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The Iranian former commander who could be Trump’s pick to negotiate with | World News

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Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Pic: AP

A former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has emerged as a possible US contact for talks – as the new Supreme Leader’s condition remains uncertain.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is the speaker of the Iranian parliament, has historically portrayed himself as a hardliner, but one the West could do business with.

“He’s a hot option,” one US administration official told Politico. “He’s one of the highest…But we got to test them, and we can’t rush into it.”

However, others have cast doubt on this claim and it is unclear what influence Ghalibaf holds in Iran.

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Ghalibaf waves to residents as he visits the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in October 2024. Pic: AP

Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf?

Born in 1961 in northeast Iran, Mr Ghalibaf is the son of a shopkeeper. Like many young men of his generation, he joined the paramilitary Guard during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, quickly rising through the ranks.

A trained pilot, he later served as the head of the Guard’s air force and subsequently the head of Iran’s police.

In a leaked recording of a meeting between Mr Ghalibaf and members of the Guard’s volunteer Basij force, he claimed he ordered gunfire be used against demonstrators in 2003.

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‘We fight on behalf of all of you’: Iran tells Gulf countries

“I would like the West to change its attitude to Iran and trust Iran, and rest assured that there’s an attitude in Iran to advance issues through dialogue,” he told The Times in 2008.

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Between 2005 and 2017, he served as mayor of the capital, Tehran, during which time he faced corruption allegations, including over around $3.5m (£2.61m) being donated to a foundation run by his wife.

He ran in presidential elections in 2005, 2013, 2017 and 2024. In 2020 he became speaker of Iran’s parliament.

A Ghalibaf supporter gestures during his run for the presidency in 2024. Pic: AP
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A Ghalibaf supporter gestures during his run for the presidency in 2024. Pic: AP

Ghalibaf and the Supreme Leader

He has reportedly had close ties with Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently became Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of his father.

“Mojtaba is said to help Ghalibaf as an advisor, financier, and provider of senior-level political support. His support for and closeness to Ghalibaf reportedly remains undiminished,” US diplomats suggested in a 2008 cable published by WikiLeaks.

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It is possible that Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation to Supreme Leader could boost Mr Ghalibaf’s position within the Iranian power structure.


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Could Ghalibaf speak to the Americans?

That’s what Politico has reported, with US officials perhaps pinpointing him as a negotiating partner.

It’s possible US President Donald Trump will be looking for an Iranian version of Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who replaced ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, described reports in Western media as a “political bomb” meant to put the country’s leaders in disarray.

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“Qalibaf [Ghalibaf] was introduced as a negotiating party in order to present a contradictory and non-unified image of Iran,” Tasnim said.

“The mention of Qalibaf’s name was clearly intended to create internal divisions within Iran and to provoke conflict among political forces.”

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Mangled plane involved in LaGuardia crash is towed from runway

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Mangled plane involved in LaGuardia crash is towed from runway

NEW YORK (AP) — All but four of the passengers injured in Sunday’s deadly collision between an Air Canada plane and a fire truck have been released from the hospital, the airline said Wednesday, as crews began moving the mangled aircraft off the runaway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

The crash, which remains under investigation, killed two pilots. Roughly 40 people were treated at area hospitals for a range of injuries, some serious. Further details on the four people who remained hospitalized were not immediately available.

The plane, which originated in Montreal, was carrying 76 people, including the crew, when it slammed into the fire truck that had driven out onto the runway. Seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller had cleared the truck to cross the runway.

Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking access to one of two runways at one of the country’s busiest airports.

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Just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, airport workers began towing the remnants away. Two big tow trucks working in tandem also righted the badly damaged fire truck, which had been laying on its side since the crash.

The jet’s tail end was lifted onto a large dolly, which was then towed via long tethers by two vehicles driving side by side. Earlier in the day, much of the wreckage of the nose, which was obliterated in the collision, was cut away by work crews. As it was towed, the middle of the plane was supported by its own landing gear, which appeared to be intact.

