Healey rejects capital gains tax calls

News in brief

• John Healey has rejected calls by Labour figures to raise capital gains tax to the same level as income tax, according to the Financial Times.
• Healey also said the government would try and ‘provide some breathing space’, after the IMF said Britain’s economy will grow more than expected this year, before being hit by high energy prices and interest rates next year.
• Support for Reform has fallen behind the Conservatives for the first time since the election, according to a YouGov poll for the Times.
• Prisoners punched the air and cheered as a second raft of them were released this morning under the early release scheme.
• Ed Miliband has approved a significant oil field development in waters around the Falklands. Javier Milei has previously threatened to arrest executives involved.

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On Coffee House today…

Alexander Baker says the police are in despair about the early release scheme, while Gareth Roberts examines Sandi Toksvig’s war on Wikipedia. Mark Galeotti explains what Russia – and Putin – really think about Brexit, while Bethel McGrew asks why the internet hates the young man killed by a tiger. Michael Simmons wonders whether the IMF should have faith in Britain, and Steerpike has more on the Conservatives overtaking Reform UK in the polls.

‘Hell gave us early release.’

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In pictures

Liverpool, United Kingdom: A prisoner departs HMP Liverpool as hundreds leave under the early release scheme

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Most read on The Spectator

Sandi Toksvig’s war on Wikipedia – Gareth Roberts

The chutzpah of Ed Miliband – Stephen Pollard

Burnham’s Brexit babblings have already backfired – Madeline Grant

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In words

‘Why is Ed Miliband, the man who blocked North Sea drilling, happy for it go ahead in the South Atlantic but not off the coast of Scotland?’

– Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie following Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s approval of an oil field development near the Falkland Islands

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Datawatch