Lower-income households are set to receive additional help with their energy bills, industry sources have told The i Paper, ahead of tomorrow’s Budget.

The support is expected to come through an increase to the Warm Home Discount, which currently provides eligible households with £150 a year off their electricity bills.

The discount is expected to rise by up to £100, but there has been speculation it could rise by more. Those eligible include households receiving qualifying benefits such as universal credit, pension credit, housing benefit and income-related employment and support allowance.

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The MPs who claim they were denied access to West Bank

Two MPs and an MSP have claimed they were detained by Israeli authorities and denied access to the West Bank.

A Palestinian flag is seen held outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on July 30, 2025. The co-founder of Palestine Action can launch a court bid to overturn the UK government's decision to ban the campaign group under anti-terrorism laws, a High Court judge ruled on July 30. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP) (Photo by NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP via Getty Images)A Palestinian flag is seen held outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London (Photo: Niklas Halle’n/AFP via Getty Images)



4 min read

What happened?

Labour’s Clive Lewis and the SNP’s Lara Bird, along with Kate Nevens of the Scottish Greens, sought to access the territory on Monday as part of a delegation organised by political group Progressive International.

Lara Bird after winning the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election at the Saltire Sports Centre in Arbroath. The by-election was triggered following Stephen Gethins being elected to the Scottish Parliament. Picture date: Friday June 19, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Robert Perry/PA WireCaption: Lara Bird after winning the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election at the Saltire Sports Centre in Arbroath. The by-election was triggered following Stephen Gethins being elected to the Scottish Parliament. Picture date: Friday June 19, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Robert Perry/PA Wire
Photographer: Robert Perry
Provider: Robert Perry/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Clive Lewis talks onstage at the Black Cultural Archives on January 10, 2020 in London, England. Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis, who is the MP for Norwich South, laid out his plans for the Labour Party in a bid to secure the 22 nominations needed to remain in the race to replace the party's current leader Jeremy Corbyn. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)Clive Lewis (Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

According to Progressive International, the group – which also included former MP Sam Tarry and Spanish Senator Josu Estarrona Elizondo – was detained by the Israeli authorities for eight hours.

What was the group’s plan?

The group was stopped while making the crossing from Jordan and had planned to undertake “a programme of meetings with Palestinian academics, students and civil society organisations” as well as join the olive harvest following what it claims are “mounting attacks” against farmers in the territory.



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5 min read

What did the group claim?

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 31: Labour Party MP Clive Lewis addresses hundreds of activists and campaigners in London's Parliament Square during 'Extinction Rebellion' protest against the inaction of the British government in the face of climate change and ecological collapse. Protesters declared a non-violent rebellion and demanded urgent action on the ecological crisis to avoid the possibility of human extinction in the near future. October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 31: Labour Party MP Clive Lewis addresses hundreds of activists and campaigners in London’s Parliament Square during ‘Extinction Rebellion’ protest against the inaction of the British government in the face of climate change and ecological collapse. Protesters declared a non-violent rebellion and demanded urgent action on the ecological crisis to avoid the possibility of human extinction in the near future. October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Wiktor Szymanowicz
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future Publishing
Copyright: ? 2018 Wiktor Szymanowicz

In a post on X, Lewis said: “For more than eight hours, we were held, interrogated and made to feel as though we had done something wrong simply by attempting to enter. The simple truth is we had done nothing wrong.”

Bird posted: “I came to stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land. Instead, we were turned away, with no reason given.”

money

How much benefits payments will rise by after the Budget

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves carries the red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street, in central London, on October 30, 2024, to present the government's annual Autumn budget to Parliament. Britain's new Labour government unveils its first budget on Wednesday, the highly-anticipated fiscal update, the first under the centre-left government after 14 years of Conservative rule. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)Caption: Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves carries the red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street, in central London, on October 30, 2024, to present the government’s annual Autumn budget to Parliament. Britain’s new Labour government unveils its first budget on Wednesday, the highly-anticipated fiscal update, the first under the centre-left government after 14 years of Conservative rule. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: ADRIAN DENNIS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors

Benefit claimants are expected to see their payments go up in line with inflation.

