Tamannaah Bhatia’s anarkali, Namrata Shirodkar's jacket look, Manish Malhotra in black: Who wore what at Hyderabad event Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:22:55 IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tamannaah Bhatia, Manish Malhotra
North Korea's Defence Minister has been dismissed as part of a reshuffle of the country's military leadership, state media reported on Sunday (August 30, 2026). The "structural reorganization plans" were decided during a meeting on Saturday (August 29) led by Kim Jong Un
Woman shares reality of never-ending expenses after moving into a flat: ‘They just keep piling up’A woman shared how unexpected household expenses kept piling up after she moved into a rented flat. Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 12:46:57 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via
Tom Cruise, Abhishek Bachchan, Tara Sutaria, Tom Holland: 9 celebs who opened up about their learning disabilities Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:05:55 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tom Cruise and Tara Sutaria, as well as celebs such as Tom Holland
‘I worked over the weekends’: Employee seeks advice after HR questions them for being 15 minutes lateAn employee has turned to Reddit for advice after being questioned by HR over 15-minute delays at work. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:29:43 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
The economic challenges facing the next UK prime minister
We've had six prime ministers in a decade and it looks increasingly likely that Andy Burnham will be the seventh. But whoever is in charge, they face the same challenges.
That's because what has underpinned political instability over recent years has been, to a great extent, the economy.
Lack of job opportunities, lack of improvement in living standards, and pressured public services – the public expects change and its patience has been wearing thin.
So here are the issues the next prime minister will have to tackle.
Burnham has pledged to revive the economy but also stick to the current government's own rules on borrowing and spending.
That means only borrowing to invest, not to fund day to day spending, and in a few years' time reducing debt as proportion of the whole economy.
Before the US-Israel war with Iran started, Chancellor Rachel Reeves reckoned she could meet her financial rules with £24bn to spare. But much of that could have been eroded because of the conflict.
Burnham's pledge to stick to the current government's rules shows he is wary of upsetting the bond markets, the government's lenders, at a time when just the interest repayments on our national debt account for one in every £10 the government spends.
Even the plans Burnham has hinted at so far could easily exceed the available wiggle room. His ambitions may be thwarted and some ideas may not survive contact with financial reality.
He could tweak those rules. For example, bond markets could be sympathetic towards borrowing to fund more investment if they were convinced that would pay off in the terms of higher growth.
Or he could simply look to raise the money from elsewhere to fund priorities, including through taxes – or cutting from other areas.
Growth, putting more money in pockets, will have to remain the government's number one priority.
Between 1990 and 2007, the average person was better off by roughly 2.5% per year.
Since then, living standards have improved at half that rate, meaning households are thousands of pounds worse off than they could've been otherwise.
A lack of investment – public and private – in the years of austerity and then following Brexit has taken its toll on productivity and that has affected our prosperity. This was then made worse by the disruption of Covid and higher energy prices.
Meanwhile, food prices have jumped by 40% in just a few years, which has clobbered people's finances.
While we've been hit less by the war than once feared, there remain several challenges to ensuring economic growth is raised sustainably and permanently.
More investment is likely to be needed, and more focus on skills. While his plans remain unclear, Andy Burnham has implied boosting both – as well as more state control of utilities to lower bills.
Underpowered growth is one reason why hiring is at its lowest level for five years, with young people hit particularly hard.
The reluctance from companies to hire reflects more than just recent economic woes. Automation and the government's own policies, including higher national minimum wages and taxes, have played a role.
The latter is most telling in the concentration of job losses in sectors such as retail and hospitality. These are industries most vulnerable to an increase in labour costs and, crucially, they are typically a source of entry-level jobs.
The recent report by former Labour minister Alan Milburn highlighted how a longer term erosion of such posts contributed the recent rise in youth joblessness, adding to the rising number of those not in employment, education, or training (NEETs).
He warned NEETs could rise to one in six young people, potentially blighting lives for decades.
The second part of that report, containing policy recommendations, will be published later in the year. It's been suggested that it will call for a radical overhaul of the way every part of the public sector – from education to health and the welfare system – interacts with the private sector.
The next prime minister will have to decide exactly how those recommendations are taken on board, and there will be a cost involved.
Talking of costs, the bills to provide us with better and safer lives could mount fast.
Still unsettled is the government's pledge to increase spending on defence to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Burnham has indicated he wants to support that.
But that takes more than good intentions. Rather, it could take tens of billions of pounds.
John Healey quit as defence secretary over what he termed the unwillingness of the Treasury to "commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats".
Finding that cash may mean taking some away from other bits of government spending because of the self-imposed constraints on public finances. And remember, many departments are already facing a squeeze on their budgets.
