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The Guardian Politics20 Mar 2026

It’s always been a fight to get children the early years care they deserve. It’s time to fight again | Polly Toynbee

Labour recognises how crucial education is at the start of life, but still the poorest children are missing out The news is very good (mostly). The cost of full-time childcare in England for children under the age of two has dropped by a phenomenal 39% since last year, thanks to government funding. This stat, from the 25th annual survey of nurseries by the children’s charity Coram, provides a good opportunity to stop and consider how far the country has come in that quarter-century. In 1995, the

Education
The Guardian Politics19 Mar 2026

Some of the world’s poorest countries to lose UK aid due to 56% budget cut

UK’s bilateral aid to Africa, which funds programmes such as schools and clinics, to be cut by almost £900m by 2028-29 Some of the world’s poorest countries will lose out on UK aid which funds programmes such as schools and clinics due to budget cuts set out by the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper. The UK’s bilateral aid to Africa will be cut by almost £900m by 2028-29 – a 56% cut – part of more than £6bn in cuts which must be delivered to fund an increase in defence spending. Continue reading.

EconomyDefenceEducation
The Guardian Politics19 Mar 2026

British schoolgirl stranded in Denmark after return flight blocked over UK border rules

Exclusive: Hanne, 16, from Sussex, was denied board on flight to London after weekend in Copenhagen A 16-year-old British schoolgirl has been left stranded in Denmark after she was refused board on a flight to London because of new UK border rules introduced on British dual nationals. Hanne*, from Sussex, was denied board on a flight home on 8 March after a weekend seeing her British father, who is an academic on a short work stint at a university in Copenhagen. Has your child been refused board

ImmigrationEducation
The Guardian Politics19 Mar 2026

‘Life-changing’ international learning scheme in Wales at risk of closure

Taith programme, set up after UK’s post-Brexit withdrawal from Erasmus+, faces uncertain future over funding A “life-changing” international learning programme set up in Wales after Brexit is at risk of being closed down. Taith, which means “journey” in Welsh/Cymraeg, was established by the Senedd in 2022 after the UK pulled out of the Erasmus+ student exchange programme. Its reach is much wider: many participants get involved through schools, youth groups or adult education centres, and nearly

Education
The Guardian Politics15 Mar 2026

Row over university fees shows UK’s ‘reset’ with EU may not be so simple

Ministers go to Brussels for talks amid tuition fees standoff, 10 years after Britons voted to leave EU This week is “Brexit reset” week for the British government, as ministers engage in a flurry of activity intended to highlight their determination to forge closer ties with Brussels 10 years after the country first voted to leave the EU. On Monday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of negotiating the government’s reset with the EU, will arrive in Brussels for a meeting

PoliticsEducation
The Guardian Politics15 Mar 2026

Row over tuition fees cut for European students threatens Starmer’s EU reset

British negotiators ‘blindsided’ by Brussels’ demand for a reduction that could cost universities £140m a year Britain is in a standoff with Brussels over a demand to cut university tuition fees for European students, in a row that threatens to scupper Keir Starmer’s planned EU reset. EU officials say European students should pay “home” fees of about £9,500 a year as part of the negotiations over a youth mobility scheme, rather than the higher international rate, which can rise above £60,000. C

Education
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

Phillipson accuses lawyers of exploiting parents of children with special needs

Education secretary has claimed lawyers’ criticisms of her department’s policy changes are motivated by profit Lawyers have been accused of exploiting parents of children with special needs by the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, who claimed their criticisms of the government’s policy changes were motivated by profit. Speaking at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) annual conference, Phillipson said the special educational needs overhaul outlined last month would “move t

EducationHousing
The Guardian Politics10 Mar 2026

Home Office refuses to exempt exceptional students from tough immigration rules

Exclusive: Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper concerned about effect of student visa ban on female Chevening scholars from Afghanistan and Sudan The Home Office rejected an appeal from the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, that would have protected outstanding students in some of the world’s most dangerous countries from changes to the UK’s immigration system, the Guardian understands. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, turned down proposals from the Foreign Office to maintain a carve-out for Ch

ImmigrationEducation
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Labour to set up new extremism whistleblowing service for university staff

Minister announces action plan to boost social cohesion that will also give regulator powers to shut down charities The UK government will expand powers to tackle extremism by setting up a new whistleblowing route for university staff and giving the Charity Commission powers to shut down charities, as part of a new action plan to strengthen social cohesion. The plan, announced by the housing, communities and local government secretary, Steve Reed, will invest a further £5m in the Common Ground R

EducationHousing
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war, expert warns

Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerable The British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve. Prof Tim Lang of City St George’s, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its gia

DefenceEducationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics5 Mar 2026

The Guardian view on rising youth unemployment: regional leaders as well as ministers must take action | Editorial

Worsening health is only part of the reason for the concerning rise in young people who are neither studying nor working Launching a review into unemployment and economic inactivity among young people in December, the former health secretary Alan Milburn described the situation as a “national outrage”, and suggested that a “coalition of the concerned” would be needed to turn things around for the 16- to 24-year-olds known as Neets (not in education, employment or training). The latest figures, s

EconomyEducation
The Guardian Politics4 Mar 2026

UK’s partial study visa ban ‘will drive people to small boats’, campaigners say

Ban affecting Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon will mean more people make Channel crossings, charity says A new ban on students coming to the UK from four countries where there is war and human rights abuses will drive more people use small boats, campaigners have warned. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced a bar on student visas from Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon on Tuesday evening. It will come into force on 26 March. Continue reading...

ImmigrationDefenceEducationRestoreRemigration