An audience member is asking Badenoch about culture wars. \u201cWhen people use the phrase, it is a dog whistle to attack the right,\u201d she says. \u201cWe are defending our culture, we are defending our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is about doing what is right for our country and following conviction, she adds, before giving the Guardian yet another shout-out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is about being brave and not being scared that the Guardian is going to try and mock us, they are going to do that whoever the leader is\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Conservative leadership candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick took part in a GB News special tonight, setting out their vision for the Tory party.<\/strong> Moderated by Christopher Hope, the candidates covered subjects including immigration, culture wars and the European Court of Human Rights.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Badenoch hit back at a Tory MP\u2019s suggestion that she could not lead the party because she was too \u201cpreoccupied\u201d with her children, saying \u201cit isn\u2019t always women who have parental responsibilities\u201d.<\/strong> The Conservative leadership<\/a> candidate was asked about the remarks made by Christopher Chope earlier on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Asked about the bullying allegations first published by the Guardian, she said \u201cof course they run to the Guardian to tell lies about me\u201d.<\/strong> It\u2019s because she got the bad people out of her department, she says.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Badenoch said she is an \u201cengineer\u201d who can fix the \u201cbroken system\u201d and renew the Tory party.<\/strong> In her pitch to members, the leadership hopeful told the GB News debate: \u201cThis broken system is going to need an engineer to fix it. I am an engineer. But I cannot fix it without your help, that is why I\u2019m asking for your support today. Together, we can do this. Together, we can fix the system that is broken. Together, we can renew.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Badenoch said Nigel Farage speaks with \u201cclarity\u201d and \u201cconviction\u201d.<\/strong> She told the GB News Tory leadership debate: \u201cNigel Farage speaks with clarity, he speaks with conviction. When people hear him speak, they believe that he understands their concerns. For a long time, when we were speaking, people just heard this technocratic, managerialist language that didn\u2019t mean very much to people. It was all policy and no principles, that is why I keep emphasising principles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Meanwhile, Jenrick claimed the government had relinquished sovereignty of the Chagos Islands \u201cso that David Lammy can feel better when he goes to a dinner party in north London\u201d.<\/strong> The Tory leadership hopeful told the GB News debate: \u201cDavid Lammy and Keir Starmer have just handed sovereign British territory with a critical military base on it to a close ally of China. Why? So that David Lammy can feel better when he goes to a dinner party in north London. Whose interests does he think he serves?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Jenrick said he would cap migration in \u201cthe tens of thousands or lower\u201d if he were in charge.<\/strong> Asked to put a number on his pledge to cap the number of people entering the UK, he said: \u201cI would do the tens of thousands or lower. The most important point is we\u2019ve got to get parliament to do this so we can look the public in the eye this time and say it\u2019s actually going to happen.\u201d He denied he was just making hardline remarks on immigration to win over Tory members.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n <\/p>\n Jenrick claimed he had argued against the depletion of the armed forces while he served as a minister in the previous Tory government.<\/strong> He said: \u201cBecause I\u2019m a fiscal Conservative, the easiest thing in the world would be to say you today, let\u2019s spend more money on the armed forces without saying how are we going to get this money. I don\u2019t want taxes to rise, I don\u2019t want the state to get bigger, so I\u2019ve said let\u2019s take that money from our international aid budget and let\u2019s spend it on our armed forces. That is the best way.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n<\/ul>\n “,”elementId”:”85f556a7-7b7b-4325-96d9-c95fd53395a1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n That\u2019s all from me, Tom Ambrose, for tonight. Thanks for following along throughout what was, admittedly, not one of the great political TV specials of our time. Have a very pleasant evening, nevertheless.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”f92b3dcf-e19a-42fb-a01d-64285c901d39″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1729197645000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.40\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729198277000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”16.51\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729198278000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.51\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.51″,”title”:”Closing summary”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6711683c8f08ea656ca1c6e1″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Are you being mean to Rob Jenrick by saying \u201cif we get this wrong, there could be no party\u201d? Badenoch says \u201cwe have to fight for our survival, we cannot be complacent\u201d, referencing Reform as a big threat.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b07d7e6e-0cea-442d-9991-934cbf4cfc64″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n What is Jenrick\u2019s biggest weakness? \u201cThe weakness is in the argument that is made,\u201d she says. \u201cI think the ECHR argument is not the right one. It will divide our party and mean infighting will continue\u201d. She adds that if we want to \u201cend the drama\u201d (used the old catchphrase against him there), the party needs to come together and find consensus.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d18b36e0-b546-4273-9dd2-a5f2f6eee1e0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Is it possible to be party leader while being a mum? \u201cYes,\u201d she says. \u201cI might remind [Christopher Chope] that it isn\u2019t always women that have parental responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b8e8c254-9b06-4e3a-8a25-c93acba28ef6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Should we pay stay-at-home parents? \u201cWe should look again at taxation on a family basis,\u201d she says. \u201cThose people that stay at home to look after children are providing a great contribution \u2026 and make it as easy for them as is possible to do so\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”9f93417d-3270-4ddf-8741-1edb3d5b244e”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729194044000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.40\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729194550000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.49\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729194266000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.44\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.44″,”title”:”‘It isn’t always women that have parental responsibility,’ Badenoch says after Chope attack”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671165338f084087b63c0847″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n An audience member is asking Badenoch about culture wars. \u201cWhen people use the phrase, it is a dog whistle to attack the right,\u201d she says. \u201cWe are defending our culture, we are defending our country.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”0db751cf-9427-4a8a-a7a5-7633305e7fcc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n It is about doing what is right for our country and following conviction, she adds, before giving the Guardian yet another shout-out.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”f0ce2a42-83d5-4339-99e5-332a3868f53c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cIt is about being brave and not being scared that the Guardian is going to try and mock us, they are going to do that whoever the leader is\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”5e2073d8-52ed-4c6d-aae5-ce1a452a3db4″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729193267000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.27\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729193890000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.38\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729193586000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.33\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.33″,”title”:”Culture wars is ‘a dog whistle to attack the right’ says Badenoch”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6711645e8f084087b63c0846″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n We are back on to the ECHR. Badenoch is asked if she agrees with Jenrick about leaving the ECHR.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a9163d1b-e21f-4027-98a7-94c804ac657f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cIf we need to leave the ECHR to control migration, then we should do it,\u201d she says. \u201cBut it is not a silver bullet.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”40ef2da0-6ac0-47f1-9166-fdfe4891c426″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Harking back to the same question Jenrick faced, she raises the fact that other countries are able to deport people easier than Britain.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”3d20aebe-5181-4152-a006-028131c75fa0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n She says Northern Ireland and women\u2019s rights are areas that need to be considered before a decision to leave the ECHR is taken.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8bf1d94d-05ab-4e73-9985-baf393d6e639″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cI will have a wholesale strategy [on immigration] across govenment. Numbers matter, culture matters more,\u201d she says. \u201cWe all need to be moving in the same direction.