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There've been calls for them to be paused following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry Stopping inspections would not be in the best interests of children, the head of the schools watchdog has said after calls for them to be paused following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman acknowledged the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades “is a legitimate one” but insisted school checks aim […]

Demonstrators are angry about plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 More than 1 million people demonstrated across France on Thursday against unpopular pension reforms, with violence erupting in some places. Unions have called for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles’ planned visit to France. The Interior Ministry said the march in Paris — marred by violence, as were numerous marches elsewhere — drew 119,000 […]

The value of households’ spending on subscription services, home improvements and dating fell annually in February, according to analysis by Britain’s biggest building society of its members’ outgoings. The volume of dating transactions fell by a third (33%) in February 2023 compared with the same month in 2022, also falling by 7% by value, Nationwide Building Society found. Spending on subscriptions fell by 6% annually by volume and by 3% […]

Consumer confidence climbed slightly in March despite the cost-of-living crisis remaining a “stark reality” for most, according to a survey. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index increased two points in March, masking ongoing concerns about personal finances and rising to an overall score of minus 36. Confidence in personal finances over the next 12 months remains weak, falling three points to minus 21 – three points lower than this time last […]

He'll now have to await the verdict of the Privileges Committee Boris Johnson is fighting for his political future after MPs investigating his partygate denials denounced the “flimsy” assurances they were based on. In at times short-tempered testimony lasting more than three hours, the former prime minister insisted there was not a “shred of evidence” to show he lied to MPs. It would have been “utterly insane” for him to have […]

Rishi Sunak has hailed the “incredibly strong support” for his new deal with Brussels on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland after seeing off a backbench revolt by Tory hardliners. A total of 22 Conservative rebels, including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, defied a three-line whip to vote against regulations to implement a key plank of the Windsor Framework agreement. The so-called Stormont brake, designed to give […]

Rishi Sunak has hailed the “incredibly strong support” for his new deal with Brussels on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland after seeing off a backbench revolt by Tory hardliners. A total of 22 Conservative rebels, including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, defied a three-line whip to vote against regulations to implement a key plank of the Windsor Framework agreement. The so-called Stormont brake, designed to give […]

Both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal in Parliament. The two former prime ministers will form part of an expected backbench rebellion against the agreement negotiated with Brussels, although the extent of Tory opposition remains unclear. Mr Johnson confirmed on Wednesday that he will not be backing the deal when MPs vote on the Stormont brake in the Commons later on Wednesday, with […]