{"id":1027817,"date":"2026-06-15T09:34:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T09:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1027817\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T09:34:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T09:34:39","slug":"andy-burnham-ill-resurrect-hs2-from-birmingham-to-manchester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1027817\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Burnham: I&#8217;ll resurrect HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first England game of the World Cup kicks off at 9pm on Wednesday \u2013 prime door-knocking time on the eve of Makerfield\u2019s knife-edge by-election.<\/p>\n<p>In the <a class=\"post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/one-issue-uniting-divided-voters-makerfield-4463610?ico=in-line_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">most consequential by-election in modern history<\/a>, candidates might be tempted to wring the night for every last vote.<\/p>\n<p>But Andy Burnham, 56, has already called off the troops.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tShorts\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tScroll to previous short<br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/inews-theme\/assets\/images\/chevron.svg\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tScroll to next short<br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/inews-theme\/assets\/images\/chevron.svg\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/inews-theme\/assets\/images\/chevron.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Being a grandparent<br \/>is complicated<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_294290509.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Celia Dodd, who looks after her grandchildren two days a week, says <br \/>there\u2019s a fine line between being supportive and interfering. <\/p>\n<p>Here she shares the things she\u2019d never say or do with her own family.<\/p>\n<p>\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n<p>Ignore parents rules<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to know what\u2019s expected rather than second-guessing what the parents want, and possibly getting it wrong.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1889646212.jpg\" alt=\"Rear view of grandparents sitting with granddaughter near pond at park - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4213456\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>(Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_295004184.jpg\" alt=\"Parents and young child moving into a new house, unpacking belongings from cardboard boxes\" class=\"wp-image-4386540\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"\/>Caption: Parents and young child moving into a new house, unpacking belongings from cardboard boxes<br \/>Photographer: Vladimir Vladimirov<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: E+<\/p>\n<p>Send endless snaps<\/p>\n<p>Friends understandably get irritated if you keep sending photos and long videos, especially if they\u2019re longing for grandchildren of their own.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_284359661_1770742392.252.jpg\" alt=\"Burnout headache, children running and parents on living room sofa with migraine from hyper active kids. Mental health problem, family stress and senior grandparents tired from babysitting adhd girl\" class=\"wp-image-4227810\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>I\u2019ve made it very clear to my own daughter that if she needs full time childcare, she\u2019s going to have to sort that out herself (Photo: PeopleImages\/ Getty)<\/p>\n<p>What not to say<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>I wouldn\u2019t do it like that\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The golden rule for grandparents \u2013 don\u2019t offer advice unless it\u2019s asked for, and never interfere \u2013 is almost impossible to get right.<\/p>\n<p>You might feel like \u2013 how can you\u00a0not interfere when you\u2019re doing your best to support the family? It\u2019s a fine line, and there are times when you\u2019re bound to get it wrong.<\/p>\n<p>\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2267103356.jpg\" alt=\"Grandchild, twilight parenting, grandparents, grandmother, baby, exhausted, tired - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4332754\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Grandchild, twilight parenting, grandparents, grandmother, baby, exhausted, tired \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Assume involvement<\/p>\n<p>Although it\u2019s a shock, it\u2019s simply not on to drop in whenever you feel like it.<\/p>\n<p>Beat yourself up<\/p>\n<p>Being a grandparent is never 100\u00a0per cent bliss, despite what people say. Childcare can be boring as well as fulfilling.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_139306371.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2230141\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>(Photo: Paul Bradbury\/Getty).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"516\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_239727024.jpg\" alt=\"Tired mature woman taking a nap on the sofa in the living room\" class=\"wp-image-3533510\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Naps before 1pm can lead to better cognitive performance in the following hours (Photo: Lord Henri Voton\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>Admit tiredness<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t want them to stop asking me to babysit, and I certainly don\u2019t want them suggesting I\u2019m doing too much.<\/p>\n<p>\nWhat grandparents should never do\n<\/p>\n<p>Forget the years fly<\/p>\n<p>Grandparents have to keep finding new ways to keep the connection close, by tapping into what your grandchild loves doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"960\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1141301052.jpg\" alt=\"Conflict of family two generations old mother and adult daughter - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4332797\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Conflict of family two generations old mother and adult daughter \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1280\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-519330916.jpg\" alt=\"Grandparents and their young grandchildren relaxing at home - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4312150\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"\/>Grandparents and their young grandchildren relaxing at home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Dismiss the parents<\/p>\n<p>Even if you  don\u2019t agree with the way things are done \u2013 like using gentle parenting \u2013 <br \/>it\u2019s a big help to understand why they are doing it rather than just dismiss them. <\/p>\n<p>The price, size and variety of eggs differ<\/p>\n<p>But which is the best value<br \/>for money and taste?<\/p>\n<p>Food Editor Sophie Morris<br \/>tested 15 supermarket packs, scrambled and fried.<\/p>\n<p>Her findings? The most expensive wasn\u2019t the best.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516010_439_SEI_289112606_2b930a.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748824.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>M&amp;S Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n<p>These shells win the beauty contest and the yolk colour is amazing when scrambled. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Taste the Difference<\/p>\n<p>These Sainsbury\u2019s eggs taste as good as they look with gorgeous orange middles and a rich flavour. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781348840_728_SEI_290748823.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748834.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>St Ewe Rich Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n<p>These are \u201chigher welfare\u201d free-range eggs but the yolks taste no better than other high-end eggs, says Morris. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<p>Aldi Golden Yolk Eggs<\/p>\n<p><strong>Winner! <\/strong>The Specially Selected eggs are a great price with a delicious yolk. <strong>4\/5<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748832.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290749473.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Savers Small Eggs<\/p>\n<p>Morrisons Savers eggs are great for the price (\u00a31.10) but not rich in flavour. <strong>3\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Burford Brown Eggs<\/p>\n<p>They taste great, but not noticeably better than the other high-end eggs. The spend is more to do with\u00a0branding. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748702.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>7<strong>Tesco Finest Bluebell Aruacana<\/strong><br \/>The pale blue shells won me over but the insides are just as rewarding with a rich flavour. <br \/><strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>8<strong>Waitrose Duchy Organic Eggs<\/strong><br \/>Their sunny yellow middle scrambles beautifully into light, fluffy folds.<br \/><strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9<strong>Lidl Deluxe Golden Yolk Eggs<\/strong><br \/>They\u2019re a great deal and the yolk is a lovely bright orange and the taste is\u00a0rich and eggy.<br \/><strong>3.5\/5\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>M&amp;S British Free Range Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Large eggs with brown shells and a light orange yolk and they\u2019re a great price for high-welfare large eggs. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748706.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748716.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Ocado Large Free Range Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These are the best value large eggs that I try. The yolks are a dark yellow and the eggs turn out a lovely rich and fluffy scramble. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Packington British Free Range Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pretty white eggs with a yellow yolk that taste fine but, given the price, I expected a little more. <strong>3.5\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_290748760.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\nSupermarket eggs taste test\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Waitrose No.1 Longstock Gold Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They are delicious: meltingly rich, they scramble into fat folds. They have beautiful green shells, almost too pretty to eat. <strong>4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"512\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516030_14_SEI_293059481.jpg\" alt=\"Eggs are seen in a carton on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Jenny Kane)\" class=\"wp-image-4401923\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Caption: Eggs are seen in a carton on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Jenny Kane)<br \/>Photographer: Jenny Kane<br \/>Provider: AP<br \/>Source: AP<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"711\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516031_179_SEI_296012501.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of cracked egg falling into the pan as woman holds egg shells in both hands.\" class=\"wp-image-4401491\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>Caption: A detail of cracked egg falling into the pan as woman holds egg shells in both hands.<br \/>Photographer: SimpleImages<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asda Organic Mixed Size Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The yolk is a pale yellow and when scrambled the result is an unappealing yellowish grey colour. These are the most bland-tasting of the lot. <strong>2\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516032_138_SEI_295899527.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Food inflation could reach as much as 10 per cent by the end of 2026<\/p>\n<p>Why you should stockpile<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>The\u00a0modern food system is incredibly efficient \u2013 but that efficiency depends on a constant flow and just-in-time delivery. Stockpiling, at its best, isn\u2019t panic buying. It\u2019s creating a small buffer between us and a system that was never designed to pause.<\/p>\n<p>S\u00e9amus Higgins, author of\u00a0Food and Us: The incredible story of how food shapes humanity<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"534\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_296036180.jpg\" alt=\"Shopping for food in a modern supermarket\" class=\"wp-image-4402403\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Supermarkets will find ways of holding down the price of the basics, and try to make their money on the fancy lines (Photo: Roy James Shakespeare\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>\nWhat you should consider buying\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299257446.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling young woman filling water in bottle from faucet\" class=\"wp-image-4445233\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Tap water is generally safe to drink in Europe (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Bottled water <\/p>\n<p>While we are accustomed to free-flowing water, in recent years, supply has failed for a number of days in many areas of the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Canned essentials<\/p>\n<p>Morris keeps tomatoes, beans, pulses, chickpeas, lentils and fish in her cupboard.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516036_246_hummous-chickpea_0521-e1517241500856.jpg\" alt=\"Chickpeas are a great source of protein (Photo: Christian Mouysset)\" class=\"wp-image-92236\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Chickpeas are a great source of protein (Photo: Christian Mouysset)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_282864898.jpg\" alt=\"Young African American man drinking coffee during breakfast at home\" class=\"wp-image-4204475\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Many of us like to add milk to our tea, so you may be wondering whether that affects its benefits (Photo: Maca and Naca\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Tea and coffee<\/p>\n<p>As prices vary, and are increasing, it\u2019s good to bulk buy if you can. <\/p>\n<p>\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n<p>Dried goods<\/p>\n<p>A base of dry goods, like rice, pasta, oats and flour, are the backbone of a reliable pantry. Make sure bags are stored correctly and replace them when they go out of date.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"960\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516038_90_SEI_296671227.jpg\" alt=\"Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyle\" class=\"wp-image-4411831\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Caption: Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyle<br \/>Photographer: d3sign<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1333\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516040_427_SEI_170498064.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.\" class=\"wp-image-2599415\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>Caption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.<br \/>Photographer: Dougal Waters<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: Digital Vision<br \/>Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n<p>UHT drinks<\/p>\n<p>UHT dairy, squash and long life milks and juices are worth keeping for emergencies.<\/p>\n<p>\nWhat you should stockpile\n<\/p>\n<p>A well-stocked freezer is also important, but it doesn\u2019t need to be a huge space. <\/p>\n<p>Focus on versatility and rotation in fruit, veg, fish and bread, and buy what you\u2019ll use.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516041_104_SEI_286752522.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of peanut butter on toasted bread on light gray plate. Food background.