Afternoon summary
Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has published what she is calling “the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation”.
Labour voters overwhelming favour opening talks on joining a customs union with the EU, a YouGov poll reveals. (See 12.33pm.) The figures were published a day after Wes Streeting, the health secretary, was quoted in the Observer as suggesting that he backs the idea – which is not government policy. The Lib Dems have been campaigning hard for the UK to join a customs union and, as the poll shows, the idea is very popular with progressive voters generally – even though experts suggest the potential benefts are over-rated. The YouGov poll also suggests around 70% of Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters would support a future PM opening talks on rejoining the EU – something Keir Starmer once said he did not expect to happen in his lifetime.
UK consumers saved less money during the third quarter of the year as higher taxes squeezed disposable incomes, ONS figures have revealed.
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.
Electoral Commission criticises government's plan to allow some councils to postpone elections due to reorganisation
Back to the local elections (see 3.50pm), and on Friday the Electoral Commission issued (by its standards) a relatively strong statement criticising the government’s plan to allow some councils to postpone the May elections. Vijay Rangarajan, its chief executive, said:
We are disappointed by both the timing and substance of [the government’s announcement]. Scheduled elections should as a rule go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances. We are concerned by the possibility of some council elections in May being postponed, and even more by any further postponement to those which already had been deferred from 2025.
Decisions on any postponements will not be taken until mid-January, less than three months before the scheduled May 2026 elections are due to begin. This uncertainty is unprecedented and will not help campaigners and administrators who need time to prepare for their important roles. We very much recognise the pressures on local government, but these late changes do not help administrators. Parties and candidates have already been preparing for some time, and will be understandably concerned.
