Publication
Energy bills set for double rise in the new year
» The energy price cap is also forecast to rise again sharply in January with typical bills up by £276 » Healey is preparing to delay big spending decisions in a ‘see you next year’ Budget later this month » Chancellor now unlikely to recommend...
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Brand a ‘ruthless and calculated sexual predator’
» Russell Brand denies three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault between 1999 and 2009 » He made ‘indiscriminate and voracious’ sexual advances, prosecutor tells court » Jury hears details of all alleged offences,...
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Tax rises needed to plug £35bn gap, UK economists warn Chancellor
» High inflation and the UK’s defence spending pledge mean that Chancellor faces a £35bn Budget gap, warn economists at the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies » Sticking to manifesto tax lock while meeting spending pressure will be ‘very...
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ADHD and autism review calls for medication and benefits shake-up as diagnoses surge
» Landmark report into mental health conditions finds they are not overdiagnosed ‘at scale’ but that people are being incentivised to seek a diagnosis as the main gateway to support » Professor Peter Fonagy warns of an ‘increased risk of misdiagnosis...
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Israel’s invasion has killed more than 74,000 people in Gaza
» Report into rising mental health diagnoses is expected to find that young people should not be left on long NHS waiting lists before accessing support » It is set to recommend earlier intervention for school pupils – and less reliance on GP...
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School budgets set for squeeze after blunder over funding teacher pay rises
Education Secretary has strained relations with the Treasury after suggesting that the wage increase would be fully funded Lucy Powell – who is also Labour’s deputy leader – announced the 3.5% pay award would be met with savings in effort to head off...
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Badenoch promises ‘Britannia Dome’ to protect the UK from missile attack
» Badenoch set to turn the pressure up on Labour with pledge to build an Iron Dome-style missile defence system if in power » ‘Britannia Shield’ would link new radar, command systems and interceptor missiles into single integrated network » Labour...
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Man City owners’ link to Burnham’s No 10 North site after ‘sweetheart deal’ with UAE firm
PM’s No 10 North is set to be built on land where Man City’s owners had a preferential property deal, The i Paper can reveal Revelation highlights depth of Abu Dhabi United Group’s involvement in Manchester’s regeneration – and could lead to more...
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Burnham leaving the door open to snap general election in 2027
Sources close to No 10 tell The i Paper that calling a surprise poll in May has not been ruled out – despite PM’s insistence that there would not be one ‘There is a growing school of thought that there might be a ‘sweet spot’ for an early general...
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Hero passengers storm cockpit to save Israel flight from disaster
» Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 174 people plunged 14,000 feet in 30 seconds as attacker fought for control of plane Israel’s defence minister says incident was an ‘attempted jihadist terror attack’ – and that a 9/11-style atrocity was...
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Burnham gambles on scrapping UK state pension triple lock – and voting system
» PM vows to replace pension triple lock by 2030 in extraordinary speech to Labour Party conference » Billions expected to be saved by adjusting the way pensions are calculated will help fund social care reform in England after the next election »...
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End of UK state pension triple lock moves a step closer
» Chances of Labour dropping the triple lock from its next manifesto increase as trade unions soften their opposition » Mechanism is ‘completely unsustainable’ in the long term and scrapping it could fund social care, senior union source says » Today,...
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Tax rise talks at No 10 to pay for new National Care Service
» Andy Burnham signals that major tax hikes may be required to fund a free NHS-style National Care Service in England – under a new system where ‘everyone contributes, everyone is covered’ » He vows to put free social care in Labour’s next general...
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NHS corridor care killing 550 people every week
» Review of 19,000 patients finds that, for every 10% increase in A&E occupancy, the chance of dying in the next 28 days rises by 1% » On average, emergency departments are operating at 175% occupancy » Report should be ‘cause for alarm’, says...
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EU Brexit chief: UK can get a Canada-style membership deal with us
PM urged to drop Labour’s ‘obsolete’ Brexit red lines by key EU figure – who argues it would allow deeper agreement similar to deal offered to Canada EU hopeful that Burnham will ‘move beyond’ Labour’s manifesto restrictions Former PM Tony Blair calls...
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Burnham warns world over AI – and sets UK on collision course with America
» PM tells business chiefs he wants ‘single set of global principles’ to guard against rogue AI » Move could put him at odds with Donald Trump, who said US ‘rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme’ to control the technology » But US...
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We women are all at risk from men, warns minister amid Piddington asylum camp row
No. 4,939 Bridget Phillipson says ‘all of us as women in society are unsafe’ after female villagers raised fears about living near proposed housing for more than 1,000 asylum seekers Women and equalities minister questioned on safety concerns after...
