BEN CHACKO reports on fears at TUC Congress that the provisions in the legislation are liable to be watered down even further

THE official Ministry of Defence line on the demise of Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plane — that Prigozhin’s death will have a deeply destabilising effect on the Wagner Group — is true only if Wagner was and is an entity separate from the Russian state.
The MoD echoes something of Vladimir Putin’s own evaluation of his former ally by lauding his personal attributes of hyper-activity, exceptional audacity and a drive for results.
But in overreaching himself in his dash on Moscow Prigozhin demonstrated the reality that the state cannot tolerate a challenge to its monopoly of force.

US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT

Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT

Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT

Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT