Chancellor John Healey's Autumn Budget has been branded a "masterclass in doing nothing" by the Daily Express, with critics accusing him of avoiding major decisions to pave the way for an early election.
The Budget, described as "almost an hour" of wasted time by Express Editor Geoff Maynard, offered only a £100 energy bill giveaway while failing to address frozen tax thresholds, which means taxpayers are paying more to the government each month. No attempt was made to cut the welfare bill or formally commit to increased defence spending.
Reaction from Opposition and Experts
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch questioned the Budget's substance, asking: "Is that it?" Chief political commentator David Williamson wrote that Healey's "doom-and-gloom" Budget gives a "massive clue" about a snap election.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss appeared as a special guest on the Daily Expresso show with JJ Anisiobi, delivering her verdict on the Chancellor's statement.
Police Probe Epstein-Balmoral Links
In a separate development, Express Scotland editor Ben Borland revealed that police are investigating claims that women were trafficked to Balmoral on Jeffrey Epstein's plane. Police Scotland confirmed it had "received information and active enquiries are ongoing," adding that "these are at a very early stage."
The force had earlier appealed for information after it emerged that the former Duke of York and Ghislaine Maxwell had flown into Edinburgh airport on Epstein's private jet in September 2006.
Pension Triple Lock Protest
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been warned that abolishing the pension triple lock is "not a done deal" as pensioners vowed to fight the changes. The Daily Express organised a protest outside Parliament with over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, where around two dozen pensioners held placards saying "don't scrap our triple lock, Andy" and "save our triple lock."
More than 317,000 people have signed an online petition demanding Labour guarantee the measure. Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: "The message we're trying to get across to Andy Burnham and the government today is it's not a done deal that scrapping the triple lock is not a done deal. Just because he announced it at the Labour Party conference doesn't mean it's actually implemented."
Under Burnham's proposals, the state pension would rise each year by inflation or by 2.5%, with the automatic link to earnings increases dropped. Reed called earnings the "most vital part" of the triple lock formula.
Other Key Stories
King Charles acknowledged "the great suffering" caused by Britain's historic role in the transatlantic slave trade during a speech in the Bahamas. Express royal editor Emily Ferguson is covering the nine-day Caribbean tour.
An Express investigation by Zak Garner-Purkis found that delivery giants such as Deliveroo may face prosecution calls over dangerous modified e-bikes used to fulfil orders. Critics warned the widespread use of souped-up electric bikes is a risk.
MND sufferer Sean Davies, 56, is fighting for NHS access to the drug tofersen, which he believes has helped him hold on to his mobility. The Express has also received two nominations in the British Journalism Awards for environment editor Steph Spyro and reporter Robert Fisk's Cancer Care campaign.
Palliative care leaders urged the Government to fund transformation of end-of-life services, with Marie Curie, Sue Ryder and Hospice UK calling for a £200 million per year fund. Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie is pushing for the UK to make the most of the North Sea's oil and gas reserves.
Next week, political debate will turn towards Burnham's attendance at the EU-UK summit in Brussels on November 20, and the Express will cover adventurer Karl Bushby's arrival in Hull following his 28-year walk from Chile.
