Ghislaine Maxwell rejects Andrew claims and calls infamous picture ‘literally a fake’
Ghislaine Maxwell has repeated her claim that a photograph showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre is “fake”.
In an interview with the US Department of Justice, conducted last month, Maxwell said: “I believe it’s literally a fake photo.”
The imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein also dismissed as “rubbish” Giuffre’s claim that she was paid to have a relationship with Prince Andrew and that he had sex with her at Maxwell’s London home.
The disgraced socialite claimed one of motives behind the story was to attack the Royal Family.
Maxwell was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over two days in Tallahassee, Florida – just a week before being moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas.
While the name at centre of discussion on Prince Andrew had been redacted, it is circumstantially highly likely to be Giuffre given the conversation, as well as the timelines and mention of an infamous photograph.
It is not the first time she has questioned the photograph. During a 2023 interview with TalkTV, after having been sentenced to 20-years in a Florida prison, she said: “It’s a fake. I don’t believe it’s real for a second, in fact I’m sure it’s not.
“Well, there’s never been an original and further there’s no photograph, and I’ve only ever seen a photocopy of it.”
The photograph, said to have been taken at Maxwell’s London home in 2001, shows the Duke of York with his arm around Giuffre, who was then 17. Maxwell can be seen smiling in the background. The picture has been central to allegations made against Andrew, which he has strongly denied.
Questions over the photograph’s authenticity have surfaced repeatedly. Prior to her death last year, Giuffre had insisted it was genuine and said she gave the original to the FBI.
Photographic experts have told various media outlets that there is no clear evidence it has been doctored.
Earlier in the transcript from July’s interview, Maxwell also denied that Andrew could have had sex with Ms Giuffre because her London house was too small.
“The idea of him doing anything of that nature in my house, that’s the size of this room, is so mind-blowingly not conceivable to me,” she said.
The remarks are the latest in a series of denials Maxwell has issued since being convicted in 2021 of trafficking underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and sex offender who died in a New York jail in 2019.
Prince Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. In 2022 he reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in a US civil case without admitting liability.
His legal team at the time said he was making the settlement in order to avoid prolonging the case and to allow him to dedicate himself to public service.
In the interview, Maxwell also described the first time that Epstein and Andrew became acquainted, claiming that she had never thought about introducing them as they were like “chalk and cheese”.
She said the pair met in the early 2000s “either in Nantucket or the Vineyard”, at an event separate to Maxwell, and that they quickly became close, making her feel “left out”.
Maxwell also claimed that it was Sarah Ferguson that had introduced Epstein and Andrew, after she met with the financier in the Bahamas. She described accusations that she was the one to introduce them as a “flat untruth”.
Tour bus crash in New York kills multiple people, including children
At least five people have been killed after a tourist bus carrying 54 people , including children, rolled over on its way back from Niagara Falls to New York City.
The crash happened on Interstate 90 near Pembroke, about 25 miles east of Buffalo, resulting in multiple fatalities, injuries, and entrapments, state police spokesperson James O’Callaghan said in a news conference.
The bus was traveling eastbound right before the Pembroke exit, before it “lost control, went into the median, overcorrected, and ended up in the ditch, which would be on the right side of the roadway,” he added.
There were initial reports of a child among those killed, but police said Friday evening, “further investigation has deemed that to be false.”
New York State Police said Friday evening westbound lanes on the highway have reopened to traffic.
Translators were brought to the scene as most passengers on the bus were from India, China, and the Philippines.
“The driver is alive and well,” O’Callaghan said. “We’re working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control.”
The crash involved a tractor-trailer and O’Callaghan said “the bus did roll” but did not reveal the exact reason why.
“It’s a full-size tour bus. Heavy amount of damage,” O’Callaghan said. “Most people, I’m assuming, on the bus did not have a seat belt on. That is the reason why we have so many ejected people on this bus.”
Witnesses have described a horrific scene of broken glass and personal belongings spilling all over the highway following the crash.
Bystander Powell Stephens told The Buffalo News after driving by the crash that “there was glass all over the road and people’s stuff all over the road. Windows were all shattered.”
Mercy Flight and other services used multiple helicopters and ambulances to transport crash victims, with the Erie County Medical Center receiving multiple patients.
A total of 24 passengers were treated at the Buffalo-based hospital, with 20 still receiving care in the emergency department, two in surgery, and others in the trauma ICU, according to Dr. Jennifer Pugh, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine.
