31 h. ago Government ‘not going to rule anything out’ amid benefit cap pressure

The Government has been under pressure to axe the system which restricts certain benefits to the first two children in most households.

Politics

39 h. ago Disabled celebrities urge Keir Starmer to scrap ‘inhumane’ benefit cuts

Exclusive: More than 100 people including Liz Carr and Rosie Jones sign letter criticising Pip and universal credit changesMore than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled people, including Liz Carr, Rosie Jones, Ruth Madeley and Cherylee Houston, have called on the prime minister to abandon “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits”.In an open letter to Keir Starmer before a planned Commons vote next month, they argue that the government’s plan to reduce eligibility to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health component of universal credit is a matter of “survival” and “basic human rights”. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Universal Credit payment boost for over one million people this month

Households will benefit from an extra £420 this year following a DWP rule change.

Economics

5 d. ago Older people urged to claim Pension Credit before any Winter Fuel Payment changes

An announcement on Winter Fuel Payment eligibility changes is not expected until the Autumn Budget.

Economics

5 d. ago Man armed with crossbow enters Scots hospital in early morning incident

Police, including firearms officers, raced to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Events

6 d. ago Welfare cuts could impact three times as many Welsh households

The Bevan Foundation says the number of households affected by UK Government cuts to Universal Credit and disability benefit may soar

Politics

8 d. ago Bees face new threats from wars, street lights and microplastics, scientists warn

University of Reading report says conflicts including war in Ukraine among 12 most pressing threats to pollinatorWar zones, microplastics and street lights are among the emerging threats to the bee population, according to scientists.Bee experts have drawn up a list of the 12 most pressing threats to the pollinator over the next decade, published in a report, Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Conservation of Global Pollinators, by the University of Reading. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Celebrating the best of the Scottish events industry at the Scottish Event Awards 2025

The Scottish Event Awards, Scotland's celebration of event industry excellence, took place on Thursday 24 April, with winners including the Scottish Event Campus, University of Aberdeen, and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024.

Events

1 week ago Tamsin Greig: ‘What is the worst thing anyone’s said to me? “And for you, sir?” It happens a lot’

The actor on being a high-functioning introvert, her ‘wild man’ husband and why she loves Nick CaveBorn in Kent, Tamsin Greig, 58, studied drama at the University of Birmingham. Her television work includes Black Books, Green Wing, Episodes and Friday Night Dinner, and she won the 2007 Best Actress Olivier award for her role in Much Ado About Nothing. Until 21 June, she stars in The Deep Blue Sea at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London. She is married to actor Richard Leaf, has three children and lives in London.Which living person do you most admire, and why? Nick Cave for his determination to hold a space for public discourse on the deep and difficult and mysterious elements of life. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Now Eurocrats are making more demands ahead of Keir Starmer's Brexit 'surrender summit'

Officials in Brussels believe the Prime Minister has surrendered more than he needed to - but the bloc is still asking for more, including that British universities offer cheaper fees to European students.

Politics

2 w. ago DWP scrapping one benefit forever as urgent warning letters sent to households

The latest benefit to be phased out is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and anyone who this applies to should be getting a letter in the post over the coming weeks and months

Events

2 w. ago Martin Lewis issues urgent warning for people hoping to take out credit

The UK expert, 52, was speaking on an episode of his podcast when he pointed out that members of the public with 'a perfect credit score' are often baffled when they are 'rejected'.

Events

3 w. ago Columbia University to cut 180 jobs due to federal grant revocations

White House axed grants even as college agreed to demands including ceding control of Middle East studies departmentNew York’s Columbia University is slated to cut 180 staffers whose work was supported by federal grants that have now been revoked by the Trump administration, the college’s acting president, Claire Shipman, announced on Tuesday.“We have had to make difficult choices and unfortunately, today, nearly 180 of our colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination,” Shipman said in a lengthy notice posted on Columbia’s website. Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago Annual benefits bill for refugee households hits £1BILLION after surging by a third in just one year, leading to calls for Britain to leave human rights treaty

Government data revealed the total amount of universal credit paid to households with at least one refugee claimant soared to £1.1billion last year, up from £828million in 2023.

Economics

3 w. ago DWP Pension Credit alert as thousands of people in one group 'missing out'

The Government is being urged simplify the Pension Credit application process and increase a benefit to help one group of people who may be missing out

Events

3 w. ago The way universities can survive the Trump era? Band together in an alliance | David Kirp

Nato for higher education – a mutual defense pact is a long-shot approach, but it might just convince the bully in the White House to back offHigher education is under attack from the person who inhabits the White House. Universities are being threatened with an array of punishments, including the cutoff of their federal contracts and grants, the loss of their nonprofit status and a tax on their endowment. The Trump administration is demanding a say in whom they admit, whom they hire and even what courses they teach.It’s a grim message – abandon your fundamental values, or else. The idea of an “existential moment” has become a cliche, but this situation warrants that grim description. Academic freedom, the lifeblood of higher education, is being threatened.David Kirp is professor emeritus at the University of California-Berkeley and the author of The College Dropout Scandal Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago DWP benefit claimants to be hit by increased charge starting from today

The increase will affect people claiming benefits including Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Jobseeker's Allowance

Events

3 w. ago Nearly 40,000 North Lanarkshire children and families received £2.8m towards heating bills last winter

Social Security Scotland's Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people.

Society

3 w. ago Over 17,000 West Lothian families receive £1.34m towards heating bills last winter

Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people.

Economics

3 w. ago Households on benefits including Universal Credit urged to act today to get cheap broadband

The deal offers average speeds of 36Mbps and is available only to those claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support

Politics