Evening Briefing: Saturday 3 October 2026
- Your council tax: One London borough says it may have to raise its share of the bill by 150% — an extra £29.11 a week at Band D in 2027/28, about £1,000 a year — as its government funding falls from £150.5 million this year to £72.4 million over four years. Six councils have already been allowed to breach the 5% cap.
- Public spending: Leaked remarks show the shadow cabinet has discussed savings in “every part of government” beyond the £47 billion already announced. On the plans set out so far, overseas aid would be left at £1 billion a year, a cut of about 90% against Labour’s own reduced path.
- If you are 18 to 24: The Greens would guarantee every 18 to 24-year-old a two-year job within four months of leaving education, in the private sector with the state paying half the salary. A pilot would create 9,000 posts for £110 million in five named areas.
Tens of Thousands March in Spain After Housing Measures Fall
Tens of thousands marched in some fifty Spanish cities on Saturday, a day after the opposition struck down two government housing decrees. Authorities put the Madrid crowd at 70,000; the Tenants’ Union claimed 500,000. In Valencia police f…
Ethiopian Forces Retake Mekelle Airport as Tigrayan Fighters Pull Out
Ethiopian government troops have regained Alula Aba Nega Airport outside Mekelle, one of three airfields seized by Tigrayan forces when fighting resumed on 23 September. A local journalist said the TPLF’s fighters and leaders were leaving…
Yemen Shuts the al-Houban Crossing as Fighting Closes on Taiz
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has closed the al-Houban crossing at Taiz, the main civilian link between Houthi-held territory and the government-held city, citing an attempted infiltration and a military build-up. Colonel M…
Brazil Votes Tomorrow With Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Level
Brazilians vote on Sunday in a presidential election the polls put level. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term against Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, the far-right senator standing because his father is under hous…
Somalia Rejects an Israeli Naval Base at Berbera
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said Somalia will not accept an Israeli presence “under any circumstances”, and that Israel is planning a naval base at Berbera and the use of the city’s airport. Berbera lies in Somaliland, the self-dec…
A London Borough Warns of a 150% Council Tax Rise
Hammersmith and Fulham’s cabinet says it may have to impose a 150% rise in its share of council tax, according to a budget report due on Monday. At Band D that is an extra £29.11 a week in 2027/28, about £1,000 a year. Its government fundi…
Court Told of a Homemade Bomb Aimed at Manchester’s Jewish Community
Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of preparing an act of terrorism on or before 20 September. The prosecutor said they are accused of targeting Manches…
Leaked Remarks Show the Tories Weighing Cuts Beyond the £47bn
Andrew Griffith, now shadow chancellor, told Conservative members last October that the shadow cabinet had discussed finding further savings in “every part of government”, beyond the £47 billion of cuts already announced. “The rate at whic…
Greens Would Renationalise Two Water Firms and Guarantee Youth Jobs
The Greens would take Thames Water and South East Water into public ownership before Christmas without compensating shareholders or creditors, their co-deputy leader Rachel Millward told the party’s conference in Brighton, arguing both are…
Man Arrested Over RAF Fairford Released on Bail
A 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with the RAF Fairford incident has been released on bail. He was detained in Westminster on Thursday, and searches of two propertie…