The price of a pint of milk at UK supermarkets could rise by up to 50% due to the cost of living crisis, it has been claimed.
As inflation continues to make its impact felt across the nation and after industry bosses have told of their fear that surging costs from feed, fertiliser, and fuel will cause an increase in dairy prices that have not been seen in decades, it’s been reported that the cost of a pint of milk could rise by 50% and butter by 30%, as reported by The Telegraph.
The average cost of four pints of milk will rise from around £1.15, to anywhere between £1.60 and £1.70, according to the UK’s leading adviser to dairy farmers Kite Consulting.
A typical pack of butter could also increase from £1.55 to more than £2.
The news of these price increases are said to have come as dairy farmers flew into Brussels last week for crisis talks over soaring costs and supply chain disruption, and are also said to have been affected by the conflict Ukraine.
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Speaking on the price rises, Michael Oakes – the dairy board chair of the National Farmers’ Union, who is also a farmer – told the The Telegraph: “I was paying about £7,000 for an artic [articulated lorry] load of fertiliser, and this year it’s £28,000.
Surging costs from feed, fertiliser, and fuel will cause an increase in dairy prices not been seen in decades / Credit: Jakob Cotton (via Unsplash)
“It would have been a little bit less before Ukraine happened, but it made another big jump because we’d already seen higher gas prices, which have implications for fertiliser costs.”
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“It hasn’t been a particularly good time for dairy farms over the last few years,” he added.
UK dairy industry bosses have raised concerns over their costs to the Government, but officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are said to be merely in “listening mode”, the Telegraph said.
The dairy industry is likely to pass on higher costs from the Ukraine crisis disrupting fuel, fertiliser and feed prices – with both farmers and processors squeezed.
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Andrew Kuyk – director general of the Provision Trade Federation – added: “Everything is going in the wrong direction at the same time. The direction of travel is bad and the strength of the price increases is stronger than most people will have known in recent times because this is all pretty unprecedented.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
4th April 2022 
