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By Danny Boyle |
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| With temperatures set to reach 36C this weekend, homes face an “unprecedented” danger from destructive blazes – as dry weather combines with strong winds. We have full details of the fire risk areas. |
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‘Exceptional risk’ of wildfires this weekend
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| One spark is enough to cause destruction. That is the warning as wildfires threaten to sweep across parts of the country this weekend, after ministers were warned of an “unprecedented” risk to homes and the countryside. Fire chiefs told government officials during an emergency meeting yesterday that destructive blazes were likely to spread into residential areas in the coming days – fuelled by dry conditions and a strong easterly wind. The Met Office has raised the Fire Severity Index, which assesses how easily a blaze could spread, to the highest, “exceptional” level for an area of southern England that stretches from Nottingham to Sussex and as far west as Abergavenny this Sunday. As temperatures are expected to reach 36C (97F), see a map of the forecast and fire risk areas. Police are planning to step up patrols for activity that could spark a blaze in high-risk areas as the Government prepares to announce an official drought in the south as soon as tomorrow. Liz Perkins and environment editor Emma Gatten report on the “firestarter patrols” on a mission to protect the countryside.
The Oxfordshire village of Northend became the first place in Britain to run out of water earlier this week, with residents resorting to using bottled water for everything from filling troughs to washing themselves. Levels at their nearest reservoir dropped so low that taps are running dry and toilets will not flush. Helen Chandler-Wilde visited the village to learn how households are coping without running water. |
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Sunak ‘dug heels in’ to halt Brexit reforms
After 24 hours of bitter briefing wars in the Tory leadership race, two Cabinet ministers claim today that Rishi Sunak resisted attempts to cut Brexit red tape. Simon Clarke, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, who both back Liz Truss, say Mr Sunak “dug his heels in as chancellor” on reforms that were only possible after the UK left the EU. The pair make the allegation in an article for The Telegraph in which they name two specific incidents. The escalation in the war of words between the two camps comes as the candidates prepare for tonight’s sixth leadership hustings, organised by The Telegraph and hosted by our associate editor Camilla Tominey. |
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Pardon my French if this upsets you…
It is the latest front in the culture wars. French history and culture has been given a trigger warning in a university module as they “may be upsetting to some students”. Professors at Aberdeen University have said that grappling with aspects of France should be done “sensitively”. University documents state that the trigger warning is included in a course guide for a module called Qualify French Language. Craig Simpson explains the topics on the syllabus. |
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By Dominic Penna,
POLITICAL REPORTER |
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| Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak tonight face questions from associate editor Camilla Tominey – plus an audience of more than 1,800 – at our official Conservative leadership hustings in Cheltenham.
It could hardly come at a more heated time in the race for Downing Street after 24 hours of brutal blue-on-blue briefings.
Mr Sunak’s campaign accused Ms Truss of a “serious moral misjudgment” over cost-of-living support, while two of the Foreign Secretary’s leading supporters claimed Mr Sunak had resisted attempts to cut Brexit red tape.
It all begs the question of how the eventual victor will unite a party that has spent more than a month airing its dirty laundry in public.
Already fractured by splits on Covid, tax and Boris Johnson, the Conservatives have rarely seemed more divided than they do now.
Andrew Stephenson, the Tory Party co-chairman, tells me the contest “has rightfully seen robust debate”.
“This isn’t some garden party, this leadership election will decide who our next prime minister is,” he says, but adds that members are ready to “unite behind a new leader” after September 5.
Indeed, voters would struggle to forgive a prime minister who allowed the internal psychodrama to continue once in office – or failed to take some form of immediate action to help the British public.
Since Mr Johnson’s resignation, the in-tray facing his successor now looks much worse than first thought.
Energy bills threaten to top £5,000, while rolling winter blackouts loom and Vladimir Putin’s devastating war on Ukraine continues.
Against this bleak backdrop, who gets the keys to Downing Street could scarcely matter and it is now clear the two competing candidates’ offers are worlds apart.
Ms Truss, a free marketeer, has promised immediate tax cuts in an attempt to avoid a recession. Little wonder then she has emerged as the grassroots favourite and polling suggests she is on the way to No 10.
Mr Sunak would focus on “temporary and targeted” support throughout the winter and insists difficult choices are needed, with controlling inflation his top priority.
With Britain now at a fork in the road, the choice currently being made by 160,000 party members will put the country on one of two very different paths.
