6 d. ago 'Overwhelmed' communities push for SNP minister to copy England on 100

Communities are fighting to have more say on the increase in developments where they live

Politics

7 d. ago Area of England well protected for nature is in decline, data shows

Wildlife coalition says figure stands at 2.83% of country, less than in 2024 and tiny fraction of the 2030 target of 30%The area of England protected effectively for nature is continuing to decline, according to data from the country’s largest coalition of wildlife organisations, as experts say the government is allowing habitats to deteriorate.The government is under a legal obligation to protect 30% of land and sea in the UK for nature by 2030, a pledge made in 2020 by the then prime minister, Boris Johnson. At the moment, however, 2.83% of England is well protected for nature, 2.4% of Wales, 4% of Northern Ireland and 12.6% of Scotland. This gives an average of 6% of the UK as a whole, which is well below the target. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago John Swinney insists saltire is a 'flag of welcome' and blasts 'chilling' language on immigration

The First Minister made a strong defence of immigration as he spoke to SNP activists in Leith while making a renewed push for an IndyRef2.

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on the dental divide: ministers must brush up their policy as well as children’s teeth | Editorial

Gaps in access to dentists mirror other health inequalities. And ‘golden hellos’ won’t solve the problem on their ownDisadvantaged primary school pupils at the government’s first wave of new breakfast clubs can expect to be trained in toothbrushing, as well as fed. Data showing that a fifth of all five-year-olds in England have experienced tooth decay persuaded ministers to make improved oral health part of the early years and reception class curriculum. But the prevalence of decay is not evenly spread across the country. And research showing how much worse the situation is for children in deprived areas is in line with other findings about widening health inequalities.New analysis from the Local Government Association highlights the differing availability of dental care across council areas – a situation sometimes described as a dental divide. It found no specific correlation between the numbers of NHS dentists and young children with tooth decay. But it adds to a body of...

Politics

2 w. ago Minister to get power to veto sentencing guidance after ‘two

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she wanted to ‘right the democratic deficit that has been uncovered’.

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer seeks to wrest back policy control from Treasury in No 10 shake

Prime minister brings in chancellor’s deputy and former Bank of England chief to newly created senior roles• Downing Street shake-up: who’s in and who’s out at No 10Keir Starmer has attempted to wrest back control of economic policy from the Treasury by bolstering his No 10 team, bringing in the chancellor’s deputy and a former Bank of England chief to senior roles.Ahead of what is likely to be a tumultuous autumn for the government, he created two new roles with Darren Jones put in charge of day-to-day delivery and Minouche Shafik appointed the prime minister’s chief economic adviser. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Liz Truss backs Trump attacks on Fed and says ‘reckoning’ on way for central banks

Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister also critical of Bank of England and European Central BankBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s assault on the independence of the US Federal Reserve has been backed by Liz Truss, the shortest-serving British prime minister in history, who was ousted after a meltdown in the financial markets.The former Conservative leader, who during her 49 days in power in late 2022 railed against the “deep state” and the Bank of England for undermining her before she was ejected from office by her own party, said a “reckoning” was coming for the world’s most powerful central banks. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Nearly 100,000 homes sped up by drive to cut red tape, ministers claim

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the New Homes Accelerator was ‘breaking down the barriers’ stopping new homes from being built.

Politics