Former One Direction star Harry Styles is on course to beat Ed Sheeran to number one in the UK's official album chart.
Styles is currently topping Sheeran's Divide with his debut solo album, which was released on Friday.
Current figures show the 23-year-old singer has sold 24,000 more albums (or equivalent streams) than Sheeran, his closest competitor.
In March, Sheeran broke sales and streaming records by selling 232,000 copies on CD and vinyl on day one.
On the month of its release, Sheeran's third studio album owned nine of the Official UK singles top 10 chart.
His unparalleled success even led to Sky News considering the possibility that Sheeran may have broken the UK charts forever.
:: 1D: Is the former pop group heading in the same direction?
Styles, the second One Direction star to release a solo studio album, has so far been triumphant in both the UK, the US and Canada.
Billboard, the official US chart maker, says Styles "could earn over 250,000 equivalent album units in the US in the week ending May 18" - which would make it the biggest sales launch for a UK male solo album.
Both the UK and the US analyse sales in a multi-metric consumption, which brings together traditional sales, streams and track equivalents.
Last week, Kasabian - the only band to have briefly dethroned Sheeran in the charts since March - slipped down from number one to seventh place with For Crying Out Loud.
The rest of the top five is made up of Gorillaz with their newly released album Humanz, Kendrick Lamar's DAMN and Rag'n'Bone Man's Human.
Styles' debut single Sign Of The Times debuted at number one in April.
This week it has gone from number 10 to number three, beaten only by Luis Fonsi and Justin Bieber's Despactio and DJ Khaled's I'm The One..
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Researchers eye possible N Korea link to cyberattacks
The cyberattacks are among the fastest-spreading extortion campaigns on record [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]Cyber security researchers have found technical evidence they said could link North Korea with the global WannaCry "ransomware" cyberattack that has infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries since Friday.
Symantec and Kaspersky Lab said on Monday that some code in an earlier version of the WannaCry software had also appeared in programmes used by the Lazarus Group, which researchers from many companies have identified as a North Korea-run hacking operation.
"This is the best clue we have seen to date as to the origins of WannaCry," Kaspersky Lab researcher Kurt Baumgartner told Reuters news agency.
READ MORE: WannaCry: What is ransomware and how to avoid it
Both firms said it was too early to tell whether North Korea was involved in the attacks, based on the evidence that was published on Twitter by Google security researcher Neel Mehta. The attacks, which slowed on Monday, are among the fastest-spreading extortion campaigns on record.
Experts warn of new cyber-attack threats
The research will be closely followed by law enforcement agencies around the world, including Washington, where President Donald Trump's homeland security adviser said on Monday that both foreign nations and cyber criminals were possible culprits.
The two security firms said they needed to study the code more and asked for others to help with the analysis. Hackers do reuse code from other operations, so even copied lines fall well short of proof.
US and European security officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that it was too early to say who might be behind the attacks, but they did not rule out North Korea as a suspect.
FireEye Inc, another large cyber-security firm, said it was also investigating a possible link.
"The similarities we see between malware linked to that group and WannaCry are not unique enough to be strongly suggestive of a common operator," FireEye researcher John Miller said.
The Lazarus hackers, acting for impoverished North Korea, have been more brazen in pursuit of financial gain than others, and have been blamed for the theft of $81m from the Bangladesh central bank, according to some cyber-security firms.
READ MORE: Global hacking attack infects 57,000 computers
The North Korean mission to the United Nations was not immediately available for comment.
Regardless of the source of the attack, investors piled into cyber-security stocks on Monday, betting that governments and corporations will spend more to upgrade their defences.
The perpetrators had raised less than $70,000 from users paying to regain access to their computers, according to Trump homeland security adviser Tom Bossert.
Warnings raised of more cyber attacks
"We are not aware if payments have led to any data recovery," Bossert said, adding no US federal government systems had been affected.
WannaCry demanded ransoms starting at $300, in line with many cyber-extortion campaigns, which keep pricing low so more victims will pay.
Still, some security experts said they were not sure if the motive of WannaCry was primarily to make money, noting that large cyber-extortion campaigns typically generate millions of dollars of revenue.
"I believe that this was spread for the purpose of causing as much damage as possible," said Matthew Hickey, a co-founder of British cyber consulting firm Hacker House.
READ MORE: Global cyberattack alert as experts warn of more havoc
The countries most affected by WannaCry to date are Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and India, according to Czech security firm Avast.
