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The devolved governments of the UK want an urgent meeting with Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to discuss immediate action to reverse the damaging effects of the mini-budget.

In a joint letter, the finance ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are warning that the government’s spending plans are a “huge gamble” that will mean another decade of austerity.

It comes as one of Liz Truss‘s closest political allies doubled down on the government’s economic policy, with warnings that major cuts in public spending are to come.

Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke, who is among the prime minister’s inner circle, told The Times that the British people need to expect significant cuts in public spending, because for too long the West has been living in a “fool’s paradise”.

Following on from Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng‘s tax-cutting mini-budget, he said the government needs to make sure the “extremely large” state is in “full alignment with a lower tax economy”.

It has led to fears another period of austerity is just around the corner, with the hardest hit likely to be those reliant on welfare.

In their letter to Mr Kwarteng, Welsh Finance Minister Rebecca Evans joined finance ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland in highlighting the profound impact of “the largest set of unfunded tax cuts for the rich in over 50 years” stating it was “a huge gamble on public finances and the health of our economy”

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They warned against being condemned to another decade of austerity and expressed deep concern over reports that UK government departments would be asked to make spending cuts to balance the budget, which may have profound consequences for devolved budget settlements already eroded by inflation.

But Mr Clarke told The Times: “Western Europe is just living in a fool’s paradise whereby we can be ever less productive relative to our peers, and yet still enjoy a very large welfare state and persist in thinking that the two are somehow compatible over the medium to long term.

“They’re not. We need to address that… if we want those strong public services then we are going to have to pay for them.

“It is important that we look at a state which is extremely large, and look at how we can make sure that it is in full alignment with a lower tax economy.”

It comes on the eve of the Conservative Party conference and the chancellor defending his mini-budget by saying the government “had no other choice” than to do “something different” to spark the economy.

The mini-budget resulted in a tumultuous week which saw the pound fall to an all-time low against the dollar and the Bank of England being forced to spend billions to prevent a collapse of the pensions industry.

‘What the Thatcher government was doing in the 1980s’

Mr Clarke admitted it had been an “uncomfortable week” and defended Ms Truss, but said she would not be deflected from policies they predicted would be unpopular, and suggested her task was analogous to that faced by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.

“If I was to describe one word for Liz… it is purposeful,” he said. “She knew – and this was certainly something we discussed during the summer – that this would not be a comfortable process.

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Truss admits ‘disruption’ to UK economy but stands by forecast-free mini-budget

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PM acknowledges ‘some disruption’ to UK economy following mini-budget

“[She knew] particularly early on, there would be real potential unpopularity to be courted in seeking to say things and do things which weren’t going to be easy or quick wins. Frankly, she is doing what she believes is right.

“In some ways, there is an analogy with the 1980s and what the Thatcher government was seeking to do in terms of a reset moment where you fundamentally revisit how not just the previous government but multiple governments.”

‘We intend to be extremely rigorous’

Wales Secretary Sir Robert Buckland told Sky News that, while the government would work within its existing three-year spending review package, families could expect to find out what ministers are planning in the next few weeks.

Mr Buckland said he hopes the government’s upcoming announcements will be seen by the market as displaying “fiscal discipline”.

He appeared to confirm what Mr Clarke was suggesting when he said: “We intend to be extremely rigorous when it comes to bearing down on public expenditure.

“That will be developed in the weeks ahead. We’ve got a whole range of announcements coming out on not just spending, but supply-side reforms.

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Chair of OBR Richard Hughes says chancellor will be updated on Friday

“Whether it’s childcare… or… broadband connectivity, all these things add up to an overall package that is designed to, first of all, facilitate growth in the economy, but secondly to emphasise that the government is responsible.”

‘We had to do something different’

Overnight, Mr Kwarteng said the public expected public spending to be tightly controlled.

He wrote in The Daily Telegraph: “The British taxpayer expects their government to work as efficiently and effectively as possible, and we will deliver on that expectation.

“Not all the measures we announced last week will be universally popular. But we had to do something different. We had no other choice.”

The chancellor insisted he would produce a “credible plan” to get public finances on track with a “commitment to spending discipline”.

On Friday night, Ms Truss acknowledged for the first time that “there has been disruption” to the UK economy following last week’s mini-budget.

Read more:
As Tory conference looms, the PM cuts a diminished figure after squandering much of her political capital

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‘Liz Truss is a danger to the economy’ says Starmer

Asked on Friday whether she accepted this was a crisis of the government’s own making, the prime minister said: “It was very, very important that we took urgent steps to deal with the costs that families are facing this winter, putting in place the energy price guarantee for which we’ve had to borrow to cover the cost… but also making sure that we are not raising taxes at a time where there are global economic forces caused by the war in Ukraine that we need to deal with.

“I recognise there has been disruption. But it was really, really important that we were able to get help to families as soon as possible.”

Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow international trade secretary, told Sky News on Saturday: “This is a Tory crisis, made in Downing Street… They’ve crashed the economy by handing out enormous unfunded tax cuts to the very wealthiest people, and it’s going to be working people across the country that pay the price for this.

“They’ve also trashed our international reputation… and… what the government has done is going to lead to economic pain for people that they have chosen… What the government needs to do is recall Parliament and withdraw this budget.”

Truss and Kwarteng met top officials from Britain’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on Friday.

