By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR and JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 10:25 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 10:36 BST, 7 September 2026

John Healey today tried to calm business fears that massive tax rises are coming in the Budget with a vow to get tough on Government spending.

The Chancellor used a speech to pitch a private-sector-friendly version of Labour ahead of October’s financial showpiece after days of turmoil ratcheted up the cost of borrowing.

In an address that had echoes of his predecessor Rachel Reeves he said the Budget would show his commitment to ‘fiscal discipline’ and highlighted the importance of getting UK debt under control.

He told an audience in Coventry he would dedicate himself to making ‘Great Britain growth Britain again’ with more investment, more innovation and more jobs. 

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The Chancellor insisted there was an ‘optimistic story’ about the UK economy which had ‘huge latent potential’.

It was, he said, ‘a country turning a corner, a country whose people, businesses and communities are ready to seize the opportunity of new technologies and new ideas’.

However, his speech came against a backdrop of fears of wealth taxes that will target businesses and homeowners, major job losses and an inability to rein-in the benefits bill.

And his vow to be a steady hand on the tiller came after new PM Andy Burnham vowed a major shake-up of how the country is run.

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The Chancellor used a speech to pitch a private-sector-friendly version of Labour ahead of October’s financial showpiece after days of turmoil ratcheted up the cost of borrowing

In an address that had echoes of his predecessor Rachel Reeves he said the Budget would show his commitment to ‘fiscal discipline’ and highlighted the importance of getting UK debt under control.

Jaguar Land Rover is expected to tell workers today it wants to cut 4,000 jobs as part of a voluntary redundancy programme to help save £1.7billion over the next two years.

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At the same time he has been told to break the pensions ‘triple lock’ to take billions of pounds from retired workers and plough it into helping cut youth unemployment.

Writing in the Daily Mail today, shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith acknowledged Mr Healey faced ‘tough choices’ but urged him to rule out further increases in Britain’s record tax burden.

He warned that the new Chancellor otherwise risks emulating his Labour namesake Denis Healey, who was forced to go cap-in-hand to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout in 1976.

Mr Griffith said: ‘He should commit to no more tax rises. But I fear that, as Labour chancellors always do, he will take the easy way out. 

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‘He must be careful or he could risk being the second Healey to bankrupt Britain as Chancellor.’

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The new Chancellor was warned that he risks emulating his Labour namesake Denis Healey (pictured) who was forced to ask the International Monetary Fund for a bailout in 1976

In his speech ahead of the first Budget since Andy Burnham entered 10 Downing Street, Mr Healey said: ‘The Prime Minister and I are in lockstep in our commitment to meeting the fiscal rules at the upcoming Budget, to balancing the books with a buffer to protect against uncertainty.

‘To controlling borrowing to bear down on inflation and reducing long-term pressures on our public finances.’

He said the rising burden of debt interest showed ‘staying true to our values means being honest about the need to control government spending’.

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Giving an overview of his plans for the economy, Mr Healey said the Government would extend its reforms of judicial review from energy projects to all major infrastructure programmes.

He said the reforms would mean ‘vexatious litigation and challenge can’t block economic growth’.

The Chancellor also reiterated the Government’s commitment to transferring power out of Whitehall, saying he would set out a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’ at next month’s Budget.

Ahead of that, he said the British Business Bank would be providing £150 million for fast-growing firms in the North of England and announced the creation of a ‘Northern 500’ group of ‘the North’s most ambitious mid-sized businesses’, to be led by regional mayors.

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A major route in Cardiff is currently closed off due to a “police incident”.

A section of Eastern Avenue north of the city centre is closed in both directions.

Police have not confirmed the nature of the incident, or whether it relates to a road collision.

Traffic monitoring service Inrix states: “A48 Eastern Avenue in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to police incident between the A4232 (Pontprennau) and Bryn Celyn Road (Pentwyn).Diversion – via Pentwyn Road and Church Road.”

You can follow live updates below.