The number of infections has fallen dramatically since Friday's peak when more than 9,000 computers were being hit per hour. Earlier on Monday, Chinese traffic police and schools reported they had been targeted as the attack rolled into Asia for the new work week, but there were no major disruptions.
Authorities in Europe and the United States turned their attention to preventing hackers from spreading new versions of the virus.
The two security firms said they needed to study the code more and asked for others to help with the analysis. Hackers do reuse code from other operations, so even copied lines fall well short of proof.
US and European security officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that it was too early to say who might be behind the attacks, but they did not rule out North Korea as a suspect.
FireEye Inc, another large cyber-security firm, said it was also investigating a possible link.
"The similarities we see between malware linked to that group and WannaCry are not unique enough to be strongly suggestive of a common operator," FireEye researcher John Miller said.
The Lazarus hackers, acting for impoverished North Korea, have been more brazen in pursuit of financial gain than others, and have been blamed for the theft of $81m from the Bangladesh central bank, according to some cyber-security firms.
READ MORE: Global hacking attack infects 57,000 computers
The North Korean mission to the United Nations was not immediately available for comment.
Regardless of the source of the attack, investors piled into cyber-security stocks on Monday, betting that governments and corporations will spend more to upgrade their defences.
The perpetrators had raised less than $70,000 from users paying to regain access to their computers, according to Trump homeland security adviser Tom Bossert.
Warnings raised of more cyber attacks
"We are not aware if payments have led to any data recovery," Bossert said, adding no US federal government systems had been affected.
WannaCry demanded ransoms starting at $300, in line with many cyber-extortion campaigns, which keep pricing low so more victims will pay.
Still, some security experts said they were not sure if the motive of WannaCry was primarily to make money, noting that large cyber-extortion campaigns typically generate millions of dollars of revenue.
"I believe that this was spread for the purpose of causing as much damage as possible," said Matthew Hickey, a co-founder of British cyber consulting firm Hacker House.
READ MORE: Global cyberattack alert as experts warn of more havoc
The countries most affected by WannaCry to date are Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and India, according to Czech security firm Avast.
The number of infections has fallen dramatically since Friday's peak when more than 9,000 computers were being hit per hour. Earlier on Monday, Chinese traffic police and schools reported they had been targeted as the attack rolled into Asia for the new work week, but there were no major disruptions.
Authorities in Europe and the United States turned their attention to preventing hackers from spreading new versions of the virus.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Donald Trump 'shared highly classified data with Russia'
Donald Trump shared highly classified information with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador to the US, during their meeting at the White House last week, several American news organisations have reported.
According to the Washington Post and others, Mr Trump boasted to Sergei Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak of the great intelligence he had received about an Islamic State plot to use laptops to blow up planes.
But that information had apparently been passed on from another country and was not America's to share.
Image:During a break Mr Trump jokes with Mr Lavrov (L) and ambassador Sergei Kislyak (R). MFA Russia
It was also reportedly told in such a way that would have allowed the Russians to work out the nature and even the location and identity of the intelligence source itself.
Anonymous officials also told The Washington Post the information was so sensitive that it had been withheld from America's allies.
The White House issued a denial.
National security advisor General HR McMaster said: "I was in the room, it didn't happen.
Image:National security adviser General HR McMaster says 'it didn't happen'
"The President and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our countries including threats to civil aviation.
"At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the President did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known."
As president, Donald Trump has broad powers to declassify information as he sees fit.
There is no suggestion at the moment that President Trump committed a crime, only an accusation that he acted unwisely and in a way that has potentially far reaching consequences.
But there was immediate - and tellingly - cross party concern about what may have happened.
Republican senator John McCain said: "If it's true, obviously it's disturbing."
Trump ally senator Bob Corker said the White House was in a "downward spiral", and that the White House has "got to do something soon to bring itself under control and order".
Republican Paul Ryan said: "The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration."
Democratic senator Ron Wyden said: "These reports - if true - are of the gravest possible concern. It could harm our national security by cutting off important sources of intelligence that protect Americans against terrorist acts."
The meeting in question happened the day after Mr Trump sacked FBI director James Comey, the man in charge of investigating whether the President's campaign colluded with Russia to swing the election.
Mr Trump has also heavily criticised Hillary Clinton over her own careless handling of classified information.
Now, on the eve of his first foreign trip which includes a visit to the Middle East, there are fears that the commander-in-chief may have had a profoundly negative impact on America's reputation as a trusted intelligence sharing partner.
