Laura Phillips

“*Shadow Cabinet ministers are privately hoping that Shabana Mahmood succeeds in tackling small boats. The Tories best hope is that migration reduces in salience as an issue by the time of the next election” 5.

“* The task facing Kemi Badenoch is huge. The number of 'core' Reform voters - those who consider themselves aligned with the party's values - has risen from 1.68m during election to 3.8m” 4/

“* So much for the conference afterglow: A new analysis of polls show just how dire things really are for Labour and the Tories
 
* Starmer is the most unpopular PM on record, while Labour suffered the greatest fall in popularity of any governing party in their first 10 months” 3/

“* They will explicitly link the OBR's upcoming productivity downgrade - which has left a huge hole in the public finances - to the economic hit after Brexit. Rather than just blaming the Tories they plan to go for Farage personally” 2/

Steven Swinford: “Exclusive:
 
* Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves plan to blame Nigel Farage for tax rises in the Budget. They will say he delivered #Brexit with 'easy sloganeering' then walked away, failing to take responsibility” 1/

thetimes.com/article/887550…

It's weird. There were just no clues that this is what he was like.

Reform leaders have faced similar problems to other councils in providing for the spiralling cost of children’s and adult social care, which accounts for about two-thirds of budgets. 3.

Durham, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Kent are all looking at council tax rises.2/

Eight Reform UK councils likely to raise tax next year Despite Nigel Farage’s promises to cut waste and ‘save a lot of money’, senior officials have now admitted they will likely have to resort to tax rises

Shocked beyond measure.

Max Kendix:
Eight Reform UK councils have indicated that they will raise council tax next year after struggling to find huge cuts in public spending. 1/

Denmark to Spend $8.5 Billion on Weapons to Cool Trump’s Greenland Enthusiasm The investment includes money for F-35 jet fighters as Copenhagen tries to show it is taking seriously the threat from China and Russia.

Lara Seligman, Nat Security Corr, @wsj.com: ‘EXCLU: Denmark plans to spend $8.5 billion on new ships and aircraft, including 16 new F-35s, Danish officials said Friday, an investment designed to stave off President Trump’s threat to take over Greenland.’

Klitschko: "The situation is difficult, and we must speak honestly rather than reassure ourselves," he says. "Stay focused and act pragmatically. Stock up on water, prepare a first-aid kit and food supplies, charge your power banks, and get warm clothes ready. Do not ignore air-raid warnings."

Віталій Кличко У результаті масованої атаки ворога, який бив по обʼєктах критичної інфраструктури України, наразі запроваджені екстрені відключення електрики в більшості областей країни. Київ пережив одну з найскла...

Hi from a candlelit apartment as power's out in Kyiv and emergency power outages have been introduced in most regions of the Ukraine...

Kyiv Mayor Klitschko warns another Russian attack expected in coming days, tells Kyivans stock up on water, food, charge power banks, gather warm clothes.

Nigel Farage 'stunned' ex-Wales Reform leader Nathan Gill took bribes Nathan Gill has admitted taking money for pro-Russian statements as a European Parliament member.

Posted without comment.

The limits of Trump's trade policy - he can raise tariffs and extract investment bribes but global inter-connected supply chains make national control even by the US extremely difficult - which as it turns out is a good thing.

Melania Trump says Putin responded to her pleas about Ukrainian children The First Lady has been directly engaged in diplomacy in Russia, pleading for the protection of children.

‘She made the announcement on Friday, saying that after an "open channel of communication" with #Putin that #Ukranian #children displaced in the war had been reunited with families.
The First Lady's letter was hand delivered to Putin during his Alaska visit in August.’

BBC Radio 3 - Sound of Cinema, An interview with American film score composer Michael Giacchino Matthew Sweet interviews American film score composer Michael Giacchino

16.00 Saturday 10th October then #BBCSounds: @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social interviews American film score composer Michael Giacchino about his work since he was last on the programme, including the Incredibles films and Jurassic World.

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, 400 Years of the Royal Collection, St James's Palace Ian Skelly tours the formal home of the British Court, exploring its art and music.

13.00 Saturday 11th October then #BBCSounds: Ian Skelly tours the formal home of the British Court, exploring its remarkable art collection and musical connections, featuring composers from Monteverdi to Judith Weir.

Filming on This City is Ours series two commences Joining returning cast members James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow are Shaun Evans and Álvaro Morte

🎬 This City is... BACK! Filming's officially underway on This City Is Ours series two with Shaun Evans and Álvaro Morte joining returning cast members James Nelson-Joyce and Hannah Onslow

You can get all the info 👇🏻

Nobel Prize: “In the past year, #NobelPeacePrize laureate Maria Corina Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions of people.”

Gaza latest: Israeli cabinet approves Trump’s plan for ceasefire and hostage release

BREAKING | Israeli military says ceasefire with Hamas has come into effect

“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.” 2.

Nobel Prize: “When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise+resist.” 1/

Actually rather a clever choice considering he's at (kind of a) war with Maduro.

“She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just & peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

The Nobel Committee underscores exactly why an aspiring dictator like Trump cannot win.

BREAKING NEWS The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela+for her struggle to achieve a just+peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. #NobelPrize

BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela+for her struggle to achieve a just+peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
#NobelPrize

Inside the room where the Nobel peace prize is decided - BBC Sounds The BBC's Mark Lowen had rare access to the room where it happens in Oslo.

@marklowen.bsky.social: As we prepare to find out who has won this year’s #NobelPeacePrize, Norway is preparing for retaliation from one man if he doesn’t win. My radio piece with exclusive access to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Announcement is at 11am Oslo time