State Pension & tax-free cash: Andy Burnham and chancellor John Healey confirmed a higher state pension via the triple lock and a new £12,860 personal tax-free allowance for people living only on the state pension, while warnings from AJ Bell say taking full pension tax-free cash early can cost savers tens of thousands in growth. Pensions crisis in government schemes: The Civil Service Pension Scheme backlog is forcing some retirees to rely on children for essentials, with ministers offering interest-free hardship loans up to £10,000. Devolution & constitutional debate: Burnham is pushing “power from Westminster” and a written constitution argument, but commentators flag the practical difficulty of delivering devolution—especially with Wales insisting it’s a nation, not a region. Immigration & local backlash: Residents near Haslar immigration removal centre in Gosport say plans to triple capacity leave them “trapped,” while asylum seekers report harassment after moves into residential areas. Parliament & politics: Rupert Lowe floated a hard-right alliance with Nigel Farage on strict conditions, and a study argues no voting system can be perfectly fair across local and national outcomes. Health & justice: Campaigns continue over stillbirth registration rules and calls for government apology for “sleeping babies” families. NGO/rights: UKLFI and Ireland Israel Alliance challenge an Irish bill on West Bank settlement imports as incompatible with EU and trade rules.