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b73fb50c-8d87-4cad-89aa-09a5761bde67″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n When asked to put a figure on migration by Hope, she backtracks and says \u201cit\u2019s not about the numbers\u201d. Thirty seconds ago, she said \u201cnumbers matter\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”340e806b-cc8f-466f-a578-361dc7c41669″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729193054000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.24\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729193556000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.32\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729193251000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.27\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.27″,”title”:”Leaving ECHR not ‘a silver bullet’ to control migration, says Badenoch”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671160dd8f08ea656ca1c69c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Asked about the bullying allegations first published by the Guardian, she says \u201cof course they run to the Guardian to tell lies about me\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”5748012c-185f-4d75-af83-dd5dc4351512″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n It\u2019s because she got the bad people out of her department, she says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”ff7e86f9-2f5c-4fce-b600-64bc2bf422c5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how many of you believe what you read in the Guardian, but if you do, then you wouldn\u2019t be here on GB News,\u201d she says. Charming.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”4612eaa2-727b-4ca8-82ce-dec690124466″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729192157000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.09\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729192778000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.19\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729192316000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.11\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.11″,”title”:”‘People run to the Guardian to tell lies about me,’ says Badenoch”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”67115b238f084087b63c07f1″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Here we go, it\u2019s time for the quick-fire questions. Jenrick is asked what Kemi Badenoch\u2019s biggest weakness is but refuses to answer.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”ae159657-56dc-4e9e-88a0-979f18722e58″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Hope raises Christopher Chope\u2019s comments earlier on today about whether a mum can be a party leader. \u201cHe\u2019s wrong, he\u2019s definitely wrong,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”e9ae9677-de79-4324-a854-be1a806ee795″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Should stay-at-home mums receive payment in the tax system? Jenrick says he wants marriage to be rewarded in the tax system but says it\u2019s difficult because that is not why people get married.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”1af7d40d-901c-41aa-a2db-7359758bc3a6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Hope asks if Jenrick supports Ozempic on the NHS, to which he says \u201cif others want to do it, good for them. I\u2019m not going to tell people how to live their lives\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”9e7d30ca-4b22-4522-b4a2-e23972dea5be”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Did he take illegal drugs at university? No, says Jenrick.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”133a2548-f2f0-4750-8c67-02b482bf50ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Here\u2019s our report on Chope\u2019s comments:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”1800100e-1b2c-43e9-9df1-be3ab96b6a48″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Tory MP says Badenoch too \u2018preoccupied with her children\u2019 to lead party”,”elementId”:”120e4057-8b4a-4d9e-ac89-9ef7b888270d”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2024\/oct\/17\/tory-mp-says-badenoch-too-preoccupied-with-her-children-to-lead-party”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729190691000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.44\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729191128000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.52\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729190885000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.48\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.48″,”title”:”Chope’s comments on Badenoch ‘definitely wrong’, says Jenrick”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671155cb8f08ea656ca1c625″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The biggest applause of the night so far, in the studio of Conservative voters, is for Jenrick calling to take money from the foreign aid budget to spend on defence.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c7096b6f-1d1e-4c4c-bc5b-11b6de0a53cc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s invest more in our armed forced, let\u2019s get up to at least three per cent,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”4f2d2306-0541-43e6-9769-12ad66505ae7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In a follow-up question, he is asked about the Chagos Islands. It is a \u201cdisgrace\u201d, he says, adding that he believes it has been done so that \u201cDavid Lammy can feel better about himself at a north London dinner party\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”0b69e9ce-1605-4faf-a1a1-523aa06e700e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cI would not sell out our overseas territories,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”4a608c32-ed39-41f7-8758-9f86ef2e63c2″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729189323000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.22\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729189668000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.27\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729189487000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.24\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.24″,”title”:”Applause for Jenrick’s call to take foreign aid money to spend on defence”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671154cd8f084087b63c07ad”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Jenrick is now being asked about how he would tackle the housing crisis.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”246e3e32-67d2-4fef-bb55-77e72f4d2e41″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cThere are too few homes and too many young people trapped in their childhood bedrooms,\u201d he says. He suggests making the \u201cbig cities\u201d even denser by building on brownfield sites.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”774d4a1a-544f-4013-b3f2-012f833c7ab8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n He adds: \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get a new generation of young people to believe in us, to support us and to vote for us.\u201d<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8e8b9ec9-738f-4ad7-86e5-8c2589e571bb”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729189069000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.17\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729189336000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.22\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729189291000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.21\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.21″,”title”:”‘We need a new generation to believe in us,’ says Jenrick”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671153208f084087b63c0791″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The first question from the audience is how to restore respect for the Conservative party after it\u2019s recent trouncing at the ballot box.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8109ed0e-c61e-4272-911a-b64b7e5830c9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Jenrick says \u201cI\u2019m not just standing to be the leader of the opposition, I want to be the next prime minister\u201d to muted applause.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b01506db-b55c-49f4-8cf1-0bf56fa6edc3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n He raises immigration as the main issue facing Britain right now but it challenged by Hope on his own record in government, when immigration into Britain \u201cballooned\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8434257b-4886-48ad-8f06-eba7113ca4ee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Jenrick says he is in favour of capping migration to \u201cthe tens of thousands or lower\u201d. He says he resigned from the cabinet over both legal and illegal migration.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d9cf0b0e-553a-41e5-bc48-0b5d0f1d9b37″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want our party to keep making and breaking promises,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”6d27aaa7-e059-4706-9549-e667fd668c68″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729188640000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.10\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729189217000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.20\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729188805000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.13\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.13″,”title”:”Jenrick told immigration ‘ballooned’ when he was in government”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671144bd8f084087b63c06f6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Good evening. I\u2019m Tom Ambrose and I\u2019ll be bringing you all the latest from the showdown between the final two candidates to become Tory leader this evening.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”31174cd7-bf61-4d48-b69b-fb51cb237e39″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Kemi Badenoch<\/strong> and Robert Jenrick<\/strong> will be put through their paces by moderator Christopher Hope<\/strong>, in front of an audience of Conservative members, on GB News<\/strong> from 7pm.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a3089634-db08-40b4-9741-a34e948b189c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Both candidates \u2013 who will be hoping to show the nation just why they are the best the Tories have to offer \u2013 will get five minutes to deliver an opening statement.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b5c9211a-38c1-4491-af6a-0f368d91c667″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n They will then take questions from Hope and the GB News studio audience. It\u2019s going to be a long two hours but let\u2019s hope it gives us some sort of insight, one way or another, into what the Conservative party has to offer in 2024.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a74b9712-8311-49e7-bc65-7e26c7f81627″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be bringing you all the key moments and top lines from what is the fourth Tory leadership contest in almost as many years.