\" class=\"wp-image-4275640\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Caption: Close-up of peanut butter on toasted bread on light gray plate. Food background.<br \/>Photographer: Yuliia Zaitseva<br \/>Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto<br \/>Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list inews--shorts-card--list--tick\">\n<li>Peanut butter, or a jarred treat like jam or Nutella, is also a good idea. <\/li>\n<li>Nut butters are a great source of protein, fibre, has a long shelf life and can be used on savoury and sweet foods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516042_392_GettyImages-2256790721.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Want to slow down brain ageing? Try a hobby<\/p>\n<p>\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Practise a musical instrument<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A study of 108 amateur musicians in the journal\u00a0Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences\u00a0found those with more musical experience had better attention control.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"512\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516042_319_GettyImages-1423167532.jpg\" alt=\"Caucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4205787\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Caucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"711\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516043_155_SEI_146520528.jpg\" alt=\"IVANO-FRANKIVSK, UKRAINE - NOVEMBER 13, 2022 - Musicians of the NAONI Orchestra (National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine) hold a concert at the Ivan Franko Academic Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre in Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yurii Rylchuk \/ Ukrinform\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-2184960\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>Caption: IVANO-FRANKIVSK, UKRAINE \u2013 NOVEMBER 13, 2022 \u2013 Musicians of the NAONI Orchestra (National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine) hold a concert at the Ivan Franko Academic Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre in Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yurii Rylchuk \/ Ukrinform\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)<br \/>Photographer: Future Publishing<br \/>Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag<br \/>Source: Future Publishing<\/p>\n<p><strong>Journal in the evening before bed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on your day supports your memory as you\u2019re rehearsing the things you\u2019ve done, especially if you do it with pen and paper, says Prof Catherine Loveday, author of\u00a0The Secret World of the Brain. <\/p>\n<p>\nThe hobbies that slow brain ageing\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516044_598_SEI_294905321.jpg\" alt=\"Cawdor Castle near Nairn, Highlands, Scotland. June 22nd, 2021. One of Scotland's most ancient at best known Castles. Photograph taken from the famous flower garden. Beautiful colours at all times of year. Ancestral home of Campbells of Cawdor. 14th Century. Associated with Macbeth in Shakeapeare's play.\" class=\"wp-image-4394137\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>The flowering gardens at Cawdor Castle (Photo: Dennis Barnes\/Getty\/Stockbyte Unreleased)<\/p>\n<p>Garden for 20 minutes<\/p>\n<p>Connecting with nature replenishes cognitive resources and boosts vitamin D levels, says Loveday. <\/p>\n<p>Join a knitting group<\/p>\n<p>Knitting improves coordination and working memory \u2013 your brain\u2019s ability to store and use information according to the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516045_185_GettyImages-2224659418.jpg\" alt=\"Senior female friends spending leisure time knitting while sitting at table in retirement home - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4307220\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Senior female friends spending leisure time knitting while sitting at table in retirement home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"432\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298178061.jpg\" alt=\"Increasing numbers of young people are turning to AI for financial help\" class=\"wp-image-4429997\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>As society sees the largest ever intergenerational shift of assets, younger clients will need people they can relate to, instead of relying on AI and social media for financial advice (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Learn a language<\/p>\n<p>Learning a second language helps improve our ability to retrieve words.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The hobbies that slow <br \/>brain ageing<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Games, like Minecraft, helps improve spatial representation, speed and reaction times.<\/li>\n<li>Reading fiction twice a week stimulates the language parts<br \/>of the brain, says Loveday.<\/li>\n<li>One study also found that chess players had better cognitive reflection and greater focus. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\t<a class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_thumbnail post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/studied-ageing-40-years-seven-things-stay-young-4426121?ico=in-line_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516047_845_SEI_298150797.jpg\" width=\"110\" height=\"110\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_label\">LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_min-read\">5 min read<\/p>\n<p>Why crossing your legs could be bad your health\u2026<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s one of those every day moves that we rarely think twice about  \u2013 especially when sitting for longer periods \u2013  but it could be inadvertently contributing to your back pain, high blood pressure or even issues like infertility.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516048_508_SEI_273438185.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\nWhy you shouldn\u2019t cross your legs\n<\/p>\n<p>The fact it\u2019s comfortable doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s good for us<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--statistic\">62%<\/p>\n<p>of people prefer to cross their right over their left leg.<\/p>\n<p>While 26 per cent cross their left over the right and 12 per cent have no preference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--statistic\">S shape<\/p>\n<p>The natural shape of the spine when stood up is an S-shaped curve.<\/p>\n<p>But when we sit in a chair with our feet flat on the ground our pelvis is rocked backwards creating a C shape.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_282888073.jpg\" alt=\"A woman takes her blood pressure at home.\" class=\"wp-image-4206172\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>In some people, blood pressure stays high despite medication, and hormones may be the reason (Photo: Tatiana Maksimova\/Getty Images\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n<p>How does it impact blood pressure?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>We\u2019re restricting venous return of blood from peripheral tissues like the foot  going back to the heart.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Says Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, at Lancaster University. <\/p>\n<p>Although your blood pressure should drop  once you move from the position, it can have longer term impacts if you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes.<\/p>\n<p>\nHow it can impact the nervous system\n<\/p>\n<p>In extreme it can <br \/>lead to a phenomenon <br \/>called foot drop.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516050_350_GettyImages-2214331182.jpg\" alt=\"Senior woman on sofa feeling and suffering from back pain. - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4304669\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Senior woman on sofa feeling and suffering from back pain. