Writing the summary…
Avanti West Coast to be renationalised in March as ministers float public ownership of new trains

Follow this story
Earlier reports and follow-ups on the same developing story.
Related stories

Shabana Mahmood says Labour party wants to create ‘fairness in our immigration system’ – UK politics live
She says a lack of fairness can make ‘people turn inwards’ Healey vows to stick to fiscal rules in budget built on hope Lisa O’Carroll is a senior Guardian correspondent. The head of the SDLP, Claire Hanna , has called for an international mediator to resolve the continuing crisis over a unionist parade in a nationalist area close to Drumcree, the site of some of the worst violence of the troubles almost 30 years ago. The truth is everybody has got to want to seek mediation and seek compromise and that’s what I’m trying to find, whether there’s that little chink on both sides that we can use to get to a decent compromise that means everybody can walk away with their head held high and their sense of honour. Continue reading...

Burnham has a battle plan, with social care the flagship. Risks lie ahead, but Labour now travels in hope | Polly Toynbee
Here in Liverpool, the PM’s ambition for the party – and the country – is evident. There should be no complacency, but also no fear His ambition is big enough to see from space as he promises the “ biggest change to Britain in 40 years ”. Andy Burnham pledges what no prime minister until now has dared to, breaking the long spell of Thatcherism. Her sham monopoly markets in public services have crashed. The chancellor, John Healey, promises a “new age of industrialisation ”, breaking with her era of industrial desertification. The social care system she blew into disconnected privatised fragments will become a national care service. Something new is waiting to be born. Things happen fast. Only a year ago, the Labour party was on its knees in despair, thunderstruck to find Nigel Farage ruling the roost so soon after its landslide win, with Reform UK 12 percentage points ahead of Labour’s d

Angela Rayner promises greater public control of housing in England
Conference speech to announce housing associations cannot reject homeless families without good reason as councils gain new powers Housing associations in England will be told they cannot decline to house homeless families without good reason, Angela Rayner will tell the Labour conference, as part of a drive for more public control of housing. Homelessness charities said the new powers were a “gamechanger” and had the potential to make a significant difference to rough sleeping and families in temporary accommodation, the numbers of which have risen sharply. Almost 180,000 children are living in temporary accommodation. Continue reading...

Palestine has become electoral issue in UK for first time, says solidarity campaign chief
Anger over Israel’s war in Gaza is mobilising British voters, according to Aimee Shalan Palestine has become a domestic electoral issue in Britain for the first time, according to the incoming head of the country’s largest Palestinian solidarity organisation. Aimee Shalan, who will take over as director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in November, joins the organisation as demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza have snowballed into what organisers describe as one of the most sustained protest movements in modern British history. Continue reading...

Mahmood to reopen scheme to resettle refugees in the UK
Around 25% of arrivals under the UK Resettlement Scheme are expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinians.

Shabana Mahmood hints she could water down controversial care worker visa plans
Home secretary under pressure over changes to indefinite leave to remain that would penalise foreign care workers UK politics live – latest updates Shabana Mahmood has signalled she is considering watering down her plans to make it harder for foreign workers to claim permanent residence in the UK, amid growing demands for a U-turn from cabinet colleagues and unions. In a speech to the Labour party conference, the home secretary said the government would “come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens across this country”, after acknowledging that “some have said elements of these reforms are not fair”. Continue reading...