Urgent need to cut borrowing means help with cost of living pressures must be ‘sparing’, fund says Daoly Telegraph 13/10/26 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned against unfunded giveaways to ease cost of living pressures before John Healey’s maiden Budget. A fortnight before the Chancellor’s first major tax-and-spending event, the IMF downgraded its outlook for UK growth and warned of further price rises and job losses. While the fund did not issue a direct warning to Britain, it said an “urgent” need to bring down borrowing meant help with cost of living pressures should be used “sparingly” in all countries. It also called for any measures to be “well funded” to maintain credibility. In his first week as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham removed VAT from electricity bills at a cost of £850m and capped bus fares at £2. The Chancellor has said he will use the Budget to provide more “breathing space” to households and businesses. The Treasury is working on a targeted, tempo...
Demand rising for medical labels seen as ‘the single reliable key to support’, review finds Daily Telegraph 09/10/26 Soaring demand for ADHD and autism diagnoses is being fuelled by Britain’s welfare system, a review has warned. A government-commissioned report says medical labels have become a gateway to benefits, school support and other help, creating financial incentives that risk driving overdiagnosis. The review finds evidence of a substantial rise in mental distress, estimating that about four million children and young people – one in five – are now experiencing high levels of psychological strain. However, it warned that unnecessary diagnoses could harm a generation by “closing doors”, lowering ambitions and defining children by what they cannot do. Advertisement The 607-page review, led by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London, questions how demand for diagnoses has been generated by making them “the single reliable key to support”. “...