Three more Reform UK councillors expelled from party over ‘dishonest’ behaviour after leaked video meeting – UK politics live

Footage of online meeting showed Kent county council leader remonstrating with councillorsThree more members of Reform’s “flagship” council have been expelled for “dishonest and deceptive behaviour” following a leaked video meeting, PA Media reports. PA says:Reform UK took control of Kent county council (KCC) after winning 57 of the 81 seats at the local elections in May, overturning a 30-year Tory majority.Due to the number of suspensions and removals since May, there are now less than 50 Reform councillors sitting at KCC.The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the government’s official forecaster, is expected to cut its trend productivity growth prediction by 0.3 percentage points, the Financial Times reported. It is expected to deliver its forecasts to Rachel Reeves on Friday, and they will be published on budget day on 26 November.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank has said that each 0.1 percentage point downgrade to productivity would increase public sector net borrowing by £7bn in 2029-30, so a 0.3 point reduction could create a £21bn hit.Analysts have been expecting a smaller downgrade to productivity that would result in a £7bn to £14bn fiscal hit under the IFS calculation. Continue reading...