Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has signalled that the Government could scrap the two-child benefit cap, saying she is confident ministers will do the right thing for children living in poverty. The cap, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, restricts universal credit and child tax credit to the first two children in most households. Phillipson, who is seeking Labour's deputy leadership, said there is an urgency to change the policy […]

John Swinney has said he would not resign if he wins next year’s Holyrood election but fails to secure an SNP majority. Delegates at the SNP conference backed the plan to base a renewed push for independence on winning an SNP majority at the next election. Soon after the proposals were approved, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said the First Minister was “staking his premiership on independence” and would quit […]

Staffordshire Police say a 43-year-old woman from the Stafford area has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two children died in Stafford. Officers were called to a home on Corporation Street at about 07:30 on Sunday following a report from the West Midlands Ambulance Service. The two children were pronounced dead at the scene. Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. […]

Diane Keaton has died in California at the age of 79, a family spokesperson has said, asking for privacy while relatives grieve. Keaton rose to global prominence in the 1970s as Kay Adams in The Godfather films and through her collaborations with Woody Allen. She won an Oscar for Annie Hall and became closely associated with the film’s menswear-inspired look. Her other well known titles include The First Wives Club, […]

UK travellers visiting Spain, Portugal and Italy are being advised to expect longer border checks when the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES) comes into force. The system requires people from outside the Schengen area to have biometric details recorded, including fingerprints and a photo, to enter the 29-country zone. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: "For major airports in southern Europe, we recommend that travellers now […]