68 h. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves: I saw firsthand what the Tories did to kids of my generation

Conservative governments did not care about schools like mine, communities like mine or the kids I grew up with, reflects Chancellor Rachel Reeves – as she reveals her very personal motivation behind Labour’s announcement to roll out free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

Politics

2 d. ago Should all children be given free school meals? Vote in our poll

Keir Starmer has announced plans to extend free school meals to all children in families receiving Universal Credit in England in a bid to tackle child hunger in the classroom - and we want to hear your thoughts

Politics

2 d. ago Starmer describes free school meal expansion as ‘down payment’ on child poverty

Ministers have announced plans to expand free school meals to all pupils in England in families on universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

3 d. ago All the pupils eligible for free school meals in England in your area

Nearly half of pupils in Manchester are eligible

Politics

3 d. ago Pupils eligible for free school meals in England, by local area

Nearly half of pupils in Manchester are currently eligible for free meals.

Politics

3 d. ago More than one in four pupils in England now eligible for free school meals

The figures come as the Government announced plans to expand free lunches to all pupils in families that claim universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

3 d. ago Free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

The move, which comes after a major campaign by The Independent, said the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty

Politics

2 w. ago Pupils’ enjoyment of school suffers ‘substantial decline’ in Year 7 – study

Girls increasingly feel less safe at school than their male peers in the early years of secondary school, the report also suggests.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘This dried out prune of a rocker’: Donald Trump attacks Bruce Springsteen after musician’s fiery speeches

Springsteen had told Manchester crowd that Trump was ‘unfit’ and ‘treasonous’, leading to angry outburst from the presidentDonald Trump has angrily insulted Bruce Springsteen after the veteran musician said Trump was heading a “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration”.Springsteen made a series of vehement speeches on stage in Manchester as he kicked off his latest tour, arguing that Trump was “an unfit president” heading up “a rogue government”. He said that in the US, “the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Bruce Springsteen says Trump is running ‘rogue government’ and ‘siding with dictators’

Rock’n’roll legend makes series of blistering speeches on stage in Manchester, targeting ‘corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration’Bruce Springsteen has made a series of rousing, splenetic speeches castigating Donald Trump and his administration, calling the president “unfit” for office.In what amounts to one of the most sustained attacks on Trump and American lawmakers from a cultural figure, he made the speeches on stage in Manchester, as he opened his Land of Hope and Dreams tour with the E Street Band.There’s some very weird, strange and dangerous shit going on out there right now. In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now.In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Bill Gates says Elon Musk is 'killing the world's poorest children' in extraordinary attack after DOGE closed US aid agency

The Microsoft co-founder, who is ramping up his own philanthropic efforts, has now said Musk's decision could spell disaster for the world's most destitute.

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