A transcript of the 999 call shows how the nurse disagreed with the emergency operator’s advice

A nurse has been suspended after deciding a care home resident was dead following a 32-second assessment and refusing to perform CPR when told to do so by a 999 operator.

Melissa Papandrea was working at Poplars Care Centre in Maidstone when the resident stopped breathing on November 7, 2022. A tribunal heard she concluded the man had already died before rejecting instructions from an emergency call handler to begin life-saving resuscitation efforts.

Ms Papandrea told the ambulance service, “I’m a qualified nurse and I can tell you by looking at the resident that he has passed”, during the call, adding, “His heart has stopped”, according to The Mirror.

Despite being told by the operator to begin CPR while the man “was still warm”, and as he did not have a ‘do-not-resuscitate order in place’, the nurse refused, saying “there’s no point”, a transcript revealed.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) were given access to the conversation, which showed the nurse and emergency operator disagreeing over whether the resident should be resuscitated, wasting time as he lay dying.

“If he’s still warm, you need to start CPR”, the operator said, to which Ms Papandrea replied: “No, I’m sorry, that isn’t possible because he is deceased. I’ve had this argument before with the emergency services. There is no cardiac output. I’m not commencing CPR.”

The man was then pronounced dead, with a subsequent inquest concluding that the resident had died from bowel ischaemia, caused when the blood supply to the intestines is restricted or cut off. However, the NMC tribunal has since ruled that Ms Papandrea did not carry out an acceptable clinical assessment before deciding there were irreversible signs of death.

“The requirement to undertake a proper clinical assessment as to whether [the resident] had signs of irreversible death was a fundamental tenet of the nursing profession”, said The Fitness to Practise Committee, chaired by Derek Artis.

“Fellow professionals would consider a failure to follow guidelines in such circumstances to be appalling.”

Ms Papandrea’s decision had seemingly been based on her own subjective assessment, the panel was concerned to hear. The proceedings’ report added: “The panel was particularly concerned that Ms Papandrea’s decision that [the resident] had irreversible signs of death was based on her subjective opinion. She could not have known whether or not there might have been a different outcome had CPR been commenced.”

The report also described how, when a first responder reached the care home, Ms Papandrea was asked to assist with resuscitation but witnesses said her chest compressions were not deep enough. Eyewitnesses claimed the nurse had said she “did not want to break his ribs,” before the responder took over.

Ms Papandrea has since acknowledged that her handling of the incident was “a serious error in clinical judgement” in a written submission to the panel.

She said: “I formed a subjective belief that they were deceased and that resuscitation would not be successful. I recognise now that this was an assumption rather than a clinical conclusion that I was appropriately qualified or authorised to make.”

Ms Papandrea was suspended for 12 months, with the sanction due to be reviewed. A separate 18-month interim suspension was also imposed to cover any appeal period. The Maidstone care home was rated ‘Good’ at its latest Care Quality Commission inspection in August 2024.

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There are significant delays on the M60 this morning (September 7) after an incident near Stockport. All traffic has been held on the motorway.

Congestion is building from Stockport Pyramid at junction one. The delays are affecting the M56 as it joins the Greater Manchester ringroad.

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Motorists are advised to avoid the area and make alternative travel arrangements where possible.

Long delays stretch to junction five of the M60 on the anticlockwise carriageway. The closure is understood to be caused by a broken down vehicle.

This is an ongoing incident. Follow the live blog below for updates.

Jak Jones landed the first ranking title of his career in July and added the second at the British Open on Sunday, but an eventful season for him is only just getting started.

The 33-year-old has been plugging away since first turning professional in 2010, with the notable high point of reaching the World Championship final in 2024, but without lifting any silverware.

Now that has changed dramatically as he won the Championship League at the start of the season and has followed that up with a brilliant British Open triumph.

The Welshman downed Mark Selby 10-6 in a fascinating final on Sunday, having beaten Judd Trump in the semi-finals on a tough run through the random draw.

Jones also beat Chang Bingyu in the last 32, meaning he ousted the three other players to win titles so far this season in Selby (China Open), Trump (Shanghai Masters) and Chang (Wuhan Open).

