News you need: Leadership challenge looms and inflation forecasts rise
Today’s briefing covers a potential challenge to the Prime Minister’s leadership and new Treasury data suggesting inflation will remain higher than expected. We also look at changes to public sector contract rules and a major admission from the police regarding destroyed evidence.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has suggested he is prepared to trigger a contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister as early as next week. Speaking from the G7 summit, an international meeting of world leaders, Sir Keir stated he intends to fight any challenge to his leadership. The comments signal growing internal pressure within the government.
New figures released by the Treasury suggest that inflation—the rate at which prices rise—is set to stay significantly higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) previously predicted. The OBR is the independent body that provides economic forecasts for the government. These new independent comparisons suggest the cost of living may not ease as quickly as official forecasts originally indicated.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has introduced new "insourcing" rules for the public sector. This policy requires the Civil Service to bring more projects and services back under direct government control rather than hiring private companies. While the move is intended to change how the government operates, critics argue it could reduce competition and increase costs for taxpayers.
In legal news, the Metropolitan Police have admitted to destroying files concerning anti-war campaigners, trade unions, and various individuals. These documents were destroyed ahead of the undercover policing inquiry, an official investigation into the conduct of officers who infiltrated political groups over several decades.
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