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Sat, 2 August 2025
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Matilda Martin

@matilda__martin

Matilda is a reporter at PoliticsHome. Previously she was a senior reporter at TES.

Could Labour Lose Its Grip On London?
Political parties
Could Labour Lose Its Grip On London?
London has rarely been a concern for Labour strategists in recent years. But there is nervousness about what awaits them at next year's elections in the capital.
Labour Peers Want New Rules For Lords Debates After A Rise In Midnight Sittings
Parliament
By Matilda Martin
Labour Peers Want New Rules For Lords Debates After A Rise In Midnight Sittings
Labour peers are calling for new limits on House of Lords debates following what they describe as an increase in the number of votes taking place in the early hours of the morning.
UK And France Announce 'One In, One Out' Illegal Migration Returns Deal
Foreign affairs
UK And France Announce 'One In, One Out' Illegal Migration Returns Deal
Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have announced a new UK-France illegal migrant returns deal as part of a joint bid to tackle small boat crossings.
Macron Says UK And France “Will Deliver Together” On Tackling Illegal Migration
Foreign affairs
Macron Says UK And France “Will Deliver Together” On Tackling Illegal Migration
President Emmanuel Macron has told Parliament that Britain and France will "deliver together” on tackling illegal migration.
Education Secretary Holding SEND Meetings With Labour MPs To Avoid Repeat Of Welfare Rebellion
Education
By Matilda Martin
Education Secretary Holding SEND Meetings With Labour MPs To Avoid Repeat Of Welfare Rebellion
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is leading an operation to engage Labour backbenchers over potential reforms to the special educational needs system as part of government efforts to avoid a repeat of the recent welfare backlash.
London Councils Urge Capital's MPs To Oppose Local Funding Reforms
Communities
By Matilda Martin
London Councils Urge Capital's MPs To Oppose Local Funding Reforms
The body representing local authorities in London is urging MPs in the capital to push back against government proposals for funding reform, with a briefing note seen by PoliticsHome warning that they would mean "devastating" cuts to councils.
Welfare Bill Passes House Of Commons Vote After Day Of Pain For Government
Health
By Matilda Martin
Welfare Bill Passes House Of Commons Vote After Day Of Pain For Government
The government's welfare bill has passed a House of Commons vote after another major concession to Labour rebels.
Government Offers Major Eleventh Hour Concession On Welfare Reforms
Health
Government Offers Major Eleventh Hour Concession On Welfare Reforms
The government has offered another major concession on its welfare reforms just before a House of Commons vote in a bid to avoid a backbench rebellion.
No Reason Why Lords Can't Vote On 'Terrible' Assisted Dying Bill, Says Tory Peer
Health
By Matilda Martin
No Reason Why Lords Can't Vote On "Terrible" Assisted Dying Bill, Says Tory Peer
MPs leaving the House of Lords to iron out issues with the assisted dying bill is a "terrible dereliction of duty", a Conservative peer and former chief whip has told PoliticsHome.
Immigration Policies Could Produce Another Windrush Generation, Labour MP Warns
Communities
Immigration Policies Could Produce Another Windrush Generation, Labour MP Warns
The government's immigration policies could produce another Windrush generation, a London Labour MP has said.
UK Student Interest In US Universities Falls Sharply
Education
UK Student Interest In US Universities Falls Sharply
The number of UK students showing an interest in going to university in the United States has fallen significantly in the wake of Donald Trump's second presidency, research shared with PoliticsHome suggests.
MPs Vote To Decriminalise Abortion
Health
MPs Vote To Decriminalise Abortion
An amendment to decriminalise abortion has passed the House of Commons, bringing it closer to law.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott: “I See Smartphones As The Equivalent Of Giving Children Cigarettes'
Education
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott: “I See Smartphones As The Equivalent Of Giving Children Cigarettes"
Mobile phones as bad as cigarettes? Laura Trott tells Matilda Martin ministers need to help parents and children kick the habit – and councils aren’t doing enough to get truants back to school. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
'Everything Has To Be On The Table' When It Comes To Student Finances, Says Shadow Chancellor
Education
"Everything Has To Be On The Table" When It Comes To Student Finances, Says Shadow Chancellor
The Conservatives have said that "everything has to be on the table" when it comes to the question of university finance reform.
Spending Review Explained: NHS Cash Boost, £39bn For Housing And A Pledge To End Asylum Hotels
Economy
By Matilda Martin
Spending Review Explained: NHS Cash Boost, £39bn For Housing And A Pledge To End Asylum Hotels
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her long-awaited Spending Review to the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Reform's 'Doge' Unit Will Struggle To Find Much Council Waste To Cut, Analysis Shows
Communities
Reform's 'Doge' Unit Will Struggle To Find Much Council Waste To Cut, Analysis Shows
Councils now run by Reform UK spent up to 78 per cent of their service spending on social care and homelessness last year, analysis shows, suggesting there is limited room for further cuts.
Zia Yusuf Resigns As Reform UK Chairman
Political parties
Zia Yusuf Resigns As Reform UK Chairman
Zia Yusuf has resigned as chairman of Reform UK after almost a year in the role. 
Keir Starmer Declares The UK Is Moving To 'War-Fighting Readiness'
Defence
Keir Starmer Declares The UK Is Moving To "War-Fighting Readiness"
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the United Kingdom is moving to "war-fighting readiness" as he sets out the government's plans for defence spending.
