Nigel Farage has tried to fend off claims that Reform UK would force people to pay to see a doctor

The Sentencing Council has refused a request from the government to change guidance that prompted a row over “two-tier justice”. PA Media says:

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, said “all options were on the table” and threatened to change the law if necessary after a “disappointing” response from the chairman of the council over new guidelines to judges relating to pre-sentence reports for ethnic minorities.

Instead, the Sentencing Council said it will clarify language around the relevant part of the guideline “in the hope that this would correct the widespread misunderstanding” which has emerged in the last few weeks.

Labour are on the attack against Reform UK in the run-up to the Runcorn by-election/local elections. This is their paid wraparound ad in today’s Birmingham Mail - Reform are holding their ‘biggest ever’ rally in Birmingham later. Expect a lot more of this to come.