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Subject: Burnham goes nuclear
From: "Morning Press" <daily@spectator.co.uk>
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=E2=80=8C
By William Atkinson
Good morning. Andy Burnham will travel to Burrow-in-Furness today to outlin=
e how the Trident nuclear deterrent fits into his plans to reindustrialise =
Britain. England=E2=80=99s 50-year drought record could be broken as hot, d=
ry weather takes its toll on more than half the country. The US has launche=
d =E2=80=98heavy=E2=80=99 strikes against Iran while at least seven people =
have been killed in Ukraine following a barrage of Russian missiles. Zack P=
olanski will face no action from the Metropolitan Police over a post he sha=
red about Nigel Farage, the FTSE 100 has somehow hit record highs and Engla=
nd=E2=80=99s cricketers are ready to be bowled over by a new coach. You=E2=80=
=99re reading Spectator Daily: here=E2=80=99s everything you need to know t=
oday.
BURNHAM GOES NUCLEAR
It=E2=80=99s been hard to escape the rather hyperbolic =E2=80=98new year, n=
ew me=E2=80=99 atmosphere that=E2=80=99s lingered in Westminster since Andy=
Burnham=E2=80=99s premiership began. In less than two weeks, the Prime Min=
ister has pledged to prioritise the cost of living, cap bus fares and cut b=
usiness rates for pubs. He=E2=80=99s pledged to reform social care (as our =
politics team discuss [https://spectator.com/podcast/andys-care-plan/?sta=
tus=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] on Coffee House Shots), he=E2=80=99s ruled out an election (as Tim Shipma=
n questions [https://spectator.com/article/no-election-dont-bet-on-it/?st=
atus=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] in this week=E2=80=99s magazine), he=E2=80=99s even scrapped [https://s=
pectator.com/article/burnham-is-boldly-going-nowhere/?status=3D=
=
Non-subs=
=
] the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Today he turns his=
attention to the knottier issue of defence, primarily Britain=E2=80=99s nu=
clear deterrent.
That=E2=80=99s right, Burnham will travel [https://www.theguardian.com/po=
litics/2026/jul/29/trident-renewal-central-defence-reindustrialised-britain=
-andy-burnham?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] to Barrow-in-Furness to launch the next phase of Trident as part of his p=
lan to reindustrialise Britain. He will make the case that spending on proj=
ects such as the =C2=A331 billion Dreadnought-class submarines being built =
in the Cumbrian town show how taxpayer investment can aid communities. Ahea=
d of his visit, he said: =E2=80=98Security is not only about what we build;=
it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it.=E2=80=99
How, exactly? Downing Street claims a new set of submarine contracts worth =
=C2=A38.4 billion will help support 18,000 extra jobs by 2030 and 22,000 ad=
ditional apprentices by 2035. =E2=80=98To every young person across the cou=
ntry, I want you to know that there is a path for you into a reindustrialis=
ed Britain, and it starts with the apprenticeships we are funding through t=
his investment today,=E2=80=99 the PM said. Burnham voted in favour of Trid=
ent in 2016; Louise Haigh, his new No. 2, did not.
Getty
=E2=80=98Did I leave the gas on in No. 10 North?=E2=80=99
Meanwhile, the Times reports [https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/articl=
e/mayors-plan-tax-rebates-devolution-windfall-0296qfchb?status=3D=
=
Non-subs=
=
] that some of England=E2=80=99s metro mayors are planning to use devolutio=
n powers announced by Burnham to offer tax rebates to voters. In a shake-up=
of the English tax system due to be laid out tomorrow, the Prime Minister =
could hand regional mayors a share of income tax revenues to be spent local=
ly. An =E2=80=98ally=E2=80=99 told the paper Burnham also has =E2=80=98mean=
ingful plans=E2=80=99 to devolve aspects of business rates.
The aim is to encourage local investment in public services, promoting grow=
th in local areas. But the paper suggests that Conservative and Reform mayo=
rs instead want to use the powers to cut voters=E2=80=99 tax bills. Ben Hou=
chen, the Tory mayor for Tees Valley, said he will use his new mooted freed=
oms to make his region =E2=80=98a more attractive place and a far more comp=
etitive place to invest in than Manchester and London=E2=80=99. Luke Campbe=
ll, the Reform mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, and Andrea Jenkyns, the Re=
form mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, are reportedly consulting officials on =
doing something similar.
Coming up today
Polls are open in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election. Labour=E2=80=99=
s Bev Craig is the current favourite to replace Andy Burnham.
Back in London, the Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate =
decision at midday. Analysts expect rates to be held at 3.75% for a fifth t=
ime.
Today is the 60th anniversary of England winning the World Cup. It may be t=
oo soon, but please enjoy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DC0aK2IgORGA?=
status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] the full highlights, courtesy of Path=C3=A9 News.
HOT FUZZ
The guillotine stays up. The Metropolitan Police has announced [https://w=
ww.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/zack-polanski-nigel-farage-post-t-shirt=
-instagram-k9mpxnmhr?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] that no further action will be taken against Zack Polanski. The Green par=
ty leader had shared a photograph of a man wearing a T-shirt emblazoned wit=
h a guillotine and the slogan, =E2=80=98We=E2=80=99re only making plans for=
Nigel=E2=80=99. Reform UK accused Polanski of =E2=80=98incitement to murde=
r=E2=80=99 for sharing the post and reported him to police. Polanski refuse=
d to issue an apology and stressed that he had quickly deleted it from his =
Instagram.
The Green party leader seemed unrepentant yesterday, based on his social me=
dia activity. The Telegraph reports [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics=
/2026/07/29/no-action-taken-against-polanski-farage-t-shirt-threat/?status=3D=
=
Non-subs=
=
] he liked a post on BlueSky, saying: =E2=80=98Left-wing politicians must b=
e perfect in every way, and can=E2=80=99t make minor mistakes, while right-=
wing politicians are free to call for race riots and pogroms, expelling mil=
lions of people because they=E2=80=99re not white, praising Hitler, goose s=
tepping and sieg heiling around the quad, etc.=E2=80=99 Either way, the Met=
said that it was =E2=80=98unlikely=E2=80=99 that Polanski sharing the imag=
e constituted a criminal offence.
Away from politics, Morning Press readers of a certain vintage will have me=
mories of the long, hot summer of 1976. But the 50-year drought record set =
that summer is on track to be broken. At Wisley in Surrey, the Royal Hortic=
ultural Society has recorded [https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/articl=
e/zack-polanski-nigel-farage-post-t-shirt-instagram-k9mpxnmhr?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] 43 consecutive days without rain =E2=80=93 three more and the 1976 record=
will be broken. Yesterday the Environment Agency officially declared =E2=80=
=98flash drought=E2=80=99 conditions in more than half of England. That can=
only mean two things: very brown lawns and increased risk of wildfires. Th=
e Met Office said dry soil and vegetation have created conditions in which =
flames could take hold and spread quickly. Over the past couple of weeks, f=
ire crews have been responding to a new wildfire in England and Wales every=
90 minutes.
In this week=E2=80=99s magazine, Matt Ridley reports [https://spectator.c=
om/article/the-unspoken-truth-about-wildfires/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] on the blazes across Europe and highlights that wildfires are actually be=
coming less frequent. In France, Catriona Olding sends [https://spectator=
=2Ecom/article/tears-and-terror-on-the-front-line-of-the-french-wildfires/?st=
atus=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] a dispatch from the frontline, while Toby Young can=E2=80=99t help but w=
orry [https://spectator.com/article/wont-someone-please-think-of-the-frenc=
h-wine/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] about the vineyards.
Getty
Blackheath? More like Brownheath!
A Prince or a pauper? Prince Harry is among the celebrities being pursued =
[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/prince-harry-court-case-daily-mai=
l-wmd2385h9?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] for legal costs following their failed privacy claim against the Mail=E2=80=
=99s publisher. The high-profile group, which also includes Elton John and =
Baroness Lawrence, have legal insurance covering =C2=A316.2 million. Howeve=
r, it is far short of the =C2=A334.5 million of legal costs incurred by Ass=
ociated Newspapers. Yesterday, the High Court told the celebrities to cough=
up an initial =C2=A310 million within a fortnight. But Associated aims to =
recover far more after a joint statement from the Duke of Sussex and Lawren=
ce described the judgement as =E2=80=98a complete and obvious whitewash=E2=80=
=99. Antony White KC, representing the newspaper group, said the pair had =E2=
=80=98invidiously=E2=80=99 proposed that their case had been =E2=80=98wholl=
y ignored=E2=80=99 during the 46-day trial to achieve global publicity for =
their campaign.
Watch and listen
In case you missed it, you can catch up on the livestream from last night=E2=
=80=99s event with Rory Sutherland here [https://spectator.com/article/li=
vestream-an-evening-with-rory-sutherland/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
]. And there=E2=80=99s more from the Wiki Man in this week=E2=80=99s magazi=
ne here [https://spectator.com/article/my-top-tips-for-andy-burnham/?stat=
us=3D=
Non-subs=
=
].
Are billionaires bad? That=E2=80=99s the question at the heart of a new BBC=
documentary by Shabaz Ali featuring Michael Simmons, our economics editor,=
and a cameo from yours truly. Watch it here [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplay=
er/episode/m002ydrr/shabaz-asks-are-billionaires-bad?status=3D=
=
Non-subs=
=
].
Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau unpack [https://unherd.com/watch-li=
sten/chinas-hidden-economic-crisis/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] China=E2=80=99s hidden economic crisis in the latest Econoclasts episode =
from our chums at UnHerd.
FIRE, FURY AND A FOOTBALL BOYCOTT
Cruising for a bruising. While you were sleeping, the US launched [https:=
//www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74gwdzywmeo?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] more =E2=80=98heavy=E2=80=99 strikes against Iran. Donald Trump yesterday=
threatened to give Tehran a =E2=80=98beating=E2=80=99 after it fired balli=
stic missiles at US bases in Jordan. The surprise attack was unprecedented;=
previous strikes have only been retaliatory. Yesterday the US and Saudi Ar=
abia responded with joint strikes on =E2=80=98multiple=E2=80=99 Iran-aligne=
d terrorist and weapons sites across eastern Iraq. Overnight, the US milita=
ry said it had followed up by firing on =E2=80=98dozens=E2=80=99 of Islamic=
Revolutionary Guard Corps sites.
In the other war, at least seven people (including children) have been kil=
led [https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-latest-russia-putin-zelenskyy-=
12541713?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] in Russian strikes across Ukraine. Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelensky warned t=
hat a =E2=80=98massive attack=E2=80=99 was imminent and urged civilians to =
heed air raid sirens. At least six people were killed in the central city o=
f Kryvyi Rih overnight and one person died in Kyiv. Dozens more were injure=
d in the western city of Lviv after the missile and drone barrage struck ap=
artment buildings. For more analysis, subscribe [https://spectator.com/uk=
raine/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] to our Ukraine in Focus newsletter, which will land in your inbox at 4 p.=
m.
Across the Atlantic, Anthony Fauci =E2=80=93 who served as the US=E2=80=99s=
leading infectious-disease expert during the Covid-19 pandemic =E2=80=93 =
invoked [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/29/fauci-pleads-fifth=
-covid-origins/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times in a Congress hearing yesterday. =
He refused to answer any questions put to him by the Senate=E2=80=99s homel=
and security committee about his actions during the pandemic and whether he=
had misled the public about his own views on the virus. Fauci accused Rand=
Paul, a Republican Senator and the committee=E2=80=99s chairman, of having=
an =E2=80=98unhinged obsession=E2=80=99 with him and said Paul was trying =
to get him to commit perjury so he would end up =E2=80=98behind bars=E2=80=99=
=2E
Getty
That=E2=80=99s one way to dodge small talk.
