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The Telegraph
The Telegraph
National
Chris Price

Friday evening UK news briefing: RMT suspends rail strikes

Evening Briefing logo
Evening Briefing logo

Good evening. There is relief for commuters - and the Government - after a breakthrough that will spark talks with rail unions but a minister's comments about the migrant crisis have sparked a backlash.

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Train walkout off | Rail strikes set to take place from tomorrow have been suspended after unions said they had agreed to enter "intensive negotiations" with train companies. The RMT said it was suspending strikes, which had been due to take place on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. Our business live blog details what it means for you.

Minister's migrant remarks 'shocking', say Lib Dems

A minister is facing a backlash after he said asylum seekers who came to the UK illegally have got a "bit of a cheek" to complain about their living conditions. 

Chris Philp, the minister for policing, said the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats is "overwhelming" and the immigration system is struggling to cope. 

He said: "Obviously the Home Office is doing its best to try and accommodate them but if people choose to enter a country illegally and unnecessarily it is a bit of a cheek to then start complaining about the conditions when you have illegally entered a country without necessity." 

The Liberal Democrats said Mr Philp's remarks had revealed "shocking and callous complacency over the disaster unfolding" at the Government's overcrowded asylum processing centre in Manston in Kent. 

It comes as a BBC reporter in the county acknowledged that his "choice of language was poor" after saying on-air that the UK was "defending itself against migrants".

The influx of migrants has meant schools have run out of places for local children in entire year groups, according to councils and MPs. 

Families in Kent have been told there are no school places for 11 and 13-year-olds in Canterbury and Ashford because of "unexpected" and "unplanned" arrival of migrant children in the two areas. 

Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet, in Kent, who sits on the board of the European Research Group of Conservative MPs in Parliament, has warned that a Nigel Farage-style party could pick up votes from frustrated Tory voters.

Landlords face £8,400 capital gains tax squeeze

Meanwhile, landlords will lose thousands of pounds in sale profits under proposals which would be a fresh tax blow to property investors. 

Thousands of landlords have cashed out and left the buy-to-let market this year ahead of costly energy efficiency rules, tighter eviction rules and years of punitive tax changes. 

The Government is now poised to take a bigger slice of their profits, as revealed by the Telegraph today. 

Read analysis on the additional tax they could pay

It is little wonder some industry veterans are shutting up shop, with one saying: "I'm absolutely done with being a landlord." 

It comes as high street banks have cut mortgage rates amid claims by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey that homeowners are being overcharged by lenders. 

His predecessor Mark Carney has blamed Brexit for Britain's rising interest rates.

Moment Liz Truss realised her time as PM was over

This economic flux comes in the wake of the mini-Budget that led to the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister. 

Now Sir Graham Brady, who usually keeps his cards close to his chest when it comes to his private meetings, has given a fascinating insight into the moment Ms Truss realised it was all over for her. 

Watch him relay what was said in their conversation

The chairman of the 1922 Committee also confirmed Boris Johnson did have enough support to challenge Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership election before he pulled out.

Comment and analysis

Around the world: Trump supporters boo Paul Pelosi

Far-Right conspiracy theorist and congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene got Donald Trump supporters to boo Paul Pelosi, the victim of a hammer attack last week, at an Iowa rally held by the former US president. The Georgia member, who is running for re-election, also slammed US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband for not having a gun to shoot the suspect that attacked him after breaking into the couple's San Francisco home. Follow live coverage of the midterm elections here. It comes as a new documentary has offered unparalleled insight into Mr Trump and his inner circle, including the former president’s unfiltered thoughts on everything from cancel culture, to "fake Republicans" and Nato. Here are five things we learned from My Dinner with Trump.

Friday interview

Why hard-partying Richard Branson may be ready for a quiet life

Sir Richard Branson - Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times
Sir Richard Branson - Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times

Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson tasks to Oliver Gill about government bureaucracy and clashing with Heathrow

Read the interview

Sport briefing: Surprise England debut for Coles

Owen Farrell will captain England against Argentina at Twickenham on Sunday as Eddie Jones hands a surprise debut to Northampton lock Alex Coles. The 23-year-old will start in the second row alongside Sale's Jonny Hill, with Maro Itoje moving to blindside to fill the void left by Courtney Lawes, who is still suffering from concussion symptoms. Charlie Morgan analyses how this is an England team packed with potential and power – now they need to find an identity. In football, ahead of Sunday’s London derby, read why Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still has a score to settle with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Editor's choice

  1. Mining the beauty of UK honeypots | Airbnb has ruined my village
  2. The Midults | 'My husband no longer shows any desire for me – I don't know what I've done'
  3. Book backlash | 'It took a long time to realise I felt manipulated and used by Diana'

Business briefing: Sunak says Sizewell C will go ahead

Rishi Sunak hopes to advance the Sizewell C nuclear power station "as soon as possible", playing down fears that the Suffolk project previously championed by Boris Johnson could be scrapped. The Prime Minister's spokesman said the £20bn Sizewell C project "remains crucial to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, increasing our energy security and meeting our Net Zero ambitions". The comments came amid mounting speculation it could be scrapped as part of cost cutting measures being considered. Mr Sunak is expected to shelve plans to privatise Channel 4 amid a backlash against the move from within his own Cabinet.

Tonight starts now

Movie night | A hat-trick of top-quality films hit cinemas today. Let us start with The Wonder, where Don't Worry Darling star Florence Pugh is rivetingly brilliant as a nurse obsessed with uncovering the truth in an eerie period mystery about miracles and faith. Meanwhile, Bill Nighy is brilliant in Living, a graceful, affecting remake of the 1952 Japanese drama Ikiru about a man given months to live. We gave those two films five-stars and just one star shy is Causeway, despite a shatteringly good performance from Jennifer Lawrence in her least glamorous role in years as a psychologically scarred veteran. Be warned about Enola Holmes 2, a lacklustre sequel to the hit Sherlock Holmes YA spin off on Netflix now.

Three things for you

And finally... for this evening's downtime

'You're a mentalist!' | In Alan Partridge's finest half-hour, he offended the Irish, sold a few tie-and-blazer badge combinations and made a new friend. But what inspired it? Tom Fordy looks back at what happened when Alan Partridge met his number one fan.

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here . For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

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