{"id":669152,"date":"2026-07-02T04:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T04:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/669152\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T04:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T04:17:00","slug":"rayners-pitch-to-return-under-burnham-cabinet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/669152\/","title":{"rendered":"Rayner’s pitch to return under Burnham cabinet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner <\/a>has urged the next government to \u201crewire\u201d England by devolving power and money to town halls as she made her pitch to return as housing secretary.<\/p>\n

In a speech at the London School of Economics, Rayner set out a vision for radical devolution that closely mirrored the agenda being championed by Makerfield MP Andy Burnham.<\/p>\n

She told the audience that if councils cannot fix potholes, they have no hope of delivering the major regeneration schemes needed to transform a town\u2019s high street.<\/p>\n

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\"ThisCaption: This is a generic photo of coins on top of an energy bill letter. See PA Feature FINANCE Energy Cap. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA feature FINANCE Energy Cap. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Alamy\/PA. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany FINANCE Energy Cap.
Photographer: Alamy
Provider: Alamy\/PA
Source: PA<\/p>\n

cost of living<\/p>\n

The three ways Burnham could cut your energy bills<\/p>\n

Officials have drawn up contingency plans to cut further green levies from energy bills if prices remain high this winter, The i Paper has been told.<\/p>\n

What happens next?<\/p>\n

Several options are now circulating among Burnham\u2019s transition team who are believed to be weighing up how to deliver on that pledge. A Treasury source said work on a package was ongoing to help with rising costs.<\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,Caption: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND \u2013 JUNE 29: MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, delivers a speech at The People\u2019s Museum on June 29, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Jeff J Mitchell
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nThe options on the table\n<\/p>\n

\"FileMillions of Britons have been urged to submit energy meter readings to avoid paying higher bills than they need to as a 13% jump to the price cap takes effect (Photo: Jacob King\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n

Scrap green levies<\/p>\n

Burnham could remove remaining green levies from energy bills, funded through general taxation instead.<\/p>\n

Windfall tax on banks<\/p>\n

One proposal would be to raise the bank surcharge from its current 3 per cent. <\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,Caption: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND \u2013 JUNE 29: MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, delivers a speech at The People\u2019s Museum on June 29, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Jeff J Mitchell
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"STOKE-ON-TRENT,Mortgage rate falls are good news for buyers (Photo: Nathan Stirk\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Investment-led alternative<\/p>\n

Replace stamp duty, loosen fiscal rules and tax the capital\u00a0gains uplift on inherited assets.<\/p>\n

What happens now?<\/p>\n

A written statement published by the Chancellor said the remaining sum would be \u201cconfirmed at Budget 2026, in a fair and balanced way\u201d.<\/p>\n

Any plan to cut bills will have to compete for the same pot of money as a separate, unrelated problem Burnham will also be inheriting \u2013 a \u00a34.7bn shortfall in the defence spending plan<\/p>\n

The Government currently has around \u00a324bn of \u201cheadroom\u201d <\/p>\n

Ofgem will confirm the next price cap, covering October to December, on 26 August, by which point Burnham is expected to have set out more on how he intends to deliver on his cost of living promise<\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,Caption: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND \u2013 JUNE 29: MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, delivers a speech at The People\u2019s Museum on June 29, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Jeff J Mitchell
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images<\/p>\n

politics<\/p>\n

Burnham has made the same dangerous mistake every day since he was elected<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Michael Crick<\/p>\n

Writer and broadcaster<\/p>\n

The coronation of Andy Burnham is fraught with dangers. Never will a prime minister have arrived in Downing Street with so little scrutiny of what he wants to do.<\/p>\n

The submarine robots that hold the key to fighting off Putin\u2019s secret attacks<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s much-delayed Defence Investment Plan had one big bet at its heart:\u00a0drones are the future of warfare.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Ministry of Defence says Russian incursions into UK waters have increased by 30 per cent over the past two years<\/p>\n

What you need to know<\/p>\n

Britain will build at least six ships called \u201cCommon Combat Vessels\u201d (CCVs)<\/p>\n

They are crewed but act as \u201cmotherships\u201d for uncrewed vessels operating in the air and underwater<\/p>\n

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins wants a \u201chybrid navy\u201d<\/p>\n

CCVs are currently neither designed nor built, but similar assets exist elsewhere<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

Robot submarines could monitor Putin\u2019s attacks<\/p>\n

American company Anduril makes the \u201cSeabed Sentry\u201c- a weighted cylinder that uses sensors and AI to monitor what is happening under the sea. They could be used to listen out for spying and sabotage by Russian submarines. They are far cheaper than crewed submarines using traditional sonar.<\/p>\n

