40 m. ago My lesson from 2025: Reform is much more vulnerable than it appears | Gaby Hinsliff

The party’s astonishingly speedy growth disguised shallow roots – and its success has brought a level of scrutiny for which it simply isn’t readyImagine a classroom with almost nothing in it, save some hard wooden benches and a stack of Bibles. Imagine the school it is in has only one loo, no canteen, gets freezing cold in winter – oh, and the playground is full of gravestones.If this sounds to you like the perfect setting to teach the country’s most vulnerable children, then you’re going to love Reform UK’s new Send policy, which involves cutting the bill for taxiing children to far-flung special schools by repurposing nearby “empty churches” (a term that in itself may surprise vicars) as schools on weekdays. But if you have actually met any children, and therefore suspect this idea isn’t going to fly, then read on to find out why Reform looks more beatable at the end of what has undeniably been its breakthrough year than it did at the beginning.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnis...

Politics

62 m. ago US strikes two more alleged drug boats, bringing death toll to over 100

US military declares five alleged drug traffickers killed in Pacific OceanThe US military said it killed on Thursday five more alleged drug traffickers aboard two vessels in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the divisive campaign’s death toll to over 100.The Trump administration has carried out such strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September but has provided no evidence that the boats are involved in drug trafficking, prompting debate about the operations’ legality. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Arsenal news: Declan Rice transfer wish emerges as contract 'breakthrough' made

Arsenal news as a Declan Rice revelation is made and key contract talks progress

Sport

3 h. ago US military says 2 strikes on alleged drug boats kill 5 in eastern Pacific

The U.S. military says that it conducted two more strikes Thursday against boats it said were smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing five people

Events

4 h. ago TOM LEONARD: How the exploits of celebrated doctor Oliver Sacks

On his death, aged 82, from terminal cancer in 2015, he was hailed as the 'Poet Laureate of contemporary medicine'.

Society

8 h. ago Hero neighbour saves family 'screaming for help' as huge fire rips through house

Fire crews raced to the scene and tackled the blaze for eight hours after a father and his two daughters were rescued from the semi-detached home in Wigan

Society

12 h. ago King Charles is seen with Guinness 'moustache' after drinking from 'perfect' pint he pulled during Royal tour of London brewery

King Charles 77, confidently took position as bartender during his tour of the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London today as he was hailed for pouring the 'perfect' pint.

Politics

12 h. ago New UK migration pact to tackle small boats hailed as breakthrough

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has signed a new pact with Greece which will see the UK help authorities deal with smuggling gangs and the supply of small boats used for Channel crossings

Politics

12 h. ago World Darts Championship star Beau Greaves reveals the humble job she did before sport breakthrough

BEAU GREAVES used to clean windows for a living – now she wants to smash glass ceilings. Before she became the finest female thrower on the planet, the Yorkshirewoman, 21, used to stand on ladders with a bucket of soapy water in one hand and a squeegee in the other. During that time in her...

Sport

13 h. ago How many migrants crossed the Channel yesterday? Hundreds make journey as UK agrees migration pact with Greece

In the last five days, 1,360 people have made the dangerous journey from France to the UK in small boats

Events

13 h. ago Major smartphone change and ban on sick AI apps in new plan to save lives

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said the new violence against women and girls plan will save lives, with steps to protect children from dangerous software and tackle misogyny

Politics

13 h. ago Major update on hero wounded tackling Bondi Beach gunman amid gruelling surgery

Ahmed al-Ahmed, hailed as a national hero by PM Anthony Albanese, is in "a lot of discomfort" after complex nerve surgery and will undergo another 8-hour operation following the Bondi Beach massacre

Politics

13 h. ago Majority of voters say Trump is going too far with presidential power, poll finds

After a year of tariffs, ICE raids, narco-boat bombings and the partial demolition of the White House, most Americans feel President Donald Trump has exceeded his authority, latest Quinnipiac survey finds

Politics

14 h. ago Westminster chaos as bomb squad deployed to tackle box of Christmas cards

Part of Westminster was cordoned off by police and a bomb disposal squad was deployed over a 'suspicious package'

Events

15 h. ago King Charles pulls the 'perfect' pint of Guinness at launch of new London brewery

King Charles 77, confidently took position as bartender during his tour of the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London today as he was hailed for pouring the 'perfect' pint.

Politics

17 h. ago Key points from UK's biggest clampdown on violence against women and girls in history

The Government has released its long-awaited strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), with safeguarding minister Jess Phillips saying it represents a 'culture change'

Events

17 h. ago Crackdown on deepfake abuse part of strategy to tackle violence against women

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips announced the move as she set out the Government’s Vawg strategy.

Events

17 h. ago Tackling violence against women and girls will be treated like terror and organised crime crackdown, Labour vows

Jess Phillips promises ‘change is coming’ as long-awaited violence against women and girls strategy published

Events

18 h. ago How council is tackling backlog of important checks on elderly people

Swansea Council has to carry out assessments on people with conditions like dementia who, while in a safe place in a care home, are seen as being deprived of their liberty

Politics

18 h. ago Rochdale grooming police whistleblower Maggie Oliver said she feared being jailed but decided 'speaking the truth was more important than my job'

The former Greater Manchester Police officer has told of the 'almost impossible' move she made over force failures to tackle widespread child grooming and sex abuse.

Events