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a194f696-6c55-4658-80cd-bc4a7163d779″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729184957000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”13.09\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729186947000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”13.42\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729185964000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”13.26\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”13.26″,”title”:”Jenrick and Badenoch to face off in GB News showdown”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671138ac8f08dfc00adff3a6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n A welfare watchdog has criticised the government\u2019s decision to cut winter fuel payments for most pensioners.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”1b2b2bd4-238a-42c0-9dc2-1d00d562d0b7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The social security advisory committee<\/strong> says the government should have carried out a full impact assessment before going ahead with the policy, and it says it is worried about the impact the policy will have on pensioner poverty.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”94a60cc8-7c46-42ca-8246-d61d2f672a89″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n It also says it is not convinced by the government\u2019s argument that it is addressing this issue by encouraging more people to apply for pension credit, a benefit that enables people who qualify to carry on getting the winter fuel payment.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8fb712f1-28dd-41ee-84d7-0946ec51f573″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The committee, an independent statutory body set up to advise the government on welfare, has set out its comments in a letter to Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary. The letter was sent on 20 September, but was only published today.<\/a><\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8a90838c-9d2a-4959-a672-f006f515ccfd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In the letter Stephen Brien, the committee\u2019s chair, says:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”466a22f4-8369-48b9-9b94-cef6a08e35c1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n We were disappointed that an assessment of impact was not presented to the committee alongside the regulations on 11 September 2024. It has subsequently been confirmed that a full assessment of impact does not exist, with the prime minister commenting that it was not legally necessary and that \u201cThe impact will be mitigated by pension credit, by the housing benefit\u201d.<\/sup><\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Given the scale of pensioners who will be affected by this change, and the speed at which it is being introduced, we are not similarly reassured that this will be the case and are of the firm view that a more detailed assessment is urgently required, in particular, on the potential poverty impact.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”f6c45b9f-6c2c-40ba-8f22-72935eef420e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The committee makes various other recommendations, including saying people on full pensioner housing benefit should also continue to get the winter fuel payment, and demanding an assurance that enough staff are available to process new pension crediti claims.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”bb489311-0b8c-4d8a-b4af-ef585523b472″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n That is all from me for today. My colleague Tom Ambrose<\/strong> is taking over now.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d69311df-77ba-41ed-8ad7-ad08662b200d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729181868000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.17\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729183777000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.49\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729183582000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.46\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.46″,”title”:”Welfare watchdog criticises government for rushing winter fuel payment cut, and calls for full impact assessment”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Andrew Sparrow”,”imageUrl”:”https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06\/Andrew-Sparrow.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b63c46db36dd834cfdb2e7124ef11d96″,”largeImageUrl”:”https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06\/Andrew_Sparrow,_R.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5954dfa9a3b566f5929d1f7fab099903″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671136e58f08ea656ca1c494″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Nigel Farage<\/strong> has used a team of three US advisers to help him with \u201cperception management\u201d and public relations in America, as well as with settling a $3,500 hotel bill this summer, new documents show, Rowena Mason<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d09dcd2c-3c5f-486d-a3df-772354d03491″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Farage given free team of US PR advisers by former Bannon aide\u2019s firm”,”elementId”:”33da990a-6fcd-4914-92c1-e5cb5f5616df”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2024\/oct\/17\/farage-given-free-team-of-us-pr-advisers-by-former-bannon-aides-firm”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729181413000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.10\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729181447000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.10\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729181447000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.10\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.10″,”title”:”Farage given free team of US PR advisers by former Bannon aide\u2019s firm”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671133308f08dfc00adff34d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The House of Commons wants you to tell it what it can do to make the place better. In particular, it wants to hear suggestions covering:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”e66a7729-370f-4207-a1e0-e6bc5248a02a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n -driving up standards;<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n -improving culture and working practices; and<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n -reforming parliamentary procedures to make the House of Commons more effective.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”3bd23dd1-1331-48e9-b5d6-04ff7019d157″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The invitation is not just aimed at Guardian readers (although I am sure many of you have strong, and sensible, views, and I would encourage you to submit them). The Commons modernisation committee<\/strong> has opened a consultation inviting groups and individuals, inside parliament and outside, to propose ideas for reform.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a445b326-1bb3-477d-ac0c-48f57d782e52″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n As it explains in its news release<\/a>, submissions should be no more than 2,500 words and they should cover:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”6e0e2685-8b49-4cd4-bee1-807378988c55″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n 1) What topic(s) do you think the modernisation committee should prioritise and how do they link to one or more of the strategic aims set out in the leader\u2019s memorandum<\/a>?<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n 2) Why would the topic(s) benefit from the attention of the modernisation committee?<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n 3) Are you aware of examples from other parliaments relevant to the topic(s) which may be interesting for the modernisation committee to consider?<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n 4) Is there any existing work relevant to the topic(s) which you think the modernisation committee can build on?<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”3625a2d1-3844-4564-9726-5fb99b5813bd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The committee is chaired by Lucy Powell, leader of the Commons. In a memo<\/a> last month she set out some proposals for reform, including banning MPs from paid media work<\/a>, but there are so many other topics it could cover it is hard to know where to start.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”3c86887e-ca85-49ff-9860-472628d1e50d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n You can submit ideas here<\/a>. They have to be in before 3pm on 16 December.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c964202c-1a85-4df5-aa15-b0a5235cf597″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729180464000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.54\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729181197000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729181198000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.06″,”title”:”House of Commons invites people to send in ideas about how to make it less sleazy and more effective”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671130ad8f08ea656ca1c411″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Paul Johnson is leaving his post as director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank next year. He has secured the dream job aspired to by members of the liberal intelligentsia elite \u2013 head of an Oxford college. Richard Partington<\/strong> has the story.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”3193b9c2-2233-47da-831f-2363f3f5aa99″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Paul Johnson to leave influential IFS economics thinktank”,”elementId”:”52d181c8-950a-4227-89fb-b680fa0ab9fd”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2024\/oct\/17\/ifs-paul-johnson-institute-for-fiscal-studies-thinktank”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729179821000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.43\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729180133000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.48\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729180133000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.48\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.48″,”title”:”Paul Johnson to leave influential IFS economics thinktank”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”67112d8e8f08ea656ca1c3d9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n At PMQs yesterday Keir Starmer was repeatedly asked by Rishi Sunak about Labour\u2019s approach to China. Starmer implied that his government would be just as robust as the last Conservative government, and he was critical of Beijing<\/a> over its hostility towards Taiwan, its suppression of rights in Hong Kong and its links with Russia.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”62219ca7-be4a-4e74-8e6f-e9447f16e581″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is due to visit China from tomorrow and Amnesty International UK<\/strong> has issued a statement saying it hopes Lammy is just as robust in private. Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty\u2019s chief executive, said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”0a4f68ad-81f0-40a7-b23b-ddc5d6726e8b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n This visit is a crucial opportunity for the foreign secretary to demonstrate the government\u2019s true commitment to challenging publicly and privately Beijing\u2019s brutal suppression of human rights in China and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Behind closed doors but also in public, David Lammy needs to tackle the Chinese government over its systematic, industrial-scale repression of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, its widespread imprisonment of peaceful activists and its completely unacceptable intimidation of students and campaigners here in the UK.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The prime minister\u2019s statement that the immediate release of the unjustly-imprisoned UK businessman Jimmy Lai is a UK priority is welcome, and Mr Lammy should also seek to secure the immediate release of fellow prisoners of conscience<\/a> Hong Kong lawyer-activist Chow Hang-tung and Chinese human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi, as well as the long-held Uighur economist Ilham Tohti and #MeToo activists Sophia Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Throughout this trip, the Government should ensure that talks on trade and security relations with China aren\u2019t pursued at the expense of human rights.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”d1528ac5-e5b0-4599-a2ed-0b073bff432e”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729179022000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.30\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729179769000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.42\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729179769000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.42\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.42″,”title”:”Amnesty International urges Lammy to challenge China over its ‘brutal suppression of human rights’ during forthcoming visit”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”671129368f08dfc00adff2a6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The Tory MP Christopher Chope<\/strong> defended his comments about Kemi Badenoch (see 12.57pm<\/a>) in a subsequent interview with Andrew Neil on Times Radio. Chope said that Badenoch and Robert Jenrick could both be \u201cexcellent party leaders\u201d. And he said that there was \u201ca lot of mischief-making going on\u201d and that he was being misprepresented.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”9e1c8333-3978-495c-9fb1-50418e000768″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I repeat the point which I was making before, and that is that Kemi has got a young family and so it\u2019s less likely that she\u2019s going to be able to spend as much time as is required as somebody who hasn\u2019t got the commitments of a young family. <\/em><\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Now, that\u2019s not suggesting she\u2019s unsuited or anything like that to be the leader of the opposition \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n n <\/p>\n All I\u2019m saying is that one of the candidates has got a younger family than the other one, and has also got a record of wanting to spend more time with her family than engage in going to far-flung constituencies. <\/em><\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”3a68c5a8-fa42-45d8-8920-77066941923e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Chope also said that, when he was a junior minister in the early 1990s, he was the father of a young baby.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”88e6fcf4-bf75-46c0-9c32-e4182a08b915″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729177910000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.11\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729178714000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.25\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729178675000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.24\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.24″,”title”:”Chope defends jibe about Badenoch, claiming she prefers family time to visiting ‘far-flung constituencies'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”67111f428f084087b63c042c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Almost half of Conservative councillors polled this week believe that neither Robert Jenrick<\/a> nor Kemi Badenoch will be able to win the next election, and a significant minority said they did not plan to vote in the leadership contest, Jessica Elgot<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”76bbccf4-d0de-4e67-8af7-9ca8c4cc22f4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Half of Tory councillors do not believe Jenrick or Badenoch can win next election”,”elementId”:”24e95ca5-c4b5-4b96-8b76-8c3357ffd89f”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2024\/oct\/17\/half-of-tory-councillors-doubt-jenrick-or-badenoch-can-win-next-election”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729175362000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.29\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729175462000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.31\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729175462000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.31\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.31″,”title”:”Half of Tory councillors do not believe Jenrick or Badenoch can win next election, poll suggests”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”67110efd8f08ea76ebf956e9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In an interview broadcast this morning, Michael Gove, the former Tory cabinet minister and an ally of Kemi Badenoch\u2019s, said that, although Robert Jenrick<\/strong> had strengths as a leadership candidate, one problem was that he looked like a \u201cTory boy\u201d. (See 9.47am<\/a>.)<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”1d8d40a1-f68d-4d2e-8d92-49429aae33cf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Now the Jenrick campaign has hit back. A spokesperson for Jenrick said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”df1c4f4b-b1df-45ed-a4d0-3eb4ce5ca2a6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Michael Gove and his acolytes have been responsible for so much of the infighting and drama that has led our party to where it is.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Rob\u2019s going to end that drama and the excuses that followed and just deliver for our country.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”b10fe750-6c16-4bdb-b46a-32fe8c4c98d3″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729171197000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.19\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729171665000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.27\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729171533000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.25\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.25″,”title”:”Jenrick hits back at Gove after ‘Tory boy’ jibe, saying ex-minister to blame for much of ‘infighting’ that took down Tories”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6711085f8f08ea76ebf9568a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The school absence rate for England for the autumn and spring terms of 2023-24 was down on the same period the year before \u2013 but still much higher than pre-pandemic, according to figures<\/a> out from the Department for Education<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”01715f14-e7e8-46db-8c3e-5938dd20904f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The overall absence rate in the autumn and spring terms of 2023-24 was 6.9%, down from 7.3% the previous year, the DfE says. That figure covers primary schools, secondary schools and special schools. Pre-pandemic, the comparable figures were below 5%.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”4d8969b1-46b5-4502-980c-c85979032942″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Today\u2019s figures also show that 19.2% of pupils were persistent absentees, meaning they missed 10% or more of school sessions. The equivalent figure for 2022-23 was 21.2%<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”10afa125-bd45-4bc2-9dac-f7d5bd5e5ad1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Commenting on the figures, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders\u2019 union NAHT<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”f856731c-5258-43d3-89f0-e39dfc013985″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Schools are working incredibly hard to boost attendance, and it is positive that these figures have improved overall year on year. However, the reasons for absence often lie beyond the school gates, and it is clear schools need more support to tackle unauthorised absence and the often deep-rooted issues facing children and families.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n These include everything from sickness and mental health problems, to poverty and other social challenges. Previous governments failed to properly fund vital services like social care and CAMHS, while important roles like education welfare officers were cut.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”b54ebd96-ca2f-4d04-ab89-f2d4c2efc98c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729169503000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.51\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729170364000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729170364000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.06″,”title”:”School absences in England at 6.9%, down on previous year, but still well above pre-pandemic levels, DfE says”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710ff698f08cbd034f159e4″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Downing Street has said that government departments will have to become \u201cmore productive\u201d in response to the funding challenges facing the government.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”db71e321-6572-4755-ab89-0d8dc9cc396e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The PM\u2019s spokesperson used the phrase at the morning lobby briefing, where he also played down reports suggesting that some ministers are complaining strongly about the spending settlements they have been offered by the Treasury.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”66bf6629-929f-4aa0-ab05-3d38c393fcc6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The spokesperson said that the overall spending total for Whitehall has now been agreed \u2013 but he said some departmental spending budgets within that total were still being negotiated.