British Isles
Post-Covid education: continued impact on classrooms
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact UK education, with schools managing increased special educational needs (SEN), exclusions, absenteeism, and a widening attainment gap. One primary school teacher reports a notable rise in speech,…
Taxpayer-funded cars removed from 11,000 benefits claimants
The Motability scheme, which provides cars to disabled people in exchange for disability benefits, has removed over 11,000 vehicles since 2022 due to misuse. Cases of abuse, including sub-leasing cars, running taxis, or…
Foreign aid cuts ‘will leave an extra 369,000 children to starve’
Cuts to foreign aid by Western governments could result in 369,000 additional child deaths from severe malnutrition annually, according to a study in Nature. The reduction in overseas development budgets by the UK,…
Faith leaders unite against 'unjust' child poverty
Senior faith leaders from the UK’s six major religions have united to urge the Government to adopt a bold child poverty strategy. In an open letter to Bridget Philipson and Liz Kendall, 35…
Key changes to benefits in welfare shake-up
The Government has announced major welfare reforms aimed at cutting costs and encouraging work. The changes include stricter eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), reduced incapacity benefits, and new work incentives. From November…
49 years jail for family murder and shooting plot
Nicholas Prosper, 19, has been sentenced to 49 years in prison for murdering his mother and two siblings and planning Britain’s deadliest school shooting. The former school dropout meticulously planned a massacre at…
Thames Water secures £3bn rescue deal after legal challenge dismissed
The Court of Appeal has dismissed challenges against a £3 billion rescue plan for Thames Water, allowing the utility to continue operating despite severe financial difficulties. The High Court had previously sanctioned the…
Scotland: deadly ‘Frankenstein’ drug sparks urgent health alert
A nationwide health alert has been issued in Scotland following a surge in deaths and overdoses linked to heroin laced with nitazene-type synthetic opioids, known as ‘Frankenstein’ drugs. Nitazenes are up to 500…
Theresa May clashes with Kemi Badenoch over net zero target
Former prime minister Theresa May has criticised Kemi Badenoch’s claim that achieving net zero by 2050 is impossible. Badenoch, the new Tory leader, argued that current environmental policies raise energy costs while failing…
Over 3,500 churches shut in the last decade
More than 3,500 churches have closed across the UK in the past ten years, with falling attendance and rising repair costs cited as major factors. The National Churches Trust estimates that between 3,000…
