CATEGORIES

Do MPs need stricter rules on receiving 'freebies'?

Revelations about “freebies” received by the prime minister and several senior ministers from a single donor, the media and tech entrepreneur Lord Alli, drew widespread public disapproval and overshadowed the start of the Labour Party conference.

Reeves smiles through the storm (or was it a grimace?)

Rachel Reeves glided through the morning media circus wearing a Stepford Wives smile that said, “Honestly, everything’s just peachy” when we all knew that, actually, it was anything but.

Free school breakfast clubs from April but winter fuel cuts to remain, says Reeves

Rachel Reeves has announced that hundreds of schools will host free breakfast clubs from April as she doubled down on her controversial decision to abolish winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.

The knives are out, so just how long can Case hold on?

Fans of the cabinet secretary, Simon Case – and there still are some despite all the recent backstabbing – say that he is the ideal top civil servant because he possesss the invaluable gift of anticipating trouble and “he can see round corners”.

Sack 'poisonous' Case now, top ministers urge Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer is being urged by several cabinet ministers to sack the top civil servant in Whitehall immediately and stamp his authority on the new Labour government.

PM urges Labour to take the pain then reap the gain

Sir Keir Starmer will tell an “exhausted Britain” that the tough decisions he is taking for the short term are the first steps towards national renewal and higher living standards.

Norris holds off Singapore field after perfect getaway

Lando Norris produced a statement win over Max Verstappen in Singapore to strike another dent in his rival’s world championship lead.

Alexander-Arnold seeks to tackle 'can't defend' critics

Liverpool star has asked his manager to dish out tough love

Stones snags last-gasp goal as Gunners rue sending off

It was the last kick of a ball by a Manchester City player, John Stones latching on to the rebound after Jakub Kiwior had flung himself into the path of Mateo Kovacic’s shot, just beating the heroic David Raya.

'All human life is in Ulysses'

Author William Boyd on his obsession with Freud and why books trump films every time. As told to Jessie Thompson

Shawshank Redemption's journey from flop to classic

The producers wanted Tom Cruise. The creek in its most famous scene was toxic. And barely anyone saw it upon its release 30 years ago. So what changed, asks Tom Fordy

HOME TRUTHS

Adele Cardani visits the London Design Festival and notes a burgeoning trend for individual character and personality

TOO POSH TO DUST

Why does outsourcing housework still sit so uncomfortably with some of us? Oliver Keens breaks down his misgivings and explains why he'll never pay anyone to scrub his toilet

Musk's Tesla Cybertruck is a culture war on four wheels

Dubbed the Magamobile’ and Deplorean’, it may be the best thing ever to happen to electric vehicles, but not for the reason Elon Musk wants, writes Anthony Cuthbertson

Iran coal mine blast kills 31

At least 31 people died and 16 were injured in a coal mine blast triggered by a gas explosion in South Khorasan province in Iran, state media reported yesterday.

Sri Lanka rejects old guard to elect Marxist president

Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, according to early results, as voters rejected the old political guard that has been widely accused of pushing the country into economic ruin.

Hezbollah launches more than 100 rockets into Israel

Militant group declares open-ended battle of reckoning’ as hundreds of thousands run for cover following air-raid sirens

Peter Jay, economics editor and diplomat, dies at 87

Former economic journalist and diplomat Peter Jay has died at the age of 87, his family has announced.

investigation Calls for fresh into man's one-punch death

The sister of a man who died after being assaulted on a night out is calling for his case to be reinvestigated after three years without any suspects being charged.

Prosecutors failed to charge Fayed over sex abuse claims

The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted twice deciding not to pursue a conviction of Mohamed al-Fayed after allegations of sexual abuse of a child and rape.

Grenfell bereaved question May decision to call inquiry

Relatives claim former prime minister’s rapid decision has had massive consequences on our pursuit of our justice’

Welby says 'God is green' and issues plea on climate

Archbishop asks leaders to act now before it is too late’

Labour conference in brief

The prime minister meets with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni earlier this month

Bid to cut NHS waiting lists through cross-border deal

A groundbreaking cross-border deal has been struck to help ease the NHS waiting list crisis.

Reeves backs investigation into £670m Covid deals

Rachel Reeves is set to announce an investigation into more than £600m worth of Covid contracts and will pledge to chase down firms who have ripped off the taxpayer.

Rayner's optimism just the ticket to lift Labour's gloom

Angela Rayner may have floundered on the BBC yesterday morning while talking about gifts from wealthy donors, but her opening speech to the Labour conference injected some life into what was threatening to be a despondent affair.

Reeves to pledge there will be 'no return to austerity'

Rachel Reeves will attempt to lift the gloom that has settled over Labour’s conference in Liverpool with a pledge that there will be “no return to austerity”.

PM and Gray accepted hospitality at Spurs match from Johnson's former aide

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his gift-taking as he took part in two eve-of-conference interviews, insisting that it is transparency that matters.

I watched Dylan make his long-awaited 1974 return

After his motorcycle crash and an eight-year touring hiatus, Bob Dylan's comeback was the biggest event in music since Woodstock. And a 16-year-old Jim Farber had third-row seats

M&M's World - gaudy, soulless yet hugely popular

Tens of thousands flock each week to queue, buy overpriced sweets and take photos. But why, wonders Roisin Lanigan