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Over the short term crossing can give you pins and needles. If you leave it there for half an hour, an hour, or longer, you can actually interfere with the muscular function of the muscles, says Taylor. <\/p>\n<p>\t<a class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_thumbnail post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/five-easy-ways-improve-posture-and-hunched-shoulders-3932237?ico=in-line_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516051_40_SEI_267249709.jpg\" width=\"110\" height=\"110\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_label\">LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_min-read\">5 min read<\/p>\n<p>How it impacts posture<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516052_556_SEI_271478335.jpg\" alt=\"A mature woman (in her 40s) stands up whilst working from home. Her back twinges and she winces in pain. Poor posture\/seating?\" class=\"wp-image-3997452\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>(Photo: Justin Paget\/ Getty).<\/p>\n<p>Sam Bhide, advanced physiotherapy practitioner, believes the main impact of sitting cross-legged is gluteal tendonitis,\u00a0resulting in moderate to severe hip pain.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7370107\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">One study<\/a>\u00a0found that sitting cross-legged leads to a bent and asymmetrical posture and other research shows it increasing the misalignment of the hips.<\/p>\n<p>How it impacts fertility<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>We know that crossing your legs warms up the groin area by somewhere in the remit of three degrees. If you are a man who sits with your legs crossed for a prolonged period of time, that is not good for sperm production.<\/p>\n<p>ADAM TAYLOR, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE CLINICAL ANATOMY LEARNING CENTRE<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516053_983_SEI_263473508.jpg\" alt=\"Undated file photo of a new born baby's feet are visible peeking out of a shawl. The fertility rate for England and Wales has fallen for the third year in a row to reach a new record low, figures show. The total fertility rate across both nations, defined as the average number of live children women would expect to have across their childbearing life, stood at 1.41 in 2024. Issue date: Wednesday August 27, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire\" class=\"wp-image-3881683\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>(Photo: Andrew Matthews\/PA).<\/p>\n<p>\nHow to fix it\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516054_20_SEI_175448562.jpg\" alt=\"Incorrect seated posture.\" class=\"wp-image-2681901\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Caption: Incorrect seated posture.<br \/>Photographer: Science Photo Library<br \/>Provider: Getty Images\/Science Photo Libra<br \/>Source: Science Photo Library RF<\/p>\n<p>Get out of the habit<\/p>\n<p>If crossing our legs is the cause, then the obvious solution is to do it less.<\/p>\n<p>Microbreaks<\/p>\n<p>Take time off from sitting, and put your musculoskeletal system  through a normal range of motion.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"523\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_291617123.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4328797\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"  \/>There are many ways to improve your finances this Easter (Amr Bo Shanab\/Getty Images\/fStop)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_244428515.jpg\" alt=\"A man stands up whilst working from home, holding his back\" class=\"wp-image-3594153\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover\"  \/>(Photo: Justin Paget\/Getty).<\/p>\n<p>Focus on symmetry<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a right over left leg crosser, try crossing the other way, so those forces are at least  going\u00a0through the body equally.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516058_134_SEI_278852864.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>The foods the experts always have in the cupboard<\/p>\n<p>\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516058_46_SEI_286740697.jpg\" alt=\"John West tuna chunks in brine, ??1.50\/125g\" class=\"wp-image-4267661\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Caption: John West tuna chunks in brine, ??1.50\/125g<br \/>Copyright: John West<\/p>\n<p>Tinned fish<\/p>\n<p>These are a great way to get Omega-3 fats and fish with soft bones are a great source of calcium, says dietician Emma Shafqat. <\/p>\n<p>Ready whole grains<\/p>\n<p>Dietitian Lucy Upton recommends brown rice, quinoa and barley which are low in salt.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516059_938_GettyImages-2195487711.jpg\" alt=\"Rice cooked - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4168047\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Rice cooked \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"155\" width=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516060_372_SEI_289925884.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4301770\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1\/1;object-fit:cover;width:100px\"  \/>Photographer: HakanEliacik \/ 500px<br \/>Provider: Getty Images\/500px Prime<br \/>Source: 500px Prime<br \/>Copyright: Hakan Eliacik \u2013 05062142485<\/p>\n<p>Olive oil<\/p>\n<p>Cold-pressed extra\u00a0virgin olive oil\u00a0has polyphenols and antioxidants, says Dr Frankie Phillips. <\/p>\n<p>\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nuts and seeds<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They boast unsaturated fats,\u00a0fibre, plant\u00a0protein, vitamins and minerals. Raw or dry roasted\u00a0should have no additives, like salt. Dr Shafqat recommends brands like Meridian, Pip &amp; Nut and Whole Earth. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"512\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516061_163_SEI_191607242.jpg\" alt=\"A closeup shot of appetizing dry fruits\" class=\"wp-image-2907233\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Dried fruit<br \/>(Photo: Wirestock\/Getty\/iStockphoto\/Juergen Wiesler)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"711\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516062_164_GettyImages-1465039109.jpg\" alt=\"Various kinds of vegan protein sources on beige background. Set of food supplements. Gluten free cereals as ground hemp seeds, quinoa. Nuts and legumes (green mung beans, chick-pea, red lentil, kidney bean, almonds, hazelnuts). Flat lay, top view - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4257741\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover\"  \/> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Dried fruit <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re mindful of the addd sugar, they can be great for fibre as part of a meal. Dr Phillips recommends dried apricots as they\u2019re verstaile and add iron to the diet.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516063_505_dark-chocolate.webp\" alt=\"dark-chocolate\" class=\"wp-image-4099287\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/> <\/p>\n<p>Dark chocolate<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>It surprises many people that dark chocolate contains fibre.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It counts as a health food thanks to\u00a0its high polyphenol count.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To really optimise the health benefits, choose chocolate\u00a0that is 70 per cent cocoa as it has fewer ingredients and a higher polyphenol content. <\/p>\n<p>Lindt 70 to 85 per cent, Green &amp; Black\u2019s, Divine Fairtrade, Aldi\u2019s Moser Roth (70 per cent) and Lidl\u2019s own brand\u00a0(85 per cent) are great, accessible options.