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Fri, 21 February 2025

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Matilda Martin

Matilda is a reporter at PoliticsHome. Previously she was a senior reporter at TES.

Reduce Foreign Aid To Fund The Military, Says Former Foreign Office Minister
Defence
Reduce Foreign Aid To Fund The Military, Says Former Foreign Office Minister
A former foreign office minister has urged the government to reduce foreign aid spending and put the money saved towards funding the military.
Majority of Teachers Feel Curriculum Not Equipped For Voting At 16, Poll Shows
Education
Majority of Teachers Feel Curriculum Not Equipped For Voting At 16, Poll Shows
A large majority of teachers believe that the curriculum in its current form fails to provide young people with sufficient political education to vote in elections, a poll shared with PoliticsHome shows.
Defence Secretary Says Ultimately 'Only The US' Can Deter Russia From Attacking Ukraine Again
Defence
Defence Secretary Says Ultimately "Only The US" Can Deter Russia From Attacking Ukraine Again
Only the United States can deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again if peace is negotiated, Defence Secretary John Healey has said, as the UK tries to convince the Trump administration to provide security guarantees in the region.
British Public Oppose Tax Hikes To Increase Defence Spending, Poll Shows
Defence
British Public Oppose Tax Hikes To Increase Defence Spending, Poll Shows
More people would oppose than support tax rises to pay for an increase in defence spending, YouGov polling has suggested.
Liberal Democrat MP Calls For More Police Officers In London Schools
Education
Liberal Democrat MP Calls For More Police Officers In London Schools
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson for London Luke Taylor has called for more police officers in schools across the capital after an uptick in knife crime.
British Universities Should Resist US Diversity Culture Wars, Says Oxford Chief
Education
British Universities Should Resist US Diversity Culture Wars, Says Oxford Chief
UK universities should push back against "culture war excesses" from the United States, the chief diversity officer at the University of Oxford has said.
Forty Per Cent Of Nurseries Say They Will Offer Fewer Places Due To National Insurance Rise
Education
Forty Per Cent Of Nurseries Say They Will Offer Fewer Places Due To National Insurance Rise
Four in ten nurseries say they will have to offer fewer childcare places as a result of the government’s increases to National Insurance employer contributions.
One In Seven Maths Classes Now Taught By Non-Specialists
Education
One In Seven Maths Classes Now Taught By Non-Specialists
Up to 15 per cent of maths lessons in 2023-24 were taught by teachers who were not subject specialists, new research shared with PoliticsHome shows.
Starmer Responds To Trump's Gaza Plan: Palestinians 'Must Be Allowed Home'
Foreign affairs
Starmer Responds To Trump's Gaza Plan: Palestinians 'Must Be Allowed Home'
Palestinians “must be allowed home”, the Prime Minister has said, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Gazans should be moved to a new location
Primary School Teacher Applicants Fall Again
Education
Primary School Teacher Applicants Fall Again
The number of people applying to train as a primary school teacher in England has fallen by almost 10 per cent year-on-year, PoliticsHome analysis shows.
Police Sexual Misconduct Allegations Soar 67 Per Cent In One Year
Home affairs
Police Sexual Misconduct Allegations Soar 67 Per Cent In One Year
Allegations relating to sexual conduct involving police officers have soared by more than two thirds last year, according to analysis of new government data.
Reform Is Eyeing Up A “Seismic Moment” In Lincolnshire Elections
Political parties
Reform Is Eyeing Up A “Seismic Moment” In Lincolnshire Elections
Reform UK has vowed the party will stand in “every single seat” in Lincolnshire’s council elections in May, as it eyes up the accompanying mayoral contest as a springboard for the party’s future.
British Universities Should 'Take Advantage' If American Students Leave Trump's US, Says Former Minister
Education
British Universities Should "Take Advantage" If American Students Leave Trump's US, Says Former Minister
The higher education sector should "take every advantage" in competition for international students if Donald Trump's victory triggers a surge in young Americans looking to study abroad, a former universities minister has said.
Prime Minister Takes On Claims Of 'Cover Up' Over Southport Attack
Communities
Prime Minister Takes On Claims Of 'Cover Up' Over Southport Attack
Keir Starmer has taken on claims of a “cover up” in the case of the Southport attack last July.
Parliament Bar To Close For Safety Review Following Alleged Spiking
Parliament
By Matilda Martin
Parliament Bar To Close For Safety Review Following Alleged Spiking
A parliament bar has been closed for a safety review following an alleged spiking. 
Home Secretary Announces 'Rapid Audit' of Grooming Gangs Plus Backing For New Local Inquiries
Home affairs
Home Secretary Announces "Rapid Audit" of Grooming Gangs Plus Backing For New Local Inquiries
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a "rapid three-month audit" of the scale and nature of grooming gangs in the UK, as well as "stronger national backing for local inquiries".
Ed Davey Is Wary That Leaving Elon Musk's X Could Let Opponents Dominate Platform
Political parties
Ed Davey Is Wary That Leaving Elon Musk's X Could Let Opponents Dominate Platform
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has said he would not rule out leaving Elon Musk's social media website X, but stressed that he did not want opponents to "dominate a particular platform".
A Sharp Fall In Overseas Students Is Hitting University Finances, Accounts Show
Education
A Sharp Fall In Overseas Students Is Hitting University Finances, Accounts Show
