Badenoch calls for benefit cuts to fund defence spending in pre-budget speech – UK politics live 20. October 2026 (11:53) Conservative leader also said she would prioritise cutting taxes for businesses over individualsBadenoch says Britain needs tax cuts.We need to get out of the way of job creators who make our country richer. We need to encourage risk taking, wealth creation, enterprise.Britain’s tax burden has never been higher. You are taxed on the heating in your home. You’re taxed at the petrol pump filling up your car. You’re taxed when you insure that car. You’re taxed if you take the family away on holiday. You’re taxed if you stay in the UK thanks to Andy Burnham’s tourist tax. You’re taxed to buy a home, taxed to live in a home, taxed to pass on your home. This is clearly not working. Britain does not feel better off.Andy Burnham wrote in The Times yesterday about the moral outrage of the current benefit system. But as far as I could work out, his answer is to spend even more on benefits. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani launches India’s biggest-ever IPO 20. October 2026 (11:53) Low-cost broadband provider Jio Platforms aims for £81bn valuation when it floats on the stock market on WednesdayBusiness live – latest updatesIndia’s second-richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is launching what could be the country’s biggest-ever initial public offering (IPO), despite a stock market downturn.Mumbai-based Jio Platforms, a telecoms company backed by Meta Platforms and Google, is hoping to raise up to 302bn rupees (£2.4bn) and is targeting a 10.3tn rupees (£81bn) valuation when it floats on the stock market from Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French cities ‘calm overnight’ after targeted curfews, prime minister says – Europe live 20. October 2026 (11:45) Sébastien Lecornu suggests more curfews could be introduced to quell unrest after weekend protestsMeanwhile, the EU’s trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the bloc’s relationship with the UK is of “vital importance in the current geopolitical, security and economic context,” as he set out the bloc’s expectations ahead of next month’s EU-UK summit on 20 November.Speaking at the European parliament in Strasbourg minutes after holding a phone call with UK’s Europe minister Hamish Falconer, he said the EU had three priorities for any talks with London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Millions unable to use Revolut app or cards as company suffers ‘service disruption’ 20. October 2026 (11:45) UK banking company insists customers’ funds and data are safe despite problems with sign-in, card payments, transfers and withdrawalsBusiness live – latest updatesRevolut customers have been unable to access their money after the banking app went down, affecting a number of services including card payments, cash withdrawals and transfers.The UK banking company said its app was down because of a “service disruption” affecting several services, but insisted that customers’ funds and data were safe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
'I've never felt so unwell in my life': British nurse left in coma with life-threatening sepsis following stay in four-star hotel in Greece
Three children hospitalised as double-decker bus has its roof torn off after crashing into railway bridge
Accused LandCruiser driver who 'rammed MP Helen Haines outside her office and severed her leg' is charged