Andy Burnham wants British food to supply all of the catering across schools, hospitals and prisons under plans to make farming more profitable.
Burnham, expected to be prime minister next week, set out the proposals during a discussion with Labour MPs on Monday evening, where they asked how he plans to support rural and coastal communities.
He said public sector procurement could play a role in backing British agriculture and revealed he was considering creating a Minister for Coastal Communities during a question and answer session with Labour MPs.
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politics
Why Netflix and Disney+ subscribers could pay BBC licence fee
Netflix is moving into live TV programming – which means UK subscribers need a TV licence (Getty)
Prime Video, Disney+ and Netflix subscribers could be forced to pay the licence fee to avert an “existential threat” to the BBC, the Culture Secretary has proposed.
Here is everything you need to know.
What fees will be imposed?
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has suggested introducing a £180 annual charge on those who watch shows on streaming platforms as a means of securing the BBC’s funding.
Sources indicated that all departments in the BBC would share the pain, with the corporation needing to close up to 2,000 roles (Photo: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty)
Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 09, 2026: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy leaves 10 Downing Street after attending the weekly Cabinet meeting in London, United Kingdom on June 09, 2026. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Wiktor Szymanowicz
Provider: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis
Source: Future Publishing
Copyright: ? 2026 Wiktor Szymanowicz
Nandy told a cross-party select committee that ministers have ruled out a new tax on households or requiring the BBC to show adverts as alternatives.
Why is the charge being suggested?
Nandy said shows on other streaming services like Netflix are often made with the support of BBC staff and infrastructure.
She said increasing the number of people who pay would help reduce the cost.
It is estimated that licence fee evaders and refuseniks cost the BBC more than £1bn a year in lost income.
What was the response from the BBC?
The precise set of rules that require households to be licensed no longer reflect typical audience behaviour among many households in the UK.
In March, the corporation argued that those who watch streaming services should pay the licence fee.
The BBC says the licence fee still commands widespread public support (Getty)
Response from streaming services
Separating essentially what I watch and what I pay for feels like a significant market distortion.
Greg Peters, co-chief executive of Netflix,told the Sunday Times
A lack of transparency over Netflix’s viewing figures was a central issue of this year’s strikes by writers and actors (Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)
news
Why you shouldn’t let your phone battery charge to 100%
Phones can die on you at the most inconvenient times – but this wasn’t always the case (Photo: Getty)
Technology is improving faster than ever, so why don’t phone batteries seem to last as long as they used to?
Why is it so hard to make your phone last the day?
Smartphones use lithium-ion batteries, the arrival of which 40 years ago was one of the breakthroughs that made mobile phones possible.
Today’s smartphones still use more or less the same kind of lithium-ion batteries as the first ones, but their efficiency has been increased.
However, the energy demands our phones make on those batteries has also increased.
How can you save power?
Train Wi-Fi often relies on dodgy mobile data signals (Photo: iStockphoto/Getty)
Turn off Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is particularly power hungry. Turning it off when remote can help save battery life.
Avoid AI features
The increasing use of AI in features like photo processing also drains power.
Caption: Smartphone with a glass speech bubble with the chatbot symbol inside.Chatbot concept. open AI, Artificial Intelligence.
Photographer: Francesco Carta fotografo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Copyright: Francesco Carta
Caption: A mobile phone in a pink case charging battery by wire. A charging smartphone with cable on a wooden bedside table on a red brick wall backround
Photographer: Marina Demeshko
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Never charge to 100 per cent
Batteries deteriorate when they get hot. Stopping charging before 100 per cent can prevent this.