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New dementia drugs could become available on NHS
Health Secretary will ‘look at’ breakthrough treatments
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Burnham warns of ‘challenging’ Budget after 3.1% inflation
» ‘We won’t take risks with people’s living standards or with the economy as a whole,’ says Prime Minister » Chancellor will exercise ‘highest degree of prudence’ next month due to impact of Iran war on fuel prices » Capital gains tax is emerging as...
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£488 increase to state pension
Income tax protection for sole income recipients Inflation-busting rise for fourth year
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Athletes angry with Sweeney for nude sports adverts
ADHD is not being widely overdiagnosed, landmark Government review finds Report by UK’s leading clinical experts is expected to be published within weeks However, they recognise that record numbers of people are being incentivised to seek an official...
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Reform’s £72m crypto bonanza sparks Labour donations row
Ministers are facing pressure to impose a cap on political donations after two billionaires gave Nigel Farage’s party £36m Government risks wrath of Labour MPs after rejecting calls for stricter limits on funds from a single source earlier this month...
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The day that changed the world
» attacks, America remembers » 2,977 people, including 67 Britons, died in the atrocity – which changed history and reshaped global politics president without 9/11
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Police set to interview Farage over Reform UK donations
Scotland Yard confirms inquiry into claims that Reform breached rules with potential illegal foreign donations Detectives will examine if party broke law after Farage and other party figures were filmed in undercover sting Reform UK denies ‘any...
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Israeli fury after UK accuses settlers of ethnic cleansing
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accuses Israel’s government of turning a blind eye to the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians by ‘settler terrorists’ » Israel accuses him of spreading ‘outrageous lies’ » Miliband insists he is a ‘proud British Jew’ and...
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New ISA to help Britain’s older first-time buyers
» Treasury is set to introduce ISA specifically aimed at helping people to get on the housing ladder » ‘New and improved product’ will have no upper age limit – and could replace current Lifetime ISA » It would pay a bonus when a buyer purchases...
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Blunkett’s plea to Burnham: Find the money to fund end-of-life care
» Lord Blunkett, a key ally of the Prime Minister, has joined almost 300 MPs and peers in a call to boost funding for hospices, which are facing a £745m gap » Relatives say their loved ones are being left to die in hospital corridors and busy...
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Putin growing more reckless as his inner circle shrinks, warn UK security insiders
» Brinkmanship concerns heightened by attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, which Germany blamed on Russia » ‘Putin is speaking to a small inner circle and none of the more sensible voices are still there,’ one source tells » Military and...
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Britain’s royals face Russian cyber threat in ‘grey war’
Growing threat to monarchy’s ‘ageing legacy’ computer systems has left the Royal Family vulnerable to cyber attacks from hostile states, Buckingham Palace warns Increased risk of hackers targeting the institution has forced a major taxpayer-funded...
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Burnham pushes welfare cuts into 2027 – as he plans bolder devolution
» Major welfare reforms are set to be pushed back another year – raising the prospect of tax rises or further spending cuts ahead of October’s Budget » New PM confirms that landmark review into young people and work will not be published until later...
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Killer kitchen dust: victims’ loved ones to receive higher compensation
» Relatives of workers who died from silicosis caused by inhaling dust while cutting kitchen worktop stone are to receive fairer compensation payouts as new legislation goes to Parliament » Ministers praise The i Paper’s Killer Kitchens campaign for...
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Harry should pay for security costs in UK, say two-thirds of public in poll
» Overwhelming majority opposes taxpayer-funded security for Sussexes, who returned to Britain from California last week » Poll for The i Paper reveals that 63% of Britons think Harry and Meghan should pay for the measures privately » Royal and VIP...
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Caught on camera in the UK: China Embassy guards using their electroshock weapons to threaten protesters
Video shows embassy security team pointing stun batons at activists Britain and China embroiled in diplomatic row after Government issues a stern rebuke that ‘any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm individuals on UK soil...
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Social media addiction: tech giant pays $17bn over child harm
» Facebook and Instagram chief Mark Zuckerberg saved from testifying in trial, after firm’s whistle-blower gives evidence that the tech chief knew of harm caused to children » His firm Meta is accused of deliberately targeting teenagers with product...
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Future of UK state pension triple lock in doubt – with older population growing faster than workers
» Extra 2.9 million people are projected to reach pension age in Britain between 2024 and 2049, outpacing the rise in working-age population of just 2.2 million forecast over the same period » Public finance time-bomb calls into question long term...
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Council house boost: Rayner reveals plan for 70,000 homes to tackle crisis
» Housing Secretary says Government will create a boom in social and council housing to cut number of families in temporary accommodation » £10bn handed to councils and housing associations to build 70,000 new homes across England – 60% of them must be...
