Andy Burnham is “absolutely persuadable” that council tax reform can be outlined in this year’s Budget, Labour MPs believe.
MPs in Burnham’s power base in the north of England are putting pressure on the Prime Minister and Chancellor, John Healey, to overhaul a system which they say unfairly penalises working-class people in their constituencies.
It comes as a new survey revealed almost two-thirds of voters say council tax is unfair and more than half are worried about how they can afford this year’s bill.
Uefa prepares criminal complaint against Infantino – what we know
The president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, may face legal action by European football’s governing body Uefa over his now-scrapped plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Uefa request access to evidence
The body has applied for documents to be made available to them to bring legal actoin against Infantino in Switzerland.
In court documents Uefa accuses him of “criminal mismanagement” over the sale plan, claiming it was a “vehicle” for Infantino and others to “profit from Fifa’s most valuable assets”.
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What does Uefa say Infantino did wrong ?
- Pushed through the plan “hastily” with “limited” member involvement.
- Gave Fifa a “fraudulently off-market price” for his “own benefit”.
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What happens now?
Uefa has applied to a court in Florida to gain access to files held by two Fifa businesses – Fifa Americas and FWC2026 . These would be used in a court case in Switzerland.
Uefa says it may persue charges against other Fifa officials, claiming the plan would have harmed the 55 member nations of Fifa, who it says were not consulted.
More on this from The i Paper
Exes could get rights to your assets under law change
Unmarried romantic partners could be entitled to part of their ex’s assets if a break-up leaves them unable to meet their basic needs.
Some believe the proposals being considered by the Government would tackle “completely outdated and inadequate” laws governing relationships, Sky News reported.
What is being proposed?
- Unmarried romantic partners could ask a court to get involved if distributing the couple’s assets based on who owns what is not enough to meet the needs of each partner or their children.
- The court would distribute them in a way that ensures everyone can afford housing and living costs.
- Children’s needs would come first so the primary caregiver has enough resources for them.
- The courts would look at each partner’s earning capacity, financial resources, age, any disabilities and the length of relationship.
Who would the rules apply to?
The rules would apply to adults in romantic relationships who have lived together for at least three years or who share a child and lived together for any period. They would apply automatically, with the option for couples to opt out if they mutually agree. The rules are intended to benefit financially exposed women who sacrificed their careers to care for their children or victims of domestic abuse.
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The expert view
Many people consciously choose not to remarry because they value both companionship and financial independence. They should remain free to make that choice, and the law should respect – not undermine – it
Baroness Ruth Deech, former law professor and chair of the Bar Standards Board
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The tactic that could protect your pension from inheritance tax raid – and the risks
There has been an increase in people looking to use a new tactic to avoid their pension wealth being subjected to high inheritance tax after their death, experts say.
What are people doing?
Experts say more parents are asking whether they could use a lifetime annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life, to pass on their wealth to an adult child after their passing. Here’s what you need to know.
- The move would avoid the usual high inheritance tax bill for recipients, although it is currently an option only offered by two providers and there are several risks to be aware of.
- A lifetime annuity is a retirement product, bought from an insurer, that turns your pension into a guaranteed income for life.
- A joint annuity can be used to continue paying an income to a nominated person – in this case, potentially an adult child – after, for example, a parent dies in order to avoid a high IHT bill.
What are the risks?
The annuity is generally irreversible, suitable choices are limited and the income paid to the child may itself be taxable depending on the father’s age at death. Financial adviser Zoë Dagless said the insurer is pricing the annuity on the basis that it could continue for the child’s lifetime, so you are likely to be giving up a fair amount of income compared with an annuity based on the client’s life only.
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More on money from The i Paper
Men ‘hate diets’ and struggle to lose weight on them
Men struggle to lose weight on diets because they are mainly aimed at women and seem too restrictive, research has found.
Avoiding the word “diet” in weight-loss programmes could help men because it is seen as feminine, reported.
What the research found
- Framing weight-loss programmes as competitions or challenges could help men, scientists said.
- Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found that men felt dieting was associated with being denied food they enjoyed and were reluctant to commit to programmes if significant sacrifices were involved.
- Men were more likely to lose weight when dietary changes were designed by their partners or when they were supported by them.
- Having a buddy or mentor was also beneficial.
What was the study based on?
The study, published in the journal was based on interviews with 24 men aged 30 and over about their experiences of weight-loss programmes.
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The expert view
For weight-loss programmes to appeal to men, they should involve quick wins, early rewards and a degree of social competitiveness around aesthetic gains, ahead of health-specific requirements. This could involve sport or physical challenges, perhaps focused on strength or stamina
Justin Roberts, the colead author and a professor of nutritional physiology
More on health from The i Paper
Top Gear to return to BBC – everything we know
The BBC has confirmed is returning to the broadcaster. The show has been on hiatus since presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was almost killed during filming in December 2022.
What we know so far
The BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed the news of the return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday. He said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that is coming back.”
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What happened to Flintoff?
Following the crash, the BBC announced would not be returning “for the foreseeable future”, explaining it had “decided to rest the UK show”.
Who will host now?
- Havard declined to comment on reports that Jimmy Carr is being lined up as the show’s new host.
- However, reports claim talks are underway with the comedian.
- Joe Marler, a former rugby player who appeared in last year, is also being eyed by the BBC, according to Deadline.
- No deals are thought to be in place.
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The back story
- It enjoyed a second life when Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff took over hosting duties from Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, before the crash involving Flintoff occurred.
Liver disease cases linked to obesity up five-fold
Cases of a linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes have risen five-fold in a decade, a study has found.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) happens when in the liver and is left undiagnosed, researchers said.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms include feeling very tired or generally unwell, and pain in the abdomen.
