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The Independent

October 2026

Burnham warned ‘steady as she goes Budget’ would mean ‘chunky cuts’ to public services as inflation bites

Leading think tank IFS the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned chancellor John Healey against making the Budget ‘a work of fiction’

Andrew Griffithshadow chancellor
Higher borrowing costs and Andy Burnham’s unfunded spending commitments have swallowed up his headroom and created upward inflationary pressure.... Labour
If John Healey sets out spending envelopes for public services that he would not be willing to live within, his plan for meeting the fiscal rules will not be credible,
A choice to leave spending totals unchanged would implicitly be a choice to cut some budgets and allow the quality and/or quantity of some public services to fall.”

Pennsylvania shooter who killed 8 was family’s patriarch, slain toddler’s dad says

Words can’t even explain what I’m going through right now,
They were a lovely family. Who would have thought this would ever happen?”
Rick Lorahpolice Chief
They knew something was going on at that house,
Out of respect for the victims and the families, I will not discuss the details of what our officers encountered inside that home,
I think that was a front for him,
Forever In My Heart.”
But I want our community to understand the gravity of what happened and the profound impact this tragedy has had on those involved and on our community as a whole,

Trump’s new press secretary has a history of pushing banana conspiracy theories

[W... W]hy doesn’t Fox News do a ‘feature’ on what a pedophile Podesta is,
Katie Zachariaimage in gallery White House press secretary
Did you notice Trump drinking bottled water last night during his announcement? He drank at least 2-3 times. I have not seen him do that at his speeches or rallies. It reminds me of Q posts 765, 767, and 847. Or was it a signal for something else; by land or by sea.”
Joe Biden46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
Pedo Podesta. #pedoPodesta.”... The radical left Hollywood elites are sick pedo cannibals. Change my mind.”
Democrats want to mask and rape your children. That’s their satanic platform,
Donald Trumppresident
She was previously involved in my Campaigns, assisting in key Swing States, where we won 7 out of 7. She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA,

New York shop says Kelly Clarkson tried to buy item not for sale, defends itself after ‘8 million’ attacks

The singer and former talk show host had previously called out Art of Play on social media

But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in ‘Pretty Woman.’ For sure, check it out,
Kelly Clarksonthe Brooklyn retail store
Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me,
Yesterday, Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here,
However, the negative experience Kelly described on twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop,
Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,

Other Mommy tops the box office with $27.5m, with Social Reckoning at $5.5m

These movies that are topical in nature, sometimes they resonate with the culture, sometimes they don’t,
Jim Orrcollege basketball player (1972–1972) Stetson
No matter how you look at it, everybody turned out for it. It wasn’t just one particular demographic,

John Stamos shares health update on Beach Boys singer Mike Love: ‘He insists on being on stage’

Mike is a fighter. Despite doctors, family and friends urging him to focus on his health, he insists on being on stage. He says he needs his band, the audience, his friends and drummer surrounding him to lift him up.”
John Stamosactor
The Mike Love we see tonight may not be exactly the Mike we’ve always known. But he’s still every bit the Mike we love. His lyrics, optimism, unforgettable hooks, and more than 7,000 concerts have brought joy to generations. What he’s given me personally is immeasurable,
John Stamosactor
Maybe the hardest part of loving someone is becoming so accustomed to the miracle of having them there that you forget it’s a miracle at all,
John Stamosactor
I’m boarding a plane to Nashville to play with the Beach Boys at the Ryman Auditorium, struggling to put my feelings into words,
He’s made me a better musician, entertainer and man,
I never imagined how deeply it would affect me to see someone larger than life face something so human and fragile,

Georgia family of 5 dead in apparent murder-suicide

Brannen Pruettepolice Chief
It’s my understanding the call was placed by the wife, the female victim. She called and was complaining about the husband who was in the house smoking, and she said he was killing her with the smoke,
Fred Colecoffee County Sheriff
We’re a close community, and we’re going to take care of each other,
Fred Colecoffee County Sheriff
Five individuals lost their lives, and their family and friends woke up hurting today,
Investigators believe this was an apparent murder-suicide involving the immediate family members who reside in the home,

‘Mohammed el-Sayed’: Trump says he can change name of ‘jihadist’ Michigan Senate candidate

Donald Trumppresident
To me, he’s Mohammed, and he’s a radical jihadist. The guy’s a jihadist,... I DON’T WANT A JIHADIST, as a senator from Michigan.”
I’m the president. I can call him whatever the hell I want,
Donald Trumppresident
To me it’s Mohammed.”
Donald Trumppresident
He knows my name is Abdul. He says it every day. But he’s not just attacking me. He’s attacking all of us.”
Donald Trumppresident
Mike Rogers, the great QAmerican Patriot and Republican Candidate for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, completely obliterated Mohammed El-Sayed [sic] in the big debate tonight.”
Donald Trumppresident
These lunatics came in for four years....They were destroying our country, and we cannot let them get back in. Like Mohammed El-Sayed. I call him Mohammed,
Donald Trumppresident
Somebody said, ‘HIS NAME ISN’T MOHAMMED,... It’s Abdul.”
I won Michigan by the way, by a lot. Thank you very much,

UK prime minister say it is 'clear' Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit referendum

Andy Burnhamprime Minister
I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? And I've had the clear answer that yes, there was,
There is certainly misinformation, disinformation, that is emanating from Russia into German politics.”
Andy Burnhamprime Minister
You know he was saying to me that the AfD are clearly linked to Russia, funded I believe,

‘Our noise is to win games’; Enzo Maresca challenges Man City to continue winning mentality

The Man City boss tasked his team with continuing their winning streak in order to silence opposition fans

Shane Gillis apologizes for dropping F-bomb on SNL — but that’s not why he’s facing backlash

Shane Gilliscomedian
I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t realize women just dressed like whores now,
When did it become cool to call women whores b/c of their clothing? I quit watching after about half of the Shane Gillis monologue, it was so disgusting,... Shane Gillis choosing now of all times to do a monologue slutshaming ordinary women for what they wear is genuinely disgusting.”
When Shane Gillis apologized, it took me too long to realize it was for saying f*** and not calling women whores.”
If you go through my 10 years of comedy, most of it bad, you’re going to find a lot of bad misses,

Burnham vows to publish details of his meetings with Man City owners

Prime minister stands by his ‘concern’ Manchester club’s Abu Dhabi owners could sell up

The prime minister must publish every contact between his ministers, officials and Manchester City since he walked into Number 10, the prime minister must also explain why he inappropriately intervened in this case, and Lisa Nandy must answer the questions I have put to her in full,