In a statement, Air Canada said the plane would be taken to a hangar. The airline said it would soon begin the process of reuniting people with baggage and personal belongings.

After the collision, many onboard managed to escape the damaged aircraft, including a flight attendant who survived after being thrown onto the tarmac while still strapped in her seat.

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The two pilots have been identified as Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest. At least one passenger, Clément Lelièvre, credited their “incredible reflexes” in saving his life and those of others, noting they braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down.

The two Port Authority Police Department firefighters in the truck survived.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that there were 76 people aboard the plane, not 70.

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‘Suspenseful’ horror movie that makes fans nervous while watching now on Netflix

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Manchester Evening News

Fans call it a ‘near perfect’ entry in the hit film franchise

A ‘pulse-racing’ horror film that viewers confess leaves them on edge throughout its duration, is now available for streaming on Netflix.

As of today (March 25), subscribers can now tune into A Quiet Place: Day One. This film serves as a prequel to A Quiet Place and according to its synopsis, unfolds in New York City during an alien invasion.

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A woman, along with other survivors, attempts to find a path to safety. It quickly becomes apparent that absolute silence is their only hope for survival. The enigmatic creatures are blind but are attracted to the faintest noise.

While some fans categorise the original film as one of the most terrifying horror films ever, Day One aims to broaden the world’s lore and is hailed as a prequel and spin-off ‘done right.’

The film was penned and directed by Michael Sarnoski, who was brought on board due to his feature debut Pig, which starred Nicolas Cage. Now, Netflix enthusiasts can witness how the story commences for themselves with the first film also accessible on the service, reports the Mirror.

Sarnoski collaborated with the original film’s director and star John Krasinski on developing the narrative. Leading the cast is 12 Years A Slave and Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o.

She is accompanied by former Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn. Djimon Hounsou also appears, reprising a role he plays in A Quiet Place 2. Although the film did not achieve ratings as high as the two main film entries, it still secured an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One critic described it as “a heart pounding ride driven by heartfelt drama” and a “near perfect franchise prequel.” Meanwhile one reviewer went so far as to say: “Michael Sarnoski writes and directs the best film in the franchise so far, something that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who was floored by his debut feature.”

Another added: “Enjoyed it, kept me feeling nervous the entire time! Loved the dynamic of the two main characters.”

While some have suggested the film isn’t a conventional horror, in that it is occasionally more similar to an action disaster movie, others acknowledge they were still frightened.

One person posted: “Great movie, suspenseful and kept you guessing what would happen next. I know I jumped a few times! I would recommend seeing it!”

A Quiet Place: Day One is streaming on Netflix

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Baked side of salmon with roast lemon salsa verde recipe

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Baked side of salmon with roast lemon salsa verde recipe

Make the salsa verde by putting 10 anchovy fillets, 15 basil leaves, 15 mint leaves, the leaves from a small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, ¼ tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 chopped garlic clove and 1 tbsp capers (rinsed) in a food processor. Pulse-mix, adding the lemony olive oil as you do so (while holding back the lemon slices). Scrape into a bowl.

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Tell us whether you agree Cambridge is one of the best places to live

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Cambridgeshire Live

There are plenty of great places to live in Cambridgeshire aside from Cambridge, but The Sunday Times has named the city among the best places to live in Britain

Thanks to its great links to London, plenty of green spaces, and historic buildings, many people have been moving to Cambridge to enjoy a slightly calmer city lifestyle. Recently, the Sunday Times revealed its best places to live in Britain for 2026 with Cambridge making it onto the list.

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The judges visited a huge range of locations and assessed them on different factors, from access to schools and transport to broadband speeds and amenities. They also looked at access to high-quality green spaces and the performance of the high street.

The Sunday Times said: “Cambridge has top-class schools and is also the UK’s cycling capital, with about a third of trips in the town made by bike. The city has strong cultural foundations, a lively coffee scene and an excellent selection of interesting places to eat and drink.”