Mr Kwarteng intends to publish an updated set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and a medium-term fiscal plan setting out how he plans to bring down government debt on 23 November.

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Actor Timothy West has died, aged 90

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Actor Timothy West has died, aged 90

Actor Timothy West has died peacefully in his sleep aged 90, “with his friends and family at the end”.

He was known for many roles in television and the theatre, including popular soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders.

Husband to Prunella Scales – who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers – the pair travelled together on UK and overseas canals in the Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys.

His children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement issued by his agent: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.

“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.

“We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.”

The couple married in 1963 and had two sons, actor Samuel and Joseph.

West was previously married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, with whom he had a daughter, Juliet.

Timothy West and Prunella Scales.
Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock
Image:
West with his wife, Prunella Scales. Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock

Prunela Scales andTimothy West 
Pic: PA
Image:
West with his wife at a charity dinner in 1998. Pic: PA

In 1984, West was appointed CBE for his services to drama in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

He was the winner of an RTS television award for his lead role in Churchill And The Generals, released in 1979, according to imdb.com.

In his career, he played Winston Churchill three times, including in The Last Bastion (1984) and in Hiroshima (1995).

Timothy West and his son Sam West at The Talkies at The Landmark Hotel  in 1999
Pic: PA
Image:
West with his son Samuel in 1999. Pic: PA

West was also nominated for best actor in the 1976 BAFTAs for his part as Edward VII in the historical drama.

Four years later, he was nominated in the same category for a number of roles, including as best actor in Crime And Punishment.

Timothy West (right), in BBC One's  drama, Last Tango In Halifax.
Pic: PA
Image:
West (right) in BBC drama, Last Tango In Halifax. Pic: PA

After a small part as Eric Babbage in Coronation Street in 2013, West appeared in 2014 for the first time as Stan Carter in EastEnders.

He also held other popular TV roles, such as in BBC comedy-drama Last Tango In Halifax.

In the long-running BBC comedy, Not Going Out, he played Geoffrey, the father of Lucy Adams, played by Sally Bretton.

He was the ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre in comedy-drama Brass, playing the role from 1982 to 1984 before returning for a third series in 1990.

Timothy West as King Lear during a photocall for the 2003 English Touring Theatre production of William Shakespeare's King Lear.
Pic: PA
Image:
West as King Lear during a 2003 English Touring Theatre production of William Shakespeare’s tragedy. Pic: PA

In 2019, the Bradford-born actor played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, a recreation of three missing episodes of the BBC comedy.

His film roles included Commissioner Berthier in The Day Of The Jackal (1973), King Francis in From Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998), and Nazi physician and war criminal Karl Gebhardt in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973).

He was also a regular performer of Shakespeare, playing Lear in 2002 and 2016.

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The actor performed at the Piccadilly Theatre, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the West End, portraying many classic roles, including Shylock, Falstaff, and Macbeth.

Prior to acting, West attended the John Lyon School and Bristol Grammar School.

He worked as an office furniture salesman and a recording technician before becoming an assistant stage manager at Wimbledon Theatre in 1956.

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Several injured after crash involving bus carrying schoolchildren on A46 in Leicestershire

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Several injured after crash involving bus carrying schoolchildren on A46 in Leicestershire

Several people have been injured after a bus carrying schoolchildren collided with a lorry in Leicestershire.

At least 16 people sustained “minor” injuries in the crash on the A46 near Syston, Leicestershire Police said.

Ten of those were taken to hospital as a precaution, the force added.

The road was closed travelling northbound between A607 near Cossington and the B676 following the crash.

It has since reopened, according to National Highways.

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A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “Police received a report at 9.30am today (Wednesday 13 November) of a collision involving a bus, containing a number of schoolchildren, and an HGV on the A46 northbound carriageway near to Syston.

“16 passengers sustained minor injuries and 10 of those were taken to hospital as a precaution.”

The spokesperson added: “Emergency services responded at the time and local road closures were put in place. The road has since been reopened.”

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Man jailed for more than three years for loading illegal streaming services on to Amazon Fire Sticks

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Man jailed for more than three years for loading illegal streaming services on to Amazon Fire Sticks

A 29-year-old man has been jailed for more than three years for loading illicit TV streaming services onto Amazon Fire Sticks.

Jonathan Edge, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act.

He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, which included a separate concurrent sentence of two years and three months for accessing and viewing the content he was supplying.

Edge ran a service uploading illegal services to Fire Stick devices in return for cash-in-hand payments at his home, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

He used Facebook advertising and word-of-mouth recommendations to run his operation.

He ignored multiple warnings about the illegal activity, which were referenced by the judge and treated as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

The prosecution was undertaken by the Premier League and supported by several other organisations, including FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and Merseyside Police.

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Kevin Plumb, Premier League general counsel, said: “The significant sentence handed down to the individual involved once again serves to highlight the severity of his actions.

“We will continue to pursue legal action against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football, regardless of the scale or mode of operation. Ignoring warnings to stop only served to make the consequences worse for the individual.”

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Detective Sergeant Steve Frame from Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police is committed to working in collaboration to investigate intellectual property theft and we welcome today’s sentence handed to Edge.

“Many people see no harm in illegally streaming TV services but they are wrong, and this outcome should serve as a further warning how seriously such copyright theft continues to be taken.”

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