{"id":35051,"date":"2026-05-13T00:51:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/35051\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T00:51:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:51:06","slug":"palace-held-talks-with-no-10-over-awkward-kings-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/35051\/","title":{"rendered":"Palace held talks with No 10 over ‘awkward’ King’s speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

Downing Street and Buckingham Palace have discussed how to prevent the leadership crisis currently engulfing Keir Starmer<\/a> overshadowing the King\u2019s Speech on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

King Charles<\/a> will travel in full pomp and circumstance for the official State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday morning before reading out the Government\u2019s legislative agenda for the year, in a centuries\u2019 old tradition.<\/p>\n

But a senior Civil Service source admitted that the crisis swirling around the PM<\/a> has plunged the monarch\u2019s role into \u201cunchartered territory\u201d. With the leadership still unresolved \u2013 casting a doubt over the legislative agenda to be read out \u2013 the ceremony \u201ccould be very awkward for the King\u201d, the source said.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShorts \u2013 Quick stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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How would Andy Burnham become prime minister?<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham is one of the frontrunners to replace Sir Keir Starmer if he resigns as Prime Minister. The Manchester Mayor has previously indicated he would be willing to overthrow the current Labour leader.<\/p>\n

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 13\/4\/26 of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party MP and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham meet pupils during a visit to a school breakfast club at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Ashton, Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham \u201cshould never have been blocked\u201d from seeking a seat in the Commons, Angela Rayner has said today. Issue date: Monday May 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Paul Ellis\/PA Wire
Photographer: Paul Ellis
Provider: Paul Ellis\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\"MOSTON,Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham cannot run for the leadership unless he wins a seat in Parliament (Photo: Ryan Jenkinson\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\nFirst step \u2013 find a vacant seat\n<\/p>\n

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 13\/4\/26 of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party MP and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham meet pupils during a visit to a school breakfast club at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Ashton, Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham \u201cshould never have been blocked\u201d from seeking a seat in the Commons, Angela Rayner has said today. Issue date: Monday May 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Paul Ellis\/PA Wire
Photographer: Paul Ellis
Provider: Paul Ellis\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

A vacant parliamentary seat would need to be available and finding one may not be easy.<\/p>\n

There are two by-elections coming up in Scotland, but Burnham is unlikely to stand in these.<\/p>\n

\"MayorCaption: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham arrives for a meeting in 10 Downing Street, London, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo\/Alastair Grant)
Photographer: Alastair Grant
Provider: AP
Source: AP
Copyright: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM \u2013 OCTOBER 31: Labour Party MP Clive Lewis addresses hundreds of activists and campaigners in London\u2019s Parliament Square during \u2018Extinction Rebellion\u2019 protest against the inaction of the British government in the face of climate change and ecological collapse. Protesters declared a non-violent rebellion and demanded urgent action on the ecological crisis to avoid the possibility of human extinction in the near future. October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Wiktor Szymanowicz
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future Publishing
Copyright: ? 2018 Wiktor Szymanowicz<\/p>\n

MPs have indicated in the past they would step aside for Burnham, including Clive Lewis, but these suggestions have since been quashed.<\/p>\n

Step two \u2013 Labour\u2019s ruling National Executive Committee<\/p>\n

If a seat were to become vacant, Burnham would need to win over the National Executive Committee (NEC), who is responsible for choosing Labour\u2019s candidates. In January, the NEC blocked Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton. A 10-strong group, including the PM, voted to deny Burnham permission.<\/p>\n

\"FILECaption: FILE \u2013 Britain\u2019s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer poses for a photo outside Parliament Buildings, following a meeting with party leaders, during his tour of the UK following Labour\u2019s victory in the 2024 general election, in Stormont, Belfast, Monday July 8, 2024. (Liam McBurney\/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Photographer: Liam McBurney
Provider: AP
Source: Pool PA<\/p>\n

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Exclusive<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nStep three \u2013 a leadership ballot\n<\/p>\n

If Burnham were to be elected to Parliament, only then could he make a Labour leadership bid. According to the Labour Party rule book, candidates seeking to enter the ballot must be an MP. <\/p>\n

\"MayorMayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham speaking at a Resolution Foundation event on working-age families, at the Methodist Central Hall in central London (Photo: Jordan Pettitt\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n

