| With the Government in chaos, it's easy to forget the many businesses around the North now desperately worried about their futures due to the spiralling costs of energy bills, staff wages and raw materials. In Lancashire, a Blackburn businessman today opened up on how the forced closure of his donut shops due to the cost of living crisis has led him to suicidal thoughts, with all three of his local stores set to cease trading come the new year. Yusuf Lambat opened his three branches of Dipz Donuts, with the first in Blackburn in 2019 but he has now made the difficult decision to close, as he told Susan Newton of LancsLive. "We had hardly any customers and our energy bills were getting so high and it's really hard to find good members of staff as well. We make our own artisan doughnuts and we couldn't raise our prices, because people will just go to Krispy Kreme and buy cheaper ones." He added: "It's a shambles and I don't like to get into politics too much because I get angry, but I can't stand this government. Small businesses are what build this economy. I love what I do and I do it well, people like my doughnuts, but it was all starting to affect my mental health and I have three young kids I was barely seeing." 
Despite the bleak outlook for many families, it appears many are not claiming the benefits to which they're entitled. Research by Kellogg's shows more than half of all low-income parents are not confident they're aware of all the benefits available. And the firm has partnered with the Greater Manchester Poverty Action Group to run a pilot in four local schools and colleges giving parents and carers struggling with cost-of-living increases vital advice in informal settings such as the school breakfast club. The scheme has been running since the beginning of the school term and has so far unlocked an average of £1,000 per family in extra income, as James Scott the Principal of Trafford College writes in today's Northern Agenda. Read the full piece at the bottom of this email.
'Grotesque chaos': Starmer draws parallels with Labour's divisive decade  Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer is greeted by Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge Marie Tidball
There was a growing sense of confidence in Labour ranks in Barnsley this weekend as members gathered for the party's regional conference, which featured speeches by Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Labour leader told members "the road to a fairer, greener Britain runs right through this region" as he said Britain "cannot afford to miss out" on investing in green industries. Read Jasmine Norden's report for YorkshireLive here. Promising more solar panels and home insulation, he said a Labour government would invest in clean hydrogen power and "radically expand" offshore wind as part of plans to turn Britain into a "green growth superpower". Sir Keir even felt confident enough to draw parallels with his party's divisive decade in the 1980s – quoting Neil Kinnock's famous 1985 attack on the left-wing Militant group in Liverpool, as Dominic McGrath of Press Association reports. Comparing the current instability in Downing Street to the disarray that hit the Labour-run council of the 1980s, pointed to the "grotesque chaos of a Tory Prime Minister handing out redundancy notices to her own chancellor". In one of the most memorable speeches in modern British political history, Mr Kinnock lambasted the hard left of his party. In a set-piece conference speech, he said Militant's dogma had only led to "the grotesque chaos of a Labour council hiring taxis to scuttle round a city handing out redundancy notices to its own workers".
'We're picking the wrong people to run our country'  John Elliott and Cheshire MP Kieran Mullan are guests on The Northern Agenda podcast
Labour may be confident of forming the next government but according to one of the North East's best-known businessmen John Elliott, the system that elects our political leaders "isn't working". Speaking a day before Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked by Liz Truss Mr Elliott, the Chairman of County-Durham based Ebac Limited, told The Northern Agenda podcast the system that the country is "badly run". "We've got to find a better way of finding the people to run the country, there's better people in this country now who can run the country better and they're not doing it. And it's the most important job out there. "The bigger problem is the quality of the politicians. It's not the quality, it's just they're the wrong people. Forty million people, most who have got no experience in recruitment, are picking the managing director of the country. "Now, are those the right people to do it? Have you got the right information? The right knowledge? No, not really. So how can it succeed, it's inevitably going to fail." Mr Elliott, whose company is described as the only manufacturer in the UK of dehumidifiers and washing machines, is no stranger to politics and in 2004, he became Chairman of the successful 'North East Says No' campaign to stop Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plans for a regional assembly. Listen to the full episode to hear about his alternative system for choosing political leaders.
