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As the Labour government prepares for its first budget, it confronts a projected £22 billion shortfall inherited from the Conservatives. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced cuts, including the winter fuel payment for pensioners, while civil service head Simon Case criticizes the previous government's financial management. The upcoming budget is expected to be painful.
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Following Labour's landslide victory in July, Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns of impending economic difficulties. The government is grappling with a significant budget deficit and public service challenges, leading to controversial policy decisions, including cuts to pensioner benefits. The political landscape remains tense as Labour seeks to distance itself from the previous Conservative administration's legacy.
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The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency due to a surge in mpox cases in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported this year, with a new variant spreading rapidly. The situation poses a significant risk of international spread.
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Labour's government is under scrutiny for alleged cronyism following the appointment of party donors to key civil service roles. Prime Minister Keir Starmer defends these appointments, while the Conservatives demand transparency regarding the hiring processes. The controversy includes the granting of a Downing Street pass to major donor Lord Waheed Alli and the appointment of Ian Corfield at the Treasury.
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A new biography by Sir Anthony Seldon critically examines Liz Truss's brief 49-day premiership, highlighting her unrealistic economic plans and chaotic decision-making. The book reveals her consideration of drastic cuts to NHS cancer treatment amid the fallout from her mini-budget, which triggered a financial crisis in the UK.
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The Labour government claims to have inherited a £22bn 'black hole' in public finances from the Conservatives, prompting cuts to winter fuel payments. Economists argue that some financial pressures were foreseeable, as highlighted by a recent Institute for Fiscal Studies report on asylum spending overshoots.