\"PeopleCaption: People with Russian flags look at the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arriving at Havana\u2019s harbour, June 12, 2024. The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan \u2014 which will not be carrying nuclear weapons \u2014 and three other Russian naval vessels, will dock in the Cuban capital from June 12-17. The unusual deployment of the Russian military so close to the United States \u2014 particularly the powerful submarine \u2014 comes amid major tensions over the war in Ukraine, where the Western-backed government is fighting a Russian invasion. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE \/ AFP) (Photo by YAMIL LAGE\/AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: YAMIL LAGE
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

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Exclusive<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

\nHow it works\n<\/p>\n

The sea sentry <\/p>\n

\"Anduril'sCaption: Anduril\u2019s Seabed Sentry submarine at Anduril\u2019s headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, US, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The supply chain for US defense manufacturing is too reliant on China, Anduril Industries Inc. founder Palmer Luckey said on Friday, shortly after new tariff threats by US President Donald Trump sent the markets skittering. Photographer: Kyle Grillot\/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Bloomberg
Provider: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Source: Bloomberg
Copyright: Kyle Grillot<\/p>\n

A dozen of the cylinders can be dropped onto the seabed at a time by an autonomous submarine, with the devices forming a network which communicate between themselves and listens out for undersea activity.<\/p>\n

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Big Read<\/p>\n

9 min read<\/p>\n

\"14thUK commandos conducted an operation against a Russian ship sailing under a false Cameroonian flag earlier this month, sparking discussions on British defences capabilities against further Russian aggression (Photo: UK MOD\/SWNS)<\/p>\n

WORLD<\/p>\n

Putin is preparing for war. Why aren\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Robert Fox<\/p>\n

Defence expert and war correspondent<\/p>\n

The UK is woefully unprepared with the Royal Navy in a desperate condition. Whoever sits in Downing Street come next September will need to address matters of defence, homeland and cyber defence especially, with urgency.<\/p>\n

Unused or unwanted subscriptions cost consumers \u00a31.6bn.<\/p>\n

Writer Sadhbh O\u2019Sullivan looked into her own forgotten subscriptions when she became a first-time buyer, and realised how much she was wasting on things she wasn\u2019t using. <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"CloseAre you good at managing money (Photo:
Peter Dazeley\/Getty\/The Image Bank RF)<\/p>\n

The hidden spends that go unnoticed<\/p>\n

I\u2019d long considered myself to be quite a reasonable spender.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the hidden costs across her bank accounts, like free trials that hadn\u2019t been cancelled and memberships for abandoned services, proved otherwise. <\/p>\n

It was full of small amounts, \u00a32.99 here, \u00a34.50 there. These small amounts added up. <\/p>\n

\nThe ghost subscriptions\n<\/p>\n

Sadhbh isn\u2019t alone. <\/p>\n

19%<\/p>\n

According to a Nationwide survey almost one in five Brits don\u2019t use every platform they pay for.<\/p>\n

The bank suggests they could save as much as \u00a3400 a year by ditching them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4.7 million<\/p>\n

National Trading Standards\u2019 2025 research found 4.7 million people were paying for subscriptions they didn\u2019t know they\u2019d signed up for.<\/p>\n

In 2024, a government report found unused and unwanted subscriptions cost consumers up to \u00a31.6bn a year.<\/p>\n

\nHow to deal with the subscriptions\n<\/p>\n

Hunt them down<\/p>\n

Banking apps usually list your \u2018subscriptions\u2019 separately from direct debits and standing orders so you can easily spot what you\u2019re shelling out on.<\/p>\n

\"PensionersPensioners have some flexibility over the timing and payment of their state pension
(juststock\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto\/ NIPITPHON)<\/p>\n

\"AEdge will give customers cashback on debit card and direct debit spending<\/p>\n

Check everything<\/p>\n

You can be debited through credit cards, E-payment services, your mobile phone bill, Apple Pay or Google Pay.<\/p>\n

\nHow to deal with subscriptions\n<\/p>\n

\"SmilingDating apps have failed the black community, says Amber (Photo: Morsa Images\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Be honest<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t vow to use a subscription you\u2019re not going to, even if you
have good intentions.<\/p>\n

Look over 13 months<\/p>\n

Many businesses have changed from monthly to annual payments so look further back.<\/p>\n

\"AChanges are due to kick in on everything from inheritance tax to filling in self-assessment forms (Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

\"ACustomers struggling with debts are highly likely to be in vulnerable circumstances, regulators warn
(Photo: Martin Prescott\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Future proof<\/p>\n

Make sure to track any subscriptions you have kept so you can cancel them, if need be, in future.<\/p>\n

\nDon\u2019t be afraid of phone calls\n<\/p>\n

If companies don\u2019t let you cancel online, don\u2019t fear the customer service line.<\/p>\n

With TV and broadband, call the new customer number as it\u2019s often answered more quickly.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re happy with the service, but not the price, speak to a real person that may offer a better deal. <\/p>\n

Look for a phone number and press the \u2018thinking of leaving us\u2019 option. It\u2019s usually a fast track to a team with authority to offer bigger discounts.<\/p>\n

Donations to charity have increased dramatically<\/p>\n

But staff say many people treat their shops like a tip. <\/p>\n

Here they share the most useful donations they get, and the
ones that drive them mad.<\/p>\n

\"AA rail of clothes in a second hand vintage charity shop \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

People won\u2019t buy the current donations<\/p>\n

The quality of donations over the last year has diminished.<\/p>\n

Claire Stockman, head of retail for\u00a0St
Luke\u2019s Hospice [pictured], says many donations include used items from fast fashion like Boohoo and Primark, which they cannot sell for more than \u00a32, if at all.<\/p>\n

\nWhat the workers see\n<\/p>\n

60%<\/p>\n

of what comes into St Luke\u2019s Hospice is unsellable, Stockman says.<\/p>\n

She adds its soiled, damaged beyond
repair or smelly.<\/p>\n

Vinted<\/p>\n

Harriet, a volunteer at\u00a0Crisis in Dalston,
says people bring in clothes that are dirty and stained \u2013 things that they cannot sell
on Vinted.<\/p>\n

She also sees dirty kitchenware and technology that no longer works.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all bad<\/p>\n

\"TwoTwo young women shopping in a vintage charity shop \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Harriet says they still get their
fair share of designer items.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s seen a pair of Louboutins
sell for around \u00a3400.<\/p>\n

People will buy high-end items
even if they\u2019re a little worn.<\/p>\n

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First Person<\/p>\n

6 min read<\/p>\n

The best donations<\/p>\n

There was a box donated after someone\u2019s family had passed and in it were all these medals. I researched them and the whole collection ended up going for \u00a32,340\u2026<\/p>\n

JANE THURNELL-READ, VOLUNTEER AT
THE OXFAM GENERAL SHOP IN EXETER<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

What is a good donation?<\/p>\n

\"AA young woman chooses clothes in a fashion store and reads the labels on things while shopping at the mall. A millennial shopaholic woman tries on clothes in a fashion boutique \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

A good donation is anything new with tags on, anything that hasn\u2019t been opened, or higher quality items.<\/p>\n

Items that have been well looked after are more likely to sell and generate a better price for charity too.<\/p>\n

Harriet adds that knick-knacks and wine glasses are surprise hits in her branch.<\/p>\n

The feeling of dread that the weekend is over is all too familiar.<\/p>\n

Here, psychologists, career consultants and sleep experts give their best advice on how
to beat the gloom that the
work week is looming\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Woman(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

\nHow to beat the Sunday scaries\n<\/p>\n

Pave the way on Friday<\/p>\n

Psychologist Maria-Teresa Daher-Cusack says to wrap up tasks and not to leave big or difficult things for Monday. And write a to-do list for the next week so you know what to expect when you return after the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung man practicing meditation in nature at sunrise \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"Working from home is being blamed by some councils for the rise in fraudulent \u2018polygamous\u2019 working (Photo: Moment RF\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Get outside early<\/p>\n

Doctor Naheed Ali says getting out on a Sunday morning \u2013 not sleeping late \u2013 helps regulate the circadian rhythm that can become skewed over the weekend.<\/p>\n

\nHow to avoid Sunday scaries\n<\/p>\n

On Sunday spend time away from technology to allow yourself a personal reset away from doom scrolling.<\/p>\n

\"RelaxingRelaxing with dog on sofa \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Rebrand your Sunday evenings from a daunting time to relaxing. Career consultant Victoria McLean goes out for dinner or reads something unrelated to work.<\/p>\n

She also doesn\u2019t check her inbox on a Sunday night as it can begin the dread.<\/p>\n

\nHow to beat the Sunday scaries\n<\/p>\n

\"SleepSleep tourism in hotel. Exhausted woman sleeps sweetly in bed in the morning \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Sleep well<\/p>\n

Put yourself in the best position to rest by avoiding large meals, screens and caffeine.<\/p>\n

Structure your week<\/p>\n

If possible don\u2019t stack your Mondays with high-pressure tasks.<\/p>\n

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

\"CheerfulCheerful aged woman, senior intern waving, saying goodbye to her young colleagues while leaving office after first day at work \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Find the fun daily<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just save joyful things for the weekend. On lunch breaks, try to do something you enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"The(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

Sometimes, you
need to listen.<\/p>\n

If the Sunday scaries are constant, listen to them. If every Sunday fills you with dread and nothing seems to quell it it\u2019s worth asking if it\u2019s the job, the culture or the career itself. No one should spend half their weekend bracing for impact\u2026 \u201d says Victoria McLean<\/p>\n

The UK has one of the most stable\u00a0electricity grids\u00a0in the world.<\/p>\n

But no country\u2019s energy system is 100 per cent secure and large-scale blackouts, although rare, are possible. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to prepare, and what could happen, if we do have a blackout.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The immediate effects <\/p>\n

If the UK\u2019s power went down tomorrow, these are the ways it is likely to impact you first.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d get stuck in lifts, wherever you are in the lift shaft.<\/p>\n

Trains would be stopped as the signals depend on electricity.<\/p>\n

Traffic lights would stop working on the roads \u2013 leading to congestion or crashes.<\/p>\n

Contactless payments are likely to fail.<\/p>\n

Your Wi-Fi at home would stop working and communication becomes difficult.<\/p>\n

Fridges and freezers will turn off \u2013 unless you have a standalone generator \u2013 and food will spoil over time.<\/p>\n

Hospitals and water treatment works have their own backup generators so will keep going until their supply runs out.<\/p>\n

How transport would be affected<\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: This photograph taken on April 29, 2026 shows people charging their electric vehicles at a charging station in Kathmandu. As global fuel markets reel from the Middle East war, motorists in Nepal are increasingly turning to electric vehicles, with high demand putting a strain on dealerships. (Photo by Prakash MATHEMA \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ TO GO WITH \u2018Nepal-Transport-Automobile-Energy\u2019 FOCUS
Photographer: PRAKASH MATHEMA
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

For EV owners that are already on the road, Professor Keith Bell, who works in electricity planning, recommends that those with an EV with reasonable charge use it as a generator, like your own store of electricity. <\/p>\n

In the case of the power system going down, petrol isn\u2019t a totally safe option as queues at petrol stations could be huge and places are likely to run out of fuel. <\/p>\n

\nThe longer term effects\n<\/p>\n

The longer the power takes to return the worse things are likely to get. In 2021 Storm Arwen physically damaged power lines across the UK.<\/p>\n

\"AWithout nuclear to take the strain, that exposure to gas is costing us dear (Photo: Catherine Falls Commercial\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\"FILECaption: FILE PHOTO: A row of electricity pylons is seen near the Frodsham on shore wind farm in Frodsham, Britain, September 5, 2023. REUTERS\/Phil Noble\/File Photo
Photographer: Phil Noble
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS<\/p>\n

During the 1977 New York blackout, which lasted 25 hours, there was civil unrest, resulting in widespread looting and arson, although intense heatwaves are thought to have exacerbated the situation.<\/p>\n

\nThings to buy now to prepare\n<\/p>\n

\"GreatThe Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the BBC\u2019s radio frequency in Lebanon (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Battery radio<\/p>\n

To get updates during a power cut \u2013 a car radio can be used, but in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.<\/p>\n

Bottled water<\/p>\n

A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended.<\/p>\n

\"PlasticCaption: Plastic bottle with clean water on a blue background.
Photographer: SimpleImages
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOTA Cuban rides his bike during a nation wide blackout in Havana on 21 March (Photo: Yamil Lage\/AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Wind-up torch<\/p>\n

The Government recommends opting for torches over candles, for safety reasons.<\/p>\n

\nHow to prepare\n<\/p>\n

A blackout is unlikely but we should make small changes.<\/p>\n

If possible, don\u2019t let your petrol tank run down to almost empty. Keep it over half full so you\u2019re never caught short.<\/p>\n

Always have a portable power bank, and spare batteries, to charge your phone and other essentials.<\/p>\n

As card machines could fail, keep some cash at home.<\/p>\n

To keep yourself distracted and entertained, keep board games and a pack of cards handy to play. <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Eight easy ways to stop
your child spending summer glued to their devices<\/p>\n

Not all screen time is bad<\/p>\n

Using screens in a way that benefits your\u00a0child\u2019s development\u00a0is key and balancing educational content and entertainment with offline activities ensures a well-rounded routine.<\/p>\n

DR GUMMER<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nHow to keep your kids off screens\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Outdoor activities<\/p>\n

For younger children, try scavenger hunts, garden games and nature walks. For older ones, hikes
and biking trips.<\/p>\n

Create a schedule<\/p>\n

Designated screen-free times helps children develop a routine that balances screen use with other activities.<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: Mid adult man with eyeglasses sitting on a comfortable sofa at home, thoughtfully writing notes in a small notebook while natural sunlight illuminates the room
Photographer: Milan Markovic
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Family game nights<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an excellent way
to bond and develop critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n

\nHow to keep your kids off screens\n<\/p>\n

Creative hobbies<\/p>\n

Getting creative, through drawing, painting or model construction, enhances cognitive skills and offers an alternative to screens.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Social interaction<\/p>\n

Arrange playdates or group activities with friends, or for older kids try an overnight camping trip in the garden.<\/p>\n

\nHow to keep your kids off screens\n<\/p>\n

Lead by example<\/p>\n

Showing that you value offline time encourages your children to do the same.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Have a reward<\/p>\n

Implement a reward system where screen time is earned through positive behaviour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Open conversations<\/p>\n

Discuss the importance of balancing screen time with your children so they understand the reasons behind the rules.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Can following a particular diet
help prevent or delay\u00a0dementia?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some studies suggest so. <\/p>\n

These are the eight brain-boosting foods registered dietitian\u00a0Fareeha Jay
recommends people consume as part of a weekly diet\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nFoods that can cut dementia risk\n<\/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

Eggs<\/p>\n

They contain several nutrients thought to\u00a0support brain health, including choline, vitamin B12 and iodine.<\/p>\n

Coffee<\/p>\n

Caffeine can reduce inflammation and
slow the degeneration
of brain cells.<\/p>\n

\"BaristaBarista hand making cappuccino Coffee with espresso machine in cafe \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"RoastingCooking fruit and vegetables (Photor: GMVozd\/Getty Images\/E+)<\/p>\n

Broccoli<\/p>\n

It\u2019s packed with antioxidants and high in vitamin K, which is essentially for healthy brain cells.<\/p>\n

Fibre is overlooked in dementia prevention<\/p>\n

\"CookieCaption: Cookie jar, tea, wine, nuts, books, lit candles and Christmas decorations on the table. Cozy Christmas hygge at home. Selective focus.
Photographer: Jelena990
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

To increase fibre intake, include wholegrains, nuts, seeds, lentils, and legumes.<\/p>\n

Fermented foods also support brain health by improving the gut microbiome.<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

\nFoods that can cut dementia risk\n<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Joff Lee\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Oily fish<\/p>\n

Your brain uses Omega-3s to build brain and nerve cells \u2013 so a diet rich in them may\u00a0slow age-related mental decline.<\/p>\n

Walnuts<\/p>\n

These improve heart health markers, which is linked to a lower risk of neurological disorders.<\/p>\n

\"VariousHealth professionals are nuts about nuts \u2013 with good reason!<\/p>\n

\"ASupermarkets report increasing demand for blueberries (Photo: RHS\/Guy Harrop)<\/p>\n

Blueberries<\/p>\n

They contain compounds which have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain, cognitive function, and memory.<\/p>\n

\nThe Mind diet\n<\/p>\n

The diet aims to reduce\u00a0dementia risk\u00a0and the decline in brain health.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was created in 2015 by Dr Martha Clare Morris and colleagues at Rush University Medical Centre and the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.<\/p>\n

It encourages vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fish, beans, and poultry.<\/p>\n

These foods contain nutrients that promote good brain health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.<\/p>\n

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

The line was a near-verbatim echo of one used by Burnham in his speech <\/a>in Manchester on Monday, when he also promised to \u201crewire\u201d Britain and devolve power to the regions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The overlap is too close to be accidental and comes as Burnham \u2013 now the clear frontrunner to succeed Sir Keir Starmer \u2013 puts the finishing touches to his cabinet line-up and prepares to build a government around the devolution agenda that has been called \u201cManchesterism\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rayner pitching for old job<\/p>\n

Rayner is understood to be positioning herself for a return to her old job as housing secretary after hostile briefings earlier this week suggested the Burnham camp was freezing her out.<\/p>\n

It comes amid ongoing speculation about what role, if any, she will play in a Burnham-led government.<\/p>\n

The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that she has been left on the sidelines of Burnham\u2019s march to No 10, while other reports suggest she has been advising Burnham\u2019s team on his plans to give mayors more powers.<\/p>\n

Although the former deputy prime minister is not a member of Burnham\u2019s inner circle, which includes former transport secretary Louise Haigh and Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley, she is still expected to be given a job in his first cabinet.<\/p>\n

Sources close to Rayner insist that no offer has been made by Burnham yet, although her allies claim she would welcome a return to her old job as housing secretary.<\/p>\n

It comes less than a year after Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary after admitting she had underpaid stamp duty on a second home. Rayner said she took \u201cfull responsibility\u201d for the error despite insisting it had been unintentional.<\/p>\n

She was cleared by the HMRC in May following an investigation.<\/p>\n

One Rayner ally said: \u201cThere have been reports that Rayner is being frozen out and there have been reports that she is advising Andy on devolution. The truth is somewhere in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnham is understood to be weighing up several machinery of government changes, which could see the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rayner\u2019s old department, broken up.<\/p>\n

Sources familiar with his thinking believe he could create a Ministry of Housing to underline his commitment to the \u201cbiggest council house building programme since the post-war\u201d period. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport would be turned into a new super-department that would also take on responsibility for communities.<\/p>\n

Vision for mayoral power<\/p>\n

Rayner used a speech marking the New Economics Foundation\u2019s 40th anniversary to set out an expansive vision for mayoral power, which some have interpreted as a pitch for her old job.
Much of the agenda echoed policies Burnham has been advancing in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

Like the former Greater Manchester mayor, Rayner argued that economic growth depended on handing substantially more power to England\u2019s regions, with metro mayors given greater control over transport, regeneration and public services.<\/p>\n

Both have framed devolution not as an administrative reform but as the central mission of a future government.<\/p>\n

Rayner said: \u201cWe have the worst combination of micro-management and control from the centre, without the resource or focus to make it effective. Whitehall empires hoard their own power.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd layers of governance and bureaucracy, developed with the best of intentions, too often end with the triumph of process over purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see that purpose restored. To truly get growth in every corner of the country and put more money into people\u2019s pockets, we must rewire England by devolving power and money to the country as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rayner hails trams and buses<\/p>\n

Rayner hailed Burnham\u2019s Greater Manchester Bee Network as devolution\u2019s \u201cbiggest success story outside London\u201d and said the Government should commit to backing every mayor who wants a franchised bus network by the end of this Parliament, with fares payable through a system modelled on London\u2019s Oyster card.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should put a line in the sand and be clear that government will back every mayor who wants a franchised bus network to have one by the end of this Parliament,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Rayner also waded into the row over Whitehall\u2019s refusal to approve funding for a Leeds tram scheme backed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin. She argued that if every secretary of state agrees a project should go ahead, officials should not be able to override the decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cCentralisation isn\u2019t dead; it is alive and well \u2013 holding our economy back and creating politics that hoards power,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone can dodge responsibility and hide behind process. But people elect governments to make decisions and improve their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Government can and must clear the bureaucratic barriers to the Leeds tram and back Tracy to deliver it as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Call for mayors to be able to buy derelict buildngs<\/p>\n

Rayner also proposed giving metro mayors the power to compulsorily sell or lease derelict buildings left to rot by absentee owners, citing Sheffield\u2019s Old Town Hall and Manchester\u2019s Theatre Royal as examples.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWhen buildings have been left to rack and ruin by distant investors, mayors should be given the power to put them up for compulsory sale or lease, so someone else can have a shot \u2013 whether that\u2019s the council, a local business or a community group.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding on the work we\u2019ve already done to strengthen the powers available to communities to take control of assets of community value \u2013 and the introduction of a Community Right to Buy \u2013 we can take greater steps to put power in people\u2019s hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former housing secretary also called for a Regional Care Cooperative in every part of England by the end of the Parliament to reduce the role of private equity in children\u2019s social care, alongside a cap on care providers\u2019 profits, pointing to research from the New Economics Foundation which found that most of the UK\u2019s largest private-equity-backed care home operators are ultimately owned through tax havens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has urged the next government to \u201crewire\u201d England by devolving power and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":669153,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[19306,3003,78141,59,57,58,2053,50,1394,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-669152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-andy-burnham","tag-angela-rayner","tag-devolution","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-labour-party","tag-news","tag-politics-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669152","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=669152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/669153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=669152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=669152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=669152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}