Hard work should pay Unlock quality journalism that champions free enterprise One year for £25. |  | Paul Nuki Global Health Security Editor | The return of the hostages. An end to the grisly two-year war in Gaza. And, last but not least, the dawn of an “eternal peace” in the Middle East.
These were the big claims touted by Donald Trump last night with the Israeli prime minister standing sheepishly beside him, apparently in full agreement.
Even Hamas seems ready to accept the proposal, according to Mr Trump. It, in his words, has “great respect” for the surrounding Arab nations and wants to “get this done too”.
It’s a pivotal moment, but what chance does the White House’s 20-point plan for peace in Gaza and the wider Middle East have of working?
The new plan is the best to be produced in terms of its structure and scope – and is not without hope.
Perhaps its strongest point is the surprise addition, seemingly at the last moment, of Mr Trump himself as the chair of ‘‘The Board of Peace’’: the body proposed to run Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has reformed and matured sufficiently to take over.
It was originally to be chaired by Sir Tony Blair, but Mr Trump’s presence at the head of the table working alongside the former prime minister would provide a US guarantee that few could afford to ignore.
It is not mentioned in the plan, but it would come as no surprise if the International Criminal Court dropped its arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu as a quid pro quo for agreeing the Trump plan and seeing it through.
The cleverly drafted plan, which has Sir Tony’s fingerprints all over it, owes much to the Good Friday agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland, the single biggest achievement in UK politics of the last 30 years.
The plan has much going for it, but will mean huge sacrifices for Mr Netanyahu who could be faced with either collapsing his government or dumping Mr Trump. And with Hamas not yet at the table, it would take next to nothing for either side to derail it, as tensions now stand.
Read Paul’s analysis here and read the full story here ➤
Rob Crilly: Trump and Netanyahu’s hasty exit reveals cracks in Gaza plan ➤
Richard Kemp: This deal is the best chance to end the war ➤ | | Sir Keir pictured rehearsing his speech with Lady Victoria, his wife |  | Ben Riley-Smith Political Editor | If you are seeking reassuring words from the Prime Minister that things will not be as bad as feared in the Budget this autumn, look away now.
Sir Keir Starmer will deliver an uncompromising message in his speech to the Labour conference today, speaking of a “hard” road ahead and no “cost-free” decisions.
The Prime Minister will say there is “a fight for the soul of our country, every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war, and we must all rise to this challenge”.
In the battle against Reform, which has seen a surge in support under the leadership of Nigel Farage, Labour may have to do “uncomfortable” things, Sir Keir will tell his party.
There are no explicit references to what these are, but the indication is a much tougher stance on migration and a renewed push for money-saving welfare reforms.
Despite little appetite for tax increases, they seem inevitable. Note Rachel Reeves’s telling decision on Monday morning not to repeat her “no more major tax rises” promise delivered at a CBI event last November.
No 10 aides say this speech will be one of Sir Keir’s most “political” to date. “No one will be able to say they don’t know what he stands for after this,” says one. Let’s see.
Read the full story here ➤
Coming up today at the conference:
• 2pm Sir Keir Starmer will deliver his keynote speech during which he will unveil a new online hospital service offering virtual NHS appointments.
• 4.30pm Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is to appear in conversation with comedian Matt Forde.
• 5pm Left-wing Labour MPs Richard Burgon, John McDonnell and Nadia Whittome will join Diane Abbott at an event urging Sir Keir to change course.
• 6pm Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, is expected to appear at a panel event on how Labour can win the next general election. | | Douglas Carswell Every day this week, the former MP will be writing on the lessons that the UK can learn from the policy innovations driving growth in the United States Continue reading ➤ Nigel Farage No Keir, it’s not ‘racist’ to want immigration controls Continue reading ➤ Hamish de Bretton-Gordon Putin is boiling the British frog. We are at hybrid war with Russia Continue reading ➤ | Make your voice heard Join our journalists in conversation on today’s biggest topics One year for £25. | | JK Rowling had never directly mentioned Emma Watson or their disagreements over trans ideology – until now. The Harry Potter author rounded on the actress yesterday, accusing her of “pouring petrol on the flames” while Rowling was receiving death threats from trans activists.