Rugby League's coming home as North hosts global spectacular  All the captains of the nations taking part in the Rugby League World Cup (Image: PA)
Crunching tackles, fans celebrating tries and screams of 'get em onside' will be sounded across towns and cities around the North as they feature headline clashes over the coming weeks from the men's, women's and wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. The tournament featuring the best players around the world kicked off at St James' Park in Newcastle this weekend, with the action continuing tonight as France play Greece at Doncaster's Eco-Power Stadium. The high-velocity game is known for its brutal hits and fast pace – which is what has made it so popular in the North West and Yorkshire since its birth in 1895. And as George Lythgoe writes in the Manchester Evening News, Rugby League heartlands like Wigan that have given so much to the sport are set to be repaid in the coming weeks as they play host to a series of World Cup matches. Things didn't get off to the smoothest start on Saturday. World Cup bosses were forced to apologise after a technical failure forced Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson to keep the St James' Park crowd entertained at the opening ceremony. Earlier Rugby Football League president Clare Balding brought out the women's trophy alongside Fareeha Usman, a North East resident who has been recognised as a voice for equality and diversity in the community. The build-up to the delayed tournament began on Friday with the opening of the fans village on the Quayside while on the morning of the opening game, professional performers combined with locals to take to the streets of Newcastle for a specially-commissioned show featuring dance, music and aerial performance as part of the tournament's Cultural Festival.
Hong Kong protest erupts into violence outside Chinese Consulate  This weekend saw protests in Manchester by pro-democracy Hong Kong campaigners and animal welfare activists
Two protests in the centre of Manchester hit the headlines this weekend - but for very different reasons. An investigation was launched last night after a protest erupted into violence outside the Chinese Consulate in the city during the afternoon. Police were called to the incident, which involved pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters, outside the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Rusholme. A video clip appeared to show one of the Hong Kong protesters dragged beyond the gates to the consulate grounds and assaulted, with banners and placards also vandalised. Earlier, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, Andrew Gwynne, blasted a string of protests as 'utterly sickening' after demonstrators were filmed emptying cartons of milk onto the floor of a local Marks and Spencer. Protesters targeted the store in Manchester city centre on Saturday pouring out the cartons of milk onto the shop floor and placing placards over joints of beef. The protest group Animal Rebellion, who held up signs reading 'Plant Based Future', said the store on Market Street was one of many others targeted.
Durham leaders face backlash after joining North East devolution deal  A North East devolution deal could reunite councils in Tyneside, Wearside, Northumberland, and County Durham
An end could finally be in sight for the years-long North East devolution saga as County Durham announced it wants to join a multi-billion pound deal to establish a new North East mayor. After being set a mid-October deadline by ministers to make up their mind, the county council's coalition administration confirmed they want to be part of a region-wide agreement – but might yet find their route blocked by other council leaders. If approved, the deal would see a new mayor elected in May 2024 to govern a huge combined authority stretching across seven 'LA7' council areas through Northumberland, Tyneside, Wearside, and County Durham, writes Local Democracy Reporter Dan Holland. The authority would be granted major new funding and powers held by other parts of England but not currently in the North East, including critical decision-making powers on transport that could lead to local bus services being brought under public control. But the decision by Durham's ruling Conservative-Lib Dem coalition sparked fury from Labour, who say joining the rest of North East instead of pursuing its own so-called 'county deal' will marginalise the area, as Local Democracy Reporter Gareth Lightfoot writes. Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, said: "I find this decision absolutely remarkable. At our last meeting to discuss this with the county's MPs and cabinet, there was unanimous agreement that Durham should not join in with the LA7 but should go in for a county deal instead."
In Yorkshire, Hull council leader Mike Ross says he remains "philosophically opposed" to the idea of having an elected metro mayor for his city and the East Riding, as Angus Young reports for HullLive. The region's two councils are still waiting for ministers to approve their bid to create a new-look combined authority overseeing strategic issues as part of a devolution deal. The bid had been expected to be signed off by Christmas after being included in a new list of priority areas issued by the government earlier this year. As part of their current bid, both councils here say they woul;d prefer to rotate political leadership of a new combined authority between the Guildhall in Hull and County Hall in Beverley instead of having an elected mayor. However, some critics argue the region needs a high-profile figure like Greater Manchester's Andy Burnham to represent it. 
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Northern Stories  The driver was struggling to put a disabled ramp down for an elderly lady (Image: Unite)
- A picture of a Stagecoach bus driver in Hull struggling with a ramp for an elderly lady shows how services have deteriorated since workers walked out last week, a witness has claimed. The driver can be seen standing outside the bus at Hull Paragon Interchange while the elderly woman tries to walk along a ramp that appears to be stuck pointing in the air. In a public Facebook post, David Monaghan claimed it was one of many instances of poor driving from replacement drivers brought in to prop up services during the strike.
