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Matilda Martin

@matilda__martin

matildamartin.bsky.social

Matilda Martin is a Political Reporter at PoliticsHome. Previously, she was a Senior Reporter at the Times Educational Supplement

Roz Savage: Lib Dems 'Need A Plan' For A Coalition
Political parties
Roz Savage: Lib Dems "Need A Plan" For A Coalition
Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage speaks to Matilda Martin about why she became a record-breaking ocean rower, how the breakdown of her marriage liberated her, and why she would like to see Ed Davey’s party have a strategy for coalition
Greens Sweep To Historic Victory In Gorton And Denton By-Election
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Greens Sweep To Historic Victory In Gorton And Denton By-Election
The Green Party has achieved a seismic victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with the Labour Party pushed into third place.
How Will SEND Reforms Work?
Education
How Will SEND Reforms Work?
The government has set out highly-anticipated plans to overhaul the special education needs and disabilities (SEND) system, pledging that, under "decade-long reforms", children with additional needs will "get the rights they deserve".
Antonia Romeo Appointed As Head Of Civil Service
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Antonia Romeo Appointed As Head Of Civil Service
Keir Starmer has confirmed Dame Antonia Romeo's appointment as the new Cabinet Secretary, making her the first ever woman to hold the role.
The Government Could U-Turn On Student Loan Thresholds, Says Union Head
Education
The Government Could U-Turn On Student Loan Thresholds, Says Union Head
The head of the union representing students has told PoliticsHome that she believes the government could U-turn on its decision to freeze the threshold at which graduates start to pay back their student loans amid outrage over the step.
Can The Student Loan Genie Be Put Back In The Bottle?
Education
Can The Student Loan Genie Be Put Back In The Bottle?
The issue of student loans has exploded into life in Westminster in recent weeks, with figures across the political spectrum demanding a serious conversation about the 'Plan 2' system. But will it come to anything?
Labour Women Push Starmer To Dismantle 'Boys' Club' After Mandelson Scandal
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Labour Women Push Starmer To Dismantle 'Boys' Club' After Mandelson Scandal
As he prepares to address the women's Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Wednesday afternoon, Keir Starmer is being urged to make the Peter Mandelson scandal a watershed moment in tackling a perceived boys' club in his party.
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar Calls For Keir Starmer To Resign
Political parties
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar Calls For Keir Starmer To Resign
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar has called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign.
Morgan McSweeney Resigns As Keir Starmer's Chief Of Staff
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Morgan McSweeney Resigns As Keir Starmer's Chief Of Staff
Morgan McSweeney has resigned from his position as Keir Starmer's chief of staff after mounting pressure over his role in Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
Starmer Agrees To Give All Mandelson Material To Key Committee After Labour MPs Threaten Rebellion
Political parties
Starmer Agrees To Give All Mandelson Material To Key Committee After Labour MPs Threaten Rebellion
Keir Starmer has avoided a major backbench rebellion after agreeing to give all documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador to a cross-party parliamentary committee. 
Starmer Says Mandelson Betrayed The Country And Lied To Him About His Relationship With Epstein
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Starmer Says Mandelson Betrayed The Country And Lied To Him About His Relationship With Epstein
Keir Starmer has accused Peter Mandelson of betraying the country and lying to Downing Street about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as the Prime Minister comes under pressure over his initial decision to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador.
Meet Hereditary Peer Lord Hampton – The Only Serving Teacher In Parliament
Education
Meet Hereditary Peer Lord Hampton – The Only Serving Teacher In Parliament
Lord Hampton, believed to be the only serving teacher in Parliament, tells Matilda Martin of a life divided between the work bench and the crossbenches
Falling Pupil Numbers In London Could Cost Schools £45m In Funding, Warns New Report
Education
Falling Pupil Numbers In London Could Cost Schools £45m In Funding, Warns New Report
London schools face losing £45m in funding over the next four years as a result of falling pupil numbers, analysis shared exclusively with PoliticsHome suggests.
NEU's Daniel Kebede: 'Schools Have Become A Battleground For Reform'
Education
NEU's Daniel Kebede: "Schools Have Become A Battleground For Reform"
Head of the UK’s biggest teaching union Daniel Kebede tells Matilda Martin that schools are the frontline in the fight against Reform – and teachers should get time off for Glastonbury
Keir Starmer Says Trump's Claim Nato Troops 'Stayed Off Front Line' In Afghanistan Is 'Insulting' And 'Appalling'
Defence
Keir Starmer Says Trump's Claim Nato Troops "Stayed Off Front Line" In Afghanistan Is "Insulting" And "Appalling"
Keir Starmer has said that Donald Trump's claim that Nato troops "stayed a little off the front lines" during the war in Afghanistan is "insulting and frankly, appalling".
Tory Councillors Say They Are Being Offered Jobs And Seats To Defect To Reform
Communities
Tory Councillors Say They Are Being Offered Jobs And Seats To Defect To Reform
Conservative councillors nationwide have told PoliticsHome they are being offered senior roles and parliamentary selection to defect to Reform UK in the coming months.
Keir Starmer Says He Will Not 'Yield' To Trump On Greenland
Defence
Keir Starmer Says He Will Not "Yield" To Trump On Greenland
Keir Starmer has said that he "will not yield" to pressure put on him by Donald Trump to let the US take control of Greenland.
