“Police are investigating whether the suspect in the Huntingdon train stabbings was involved in four knife-related incidents in the hours before the attack. Anthony Williams appeared in court on Monday charged with 10 counts of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on an LNER train from Doncaster to London on Saturday evening. There have been calls for an urgent investigation into the police’s handling of the case amid claims there were a string of missed opportunities to apprehend the 32-year-old before the incident. Speaking in the House of Commons, Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, told MPs on Monday that the public would have “many unanswered questions” about the attacker and events that led up to the incident. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the Cambridgeshire force and British Transport Police (BTP) both had questions to answer after Williams was linked to four knife incidents between Friday night and Saturday morning.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment
“Rachel Reeves will indicate she is prepared to break Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise income tax. In a rare pre-Budget press conference on Tuesday, the Chancellor will insist she will take the “necessary” steps to right public finances for “years to come”. The Treasury has not knocked down speculation that an increase in income tax rates – potentially by as much as 2p – is being considered in her Budget on Nov 26 to fill a financial black hole. Ms Reeves will address this speculation head on, insisting she has to make “important choices” for the economy. It comes after the Prime Minister’s official spokesman repeatedly refused on Monday to stand by Labour’s pledge last summer not to increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT.” – Daily Telegraph
Editorial
Comment
“Nigel Farage has cast doubt over the future of the pensions triple lock under a Reform government, saying he could not predict if it would still be viable. In a speech rowing back on vast spending plans and tax cuts in the party’s last election manifesto, Farage said some of the substantial changes promised were no longer “sensible”. He blamed the Conservatives for raking up the national debt and accused Rachel Reeves of presiding over a “wealth drain” by pushing wealth-creators to leave Britain. However, Farage was forced to defend himself against suggestions he was breaking promises made by Reform in its last manifesto and in speeches and announcements up until July. In an attempt to wipe the slate clean, Farage hinted his support for cutting the minimum wage for young people and reversing Labour’s inheritance tax changes for farmers.” – The Times
Comment
“A Rochdale grooming gang leader faces a lifetime ban from Britain after secretly leaving the country. Adil Khan, a “vile” child rapist who impregnated a 13-year-old, has been subjected to a Home Office deportation order that bars him from ever returning to the UK. The convicted paedophile left Britain after fighting deportation for nearly a decade, claiming that removing him would breach his human rights by depriving his teenage son of a “role model”. Greater Manchester Police said officers discovered that Khan, 55, was no longer at home when they conducted their normal post-prison release compliance checks last month. A spokesman said: “On our most recent visit on Oct 21 [Khan] was not there and our inquiries have since established he has left the country. We are working alongside the Home Office in our efforts to locate him.” It is believed Khan may have left for Europe.” – Daily Telegraph
Today
“China successfully put pressure on a British university to cease research into human rights abuses. Sheffield Hallam University, a public research institute in South Yorkshire, ordered one of its most senior professors to halt her work on allegations of forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China. Prof Laura Murphy, of the university’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, was told in February that her research into the alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims must stop. Sheffield Hallam claimed the decision was made because of administrative issues and denied that it was related to commercial interests.After Prof Murphy threatened to pursue legal action, the university apologised. In October, it lifted restrictions on her research.” – Daily Telegraph
Today
“The BBC “doctored” a Donald Trump speech by making him appear to encourage the Capitol Hill riot, according to an internal whistleblowing memo seen by The Telegraph. A Panorama programme, broadcast a week before the US election, “completely misled” viewers by showing the president telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to “fight like hell”, when in fact he said he would walk with them “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard”. The “mangled” footage was highlighted in a 19-page dossier on BBC bias, which was compiled by a recent member of the corporation’s standards committee and is now circulating in government departments. The dossier said the programme made the US president “‘say’ things [he] never actually said” by splicing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later. It claimed senior executives and the BBC’s chairman had ignored and dismissed a string of serious complaints raised by the corporation’s own standards watchdog.” – Daily Telegraph
“A taxi driver has been cleared of stealing cash and luggage from David Lammy after a court heard that the Deputy Prime Minister’s claims were “incoherent”. Nasim Mimun, 40, had faced up to three years in prison after being accused of taking property belonging to Mr Lammy, 53, and his wife, the artist Nicola Green, also 53, following a 370-mile journey through the Alps in April. But a judge at Bonneville criminal court dismissed the case on Monday, ruling there was “zero proof that Mimun intended to keep the goods”. Mr Mimun told The Telegraph after the verdict: “The court ordered my acquittal. David Lammy, France didn’t believe you!” The dispute began when the couple were picked up in Forli, near Bologna, on April 10, following the King and Queen’s state visit to Italy, en route to a French ski resort” – Daily Telegraph
“The contents of one of Margaret Thatcher’s former homes has sold at auction for £730,000. The items, including the final portrait photo of the Tory Prime Minister — who died aged 87 in 2013 — were taken from a house in Chester Square in London’s Belgravia. The Sloane Street Auctions sale was the third of furniture and effects — and fetched far more than expected. A mahogany desk, which the Iron Lady used for writing speeches, sold for £16,000 eight times its estimate of £2,000. Other lots included a portrait photograph which sold for £4,500 — over ten times its estimated value, A silver cigar box gifted by an ex-president of Colombia, Virgilio Barco Vargas, expected to go for £500, fetched £18,000.” – The Sun