46 m. ago SNP accused of 'raiding' £8bn from councils' core funding as tax poised to rise

New analysis has suggested SNP ministers have cut Scottish councils’ core funding by almost £8 billion.

Economics

46 m. ago Labour has humane and popular plans to stand up for UK workers. Why dilute them? | Gaby Hinsliff

Angela Rayner’s employment rights bill is precisely why many voted for this government. Why be embarrassed about a defining policy?One step forward, two steps back. Angela Rayner’s employment rights bill is back in the Commons this week, stuffed with ideas for improving everyday working life: that’s the big step forward for a government that was elected on a promise of radical change. The weekend headlines, however, were all about what won’t be changing after all. The so-called right to switch off – an early Rayner idea about legislating to prevent employees being pestered by out-of-hours calls and emails, which was already presumed dead due to not being in the bill – was ritually killed off once again for the Sunday papers, with a briefing that it still won’t be in the bill after fresh amendments are tabled on Tuesday.Presumably the idea was to reassure businesses fearful of extra regulatory burdens, on top of the looming April hike in employers’ national insurance. But since it’s ...

Politics

1 hour ago Russia sending ‘suicidal missions’ to win foothold over Dnipro River, says Ukraine

Moscow trying to improve its claim to entire Kherson region in time for peace negotiations, says governorRussian forces are repeatedly trying to seize a foothold across Ukraine’s Dnipro River, dispatching troops on high-casualty missions to gain territory for future peace negotiations, according to the Ukrainian governor of Kherson region.Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces were trying to cross in four locations to justify their claim to the whole oblast, one of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow says it wants to incorporate. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago BBC bosses to be questioned by MPs amid Gaza documentary controversy

The session on Tuesday morning was already scheduled as part of the committee’s ongoing scrutiny into the work of the corporation.

Politics

4 h. ago 'The harsh light of scrutiny is shining on the Labour Welsh Government'

Rhun ap Iorwerth is the leader of Plaid Cymru. In this opinion piece, he lays out why Plaid Cymru will not vote for Welsh Labour's spending plans

Politics

5 h. ago Bridget Phillipson faces pressure to scrap VAT raid on private school fees as Labour MP calls for U

Dr Rupa Huq (pictured), the Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said putting 20 per cent VAT on independent school fees was punishing 'working people'.

Events

5 h. ago DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Will Labour ever end this migration farce

Is there no one our immigration courts believe should be removed from this country? Their recent decisions have become so farcical they appear to have lost all touch with reality.

Politics

5 h. ago Labour ministers are urged to use billions in Russian assets

At the weekend, Rachel Reeves announced that she would use the profits of frozen Russian assets to fund a £2.26 billion loan scheme to help Kyiv fund its reconstruction and buy weapons.

Politics

5 h. ago EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The Game of Homes: Jerome Flynn opens Welsh yoga retreat

As mercenary Bronn in Game of Thrones, he was a bodyguard, assassin and enforcer.

Politics

6 h. ago UberEats reveals its 25 'hottest bites' for 2025 as takeaway giant predicts this year's trendiest foods

To celebrate making their one billionth delivery in the UK since launching nine years ago in 2016, UberEats has shed light on this year's growing food trends.

Events

6 h. ago The 10 locations in Scotland that will get up to £20m each from UK government to regenerate communities

Scottish Government welcomes cash but says it should have been invested through “well established mechanisms”

Politics

6 h. ago Angela Rayner rolls out £1.5billion pot to boost 75 neighbourhoods

A total of 75 areas will each receive up to £20million in funding over the next decade to help revive high streets, youth clubs, parks and libraries, the government said

Economics

6 h. ago Local people to ‘control where Whitehall cash goes’ under neighbourhoods plans

Money will be made available from April 2025, with projects expected to be able to get up and running in 2026.

Events

6 h. ago Government adverts launched to warn of misinformation from people smugglers

The digital content shared by the Home Office comes as part of an international campaign to warn those considering coming to the UK.

Events

7 h. ago Channel 4 News featured son of Hamas official used in BBC Gaza documentary

Footage of Abdullah al-Yazouri, whose father is deputy agriculture minister, included in Gaza reportsChannel 4 News featured the son of a Hamas official in its Gaza coverage, the same teenager who narrated a controversial BBC documentary on the conflict, it has emerged. The news programme used footage of Abdullah al-Yazouri without initially disclosing he was the son of Ayman al-yazouri, the deputy agriculture minister in Gaza’s Hamas-run government. Channel 4 News reported on one occasion that Abdullah was selling chocolate on the streets of Rafah to “help support his family”, according to The Telegraph. Abdullah narrated the BBC’s documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone which was pulled from the iPlayer after details of his family background emerged, with the corporation’s board last week apologising for “significant and damaging” mistakes.In a statement on Monday, Channel 4 News said no payments were made to Abdullah or his family and the boy did not feature in Channel 4 News’...

Politics

7 h. ago Covid inquiry rejects bid from Mone to be ‘core participant’

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry began four weeks of scrutiny of decisions to purchase personal protective equipment on Monday.

Politics

7 h. ago Keir Starmer faces growing pressure from senior Labour MPs over his decision to cut the overseas aid budget to fund increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP

Labour MPs lined up to criticise the move in the Commons on Monday, with Barry Gardiner warning it would lead to more 'more people being slain by famine, drought, disaster and war'.

Economics

8 h. ago Teen pulled out to sea by 'rare weather phenomenon' on coast of holiday hotspot

An alert had been issued by the Canary Islands government, warning of four-metre waves and hazardous conditions along the coast, but the teenager's family were unaware

Politics

8 h. ago Minister: Abuse victims deserve change rather than lamenting and repenting

Home Office minister Jess Phillips made the remarks in response to calls for independent safeguarding in the Church of England.

Politics

8 h. ago Farmers to gather in London for pancake day protest against inheritance tax

Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday towards Parliament, with the demonstration due to end at 3pm.

Economics