Holidays in chaos after global IT meltdown
Hundreds of thousands of people have had their foreign summer holidays thrown into jeopardy by a global IT outage that caused chaos at British airports on Friday…
Joe Biden insists he will stay in race despite allies urging him to ‘pass the torch’
Joe Biden has insisted he will stay in the presidential election race, despite more allies turning on him and urging him to “pass the torch” before it is too late.
The US president said he was “looking forward” to getting back on the campaign trail after he recovers from a bout of Covid, criticising Donald Trump and “making the case for [his] own record”.
Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have privately urged the president to reconsider his run for office, while Democratic leaders in Congress openly warned that he risked losing both branches of Congress and the White House in November.
But in a defiant statement, Mr Biden responded: “The stakes are high and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.”
It came after eight more Democrats warned that the perception Mr Biden is too old to serve a second term in the White House is “unlikely to change” and Kamala Harris’s allies prepared her to replace him.
Mr Biden had been expected by some Democrats to make a decision about his political future as soon as this weekend, but his team said on Friday that he would battle through the criticism to November’s election. Jen O’Malley Dillon, his campaign chief, said he was “absolutely” not stepping back.
Ms Pelosi, the former House Speaker, is reported to have privately made the case for Mr Biden to stand down and encouraged other Democrats to do the same.
Four sitting congressmen released a joint statement on Friday, telling Mr Biden: “It is now time for you to pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders.
“We must face the reality that widespread public concerns about your age and fitness are jeopardising what should be a winning campaign. These perceptions may not be fair, but they have hardened in the aftermath of last month’s debate and are now unlikely to change.”
A third senator joined the calls for him to step aside. Martin Heinrich said that Mr Biden could “secure his legacy as one of our nation’s greatest leaders” by choosing to “pass the torch”.
Mr Biden’s mental acuity has been one of the biggest concerns among those pushing for his departure.
On Friday, Seth Moulton, a Democrat Congressman who called on Mr Biden to drop out of the race earlier this month, said the president did not recognise him at the recent D-Day commemorations in Normany.
“For the first time, he didn’t seem to recognise me. Of course, that can happen as anyone ages, but as I watched the disastrous debate a few weeks ago, I have to admit that what I saw in Normandy was part of a deeper problem,” he wrote in the Boston Globe on Friday.
A new “Pass the Torch” campaign group is launching an advertising campaign that will air in the breaks of Mr Biden’s favourite morning news programme next week, for viewers in his home town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is self-isolating with Covid.
Mr Biden is reportedly angry about the way in which members of his own party have tried to push him out, after a 52-year career in US politics and a primary election earlier this year that he won virtually unopposed.
Ms O’Malley Dillon told MSNBC that Mr Biden was “absolutely in this race”, denying reports that his team was already working on a succession plan.
She admitted there had been a “slippage of support” following his weak performance in the television debate with Trump on June 27 and a campaign to oust him, but said it was a “small movement”.
In an internal note, reported by NBC News, one of Mr Biden’s campaign managers said on Friday that voters “consistently mention President Biden’s age when contacted” but that “the debate has not hurt support among the voters who will decide this election”.
However, it was also reported that allies of Ms Harris are preparing a campaign that would be launched if Mr Biden decides to step back and endorse her.
Mr Biden has asked his aides to show him polling on whether his vice-president would perform better in swing states, after surveys showed most battleground areas now favour Trump.
Other Democrats including Chuck Schumer, the senate majority leader, are “plotting” a shadow campaign that could run as soon as he decides to go, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Some senior Democrats are thought to be waiting until the end of the weekend, and will go public with their concerns about the president’s age and electability if he does not stand down of his own accord.
Although Mr Biden’s close aides believe he can still win, there is increasing concern on Capitol Hill that if he decides to stand down at next month’s party convention there will not be enough time for a replacement to build momentum before Nov 5.
License this content
UK’s next generation fighter jet programme in doubt
Britain’s next generation fighter jet programme is in doubt after Labour’s failure to match the Tory pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.
Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, said this week that the Tempest project was “important” but he could not make commitments on its future given the new defence review.
The Telegraph understands there is nervousness within the industry about how the project could be impacted. Former Tory Ministry of Defence sources fear it will be scaled back.
Leaders in Japan and Italy, the two countries building the fighter jets with the UK, have pressed Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers about the project. BAE Systems, the company building the jets with the help of other firms, has also issued a statement stressing that the programme provides “critical sovereign combat air capability”.
The push to deliver the sixth generation of fighter jets is being led by Team Tempest in the UK. It dates back to 2018 and aims to get the planes into operation in the mid-2030s.
Around 3,500 people in the UK are already working on Tempest. That workforce had been expected to roughly double in the coming years, with billions of pounds more being spent by the MoD.
