🇬🇧Week of October 26

A senior Reform UK official cast doubt on the legality of large donations to the party, questioning whether £72m would fall under the legal cap. The disclosure came as the true scale of Reform UK's donations from overseas donors was revealed.1234

Eighty percent of Reform UK's donations this year came from overseas, according to reported figures. Data also revealed the percentage of Reform donors who were recently based overseas.567

Nigel Farage made a pledge to voters after the £72m donation, as Reform prepared an "attack unit".8

The story was carried across outlets on Tuesday, with the donation figures and the official's doubts about the cap reported alongside each other. Nacionale, a right-leaning outlet, framed its account around the official questioning the legality of large donations.915

Ofcom has outlined four ways for social media platforms to verify that users are aged 16 or over, ahead of a planned ban on under-16s using social media. The regulator published the age-check methods as it set out its verification plans for the restriction.123

The Telegraph reports that everyone over 16 may need ID to use social media under the proposals. The Independent reports that Ofcom warned children will bypass the ban for under-16s.45

Prime Minister Andy Burnham intends to proceed with the proposed age restriction, The Independent reports.5

Norway's prime minister and Finland's leaders held a rare call with Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The conversation was described as "frank".123

Norway's prime minister defended the call after doubts were raised among European leaders. Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly backed the Finnish and Norwegian leaders over their talks with Putin.456

Russia targeted Kyiv as the Finnish and Norwegian leaders spoke with Putin. The call drew attention because direct contact between Western European leaders and the Russian president has been rare since the war began.71

Israelis voted in a national election on Tuesday, with turnout reaching 55.7 percent by 4 p.m., eight percentage points higher than at the same time in 2022 and the highest ever recorded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot as the vote took place.12

Exit polls after the polls closed indicated no clear winner. Netanyahu's fate hung in the balance, and the results were described as too close to call, with one account saying he might be winning or facing a tie.345

CTV News reported that voters delivered a rebuke to Netanyahu, while the exit polls still suggested no clear winner. PBS and ABC News likewise reported no clear winner in the election on the exit polls.635

John Healey is set to deliver the first Budget of Andy Burnham's UK premiership, with the statement described as imminent. The Budget is expected to carry announcements on income tax and pensions, including what it will mean for pensioners.123

Attributed claim: Healey is preparing a careful Budget with the markets in mind, and the BBC said the statement needs to sustain a stronger economy through gathering clouds. The Telegraph argued that a timid Budget would be playing with fire.425

The Times published predictions on what tax changes to expect, and Fidelity International described a busy week for nervous investors. The Independent focused on what the Budget will mean for pensioners and income tax.673

Burnham said he wants to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime. He is also facing crunch decisions in his next 100 days, the BBC reported.85

Andy Burnham has pledged to double funding for the rough sleeping plan, committing a further £432 million to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas. The total package is put at about £900 million, with the rough-sleeping campaign budget rising to £874 million. The Prime Minister said he is confident every rough sleeper will have a route off the street by Christmas as the funding doubles.1234567

The money is tied to the Budget, with Burnham promising Budget cash to end rough sleeping. The commitment was announced on Monday and presented as a near-doubling of the existing funding for the plan.574

Attributed claim: Outlets put different figures on the same announcement: The Telegraph reported the rough-sleeping campaign budget rising to £874 million, while Reuters described a further £432 million commitment and other accounts put the overall pledge at about £900 million. The gap reflects which part of the package each outlet led on rather than a dispute over the plan itself.1367

Poundland is close to collapse after new directors left the discount retailer in a stand-off over administration, according to reports. The chain's owners are pushing for insolvency, and thousands of jobs are under threat.123

The Telegraph reported that the directors quit in a stand-off over administration, while Sky News said the new directors were heading for the exit as the company neared collapse. The Independent reported that Poundland faces insolvency with thousands of jobs under threat.123

EDP24 reported that Poundland could collapse as its owners push for insolvency, with jobs at risk. The Daily Star described a major store as "just days away from collapse" in a blow to the UK high street.45

Inbox.lv carried the same account on Thursday, reporting that Poundland is close to collapse as new directors head for exit.6

Consultant doctors in England will strike for two days in November, the British Medical Association said. The action covers senior NHS doctors and centres on a pay row with the government.12345

The walkout is set for next month and involves consultants across England, the BMA said. The dispute is over pay.123

The Independent reported the strike as a dispute over pay between senior NHS doctors and the government. The Guardian attributed the two-day November call to the BMA.24

John Healey is expected to shield the poorest pensioners from income tax in the Budget by raising the tax-free allowance for low-income state pensioners. The change would spare the lowest-income pensioners from paying tax on their state pension.123

The Telegraph reported that shielding the poorest pensioners from income tax would cost about £500m a year. The figure is attached to the measure Healey is expected to announce in the Budget.4

The Budget is expected to carry three state pension announcements, and Martin Lewis issued an urgent State Pension warning ahead of it. The pension tax reprieve was reported as a Budget measure days before the statement.56

By Thursday the Telegraph reported Healey was set to shield pensioners from income tax in the Budget, and Professional Adviser described the plan as a rise in the tax-free allowance for low-income state pensioners. The Guardian asked how the shielding would work.732

Storm Boelo battered the UK with strong winds, killing two men who were struck by falling trees. The storm left 90,000 people without power, and a clean-up operation was under way.123

All flights at Heathrow and Gatwick were cancelled as the storm disrupted air travel. The storm also left a trail of destruction across Scotland.42