Early evening summary
Matthew Doyle, Keir Starmer’s former communications chief, has apologised for a friendship with a paedophile councillor. (See 5.40pm.) He has also said that he will give up the Labour whip in the Lords. Labour said the whip was being withdrawn anyway while an investigation is carried out. “All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures,” a spokesperson said.
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
Updated
Support for cutting taxes, and spending less on health, education and benefits, at highest level for 40 years, report says
According to the British Social Attitudes survey, support for cutting taxes, and spending less on health, education and benefits, is at its highest level for 40 years.
In its report with the data, the National Centre for Social Research says:
Our initial findings from the 2025 BSA survey show how the public have responded to some of the recent challenges faced by policy makers. People have reacted against the increase in the size of the state in the wake of the expansion engendered by the pandemic. They have become less supportive of spending on welfare in the wake of increasing expenditure occasioned by illhealth, disability and an ageing population. Meanwhile, record levels of net inward migration have been accompanied by a reversal of a once favourable perception of the impact of migration.
However, not everyone has changed their mind. Rather, we are now looking at a public that looks more divided on these subjects than hitherto. For the first time since BSA began in 1983, a significant proportion of people now endorse a reduction in taxes and spending rather than just look for increases to stop.
And here is the chart showing these figures.