‘It’s been difficult for the last 15 years,’ Jones told Channel 5. ‘I’ve been battling away, especially for my parents and my wife and son.

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‘It’s unbelievable because I haven’t really achieved a lot in the game, but this season, to start winning things just feels amazing.

‘It’s all worth it, I suppose. It’s nice for my parents to finally have something to cheer about!’

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He added: ‘It’s nice to do it and beat the best players in the world as well.’

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The Jones family will have more to cheer in the coming days as he and his wife are expecting their second child in the coming days.

After his first win in Cheltenham on Tuesday, Jones told Metro of the due date: ‘In the next 10 days or so. So not, ideal preparation, no. My mind’s on other things I suppose at the moment, more important things.

‘But I’ll keep turning up and then hopefully when the little one’s here we can relax.’

It hasn’t held him back though, despite commuting from Cwmbran for every match, which did leave him shattered by the final.

‘I didn’t stay in a hotel at all. I was travelling back and forth. That wasn’t ideal, really,’ he said.

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‘Because I was playing in the evening, I was getting home at 1am every morning. But I was kind of getting away with it because I was playing in the evening all the time, until today, where it was a bit of a struggle.

‘I felt unbelievably tired. So, I wouldn’t say I played with freedom, but I had other things on my mind, I suppose.’

The World Snooker Tour rolls on from Cheltenham to Brentwood for the English Open where Jones was scheduled to play Chang Bingyu again on Monday.

Unsurprisingly, he has opted out, saying: ‘No, my wife would kill me, I think.’

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Jones paid particular tribute to his parents after landing the £100,000 top prize, thanking them for everything they have done and still do to help his career and family life.

‘Unbelievable,’ he said of mum and dad Debbie and Colin. ‘They’ve gone through all the struggles with me.

‘They’ve supported me from the beginning, taken me everywhere, no matter where it is. My mum still takes me to all the airports now for all the tournaments. She wanted to bring me up here today, but I told her to stay at home just in case my wife needed her.

‘They’ve been unbelievable. Right from first picking a cue up. Taking me all around the UK, Europe, the world. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them, that’s for sure.’

Jones will likely be back in action on September 17 when he takes on Liam Pullen in an International Championship qualifier in Leicester.

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MORE: Liam Highfield lifts lid on resurgence from losing tour card to first semi-final

MORE: Mark Selby offers Jack Lisowski advice after crushing British Open defeat

MORE: Judd Trump says only Ronnie O’Sullivan can match Zhao Xintong in one department

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Theo Rae’s funeral will take place at Teesside Crematorium this afternoon (Monday, September 7), with Cleveland Police warning of traffic disruption.

Superintendent John Wrintmore said: “Potential traffic disruption is expected again this afternoon, Monday, September 7, from around 1pm until around 4pm, due to a funeral taking place in the area.

Theo Rae (left), 17 and Cole Robert Worthy (right), 17

“The funeral cortege will travel around Middlesbrough before moving onto St Bede’s Chapel on Acklam Road.

“The roads likely to be affected are Ladgate Lane, Ormesby Road, Cargo Fleet Lane and Acklam Road.

“We are aware of some school closures in the area and have liaised with partners in the local authorities regarding the expected disruption today. Again, these closures have not been made on the recommendation of Cleveland Police.

“We are working closely with highways departments from the local authorities, who are leading on the traffic management for this event, in order to minimise disruption.

From left to right: Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Michael Robert Cahill, 23

“There will be a proportionate visible police presence in the affected areas to ensure public safety, in line with our plans for any significant gathering.

“Should anyone have any concerns, please speak with officers in the area.”

Several local schools have announced they will close early today.

Acklam Whin Primary School and Green Lane School will close at 1.15pm after pupils have their usual lunch.

Acklam Grange and Outwood Academy, Acklam, will close at 12.15pm, while Newham Bridge Primary School will finish at 1pm.

Acklam Grange will provide more information about possible closures on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38

The closures come days after several schools shut early for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, another victim of the A66 crash.

