Blake

***EXCLUSIVE*** Andy Burnham fully rules out changing Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules if he becomes PM At the weekend his team had left it open whether he might change them in future But tonight his spokesperson tells Bloomberg he is explicitly ruling out any changes to the existing fiscal rules AND crucially Burnham is now also ruling out exempting defence spending from the fiscal rules to spend more on the military He had floated that idea in a Bloomberg interview a few weeks ago but his spokesperson tonight says he won’t pursue it This is a big attempt by Burnham’s campaign team to reassure markets who were spooked on Friday by his potential premiership But it may risk disappointing some on the left who had hoped for a more radical fiscal policy It may also mean tax rises are the likely main revenue raiser in the event Burnham wants to increase spending

'When you start denying factual reality, especially something as important as biological sex, people suffer.' President of the Cambridge University Society of Women, Maeve Halligan on her viral speech at the Cambridge Union challenging LGBTQ+ activism.

Did you go to the same accounting school as Tommy Robinson? Police say 20,000 attended this march. Why lie?

An unbelievable decision. The referee ruled the goal valid following a VAR review

I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election. I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics. Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic. Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures. However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people. Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place. I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that. Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again. ENDS

I think trans people deserve the same rights to equality, fairness and safety as anyone else. But women don’t have penises and those who pretend otherwise are damaging women’s rights. Why is this controversial?

"This is what diversity looks like in power" Dr Q Manivannan is one of two transgender MSPs elected to Holyrood in first for Scottish parliament

Hold on - what? If police officers think someone might be carrying explosives, protocol is to kick them in the head repeatedly like this? Is that actual police protocol? If so, how is it a wise police protocol? Can someone explain the reasoning?