The Tory conference was a pseudo-sacred affair, with devotees paying homage in front of Thatcher’s old shrouds — and your reporter, initially barred, only need mention he’d once met her to gain access. But would she consider what was on offer a worthy legacy, asks ANDREW MURRAY

THE local elections are just a few weeks away and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) believes that, with the current cost-of-living crisis and the continuing reduction in funding from the Scottish government to local authorities, we need a new approach by all local authorities in Scotland.
This new approach is already delivering results in North Ayrshire, where the community wealth-building model is demonstrating that there is a different way.
The CWU is supporting this approach, which is now Scottish Labour Party policy for all council candidates, but is calling on all political parties and councillors in Scotland to adopt this model and policies.

As Reform UK threatens to capitalise on public anger, our Establishment politicians simply refuse to acknowledge their role in creating the very alienation that gives succour to Farage, writes CRAIG ANDERSON