What’s happening to benefits?

Benefit claimants will see their payments boosted next year in a move that could cost the Government up to £5.5bn, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). 

Couple dropping coins into a white piggy bank, planning household savings and budgeting together for future security and retirementCash ISA rules are changing next year (Photo: LordHenriVoton/E+/Miljan Lakic/Getty)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Chancellor John Healey speaks to service users during a visit to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity on October 26, 2026 in London, England. The visit comes ahead of the budget later this week, in which funding is set to double to support a pledge by the Prime Minister to give every rough sleeper in England a route off the streets by Christmas. Ending rough sleeping was one of Burnham's first promises when he entered Downing Street, announcing a ??442m package to provide emergency accommodation and practical support. (Photo by Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images)Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Chancellor John Healey speaks to service users during a visit to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity on October 26, 2026 in London, England. The visit comes ahead of the budget later this week, in which funding is set to double to support a pledge by the Prime Minister to give every rough sleeper in England a route off the streets by Christmas. Ending rough sleeping was one of Burnham’s first promises when he entered Downing Street, announcing a ??442m package to provide emergency accommodation and practical support. (Photo by Ian Vogler – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photographer: WPA Pool
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: the daily mirror

Some 10 million Britons claiming working-age benefits are set to see a rise of at least 3.5 per cent from next spring, with ministers expected to increase rates in line with inflation.

What’s happening to benefits?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also confirmed that it will not freeze benefits, with the uplift rates set to be confirmed in the Budget on Wednesday.

Disability and carers’ benefits – such as personal independence payment (PIP) and carer’s allowance – must rise at least in line with inflation.

However, ministers can decide whether to raise, cut or freeze most other working-age benefits, such as child benefit.



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3 min read

What it means for pounds and pence

1The Resolution Foundation said that, from April, the standard allowance in universal credit for a single person over 25 will rise by 4.3 per cent (or £4.23) to £102.28 a week. It will rise by £6.63 to £160.55 a week for couples.

2This would mean a single person under 25 on universal credit could see a rise of £150 a year, while a couple over the age of 25 will see their payments rise by nearly £350 a year.

3Claimants may also see further energy bills support announced in the Budget, but it remains to be seen how much this could be and who would be eligible.

Nurses, doctors and teachers ‘face real-terms pay cut’

The news comes as nurses, doctors and teachers face pay awards that risk leaving them worse off as the cost of living climbs, according to trade unions.

The Government says its plans for 2027-28 can accommodate a 2.4 per cent increase to NHS staff pay without trade-offs against its main health commitments.

However, ministers have warned that giving NHS staff a pay rise above 2.4 per cent next year could hit patient care.

A closer look at the detail

Teachers, meanwhile, have been awarded a 3.5 per cent pay rise – while in line with inflation, unions argue it is below the 3.9 per cent Retail Prices Index (RPI) rate of inflation.

However, unions have warned this is an older measure of inflation that generally tracks higher than the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), on which inflation is set, and that the deal therefore amounts to a real-terms pay cut.



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3 min read

What is the DWP saying?

We want to build a welfare system that incentivises work and supports those who need it most, but the system we inherited denied people the support and opportunities they need to move into work.

DWP spokesperson

Department for Work and Pensions on 30th November 2025 in London, United Kingdom. The Department for Work and Pensions, DWP based at Caxton House is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK's biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)Department for Work and Pensions on 30th November 2025 in London, United Kingdom. The Department for Work and Pensions, DWP based at Caxton House is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

news

Is ferritin face real? What iron levels can really tell you

Close up of older 65s woman stand in front of mirror, gently touch her face with hands, examining skin, assessing results of skincare routine. Hydration, anti-ageing regimen, aging gracefully concept(Photo: Alex Tihonov/Getty).

Ferritin face is a trend sweeping social media, but is it real? Here is everything you need to know.

What is ferritin face?

The term, trending on social media outlets like TikTok, refers to a supposed symptom of a lack of ferritin – the protein that stores iron in the body – affecting a person’s complexion.

