Dame Rachel de Souza says No 10’s focus on carer-to-child ratios is ‘depressing’ and now is the time to redefine childcare The children’s commissioner for England has poured cold water on Liz Truss’s proposal to scrap regulations governing child-to-staff ratios in nurseries, describing it as tinkering around the edges and calling instead for ambitious and transformative reform of the childcare sector. In an interview with the Guardian, Dame Rachel de Souza said children’s safety and

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows impact of increasing benefits in line with earnings, not inflation At least one in five working-age families in most UK constituencies – including in Liz Truss’s seat – would lose out by hundreds of pounds on average if real-terms benefit cuts go ahead, a study has found. The scale of the impact of a below-inflation rise on already struggling households and by extension, local shops and businesses, is

Commons committee warns there are still shortages of staff to deal with UK’s new status as a third country UK regulators are struggling to cope with the post-Brexit trading environment because of “poor preparation and planning”, a House of Commons committee investigation has found. Almost two years after the UK quit the EU, there are still shortages of vets, toxicologists, lawyers and economists to deal with the UK’s new status as a “third country”, found

Prime minister accused of ‘another screeching U-turn’ having previously rejected calls to impose levy Renewable power companies will have their revenues capped in England and Wales, after the government bowed to pressure to clamp down on runaway profits. The announcement late on Tuesday night provoked immediate accusations that Downing Street had performed “another screeching U-turn” – having previously rejected calls to impose a windfall tax on power giants. Continue reading… ​Prime minister accused of ‘another

Graham Bonham-Carter was arrested after being accused of funding properties purchased by Oleg Deripaska and expatriating his artwork A British businessman has been charged with conspiring to violate sanctions imposed by the US government on a Russian oligarch. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) said Graham Bonham-Carter was arrested on Tuesday after being accused of funding properties purchased by Oleg Deripaska and expatriating his artwork, which Bonham-Carter denies. Continue reading… ​Graham Bonham-Carter was arrested after

Then-Prince of Wales filmed bringing vintage royal clock and pottery to show’s craftspeople for repair King Charles will star in a special episode of The Repair Shop later this month as part of events to mark 100 years since the BBC was established. Charles will meet the show’s host and furniture restorer, Jay Blades, and his team of craftspeople to talk about their interest in bringing new life to objects. Continue reading… ​Then-Prince of Wales