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Burnham open to cutting uni fees for EU students as bargaining chip for better Brexit deal
PM is prepared to reduce hefty university tuition fees for young Europeans to study in Britain so long as the UK gets substantial concessions on trade in return, The i Paper has learnt Brussels has long demanded lower rates as part of a youth mobility...
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Sussexes fly back to UK without a deal for taxpayer funded security
» Prince Harry’s surprise return to Britain opens door to reintegration into Royal Family – but hurdles lie ahead » The King, blindsided when told on Sunday, can now rebuild relationship with Duke and Duchess without allowing them to undertake...
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New skin cancer vaccine can stop disease and offers hope for era of personalised jabs
Patients with high-risk melanoma remained free of cancer for longer after surgery Treatment uses same mRNA technology that was used to make Covid vaccines Landmark trial still needs peer review, although independent experts praise ‘important moment’...
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No rough sleeper still on streets by the end of 2026, pledges Rayner
Every homeless person across England will be offered a bed by Christmas, the Housing Secretary announces » Questions remain over how the £442m pandemic-inspired pledge will be delivered, with 5,000 people on the streets » ‘We see the challenges that...
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Neighbours told: don’t phone 999 to report next door’s barbecue
» Fire chiefs warn public not to use 999 to report neighbours holding barbecues or bonfires in wake of Government’s use of national alert system to millions of mobile phones on Friday » Alert blamed for surge of emergency calls over the weekend –...
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Thousands of new homes set to be built as Rayner tears up rules on green belt
» New housing developments near train stations are set to be fast-tracked in a major expansion of commuter villages and towns Communities with at least four services per hour into a major urban area are being targeted for urgent development, The i...
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24 million people face paying even higher water bills ... to firms losing 1.2 billion litres a day from leaks
The water regulator is set to give five suppliers the green light to increase bills by an additional £3.4bn between them in the coming years » Ofwat had already given firms permission to charge customers 36% more for their services between 2025 and...
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Once in a generation: eclipse fever grips Britain
From Aberdeen to Penzance, from Aberystwyth to Hull, skywatchers were out in force yesterday to see the UK’s best solar eclipse in a generation. The event sparked huge interest as people across the country scrambled to get the few remaining solar...
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Summer 2026 will be UK’s hottest since records began
» Britain on course for hottest summer on record, the Met Office says, with sixth heatwave on way and only average conditions needed for rest of August to beat existing heat record » This year’s extreme hot weather and drought could hit next year’s...
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45 million people in the UK now living in drought
» Heat warnings issued and 12 reservoirs at risk of running out of water as 71% of England in ‘flash drought’ – with no sustained rain on horizon 27 million living under water use restrictions » 120 firefighters try to stop New Forest wildfire the...
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Car washes and swimming pools could face water bans in UK’s next heatwave
» Sixteen million people could see their areas move into drought status this week as Britain faces new 350C heatwave, with further hosepipe bans likely to be announced » Water firm preparing ‘non-essential’ restrictions for businesses such as private...
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Every river and lake in England polluted with toxic chemicals
» All rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals in England polluted with forever chemicals, microplastics, ammonia and phosphates, according to a landmark report » First evaluation in six years reveals only 14% are in ‘good’ ecological health, with many...
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Schools get new pupil attendance targets to crack down on ‘stay at home’ Fridays
Schools will be given tailored improvement targets to combat a drop in classroom attendance over the past academic year, alongside plans to ‘supercharge’ childhood flu vaccination Writing exclusively for The i Paper, education minister Paul Waugh warns...
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Private firms may face ban on profiteering to make care homes cheaper
Ministers could impose profit caps on private social care providers in a bid to keep costs down as Andy Burnham prepares to tackle decades-long crisis » Officials tell The i Paper limits on private providers behind childrens’ homes and fostering...
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Driest July in 190 years
» England and Wales record driest July since records began in 1836 » Britain has second hottest July on record leading to drought and lower crop yields – but boost for solar power, with record electricity generation » Firefighters battle wildfire the...
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Two-thirds back wealth tax on assets worth more than £10m
Voters overwhelmingly back a wealth tax with just 10 per cent opposed, and support coming from across the political spectrum Exclusive polling for The i Paper also shows 73 per cent want to see a rise in the basic tax rate threshold, frozen for five...
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Game changer: Europe tackles Infantino by boycotting the World Cup
» European football associations take stand against Fifa chief’s hugely controversial plan to sell shares in the tournament to investors, led by US venture capital firm with links to Trump » All 55 members of Uefa – Europe’s football governing body –...
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Take a shorter shower to save water in drought, public urged
» Drought declared in half of England as ‘exceptionally serious’ dry spell continues » Households using water ‘faster than nature can replenish it’, warns Environment Agency » Public urged to reduce water use with shorter showers, ‘low flow’ shower...
