61 h. ago Homelessness is increasingly hard to ignore – unless you are the Labour party | Simon Jenkins

The government is focused on building new homes for floating voters, while landlordism is discouraged and homes stand empty As opera-goers trooped into the London Coliseum this week, three helpless drunks were camping on the adjacent front steps. One was struggling to stop another pulling down his trousers – or possibly helping him. In Chandos Place around the corner, half a dozen more were bedding down out of the rain. Over the road, staff at the hallowed St Martin-in-the-Fields homeless charity were under siege.There is only one housing crisis. It is not the lack of somewhere nice to live. It is the lack of somewhere to sleep. Rough sleeping is vagrancy, and illegal in England and Wales under the Vagrancy Act. It means the police can “move you on”. The government promised to “develop a new cross-government strategy” to “put Britain back on track to ending homelessness” in its election manifesto, so next spring it is scrapping the 19th-century act. Rough sleeping will be decriminal...

Society

7 d. ago Bonfire Night disorder sees child, 4, struck with firework as witnesses urged to "do the right thing"

Cops have released images of a person they want to speak to in relation to the incident

Events

1 week ago Cops poised for firework disorder as officers watch over Bonfire Night displays

Police in Edinburgh have been given additional powers to stop and search people and vehicles as they aim to tackle the widespread Bonfire Night disorder seen in previous years.

Events

1 week ago Which of our warnings came true in the first year after Trump’s second election?

From military-level force in cities to tens of thousands of federal workers fired by the Trump administration, effects have been felt at every levelLast year, as Donald Trump’s campaign promises and policy proposals became increasingly clear, the Guardian published a series called The Stakes to outline the impact the administration would likely have on the country. The stories were broken down by subject matter – spanning civil rights, health, immigration and cities.Much of what was covered in the series has played out on American streets and inside homes since Trump was inaugurated in January. From military-level force used in urban centers, to tens of thousands of federal workers fired by the administration, the effects have been felt at every level. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago SNP 'chucking promises into landfill' after landmark environment policy delayed by two years

Proposals to ban black-bag waste being sent to landfill sites in Scotland have been temporarily shelved.

Events

1 week ago Scots firefighters recall 'horrible' firework attack amid Bonfire Night disorder

Debbie McCafferty, Watch Commander, and her crewmates were called to an unofficial bonfire last year.

Events

1 week ago All the ways Zohran Mamdani's win is set to upend life in New York: From higher taxes to fewer cops

Now that Zohran Mamdani has been crowned the mayor of New York City, here are all the ways he is expected to upend New Yorker's lives with his promised policies.

Politics

1 week ago Tottenham: Xavi Simons gets final chance to find form ahead of brutal run

With games against Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG looming, Spurs need £52m signing to step up on a big night against Copenhagen

Politics

1 week ago Labour says Farage would revive austerity as he prepares to set out economic vision in speech – UK politics live

Reform UK leader expected to promise deregulation and spending cuts as Labour and Conservatives attack policiesThe Tories claim Reform UK are “leftwing” partly on the basis of Nigel Farage’s welfare policies. In particular, in their briefing overnight (see 9.34am), the Tories backed this up by saying that they would cut welfare spending by £23bn, when Reform’s plans (so far) only add up to £9bn, and that Farage would abolish the two-child benefit cap (but only for British parents working full-time, Politico reports).The “leftwing” description is even harder to sustain in the light of this report for Politico by Dan Bloom about Reform’s economic plans.Let’s be clear, we’ve said we don’t guarantee it. Everything’s up for review, because nothing’s affordable if we keep spending more than we’re earning. And we’ve said that consistently if we the country go bust, which is the direction of travel we’re heading, one way or the other, nothing’s affordable.You’re not asking about the much, m...

Politics

2 w. ago Nigel Farage to promise business deregulation in economic policy speech

Reform UK leader to set out ‘pro-entrepreneurship’ agenda while rowing back on tax cuts pledgeNigel Farage will promise a bonfire of business regulation as he spells out his party’s economic policies in more detail than ever in an attempt to bolster its reputation for fiscal credibility.The Reform leader will give a speech in London putting deregulation at the heart of his economic agenda, while also dropping a commitment made at the last election to deliver £90bn of tax cuts. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Tories pledge to stop 35,000 crimes by deploying more police to violent 'hot spots'

The Conservatives have promised to stop 35,000 crimes by deploying more police to violent "hot spots" if they return to power.

Events

3 w. ago Police promise firework disorder crackdown as Bonfire Night looms

The national operation will see public order officers deployed alongside local cops to try to prevent violence and disorder in communities.

Events

3 w. ago Scots cops vow Bonfire Night crackdown 'with record resources' after recent chaos

Riots erupted in Edinburgh last year amid disorder in communities across the nation, with fireworks being used to attack emergency service personnel, public transport and shops.

Events