In the sporting world, today=E2=80=99s Telegraph suggests [https://www.te=
legraph.co.uk/football/2026/07/29/england-must-boycott-world-cup-fight-infa=
ntino-fa-chiefs/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] that the Football Association is under pressure to boycott the World Cup =
over Fifa=E2=80=99s proposed =C2=A315 billion sell-off scheme. England=E2=80=
=99s governing body has followed the Prime Minister and three other interna=
tional federations in criticising the plan from Fifa president Gianni Infan=
tino. The plan would result in a collection of investors controlling the co=
mmercial interests of the top Fifa men=E2=80=99s and women=E2=80=99s compet=
itions.
Uefa has called an emergency meeting of its 55 members this afternoon to di=
scuss an unprecedented European boycott of Fifa tournaments and a collectiv=
e rejection of the sport=E2=80=99s global governing body. A boycott of next=
year=E2=80=99s women=E2=80=99s World Cup =E2=80=93 the next major Fifa eve=
nt in the calendar =E2=80=93 has been proposed. However, the Guardian sugg=
ests [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/29/uefa-emergency-meet=
ing-fifa-gianni-infantini-world-cup-plan?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] there is some reluctance to see the women=E2=80=99s game be tarnished bec=
ause of a plan to creak more money out of the men=E2=80=99s World Cup and C=
lub World Cup.
What we=E2=80=99re reading
Labour=E2=80=99s education policy is =E2=80=98bring back stupid=E2=80=99 [=
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/labour-education-policy=
-bring-back-stupid-7m0h83nvg?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] =E2=80=93 Michael Gove
Lost Amazon civilisation may have numbered three million [https://www.news=
cientist.com/article/2582152-lost-civilisation-in-the-amazon-may-have-numbe=
red-3-million-people/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] =E2=80=93 New Scientist
The lost magic of the fountain pen [https://engelsbergideas.com/notebook/t=
he-lost-magic-of-the-fountain-pen/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] =E2=80=93 Engelsberg Ideas
Angles of the North [https://www.edwest.co.uk/p/the-lords-of-the-north?sta=
tus=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] =E2=80=93 Ed West
Big Tech=E2=80=99s war on human achievement [https://www.compactmag.com/co=
ntributor/gregory-conti/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] =E2=80=93 Compact
PLAYING FTSE
Yesterday, the FTSE 100 hit a record high. Worries about a slowdown in the =
AI boom saw [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/29/ftse-100-def=
ies-ai-rout-to-hit-all-time-high/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] semiconductor stocks sold off on Wall Street, alongside its equivalents i=
n Japan and South Korea. Investors moved into the UK=E2=80=99s flagship ind=
ex, with it climbing as much as 0.7 per cent to hit 10, 951.06 points =E2=80=
=93 the highest level since its launch in 1984. Since the FTSE 100 has less=
exposure to AI, it is an obvious refuge during a tech panic. The stock ind=
ex has been climbing since it plummeted in February with the outbreak of th=
e Iran war.
Meanwhile, India=E2=80=99s richest man Gautam Adani is thought [https://w=
ww.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/29/indias-richest-man-plots-swoop-for-b=
ritish-ports/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] to be considering an offer for Associated British Ports (ABP), Britain=E2=
=80=99s biggest ports company. Two Canadian investors are reportedly consid=
ering selling their stakes, meaning 21 ports could come under Indian contro=
l. The ports involved, which include cruise ship hub Southampton, handle a =
quarter of Britain=E2=80=99s seaborne trade, valued at around =C2=A3150 bil=
lion a year. Adani, of course, heads up the Adani Group, which was accused =
of the =E2=80=98largest con in corporate history=E2=80=99 after allegedly f=
iddling with stock prices in 2023. The group denied the =E2=80=98malicious=E2=
=80=99 claims. But, of course, it=E2=80=99s not the best first impression=E2=
=80=A6
Speaking of bad impressions, OpenAI has revealed [https://www.theguardian=
=2Ecom/technology/2026/jul/29/rogue-openai-agent-that-hacked-startup-tried-to=
-attack-other-firms?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] that the recent cyber-attack by one of its AI agents had more than one vi=
ctim. The tool went rogue during a cybersecurity test and found logins to a=
ccess four unnamed =E2=80=98publicly-available services=E2=80=99 as well as=
US start-up Hugging Face. The attack, which has now been contained, was th=
ought to have taken place over five days. What=E2=80=99s that they were say=
ing about the machines taking over [https://spectator.com/article/ais-com=
e-for-our-carmakers/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
]?
=E2=80=98Should we be concerned about AI going rogue?=E2=80=99
And another thing...
Just not cricket. Brian Devine, the cricketer at the heart of the =E2=80=98=
Clicky Ponting=E2=80=99 scandal, has been suspended. Saltburn Cricket Club =
announced that the fielder would not play again =E2=80=98for the foreseeabl=
e future=E2=80=99 after he was accused of tricking umpires by clicking his =
fingers to impersonate the noise of an edge off the bat. A friend of Devine=
=E2=80=99s told [https://www.thetimes.com/sport/cricket/article/brian-dev=
ine-saltburn-cricket-club-cheating-29ptmt2dm?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] the Times that his head was =E2=80=98all over the place=E2=80=99 followin=
g the allegations and that he was =E2=80=98completely bewildered=E2=80=99 t=
o be in the global headlines. In case you haven=E2=80=99t seen the clicking=
in action, it really is worth a watch [https://news.sky.com/video/cricke=
t-cheating-row-clicky-ponting-allegedly-fools-umpires-13567851?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
].
In other cricketing news, the Telegraph [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cri=
cket/2026/07/29/stephen-fleming-to-be-appointed-englands-new-test-coach/?st=
atus=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] reports [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2026/07/29/stephen-fleming-=
to-be-appointed-englands-new-test-coach/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] that Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, is to be appointed =
as England=E2=80=99s new Test coach. Following a week of interviews, Flemin=
g has become the leading candidate to both replace and work with Brendon Mc=
Cullum, his countryman and former colleague. The England and Wales Cricket =
Board is said to be keen to hand the job to Fleming who played 111 Tests fo=
r the Black Caps and captained McCullum. However, the board is unsure wheth=
er he will be in position for the upcoming first Test against Pakistan.
