It is fantastic news that the Government has finally woken up to the dangers of social media for young people. This is an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children. Huge credit goes to @LauraTrottMP and my Shadow Cabinet for relentlessly fighting for this. Conservatives welcome this latest Labour U-turn, and will continue to work for the best implementation of the policy.

The “return of the state” is both the most compelling case for Andy Burnham and the reason journalists still struggle to understand “Burnhamism”. New Labour’s aversion to nationalisation is now as out of date as Old Labour was in the 1990s. The records of both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair show the case for having a clear ideology, and the first two years of this Labour government have tested to destruction the idea that having no guiding political philosophy benefits a government. An activist state with the “Green transition” at its heart, with a commitment to municipal enterprise and council-house building, one that shapes the economy rather than blowing in the wind and earns “royalties” from its investments and the IP it supports, is a break with past decades. And so it should be – Thatcher and Blair were the bookends of the long late seventies. This is the second quarter of the 21st century – we need to make it new. It’s time for a real change. A rejection of the glum politics of “like it or lump it – we’re taking away your Winter Fuel Payment, because!” Time to try a leader who enjoys their job, makes a persuasive case for changes and works to create a coalition to support his actions. The 2029 general election will be as definitional for the country as 1979. The end of neoliberal governance opens a new era – for progressives, one that is resolutely upbeat and optimistic. @Johnmcternan: Labour needs a leader who actually enjoys the job newstatesman.com/politics/uk…

It is fantastic news that the Government has finally woken up to the dangers of social media for young people. This is an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children. Huge credit goes to @LauraTrottMP and my Shadow Cabinet for relentlessly fighting for this. Conservatives welcome this latest Labour U-turn, and will continue to work for the best implementation of the policy.

JUST IN: UK Government clarifies adults will still be able to use social media by verifying their identities with digital IDs, facial recognition, passports and credit cards.

Governments have regulated water, cars, smoking, food, child labour… the wealthy interests of their day typically framed it as the death of capitalism & a war on liberty. They were wrong, life is now better for it. Now, finally, the debate is coming for big tech.

Britain’s national debt is on course for £3 trillion this year. Servicing it costs £30 billion a year at 1% interest and £150 billion at 5%, near where long-dated gilts have recently been trading. That’s a number so big it almost becomes meaningless. So, let’s try another way: it’s about the yearly gross pay of nearly four million median full-time workers. That’s the background to Kenneth Rogoff’s warning that Britain has a better than 50:50 chance of a major debt crisis before 2030. Rogoff is not an excitable commentator. He is a former chief economist of the IMF, a Harvard professor and co-author of one of the gravest studies of sovereign debt crises ever written. No matter how far-fetched it may seem, if the fiscal situation doesn’t change soon, and substantially, Rachel Reeves may well find the IMF knocking at the Treasury’s door. ✍️@DamianPudner Read more: capx.co/reeves-is-closer-to-…

It shouldn’t be controversial to put Brits first in line for tax cuts. That’s what a Reform UK Treasury will do. Cathy Newman disagreed…

Social media will be banned for all children under 16, UK PM Keir Starmer announces Follow live: bbc.in/4e8dZQK

What a despicable human you are. I know nothing about you but you’ve given me everything I need to know. You clearly care nothing for the care of human beings. When one gets wealthier another has to get poorer. Absolutely shameful statement.

The last sentence is the real meat and potatoes of this. What's being promoted as a 'social media ban for children', is really an ID check for every adult.

Responding to the Government's ban on social media for under-16s, @cjsnowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "We must stop judging new legislation by the good intentions of its advocates rather than its likely consequences. We know from Australia that most teenagers will get around the ban and that those who are not able to do so will suffer from social isolation. "There are legitimate concerns about screen addiction among both children and adults, but parents are already able to restrict what their children see online and limit the number of hours they can use a smartphone. These guardrails are removed when kids log in via VPNs or sign up to platforms as adults. "What the Government is trying to do is reminiscent of attempts to ban the printing press. It is similarly impractical, illiberal and ultimately undesirable."

In South London dozens of private renters are being evicted after their landlord - an affordable private rent provider - sold their entire estate to property developer Eviction notices arrived just as the government’s ban on Section 21 became law Full investigation from me @theipaper inews.co.uk/news/estate-wher…