Theo Rae was among five men killed when their Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked Cleveland Police vehicle near South Bank on August 22.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the crash.

The Passat was travelling on the wrong side of the road when it hit the police vehicle.

Schools’ decision to close early for Jakub’s funeral sparked concern, with politicians questioning the disruption to children’s education.

A police car blocking off the A66 in the aftermath of the fatal crash

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said there were “huge anxieties and worries in the community” and called the situation “very difficult and delicate”.

She said she wanted schools to stay open but trusted headteachers to protect their pupils’ safety.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “As Education Secretary, I want schools to be open. I want pupils attending schools all the time.

“And these headteachers of these small number of schools have taken a very difficult decision with the local authority and the police for the safety of their school community to close early.

“What I would say is that there are huge anxieties and worries in the communities.”

Cleveland Police said Jakub’s funeral last Friday passed without incident and caused minimal traffic disruption.

Theo Rae’s funeral will take place at 2pm on Monday, September 7, at St Bede’s Chapel, Teesside Crematorium, on Acklam Road in Middlesbrough.

Makai Saddington’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, September 8, followed by Cole Worthy’s at the same crematorium on Wednesday, September 9.

The two officers’ funerals will also take place this week.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she had contacted local MPs and Home Office ministers to arrange surge policing and extra resources to ease tensions and improve safety.

This Morning presenter Cat Deeley branded a particular moment from her early career as “awful” as she returns to the popular ITV show alongside Ben Shephard following the summer break

Cat Deeley has reflected on an early stage of her career as she returns to This Morning today, September 7. Many may remember the presenter as a familiar face, alongside Ant and Dec, on SMTV Live, which ran from 1998 to 2003.

The programme featured a mix of sketches, competitions and challenges, alongside a line-up of children’s programmes and cartoons.

One of its most popular regular sketches was Chums, the trio’s spoof of the sitcom Friends. Reflecting on that period of her career, Cat believes they were “awful” and claimed the “ratings were so bad”.

She told The Times: “We should have probably been pulled off air. Our ratings were so bad.” According to the publication, however, the show attracted 2.5 million viewers at its peak, overtaking the established Saturday-morning programme Live & Kicking in 1999.

“We were awful,” she added. “But it’s only by being awful when you start off that you learn.”

Cat, Ant and Dec appeared in a reunion show for SMTV Live back in 2020, when the trio returned to the original studio where the programme was filmed and producers rebuilt the old set.

Previously discussing the reunion on Chris Moyles‘ Radio X show, she admitted there were tears all round.

“We all cried,” she shared. “I walked in and they were doing their interview and Dec was crying and I was like, ‘Ok you’re crying!’ and then at the end of my interview I was like [sobbing noise].”

The trio have reunited several times over the years, including when Ant and Dec pranked Cat for a segment on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

In 2006, Cat moved to America, relocating to Los Angeles after landing the hosting role on the US version of So You Think You Can Dance.

She went on to spend around 15 years living in LA before returning to the UK in 2020. Four years later, she landed the role as one of This Morning’s presenters alongside Ben Shephard.

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Reports at the time claimed viewing figures had plummeted since the pair took over. However, an ITV spokesperson said the show still reached around four million viewers a week across all platforms, including catch-up viewing.

This year, the channel also said that videos shared on This Morning’s Instagram account in 2026 had collected 399 million views so far.

“Everyone can see that the volume of people watching terrestrial telly is shrinking,” Ben told the aforementioned publication. “But the show has a life way beyond when we’re actually on air.”

“I’ve got mates in LA that see it all the time,” Cat added.

The pair said feedback from viewers is what they value most, with the show’s 2025 National Television Award win offering a major vote of confidence.

The victory came after the programme missed out on the gong for two years in a row, bringing its 13-year winning streak to an end.

The win “was a stamp of approval that we were doing OK”, Cat admitted.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV and ITVX

By CIARAN FOREMAN, HEALTH REPORTER

Published: 08:52 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 09:41 BST, 7 September 2026