13 h. ago I'll strengthen child safety after 'sickening' West Hampstead paedophile nursery case, says minister

Bridget Phillipson promises a full safeguarding review into how Vincent Chan, 45, was able to prey on youngsters in his care at Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead

Politics

14 h. ago Phillipson asked to consider mandating CCTV in nurseries after paedophile case

The Education Secretary made a statement in the Commons on Thursday about the ‘sickening case’ of paedophile nursery worker Vincent Chan.

Culture

15 h. ago Phillipson: We must learn every lesson in case of paedophile nursery worker

The Education Secretary has made a statement in the Commons about the ‘sickening case’ of paedophile nursery worker Vincent Chan.

Politics

15 h. ago Top Labour minister speaks of 'horror' at 'sickening' paedophile attack on nursery kids

Bridget Phillipson gave an update to MPs after Vincent Chan yesterday pleaded guilty to 26 harrowing charges, including five of sexual assault on a child by penetration

Politics

37 h. ago 11 Labour Senedd Members write scathing letter to Prime Minister

The letter accuses the UK Government of 'rolling back' devolution

Politics

40 h. ago Labour minister defends plans to scrap juries because judges have had diversity training

Following claims by Labour MPs that judges could be prejudiced, Baroness Levitt said she had 'confidence in a professional judiciary'.

Politics

44 h. ago Energy giants under pressure to pass on full £150 bill cut to fixed tariff customers

EXCLUSIVE: Labour Ministers have asked energy firms to ensure bills fall from April.

Economics

60 h. ago Labour's latest betrayal of farmers? NFU boss lashes out at ministers for 'sacrificing' Britain's dairy sector in India trade deal

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), told MPs of his concerns the industry had been used as a 'bargaining chip' in negotiations.

Politics

62 h. ago St Lucia prime minister Philip Pierre keeps majority as ruling party wins

The Labour party holds at least 13 seats after a campaign centered on crime, the economy and passport salesSt Lucian prime minister Philip Pierre’s Labour party (SLP) has held its legislative majority, putting Pierre on course for reelection after a campaign centered on economic management, violent crime and passport sales.Official election results on Tuesday showed the social democratic SLP winning at least 13 seats in the small Caribbean island’s 17-seat House of Assembly, matching its current majority with two seats left to be called. The results showed Pierre with 57.1% of the popular vote against conservative opposition leader Allen Chastanet’s 37.3%. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago It’s under fire from left and right – but Labour’s workers' rights bill is a huge achievement | Polly Toynbee

It makes no sense for union leaders to cry betrayal when it will be their members who benefit from these sorely needed reformsThe wall of sound shouting “liar” at the chancellor is a bizarre Westminster frenzy. Stand back from the hysteria and ask this question: how can Rachel Reeves be accused of raising more money than necessary when there is still pitifully little to go round in every department at her cabinet table? It’s a weird Tory ramp that she lied about a black hole when we can see it everywhere in the real world. She could have raised more.As the prime minister, Keir Starmer, pleads the case for all that was Labour-flavoured in the budget, the week also brought a breakthrough for Labour’s flagship employment rights bill. Shamelessly stymied by the Lords’ Tory majority, the government watered down a clause on so-called day-one rights that would have given workers protection from unfair dismissal from the day they walked into a job. That legal right will now kick in at six m...

Economics

3 d. ago Reeves ‘very clearly’ misled the public ahead of the Budget – Swinney

Labour ministers have denied any suggestion that Ms Reeves misled voters.

Politics

3 d. ago St Lucia votes in election dominated by economy, crime and passport sales

Philip Pierre hopes to fend off challenge from former PM Allen Chastanet amid tense relations with USVoters in St Lucia have gone to the polls to elect a new legislature and choose their prime minister, in a race dominated by debates over economic management, violent crime and passport sales.The Labour party, led by the prime minister, Philip Pierre, is seeking to fend off a challenge from the conservative opposition leader, Allen Chastanet, who preceded Pierre as prime minister of the island of 180,000 people. Labour holds a strong majority in both of St Lucia’s legislative chambers. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Scots could get £300 off their electricity bills if they have storage heaters

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour Minister Martin McCluskey revealed the saving amid a war of words over the Budget.

Economics

4 d. ago Starmer signals fresh push on welfare reform in bid to move on from Budget row

The Prime Minister will make the case for a welfare system shake-up after the axing of the two-child cap in the Budget was welcomed by Labour MPs.

Economics

4 d. ago There are those on the left and right who offer only grievance: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewal | Keir Starmer

Judge last week’s budget in the light of our bold plans to sweep away red tape, tackle inactivity among young people and pursue a closer trading relationship with the EUKeir Starmer is the prime minister of the United KingdomReport: Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer saysAt the budget last week, we made the right choices for Britain, cutting the cost of energy with £150 off bills, protecting the NHS and tackling the scourge of child poverty by removing the two-child limit. We also ensured that the revenue we raised through taxes was done fairly, with everyone contributing but those with the broadest shoulders contributing their fair share. As a result of the choices we made, the budget created a more stable economic environment, driving down inflation and government bond yields. This is vital for protecting our public services, when £1 in every £10 spent by government goes on debt interest.The budget builds on the action we have already taken to improve the e...

Economics

5 d. ago Two Labour ministers try to torpedo solar farm in Red Ed's back yard as Party is accused of 'astonishing hypocrisy'

The sprawling Whitestone Solar Farm would be the largest in the UK and carpet almost 5,000 acres of Green Belt land between Doncaster and Rotherham in South Yorkshire with solar panels

Politics

6 d. ago Congratulations everyone! Starmer survives another week, and it’s only cost us £26bn | Marina Hyde

Labour can proudly say this was a budget for working people – that is, if your job happens to be prime ministerThanks to Labour’s incredible Black Friday deal, breaking manifesto policies is buy-one-get-one-free. As part of its all-promises-must-go drive, it’s ditching its flagship policy giving the right to claim unfair dismissal from day one of employment. Employers will now have up to six months to summarily sack workers who don’t pan out – unless they’re the government, in which case people have to wait till 2029.The employment rights bill was drawn up and championed by Angela Rayner, who resigned in September following a series of discoveries about her tax affairs. Weird to think that Rayner could easily have been in the I’m a Celebrity camp right now. The former deputy PM reportedly got pretty far along in her discussions with ITV in terms of booking a spot on the current series of the fauna-testicle-based format, and could at this very moment have been giving us her Queen Ove...

Economics

6 d. ago Starmer accused of ‘complete betrayal’ by Labour backbenchers after workers’ rights U

The government has found itself in a stand off with Labour backbenchers who have accused ministers of breaking a manifesto pledge

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer faces backbench anger after ‘day one’ workers’ right U

MPs including a former employment minister have said the move breaches Labour’s manifesto.

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer says Budget ‘asked everybody to contribute’ to protect public services

The Prime Minister rejected claims the scrapping of the two-child cap had been announced to shore up his own position.

Politics