However, Cambridgeshire has plenty of other places that people flock to in order to escape city life. There are many small towns and villages with great pubs and beautiful walks that you might think are better to live in than Cambridge.

If you do not agree with Cambridge being named one of the best places to live and think somewhere else in Cambridgeshire deserves that title, you can nominate them using our survey below. If the survey does not appear for you, you can open it in a new tab here.

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Emmerdale’s Paddy and Marlon take final explosive revenge on Celia | Soaps

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Emmerdale's Paddy and Marlon take final explosive revenge on Celia | Soaps
The lads have a plan (Picture: ITV)

The two families who have been impacted the most by Celia Daniels’ (Jaye Griffiths) reign over the Emmerdale village are Marlon Dingle’s (Mark Charnock) and Paddy Kirk’s (Dominic Brunt).

Marlon’s daughter April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) was manipulated into selling drugs for Celia and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) for the majority of 2025.

She believed she had a debt to clear, and therefore was forced to accept jobs from Celia and Ray which included dealing, but also sex work.

April eventually confessed everything to Marlon and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry). They tried their best to protect their children from the evil duo, but they went into the situation completely unaware of the lengths Celia and Ray would go to in order to ensure their operation didn’t fall apart.

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A couple of doors down, Paddy was busy trying to find his dad Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards).

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Amid this, and the fact that he was totally unaware of what his best mate was going through, Paddy had no idea Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) was working for Ray and Celia as well.

The fact Bear had fallen victim to Ray and Celia’s horror wasn’t revealed to Paddy until the start of 2026. Dylan explained everything to him, ultimately leading to the moment Bear returned from the farm and killed Ray.

Both Paddy and Marlon have worked incredibly hard to keep their loved ones safe and now, with Celia and Ray both dead, the spotlight is on them as the two pals attempt to process what they’ve been through.

Marlon Dingle looking distressed as Paddy Kirk attempts to comfort him in Emmerdale.
Marlon and Paddy have been so focused on protecting their family members, they haven’t really checked in with themselves (Picture: ITV)

At the start of the week, focus is on Paddy, who is dealing with the fact there’s a very real chance he’s going to go to prison for perverting the course of justice.

After a difficult situation at the vets, Paddy returns to his place of work and finds the bolt gun. He cannot help but recall the last time he was previously in an incredibly low place, which saw him take the bolt gun with the intention of ending his life.

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Fortunately, Paddy suffers panic and runs out. He heads to Smithy Cottage and frantically bangs on the front door. When Marlon answers, he quickly pulls Paddy in for a hug.

‘Marlon knows the body language is terrible’, star Mark Charnock said.

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‘He looks like a ghost of the person Marlon’s seen earlier, so he knows immediately that something is deeply amiss.’

Marlon sits with Paddy at Smithy Cottage in Emmerdale
Paddy fears he’s going to prison after perverting the course of justice (Picture: ITV)

As Paddy spirals about the upcoming court case, Marlon tries to help his friend and suddenly, he has an idea.

The duo head up the road and arrive outside Celia’s farmhouse with sledgehammers. Marlon and Paddy’s aim is to smash the place to bits, while unleashing their inner demons.

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Although this is done primarily so Paddy can feel better, Mark has revealed that his character begins to bring all of his trauma to the surface as well.

‘There’s a moment in it when Marlon goes to another place’, he said.

‘Everything that he’s been through with April, all the trauma, everything that he’s he felt unable to do during April’s suffering and his family’s suffering, everything that he felt that he should have done at the time and didn’t, comes out in in this smashing up their kitchen table, which he sees as the sort of hub of their lives, where they would have had conversations about whose lives they were going to ruin next.

‘And he just loses control completely, and Paddy has to talk him down.’

