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Matilda Martin

@matilda__martin

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

Labour MP Campaigning For Bereavement Suites In Maternity Wards Was 'Fighting For Life' As A Newborn
Health
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. 
Tory MP Warns Energy And National Security Must Be 'Inseparable' After British Steel Saga
Defence
Tory MP Warns Energy And National Security Must Be "Inseparable" After British Steel Saga
A Conservative MP has warned that government must treat energy and national security as "inseparable" as the UK faces growing questions over the role of foreign states in its critical infrastructure.
Reform Local Election Candidates Plan Musk-Style Savings And Diversity Cuts
Political parties
Reform Local Election Candidates Plan Musk-Style Savings And Diversity Cuts
Reform UK local election candidates plan efficiency drives and cuts to diversity programmes if they win councils on 1 May.
Labour MP Warns Planning Reforms Could Overwhelm Environment Regulator
Environment
Labour MP Warns Planning Reforms Could Overwhelm Environment Regulator
A Labour MP has raised concern about the feasibility of a key plank of the government's planning reforms.
Bill To Save British Steel Passes In One Day
Economy
Bill To Save British Steel Passes In One Day
Parliament has passed the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, providing the government with the power to direct steel companies in the United Kingdom and save British Steel from closure.
Reform Puts 'Mr Farage' Front And Centre Of Runcorn By-Election Campaign
Political parties
Reform Puts "Mr Farage" Front And Centre Of Runcorn By-Election Campaign
Reform UK is putting leader Nigel Farage at the heart of its campaign in Runcorn and Helsby, where it hopes to claim its first ever by-election victory on 1 May.
Former Cabinet Minister Minister Gove Awarded Peerage In Rishi Sunak Resignation Honours
Parliament
By Matilda Martin
Former Cabinet Minister Minister Gove Awarded Peerage In Rishi Sunak Resignation Honours
Former cabinet minister Michael Gove has been awarded a peerage as part of the former prime minister Rishi Sunak's resignation honours and peerages lists. 
Universities Will Need Extra Money To Make Efficiencies, Government To Be Told
Education
Universities Will Need Extra Money To Make Efficiencies, Government To Be Told
Some universities will need financial support to deliver the efficiencies that the government wants them to make, a report on higher education reform is expected to say.
Trump’s Tariffs Are A “Profound” Challenge And “Not A Passing Phase”, Says PM
Economy
Trump’s Tariffs Are A “Profound” Challenge And “Not A Passing Phase”, Says PM
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Britain is in a "changing and completely new world" after Donald Trump's tariffs on countries including the UK sparked global economic panic.
Reform Is Yet To Decide How It Will Run Councils
Political parties
Reform Is Yet To Decide How It Will Run Councils
Reform UK has not yet finalised how it will run councils if it wins them on 1 May, after the person asked to complete the work resigned.
Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs Could 'Knock Out All' Of Rachel Reeves' Headroom
Economy
Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs Could "Knock Out All" Of Rachel Reeves' Headroom
Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on goods entering the US from the UK could "knock out" all of the government's fiscal headroom, the Office for Budget Responsibility said on Tuesday.
'All Peopled Out': Labour MP Cat Eccles On Being Autistic In Westminster
Health
"All Peopled Out": Labour MP Cat Eccles On Being Autistic In Westminster
Speaking to PoliticsHome ahead of Autism Awareness Day, Labour MP Cat Eccles says she hopes that sharing her story will help make Parliament more accommodating to neurodivergent people.
The Childcare Funding Crisis Has Got Worse Since The Election, Warns Sector
Education
The Childcare Funding Crisis Has Got Worse Since The Election, Warns Sector
A leader in the childcare sector has raised alarm about the financial pressures facing providers, telling PoliticsHome that the situation is worse now than it was before last year's general election.
Reform Drops Local Elections Candidate After They Plead Guilty To Fraud
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Reform Drops Local Elections Candidate After They Plead Guilty To Fraud
Reform UK has dropped a candidate for the May local elections after they pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.
UK Would Struggle To Protect Itself From Attack, Say Defence Figures
Defence
By Matilda Martin
UK Would Struggle To Protect Itself From Attack, Say Defence Figures
The UK is not currently capable of defending itself from attack, defence figures including former ministers have told PoliticsHome.
University Crisis Has Reached 'Crunch Point', Says Education Committee Chair
Education
University Crisis Has Reached "Crunch Point", Says Education Committee Chair
The chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes, has warned that the financial crisis facing universities nationwide has reached a "crunch point".
The UK Needs 'Larger Army Reserves' To Defend Itself From Attack
Defence
By Matilda Martin
The UK Needs "Larger Army Reserves" To Defend Itself From Attack
