{"id":638285,"date":"2026-06-14T13:27:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T13:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/638285\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T13:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T13:27:54","slug":"andy-burnham-ill-keep-the-triple-lock-and-give-pensioners-a-tax-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/638285\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Burnham: I\u2019ll keep the triple lock, and give pensioners a tax cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andy Burnham has vowed to keep the state pension triple lock untouched<\/a>, insisting Labour must honour its manifesto promise to millions of pensioners at a moment of collapsing public trust.<\/p>\n

The Mayor of Greater Manchester<\/a> claims tearing up the manifesto commitment would be a \u201cvery damaging thing to do\u201d \u2013 defying a growing chorus of voices<\/a>, including Labour\u2019s own cost of living tsar, calling for it to be ditched.<\/p>\n

In a further message to the country\u2019s pensioners, he also said the growing number of older people being drawn into paying income tax through frozen tax thresholds \u2014 so-called \u201cfiscal drag\u201d \u2013 was an issue the next government \u201cneed[s] to look at as well\u201d.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShorts\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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The price, size and variety of eggs differ<\/p>\n

But which is the best value
for money and taste?<\/p>\n

Food Editor Sophie Morris
tested 15 supermarket packs, scrambled and fried.<\/p>\n

Her findings? The most expensive wasn\u2019t the best.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

M&S Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

These shells win the beauty contest and the yolk colour is amazing when scrambled. 4\/5<\/p>\n

Taste the Difference<\/p>\n

These Sainsbury\u2019s eggs taste as good as they look with gorgeous orange middles and a rich flavour. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

St Ewe Rich Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

These are \u201chigher welfare\u201d free-range eggs but the yolks taste no better than other high-end eggs, says Morris. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Aldi Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n

Winner! The Specially Selected eggs are a great price with a delicious yolk. 4\/5 <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Savers Small Eggs<\/p>\n

Morrisons Savers eggs are great for the price (\u00a31.10) but not rich in flavour. 3\/5<\/p>\n

Burford Brown Eggs<\/p>\n

They taste great, but not noticeably better than the other high-end eggs. The spend is more to do with\u00a0branding. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

7Tesco Finest Bluebell Aruacana
The pale blue shells won me over but the insides are just as rewarding with a rich flavour.
4\/5<\/p>\n

8Waitrose Duchy Organic Eggs
Their sunny yellow middle scrambles beautifully into light, fluffy folds.
4\/5<\/p>\n

9Lidl Deluxe Golden Yolk Eggs
They\u2019re a great deal and the yolk is a lovely bright orange and the taste is\u00a0rich and eggy.
3.5\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

M&S British Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

Large eggs with brown shells and a light orange yolk and they\u2019re a great price for high-welfare large eggs. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Ocado Large Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

These are the best value large eggs that I try. The yolks are a dark yellow and the eggs turn out a lovely rich and fluffy scramble. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Packington British Free Range Eggs<\/p>\n

Pretty white eggs with a yellow yolk that taste fine but, given the price, I expected a little more. 3.5\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n

Waitrose No.1 Longstock Gold Eggs<\/p>\n

They are delicious: meltingly rich, they scramble into fat folds. They have beautiful green shells, almost too pretty to eat. 4\/5<\/p>\n

\"EggsCaption: Eggs are seen in a carton on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Jenny Kane)
Photographer: Jenny Kane
Provider: AP
Source: AP<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A detail of cracked egg falling into the pan as woman holds egg shells in both hands.
Photographer: SimpleImages
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Asda Organic Mixed Size Eggs<\/p>\n

The yolk is a pale yellow and when scrambled the result is an unappealing yellowish grey colour. These are the most bland-tasting of the lot. 2\/5<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Food inflation could reach as much as 10 per cent by the end of 2026<\/p>\n

Why you should stockpile<\/p>\n

The\u00a0modern food system is incredibly efficient \u2013 but that efficiency depends on a constant flow and just-in-time delivery. Stockpiling, at its best, isn\u2019t panic buying. It\u2019s creating a small buffer between us and a system that was never designed to pause.<\/p>\n

S\u00e9amus Higgins, author of\u00a0Food and Us: The incredible story of how food shapes humanity<\/p>\n

\"ShoppingSupermarkets will find ways of holding down the price of the basics, and try to make their money on the fancy lines (Photo: Roy James Shakespeare\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\nWhat you should consider buying\n<\/p>\n