\"AngelaCaption: Angela Rayner And Andy Burnham At The Daily Mirror Party At The Labour Party Conference In Brighton, 2021 28-September-2021 (Photo by Jeremy Selwyn\/Evening Standard via Getty Images)
Photographer: Jeremy Selwyn
Provider: Evening Standard via Getty Image
Source: Evening Standard<\/p>\n

This is because the Labour leader is the Prime Minister, therefore they would need to be a Member of Parliament. The current rules state a candidate must receive nominations from 20 per cent of their Labour colleagues in Parliament to be in the running.<\/p>\n

\nA summary of necessary steps\n<\/p>\n

What is standing in Burnham\u2019s way?<\/p>\n

Vacant seat<\/p>\n

NEC permission<\/p>\n

Win election, become an MP<\/p>\n

Meet nominations threshold<\/p>\n

Win leadership competition, become Labour leader and prime minister<\/p>\n

\"Reading,Why do the British insist on exporting their culture when they travel? (Photo: Ceri Breeze\/Getty)<\/p>\n

FOOD AND DRINK<\/p>\n

Greggs\u00a0to open international shop at Tenerife South airport<\/p>\n

The British chain will bring its beloved range of baked goods to the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n

Greggs last operated shops abroad in Belgium in 2008, but said Tenerife was \u201cthe ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting\u201d.<\/p>\n

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

Greggs will open a branch in Tenerife South airport later this month.<\/p>\n

The usual range of sausage rolls, pasties and sweet treats will be on offer.<\/p>\n

A \u2018Spanish omelette roll\u2019 will also be on the menu.<\/p>\n

Around half of Tenerife\u2019s 13 million visitors go to and from the UK each year.<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

What Greggs is saying<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an exciting milestone for\u00a0Greggs\u00a0as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we\u2019re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.<\/p>\n

Greggs\u00a0chief executive Roisin Currie<\/p>\n

\"GreggsCaption: Greggs sausage rolls, UK. (Photo by: Alex Segre\/UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Photographer: UCG
Provider: UCG\/Universal Images Group via G
Source: Universal Images Group Editorial
Copyright: Alex Segre<\/p>\n

GO DEEPER ON THIS TOPIC<\/p>\n

Greggs has made me ashamed to be British<\/p>\n

\"BayCaption: Bay of turquoise coloured water in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Photographer: BriBar
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Copyright: BW PHOTOGRAPHY<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Emily Watkins<\/p>\n

Freelance writer<\/p>\n

Spain \u2013 a land of excellent food, rich cultural identity and a beautiful language.
Of course, if you\u2019re a British tourist there, odds are you won\u2019t have noticed.<\/p>\n

Why do the British insist on exporting their culture when they travel?<\/p>\n

Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"GreenPolanski speaks during an election press conference in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

GREEN PARTY<\/p>\n

Everything you need to know about Polanski council tax row<\/p>\n

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is under scrutiny over his council tax arrangements while living on a house boat in London.<\/p>\n

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

What has Polanski said?<\/p>\n

Polanski has admitted he may owe council tax from when he lived with his partner on a house boat in east London.<\/p>\n

Polanski previously claimed he only stayed there \u201coccasionally\u201d.<\/p>\n

But after scrutiny of the claim he now admits making an \u201cunintentional mistake\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has immediately taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe,\u201d the Green Party said.<\/p>\n

\nRecent controversies elsewhere\n<\/p>\n

\"GreenCaption: Green Party leader Zack Polanski applauds after Zoe Garbett was declared the winner for the 2026 London Borough of Hackney mayoral election at Hackney Service Centre, east London. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok\/PA Wire
Photographer: Yui Mok
Provider: Yui Mok\/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire<\/p>\n

Red Cross claim<\/p>\n

Polanksi admitted he was wrong to describe himself as a spokesperson for the British Red Cross.<\/p>\n

Police criticism<\/p>\n

Met Commissioner Mark Rowley reacted angrily when Polanski shared a tweet criticising officers during the Golders Green attack.<\/p>\n

\"MetropolitanMetropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (Photo: James Manning\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n

\"Britain'sCaption: Britain\u2019s Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaks to the press, while he celebrates with the Green Party\u2019s Zoe Garbett (not pictured), who has been elected mayor of Hackney, as results in the local elections are being announced, in London, Britain, May 8, 2026. REUTERS\/Chris J Ratcliffe
Photographer: Chris J Ratcliffe
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS<\/p>\n