Writer Nick Harding photographed for a piece on health supplements. Box Hill, Surrey U.K.Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photographer: Jason Alden Photographer: Jason Alden www.jasonalden.com 0781 063 1642Caption: Writer Nick Harding photographed for a piece on health supplements. Box Hill, Surrey U.K.Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photographer: Jason Alden

Photographer: Jason Alden
www.jasonalden.com
0781 063 1642
Photographer: Jason Alden

Young woman wearing a pink robe examines her face in a bathroom mirror, performing a gentle facial massage as part of her morning skincare routine and self-care ritual.Caption: Young woman wearing a pink robe examines her face in a bathroom mirror, performing a gentle facial massage as part of her morning skincare routine and self-care ritual.
Photographer: blackCAT
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+

People have attributed everything from dull or pale skin and dark circles under the eyes to a generally exhausted-looking complexion to low ferritin.

What is ferritin?

1Your ferritin levels show how good your body’s iron stores are, while haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells which carries oxygen.

2When haemoglobin is low, blood cannot carry as much oxygen – a condition known as anaemia.

3However, iron stores can become depleted before that happens, meaning someone can be iron-deficient and have symptoms without being anaemic.

Is ferritin face real?

Ferritin face is not widely recognised among GPs, and not a medical term or diagnosis.

Some of the changes people describe as “ferritin face”, such as paler skin and dark eye circles, can occur with iron deficiency.

However, Dr Max Draper, GP at MyAtlas Health Clinic told The i Paper it’s “certainly not diagnostic”.



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3 min read

The signs of low iron

The most common symptom of low iron is fatigue and tiredness but it can impact people in different ways, from aches and pains to low mood.

Other symptoms include hair loss, spoon-shaped nails, cold hands and feet, and odd cravings called pagophagia – such as craving ice – and being drawn to the smell of petrol, paint or the desire to chew paper or clay.



3 min read

How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps

Gratitude

The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.

NHS GP dR RADHA

The science

Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.

The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.

This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.

We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.

Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.

How can we build gratitude?

Two adult brothers enjoy a warm embrace in a sunny park. They stand beside a decorative fence surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing a strong bond and happiness in the moment.Caption: Two adult brothers enjoy a warm embrace in a sunny park. They stand beside a decorative fence surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing a strong bond and happiness in the moment.
Photographer: Beatriz Herrera
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: beatrizherreragonzalez@gmail.com

Change your words

Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it. 

Journal

Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.

Caucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward - stock photoCaucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

‘One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,’ says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi/Getty)

Express it

This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.

How can we build gratitude?

Notice more

Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?

Happy woman spending leisure time with friends at sunny day. Multiracial females are talking with each other. They are wearing sports clothing.Exercise with people you love (Photographer: Morsa Images/Getty/Digital Vision/Abel Mitj? Varela)

Group of Happy Asian senior women friends shopping and having lunch at restaurant on summer holiday vacation. Healthy elderly woman enjoy outdoor lifestyle meeting and eating food together.Caption: Group of Happy Asian senior women friends shopping and having lunch at restaurant on summer holiday vacation. Healthy elderly woman enjoy outdoor lifestyle meeting and eating food together.
Photographer: CandyRetriever
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto

The basics

By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.

What to do

Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality. 

Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.

Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.

Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.

Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.

Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.

Renault 5 E-Tech

Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery

Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.

The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars. 



4 min read

Mercedes-Benz CLA

A champion of EV efficiency

It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.

It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.

Priced from £37,400



2 min read

Porsche Macan GTS

It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.

The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.

The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.

Kia EV 9

With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.

MG IM6

It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion. 

BYD Dolphin Surf

All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.

While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.

Leapmotor T03

It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps. 

There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.

Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds. 



2 min read

The kitchen gadgets and products a food editor swears by, all under £25

The kitchen gadgets under £25

best kitchen gadgetsCaption: best kitchen gadgets

Victorinox paring knife

It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.

ProCook cast iron pan

For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice. 

Tesco chopping board

Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.

The kitchen gadgets under £25

Pyrex jug

It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.

Salter scales

“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”

Microplane grater

It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match. 

