UK Poverty
— The government should align benefit increases with inflation to provide certainty and enhance the safety net. Removing the two-child limit could lift a quarter of a million children out of poverty.
UK Politics
UK Politics
— Suella Braverman criticised the Met Police for alleged double standards in handling pro-Palestinian marches, accusing them of leniency. Her interference raises concerns about the police’s non-partisan role, damaging the fragile contract of public trust, essential for effective policing.
LGBTQ Rights
— The UK government’s 2018 commitment to ban “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ individuals remains unfulfilled. A potential exemption for consent from those over 18 weakens the ban’s impact, as it may lead to coerced consent, contradicting legal standards.
PPE Scandal
— A firm linked to a major Conservative Party donor received £546,000 in PPE storage contracts from the Department of Health and Social Care. The timing of these contracts and donations raises concerns about potential influence and transparency in contract allocation.
UK Politics
— Today, King Charles delivered his first speech from the throne as monarch, outlining the government’s plans and priorities for the year ahead. Nevertheless, whether he approved of it or not, he had no influence over the content of the address he conveyed to the Lords and Members of Parliament.
UK Legal System
— The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, is facing potential accusations of contempt of court after making comments that may impact the fairness of an upcoming trial. A situation that underscores the conflict of interest issue when politicians can initiate such proceedings in England and Wales.
UK Politics
— Rishi Sunak wants everyone to be better at maths. Here’s what taking his own advice would mean for his election campaign. Shifting to the right ahead of the next General Election could pose significant challenges for him.
UK General Election
— A study on voting trends in Britain spanning 55 years reveals that growing older doesn’t directly lead to increased Conservative support. Instead, age appears to have a greater influence on Labour voting.
COVID-19 Inquiry
— Giving evidence to the COVID inquiry, Boris Johnson’s former adviser exposed the dysfunction of an administration lacking in the expertise needed to manage a crisis.
UK Politics
— More and more people are saying they don’t trust the news or can’t face engaging with it – and that appears to have political implications.
COVID-19
— The COVID inquiry was shown Whatsapp chats from the early days of the pandemic in which cabinet secretary Simon Case said government decision-making made it look like a ‘terrible, tragic joke’.
Long-Read
— The influence of Brexit on the Conservative Party has bolstered populism and pushed the party further from moderate conservatism towards the influence of Nigel Farage, which is characterised by detachment from reality and ideological purity.
UK Politics
— Suella Braverman’s attack on immigrants followed the government’s failure to deliver the promised strategy to teach English.
Brexit
— Once upon a time, questioning the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU was effectively taboo. But times have changed, and the public might be more on board now than before.
Cost of Living Crisis
— Governmental support is failing the country’s most vulnerable households. Politicians need to act now.
Immigration
— Labour’s immigration policy emphasises border security and targeting smuggling gangs, aiming to win back “red wall” voters concerned about immigration. Labour’s strategy can talk tough on security while not demonising migrants themselves, offering a nuanced position.
