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Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government

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Andy Burnham says rejoining the EU among all ‘the options’ being considered – UK politics live
The prime minister says he wants to open a debate about the UK’s future relationship with Europe Burnham wants to review the UK’s relationship with the EU. What are the options? From Brexit to electoral reform: key takeaways from Andy Burnham’s conference speech Andy Burnham has said that he accepts there will could be an energy crisis this winter. In his interview with the Today programme, Burnham was asked if he agreed with Simone Rossi , CEO of the energy company EDF, who told the programme in an interview that Britain was “walking into a second significant energy crisis after the one we experienced just four years ago”. I don’t think that is an overstatement to be honest. I’m doing what I can, removing say VAT off bills. But it is very difficult indeed, and it’s why the Middle East situation needs to command a lot of our attention. I’m considering everything that might help people in

Edinburgh joins UK universities heading for strikes as cuts spread through entire sector
Students at Edinburgh, Dundee and Nottingham face a term without any teaching as sector struggles with rising financial uncertainty Welcome classes for students at the University of Edinburgh this year didn’t focus on the lectures, seminars and essays expected. Instead, students were told about how their education was going to fit in around the strikes planned for this year, which for many will effectively wipe out a term of teaching. “This term I’ve got two courses and my dissertation. Currently, I’ve got no teaching for five weeks,” said Theo Warshaw, 22, in his final year studying geography at Edinburgh, where staff are striking over budget cuts and compulsory redundancies needed to bridge what the university’s leaders have said is a £400m shortfall. Continue reading...

Sixteen English councils spend more than 80% of core funding on social care
Councils collectively spent record 71.9% of core spending on adult and children’s care last year, analysis shows Sixteen English councils spent more than 80% of their core funding on adult and children’s social care last year, highlighting the growing financial pressure on other local services. Guardian analysis of government figures found that councils responsible for social care spent a net £42.8bn on adult and children’s services in 2025-26, equivalent to a record 71.9% of their combined core spending. Adult social care took 44.5% and children’s services accounted for 27.4%. In 2017-18, care costs made up 62.4% of councils’ core spending. Continue reading...

Trump says top tech firms have signed accord to 'self-police' AI development
President Trump on Tuesday said that he and a large group of leaders of artificial intelligence companies had signed a voluntary accord that will include internal and external reviews.

Move to rejoin EU among options for UK, says Burnham
The prime minister tells the BBC the current Brexit settlement has caused "more harm than good".

Healthy Babies programme to be expanded across England
Scheme will follow principles of Sure Start, helping families with infant feeding, mental health and bonding with babies The government is rolling out a Healthy Babies programme to every local authority in England, as part of its efforts to expand a Sure Start-type system of help for deprived children and families. It aims to support parents with infant feeding, their mental health and building strong bonds with their babies, alongside health visits, midwifery care and wider services. Continue reading...