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Fury over Fifa plan to sell off World Cup
» Fifa boss Gianni Infantino plans to sell stakes to private investors, potentially earning him millions » Thrive Capital – whose CEO is Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law – linked to deal » Uefa says move ‘crosses a line’ as European...
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Race against time
» Next 24 hours critical ahead of 400C heatwave as fires approach Bordeaux » Tourists urged to leave the city as official warns ‘we don’t know where the fire will go’ » Macron holds crisis meeting and Spanish PM warns of ‘consequence of climate...
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Council tax and stamp duty to be scrapped under Burnham plans
The Government is actively considering options to replace council tax and stamp duty as pressure grows on the Prime Minister to reform system he previously condemned as unfair More than 100 Labour MPs now back an overhaul with two alternatives – a...
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State pensioners with no other income will be exempt from tax
The new Chancellor, John Healey, gives commitment that pensioners whose only earnings are the state pension will not pay income tax, in good news for 820,000 retirees From next year, state pension will be dragged into UK taxation for the first time,...
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Water execs face criminal charges, accused of major conspiracy to fake sewage tests
» Southern Water’s former chief exec Matthew Wright and three others are charged with conspiring to defraud regulators, for allegedly faking sewage data » Judge says ‘very serious allegations’ state there was ‘extensive fraud at a high level in the...
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Cost of living, cost of living, cost of living
» Typical electricity bill will fall by £45 a year from October, as Andy Burnham removes VAT from them on his second day » Burnham will need to raise taxes, claim senior economists, or risk failing to deliver on a raft of his bolder policy pledges »...
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Burnham era begins with radical pledge to transform UK
» Andy Burnham becomes UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade – and vows to end the churn » ‘It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game. We have not been good enough’ » Mass sackings for Starmer’s Cabinet – with Rachel Reeves and...
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Burnham pledges ‘breathing room’ to help UK on cost of living as he moves into No 10
» Andy Burnham to promise fresh package to ease cost of living crisis when he makes his first speech as prime minister in Downing Street today » New PM expected to focus on domestic agenda, arguing that political stability will be needed to deliver...
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Andy Burnham prime minister in 72 hours
» Keir Starmer will address the nation in a final speech from outside 10 Downing Street on Monday morning and then see the King to resign » Shortly after, Andy Burnham will arrive with his new team to start work as the UK’s next prime minister – the...
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Last roar – England fall just short
Argentina comeback ends Three Lions’ dreams of glory in agonising semi-final defeat Gordon’s goal sends England into ecstasy – but they cannot hold out to win biggest match in 60 years, losing 2-1 Argentina will play Spain – Sunday 8pm, BBC and ITV
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Widdecombe killed in targeted attack, UK counter-terror police chief reveals
» Detectives are still trying to understand the attacker’s motive » The police inquiry into Ann Widdecombe’s murder will also look into whether the suspect may have been targeting any other Reform UK politicians, Britain’s leading counter-terror...
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Farage declined taxpayer-funded security – calling offer ‘inadequate’
» Reform UK leader turned down state-funded security including a bodyguard, car and trained driver as he considered the level of protection to be ‘downgraded and inadequate’ » The offer would have given Nigel Farage a similar level of security to that...
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New Widdecombe murder arrest but no sign of political motive, say police
» Officers arrest 28-year-old man in Rotherham and say they are ‘not looking for anyone else’ in connection with politician’s death » Detectives say there is nothing to suggest killing of former Tory minister was politically motivated but are keeping...
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UK’s 1.6 million weight loss jab users told to start strength training
» First major update to health guidelines, since explosion in popularity » Britain’s chief medical officers tell people taking the jabs to begin weight training and undertake other physical exercise to keep their muscles strong, even if they feel like...
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Police launch investigation into £37,500 donation to Robert Jenrick campaign
Scotland Yard is now investigating a political donation made to Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader, The i Paper learns Investigation centres on claim that £37,500 came from foreign donor UK electoral law forbids political donations from...
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Global outcry as Trump forces Fifa to change football World Cup rules to help the USA
» Trump admits he intervened with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino over USA’s ‘best player’ receiving one-match ban: ‘I was a good athlete and I understand sports really well... that wasn’t a foul’ » Select committee chair urges Fifa to explain the decision...
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Weight-loss pills from chemists – but ‘not on the NHS until 2028’
» Revolutionary treatment priced £79 goes on sale at pharmacies today – but it is unlikely to be available for free on the NHS for at least another 18 months to two years, experts tell The i Paper » Pharmacies say there is already ‘huge demand’ for the...
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Labour failed to prepare for power before winning landslide, admits McSweeney
» Keir Starmer’s closest adviser explains that the party did not properly prepare to govern the UK – offering frank insights from inside No 10 about why the new administration ran aground » PM’s ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney says Labour ‘didn’t...
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