Breast claims<\/p>\n

Polanski claimed to be able to make women\u2019s breasts larger while working as a hypnotherapist.<\/p>\n

What opponents say<\/p>\n

The Green Party leader has already been found out for fibbing over his employment history, and his hypnosis skills, and now this has emerged too. What else is Polanski hiding?
This pattern of misleading the public shows Zack Polanski simply cannot be trusted.<\/p>\n

THE LABOUR PARTY<\/p>\n

\"GreenPolanski speaks during an election press conference in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

What is causing damp? And how to fix it<\/p>\n

In addition to being generally unpleasant, living in a damp property can lead to structural and health issues if left unaddressed for long periods of time. <\/p>\n

Read on to find out the industry expert advice on how to cut the risk of damp forming in your home\u2026<\/p>\n

\nStart with your windows\n<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t keep them closed.<\/p>\n

\"ATake time to rest (Photo: Counter\/Getty\/Digital Vision\/Nicolas Hudak)<\/p>\n

Regularly opening windows \u2013 even on cold days \u2013 can improve the ventilation inside and decrease the humidity of the room. <\/p>\n

Also wipe away the\u00a0condensation that has formed\u00a0overnight with a microfiber cloth to remove the dampness.<\/p>\n

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Big Read<\/p>\n

8 min read<\/p>\n

\nHow to reduce the risk of damp\n<\/p>\n

\"WomanWoman loading washing machine in the kitchen \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Dry clothes in the bathroom<\/p>\n

Avoid drying clothes in bedrooms or living rooms without airflow.<\/p>\n

Avoid curtains over radiators<\/p>\n

It can trap heat behind the fabric, reduce room warmth and cause condensation on windows.<\/p>\n

\"CentralCentral heating problem at home. Woman checking heating radiator in cold apartment \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"FurnitureFurniture assembly in new apartment \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Nudge your furniture <\/p>\n

Large furniture items placed tightly against cold walls can trap condensation, leading to mould over time.<\/p>\n

\"Berlin,Caption: Berlin, Germany \u2013 January 20: Condensation has been reflected on a cold winter morning on an old double box window on January 20, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Trutschel\/Photothek via Getty Images)
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel
Provider: Photothek via Getty Images
Source: Photothek<\/p>\n

It could be the age of your home<\/p>\n

Close to 90 per cent of UK homes with solid external walls lack insulation, making them vulnerable. <\/p>\n

The airtight design of some new builds helps with energy efficiency but can trap moisture if ventilation isn\u2019t properly managed, says Chad Bragg, chief technical officer at\u00a0insulation company SuperFOIL.<\/p>\n

\nHow to reduce the risk of damp\n<\/p>\n

Clear clothes out<\/p>\n

Clothing that is packed\u00a0too tightly in a wardrobe traps humidity, especially if it is slightly damp. <\/p>\n

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

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 19\/09\/13 of a general view of a central heating thermostat. Households are set to learn their energy bills will fall by around 7% from April in a shake-up of costs after the Government promised they will receive an average ?150 cut. Latest predictions suggest Ofgem will reduce the energy price cap by ?117 to ?1,641 a year for a typical dual fuel household from April 1 when it makes its announcement on Wednesday. Issue date: Sunday February 22, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons\/PA Wire
Photographer: Steve Parsons
Provider: Steve Parsons\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

Heat strategically<\/p>\n

If the heating in your home is reduced in temperature by just two degrees, humidity levels will increase by 10 per cent.<\/p>\n

Keep lids on pans<\/p>\n

While cooking it avoids releasing moisture into the air. A good cooker hood is most effective.<\/p>\n

\"PersonProtein doesn\u2019t have to mean steak (Photo: 10\u2019000 Hours\/Getty Images\/Digital Vision)<\/p>\n

\nPlanning for an extension?\n<\/p>\n

Pay attention to insulation<\/p>\n

\"Construction(Photo: Pramote Polyamate\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Poor insulation creates \u2018thermal bridges,\u2019 or cold spots, where the new structure joins the old house. These cold junctions act as magnets for condensation, causing localised mould, heat loss, and discomfort.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