Police said there were children transported to the hospital, but they were “unaware of any serious physical injuries to children at this point.”
Dr. Samuel Cloud, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said there was “probably the most trauma patients from one incident in my career here in Buffalo.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated she was briefed on the “tragic” incident and that her office was coordinating with police and local officials.
“I’ve been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway,” she wrote on X.
“My team is coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “I’m heartbroken for all those we’ve lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene.”
“My heart breaks after hearing of the horrific bus crash in New York. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the first responders working through this tragedy,” Representative Eric Swalwell of California wrote.
This is a developing story…
Lucy Connolly to meet with Trump envoy after release from prison
Lucy Connolly is set to meet with members of Donald Trump’s administration following her release from prison for inciting racial hatred.
The former childminder told Dan Wootton on his YouTube show that US president’s lawyers were “very interested in the way things are going in the UK” and “keen to speak” with her, adding they are “big advocates for free speech”.
The 42-year-old, speaking for the first time since her release, claims she was been made “[Sir Keir] Starmer’s political prisoner” after being sentenced to 31 months in jail for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers on the day of the Southport murders.
The case centred on her post on X that said: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care … if that makes me racist so be it.”
Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, had pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing “threatening or abusive” written material after her post was viewed 310,000 times.
She served 40 per cent of her sentence, before being released on Thursday on licence.
Speaking to The Telegraph following her release, she said she made the post in a “red mist” fit of anger, before later deleting it after returning from a walk. Eight days later, she was arrested at her home and questioned by police.
She claimed the authorities wanted to “hammer” after she was refused bail and the Crown Prosecution Service released a statement that suggested she told officers in her police interview she did not like immigrants.
A press release from the CPS after her guilty plea on September 2 included a quote from Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, which said: “During police interview Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them.”
Connolly claimed her words were “massively twisted and used against me”, and is now considering taking legal action, saying she didn’t believe she would have had a fair trial had she pleaded not guilty.
She said: “I don’t want to say too much because I need to seek legal advice on that, but I do think the police were dishonest in what they released and what they said about me, and I will be holding them to account for that.”
Also on Friday, she told Mr Wootton on his YouTube show that she was meeting representatives of the Trump administration on Saturday. Asked what she knew about the meeting, she said: “Not much, just that they’re very interested in the way things are going in the UK, and they are obviously big advocates for free speech, and their lawyers are keen to speak with me.”
The US State Department has previously accused the UK of having “significant human rights issues”, including restrictions on free speech.
Connolly also said in her interview with The Telegraph she believed she had been targeted because her husband was a Conservative councillor.
“I’m just a woman from Northampton living in a three-bed semi that worked as a childminder with a husband as an engineer,” she said. “Okay, he was a councillor. But that, people forget, that’s almost like a second job.
“His first job as an engineer, as a father, as a husband, we are nobody. We are not known to anybody. So I will never understand how it got to this.
“There’s people that have done far worse and people wouldn’t be able to name them, but they’d know my name, and I just find it all really, really bizarre.”
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of comments made by Lucy Connolly in an interview following her release from prison. We hope to contact Mrs Connolly in the coming days to understand the issues she has raised around Northamptonshire Police.”
Dominant England show why they are World Cup favourites with USA rout
A new stage, new levels of interest, but on the opening night of a World Cup that may transform women’s rugby, it was the same old Red Roses. It is hoped that this record-breaking tournament will turn England’s dominant women’s rugby side into household names, particularly if it results in home triumph in late September – and for the uninitiated, this was a perfect demonstration of why the hosts are such strong favourites. An imperfect first half performance – the Red Roses were overly ambitious at times and overly disorganised at others – gave way to a scintillating second half as England powered over, away from and eventually out of sight of an overmatched United States.
The result – as will be the case for England until the semi-final stage – was never really in doubt, as talented and experienced as many in the USA ranks are. Right now, though, they are simply at a different stage to their opening-night opponents; there is no shame in losing heavily to England, because almost everyone else tends to, too. Their bigger battles are to come later in the Pool A itinerary, the clash with Australia in York next weekend likely key in determining which of the pair joins the Red Roses in reaching the last eight.