That brings us on to welfare spending. That is set to rise by over a quarter between 2025 and 2030, with the main increases being sickness-related payouts for working age adults and pensioner benefits.
Pushing through welfare reform has proved difficult for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Will a new prime minister have greater will and freedom to do so?
The government's official forecasters have flagged that the cost of providing the state pension under the triple lock system – which increases it by the greater of 2.5%, inflation or earnings every year – is set to double within the next 50 years.
Simplifying that formula could mean smaller pension increases and would save tens of billions of pounds. It's an approach backed by many economists, including Lord Jim O'Neill, one of Andy Burnham's new advisers.
But would Mr Burnham venture where few politicians have and upset the most influential group of voters?
While older people are most likely to vote, it is younger generations who feel the most short changed.
With house prices rising more slowly than earnings, purchasing a home for the first time is more possible compared to just a couple of years ago. At the start of the year, the Nationwide Building Society said mortgage payments accounted for a third of take home pay – well below the record of 48% in 1989.
But today's prospective buyers tend to be juggling high rental costs too, making it harder to save for a deposit. This is partly he average age of the first time buyer has risen over recent years.
The most sustainable solution is to build more homes, but the government's behind on its target. The number of new homes was down by 6% last year and below the 300,000 needed to reach the government's target.
Andy Burnham wants to build more social housing, which would help. But, as successive governments have found, it's not easy.
Housing is one the many big plans Burnham has hinted at to cure our economic malaise, but he has to grapple with a challenging inheritance.
Ironically, the easiest way to fund his plans would be to draw on the spoils of faster growth.
Like many before him, Andy Burnham's vision appears to be that you have to spend more money to make money. But whose money?
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Middle East conflict looks increasingly like war nobody can win Blessed For Glory Why scholars around the world are growing increasingly wary of studying India Politics increasingly trumps economics in present era Indian Union Muslim League ends nearly six-decade-long alliance with DMK Request Sonia Gandhi to return Nehru's letters to Prime Ministers' Museum Modi is one of India’s most powerful prime ministers – so why is he so bothered by Gen Z profanity Prime Ministers Come And Go PM Modi flags capex climb to ₹12 lakh crore in a decade A beachside shooting throws Australia's three-decade gun control regime into question
For years, Arthur Kermalvezen, the child of a sperm donor, saw possible fathers everywhere he went. "I imagined it might be my teacher, the people I saw on the bus... and I was very angry because it's impossible to live like this." When, as an adult, he fell in love with Audrey
39 minutes ago
Ather Energy has launched its new electric scooter, the ‘Konarc S’, in the Indian market. This new electric scooter has a starting price of Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom) and is based on Ather’s EL platform. It is the company’s first scooter to be built on this platform
38 minutes ago
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey has slammed comedian Samay Raina after his exchange with comedian Sharon Verma on Season 2 of India’s Got Latent drew political reactions. As per ANI, several leaders have since commented on the jokes involving Bihar and Kashmir
39 minutes ago
August 30, 2026, Birthday Horoscope: Trust your instincts, make bold decisions and believe in what is possibleYour birthday falls on August 30, 2026 here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 11:00:15 IST By Kishori Sud Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
38 minutes ago
Lionel Messi rolls back years with four-goal masterclass as Inter Miami smash Montreal 7-1 and end five-game winless runLionel Messi scored four and assisted another in Inter Miami's 7-1 rout of Montral, his first four-goal game since Barcelona more than six years ago. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026
39 minutes ago
Mohammad Amir refers to himself as ‘British Local’: ‘The Pakistan chapter I had before is now closed’Mohammad Amir has ruled out a return to Pakistan cricket after acquiring British citizenship. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:08:04 IST Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee Prefer HTon Google
38 minutes ago
After popular football clubs Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool FC joined the Ravi Kishan meme trend with posts on Instagram, the craze has now made its way into cricket. Rotterdam Dockers appear to have jumped on the bandwagon, with captain and co-owner Faf du Plessis recreating the Indian
38 minutes ago
Even as AI firms expand model capabilities, frontier labs continue to navigate a legal reckoning sparked by the first wave of copyright lawsuits that threatened to derail the generative AI boom. The argument from artists has been that AI output that looks like a specific piece of art is because
38 minutes ago
Moses Itauma was still a schoolboy when he would turn up at boxing gyms in his uniform and give seasoned professionals a hiding. On Saturday night at the O2 Arena, the 21-year-old was finally given an education, as the Briton ran out of gas and the granite experience of Filip Hrgovic carried the
38 minutes ago