HEALTH<\/p>\n

How weight-loss drugs can help obese breast cancer patients<\/p>\n

\"CARDIFF,CARDIFF, WALES \u2013 NOVEMBER 8: A close-up of a Mounjaro KwikPen injection pen on November 8, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Horwood\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Weight loss drugs could improve survival rates and lower the risk of cancer returning in breast cancer patients with obesity, a new study suggests.<\/p>\n

Researchers said GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy \u201cmay offer protective benefits beyond glycaemic and weight control, potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer\u201d.<\/p>\n

A survival boost<\/p>\n

Researchers from the US-based Massey Comprehensive Cancer Centre said breast cancer patients living with obesity or type 2 diabetes tend to have poorer survival outcomes.<\/p>\n

While GLP-1 drugs are already known to help treat both conditions, researchers added that their links with breast cancer survival and recurrence \u201cremains unclear\u201d.<\/p>\n

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HEALTH<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

The mystery link<\/p>\n

With researchers unsure of the mystery link, they set out to examine the connection among breast cancer patients over a 10-year period. Here\u2019s how it went:<\/p>\n

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, examined data on 841,831 US patients aged 18 and over. <\/p>\n

They used prescription data to see whether patients had used GLP-1s before or after they were diagnosed.<\/p>\n

They compared 1,610 patients who used, and 1,610 patients who did not use, the weight loss drugs at any point.<\/p>\n

The weight loss drugs appeared to carry a 65 per cent reduced risk of death among women with obesity during the 10-year follow up period, researchers said.<\/p>\n

Use of the drugs were also linked to 56 per cent reduced risk of the disease returning.<\/p>\n

Landmark study<\/p>\n

All-cause mortality was approximately 60 per cent lower at both five and 10 years among GLP-1 RA users compared with non-users. No study has found a survival difference this large associated with GLP-1 RA prescriptions in a population of women with breast cancer or any other cancer.<\/p>\n

Dr Richard Wender, the University of Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

\"EMBARGOEDClinical trials suggest that trastuzumab deruxtecan, also known as Enhertu, can increase the amount of time patients live and gives them more time before their disease progresses (Photo: PA)<\/p>\n

What next?<\/p>\n

The researchers said their findings support the launch of clinical trials to further evaluate the effects of the drugs.<\/p>\n

While the findings are promising, more work is needed before changing treatment practices for breast cancer patients. <\/p>\n

\"Superdrug (Photo: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

7 min read<\/p>\n

WORLD ANALYSIS<\/p>\n

Trump faces his greatest rival this week. He needs a win<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Peter Frankopan<\/p>\n

Professor of Global History at Oxford University<\/p>\n

Only a few months ago, the prospect of a summit between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping looked likely to be a bruising confrontation.<\/p>\n

Last year, after Washington had imposed tariffs on Chinese goods that reached as high as 145 per cent at one stage, rhetoric on both sides hardened sharply.<\/p>\n

Rising anxieties<\/p>\n

Trump has tried to navigate the rising anxiety about China, which is one of the issues that has united Republicans and Democrats in the US for the best part of 10 years.<\/p>\n

He has consistently expressed his admiration for Jinping, even when he was out of office. To his detractors, this was yet another sign that the US President has a soft spot for autocrats and dictators.<\/p>\n

\"FILETrump and Xi Jinping tour the Forbidden City in Beijing in November 2017 (Photo: AP Photo\/Andrew Harnik, File)<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nA \u2018friendly\u2019 summit\n<\/p>\n

After a meeting between the two leaders in Busan, South Korea, last October, Jinping took a similar line. \u201cChina and the United States should be partners and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.Caption: U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event at The Villages Charter School at The Villages, Florida, U.S., May 1, 2026. REUTERS\/Nathan Howard
Photographer: Nathan Howard
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOT(Photo: Nhac Nguyen\/Pool\/AFP via Getty).<\/p>\n

This does not mean that the anxieties that both countries have about each other\u2019s motivations, ambitions or capabilities have dissipated. At the moment, however, it suits both sides to make this week\u2019s summit as friendly and constructive as possible.<\/p>\n

Iran war pressures<\/p>\n

For the US, the opening of Pandora\u2019s box that has followed the attacks on Iran means that, as well as being preoccupied elsewhere, there is a need to replenish heavily depleted weapons stocks.<\/p>\n

That means that a moratorium with China is helpful, as is a loosening of Beijing\u2019s tight controls on the export of rare earths and critical minerals.<\/p>\n

