News Round-Up

• “Burnham must call early election, says Lord Case” – The incoming Prime Minister is walking “a very difficult tightrope” by promising change without a mandate to govern, reports the Telegraph.
• “The £1 billion ‘Manc-hattan’ scandal looming over Burnham’s leadership” – A major housing controversy dating back to Andy Burnham’s time as Mayor of Greater Manchester now threatens to overshadow his premiership, says the Telegraph.
• “Starmer snubs demands from ‘traitor’ Home Secretary to sack loyal ally” – Keir Starmer has refused to sack Mike Tapp despite Shabana Mahmood’s demands, leaving her to instead bar him from departmental business, reports James Tapsfield in the Mail.
• “Exc: top Mahmood adviser’s proposal for a huge country-wide carbon tax” – A 2021 proposal from Shabana Mahmood’s top SpAd calling for an economy-wide carbon tax raises fresh questions about what a Mahmoodian chancellorship would look like, writes Max Young in Guido Fawkes.
• “Proof that Phillipson ‘is a class warrior and that kids are suffering’” – Bridget Phillipson claims she is proud to be branded “a spiteful class warrior” by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, even as evidence mounts that children are paying the price for her policies, writes Robert Hardman in the Mail.
• “No, Bridget Phillipson: Nick Timothy isn’t a racist” – The charge of racism levelled at Nick Timothy over his criticism of a mass Muslim prayer gathering in Trafalgar Square is robustly challenged, says a Telegraph editorial.
• “Trump threatens Britain with 100% tariffs over tech tax” – Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Britain and other countries in retaliation for digital services taxes, reports the Telegraph.
• “Crimea declares state of emergency after Ukraine cuts off supply” – Russian-installed authorities in Crimea have declared a state of emergency after Ukrainian strikes shut petrol stations and caused widespread power cuts, reports the Telegraph.
• “Can Israel fend off Hezbollah without alienating America?” – In the Spectator, Jonathan Spyer writes that Iran is banking on US commitment to any deal pressuring Israel into a Lebanese withdrawal.
• “UN expert reacts as October 7th survivor slams her Hamas rapes denial” – October 7th survivor Ilana Gritzewsky delivered a searing testimony at the UN Human Rights Council’s 62nd session, confronting the body over its denial of Hamas sexual violence against her, reports the Mail.
• “Why won’t the UN believe all women, including Jews?” – In the Spectator, Brendan O’Neill writes that UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem’s dismissal of Ilana Gritzewsky’s rape testimony exposes a grotesque double standard at the heart of the UN’s treatment of Jewish victims.
• “Cambridge rewarding treachery by honouring Chagos lawyer, says Farage” – The University of Cambridge stands accused of “rewarding treachery” for honouring a human rights lawyer linked to Britain’s handover of the Chagos Islands, says the Telegraph.
• “King to ‘protect multi-faith nation’ in revised definition of monarchy” – Buckingham Palace has published a revised definition of the monarch’s role stating that the King’s official duty is to protect faith “within the multi-faith nation”, writes the Telegraph.
• “Police failed to handcuff Nowak killer, new footage reveals” – New video exposes a stark contrast between officers’ treatment of Vickrum Digwa and his victim, raising fresh questions about policing standards, reports the Telegraph.
• “Policewoman punched at Manchester Airport brands attacker a ‘coward’” – As Mohammed Fahir Amaaz appeared in court to be sentenced for punching officer Lydia Ward in the face and breaking her nose, she accused him of showing “not one ounce” of remorse, writes James Tozer in the Mail.
• “How Lancashire cotton town has become terrorised by machete drug gangs” – A once-quiet Lancashire town has been plunged into fear as machete-wielding drug gangs take hold of its streets, writes Ian Gallagher in the Mail.
• “Figures show a third of conceptions now end in abortion” – A record 32.1% of pregnancies in England and Wales were terminated in 2023, up from 29.7% the previous year, reports the Mail.
• “Reeves will go down as the Chancellor who killed Isas” – Rachel Reeves has done lasting damage to ISAs and cannot leave No. 11 soon enough, according to the Mail.
• “Labour’s conversion therapy bill is extremely dangerous” – The Government’s proposed ban on conversion therapy is unnecessary, unwanted, and poses serious risks to vulnerable people, argues Debbie Hayton in the Spectator.
• “Lowe and behold: Restore turns on its leader” – Prominent Restore Party supporters with large social media followings are turning on Rupert Lowe after he allegedly failed to satisfy their ethnonationalist demands, reports Steerpike in the Spectator.
• “How Ed Miliband united the City and unions against him” – The Energy Secretary’s obstinacy and failed leadership have raised fears over his future – and over Andy Burnham’s choice of role – reports the Telegraph.
• “The hidden cost of California’s ‘green’ tire mandate: fewer choices, shorter tread life” – California’s tire efficiency rule promises driver savings, but shorter tread life, fewer choices, and a potential aftermarket ban tell a very different story, writes Thomas Richard in Climate Change Dispatch.
• “Miliband derailed plan to use North Sea oil to fund defence” – Ed Miliband derailed a plan to fund Britain’s rearmament by ramping up North Sea drilling, according to the Telegraph.
• “It isn’t a heatwave that is ‘gripping’ Britain but climate hysteria” – On his Substack, Ross Clark skewers the climate hysteria of the last few days.
• “European nations chose climate ideology over air conditioning – and people died” – With only 1-in-5 European homes equipped with air conditioning compared to 90% in the US, the deadly consequences of the continent’s climate ideology are laid bare, says Thomas Richard in Climate Change Dispatch.
• “Record harvests demolish Bloomberg’s climate food scare” – In Climate Change Dispatch, Thomas Richard argues that Bloomberg’s claim that climate change is driving food prices higher is flatly contradicted by data showing CO2 and modest warming have boosted crop yields and slashed global hunger.
• “Black charity worker sues for racism after not getting birthday lunch” – Karen Adams claims she was the victim of racial discrimination and that it was ‘sadistic’ she was not given a meal for her big birthday, reports the Mail.
• “Netflix ought to hang its head in shame” – Netflix’s acquisition of the short-lived 2010 BBC remake of Upstairs Downstairs – axed after just two seasons when ITV’s Downton Abbey won the ratings war by a country mile – is criticised by Roger Watson in the New Conservative.
• “I co-founded Wikipedia. Now I’m banned for life.” – Writing in the Free Press, Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger says it was overrun by bias and censorship and then pushed him out when he tried to fix it.
• “Inside the Southbank’s civil war over Misan Harriman” – The outspoken Southbank Centre chairman may be favoured by Harry and Meghan, but insiders reveal long-standing misgivings over his leadership, reports the Telegraph.
• ““Dude lmao this is a gas station”” – On his Substack, Andrew Sullivan argues that the World Cup is delivering multiracial harmony and globalised joy in America’s 250th year.
• “Lammy wants new rights for unmarried couples – there’s a ruinously expensive catch” – David Lammy’s push to extend legal rights to unmarried couples would hand a windfall to lawyers while driving couples apart, reports the Telegraph.
• “Thief told police: “You’re lucky I’m not grooming girls”” – A prolific burglar responsible for a £19,000 series of thefts across London told arresting officers they were “lucky I’m not grooming girls”, reports the Telegraph.
• “I own the law” – On his Substack, David McGrogan writes about the relationship between state power and the smartphone age, exploring what it means when the Leviathan meets modern technology.
• “One of the most thought-provoking speeches I’ve seen” – Watch Katharine Birbalsingh address the ARC conference earlier this week.

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