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”1f812e1b-2152-4293-900d-3c4c446cb23b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Asked about reports that ministers have been writing to Keir Starmer directly with concerns about their budget settlement, the spokesperson said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”e6b75b82-c1a0-4c09-9f88-961e1b684370″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I am obviously not going to get drawn into specifics of spending review discussions, but clearly engagement between departments and the Treasury and No 10 ahead of the budget and a spending review are a standard part of the process where departments will set out their priorities and the challenges that they are facing.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”1688dea7-9d85-4a07-bcc2-dab7e90fcfa9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The spokeperson said government departments would \u201chave to become more productive\u201d and may need to undertake reforms.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b12fd182-2a4c-4e79-bf7f-385400c242cd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Not every department will be able to do everything they want to. There will be tough decisions taken, there will be tough conversations, but ultimately this government has been very clear that it will fix the foundations, it will fix the position in relation to the public finances.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”4304c207-edd1-45fd-b28b-8accc92b92e2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Explaining what has already been agreed, he said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d5291a4f-c25f-43bc-96f5-87d7a960b7b7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The prime minister and the chancellor have agreed what is known as the major measures \u2026 which have been submitted to the OBR [Office for Budget Responsibility] as per a timetable that is set out on the OBR website.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n That submission includes the overall spending envelope, which is now closed, and then individual departmental spending review negotiations are now being concluded.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”4945aa22-eddb-456b-9c96-0b4d5cca9699″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729167209000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.13\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729168202000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.30\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729168202000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.30\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.30″,”title”:”No 10 says departments need to become ‘more productive’, as it plays down reports of cabinet rifts over spending”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710f4d28f087cd820f07e8c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The Conservative MP Christopher Chope<\/strong> has said that he is backing Robert Jenrick<\/a> for Tory leader, not Kemi Badenoch, partly because he thinks having three young children will distract her.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”d92d4414-692a-4708-b83b-5eba47f45956″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In an interview with ITV Meridian, Chope said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”600b9491-6cdd-4e59-ad79-b43cce770e13″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I myself am supporting Robert Jenrick because I think he\u2019s brought more energy and commitment to the campaign, and being leader of the opposition is a really demanding job.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n And, much as I like Kemi, I think she\u2019s preoccupied with her own children, quite understandably. I think Robert\u2019s children are a bit older, and I think that it\u2019s important that whoever leads the opposition has got an immense amount of time and energy.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”f4c61043-bd7f-437c-8db0-8ea7c1971f0b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n When it was put to him that he was saying a woman with young children could not lead a political party, Chope denied that. He said that he was one of Margaret Thatcher\u2019s strongest supporters (although both Thatcher\u2019s two children were in their 20s when she became Tory leader.)<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”9dcc451d-27e8-4f4b-801c-7fa0db82a883″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n He also said that he understood \u201ctalking to colleagues that Kemi spends a lot of time with her family\u201d. That was not possible to combine with being opposition leader, he claimed.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8bca15f9-d51d-4a16-b1b4-bb3af2a72bef”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1846861696314273925″,”elementId”:”e7628b94-0038-42b6-aae9-f2412108fc7c”,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https:\/\/x.com\/kitbradshaw\/status\/1846861696314273925″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”<\/p>\n NEW: Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope says Kemi Badenoch is \u201cpreoccupied with her children\u201d and \u201cyou can't spend all your time with your family at the same time as being leader of the opposition\u201d.<\/p>\n He was speaking on this month's @itvmeridian<\/a> The Last Word. @itvnewspolitics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1qUF9Do7A6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kit Bradshaw (@kitbradshaw) October 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n “},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Badenoch and Jenrick both have three children. Jenrick\u2019s are 13, 11 and nine. Badenoch\u2019s are younger, but not by much. They are 12, seven and five.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”fd017775-6ea3-41c1-b2c0-021e10e7a32c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Speaking on the same ITV Meridien programme, the Labour<\/a> MP Helena Dollimore<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a04255a3-e0ca-40a0-90d8-f525af8a1f10″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I think many women will be shocked by those comments.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I\u2019m really proud that we live in a country where we\u2019ve had women who have become prime minister, we\u2019ve got the first woman chancellor at the moment, I think there should be no barrier to women standing in public life.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”ad2de29b-2d99-47c1-973a-bf07819cc2e8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729164498000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.28\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729175222000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.27\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729166257000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.57\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.57″,”title”:”Tory MP claims Badenoch would not make good Tory leader because she’s ‘preoccupied’ with 3 young children”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710ef528f08d409706ce416″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Shabana Mahmood<\/strong>, the justice secretary, has told MPs that magistrates are getting powers to sentence offenders for longer \u2013 to reduce the number of prisoners being held on remand and to cut the backlog in crown courts<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”df79722c-2593-4453-aa2b-a89121f0c20e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In a statement to MPs, she said that, although this would increase the prison population slightly, by reducing the number of offenders being held on remand it would free up spaces in reception prisons where overcrowding is particularly serious.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”ff31e236-40d2-4124-9a66-8d5a00c507d1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n She said that there are currently 17,000 prisoners on remand in England and Wales, accouting for almost a fifth of the entire jail population. She said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”cf19a9b9-25d2-4ec6-8ddf-69478f0865ea”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Unless we address our remand population, we could still see a collapse of the system, not because of a lack of cells, but because we do not have those cells in the places that we need them. It is therefore crucial that we bear down on the remand population.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”67665659-a569-44cb-aac6-05429f25a0af”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Mahmood said magistrates currently only have the power to sentence people to up to six months in jail. She said the last government, between May 2022 and March 2023, allowed magistrates to sentence people to up to 12 months, and this meant magistrates could hear more cases, and those cases got dealt with more quickly.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”072505fb-efe4-4226-9e84-eeeb4cd05c75″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n But the last government went back to six months when pressure on prison places became too great, she said.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”123e09f6-22db-49fb-8365-c4fe59659c17″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Mahmood told MPs, that because of early release measures taken by Labour<\/a> to reduce overcrowding, she was now reverting to giving magistrates the power to sentence people for up to 12 months. The change will come into force on 18 November, she said.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”e0069ff6-663a-4a67-9f15-f88ccf987941″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Explaining how this would help the criminal justice system, she went on:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”921ebbfb-2f9c-4e49-af1d-8572842dd74d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n This government inherited a record crown court backlog. Waits for trials have grown so long that some cases are not heard for years.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The impact on victims of crime is profound. For some justice delayed is, as the old saying goes, justice denied as victims choose to withdraw from the justice process altogether rather than face the pain of a protracted legal battle.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n By extending magistrates\u2019 powers, we will be able to make progress on addressing the crown court backlog, and we will free the crown court to take on more of the cases that only they can hear.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n This measure is expected to free up an equivalent of 2,000 sitting days within the crown court each year, which will add capacity on top of the additional 500 sitting days that this government funded on taking office.