Watch more from The i Paper
EXCLUSIVE | Could graduates soon pay back less of their student loan? Andy Burnham is being urged to back a plan to raise the student loan repayment threshold from £29,385 to £33,542, meaning some graduates would keep more of their monthly pay. Supporters say it could ease pressure on young people with Plan 2 loans, while critics will want to know how any change would be funded. With Labour support falling among graduates with student debt, student loan reform is becoming a major political test. Tap the link above to read how much graduates could save under the proposal ⬆️ #StudentLoan #StudentDebt #University #Graduation #Graduate #News
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news
Study reveals the real reason cats groom each other
Caption: A serene close-up portrait of a beautiful ginger tabby cat with striking striped fur, calmly gazing off to the side. This image perfectly captures the elegance, charm, and tranquil nature of domestic cats, making it ideal for pet-related content, lifestyle imagery, or design projects seeking a peaceful and warm aesthetic
Photographer: Anastasiia Voloshko
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
A new study on interactions between domestic cats suggests there may be multiple reasons why cats groom each other.
Grooming is not always friendly
While is has previously been thought that the act of grooming is an attempt to show affection, scientists now believe cats may have an ulterior motive for their incessant licking.
Make sure your cat isn’t suffering in the summer heat (Photo: Shutterstock)
A study conducted by researchers at Ghent University in Belgium suggests grooming can be deployed to annoy or intimidate another cat to obtain an advantage without resorting to violence.
How is grooming used?
Caption: Close up of a woman???s hand stroking a ginger cat???s chin as she lies on her lap and looks away with candid eyes
Photographer: RalucaHotupan
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
The study
The researchers recruited cat owners from 53 households and asked them to film everyday interactions.
When is it friendly?
They found that in friendly grooming encounters, the cats tended to sit or lie close together.
The microchipping scheme aims to reunite owners with lost or stolen pets (Photo: Marcel ter Bekke/Getty)
(Photo: Tatiana Meteleva/Getty).
When is it coercive?
In coercive encounters, one cat might lean over the other, while the cat being groomed might turn its ears backwards.
The expert view
For me, it shows that they are quite elegant in the way they resolve conflict. They could walk over and swat another cat in the face to get the blanket it is lying on. Instead, they lick it a little and fuss around.
Morgane Van Belle, researcher at ghent university
Affection for a beloved pet has immense value (Photo: Rafael Elias/Getty)
Caption: LONDON, UK, UNITED KINGDOM – 2019/05/27: Ann Widdecombe elected as a Member of the European Parliament ( MEP) for South West England is seen arriving at the EU election results press conference in Westminster. The newly formed Brexit Party wants the UK to leave the EU without an agreement won 10 of the UK’s 11 regions, gaining 28 seats, more than 32% of the vote across the country and are largest party in nine regions. (Photo by Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photographer: SOPA Images
Provider: LightRocket via Getty Images
Source: LightRocket
Copyright: ? 2019 SOPA Images
crime
Ann Widdecombe‘s death – a timeline of what we know so far
Former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
After initially saying the incident was not being treated as terrorism, the police investigation is now being led by counter-terrorism officers. Here is a timeline of what we know so far.
Wednesday 8 July
Widdecombe appears on TalkTV in the morning and is due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show after 1pm. She last sends a message at 12.19pm acknowledging she has received a Zoom link.
Widdecombe does not respond to a message asking her to join the call at 12.48pm, and does not answer further calls.
Explained
2 min read
Explained
5 min read
Thursday 9 July
Devon and Cornwall Police officers are called to the 78-year-old’s home at around 11.40am by the ambulance service.
The force later says Widdecombe was found dead inside the property and had sustained “serious injuries”.
Police add that they believe she was attacked on Wednesday at about 12.30pm, nearly 24 hours before she was found.
OPINION
4 min read
Friday 10 July
Widdecombe’s death is announced and police say they have launched a murder investigation.
A 26-year-old white British man is arrested in Newton Abbot on suspicion of the murder of Widdecombe.
Caption: Ann Widdecombe on TalkTV 8 July 2026
Mark Dolan in for Jeremy Kyle | 08-Jul-26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrJQBgf72IA
Police say the case is “not being treated as terrorism” and there was “no information” at this time to suggest it was a “politically-motivated crime”.
