Political news

• The Guardian view on Bridget Phillipson’s sound advice: schools should focus on belonging | Editorial

  08-11-2024 19:25 via theguardian.com
  
  A shift in priorities that emphasises pupil wellbeing not just exam results could improve attendanceThe reasons for poor attendance at English schools, high rates of psychological distress and illness among young people, and a rising number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), are complicated. The pandemic and its after-effects, poverty and the many family difficulties it causes, are among them. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has made no bones about her
  
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• UK Post Office to close 115 branches, putting hundreds of jobs at risk

  13-11-2024 01:03
  
  Chair Nigel Railton to set out plans to try to strengthen the lossmaking business
  
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• Underperforming NHS hospitals to be outed in league tables

  13-11-2024 01:01
  
  Health secretary Wes Streeting plans to name England’s failing trusts and sack poor bosses in bid to raise performance
  
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• Former aide Sue Gray rejects Starmer’s job offer

  12-11-2024 16:11
  
  Ex-chief of staff had been lined up for part-time role as link with devolved nations and regions
  
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• Former aide Sue Gray rejects Keir Starmer’s job offer

  12-11-2024 13:51
  
  Ex-chief of staff had been lined up for part-time role as link with devolved nations and regions
  
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• Starmer says Labour MPs must decide for themselves on assisted dying, refusing to say how he will vote – UK politics live

  12-11-2024 10:58 via theguardian.com
  
  The prime minister says his MPs must ‘make their own mind up’ on whether to vote in favour of legalising assisted dyingThe Conservative MP Danny Kruger has posted a lengthy thread on social media explaining why he is opposed to the assisted dying bill. Here are some of his posts.The Bill tries and fails to restrict itself to the extreme cases. But anyone who can find two doctors to confirm they’re within 6 months of death - and a judge to confirm they’re making their own
  
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• Assisted dying: caution and compromise may end in dissatisfaction

  12-11-2024 10:30
  Politicians who support a law change in principle may still vote against the bill that currently falls short
  
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• UK jobs market in spotlight after Reeves’s tax rises on employers

  12-11-2024 09:44 via theguardian.com
  Labour market is in pretty good shape, but signs of cooling could be a headache for the chancellorUK unemployment rises as pay growth slowsBusiness live – latest updatesFor the past few years only cursory attention has been paid to the UK unemployment figures because the jobless rate has been low and there have been plenty of unfilled vacancies for those seeking work. But, thanks to a slowing economy and decisions made by Rachel Reeves in last month’s budget, that could be about to c
  
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• UK can strike Trump trade deal and rebuild EU relations, says top economist

  12-11-2024 09:29 via theguardian.com
  
  Keir Starmer can show UK is ‘open for business’, says former Bank of England chief economist Andy HaldaneBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK can strike a US trade deal with Donald Trump while also rebuilding EU relations after Brexit to cement its status as a “beacon of stability” in an increasingly volatile world, a leading economist has said.Andy Haldane, the former Bank of England chief economist, said Keir Starmer’s government could show the UK was &ldquo
  
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• Voters around the world wish a plague on all incumbents. Labour can avoid that fate | Polly Toynbee

  12-11-2024 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Trump’s shock election win has the government feeling nervous. It must remember: bold, fair policies are exactly what the public wantsThose panic alarms in MPs’ welcome-to-Westminster packs may have been eyed nervously by some on the Labour benches in the past week. The shock of Donald Trump’s victory makes many uneasier about the next election, even if they are not exactly panicking. It’s five years before voters pass judgment on Labour’s successes and failures, bu
  
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• UK has ‘huge opportunity’ to lead on green investment, Starmer says

  12-11-2024 06:00 via theguardian.com
  PM says Britain can ‘win the race’ as Trump’s election casts doubt on global efforts to tackle climate changeBritain has a “huge opportunity” to get ahead of other countries in the race for green investment after the election of Donald Trump as US president, Keir Starmer has said, as he arrives in Azerbaijan for the Cop29 summit.Trump’s election victory last week has cast doubt on global efforts to tackle climate change, which the president-elect has called a
  
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• It pays to be clear about what public transport is designed to do

  12-11-2024 06:00
  
  Too often politicians place conflicting demands on rail or bus networks
  
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• UK disability charities say NICs rise will cause ‘life-changing’ cuts

  12-11-2024 01:03 via theguardian.com
  
  Groups providing vital services say impact of tax and minimum wage rises will lead to cutbacksCharities have warned of “life-changing consequences” for a million vulnerable children and adults as a result of cuts to state-funded disability services driven by tax changes and wage rises announced in the budget.The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), which represents 100 charities in England, said Rachel Reeves’s decision to raise employers’ national insurance c
  
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• Assisted dying bill has strict safeguards, MP says

  12-11-2024 00:19 via bbc.com
  
  Adults expected to die within six months would be eligible under the proposals for England and Wales.
  
