Author: News Desk

Wednesday’s front pages continue their coverage of the upcoming October Budget with the papers continuing to speculate over whether the chancellor will introduce a national insurance increase. Other domestic political stories make the lead with the Conservative leadership race being a popular topic as the race narrows down.
Elsewhere, several of the papers report Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife met Taylor Swift during one of her London concerts as the row over why the American singer was given a blue-light escort continues.
Images of Thomas Tuchel are splashed on many of the front pages – and all the back pages – after it emerged he is set to become the new England manager.

Liz Truss’ think tank publicly shames Kemi Badenoch for not answering questions Liz Truss’ think tank Popular Conservatism has publicly shamed Kemi Badenoch for failing to answer 12 questions it sent to her and Tory leadership rival Robert Jenrick. With Tory members set to choose the replacement for Rishi Sunak, the think tank also known as Popcon and launched by Ms Truss last year, put out the replies it got for each question. For each question under Ms Badenoch they put: “No response received”. Director Mark Littlewood told The Independent: “I’m perplexed, to be honest. We really wanted her content.…

Ministers warned not to repeat same mistakes by leaving Afghan heroes at mercy of Taliban Ministers have been warned not to repeat the same mistakes over Afghan soldiers, with fears their pledge to finally relocate special forces soldiers who fought with the UK could still leave 1,500 at the mercy of the Taliban. Campaigners and former military top brass hailed armed forces minister Luke Pollard’s announcement this week that acknowledged the troops had worked for Britain. He pledged to bring an estimated 500 to safety following a Ministry of Defence review. But campaigners warned the decision to only grant sanctuary…

Pictured: Note allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body saying ‘It’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter’ A note that was allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body in her father’s handwriting has been pictured in court. Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his 10-year-old daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29. It is alleged within hours of her death the defendants had booked a flight out of the country. Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed in her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August last…

Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London gig as questions continue over her blue-light escort Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer met with pop star Taylor Swift at one of her London concerts to discuss the Southport attack. It is understood that Sir Keir and his family spoke to the Shake if Off singer and her mother after he was invited to attend the Wembley gig on 20 August. This comes amid questions over government intervention in talks over the security for the concerts after Swift was given a taxpayer-funded police escort. Last week, it was claimed the Metropolitan Police’s special…

General Sir Mike Jackson, former head of British Army, dies aged 80 General Sir Mike Jackson, the former head of the British Army, has died aged 80. He served as Chief of the General Staff between 2003 and 2006. In a statement, the British Army announced his death, saying:” It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of General Sir Mike Jackson GCB, CBE, DSO, on 15 October surrounded by his family. “General ‘Jacko’ served with distinction for over 40 years, finishing his career as Chief of the General Staff. “He will be greatly missed, and…

Budget 2024 live updates: Inflation falls to lowest rate in three years, Reeves ‘eyes £40bn’ in cuts and spending Rachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget in 15 years later this month, leading one of the most highly-anticipated fiscal events in over a decade. As the chancellor looks to fill the £22bn “black hole” in public spending she announced in late July, speculation has mounted about what measures will be included on 30 October. During the Labour’s first few months in power, ministers have warned that “tough decisions” will be required to balance the books. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer…

Majority of parents not deterred by fines for term-time family holidays – survey The majority of parents say fines for unauthorised absences would not deter them from taking their children out of school for a holiday, a survey has found. Half of parents are opposed to the policy in England where fines are considered if a child misses five days of school without permission, according to a poll by Parentkind charity. The survey, of nearly 5,500 parents from across the UK, found that nearly three in five (57%) parents have or would consider their child missing school for a day…

Food guru Tim Spector and health experts call on NHS to make vegan food the norm in hospitals Food guru Tim Spector has joined healthcare chiefs and at least 1,000 health experts in calling on the NHS to make vegan food standard in UK hospitals. In an open letter to every NHS trust and healthcare leader in the UK, they ask healthcare organisations to implement “plant-based by default” menus. It follows a trial in New York in 2022, which they say led to a 36 per cent drop in food carbon emissions, cost savings and a more than 90 per…