Writing the summary…
Badenoch says Tories could not form pact with Reform UK because they’re too ‘problematic’ – UK politics live

Original reporting
The Guardian: read the full reportRelated stories

Teenagers to be offered new vocational GCSE subjects in school
New GCSE subjects could include child development and building and construction as vocational courses are being introduced.

No 'switch' to stop small boats, Lucy Powell tells BBC
Labour's deputy leader was speaking to BBC local radio ahead of the party's annual conference
What's at stake during the meeting between Trump and Xi
What can we expect from the Trump-Xi summit? NPR's A Martinez asks Daniel Kritenbrink, an assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs in the Biden administration.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in U.S. for first state visit in 11 years
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday evening for his first state visit in 11 years.

Nick Clegg plays down fears ‘godlike’ AI could exterminate humanity
Former deputy PM now involved in tech industry says many within sector are ‘winding themselves up into a lather’ UK politics live – latest updates Nick Clegg has dismissed fears over AI’s “godlike power to exterminate humanity”, calling it a sign that tech bosses are “breathing their own fumes”. The former UK deputy prime minister said that tech bosses should focus on addressing known specific threats such as cybersecurity and bioweapons rather than the “slightly hand-wavy view that this technology is unavoidably going to develop some godlike power which is going to turn on us and exterminate humanity”. Continue reading...

From idealists to struggling sceptics: how Labour’s majority depends on five progressive voter types – in charts
Analysis reveals groups with sharply contrasting priorities – and who has drifted the most from Labour towards Greens and Reform • Tactical voting at next election could push Reform into fourth place, poll finds • UK politics live – latest updates A new MRP poll suggests Labour would remain the largest party if a general election were held now, but would fall well short of an overall majority as Reform surged into second place. Behind those headline figures, research from Survation and 38 Degrees casts new light on five distinct voter groups who are collectively defined as the “progressive majority”. These people share concerns about living costs and the NHS, but differ over immigration, the environment, political trust and the pace of change needed to address the UK’s policies. Continue reading...