Local News

Among families struggling to make ends meet, there's an uneasy sense that the people who can least afford it are being forced to bear the brunt of the nation's financial woes.As the impact statement of the government's welfare cuts was released - revealing tens of thousands of children will be tipped into poverty - at a community centre in Wolverhampton, families shared their frustration that sick and disabled people will […]

Network Rail will set up a new property company to build 40,000 homes on its rail estate over the next decade in a drive to meet the government's housing target.The Treasury on Thursday announced the launch of a new cross-government taskforce to release surplus public land for housing, with unused Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites also to be among the first to be released. Announcing the plan, Chancellor Rachel Reeves […]

The Chinese owner of British Steel has rejected a £500m state rescue package in a move which raises fresh doubts about thousands of steel industry jobs.Sky News has learnt that the offer was made by Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, in a letter sent to Jingye Group on Monday. The proposal - aimed at facilitating the Scunthorpe-based group's transition to green steel production - follows years of talks aimed at […]

The Office for Budget Responsibility has halved the UK growth forecast for 2025 from 2% to 1%, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.However, the fiscal watchdog said that while growth has been downgraded for this year, it had been upgraded for every year after for the rest of this parliament - which is due to end in 2029. The chancellor said she is "not satisfied with these numbers" as she delivered […]

The University of Sussex has been fined £585,000 by the higher education regulator for failing to uphold freedom of speech. The Office for Students (OfS) criticised the university's policy statement on transgender and non-binary equality, saying that it could lead staff and students to "self-censor". The policy has a requirement to "positively represent trans people" and asserts that "transphobic propaganda [would] not be tolerated".The university said it will legally challenge the […]

Rachel Reeves will unveil further welfare cuts in her spring statement after being told the reforms announced last week will save less than planned, Sky News understands.The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has rejected the government's assessment that the package of measures, including narrowing the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments (PIP), will save £5bn. Politics latest: Ex-Labour leader says Starmer 'an enormous disappointment'The fiscal watchdog put the value of […]

Jeremy Corbyn has said Sir Keir Starmer's benefit cuts are a "disgrace" and demanded the government "think again".Speaking to Sky News' Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, the former Labour leader accused the prime minister of imposing austerity on the country and warned many of his ex-colleagues are "very upset". Politics Live: Chancellor sent clear message in new poll - as Farage brands protester 'a saddo'It comes ahead of Chancellor Rachel […]

There is a "really concerning" rise in sexual violence among 14- and 15-year-olds that policymakers need to take "very seriously", Home Office minister Jess Phillips has told Sky News.Speaking to Sky News' Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, Ms Phillips, who holds the safeguarding and violence against women and girls (VAWG) portfolio, suggested that "generational progression" on feminism and the advancement of women does not appear to be continuing with her […]

Thousands of new homes in England will be built as part of a £2bn plan to boost social and affordable house building, the government has said.Up to 18,000 new homes are set to be delivered, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves said would go some way to "fixing the housing crisis". Charities said the "vast majority" of new homes should be for social rent amid record highs in homelessness across the country.The […]