4 h. ago Water shortages and soaring bills as MPs issue 'monumental' warning

MPs on the public accounts committee said the system of regulating water companies needs 'a complete overhaul' to rebuild trust and ensure its poor performance improves

Events

15 h. ago Stop flushing the toilets to help survive water shortage crisis, Brits warned

Behavioural scientists warn there is still a “knowledge gap” despite decades of advice telling people how not to waste water in their homes

Events

6 d. ago London fire: Billows of smoke soar from London flat as 70 firefighters rush to put out flames

London fire: Billows of smoke soar from London flat as 70 firefighters rush to put out flames  GB News

Events

9 d. ago Bridget Phillipson hit with blow after MPs issue stark warning over 6,500 new teacher vow

Bridget Phillipson is under pressure over Labour’s landmark election vow to hire 6,500 additional teachers as MPs warn it is 'unclear' how the pledge will be delivered

Events

9 d. ago Council tax bombshell: Bills in London borough 'would have to soar 27%' to plug funding reforms black hole

EXCLUSIVE: London boroughs facing being hard hit by the controversial shake-up include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Wandsworth, Richmond, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Camden and the City of London

Economics

1 week ago Disability claims 'set to soar by more than a million' before the next election after Labour's U

An official forecast published alongside the Government's benefits bill reveals that ministers believe the number of claims will soar by 40 per cent in the next four years.

Politics

2 w. ago Droughts worldwide pushing tens of millions towards starvation, says report

Water shortages hitting crops, energy and health as crisis gathers pace amid climate breakdownDrought is pushing tens of millions of people to the edge of starvation around the world, in a foretaste of a global crisis that is rapidly deepening with climate breakdown.More than 90 million people in eastern and southern Africa are facing extreme hunger after record-breaking drought across many areas, ensuing widespread crop failures and the death of livestock. In Somalia, a quarter of the population is now edging towards starvation, and at least a million people have been displaced. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Ofgem says UK household energy bills set to soar by over £100

Britain's energy watchdog has given the green light to an initial £24 billion of investment to upgrade UK energy infrastructure

Economics

2 w. ago Tourists warned of ‘new normal’ as Europe heatwave hits visitors and locals

Water shortages are hitting several areas across Europe

Events

3 w. ago Starmer dismisses welfare cuts revolt as ‘noises off’ and defends his leadership – as it happened

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will pull the entire welfare bill before the en...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer dismisses welfare cuts revolt as ‘noises off’ and defends his leadership – UK politics live

PM ‘committed to reforming system’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer suggests welfare bill revolt just ‘noises off’ as he denies being bad at politics – UK politics live

PM ‘committed to reforming system’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer suggests welfare bill revolt just ‘noises off’ as he rejects claim row shows he is bad at politics – UK politics live

PM ‘committed to reforming system’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will...

Politics

3 w. ago Angela Rayner says vote on welfare bill will go ahead on Tuesday despite growing rebellion – UK politics live

Deputy prime minister says ‘we will go ahead’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that...

Politics

3 w. ago Angela Rayner says vote on welfare bill will go ahead on Tuesday as she faces Mel Stride at PMQs – UK politics live

Deputy prime minister says ‘we will go ahead’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that...

Politics

3 w. ago Why the ‘individual conscience vote’ of MPs had its own assisted death last week

Votes on abortion and assisted death suggest the UK is on the cusp of a major shift - issues once determined by MPs’ individual conscience are becoming American-style party political matters, political editor David Maddox writes

Politics

3 w. ago Urgent water shortage warning amid heatwaves as experts say 'we must change'

We need to start holding onto our water as a precious resource and appreciated for the critical role it plays in our economy, ecosystems and to keep us alive, experts have warned

Events

3 w. ago You can take your child out of school for holiday during term

MPs are set to discuss the issue after a petition gained more than 181,000 signatures as it emerged that in some places, the cost of a package holiday jumps by 28% per traveller

Politics

3 w. ago Assisted dying latest: Labour MPs issue warning over ‘drastically weakened’ End of Life bill

Campaigners making final cases as MPs prepare for final reading in Commons

Events

4 w. ago The Guardian view on assisted dying: a momentous bill that needs further attention | Editorial

Kim Leadbeater has led a strong campaign, but concerns about the likely impact on vulnerable people remainThe central issue before MPs, as they decide how to vote on the latest version of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill, is how to value individual autonomy relative to collective responsibility for vulnerable members of society when making regulations around the end of life. Should terminally ill people be allowed to end their lives with medical help? If so, under what safeguards? The question remains ethically, medically and legally complex.Technological and social changes enabling people to live much longer have created challenges around the resourcing of care and experiences of ageing and dying. There are profound questions about how we manage the final stages of life – and what we owe to those living through them. Continue reading...

Events