There were moments of promise from the US, with lock Erica Jarrell-Searcy’s sensational solo score a particular highlight, but after a slightly troublesome first 25 minutes, England escaped to rack up a sizeable score. In doing so, they demonstrated the qualities that make them so good: each and every player’s comfort with ball in hand; the sheer number of strike-running threats across the park; the depth evident when the bench made a significant impact. After a few clunks in the first half, John Mitchell would have been pleased with the ruthlessness and efficiency his side showed with Ellie Kildunne, Meg Jones and Hannah Botterman among their standouts.
As an occasion, this felt like a special night at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light – 42,723 were in attendance in all, more than were at the final of the last World Cup that broke the then-record for a women’s rugby game. In a city rugby seldom visits, and an area not renowned for its passion for the sport, a crowd of such size was a considerable achievement – and a sign of things to come at a tournament set to break all existing marks for women’s rugby spectatorship.
The maul was England’s chief weapon of destruction at that last World Cup, the agonising end to the final a rare malfunction as Lark Atkin-Davies failed to find Abbie Ward’s hands five metres out from the Black Ferns’ line. The Red Roses have since sought to evolve a wider game to be more multitudinous, but they showed in the warm-up win over France that their lineout drive remains a real strength – and Sadia Kabeya was the buried beneficiary inside 10 minutes to get them going.
The USA have shown in the past against England an ability to stick in the contest for a while and make things awkward with their array of power carriers and nous around the park. They managed to frustrate the hosts for a good portion of the first half here, the second try only arriving through prop Botterman thanks to two contrasting bits of brilliance from Jones – the centre first leaving Georgie Perris-Redding on the floor with a bruising carry and then producing a cross kick to Abby Dow to set up the position from which Botterman bundled through.
If that was a sign of the athletic talent within the England ranks, the United States would soon show some of their own. Jarrell-Searcy was a strong cross-country runner in her youth and showed off some of that speed and stamina with a superb score from distance having evaded Natasha Hunt and Jess Breach – even the rapid Red Roses wing was left trailing in her wake.
Yet Alev Kelter’s cynical slapdown at a ruck earned her a yellow card and England a player advantage, one which they made count. First tighthead Maud Muir bashed over from close range before the backs produced something rather more extravagant from range, Kildunne a popular scorer after a lovely passing move that began inside their own 22. Abby Dow had been prominent in that passage and soon had a try of her own after the resumption.
Kildunne snared a second after good work from Jones, and might have had a third shortly after an Amy Cokayne score if not for an unselfish decision to put Breach in. The pair were at it again following Lark Atkin-Davies’s try, Kildunne with a wonderful bit of dexterity down the left touchline to grant her back three colleague, and fellow “Cowboy”, a clear run to the line. Atkin-Davies added try No 11 before the end.
And what of Ilona Maher? The USA centre had bopped along on the big screen to Florence & The Machine ahead of kick off, a sly smirk acknowledging her outsized status in comparison to others at this tournament. It had been her name, rather than those of the Red Roses, to generate the largest cheers when the teams had been read out earlier. Yet she was largely kept quiet by England – and Jones particularly. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog,” the significantly smaller centre quipped about her encounter with Maher earlier in the week, an adage she showed with a typically irrepressible performance in attack and defence, the Welsh-born terrier England’s menace throughout.
It shows the talent within the ranks that Jones was almost overshadowed by Kildunne and the rest of the back three as they romped and rollicked to another mighty victory. The tougher battles will come down the line, but the party has started in style.
How long can Starmer get away with his delusional foreign aid policy?
Keir Starmer clocked up another achievement on foreign affairs this week after he and fellow European leaders persuaded Donald Trump to offer US security guarantees to Ukraine.
Trump’s change of tack was a vindication of Starmer’s “softly, softly” approach towards the US president. At White House talks, the prime minister did not press Trump on the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine, as France’s and Germany’s leaders did, after the US president cooled on the idea. Other leaders, including Volodymyr Zelensky, have come to realise that with Trump, flattery will get you everywhere.
Ominously, Vladimir Putin is stalling on peace talks (again), but Starmer’s plan for a “reassurance force” to be based in Ukraine, drawn up with France, is at least back on the table.
Its death has often been predicted – even senior Whitehall figures were privately sceptical. “We knew it wouldn’t fly without US backup, but it’s still alive,” one government insider told me.
However, there is one area of foreign policy where Starmer has a less than impressive record – his government’s decision to reduce its foreign aid budget from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of gross national income by 2027.
The £6.2bn cut has not had the attention it deserves, and at Westminster, it’s the dog that didn’t bark. There was no rebellion by Labour MPs after the 40 per cent reduction was announced in February, partly because the savings were switched to the defence budget – vital in Trumpworld.