According to the Washington Post and others, Mr Trump boasted to Sergei Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak of the great intelligence he had received about an Islamic State plot to use laptops to blow up planes.
But that information had apparently been passed on from another country and was not America's to share.
Image:During a break Mr Trump jokes with Mr Lavrov (L) and ambassador Sergei Kislyak (R). MFA RussiaIt was also reportedly told in such a way that would have allowed the Russians to work out the nature and even the location and identity of the intelligence source itself.
Anonymous officials also told The Washington Post the information was so sensitive that it had been withheld from America's allies.
The White House issued a denial.
National security advisor General HR McMaster said: "I was in the room, it didn't happen.
Image:National security adviser General HR McMaster says 'it didn't happen'"The President and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our countries including threats to civil aviation.
"At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the President did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known."
As president, Donald Trump has broad powers to declassify information as he sees fit.
There is no suggestion at the moment that President Trump committed a crime, only an accusation that he acted unwisely and in a way that has potentially far reaching consequences.
But there was immediate - and tellingly - cross party concern about what may have happened.
Republican senator John McCain said: "If it's true, obviously it's disturbing."
Trump ally senator Bob Corker said the White House was in a "downward spiral", and that the White House has "got to do something soon to bring itself under control and order".
Republican Paul Ryan said: "The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration."
Democratic senator Ron Wyden said: "These reports - if true - are of the gravest possible concern. It could harm our national security by cutting off important sources of intelligence that protect Americans against terrorist acts."
The meeting in question happened the day after Mr Trump sacked FBI director James Comey, the man in charge of investigating whether the President's campaign colluded with Russia to swing the election.
Mr Trump has also heavily criticised Hillary Clinton over her own careless handling of classified information.
Now, on the eve of his first foreign trip which includes a visit to the Middle East, there are fears that the commander-in-chief may have had a profoundly negative impact on America's reputation as a trusted intelligence sharing partner.
Barron Trump to attend private St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland
Barron Trump, the 11-year-old son of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, will attend the private St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., this fall after he moves from New York to Washington with his mother.
Barron Trump is finishing out the current school year at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He is expected to move to Washington this summer and will start at St. Andrew’s as a sixth grader. He will be the first presidential child to attend St. Andrew’s, a coeducational college preparatory school that was founded in 1978 and educates about 580 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
The White House had planned to hold off until summer to make the announcement — in part because of concern that St. Andrew’s might become the site of protests while school was still in session. But parents began to ask questions and express security concerns as rumors surfaced, and school leaders sent a letter to parents on Monday, signed by the head of the school, Robert Kosasky, and the middle school head, Rodney Glasgow (see full text below), saying that Barron Trump would join the class of 2024.
First lady Melania Trump said in a statement:
“We are very excited for our son to attend St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. It is known for its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence. The mission of St. Andrew’s is ‘to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service,’ all of which appealed to our family. We look forward to the coming school years at St. Andrew’s.”
The letter says that school leaders are working with the Secret Service to ensure that “logistics and security will continue to work smoothly and discreetly next year for all of our students and families” in order to maintain “the positive feel, flow, and safety of our campuses.”
St. Andrew’s, where tuition will cost the Trumps about $40,000 a year, is known for its pioneering use of brain-based research to help students of all abilities to succeed and for providing extra support for students who need it. Class sizes are small — usually 11 to 13 students — and the school says that all of its graduates go to college, including Ivy League schools, small liberal arts colleges, state schools, and schools of art, engineering and design. The school also says athletics are an “integral part” of its educational program. Among numerous sports, it offers golf, a favorite of Barron’s.
The school’s website says it strives to educate students “in an inclusive environment that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church” and that it “seeks a broadly diverse community to promote educational excellence.” The school’s programs, it says, “are designed to serve students of varied interests and abilities capable of achievement in a challenging academic environment.”
In light traffic, the ride from the White House to St. Andrew’s, in the elite enclave of Potomac, is a little more than 30 minutes.
With a 75,000-square-foot classroom building on the 19-acre campus where the middle and upper schools are located, St. Andrew’s boasts impressive facilities. They include a 14,000-volume, two-story library with an audiovisual classroom and a periodical reading room; a multipurpose theater/assembly/lunch space that features a stage and light/sound booth; two visual arts studios with ceramics wheels and a kiln; a darkroom; two full-size basketball courts; a fitness room; a dance studio; and two full turf fields for softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer.