Good news for gannets! Up in Scotland, ministers are poised [https://www.=
telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/29/scotland-poised-ban-guga-hunt-after-ani=
mal-rights/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] to ban a centuries-old seabird hunt following complaints from animal righ=
ts activists. The hunt for young gannets =E2=80=93 branded guga locally =E2=
=80=93 has taken place since the 15th century but officials at NatureScot h=
ave suggested that islanders on Lewis be refused a licence to carry out the=
hunt next month. The guga hunt usually sees ten men from Lewis spend a for=
tnight hunting young gannets on the uninhabited island of Sula Sgeir. Could=
n=E2=80=99t they find something better to do?
Any thoughts on this email? Please get in touch =E2=80=93 watkinson@specta=
tor.co.uk [mailto:watkinson@spectator.co.uk?subject=3DMorning%20Press]
With thanks to Lara Brown for additional reporting. For more, subscribe to =
our Lunchtime Espresso [https://spectator.com/lunchtime-espresso/?status=3D=
=
Non-subs=
=
] briefing at 1 p.m. and Evening Blend [https://spectator.com/evening-ble=
nd/?status=3D=
Non-subs=
=
] at 6 p.m.
Follow us Sign up for more Spectat=
or newsletters here [https://www.spectator.co.uk/emails]
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g-bottom:0;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms=
-text-size-adjust:100%;" ><div style=3D"mso-hide:all;position:fixed;height:=
0;max-height:0;overflow:hidden;font-size:0;">Today's news without the nonse=
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<table class=3D"gmail-fix" width=3D"100%" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" style=3D"background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-=
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<tr>
<td class=3D"p-0" style=3D"padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;pad=
ding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table class=3D"w-100p" width=3D"710" align=3D"center" cellpaddi=
ng=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:710px;background-color:#fff;b=
ackground-image:none;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:top left;=
background-attachment:scroll;border-radius:5px;box-shadow:0 0 40px 0 #d1d1d=
1;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;width:100=
% !important;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;p=
adding-left:0;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
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<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
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<td align=3D"center" style=3D"padding-top:0;padding=
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<span class=3D"wi-100p hm"><a href=3D"https://ble=
nd.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-j/" style=3D"outline-s=
tyle:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" ><img src=3D"=
https=
://i1.cmail20.com=
/ei/j/3F/B7E/F81/csimport/PMI_S=
potlight_Q2_Spectator_Static_710x130_N.065107.jpg" width=3D"710" label=3D"=
Responsive_Banner Desktop" height=3D"130" style=3D"width:100% !important;fo=
nt-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;font-=
family:Times New Roman, Times, serif, EBGaramond;line-height:20px;color:#33=
3;vertical-align:top;border-style:none;height:auto !important;" /></a></spa=
n>
<span class=3D"image-m" style=3D"display:none;fon=
t-size:0;line-height:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yd=
uuhdjt-hklitkhlik-t/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;tex=
t-decoration:underline;" ><img src=3D"https=
://i2.=
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ight-rule:exactly;" >
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<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
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<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding=
-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:1px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond, Ti=
mes New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:normal;color:#333;mso-line-height-r=
ule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"text-align:center;margin-top:10=
px;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><strong style=3D"font-we=
ight:700;" >By</strong> <strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" ><i>William Atki=
nson</i></strong></p>
</td>
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</td>
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=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Good morning</strong>. Andy Burnham wi=
ll travel to Burrow-in-Furness today to outline how the Trident nuclear det=
errent fits into his plans to reindustrialise Britain. England=E2=80=99s 50=
-year drought record could be broken as hot, dry weather takes its toll on =
more than half the country. The US has launched =E2=80=98heavy=E2=80=99 str=
ikes against Iran while at least seven people have been killed in Ukraine f=
ollowing a barrage of Russian missiles. Zack Polanski will face no action f=
rom the Metropolitan Police over a post he shared about Nigel Farage, the F=
TSE 100 has somehow hit record highs and England=E2=80=99s cricketers are r=
eady to be bowled over by a new coach. You=E2=80=99re reading <i>Spectator =
Daily</i>: here=E2=80=99s everything you need to know today.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"text-align:center;margin-top:0;=
margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><strong style=3D"font-weigh=
t:700;" >BURNHAM GOES NUCLEAR
</strong></p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >It=E2=80=99s been hard to escape </strong=
>the rather hyperbolic =E2=80=98new year, new me=E2=80=99 atmosphere that=E2=
=80=99s lingered in Westminster since Andy Burnham=E2=80=99s premiership be=
gan. In less than two weeks, the Prime Minister has pledged to prioritise t=
he cost of living, cap bus fares and cut business rates for pubs. He=E2=80=99=
s pledged to reform social care (as our politics team <a href=3D"https://bl=
end.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-i/" style=3D"outline-=
style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >discuss</a> on <i>Cof=
fee House Shots</i>), he=E2=80=99s ruled out an election (as Tim Shipman <a=
href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-d/=
" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >qu=
estions</a> in this week=E2=80=99s magazine), he=E2=80=99s=20
even <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-h/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underlin=
e;" >scrapped</a> the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. To=
day he turns his attention to the knottier issue of defence, primarily Brit=
ain=E2=80=99s nuclear deterrent.