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n This measure will, in total, see a slight increase in the overall prison population, but by bearing down on the remand population of our reception prisons, we will create capacity where we need it most. This measure allows us to manage our prison population smartly, and it means we can both address our prisons crisis and tackled the courts\u2019 backlog.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”036d544f-be0f-4a2f-8c14-f6bc3fd80870″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729163090000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.04\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729164132000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.22\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729164071000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.21\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.21″,”title”:”Magistrates to get longer sentencing powers to reduce backlog in crown courts, and cut overcrowding in remand jails, MPs told”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710ec5b8f086069213bb624″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The Foreign Office has announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russian oil tankers and liquified gas tankers. It has sanctioned 18 oil tankers, four liquified gas tankers, and the Russian gas company Rusgazdobycha JSC.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”025b7bc9-4a2f-4a68-9fb4-783bd8f8476c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a>, David Lammy<\/strong> said Britain was \u201cleading the charge against Putin\u2019s desperate and dangerous attempts to cling on to his energy revenues\u201d. He added:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”7bebaf0e-384b-46ec-9ef4-98ad2649291f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I have made it my personal mission to constrain the Kremlin, closing the net around Putin and his mafia state using every tool at my disposal.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”2d14892a-52a8-43b4-883d-9a58d5cc5d43″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The sanctions cover tankers from what is described as Russia shadow fleet<\/a>. Ships that are sanctioned are banned from UK ports.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”905bb9a1-8ea0-438e-9567-050f0885c96d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729162331000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.52\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729162857000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.00\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729162857000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.00\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.00″,”title”:”Foreign Office announces fresh sanctions against Russian oil tankers”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710eb368f08caab3751e3be”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Kim Leadbeater<\/strong>, the Labour<\/a> MP introducing the private member\u2019s bill to legalise assisted dying, has invited the archbishop of Canterbury to meet her after he described a change in the law as dangerous, Harriet Sherwood<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b2d3095d-14c9-4922-89d5-9edb2eaf5435″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”MP behind assisted dying bill invites archbishop of Canterbury to meeting”,”elementId”:”19703a91-f377-423d-9311-d312113cda74″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2024\/oct\/17\/kim-leadbeater-assisted-dying-bill-archbishop-of-canterbury-meeting”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729162038000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.47\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729162118000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.48\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729162118000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.48\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.48″,”title”:”MP behind assisted dying bill invites archbishop of Canterbury to meeting”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710e4a68f08caab3751e374″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, there is still a lot of budget talk around \u2013 as there will be for the next fortnight. Here are three articles worth reading.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c72394ea-ab25-4b46-a1f8-c69e00e65d6a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Steven Swinford, Oliver Wright and Patrick Maguire in the Times splash <\/a>say Rachel Reeves will raise capital gains tax \u2013 but not for second homes.<\/strong> They report:<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n<\/ul>\n “,”elementId”:”018f1b45-58e1-4557-8855-af1e43b83877″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The Times has been told that capital gains on profits from the sale of shares, which is currently levied at a higher rate of 20 per cent, is likely to rise by \u201cseveral percentage points\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n As well as raising capital gains on share profits, Reeves is also expected to end some reliefs in the current regime to increase potential revenues as she seeks to repair the public finances and avoid a return to austerity.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n One government source suggested that revenues from increasing capital gains tax would be in the \u201clow billions\u201d.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The chancellor will leave the rate of capital gains tax on the sale of second homes and buy-to-let properties untouched amid concerns that increasing it would cost money.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”bf4b0f79-b63c-45e8-ab9f-90f6fb1248c3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1846687222457946297″,”elementId”:”6ce5344a-b25d-4425-ab0e-b5b0080498d2″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https:\/\/x.com\/AllieHBNews\/status\/1846687222457946297″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s TIMES (updated) One Direction \/ Liam Payne #TomorrowsPapersToday<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/k1Pg3DY4dx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) October 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n nn”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Tom Baldwin in the Spectator<\/a> says the Keir Starmer is becoming more focused on explaining what the government will do to improve things for people and a budget-related document will be published helping with this. <\/strong>He says:<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n<\/ul>\n “,”elementId”:”5ca5b9cc-8821-41c9-8804-bae590557bfa”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The renewed focus is on Rachel Reeves\u2019s first Budget on 30 October. \u2018We know it will be a fight and it\u2019s important we pick the right one,\u2019 said one senior aide. Although everyone within Downing Street to whom I\u2019ve spoken in recent days insists that the missions are not being abandoned, that there is a \u2018narrowing, focusing and tightening\u2019 around a series of \u2018tangible and deliverable goals for working people\u2019. These will be \u2018staging posts that tell a story to the country about where we want to be in two, three and four years\u2019 time\u2019.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n n Starmer is understood to be working on a document with Reeves and Pat McFadden at the Cabinet Office using a mass of polling evidence commissioned by [chief of staff Morgan] McSweeney. Provisionally titled \u2018Priorities for Change\u2019, this is expected to be published before the budget so that identifiable connections between the missions run through what the Treasury decides to do.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”23fc99f7-0a19-4961-a106-68a141fb59a1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Sam Coates at Sky News<\/a> says some departments missed a deadline last night for agreeing their spending settlements with the Treasury. <\/strong>He says:<\/p>\n<\/li>\n n<\/ul>\n “,”elementId”:”ef447335-a6c1-478d-8a8d-0c36167dfb1f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n A number of departments have still been unable to agree with the Treasury the scale of cuts they will be expected to deliver in the next two years, despite discussions stretching back to July.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Close of play on Wednesday was meant to be the deadline for all major measures agreed for the budget to be sent to the spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n After this moment, only small changes are meant to be possible in the budget and spending review for the financial year beginning next April.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”da0f5623-d9a7-4534-8df7-162891f201cc”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729160358000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.19\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729161980000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.46\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729161981000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.46\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.46″,”title”:”Reeves reportedly planning to raise capital gains tax – but not for second homes”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710de568f08caab3751e33c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Kemi Badenoch<\/strong>, the Tory leadership candidate, has said that she would offer JK Rowling a peerage if she became party leader. As equalities minister Badenoch was instrumental in getting the UK government to block the Scottish parliament\u2019s gender recognition reform bill, which would have drastically simplified the process for trans people wanting to obtain a gender recognition certificate confirming their change of gender. JK Rowling, the author, was one of the leading gender critical feminists opposing the change, and she and Badenoch became allies in opposing the extension of trans rights. They say they are defending sex-based rights.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a25f166b-15f5-4a26-89c7-1481ef837ce5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n As the Times reports,<\/a> asked if she would offer Rowling a peerage in an interview with Talk TV, Badenoch replied:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”f9303ae0-c324-4ba4-adf8-6900d0235d73″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I would. I don\u2019t know whether she would take it, but I certainly would give her a peerage.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”03e99c4d-8210-4f84-b7ef-52bad189f4cd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n She also said that people like her and Rowling had been \u201cattacked relentlessly by all sorts of oddballs and bad people\u201d because of their views on sex and gender.