Tom Edgington

Andy Burnham's first-week commitments, including ending rough sleeping, cutting VAT on domestic electricity, capping bus fares at £2 and reducing business rates for pubs and live venues, amount to about £1.5bn. The rough-sleeping and bus-fare measures are presented as funded, while the electricity VAT cut lacks a clear funding source because cancelling an already-unfunded digital ID scheme does not itself release money. The pub tax reduction is described as funded but insufficiently detailed, and the cost of the new No 10 North is expected to come from existing budgets. The pledges represent about 0.1% of annual public spending, but larger possible commitments on tax allowances, defence, social care and council housing could cost billions and require tax rises or spending cuts under the government's fiscal rules.

Declassified intelligence documents reviewed by analysts contain no evidence that foreign interference or fraud altered past US election outcomes, despite claims made by Donald Trump. Files indicate Chinese efforts to access voter data and influence opinion but do not substantiate large‑scale meddling or tampering with voting systems. Assessments acknowledge vulnerabilities in election infrastructure but conclude broad manipulation would be difficult. Investigations into alleged fraudulent voter registrations in Michigan found no criminal violations, and DHS figures on non‑citizen voter registrations lack supporting evidence. The materials overall do not corroborate Trump’s assertions about widespread election fraud or foreign interference changing results.

Declassified intelligence reviewed by BBC Verify shows no evidence that foreign interference or fraud altered previous US election outcomes, contradicting several claims presented by Donald Trump. The documents indicate China sought voter data but do not support assertions of large-scale election tampering. Assessments cited by Trump acknowledge theoretical vulnerabilities in voting systems but note that safeguards and decentralization make widespread manipulation unlikely. Files related to alleged voter registration fraud in Michigan show that a years-long investigation closed without identifying criminal violations. A Department of Homeland Security document cited by Trump claims large numbers of non-citizens are registered to vote but provides no supporting evidence, leaving the claim unverified.

The Defence Investment Plan outlines projected increases in UK defence spending, placing Nato‑qualifying expenditure at 2.7% of GDP by 2027–28 and maintaining that level through 2030. The plan falls short of providing a clear path toward the government’s stated ambitions of 3% spending in the next parliament and Nato’s target of 3.5% by 2035. Additional short‑term funding commitments include a £15bn increase over four years compared with previous plans, with £10.3bn already identified. Questions remain over whether current spending trajectories sufficiently align with long‑term defence and Nato obligations.