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >That=E2=80=99s right, </strong>Burnham wi=
ll <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-k/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;=
" >travel</a> to Barrow-in-Furness to launch the next phase of Trident as p=
art of his plan to reindustrialise Britain. He will make the case that spen=
ding on projects such as the =C2=A331 billion Dreadnought-class submarines =
being built in the Cumbrian town show how taxpayer investment can aid commu=
nities. Ahead of his visit, he said: =E2=80=98Security is not only about wh=
at we build; it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it.=E2=80=99
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >How, exactly?</strong> Downing Street cla=
ims a new set of submarine contracts worth =C2=A38.4 billion will help supp=
ort 18,000 extra jobs by 2030 and 22,000 additional apprentices by 2035. =E2=
=80=98To every young person across the country, I want you to know that the=
re is a path for you into a reindustrialised Britain, and it starts with th=
e apprenticeships we are funding through this investment today,=E2=80=99 th=
e PM said. Burnham voted in favour of Trident in 2016; Louise Haigh, his ne=
w No. 2, did not.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0px;paddi=
ng-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-h=
eight-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i3.=
cmail20.com=
/ei/j/3F/B7E/F81/csimport/unnamed.065228.jpg" width=3D=
"610" label=3D"Image_caption_and_credit" height=3D"406" style=3D"width:100=
% !important;vertical-align:top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
<td style=3D"width:0px;vertical-align:top;mso=
-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<div style=3D"font-size:10px;font-family:'L=
ato', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333;line-height:12px;text-align:l=
eft;text-transform:uppercase;writing-mode:vertical-rl;white-space:nowrap;pa=
dding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0px;mso-table-l=
space:0pt;mso-table-rspace:0pt;" >
Getty
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;padding-top:0;pa=
dding-bottom:24px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-height-rule:exact=
ly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<i>=E2=80=98Did I leave the gas on in No. 10 North?=E2=80=99</i></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Meanwhile, </strong>the <i>Times</i> <=
a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-u=
/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >r=
eports</a> that some of England=E2=80=99s metro mayors are planning to use =
devolution powers announced by Burnham to offer tax rebates to voters. In a=
shake-up of the English tax system due to be laid out tomorrow, the Prime =
Minister could hand regional mayors a share of income tax revenues to be sp=
ent locally. An =E2=80=98ally=E2=80=99 told the paper Burnham also has =E2=80=
=98meaningful plans=E2=80=99 to devolve aspects of business rates.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >The aim</strong> is to encourage local=
investment in public services, promoting growth in local areas. But the pa=
per suggests that Conservative and Reform mayors instead want to use the po=
wers to cut voters=E2=80=99 tax bills. Ben Houchen, the Tory mayor for Tees=
Valley, said he will use his new mooted freedoms to make his region =E2=80=
=98a more attractive place and a far more competitive place to invest in th=
an Manchester and London=E2=80=99. Luke Campbell, the Reform mayor of Hull =
and East Yorkshire, and Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform mayor of Greater Lincoln=
shire, are reportedly consulting officials on doing something similar.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20p=
x;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font=
-weight:normal;font-size:26px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond, Times New R=
oman, Times, serif;line-height:36px;color:#b30517;mso-line-height-rule:exac=
tly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
Coming up today</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cells=
pacing=3D"0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:5px;mso-l=
ine-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spectator.co.uk=
/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D"30" /></t=
d>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;"=
>
Polls are open in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election. Labour=E2=
=80=99s Bev Craig is the current favourite to replace Andy Burnham.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:5px;mso-l=
ine-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spectator.co.uk=
/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D"30" /></t=
d>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;"=
>
Back in London, the Bank of England will announce its latest interest =
rate decision at midday. Analysts expect rates to be held at 3.75% for a fi=
fth time.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:5px;mso-l=
ine-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spectator.co.uk=
/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D"30" /></t=
d>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;"=
>
Today is the 60th anniversary of England winning the World Cup. It may=
be too soon, but please <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-ydu=
uhdjt-hklitkhlik-o/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text=
-decoration:underline;" >enjoy</a> the full highlights, courtesy of Path=C3=
=A9 News.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td class=3D"pb-30" style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-=
bottom:0px;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactl=
y;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-=
height-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i7.=
cmail20.com=
/ti/j/57/36F/8ED/221858/images/a-halo.png" width=3D"=
610" label=3D"JGlinebreakA" style=3D"width:100% !important;vertical-align:=
top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"text-align:center;margin-top:0;=
margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >HOT FUZZ </strong></p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >The guillotine stays up. </strong>The =
Metropolitan Police has <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduu=
hdjt-hklitkhlik-b/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-=
decoration:underline;" >announced</a> that no further action will be taken =
against Zack Polanski. The Green party leader had shared a photograph of a =
man wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a guillotine and the slogan, =E2=80=98=
We=E2=80=99re only making plans for Nigel=E2=80=99. Reform UK accused Polan=
ski of =E2=80=98incitement to murder=E2=80=99 for sharing the post and repo=
rted him to police. Polanski refused to issue an apology and stressed that =
he had quickly deleted it from his Instagram.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >The Green party leader </strong>seemed=
unrepentant yesterday, based on his social media activity. The <i>Telegrap=
h</i> <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-n/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underli=
ne;" >reports</a> he liked a post on BlueSky, saying: =E2=80=98Left-wing po=
liticians must be perfect in every way, and can=E2=80=99t make minor mistak=
es, while right-wing politicians are free to call for race riots and pogrom=
s, expelling millions of people because they=E2=80=99re not white, praising=
Hitler, goose stepping and sieg heiling around the quad, etc.=E2=80=99 Eit=
her way, the Met said that it was =E2=80=98unlikely=E2=80=99 that Polanski =
sharing the image constituted a criminal offence.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Away from politics, </strong><i>Mornin=
g Press</i> readers of a certain vintage will have memories of the long, ho=
t summer of 1976. But the 50-year drought record set that summer is on trac=
k to be broken. At Wisley in Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society has <a=
href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-p/=
" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >re=
corded</a> 43 consecutive days without rain =E2=80=93 three more and the 19=
76 record will be broken. Yesterday the Environment Agency officially decla=
red =E2=80=98flash drought=E2=80=99 conditions in more than half of England=
=2E That can only mean two things: very brown lawns and increased risk of wil=
dfires. The Met Office said dry soil and vegetation have created conditions=
