British Labour MP and ministerial figure
A by‑election has been set for 8 October after Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as MP. Labour has selected Camden council leader Sagal Abdi‑Wali and the Greens have chosen leader Zack Polanski, turning the contest into a high‑profile test of Andy Burnham's early premiership and the Greens' electoral momentum in inner London.
The Guardian reports ministers are pursuing an inclusion-led overhaul of SEND in England, with funding and universal support in mainstream schools, while EHCPs may be streamlined by 2030. A Colchester school is cited as a blueprint for broader reform, amid a surge in EHCP applications and funding pressures for local authorities.
PISA 2025 data show England and some UK nations performing well in science, with Reading and Maths trailing in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England leads in science; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland trail in reading and maths. A global trend shows declines in reading proficiency, linked to digital distraction and shifting reading habits.
Two crypto billionaires have donated 72m to Reform UK, triggering a debate over caps on overseas and domestic political contributions as Parliament considers the Representation of the People Bill. The government is pushing to tighten rules while reform argues donations are legal. The story is developing as Lords debate the bill.
The government has introduced a plan to cap donations from British expats at £100,000 per year, backdated to March 25, 2026, amid a high-stakes debate sparked by two crypto billionaires’ gifts to Reform UK. Critics warn the changes could reshape political finance; supporters say they will protect ordinary voters.