Politics

One-word Ofsted judgements for state schools are being scrapped with immediate effect in a move that has been hailed as a “landmark moment for children”. Previously, the education watchdog awarded one of four marks to schools it inspects: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. From this academic year, four grades will be awarded across the

The government is “not attacking the hospitality industry” with proposed plans to ban smoking in pub gardens, a cabinet minister has insisted. Lucy Powell told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that Labour wants to create a “smoke-free country” and measures to achieve this will be done “in consultation” with businesses that could be

Bills on renters’ reform and water company regulation are set to be among a “packed legislative agenda” for parliament when MPs return from their summer break, says Commons leader Lucy Powell. The House of Commons sits again on Monday and two “historic” bills are expected to be laid before politicians in the first week. One

As the photos of Angela Rayner raving in an Ibiza nightclub confirm, the deputy prime minister enjoys her time off. But hey, it was August. And, to be fair, hours earlier she chaired a meeting in Whitehall on building safety, before jetting off to the Spanish holiday isle. But while “Angela Raver” was enjoying the

A Labour politician has defended himself as a “renters champion” despite flats he rents out reportedly found to be in poor condition. Jas Athwal, the newly-elected MP for Ilford South, owns 15 rental flats, but some tenants have claimed they regularly have to clean their bathroom ceilings to remove mould. In an investigation first reported

Employers will have to offer flexible working hours – including a four-day week – to all workers under government plans. To receive their full pay, employees would still have to work their full hours but compressed into a shorter working week – something some workplaces already do. Currently, employees can request flexible hours as soon

A tweet from a Tory MP about proposals to ban smoking in pub gardens has been called “repugnant” by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday that his government was looking at outlawing smoking in some public spaces, including on restaurant terraces, outside nightclubs and in some parks. But

Smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants and outside stadiums, according to reports. The measures are currently being considered by ministers according to The Sun newspaper. Smokers would also been prohibited from lighting up outside sport venues, nightclubs and in small parks, the newspaper said – citing “secret Whitehall papers”. Read more:How would

“Woeful budgeting” by the Home Office has led to years of overspend on asylum, a watchdog has claimed. For the past three years, the department has set £110m aside for asylum operations. But a new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the actual spend had averaged £2.6bn a year in that time.

Sir Keir Starmer has said his government wants a reset with the EU – “but that doesn’t mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market”. Following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, the prime minister said plans for a new treaty with Germany are about a “reset” with the EU. He said

Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Germany to hold talks on a new bilateral treaty with the country as he hopes to “move beyond Brexit to rebuild relationships” with the EU. The prime minister will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday to discuss the deal, which will aim to “boost business and trade, deepen

The October budget will be “painful”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, giving the biggest hint yet of tax rises. Speaking from Downing Street, the prime minister said: “I will be honest with you, there is a budget coming in October and it’s going to be painful.” He added: “Just as when I responded to the

Sir Keir Starmer will vow on Tuesday to “reverse a decade of decline” and to “fix the foundations” of the UK economy. Delivering a much-trailed speech in the gardens of Downing Street ahead of parliament’s return next week, the prime minister will acknowledge the state of the public finances but pledge to “do the hard

A Labour donor who contributed more than £500,000 to the party did have a pass to Number 10 for a short time, the government has told Sky News. The Sunday Times reported Lord Waheed Alli, a television executive who has donated to Labour over the last 20 years, had been given a pass granting him

Messaging is a key weapon in any government’s armoury. Back in 2010 the new coalition spent the first few months re-iterating the line that Labour had caused economic chaos, aided by the famous note “there is no money left”. It was so successful that some political analysis believe it was a big factor in helping

Sir Keir Starmer will warn life in the UK is “going to get worse” before it improves in his first major speech as prime minister. Sir Keir will mark a week before Parliament returns after a shortened summer recess by continuing his attacks on the previous government, saying things are “worse than we ever imagined”.