“Like other people who’ve never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life, she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is… I wasn’t a multimillionaire at 14,” she said. Rowling made the remarks after Watson gave an interview saying she “treasured” the author and appeared to offer her an olive branch, though a happy reunion now seems highly unlikely. Continue reading ➤ | |  | | Does an indefinite leave to remain policy hinged on social contribution sound familiar? Germany introduced a similar scheme fast-tracking citizenship for volunteering migrants last summer but after less than a year it was scrapped. James Crisp dissects how the programme failed and warns of a similar fate for Shabana Mahmood’s uncannily similar proposal. Continue reading ➤ | | | The late Michael Mosley was a trusted authority on healthy living, with millions following his 5:2 or Fast 800 diet plans, often with life-changing results. Since his death in June 2024, his wife, Clare, and son, Jack, have continued the “Mosley mission” of promoting eating and living well, most recently with a new high-fibre diet plan tailored to users of weight-loss drugs. Emily Craig speaks to them about why diet is key to getting the best out of weight-loss jabs and the main foods they recommend. Continue reading ➤ | | | A recent feature on travel writers’ worst flight experiences elicited quite the response from readers, each eager to share their own terrifying tales of drama at 35,000ft. So please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for angry, gun-wielding passengers, in-flight fatalities and a botched landing in a west African jungle. Continue reading ➤ | | | When Michael Bacon was 11, his father sent him to a therapist. Years later, he and his wife were discussing the well-respected child psychologist, who worked at the Tavistock Clinic in London, and her obituary referred to her published case notes. Their interest piqued, the couple got their hands on the documents. “Half an hour later she came running in saying ‘I’ve found you, you’re called Leon’,” Bacon says. What they unearthed – unscientific, highly sexualised observations she made about him – is jaw-dropping. Continue reading ➤ | | | Most Britons, it would seem, no longer give a rat’s a--- about the kind of language that would have sent our grandparents reaching for the smelling salts. Nowadays, we are the second most prolific swearers in the English-speaking world behind only the Americans, according to a recent study. Iain Hollingshead explores the reasons for this rise in the use of expletives and how they became a form of self-help for all generations. Continue reading ➤ | | | Shreddies have been a staple of British breakfast tables since the 1950s. Here, Xanthe Clay, our resident taste tester, gives her verdict on the best supermarket malted wheats and crowns a surprising own-label winner. Continue reading ➤ Below are two more helpful articles for you this morning: |  | British taxpayers are suffering death by a thousand cuts.
Since the Conservatives froze the “personal allowance” and higher-rate tax threshold, billions of extra pounds in income tax has flowed from our paypackets straight to the vaults at HM Revenue & Customs.
While nothing has changed ostensibly, increases to state pensions and annual pay rises mean the Government is skimming off ever-greater sums.
Telegraph Money’s new “stealth tax” calculator shows, in pounds and pence, just how much extra tax you are paying – and the figures are terrifying.
Someone earning £60,000 a year today is estimated to pay £19,500 more in income tax compared to if the thresholds had all risen by inflation. That assumes, as is widely expected, the Government announces an extension to the Tory-era freeze right up to 2030.
It’s not hard to see why politicians of all stripes are addicted to stealth taxes. They can claim tax rates haven’t increased – but still collect bigger sums every year with most of the public not quite sure why it is they feel poorer.
See how Labour’s stealth taxes could hit your income ➤
Plus, here are the different ways Reeves could target VAT ➤ | The monosyllabic curse Every weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal Reader Correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories. Orlando writes...
Do you shorten your name? Or, indeed, do other people take the liberty of addressing you as Dave, Cath, Liz, Eddie, Ellie or Mike? Despite wielding a generous number of syllables, I have never had a diminutive that stuck: I’ve been through Landy, Lando, Olly (already taken) and Orly (strictly reserved, I gather, for Orlando Bloom). I’m still open to suggestions.
Recently, though, Professor WE Lee suggested on the Letters page that the British love of a nickname might be on the wane. “When I was growing up in the 1960s everyone knew that Bill was the shortened form of William. A few years ago, however, my letters at Imperial College London were often returned to sender by the mailroom when addressed to Bill. I also had trouble getting into one of our departments of state in Whitehall as I had been booked in as Bill but my record was under William. This gets worse with our digitising of every aspect of life: I have to use William in order to be recognised by the system.”
I wonder if more Williams go as Will rather than Bill today, just as Roberts seem to favour Rob over Bob. Still, the point resonated. Frank Russell reported: “My first name is Francis and my wife’s is Frances. I am known as Frank and she as Frin. It is rare that we get through passport control without curious glances.”
Initials, too, can be a problem. David R (or DR) Metcalfe told how, “on a flight from Melbourne to Singapore, I was unexpectedly upgraded at check-in to first class. The mystery was explained when I arrived at the top of the staircase and was greeted by an air hostess who said: ‘Welcome aboard, Dr Metcalfe.’ I spent the following hours worrying that I might be called upon to deal with a medical emergency. I wasn’t, but had anyway decided to say that I was a doctor of philosophy.”
And although it’s not strictly about shortened names, I enjoyed this from Raymond Jones: “My wife was born into a Welsh-speaking family and christened Jane. However, she has always been known as Siân to family and friends. Siân is Welsh for Jane. Why she wasn’t simply given this name is beyond me, but the vicar who married us insisted on using Jane until we were legally married – after which point he called her Siân.”
You can send me your stories here, or head to our Your Say page on the Telegraph app.
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The solution to yesterday’s clue was PROMOTION. Come back tomorrow for the answer to today’s puzzle. | | Thank you for reading. Have a fulfilling day and I hope to see you tomorrow. Chris Evans, Editor
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