Some Labour backbenchers say “a great unknown” is whether there would have been a revolt if the aid decision had been announced after rebellious Labour MPs had defeated £5bn of welfare cuts. But the higher defence spending was a clever political manoeuvre which shielded Starmer from internal criticism.
The PM promised the UK would continue to play a key role in “supporting international efforts on global health challenges.” That is in danger of becoming empty rhetoric because, so far, the reduction has not been well handled.
Jenny Chapman, the Labour peer who became international development minister when Anneliese Dodds resigned over the cuts, is the ultimate Starmer loyalist; his campaign to succeed Jeremy Corbyn was plotted at her north London home and began before the 2019 general election. Chapman has repeatedly promised transparency over the impact of the cuts, but, for now, it remains opaque.
Last month, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual report disclosed the areas to be affected – such as health, education, gender and equality – but, crucially, declined to reveal the 13 projects facing the axe or the 50 women’s rights organisations that will lose support.
To make matters worse, £2.8bn (20 per cent) of the aid budget was spent on supporting refugees in the UK last year – a trick begun under the previous Conservative government. The share of the aid budget spent this way rose from 9 per cent in 2021 to 28 per cent two years later. Although allowed under international definitions of aid, it could mean the level of aid spent abroad falls to 0.24 per cent of national income in 2027 – even lower than the advertised 0.3 per cent.
When I ask ministers whether the cuts will dilute the UK’s influence around the world, they insist the move is in line with a global trend. Indeed, the UK’s regrettable retreat has been overshadowed by the Trump administration’s demolition of USAID.
Ministers hope the UK will “build back” to 0.7 per cent of national income being spent on aid, but admit it will take time. I doubt it will ever happen.
Sadly, the cross-party consensus for 0.7 per cent has disappeared; the Tories and Reform UK are not going to champion it. Indeed, even some Labour figures point to public opposition to aid spending – no surprise given the campaigns against it in right-wing newspapers.
UK ministers seem delusional about the role the UK can play on aid with a diminished budget. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, insists the UK can still be a leader, but dismayed aid organisations by not attending an important aid conference in Seville.
In April, Lammy announced the UK would host a global conference on the future of aid. “It should be held here in London, because we have always led on these issues,” he said. It was supposed to happen this autumn, but seems to have quietly been pushed into next year. I hear it might now be co-hosted with a low-income country or aid group to answer criticism of Western governments setting the terms of the debate.
There is brave talk about a switch from “old aid to new aid” as poor countries stand on their own two feet and provide services to their own people rather than depend on foreign handouts seen by some nations as a form of economic colonialism. Perhaps, in a dream world – but not the real one.
The impact of the UK cuts in the world’s poorest countries will be bad enough. But they could also rebound on the UK – through a reduction in its soft power in a dangerous world and, in a nightmare scenario, if cuts to vital health projects including the Gavi international vaccine alliance contribute to another pandemic. The way the UK chose to fund higher defence spending would not look so clever then.
Summer escapes made easy: find your perfect sunbreak fuss-free
When it comes to booking your summer getaway, finding the perfect break can sometimes feel like a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s a fun-packed family holiday, a romantic couples trip, an activity-filled solo break or a group trip where you need to tick everyone’s travel boxes, there’s a lot to consider, and a vast range of options to choose from. So it can be tricky knowing where to start.
To make it easier to plan your perfect break, holiday experts Travel Republic have you covered, whether you’re researching dream destinations or making last-minute plans. With over 20 years of travel know-how, plus big-name airlines, top hotels and exciting attractions – they make booking your next great value getaway easy, affordable and totally stress free.
From trending destinations to incredible money-saving deals and travel ideas tailored to you, Travel Republic has everything you need to find and book your perfect trip. On top of all that, they offer flexible payment plans, super low deposits, are ATOL protected and offer all the holiday extras you need such as car hire, airport parking, transfers and travel insurance.
Ready for some travel inspo? Here’s our guide to four diverse, versatile destinations that offer it all: dreamy beaches, family entertainment, culinary delights, active adventure, and history and culture by the spadeful.
