10 h. ago Housing Secretary to speed up building in light of latest slow planning figures

Steve Reed said: ‘It’s time to build, baby, build.’

Politics

46 h. ago Third of UK parents have sought special needs assessment for their child, survey finds

Parentkind charity also says 33% of parents of children with special educational needs reported financial strainOne in three parents have sought a special needs assessment for their child, according to a survey that reveals a surge in demand for special needs support in schools across the UK.The figures were released amid mounting apprehension in England over national plans to reform special needs provision amid rising costs and a severe shortage of dedicated special school places. Continue reading...

Society

53 h. ago Just when Keir Starmer thought he’d got Jeffrey Epstein off his plate – look who’s coming to dinner | Marina Hyde

After a tough week for Labour, Donald Trump is touching down for a state visit. Let’s hope the PM can stomach itQuick update on Keir Starmer’s government of “national renewal”: having just lost his deputy and housing secretary over her failure to pay the required stamp duty, the prime minister has also lost his US ambassador over his known close association with a known paedophile sex trafficker. Hang on – he’s now also lost his director of political strategy for relating some dirty jokes about Diane Abbott.Meanwhile, an increasing number of people think the solution to all this is Andy Burnham taking over, suggesting the current Greater Manchester mayor could run in a parliamentary seat that has only notionally become free because the previous Labour MP was suspended from the party after being found to have sent messages hoping a couple of constituents would soon be dead/“mown down”, and is now apparently “off sick”. On top of which, we’re having the Americans round. US president D...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump’s grand ballroom is going to be even bigger than expected

The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially said the ballroom would have a capacity of 650

Politics

6 d. ago Reed said to have brought ‘change of tone’ to housing ministry after reshuffle

The new Housing Secretary is said to have issued a ‘call to arms’ during a meeting with developers.

Politics

6 d. ago Government ‘absolutely committed’ to homes pledge, new Housing Secretary says

Steve Reed took over Angela Rayner’s brief in Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle.

Politics

8 d. ago Tube drivers’ £72,000 salary not enough to buy house in London, union boss says

A salary of £72,000 is not enough to buy a house in London, says Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union

Economics

8 d. ago The president doth protest too much: Trump’s denial on Epstein is backfiring

Typically full of brio and swagger, the White House is scrambling because Trump is behaving so out of characterIt took Trump chronicler Maggie Haberman to cut to the chase: if Trump didn’t sign the birthday card or other documents released by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, the reporter asked in a quiet yet insistent tone, what’s the working theory as to why he’s in there?“The president has one of the most famous signatures in the world,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, replied on Tuesday. “The president did not write that letter. He did not sign those documents.” Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago White House denies that Trump wrote Epstein letter and calls investigation a Democrat ‘hoax’ – live

White House press secretary denies that president wrote Epstein a card that included the outline of a woman’s body for the sex trafficker’s 50th birthdayPhoto of novelty check suggests Epstein ‘sold’ Trump a womanJeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday book – in picturesMy colleague, Oliver Holmes, has been going through the Jeffrey Epstein 50th birthday album that House Democrats on the oversight committee released on Monday, after they subpoenaed Epstein’s estate.As Oliver notes, much of the book seems to be a collection of flattering and celebratory letters – often highly sexualised – from people who knew Epstein. They include photos of him embracing women in bikinis whose faces were redacted, and others showing scenes featuring wild animals having sex.Bill Clinton, who had left the US presidency a couple years before the publication of the book, is listed in the “friends” section.Peter Mandelson, the current UK ambassador to the United States, called Epstein his “best pal”. There are al...

Politics

9 d. ago White House hits back after Democrats share alleged Trump ‘birthday note’ to Jeffrey Epstein – live updates

Trump’s press secretary claims image released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee proves US president did not draw picture or sign itHouse Democrats share screenshot of apparent Trump birthday note to EpsteinIntent on vindication after spending four months in prison last year, Peter Navarro asked a federal appeals court on Sunday night to force Donald Trump’s justice department to explain why it would not defend his 2022 conviction for defying a January 6 committee subpoena.The request to the US court of appeals for the DC circuit is fraught for the department as it would have to confront the appearance that it quietly dropped the case in order to shield Navarro after he was tapped as a senior adviser to the president. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump takes shot at RFK Jr over vaccines amid Republican rift

A rift on vaccination could have opened in the White House as prominent vaccine sceptic and US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy is called out by Trump who dubbed vaccines "amazing"

Politics

1 week ago Military sites may be used to house asylum seekers, says defence secretary

John Healey says Keir Starmer is ‘absolutely determined’ to end use of hotels for asylum housing earlier than plannedUK politics live – latest updatesMilitary sites may be used temporarily to house people seeking asylum as Keir Starmer is “absolutely determined” to end the use of hotels earlier than planned, a senior cabinet minister has said.John Healey, the defence secretary, said military planners were looking at possible sites for accommodation on defence bases, as the prime minister wants to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers sooner than the promised date of 2029. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago UK military sites may be used to house asylum seekers, says defence secretary

John Healey says Keir Starmer is ‘absolutely determined’ to end use of hotels for asylum housing earlier than plannedUK politics live – latest updatesMilitary sites may be used temporarily to house people seeking asylum as Keir Starmer is “absolutely determined” to end the use of hotels earlier than planned, a senior cabinet minister has said.John Healey, the defence secretary, said military planners were looking at possible sites for accommodation on defence bases, as the prime minister wanted to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers sooner than the promised date of 2029. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago The barriers to progress in tackling Scotland's housing emergency

From planning delays to doubts around funding, industry figures and charities warn of ongoing pressures

Politics

1 week ago Graffiti outside Angela Rayner's flat removed as council reveals who paid for clean

Ms Rayner quit as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy Labour leader on Friday amid a tax scandal

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer completes major cabinet reshuffle after Angela Rayner resigns over stamp duty scandal

Shabana Mahmood is the new Home Secretary, David Lammy will take over a Deputy Prime Minister and Steve Reed becomes Housing Secretary

Politics

1 week ago Angela Rayner replaced by David Lammy as Deputy PM in major Keir Starmer reshuffle

Keir Starmer has announced changes to his top team after Angela Rayner's resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rayner’s resignation shows this government is worse than the last, Farage declares in Reform conference speech

Angela Rayner sensationally quit as deputy prime minister and housing secretary just one hour before Nigel Farage took to the stage in Birmingham

Politics

1 week ago Angela Rayner's resignation over tax scandal throws government into fresh disarray and sets up potential top party role for leftwing Starmer critic

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to carry out a wide reshuffle of his top team after Ms Rayner, 45, quit as deputy prime minister and housing secretary.

Politics

1 week ago Angela Rayner: The ‘teenage mum from a council estate’ who became deputy PM

Former housing secretary once described herself as ‘John Prescott in a skirt’.

Politics