<\/p>\n<p>\nFoods to keep in the cupboard\n<\/p>\n<p>Oats<\/p>\n<p>Plain oats are a cheap, accessible and nutritious food that provide beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre which helps to manage cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"960\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516064_321_SEI_163978381.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2567090\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Packing out your curry with pulses (Photo: Michelle Garrett\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1333\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516040_427_SEI_170498064.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.\" class=\"wp-image-2599415\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>Caption: Close up of a woman preparing a wholesome breakfast by pouring oats into a bowl from a plastic free jar with fresh berries.<br \/>Photographer: Dougal Waters<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: Digital Vision<br \/>Copyright: Dougal Waters Photography Ltd<\/p>\n<p>Pulses<\/p>\n<p>Dr Phillips keeps canned cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and red lentils in the cupboard, and adds them to soups, stews and savoury mince dishes. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516065_629_SEI_240344420.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>The UK\u2019s mild climate may be destroyed<\/p>\n<p>While much of the world is set to grow hotter as a result of the\u00a0climate crisis, the UK could soon face a different fate. <\/p>\n<p>Climate scientists fear a \u2018cold blob\u2019 in the Atlantic Ocean may bring Arctic conditions instead of a tropical future.  <\/p>\n<p>Bill McGuire, a professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), is one of them. <\/p>\n<p>Here he shares why cold temperatures could be our reality in a few decades.<\/p>\n<p>Why this could happen<\/p>\n<p>At the moment, global heating is making the UK hotter. This warmth is thanks to the presence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of currents over the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Without these currents, our climate would be more akin\u00a0to the much colder weather in north-eastern\u00a0Canada.<\/li>\n<li>And the AMOC might be set to U-turn.<\/li>\n<li>One study suggests that the AMOC has weakened by 15 per\u00a0cent since the mid-20th century.<\/li>\n<li>There is not much we can do to stop<br \/>this decline. Emissions would need to <br \/>be cut in half within five years to have <br \/>any chance of dodging a permanent global temperature change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nHow to prepare for a change\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll countries need to ensure that infrastructure, food security, services <br \/>and public engagement are robust,\u201d <br \/>says Professor McGuire.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"512\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516066_800_SEI_282462314.jpg\" alt=\"Snow falls over in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Storm Chandra brought travel disruption and flooding as strong winds and heavy rain hit much of the UK. Picture date: Tuesday January 27, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire\" class=\"wp-image-4197116\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Caption: Snow falls over in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Storm Chandra brought travel disruption and flooding as strong winds and heavy rain hit much of the UK. Picture date: Tuesday January 27, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire<br \/>Photographer: Owen Humphreys<br \/>Provider: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire<br \/>Source: PA<br \/>Copyright: PA Wire<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"711\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516067_438_SEI_279809223_352a12.jpg\" alt=\"A train arrives into the station in the town of Glossop, Derbyshire, northern England on January 6, 2026, after a light snow covered the region overnight. The UK's Met Office issued fresh weather warnings for January 5-6 for snow and ice for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and said cold weather health alerts for all English regions would remain in place until January 9. (Photo by Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-4169171\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>A train arrives into the station in the town of Glossop in the snowy weather last week. New rail projects planned for the North of England are \u2018really exciting,\u2019 the Transport Secretary has said (Photo: Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>One paper estimated that only seven per cent of UK land would be suitable for <br \/>arable farming in the new climate, <br \/>compared with the current 32 per cent. \u201cManaging this looks like rationing and restricted civil liberties,\u201d he claims.<\/p>\n<p>The global impact<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516068_599_SEI_136798593.jpg\" alt=\"FILE PHOTO: Smoke billows from a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, September 10, 2019. REUTERS\/Bruno Kelly\/File Photo\" class=\"wp-image-2037993\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Smoke billows from a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil (Photo: Bruno Kelly\/Reuters)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It could cause the weakening of the African and Asian monsoons, resulting in famine.<\/li>\n<li>Increased warming of the southern hemisphere could further dry out the Amazon.<\/li>\n<li>Increase melting across Antarctica would accelerate sea level rise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\t<a class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_thumbnail post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/how-uk-could-become-cold-canada-2050-3536144?ico=in-line_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516069_990_SEI_240344420.jpg\" width=\"110\" height=\"110\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_label\">LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_min-read\">5 min read<\/p>\n<p>What we need to do<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>This is entirely the result of\u00a0global heating caused by human activities. It is critical that monitoring of the AMOC is maintained, even increased. European governments really need to be planning for a future that could well be <br \/>much colder.<\/p>\n<p>AUTHOR OF THE FATE OF THE WORLD: HOW OUR FUTURE IS WRITTEN IN THE PAST<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516070_445_GettyImages-126383237.jpg\" alt=\"Snow covering Arlington Row in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. - stock photo\" class=\"wp-image-4218978\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Snow covering Arlington Row in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Our shared ownership home is a disaster<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516071_127_SEI_217472885.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. Photographed outside the block of flats affected.\" class=\"wp-image-3258972\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Paul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick (Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\n<p>Paul Afshar felt a sense of pride when <br \/>he purchased 25 per cent of a new home in East London \u2013 as a way to get on the property ladder without huge financial backing. <\/p>\n<p>But years on, Afshar has discovered the drawbacks of the scheme, including the rising costs and difficulty moving on. <\/p>\n<p>\nThe background\n<\/p>\n<p>A 25 per cent of a one-bedroom flat in London.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2007 Afshar put a five per cent deposit (\u00a32,500) on his share of the flat and entered a 35-year mortgage on a standard variable rate.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Although he only owns a quarter of his flat in Hackney but is eligible for 100 per cent of the maintenance costs.<\/li>\n<li>Between 2007 and 2024 his mortgage rose 48 per cent from \u00a3268.65 to \u00a3400.28. He also pays \u00a3865.48 on rent (shared ownership requires paying rent to the organisation who owns the rest) and a service charge.