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Wildwood Trust euthanises all wolves after pack injuries cause welfare crisis

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Daily Record

Wildlife charity Wildwood Trust in Kent said it was “deeply saddened” at the decision to euthanise all five wolves after three were seriously injured, causing the pack’s dynamics to break down.

A wildlife charity has revealed it had “with no choice” but to euthanise its pack of wolves.

The Wildwood Trust in Kent said staff were “deeply saddened at the difficult decision” they were compelled to take after three of the five wolves sustained serious injuries. The charity explained the injuries led to a breakdown in the pack’s dynamics, creating growing concerns for the animals’ safety and quality of life, reports the Mirror.

Paul Whitfield, Director General of the Wildwood Trust, described it as an incredibly challenging period for everyone at the organisation. “Our keepers care hugely about these animals and did everything they could to find a way forward,” he said.

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“Wolves are highly social animals that live within complex family structures, and when those dynamics break down, conflict and rejection can increase. In this case, it led to ongoing welfare concerns and an unacceptable risk of serious injury.

“Euthanasia is never taken lightly, but in responsible animal care it can sometimes be the most humane option when welfare can no longer be maintained.”

“This decision was an absolute last resort, with the animals’ welfare as our priority. It’s incredibly difficult, but it was ultimately the right thing to do to prevent further suffering.”

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The Wildwood Trust, which runs a woodland discovery park in Herne, near Canterbury, enlisted experienced keepers and veterinary professionals in an attempt to stabilise the group, but it became apparent they could no longer coexist. Experienced keepers and veterinary professionals monitored the situation and made regular assessments of the wolves – but they found that the animals’ quality of life significantly deteriorated and could not be improved to an acceptable level.

The heartbreaking decision was taken to put the wolves to sleep, an action deemed to be in their best interests. A spokesperson added: “The Trust would like to thank visitors and supporters for their understanding at what is a very difficult time.”

Wildwood Trust woodland discovery park is home to numerous species of native and historically native British animals. Spanning 40 acres of woodland in Kent, the animals are housed in spacious, natural enclosures.

The collection includes bears, wolves, bison, elk, badgers, arctic foxes, wild boar, deer, lynx, wildcat, owls, storks, and snakes, according to the Wildwood Trust website.

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The British designer worn by everyone from Madonna and Taylor Swift to Charli xcx

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The British designer worn by everyone from Madonna and Taylor Swift to Charli xcx

At this point, it would probably be quicker to list the celebrities who haven’t worn the designer’s distinctive, vintage-inspired coats and jackets than the seemingly endless names who have. Taylor Swift, Charli xcx, Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa, Sienna Miller, Emily Ratajkowski, Selena Gomez — many of the most famous, and famously stylish, women in the world have fallen under the nostalgic yet utterly modern spell cast by Charlotte Simone Beecham and her eponymous brand.

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Haxby Bakehouse named as one of Best Bakeries in Britain

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Haxby Bakehouse named as one of Best Bakeries in Britain

Haxby Bakehouse and Delicatessen, in Haxby and Clifton Moor, has been recognised for the second year in a row by the independent guide, which named it in the 50 Best Bakeries in Britain this month.

The guide is a go-to for trusted recommendations and celebrates independent bakeries that rival the country’s best restaurants.

It seeks to rank the nation’s best venues using public feedback and anonymous expert inspectors stationed across the UK.

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The bakery described the recognition as a “huge honour”.

Owner Phil Clayton said: “There are so many great bakeries in the Good Food Guide’s 50 that inspire me.

“It’s a huge honour to be listed with them and also great to see so many listed from the north and Scotland – places that sometimes get overlooked.”

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The business, owned by Phil and his wife Tina, has been serving customers since 2008.

Phil is behind the baking, which the bakery’s website insists is done the traditional way, using slow fermentation and no artificial flour improvers, preservatives or emulsifiers to make its award-winning artisan bread, sourdoughs and pastries.

