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Labour Rebels Stand Firm As Government Tries To Sell Welfare Concessions
Labour Rebels Stand Firm As Government Tries To Sell Welfare Concessions
Communities
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has defended the government’s welfare bill concessions as “positive changes”, despite leading rebels warning they still feel unable to vote for the legislation.
Parent Trap: MPs Caught Between Their Jobs And Family Lives Demand Reform
Social affairs
Parent Trap: MPs Caught Between Their Jobs And Family Lives Demand Reform
Cabinet Ministers Use 'Flattery And Begging' In Bid To Dissuade Labour Welfare Rebels
Political parties
Cabinet Ministers Use "Flattery And Begging" In Bid To Dissuade Labour Welfare Rebels
PM Defends 'Good Package' Of Welfare Cuts In Face Of Backbench Rebellion
Social affairs
PM Defends "Good Package" Of Welfare Cuts In Face Of Backbench Rebellion
Labour Whip Quits In First Frontbench Resignation Over Welfare Reforms
Health
Labour Whip Quits In First Frontbench Resignation Over Welfare Reforms
Why The Government's Welfare Cuts Risk A Big Labour Rebellion
Social affairs
Why The Government's Welfare Cuts Risk A Big Labour Rebellion
Labour MPs Accuse Government Of Failing To Protect LGBT+ Citizens In Overseas Territories
Foreign affairs
Labour MPs Accuse Government Of Failing To Protect LGBT+ Citizens In Overseas Territories
Opinion
Pride should be a celebration of inclusion — not a platform for exclusion
Social affairs
By Owen Meredith
Pride should be a celebration of inclusion — not a platform for exclusion
For dads, mums, kids and the economy, Labour must back longer and better-paid paternity leave
Education
By Baroness Penn
For dads, mums, kids and the economy, Labour must back longer and better-paid paternity leave
My Catholic priest tried to coerce my assisted dying vote
Communities
By Chris Coghlan MP
My Catholic priest tried to coerce my assisted dying vote
Most read
Former Foreign Secretary Says UK Public Needs A “Philosophical Reset” On Defence
Former Foreign Secretary Says UK Public Needs A “Philosophical Reset” On Defence
Defence
Labour MPs Demand Colleagues Lose Whip Over Palestine Action Vote
Labour MPs Demand Colleagues Lose Whip Over Palestine Action Vote
Foreign affairs
Net Zero Week in Parliament 2025 ##sash##
Net Zero Week in Parliament 2025
Energy
Rachel Reeves: Hero of the Left
Rachel Reeves: Hero of the Left
By Tim Leunig
Political parties
I will vote against the Welfare Bill - I don’t want anyone to feel the regret I've had since 2015
I will vote against the Welfare Bill - I don’t want anyone to feel the regret I've had since 2015
By Emma Lewell MP
Health
Welfare Bill Passes House Of Commons Vote After Day Of Pain For Government
Welfare Bill Passes House Of Commons Vote After Day Of Pain For Government
Health
Editor's choiceAll
Parent Trap: MPs Caught Between Their Jobs And Family Lives Demand Reform
Social affairs
Parent Trap: MPs Caught Between Their Jobs And Family Lives Demand Reform
Should MPs have to choose between their jobs and their families? Sienna Rodgers talks to parents about why they are urging Parliament and their whips to modernise
Troubled Waters – The Many Struggles Of The Canal And River Trust
Environment
Troubled Waters – The Many Struggles Of The Canal And River Trust
Over a decade ago, the government decided to place many of England and Wales’ inland waterways in the hands of the Canal & River Trust. As it struggles with increasing financial pressure and a furious row with part of the boating community, has the experiment failed? Alan White investigates. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Alison McGovern: 'Employment is 1,000% a progressive cause'
Communities
By Tali Fraser
Alison McGovern: 'Employment is 1,000% a progressive cause'
Vacancies are soaring but so are the numbers out of work – fixing that is at the heart of Labour’s ambition for growth. Alison McGovern’s plans for employment could prove key, writes Tali Fraser. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
Social Affairs news
My Week In Ukraine
Defence
By Brooks Newmark
My Week In Ukraine
I arrive in Kyiv in time for lunch at my favourite restaurant, “Beef Meat and Wine”. I love Ukrainian beef and order a steak with a salad. The war notwithstanding, many restaurants have remained open and this steak is as close as I can get to a USDA prime cut, but a third of the price.