Saturday and Sunday
11-12 July
Police confirm the 26-year-old man has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.
A 28-year-old white British man is arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder shortly after 9pm on Saturday.
Police investigating the alleged murder say they “are not looking for anyone else” after the arrest of the 28-year-old, and that there “is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident”.
Monday 13 July
Police say the senior politician’s death is being treated as an act of terrorism and that new information and evidence had come to light during the investigation.
Ann Widdecombe is a former Conservative MP and Cabinet minister. (Photo: David Levenson/Getty Images)
Police presence will remain high in the area of Haytor throughout the weekend where Ann was discovered (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Counter-terrorism officers rearrest the 28-year-old on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and are now leading the probe.
Police could be allowed to hold the suspect for up to 14 days for questioning under terrorism legislation if needed.
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)
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
Caption: 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.
Caption: Toasted bread and white background
Photographer: Daniel Tamas Mehes
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: Minden jog fenntartva!
Yakitori’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)
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)
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
‘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)
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.
Caption: Arms shoving a small piece of luggage to the top shelf of an aircraft
Photographer: yacobchuk
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
TRAVEL
Everything we know about new hand luggage rules
Under new rules from the European Parliament, airline passengers will have better rights to compensation, seating fees and – crucially – cabin baggage allowances.
What you need to know
The new rules include the right to carry on board one cabin bag up to 40x30x15cm, without an additional fee.
Airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air will no longer be allowed to charge passengers extra for this.
The cabin bag is in addition to the small personal item already allowed for free.
The new rules will come into force in 2027.
TRAVEL
4 min read
How does this affect UK travellers?
Flights to the EU from the UK will not technically have to comply with these rules.
But, according to Which?, the reality is that airlines will apply the same rules both ways as the alterative would be “impractical”.
It is also understood that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is considering implementing the same rules here, too.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
NEWS
3 min read
SCIENCE
Are women really better at multitasking?
Caption: MAJADAHONDA, MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 11. Virginia Bejar, the photographer’s partner, strives to work at home while holding her six-month-old daughter Olivia, also the photographer’s daughter, during the Covid-19 lockdown on May 11, 2020, in Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. Some parts of Spain have entered “Phase One” of transition from the coronavirus lockdown, allowing many shops to reopen as well as restaurants who serve customers outdoors. Locations that were harder hit by coronavirus (COVID-19), such as Madrid and Barcelona, remain in a stricter “Phase 0” quarantine. Across the country workers who can do their jobs from home like Bejar are obliged to do so. In fact,??? most business offices still remain closed. (Photo by Miguel Pereira/Getty Images)
Photographer: Miguel Pereira
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
A new study has defied the stereotype, finding women and men have the same multitasking abilities.
But it also found that men are worse at answering questions while doing other tasks under pressure.
What does the study tell us?
The study challenged men and women to a series of tests they had to juggle for 10 minutes.
There were no gender differences in the ability to balance these tasks and accomplish them.
But it found that men were more than twice as likely to fall silent as women – failing to respond to 28 per cent of questions versus just 12 per cent for women.
Another group were asked to observe this footage. They reported the men looked more miserable and less able to concentrate.
This indicates men merely give the appearance they cannot multitask.
Who did the study and why?
The study, published in Psychological Research, was conducted by husband and wife André Szameitat and Diana Szameitat.
Their experience raising two children inspired the research and format of the 10-minute multitasking test.
Caption: Berlin, Germany – March 23: In this Photo Illustration about workload a man sitting at a desk exhausted on March 23, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel
Provider: Photothek via Getty Images
Source: Photothek
Big Read
7 min read
The key takeaway
Reduced talkativeness in the workplace may be perceived as impolite or even rude…Future research should examine whether training might help maintain verbal abilities under pressure.
