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Thursday, 13 August 2026

The Daily Trend

Today’s news, with the data and without the spin

Early Release Scheme

Trending · Justice

Early Release Scheme

The Independent

43 articles across 9 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

Sentiment

Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 43 articles

What happened

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing pressure from 50 police leaders to stop the early release of two men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper in 2019. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could be freed early under a government scheme releasing 5,000 prisoners from October to ease prison overcrowding. Burnham says he is working to prevent their release, but the chief probation inspector has warned the scheme risks serious crimes because staff cannot properly monitor all offenders.

Prison Population

The number of people held in prison across England and Wales, counted every week. It includes sentenced prisoners, people on remand (held in custody before trial or sentencing) and immigration detainees, and is best read against usable operational capacity, how many a prison can safely hold. When it rises, the system runs short of room; when it falls, headroom returns.

LATEST · 24 Aug 202686,843
GROWTH · YOY-1.6%
HIGH · 06 Sep 202488,521
LOW · 06 Jan 202382,212
82k84k86k88k90k202420252026
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Ministry of Justice / HMPPS · Prison Population Statistics

Coverage: England & Wales

See the full data

How each side sees it

Other News

The next most-covered stories, measured the same way. Each one sits on a board where the numbers behind it live.

  • Business Rates

    Trending · Finance

    Business Rates

    5 articles across 5 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

    Sentiment

    Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 5 articles

  • Business Rates

    Trending · Finance

    Business Rates

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants to go further on business rates relief beyond the 20% rates relief for pubs announced when he took office. He also announced plans to ban fake discounts and make subscription cancellations easier.

  • Data

    Tax Receipts

    Every pound the government collects in tax: income tax, National Insurance, VAT (the tax on what you buy), corporation tax and the rest. This is the total, and the hard limit of what the state can spend without borrowing.

    See this and every other finance figure Trend holds on the Finance board.

  • Left

    Summary

    The Guardian and Independent framed Burnham's announcements as consumer protection measures, listing specific practices like fake discounts and subscription cancellations alongside broader cost-of-living interventions.

    Sentiment

    Across left-leaning outlets · 2 articles

  • Right

    Summary

    The Evening Standard, City AM, and Daily Mail emphasised business rates and tax concerns, with City AM and the Daily Mail warning that further tax rises could damage the High Street and cost of doing business.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 3 articles

The data behind

Business Rates

Tax Receipts

Every pound the government collects in tax: income tax, National Insurance, VAT (the tax on what you buy), corporation tax and the rest. This is the total, and the hard limit of what the state can spend without borrowing. When receipts rise faster than spending, the gap the government must borrow to fill shrinks; when they lag, it widens.

00.51£ trillion19501960197019801990200020102020
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Office for National Statistics / HMRC

Coverage: UK

  • Asylum Seeker Distribution

    Trending · Society

    Asylum Seeker Distribution

    4 articles across 3 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

    Sentiment

    Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 4 articles

  • Asylum Seeker Distribution

    Trending · Society

    Asylum Seeker Distribution

    The Prime Minister said asylum seekers should be dispersed across all parts of the country, not just poorer areas, after opposing a proposed migrant camp in Oxfordshire.

  • Data

    Asylum

    People applying for asylum in the United Kingdom set against the initial decisions made on those claims each year. When applications outpace decisions, the backlog of people waiting for an outcome grows, along with the cost of supporting them; when decisions catch up, it falls.

    93,52511.9%2025/26
    2020/212025/26

    See this and every other society figure Trend holds on the Society board.

  • Centre

    Summary

    The BBC reported Burnham's statement that wealthier areas should contribute to housing asylum seekers, framing it as a response to dispersal concentration in poorer communities.

    Sentiment

    Across centre outlets · 1 article

  • Right

    Summary

    The Daily Mail and The Spectator emphasised the scope of potential dispersal across affluent areas and villages, and contextualised Burnham's remarks alongside recent migrant arrival figures.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 3 articles

The data behind

Asylum Seeker Distribution

Asylum

People applying for asylum in the United Kingdom set against the initial decisions made on those claims each year. When applications outpace decisions, the backlog of people waiting for an outcome grows, along with the cost of supporting them; when decisions catch up, it falls. It reflects both the flow of claims and the Home Office's capacity to process them.

0k20k40k60k80k100k120kpeople20052010201520202025
ApplicationsInitial decisions
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Home Office

Coverage: UK

  • Scottish Public Spending

    Trending · Finance

    Scottish Public Spending

    3 articles across 3 outlets · news sources analysed by AI, figures counted from the coverage

    Sentiment

    Across all Trend monitored news outlets · 3 articles

  • Scottish Public Spending

    Trending · Finance

    Scottish Public Spending

    Scotland's tax revenues reached £98.3 billion in 2025-26, a record high. Public spending also hit record levels, leaving a £25.3 billion deficit.

  • Data

    Spending as % of GDP

    Public spending measured against the size of the economy (GDP), so it can be compared fairly across years and countries regardless of inflation or growth. When the share climbs, the government is taking on more of the economy; when it falls, it is stepping back.

    1346.9%5.0%2025
    20202025

    See this and every other finance figure Trend holds on the Finance board.

  • Left

    Summary

    The Daily Record emphasised Scotland's higher public spending per capita compared to other UK regions, framing GERS as evidence of Scotland's distinct fiscal position.

    Sentiment

    Across left-leaning outlets · 1 article

  • Right

    Summary

    The Belfast Telegraph led with record revenues but paired this with Scotland's £25.3 billion deficit, attributing it to historically high public spending levels.

    Sentiment

    Across right-leaning outlets · 2 articles

The data behind

Scottish Public Spending

Spending as % of GDP

Public spending measured against the size of the economy (GDP), so it can be compared fairly across years and countries regardless of inflation or growth. When the share climbs, the government is taking on more of the economy; when it falls, it is stepping back. How big it should be is a core dividing line between the parties.

35%40%45%50%19501960197019801990200020102020
ConservativeLabourCoalition

Source: Office for National Statistics / HM Treasury

Coverage: UK