Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

Tensions are rising in Birmingham as an all-out bin strike continues, leaving rubbish uncollected and sparking health concerns, including reports of large rats and one resident allegedly being bitten. With the city council being overseen by commissioners after declaring bankruptcy, the Government has said it cannot legally intervene, insisting it remains a local matter. MPs from across the political spectrum have criticised the inaction, branding it a 'national embarrassment’. The Unite union, representing a small group of holdouts, is accused of blocking depots and preventing contingency plans. Communities minister Jim McMahon and Labour MP Preet Gill both called for a resolution, stressing the urgent need for compromise. Meanwhile, residents across the region remain frustrated by the visible impact and potential health risks of uncollected waste.

Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are challenging the Government in the High Court over the imposition of 20% VAT on private school fees. The Education Not Taxation campaign argues the policy disproportionately harms SEND families, many of whom are making significant financial sacrifices to access specialised education their children can't receive in state schools. Families testified to working seven days a week and missing precious time with their children just to afford tuition. The campaign estimates around 35,000 SEND pupils could be forced out of private schools due to the new tax, into a state system already described as 'in crisis.' While the Treasury argues the tax will raise £1.5 to £1.7 billion a year, families insist it's a breach of their rights and deeply unfair to vulnerable children. The case continues in the courts.

Experts warn the UK is wasting billions annually by failing to diagnose and care for people with bipolar disorder. An estimated one million people live with the condition, yet many are misdiagnosed, undertreated, or entirely overlooked. Patients have undergone years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and crisis before they finally received proper care. New data put the cost of bipolar-related care and economic loss at £9.6 billion a year. Yet experts say that with early diagnosis, consistent medication, and specialist care programmes, hospital admissions could be dramatically reduced and lives transformed. One model in South London has seen readmission rates drop by 80%. Despite the evidence, care remains patchy and specialist services limited. Campaigners and clinicians are urging a national care pathway and greater access to psychiatrists to stop the cycle of crisis and neglect, calling the current situation both a human tragedy and a financial folly.

A new report from Fusion, based on a survey across 186 universities, found that 12% of non-Christian students engage with the Bible weekly - often through social media. Among Christian students, the number rises to 29%. Half of all students believe the Bible is relevant today; this drops to 32% among non-Christians and 27% among those with no religion. While only 19% of non-religious students believe the Bible is reliable, many still want to explore its teachings. Some find parts of it offensive or contradictory, yet remain intrigued by what it has to say about life and truth in a confusing world. Fusion’s Adam Mitchell-Baker says this interest reveals a deep hunger in students, even amid cultural opposition. In an age of unstable role models, Jesus and the enduring truth of Scripture offer hope and clarity. Fusion’s vision is to put a Bible in the hands of every student in the UK.

Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement revealed the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has halved the UK's 2025 growth forecast from 2% to 1%. In response, Reeves announced deeper welfare cuts, including freezing the health element of Universal Credit for new claimants until 2030 after a 50% reduction. Cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) eligibility will affect 800,000 people, with an average annual loss of £4,500. These measures are projected to save £4.8 billion by 2030, though 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, may fall into relative poverty. Defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% in the next parliament, funded by a reduction in overseas aid. Departmental budgets will grow by 1.2% above inflation, slightly less than the 1.3% previously forecast, posing significant pressures. Despite criticism from shadow chancellor Mel Stride, Reeves denied this was ‘austerity 2.0’, insisting it would lift families out of poverty.

Assisted dying may not be available in England and Wales until at least 2029 after MPs approved extending the rollout period from two to four years. The delay was proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the bill, who emphasised the importance of thoroughness over speed. Although she acknowledged supporters' disappointment, she believed a well-constructed law was paramount; the bill would return to the Commons in a 'safer, fairer, and more workable' form. Tom Gordon, a Liberal Democrat MP, warned the delay risked pushing the bill beyond the next general election, potentially leading to its abandonment. Critics argue the delay prolongs unnecessary suffering for terminally ill patients, while opponents worry it may pressure vulnerable individuals into ending their lives. Ms Leadbeater removed a safeguard requiring High Court scrutiny, proposing a panel including a lawyer, psychiatrist, and social worker instead. The bill initially passed with 330 MPs in favour and 275 against. See

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, language, and social interaction difficulties among five and six-year-olds. She attributes this to the lockdowns, where children missed key developmental experiences. 'It's a daily battle’, she says. Cori Bateman, CEO of the Pioneer Learning Trust, confirms the post-2020 rise in additional needs has shifted teaching methods. Techniques once only  for individuals are now used class-wide, including sensory gadgets, breathing exercises, and emotion-based activities. Bateman insists this inclusivity doesn't disadvantage other pupils. Secondary schools face challenges too. One principal has noted a rise in exclusions and persistent absenteeism, with socio-economic disparities amplified during the pandemic. When pupils reflect on the disruption, Freya, 16, describes the isolation of online learning, while Max, 17, feels his year group was relatively fortunate. Sarah, 17, recalls remote education as overwhelming. Some experts warn of a widened attainment gap with effects until 2035. The Department for Education aims to prepare more children for school by age five.

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 food deliveries, have risen from seven to 15 per day. Motability Operations attributes this rise to an increase in eligible customers, from 650,000 in 2022 to 815,000 in 2023. Disability rights groups defend the scheme, calling it life-changing for many. However, critics argue the system is exploited by friends or family of claimants. Motability Operations is reviewing the number of drivers per vehicle and increasing tracking to counter misuse. Some accuse claimants of freeloading, but recipients highlight rigorous eligibility criteria and the necessity of these vehicles. Experts emphasise the scheme's value, with fraud in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system reportedly at zero.

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, USA, and other major donors is expected to create an 'unprecedented crisis.' Britain's aid budget will drop by 40% (approximately £6 billion) by 2027 to prioritise defence spending, prompting the resignation of development minister Anneliese Dodds. The USA has dissolved USAID, which previously managed much of its $60 billion foreign aid. Other nations, including France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, have also cut foreign aid, by 37%, 30%, and 25% respectively. Emergency nutrition spending could fall by half ($290 million annually), leaving 2.3 million children without critical treatment for severe malnutrition. In Nigeria, USAid's withdrawal halted nutrition services for 5.6 million children. In Sudan, nearly 80% of emergency food kitchens have closed.

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 faith leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Bishop of Leicester Martyn Snow, called for transformative action. With 4.3 million children currently living in poverty and projections indicating another 400,000 could be affected by the end of the decade, they said that poverty reduction is a moral imperative for a compassionate society. The letter expressed hope that the forthcoming strategy could mark a turning point, encouraging partnerships across society to ensure every child has a fair start in life. It references the 'Paying the Price' report by Action for Children, advocating reforms in social security and housing to lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by 2030. Some saw scrapping the two-child benefit cap as a crucial step in this process.