Politics

Image copyright House of Commons A Brexit minister has said he accepts he made a mistake in a Commons exchange which prompted a row about the independence of the civil service. Unions had accused Steve Baker of not challenging a “half-baked conspiracy theory” that the Treasury was trying to influence policy on the customs union. […]

Image copyright Laura Dodsworth Image caption Ministers want to create a specific offence criminalising psychological abuse A bill to criminalise psychological domestic abuse is has been passed, with some campaigners saying it “could change Scotland forever”. The Domestic Abuse bill, which has wide backing, creates a specific offence of “abusive behaviour in relation to a […]

Image copyright PA Image caption Mr Russell is leading the Scottish government’s negotiations with the UK government over the Brexit process The Scottish government has said it will publish the UK government’s controversial Brexit briefing paper if it is given it. The document, which was leaked to Buzzfeed earlier this week, predicts that Brexit will […]

MPs tell of the strain of juggling parenthood and work in Parliament – and the toll their job can take on family life. They were debating a motion urging the Commons to “make arrangements for when a member has a baby or adopts a child” – as there currently weren’t any. Source link

Image copyright Geograph/Richard Williams Image caption Desborough residents passed a vote of no confidence in their council about 18 months ago All Conservative members of a town council have resigned after “bullying, abuse and harassment” of the former chairman and her family. Jane Pearce stood down from Desborough Town Council in Northamptonshire two weeks ago […]

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionNew mother Emma Reynolds on maternity and paternity votes An MP has described hitting the campaign trail seven days after giving birth – after a general election was unexpectedly called last year. Labour’s Emma Reynolds gave birth to baby Theo on Good Friday 2017, three weeks before […]

Image copyright Reuters Theresa May has agreed a joint trade and investment review with China as the first step towards an “ambitious” post-Brexit deal, Downing Street said. The prime minister said “we will be free to strike our own trade deals” after leaving the EU, following talks with China’s President Xi Jinping. Mr Xi said […]

Image copyright SafePassage Image caption Lord Alf Dubs joined the group of former child refugees and campaigners at Downing Street Five former child refugees who fled Nazi persecution have urged Theresa May to welcome more young migrants into Britain. The group of men and women, who came to the UK from Europe prior to the […]

Image copyright Getty Images Thousands of people on universal credit will not be paid over the festive season or will get a reduced payment. About 67,000 people who work and are paid weekly will be hit, the Department of Work and Pensions says. Some will have to reapply for the benefit. That is because there […]

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionESA claimant Peter Cartwright: ‘People need this money to live’ Mistakes in paying out benefits claims could cost up to £500m to put right, the BBC has learned. The errors identified by the Department for Work and Pensions affect the main sickness benefit, the Employment and Support […]

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Tusk said progress on citizens’ rights had not been mirrored in other areas Theresa May has been told she has two weeks to put more money on the table if the EU is to agree to begin Brexit trade talks before the end of the year. EU Council President […]

Image copyright UK Parliament Austerity has hit ethnic minority women hardest, Labour’s shadow minister for women and equalities has said. Dawn Butler called on the Chancellor to publish an equality impact assessment of the Budget, ahead of his speech next Wednesday. The Brent Central MP said Labour would boost income and tackle discrimination. The Conservatives […]