Latest news with #healthBenefits
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Reeves 'set to raise taxes' to fund Starmer benefits surrender: PM says he is 'pleased' after Labour revolt forces guarantee that NO-ONE will be stripped of handouts
Keir Starmer insisted he was 'pleased' today after caving into a massive Labour revolt on welfare. The PM claimed he had 'listened' in making major concessions to rebels threatening to kill flagship legislation on health and disability benefits. More than 120 MPs had publicly promised to oppose the plans in a crunch vote on Tuesday. But after frantic negotiations - with Sir Keir personally lobbying backbenchers - a deal was announced after midnight, including guarantees that existing claimants will not lose money. The move looks like it could be enough to prevent a disastrous defeat for the government at second reading, although some critics are still vowing to oppose the measures. However, the change on Personal Independence Payment (Pip) is estimated to wipe up to £2billion off the £5billion savings by the end of the Parliament, and Universal Credit tweaks another £1billion. Rachel Reeves was already struggling to balance the books with the economy stalling and the previous £1.25billion U-turn on winter fuel allowance. Speaking on a visit to Wales this afternoon, Sir Keir said: 'We need to get it right. That's why we've been talking to colleagues and having a constructive discussion. We've now arrived at a package that delivers on the principles with some adjustments, and that's the right reform, and I'm really pleased now that we're able to take this forward.' Challenged to explain how the funding would be found, the premier said: 'Well, the changes still mean we can deliver the reforms that we need, and that's very important, because the system needs to be a system that is fit for the future, and this is fit for the future. 'All colleagues are signed up to that, but having listened, we've made the adjustments. The funding will be set out in the budget in the usual way, as you'd expect later in the year.' Ruth Curtice of the Resolution Foundation think-tank suggested the warned she will not be able to find the money in existing budgets. 'That leaves only extra borrowing - which the Chancellor doesn't have much space for unless she were to change her own fiscal rules - or tax rises,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Asked if that effectively meant there would be tax rises, Ms Curtice said: 'Yeah. Unless the government were to get better news on the economy the next time the OBR does a forecast... but when we look at everything that's happened in the world since they last did that in March our estimate is that they will actually get bad news from the OBR as well.' Sir Keir and Ms Reeves have both insisted that Labour will stick to the manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, VAT or workers' national insurance. The Chancellor has also been adamant that she will not ease her fiscal rules, after borrowing more at the last Budget to splurge on the NHS, public sector pay and infrastructure. But Downing Street did appear to hint at the possibility of a temporary loosening today. Grilled on how the step would be funded, a spokesman said: 'There'll be no permanent increase in borrowing, as is standard. 'We'll set out how this will be funded at the budget, alongside a full economic and fiscal forecast in the autumn, in the usual way.' Asked whether the Government could say there would be no tax rises to pay for the changes, the spokesman said: 'As ever, as is a long-standing principle, tax decisions are set out at fiscal events.' Challenged how the costs would be covered, health minister Stephen Kinnock told Times Radio: 'The full details around what we are laying out, what I've summarised really today, is going to be laid out in Parliament, and then the Chancellor will set out the budget in the autumn the whole of the fiscal position and this will be an important part of that. 'But forgive me, I'm not in a position to set those figures out now. 'I think that is very much the Chancellor's job as we move into the budget in the autumn.' Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said she believed Labour was in 'a good place now' on the welfare Bill. She told broadcasters: 'We have listened to people, we have engaged with them. 'I think we're in a good place now, alongside the huge investments we are putting in to create the jobs that people need in every part of the country, to get waiting lists down in the NHS, to ensure stronger rights at work, but also to make sure there's employment support for those who can work and protections for those who can't.' Asked whether the Government had created a disparity between existing and new claimants, she insisted it was 'very common in the welfare system that there are protections for existing claimants'. 'That's happened before,' she said. Unveiling the concessions overnight, a No10 spokeswoman said: 'We have listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are worried about the pace of change for those already supported by the system. 'This package will preserve the social security system for those who need it by putting it on a sustainable footing, provide dignity for those unable to work, supports those who can and reduce anxiety for those currently in the system. 