- People who are overweight or not active are more likely to develop MASLD.
- Those who have type 2 diabetes, are over 50, or have high blood pressure are also more at risk.
- New diagnoses doubled from 2012 to 2022, and those diagnosed with the condition were three times as likely to have type 2 diabetes, analysis of GP records found.
A closer look at the findings
The study by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow found that 2.4 per cent of adults – 283,762 people had the disease in 2022, up from 0.02 per cent (1,300 people) in 2003.
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The expert view
The diagnostic gap remains large compared to expected rates. At-risk groups such as those living with type 2 diabetes and obesity should be identified and -finding actively pursued
researchers at Queen Mary University and University Glasgow
More on health from The i Paper
Thunderstorms expected across England and Wales
Flooding has hit part of the West Midlands as are expected across large areas of England and Wales.
A yellow thunderstorm has been issued from 5am until 10pm on Thursday.
What the warning says
The yellow warning covers swathes of the country, from Norwich and London to Cardiff and Manchester.
Some areas could see 50-75mm of rainfall on Thursday, as well as lightning and hail, which could cause disruption.
Warm temperatures with highs of 27°C or 28°C are expected, and there is a small chance some areas could see more than 75mm of rainfall.
Where the warning is in place
What happened in Birmingham?
There has been significant flooding in Birmingham. A flood warning was issued for the Perry Barr area on Wednesday night due to rising river levels.
The Environment Agency has issued 22 flooding alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in the Midlands and South East.
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The forecast for the rest of the week
- Further heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected on Friday across the UK.
- Further rain will move in on Saturday, followed by a mix of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday.
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Dozens of Britons missing in deadly Nepal flood
More than 160 people have died and hundreds are missing, including , after a devastating flash flood on the Nepal–Tibet border.
What happened?
- Floodwater swept along the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa region, in the Himalayas, at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday, destroying roads and washing away houses and bridges.
- More than 40 people were injured in the tragedy and are receiving treatment in hospital.
- Nepali officials said a further 826 people are missing, the majority of them tourists, including 33 Britons.
- Around 2,000 military personnel have been deployed by the Nepali army to assist with search and rescue operations.
What is known about the missing Britons?
Among the 33 Britons missing, 12 were with one tour company. Ram Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, said the group included a 13-year-old girl, with the oldest member aged 65.
He said they had passed Chinese border controls to enter Tibet.
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The flood in pictures
While Burnham has previously said he would not be abolishing council tax “at this moment in time”, Labour MPs who support reform think there is an opportunity to set out a roadmap for replacing it with a property tax at the Budget on 28 October.
The current council tax system in England still rests on valuations from 1991 meaning in some cases families in semi-detached homes in northern towns can end up paying more than the owners of multimillion-pound properties in London and the south.
Labour backbenchers have formed a group – Labour MPs for Fairer Council Tax – aimed at convincing Burnham and Healey to replace council tax and stamp duty with an annual proportional property tax – a single flat-rate levy based on the value of a home.
Survey shows discontent with council tax
A survey carried out by JL Partners and commissioned by Fairer Share – which campaigns for such a levy – shows significant discontent with council tax, with 63 per cent viewing it as unfair, and 52 per cent worrying about affording next year’s bills.
The poll, shared with The i Paper, found that replacing council tax and stamp duty – a tax on the purchase of homes – with a proportional property tax has three times more support (47 per cent) than opposition (13 per cent).
Fairer Share claims that about three-quarters of households would be better off by an average of around £550 a year under their plan, with a quarter paying more. It has proposed capping any tax increase at £1,200.
Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme and a close ally of the Prime Minister, said: “Replacing council tax with a progressive property tax like the one proposed by Fairer Share would make a huge difference to the amount of money the vast majority of my constituents would have in their pockets.
“In my constituency, over 90 per cent of households would save an average of £500 every year, with only the broadest shoulders expected to pay that bit more.”
He added: “It is exactly what a government focused on the cost of living should consider.”
Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, said: “Council tax is one of the most regressive taxes in Britain. It hits hardest constituencies like mine, where people pay more despite often having less.”
Before becoming Prime Minister, Burnham was highly critical of council tax and backed reforming it.
In a previous interview, he said: “I’m personally keen to see reform of council tax. It’s a highly regressive tax. I see a big case for land and property and business taxation to be changed.”
However, after The i Paper reported last month that he was looking at replacing council tax and stamp duty, he said he was not “bringing forward plans on that scale at this moment in time”.
Some MPs and economists believe he made the statement because speculation about changes to stamp duty can end up freezing the housing market.
Current system is ‘a mess’
One Labour MP supportive of reform told The i Paper that Burnham and Healey were “absolutely persuadable”.
“They got a bit spooked when the stories appeared to start impacting the housing market. My view is they want to do it.”
A spokesperson for Fairer Share said: “Andy Burnham’s very carefully chosen words to date signal he’s certainly still open to reform.”
Many eminent economists back reform of council tax and stamp duty. Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and now provost of Oxford University’s Queen’s College, told The i Paper that the current system is a “mess”.
“What I think we should have is a tax which is a fixed proportion of the value of the property, and an up-to-date value of the property,” he said.
“[Council tax] is the only tax we have which is deliberately regressive. So the less valuable your house, the higher the fraction of that value you pay in tax.”
However, Johnson said that replacing council tax with a proportional property tax remained politically difficult. “In any rational world, you move in that direction,” he said. “That would make a lot of people a little bit better off, and a small number of people an awful lot worse off. And that’s always particularly challenging.”
A Treasury spokesman said: “The Chancellor is fully focused on his priorities, which will boost business, help with the cost of living and support people in every postcode.
“As has always been the case, decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to set out at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”
JL Partners surveyed 2,048 adults in Britain over the age of 18 at the start of August