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The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
Labour does not deserve to win next election if it does not deliver change, says Reeves
Labour does not deserve to win the next election if it does not succeed in changing the country, Rachel Reeves has said, acknowledging that some voters were disappointed with the party's time in office. Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the chancellor said she is 'impatient for change' but said ministers 'can't do everything straight away, all at once.' It comes amid growing concern over the direction of Sir Keir Starmer 's government from voters on both the left and the right, with the prime minister's approval rating hitting an all time low last month. Speaking to Iain Dale, Ms Reeves said: 'The reason people voted Labour at the last election is they want to change and they were unhappy with the way that the country was being governed. 'They know that we inherited a mess. They know it's not easy to put it right, but people are impatient for change. 'I'm impatient for change as well, but I've also got the job of making sure the sums always add up – and it doesn't always make you popular because you can't do anything you might want to do.' 'You certainly can't do everything straight away, all at once', she said, adding that Labour did not 'deserve' to win the next election if it fails to deliver the change it promised. The chancellor also claimed the government has got the balance 'about right' when it comes to taxation, amid mounting questions over how the government will raise the money to fill the black hole in the public finances left by a series of major U-turns and spending commitments. 'Of course you're going to disappoint people. No one wants to pay more taxes ', she said. 'Everyone wants more money than public spending – and borrowing is not a free option, because you've got to pay for it. 'I think people know those sort of constraints but no one really likes them and I'm the one that has to sort the sums up.' It comes just days after former Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds urged the government to consider a wealth tax at the next Budget in order to plug holes in the public finances. Ms Dodds - who quit Sir Keir Starmer 's government in February over the PM's decision to cut the foreign aid budget to fund a boost in defence spending – warned that spending cuts will not 'deliver the kind of fiscal room that is necessary'. Last month, Sir Keir's support among the public reached new depths of minus 43 after a U-turn on cuts to welfare worth £5 billion, polling showed. The survey, first reported by The Sunday Times, also found that just a year after coming to power, seven in 10 voters think Sir Keir's government is at least as chaotic as the Tories' previous term. That includes one in three voters, who believe it is more so.
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Defiant Putin bombs key Kherson bridge as Ukraine strikes back with massive drone strike on Russia's biggest resort
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIAN forces last night bombed a key bridge used to transport military logistics in the Ukrainian frontline city of Kherson Footage shows a Russian airstrike destroying the key road crossing on the Dnipro River after dropping two guided bombs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 A view of damage at the road bridge connecting the central part of Kherson with the Korabel after a Russian attack Credit: Getty 7 Russian army bombs a bridge in Kherson, damages gas pipeline as residents urged to evacuate Credit: East2West 7 The moment Putin's army bombs a bridge in Kherson, Ukraine Credit: East2West 7 Fire breaks out after a Russian attack at the 3 private houses and one apartment building as the emergency officials work at Credit: Getty The attack damaged a bridge connecting the city to the Korabel neighbourhood. A few homes and a high-rise residential building were also damaged, officials said. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents of the Korabel district to evacuate, citing complications with logistics and infrastructure. He wrote on Telegram: "As a result of the enemy airstrike, logistics have been complicated. "Because of this, it will be difficult to deliver food and other things for the time being." Kherson Oblast, which is just near the Russian-occupied Crimean region, is frequently targeted by the Russians. Kyiv sought revenge by launching a massive drone attack targeting Russia's main resort city of Sochi, where Putin is said to be rebuilding one of his palaces. More than 120 firefighters were trying to extinguish a blaze at an oil depot that was sparked by the drone attack, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. A massive fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres was on fire, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Some 30 huge explosions led to a massive inferno at the facility close to the main airport often used by the Russian dictator. Watch moment huge mushroom cloud erupts over Russian plant after massive Ukrainian strike in major blow to Putin The Russian defence ministry said that its air defence units destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one over the Krasnodar region and 60 over the waters of the Black Sea. Rosaviatsia, Russia's civil aviation authority, temporarily halted flights at Sochi's airport to ensure air safety. The attacks come just three days after 31 people died including five children after Putin's forces fired an Iskander missile into a residential tower block in Kyiv. US President Donald Trump branded Putin's tactics "disgusting" as emergency workers worked through the night to pull bodies from the ruins. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said: "Russia – I think it's disgusting what they're doing. I think it's disgusting." Putin's bloodbath comes as Russia faces Trump's new deadline for peace on August 7. Trump warned the Kremlin that it had just 10 or 12 days to come to the table and agree on peace. As the death toll climbed this morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lamented the deaths. 7 Emergency workers face the grim task of searching the rubble Credit: Reuters 7 A car damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes Credit: Reuters He said: "The youngest child was only two years old. My condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. 159 people were injured, 16 of them children. "Once again, such a vile strike by Russia shows that additional pressure on Moscow and sanctions are necessary. "No matter how much the Kremlin denies their effectiveness, they work and must be stronger – hitting everything that allows such strikes to continue. "And it is very important that the world does not remain silent about them. "I thank everyone who has supported our people. We appreciate that President Trump, European leaders, and our other partners clearly see what is happening and condemn Russia." Trump has said that the US is "totally prepared" for a nuclear war following a slew of threats against America from a Kremlin comrade. In an extraordinary escalation, the commander-in-chief ordered that two nuclear submarines be positioned near Russia. The nuclear sabre-rattling comes after Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, made an ominous threat and warned that the US is taking drastic steps towards war with Moscow. Trump slammed Medvedev's words as "foolish and inflammatory" before ordering the placement of nuclear submarines near Russian territory.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Will Trump pardon Diddy? We may have the answer
After Finnerty asked, "Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Would you consider pardoning him?" Trump responded: "Well he was essentially, I guess sort of, half-innocent. I don't know what they do, he's still in jail or something. He was celebrating a victory but I guess it wasn't as good of a victory." Trump 'should not pardon' Sean 'Diddy' 'Diddy' Combs, Megyn Kelly says On July 2, jurors found Combs not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking ex-girlfriends Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine and a woman known as "Jane" in his sweeping trial that nearly lasted two months. He was convicted July 2 on two of the five counts against him for transporting those same women for prostitution, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years per count. During the interview, Trump said "probably..." before pausing and revealing to Finnerty, "You know, I was very friendly with him, I got along with him great, seemed like a nice guy. I didn't know him well, but when I ran for office he was very hostile." The Newsmax host noted then that "he said some not so nice things about you, sir." "Yeah, and it's hard. You know, like you, we're human beings and we don't like to have things cloud our judgement, right?" the president continued. "But when you knew someone and you were fine and then you run for office and he made some terrible statements... so I don't know... it makes it more difficult to do." President Trump reacts to media chatter of potential clemency or presidential pardons for figures like Ghislaine Maxwell, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and former Rep. George Santos. @RobFinnertyUSA — NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 2, 2025 Then, Trump replied, "I'd say so," when Finnerty clarified by asking if it was "more likely a no for (pardoning) Combs?" In the interview, Trump was seemingly referencing Combs' expletive-filled 2017 comments in The Daily Beast, essentially saying that "(Black people) don't really" care about Trump. "The tomfoolery that's going on in D.C., that's just regular everyday business to Black folks," Combs told the left-leaning outlet in-part, adding later in the interview that he had to "keep it focused on that self-love that we need to give our race." Trump first weighed in on the possibility of pardoning Combs on May 30 in the Oval Office. "Nobody's asked" about a pardon, the president said. "But I know people are thinking about it. I know they're thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking." Trump added, "I haven't spoken to him in years. He really liked me a lot." Despite last month's verdict, Combs' legal saga continues. On Wednesday, July 31, lawyers for Combs requested his acquittal, or a new trial altogether, in court documents reviewed by USA TODAY. A day earlier, conservative host Megyn Kelly urged Trump against potentially pardoning Combs. Kelly said in an X post on July 30 that "Trump should not pardon Diddy" because "he doesn't deserve it." "He's a Trump hater. He's a woman abuser. MAGA is already upset over elites seeming to cover for each other. This would not help. GOP struggling w/young female voters, most of whom will HATE a Diddy pardon," Kelly wrote. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman
