Britain's political parties turned on themselves on Monday, as an attempt to unite the right collapsed into mutual accusations of lying, Scottish Labour's leadership contest opened amid allegations of misogyny, and Labour MPs renewed calls to expel Diane Abbott.
The infighting came on the first Monday of the parliamentary recess, with MPs away from Westminster until 1 September and Andy Burnham's government three weeks old. It leaves the governing party and both its main rivals on the right managing internal disputes at the same time, days after the Treasury confirmed a Budget for 28 October that will test the new administration's spending promises.
Right-wing alliance offer unravels within 48 hours
Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, accused Nigel Farage of "outright lying about our private conversations" on Monday, less than two days after offering the Reform UK leader a formal alliance.
Lowe made the offer in a video posted on Sunday, calling the right "hopelessly divided" and urging Farage to set aside personalities and past disagreements. He set five conditions, including making border security the first priority, banning the burqa and cousin marriage, and holding a referendum on restoring the death penalty.
Farage initially rebuffed the approach on X, writing that "only one party truly has the possibility of delivering change." By Monday morning he had softened, telling reporters he was "open-minded" about a deal and had contacted Lowe privately.
Lowe disputed that account within hours. Farage told a press conference he had asked Lowe, "Shall we have a call?" Lowe said the message read only "Will call later," and that no call followed while senior Reform figures publicly dismissed the offer.
"Outright lying about our private conversations does not help that," Lowe said, adding that his offer to work together remained open.
The exchange followed the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, where a split right-wing vote allowed Labour to hold the mayoralty. Bev Craig took office on Sunday after winning 309,525 first and second preference votes on a turnout of about 25 percent, beating Reform into second place.
Only woman in Scottish Labour race alleges "male entitlement"
Nominations opened on Monday in the contest to replace Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader, hours after the race was hit by allegations of misogyny.
Katy Clark withdrew after struggling to secure enough support from MPs and MSPs, leaving Monica Lennon as the only woman among three candidates. Michael Marra and Joe Fagan are also standing.
Lennon said the contest "reeks of misogyny and male entitlement," alleging that "men expect a coronation or a ballot without women." Allegations that Marra lobbied colleagues not to nominate her have been denied.
Marra was the only candidate confirmed to have met the threshold of three MSPs or MPs as nominations opened. Candidates must also secure three affiliate organisations, two of them trade unions, before nominations close on 17 August. The result will be announced on 19 September.
Burnham presses devolution agenda as Budget date set
Prime Minister Andy Burnham used an article published on Monday to declare that "the rewiring of Britain has begun," describing his government as "boldly, confidently, authentically Labour."
Burnham set out plans to reverse the burden of proof on devolution. Ministers who want to keep powers in Whitehall will have to justify why, and where they cannot, those powers will pass to local communities.
Chancellor John Healey confirmed in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, published on Sunday, that the Budget will take place on 28 October, accompanied by an Office for Budget Responsibility forecast. It will be the first Budget for both men.
The government has already committed to removing VAT from household electricity bills from October, worth about £45 a year to the average household, and to cutting the single bus fare cap from £3 to £2 from January 2027.
Abbott faces fresh expulsion calls days after readmission
Diane Abbott is facing renewed calls for expulsion over comments describing the war in Ukraine as "the NATO campaign against Russia," made at an anti-war conference and in the Morning Star.
The row began days after Abbott and Joani Reid had the Labour whip restored on Friday, following a year-long disciplinary process concluded under party rules. Abbott apologised for wording that conflated the Israeli military with the Jewish community.
Critics accuse her of echoing Russian talking points. The Board of Deputies of British Jews had already described her return as an early test of resolve for the Burnham administration, and Jewish community leaders are seeking answers from the prime minister directly.
A Survation poll for LabourList found 64 percent of Labour members supported readmitting Abbott, with 26 percent opposed. The leadership says it played no part in the decision.
Police warn early prison releases will cut street patrols
A senior police officer warned on Sunday evening that neighbourhood patrols and anti-social behaviour teams face cuts as forces absorb about 6,000 offenders due for early release in September.
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Devonport said prison overcrowding had created the "uncomfortable reality" that offenders would spend "less time in prison and more time being managed in communities." He said the scheme would cost forces hundreds of millions of pounds at a time of financial strain.
The warning lands with the prisons brief unsettled. Lord Timpson resigned as prisons minister on 20 July, saying he had done as much as he could in the role.
Also on Monday
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber heat-health alerts for London, the South East, the East of England and the East Midlands from 9am Monday until 9am Wednesday, warning of "significant impacts across health and social care services," including a rise in deaths among people over 65. Four further regions were placed under yellow alerts.
The government announced £20m for agricultural robotics, an investment by its Sovereign AI fund in a British AI-chip start-up and a £5m National Grid programme aimed at moving 5,000 young people into work.
Free bus travel for children aged five to 15 began across England on Saturday and runs to the end of the month, part of a cost-of-living package that also cuts VAT on children's meals out and family attractions.
Columnist and broadcaster Rod Liddle died on Sunday evening at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. He was 66.
Attention now turns to the Clacton by-election on 13 August, triggered by Farage's resignation as MP amid investigations into his finances.
A record 34 candidates are standing, with Labour, the Conservaties, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Restore Britain all standing aside.
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