The UK must develop an army reserve big enough to defend itself from attack, a former defence minister has told PoliticsHome.
Universities Watchdog Braces For 'Cold Spots' As Courses Get Cut To Save Money
Education
Universities Watchdog Braces For "Cold Spots" As Courses Get Cut To Save Money
The university watchdog is beginning to look at potential "cold spots" emerging as institutions make redundancies and close courses in a bid to balance the books.
Former Armed Forces Minister 'Not Confident' That Europe Will Rise To Defence Challenge
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Former Armed Forces Minister "Not Confident" That Europe Will Rise To Defence Challenge
A former defence minister has said he is not confident that a "coalition of the willing" can deliver sufficient military protection for Ukraine due to the expense involved.
Keir Starmer Pays Tribute To 'Bravery And Sacrifice” Of British Troops After JD Vance Controversy
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Keir Starmer Pays Tribute To "Bravery And Sacrifice” Of British Troops After JD Vance Controversy
Keir Starmer paid tribute to the "bravery and sacrifice" of British troops at Prime Minister's Questions after comments made by the vice president of the United States triggered outrage in Britain.
National Service Would Help Bolster UK Troops In Ukraine, Says Ex-Defence Minister
Defence
By Matilda Martin
National Service Would Help Bolster UK Troops In Ukraine, Says Ex-Defence Minister
The government should restore national service to bolster the potential deployment of British troops to Ukraine under a peace deal, a former defence minister has told PoliticsHome.
Give Asylum Seekers Right To Work to Reduce Spend on Migrant Hotels, Lib Dem MP Says
Defence
Give Asylum Seekers Right To Work to Reduce Spend on Migrant Hotels, Lib Dem MP Says
The government should let asylum seekers work while they await a decision on their case, a Liberal Democrat member of the international development committee has said.
Keir Starmer Says He Is “Full Of Admiration” For British Troops After JD Vance Remarks
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Keir Starmer Says He Is “Full Of Admiration” For British Troops After JD Vance Remarks
Keir Starmer is "full of admiration for all British troops" who have served their country, the Prime Minister's spokesperson has said. 
UK Willing To Put 'Boots On The Ground And Planes In The Air' To Defend Ukraine Peace Deal
Defence
By Matilda Martin
UK Willing To Put "Boots On The Ground And Planes In The Air" To Defend Ukraine Peace Deal
A European "coalition of the willing" including the UK is ready to defend Ukraine militarily in the event of a peace deal, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said following a meeting of leaders in London.
Starmer: UK And France To Work On Plan To End Ukraine Conflict
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Starmer: UK And France To Work On Plan To End Ukraine Conflict
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that the United Kingdom and France will work with Ukraine on a "plan to stop the fighting" that will then be discussed with the United States.
UK Agrees £2.26 Billion Loan To Ukraine
Defence
By Matilda Martin
UK Agrees £2.26 Billion Loan To Ukraine
The UK announced a new loan of £2.6bn for Ukraine on Saturday linked to frozen Russian assets.
'Very Good Chance' Of A UK-US Trade Deal Removing Tariffs, Says Trump
Defence
By Matilda Martin
"Very Good Chance" Of A UK-US Trade Deal Removing Tariffs, Says Trump
Donald Trump has said there is a "very good chance" that the US and UK will agree a trade deal that removes tariffs between the two countries.
Trump Accepts Invitation For Second State Visit To UK
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Trump Accepts Invitation For Second State Visit To UK
Donald Trump has accepted an invitation for a state visit to the UK and has said he will visit in the near future as he meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington.
Trump Could Give English Universities Recruitment Boost, Says Watchdog
Education
Trump Could Give English Universities Recruitment Boost, Says Watchdog
Universities in England "might see opportunities" to recruit students and staff from the United States following Donald Trump's return to the White House, according to the universities watchdog chief.
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Avoids Jail Sentence
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Avoids Jail Sentence
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury has avoided jail after winning an appeal against his 10-week jail sentence for punching a man in the street. 
Space Must Have 'Proper Role' In Deterring Threats Like Russia
Defence
By Matilda Martin
Space Must Have "Proper Role" In Deterring Threats Like Russia
Space must get a "proper role" in the government's defence strategy, the chair of the UK Space Agency has told PoliticsHome.
NHS England Chief Executive To Step Down
Health
By Matilda Martin
NHS England Chief Executive To Step Down
The Chief Executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard is stepping down.
Fast Track Citizenship For Immigrants Who Join British Army, Says Former MI6 Head
Defence
Fast Track Citizenship For Immigrants Who Join British Army, Says Former MI6 Head
The former head of MI6 has suggested the government could fast-track citizenship for immigrants who join the British armed forces to boost military numbers.