Dr André Szameitat, co-author of the study
Caption: 1960s FRUSTRATED YOUNG REDHEADED WOMAN TRYING TO ANSWER HANDLE FIVE TELEPHONE RECEIVERS STUDIO (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)
Photographer: DreamMedia
Source: Archive Photos
How exercise and diet ‘boosts memory in those with dementia risk’
A study found cognition, memory and executive function were all improved by a structured programme of exercise and brain-healthy food.
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 2: Pensioners exercise during a fitness class for older people November 2, 2004 in London. The class is part of the government’s National Service Framework for Older People scheme which promotes independence and well-being for older people. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Photographer: Ian Waldie
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2004 Getty Images
How the study worked
Participants were deemed to be at risk of developing dementia due to age or factors such as high blood pressure.
Half completed a two-year programme of exercise sessions four days a week alongside personalised dietary advice.
Activities were tailored to local culture and included salsa dancing.
Diets were affordable and easy to source locally.
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
The story in numbers
1,000 patients
The two-year study included more than 1,000 patients aged 60 to 77 across 11 Latin American countries.
It concluded the exercise, diet and socialising plan followed by half the group generally left them with better memory.
1.4 million
Currently, around 1 million people in the UK have dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society estimates this number will grow to 1.4 million by 2040.
What does this mean?
Researchers said that the findings, published in The Lancet, suggest that “harmonised, non-pharmacological interventions can be implemented across diverse sociocultural settings”.
They added the programme had produced “measurable cognitive benefits in older adults”.
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Sian Welby takes part in an art class during her visit to Wandsworth Common Care Home ahead of Care Home Open Week on June 10, 2025 in London, England. The radio DJ regularly campaigns for dementia awareness, having shared her own experiences following her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
Photographer: Tristan Fewings
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2025 Getty Images
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
It comes after the former mayor of Greater Manchester outlined plans to develop his idea of ‘Manchesterism’, with regional devolution, renationalisation of some public services and close relationships with local businesses, in his first major policy speech last month.
Overhaul on school food standards
But questions have been raised over whether the Manchester blueprint could be transitioned to rural and coastal areas, which have different issues around infrastructure, demographics and local economies. And some MPs have been worried a focus on the north of England could leave other areas of the country neglected.
A Burnham spokesperson said he wants to use the “power of public procurement to fully back British farmers and producers”, and that coastal towns and communities should “have a proper voice at the top of government under his leadership”.
“That is part of the circuit breaker he is offering: power out of Westminster and into communities, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode,” they added.
Burnham’s proposal for supporting rural areas builds on current plans for a national overhaul to school food standards, with plans to limit food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar and introduce more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains.
A consultation was launched earlier this year on changing nutritional requirements for school meals for the first time in a decade.
In its 2024 general election manifesto, Labour committed to setting a target for “half of all food
purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards”.
‘Change is essential’
A new Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is urging Burnham to deliver the manifesto promise, which it claims will deliver £1bn a year to British farmers while also strengthening rural communities and improving food security.
Last year, NHS England commissioned the Soil Association to help 20 hospital trusts to get Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) certification, meaning they must meet standards for sustainability, animal welfare and nutrition.
The programme was also intended to gather evidence linked to the proposed Government Buying Standards for Food, including insights on suppliers and higher environmental production standards.
Burnham criticised the UK public procurement for “chasing cut-price deals around the world rather than helping our own British-based suppliers become more stable and competitive” during his first policy speech.
Burnham told Labour MPs and journalists at the People’s History Museum in Manchester during the speech in June that the UK must “safeguard sovereign manufacturing and production capability across the country in critical sectors like steel, defence, energy, food and farming”.
“This change is essential given the need to build our own resilience in places across the country in an increasingly uncertain world,” he added.
His comments on supplying schools, hospitals and prisons came after Polly Billington, the MP for East Thanet, in Kent, and Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the MP for Suffolk Coastal, asked how Labour would support their local economies during his session with Labour MPs.