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• Assisted dying bill’s ‘strict’ safeguards to include long jail terms for coercion

  11-11-2024 23:07 via theguardian.com
  
  Labour MP’s proposed legislation for England and Wales also includes powers for judges to cross-examine patientsA historic bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales will set out hardline safeguards, including lengthy prison sentences for coercion and powers for judges to cross-examine patients.The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said she believed she had put forward “the best possible legislation” but warned wavering MPs that parliament may not get a chance to vote again on
  
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• UK assisted dying bill offers ‘strictest safeguards’ say supporters

  11-11-2024 23:00
  Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will publish proposed legislation on Tuesday
  
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• The assisted dying bill: what it means for patients in England and Wales

  11-11-2024 23:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Kim Leadbeater, the proposer of the bill, says it contains the strictest safeguards of any legislation anywhereThe 40-page terminally ill adults (end of life) bill will be published on Tuesday. The bill’s main elements, released in advance, set out what it contains. Continue reading...
  
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• Immigration: How British Politics Failed — Cameron, Corbyn and others on what went wrong

  11-11-2024 22:00
  
  Former prime ministers and advisers discuss 30 years of misjudged policies and promises in BBC two-parter
  
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• Keir Starmer to unveil ambitious new UK climate goal at Cop29

  11-11-2024 20:41 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Target is 81% emissions cut compared with 1990, but activists say it must be backed by plan of actionKeir Starmer will announce a stringent new climate goal for the UK on Tuesday, the Guardian can reveal, with a target in line with the advice given to the government by its scientists and independent advisers.The UK will pledge to cut emissions by 81% compared with 1990 levels by 2035, a target in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee, according to three people
  
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• Foreign secretary backs Mandelson to be UK ambassador to US

  11-11-2024 20:35
  
  Former trade secretary has emerged as the frontrunner, with final decision expected within weeks
  
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• Train performance data to be displayed at stations under Labour plans

  11-11-2024 20:26 via theguardian.com
  
  Transport secretary says figures will be shown on screens in effort to hold operators and government to accountPassengers travelling in England will be shown how often their trains are delayed and cancelled on screens at stations under plans by the transport secretary to hold operators to account.Louise Haigh promised to increase transparency by publicly displaying punctuality performance of train operating companies, including those run by the government, on screens at most stations. Continue r
  
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• Post Office inquiry is treated to KemiKaze at her brittle, narcissistic worst | John Crace

  11-11-2024 19:52 via theguardian.com
  
  Where others began by expressing regret over the Horizon scandal, Kemi said nothing. Because she feels nothingLook on the bright side. Kemi Badenoch lasted two and a half hours in the witness stand at the Post Office inquiry without losing it. She didn’t get into an argument with Jason Beer, the counsel for the crown, though that could be because his questions were not unduly threatening. After all, we were there to hear Kemi’s version of events. Other versions of the truth may be av
  
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• Fujitsu boss 'does not know' if Horizon is reliable

  11-11-2024 19:21 via bbc.com
  
  Paul Patterson raises concerns about the system at the heart of sub-postmasters' wrongful convictions.
  
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• Kemi Badenoch blames civil service for slow pace of Post Office compensation

  11-11-2024 19:19
  
  New Conservative leader says ITV drama brought ‘urgency’ to helping victims of scandal
  
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• Rebecca Hendin on the global implications of Donald Trump’s victory – cartoon

  11-11-2024 19:11 via theguardian.com
  
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• Covid inquiry told Treasury blocked NHS bed request

  11-11-2024 19:06 via bbc.com
  
  NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard says the decision, in July 2020, was very disappointing.
  
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• Pay for NHS chiefs to be linked to performance with ‘no more rewards for failure’, Wes Streeting says – as it happened

  11-11-2024 18:45 via theguardian.com
  
  This live blog is closedHere are some of the main points from Jonathan Reynolds’s evidence to the Post Office inquiry so far this morning.Reynolds said he accepted as business secretary he was responsible for ensuring the compensation scheme operated properly. He said in the past there had been “insufficient accountability”.He said that since the general election there has been a “significant increase” in the pace at which compensation is being paid. The journalist
  
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• Budget fallout will hit UK plc’s squeezed middle hardest

  11-11-2024 18:07
  
  Smallest private sector employers will be protected from NI increase while big business can pass cost on to consumer
  
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• Starmer and Macron pledge ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine

  11-11-2024 16:51
  
  Two leaders show united front after Trump victory in US threatens to upturn western backing for Kyiv
  
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• Badenoch: it’s ‘disappointing’ it took ITV drama to speed up Post Office payouts

  11-11-2024 15:41 via theguardian.com
  
  Tory leader tells inquiry she worked behind scenes to try to win funding for more compensation over Horizon scandalThe Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has told an inquiry it is “extremely disappointing” that it took the ITV drama about the Post Office scandal to get the government to accelerate compensation payments for wrongfully prosecuted branch owner-operators.Badenoch, the new leader of the opposition who held the post of business secretary for 17 months until the general el
  
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