Support For Reform Is Rising In Places With Most High Street Decline, Study Finds
Communities
Support For Reform Is Rising In Places With Most High Street Decline, Study Finds
Support for Nigel Farage's Reform UK is particularly rising in areas that have seen the most acute high street decline in recent years, new research suggests.
Growing Numbers Of International Students Look At British Unis As Alternatives To Trump's US
Education
Growing Numbers Of International Students Look At British Unis As Alternatives To Trump's US
Young people worldwide are increasingly eyeing UK universities as an alternative to studying in the United States, new data suggests.
Universities Face Over £1bn In Funding Cuts, Sector Warns
Education
Universities Face Over £1bn In Funding Cuts, Sector Warns
Labour government policies have led to losses of more than £1bn from the higher education sector since it came to power in July, new analysis suggests.
Labour Faces Possible Strike Ballot Over University Cuts
Education
Labour Faces Possible Strike Ballot Over University Cuts
The government is facing a potential strike ballot by university staff over "shameful cuts" to university funding and hardened attitudes towards international students. 
Baroness Bousted: 'It's Difficult For Education To Compete With Trolleys In Hospital Corridors'
Education
Baroness Bousted: 'It's Difficult For Education To Compete With Trolleys In Hospital Corridors'
It is "very hard" for education ministers to compete with the health department for Treasury funding, according to Labour peer Baroness Bousted, former head of the National Education Union.
Universities In Financial Trouble Will Struggle To Tackle 'Cold Spots', Says New Report
Education
Universities In Financial Trouble Will Struggle To Tackle "Cold Spots", Says New Report
The financial crisis facing the higher education sector means universities will struggle to reverse the trend of "cold spots" where young people face barriers to studying, a new report will warn.
UK Suspends Trade Talks With Israel Over 'Abominable' Situation In Gaza
Foreign affairs
By Matilda Martin
UK Suspends Trade Talks With Israel Over "Abominable" Situation In Gaza
The UK has suspended negotiations with the Israeli government over a new free trade agreement following Israel's "conduct of the war in Gaza".
Private School VAT Could Disproportionately Impact Pupils With SEND, Warns Sector
Education
Private School VAT Could Disproportionately Impact Pupils With SEND, Warns Sector
Independent schools have warned that the government’s VAT policy could disproportionately impact children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Conservative Mayor Paul Bristow: I Wouldn’t Have Voted Tory In July 2024
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Conservative Mayor Paul Bristow: I Wouldn’t Have Voted Tory In July 2024
The new mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, has told PoliticsHome he would not have voted Tory at the last general election had he not been a Conservative candidate.
Cross Party MPs To Write To Government Over Care Worker Visa Changes
Health
By Matilda Martin
Cross Party MPs To Write To Government Over Care Worker Visa Changes
A cross-party committee of MPs is set to write to the government expressing concern over what changes to immigration rules could mean for the social care sector.
Labour MPs Warn New Restrictions On International Students Could Compound The University Funding Crisis
Education
Labour MPs Warn New Restrictions On International Students Could Compound The University Funding Crisis
Labour MPs have voiced alarm over the decision to impose further restrictions on international students in the Immigration White Paper.
New UK-US Trade Deal Removes Tariffs On British Steel
Economy
By Matilda Martin
New UK-US Trade Deal Removes Tariffs On British Steel
A trade deal agreed between the UK and the US will see tariffs on British steel reduced to zero, the two sides announced on Thursday.
Sir Crawford Falconer Interview: “The House Is Still On Fire' After Trump's Tariffs
Economy
Sir Crawford Falconer Interview: “The House Is Still On Fire" After Trump's Tariffs
Sir Crawford Falconer was the UK’s chief trade negotiation adviser until the end of last year, when his contract ended – and the Labour government declined to renew it. To scrap the post makes for an interesting decision now that questions around global trade are so dominant.
PM Says Criticism Of India Trade Deal Is 'Incoherent Nonsense'
Economy
By Matilda Martin
PM Says Criticism Of India Trade Deal Is "Incoherent Nonsense"
Keir Starmer has described criticism of the UK's new trade deal with India as "incoherent nonsense".
Labour MP Campaigning For Bereavement Suites In Maternity Wards Was 'Fighting For Life' As A Newborn
Health
By Matilda Martin
Labour MP Campaigning For Bereavement Suites In Maternity Wards Was "Fighting For Life" As A Newborn
A Labour MP who is campaigning for every new maternity unit to include bereavement suites for grieving parents has told PoliticsHome that her premature birth left her and her mother "fighting for their lives".
UK Must Apply 'Wartime Mindset' To Energy Policy, Says Nato Official
Defence
UK Must Apply "Wartime Mindset" To Energy Policy, Says Nato Official
Nato countries like the UK must apply a "wartime mindset" to decisions over energy policy, a leading figure in the military alliance has said.
Former Defence Minister Says Homes Must Stockpile Candles, Radios And Iodine Tablets To Prepare For Attacks
Communities
Former Defence Minister Says Homes Must Stockpile Candles, Radios And Iodine Tablets To Prepare For Attacks
Households should start stockpiling emergency items, including iodine tablets in case of nuclear fallout, due to the growing risk of attacks on the UK, a former defence minister has said.
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Communities
Council Leaders Say Reform's Cost Cutting Plans Are Detached From Reality
Council leaders have pushed back against Reform UK's plans to cut spending if it wins control of local authorities at next week's elections.