Tuesday evening news briefing: No 'firm date' for stopping the boats, says Sunak

Good evening. Rishi Sunak said there was not a “firm date” for delivering on his pledge to stop small boat Channel crossings when giving evidence to the Liaison Committee this afternoon.

Elsewhere, Liz Truss has warned that trans activists will “exploit loopholes” in new guidance for schools.

No ‘firm date’ for stopping the boats, says Sunak

The Prime Minister was pressed repeatedly by Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, on when he would deliver on the promise he made in January to “stop the boats”. Mr Sunak told the Liaison Committee that the Government had “made progress”, with the number of arrivals having fallen “by a third” this year.

Truss leads backlash against new trans guidance for schools

Trans activists will “exploit loopholes” in new guidance for schools, Liz Truss has warned amid a Tory backlash over the announcement. The former prime minister said the guidance, published by the Government on Tuesday, “does not go far enough” because it is not backed by the force of the law. You can read more about Ms Truss’ proposed new legislation here.

JK Rowling and Tony Blair among mourners for Alistair Darling

Former chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling was remembered at a memorial service in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Mourners including former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, and JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, gathered at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in the Scottish capital.

Evening Briefing: Today’s essential headlines

Esther Rantzen | Dame Esther’s daughter has said that she would “want to ground her [mother’s] plane” if she decided to fly to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end her life.

• Red Sea | Britain joins effort to repel Houthi attacks

• BBC | Radio 5 Live presenter reignites diversity row

• SNP | Middle and high earners hit with triple tax hike

• Money | Wind power could add £150 to household bills

• Craig Mackinlay | Tory MP has ‘extreme surgery’ after sepsis

Comment and analysis

Ross Clark | Another heat pump myth has just crumbled

Michael Deacon | The BBC’s hypocrisy is now clear for all to see

Tom Harris | Pity Sadiq Khan, whose mayoralty could end in humiliation

Neil Record | What could happen if we just stopped oil? Six billion might die

Telegraph Readers | ‘The Equality Act has been weaponised by the Left’

World news: Farmers and tractors protest Germany’s ‘war’ on industry

Agricultural workers have accused Olaf Scholz of declaring “war” on their industry as they amassed in Berlin to protest against cuts to fuel subsidies and tax breaks. Some 10,000 agricultural workers brought traffic to a standstill as they gathered at Brandenburg Gate. Click here to see pictures.

Feature of the day

Nichola McAuliffe: ‘I have my husband’s ashes – he’s walking here with me for the rest of my life’

The actress recalls her life with Fleet Street journalist Don Mackay and how, when he was dying, Marie Curie nurses were invaluable.

Business news: ‘It will get ugly’ – Nepo babies brace for billionaire inheritance battles

Bitter feuds over inheritance are about to become far more common as baby boomers begin to pass down the largest amount of wealth in history – estimated to reach £67tn in the US alone by 2045.

Live markets news: Boost for holidaymakers as pound set to hit $1.35 next year, say economists

Editor’s choice

Fitness | How gentle exercise can help six common conditions

Culture | The 15 best art exhibitions to see in 2024

Royals | The two schools vying for Prince George

Sport briefing: Today’s essential headlines

• Football | The best 30 men’s players in Britain

• Nottingham Forest | Cooper sacked with Nuno lined up

• Cricket | Starc becomes most expensive buy in IPL history

• Exclusive | Ashley set to be pipped in shock Yorkshire deal

• James Ducker | Sir Ratcliffe must ensure Manchester United suffer no more van de Beek mishaps

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