If you are a North Durham constituent and need to contact me please email luke.akehurst.mp@parliament.uk

Labour is helping people with the cost of living through everyday fixes.

Latest voting by our segments. Labour built on their recovery with Progressive Activists as the Greens drop. They now have a 9pt lead. They’re now actually *higher than 2024* with the incrementalist left (more centre left) and Established Liberals (more Blairite/Cameronite) . But Labour trail 24 with electorally important Rooted Patriot segment (our Red wall adjacent group), where the Tories now tie Reform. The Tories have also recovered to regain a bigger lead among Traditional Conservatives (though still way behind 2019). Meanwhile Reform have some problems in their base segment of Dissenting Disruptors, this was the group they topped the poll with in 24 and were hitting near 60% last year. But the Tories have recovered a bit with them and crucially Restore score 13% with that group now.

Westminster Voting Intention: LAB: 31% (+3) RFM: 22% (-1) CON: 21% (+2) LDM: 8% (=) GRN: 8% (=) RES: 5% (-2) SNP: 2% (-1) Via @BMGResearch, 28-29 Oct. Changes w/ 23-24 Sep.

🌹 | Largest Labour Lead (9%) with ANY pollster since September 2024, and just 1% short of lead at the 2024 General Election.

Westminster Voting Intention: LAB: 28% (+2) CON: 21% (=) RFM: 20% (=) GRN: 11% (-2) LDM: 10% (+1) SNP: 3% (=) Via @FindoutnowUK, 28-29 Oct. Changes w/ 21 Oct.

Find Out Now voting intention: 🔴 Labour: 28% (+2) 🔵 Conservatives: 21% (-) 🟦 Reform UK: 20% (-) 🟢 Greens: 11% (-2) 🟠 Lib Dems: 10% (+1) Implied turnout: 54% Changes from 21st October [Find Out Now, 28-29th October, N=2,514]

Exclusive: In a series of interviews with @thetimes and behind the scenes discussions with American influencers the defence secretary says: - The Ministry of Defence has been working towards 3 per cent by 2030 for weeks - He is open to Special Forces and Britain's nuclear deterrent coming under scrutiny by MPs and Lords on the ISC. He says they can be trusted to handle Britain's utmost secrets despite potential backlash. But he launches defence of SF saying politicians are to blame for their behaviour and they are being subjected to a "smear campaign" by the courts - China is a threat not just a challenge - The MoD needs to de-risk Palantir software and build its own version. - He has stockpiled at home and you should too Plus details on his extraordinary life, how "defence is in his blood" and rise through politics thetimes.com/article/b398e0e…

St James (Dudley) Council By-Election Result: 🌹 LAB: 38.0% (+16.2) ➡️ RFM: 37.9% (-11.0) 🌳 CON: 13.8% (-0.1) ◼️ RES: 6.9% (New) 🌍 GRN: 3.4% (-7.2) No LDM (-3.9) or TUSC (-0.9) as previous. Labour GAIN from Reform UK. Changes w/ 2026.

The glass upside down at the end was pure class 🍺

🚨 NEW: Brits view John Healey’s Budget as the fairest since 2021

BREAKING: The leader of the Green group on @CornwallCouncil Drew Creek has defected to Labour.

Tony Blair mocks Iain Duncan Smith and the state of the Conservative Party during the Queen’s Speech debate. (November 2002)

NEW: Andy Burnham has demanded answers about the insolvency of Poundland, which has its largest distribution centre in his constituency of Makerfield. The PM tells @Telegraph: "If there was a potential owner to avoid this that hasn’t been accepted, then the Business Secretary and I want to know why that is the case. We stand ready to support the workforce however we can.” Burnham wants to know why Gordon Brothers, the chain's owner, rejected a solvent bid from Ireland’s Martin Property Group for the entire Poundland business earlier this week. Story here with @LukeVanceBarr: telegraph.co.uk/business/202…

Burnham says he wants to cut welfare bill 'as soon as we possibly can' bbc.in/4iq10L0

24 years in the Marines taught me that being ready for emergencies is always a good idea. Here is what to include in your kit to get through 3 days. Everyone's situation is different, so check what you might need 👇 beready.campaign.gov.uk

Yesterday's budget made important progress by ending the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme surplus-sharing arrangement. Campaigners have worked tirelessly to achieve this. But it doesn't go far enough in securing justice for retired miners. I have joined fellow Coalfield MPs in urging the Chancellor to go further and release the remaining £1.2 billion held in the Guarantor Fund. If you are a member of the MPS or BCSSS and are concerned about yesterday's announcement please email luke.akehurst.mp@parliament.uk

Healey tells departments to make 1% cuts to fund defence bbc.in/484Nb01

Healey takes 70,000 more retail, hospitality and leisure firms out of business rates by lifting threshold for relief from £12k to £18k. It means half of them will pay no rates at all - and the rest will have rates frozen for next two years - paid for by raising taxes on gambling.

Today's Labour Budget is a Budget for working people.

🚨BREAKING: Chancellor John Healey announces standing charges on household gas bills will be scrapped and up to 20 million households will receive £100 to help with their energy bills this winter.