Discover ancient histories and sunny beaches in Greece
With over 6000 islands and islets, 200 of which are inhabited, not to mention a culture-rich mainland, Greece definitely has something for every type of traveller. For couples, friends and singles looking to party, head to the clubs and beach parties of Ios, Zante (Zakynthos) or Mykonos – enjoy the growing foodie scene in the pretty white-washed, streets of Mykonos Town, while adrenaline junkies will feel at home on the water, with kitesurfing, windsurfing, scuba diving and jet skiing on offer. For sandy beaches and calm waters, book into the islands of Rhodes or the family friendly Kos. If chilling on the beach is your priority, some of the world’s best can be found in Crete or Halkidiki – sporty types take note of the 13km scenic coastal cycling route. Or head to Faliraki with the kids for banana boat rides, snorkelling and splashing about at Faliraki Waterpark.
History lovers won’t want to leave Greece: explore the archeological wonder that is the Athens Acropolis, walk the capital’s charming old Plaka neighbourhood and stop at one of the many local cafes to enjoy souvlaki, moussaka and gyros. For another UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the island of Corfu’s Old Town and submerge yourself in a world of Venetian cobbled streets, fortresses and tunnels.
Find adventure, culture and turquoise waters in Turkey
Whether you want the perfect package holiday with breathtaking beaches, buzzing bazaars and cafes on your city break or a boutique stay to explore a multitude of ancient ruins, Turkey has a dream holiday for everyone.
Istanbul will keep every generation entertained: visit the impressive Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques, go haggling in the Grand Bazaar, then grab a traditional pide (folded pizza) and a Turkish tea before making a trip to the array of castles and fortresses. There’s also a zoo, aquarium and entertainment parks.
Turkey has an abundance of historical sites, with many accessible from top beach resorts such as Side and Izmir. Head to the Dalaman region, often referred to as the Turquoise Coast in reference to the picture-perfect Blue Lagoon beach. Make the short journey from Daylan town to the magnificent ancient port city of Kaunos, which dates back to the 9th century BC and be sure to go turtle spotting at the neighbouring İztuzu Beach. Thrill seekers should head to the nearby resort of Fethiye, to spy its rugged scenery and historic sites from a paraglider. While Marmaris offers everything from parties and waterparks to romance. Head inland to Anatolia to experience the ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations of Cappadocia from the skies in a hot air balloon — a true bucket list experience.For resorts that offer a bit of everything, choose Bodrum and Antalya for everything from Roman ruins, bazaars and nightclubs to yacht-filled marinas, waterparks and pristine beaches. Lots to keep little ones entertained, and party goers busy while couples can enjoy luxe adult-only hotels.
Explore cities, coasts and sunshine islands in Spain
From the Costas to the Canaries and Barcelona to the Balearics, Spain really does have it all. If it’s a city break you’re after, choose the cosmopolitan capital of Madrid: take in art at the impressive Prado Museum, stroll through the peaceful Royal Botanic Gardens and tour the famous Bernabeu Stadium, home to the mighty Real Madrid. Or if you like beach vibes with your culture, opt for the city of Barcelona. Visit the Gothic Quarter for breathtaking architecture, marvel at the iconic Sagrada Família and enjoy tapas and cava in the narrow streets of the El Born district – home to the Moco and Picasso museums.
For full-on beach action, stay on the mainland and choose between Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava or the ‘Golden Coast’ of Costa Dorada. Here,Salou is a good option for those looking for buzzing restaurants and bars, active types keen on coastal walks, kayaking and snorkelling and kids keen to mix rollercoasters and waterparks at PortAventura theme park.
If you’re more about ‘island life’ there’s no shortage of options: head to Ibiza or Majorca for parties galore and secluded beaches with crystalline waters or opt for one of the equally idyllic Canaries. For a break that feels out of this world, choose volcanic island Lanzarote, which offers pristine white sand beaches across the island, including the main holiday resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa de los Pocillos, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. The latter offers a wealth of bars and restaurants, waterparks, 5km promenade and lively marina with a daily market.
Enjoy beachfront views, hikes and pastries in sun-drenched Portugal
Dramatic coastlines with crystal clear waters, buzzing city life with pop-up restaurants and dolphin and whale watching for wildlife lovers are just some of what is on offer in Portugal, making it a must-visit for group and solo travellers alike. Head to the south coast for the holiday haven of the Algarve, home to some of Europe’s top beaches. There’s 30km of coastline to enjoy at Albufeira alone, peppered with beachfront family friendly and adult-only hotels. Be sure to explore the cobbled streets and palm tree-lined squares of the Old Town before settling down for local seafood specialities including the Cataplana stew. Want to get active? Hike the coastal Seven Hanging Valleys Trail for views of rock formations against the backdrop of turquoise waters. While nightlife lovers should head to the Algarve cities of Lagos and Faro for rooftop cocktails and tunes that play until the sun comes up.