'Our reforms are underpinned by Labour values and our determination to deliver the change the country voted for last year.' The Government's original package restricted eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limited the sickness-related element of universal credit. Existing claimants were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition by aiming to soften the impact of the changes. In her letter, the Work and Pensions Secretary said: 'We recognise the proposed changes have been a source of uncertainty and anxiety. 'We will ensure that all of those currently receiving PIP will stay within the current system. The new eligibility requirements will be implemented from November 2026 for new claims only. 'Secondly, we will adjust the pathway of Universal Credit payment rates to make sure all existing recipients of the UC health element – and any new claimant meeting the severe conditions criteria – have their incomes fully protected in real terms.' She said a ministerial review would ensure the benefit is 'fair and fit for the future' and will be a 'coproduction' with disabled people, organisations which represent them and MPs. 'These important reforms are rooted in Labour values, and we want to get them right,' she said. The change in Pip payments would protect some 370,000 existing claimants who were expected to lose out following reassessment. Tom Waters, an Associate Director at IFS, said: 'These changes more than halve the saving of the package of reforms as a whole, making the Chancellor's already difficult Budget balancing act that much harder. 'The decision is to protect existing health-related benefit claimants from the reforms, thereby making the savings entirely from new claimants to these benefits. 'This will create big differences – thousands of pounds a year, for many years in some cases – between similar people with similar health conditions who happen to have applied at a slightly different time.' If the legislation clears its first hurdle on Tuesday, it will then face a few hours' examination by all MPs the following week – rather than days or weeks in front of a committee tasked with looking at the Bill. The so-called 'reasoned amendment' tabled by Treasury select committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier had argued that disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed. She said: 'This is a good deal. It is massive changes to ensure the most vulnerable people are protected… and, crucially, involving disabled people themselves in the design of future benefit changes.' While the concessions look set to reassure some of those who had been leading the rebellion, other MPs remained opposed before the announcement.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Chief medical officer makes case for active travel at York conference
England's chief medical officer has said the case needs to be made for the health benefits of active travel, even though it "isn't always politically easy".Prof Sir Chris Whitty told the Active City York conference the smallest changes to help people walk or cycle could transform people's health for the he said the weight of science and data needed to be thrown behind active travel as the issue had become increasingly Chris called on authorities to encourage people to make an early start, saying: "If people don't have the opportunity to get into the habit when they're children it will be very difficult to do so after." Speaking at the conference hosted by City of York Council at the Barbican, Sir Chris said active travel could have the biggest impact on people in ill said people's perceptions about active travel including concerns over safety needed to be overcome."It's critical to think about the short distances and to build between the spaces that people care about," he said."That can be transformational, it's really important for people's physical and mental health." The two-day conference saw active travel professionals gather alongside politicians for speeches and panel them was Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, who said the government was moving on from divisive to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said support of measures to boost cycling and walking had been framed as a war on said: "When we ensure that travel is more accessible we see healthier and more cohesive communities."It's about fundamentally reimagining how cities and towns work and who they serve."He said mayors and council leaders had a "critical role" in delivering on local said the government was looking very carefully at how to tackle pavement parking, and said decisions on 20mph speed limits should be made comments came as regional mayors including York and North Yorkshire's David Skaith backed a commitment to create a nationwide walking, wheeling and cycling focusing on school runs will be prioritised as part of the wider project which aims to create more than 3,500 miles of safer routes across the Boardman, Active Travel England's national commissioner, said the body's £616m in government funding for the next four years would bring transport freedom and improve safety, including for children.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Chris Whitty says culture-war coverage of cycling could harm nation's health
Culture war-based coverage of cycling based on stereotypes of middle-aged men in Lycra could harm the nation's health because it shifts focus away from the people and communities who benefit from physical activity, Chris Whitty has said. Speaking a day before the launch of the NHS's 10-year-health plan, which is expected to focus heavily on prevention, Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, called for people to set aside media cliches and instead focus on 'data which nobody can dispute'. If active travel 'is seen as something which is simply the reserve of middle-aged, Lycra-clad people cycling possibly too fast around the park, that completely misses the point of actually where the huge health gains are', Whitty told a conference in York. He said: 'There are some areas where you can send a debate from a cultural war into a much more day-to-day one by actually saying, 'OK guys, but this is the maths,' and ensuring that you do so with facts which people find surprising. 'So for example, the culture wars will always try and paint the person who's in favour of active transport, and let's say cycling, as middle-class, entitled, speeding like a bad person. What they don't see is a woman in a wheelchair who actually benefits even more from the activity that we're talking about.' Being more active, Whitty noted, was 'one of the most impressive things you can do to preserve health of all forms, physical and mental'. He added that the best way for people to do this was to build it into their everyday life, for example by walking, cycling or wheeling for transport. 'The people who benefit most from any form of activity are people who are doing none,' Whitty said. 'And the next group who benefit most are the people who are doing a very small amount, who might do a bit more. 'The second group of people who benefit most are those who are teetering on the brink of ill health, or are in ill health which could accelerate from under them. And for many of those people, a small amount of activity is going to be very hard work, but it is going to be remarkably powerful at preventing and in many cases, reversing the health conditions they have.' Transport planners should not just focus on bigger projects such as bike lanes, but also on everyday issues such as uneven pavements, which might put off someone with mobility issues from walking a short distance, Whitty said. To get more people active, he said, 'what we've got to do is build between the places people care about: from their homes to their shops, to their place of worship, to the school and so on. We've got to think about that in a really serious way.' In a sign that politics has begun to move on from the culture war-infused transport discourse under Rishi Sunak's government, 12 of England's regional mayors, including two Conservatives and one from Reform UK, have signed up to a plan to create a 'national active travel network'. Speaking alongside Whitty, Simon Lightwood, the junior transport minister, said the Labour government took a different approach to Sunak: 'Gone are the days, I hope, of this poisonous rhetoric around the war on the motorist.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mediterranean Diet Could Protect Against a Common Form of Liver Disease
The Mediterranean diet, high in plants and low on meat and dairy, has been linked to a host of health benefits – including longer life and lower cancer risk. Now we can add another benefit to the list, according to a new study: protection against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD affects around one in three of us worldwide, and occurs when too much fat builds up in the liver. It can lead to inflammation, cancer, and fibrosis, and is closely linked to other issues such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The new review study, led by a team from the University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain, looked at 13 previous trials and studies involving 926 participants and a variety of diet approaches. Each of the reviewed trials involved people with MASLD. It was the Mediterranean diet that stood out in terms of its health benefits, with intermittent fasting also making a notable difference in terms of numerous key health markers. Several signs of MASLD in the liver were reduced by these diets. "This review suggests that Mediterranean diet and intermittent fasting-based strategies may reduce body weight, improve glycemic control, and lower inflammation, with potential benefits for hepatic [liver] function," write the researchers in their published paper. "Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these effects and underlying mechanisms, which will allow for the optimization of protocols and ensure their safety in MASLD." It's important to note that while all the reviewed studies involved people with MASLD, the disease wasn't their primary focus. The researchers here are doing some joining of the dots when it comes to how certain biomarkers (such as glycemic control and inflammation levels) might link to MASLD outcomes. In theory, the benefits that the research shows for the Mediterranean diet and intermittent fasting should reduce the severity of MASLD, or stop it from developing in the first place. But as the researchers acknowledge, we'll need longer-term studies looking at disease progression over time to be more sure. "Despite the limited data on liver function outcomes, the results of this review provided early indication of the promising potential of Mediterranean diet-based interventions," write the researchers. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, fish, and poultry, while minimizing sugar, red meat, and processed foods. Its name comes from its region of origin, particularly countries like Greece and Italy. It's an approach to eating that's been around for thousands of years, and which has previously been linked to reduced severity of fatty liver disease – though it's important not to assume direct cause and effect, with so many variables involved. What's clear is that the Mediterranean diet is very good for us, and can keep our bodies functioning in a healthier way for a longer period of time. Scientists are still exploring how exactly it works, but it seems the effects extend to conditions in the liver too. "MASLD is a complex condition with many factors implicated in its risk/development, including nutrition and immune-metabolic health status," write the researchers. "Consequently, investigating the influence and effectiveness of dietary patterns in improving hepatic function, along with immuno-metabolism, can be important in MASLD management." The research has been published in Nutrients. Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorders: What's The Difference? Parkinson's Disease Might Not Start in The Brain, Study Finds These Common Drugs Can Make Coping With Heat Even Harder
Washington Post
23-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
The truth about using cannabis for health problems
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any advertisers on this site. Many U.S. states have legalized cannabis, and there has been a significant increase in the number of older adults using it, says Jeffrey Quinlan, a family physician and professor of family medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City. In fact, 21 percent of people ages 50 and up have smoked, vaped or consumed cannabis (in what's usually called an edible) in the past year, according to a recent poll from the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. And 12 percent do so at least once a month. The reasons? To relax, improve sleep, feel good, relieve pain and improve mental health or mood. But is this safe? 'There's not a lot of research,' Quinlan says. That said, we have at least some evidence that cannabis may help some people, but there are risks — for older adults in particular. Some patients tell Quinlan they use cannabis to help with pain, anxiety and sleep — similar to the medical reasons mentioned in the Michigan poll. Of these, the evidence is strongest for treating chronic pain. There's also substantial evidence that it may ease nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and may help control muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, according to a 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. And some evidence suggests that cannabis may provide some short-term help for people who have trouble sleeping due to obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and MS. But we still have much to learn about the right dosages, which vary from person to person and can change over time, as well as the efficacy of cannabis compared with other treatments, says Erin Bonar, a professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She's one of the researchers associated with the poll. Some doctors say that cannabis is a safer way to manage chronic pain than powerful, potentially addictive opioid drugs. But about 21 percent of regular users develop cannabis use disorder. This can increase the likelihood of risky behaviors like driving while high, and it can affect relationships and increase tolerance for cannabis, which causes some people to use it more and more. And higher doses can elevate heart rate and increase blood pressure, Quinlan says, which may raise heart attack and stroke risks, especially in people who already have heart disease. People who use cannabis for mental health problems like anxiety also need to be wary, Bonar says. In some cases, it might improve the condition short-term, she says. But some people then feel worse when not using it, which can escalate anxiety over time. And recent research suggests that it's associated with a greater likelihood of mental health and substance abuse problems, as well as accidents and injuries. High dosages can also cause paranoia and in rare cases can increase the risk of psychosis. Tell your doctor. According to the Michigan poll, 44 percent of monthly cannabis users said they had not discussed it with their health care providers. Your doc can tell you if medications you may be taking — such as blood thinners, statins, antihistamines, antidepressants and medications with sedative effects — interact with cannabis. Your doctor may also be able to give you guidance on how to access medical cannabis — though it won't be covered by Medicare or other insurance because it's still illegal on the federal level — and help you monitor your use to see whether it's helping. Avoid smoking and vaping. Using cannabis in these forms may cause health problems just like smoking or vaping tobacco, Quinlan says. Be wary of THC content labels. Most research indicates they're not reliable. So if you're going to use cannabis, opt for the lowest possible dosage (which may be an edible with 5 milligrams of THC or less), especially if you haven't used the substance before, Quinlan says. Plus, it's now easy to find cannabis products with a strength of 20 to 30 percent. The average potency in the 1990s was around 4 percent, Bonar says. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Read more at