You can watch tonight’s proceedings live on the Telegraph’s YouTube channel, and join in the debate with live updates on our excellent politics live blog.
Until next time,
Dominic |
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A Palestinian clown carries a child during a show amid the rubble of a building destroyed in the latest round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Credit: SAID KHATIB/AFP
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Inside the bloodstained Gaza tower block ripped apart by an Israeli airstrike
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By James Rothwell,
GAZA CITY, STATE OF PALESTINE |
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| This week I have been reporting from Gaza with my brilliant Palestinian colleague, Siham Shamalakh, on the aftermath of a three-day round of fighting with Israel which began last Friday.
It is hard to imagine that, just a few days ago, these same people were hiding in terror from incoming Israeli airstrikes – while hundreds of outgoing rockets from Palestinian militants were also being fired at Israeli towns across the border. (Some of those rockets also appear to have misfired and landed inside the Gaza Strip, causing civilian casualties.)
More than 40 Palestinians were killed in this round of fighting, including 15 children according to the Hamas-run Gaza ministry of health.
On the Israeli side, there were no deaths or serious casualties, thanks mainly to the Iron Dome missile defence system. Many Israelis, however, did spend tense days and nights hiding in bomb shelters.
How did the bloodshed begin? As always with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it’s complicated. The trouble arguably kicked off in earnest last week, when Israeli forces arrested a senior member of the Islamic Jihad militant group in the West Bank.
Islamic Jihad was angered by this and, according to Israel, was poised to launch an attack on Israeli towns, prompting the Israelis to launch a pre-emptive strike. (A spokesman for Islamic Jihad denied this when we interviewed them yesterday.)
This came in the form of an airstrike launched by Israel last Friday on an apartment block in Gaza City. The target: Tayseer al-Jabari, an Islamic Jihad leader. Siham and I entered what remains of this building two days ago, and you can read our grim account of what we saw here.
We listened to Palestinian residents talk about what they saw and heard that afternoon, while they collected their belongings from the gutted tower. We also visited Shifa Hospital, where we interviewed a father-of-four who had suffered serious shrapnel wounds to his legs.
During our work I had a strange sense of déja vu, as just one year and three months ago we were in that same hospital, reporting on the fallout from the May 2021 round of fighting. That was a far deadlier conflict for both sides, killing some 260 Palestinians and 15 Israelis.
This time around, Hamas – the Islamist group that governs the Gaza Strip – did not join the fray, though it expressed solidarity with Islamic Jihad. They are understood to have done this on pragmatic grounds, as if they had joined in, the conflict would have been far longer and bloodier.
It remains to be seen whether Hamas will also sit out any future exchange of fire, should the ceasefire be broken – which, one suspects, is an almost unavoidable scenario. |
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There are concerns that new laws banning the sale of cheap alcohol could reduce tax returns Credit: PA
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Ireland’s cheap booze ban is sparking UK tax fears
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By James Crisp,
EUROPE EDITOR |
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| One of the eternal Brexit debates is whether size matters and by how much.
Brexiteers believe a nimble UK shorn of its ties to the EU can be speedier and smarter than rivals in the bloc and gain a competitive advantage.
Remainers insist that a small, independent UK will never have the heft or influence of a massive trading bloc like the EU.
Brexiteers say the UK can gain a first mover advantage by regulating emerging technologies and setting what will become global standards.
This is laughed off by supporters of the European Project, who point to the global influence that Brussels exerts thanks to its rule-drafting machine and 460 million-strong Single Market.
Resistance or submission to the EU’s regulatory tractor beam after Brexit is sure to be a cornerstone of British political debate for years to come.
There are signs of that in the tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is a magnifying glass to any divergences between London and Brussels because it requires the country to follow some EU rules, while the rest of the UK does not have to.
In Ireland, which is far more used to being neighbours with a larger power than Britain, there are concerns that new laws banning the sale of cheap alcohol could reduce tax returns.
A finance department paper warned shoppers in the Republic could simply travel north, stock up on cheaper booze and head home, the Irish Independent reported today.
Since Brexit, there is duty-free shopping between the UK and Ireland but with limits on quantities.
But with no real enforcement on the Irish land border, there is nothing to stop low-level smuggling to the extent that it could hurt tax revenues.
The “invisibility” of the Irish border is guaranteed by the Protocol, which moves customs checks on UK goods and animals entering Northern Ireland to the Irish Sea.
