Mail
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do not sell or share my personal information
  • Site map
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Metro on Instagram
  • Metro on Facebook
  • Metro on X
  • Metro on TikTok