\"SmilingTap water is generally safe to drink in Europe (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Bottled water <\/p>\n

While we are accustomed to free-flowing water, in recent years, supply has failed for a number of days in many areas of the UK.<\/p>\n

Canned essentials<\/p>\n

Morris keeps tomatoes, beans, pulses, chickpeas, lentils and fish in her cupboard.<\/p>\n

\"ChickpeasChickpeas are a great source of protein (Photo: Christian Mouysset)<\/p>\n

\"YoungMany of us like to add milk to our tea, so you may be wondering whether that affects its benefits (Photo: Maca and Naca\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Tea and coffee<\/p>\n

As prices vary, and are increasing, it\u2019s good to bulk buy if you can. <\/p>\n

\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n

Dried goods<\/p>\n

A base of dry goods, like rice, pasta, oats and flour, are the backbone of a reliable pantry. Make sure bags are stored correctly and replace them when they go out of date.<\/p>\n

\"AsianCaption: Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyle
Photographer: d3sign
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\"CloseCaption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.
Photographer: Dougal Waters
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n

UHT drinks<\/p>\n

UHT dairy, squash and long life milks and juices are worth keeping for emergencies.<\/p>\n

\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n

A well-stocked freezer is also important, but it doesn\u2019t need to be a huge space. <\/p>\n

Focus on versatility and rotation in fruit, veg, fish and bread, and buy what you\u2019ll use.<\/p>\n

\"Close-upCaption: Close-up of peanut butter on toasted bread on light gray plate. Food background.
Photographer: Yuliia Zaitseva
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Peanut butter, or a jarred treat like jam or Nutella, is also a good idea. <\/p>\n

Nut butters are a great source of protein, fibre, has a long shelf life and can be used on savoury and sweet foods.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Want to slow down brain ageing? Try a hobby<\/p>\n

\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n

Practise a musical instrument<\/p>\n

A study of 108 amateur musicians in the journal\u00a0Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences\u00a0found those with more musical experience had better attention control.<\/p>\n

\"CaucasianCaucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"IVANO-FRANKIVSK,Caption: IVANO-FRANKIVSK, UKRAINE \u2013 NOVEMBER 13, 2022 \u2013 Musicians of the NAONI Orchestra (National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine) hold a concert at the Ivan Franko Academic Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre in Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yurii Rylchuk \/ Ukrinform\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Future Publishing
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future Publishing<\/p>\n

Journal in the evening before bed<\/p>\n

Reflecting on your day supports your memory as you\u2019re rehearsing the things you\u2019ve done, especially if you do it with pen and paper, says Prof Catherine Loveday, author of\u00a0The Secret World of the Brain. <\/p>\n

\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n

\"CawdorThe flowering gardens at Cawdor Castle (Photo: Dennis Barnes\/Getty\/Stockbyte Unreleased)<\/p>\n

Garden for 20 minutes<\/p>\n

Connecting with nature replenishes cognitive resources and boosts vitamin D levels, says Loveday. <\/p>\n

Join a knitting group<\/p>\n

Knitting improves coordination and working memory \u2013 your brain\u2019s ability to store and use information according to the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.<\/p>\n

\"SeniorSenior female friends spending leisure time knitting while sitting at table in retirement home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"IncreasingAs society sees the largest ever intergenerational shift of assets, younger clients will need people they can relate to, instead of relying on AI and social media for financial advice (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Learn a language<\/p>\n

Learning a second language helps improve our ability to retrieve words.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hobbies that slow
brain ageing<\/p>\n

Games, like Minecraft, helps improve spatial representation, speed and reaction times.<\/p>\n

Reading fiction twice a week stimulates the language parts
of the brain, says Loveday.<\/p>\n

One study also found that chess players had better cognitive reflection and greater focus. <\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

Why crossing your legs could be bad your health\u2026<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those every day moves that we rarely think twice about \u2013 especially when sitting for longer periods \u2013 but it could be inadvertently contributing to your back pain, high blood pressure or even issues like infertility.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nWhy you shouldn\u2019t cross your legs\n<\/p>\n

The fact it\u2019s comfortable doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s good for us<\/p>\n

62%<\/p>\n

of people prefer to cross their right over their left leg.<\/p>\n

While 26 per cent cross their left over the right and 12 per cent have no preference.<\/p>\n

