Angry Liberal Democrats have accused Tories of seeking to exploit the death of a teacher for political gain after leaked letters revealed that Nick Clegg blocked automatic jail terms for repeat knife crimes.
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are at loggerheads over proposals to tighten up the law on knife crime.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling wants to bring in an automatic six-month jail term for anyone convicted of a second crime involving a knife.
But the chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, is concerned that the move would be expensive and put too much pressure on prison places.
A leaked letter from Mr Alexander to Nick Clegg, published in the Daily Mail, says:
‘It is very hard to see how it could be afforded. The Treasury does not support this amendment and I am not willing to clear it."
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.