78 m. ago London’s victims’ commissioner named as new England and Wales advocate

Claire Waxman described it as a ‘true honour’ to take on her new post.

Events

4 h. ago Tuchel may scorn politics, but his England team cannot escape their symbolism | Jonathan Liew

As toxic nationalism spills over into our shared spaces, the England shirt is freighted with meaning for better or worseThe crosses of St George are flying all around me. Fair to say the opening line of Three Lions ’98 hits a little differently in 2025. The crosses of St George are being daubed on an Islamic centre in Basildon. The crosses of St George are being used to deface a Chinese takeaway in York. The crosses of St George are draped over men shouting at a three-star hotel from a mini-roundabout. The crosses of St George are retailing for about £2.36 on Temu, depending on whether you want them car-window sized, or big enough to write the words “GET OFF MY LAND” in the white spaces.Keir Starmer has declared that he is “a supporter of flags”. Alas, at the time of writing the prime minister’s position on other items of tactile fabric remains unclear. What does he think about blankets? Does he endorse or condemn the dishcloth? Not to be outdone, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, ...

Politics

5 h. ago Officials must ‘get off bums’ and quickly set up football regulator – Blunkett

Legislation passed in July paves the way to set up the body which will oversee the professional men’s game in England.

Politics

49 h. 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

3 d. ago Starmer hails expansion of funded childcare amid nursery workforce warnings

Eligible working parents in England can access 30 hours a week of free childcare for children older than nine months.

Events

5 d. ago Train passenger says delay because of flag flying was ‘bonkers’

People trying to hang flags from bridges meant speed restrictions were imposed on an East Midlands Railway service, a passenger reported.

Politics

6 d. ago Windfall tax on banks could raise £8bn a year, Rachel Reeves told as she seeks to plug Budget black hole

This money is then partly being funnelled to bank shareholders due to a ‘flawed’ policy design, a new report says

Economics

6 d. ago No childhood vaccine in England reached 95% uptake target last year, data shows

Health officials also warned almost one in five children will start primary school without protection against a number of serious diseases.

Events

7 d. ago Scheme offering free meals and activities to poorer pupils in holidays extended

It comes as working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare a week for children older than nine months from Monday.

Politics

7 d. ago Young people being ‘overdiagnosed’ with mental ill health – Hunt

The former health secretary argued that society has ‘lost sight of the fundamental reality that child development is a messy and uneven process’.

Science

7 d. ago Fact check: Photograph of St George’s Cross is from 11 years ago

A photograph taken by a PA news agency photographer has been recently shared on social media.

Culture

9 d. 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

1 week ago Almost 800 shoplifting offences a day go unsolved, study shows

Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds described the figures as ‘shameful’.

Politics

1 week ago Criminals to face being banned from pubs under new sentencing powers

Courts will be given greater freedom to ban offenders from activities including going to sports matches or concerts.

Events

1 week ago Interflex training programme for Ukrainian recruits to continue until 2026

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK was ‘ramping up’ its support for Ukrainian forces, ahead of independence day celebrations in Kyiv.

Politics

2 w. ago Smacking ban urged amid growing belief child physical punishment ‘unacceptable’

According to the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is ‘reasonable punishment’, and this is judged case-by-case.

Politics

2 w. ago Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places’

Competition for the most selective sixth forms would be ‘fiercer’ after the VAT change on private school fees, one education expert said.

Politics

2 w. ago Boys and girls should be taught about periods together in school, academics say

Mixed sessions could help male pupils understand menstruation better and support the females in their lives, a study suggests.

Politics

2 w. ago Disadvantaged white pupils have ‘particularly poor’ education outcomes – report

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said it was a ‘disgrace’ that so many white, working-class children are being written off at school.

Events

2 w. ago Quarter of parents sacrifice food or heating to afford school uniform – poll

The Education Secretary has called on schools to reduce immediately the number of branded items of uniform they require ahead of a change in the law.

Society