S shape<\/p>\n

The natural shape of the spine when stood up is an S-shaped curve.<\/p>\n

But when we sit in a chair with our feet flat on the ground our pelvis is rocked backwards creating a C shape.<\/p>\n

\"AIn some people, blood pressure stays high despite medication, and hormones may be the reason (Photo: Tatiana Maksimova\/Getty Images\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

How does it impact blood pressure?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re restricting venous return of blood from peripheral tissues like the foot going back to the heart.<\/p>\n

Says Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, at Lancaster University. <\/p>\n

Although your blood pressure should drop once you move from the position, it can have longer term impacts if you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes.<\/p>\n

\nHow it can impact the nervous system\n<\/p>\n

In extreme it can
lead to a phenomenon
called foot drop.<\/p>\n

\"SeniorSenior woman on sofa feeling and suffering from back pain. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Over the short term crossing can give you pins and needles. If you leave it there for half an hour, an hour, or longer, you can actually interfere with the muscular function of the muscles, says Taylor. <\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

How it impacts posture<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Justin Paget\/ Getty).<\/p>\n

Sam Bhide, advanced physiotherapy practitioner, believes the main impact of sitting cross-legged is gluteal tendonitis,\u00a0resulting in moderate to severe hip pain.<\/p>\n

One study<\/a>\u00a0found that sitting cross-legged leads to a bent and asymmetrical posture and other research shows it increasing the misalignment of the hips.<\/p>\n

How it impacts fertility<\/p>\n

We know that crossing your legs warms up the groin area by somewhere in the remit of three degrees. If you are a man who sits with your legs crossed for a prolonged period of time, that is not good for sperm production.<\/p>\n

ADAM TAYLOR, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE CLINICAL ANATOMY LEARNING CENTRE<\/p>\n

\"Undated(Photo: Andrew Matthews\/PA).<\/p>\n

\nHow to fix it\n<\/p>\n

\"IncorrectCaption: Incorrect seated posture.
Photographer: Science Photo Library
Provider: Getty Images\/Science Photo Libra
Source: Science Photo Library RF<\/p>\n

Get out of the habit<\/p>\n

If crossing our legs is the cause, then the obvious solution is to do it less.<\/p>\n

Microbreaks<\/p>\n

Take time off from sitting, and put your musculoskeletal system through a normal range of motion.<\/p>\n

\"\"There are many ways to improve your finances this Easter (Amr Bo Shanab\/Getty Images\/fStop)<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Justin Paget\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Focus on symmetry<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a right over left leg crosser, try crossing the other way, so those forces are at least going\u00a0through the body equally.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The foods the experts always have in the cupboard<\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

\"JohnCaption: John West tuna chunks in brine, ??1.50\/125g
Copyright: John West<\/p>\n

Tinned fish<\/p>\n

These are a great way to get Omega-3 fats and fish with soft bones are a great source of calcium, says dietician Emma Shafqat. <\/p>\n

Ready whole grains<\/p>\n

Dietitian Lucy Upton recommends brown rice, quinoa and barley which are low in salt.<\/p>\n

\"RiceRice cooked \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"Photographer: HakanEliacik \/ 500px
Provider: Getty Images\/500px Prime
Source: 500px Prime
Copyright: Hakan Eliacik \u2013 05062142485<\/p>\n

Olive oil<\/p>\n

Cold-pressed extra\u00a0virgin olive oil\u00a0has polyphenols and antioxidants, says Dr Frankie Phillips. <\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

Nuts and seeds<\/p>\n

They boast unsaturated fats,\u00a0fibre, plant\u00a0protein, vitamins and minerals. Raw or dry roasted\u00a0should have no additives, like salt. Dr Shafqat recommends brands like Meridian, Pip & Nut and Whole Earth. <\/p>\n

\"ADried fruit
(Photo: Wirestock\/Getty\/iStockphoto\/Juergen Wiesler)<\/p>\n

\"Various <\/p>\n

Dried fruit <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re mindful of the addd sugar, they can be great for fibre as part of a meal. Dr Phillips recommends dried apricots as they\u2019re verstaile and add iron to the diet.<\/p>\n

\"dark-chocolate\" <\/p>\n

Dark chocolate<\/p>\n

It surprises many people that dark chocolate contains fibre.<\/p>\n

It counts as a health food thanks to\u00a0its high polyphenol count.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To really optimise the health benefits, choose chocolate\u00a0that is 70 per cent cocoa as it has fewer ingredients and a higher polyphenol content. <\/p>\n

Lindt 70 to 85 per cent, Green & Black\u2019s, Divine Fairtrade, Aldi\u2019s Moser Roth (70 per cent) and Lidl\u2019s own brand\u00a0(85 per cent) are great, accessible options.<\/p>\n

\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n

Oats<\/p>\n

Plain oats are a cheap, accessible and nutritious food that provide beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre which helps to manage cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n

\"\"Packing out your curry with pulses (Photo: Michelle Garrett\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\"CloseCaption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.
Photographer: Dougal Waters
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n

Pulses<\/p>\n

Dr Phillips keeps canned cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and red lentils in the cupboard, and adds them to soups, stews and savoury mince dishes. <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s mild climate may be destroyed<\/p>\n

While much of the world is set to grow hotter as a result of the\u00a0climate crisis, the UK could soon face a different fate. <\/p>\n

Climate scientists fear a \u2018cold blob\u2019 in the Atlantic Ocean may bring Arctic conditions instead of a tropical future. <\/p>\n

Bill McGuire, a professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), is one of them. <\/p>\n

Here he shares why cold temperatures could be our reality in a few decades.<\/p>\n

Why this could happen<\/p>\n

At the moment, global heating is making the UK hotter. This warmth is thanks to the presence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of currents over the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without these currents, our climate would be more akin\u00a0to the much colder weather in north-eastern\u00a0Canada.<\/p>\n

And the AMOC might be set to U-turn.<\/p>\n

One study suggests that the AMOC has weakened by 15 per\u00a0cent since the mid-20th century.<\/p>\n

There is not much we can do to stop
this decline. Emissions would need to
be cut in half within five years to have
any chance of dodging a permanent global temperature change.<\/p>\n

\nHow to prepare for a change\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAll countries need to ensure that infrastructure, food security, services
and public engagement are robust,\u201d
says Professor McGuire.<\/p>\n

\"SnowCaption: Snow falls over in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Storm Chandra brought travel disruption and flooding as strong winds and heavy rain hit much of the UK. Picture date: Tuesday January 27, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire
Photographer: Owen Humphreys
Provider: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire<\/p>\n

\"AA train arrives into the station in the town of Glossop in the snowy weather last week. New rail projects planned for the North of England are \u2018really exciting,\u2019 the Transport Secretary has said (Photo: Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

One paper estimated that only seven per cent of UK land would be suitable for
arable farming in the new climate,
compared with the current 32 per cent. \u201cManaging this looks like rationing and restricted civil liberties,\u201d he claims.<\/p>\n

The global impact<\/p>\n

\"FILESmoke billows from a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil (Photo: Bruno Kelly\/Reuters)<\/p>\n

It could cause the weakening of the African and Asian monsoons, resulting in famine.<\/p>\n

Increased warming of the southern hemisphere could further dry out the Amazon.<\/p>\n

Increase melting across Antarctica would accelerate sea level rise.<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

What we need to do<\/p>\n

This is entirely the result of\u00a0global heating caused by human activities. It is critical that monitoring of the AMOC is maintained, even increased. European governments really need to be planning for a future that could well be
much colder.<\/p>\n

AUTHOR OF THE FATE OF THE WORLD: HOW OUR FUTURE IS WRITTEN IN THE PAST<\/p>\n

\"SnowSnow covering Arlington Row in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Our shared ownership home is a disaster<\/p>\n

\"PaulPaul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick (Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\n

Paul Afshar felt a sense of pride when
he purchased 25 per cent of a new home in East London \u2013 as a way to get on the property ladder without huge financial backing. <\/p>\n

But years on, Afshar has discovered the drawbacks of the scheme, including the rising costs and difficulty moving on. <\/p>\n

\nThe background\n<\/p>\n

A 25 per cent of a one-bedroom flat in London.<\/p>\n

In 2007 Afshar put a five per cent deposit (\u00a32,500) on his share of the flat and entered a 35-year mortgage on a standard variable rate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although he only owns a quarter of his flat in Hackney but is eligible for 100 per cent of the maintenance costs.<\/p>\n

Between 2007 and 2024 his mortgage rose 48 per cent from \u00a3268.65 to \u00a3400.28. He also pays \u00a3865.48 on rent (shared ownership requires paying rent to the organisation who owns the rest) and a service charge.<\/p>\n

Fixing unsafe cladding on his block of will also cost in excess
of \u00a350,000, as it isn\u2019t eligible for government funding.<\/p>\n

The impact on residents<\/p>\n

It has definitely triggered a deep sense of anxiety in me that affected my mental health. It\u2019s this constant heavy, nervous feeling in my stomach.<\/p>\n

AFSHAR, 41<\/p>\n

\"PaulCaption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n

Photographed leaving his flat.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n

Shared ownership in the UK<\/p>\n

\"BRENTFORD,Caption: BRENTFORD, ENGLAND \u2013 OCTOBER 19: A general view of some of the student accommodation blocks within the Paragon Residential development which have been placed on a mandatory evacuation order, on October 19, 2020 in Brentford, England. Paragon is a development of six apartment blocks owned by one of London\u2019s largest housing associations, Notting Hill Genesis. A recent investigation into the exterior cladding coupled with structural and fire safety issues has led to the association asking residents of the 1059 flats to evacuate while further investigations are made. The estate was developed by Berkeley First, part of The Berkeley Group plc. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Myra Butterworth
Photographer: Leon Neal
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n

In 2024, 200,000 households were shared ownership properties.<\/p>\n

In 2021-22 there were 19,386 new\u00a0shared ownership properties.<\/p>\n

Fewer than 2,000 shared ownership households managed to staircase from part to full ownership in 2022.<\/p>\n

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Big Read<\/p>\n

9 min read<\/p>\n

\nSelling up\n<\/p>\n

Afshar couldn\u2019t sell his flat but didn\u2019t feel safe to live in it \u2013 because of the cladding. So he lived with his partner for three years, still paying the mortgage and charges.<\/p>\n

\"PaulCaption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n

General view of the unsafe timber cladding.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n

\"PaulCaption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n

Photographed inside his flat.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n

Property expert\u00a0Crystal Olenbush says selling is the biggest issue. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to figure out how to divvy any equity, then you\u00a0need to find someone to take over the side of the seller\u2019s portion of the mortgage. There\u2019s a whole legal process to transfer that shared ownership stake. If anyone tries to skip steps, it creates huge problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PaulPaul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick
(Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\n

The takeaway<\/p>\n

I got into something I didn\u2019t fully understand.\u00a0I was sold a dream of homeownership and it\u2019s come back to bite me years later. It\u2019s heartbreaking.<\/p>\n

Looking back Afshar wishes he\u2019d have looked into the service charge, mortgage rate and selling protocols sooner.<\/p>\n

Thinking of getting
a divorce?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not always the solution, says psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry, who has been married for 32 years. <\/p>\n

Here are the five things she recommends asking yourself before dishing
out the divorce papers.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nThe questions you should ask\n<\/p>\n

Is it a you problem?<\/p>\n

\"Couple,Couple, talk and arguing with fight at house for disagreement, conflict and divorce discussion. Woman, explain and bored man for conversation, toxic relationship and drama and marriage fail in lounge \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a good idea to get divorced when you\u2019re just depressed and stressed. You\u2019re naturally irritated by everything and everybody. It\u2019s too easy to\u00a0take that out on your partner and think they\u2019re the problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

\"Asian(Photo: Kawee Srital-on\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Are you telling
yourself a story?<\/p>\n

We cherry-pick the evidence against our partner until we\u2019re so set on them being the enemy\u2026<\/p>\n

It feels almost like tying up loose ends. But it won\u2019t really solve the problem. It just makes it much worse. It\u2019s okay to be wrong. Good relationships are full of ruptures and repairs.<\/p>\n

\nThe questions you should ask\n<\/p>\n

It is a mixmatch of
conflict styles?<\/p>\n

When we\u2019re under stress, we have our preferred way of coping.<\/p>\n

You want a\u00a0partner who\u2019s on the same page as you, so that you have moments of connection.<\/p>\n

Some people think a lot, other people want to go straight to action. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a thinker, and you\u2019re married to a do-er, it\u2019s important to remind them that they don\u2019t have to fix every problem. If you are a doer, you have to say something like, explain your process and thoughts a little more.<\/p>\n

