62 h. ago SNP Government names date for abolition of two child benefit cap in Scotland

EXCLUSIVE: Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville provided more details of a policy that was the centrepiece of the SNP Government's Budget.

Politics

3 d. ago Winter fuel payment to be restored in full for most Scots pensioners by SNP Government

The First Minister announced the change to the scheme in the wake of a rethink by the UK Government.

Politics

9 d. ago Rachel Reeves forced ‘to make £5bn cuts’ to balance books after spending review

Exclusive: Chancellor set to unveil Labour’s spending plans Wednesday but researchers warn she will need to make £5bn of cuts by 2028/29 — even before finding the cash to restore winter fuel payments to pensioners

Economics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves makes winter fuel payment vow to pensioners after major U

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that millions of pensioners would have the winter fuel allowance restored this year after the Government bowed to pressure to ditch the cut

Economics

1 week ago The Guardian view on Labour’s tough choices: they are costing the government dearly | Editorial

Austerity-era scepticism runs deep – and Labour’s abstract promises are falling flat as Nigel Farage rises in the pollsThe Labour government’s abrupt U-turn on winter fuel payments – restoring the benefit to more than three-quarters of pensioners – reveals less a change of heart than a sobering realisation in Westminster: after years of austerity, the public no longer gives politicians the benefit of the doubt. The irony is hard to miss. Labour set out to prove that “grown-up” economics means difficult decisions – only to find that once trust is lost, voters won’t accept vague promises without tangible results.It turns out many are sceptical that sacrifices will produce better results for society. That’s why ministers are struggling to justify cuts to disability benefits as a way to “fund” public services – or to convince the public that Britain can’t afford to lift the two-child benefit cap even as ministers claim they will reduce child poverty. There may be more conspicuous retrea...

Politics

1 week ago Winter fuel payment should be restored for NI pensioners – Lyons

Around 250,000 pensioners in NI were affected when the payment was cut last year in a cost-saving measure by the new Labour government.

Economics

1 week ago I'm NOT sorry! Reeves refuses to apologise for winter fuel shambles despite restoring payments to millions of pensioners... amid fears of tax hikes to fund U

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that more than three-quarters of older people will get the allowance - worth up to £300 - this winter.

Economics

1 week ago Winter Fuel Payment: Labour restores 2025 allowance to millions of pensioners, eligibility

Older people are being urged to check if they qualify under new income rules ❄️

Economics

1 week ago DWP confirms group that won't have £300 winter fuel payment restored under new rules

After a hugely unpopular decision to strip universal payments and start means-testing pensioners last year, the government has confirmed more people will get support this winter - here is everything you need to know

Economics

1 week ago Winter fuel payments threshold to rise to £35,000, Rachel Reeves announces

Change means about 7.5 million pensioners in England and Wales who lost out on payment will have it restoredUK politics live – latest updatesAll pensioners with an income of £35,000 or less a year will have the winter fuel payment restored in full, Rachel Reeves has announced, after weeks of uncertainty over the decision to make a U-turn on scrapping the benefit.Ministers are restoring the automatic payments as a universal benefit this winter and then recouping the money when higher-income pensioners fill in their tax returns, as creating a new means test would be a highly complex option. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Children in most deprived areas more likely to visit A&E and be obese – Unicef

The organisation has called on the Government to lift its two-child benefit cap after its report on deprivation in England.

Politics

1 week ago LORD ASHCROFT: 'We can sniff Starmer's fear of Farage' say voters as they back winter fuel U

Voters have been wondering what it was about Reform's surge in local elections that prompted Starmer to tighten his immigration policy and row back the winter fuel allowance cuts.

Politics

2 w. ago Charities welcome free school meals change but warn ‘more is needed’

Charities and school leaders welcomed the change but urged the Government to reconsider the two-child benefit cap to ease poverty levels.

Events

2 w. ago Winter fuel payments to be restored to millions of pensioners this winter after Labour Government u

The rethink followed a major political backlash that derailed the Labour Government.

Economics

2 w. ago SNP and Reform UK 'have more in common than they would care to admit' in row over Holyrood funding

EXCLUSIVE: Ian Murray has accused John Swinney and Nigel Farage of both wanting to scrap the Barnett Formula that guarantees higher public spending in Scotland.

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: With families facing impossible choices, Labour’s should be easy

Editorial: New figures shared with The Independent show the extent to which families are relying on baby banks. The government’s plans to tackle child poverty should start immediately

Politics

2 w. ago Thousands of Britain's biggest jobless families in line for taxpayer

Labour and Reform are both pushing to ditch the policy brought in by the Tories in 2017 despite the £3.5billion cost it would incur.

Society

2 w. ago Starmer and Farage in ‘race to the bottom’ on child benefit cap, says Badenoch

Campaigners say the cap exacerbates child poverty and has had a minimal impact on birth rate or family size.

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch takes aim at Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer for 'race to the bottom' over welfare handouts as Tory leader accuses rivals of asking taxpayers to 'fund unlimited child support for others'

In a feisty attack on the Reform and Labour leaders, Mrs Badenoch said the pair believed in getting taxpayers to fund 'unlimited child support for others' by scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

Economics

2 w. ago BBC Question Time audience snigger at guest's 'saucy' remark amid benefit showdown

Question Time, held in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on Thursday, saw the panel discuss the two-child benefit cap, which Keir Starmer has this week hinted at easing

Events