“UK inflation unexpectedly held steady in September at 6.7% as soaring fuel costs offset the first monthly fall in food prices for two years to maintain pressure on householdsamid the cost of living crisis. The Office for National Statistics said the annual inflation rate as measured by the consumer prices index remained unchanged from August’s reading, raising questions over the Bank of England’s next decision on interest rates in November. City economists had forecast a modest fall to 6.6%. Food and non-alcoholic drink prices fell by 0.2% on the month – the first monthly decline since September 2021 – helped by fierce competition among supermarkets driving down prices for milk, cheese and eggs, as well as mineral water, soft drinks and juices.” – The Guardian
“Joe Biden is due to arrive in Israel on Wednesday amid growing tensions over who is responsible for the bombing of a hospital in Gaza. At least 200 Palestinians died in the incident at the Anglican-run Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday evening. Israel was initially blamed for the attack but its forces later insisted a rocket fired by Islamic Jihad, a Hamas ally, was responsible. Open source intelligence analysts supported Israel’s claim that a rocket fired from within Gaza was responsible. Mr Biden will meet Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu and take part in his war cabinet after the country was expected to delay a planned ground offensive…Rishi Sunak will travel to Israel on Thursday amid growing concerns the Israel-Hamas war could spill into a wider regional conflict.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing mutiny from Labour councillors who have demanded the party change its position to condemn Israel over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Labour leader is under pressure from council leaders, influential Muslim party members and sections of the left over his initially unqualified support for Israel’s right to defend itself after Hamas’s attack this month. Starmer provoked anger among some in his party after he said Israel had the right to withhold power and water from Gaza, even as he said international law had to be respected. The Israel-Gaza conflict has caused sharp divisions within…Labour…with some quarters incensed by the leadership’s decision not to strongly criticise Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza.” – The Financial Times
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“The activities of Hamas have nothing whatsoever to do with Israeli “occupation”, since Israel evacuated Gaza in 2005; nor with the failure of the two-state solution, which it opposes. Indeed, the Charter explicitly states that “so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences” are “in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement”. Many criticisms can, no doubt, be made of Israeli governments, as in any democratic state. But even if Israel had been led by the Archangel Gabriel, it would not have prevented the atrocity. Hamas is the enemy not only of Jews, but of the Palestinians themselves. Israel hoped that when Gaza was evacuated it would become an economic powerhouse.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Rishi Sunak’s hopes of sealing a trade deal with India this month have faded, along with the prospect of him signing the agreement on the margins of a critical match during the Cricket World Cup. A lack of progress in opening up Indian markets to British professional services, including law and accountancy firms, is said by people briefed on the talks to be partly to blame for the impasse. Downing Street and New Delhi had eyed the possibility of the cricket-mad UK premier travelling to India next week, taking in what could be a crucial encounter between India and England in Lucknow on October 29. But British officials said the putative visit was now “very, very unlikely to happen”…Sunak said at a G20 summit in Delhi last month he would not “rush” a deal.” – The Financial Times
“Free speech is being harmed by “disinformation labels” on social media, over a hundred academics, historians and journalists have told the prime minister. The collective statement, called the “Westminster Declaration”, has been sent to Rishi Sunak and raises concerns over the “censorship of ordinary people, journalists and dissidents”. It has been signed by 136 influential figures including John Cleese, the actor and comedian, Jordan Peterson, the author, and Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder. The open letter suggests that social networks, government officials and non-governmental organisations are attempting to label legitimate opinions as fake news. Social media sites have been widely criticised over the spread of disinformation…as the Israel-Hamas war continues.” – The Times
“Rishi Sunak is pushing ahead with a plan to end no-fault evictions in England — four years after the measure was first promised — despite a lengthy row within Britain’s governing Conservative party that threatened to derail the proposal. The Financial Times revealed last month that the Renters (Reform) Bill had been put on ice, reflecting opposition towards the reforms from many Tory MPs. Eighty-seven MPs earn an income from residential property, of which 68 are Conservatives. But the prime minister has given the go-ahead for the legislation to return to parliament, according to senior government figures. Michael Gove, levelling-up secretary, is understood to have won the internal battle over the legislation and it will now have its crucial second reading…on Monday.” – The Financial Times
