Wednesday briefing: Green light for windfarms as Tories ease their de facto ban

In today's newsletter: How 2015 legislation under David Cameron made it almost impossible to build windfarms, despite their effectiveness - and surprising popularity

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Good morning.

There was a time under the leadership of David Cameron that the Conservative party had the ambition of becoming the greenest government ever". But by the early 2010s the party was marred by significant pushback from Conservative MPs against environmental policies that still plagues the government a decade later. One particular point of contention has been the eight-year ban on the development of onshore windfarms in England. Rules that were ushered in under Cameron meant that a local authority in England can reject an application to build an onshore windfarm on the basis of a single objection from a local resident.

US | Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys group, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his part in the failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the 2020 election.

Schools | The cost of fixing the buildings crisis in England is approaching 150m and could rise much further, according to Guardian estimates based on figures from the construction industry, government and schools.

UK news | Birmingham city council, the largest local authority in the UK, has in effect declared itself bankrupt after issuing a section 114 notice, signalling that it does not have the resources to balance its budget.

Health | The number of under-50s worldwide being diagnosed with cancer has risen by nearly 80% in three decades, according to the largest study of its kind. More than a million under-50s a year are dying of cancer, the research reveals.

Museums | Manchester Museum has announced that it is returning more than 174 objects to an Indigenous community in northern Australia in what is being described as a landmark example of cultural repatriation.