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8 headlines found

The Guardian Politics19 Mar 2026

Lords vote to back clause pardoning women convicted over illegal abortions

Peers’ decision welcomed as ‘landmark moment’ after attempt to strike out amendment is defeated Women who have been convicted, and in some cases jailed, over illegal abortions are set to be pardoned, after an historic vote in the House of Lords. Last June, the House of Commons voted to end the criminalisation of women who terminate their pregnancies outside of the legal framework, while keeping the existing framework in place. Doctors and others who act outside of the law could still face the th

PoliticsCrimeHealthcare
The Guardian Politics19 Mar 2026

‘Superhuman’ healthcare workers saved NHS from collapse, Covid inquiry finds

Chair Heather Hallett says pandemic had devastating impact due to NHS being in ‘parlous state’ at time The NHS “teetered on the brink of collapse” during the Covid pandemic, and only just coped thanks to the “superhuman” efforts of healthcare workers, an official inquiry has concluded. In a damning assessment of how the UK’s healthcare systems coped with the pandemic, the Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, said the impact was “devastating” due to the NHS being in a “parlous state” before t

Healthcare
The Guardian Politics18 Mar 2026

Zack Polanski says Greens would ditch GDP targets and focus on wellbeing instead

Leader uses first major economic speech to prioritise public services and reduction of inequality over growth UK politics live – latest updates A government led by the Green party would not set targets for GDP growth but would instead focus on people’s mental health, social cohesion and community welfare, Zack Polanski has said in a major speech to set out his plans for the economy. In his first policy address since taking over as leader of the Greens in England and Wales six months ago, Polan

PoliticsEconomyEnvironmentHealthcare
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Trump’s war is bringing economic calamity to the UK – and another shock to our politics | Gaby Hinsliff

Hard choices lie ahead for Downing Street if higher fuel prices spark resentment and trigger a renewed cost of living crisis Seventy years ago this winter, the streets of Britain fell eerily quiet. After one last panic buying spree, many garages shut, and traffic even in the heart of London dwindled away. The formal introduction of petrol rationing had begun, limiting drivers to 200 miles’ worth a month – with exceptions for farmers, doctors and vicars – after the Suez crisis blocked fuel suppli

PoliticsEconomyDefenceHealthcare
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Plans to cut NHS international workforce appear overambitious, say MPs

Health service in England has saved more than £14bn hiring from overseas, report says, as doubt is cast on aim to reduce international recruitment to 10% Ministers’ plans to cut the international workforce within NHS England appear overambitious, MPs have said, as a report reveals the health service saved more than £14bn by recruiting doctors, nurses and midwives from overseas. Many of the countries recruited from were struggling with staff shortages, and the UK had a moral duty to offer support

PoliticsHealthcare
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

UK government axes flagship global health project

Programme which supports schemes in six African countries was previously hailed as vital protection for Britain against future pandemics A flagship health project in Africa, which UK ministers said would play a vital role in protecting Britain from future pandemic threats, is being axed due to aid cuts, the Guardian can reveal. The Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) which supported development and training for healthcare staff in six African countries, will close at the end of the month, t

Healthcare
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

The Guardian view on cancer survival rates: there is good news about healthcare amid the gloom | Editorial

Treatments continue to improve. The challenge now facing ministers is hugely unequal outcomes New analysis from Cancer Research UK, revealing a 29% drop in the rate of people dying from cancer compared with 40 years ago, is a vital counterpoint to grim health headlines about the UK’s outcomes falling behind those of other countries, and the NHS missing its own cancer targets. Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, made a related point in a recent lecture. Stand back from the d

Healthcare
The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

Labour’s Send reforms get this right: disabled children in mainstream schools is transformative for everyone | Frances Ryan

It doesn’t fit neatly on a Treasury spreadsheet, but there is huge value in disabled and non-disabled pupils learning together When I was 11, a woman at the hospital asked me what school I was starting in September. I still remember her surprise when I told her I would be going to the local girls grammar, as the hoist pulled my wet limbs out of the physio pool. I was a child but already familiar with those few seconds: the time between a person seeing my wheelchair and the flash across their fac

EconomyEducationHealthcare