Author: News Desk

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been criticised for saying Scottish independence will be the best way for the UK to strengthen its partnership. 

​Exclusive: Simon Clarke hopes to win over blue wall Tories by ending new-home targets as well as green and affordability rulesSimon Clarke, the levelling up secretary, threatens to reignite the feud over housebuilding within the Conservative party with a significant “planning reset” that could water down environmental protections and affordable home requirements across England.The latest in Liz Truss’s string of supply side reforms – nicknamed “Operation Rolling Thunder” in Whitehall – is slated to be launched by Clarke within weeks, and is expected to see him argue for a flurry of housing development as part of the government’s “dash for…

​Legitimacy of court-appointed ‘experts’ to come under review after mother loses custody appealOne of Britain’s most senior judges is to examine issues relating to the regulation of court-appointed experts who provide evidence about child welfare in private custody hearings – and, in particular, where “parental alienation” is a feature.Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the family division of the high court, will oversee an appeal later this month brought by a mother who challenged the qualifications of a court-appointed expert who found she had “alienated” her children from their father. Continue reading… 

​Black, working-class and mature students most at risk of being forced out of higher education by financial pressuresThe cost of living crisis is placing nearly 300,000 UK students in financial peril, with a disproportionate number of older, working-class or Black students likely to drop out, according to analysis by a university group.The MillionPlus group – an association of modern universities in England and Scotland educating more than a million students – said national governments and regulators including the Office for Students (OfS) and the Scottish Funding Council should take immediate action to alleviate the severe financial pressures facing students. Continue…

​Peers from all parties seeking to stop bill getting on statute books amid hope of more optimistic talksLiz Truss is facing a rebellion in the House of Lords over the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol which is proceeding to its next stage just as negotiations to end the dispute with the EU are resumed.It is scheduled to get a second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday but peers organising the rebellion are planning to let it squeak through for tactical reasons. Continue reading… 

Is it nearly time for a break for your little ones? (Picture: Getty) Children went back to school in September – some would’ve moved up to secondary school and others would’ve moved on to important years, like their GCSEs. Whether they’ve just started or are already thinking about exams, many children will be ready for a break. As school holiday dates vary slightly every year, many parents will be keen to check when the next half term is, as there’s always one around the end of October (a Halloween treat, one might say). Get your diaries at the ready because…

Where can you bag the best bargain during your lunch break? (Picture: Getty Images / Metro.co.uk) With the rising cost of living, many Brits are looking for ways to make their pennies stretch further. For those that don’t have the time to make a packed lunch, a meal deal can offer a cost-effective way to eat during your lunch break. It means you know how much you’ll spend each day, with many deals offering a set price for a hefty meal. Despite the cost of items rising across the board, many supermarkets still offer cheap meal deals as well as…

The former Prime Minister is now unlikely to complete a political comeback, two of his closest allies have claimed. 

The political landscape has been transformed since MPs were last at Westminster – and not in a good way for the prime minister   The political landscape has been transformed since MPs were last at Westminster – and not in a good way for the prime minister 

The political landscape has been transformed since MPs were last at Westminster – and not in a good way for the prime minister   The political landscape has been transformed since MPs were last at Westminster – and not in a good way for the prime minister