Badenoch has wrapped up her speech. A quick recap…
Attorney General Richard Hermer has hiked the wage bill of his small department by almost a third in a year. Coming from one of the ministers who is meant to drive through efficiency reforms in government…
The Attorney General’s Office has expanded from 56 personnel to 64 in one year. An increase of 14% – but the monthly wage bill rose by 28% over the same period…
Hermer is inflating the seniority of his staff – 58% in the office are now at Grade 6/7 or above. The full-year total paybill is now £5.38 million…
The Attorney General is meant to be leading on simplifying processes in government and has for the last year attempted to disprove accusations of “blocking” to colleagues in government. Something something glass houses…
Hermer, who argued last week that critics of the ECHR want migrants to drown in the Channel, is one of the few Cabinet ministers claiming Starmer can still survive. The first mate goes down with the captain…
Badenoch will promise to scrap the Public Sector Equality Duty altogether, arguing it has become a legal minefield used to push “dangerous and divisive agendas“. Watch along live by clicking the video above…
UPDATE:
Badenoch: “I have spent my political career fighting against identity politics on the left when it came from Labour, LibDems, the SNP, and I will do exactly the same against identity politics when it comes from Reform UK… Reform’s plan to abolish the Equality Act would make it legal to discriminate against white people.”
One man in his 40s is in hospital and another – a Somalian – has been arrested and is in custody after an ‘attempted beheading’ in North Belfast.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it was a case of “medieval, barbaric and systemic mutilation.” Nigel Farage said:
“What happened in Belfast last night is horrific. The authorities must reveal the identity and status of the attacker immediately. The public are entitled to the truth.”
In a circulating video people are heard telling the attacker to “get off” his victim – both are covered in blood. Robert Jenrick said:
“We’ve woken up to truly barbaric footage on a street in Belfast. Of a kind you’d think you’d never see in this country. For years now I’ve urged the police to spell out the basic, sober facts, as they have them, when there are horrors like this.”
So far Belfast Police have said: “A man has been arrested in relation to the incident and is in police custody while a second man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.”
UPDATE: Alex Burghart, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:
“Last night there was an appalling and brutal attack in North Belfast – which was met by extraordinary bravery by some local people. The police have made an arrest and it is vital that they are able to do their job. Residents should be told the facts of the case as soon as possible.”
UPDATE II: Starmer said:
“The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening. I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets. My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”
Nigel Farage is pitching to the unions. Speaking to The Times, the Reform leader has invited Britain’s trade unions to sever their century-old ties with Labour and affiliate to his party instead. Labour’s relationship with its former paymasters is in the gutter, so why not…
Farage is promising for steelworkers stung by the British Steel pensions scandal, protected maternity pay, and an “open door” at every Reform-run council. There is also a conference invitation for September…
A JL Partners poll last week found union members split evenly between the two parties, with Unite and GMB members leaning his way. A nifty stunt to pull just nine days before the Makerfield by-election…
So far GMB boss Gary Smith has poured cold water on any affiliation, telling Times Radio on Sunday that Reform is “no friend of trade unionists“. Polling of his members tells a different story, so it might be time to check in with his own comrades before making any big decisions. Eleven unions have backed Labour since 1900. Persuading even one to defect would be a genuine realignment – but good luck getting past the communist union barons at the top…
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall has insisted that she is still considering whether to implement a blanket ban on social media for under-16s. Despite reporting that Starmer had gone off the idea thanks in part to his own kids’ opposition…
Kendall told Sky News: “The final final decision hasn’t been taken but a ban is on the table… I’ve already said that many times.”
She said reporting to the contrary was wrong. The government is yet to respond in full to the consultation on a social media ban and is still weighing up its options. Rival Team Burnham wants to go even further to regulate algorithms themselves…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”