This is seen by both Dublin and, at least in public, London as vital to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
Ireland also views the Protocol as a vital safeguard to its place in the EU’s Single Market, which is a cornerstone of its economy.
The treaty was meant in part to ensure there was no need to introduce border checks between Ireland and other EU member states, which would reduce the benefits of membership.
Alcohol tax revenue is small beer compared to the Single Market or an imperilled peace process.
But it is the kind of consideration Dublin is long accustomed to when setting its own laws.
And it is similar to the choices and dilemmas the UK government might soon find itself habitually facing in relation to the EU. |
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Britain is rescuing France with energy exports – and it’s making trade threats feel increasingly hollow
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By Olivia Utley,
ASSISTANT COMMENT EDITOR |
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| If Protocol negotiations between Britain and the EU turn nasty later this year, conventional wisdom has it that Britain would be the loser. A new development, however, could put paid to that notion.
Since 2017, Britain has relied on electricity imports from the continent to help top up our own grid, particularly during still and grey periods when neither solar nor wind power are generating much energy.
But in the last few months that balance of power has shifted. This summer, France has had its lowest nuclear output for more than 10 years, with half of the country’s reactors offline for refuelling and maintenance purposes.
These prolonged closures have coincided precisely with European energy ministers agreeing an EU-wide plan to cut gas consumption in case of a complete shut-off of Russian supplies – leaving France in a precarious position.
Even Emmanuel Macron – who has previously been bullish about his country’s readiness for the European energy crunch – has now made a dramatic about-turn, warning in a recent speech that businesses, households, and government agencies will need to start cutting down on energy consumption.
Luckily for both him and the French people, Britain is here to help. Liquified natural gas (LNG) imports to the UK from the US and Qatar have increased recently, leaving us in a position to ride to the rescue of our European neighbours. This summer, in fact, our power grid has become a net exporter of energy for the first time in five years.
Brussels will likely continue to mutter darkly about a trade war with Britain if no satisfactory compromise on the Protocol is reached. But with France now heavily dependent on Britain for energy, those threats feel increasingly hollow. |
Tinderbox Britain | A regional drought in southern England is expected to be announced tomorrow, The Telegraph understands. The official status means the Environment Agency will more closely monitor water companies’ plans to protect supply and add to pressure for hosepipe bans. It came after warnings of an “exceptional” wildfires risk amid an amber heat warning. With highs of 36C forecast this weekend, these are six ways high temperatures can affect your health – and this is what Britons can learn from their continental cousins about keeping cool.
With the cost-of-living crisis one of the key leadership battlegrounds, a grim new forecast today predicted that average household energy bills will soar to more than £5,000 a year next April. Ministers held crisis talks with utility bosses this morning to discuss how to help ease the pressure. But the meeting failed to produce any immediate concrete help for struggling consumers, with Boris Johnson acknowledging any “significant fiscal decisions” would be a matter for his successor. Instead, the Prime Minister urged the companies to act “in the national interest”.
Find also to read: Shall skyrocketing energy prices bring down consumption
European oil demand
Meanwhile, experts warned that oil giants including Saudi Arabia will be boosted by a rise in European oil demand as Vladimir Putin shuts off the continent’s gas taps. World oil consumption is set to jump by 2.1m barrels a day this year as factories and power generators try to dodge rocketing gas prices, the International Energy Agency said. It warned the rise in oil demand would emerge against a backdrop of tighter supply, with Russia cutting down on production as the EU prepares sanctions on its oil. Experts said Russian oil production will drop by a fifth in the early months of next year. Louis Ashworth explains the likely ramifications. |
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‘Micro-charges’ on the rise
Free products and services have rarely been so valuable in keeping household budgets under control, yet they are disappearing quickly. Anaya Suresh, a 24-year-old from London, was shocked to find she and her family were denied tap water at a restaurant this summer. “We had to pay £4 instead,” she said. “But it came out in jugs and was clearly from the taps.” It is an example of a rising number of “micro-charges” that have proliferated since the pandemic. Martyn James, a consumer rights campaigner, lifts the lid on other areas where consumers are expected to pay more for services that come at no extra cost to businesses. |
‘Explosions’ at Belarus airbase
Unexplained explosions were heard early today at a military airbase in Belarus that Russia has been using as one of the launchpads for its invasion of Ukraine. Locals reported seeing at least eight flashes in the sky and feeling a powerful blast wave. The Zyabrouka base reportedly hosts large numbers of Russian tanks and long-range artillery. Overnight, new satellite images revealed the extensive damage to another Russian base in Crimea after it was targeted in an attack suspected to have been carried out by Ukraine. Follow our live coverage.