Argentina snapped co-host the Netherlands’ dream run of four consecutive women’s FIH World Cup titles by winning the crown, defeating the Dutch side 3-1 in penalty shoot-out after both the teams were locked 1-1 at end of the regulation time in Amstelveen on Saturday
39 minutes ago
An old black cat slept snugly in its chair in the Yunnan-themed, street-facing restaurant on Mae Salong’s main road. It was oblivious to the gentle exhortations of two middle-aged women, who asked it to make way for three hungry travellers, excited about the halal fare served there
40 minutes ago
Upon returning to India after three years, a UK-based content creator and healing coach said she had an unpleasant experience soon after landing in Bengaluru. The woman, who was unfamiliar with the city’s airport taxi system, alleged that a cab driver promised to charge her by the meter and later
39 minutes ago
On the morning of August 29, more than 5,000 people of Indian-origin trickled into New York’s Madison Square Garden to see one man take the stage: Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
38 minutes ago
Nimisha Sajayan recalls gaining 14 kgs for 'Babita Singh Reporting'Nimisha Sajayan recalls gaining 14 kgs for 'Babita Singh Reporting' Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:03:22 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link New Delhi, Actor Nimisha Sajayan recalled gaining almost 14 kgs for her role in
39 minutes ago
I have completed BBA Innovation and Entrepreneurship. What should I focus on to do an MBA at an IIM or Ivy League university? Sneha For the top IIMs, you need to master the CAT and score a realistic 98.5-99.5+ percentile. Work on Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
39 minutes ago
The toll in the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal and China rose to 750 on Sunday, reported AFP. Nearly 3,000 persons were missing. On the Nepal side, 2,426 persons were out of contact as of Saturday, the country’s disaster management authority was quoted as saying. The number was 546 in Tibet
40 minutes ago
Roger Federer loved to win, of course, and at the peak of his career almost always did. All those victories and trophies he piled up alone would have made Federer remembered forever in tennis, but they were only part of the reason he enjoyed playing. He liked travelling to tournaments
40 minutes ago
Choosing the right wireless security camera can make home monitoring easier without requiring a complicated surveillance setup. Features such as high-resolution video, pan-and-tilt movement, night vision, motion detection and two-way audio can help users keep track of different areas of their homes
39 minutes ago
Archana Puran Singh found herself at the centre of another Samay Raina roast when she appeared on India’s Got Latent 2 Season 2 Episode 5 alongside Orry, Nishant Suri and Sharon Verma. This time, Samay turned his attention to Archana’s family
39 minutes ago
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he was "not angry" and there was "no panic" after his side's second loss in two games left them bottom of the Premier League – but it was a depressingly familiar story for the club's fans. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa in a 10-minute second-half
38 minutes ago
Ionic hair dryers are designed to help dry hair quickly while reducing static and frizz during styling. They can be particularly useful for people who regularly use a hair dryer and want better control over heat and airflow. If you are looking for an ionic hair dryer without spending more than Rs.3
39 minutes ago
NEET PG exam rescheduled for nearly 300 candidates over power outage in JaipurThe NEET PG examination for all candidates allotted to the particular centre will now be conducted on September 5. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:06:58 IST ANI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The NEET-PG examination
38 minutes ago
A fever during the monsoon can be easy to brush off. But with mosquito-borne infections still circulating, when is it safer to stop waiting and get tested? Gujarat has reported a significant decline in mosquito-borne diseases this year, with malaria cases falling 45%, dengue by 39
40 minutes ago
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Minister B Nagendra's resignation. This resignation followed allegations in an Rs 89 crore corporation scam. Nagendra stated he resigned voluntarily to protect the party and government. The opposition BJP-JD(S) had intensified criticism and protests
39 minutes ago
In latest show of ‘car diplomacy’, PM Modi seen sharing a ride with Uzbekistan PresidentPM Modi and President Mirziyoyev were seen traveling together by car from the airport to the presidential palace, where they then held a dinner meeting. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026
39 minutes ago
Addressing concerns about compressed biogas (CBG) becoming increasingly expensive with the revised offtake price, the Union Petroleum Ministry assured the pricing cushioned with government-funded support and stacking with a substantially wider gas pool would avert any material price impact
39 minutes ago
JU political graffiti whitewashed after CM Adhikari’s remarks on campus politicsCPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a former Kolkata mayor, criticised the move saying campuses encourage free thinking Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:01:11 IST By HT Correspondent
38 minutes ago
![New Delhi, [India] August 29 (ANI): The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has granted Starlink Satellite](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/uae-regulator-grants-starlink-10-year-licence-to-provide-satellite-int.jpg?width=120&height=70)