in which flames could take hold and spread quickly. Over the past couple o=
f weeks, fire crews=20
have been responding to a new wildfire in England and Wales every 90 minute=
s.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >In this week=E2=80=99s magazine,</stro=
ng> Matt Ridley <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-x/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decorati=
on:underline;" >reports</a> on the blazes across Europe and highlights that=
wildfires are actually becoming <i>less</i> frequent. In France, Catriona =
Olding <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-m/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underl=
ine;" >sends</a> a dispatch from the frontline, while Toby Young can=E2=80=99=
t help but <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-c/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:un=
derline;" >worry</a> about the vineyards.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0px;paddi=
ng-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-h=
eight-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i4.=
cmail20.com=
/ei/j/3F/B7E/F81/csimport/unnamed-2.065242.jpg" widt=
h=3D"610" label=3D"Image_caption_and_credit" height=3D"406" style=3D"width=
:100% !important;vertical-align:top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
<td style=3D"width:0px;vertical-align:top;mso=
-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<div style=3D"font-size:10px;font-family:'L=
ato', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333;line-height:12px;text-align:l=
eft;text-transform:uppercase;writing-mode:vertical-rl;white-space:nowrap;pa=
dding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0px;mso-table-l=
space:0pt;mso-table-rspace:0pt;" >
Getty
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;padding-top:0;pa=
dding-bottom:24px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-height-rule:exact=
ly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<em>Blackheath? More like Brownheath!</em></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >A Prince or a pauper? </strong>Prince =
Harry is among the celebrities being <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.=
uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-q/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:=
#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >pursued</a> for legal costs following =
their failed privacy claim against the <i>Mail</i>=E2=80=99s publisher. The=
high-profile group, which also includes Elton John and Baroness Lawrence, =
have legal insurance covering =C2=A316.2 million. However, it is far short =
of the =C2=A334.5 million of legal costs incurred by Associated Newspapers.=
Yesterday, the High Court told the celebrities to cough up an initial =C2=A3=
10 million within a fortnight. But Associated aims to recover far more afte=
r a joint statement from the Duke of Sussex and Lawrence described the judg=
ement as =E2=80=98a complete and obvious whitewash=E2=80=99. Antony White K=
C, representing the newspaper=20
group, said the pair had =E2=80=98invidiously=E2=80=99 proposed that their =
case had been =E2=80=98wholly ignored=E2=80=99 during the 46-day trial to a=
chieve global publicity for their campaign.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20p=
x;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font=
-weight:normal;font-size:26px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond, Times New R=
oman, Times, serif;line-height:36px;color:#b30517;mso-line-height-rule:exac=
tly;" >
Watch and listen
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cells=
pacing=3D"0"><tbody><tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:=
5px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spe=
ctator.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D=
"30" />
</td>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;"=
>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;mar=
gin-left:0;" >In case you missed it, you can catch up on the livestream fro=
m last night=E2=80=99s event with Rory Sutherland <a href=3D"https://blend.=
spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-a/" style=3D"outline-styl=
e:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >here</a>. And there=E2=80=
=99s more from the Wiki Man in this week=E2=80=99s magazine <a href=3D"http=
s://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-f/" style=3D"ou=
tline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >here</a>.=20
</p>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:=
5px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spe=
ctator.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D=
"30" />
</td>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;"=
>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;mar=
gin-left:0;" >Are billionaires bad? That=E2=80=99s the question at the hear=
t of a new BBC documentary by Shabaz Ali featuring Michael Simmons, our eco=
nomics editor, and a cameo from yours truly. Watch it <a href=3D"https://bl=
end.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-z/" style=3D"outline-=
style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >here</a>.=20
</p>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style=3D"vertical-align:top;padding-right:10px;padding-top:=
5px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<img alt=3D"=E2=80=A2" height=3D"18" src=3D"https://www.spe=
ctator.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/daily-bullet-point-copy.png" width=3D=
"30" />
</td>
<td style=3D"padding-bottom:18px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;"=
>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;mar=
gin-left:0;" >Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau <a href=3D"https://blen=
d.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-v/" style=3D"outline-st=
yle:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >unpack</a> China=E2=80=99=
s hidden economic crisis in the latest <i>Econoclasts</i> episode from our =
chums at <i>UnHerd</i>.=20
</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td class=3D"pb-30" style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-=
bottom:0px;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactl=
y;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-=
height-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i8.=
cmail20.com=
/ti/j/57/36F/8ED/221858/images/b-halo.png" width=3D"=
610" label=3D"JGlinebreakB" style=3D"width:100% !important;vertical-align:=
top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"text-align:center;margin-top:0;=
margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><strong style=3D"font-weigh=
t:700;" >FIRE, FURY AND A FOOTBALL BOYCOTT=20
</strong></p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Cruising for a bruising. </strong>While y=
ou were sleeping, the US <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-ydu=
uhdjt-hklitkhlik-e/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text=
-decoration:underline;" >launched</a> more =E2=80=98heavy=E2=80=99 strikes =
against Iran. Donald Trump yesterday threatened to give Tehran a =E2=80=98b=
eating=E2=80=99 after it fired ballistic missiles at US bases in Jordan. Th=
e surprise attack was unprecedented; previous strikes have only been retali=
atory. Yesterday the US and Saudi Arabia responded with joint strikes on =E2=
=80=98multiple=E2=80=99 Iran-aligned terrorist and weapons sites across eas=
tern Iraq. Overnight, the US military said it had followed up by firing on =
=E2=80=98dozens=E2=80=99 of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites.
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >In the other war, </strong>at least seven=
people (including children) have been <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.c=
o.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-s/" style=3D"outline-style:none;colo=
r:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >killed</a> in Russian strikes across=
Ukraine. Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelensky warned that a =E2=80=98massive atta=
ck=E2=80=99 was imminent and urged civilians to heed air raid sirens. At le=
ast six people were killed in the central city of Kryvyi Rih overnight and =
one person died in Kyiv. Dozens more were injured in the western city of Lv=
iv after the missile and drone barrage struck apartment buildings. For more=
analysis, <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-g/"=20
style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >subs=
cribe</a> to our <i>Ukraine in Focus </i>newsletter, which will land in you=
r inbox at 4 p.m.
