Politics

The Swiss government announced a one-off solidarity payment of 50,000 francs for each of the injured and the families of those who died in the Crans-Montana bar fire; officials say investigations and criminal proceedings are under way and additional federal funding will be provided.

David Hallam, a former Labour MEP, writes that Tony Blair's leadership fractured Labour's broad coalition and that internal dissent was treated as treason; he also links changes in electoral rules to UKIP gaining an early platform.

Sir Keir Starmer said he will explore ways to make the student loan system fairer, while ministers are reported to be considering changes to interest rates and the repayment threshold.

The Treasury and Department for Education are reported to be discussing reversing the freeze on the repayment salary threshold and lowering Plan 2 interest rates after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch backed changes.

A by-election in the Manchester constituency covering Gorton and Denton will be held on Thursday; Labour, Reform UK and the Green Party are competing amid reported local disappointment with national politics.

Ofgem has cut the energy price cap by £117, lowering the typical annual dual-fuel bill to £1,641 from 1 April; the change reflects a government pledge to reduce average household bills by £150 through shifting some renewable costs onto general taxation.

CAFOD analysis, drawing on research from the University of St Andrews and Save the Children, finds that reducing debt-servicing to about 10% of revenue could create fiscal space large enough to offset many impacts of the UK’s 40% cut to its aid budget and help restore funding for health, education, water and sanitation.

Abigail Spanberger, Virginia's newly elected governor and a former congresswoman and CIA officer, will deliver the Democrats' response to President Trump's State of the Union address.

The government published a SEND white paper asking mainstream schools to assess pupils and set individual support plans, and ministers say legislation will be introduced in 2028; education leaders and MPs welcomed the aim but warned the changes will add substantial workload and could affect staff wellbeing.

Prosecutors told Winchester crown court that they say a campaign of physical and sexual violence by Christopher Trybus preceded his wife Tarryn Baird's 2017 death; Trybus is charged with manslaughter, two counts of rape and coercive and controlling behaviour, and the trial is under way and expected to last seven weeks.

On 24 February 2026, over thirty leaders in the Coalition of the Willing met and pledged sustained political, economic and security support for Ukraine; they urged Russia to agree to a full, unconditional ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky told the BBC he believes Vladimir Putin has started World War III and urged intensified military and economic pressure; overnight strikes on Odesa region hit energy infrastructure, causing fires and at least one death.

The royal commission into antisemitism will not examine key parts of the December Bondi attack to avoid prejudicing an ongoing criminal trial, the commissioner said. The inquiry will focus on antisemitism and social cohesion and aims to deliver its final report by 14 December 2026.

A BBC investigation found some children in care have been out of mainstream school for months or years while homes struggle to secure places; the Children's Homes Association reports many providers face difficulty finding placements and the Department for Education says a new law will extend councils' powers to include academies.

The UK announced additional military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, including a 70-person multinational headquarters backed by £200 million and a separate £30 million fund for societal resilience and justice efforts.

Bridget Phillipson has unveiled a 10-year SEND reform plan with new funding commitments and major changes to EHCPs; a public consultation has begun and reviews of individual EHCPs are due to start in September 2029.

The government has published terms of reference for a UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, describing an internationally focused role to promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research and to support justice and assistance for victims and families; the envoy will lead UK delegations to IHRA, relevant International Tracing Service meetings, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation annual meeting and SECCA.

The Department for Education estimates about one in eight children who currently have the highest-level SEND support (an EHCP) will transition to new plans between 2030 and 2035, and formal assessments for the new system are due to begin in September 2029 with no change to current support before at least September 2030.

Students held demonstrations at several Iranian universities while the US has increased its military presence in the region amid ongoing nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.

Palestinian authorities reported that Israeli settlers vandalized the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in Tell, near Nablus, at the start of Ramadan; Israeli military and police said they responded and are searching for suspects.

The government announced that schools will be legally required to create Individual Support Plans for all children with SEND, and that Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans will be retained and expanded, backed by multi-billion-pound investment in support services.

Ministers say spending on support for pupils with special educational needs will increase for several years and is expected to return to current levels by 2035; a schools white paper announces SEND reforms with an extra £4 billion and a phased rollout subject to consultation.

The government announced a £4 billion package to expand specialist support for children with additional needs, including a £1.6bn Inclusive Mainstream Fund and a £1.8bn 'Experts at Hand' service over three years.

Bill Kelty told a Greens parliamentary inquiry he supports scaling back the 50% capital gains tax discount but said any change must be part of broader reform to ease burdens on younger Australians; his remarks criticised the government's piecemeal approach and raised questions about whether Treasurer Jim Chalmers will pursue wider change.

Emperor Naruhito said scars remain for survivors of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident and urged that lessons be passed to younger generations as the March 11 anniversary approaches.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, said the party would create a new deportation agency and end indefinite leave to remain, replacing it with renewable work visas; the speech also outlined wider policing and counter‑extremism changes.

Cpl Lucy Wilde, 25, was found dead in her barracks in Warminster on 5 February and the Ministry of Defence says an investigation is under way. Prince William posted a tribute, describing her service as marked by courage and compassion.

Four senior Alba figures have offered to form a transition team to try to allow the party to contest the Scottish Parliament election after leader Kenny MacAskill said the party faces a perilous financial position.

A group of senior Alba figures has offered to step in to help the party contest the Scottish election amid financial problems and a live police inquiry into alleged irregularities; party leaders say there are outstanding fiscal, regulatory and administrative hurdles to clear before May.

The Financial Times reported that Iran and Russia signed a secret €500 million agreement in December for thousands of shoulder-fired missiles, with deliveries reportedly scheduled from 2027 to 2029; Reuters could not immediately verify the report.