Braun hand-held blender

It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce. 

Bodum cafetiere

As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.



5 min read

The kitchen gadgets under £25

Oxo peeler

What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.

Falcon pie dish

Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe. 

The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.

Happy woman walking with male partner in vineyard during sunset. Elderly couple are touring in field against sky. They are enjoying during weekend.Caption: Happy woman walking with male partner in vineyard during sunset. Elderly couple are touring in field against sky. They are enjoying during weekend.
Photographer: Morsa Images
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision

Golden rules for happy relationships

Start with your own behaviours

The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.

Side view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. - stock photoSide view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Happy young couple spending quality time together at homeSon’t assume your partner knows how you think (Photo: ljubaphoto/Getty/E+)

Express your needs

People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.

Golden rules for happy relationships

Unhappy married couple facing away from each other in a quiet home, concept of emotional distance, loneliness in relationship and family problems - stock photoUnhappy married couple facing away from each other in a quiet home, concept of emotional distance, loneliness in relationship and family problems – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule

If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.

Lean on community

You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong. 

Happy couples talking while walking embraced during spring day in a meadow.Caption: Happy couples talking while walking embraced during spring day in a meadow.
Photographer: skynesher
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+

Candid shot happiness and togetherness Asian mother supporting daughter try to standing and walking first time and positive emotion - stock photoCandid shot happiness and togetherness Asian mother supporting daughter try to standing and walking first time and positive emotion – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Stop blaming childhood

Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.

Financial problems. Worried middle-aged woman holding utility bills, managing monthly household budget, sitting on bed feeling anxious. Cost of living conceptCaption: Financial problems. Worried middle-aged woman holding utility bills, managing monthly household budget, sitting on bed feeling anxious. Cost of living concept
Photographer: MementoJpeg
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF

Reach for a
secure script

When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one. 

If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’

Loneliness elsewhere

When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.

Frustrated lonely shy guy sitting apart of others teenagers - stock photoFrustrated lonely shy guy sitting apart of others teenagers – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

What to do

Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.

You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle. 

Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.

Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.

Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…

Foods that leave you hungrier

A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice

More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.

No more orange juice. (Photo via pixaby)

Woman eating colored breakfast cereal in front of laptop, workplace breakfast, quick healthy breakfast in office in the morning.It’s estimated ultra processed foods make up at least half of the average UK diet (Photo: Getty)

Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.

Foods that leave you hungrier

Gail's croissant Image taken from https://gails.com/collections/breakfast/products/croissantCaption: Gail’s croissant
Image taken from https://gails.com/collections/breakfast/products/croissant

Croissants

These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.

Toast and jam

It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.

Toasted bread and white backgroundCaption: Toasted bread and white background
Photographer: Daniel Tamas Mehes
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: Minden jog fenntartva!

FILE PHOTO: Pufferfish sushi line is seen on a display window at a market in Shimonoseki, Japan February 7, 2020. Picture taken on February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Sakura Murakami/File PhotoYakitori’s on the menu at the Japanese restaurant – but what exactly is it? (Photo: Reuters)

Sushi

Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.

Foods that leave you hungrier

Sarawak laksa is one of many varieties of this noodle soup (Photo: Tham Kee Chuan/Getty)Sarawak laksa is one of many varieties of this noodle soup (Photo: Tham Kee Chuan/Getty)

Vegetable soup

On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.

Pizza

Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.

Best pizza in Britain named – and owner reveals the secret to its success (Photo: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Chocolate Milkshake Smoothies photographed for Food in Washington, DC on August 12, 2024 (Photo by Scott Suchman for The Washington Post via Getty Images; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post via Getty Images)The Government has announced that the sugar tax will be extended to milkshakes (Photo: Scott Suchman)

Smoothies

Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.

Foods that leave you hungrier

London, convenience store, snacks and sweets. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)‘Aged 14, I started what I considered to be my own little business selling confectionary,’ writes Beauty Dhlamini (Photo: Getty)

Snack bars

They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.

Low-fat yoghurt

A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.

Which yoghurts are the best options? (Unsplash)Which yoghurts are the best options? (Unsplash)

BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 17: A "KT Herbalist", a Kratom cocktail made from Kratom, coffee and siamese herbs is seen at Teens of Thailand, a bar in Bangkok's Chinatown on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand's third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand's most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok's Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand's recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)Caption: BANGKOK, THAILAND – OCTOBER 17: A “KT Herbalist”, a Kratom cocktail made from Kratom, coffee and siamese herbs is seen at Teens of Thailand, a bar in Bangkok’s Chinatown on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand’s third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand’s most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok’s Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand’s recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Photographer: Lauren DeCicca
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

Alcohol

On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.

What to eat instead

Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.

Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.

Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.

Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.

Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.

Around six million households across Britain are expected to benefit from the scheme this winter – although the number of households covered and any changes to eligibility would depend on the final package.

Chancellor John Healey said the Budget would help households with “everyday costs”.

“This Budget is designed to give households breathing space from some of the everyday costs, provide targeted support for businesses and self-employed people, and to start the long-term action needed to get energy costs down for good,” he said.

Soaring energy costs

It comes amid soaring costs for household energy due to global shocks, including the Iran war in the Middle East. On October 1, the regulator Ofgem increased the price cap for energy bills by 4 per cent to £1,723 a year.

The cap is expected to rise again in January with energy consultancy Cornwall Insight predicting a 16 per cent rise to £1,999 a year, with prices expected to stay high throughout 2027.

This is putting pressure on the Government to act after Andy Burnham promised “breathing room” on the cost of living when he became Prime Minister.

Alongside immediate help with bills, ministers are expected to consider longer-term changes aimed at bringing down energy costs.

Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, has said ministers are examining options to reform standing charges, describing them as a system the public “absolutely hates”.

Speaking at a lunch with journalists last week, she said the charges meant people were billed before they had used any energy – limiting their ability to control costs by reducing consumption.

She said the Government was looking at the options, adding that it needed to act urgently to get rid of the current system “so watch this space.”

Fahnbulleh said making bills more affordable was her “number one priority”, arguing that reform needed to go beyond generating cheaper energy and address how the wider system works.

She pointed to the need to reform retail and wholesale markets and energy networks, so they worked more in consumers’ interests.

Other options to lower bills

Other options being discussed include changes to energy tariffs to make essential energy use more affordable for low-income households.

A social tariff, for example, could offer eligible households discounted energy, although its design would need to determine who qualifies and how the cost is funded.

Another proposal is to move some policy costs currently included in energy bills into general taxation. This could reduce charges on bills but would shift the cost to taxpayers rather than eliminate it.

Burnham has also called for electricity market reforms to weaken the link between domestic electricity prices and the international gas market, alongside expanding renewable and nuclear power.

But the Conservatives have argued that targeted support will not go far enough, calling instead for measures to reduce energy costs for everyone.

The party’s proposed cheap energy plan would remove levies, charges and VAT from energy bills, which it says would bring down costs regardless of household income.

Andrew Bowie, the shadow Energy Secretary, told The i Paper: “The plans we have would reduce bills for everyone in this country by removing the levies, charges and VAT on energy bills. Labour are simply handing out cash to those on receipt of benefits. The Conservatives would slash the cost of energy for everyone.”

Warm Home Loans

Separately, the Government is helping households switch to cleaner, more energy-efficient heating through its Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers grants towards the cost of installing heat pumps.

The scheme could face cuts in tomorrow’s Budget, with reports suggesting ministers are considering reducing its funding to help meet defence spending commitments. However, no cuts have been confirmed.

The Government has also launched its Warm Homes Loan Scheme, offering households access to interest-free or lower-interest loans to install technologies such as solar panels, home batteries and heat pumps.

The loans are intended to make energy-efficiency improvements more affordable by spreading the upfront cost over several years, with repayment terms of up to 30 years available on some products.

The Government says borrowing costs could be up to five percentage points lower than with standard lending, although rates and terms will vary between providers.

Homeowners can also combine eligible loans with grants from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to help pay for a heat pump. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies in England and Wales, while Scotland has separate support arrangements.