14 h. ago Don’t think Nigel Farage will kill off the Tories? Just look at Reform UK’s surge in Scotland | Owen Jones

The party is making inroads among people who once chose not to vote. But as Zia Yusuf’s resignation shows, chaos still reignsIf you were doubting that Nigel Farage had a serious chance of heading a hard-right British government in 2029, the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse just poured a bucket of particularly icy water over your head. Though Labour won the Scottish parliamentary byelection, defying predictions it would be beaten into third place, Reform UK chalked up more than a quarter of the vote – trailing the victors by an unsubstantial 1,500 voters.This tells a devastating story. Nigel Farage’s outfit seriously outperformed the level of support indicated by Scottish polling: the last four surveys had Reform on between 12% and 19%, yet it secured 26% of the vote after standing here for the first time. This suggests it is mobilising previous non-voters whom pollsters are not picking up. The latest UK-wide YouGov poll, which asked people how they would vote if there wer...

Events

35 h. ago Keir Starmer vows to attack child poverty crisis after free school meals boost

Keir Starmer said expanding free school meals to more than half a million more pupils next year was a 'down payment' on the Governments plans to drive down child poverty

Events

37 h. ago Muslims look forward to the annual Eid feast. Many Africans are now struggling to afford it

As Eid al-Adha approaches, many Muslim families across west Africa are struggling to afford rams for the traditional sacrifice, with prices tripling in some areas due to inflation, insecurity, and economic policies

Events

38 h. 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

41 h. ago Handing free school meals to all children from households that claim Universal Credit WON'T drag 100,000 out of poverty next year, says IFS

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will soon have an entitlement to free school meals.

Society

41 h. ago Primary school bans smartphones after 9,000 messages sent in just one night in children's WhatsApp group

Shocked at the discovery, executive headteacher Simon Botten started a debate with parents on whether smartphones should be allowed in schools - and now pupils can't bring them in at all.

Politics

52 h. 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

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves warned child poverty will be higher at next election unless one choice is made

Eleven charities, including Citizens Advice, Save the Children UK, and Trussell, warn that the two-child limit has pulled 37,000 children into poverty since Labour took office

Events

3 d. ago Families, pensioners and disabled people due between £59 and £305 in one

Thousands of households will receive additional cash support from the Scottish Government.

Economics

4 d. ago Readers' Letters: Scottish Government's stance on defence spending misguided

A reader suggests the Scottish Government should be more supportive of spending on munitions

Politics

4 d. ago Over 12,000 children supported through Scottish Child Payment by families in West Lothian

The Scottish Child Payment – currently £27.15 per week for each eligible child under 16 – is a key part of the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate child poverty.

Society

4 d. ago Payment warning to people making a new claim for devolved disability benefits in Scotland

Social Security Scotland has issued crucial advice to people getting help to make a new claim for Adult, Child or Pension Age Disability Payment.

Events

4 d. ago Achieving child poverty target 'could cost £920m a year in benefits'

‘Laser-focused prioritisation’ required by next Parliament to lift 100,000 children out of poverty

Economics

5 d. ago Rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK boosts support for Scottish independence

A new poll puts support for Yes at 54 per cent

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish independence support surges over fears Nigel Farage could be next Prime Minister

The Reform UK leader is expected to campaign in Scotland for the first time since 2019 ahead of this week's Hamilton by-election.

Politics

5 d. ago Is Starmer's failure putting the union at risk? Support for Scottish independence hits record 54% amid Reform surge

A Norstat poll found 54 per cent backed the separatist cause north of the border, the joint highest ever detected by the firm.

Events

7 d. ago Galloway National Park opponents and supporters react to Scottish Government scrapping plans

Opponents say they are 'very relieved' the bid won't move forward but supporters say it is a 'big loss'.

Politics

7 d. ago Parental intuition better at spotting child illness than vital signs, study finds

Study strengthens case for families to have right to second opinion under Martha’s rule being piloted in NHS EnglandParental intuition is more likely to predict critical illness among children than vital signs used to monitor health, according to a study that strengthens the case for families to have a right to a second opinion under Martha’s rule being piloted in the NHS.Experts from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said parents should be treated as part of a child’s care team in hospital after data on almost 190,000 emergency hospital visits involving children. Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago Liverpool parade driver is charged over 'horrific' carnage that left 79 football fans injured: Middle

A middle-class company director, Paul Doyle is married with three teenage children and lives in a smart £300,000, four-bedroomed detached property on a neat estate.

Sport

8 d. ago School support worker called little girl 's**g' and 'fat wh*re on Snapchat

Gillian Sorbie, a former primary school support worker, went on to call the child a "fat whore".

Politics