Afternoon briefing Thursday 26th September

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has not responded to calls for a ceasefire amid increasing pressure from hardline coalition members, as fighting continues along the Israel-Lebanon border. Meanwhile, the EU ambassador highlights misunderstandings blocking a youth mobility agreement with the UK, essential for cultural exchange. Additionally, a mistake by the Ministry of Justice has led to dozens of dangerous prisoners being released early by accident, with five still unreturned, prompting criticism from former Conservative officials who deem it an unforgivable error.

A group of over 100 farmers and agriculture leaders have raised concerns about supermarkets using misleading branding to promote their products as local when they may actually be sourced from various countries. This practice, referred to as 'farm washing', deceives consumers into believing they are supporting British farmers. For example, blueberries might be sold with British branding, but they could come from places like Poland or Peru instead. Farmers demand more transparency in product sourcing to protect the integrity of local agriculture and to ensure that customers are informed about where their food is actually coming from. They feel strongly that supermarkets are exploiting patriotic imagery while not truly supporting local producers, leading to frustration amongst actual farmers who work hard to supply local food markets.