Trending – Southport suspect new charges & Chancellor to deliver Labour’s first budget in 14 years 

Key facts

• Axel Rudakubana has been charged with possessing a study of an al-Qaeda training manual – an offence under anti-terror laws – and producing the toxic poison ricin
  • He was charged with the murders of three little girls who were stabbed to death in July
  • Despite the new charges police believe his attack on the three children was not terror-related
• Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her first budget today – marking the first Labour budget in 14 years
  • She is to set out the government’s fiscal plans
  • A lot of the measures have already been leaked to the press including the raising of the national minimum wage

The reaction 

The reaction to the update in the Southport case has been widespread. Several media outlets have chosen to offer a more factual tone, whilst others suggest the government has engaged in a cover-up – questioning why it took so long for him to be charged.

It’s worth reminding, that the murders of the three girls led to riots across England namely because false information spread that the suspect was an illegal immigrant whose attack on the girls was terror-related.

Several outlets then reported that the suspect is from a Christian background – but today’s news for the more conspiracy-minded has set tongues wagging. They are questioning why his attack on the children is not being treated as terror-related.

The reaction to the budget is as you’d expect. The traditional left has condemned some of Labour’s politics – such as upping the bus fare cap next year (from £2 to £3). They are calling on the chancellor to do better – and reminding the right wing of the 14 years of austerity the country endured under the Tories.

The right is calling for a U-turn on the scrapping of winter fuel payments as well as suggesting trimming down on public service spending is a better plan than tax hikes.

The front pages

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