Writing the summary…
Lib Dems call for one-to-one midwife care during childbirth
Source: BBC Politics
Original reporting
BBC Politics: read the full reportRelated stories
BBC Politics
Helen Jenner announced by Nigel Farage as new leader of Reform in Wales
Jenner, who represents Bangor Conwy Mon in the Senedd, was previously Reform's Welsh deputy leader.
The Guardian
Badenoch accused of U-turn after she pledges to bring back tourism VAT refund scheme she scrapped – UK politics live
Tory scrapped the scheme which allowed overseas visitors tax-free shopping when she was a Treasury minister Ed Davey has claimed this morning that NHS maternity services are in crisis. He did so as the Liberal Democrats released figures which they said showed “the risk of life-altering childbirth injuries has reached a record high in 2026”. Explaining the figures in a news release, the Lib Dems said: NHS data analysed by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 3 in every 100 women undergoing a vaginal birth now suffer severe 3rd or 4th-degree tears. These are agonising injuries so profound that patients must be rushed to an operating theatre for surgical repair. The rate of these severe tears has surged by 29% since 2021. The crisis extends to life-threatening postpartum haemorrhages, with 2026 recording peak rates of severe bleeds involving a blood loss of more than 1.5 litres. The most
NPR Politics
Many GOP candidates still echo Trump's 2020 claims. Lots of voters want to move on
While many Republican candidates, even in some critical tossup races, still back President Trump's baseless claims about election integrity, some GOP voters say they are ready to move on.
BBC Politics
Specialist courts for rape cases to be rolled out in England and Wales
Funding will allow victims to view proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room via video link, the government says.
The Guardian
What do you think of the MPs’ inquiry into UK Eurovision song contest failure? I give it nul points | Laura Snapes
There are obvious reasons why the UK flops and flops again, but that isn’t the point. This annual debacle is now part of our national identity Given that Britain’s politics are quite a sizeable reason that we do so badly in Eurovision: here’s something that will definitely, absolutely, categorically help us do better in the competition … interference from MPs. Digital, culture, media and sport committee chair Caroline Dinenage has announced that MPs will scrutinise the UK’s reliable failure in the competition to see where we’re going wrong, with a hearing to be held over the coming months. The answers surely don’t take that long to work out. Continue reading...
The Guardian
Lib Dems propose big tech levy to fund £250m online crime agency
Proposal one of many at conference responding to concern voters unaware of party’s policies or what it stands for The Liberal Democrats say they will tax big tech to finance a new online crime agency, as they try to address concerns that not enough voters know what the party stands for. The plan, to be announced at the party conference on Monday by the Lib Dems’ home affairs spokesperson, Max Wilkinson, would create a new Online Crime Agency focused on offences including child sexual abuse material, trafficking in drugs and weapons, and deepfake AI-generated pornographic images. Continue reading...