No, not Reform - it's the Greens with a palpable new air of brashness and confidence that will be making waves this weekend, as their party conference commences in the seaside town of Bournemouth. As a movement in the UK, they have maintained a steadfast presence over many years but have failed to really cut through nationally, with disenfranchised left-wingers more inclined to drift to the Lib Dems. The last general election was different though, taking them from one to four MPs - no mean feat in a first past the post system. And now a potent mixture of fractured politics and mass disappointment at Labour's faltering first year in office has left an opportunity for even greater advancement. Ready to seize it is their newly elected leader, Zack Polanski, whose style seems well-suited to the current climate and is far more confrontational than his gentler predecessors. He is adept at social media and takes to it with an ease almost every other politician can only dream of - no clunky attempts at mimicking influencers or boring walking and talking in the constituency videos. Instead, he goes out and interviews voters himself, coming across as interested and persuasive and has even started his own podcast, which is well-executed and engaging. Another explanation of their current momentum is their policies which are clear, memorable and indicative of their values - something that most political parties aim for but don't often achieve. The Greens would bring in a wealth tax aimed at the super rich, they would nationalise the water companies, they describe the assault on Gaza as genocide, they support self-ID for trans people, and of course, they want to protect the environment. And I remembered all that without googling - how's that for landing your message? But of course, like all parties, especially those gaining support, they face challenges and criticism. Their biggest obstacle as they grow will be maintaining unity amongst the increasingly disparate factions of new Green voters. Is it possible to happily combine countryside-loving former Tories with angry ex-Labour city dwellers, pro-Gaza Muslims and trans activists? So far, they seem to be managing it, but we'll find out over the next few days if any cracks are starting to appear. Another big obstacle is Nigel Farage, a figure uniquely skilled at demanding attention and dominating the political landscape. When it comes to hoovering up the support of the disenfranchised, he's been doing it for decades and it's paying off, with polls now tipping him for prime minister. Read more:People in the UK have less disposable incomeThe battle for the soul of Your Party continues In his leader's speech, Mr Polanski accused Labour of playing "handmaidens" to Reform's "dangerous politics" rather than confronting it. "When Farage says jump, Labour asks 'how high'," he said. Despite the Greens having a comparable number of MPs, they are not making the same kind of progress and like every other leader, Mr Polanksi will have to work out how to make a dent in Reform's rise. At the same time, they have a tricky challenger from their own side, with Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's chaotic new party likely to eat into their vote, if it can survive. And finally, they also face the standard criticisms - that their sums don't add up, that their tax and spend plans are unrealistic, that they are woke and disconnected - all of which they will need to take on to get closer to power. These are just some of the issues that will come up in Bournemouth this weekend, where the forecast predicts a storm is coming - let's see.

Sir Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, said it was "chilling" to hear his father-in-law's "first-hand account" of the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Thursday, in which two men were killed. Politics latest: Protests after Manchester attack were 'fundamentally un-British' In a post on X, Sir Grant, who has served in various Conservative cabinet posts, including home secretary and defence secretary, said: "Yesterday's terrorist attack on Manchester's synagogue was an assault on the Jewish community and our shared humanity; hearing my father-in-law's chilling first-hand account brings home the horror, as we mourn the lost, pray for the injured, and stand unshaken against hate." Elaborating on the account, Sir Grant told The Times newspaper that his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone, came "face-to-face" with al Shamie from inside the synagogue, where he is a member of the congregation. He said: "He was face-to-face with the terrorist, holding the inside of the door, as he tried to break down the front doors. "They locked the doors when the car crashed into the gate, which prevented more killings." The two men killed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Thursday's attack have been named by police as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. One of the victims killed in yesterday's attack was shot mistakenly by officers during the armed response, Greater Manchester Police believe. The suspect has been named as Jihad al Shamie - a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. He is understood to have been granted British citizenship in 2006, having entered the UK as a young child. His family have condemned the "heinous" attack, which they said targeted "peaceful, innocent civilians". "We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened," his relatives wrote on social media. Read more:What we know about the synagogue attack in ManchesterWorshippers leave synagogue to hear news of attack Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed to Sky News that the perpetrator was not known to counter-terror police and that he had not been referred to the government's anti-terrorism scheme Prevent. In a visit to the scene of the attack on Friday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said "this was a dreadful attack, a terrorist attack to inflict fear. Attacking Jews because they are Jews."It's really important today that the whole country comes together, people of all faiths and no faith, stand in support and solidarity with our Jewish community," he said.