Reform Councillors Say Party Shouldn't Repeat Mistake Of Promising Tax Cuts At This Year's Local Elections
Communities
By Matilda Martin
Reform Councillors Say Party Shouldn't Repeat Mistake Of Promising Tax Cuts At This Year's Local Elections
Reform UK councillors have told PoliticsHome that the party should not repeat the 2025 error of promising tax cuts heading into the May local elections.
Plans For Chinese 'Super Embassy' In London Approved
Foreign affairs
Plans For Chinese 'Super Embassy' In London Approved
The government has approved plans for a new Chinese 'super embassy' in London.
Greenland's Right To Decide Its Own Future 'Cannot Be Set Aside', Says Keir Starmer
Foreign affairs
By Matilda Martin
Greenland's Right To Decide Its Own Future "Cannot Be Set Aside", Says Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has said that Greenland's right to decide its own future "cannot be set aside" as Donald Trump threatens tariffs on European countries over their refusal to allow him to take control of the territory.
Kemi Badenoch Kicks Robert Jenrick Out Of Tory Party Over Alleged Plan To Defect
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Kemi Badenoch Kicks Robert Jenrick Out Of Tory Party Over Alleged Plan To Defect
Kemi Badenoch has sacked her shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, removed the whip and suspended his membership of the Conservative Party "with immediate effect".
Government Considers Watering Down Mandatory Element Of Digital ID
Technology
By Matilda Martin
Government Considers Watering Down Mandatory Element Of Digital ID
Exclusive: There are discussions within government about introducing a key part of the digital ID scheme as optional, rather than as mandatory, PoliticsHome understands.
Blaming The Civil Service Does Labour 'No Favours', Says Wes Streeting
Health
Blaming The Civil Service Does Labour "No Favours", Says Wes Streeting
It does the centre-left "no favours" blaming the civil service for struggles to deliver in government, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said.
Reform Councils Say 'Huge Headwinds' Are Thwarting Plans To Lower Tax
Communities
Reform Councils Say "Huge Headwinds" Are Thwarting Plans To Lower Tax
Reform UK-run local authorities are facing “huge headwinds”, one of the party’s cost-saving chiefs has admitted, as Nigel Farage’s party faces criticism for planned council tax rises.
Support For Labour Has Collapsed Among Teachers, Union Poll Shows
Education
By Matilda Martin
Support For Labour Has Collapsed Among Teachers, Union Poll Shows
Exclusive: Labour's support has collapsed among school and college staff, according to a poll carried out on behalf of the country's biggest education union.
Starmer Urges Cabinet Ministers To Ignore Polls And Keep Their Nerve
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Starmer Urges Cabinet Ministers To Ignore Polls And Keep Their Nerve
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged cabinet to keep its "nerve" and "belief" as opinion polls continue to paint a gloomy picture of Labour's electoral prospects.
Trump Should Stop Threatening To Annex Greenland, Starmer Agrees
Foreign affairs
Trump Should Stop Threatening To Annex Greenland, Starmer Agrees
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has agreed with sending the message "hands off Greenland" to US President Donald Trump.
Can Labour Persuade The Public To Get Behind Digital ID In 2026?
Technology
By Matilda Martin
Can Labour Persuade The Public To Get Behind Digital ID In 2026?
The government faces what one Labour MP described as a “ticking time bomb” in its bid to persuade the public to get behind its digital ID policy next year.
SEND Is Shaping Up To Be One Of The Labour Government's Biggest Headaches in 2026
Education
SEND Is Shaping Up To Be One Of The Labour Government's Biggest Headaches in 2026
How to solve the deepening crisis in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is a question that has bedevilled successive governments for years.
'Economy Begins At Home': David Cameron's Attempt To Do Away With Government Cars
Economy
By Matilda Martin
"Economy Begins At Home": David Cameron's Attempt To Do Away With Government Cars
David Cameron, channelling Jim Hacker, tried to stop his ministers from using their cars in a bid to demonstrate thrift. Matilda Martin recalls how life imitated art
SEND Reforms Must Not Be About 'Taking Away', Warns Andy Burnham
Education
By Matilda Martin
SEND Reforms Must Not Be About "Taking Away", Warns Andy Burnham
Exclusive: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said that reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system must “start from a principle about nothing being taken away”.
Ministers Will Tour Country To Talk To Public About Digital ID
Technology
By Matilda Martin
Ministers Will Tour Country To Talk To Public About Digital ID
Exclusive: Ministers are expected to tour the country early next year as part of the government's consultation on digital ID.
Budget Leak Was Worst Error In The OBR's History, Says Investigation
Economy
Budget Leak Was Worst Error In The OBR's History, Says Investigation
An investigation into how the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) managed to publish details of the Budget early has concluded that the watchdog should overhaul its publication processes, describing the error as the "worst failure" in its 15-year history.
Teacher Strikes in 2026 'Inevitable' After Budget, Warns Union Leader
Education
Teacher Strikes in 2026 "Inevitable" After Budget, Warns Union Leader
The leader of the largest education union has told PoliticsHome that industrial action next year is inevitable unless schools are given more funding.
The Two-Child Benefit Cap Will Be Scrapped From 2026
Communities
By Matilda Martin
The Two-Child Benefit Cap Will Be Scrapped From 2026
The government will scrap the two-child benefit cap from April 2026, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed.
Labour Might Not Survive Under Keir Starmer, Warns Veteran Union Boss
Education
Labour Might Not Survive Under Keir Starmer, Warns Veteran Union Boss
The head of a teaching union who has spent more than two decades at the forefront of the trade union movement has said Keir Starmer’s leadership poses an existential threat to the Labour Party.