Politics: UK & US

Today in Politics: UK & US

Sunday, 1 November 2026. This section changes every day.

🇬🇧 UK (United Kingdom)

Conservatives and the Treasury dispute the cost of the Budget

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote in the Telegraph that the Budget leaves a £49bn gap and would mean tax rises of about £1,700 per household by 2030-31, according to her party's calculations. A Treasury spokesman called the Conservative figures "fiction" and said the Budget meets the fiscal rules, funds the defence plan and puts borrowing on a downward path. Independent bodies say costings remain uncertain: the Office for Budget Responsibility said several measures could not yet be fully quantified, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the government will need to find around £28bn, including £11bn for the 3% of GDP defence target.

Parties involved: Conservative, Labour

Sources: The Telegraph (opens in a new tab), The Guardian (opens in a new tab)

🇬🇧 UK (United Kingdom)

Early general election talk grows, though the Prime Minister rules one out

The BBC reports that speculation about an early general election has grown since the Budget, even though Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled one out in the next 12 months. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he expects one in May, the Liberal Democrats say they are on a "snap election footing", and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has asked why some of the measures end by summer. The BBC notes that the predictions come mostly from opposition MPs and that an election does not have to be held until August 2029.

Parties involved: Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Reform UK

Sources: BBC News (opens in a new tab), The Telegraph (opens in a new tab)

🇺🇸 US (United States)

Early voting surges and Democrats lead national polls three days before the midterms

An Associated Press analysis, cited by Al Jazeera, found more than 43 million Americans had voted early five days before the 3 November midterms, nearly 10 million more than at the same point in 2022. RealClearPolling's national congressional ballot average has Democrats ahead of Republicans by 8.2 points, 51.4% to 43.2%, and analyst Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball said the House is "almost certain to flip" while the Senate is "much more up in the air". Early turnout figures show how many people have voted, not who for, and President Donald Trump is due to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday.

Parties involved: Democratic, Republican

Sources: Al Jazeera (opens in a new tab), BBC News (opens in a new tab)

🇺🇸 US (United States)

Federal judge limits Justice Department demands on California election officials

US District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order on Friday barring the Trump administration from threatening California election officials with prosecution or demanding they set aside ballots over alleged non-citizen voting, writing that its actions were "likely to have the effect of interfering with election administration and disenfranchising lawful voters". The Justice Department had asked California to set aside the ballots of about 20,000 voters it "believes" are "likely" non-citizens, and the administration says its aim is to stop unlawful voting. President Trump criticised the ruling, writing "Why would they reject fixing Election Fraud?"; the order runs to 16 November, with a hearing set for 13 November.

Parties involved: Trump administration (Republican), California election officials

Sources: BBC News (opens in a new tab), CBS News (opens in a new tab)

Fairness note: Balanced coverage across all parties. AI-written, human-edited by @tonyscakes8g. Claims are attributed to the people or organisations making them. Image credits are shown on each card.