Editorial 15.11.24
Chancellor Mansion House speech
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first Mansion House speech yesterday – an annual address to the City of London by the sitting chancellor. Her speech made the headlines this morning.
Elsewhere, reports on several ongoing investigations into non-crime hate incidents (NCHI) feature on the front pages.
Chancellor urges greater risks
‘Chancellor ures greater risks saying rules introduced after 2008 were harming growth,’ says the FT.
The Financial Times says the chancellor has urged City regulators to allow financial service providers to take greater risks, saying that the rules introduced after the 2008 financial crash had “gone too far” and were harming growth. The paper says the comments were part of an attempt by Reeves to “reassure City grandees that she had a growth strategy”.
‘Bailey says Brexit is damaging economy,’ highlights the i.
The i says Reeves has backed plans to allow bankers to receive their bonuses after a five-year deferral period instead of the current eight years. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey made a “political intervention” in the UK’s relationship with Europe saying Brexit was damaging the economy, the paper highlights.
NCHI incidents wasting police time
‘Cops confused as children as young as nine are investigated,’ reports The Times.
The Times reports they have found evidence of “confusion” among cops after Freedom of Information requests revealed that children as young as nine have been investigated over such incidents in the classroom, something that’s not supposed to happen.
‘Three police forces involved in investigation into social media post,’ says the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph reports that three police forces have been involved in the investigation into a social media post by one of its journalists prompting a “major backlash” from critics who fear a threat to free speech. Columnist Allison Pearson said she was told by police she was being visited over a “non-crime hate incident” regarding a now-deleted social media post. But Essex Police said officers spoke to Pearson earlier this month in an investigation under the Public Order Act, which is understood to relate to alleged incitement to racial hatred.
‘Police the streets, not the tweets as more and more NCHIs,’ says the Mail.
The Daily Mail says the prime minister has been told to “police the streets, not the tweets” after Downing Street said Starmer supported police action to “capture data” on incidents and comments which are not serious enough to constitute a crime. The paper says critics say the growing number of NCHIs being recorded is a “waste of police time”.
‘Carers could face trial after unknowingly racking up debts because of overpayments,’ leads The Guardian.
The Guardian says more than 250 unpaid carers could face trial after unknowingly racking up debts because of benefit overpayments. It says 15,000 carers have been affected overall, with 50 being asked to repay at least £10,000. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, himself a carer for his teenage son, is quoted calling for a halt to repayment demands until a review is carried out.
It reports that campaigners are calling for a halt to prosecutions of people unable to return benefit overpayments while an independent review of the carer’s allowance is carried out.
‘WHICH? launch lawsuit against Apple,’ reports the Metro.
The Metro says consumer group Which? Has launched a lawsuit against Apple alleging the tech giant is “ripping off” customers of its iCloud storage service. The group accuses Apple of forcing the service on customers and making it difficult for them to use alternatives, the paper reports.