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8b912248-456e-4b9b-9fdd-f6c2bc882930″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729158742000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.52\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729159713000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.08\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729159713000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.08\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.08″,”title”:”Badenoch says she would offer JK Rowling peerage”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710c9308f08caab3751e207″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Bridget Phillipson<\/strong>, the education secretary, was doing a media round this morning to highlight the news that primary schools in England can now bid for government money to set up nurseries.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”20e7f5e5-f61f-46b4-b9a1-275b16fa1a9b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n The Department for Education<\/strong> says in a news release<\/a>:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b9b709a2-cdac-4fdb-8756-697fafb80040″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Primary schools can now apply for up to \u00a3150,000 of \u00a315 million capital funding, with the first stage of the plan set to support up to 300 new or expanded nurseries across England.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n This comes as 321,462 additional children are now accessing 15 hours of government-funded early education per week, since the government delivered on the promises made to parents for the second phase of the childcare rollout last month.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”9b2bc5d9-dc83-4926-9853-8d775b7239b4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Under plans first announced by the last government, working parents with children aged 9-months or older were eligible for 15 hours of free nursery care per week from September this year. <\/a>It is due to rise to 30 hours from September next year<\/a>.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”5e8502d8-d785-4cc5-a7eb-01a111183246″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n But there is concern there are not enough places to meet the demand. Phillipson said in interviews this morning today\u2019s announcement would help to expand capacity.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b7d02794-c3f1-4c2a-95cf-fcbec2b3e8f8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n She also said that in some parts of the country the shortage was \u201cvery stark\u201d. She told the Today programme:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”9c5e8599-5aea-4bcc-a04f-326eafd0c6b9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n We\u2019re also publishing more information about where there are gaps at a local level, so that providers have got a better sense of where the gaps are, so that they can look to create more capacity in those areas where we have the fewest places, and in some parts of the country it\u2019s very stark. You know, for every child, you know there is, there is a real gap.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”dd54c212-e6af-435c-8fcb-2f6da2101d58″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n In its news release <\/a>about these figures the DfE says:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”008f177d-10ba-49c6-a6e3-9163214de695″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n According to the Department for Education\u2019s latest projections, around 70,000 additional places and 35,000 early years educators will still be needed to deliver the expansion to 30 hours next September, with some of the most disadvantaged areas in need of the largest uplifts.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Published for the first time, the projections show that around half of local areas need to increase their capacity by between 10% and 20% to meet demand for September. Some need an uplift of more than 20% – with areas that see traditionally lower household incomes including Northumberland, Plymouth and Rotherham all in this group.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n That\u2019s why the government is taking action now, and providing schools, private providers and local authorities a clear picture of the department\u2019s understanding of demand, and where there are gaps in supply.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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Phillipson”,”caption”:”Bridget Phillipson “,”credit”:”Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Future Publishing\/Getty Images”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729153328000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.22\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729157507000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.31\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729157507000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.31\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.31″,”title”:”Phillipson says nursery place shortages ‘very stark’, with half of England 10% down on what’s needed for 30-hour offer”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710d2fb8f08d409706ce2d6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Arriving at the meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, John Healey<\/strong>, the defence secretary, has confirmed that Britain is putting 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PA Media says:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”92dea892-1273-4da8-9443-50309c7b779e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Soldiers in the army\u2019s 4th Brigade will be held at \u201chigh readiness\u201d in order to defend Nato\u2019s eastern flank with Russia, under a new co-operation agreement Healey will sign with his Estonian counterpart \u2026<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Some 1,000 British troops are already deployed in Estonia<\/em>. If deployed, 4th Brigade troops \u2013 who are specialists in operating in Estonia\u2019s<\/em> Baltic terrain \u2013 could be sent there alongside helicopters and rocket launchers.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The 4th Brigade, based at Bourlon Barracks, North Yorkshire, would be deployed within 10 days if called up to travel to Estonia<\/em> under the plans.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n The army\u2019s most advance tanks, the Challenger 3, as well as the Boxer armoured vehicle, could also be deployed in Estonia<\/em> in future years.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Army brigades differ in size, but as many as 5,000 troops could be placed on standby under the pact, which will begin in July 2025.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”845657db-2d07-426e-82f2-101e44aebb33″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729155835000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.03\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729156055000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.07\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729156055000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.07\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.07″,”title”:”John Healey confirms plans for British troops to be on standby to defend Estonia under new pact”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710ccc48f08caab3751e22c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Michael Gove<\/strong>, the former Tory cabinet minister who is now editor of the Spectator, has said that having Robert Jenrick<\/a> as leader might hold the Tories back because he looks like a \u201cTory boy\u201d.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”87c9c544-49bc-4b9f-9a8c-0002eafc3add”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Gove has long been a strong supporter of Kemi Badenoch<\/a>, who worked for him as a junior minister in the communities department, and so it is not surprising that, when asked about both candidates in an interview for the Today programme\u2019s podcast, he chose to praise her more than Jenrick.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”7e0760b7-ca81-47d3-bda5-cbdaa38869ba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n But Gove would not confirm that he was voting for Badenoch, claiming that the Spectator was more interested in backing causes than candidates, and that his personal endorsement might be counter-productive.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c6f91b8e-c67e-4be3-bf51-ff2a925330b3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Asked about the candidates, he said they were both friends of his. He went on:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”8ba26401-9573-4f8c-bd3f-8e7cf0208a5a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Robert\u2019s strengths are diligence, rigour, hunger. He is someone who has focused in on some of the big questions that have been the Conservative party\u2019s internal conversation. And he has answers; you may not like them, but he has precise and specific solutions.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Now, I think one of Robert\u2019s weaknesses, and I speak as someone who has the same d\u00e9formation professionnelle, <\/strong><\/em>he looks like a typical Tory politician.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”5069a468-3058-4184-8316-33edf597d913″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n When it was put to him that he was accusing Jenrick of being a \u201cTory boy\u201d, Gove went on:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c8e243c2-719d-4dcd-9c0c-1084afdd75f2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n So am I. It\u2019s a stain that I bear. And given the strength of feeling against Tory boys expressed at the last general election, that\u2019s a challenge.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”0ac8322f-61d5-457f-a12e-e85f863b3f1b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Asked about Badenoch, he said:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”5401d2fd-0a18-42dd-8570-833635c13394″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n I\u2019m very fond of Kemi because at a critical moment when I was running for the leadership in 2019 she was conspicuously brave in my defence, when she didn\u2019t need to be. And courage is Kemi\u2019s hallmark.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n So one of the criticisms directed at her is that she\u2019s too willing to get involved in a scrap. I actually think it is a virtue.