News Round-Up

“Reform U.K. overtakes Labour in national poll for first time” – A stunning new poll suggests that Reform U.K. would outperform Labour if a general election were held tomorrow, reports the Express.
“Reeves’s Budget is ‘an egregious act of self-harm’” – Sir James Dyson has accused the Chancellor of inflicting “an egregious act of self-harm” on the economy by targeting family-owned businesses in the Budget, says the Sun.
“Starmer lays out ‘milestones’ in Labour ‘reset’ speech” – Keir Starmer has tried to “reset” his floundering Government by launching six bold new targets for Labour to hit by 2029, according to the Mail.
“Starmer drops manifesto pledges as economy stumbles” – Keir Starmer has watered down two of his key election pledges amid signs of economic struggle following his tax-raising Budget, reports Ben Riley-Smith in the Telegraph.
“If Starmer is too weak to rule, the administrative state will rule for him” – In the absence of political leadership, senior civil servants now find themselves in the driving seat, writes Robert Jenrick in the Telegraph.
“Why Starmer’s lack of charisma could be his downfall” – Charisma is the most coveted, and ineffable, quality in politics – and the Prime Minister’s rivals have far more of it than him, says Guy Kelly in the Telegraph.
“Britain’s state pension Ponzi scheme faces a catastrophic collapse” – In the Telegraph, Christopher Mellor warns that Britain’s state pension system is a ticking time bomb, unsustainable and on the verge of collapse.
“Rotherham rapist to be released from prison after serving only nine years of 19-year sentence” – A member of a Rotherham grooming gang who raped and tortured his victims is set to be released from prison after serving only nine years of a 19-year sentence, reports the Telegraph.
“A minority of Muslims are demanding special treatment for Islam. This should be refused” – In the Telegraph, Suella Braverman warns that the rise of shadow blasphemy laws, driven by political correctness and cowardice, threatens free speech and the fabric of British society.
“Free speech now more limited, say self-censoring academics” – A survey of university staff in 28 Western countries reveals that 77% believe free speech on campus has shrunk in the past decade, leaving just 12% who disagree and 11% uncertain, according to the Times.
“Police should tackle crime, not ‘someone expressing an opinion’, says Michael Gove” – Michael Gove says that the police should be focusing on pursuing burglars, shoplifters, domestic abusers and fraudsters, “not someone expressing an opinion”, according to the Telegraph.
“Whisper it, are more Tories going to join Reform?” – With Reform U.K. gaining ground, Kemi Badenoch must act swiftly to prevent the Right from splintering beyond repair, says David Frost in the Telegraph.
“Sadiq Khan to be knighted in New Year honours list” – London Mayor Sadiq Khan is reportedly set to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours list, according to the Express.
“Wales could be on the brink of a tourism nightmare” – With levies on second homeowners and anti-tourist sentiment already deterring visitors, fears are growing over plans for a new holiday tax in Wales, reports the Express.
“Electric car brands offer £11,000 discounts in sales scramble” – Car companies are resorting to “heavy discounting” to meet EV sales targets that have proven “overly optimistic”, says the Telegraph.
“Meta to use mini reactors to power its AI” – Meta has announced that it’s seeking proposals from nuclear power developers to help meet its AI and environment needs, reports the Mail.
“Almost all councils allowing staff to work from home” – Councils are allowing staff to work from home despite cutting public services, a survey by the Telegraph has found.
“NHS warns of ‘quad-demic’ as flu cases surge” – NHS chiefs are warning of a “quad-demic” of viruses this winter driven by a four-fold surge in flu, according to Sky News.
“Scientists under fire for publishing flu recipe for next pandemic in top journal” – Scientists have been criticised for publishing a blueprint to create a mutated bovine-bird flu virus that could cause another pandemic, reports the Telegraph.
“Wuhan wager: the $400 ‘bio bet’ that predicted the pandemic” – In the Spectator, Matt Ridley dives into the high-stakes bet between two scientific heavyweights, Lord Rees and Steven Pinker, over the origins of COVID-19.
“The column you don’t want to read” – In the Spectator, Lionel Shriver explores the collective amnesia surrounding Covid policies.
“Revisiting the pictures of doom” – On the TTE Substack, Dr. Tom Jefferson and Prof. Carl Heneghan peel back the layers of manipulated images and questionable reporting during the early days of the pandemic in Bergamo, Italy.
“Australian excess deaths are highly correlated with the number of booster vaccinations” – Booster shots correlated strongly with excess deaths. Changing the number of unvaccinated people didn’t change the excess deaths. Who would have guessed? says Steve Kirsch on Substack.
“Israel lashes out at ‘fanatical’ Amnesty after genocide report says Gazans treated as subhuman” – Israel has lashed out at Amnesty International after the rights group accused the nation of committing genocide against Palestinians, reports the Telegraph.
“France’s political crisis is becoming a crisis of regime. The Fifth Republic could fall” – In the Telegraph, John Keiger warns that France’s political turmoil isn’t just a crisis – it’s a potential death knell for the Fifth Republic.
“Ignoring voters comes at a high price – that’s what France’s centrists just learnt” – Marine Le Pen toyed with Barnier, then finished him. Will Macron be next, and with him, the Fifth Republic? wonders Fraser Nelson in the Telegraph.
“How the U.S. State Department spends millions of dollars to coordinate Western media and direct investigative journalism against its geopolitical rivals and enemies” – On Substack, Eugyppius uncovers how Drew Sullivan’s Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project channels U.S. government funds to direct global investigative journalism against America’s geopolitical rivals.
“A very bad idea” – On the Point Substack, Thomas Buckley warns that Pete Hegseth’s vow to quit drinking if confirmed as Secretary of Defense could undermine his nomination and damage his leadership credibility.
“The theories behind assassination of U.S. health insurance executive” – In the Telegraph, Susie Coen delves into the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, exploring potential motives linked to the cutthroat world of health insurance.
“MasterChef meltdown” – In the New Conservative, Dr.Roger Watson takes a measured look at the Gregg Wallace saga.
“The BBC vs Gregg Wallace” – The truth is that working-class behaviour is no longer tolerated in this country, says Rod Liddle in the Spectator.
“Gender-critical student suspended from university radio after posting interview with detransitioner” – Connie Shaw, an undergraduate at the University of Leeds, has been suspended from hosting a student radio show for expressing gender-critical views, reports the Telegraph.
“Golf bans male-born players from women’s events after transgender controversy” – The major powers in female professional golf have changed their transgender policies to ban male-born players from their competitions, reports National Club Golfer.
“Inclusivity is excluding fans – and now it feels like language of a cult” – Many who love football are bristling at the pressure to be compliant with the latest causes, says Oliver Brown in the Telegraph.
“Carol Vorderman – activist extraordinaire” – On Substack, Charlotte Gill takes a deep dive into Carol Vorderman’s “later-life renaissance”.
“YMCA isn’t gay and my wife will sue if you claim it is, says songwriter” – The songwriter behind the smash hit pop song YMCA says his wife will sue anyone who refers to the song as a gay anthem, according to NBC News.
“Could this really happen?” – An AI-generated video on X shows Keir Starmer outside No.10 being photobombed by Donald Trump, who holds a sign spelling out exactly what he thinks of him.

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