Addressing his party's conference in Bournemouth, Mr Polanski said the Labour government had overseen a "draconian crackdown on the right to protest" by legally banning and labelling the group a terrorist organisation. Politics latest: PM welcomes first female Archbishop of Canterbury It comes as a group that supports Palestine Action was criticised for planning a march in London on Saturday, days after the attack on a synagogue in Manchester that resulted in the death of two men. The Met Police has called for a planned protest, organised by Defend Our Juries, to be delayed or cancelled after the incident on Thursday, while Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, called a separate protest held on Thursday in support of Palestine as "dishonorable" and "un-British". Mr Polanski said he felt Thursday's attack "deeply" as a Jewish man raised in north Manchester, and that "my heart is with our community more widely". But he repeated his belief that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to "genocide" and that the UK "must stop selling arms to Israel". "We must stop sharing intelligence. We will do everything we can to stop the genocide." The government has suspended some arms exports licences to Israel due to concerns they could be used to violate international law. However, components for the F35 jets were not included in the ban, except when they were sent directly to Israel, as the UK is part of a supply chain that sells the jets to more than 20 countries. Mr Polanski went on to say that every MP who had supported the proscription of Palestine Action as terrorist organisation should "hang their heads in shame". "We cannot talk about stopping genocide without talking about draconian crackdown on the right to protest happening against those taking action for Palestine; using terrorist legislation to arrest hundreds and hundreds of protesters for simply holding up a sign," he said. "This country has a proud tradition of protecting civil liberties, but once again, a Labour government is cracking down on our rights from terrorist proscriptions against protesters, to banning journalists from their conference, to diving into a rushed, evidence-free plan for digital IDs that will only discriminate mainly against minorities. "The alarm bells of authoritarianism are ringing loud and clear." Earlier today Mr Polanski, who was elected as Green Party leader last month, clashed with the home secretary on whether pro-Palestine protests should go ahead. Ms Mahmood said the issues that had been driving the pro-Palestine protests had been "going on for some time" and that those behind the demonstrations could have taken a "step back" to give the Jewish community a "chance to grieve". Read more:Former minister's father-in-law present at Manchester synagogue attackStarmer still has a very long road ahead "They could have stepped back and just given a community that has suffered deep loss just a day or two to process what has happened and to carry on with the grieving process," she said. "I think some humanity could have been shown." In response, Mr Polanski branded the home secretary's comments "deeply irresponsible". "I think ultimately conflating protests against the genocide in Gaza and ultimately weaponising that against an anti-Semitic attack on our streets, a terrorist attack, is deeply irresponsible," he told Sky News Breakfast. The Green Party leader said it was "worrying when governments are increasingly trying to crush down dissent" and using "what is a brutal attack... to try and make a point about protest". "We need statesmanship at this moment. We need responsibility," he added.

Metropolitan Police said it wanted to deploy every available officer to protect Jewish communities, but was instead having to prepare for a protest against the banning of Palestine Action. Politics latest: Mahmood says pro-Palestinian protests 'dishonourable' after Manchester attack The Met said it was "having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Saturday in support of a terrorist organisation".It added: "By choosing to encourage mass law breaking on this scale, Defend Our Juries [the protest organisers] are drawing resources away from the communities of London at a time when they are needed most." Palestine Action was banned under anti-terrorism laws in July. Greater Manchester's police chief echoed the call, urging protest organisers in the city to ask "whether this is really the right time". "You could do the responsible and sensitive thing and refrain, on this occasion, from protesting in a manner which is likely to add to the trauma currently being experienced by our Jewish community," said Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson. He said peaceful gatherings would not be stopped but warned officers would "act immediately to curtail any acts of violence, intimidation or threat". Defend Our Juries, which has led demonstrations against the Palestine Action ban, said it planned to go ahead with the march. "Today, the Metropolitan Police wrote to us to ask that we postpone Saturday's mass protest in Trafalgar Square, citing 'significant pressure on policing'," said a statement. "Our response in short: Don't arrest us then." It comes after the home secretary criticised separate pro-Palestinian protests held last night as "fundamentally un-British" and "dishonourable". A demonstration - held to protest the Israeli navy halting a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza - was held in London's Whitehall on Thursday evening, hours after the attack in Crumpsall in which two men were killed. The Metropolitan Police said 40 people had been arrested in the course of the protest, six of whom were arrested for assaults on police officers. Speaking to Anna Jones on Sky News Breakfast, Shabana Mahmood said she was "very disappointed" to see the protests go ahead, given the context. "I think that behaviour is fundamentally un-British," she said. "I think it's dishonourable." She said the issues that had been driving the pro-Palestine protests have been "going on for some time" and "don't look like they're going to come to an end any day soon" - but that those behind the demonstrations could have taken a "step back". "They could have stepped back and just given a community that has suffered deep loss just a day or two