Law and order | Police failure to tackle thieves and burglars threatens their “bond of trust” with the public, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary says today. In an article for The Telegraph, Andy Cooke says most victims of such crimes are being denied justice because of officers’ failure to do the basics in investigations. As home affairs editor Charles Hymas reports, Mr Cooke says police are “setting themselves up to fail” from the point of taking a 999 call to finalising a case.
August 12
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Drought declared across half of England
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Low water levels at Holme Styes reservoir in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire Credit: PA
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| More than half of England’s Environment Agency areas are to be moved into drought status, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.
Eight of 14 areas in England will be declared in drought status.
Drought conditions might last until next year
As water levels in reservoirs across England and Wales dropped to record lows, experts have predicted that drought conditions could last into next year. An official drought is expected to be declared across the worst-hit areas of southern England today during a meeting between ministers and the water industry, after the region had its driest July since 1836. The announcement could bring more hosepipe bans and also orders for canals to close to boats. Search by postcode to see restrictions in your area. Daniel Capurro reports how drivers have been warned not to pull on to verges because of the risk of starting a fire.
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By Dominic Penna,
POLITICAL REPORTER |
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| Last night’s biggest and best Conservative leadership hustings to date, hosted by The Telegraph, saw Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss face a grilling from Camilla Tominey and our readers in front of some 1,800 people at the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse.
For a contest now regularly going over old ground (who knew Ms Truss was a Liberal Democrat?), the scale of what we learnt last night was a testament to Camilla’s excellent hosting.
There’s a reason why Ms Truss is the front-runner and she was in comfortable form, with a wisecrack for every occasion but also some powerful warnings about declinism and “failing” Treasury orthodoxy.
It was also the strongest showing to date of the Foreign Secretary’s true blue credentials, as she insisted profit was not a “dirty word” and suggested that the windfall tax – introduced by her rival during his time at the Treasury – was a “Labour idea all about bashing business”.
There was no way that Mr Sunak was going to take those criticisms lying down.
Arguably the main takeaway from last night was the sheer willingness of the former chancellor, against whom the odds are stacked, to fight right up until the end.
He doubled down on his record at 11 Downing Street and seemed unfussed as he revealed Boris Johnson now refused to return his calls.
Asked if his Winchester background gave him opportunities that others lacked, Mr Sunak snapped back: “I am not going to apologise for what my parents did for me. You must be joking.”
While polls suggest he currently trails Ms Truss by more than 30 points, he was unequivocal – he is not stepping aside.
Sunak asserted: “We are only halfway through this thing. I am going to fight until the last day with everything I have got because I am fighting for what I believe in.”
That may just be wishful thinking. Speculation suggests that more than half of members have now voted. And campaigners are privately dismayed by his rival’s high-profile endorsements and momentum.
But as we see all the time at Cheltenham Racecourse, those who lead during the early furlongs are not always the first to cross the line.
The smart money is still on Ms Truss, who is a good few lengths ahead.
With Mr Sunak finally appearing to gather pace, and an online Telegraph poll suggesting he was last night’s best-in-show, there is nonetheless plenty of life left in this two-horse race.
Until next time,
Dominic
Our writers’ verdicts on who came out top in hustings
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| Last night’s Tory leadership hustings run by The Telegraph drew the biggest audience of the contest so far, as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss faced a forensic examination. The final two candidates were grilled on pivotal topics, from the cost-of-living crisis to water shortages, that will shape party members’ decisions – and Britain’s future. With time running out for the pair to change the dynamics of the race, Janet Daley, Tim Stanley, Ross Clark and Patrick O’Flynn deliver their verdicts on who came out on top. Ms Truss is the frontrunner after leading in Tory member polls, but Mr Sunak secured more support from readers in a live online vote during the hustings. In her sketch, Madeline Grant says the increasingly bitter race for No 10 felt more like a two-horse race. And associate editor Camilla Tominey, who hosted the event at Cheltenham Racecourse, reveals how the rivals interacted behind the scenes.
