Two candidates left for Labour deputy leadership
The Labour Party’s deputy leadership contest is narrowing to a likely two-horse race between Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell. Education secretary Phillipson became the first candidate to secure the required 80 nominations, with 116 backers including three cabinet ministers. She has emphasised immigration and border security as key concerns for voters, particularly in constituencies vulnerable to Reform UK advances. She highlighted her record of defeating populist opponents and promised to 'give hope' by tackling small boat crossings and improving public services. Powell, with 77 nominations, has drawn support from left-leaning MPs, presenting herself as more available for campaigning than a serving minister. Other contenders failed to gain sufficient momentum. While critics fear Phillipson may be seen as a Downing Street-backed 'coronation' candidate, her supporters argue she represents unity and strength. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer faces further scrutiny over his political judgment after he sacked Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to the USA, following the publication of email messages to Jeffrey Epstein. See
Support for monarchy at record low, ahead of Trump state visit
Public support for the monarchy has dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1983, according to the British Social Attitudes survey. The share of people saying the monarchy is important has fallen from 86% in 1983 to just 51% in 2024. While more than half (58%) still prefer retaining the monarchy over replacing it with an elected head of state, the gap is narrowing, with 38% now favouring abolition. Younger and left-leaning people are most likely to support change, while older, right-leaning voters remain the strongest backers. Among party supporters, Conservatives (82%) and Reform UK (77%) show the highest loyalty to the crown, while Labour members are almost evenly split. In Scotland and Wales, most respondents favour an elected head of state. The findings, released ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit to Windsor Castle in September, underline a shifting national mood.
Trussell Trust: autumn budget must deliver urgent action on hunger
The Trussell Trust is calling for urgent government action in the autumn budget to tackle soaring hunger across the UK. Its landmark study, Hunger in the UK, reveals that 14.1 million people, including 3.8 million children, faced hunger in 2024 due to insufficient income. This represents one in six households, and is a rise from 11.6 million in 2022. Foodbank reliance is growing, but many go without help, believing others are in greater need. The crisis hits children under five and disabled people hardest, with nearly three quarters of foodbank users living with disabilities. Alarmingly, 30% of those referred are from working households, showing that employment is no safeguard against hardship. Universal Credit is failing to protect families: over half of recipients experienced hunger last year. With households left with only £104 a week after housing, Trussell says poverty is about income, not food supply. They urge scrapping the two-child limit, reforming Universal Credit, and uprating Local Housing Allowance to prevent hunger from becoming routine.
Sinn Féin: PSNI ‘must do more’ to tackle racist mobs
Sinn Féin has called on the PSNI to do more to tackle racist mob violence after migrant workers were attacked at Connswater Retail Park, east Belfast. Video footage showed two cars surrounded and damaged by a group of men, in what police are treating as racially motivated hate crimes. Although PSNI officers were present, they did not intervene, saying they were conducting an 'evidence-gathering operation’. The response has sparked outrage. Green Party councillor Brian Smyth warned that rising vigilante patrols targeting migrants risk someone being killed, describing the Connswater incident as an attempted 'racial lynching.' He said migrants are now 'living in terror' in their homes. Sinn Féin condemned the 'deplorable attack' and urged immediate arrests, insisting vigilante violence 'has no place in society’. The police have pledged to increase patrols to reassure the community and challenge racist groups. Chief Inspector Louise Dunne said that those involved lack any 'legal or moral authority' and are spreading fear rather than protecting communities.
