New UCL research reveals that children who are smacked perform worse in their GCSEs, scoring two to three grades lower than their peers. The study found physical punishment does no good whatsoever for behaviour or academic outcomes.
A man appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a serious knife attack in Belfast city centre. The victim remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has compared Britain’s economic recovery to Beyoncé’s hit song ‘Irreplaceable’, telling business leaders the UK needs to move ‘to the left’ from failed policies. The unusual metaphor has sparked debate across Westminster about how politicians communicate complex economic issues.
Labour’s struggles can’t be pinned solely on Keir Starmer’s leadership, new LSE analysis reveals. The party faces deeper structural problems that would persist regardless of who’s in charge.
Britain’s government is scrambling to manage potential economic shocks from the escalating Iran conflict. New analysis warns the UK faces risks ranging from energy price spikes to disrupted trade routes.
Illegal mini-marts will face year-long closures under new UK legislation that doubles current penalties. The change follows a BBC investigation revealing how quickly rogue shops reopen after six-month bans.
Trade unions have condemned National Grid after a year-long delay in connecting Tata Steel’s new electric arc furnace to the power network in Port Talbot. The setback threatens 2,800 jobs and raises questions about infrastructure planning for Britain’s green industrial transition.
Politicians who championed free speech are now leading efforts to silence Palestine advocacy, civil liberties groups say. The shift came fast after October 7, with over 600 suppression incidents reported in just five months.
England’s new GCSE curriculum faces major revisions after teachers raised serious concerns about workload and burnout. Ofqual has confirmed it supports scaling back ambitious reforms affecting nine subjects.
The UK government has announced a major overhaul of data protection rules that officials say will inject £10 billion into the economy. The reforms aim to slash bureaucracy while maintaining high privacy standards.
