Counter Terrorism Policing charged the man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe with preparing acts of terrorism, including against the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, on Friday evening, and the Home Secretary promised MPs a statement on the protection of people in public life. The announcement landed in the middle of a conference weekend in which the Greens pledged a three-year cap on rents in Brighton, Plaid Cymru demanded new powers for Wales in Llandudno, and the average price of diesel passed £2 a litre for the first time. This is UKFCP's 24 hours in politics round-up.
Parliament is in recess for the party conference season, with the Conservatives gathering in Birmingham from Sunday and John Healey's first Budget due later this month. The Holborn and St Pancras by-election, in Sir Keir Starmer's former seat, is held next week.
Terror charge over alleged plot against Farage
Joshua Kerry, 28, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts under section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006, Counter Terrorism Policing said. The charge relates to alleged activity between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026 and was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service. Kerry was already charged in July with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the Reform UK spokeswoman and former Conservative minister.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on X that the case "raises serious questions about the security of those in public life" and that she would update Parliament on strengthening protections once it returns. Richard Tice, the Reform MP, said the charge showed why Farage "needs money for security". Kerry is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Polanski promises rent brake as Greens split over Israel motion
Zack Polanski used his second leader's speech to call for a three-year "emergency brake" on private rents, limiting increases to CPI inflation, wage growth or 2%, whichever is lowest.
"No sudden hikes. No evictions under the guise of rent rises. No more uncertainty, no more fear," Polanski told delegates.
He also called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed. The conference has been overshadowed by a members' motion, expected to be debated on Sunday, defining Zionism as racism. Former leaders Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay and co-deputy leader Rachel Millward have said they will not vote for it, with Lucas telling The Times it was "divisive and not helpful". Polanski told PA the party was "absolutely united" on Gaza.
Diesel tops £2 as G7 opens reserves
The RAC said the average price of a litre of diesel reached 200.01p, an all-time high and the first time it has passed £2. Head of policy Simon Williams said filling an average family car now costs £110, "almost £32 more than it was at the start of the US/Iran war". In Northern Ireland the average hit 193.3p, Consumer Council data showed.
The UK joined a G7 agreement to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel over four months, with the diesel element front-loaded, after President Trump threatened to ban US diesel exports. A minister told broadcasters the UK's supply chain was "resilient" and "diverse".
Ap Iorwerth demands parity with Scotland
In his first conference speech as First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he had written to Andy Burnham seeking a "new deal" to "put Wales on an equal footing with Scotland as a bare minimum". The letter, sent on Thursday, argues the case for devolving policing and justice is "compelling and urgent", and the BBC reported the demands extend to welfare powers.
Ap Iorwerth said it remained his hope that the Prime Minister would listen "in a shared spirit that the respect agenda between the Welsh and UK governments must work both ways". No response from the UK government had been issued.
Lib Dem revolt over triple lock deepens
Sky News obtained an internal Liberal Democrat document, prepared for MPs in September, setting out arguments for and against the pensions triple lock. One MP told the broadcaster "the majority" of Lib Dems want the party to back the government's change; a senior MP accused Sir Ed Davey of "criticising for the sake of opposition".
Davey has said the plan "would put more pensioners into poverty" and dismissed Burnham's social care package as "a little bit of a vibe". Tom Gordon, the party's only Yorkshire MP, said the argument that the policy helps millennials was "at best for the birds".
Also in the last 24 hours
- Downing Street said Manchester City were not "above the rules" after Burnham said he would be "really concerned" to lose the club's Abu Dhabi owners; City lodged an appeal and the FA said it was "carefully considering" the findings.
- The government confirmed legislation changing the triple lock will pass in this parliament, though the guarantee remains until 2030.
- Talks on the Drumcree parade dispute broke up without agreement, with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant describing the position as between a "rock and a hard place". A legal appeal follows on Monday.
- Labour gained two seats from Reform UK in Northumberland in council by-elections; the Lib Dems gained Wick and East Caithness.
- Ministers announced a ban on airlines charging parents extra to sit with under-14s, a cost the government put at up to £104 per return journey.
- NHS England began offering flu vaccinations to homeless people for the first time.
- Kemi Badenoch claimed Labour is preparing for a general election as early as May 2027, which Burnham has ruled out.
- Reform MP Suella Braverman was accused of suggesting non-white people cannot be English during Thursday's Question Time.
The Conservative conference opens in Birmingham on Sunday, with Badenoch speaking in the afternoon session.
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