Earlier this year, Rishi Sunak announced defence spending would rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade, up from around 2.2 per cent. Sir Keir Starmer has said 2.5 per cent is the target at some point – leading to a strategic defence review to determine the new approach.
It means there are now question marks over how quickly the Tempest project can grow, with clarity about MoD spending not likely to come until mid-2025.
Mr Pollard was asked about the programme at the global air and space chiefs conference in London this week, giving no commitments about future spending. He added that “it’s not right for me to prejudge what might happen in the defence review”.
A former Tory MoD source told The Telegraph that “every single [defence] programme is now the subject to potentially very, very, very severe cuts”, given that Labour has abandoned the 2030 timeline.
Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, brought up the Tempest programme and “stressed the importance of cooperation” when he met Sir Keir at the Nato summit last week, according to a read-out issued by the Japanese.
A similar statement from Antonio Tajani, the Italian deputy prime minister, recounted a discussion on the “virtuous collaboration in the defence sector” with the UK including on the next generation of fighter jets, which he had with David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, after the election.
A spokesman for BAE Systems said: “Tempest and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will preserve critical sovereign combat air capability and enable the UK to retain control over its own security, support important international relationships and meet future threats, whilst contributing to economic growth and prosperity.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that “GCAP is an important programme and positive progress continues with our partners, Japan and Italy. The Defence Secretary is due to hold a ministerial meeting with GCAP counterparts next week.”
The strategic defence review will be wide-ranging, looking at the threats Britain faces and the capabilities we need to tackle them.”
The “root-and-branch” review will “look at everything on the table” – including troop numbers, which were cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic era under the Tory government.
At its official launch, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen – a former defence secretary and secretary general of Nato – said that the military needed to be modernised to face the “deadly quartet” of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
License this content
Suella Braverman denies she is considering defecting to Reform
Suella Braverman has denied reports that she is considering defecting to Reform UK.
The i quoted sources in both the Conservatives and Reform who said they expect the former Home Secretary to cross the floor to Nigel Farage’s party later this year after the Tory leadership contest.
A spokesman for Mrs Braverman, who is expected to run to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, denied the claim.
“Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades,” the spokesman said.
The newspaper quoted one senior Tory as saying: “There’s now so much antagonism towards Suella Braverman among MPs that there is now a generally held view that she will defect.”
A Reform UK source added: “We expect her to take a tilt at the Tory leadership and then come over to us, perhaps in the autumn around conference time.”
Mrs Braverman stood in the 2022 leadership contest but was eliminated by Tory MPs in the second round of voting.
Her chances of winning the contest are thought to be slim after prominent MPs who backed her that year, including New Conservatives chair Danny Kruger, supported other candidates.
Earlier on Friday, James Heappey, the former armed forces minister, told GB News that a leadership campaign by Mrs Braverman would be “dead on arrival”.
“I just think she has not played the last two weeks particularly well and it doesn’t feel like there is tons of traction for her,” the ex-MP said.
Mr Heappey added that his money was on James Cleverly becoming the next party leader.
No Tories have formally declared their candidacy but Mrs Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat and Dame Priti Patel are all expected to run.
License this content
Police face backlash over Leeds riots
Police chiefs who ordered officers to retreat after Leeds rioters targeted and overwhelmed them have been criticised for abandoning law-abiding families.
The Yorkshire city endured several hours of rioting after police and social services removed children from a home, following a social-care crisis on Thursday evening.
The Harehills area of Leeds descended into pitched battles between officers and a “criminal minority” who set alight a police car before torching a bus.
Some residents criticised the police response, claiming officers were left isolated and at risk of “annihilation” as rioters “outnumbered them 200-to-one”.
Police had been summoned to a home in the north east of the city after social services encountered difficulties in removing children in a “child protection matter”.
Footage of children being removed was streamed live and posted on social media. It is feared the video clips may have encouraged a lawless element to go to Harehills where the riot raged from between 5pm and 2am.
Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs said responding officers were targeted as they helped children’s social care staff withdraw to a place of safety on Thursday evening.
“As the disorder escalated, damage was caused to vehicles and several fires [were] set,” he said.
“We continually assessed the situation and took the decision to deploy specialist public order officers who then came under a barrage of bricks and missiles from a large group.”
Mr Twiggs said a decision was made to temporarily withdraw officers when it became “evident” officers were the sole target.
Mothin Ali, a Leeds councillor, said the “whole situation changed” as night fell and fires were lit on the streets. He said he and a number of residents acted as “human shields” to protect officers.
He added: “When I arrived there were probably about 2,000 people on the streets, the police were heavily outnumbered. We needed to try and help calm things with the family.
“A lot of officers were without any riot gear, without helmets, and being pelted. They were not safe. I don’t think they were given the support they needed.”
