Priti Patel Enters Conservative Leadership Race

Priti Patel has emerged as the first female candidate in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party, asserting her ability to unify the party and prepare it for future elections. Meanwhile, the newly-elected Labour government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has declared that Britain is 'broke and broken,' attributing this situation to the fiscal mismanagement of the previous Conservative administration. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to present a grim assessment of the public finances, highlighting a £20 billion shortfall and accusing the former government of making unfunded spending commitments. The Conservatives have dismissed these claims as a pretext for tax increases that Labour did not disclose during their campaign. Some economists have expressed skepticism about Labour's findings, suggesting that many issues could have been anticipated. The Labour Party is expected to detail its budget plans amid criticism from both opposition parties and its own ranks.