Trump has been messaging his intentions accordingly. <\/p>\n

Last month, he posted on Truth Social about the summit: \u201cPresident Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!\u201d<\/p>\n

The cost of fighting<\/p>\n

Trump cannot afford to pick another fight at a time when the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has put pressure not only on oil supplies but also on fertiliser, helium and the global economy as a whole.<\/p>\n

That works well for Jinping, too. The optics of Washington treating China as a peer are good for the latter\u2019s global stature.<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOTCaption: TOPSHOT \u2013 US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026. The United States will prevent all shipping from entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz for \u201cas long as it takes,\u201d US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday, the fourth day of the blockade. (Photo by SAUL LOEB \/ AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SAUL LOEB
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

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OPINION<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

Movement on both sides<\/p>\n

That is why the meeting is likely to produce a set of carefully calibrated announcements designed to show that co-operation remains possible. <\/p>\n

The United States is expected to push hard for major Chinese purchases of American goods. <\/p>\n

China, meanwhile, will seek movement on export controls, semiconductor restrictions and investment barriers.<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

6 min read<\/p>\n

\"ManThe World Health Organisation has warned of the risks associated with the us of sweeteners (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Environment<\/p>\n

How climate change could put tea drinkers in hot water<\/p>\n

The familiar taste of tea may turn bitter as climate change disrupts harvests and makes it harder to achieve consistent flavours, campaigners have warned. A Christian Aid report also warns that a warming world could cause the price of a cuppa to spike.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs\u00a0climate\u00a0variability increases, achieving that consistency becomes more challenging, Dr Neha Mittal from the Met Office said.<\/p>\n

What does the report say?<\/p>\n

Rising temperatures and worsening weather extremes in countries such as Kenya, India and Sri Lanka could make\u00a0tea\u00a0more\u00a0bitter\u00a0and harsher, researchers say.<\/p>\n

The issue is also hitting close to home, with tea\u00a0growers in the UK warning that it is making it much harder\u00a0to\u00a0achieve consistent flavours .<\/p>\n

Climate-induced disruptions to\u00a0harvests could\u00a0cause price spikes and unreliable supplies .<\/p>\n

The rising price of fertiliser and fuel as a result of the US-Iran war is\u00a0also expected to hit tea producers.<\/p>\n

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ENVIRONMENT<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nSupporting farmers\n<\/p>\n

Tea production relies on stable temperature and rainfall conditions, which are shifting in producer nations. Optimal growth conditions sit within a narrow range of between 13\u00b0C and 30\u00b0C and with adequate but not excessive rainfall.<\/p>\n

\"FUZHOU,Caption: FUZHOU, CHINA \u2013 MARCH 29: Farmers harvest celery in the fields as the area enters the harvest season on March 29, 2026 in Fuqing, Fujian Province of China. (Photo by Xie Guiming\/VCG via Getty Images)
Photographer: VCG
Provider: VCG via Getty Images
Source: Visual China Group<\/p>\n

\"It'sIt\u2019s raining heavily, wearing an umbrella during the rainy season \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

The flavour and quality of tea depends on a balance of compounds such as catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, the report said. However, higher temperatures increase the production of more astringent compounds while reducing sweetness \u2013 leading to a more bitter taste.<\/p>\n

The expert view<\/p>\n

For\u00a0generations, consumers have taken\u00a0for\u00a0granted that\u00a0a\u00a0cup of\u00a0tea\u00a0will\u00a0taste\u00a0the same, day in, day out. But that consistency depends on\u00a0a\u00a0stable\u00a0climate, and that stability is now breaking down. What we are seeing is the beginning of\u00a0a\u00a0shift towards\u00a0a\u00a0harsher brew<\/p>\n

Claire Nasike Akello,\u00a0climate\u00a0adaptation and resilience lead at Christian Aid<\/p>\n

\"File(Photo: Matthew Vincent\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n

How to fake your way to being organised<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Do you have your life together? Is your home tidy and clutter-free; your diary neatly colour-coded; your to-do list full of satisfying ticks?<\/p>\n

If these questions feel like a personal attack don\u2019t worry. We asked the put-together experts for their secrets. <\/p>\n

\nGet to know your brain\n<\/p>\n

The real magic is rarely in the system but in how your brain likes to work.<\/p>\n

