“The BBC faces a battle over the TV licence fee within weeks as ministers launch a “fundamental” review of the corporation after claims of bias. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, is understood to be planning to launch her consultation on the BBC’s royal charter before Christmas, and will consider wholesale reform of the licence fee as part of a “comprehensive look at the way the BBC operates”. The once-a-decade charter renewal is expected to focus on providing a “sustainable” funding model and restoring public trust in BBC news content. Sources stressed that it was not connected to the bias scandal that has engulfed the corporation since The Telegraph revealed how footage was edited in a Panorama documentary to exaggerate Donald Trump’s role in the Capitol riots. The review follows a disastrous week for the BBC, culminating in the resignations of Tim Davie, the director general, and Deborah Turness, the news chief, on Sunday after more revelations about biased reporting.” – Daily Telegraph
Editorial
Comment
Today
Yesterday
“Rachel Reeves has suggested that she is prepared to break Labour’s manifesto by raising income tax but signalled that she would scrap the two-child benefit cap. The chancellor said that she would, “of course”, like to stick to the pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT, but doing so would require cuts to spending that would damage productivity. Her comments are the clearest indication yet that she will break the manifesto pledge. The Times disclosed last week that she had included a rise in income tax in the “major measures” she submitted to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the official forecaster, before the budget on November 26. Reeves is expected to offset a 2p rise in income tax with a 2p cut in national insurance in an attempt to shift the burden of the tax rises on to other groups, such as pensioners and landlords. The move is expected to raise at least £6 billion as she seeks to fill a £30 billion hole in the public finances.” – The Times
Comment
“A second migrant removed to France under the “one in, one out” deal has returned to Britain, the Home Office has confirmed. The unnamed man arrived back in the UK after joining 348 other migrants who crossed the Channel in five small boats on Sunday. The Home Office said the migrant was detected by biometrics as one of the 94 migrants who had been removed from Britain under the UK-France treaty over the past two months. He was detained immediately and the department said he would be removed back to France “as quickly as possible”. The department has not disclosed the nationality, age or name of the migrant. The man is the second migrant to have returned to the UK after being removed to France, following the arrival of an Iranian migrant on October 18. He returned on a small boat less than a month after being one of the first to be removed to France under the deal.” – The Times
Comment
“David Lammy has been challenged to reveal key facts about the prison release gaffes – and warned he should resign if he fails to answer. The Deputy Prime Minister has been asked to provide a full picture of how many criminals have been wrongly freed, and how many are still on the run. It comes as Mr Lammy, who is also Justice Secretary, prepares to appear before MPs for the first time since his disastrous appearance at PMQs last week. He was roundly criticised for failing to admit on Wednesday that another foreign offender had been let out by mistake. Mr Lammy’s stance prompted mutterings – even within Labour ranks – about whether he was up to the job. Now Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has taken the unusual step of revealing in advance the questions he will ask during a Commons session tomorrow. In an open letter, tweeted by Mr Jenrick, he wrote: ‘I have written to you, submitted Parliamentary questions and asked you in the House of Commons. You have failed to give any answers. Tomorrow, in Parliament, I will once again ask basic questions that any competent Lord Chancellor would know the answers to. How many prisoners have been accidentally released since 1st April 2025? How many prisoners accidentally released are still at large? Who has been accidentally released and how many are violent or sexual offenders?’” – Daily Mail
“The feud between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana over the future of the leftwing Your Party has taken another twist with the two camps arguing publicly over hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations. Sultana offered to transfer £600,000 from a company the party’s founders set up earlier this year, only to be rebuffed by allies of Corbyn who accused her of playing “political games” with supporters’ money. The latest row comes after months of acrimony between the two former Labour MPs as they jostle to be the figurehead of what they hope will be a new force on the populist left. The tussle for power is likely to come to a head in the new year when the party holds a formal leadership contest.” – Guardian
“Dame Penny Mordaunt on Monday sobbed in court as she alleged that an infatuated stalker bombarded her with emails and calls and even jumped the security barrier at her office. The former defence secretary, 52, told a jury that Edward Brandt, 60, left her ‘feeling very vulnerable’ and tried to form a ‘personal relationship’ with her during an alleged campaign of stalking. Brandt – a Conservative Party member – went on trial at Southampton Crown Court, accused of stalking the former Tory MP. e is accused of ignoring a police warning and continuing to stalk Ms Mordaunt, claiming he wanted to have a ‘much-famed pint’ with her. Prosecutors said the defendant also claimed he wanted to shake her ‘precious and gold-plated hand’ to praise her for her work.Brandt jumped the barrier at her office and Mordaunt had to bolster her security, it was also heard. Giving evidence, Mordaunt was reduced to tears as she explained how ‘drained’ she felt by the whole situation.” – Daily Mail