Staples such as biscuits, chocolate and baked beans could become cheaper as the government slashes import tariffs<\/a> on more than 100 types of product, in a move which could save consumers a combined \u00a3150 million per year.<\/p>\n However, health experts have warned the government should incentivise healthier foods, rather than lower the costs of biscuits. <\/p>\n The chancellor will also announce on Thursday a \u201cGreat British Summer Savings\u201d scheme, including free bus travel for children in England during the school holidays in August.<\/p>\n \u201cMy number one priority is protecting households from rising costs,\u201d the chancellor said, although the government is not expected to announce immediate help with rising energy bills.<\/p>\n However, Reeves has ruled out making \u201cmassive unfunded spending commitments\u201d to provide universal support with energy bills. <\/p>\n There had been speculation over whether the government could cap supermarket food prices<\/a>, but these suggestions were met by heavy opposition from the industry and from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, who said it would be \u201cunsustainable\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/a>Could a supermarket food price cap help with the cost of living? We asked shoppers what they think<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 11:57<\/p>\n <\/a>Starmer ally says government has already introduced wealth taxes <\/p>\n One of Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s key Cabinet allies has said the Government has already introduced wealth taxes when questioned on plans announced by potential leadership challenger Wes Streeting.<\/p>\n Following a speech in London on planned local government reforms, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: \u201cI haven\u2019t had the chance to sit down and listen to comments everyone is making, but the Government, of course, has already brought in wealth taxes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe non-doms changes, for instance, was one of those. I think in total it has raised around \u00a38 billion, not just from that one intervention but across a range of approaches that is now being spent on improving public services on the front line.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 11:47<\/p>\n <\/a>Diabetes expert says we should increase the cost of less healthy options<\/p>\n Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, suggested the government should incentivise healthier foods.<\/p>\n The professor who focuses on diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease told the Independent: \u201cImproving health outcomes may require a dual approach: incentivising healthier, fibre\u2011rich foods (e.g. fruit and vegetables) while increasing the cost of less healthy options.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch measures could help nudge individuals towards better dietary patterns, particularly if healthier choices become more affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca Whittaker21 May 2026 11:20<\/p>\n <\/a>Andy Burnham says politics is in a ‘dangerous place’ <\/p>\n Andy Burnham has said that country has been \u201con the wrong path\u201d for four decades, which he believes began with the deindustrialisation of large parts of Greater Manchester. <\/p>\n The mayor, who is standing in the Makerfield by-election and is widely seen as a threat to Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s premiership, has stated that privatisation, deregulation of buses and the austerity of the 2010s are all responsible for today\u2019s economic situation. <\/p>\n He said: “I think it’s taken us to a point where people in this country cannot have a good life. They cannot afford the basics, they can’t afford a few pints the weekend, they can’t afford a holiday. They can’t afford to buy presents for the kids.<\/p>\n “This is this is a dangerous place. And I think we’ve got to kind of learn from what we’ve done here in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n “Be proud of that. And what we’ve done here should now help change the country as a whole.”<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 11:13<\/p>\n <\/a>Documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as trade envoy released <\/p>\n In other news, the government has released the first batch of documents relating to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as trade envoy in 2001. <\/p>\n He was appointed to the role during the Tony Blair administration, with his role coming under scrutiny upon the release of the Epstein files. <\/p>\n This came in response to a request by the Liberal Democrats earlier this year.<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 11:04<\/p>\n <\/a>Burnham calls for change of politics ‘at the national level’ <\/p>\n In an interview ahead of the upcoming Makerfield by-election, Andy Burnham said \u201cwe need to change politics at the national level\u201d to make life more affordable. <\/p>\n Andy Burnham was asked about why he wanted to be an MP, rather than being Greater Manchester’s mayor. He said:<\/p>\n He said: “But I think we need to change energy, we need to change housing, and we need to change so many facets of life to make life more affordable for people again.”<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 11:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Starmer says government is ‘delivering’ in promise to ‘control our borders’<\/p>\n Sir Keir Starmer said his Government is \u201cdelivering\u201d, after new figures showed UK net migration had dropped to an estimated 171,000 last year.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: \u201cI promised to restore control to our borders. My government is delivering.<\/p>\n \u201cI know there\u2019s more to do, we\u2019re introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends our reliance on cheap overseas workers.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly Evans21 May 2026 10:46<\/p>\n <\/a>Dietitian says changes to help food costs need to also boost health<\/p>\n Registered dietitian Duane Mellor has said the government needs to be careful when reducing tariffs as a vehicle to reduce food prices as it may have \u201cunintended consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough it seems like a good idea to reduce the cost of food, it is important that policies to help manage food costs should improve health,\u201d he told The Independent.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could be achieved by using existing tools such as VAT alongside price reductions to incentives healthier foods to make them cheaper to help support affordable healthy choices this could promote uptake of foods such as vegetables (which could include seasonal and even UK grown foods which could help support the UK farming and food economy at the same time).\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca Whittaker21 May 2026 10:34<\/p>\n![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-18T133606Z_239774293_RC2PBLAWLFX7_RTRMADP_3_BRITAIN-POLITICS-BURNHAM.JPG\")
Andy Burnham has said the country has been on the \u2018wrong path\u2019 for 40 years (Reuters)<\/p>\n