Writing the summary…
Lib Dems torn over whether to be voters’ first choice or the route to block Reform
Source: The Guardian
Original reporting
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The Guardian
Trump says he has a better UK relationship with Burnham as PM – politics live
US president says Burnham will be ‘a great PM’ in friendly first meeting on the sidelines of New York gathering but makes jibe at Starmer If Andy Burnham wanted to inject some edge into his meeting with Donald Trump later (which he doesn’t), he could bring along a copy of today’s Financial Times. This front page headline speaks for itself. Mortgages ‘on the front line’ as Iran war deals £840 blow to homeowners British homeowners are paying an average of £840 a year more when they refinance their mortgages, as the rising borrowing costs triggered by the Iran war start to impact consumers’ spending power. Approximately 1m households have rolled off fixed-rate mortgage deals since February, according to Bank of England data. Continue reading...
The Guardian
Reform UK-led council ends support for Show Racism the Red Card
Charity’s head coach ‘shocked’ after Sunderland council leader says it will not support ‘politically charged’ groups Anti-racism education in some schools will be scrapped after a city council now led by Reform UK ended its 30-year support for the charity Show Racism the Red Card. Gary Bennett, the former Sunderland AFC captain and the charity’s head coach, said he was “shocked and disappointed” that Nigel Farage’s party had withdrawn vital funding. Continue reading...
BBC Politics
Laura Anne Jones elected Reform's deputy Welsh leader
She fills the vacancy left by Helen Jenner becoming leader on Monday.
The Guardian
Ed Davey promises £17bn income tax cut if Lib Dems are elected
Growth created by rejoining EU single market and customs union would fund change, Davey tells the party’s conference UK politics live – latest updates Ed Davey has unveiled a plan for a £17bn income tax cut in a speech aimed at shoring up the party’s support among former Conservative voters, but which risked disappointing some Liberal Democrat MPs who want a bolder vision for the party. Addressing the party’s annual conference in Brighton, the Lib Dem leader said the proposal, which would eventually increase the threshold for paying income tax to £15,000 and raise the level at which people pay the 40p higher rate by about £6,000, would be paid for entirely by increased growth. Continue reading...
The Guardian
British banks warned not to invest in planned Israeli settlement before UK trade ban begins
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The Guardian
Lib Dems quietly commission review into religious inclusion amid case brought by dropped candidate
Richard Newby to chair inquiry commissioned in response to discrimination case brought by David Campanale, who is seeking £790,000 in damages The Liberal Democrats have quietly commissioned a review into the treatment of figures within their ranks who hold religious views, weeks after the Guardian revealed a religious discrimination claim against the party by the former candidate David Campanale. Campanale, a former BBC journalist, was selected in 2021 as the party’s candidate for Sutton and Cheam but was removed in August 2023. He has argued in a civil case against the party that discrimination against his Christianity cost him his political career. Continue reading...