In 2011, St. Andrew’s opened its Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University School of Education, to help teachers apply the best research on teaching, learning and the brain to the classroom. In 2013, it was invited by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education to become the eighth school to join a global network of schools that conducts cutting-edge research and leads professional development in that area.
Barron Trump is finishing out the current school year at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He is expected to move to Washington this summer and will start at St. Andrew’s as a sixth grader. He will be the first presidential child to attend St. Andrew’s, a coeducational college preparatory school that was founded in 1978 and educates about 580 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
The White House had planned to hold off until summer to make the announcement — in part because of concern that St. Andrew’s might become the site of protests while school was still in session. But parents began to ask questions and express security concerns as rumors surfaced, and school leaders sent a letter to parents on Monday, signed by the head of the school, Robert Kosasky, and the middle school head, Rodney Glasgow (see full text below), saying that Barron Trump would join the class of 2024.
First lady Melania Trump said in a statement:
“We are very excited for our son to attend St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. It is known for its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence. The mission of St. Andrew’s is ‘to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service,’ all of which appealed to our family. We look forward to the coming school years at St. Andrew’s.”
The letter says that school leaders are working with the Secret Service to ensure that “logistics and security will continue to work smoothly and discreetly next year for all of our students and families” in order to maintain “the positive feel, flow, and safety of our campuses.”
St. Andrew’s, where tuition will cost the Trumps about $40,000 a year, is known for its pioneering use of brain-based research to help students of all abilities to succeed and for providing extra support for students who need it. Class sizes are small — usually 11 to 13 students — and the school says that all of its graduates go to college, including Ivy League schools, small liberal arts colleges, state schools, and schools of art, engineering and design. The school also says athletics are an “integral part” of its educational program. Among numerous sports, it offers golf, a favorite of Barron’s.
The school’s website says it strives to educate students “in an inclusive environment that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church” and that it “seeks a broadly diverse community to promote educational excellence.” The school’s programs, it says, “are designed to serve students of varied interests and abilities capable of achievement in a challenging academic environment.”
In light traffic, the ride from the White House to St. Andrew’s, in the elite enclave of Potomac, is a little more than 30 minutes.
With a 75,000-square-foot classroom building on the 19-acre campus where the middle and upper schools are located, St. Andrew’s boasts impressive facilities. They include a 14,000-volume, two-story library with an audiovisual classroom and a periodical reading room; a multipurpose theater/assembly/lunch space that features a stage and light/sound booth; two visual arts studios with ceramics wheels and a kiln; a darkroom; two full-size basketball courts; a fitness room; a dance studio; and two full turf fields for softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer.
In 2011, St. Andrew’s opened its Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University School of Education, to help teachers apply the best research on teaching, learning and the brain to the classroom. In 2013, it was invited by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education to become the eighth school to join a global network of schools that conducts cutting-edge research and leads professional development in that area.
Sky News to host Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in live TV special
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will face questions from a live studio audience for the first time in the election campaign on Sky News on Monday 29 May.
The Conservative leader and the Labour leader will be interviewed during the joint Sky News and Channel 4 programme May v Corbyn Live: The Battle For Number 10 - starting at 8.30pm.
The 90-minute show, to be broadcast from Sky's west London studios, will open with one of the leaders facing an audience Q&A hosted by Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam. They will then be interviewed by former BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman.
The second half of the programme will follow the same format with the other party leader.
The programme will be four days before the BBC broadcasts Mrs May and Mr Corbyn facing audience questions in Question Time specials presented by David Dimbleby on 2 June.
Sky News has also announced that on election night Adam Boulton and Sophy Ridge will co-host Vote 2017 from 9pm - with Boulton at the election hub at Sky's studios in Osterley crunching the latest results and Ridge on Abingdon Green in Westminster.
:: Jeremy Corbyn: Professional protester turned leader
Kay Burley will be with Theresa May in her Maidenhead constituency, Colin Brazier will be in north London following Jeremy Corbyn, Anna Botting in the Lake District with Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, Niall Paterson in Glasgow with the SNP, Gillian Joseph with UKIP, and Paul Kelso with the Green Party in Brighton.
Professor Michael Thrasher, Sky News' election expert, will be analysing all the results as they come in. Dermot Murnaghan will present Sky's coverage the following day as the story continues to develop from Westminster.
The broadcasters' exit poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI and GfK for Sky News, the BBC and ITV News, will offer the first snapshot of the results at 10pm before the results come in throughout the evening and into the following day.