“Rishi Sunak paid a touching tribute to “serious radical” Nigel Lawson today – but raised eyebrows for trumpeting his tax cuts. The PM joined an array of politicians past and present at a ceremony in honour of the late ex-Chancellor, who died aged 91 in April. TV chef Nigella Lawson was also among the congregation at St Margaret’s Church in London to remember her late father. In a reading at the service, Mr Sunak hailed his political hero for slashing taxes as Margaret Thatcher’s reforming Chancellor. But one attendee – noting the current crippling tax burden – said: “There was plenty of harrumphing from the many Thatcherites in the crowd”. It came on the same day economists laid bare how ministers were hiking taxes on workers to record levels.” – The Sun
“Ministers have announced talks with consultant doctors in an effort to end damaging rounds of strikes before winter. While Department of Health officials insisted that headline pay was not up for negotiation, there is hope that movement in other areas could be a route to ending the industrial action. Consultants are seeking restoration to the pay levels they received in real terms in 2008 but also want reforms to the body that sets doctor and dentist salaries. Junior doctors are also in dispute with the government and the BMA has sought to present a united front, but communication from the more senior doctors has suggested more willingness to compromise….A DHSC spokesperson said: “We have agreed to meet the BMA consultants’ committee…” they said.” – The Times
“Laughing gas will be made illegal within weeks – with serious users facing two years behind bars. And jail terms for yobs who deal nitrous oxide are being doubled to 14 years as part of an anti-social behaviour crackdown enforced from November 8. Ministers are today laying down laws to make the drug a Class C substance meaning possession for anyone intending to get high is an offence. Punishment ranges from an unlimited fine, community service, a caution and a two-year prison sentence for repeat offenders. Home Secretary Suella Braverman ordered a blitz on the laughing gas amid links to louts gathering in children’s parks – and leaving the cans littered on the ground.” – The Sun
“Ministers are to review next year’s increase in the basic state pension, which could result in the Treasury saving up to £2 billion a year. Official figures released yesterday showed that total pay in the three months to July rose by 8.5 per cent outstripping inflation at of 5.9 per cent. Under the government’s triple lock mechanism the latest earning figures should be used to calculate next year’s increase in the state pension, which is supposed to rise in line with whichever is highest out of average wage growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent. But government sources said the latest earnings figures did not accurately represent real terms wage growth in the economy because they included one-off payments to NHS staff and other public sector workers as part of pay deals…” – The Times
“Tory campaigners expect Thursday’s by-elections to result in two “sizeable” Labour victories, a leaked document reveals. The Conservatives are defending large majorities in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth following the resignations of Nadine Dorries and Chris Pincher. But a memo from campaigners on the ground to Greg Hands, the Tory chairman, reveals the expectation that their vote in the two seats will halve. Phone canvassing suggests the party will only attract around 30 per cent of the vote as hundreds of Tory stalwarts stay at home… However, Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and leading elections expert, said the party could hold Mid Bedfordshire because of the battle between Labour and the Lib Dems.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Peter Bone has been stripped of the Tory whip following claims of bullying and sexual misconduct against a member of his staff. Mr Bone, a former deputy leader of the House of Commons, will now sit as an independent MP following his expulsion from the Conservative Party. Four separate allegations of bullying against the 70-year-old were upheld in a report published by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) on Monday. The MP for Wellingborough was also said to have exposed his genitals to his employee, who was in his early 20s, while the pair shared a hotel room during a trip to Madrid with the all-party parliamentary group on human trafficking. Mr Bone has vehemently denied all of the allegations, which date from 2012 and 2013.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Just one in four new Tory candidates picked to fight English seats at the next general election are women, The Telegraph can reveal. So far 68 constituencies in England that do not have a sitting Conservative MP seeking re-election have selected a Tory candidate to stand, but only 17 of those are women. The figure is considerably below other recent cycles, according to campaigners, when overall around a third of Tory candidates tended to be female. It comes after Greg Hands, the Conservative Party chairman, said…that he wants half of all Tory candidates to be women… Mr Hands told the Conservative Home website…: “It is an area I’m very concerned about. And I totally sign up to the aspiration for the party to be 50/50.” A CCHQ spokesman declined to comment.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Humza Yousaf has scrapped plans to increase council tax in an attempt to win back aspirational voters…In his first conference speech since becoming first minister Yousaf said that the party had to “re-earn the trust” of voters after it suffered a devastating defeat to Labour…His central announcement was a U-turn on Scottish government proposals to raise council tax by between 7.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent. There will be no increase as a result of the new plans. “We have consulted on what level the council tax should be next year,” Yousaf told delegates in Aberdeen. “And conference, we have reached our decision. I can announce to the people of Scotland that, next year, your council tax will be frozen.” A scream of “yes” could be heard from a delegate in the hall.” – The Times