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”210f1fd1-99f8-4555-b2df-b8a1a27e1bda”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729154244000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.37\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729154864000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.47\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729154865000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.47\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.47″,”title”:”Gove suggests Jenrick could hold Conservatives back because he looks like ‘Tory boy'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710c95b8f08caab3751e20a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Bridget Phillipson<\/strong>, the education secretary, was on the media round on behalf of No 10 this morning. In an interview on the Today programme, asked if she was one of the cabinet ministers who have written to the PM complaining about their departmental spending allocation<\/a> in the budget, she refused to say. She replied:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”ea35cd4b-d952-4ab4-818c-a49987b1bcb6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n There are lots of conversations happening right now across government, between the chancellor, with members of the cabinet, as you would expect in the usual way as part of the budget process.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”31d94783-735f-455e-a8d0-d908984c1e86″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Asked if the education budget was protected, she replied:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”12ad42cd-3811-4b9c-b3a9-279f28aaac16″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Education is always a priority for Labour governments.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n What I\u2019d say to you is you don\u2019t have too long to wait to hear the chancellor announce her budget in just under a fortnight, so I\u2019m afraid everyone\u2019s going to have to wait until 30 October to see exactly what\u2019s in the budget.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”5f3360ee-737b-4664-a927-d82ab55e75d3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n According to the Times<\/a>, the ministers who have written to the PM include Angela Rayner, the deputy PM and housing secretary, Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, and Louise Haigh, the transport secretary. In their story, Oliver Wright, Patrick Maguire <\/strong>and Steven Swinford<\/strong> say:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”909f6e03-ca88-48aa-b66f-c1b1724e5299″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Sources said there was concern \u201cright across the cabinet\u201d, and particularly in departments whose spending was \u201cunprotected\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n A senior Treasury source said that ministers had not understood the scale of the challenge facing Reeves. \u201cThey\u2019re using a classic trade union negotiating tactic,\u201d the source said. \u201cBut we don\u2019t have any spare cash lying around to give them. This is only phase one of the spending review \u2014 as soon as the budget is over, we\u2019re going to have to do this all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Allies of the chancellor admitted that her decision to prioritise long-term investment over day-to-day spending in the budget had alienated colleagues. \u201cInvestment is a key part of this budget and is in the top three things we can actually deliver before the next election,\u201d a source said.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “,”elementId”:”f5de41d7-37a7-4268-b06b-f8657b8e43ed”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729153371000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.22\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729154094000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.34\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729154094000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.34\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.34″,”title”:”Education secretary Bridget Phillipson won’t say if she’s among ministers writing to PM about budget settlement”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”},{“id”:”6710b5d58f086069213bb425″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Good morning. Members of the Conservative party have started getting their ballot papers for the leadership election, and this evening Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick<\/a> will take part in what may be the only TV event of this stage of the contest \u2013 a hustings on GB News starting at 7pm. They won\u2019t go head to head, but they each take questions for an hour. We will be covering it live (although a colleague will be at the helm, not me).<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”e7556a9d-1a0c-49a1-8081-c9700e7176c9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Badenoch remains the bookmakers\u2019 favourite, but Jenrick gets a boost today from Electoral Calculus polling, reported in the Telegraph<\/a>, suggesting that the Tories would do better with him as leader. In his write-up, Charles Hymas<\/strong> says:<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”eb30c7d4-1cef-46ad-aba6-c53665271fe1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Mr Jenrick, the former immigration minister, would win 50 extra seats if he was leader of the Tories compared with 30 seats that would be gained if Kemi Badenoch<\/a>, his rival for the top job<\/a>, was in charge of the party, according to the poll of nearly 6,300 people by Electoral Calculus \u2026<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Under Mr Jenrick, the Conservatives would increase their number of seats from 121 to 178, with Labour falling from 412 to 311, the Liberal Democrats<\/a> dropping from 72 to 58 and Reform rising from five to 24. That would place Labour 14 seats short of a majority.<\/p>\n n <\/p>\n Under Mrs Badenoch, the Conservatives would increase their number of seats from 121 to 151, while Labour would fall from 412 to 332, the Lib Dems would dip from 72 to 63 and Reform rise from five to 25. That would see Labour in government with a 14-seat majority.<\/p>\n n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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Calculus polling on how Tories would do with Badenoch and Jenrick as leader”,”caption”:”Electoral Calculus polling on how Tories would do with Badenoch and Jenrick as leader”,”credit”:”Photograph: Telegraph”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n This is interesting, but only up to a point, for two reasons. First, the performance gap between Jenrick and Badenoch, according to these figures, and in truth no one can be sure who would be best for the Tories because voters don\u2019t know a huge amount about either of them, and it is impossible to know for sure how they would perform as leaders. And, second, Conservative members aren\u2019t always very interested in picking the candidate most popular with the electorate at large (which is partly why things started going wrong for them).<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”3a73ae98-fe11-4f15-be67-f20ba978be19″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n I will post more on the Tories as the day goes on. Apart from the GB News hustings, the diary is relatively light today, but there is still a lot of talk about the budget. As Eleni Courea<\/strong> reports, some cabinet ministers have been writing to Keir Starmer complaining about the cuts they are being asked to implement.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”182b25a1-6a2e-47dc-bad0-5d0ec090ae3a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Cabinet ministers contest chancellor\u2019s planned cuts to their departments”,”elementId”:”bd7a8854-bc89-4d2e-a4ae-ae074ccc0779″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2024\/oct\/16\/rachel-reeves-tax-rises-spending-cuts-budget”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c63f7d72-bcfb-46bb-bde1-2743deb4035c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n Morning:<\/em> John Healey<\/a>, the defence secretary, attends a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”cfcdb92a-94f7-4c50-a9c1-9de0f6216514″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 9.30am:<\/em> Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, takes questions in the Commons.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”b3d5e311-a867-4fa4-9ab2-243f7e8d1c11″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 9.30am:<\/em> The Office for National Statistics publishes figures on the disability pay gap.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”16025f29-93e3-47e9-a07e-2672f5da81af”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 9.30am:<\/em> The Department for Education publishes figures on pupil absences in England.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”c7d6e7b1-4bf8-4893-bc21-fc11eb828ce0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 10.30am:<\/em> Lucy Powell, leader of the Commons, takes questions on next week\u2019s Commons business.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”5b3e9f74-9d37-4a1a-85d6-dd765d22778e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 11.30am:<\/em> Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”fb6ff74c-6d46-4ae1-98af-a439a3d4e764″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n 7pm<\/em>: Kemi Badenoch<\/a> and Robert Jenrick take part in a leadership hustings on GB News. They will be questioned by party members, separately, with Christopher Hope, the GB News political editor, presenting.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”f42ea2b9-c2b7-42d6-8714-54e85f64f44f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line (BTL) or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”dc303c8e-69d5-4dda-bbcc-79e067c38fac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. I\u2019m still using X and I\u2019ll see something addressed to @AndrewSparrow very quickly. I\u2019m also trying Bluesky (@andrewsparrowgdn) and Threads (@andrewsparrowtheguardian).<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”812bf034-affc-4603-8445-a2ce42071427″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”<\/p>\n I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos (no error is too small to correct). And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n “,”elementId”:”a08d055d-14d9-4e3a-93fe-fcfc9d3506f8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1729152406000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1729161513000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.38\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1729152406000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.06\u00a0EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.06″,”title”:”Tories would do better with Jenrick as leader than Badenoch, poll suggests ahead of leadership hustings”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 17 Oct 2024 16.58 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 04.06 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}”><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n\n
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