Reporting on Homes for Ukraine has been uplifting and heart-breaking – and the story is far from over
Communities
By John Johnston
Reporting on Homes for Ukraine has been uplifting and heart-breaking – and the story is far from over
Reporting on the most unique refugee system implemented in the United Kingdom since the kindertransport has been fascinating, uplifting and heart-breaking in equal measures.
Government Urged To Extend Energy Voucher 'Lifetimes' With £240m Expected To Go Unclaimed
Energy
Government Urged To Extend Energy Voucher "Lifetimes" With £240m Expected To Go Unclaimed
The government is under pressure to tackle the issue of unclaimed prepayment meter (PPM) vouchers issued through its Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) as experts warn millions of vouchers are predicted to go unclaimed with the money set to be returned to the Treasury.
Ukrainian Refugees Have Struggled With Work And Housing Since Arriving In the UK
Communities
Ukrainian Refugees Have Struggled With Work And Housing Since Arriving In the UK
A new survey has found growing concerns among Ukrainian refugees about their future lives in Britain as housing and employment barriers continue to mount.
Setting the record straight: my full thoughts on family policy
Social affairs
By Miriam Cates
Setting the record straight: my full thoughts on family policy
On Tuesday I attended an event for under 35s hosted by Onward, a leading Westminster think tank. I gave a short speech about family policy and then answered a number of questions from the audience. My contribution was intended to provoke debate and discussion and to encourage young people to think about an area of policy that is not often covered in Westminster. Some of my remarks have been misreported or taken out of context, which is of course par for the course in politics and always will be. But given the scale of the challenges that UK families are experiencing, and the barriers young people face to having children, I think it is important that I set out my arguments in full. What follows is an amalgamation of the short speech that I made and some of my remarks in the ensuing discussion.
Lords Propose More Than 500 Changes To Government's Levelling Up Bill
Communities
Lords Propose More Than 500 Changes To Government's Levelling Up Bill
Members of the House of Lords have suggested more than 500 changes to the government’s flagship Levelling Up Bill, amid suggestions the legislation has become a “mish-mash” of numerous policy areas being hooked on a "Christmas tree bill".
When human rights conflict, we must find an approach that centres the rights of all
Culture
By Joanna Cherry MP
When human rights conflict, we must find an approach that centres the rights of all
In the rush to enshrine gender identity ideology in law, equality law and human rights risk being forgotten
History has taught us that our hard-won rights can be easily eroded – an attack on one is an attack on all
Culture
By Lord Cashman
History has taught us that our hard-won rights can be easily eroded – an attack on one is an attack on all
History is a powerful teacher that returns again and again until we learn the lessons.
Top Stories: Nurses Hold 'Intensive' Strike Talks With Government, Tory Brexiteers Digging In, Supermarkets Ration Veg
Health
Top Stories: Nurses Hold "Intensive" Strike Talks With Government, Tory Brexiteers Digging In, Supermarkets Ration Veg
Ministers are set to meet with members of the Royal College of Nursing to hammer out a potential deal which could bring major NHS strike action to an end.
Labour MPs Call For Universal Free School Meals For All Primary School Children
Social affairs
Labour MPs Call For Universal Free School Meals For All Primary School Children
A growing number of Labour MPs are calling for Sadiq Khan’s decision to provide free school meals for all primary school pupils in London to be rolled out across England.
The Bermondsey by-election was my baptism of fire
Culture
By Peter Tatchell
The Bermondsey by-election was my baptism of fire
This is LGBT+ History Month and the Bermondsey by-election on 24 February 1983 – 40 years ago – made history, mostly for the wrong reasons.
Top Stories: Jeremy Hunt Resists Tax Cuts Despite Surplus, Kate Forbes Doubles Down Against Gay Marriage
Brexit
Top Stories: Jeremy Hunt Resists Tax Cuts Despite Surplus, Kate Forbes Doubles Down Against Gay Marriage
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he would "stick with his plans" to reduce debt despite a surprise budget surplus of more than £5 billion in January.
