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Here is a summary of the latest developments:
Keir Starmer does not think all owners of stocks and shares fall outside his definition of “working people”, Downing Street has signalled, amid confusion over who will be protected from tax rises in next week’s budget. The prime minister had suggested asset owners would not fall within his conception of what a working person is. The government has been asked repeatedly to define this term, in a bid to establish which taxes may rise in the budget.
On Friday morning, a Treasury minister said it was “important to focus on” where people are getting their money from in relation to the debate over the “working people” definition. James Murray told Sky News that “a working person is someone who goes out to work and who gets their income from work”.
Starmer has said he understands the “strength of feeling” in the Commonwealth about reparatory justice but that countries should work together to ensure their future is “not in the shadow of the past, but is illuminated by it”. Speaking in an executive session of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) hosted in Samoa, the prime minister conceded that the Commonwealth had to “acknowledge our shared history – especially when it’s hard”. Downing Street has firmly ruled out paying reparations to its former colonies and said it’s not on the agenda for the summit, but Caribbean countries have been pushing for them to be mentioned in the communique.
On the subject of slavery reparations, Downing Street has said that its position on reparations also covers non-financial reparations. The prime minister’s deputy spokesperson said: “Our position on reparations is clear, and that goes for other forms of non-financial reparatory justice too. “The prime minister’s focus is on addressing the challenges that we face.
Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick has said the UK should “unequivocally reject” claims of reparations. He said in a speech at the Henry Jackson Society: “We must unequivocally reject these claims, they are based on false and misleading narratives about our past, after all it was Britain that worked harder than nearly any other country to eradicate the slave trade.”
Jenrick has said the contest is “absolutely not” over after a survey by ConservativeHome suggested he was trailing Kemi Badenoch by 31% to 55%. Asked whether the contest was all over, Jenrick said: “Absolutely not – this is neck and neck, that’s a survey not a poll.”
Downing Street will announce five new freeports in next week’s budget as part of its effort to drive economic growth. Ministers will set out plans to establish five new low-tax zones, plus an investment zone in the East Midlands, where businesses will benefit from tax breaks such as lower tariffs and customs. Starmer said the freeports being announced next week would “have this government’s stamp on them” despite being a policy inherited from the Tories.
Rachel Reeves must “get the balance right” when announcing changes to Britain’s debt rules in next week’s budget given the potential knock-on effects to borrowing and mortgage rates, the boss of NatWest has warned. The bank’s chief executive, Paul Thwaite, said markets would be sensitive to the chancellor’s reasons for releasing up to £50bn of borrowing headroom after she confirmed in Washington on Thursday that she planned to rewrite her fiscal rules.
The value of the UK’s private healthcare market rose to a record £12.4bn last year as long NHS waiting lists fuelled demand from individuals and the health service paid for nearly £3.5bn of procedures to help ease the care backlog. As private medical insurance boomed, total revenues generated in the independent healthcare sector hit an all-time high in real terms pegged to 2003 prices, research revealed.
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, has been charged with failing to provide the pin to his mobile phone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, Kent police said. The charge is in relation to an incident in Folkestone on Sunday 28 July after officers stopped Robinson under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Supporters of Robinson are due to hold a demonstration on Saturday, which is expected to be met with a counter-protest from Stand Up to Racism campaigners.
Downing Street is blocking moves to include a ban on smoking outdoors in the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes bill amid fierce opposition by the hospitality trade. No 10 officials privately believe that banning people from lighting up in pub gardens is “an unserious” policy and is not backed by good evidence showing that it harms non-smokers.
The SNP will need to make “uncomfortable commitments” to gain the support of the Scottish Greens for the budget, Lorna Slater has said. The Greens’ co-leader said her party will require the Scottish government to make promises similar to those made in the Bute House agreement (BHA).
AstraZeneca has said it may cut jobs at its UK operation if the government enforces a global push to make companies share profits derived from nature’s genetic codes, multiple sources have told the Guardian. The alleged comments from the company came amid a concerted lobbying push by the pharmaceutical industry against the profit-sharing measures.
Two Scottish pensioners have been given permission to proceed with their legal challenge against the UK and Scottish and governments’ decision to cut the winter fuel payment. The case’s argument rests on the accusation that both governments failed to adequately consult those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes.
Michelle O’Neill has insisted the powersharing structures in Northern Ireland remain stable after several controversies that have hit Sinn Féin. In an effort to draw a line under a difficult month for her party, the first minister said she has spent four weeks answering questions on the various furores but was now keen to focus on the future for the devolved executive she jointly leads with DUP deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
The EU executive has said it has failed to reach agreement with the UK government in a dispute over fishing rights and has triggered an arbitration process under the post-Brexit deal. The European Commission announced on Friday that it was requesting an arbitration tribunal over the UK’s decision to ban industrial fishing of sandeel in the North Sea.
More than 29,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel, including 500 in a single day, Home Office figures show. On Thursday, 509 people made the journey in 11 boats, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 29,154.
A former UK defence chief has warned “dire consequences” would follow if European leaders fail to hold their nerve and continue to support Ukraine. Jock Stirrup, who served as head of the armed forces between 2006 and 2010, acknowledged there are “signs of growing war weariness” and a desire to end the conflict whatever it takes. Speaking during a House of Lords debate, Lord Stirrup said it has been a “difficult” year for Ukraine as weapons and personnel shortages are “hampering” its efforts to deal with the “grinding war of attrition” pursued by Russia. When opening the debate, defence minister Vernon Coaker, reiterated the UK government’s support for Ukraine as he said Russia’s war represented a “sustained attack” on the United Nations charter and the rules and norms that underpin security and prosperity.
Businesses that import critical minerals to the UK will be given access to state-backed loans in a move to counter China’s dominance in the market. The chancellor is expected to announce extra government support to encourage the import of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite and cobalt in her budget next week.
Updated
Tommy Robinson charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, say Kent police
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, has been charged with failing to provide the pin to his mobile phone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, Kent police said.
The charge is in relation to an incident in Folkestone on Sunday 28 July after officers stopped Robinson under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The PA news agency reports that Robinson has been bailed to appear at Westminster magistrates court on 13 November 2024.
Supporters of Robinson are due to hold a demonstration on Saturday, which is expected to be met with a counter-protest from Stand Up to Racism campaigners.
The Metropolitan police and British Transport Police are due to be supported by officers from other forces across the country as the Met said there will be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups are kept apart.
Robinson arrived at Folkestone police station shortly after 3pm on Friday.
• This post was amended on 25 October as it initially said the counter-protest would be from Stop the War campaigners.
Updated
