9 d. ago Liz Kendall says welfare reforms will create ‘a better future’

The Work and Pensions Secretary’s appearance at a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting came amid warnings from MPs about her welfare reforms’ impact.

Politics

9 d. ago DWP chief Liz Kendall warned disability benefit cuts will lead to 'appalling poverty'

The warning came as the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall prepared to defend the controversial measures at a behind-closed-doors meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party

Events

1 week ago Celebrating an everlasting twilight: midsummer, Lithuanian style

In the Baltic nations, midsummer celebrations are rooted in pagan traditions around fire and fertility. They are also a good excuse to meet up with family and friends for a party in the forestTowards dusk a bonfire was lit and, one after another, the friends we were eating and drinking with hurdled the leaping flames, a pagan ritual thought to provide benefits including improved physical and mental strength, prosperity and fertility.Further heat came from a sauna we made using five sacks of logs – too many, we agreed afterwards. When it got too hot, we escaped into the cool shallows of the pond just a few metres away, repeating this cycle several times. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The Spencer twins: a wild ride with Princess Diana's nieces, London's favourite aristocrats

Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer are the guests everyone wants at their party this summer. Julia Llewellyn Smith meets them

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves says use of hotels for asylum seekers to end ‘in this parliament’ and NHS spending to rise 3% a year – UK politics live

Chancellor claims asylum move will save £1bn and says health spending represents a record cash investmentSpending review: key points at a glanceGreen party MPs and activists staged a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the Chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealthSenior SNP figures held a secret meeting on Monday night to discuss removing John Swinney as party leader, The Herald has learned, following last week’s defeat in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse byelection.One of the 25 attendees said the first minister had two weeks to come up with a new strategy on independence — or risk facing a leadership...

Politics

3 w. ago PMQs: Starmer says there is ‘no easy answer’ to finding way of seizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine – UK politics live

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, asks prime minister about frozen Russian assets in the UK after sanctioning of two Israeli ministers on TuesdayGreen party MPs and activists staged a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the Chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealthSenior SNP figures held a secret meeting on Monday night to discuss removing John Swinney as party leader, The Herald has learned, following last week’s defeat in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse byelection.One of the 25 attendees said the first minister had two weeks to come up with a new strategy on independence — or risk facing a leadership ch...

Politics

3 w. ago China's Panchen Lama pledges loyalty to the Communist Party in a meeting with Xi

State media in China says that the man picked by Beijing as the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism has pledged adherence to the ruling Communist Party during a rare face-to-face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping

Politics

4 w. ago Chilling final hours of teen shot dead in 'gruesome' murder after 'repeated rejections'

Teenager Sana Yousaf was allegedly killed by 22-year-old Umar Hayat, who had tried to contact her repeatedly and tried to meet her at her birthday party, according to police

Events