<\/li>\n<li>Fixing unsafe cladding on his block of will also cost in excess <br \/>of \u00a350,000, as it isn\u2019t eligible for government funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The impact on residents<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>It has definitely triggered a deep sense of anxiety in me that affected my mental health. It\u2019s this constant heavy, nervous feeling in my stomach.<\/p>\n<p>AFSHAR, 41<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516072_337_SEI_217473018.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. Photographed leaving his flat.\" class=\"wp-image-3258975\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n<p>Photographed leaving his flat.<br \/>Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n<p>Shared ownership in the UK<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516073_863_PRI_169247374.jpg\" alt=\"BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: A general view of some of the student accommodation blocks within the Paragon Residential development which have been placed on a mandatory evacuation order, on October 19, 2020 in Brentford, England. Paragon is a development of six apartment blocks owned by one of London's largest housing associations, Notting Hill Genesis. A recent investigation into the exterior cladding coupled with structural and fire safety issues has led to the association asking residents of the 1059 flats to evacuate while further investigations are made. The estate was developed by Berkeley First, part of The Berkeley Group plc. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images) Myra Butterworth\" class=\"wp-image-3597240\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Caption: BRENTFORD, ENGLAND \u2013 OCTOBER 19: A general view of some of the student accommodation blocks within the Paragon Residential development which have been placed on a mandatory evacuation order, on October 19, 2020 in Brentford, England. Paragon is a development of six apartment blocks owned by one of London\u2019s largest housing associations, Notting Hill Genesis. A recent investigation into the exterior cladding coupled with structural and fire safety issues has led to the association asking residents of the 1059 flats to evacuate while further investigations are made. The estate was developed by Berkeley First, part of The Berkeley Group plc. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n<p>Myra Butterworth<br \/>Photographer: Leon Neal<br \/>Provider: Getty Images<br \/>Source: Getty Images Europe<br \/>Copyright: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2024, 200,000 households were shared ownership properties.<\/li>\n<li>In 2021-22 there were 19,386 new\u00a0shared ownership properties.<\/li>\n<li>Fewer than 2,000 shared ownership households managed to staircase from part to full ownership in 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\t<a class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_thumbnail post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/regret-shared-ownership-flat-financially-emotionally-crippling-4356918?ico=in-line_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516074_996_SEI_293709375.jpg\" width=\"110\" height=\"110\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_label\">Big Read<\/p>\n<p class=\"inews--shorts-card--article_min-read\">9 min read<\/p>\n<p>\nSelling up\n<\/p>\n<p>Afshar couldn\u2019t sell his flat but didn\u2019t feel safe to live in it \u2013 because of the cladding. So he lived with his partner for three years, still paying the mortgage and charges.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"512\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516075_712_SEI_217473009.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. General view of the unsafe timber cladding.\" class=\"wp-image-3258976\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5\/4;object-fit:cover;width:204px\"  \/>Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n<p>General view of the unsafe timber cladding.<br \/>Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"711\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516075_333_SEI_217472766.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. Photographed inside his flat.\" class=\"wp-image-3258977\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/10;object-fit:cover;width:195px\"  \/>Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\n<p>Photographed inside his flat.<br \/>Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<br \/>Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n<p>Property expert\u00a0Crystal Olenbush says selling is the biggest issue. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to figure out how to divvy any equity, then you\u00a0need to find someone to take over the side of the seller\u2019s portion of the mortgage. There\u2019s a whole legal process to transfer that shared ownership stake. If anyone tries to skip steps, it creates huge problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"675\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781516077_947_SEI_217472955.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. Photographed outside the block of flats affected.\" class=\"wp-image-3258974\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Paul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick <br \/>(Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\n<p>The takeaway<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n<p>I got into something I didn\u2019t fully understand.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>I was sold a dream of homeownership and it\u2019s come back to bite me years later. It\u2019s heartbreaking.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Looking back Afshar wishes he\u2019d have looked into the service charge, mortgage rate and selling protocols sooner.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/inews-theme\/assets\/images\/chevron.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>There will be no canvassing during the England versus Croatia match \u2013 just as there was none when Wigan reached the Challenge Cup final a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI issued an edict in this room, this very room, that there was to be no door knocking at all,\u201d he says in an interview at a community club in Stubshaw Cross on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>By his own reckoning, Makerfield\u2019s 77,000 voters are by-election weary and faintly sick of the sight of him. Lift the lid of any recycling bin in the constituency, he jokes, and his own face will be grinning up from the top of a pile of leaflets. He thanks the voters, more than once, for their patience. The least he can do, he reckons, is leave them to the football.<\/p>\n<p>For this is a man who, as Mayor of Greater Manchester, took the buses back into public control, capped the fares at \u00a32 and gave every teenager a free bus pass \u2013 a politics, his allies say, is built on knowing precisely what a place needs.<\/p>\n<p>It is a knack that has earned him his title as the so-called King of the North and a rare personal following \u2013 an appeal he now hopes will translate if he succeeds in <a class=\"post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/politics\/andy-burnham-keep-triple-lock-pensioners-tax-cut-4471579?ico=in-line_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">his audacious bid to return to Westminster<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Burnham, who has the tan of four weeks spent on doorsteps, is getting over a cold when we meet at one of his campaign centres in the constituency he soon hopes to represent as an MP.