The Papers: 'Budget tax reprieve for pensioners' and 'Meghan dad net to widen'

Published26 October 2026

The Times reports that the tax free allowance, external will be increased for low-income pensioners in Wednesday's Budget. It says the chancellor has also decided not to to reduce the tax-free pension lump sum - and quotes the former minister Steve Webb as saying this looks like a "decidedly pensioner-friendly" Budget. The i paper says John Healey will announce, external long-term borrowing to fund defence on Wednesday, but defer the commitment to increase the expenditure to 3% of GDP to next year's spending review.

"This budget is Andy Burnham's first real test" writes Sharon Graham, the union Unite's general secretary, in the Daily Mirror., external She says "hope will soon evaporate unless there is real change that workers and communities feel".

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph says John Healey is at odds, external with the energy secretary over drilling at the Rosebank North Sea oil field. According to the paper, Healey wants the plans to go ahead, but Miatta Fahnbulleh is opposed. The paper says she is minded to object to the plan because most of the oil would have to be exported, making it less effective at addressing UK energy security.

The Guardian says it has spoken to the interior minister of the Philippines, external and that he says the signs are that Thomas Markle could be a "possible sex offender of the grossest kind". The minister adds that an investigation into the Duchess of Sussex's father will provide a "definitive picture". Thomas Markle has denied all the allegations against him. The Daily Mail splashes with the interview on its front page , external and the Sun reports it too,, external as well as new details from the letter sent to the Met Police in 2019 making allegations against Markle.

The British Library is "turning the page" on some of its reading rooms, according to the Times., external It says the rooms are "the rarest of things in London, a sanctuary of silence" - but that three which are dedicated to science are closing permanently, and being turned into "flexible workspaces". The library's chief executive says many studies are now available online, but one professor calls it "a sad day for science".

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