Using the Sky News team and contributors across the UK, Sky News will be live from an unprecedented 300 constituencies, allowing the channel to be live in more party target seats than ever before.
John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said: "Sky News will offer their customers the most comprehensive coverage out there both during the rest of the campaign to the drama of election night.
"Whatever the results, Sky News promises to bring you the latest news first with immediate analysis from Sky News experts and guests with accuracy, flair and a healthy dose of fun."
:: Theresa May: A self-proclaimed "bloody difficult woman"
The Conservative leader and the Labour leader will be interviewed during the joint Sky News and Channel 4 programme May v Corbyn Live: The Battle For Number 10 - starting at 8.30pm.
The 90-minute show, to be broadcast from Sky's west London studios, will open with one of the leaders facing an audience Q&A hosted by Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam. They will then be interviewed by former BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman.
The second half of the programme will follow the same format with the other party leader.
The programme will be four days before the BBC broadcasts Mrs May and Mr Corbyn facing audience questions in Question Time specials presented by David Dimbleby on 2 June.
Sky News has also announced that on election night Adam Boulton and Sophy Ridge will co-host Vote 2017 from 9pm - with Boulton at the election hub at Sky's studios in Osterley crunching the latest results and Ridge on Abingdon Green in Westminster.
:: Jeremy Corbyn: Professional protester turned leader
Kay Burley will be with Theresa May in her Maidenhead constituency, Colin Brazier will be in north London following Jeremy Corbyn, Anna Botting in the Lake District with Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, Niall Paterson in Glasgow with the SNP, Gillian Joseph with UKIP, and Paul Kelso with the Green Party in Brighton.
Professor Michael Thrasher, Sky News' election expert, will be analysing all the results as they come in. Dermot Murnaghan will present Sky's coverage the following day as the story continues to develop from Westminster.
The broadcasters' exit poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI and GfK for Sky News, the BBC and ITV News, will offer the first snapshot of the results at 10pm before the results come in throughout the evening and into the following day.
Using the Sky News team and contributors across the UK, Sky News will be live from an unprecedented 300 constituencies, allowing the channel to be live in more party target seats than ever before.
John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said: "Sky News will offer their customers the most comprehensive coverage out there both during the rest of the campaign to the drama of election night.
"Whatever the results, Sky News promises to bring you the latest news first with immediate analysis from Sky News experts and guests with accuracy, flair and a healthy dose of fun."
:: Theresa May: A self-proclaimed "bloody difficult woman"
NHS cyberattack: Trusts were told about security patch last month
NHS England hospital trusts were sent details of a security patch last month that would have prevented Friday's malware attack.
NHS Digital has confirmed to Sky News that the patch was made available on its cyber portal on 25 April, and a link sent to NHS IT staff on 27 April.
A spokesman said: "Our understanding is that if that had been acted on it would have prevented (the malware attack)."
NHS organisations across the country were on alert for a possible recurrence of Friday's cyberattack as staff returned to work on Monday.
:: Microsoft: Governments to blame for cyberattack
Cyber security experts had warned that the ransomware virus, which affected one in five NHS trusts, could be reactivated by computers and devices that had not yet been switched on.
But speaking publicly for the first time since the cyberattack, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that "according to the latest intelligence we have not seen a second wave of attacks".
Home Secretary Amber Rudd will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency COBRA committee later.
More than 200,000 victims in about 150 countries were infected by the ransomware known as Wanna Decryptor, which encrypts files on a user's computer, blocking them from view and demanding a payment to release them.
:: Cyberattacks: How to protect your computer from infection
In total 47 NHS organisations reported being affected - and the disruption has continued into the new working week.
Seven hospital trusts are still experiencing serious problems, among them St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust.
Labour has accused the Government of a "chaotic" response, and claimed cuts had left hospitals "wide open" to being compromised.
Problems with cyber security in the NHS was highlighted last year by Dame Fiona Caldicott, the national data guardian, who warned issues were given insufficient priority and that health bodies persisted in using obsolete computer systems, The Times reported.
:: Cyberattack 'biggest in history and unique'
NHS Digital has confirmed to Sky News that the patch was made available on its cyber portal on 25 April, and a link sent to NHS IT staff on 27 April.
A spokesman said: "Our understanding is that if that had been acted on it would have prevented (the malware attack)."
NHS organisations across the country were on alert for a possible recurrence of Friday's cyberattack as staff returned to work on Monday.
