‘Victory in today’s Clacton by-election will mean Ukip has “broken through the closed shop that is British politics”, Nigel Farage declared last night. The Tory defector Douglas Carswell is expected to make history in the Essex seat by becoming Ukip’s first MP. Speaking on the eve of the vote, Mr Farage said winning a seat in Westminster would “make all the difference” to the party’s future success.’ – The Times (£)
>Yesterday:
‘Security agencies believe that Tarik Hassane, 21, had been to Syria, but flew back to London from Sudan at the weekend. MI5 had been tracking the movements and communications of the medical student from Ladbroke Grove, west London, whose nickname is “the surgeon”, for months. His arrest came less than 12 hours after he tweeted “Oi lads . . . I smell war”.’ – The Times (£)
‘Nick Clegg has admitted the Liberal Democrats faces the prospect of having no “voice” in politics after the next election as he used his conference speech to attack the Conservatives and warn that Britain will be “meaner, poorer and weaker” without his party. In his final speech to his party’s conference before the general election, the Deputy Prime Minister urged voters not to allow the Lib Dems to become “marginalised”.’ – Daily Telegraph
Editorials
>Today: Dr Liam Fox MP on Comment: The neglect of mental health in the NHS is a national disgrace
>Yesterday:
‘The UK receives more air passengers from the affected West African countries than any other nation, but health officials here say the screening – a simple temperature test and questionnaire – is unnecessary. As Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called the ebola outbreak a ‘serious global health emergency’, Barack Obama ordered his officials to screen travellers at five major airports. Last night a No 10 source said Downing Street believed other actions were more effective than screening, but added that it had not been completely ruled out.’ – Daily Mail
‘Ed Miliband has been criticised by one of his party’s biggest donors, who savaged his tax proposals as a “vote-killer” yesterday. In a second blow to the Labour leader’s authority, his party’s ruling body, the national executive committee, denounced plans to freeze child benefit. Assem Allam, the owner of the Premier League football club Hull City, derided Labour’s plans as an economic “fallacy”.’ – The Times (£)
>Today:
‘Asked in 1951 to define his Conservatism, Churchill argued that it was a philosophy of the ladder, where everyone could rise high and fulfil their potential. But he didn’t end there. “If anyone slips off the ladder,” he promised, they should be rescued by “the finest social ambulance service in the world”. Today’s Conservatives often give the impression that they resent funding the safety net. It’s an unfair impression.’ – Tim Montgomerie, The Times (£)
‘David Cameron last night claimed victory after Brussels agreed that restrictions on the free movement of workers may be needed when new countries join the EU. Countries such as Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Turkey have all applied to join the union and have started negotiations.’ – Daily Mail
‘Britain won EU approval for a new nuclear power plant in Somerset on Wednesday, allowing the government to commit to 35 years of financial support for Europe’s biggest and most controversial infrastructure project. Hinkley Point C will cost £24.5bn to build, EU officials revealed – a much higher figure than the £16bn disclosed last year by EDF.’ – FT
‘China has toppled America to become the biggest economy in the world, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund. The US has been the global leader since it overtook Britain in 1872, but has now lost its status as top dog.’ – Daily Mail
‘Derby City Council was accused of holding callers ‘hostage’ by ‘force feeding’ them with taxpayer-funded propaganda about government cuts. The council’s number is not a freephone one, meaning callers have to pay the normal local rate charge to hear the message. Last night Bob Neill, a Conservative Party vice chairman, said: ‘This is a new low for Labour – ramming anti-Government propaganda down the throats of people while they’re held hostage on the phone.’ – Daily Mail
‘Finance Secretary John Swinney has said he believes that the Scottish government’s latest budget would help create a “fairer” Scotland. The MSP highlighted a move to abolish Stamp Duty in favour of a new Land and Buildings Transactions tax.’ – BBC News
>Yesterday: Henry Hil’s Red, White and Blue column: The aftershocks of Scotland felt across the UK
‘House prices have dropped in London for the first time in more than three years and are set to fall further this year, according to estate agents in the capital. September’s survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors adds to evidence of a slowdown in Britain’s housing market – led by London – after a year of rapid house price inflation.’ – FT