Summary
Andy Burnham, the presumptive Labour leader and likely next prime minister, reaffirms his commitment to the party's 2024 manifesto while suggesting potential adjustments to tax policies. He indicates a willingness to consider higher business rates on warehouses and major developments to alleviate the burden on high street shops and pubs. Burnham emphasizes a holistic approach to public finances, aiming to balance welfare spending with necessary defense investments, while also hinting at possible changes to capital gains tax and council tax bands.
In a separate legal development, two teenage boys have had their sentences for the rape of two girls increased after an appeal found the initial non-custodial sentences to be unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal imposed four-year detention sentences, highlighting the need for a more appropriate assessment of the harm caused to the victims. The case has sparked public outcry and raised questions about the judicial handling of such serious offenses.
Meanwhile, the NHS plans to launch a "marathon a month" initiative to encourage physical activity among the public, rewarding participants for walking 30 minutes a day. This initiative aims to engage over 100,000 people in a gamified approach to health, promoting daily exercise through potential incentives.
In entertainment news, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey reportedly begin their wedding celebrations in New York City, with preparations underway at Madison Square Garden. The event is expected to draw up to 1,000 guests, raising curiosity about the couple's choice of venue and the scale of the celebration, which has been likened to a royal wedding.
Show Notes
Andy Burnham has said he will stick to Labour's 2024 manifesto and the promises it made, but believes there's "room for movement on tax". Two teenage boys have had their sentences for rape increased after they were found to be "unduly lenient" by the Court of Appeal. Also today... the NHS is going to launch a "marathon a month" challenge, asking people to walk for around 30 minutes a day. And finally, pubs in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday, allowing football fans to watch the Three Lions' World Cup clash with Mexico. Kamali and Amanda have the day's news in just 10 minutes.
More from Cheat Sheet with Ridge & Frost
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today's episode, Wilf and Lucy discuss what to expect ahead of today's budget announcement, and what the first exit polls reveal from Israel's pivotal general election. King Charles has acknowledged “the great suffering of the past” on tour in the Caribbean. Plus, residents of Denbighshire in Wales are having to figure out how to sort their waste into not one, not two...but up to 12 bins.
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today's episode, Wilf and Lucy discuss England captain Harry Kane winning the Ballon d’Or, and polls opening in Israel for the country's most consequential election in history. Ahead of tomorrow's budget, Chancellor John Healey has revealed plans for a series of "everyday fixes" to ease the cost of living pressure on households. Plus, first lady Melania Trump has helped broker a localised ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in the town of Oleshky.
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. On today's episode, Wilf and Lucy have the latest on Brazil's general election, which was narrowly won by incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a shock result. Meanwhile, in Serbia, longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat to a student-led movement in the country’s snap parliamentary election. Andy Burnham's call for the UK to consider a return to free movement with Europe has been backed by some senior cabinet ministers. Plus, Oxford Street has now been fully pedestrianised.
A number of government and business websites went offline on Wednesday as a security measure - after a critical software update was issued over vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language used extensively across the internet. Sophy and Rob explain what PHP is and why the security scare has caused mass panic. Offenders who refuse to attend sentencing hearings could be banished to cells or banned from having any visitors. And a new study claims the absence of female scientists from exam boards' compulsory learning material for GCSE pupils in UK schools is off-putting for girls and may be reflected in career choices.
Cheat Sheet - all the news you need to know in 10 minutes. Sophy and Rob discuss why the government is going to start drilling in the North Sea. They have the latest on Ukraine, as Trump puts further pressure to Zelenskyy and Putin to make a deal to end the war. Antisemitism is on the rise in schools, but fewer than half of school and college students in England think serious action would be taken if they reported antisemitism. Plus, could a major Beatles attraction be on the way to Liverpool?