Government must help unlock the potential of British Muslim civil society
Social affairs
By Afzal Khan MP
Government must help unlock the potential of British Muslim civil society
Representing one of Britain’s most diverse communities, I see every day how people pull together when needed.
Representation of minority communities in art, music, film and TV is as important now as ever
Communities
By Baroness Barker
Representation of minority communities in art, music, film and TV is as important now as ever
Standing in the fabulous LGBT+ museum Queer Britain, surrounded by an array of artifacts which portray key moments in our history, it struck me that the first people of any group, particularly minorities, to make history are exceptional.
The Tristram Hunt interview: 'If people want to rewrite a museum label, great!'
Culture
By Tali Fraser
The Tristram Hunt interview: "If people want to rewrite a museum label, great!"
Director of the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum and former Labour MP Tristram Hunt talks to Tali Fraser about rewriting gallery labels, turning off Netflix and the lack of tech billionaire donors.
Photography by Louise Haywood Schiefer
How can the workplace affect our mental health?
Health
By Sophie Church
How can the workplace affect our mental health?
One in four of us will experience some form of mental health problem every year, charities claim. So what can employers do to support staff experiencing a crisis?
Top Stories: Government Unveils Family Hub Plans, Pressure Piles On Sunak To Provide Ukraine With Planes
Education
Top Stories: Government Unveils Family Hub Plans, Pressure Piles On Sunak To Provide Ukraine With Planes
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled £300m in funding for the rollout of family hubs across England, which will help give support and guidance to families with children.
Blackpool's Towering Problems
Communities
By Sophie Church
Blackpool's Towering Problems
Blackpool suffers from the lowest life expectancy at birth among both men and women, research by the
Health Foundation shows. While the average national life expectancy sits at 83 for women and 79 for men, the corresponding figures for Blackpool are 55 for women and 54 for men.
Broken Britain: Blaenau Gwent – the most deprived constituency in Wales
Economy
By Victoria Winckler
Broken Britain: Blaenau Gwent – the most deprived constituency in Wales
Blaenau Gwent is at or near the top of almost every league you don’t want to win. This small constituency, in the north-eastern corner of the South Wales valleys, is known as the birthplace of NHS founder Nye Bevan and home of the mighty Ebbw Vale steelworks. Today it is also known for its high levels of poverty and deprivation, low levels of educational qualifications and low wages. Many people would see Blaenau Gwent as an archetypal “left behind” community.
UK Economy Forecast To Shrink, Teachers Set To Strike, Labour Calls For Anti-Social Crime Crackdown
Economy
UK Economy Forecast To Shrink, Teachers Set To Strike, Labour Calls For Anti-Social Crime Crackdown
The UK is the only country in the developed world whose economy is expected to shrink next year, according to a new IMF report which has placed the blame on high energy prices and government spending rules.
Children in care are not a priority for this government
Social affairs
By Mark Kerr
Children in care are not a priority for this government
As someone committed to the protection and care of children, I am sickened and devastated to learn of the abuse that occurred within residential services provided by Hesley Group. It has been decades since we last confronted such heinous abuse.
Broken Britain: why Liverpool Walton is the Levelling Up frontline
Communities
By Tali Fraser
Broken Britain: why Liverpool Walton is the Levelling Up frontline
Liverpool Walton spans the city’s two football clubs and is home to a myriad of problems which makes the constituency the most deprived in the country. Tali Fraser reports
Red Wall seats need help to help themselves through the levelling up agenda
Communities
By Ian Levy MP
Red Wall seats need help to help themselves through the levelling up agenda
The Levelling Up White Paper was published with a great fanfare in February last year and since then we have had two new prime ministers and three new chancellors. MHCLG has become DLUHC and Michael Gove is back at the helm.
Broken Britain: Uncovering Middlesbrough's teen pregnancy problem
Health
By Eleanor Langford
Broken Britain: Uncovering Middlesbrough's teen pregnancy problem
The North Yorkshire town of Middlesbrough on the south bank of the River Tees has the unfortunate title of “teenage pregnancy capital” of England. Eleanor Langford explores the reality behind the headline.
EventsAll
Net Zero Week in Parliament 2025
2025
Portcullis House
Net Zero Week in Parliament 2025