For culture fans, head to capital city Lisbon for countless museums, galleries and beautiful historic buildings including the huge, Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lose yourself in the cobbled alleyways of the Old Town of Alfama and soak up the smells and tastes of Portuguese baking including the delicious Pastéis de Belém. Beach lovers worry not, you can have sand between your toes after a quick bus ride, while surf lovers can train it to Estoril or Cascais to catch some waves.
For more travel ideas, inspiration and great value getaways, visit Travel Republic
By clobbering the wealthy, Rachel Reeves hurts working people too
It is a classic PR trick to brief off-the-record that something dire may be about to happen – price rises, redundancies, closures – before an eventual announcement that is not as bad as trailed. Cue sighs of relief.
Something along those lines may be occurring in the Treasury as it plots Rachel Reeves’s next move. Either that, or there is no firm plan and officials are flying kites in the hope one will land well. For weeks now, we have been treated to a steady stream of speculation about the chancellor’s intentions.
We know she is facing a much bigger-than-anticipated hole in the public finances. Labour pledged not to raise taxes on “working people” so income tax, employees’ national insurance and VAT are off limits. That leaves the Treasury few options.
The latest big idea floated is a new national and local property levy to replace stamp duty and council tax – not without merit, since both are outdated. But then came reports that capital gains tax on homes worth more than £1.5m was instead in her crosshairs; currently, primary residences are exempt. What is said to be under discussion is making higher-rate income taxpayers pay 24 per cent on any profit made from the sale of their home if it is worth more than £1.5m, with basic-rate taxpayers facing an 18 per cent bill.
To left-wingers, this may sound like an overdue “mansion tax”. While it may appeal to left-wingers, the levy would rebound. And “mansion” is a misnomer; while it evokes the image of a grand pile, it takes no account of property values in London where many apartments and terraced houses falling into that price bracket are far from mansions.
The point of scrapping stamp duty would be to increase property sales and movement in the housing market. A “mansion tax” would instead freeze it by persuading people to stay put, discouraging downsizing and worsening a housing crisis.
Elderly people would also be hit hard, as a capital gains charge would restrict their ability to sell property to pay for care fees. It is unclear how capital gains would operate alongside inheritance tax. Would some families be facing two separate, hefty bills?
The government has forced itself into a corner; not only did it rule out targeting workers in order to steal Conservative territory, but it won’t cut the soaring welfare bill. With no sign of economic growth, there are few options left except to increase borrowing, which would worsen the deficit. A windfall levy on big firms would send a terrible signal to business that Labour was so desperate to woo in the run-up to the election and would be a nail in the coffin for inward investment.
In reality, Reeves is left with inheritance tax, capital gains and property. Increasingly, it’s simply the better-off who Labour wishes to make worse-off, on the assumption that they can afford it; but many wealthy non-doms have already left. A property levy, coming after VAT on private schools and ending the inheritance tax loophole for farmers, shows a clear direction of travel that could prompt a further exodus of the people who invest and spend, create jobs and donate to charities.
Treasury officials may argue they have remained true to the pledge of leaving working people alone, but many of these homes to be taxed were bought with already-taxed earnings and are lived in by workers.
It is to be hoped that Reeves and her team are engaging in a PR exercise, floating an idea to be quietly dropped. If not, the chancellor risks an expensive political storm.
Lyle Menendez denied parole 36 years after murdering parents
Lyle Menendez has been denied parole after an 11-hour hearing on Friday.
His younger brother Erik Menendez was also denied parole on Thursday after a similarly long hearing — potentially the two longest in the history of California.
They can apply again for release in three years.
Almost 30 years after their convictions for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik were given the opportunity to present their cases for parole — the closest they have come to securing freedom since then.
They were sentenced in 1996 to life imprisonment for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989. They were 21 and 18 at the time.
Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father; prosecutors claimed they murdered their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The brothers became eligible for parole in May after a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole, to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes.
It was decided that a panel of parole hearing officers would evaluate the brothers individually. They both appeared by video link from prison on their respective days, with other participants joining from various locations.
In California, if a board recommends parole, there is a 120-day review period for the case. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom then has 30 days to affirm or deny the parole.