to process what has happened and to carry on with the grieving process," she said. "I think some humanity could have been shown." Any further protests must "comply with the law and, where someone steps outside of the law of our land, they will be arrested", the home secretary warned. She added: "And to anybody who is thinking about going on a protest, what I would say is, imagine if that was you that has had a family member murdered on the holiest day in your faith. Imagine how you would feel and then just step back for a minute, give people a chance to grieve. "We can get back to our protests later - just because you have a freedom doesn't mean you have to use it." However, Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, accused the home secretary of being "deeply irresponsible" for her comments about pro-Palestine protests. "I think ultimately conflating protests against the genocide in Gaza and ultimately weaponising that against an anti-Semitic attack on our streets, a terrorist attack, is deeply irresponsible," he told Sky News Breakfast. The Green Party leader said it was "worrying when governments are increasingly trying to crush down dissent" and using "what is a brutal attack... to try and make a point about protest". "We need statesmanship at this moment. We need responsibility," he added. The two men killed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Thursday's attack have been named by police as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. The suspect has been named as Jihad al Shamie - a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. He is understood to have been granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around 16 years old, having entered the UK as a young child. Ms Mahmood confirmed to Sky News that the perpetrator was not known to counter-terror police and that he had not been referred to the government's anti-terrorism scheme Prevent. Three other people - two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s - have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Read more:What we know about the attackStarmer vows to 'wrap arms' around Jewish community Asked if she was concerned about further attacks, Ms Mahmood said the government was on "high alert". She said there had been an increase in police resources not just in Manchester but across he country. "We as a government want to make sure that people feel safe going about their business today; so people will see an increased police presence, particularly around synagogues and other places of interest for the Jewish community," she said.

The peer has faced calls to stand down from MPs across the political spectrum, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who earlier this week agreed with Baroness Mone's contention that the government was pursuing a "vendetta" in trying to recover improper Covid funding. "Too right we are," she said in comments at the Labour Party conference. Money blog: Ryanair CEO warns 100,000 passengers could have flight cancelled In an extraordinary letter to the prime minister, Baroness Mone has accused Ms Reeves of endangering her and her family with her comments, citing the murders of Jo Cox and David Amess as evidence of the risks facing parliamentarians. She also alleged ministerial interference in the civil and ongoing criminal investigations of PPE Medpro, and has called for an investigation into whether ministers have "improperly influenced" the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency. In the letter, sent from the private office of Baroness Mone OBE and seen by Sky News, she addresses the prime minister directly, writing in a personal capacity "first as a wife, second as a mother, and lastly as a Baroness." Referring to Ms Reeves' comments, she writes: "The chancellor's deliberate use of the term "vendetta", a word connoting vengeance, feud and blood feud, is incendiary and has directly increased the risks to my personal safety.... My family and I now live with a heightened and genuine fear of appearing in public." She goes on to accuse Reeves and health secretary Wes Streeting of "falsehoods" in demanding that she hand back £122m, pointing out that she was never a director of PPE Medpro and "never received a penny from it personally." While the company was founded by her husband Doug Barrowman, a High Court judgement this week confirmed that Baroness Mone introduced it to the government's VIP fast lane for PPE providers, and lobbied on its behalf in negotiations. She has previously admitted that £29m of profit from the PPE contract was passed to a family trust of which she and her children are beneficiaries. The peer has also accused the Prime Minister of "a total lie" when "you stated in Parliament that my children had received £29m into their bank accounts." Baroness Mone said that following these comments, she had received threatening and abusive communications, and cited the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack, who took her own life, as showing "the fatal consequences of personalised public vilification". "Your cabinet members, by repeating this knowingly false claim, are inciting hostility and inflaming public hatred against me." She has also accused the home secretary of influencing the NCA and Director of Public Prosecutions in unspecified meetings to discuss "high-profile cases". "That political influence is being brought to bear is, therefore, undeniable," she said. Read more:Finances feeling tight? New figures help explain whyLiving standards stall with signals flashing red for the PM On Wednesday, PPE Medpro was ordered to repay £122m paid for 25 million surgical gowns that failed to meet sterility standards in breach of its contract with the Department of Health and Social Care. PPE Medpro was put into administration the day before the judgment, with assets of just £666,000. Asked if Baroness Mone would step down from the Lords, a spokesman said: "Those calling for Baroness Mone's resignation from the House of Lords would be well advised to read the open letter sent this morning to the prime minister, which sets out how this has now become a personal attack and vendetta, politically motivated with loss of all balance and objectivity." Sky News has asked Number 10 and the Treasury for a response to the allegations made by Baroness Mone.