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Burnham is acting like he’s mayor of everywhere – that’s not devolving power to local communities | Simon Jenkins
The column argues that Andy Burnham’s early interventions on homelessness, bus fares, pub business rates, social housing and social care contradict his previous commitment to localism. It says these policies risk further centralising services that are better managed by councils, communities and local organisations, and warns that national announcements can overlook local needs. It cites…
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Angela Rayner admits she may fail to meet government’s promise to build 1.5m new homes
Housing secretary Angela Rayner has acknowledged Labour may not achieve its manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million homes during the five-year parliamentary term, while insisting the target remains in place. Her comments matter because housebuilding is a central government commitment and current delivery is substantially behind the pace required. Rayner said rising construction costs and…
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Lidia Thorpe’s little-known ex-tradie son, 35, makes debut speech to parliament as part of Victoria’s controversial Indigenous treaty
Andrew Thorpe, the 35-year-old son of Australian senator Lidia Thorpe, has made his first speech to the Victorian parliament as part of the state’s contested Indigenous treaty process. His emergence marks a notable moment given that he has kept a low public profile compared with his mother, who is one of Australia’s most prominent and…
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Noah Kahan calls on Congress to force his fans to wear diapers to gigs to stop them pissing and shitting everywhere
Noah Kahan jokingly told concertgoers that Congress should require them to wear nappies at his shows, following repeated reports of fans urinating or defecating in the audience. The remarks highlight concerns about concert etiquette and the burden such incidents place on venue staff and other attendees. The singer first responded online after alleged incidents in…
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Another embarrassing climbdown for Burnham as Angela Rayner says rent controls are NOT happening… days after he insisted they were being considered
Angela Rayner has ruled out introducing rent controls, contradicting Andy Burnham, who had said only days earlier that such measures were being considered. The reversal marks another awkward moment for Burnham and adds to a perception of confusion or disunity within Labour over housing policy, drawing criticism from opponents such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.…
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Angela Rayner refuses to repay £16k severance payout after returning to cabinet
Angela Rayner has said she will not repay a severance payment of almost £17,000 received after leaving government in 2025, despite returning to the Cabinet as Andy Burnham’s housing secretary. The issue matters because Rayner had previously criticised Conservative ministers for accepting similar payments after brief periods in office, prompting Conservative calls for her to…
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Britain ‘in a better place today than we were yesterday’ despite fresh Trump tariffs, minister insists
A UK minister has said Britain is in a better position despite the US renewing a 10% import tariff on British goods, arguing that exemptions for products including whisky and medical technologies reduce the impact. The tariffs matter because the United States is the UK’s largest single export market, while the government seeks to preserve…
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Regional mayors to play key role in national policy decisions under Burnham’s plan for No 10 North
Andy Burnham has announced plans for a new No 10 North office in Manchester, intended to give regional mayors a greater role in national policymaking and accelerate devolution. He said the initiative would help shift power and resources away from Whitehall, supporting regeneration, housebuilding, transport infrastructure, reindustrialisation and economic growth across the UK. Burnham plans…
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‘A small snippet’: what pubs make of Burnham’s £100m rates giveaway
Andy Burnham’s new government has announced a 20% business-rates reduction for pubs, clubs and live music venues, costing £100m, as part of efforts to support high streets and slow pub closures. Publicans welcomed the signal of support but said the relief would make only a limited difference because VAT, wages, employer taxes, energy and other…
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Indian activist Wangchuk ends 26-day hunger strike as ‘Cockroach’ protesters vow to press on
Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a 26-day hunger strike that helped propel a youth-led protest movement calling for education reform and accountability over examination paper leaks. The protest’s continuation despite his decision underlines the scale of public anger and keeps pressure on the government, particularly Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Wangchuk began fasting on 28…