Some universities have seen income from overseas students drop by as much as £10m year-on-year as a result of a fall in applicants, PoliticsHome analysis of newly published accounts shows.
Universities Are Making Cuts To Pay For Rising Staff Pensions, Accounts Show
Education
Universities Are Making Cuts To Pay For Rising Staff Pensions, Accounts Show
Many universities are struggling with the cost of staff pensions at a time when the higher education sector is already under financial pressure, PoliticsHome analysis of their accounts suggests.
Largest Teachers Union To Launch Ballot Over Strike Action
Education
Largest Teachers Union To Launch Ballot Over Strike Action
The government faces the prospect of a teacher walkout later this year over an "inadequate" pay offer. 
MPs Share Their New Year's Resolutions For 2025
Parliament
By Matilda Martin
MPs Share Their New Year's Resolutions For 2025
When well-slept and eager MPs return to Westminster in the New Year, what will they want to achieve?
2024 In Politics: A Seismic General Election And Much More
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
2024 In Politics: A Seismic General Election And Much More
2024 will be remembered as a year when the tectonic plates of British plates shifted in a big way. 
Why 2025 Could Be A Pivotal Year For Universities
Education
Why 2025 Could Be A Pivotal Year For Universities
Securing the future of UK universities will be one of many major challenges for the Government next year.
All MPs Want For Christmas Is... A Warm Office, A Spaniel, And Sleep
Parliament
By Matilda Martin
All MPs Want For Christmas Is... A Warm Office, A Spaniel, And Sleep
As Westminster prepares to wind down after another historic year in British politics, MPs from across the political spectrum tell PoliticsHome what's on their Christmas wish list.
Immigration Is A Major Concern In Mayoral Contests Eyed By Reform, New Poll Shows
Communities
By Matilda Martin
Immigration Is A Major Concern In Mayoral Contests Eyed By Reform, New Poll Shows
New polling shows immigration is a major concern in two mayoral battlegrounds that will go to the polls for the first time in 2025 and where Reform UK is hopeful of success.
Keir Starmer Gives Life Peerage To Former Chief Of Staff Sue Gray
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Keir Starmer Gives Life Peerage To Former Chief Of Staff Sue Gray
Keir Starmer has nominated former chief of staff Sue Gray for a life peerage, Downing Street announced on Friday.
Free Therapy Pilot For Jurors Receives Little Take Up
Home affairs
By Matilda Martin
Free Therapy Pilot For Jurors Receives Little Take Up
Ministers are being urged to change the law to allow jurors to discuss their experiences with counsellors after a free therapy pilot scheme saw little take-up in the first month.
Labour MP Welcomes New Law To Criminalise 'Sophisticated' 3D Guns
Home affairs
By Matilda Martin
Labour MP Welcomes New Law To Criminalise "Sophisticated" 3D Guns
A Labour MP who is leading calls to outlaw 3D guns has welcomed the news that the Home Office will introduce legislation to close what she described as a "really bizarre" and dangerous loophole.
The Budget Will Cost Some Nurseries £50,000 A Year, Early Years Sector Warns
Education
The Budget Will Cost Some Nurseries £50,000 A Year, Early Years Sector Warns
The early years sector has warned that the failure to fund private nurseries for Budget measures will cost the average setting an additional £50,000 a year.
Areas With Most Devolution Have More Confidence In Their Mayors, Research Shows
Communities
By Matilda Martin
Areas With Most Devolution Have More Confidence In Their Mayors, Research Shows
People living in areas with greater devolution are more confident in their mayors and the model of devolution as a whole, according to research shared with PoliticsHome.
UK Cannot Be 'Complacent' About Russian Interference In General Elections
Foreign affairs
By Matilda Martin
UK Cannot Be "Complacent" About Russian Interference In General Elections
The chair of the foreign affairs select committee has said the UK cannot be complacent about Russian attempts to influence its elections after a Romanian court annulled the country's presidential contest citing interference.
Create 10-Year 'Standalone Plan' To Fix Social Care, Say Local Leaders
Health
Create 10-Year "Standalone Plan" To Fix Social Care, Say Local Leaders
The Government must create a decade-long plan for social care if the long-term strategy for repairing the National Health Service hopes to succeed, local authority leaders have said.
Keir Starmer Says His Six Milestones Will Let Voters 'Hold Our Feet To The Fire'
Political parties
By Matilda Martin
Keir Starmer Says His Six Milestones Will Let Voters "Hold Our Feet To The Fire"
Keir Starmer has set out the Government’s “plan for change” which he said would allow the country to judge Labour on whether it has delivered its promises.
Plan To Put Nurseries In Schools Could Face Take Up Issues, Early Years Providers Warn
Education
Plan To Put Nurseries In Schools Could Face Take Up Issues, Early Years Providers Warn
Early years providers could be "discouraged" from taking part in the Government's push to increase the number of school-based nurseries, the sector has warned.
SEND Help: How to reform our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system
Education
By Matilda Martin
SEND Help: How to reform our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system
“Lose, lose, lose.” That is how former Conservative education secretary Gillian Keegan described the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, widely described as broken.
Work From Home Push Yet To Make Difference In 'Understaffed' Schools
Education
By Matilda Martin
Work From Home Push Yet To Make Difference In "Understaffed" Schools
A Department for Education push to give teachers more flexibility in terms of where they work has not led to a rise in home working, new data suggests.