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Across the Atlantic, </strong>Anthony Fau=
ci =E2=80=93 who served as the US=E2=80=99s leading infectious-disease expe=
rt during the Covid-19 pandemic =E2=80=93 <a href=3D"https://blend.spectato=
r.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-w/" style=3D"outline-style:none;c=
olor:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >invoked</a> the Fifth Amendment m=
ore than 100 times in a Congress hearing yesterday. He refused to answer an=
y questions put to him by the Senate=E2=80=99s homeland security committee =
about his actions during the pandemic and whether he had misled the public =
about his own views on the virus. Fauci accused Rand Paul, a Republican Sen=
ator and the committee=E2=80=99s chairman, of having an =E2=80=98unhinged o=
bsession=E2=80=99 with him and said Paul was trying to get him to commit pe=
rjury so he would end up =E2=80=98behind bars=E2=80=99.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0px;paddi=
ng-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-h=
eight-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i5.=
cmail20.com=
/ei/j/3F/B7E/F81/csimport/unnamed-3.065305.jpg" widt=
h=3D"610" label=3D"Image_caption_and_credit" height=3D"406" style=3D"width=
:100% !important;vertical-align:top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
<td style=3D"width:0px;vertical-align:top;mso=
-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<div style=3D"font-size:10px;font-family:'L=
ato', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333;line-height:12px;text-align:l=
eft;text-transform:uppercase;writing-mode:vertical-rl;white-space:nowrap;pa=
dding-top:0;padding-bottom:5px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0px;mso-table-l=
space:0pt;mso-table-rspace:0pt;" >
Getty
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;padding-top:0;pa=
dding-bottom:24px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-height-rule:exact=
ly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<i>That=E2=80=99s one way to dodge small talk. </i></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >In the sp=
orting world, </strong>today=E2=80=99s <i>Telegraph</i> <a href=3D"https://=
blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-yd/" style=3D"outli=
ne-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >suggests</a> that =
the Football Association is under pressure to boycott the World Cup over Fi=
fa=E2=80=99s proposed =C2=A315 billion sell-off scheme. England=E2=80=99s g=
overning body has followed the Prime Minister and three other international=
federations in criticising the plan from Fifa president Gianni Infantino. =
The plan would result in a collection of investors controlling the commerci=
al interests of the top Fifa men=E2=80=99s and women=E2=80=99s competitions=
=2E
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Uefa has called</strong> an emergency mee=
ting of its 55 members this afternoon to discuss an unprecedented European =
boycott of Fifa tournaments and a collective rejection of the sport=E2=80=99=
s global governing body. A boycott of next year=E2=80=99s women=E2=80=99s W=
orld Cup =E2=80=93 the next major Fifa event in the calendar =E2=80=93 has =
been proposed. However, the<i> Guardian</i> <a href=3D"https://blend.specta=
tor.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-yh/" style=3D"outline-style:non=
e;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >suggests</a> there is some rel=
uctance to see the women=E2=80=99s game be tarnished because of a plan to c=
reak more money out of the men=E2=80=99s World Cup and Club World Cup.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20p=
x;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font=
-weight:normal;font-size:26px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond, Times New R=
oman, Times, serif;line-height:36px;color:#b30517;mso-line-height-rule:exac=
tly;" >
What we=E2=80=99re reading
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px=
;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom=
:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk=
/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-yk/" style=3D"color:#333;text-decoration=
:underline;outline-style:none;" >Labour=E2=80=99s education policy is =E2=80=
=98bring back stupid=E2=80=99</a> =E2=80=93 Michael Gove
</p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;"=
></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right:0;margin-lef=
t:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-l=
eft:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-yu/" style=3D"color:#333;text-decoration:underline;outline-style:n=
one;" >Lost Amazon civilisation may have numbered three million</a> =E2=80=93=
<i>New Scientist=20
</i></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left=
:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right:0;margin=
-left:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;marg=
in-left:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-jl/" style=3D"color:#333;text-decoration:underline;outline-sty=
le:none;" >The lost magic of the fountain pen</a> =E2=80=93 <i>Engelsberg I=
deas
</i></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left=
:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right:0;margin=
-left:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;marg=
in-left:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-jr/" style=3D"color:#333;text-decoration:underline;outline-sty=
le:none;" >Angles of the North</a> =E2=80=93 Ed West
</p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;"=
></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right:0;margin-lef=
t:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-l=
eft:0;" ><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-jy/" style=3D"color:#333;text-decoration:underline;outline-style:n=
one;" >Big Tech=E2=80=99s war on human achievement</a> =E2=80=93 <i>Compact
</i></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left=
:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right:0;margin=
-left:0;" ></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;marg=
in-left:0;" ><i>
</i></p><p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left=
:0;" ></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td class=3D"pb-30" style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-=
bottom:0px;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactl=
y;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-=
height-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i9.=
cmail20.com=
/ti/j/57/36F/8ED/221858/images/c-halo.png" width=3D"=
610" label=3D"JGlinebreakC" style=3D"width:100% !important;vertical-align:=
top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"text-align:center;margin-top:0;=
margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><strong style=3D"font-weigh=
t:700;" >PLAYING FTSE
</strong></p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Yesterday,</strong> the FTSE 100 hit a re=
cord high. Worries about a slowdown in the AI boom <a href=3D"https://blend=
=2Espectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-jj/" style=3D"outline-st=
yle:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >saw</a> semiconductor s=
tocks sold off on Wall Street, alongside its equivalents in Japan and South=
Korea. Investors moved into the UK=E2=80=99s flagship index, with it climb=
ing as much as 0.7 per cent to hit 10, 951.06 points =E2=80=93 the highest =
level since its launch in 1984. Since the FTSE 100 has less exposure to AI,=
it is an obvious refuge during a tech panic. The stock index has been clim=
bing since it plummeted in February with the outbreak of the Iran war.