During the event, Ms Truss rejected calls to increase the windfall tax on energy companies to fund handouts for households, saying profit was not a “dirty word”. The Foreign Secretary said she was “absolutely” against such taxes and argued it was a policy approach that would be taken by the Labour Party. Mr Sunak, the former chancellor, accused Ms Truss of irresponsibility over her willingness to borrow more to pay for tax cuts and said he would prioritise helping pensioners and low earners. He also revealed that Boris Johnson is refusing to answer or return calls from him a month after he resigned from the Cabinet. Topic by topic, read how the rival candidates faced scrutiny of their plans for leadership. |
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Salman Rushdie attacked on stage in New York
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Salman Rushdie
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| Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, has been attacked as he was about to give a lecture in New York. |
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By Danny Boyle |
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| There is a major breaking news story in the US, where Salman Rushdie – the Satanic Verses author – has been stabbed on stage. His condition was unclear as I sent this email. Follow the latest here.
Following years of death threats, the author Salman Rushdie was today attacked on stage by a knifeman. The 75-year-old suffered what police believe was a stab wound to the neck after a man stormed the event in New York at about 11am local time (4pm BST). The novelist was flown to hospital, but his condition was unclear as I was sending this email. He was taken away on a stretcher with a drip in his arm and blood covering his torso, hands and face. Our US correspondent Josie Ensor has the latest developments. The Indian-born British writer’s earlier work led to death threats and a fatwa from the Iranian regime. His most well-known book, The Satanic Verses, has been banned in Iran since 1988. |
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Supermarket rations water as drought declared
Huge parts of Britain are being officially declared in drought. More than half of England is to be moved into drought status following the driest summer in 50 years, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said. It will impact eight out of 14 areas in England – and at least two more areas are expected to move into drought later in August. Amid fears of supplies drying up, a supermarket has imposed a limit on customers buying multi-packs of bottled water. See the signs at the branch of Aldi. The new drought declarations are expected to trigger hosepipe bans by Thames and South West Water and could see further restrictions elsewhere. Search by postcode to check on the situation where you live. And, as environment editor Emma Gatten reports, it could also see canals closed to boats and extra rules brought in to protect wildlife – with measures potentially lasting into next year.
Scorching temperatures are to continue, with a Met Office amber warning for extreme heat in place for parts of central and southern England and Wales until midnight on Sunday, with temperatures as high as 36C on Saturday and Sunday before returning to the low 30s by Monday. With a survey finding that around two-thirds of people struggle to sleep during hot conditions, you might be in need of advice for a more comfortable night. We have eight tips from sleep experts.
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| Same energy, different bills | EDF energy customers in this country are paying almost two and a half times as much as their counterparts in France after Emmanuel Macron imposed strict price caps. EDF customers in Britain have had their bills capped at £1,971 by energy regulator Ofgem, while French customers on regulated tariffs face bills of around £803. Helen Cahill explains how the French government has ensured the state-owned supplier can maintain low prices for consumers. Meanwhile, households with smart meters could be moved to prepayment plans without consent if they refuse to pay their bills. |
Russia’s ‘worst loss since WW2’
Russia appeared to suffer its biggest loss of aircraft in a single day since the Second World War, as fresh analysis of the explosive strike at an air base in occupied Crimea contradicted Moscow’s claim that no jets had been destroyed. Military analysts said a review of new satellite images revealed the full extent of damage. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told officials to stop talking to reporters about Kyiv’s military tactics against Russia. The latest is in our live blog. |
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Satellite imagery shows the destroyed Russian aircraft at Saky air base after explosions
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August 13
Drought looms, inflation is soaring and the energy crisis continues to intensify. We bring you a deeper understanding of the issues at play this week with our hand-picked articles, below.
August 14
| Rishi Sunak says Iran should be sanctioned over the stabbing of Salman Rushdie as the suspected attacker, Hadi Matar, appeared in court on Saturday. Rushdie is off a ventilator and talking.
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Britain is threatened with South African-style ‘load shedding’ as 
‘I organised a three-generation holiday – 
House prices are about to dip – 
‘Vladimir Putin’s military cupboard is bare.’ The Kremlin 
Discover the 70-mile stretch of British coast with dolphins and golden beaches – 
Sir Salman Rushdie is reportedly on a ventilator and may lose an eye after he was stabbed on stage on Friday. His agent said this morning the news was “not good,” adding that Rushdie could not speak.
Some View on the World 
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