If you love analytical tasks, try making spreadsheets.<\/p>\n

Set reminders for the things you usually forget.<\/p>\n

Use the Notes app for the ideas you think of in the shower but never remember when you get to do it. <\/p>\n

But if you are more likely to structure your day around how you\u2019re feeling, a calendar isn\u2019t the best option.<\/p>\n

\nHow to fake your way to organisation\n<\/p>\n

\"CroppedCropped image of senior woman putting car key in ignition lock \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: \tKentaroo Tryman\/ Getty)<\/p>\n

Make it easier<\/p>\n

If you hate folding, change your storage style. If you\u2019re always forgetting your keys, put a sign by your door.<\/p>\n

Make a launch pad<\/p>\n

Keep a small tray or basket in the hallway for your can\u2019t-leave-home-without essentials.<\/p>\n

\"TwoTwo young children wearing school uniforms exit their front door \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"MidMid adult businesswoman using phone and laptop for work from home. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Use technology<\/p>\n

After meetings use an AI tool to note down what you have to remember as a brain dump.<\/p>\n

\nCreate new habits\n<\/p>\n

The one-touch rule<\/p>\n

If you put your shoes straight on the rack as you take them off, instead of kicking them onto the floor and moving them later, that\u2019s one touch. If you hang things up rather than tossing them onto the \u2018bedroom chair\u2019 it\u2019s another one-touch win.<\/p>\n

\"AA woman with one foot is searching for an amputee to share shoes with \u2013 so her two bin bags full of unwanted right foot size six shoes don\u2019t go to waste. (Photo: Emma Henson\/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

\"FullFull length of mid adult man doing chores in kitchen at home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Talk to yourself out loud<\/p>\n

This verbal\u00a0anchor helps you remember what you have decided to do and cuts down on mental drift.<\/p>\n

The 300-second challenge<\/p>\n

\"MillennialCaption: Millennial black lady vacuuming floor while her husband watching TV, not helping her with household duties, cropped view. Unrecognizable young couple having problem with domestic chores
Photographer: Prostock-Studio
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Give yourself five minutes to deal with one overdue chore or task.<\/p>\n

Using seconds rather than minutes creates urgency and gives your brain a novelty hit.<\/p>\n

Try it when putting the laundry away, making a phone call or reading\u00a0an overdue email. <\/p>\n

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

LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

9 min read<\/p>\n

\nMake it easier for yourself\n<\/p>\n

Use completion cues<\/p>\n

Drop a marble in a jar or move a\u00a0sticky note across a board each time you complete a task.<\/p>\n

\"ToTo do list \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"It is the perfect time to enjoy an afternoon nap in your own home (Photo: Malte Mueller\/Getty\/fStop)<\/p>\n

Support your future<\/p>\n

Write down where you left off and the next small task to tackle to strengthen\u00a0your control over every day demands.<\/p>\n

Ask for help<\/p>\n

Consider seeking support from loved ones, neighbours, colleagues, community groups or professionals.<\/p>\n

\"Heartwarming\u2018Everyone who comes to see me assumes I am hard-up, so they either bring me gifts and treats, or if we go out together, they always insist on paying\u2019 (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

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

The Government\u2019s policies are expected to include closer ties with the EU, powers to nationalise of British Steel and an enhancement of the apprenticeship scheme for young people as well as special education needs reform, as outlined by the Prime Minister in his \u201cmake-or-break\u201d speech<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n

Leadership issues raised with the \u2018Golden Triangle\u2019<\/p>\n

Fears that the King could be dragged into questions over the Prime Minister\u2019s future have been fuelled in Whitehall over the timing of the King\u2019s Speech on Wednesday, coming in the wake of several ministerial resignations and more than 100 MPs urging him to step down.<\/p>\n

With Starmer refusing to heed calls from Cabinet critics to set a timetable for his departure, it is unlikely that the PM will resign before the traditional ceremony takes place.<\/p>\n

The source said there had been discussions within the Cabinet Office about where the leadership crisis leaves the Government constitutionally.<\/p>\n

And The i Paper understands it has been raised within the so-called \u201cGolden Triangle\u201d \u2013 the trio of senior aides to the King and Prime Minister which is the main vehicle for talks between the government and Buckingham Palace.<\/p>\n