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Meanwhile, </strong>India=E2=80=99s riche=
st man Gautam Adani is <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuh=
djt-hklitkhlik-jt/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-=
decoration:underline;" >thought</a> to be considering an offer for Associat=
ed British Ports (ABP), Britain=E2=80=99s biggest ports company. Two Canadi=
an investors are reportedly considering selling their stakes, meaning 21 po=
rts could come under Indian control. The ports involved, which include crui=
se ship hub Southampton, handle a quarter of Britain=E2=80=99s seaborne tra=
de, valued at around =C2=A3150 billion a year. Adani, of course, heads up t=
he Adani Group, which was accused of the =E2=80=98largest con in corporate =
history=E2=80=99 after allegedly fiddling with stock prices in 2023. The gr=
oup denied the =E2=80=98malicious=E2=80=99 claims. But, of=20
course, it=E2=80=99s not the best first impression=E2=80=A6
</p><br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" ><s=
trong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Speaking of bad impressions, </strong>Ope=
nAI has <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-ji/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:unde=
rline;" >revealed</a> that the recent cyber-attack by one of its AI agents =
had more than one victim. The tool went rogue during a cybersecurity test a=
nd found logins to access four unnamed =E2=80=98publicly-available services=
=E2=80=99 as well as US start-up Hugging Face. The attack, which has now be=
en contained, was thought to have taken place over five days. What=E2=80=99=
s that they were saying about the <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/=
t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-jd/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b=
30517;text-decoration:underline;" >machines taking over</a>?
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td class=3D"wi-100p" align=3D"center" style=3D=
"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:10px;padding-right:0;padding-left:0;mso-line-=
height-rule:exactly;" >
<img src=3D"https=
://i6.=
cmail20.com=
/ei/j/3F/B7E/F81/csimport/bernie_010826_3_sg00.jpg" =
width=3D"286" label=3D"Image" height=3D"183" style=3D"width:100% !importan=
t;max-width:286px;vertical-align:top;height:auto !important;" />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align=3D"center" style=3D"font-style:ital=
ic;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:18px;font-family:EBGara=
mond, Garamond, Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:22px;color:#333;m=
so-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >=E2=80=98Should we be concerned about AI goin=
g rogue?=E2=80=99</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:20px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;p=
adding-right:0;padding-left:0;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-we=
ight:normal;font-size:26px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond, Times New Roma=
n, Times, serif;line-height:36px;color:#b30517;mso-line-height-rule:exactly=
;" >
And another thing...
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
=20
<table width=3D"100%" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0">
<tr>
<td style=3D"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:30px;padd=
ing-right:15px;padding-left:15px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;" >
<table width=3D"610" align=3D"center" cellpaddin=
g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
rgin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;" >
<tr>
<td style=3D"font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Just not cricket.</strong> Brian Devin=
e, the cricketer at the heart of the =E2=80=98Clicky Ponting=E2=80=99 scand=
al, has been suspended. Saltburn Cricket Club announced that the fielder wo=
uld not play again =E2=80=98for the foreseeable future=E2=80=99 after he wa=
s accused of tricking umpires by clicking his fingers to impersonate the no=
ise of an edge off the bat. A friend of Devine=E2=80=99s <a href=3D"https:/=
/blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-jh/" style=3D"outl=
ine-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >told</a><i> </i>t=
he <i>Times</i> that his head was =E2=80=98all over the place=E2=80=99 foll=
owing the allegations and that he was =E2=80=98completely bewildered=E2=80=99=
to be in the global headlines. In case you haven=E2=80=99t seen the clicki=
ng in action, it really is worth a <a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk=
/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-jk/"=20
style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >watc=
h</a>.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >In other cricketing news</strong>, the=
<i>Telegraph</i><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-ju/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decora=
tion:underline;" > </a><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuh=
djt-hklitkhlik-tl/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-=
decoration:underline;" >reports</a> that Stephen Fleming, the former New Ze=
aland captain, is to be appointed as England=E2=80=99s new Test coach. Foll=
owing a week of interviews, Fleming has become the leading candidate to bot=
h replace and work with Brendon McCullum, his countryman and former colleag=
ue. The England and Wales Cricket Board is said to be keen to hand the job =
to Fleming who played 111 Tests for the Black Caps and captained McCullum. =
However, the board is unsure whether he will be in position for the=20
upcoming first Test against Pakistan.</p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<strong style=3D"font-weight:700;" >Good news </strong>for gannets!<strong=
style=3D"font-weight:700;" > </strong>Up in Scotland, ministers are <a hre=
f=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-hklitkhlik-tr/" s=
tyle=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >poise=
d</a> to ban a centuries-old seabird hunt following complaints from animal =
rights activists. The hunt for young gannets =E2=80=93 branded guga locally=
=E2=80=93 has taken place since the 15th century but officials at NatureSc=
ot have suggested that islanders on Lewis be refused a licence to carry out=
the hunt next month. The guga hunt usually sees ten men from Lewis spend a=
fortnight hunting young gannets on the uninhabited island of Sula Sgeir. C=
ouldn=E2=80=99t they find something better to do?</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
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=20
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0">
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g=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" style=3D"max-width:610px;width:100% !important;ma=
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<tr>
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ormal;font-weight:normal;font-size:19.5px;font-family:EBGaramond, Garamond,=
Times New Roman, Times, serif;line-height:25px;color:#333;mso-line-height-=
rule:exactly;" >
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;ma=
rgin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<i>Any thoughts on this email? Please get in touch =E2=80=93 <a href=3D"ma=
ilto:watkinson@spectator.co.uk?subject=3DMorning%20Press" style=3D"outline-=
style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:underline;" >watkinson@spectator.c=
o.uk</a> </i></p>
<br />
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:0;margin-left:0;" >
<i>With thanks to Lara Brown for additional reporting. For more, subscribe=
to our </i><a href=3D"https://blend.spectator.co.uk/t/j-l-yduuhdjt-=
hklitkhlik-ty/" style=3D"outline-style:none;color:#b30517;text-decoration:=
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