- The Justice Secretary has blocked a bid to move a "dangerous killer" who murdered his ex-girlfriend in a frenzied sex attack to a lower security jail. Brandon Lewis has rejected the Parole Board's recommendation to move William Dunlop to an open prison, the Ministry of Justice said. In 2006, Dunlop, known as Billy, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years after admitting murdering Julie Hogg, a 22-year-old mother and pizza delivery woman, in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham in 1989.
- A proposed housing development yards from the West Yorkshire station made famous by The Railway Children has been refused. A planning application for nine homes at Mytholmes Lane in Oakworth, was first revealed earlier this Summer. But Bradford Council has now thrown out the plans, saying the site's Green Belt location meant it was "totally unacceptable."
- Councillors in Trafford have voted for a blanket ban on the publication of their home addresses amid fears for their safety. Until now details of where they live have been available on the council's website on the 'declaration of interests register'. Leader Andrew Western revealed he had been subjected to personal threats and intimidation while serving on the authority in a heated debate on the issue at a full council meeting.
- Manchester's new arts centre is looking to sell its naming rights to cover the ever-increasing costs of the project which has seen its budget almost double. Factory International is already in talks with 'a number of leading brands' about selling the naming rights for the £210m facility which is due to open next year. It comes as the major project which is being funded mostly by the government and Arts Council England has called on Manchester council for another £25m.
- There could be 200m fewer car journeys on the road in the North East if residents resisted using their cars for just one day a week. That's according to The North East Combined Authority which claims the ambition of reducing car use will improve traffic, the environment, and residents' health. These figures form part of the Authority's 'Making The Right Travel Choice' strategy which aims to have people reduce their car use one day a week in favour of walking, cycling, or public transport.
How our benefits pilot bagged families £1,000 extra The cost-of-living crisis is in full swing for many people now. At the college I lead I see the effects every day in learners arriving hungry or unable to afford basic school equipment. When people are struggling benefits become even more crucial as a financial safety net for many families. That's why the current public debate about whether and how to uprate benefits is so vital. However, while the level benefits are paid at is undoubtedly of extreme importance, before we even get to that question, we ought to be addressing the issue of whether people are receiving all that they are entitled to. A pilot scheme that Trafford College is taking part in highlights the extent to which that is not happening – and what a difference it can make if people are helped to claim all they can. At Trafford College we are fortunate to host a Community College Kitchen. Learners can benefit from access to food and vouchers that can set them up for the day. The evidence is clear – hunger is a huge distraction from effective learning. Kellogg's partnered with Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) and came to me with a proposal. GMPA recognised that potentially millions of pounds of benefits were going unclaimed across the city. I was happy to take part in a pilot scheme to see if this was correct. So, it proved. Ours was one of four schools and colleges across our city taking part in the pilot, which has been running since the beginning of the current school term. Dozens of families have been helped already: on average each of these families has received an extra £1,000 in money to which they were entitled but were previously unaware they could access.  Financial insecurity and poverty are a huge contributor to poor mental health
On average it costs families £1,000 a year to raise a child in the UK. With inflation soaring, this additional cash is nothing short of lifechanging to parents, guardians and children. That families had been missing out on cash they are entitled to speaks to poor communication, complicated processes but most of all to families needlessly going without. What's more, missing out on welfare is more than just a numbers game. Financial insecurity and poverty are a huge contributor to poor mental health – the impact of which is all too frequently devastating on students, their future livelihoods cruelly stunted as a result. That's why it was so important to me that Trafford College took part in this pilot scheme. We're a community-focused college and helping give parents hit by the cost-of-living crisis more support came naturally to us. I believe that schools and colleges are often best placed to offer this kind of assistance because we know our families well, and so can offer them targeted advice in an informal setting, such as at our breakfast club. I am confident that our Community College Kitchen, and those at the other pilot sites, will undoubtedly continue to make lives better for students and their families. Aside from the success we're already seeing in Greater Manchester, the scheme has a strong track record. Last year, a similar pilot took place in Glasgow. Across four schools in the city, it helped families access £700,000 in unclaimed benefits. There is strong evidence to show that we can replicate that here in Greater Manchester. As a Principal, I want to make sure that the next generation fulfils its potential. For dozens of Mancunian families' children, a platform like the Community College Kitchen are a start. I look forward to seeing the scheme rolled out across our city soon.
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