NewsPage 2

Great British PAC

Ofcom left trust figures out of its main report

Ofcom's 2026 news consumption survey asked viewers what they thought of the news they already watch. GB News viewers gave their channel 74 per cent on trust. BBC viewers gave the BBC 66 per cent. On impartiality, 63 per cent to 53. None of it appeared in the report published on 15 September. It surfaced afterwards, once GB News asked for it. Ofcom calls the delay an administrative error. The figures land while ministers consult on making "trusted" news providers more prominent on social media, and as new Ofcom crisis measures for online platforms take effect this autumn. Great British PAC chief executive Claire Bullivant says the figures are "deeply embarrassing for both Ofcom and the BBC".

Vicky Richter · 23 September 2026

Policy

Burnham Tasks Security Chiefs With New Disinformation Centre

Britain already runs a long list of bodies watching misinformation, hostile influence and information threats. Andy Burnham has just announced another one, tasked with detecting, attributing and disrupting hostile state information attacks. No budget, no headcount, and no published definition of what "disrupt" means.

Vicky Richter · 23 September 2026

Opinion

Burnham urged to set up 'war register' of civilian volunteers as backlash erupts

The Liberal Democrats think Britons would sign up to defend the country if only they were given the option. The reaction to the "war register" suggests otherwise.

Vicky Richter · 22 September 2026

Policy

More than half of PIP claimants are over 50. The welfare debate is still about the young

PIP now supports 4.1 million people and costs the taxpayer more than £27bn a year, with the bill forecast to pass £41bn by 2031. More than half of those claimants are over 50, and the reform options being modelled would leave older claimants worse off. In a debate dominated by youth worklessness, the arithmetic points somewhere else.

Vicky Richter · 22 September 2026

Chagos

31 CHAGOSSIAN FAMILIES FLEE MAURITIUS FOR UK AS FEARS GROW FOR COMMUNITY LEFT BEHIND

Families due to arrive at Manchester Airport this morning (Tuesday 22 September) after leaving Mauritius, with some Chagossians saying they are too frightened to speak publicly for fear of reprisals.

Vicky Richter · 22 September 2026

Immigration

Record £11.9bn in universal credit paid to households with foreign nationals

The share of the universal credit bill going to households with at least one foreign national has barely moved in years, sitting at 15.6 per cent. The bill has gone from £7.5bn to £11.9bn in two.

Vicky Richter · 21 September 2026

Sovereignty

Eleven EU states tell Brussels to stop writing laws and start clearing them up

Germany, Italy and Poland are among eleven countries demanding that Brussels stop producing new laws for twelve months, arguing that simplification must start before legislation is adopted rather than years after. It is a warning from eleven of the EU's 27 member states, and it lands in the middle of a budget fight and an industrial crisis.

Vicky Richter · 21 September 2026

Opinion

Burnham weighs CGT rise as Labour donor pitches £20bn cost-of-living plan

A Budget submission from the Labour donor Dale Vince would raise capital gains tax to as high as 45pc and put the proceeds into the personal allowance, lifting it from £12,570 to £15,570. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are examining it. No decision has been made. HMRC's own illustrative modelling suggests a rise of that kind can cost the Exchequer money, and capital gains tax is the most volatile tax the Treasury collects.

Vicky Richter · 21 September 2026

Grassroots

Scotland: 18 bags in two hours, but promised street sweepers are still to arrive

Seven volunteers, two hours, 18 bags of rubbish. The mechanical street sweepers Glasgow committed to buy for Possilpark in 2022 are still not on the road.

Vicky Richter · 21 September 2026

Opinion

Archbishop withdraws 9/11 award from cleric who praised Osama bin Laden

The Church of England has withdrawn an interfaith award from a Pakistani cleric six days after the Archbishop of Canterbury presented it at Lambeth Palace on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi once promised Osama bin Laden the title "Saifullah" and referred to "Palestinian freedom fighters" in remarks about the 7 October attack. Lambeth Palace has not explained how the nomination was approved.

Vicky Richter · 18 September 2026

Opinion

Burnham commits to net zero as North Sea decision slips past the byelection

Andy Burnham has committed to net zero by 2050 in his strongest intervention on climate since entering Downing Street, pairing nearly £30m for community energy with a promise that Britain will believe in itself again. But a major energy decision facing the government, on the Jackdaw gasfield, will not now come before a byelection the Greens are fighting hard.

Vicky Richter · 18 September 2026

Opinion

Diesel closes in on its all-time record, and Whitehall's rationing plan is ready

The average diesel price is now less than 4p from the all-time record set four years ago. And if supplies fail, the Government's emergency plan for the pumps is written and waiting.

Vicky Richter · 17 September 2026

Stories originally reported by our sister title, the Conservative Post. Join the PAC to get them first.