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_301383199.jpg\" alt=\"ASHTON IN MAKERFIELD, ENGLAND - JUNE 9: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham walks on the street on June 9, 2026 in Ashton in Makerfield, England. Andy Burnham, Labour's candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, is pledging to tackle organised crime on the area's high streets with police operations targeting &quot;dodgy shops&quot; that serve as hotspots for drug dealing, antisocial behavior, and money laundering. The Makerfield by-election, due to be held on June 18, was triggered when Josh Simons announced he would step down as Labour MP for the constituency, allowing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run. Should he win the by-election and return to parliament, Burnham has confirmed he would enter any leadership contest launched against Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (Photo by Anthony Devlin\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-4477552\"  \/>Burnham will bring campaigning to a close on Wednesday night so voters can enjoy England\u2019s World Cup opener (Photo: Anthony Devlin\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>On the day we meet, he has harnessed the help of an estimated 1,000 volunteers \u2013 including MPs and peers. Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, and her dog Milo, a golden lurcher\u2013whippet cross, is directing operations.<\/p>\n<p>Following the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary, who quit over the Prime Minister\u2019s refusal to provide more money for defence \u2013 Sir Keir Starmer is once again fighting for survival, with more than 100 Labour MPs already saying he should go.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just the latest chapter in the psychodrama, which began to unfold in the wake of last month\u2019s disastrous local election results and has turned this by-election into Burnham\u2019s audition for No 10.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018HS2 can be funded like Crossrail\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Burnham lives in nearby Golborne with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, with whom he has three children. Aintree-born and Cambridge-educated, he served as health secretary under Gordon Brown and twice ran for the Labour leadership, losing in 2010 and 2015 before quitting Parliament in 2016 for the fledgling Greater Manchester mayoralty. Widely seen as a consolation prize at the time, the job has become the power base now propelling him towards Downing Street.<\/p>\n<p>Pressed on what he would actually do with the keys to No 10, Burnham sets out a prospectus that is unmistakably in the Manchester mould.<\/p>\n<p>He wants to bring back the northern leg of HS2. The scrapping of the Birmingham to Manchester route still rankles, and he is blunt that it should be revived.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am absolutely clear, I\u2019ve seen it myself in terms of expansion of our travel system,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you put that infrastructure in, it lays the foundations for higher growth\u2026 The lack of high-quality rail infrastructure in the north of England holds back its growth potential.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What lifts this above a pipe dream, given the eye-watering sums involved \u2013 the Manchester leg was due to cost \u00a336bn at the time it was cancelled \u2013 is how he says it should be paid for. It\u2019s an idea he claims would spare the Treasury much of the bill and he has done it before, at scale.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a cleverer way of funding this,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you go back, I put the funding package together for Crossrail and it was actually a package that did have contributions from business and residents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The trick missed last time, he argues, was capturing the soaring value of land around new stations, as London later did on the Northern line extension to Battersea. \u201cYou don\u2019t take all the windfall off the landholder, but you share the proceeds of that windfall, and the increase in land values created by the infrastructure is captured to pay back the cost of the infrastructure. So why shouldn\u2019t we fund infrastructure in this country in that way?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is, he insists, the future. \u201cA much more devolved approach to running this country. You cannot get growth in a top-down, silo-driven model of government,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>For the uninitiated, Manchesterism is less an ideology than a method.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"507\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_301381970.jpg\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester speaks to the media as final preparations take place ahead of the Conservative Party Conference at the Manchester Central Convention Complex on October 02, 2021 in Manchester, England. This year's Conservative Party Conference returns as a hybrid of in-person and online events after last year it was changed to a virtual event due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Boris Johnson addresses the party as its leader for the third time. (Photo by Ian Forsyth\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-4477526\"  \/>Greater Manchester\u2019s \u2018Bee Network\u2019 has been touted by Burnham as a model to follow across the UK (Photo: Ian Forsyth\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Since becoming the region\u2019s first mayor in 2017, Burnham has used the powers prised from Whitehall to do a handful of concrete, visible things, including bringing the buses back under public control \u2013 the first English city region to do so in four decades.<\/p>\n<p>Under the yellow \u201cBee Network\u201d banner, he has incorporated buses, trams and <a class=\"post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/andy-burnham-northern-rail-fix-broken-system-3480543?ico=in-line_link\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/andy-burnham-northern-rail-fix-broken-system-3480543\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">soon, trains into a single network<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The politics is unashamedly interventionist and rooted in place \u2013 the opposite, he says, of a remote and short-termist Westminster.<\/p>\n<p>It has made him a rarity in British politics: a Labour figure whose personal brand outstrips his party\u2019s, re-elected with thumping majorities while the national party flailed.<\/p>\n<p>The wager he is now making is that what works for Greater Manchester can work for the rest of the country \u2013 and that this model is the answer to the delivery crisis that is engulfing Starmer.<\/p>\n<p>On the cost of living, the \u00a32 bus fare is his proof of concept. It \u201ccomes up on every doorstep,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Putting buses back under public control to \u201cdeliver more public benefit in the form of lower fares\u201d has \u201cchanged life in a borough like this,\u201d he claims.<\/p>\n<p>He draws from this experience a wider mission: \u201csimilar reform of the big essentials that were sold off in the 1980s.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Water is one of the issues that exercises him the most. He has previously said he wants to see Thames Water brought into public ownership. Customers \u201cwere asked to pay 23 per cent extra on their bills,\u201d he says, \u201cwhen the water company doubled its profits to \u00a3800m\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>His verdict on the industry is withering: \u201cthe shareholders never lose and the public never win.\u201d He wants a \u201cmuch more robust reform agenda for water, for energy,\u201d and council house-building \u201con the scale of the post-war period\u201d. He claims this will make homes \u201ccheaper to rent but also to run.