The Civil Service source said: \u201cThere have been exchanges \u2013 on both sides \u2013 about the King\u2019s Speech and where this leaves us constitutionally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is unchartered territory and could be very awkward for the King given how quickly things seem to be moving. This is exactly the kind of thing the civil service [and the Golden Triangle] should be and would be preparing for.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Golden Triangle comprises the King\u2019s private secretary, the cabinet secretary and the PM\u2019s principal private secretary.<\/p>\n

The trio normally have regular discussions to keep channels open between Downing Street and the Palace.<\/p>\n

Monarch needs to be protected<\/p>\n

A separate Whitehall source said there had been discussions among officials to consider any procedural issues that could arise if the PM was forced to resign before the State Opening, but the view was because it was the Government\u2019s speech, not the Prime Minister\u2019s, it would be able to proceed as planned.<\/p>\n

Buckingham Palace declined to comment. A No 10 source said they were \u201cnot aware\u201d that there had been discussions about the tone of the speech.<\/p>\n

But Politico reported that the Palace privately asked whether the King should proceed as planned with the State Opening on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Citing people familiar with the matter, it said a senior aide to the monarch asked top government officials, including Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, whether the state occasion should go ahead.<\/p>\n

The King\u2019s team made clear in conversation with the PM\u2019s officials of the importance of protecting the monarch from any impression he is being used for political ends, Politico reported.<\/p>\n

However The i Paper understands that at no point did anyone ever suggest that the State Opening might not go ahead.<\/p>\n

A constitutional insider said the Golden Triangle holds talks all the time and the issue of Starmer\u2019s leadership is likely to have been raised to avoid any awkwardness for the King.<\/p>\n

Speech written on vellum<\/p>\n

The King\u2019s Speech itself is still written on vellum \u2013 or goatskin \u2013 and has to be finalised the week before the State Opening to allow the ink to dry, meaning no changes could have been made to the speech itself since last week, before the local and devolved elections triggered a crisis for Starmer.<\/p>\n

The insider said Palace officials will have pored over the original draft of the speech from No 10 anyway, to ensure that the King does not have to say anything too slogan-heavy or political.<\/p>\n

This means that the speech \u2013 which will set out the Government\u2019s legislative agenda \u2013 will already be fairly neutral in tone.<\/p>\n

However the leadership row throws a question mark over that agenda and whether it will be torn up if a new prime minister is in place within weeks.<\/p>\n

The constitutional insider said the Golden Triangle would be \u201ckeeping abreast of the leadership issue\u201d but added that the \u201cPalace will be very good at keeping the King clear of this\u201d.<\/p>\n

King\u2019s Speech details revealed <\/p>\n

The Government will aim to \u201crestore hope\u201d in the King\u2019s Speech on Wednesday as Sir Keir Starmer faces a battle to stay as Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

Policies on immigration, green energy and reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (Send) schooling will be part of the King\u2019s Speech, which will lay out the Government\u2019s legislative priorities for the next Parliamentary session.<\/p>\n

The speech, which will be read by the King in the House of Lords before MPs and peers, will also include new laws to make it easier to take action against state-backed groups such as the proscription of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.<\/p>\n

It follows attacks on the Jewish community in London in recent months.<\/p>\n

On immigration, legislation is expected on restricting the use of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, an element that guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, which some migrants who do not qualify for a visa or asylum rely on.<\/p>\n

New laws could be mentioned that would deny appeal rights to more people and establish an independent appeal body to hear claims currently considered by judges.<\/p>\n

Leasehold reforms are expected to be in the speech as the Government said it wants to \u201cgive people more control over how they live in their own homes\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Government said the package of policies would amount to an \u201cambitious programme to break with the status quo\u201d. More than 35 Bills are expected to be unveiled, including one to give the Government powers to renationalise British Steel.<\/p>\n

Starmer said: \u201cBritain stands at a pivotal moment: to press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer country, or turn back to the chaos and instability of the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Government will deliver on the promise of change for the British people.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Downing Street and Buckingham Palace have discussed how to prevent the leadership crisis currently engulfing Keir Starmer overshadowing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35052,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1974,94,1049,9969,185,654,5,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-35051","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uk","8":"tag-buckingham-palace","9":"tag-keir-starmer","10":"tag-king-charles-iii","11":"tag-labour-leadership","12":"tag-parliament","13":"tag-politics-news","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116564530676880635","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}