Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces early criticism for his "doing politics differently" approach, accused of U-turns on tax and rent policies. He defends his open communication style, which worked as Greater Manchester mayor, but risks misunderstanding in Downing Street.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that the Conservatives' Help to Buy scheme primarily benefited high-earners in the top 10%, accelerating housing and wealth inequalities. Rather than helping people onto the property ladder, the policy helped already fortunate buyers accumulate wealth faster or purchase more expensive properties. The study adds to previous findings showing the scheme failed to address structural housing costs and represented a lost opportunity to invest in social housing or council building programmes.
The UK government has capped student loan interest at 6% for the 2026-27 academic year to offset inflation risks linked to the conflict in Iran. While high earners may see a slight reduction in debt growth, many lower-income borrowers will face higher interest rates than currently.