Do you believe the
grass is greener?<\/p>\n

If this is you, do some serious therapy on yourself. What gets in the way of a good relationship is thinking that the grass is greener and therefore having a lack of commitment. This is why we have marriage because you make a commitment. <\/p>\n

PHILIPPA PERRY, AUTHOR OF BEST-SELLING BOOKS ON PARENTING AND RELATIONSHIPS<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Do you have moments
of inclusion?<\/p>\n

\"HappySon\u2019t assume your partner knows how you think (Photo: ljubaphoto\/Getty\/E+)<\/p>\n

Moments of inclusion are the ones when you both feel like you\u2019ve both clicked, and really get on. \u00a0<\/p>\n

If these moments are missing, we need to leave more space for them.<\/p>\n

Also treat love as an action, not a feeling. Ask yourself, what can I do for my partner today?<\/p>\n

\t
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\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n

LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with The i Paper ahead of Thursday\u2019s Makerfield by-election, Burnham was unequivocal that the pensions guarantee was not up for negotiation \u2013 despite pledging to cut welfare to fund defence spending.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe manifesto commitment holds\u201d on the triple lock, he said, warning that to \u201ctear up the manifesto commitments on the triple lock\u201d would be \u201ca very damaging thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Burnham did not spell out whether he would look to maintain the policy beyond the current Parliament, which is due to end by 2029 at the latest. This is consistent with the current Government position on the future of the policy.<\/p>\n

His victory in Makerfield would be seen as a potential mandate for a tilt at No 10. Burnham told the BBC\u2019s Question Time audience last week that he would seek to enter any leadership contest and his interventions on national policy are widely interpreted as part of his pitch to become prime minister.<\/p>\n

Burnham says his defence of the triple lock is rooted in the loss of faith in politics he hears on the doorstep.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, given where we are with trust in politics, and particularly following the debate about winter fuel\u2026 which still comes up on doorsteps a lot here in Makerfield, I think you\u2019ve got to stick to the manifesto commitment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The commitment sets Burnham against a groundswell of opinion \u2013 some of it on his own side<\/a> \u2013 that the triple lock has become unaffordable.<\/p>\n

Last week, the Resolution Foundation, the left-leaning think-tank once run by the current pensions minister, Torsten Bell, urged the Government to scrap it.<\/p>\n

Days later, Lord Walker of Broxton \u2013 the Iceland chairman appointed by Sir Keir Starmer as his cost-of-living advisor in February \u2013 told the House of Lords the policy was \u201cmathematically unsustainable, politically untouchable and profoundly unfair\u201d, and urged Labour to find \u201cthe courage to challenge\u201d it.<\/p>\n

\"ASHTONBurnham\u2019s defence of the triple lock is rooted in the loss of faith in politics he hears on the doorstep (Photo: Anthony Devlin\/Getty)<\/p>\n

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has warned that the triple lock\u2019s annual cost is on course to reach \u00a315.5 billion a year by 2030 \u2013 around three times the original estimate \u2013 with spending on pensioners forecast to account for about half of total welfare spending by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n

Makerfield has a higher proportion of pensioners than the country as a whole \u2013 around a quarter of residents are retired \u2013 making the seat unusually sensitive to any threat to the pension guarantee, in a contest where Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform UK is breathing down Labour\u2019s neck. Despite previously indicating that the triple lock was \u201copen for debate\u201d, Farage has since said Reform UK decided internally that \u201cit\u2019s going to stay\u201d.<\/p>\n

In another move likely to resonate with the so-called grey vote, Burnham said he is worried about the growing numbers of pensioners being dragged into paying income tax because of the freeze on tax thresholds, known as \u201cfiscal drag\u201d.<\/p>\n

Although tax rates themselves have not risen, the personal allowance has been frozen at \u00a312,570 since 2021, while pensions and wages have increased with inflation.<\/p>\n

As a result, forecasts suggest that around 9.3 million pensioners \u2013 around three-quarters of all pensioners \u2013 could be paying income tax by 2030 if no changes are made.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I have heard on doorsteps is pensioners saying \u2026 the freezing of the personal allowance has dragged more and more pensioners into tax,\u201d Burnham said. \u201cSo, I do think you need to look at that issue as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pensioners, he added, felt that what \u201cthey have got through one way, they are saying now that it\u2019s being taken away in another.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AndyBurnham on the campaign trail in Ashton-in-Makerfield. He is the Labour candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo: Jon Super\/AP)<\/p>\n