In 2025, the Good Food Guide said of him: “Phil Clayton, a largely self-taught baker, credits his flavoursome loaves with the flour grown and milled in small batches by Yorkshire Organic Millers – you can taste the splendid results by purchasing his crusty sourdough classics and slow-fermented yeast breads.

“The Haxby shop, where it all began, has a counter stacked with pastries, tarts, cooked meats and store-cupboard ingredients as well as the venerated ‘pain au levain’.”

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Originally aiming to sell the bread at a local farmers’ market, Phil and Tina struck gold after finding a site in Ryedale Court, Haxby – a former health food shop equipped with working ovens.

In the 18 years that followed, the bakery has gone from strength to strength, expanding in 2020 to its unit in Clifton Moor – which allows Phil more space for baking to meet rising demand.

The time, effort and expertise used to make each individual loaf has also been noticed by the likes of Michelin-star chef Tommy Banks, The Guardian and The Press, which named the company a finalist in the 2025 Best Bakery in York awards.

Phil said: “We’re very lucky to have such great teams at the bakery unit in Clifton Moor and at the deli in Haxby.”

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“It’s always nice when it’s not something we had to enter – just that what we do has been appreciated.”

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Newscast – The US-Iran Briefing Wars

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Newscast - Epstein Files: New Mandelson and Andrew Allegations

Available for over a year

Today, Iran has rejected the US peace plan as “excessive”.

The US plan, which has not been made public, reportedly includes Iran dismantling its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. In response Iran has released its own conditions for ending the war through state television. Adam is joined by Chief North America Correspondent Gary O’Donoghue.

And the Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC’s new director general. The ex-president of Google’s Europe, Middle East and Africa operations will replace Tim Davie, who said he was resigning in November following a storm over how Panorama edited a speech by US President Donald Trump. Adam is joined by Katie Razzall, BBC Culture Editor.

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You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

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Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Shiler Mahmoudi The social producers were Jem Westgate, Beth Pritchard and Sophie Millward. The technical producer was James Piper. The assistant editor was Jack Maclaren. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Farage pledges ‘total culture shift’ as he launches Reform UK local election campaign

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Farage pledges ‘total culture shift’ as he launches Reform UK local election campaign

Nigel Farage is set to officially launch Reform UK’s local election campaign, promising “a breath of fresh air in English councils up and down the UK”.

The party leader will formally kick off the campaign for the May 7 polls at an event in Sunderland on Thursday following a series of rallies across the country in recent weeks.

He is expected to highlight achievements in local authorities already under Reform’s control, asserting that voters are “already seeing a difference on the ground”.

Ahead of the rally, Mr Farage said Reform was “delivering a total culture shift in local government, sweeping away the establishment consensus and finally putting residents first”.

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He added: “Where the old parties have failed and left behind a trail of ruined councils in their wake, Reform will deliver a breath of fresh air in English councils up and down the UK.”

Central to his pitch will be Reform’s claim to have identified £700 million in savings across its 12 councils, which Mr Farage claimed had been delivered “without touching frontline services”.

In November last year, Reform said its councils had saved £331 million.

Reform claim to have identified £700 million in savings across its 12 councils
Reform claim to have identified £700 million in savings across its 12 councils (House of Commons)

Reform continues to lead in the polls and is expected to do well in May, adding to the 677 councillors it won in last year’s local elections.

But its claims to have achieved significant savings have been disputed by opposition councillors, while Labour has pointed to care homes and adult education services closing in Reform-run Derbyshire.

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Labour has also criticised Reform for increasing council tax despite promising to cut the levy before last year’s local elections.

Reform now says council tax rises in authorities where it has majority control have averaged less than those run by Labour, the Conservatives or the Lib Dems, while describing below-inflation increases in some councils as a “real-terms tax cut”.

But this does not include Worcestershire, where Reform runs a minority administration and increased council tax this year by 9 per cent.

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: “Reform’s promises fall apart the moment they take power.

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“They said they would cut taxes and waste, but in council after council they’re hiking council tax and slashing services.”

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