Graham Newby, 59, defended police on the ground for “retreating” claiming officers were outnumbered 200-to-one. However, he blamed “police bosses” who failed to provide “sufficient back-up”.
“Harehills is broken in my opinion,” Mr Newby, who was born and bred in the area, said. “The police have a lot to answer for. But, if those officers had stayed they would have been annihilated. The senior officers overseeing the response did not send enough [back-up] officers.”
Eyewitnesses, who did not want to be named, said officers – some of whom had been called in from neighbouring forces – had tried to “stand their ground” but were forced back in their vans before retreating.
Tom Riordan, the boss of Leeds City Council, told Radio 4 that although he was legally limited in what he could say, his staff “always intervene where we need to when children are at risk”, adding that the “incident was probably misinterpreted.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the “shocking and disgraceful” disorder.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has said those responsible should feel the “full force of the law” for what she described as “audacious criminality”.
“Those responsible must face the full force of the law and West Yorkshire Police have my support in pursuing the perpetrators and taking the strongest possible action against them,” she said.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed five people have been arrested and are using “all the investigative tools available to us in order to identify those involved”.
License this content
Gunman who tried to kill Trump had ‘pictures of Princess of Wales’ on his phone
The gunman who tried to assassinate Donald Trump also had images of the Princess of Wales on his phone, according to reports.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed after grazing the former president’s ear with a bullet, was interested in the future queen, FBI analysis of his electronic equipment revealed.
NPR reported that the discovery was made after investigators seized the 20-year-old’s laptop and two mobile phones from his home.
The Princess was the only non-American in his search history.
Neither Kensington Palace nor the FBI were prepared to comment on the reports related to the Princess of Wales.
The picture of the would-be assassin built up by investigators to date is of a troubled young man without strong political leanings.
He was a registered Republican but had also given $15 to a progressive Democrat campaign in 2021.
Crooks had also saved pictures of Joe Biden, Merrick Garland, the Attorney General and Christopher Wray, the FBI director, which led to speculation that they had also been identified as potential targets.
He had also searched for the dates of Trump’s speaking engagements including the rally at Butler, Pennsylvania, and the Democratic National Convention.
One theory for the decision to target Trump rather than Mr Biden was that the rally at Butler was only 51 miles from his home in Bethel Park, a drive of 1 hour and 21 minutes.
He was a light user of social media but did have an account with Discord, a group chatting app.
“We have identified an account that appears to be linked to the suspect; it was rarely utilised and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views,” a Discord spokesman said.
The Princess, who is recovering from cancer, has no plans to visit the US, with her public engagements having been scaled back since the diagnosis, which she announced in March.
Last week, the King and Queen were pulled out of a public engagement in Jerse because of a security scare.
They later resumed the visit after it turned out to be a false alarm.
License this content
Sleepy Lincolnshire village braces itself for swingers festival
Around one thousand people have descended on a sleepy Lincolnshire village for Britain’s biggest swingers festival.
The four-day sex and fetish event – called Swingathon – kicked off on Thursday in Allington, near Grantham, Lincolnshire.
This year’s festival is the biggest yet, with one thousand guests – a 50 per cent increase on last year – paying £265 to experience activities including “play tents”, pole dancing, hot tubs, foam parties and “mobile dungeons”.
In previous years, disgruntled residents have complained to police about “screaming and moaning” coming from the site.
One resident said the noises were “not the sounds you want to hear when you’re trying to sleep”.
The festival will see a number of bands performing, alongside DJs, dancers and comedy acts. Other entertainment includes a competition based on the Channel 4 show Naked Attraction, drag and burlesque acts as well as massages.
‘Social and safe space’
Kerry Voellner, Swingathon’s organiser, said: “The event offers a very social and safe space for people from different lifestyles to meet new people.”
The festival will run side by side with an event called FetFest, which Ms Voellner described as for “modern people who are into fetishes”.
“We are just a normal festival for people with alternative lifestyles,” she said.
Lincolnshire Police previously raised concerns about the event on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protecting children from harm.
However, organisers were granted a temporary events notice and said they have received more support this year from the local authority.
Matthew Cole, co-organiser, said: “It’s nice to have their support this year. Last year we had to go through a headache from start to finish, but this year is totally different and they are working so much better with us.
“We have sold more tickets than ever and, having the council on side as well, it could not be going any better.”
The festival has received a mixed reception from local residents, with one anonymous person saying: “Each to their own I suppose but we don’t really want or need it in the village.
“It all seems a bit seedy if I’m honest, not my cup of tea.”
Another resident said: “I heard about the noise complaints previously and it’s not the sounds you want to hear when you’re trying to sleep.”
A spokesman for South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) said: “A temporary event notice was submitted by the organiser and no objections were received from the statutory consultees, therefore the event was able to go ahead.
“SKDC received no complaints from residents regarding last year’s event.”
License this content