Burnham\u2019s pledge to shield pensioners \u2013 and to look again at the tax they pay \u2013 is at odds with his pledge to cut welfare to fund defence spending.<\/p>\n

In an interview with The Times on Saturday, the former Labour Cabinet minister said he was \u201cnot squeamish about saying that the plan would be to reduce the welfare bill\u201d, framing lower benefits spending as the way to create the room for higher military spending.<\/p>\n

Burnham was speaking 24 hours after the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary, who quit over the Prime Minister\u2019s refusal to provide more money for defence \u2013 a crisis that has left Starmer fighting for survival, with more than 100 Labour MPs already saying he should go.<\/p>\n

Reports have suggested the Government was preparing to announce a \u00a313.5bn funding increase for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over the next four years \u2013 significantly less than the extra \u00a328bn requested by the department.<\/p>\n

Burnham echoed Healey\u2019s alarm without putting a figure on how much the budget should be increased. \u201cThe world has changed, so of course we have to change our approach to funding defence, so that\u2019s a given,\u201d he told this newspaper. \u201cWe do have to increase defence funding,\u201d he added, and \u201cwe have to meet our Nato obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cObviously, John [Healey] is somebody that we\u2019ve all worked with. He\u2019s a man of great decency, held in high regard. And obviously when John does something like that, or takes a position, people will look carefully at what he\u2019s saying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those Nato obligations have grown sharply. At last year\u2019s summit in The Hague, the UK and its fellow members agreed to raise defence and security spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 \u2013 at least 3.5 per cent on core military capabilities and a further 1.5 per cent on wider security and resilience, such as infrastructure and cyber defence \u2013 more than double the previous 2 per cent target.<\/p>\n

Starmer signed Britain up to the pledge, but it has yet to be matched by a detailed funding plan.<\/p>\n

\"WIGAN,Burnham says \u2018we have to change our approach to funding defence\u2019 (Photo: Christopher Furlong\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Burnham believes a ten-year investment and procurement plan is needed.<\/p>\n

He claims this should include \u201ca new generation of council housing, modern homes that are cheaper to rent, cheaper to run\u201d, which would significantly bring down the benefits and housing bill and \u201ccreate the headroom\u2026for the extra investment for defence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnham insists the ballooning welfare bill, which is set to reach \u00a3406bn by the end of the decade, can be brought down without what he calls \u201ccrude cuts\u201d. \u201cWe do need to get the welfare bill down, but that means, to me, not crude cuts, but rethinking the education system, rethinking how we support young people in these modern times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His prescription is to hand far more power over welfare reforms to city regions like his own. Burnham draws on Greater Manchester\u2019s experience of running devolved employment support programmes.<\/p>\n

Since 2014, the city region has pioneered its \u201cWorking Well\u201d model, which combines employment support with health, skills and housing services and relies on dedicated key workers rather than a standardised national approach. The programme was one of the first examples of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) devolving control over employment support to a city region.<\/p>\n

According to figures from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Working Well has supported more than 70,000 residents and helped over 25,000 people into work.<\/p>\n

More recently, Burnham has promoted a wider \u201cLive Well\u201d model, bringing together councils, the NHS, voluntary organisations and Jobcentre services to provide tailored support for people facing barriers to employment. He argues that locally designed services are better able to address the health, skills and social issues that keep people out of work and has repeatedly called for ministers to devolve more welfare and employment support powers to city regions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an area where I would strongly advocate that the country goes down the greater devolution route,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve pioneered that in Greater Manchester, so we took a different way of supporting people. Not the tick box top-down approach sometimes used by the DWP,\u201d he said, claiming the approach delivers \u201ctwice the rate of people back to work \u2026 than you do through the computer says no approach sometimes operated by the DWP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attacking the culture of the benefits system, he said: \u201cIf people fear having interaction with the DWP, how on earth is that going to move them forward?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Andy Burnham has vowed to keep the state pension triple lock untouched, insisting Labour must honour its manifesto…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":638286,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[19306,84,4176,2053,68,4178,4174,4175,2142,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-638285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-personal-finance","tag-andy-burnham","tag-business","tag-finance","tag-labour-party","tag-pension-triple-lock","tag-pensions","tag-personal-finance","tag-personalfinance","tag-sir-keir-starmer","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=638285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/638286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=638285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=638285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=638285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}