I’m a 21-year-old grad, why does the government want me to go on the dole to get a job? July 30, 2026 Oliver Dean was turned away from Job Centre because he wasn’t already on benefit. No wonder the welfare bill is ballooning Andy Burnham’s answer to youth unemployment has arrived. It begins with 14-year-olds, and the new technical pathways reach classrooms in September 2028. There is a great deal to be said for it and, as [...]
People read less: Do we still need the Booker Prize? July 30, 2026 The world and it’s reading habits have changed – but has the Booker Prize changed too? And what purpose does it fulfil, asks Eliot Wilson What is the point of literary prizes? The longlist for this year’s Booker Prize was announced on Tuesday, 13 works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, which must [...]
Andy Burnham’s technical education reforms are doomed to fail July 29, 2026 Reforming technical education is a laudable ambition but we have been here before. There are three questions Andy Burnham must answer before anyone takes him seriously, says Lord Agnew There is laudable ambition in the Prime Minister’s announcement of technical routes in education from 14, parity with the academic path and employers brought properly into [...]
Meet the new energy minister who believes lower growth is “good news” July 29, 2026 Before becoming an MP, Katie White, the new energy minister advocated for GPs to treat “climate grief” and councils to pay for “guided mindfulness works”, reveals Arthur Reynolds Last week, I brought news of our new Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh’s crusade against cars. Since then, things have gotten worse. Andy Burnham has made a former [...]
If Andy Burnham really wants to help NEETs he should rule out tax rises July 29, 2026 Andy Burnham’s announcements on technical education are welcome, but they will be meaningless if young people have no jobs to move into. The Budget will be the real test of how he plans to grow the economy, says Georgiana Bristol Andy Burnham has descended from the North with an array of new pledges and spending [...]
The debate: should voting be compulsory? July 29, 2026 Andy Burnham is said to be considering voting reform. Two writers go head to head on whether Britain should introduce Australian-style compulsory voting YES: Everyone’s vote should count, not just those who turn up British politics has a turnout problem. Just three in five registered voters went to the polls in the 2024 general election. [...]
Hold interest rates but ‘sound hawkish’, City AM Shadow MPC tells Bank of England July 28, 2026 The Bank of England should hold interest rates on Thursday, City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee has said, after a string of economic data prints showed the threat of spiralling inflation had eased. The Shadow MPC – a group of economists compiled by City AM – said a series of economic data releases had suggested [...]
Promega Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across Global Operations July 28, 2026 Sustainability accomplishments announced in life sciences company's 2026 Corporate Responsibility Report
Students urged to rethink idea of a ‘safe job’ as Labour pledges major education reform July 28, 2026 A Cabinet minister has warned young people against depending on “safe and secure jobs” as Andy Burnham announced that children as young as 14 will get access to technical education. Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, has said that changes to the education system were “more urgent” given disruption to the jobs market from [...]
Ten Finalists Announced for the Reply AI Film Festival, the International Competition Bringing Together Cinema and Artificial Intelligence July 28, 2026 The jury, chaired by Gabriele Salvatores, will announce the winners in Venice on Sunday, 6 September.