There was no live feed of the hearing, and only one journalist was allowed to watch and provide reports to other media outlets, which were barred from publishing them until a decision was reached.
James Queally of The Los Angeles Times reports that the hearing was stalled for hours after the California Corrections Department accidentally released a recording of Erik Menendez’s parole hearing to a news outlet.
The family was furious. Many then declined to speak in support of Lyle for fear their recordings would be made public.
Transcripts of parole hearings become public within 30 days, and there was an indication that public records requests for audio recordings of the Menendez brothers’ hearings would be honored, but the victims’ families said they were never informed, which sparked outrage in the hearing.
Lyle told the parole board details about the abuse he claims to have suffered under his parents. He cried, face reddened, while delivering his closing statement. He seemed to still want to protect his “baby brother,” telling commissioners he took sole responsibility for the murders.
“I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family,” he said. “I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry.”
The panel started by asking how abuse impacted decision-making in his life.
Lyle described how his father physically abused him by choking, punching and hurting him using a belt.
“I was the special son in my family. My brother was the castaway,” he said. “The physical abuse was focused on me because I was more important to him, I felt.”
He said his mother also sexually abused him, and appeared uncomfortable discussing this with the panel, who asked why he didn’t disclose his mother’s abuse in a risk assessment conducted earlier this year.
Asked if one death made him more sorrowful than the other, Lyle said: “My mother, because I loved her and couldn’t imagine harming her in any way.
He added: “I think also, I learned a lot after, about her life, her childhood, reflecting on how much fear maybe she felt.”
Later, Lyle broke down in tears when recounting how they confronted their mother about Jose Menendez’s alleged abuse of his younger brother.
“I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that she knew,” he said.
Heidi Rummel, Lyle’s parole lawyer, was more outspoken during the hearing than the one for Erik on Thursday.
She quarreled with the commissioners over several lines of questioning and whether the panel had access to trial evidence in the case.
The panel asked Lyle whether the murders were planned and about the brothers buying guns.
“There was zero planning. There was no way to know it was going to happen Sunday,” he said, referring to buying the guns as “the biggest mistake.”
“I no longer believe that they were going to kill us in that moment,” he said. “At the time, I had that honest belief.”
He was also asked about the “sophistication of the web of lies and manipulation you demonstrated afterward,” referring to having witnesses lie for them in court, and attempts to destroy his father’s will.
Menendez maintained that there was no plan, only that he was “flailing in what was happening” and didn’t want to go to prison and be separated from his brother.
In closing, Rummel expressed frustration that the hearing spent almost no time on Lyle’s achievements in prison or his efforts to build positive relationships with correctional staff. She noted he never touched drugs or alcohol inside.
“How many people with an LWOP [life without parole] sentence come in front of this board with zero violence, despite getting attacked, getting bullied, and choose to do something different?” she said.
Erik’s parole was denied, with his behavior in prison cited as the main reason, not the seriousness of the crime for which he was incarcerated. These included the use of cell phones, drugs, allegedly aiding a gang in a tax scheme, as well as two instances of violence.
Similarly, the panel zeroed in on Menendez’s use of cellphones in prison as recently as March 2025.
“I had convinced myself that this wasn’t a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation,” Menendez said.
He said correctional staff were monitoring his communications with his wife and family and selling them to tabloids, so he saw cellphones as a way to protect his privacy.
Commissioner Patrick Reardon applauded him for starting a prison beautification project and mentorship programs. But he questioned if the cellphone violations tainted those accomplishments.
“I would never call myself a model incarcerated person,” Menendez said. “I would say that I’m a good person, that I spent my time helping people. … I’m the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts.”
The panel noted that a psychologist found that Menendez is at “very low” risk for violence upon release.
“My life has been defined by extreme violence,” he said. “I wanted to be defined by something else.”
For years, the brothers filed petitions for appeals from behind bars, but they were denied by state and federal judges.
The brothers have engaged in educational activities while in prison, participated in self-help classes, and established various support groups for fellow prisoners.
They also launched a prison beautification project inspired by the Norwegian approach to incarceration that believes rehabilitation in humane prisons surrounded by nature leads to successful reintegration into society, even for people who have committed terrible crimes.
Over the years, the Menendez case has continued to fascinate the public, and the brothers became celebrities of sorts. They also were the subjects of true crime shows, including last year’s nine-episode Netflix crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.