Tuesday evening UK news briefing: Millions more pensioners face income tax

Good evening. Leslie Phillips, the man of 1,000 suave catchphrases, has died at the age of 98. Meanwhile, pensioners face being dragged into paying income tax in their retirement in the Autumn Statement.

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

US midterm elections | Donald Trump, the former US president, hailed a "brilliant" Republican midterms campaign as he cast his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida. Mr Trump teased a 2024 presidential bid, saying he would make a "very big announcement" next Tuesday, the same day that his former vice president Mike Pence is set to release a book. With the voting to close overnight, follow what happens in our live blog.

• 'Tacky' | SNP MSP criticised for wearing pro-independence poppy

• 'Aggressive games' | China planted spies in Canadian parliament

• Ebola outbreak | 500 set to die as response repeats Wuhan mistakes

• Meghan | Calling women bitches points to 'awesome qualities'

• Pictured | World's tallest woman takes first ever flight

The big story: Two million more pensioners to pay tax

The talk from ministers about next week's Autumn Statement has been about the "tough choices" faced in a bid to balance the Government's books.

Now, it has emerged, two million more pensioners will be forced to pay income tax in retirement in the Government's latest stealth tax raid.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a deep freeze on tax thresholds next week as he looks to raise £50bn for the Treasury.

Mr Hunt will likely confirm that the state pension triple lock will stay in place – handing a 10.1pc increase to retirees.

Analysis for the Telegraph has revealed how this will drag millions more pensioners into paying income tax.

It comes as separate analysis shows that bereaved families will be forced to pay an extra £1bn in death duties if Rishi Sunak extends the freeze on inheritance tax thresholds for another two years.

Patrick O'Flynn sets out why an inheritance tax raid is a slap in the face to Conservative voters.

Mike Warburton said it's right to punish tax avoiders – but we're getting close to the innocent being found guilty.

Britain's housing market has seemingly defied gravity in the last five years with rapid price growth in the face of economic jolts from Brexit and the pandemic.

However, as forecasters warn of double digit drops in house prices on the horizon, it is understandable that negative equity fears are stalking many young buyers on riskier mortgages, buy-to-let landlords and have even reached suburbia, particularly in London. Read who is most at risk.

The economic turmoil is by no means limited to the UK, with the recent surge in oil and gas prices set to wipe almost £100bn off German GDP, according to an influential economic think tank.

Brexit blow as ministers find 1,400 extra EU laws

Government plans for a bonfire of EU red tape after Brexit have been dealt another blow after it was discovered it may need to repeal 1,400 more laws than previously thought.

Ministers working with the National Archives found the extra legal text. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will "confront" Vladimir Putin or any other Russian representative who attends the G20 summit next week over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Downing Street has said.

The summit in Bali, Indonesia, is due to take place on Nov 15-16 and the Kremlin is yet to say if Mr Putin will attend, amid reports he could take part virtually.

It comes as Rishi Sunak faces further questions about his appointment of Sir Gavin Williamson as a Cabinet Office minister. Sir Gavin has denied fresh allegations of bullying after claims he told a senior civil servant to "slit your throat".

'Ding dong': Carry On star Leslie Phillips dies aged 98

Leslie Phillips, famed for starring in the Carry On films, has died at the age of 98.

The veteran actor, who died on Monday, spent eight decades in the spotlight and became well known for his suggestive catchphrases which included "Ding dong", "Well, hello" and "I say!".

Amidst the many characters the great actor should be celebrated for is none other than Dr Gaston Grimsdyke: medical practitioner, preening roué and all-round cad. Read why the sex-mad, satirical Doctor in Clover was the making of him.

Phillips later moved into more dramatic roles, including a Bafta-nominated turn opposite Peter O'Toole in 2006's Venus and also voiced the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films. Read his Telegraph obituary.

Comment and analysis

• Richard Kemp | It's time to send fighter jets to Ukraine

• Ben Marlow | This is start of a huge schism between China and West

• Robert Dingwall | Children will never recover from cost of lockdown

• Nigel Farage | Why Simpson's Tavern must be saved

• Oliver Brown | Gary Neville is no longer football's moral policeman

Around the world: Donetsk is 'littered with bodies'

Hundreds of Russians, many of them mobilised men, are being killed every day in intense fighting in eastern Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian president's comments came the day after pro-Kremlin media reported a marines brigade from the far east losing as many as 300 men in just four days, allegedly a result of the Russian military command’s lack of tactical foresight. An advisor to Mr Zelensky said Ukraine will never negotiate with Putin and will continue to fight for its land even if it is "stabbed in the back" by its allies. The comment follows a Washington Post report that the White House has been privately urging Ukraine to show a willingness to negotiate with Russia.

Tuesday interview

'I begged Martin to do a prostate check – he might be alive now'

After years of fighting, Martin Baker died of cancer – leaving a heartbroken family and a legacy that all men over 40 need to hear. Nicola Horlick describes losing her husband to cancer at 64

Read the interview

Sport briefing: Jones says World Cup focus hurt team

Eddie Jones has accepted full responsibility for England's 30-29 loss to Argentina, admitting a long-term focus on next year's World Cup may have hurt his team. Despite the hosts dominating possession, the Pumas hung on for a first victory at Twickenham since 2006. Jones' predecessor Stuart Lancaster has talked to the Telegraph Rugby Podcast about the difficulty to find cohesion with England, compared to other international teams. Meanwhile, with the football World Cup less than a fortnight away, our writers pick England's Qatar World Cup squad goalkeepers and defenders. Try our predictor on how the tournament will play out.

Editor's choice

1. Celia Walden | Cheating husband? It turns out that I am the other woman in my marriage

2. Time to take control | 'I suddenly realised that I was living with a vicious bully – me'

3. The world's most expensive safari? | This is what £116,000 will get you

Business briefing: US investors snap up London offices

US investors put almost $1bn into London commercial property in recent months as the pound slumped, even as other international investors have taken flight. American investors spent $929m (£809m) on offices, shops and warehouses in the capital between July and September, according to data from Savills. Meanwhile, Primark is considering shutting stores in Germany as it struggles to attract shoppers in the same numbers as prior to the pandemic. On the markets, Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has tightened his grip on sports car maker Aston Martin.

Tonight starts now

I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! | Viewers will get their first glimpse of former health secretary Matt Hancock in the jungle tonight on ITV from 9.15pm, just in time to promote his new memoir out next month. Also releasing a controversial memoir shortly is Prince Harry. However, before you pre-order, how well do you know the authors? It is time to ask: Who said it – Harry or Hancock? Take the quiz.

Three things for you

• Tonight TV's | Mariupol: The People's Story, BBC One, 9pm

• Books | Why Vladimir Putin has hated Ukraine for decades

• Play | Telegraph Puzzles featuring today’s Crossword and Sudoku

And finally... for this evening's downtime

How to behave in hotels | To mark the return of White Lotus, long-time observer of the super-rich Mark C. O'Flaherty provides some timely dos and don'ts for your next five-star holiday.