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The pitch doubles as fiscal discipline. He argues that if you rein in the unregulated rents that inflate the housing benefit bill, you can then give the country \u201ca grip on its costs\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>To those who say he is careless in his approach to the bond markets, he retorts that \u201cthe reverse is true\u201d. He claims that his ten-year investment plan to \u201cbring down the revenue budget\u201d is precisely \u201csomething that the bond markets might appreciate\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Young people aren\u2019t hopeful about their futures\u2019<\/p>\n<p>His deepest preoccupation is the education system \u2013 and the near-million young people not in work or training.<\/p>\n<p>Their plight, he argues, begins long before any Jobcentre. \u201cThe origins of the million young people not in education, employment and training\u2026 are to be found in the education system.\u201d His charge is that it only serves the few and finds itself weighted towards \u201cthe obsession with the university route under all of the main political parties\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He has long argued for an education system based on \u201cparity between academic and technical\u201d. Without that, he argues, the country has been \u201cleft with a situation where some young people get to the middle years of secondary school and they can\u2019t see where school is taking them\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He claims to have the evidence to prove it. \u201cWe do a survey of teenagers in Greater Manchester and year 10s across all of our 10 boroughs and you see some of them start to report a loss of engagement with school by year 10. It\u2019s high when they come in year seven, but it drops right down by year 10.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most troubling thing is we ask the question: Do you have hope for the future? And in parts of this city region, and indeed parts of this borough\u2026that number is way too low. They just cannot see what the opportunity is beyond school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His remedies are practical and already running in Greater Manchester. This includes the free bus pass for 16 to 18-year-olds he wants matched to \u201ca guarantee of a work related opportunity at 16,\u201d a \u201c45-day work placement\u201d and \u2013 a reform he announced on the day we met \u2013 using \u201cfull social value weighting\u201d in public procurement so that every single state contract can be made to \u201crequire work placements for 16 to 18-year-olds or apprenticeships\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He also wants to overhaul support for special educational needs, warning that children with additional needs \u201cfind their needs are not met and they drift away from the labour market\u201d \u2013 a reform with obvious resonance in a constituency, and a country, where SEND provision is in crisis.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"506\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_301382497.jpg\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM ??? OCTOBER 20: Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham (left) with leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard showing him the news from London when the Tier 3 measures will come into force on October 20, 2020 in Manchester, England. Talks between the Housing and Communities Minister, Robert Jenrick, and the Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, collapsed today after they failed to agree a financial package to help Mancunians whose jobs are threatened by a Tier Three lockdown. (Photo by Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-4477530\"  \/>Burnham was dubbed \u2018King of the North\u2019 following his pushback against lockdown restrictions in the north-west during the Covid pandemic (Photo: Christopher Furlong\/Getty)<\/p>\n<p>On immigration, he hardens the message while insisting on balance. What he hears on the doorstep, he says, is not hostility but a demand for order. \u201cPeople aren\u2019t anti-immigration, but they say we want control of it,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the moment, there\u2019s a sense that isn\u2019t the case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He claims the Channel boat crossings must be \u201cgripped\u201d as he praises Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, for bringing the numbers down \u201cyear on year\u201d but insists \u201cthere is more to be done\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Burnham\u2019s allies have previously suggested he would back Mahmood\u2019s package of immigration and asylum reforms, despite criticism from parts of Labour. Allies were quoted as saying he would seek to \u201creframe\u201d the debate rather than reverse the measures, which include increasing the standard route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to 10 years.<\/p>\n<p>Drawing on his Home Office years under Sir Tony Blair \u2013 including dealing with the Sangatte refugee processing centre near Calais and conversations with the former home secretary David Blunkett, Burnham calls for greater use of detention for those whose claims have no \u201cbasis,\u201d to enable \u201ca quicker decision and a quicker return\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But he is at pains to add what he calls \u201cbalance in my thinking\u201d and wants to see \u201cgreater use of safe routes\u201d. \u201cBecause what you want to do is break the business model of the gangs\u201d, he adds.<\/p>\n<p>For all the talk of Downing Street, it is <a class=\"post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/one-issue-uniting-divided-voters-makerfield-4463610?ico=in-line_link\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/news\/one-issue-uniting-divided-voters-makerfield-4463610\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Makerfield itself <\/a>that animates Burnham most. The constituency has \u201ctoo often\u201d been \u201ca forgotten part of Britain,\u201d he says, neglected on everything \u201cfrom flooding to infrastructure.\u201d It flooded in 2015 and again, seriously, in 2025, when residents had no warning. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even have river gauges to warn the residents,\u201d he says. \u201cThat tells you something really wrong about the accountability of agencies to people in places like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whatever Thursday brings, he insists, the change must outlast the \u201ccircus\u201d. He claims the voters \u201cdeserve nothing less\u201d and vows to deliver for them either as their new MP, or if defeated, by continuing in his role as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>But if he is victorious, his promise to them is unambiguous. \u201cI will be on a mission to make this the most powerful constituency in the land,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>By 9pm on Wednesday, the last of the leaflets will have been delivered, the foot soldiers will have been stood down and the television will be on.<\/p>\n<p>For one night, even the most relentless campaigner in Britain will sit still and watch the football \u2013 refusing, as he has all week, to call the score, England\u2019s or his own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The first England game of the World Cup kicks off at 9pm on Wednesday \u2013 prime door-knocking time&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1027818,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[7820],"tags":[8916,855,748,393,4884,29350,203946,528,283784,16,15],"class_list":["post-1027817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-birmingham","tag-andy-burnham","tag-birmingham","tag-britain","tag-england","tag-great-britain","tag-hs2","tag-labour-leadership","tag-labour-party","tag-politics-interviews","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116753450521559250","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1027817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1027818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1027817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1027817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1027817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}