:: Microsoft: Governments to blame for cyberattack
Cyber security experts had warned that the ransomware virus, which affected one in five NHS trusts, could be reactivated by computers and devices that had not yet been switched on.
But speaking publicly for the first time since the cyberattack, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that "according to the latest intelligence we have not seen a second wave of attacks".
Home Secretary Amber Rudd will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency COBRA committee later.
More than 200,000 victims in about 150 countries were infected by the ransomware known as Wanna Decryptor, which encrypts files on a user's computer, blocking them from view and demanding a payment to release them.
:: Cyberattacks: How to protect your computer from infection
In total 47 NHS organisations reported being affected - and the disruption has continued into the new working week.
Seven hospital trusts are still experiencing serious problems, among them St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust.
Labour has accused the Government of a "chaotic" response, and claimed cuts had left hospitals "wide open" to being compromised.
Problems with cyber security in the NHS was highlighted last year by Dame Fiona Caldicott, the national data guardian, who warned issues were given insufficient priority and that health bodies persisted in using obsolete computer systems, The Times reported.
:: Cyberattack 'biggest in history and unique'
UKIP accuses Theresa May of stealing the party's policies
UKIP has accused Theresa May of stealing its policies, and vowed to remain a political force even if it fails to win any seats in the General Election.
The party's economic spokesman, Patrick O'Flynn, said there was "still a stench in the political air" over favouring the rich and powerful despite the Prime Minister's recent attempts to woo Labour and UKIP voters.
Issuing a series of challenges to the Conservatives over their plans for the economy, Mr O'Flynn said more should be done to tackle big business rather than "dumping on the up-and-comers".
Speaking at a policy launch in Westminster, he said: "We could I think be forgiven for finding it galling that the ever-pragmatic Tory party has lately donned so many of our clothes - and isn't it interesting, by the way, that Mrs May is being ferried around the country in the very battlebus that was used for the Conservative Remain campaign this time last year?
"Rather like her, it's had a message respray in the interim."
Mr O'Flynn called on the Tories to rule out a hike in national insurance contributions (NIC), cut the foreign aid bill and clamp down on tax avoidance.
He said: "If NIC rises for the self-employed are not specifically ruled out in the Conservative manifesto then we will know that a Tory tax bombshell is on the way, aimed not at the rich but at plumbers and plasterers, electricians and taxi drivers, hairdressers and personal trainers.
"All the signs are Mr Hammond is planning a targeted attack on white van men and entrepreneurial women."
Mr O'Flynn urged the Conservatives to "steal another policy" by adopting UKIP's plans to clamp down on unskilled migration.
The vote to leave the European Union and subsequent infighting within UKIP after Nigel Farage stood aside as leader has led many to question whether the party is still relevant.
But Mr O'Flynn hit back at such suggestions, saying the party was "the most successful pressure group of the entire 21st century".
The party's economic spokesman, Patrick O'Flynn, said there was "still a stench in the political air" over favouring the rich and powerful despite the Prime Minister's recent attempts to woo Labour and UKIP voters.
Issuing a series of challenges to the Conservatives over their plans for the economy, Mr O'Flynn said more should be done to tackle big business rather than "dumping on the up-and-comers".
Speaking at a policy launch in Westminster, he said: "We could I think be forgiven for finding it galling that the ever-pragmatic Tory party has lately donned so many of our clothes - and isn't it interesting, by the way, that Mrs May is being ferried around the country in the very battlebus that was used for the Conservative Remain campaign this time last year?
"Rather like her, it's had a message respray in the interim."
Mr O'Flynn called on the Tories to rule out a hike in national insurance contributions (NIC), cut the foreign aid bill and clamp down on tax avoidance.
He said: "If NIC rises for the self-employed are not specifically ruled out in the Conservative manifesto then we will know that a Tory tax bombshell is on the way, aimed not at the rich but at plumbers and plasterers, electricians and taxi drivers, hairdressers and personal trainers.
"All the signs are Mr Hammond is planning a targeted attack on white van men and entrepreneurial women."
Mr O'Flynn urged the Conservatives to "steal another policy" by adopting UKIP's plans to clamp down on unskilled migration.
The vote to leave the European Union and subsequent infighting within UKIP after Nigel Farage stood aside as leader has led many to question whether the party is still relevant.
But Mr O'Flynn hit back at such suggestions, saying the party was "the most successful pressure group of the entire 21st century".
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