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Cuts to special educational needs support could be “devastating” for families, a mother has warned, saying her son’s education, mental health and life, were saved by specialist help.Renata Watts, 49, from Hertfordshire, had two children on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). She said the support plan turned around the life of her eldest son, Elliot, after he was left mentally unwell, isolated and unable to attend school due to a lack of tailored support.EHCPs were introduced in 2014 to replace “statements” of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It brings together education, health and social care in one legally binding plan for young people under the age of 25, outlining the extra help they will be given to achieve their potential.However, the government is reportedly considering an overhaul of the system, arguing too many children are being excluded from mainstream education.“Without that EHCP, I’m not sure he’d still be here today,” Ms Watts, a foster carer and co-director of the disability advocacy group Special Needs Jungle, told The Independent. “His mental health dipped so badly I didn’t know what would happen.”Elliot, who has autism and ADHD, started secondary school full of enthusiasm. But within months, his anxiety spiralled as specialist support was withdrawn despite clear evidence of his needs.EHCPs were introduced in 2014 to replace ‘statements’ of special educational needs More

A leading trans campaign group has requested an investigation into the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), claiming its conduct in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on gender has been unlawful, The Independent can reveal.It comes after the Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act. TransLucent said they have submitted a formal complaint to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) – the worldwide membership-based network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs)– claiming that the UK’s equalities watchdog is failing to adhere to the Paris Principles. The Paris Principles set out the minimum standards that NHRIs must meet in order to be considered credible and to operate effectively. The key pillars of the Paris Principles are pluralism, independence and effectiveness.The Supreme Court judgment has proven controversial More

Labour should appoint a minister for porn to tackle the wave of “violent, abusive and misogynistic” images, a Conservative peer has said. Baroness Gabby Bertin, who leads the Independent Pornography Review Taskforce, said that MPs shy away from tackling abuse in the porn industry out of embarrassment. “We’re really British about it so we don’t want to have a graphic conversation about sex and porn. But you’ve got to shout about it as loudly as possible. The reason why we’ve got into this mess is because nobody has really wanted to talk about it,” she told The Guardian. She is pushing for the government to appoint a ministry for porn to make sure the issue gets addressed. “You can’t leave the pitch on this stuff just because you’re worried about being accused of being too strait-laced,” she added. A review, commissioned by Rishi Sunak’s government and led by Baroness Gabby, proposed banning degrading, violent and misogynistic pornography. Eight percent of children aged eight to 14 have accessed online porn sites, according to Ofcom research More

Five EU countries have criticised a proposed “one in, one out” migration deal between France and Britain, saying it could see asylum seekers returned to their shores instead. Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron are working on an agreement that would reportedly see Britain return small boat migrants to France in exchange for asylum seekers with families ties in the UK. The precise terms of the deal are still being worked out but Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus have already sounded the alarm on the proposed plans. The Financial Times reported that the five nations have sent a letter to the European Commission objecting to the “one in one out” policy. French President Emmanuel Macron (R) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer More

Record numbers of hen harriers have been killed or gone missing under suspicious circumstances in the last five years, according to the RSPB. The protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for their acrobatic “skydancing” courtship display over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales. A total of 102 the protected birds of prey were illegally killed or went missing between 2020 and 2024 – mostly in areas where grouse shooting takes place, the RSPB says. Some hen harriers were shot and their chicks were stamped on, while others were poisoned or illegally trapped, according to the charity.Chicks were killed underfoot, the report reveals More

Marks and Spencer’s chief executive has lambasted a key aspect of the Windsor Framework’s final phase as “bureaucratic madness,” as over 1,000 products destined for Northern Ireland will soon require “Not for EU” labelling.Stuart Machin revealed the significant operational challenge, describing the new requirement as “yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for retailers.” From next week, a substantial portion of M&S’s product range for Northern Ireland will need these specific labels affixed.The “Not for EU” labels have been progressively introduced since the post-Brexit trading deal, known as the Windsor Framework, was agreed in 2023. This framework was negotiated between the UK and the European Union to resolve complexities arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol, which effectively maintains Northern Ireland within the EU’s trade orbit.The stringent labelling rules are designed to prevent goods intended for the UK market from inadvertently entering the EU single market via the Republic of Ireland. Despite the current friction, the UK Government recently indicated its expectation for a more streamlined flow of trade once its new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU is finalised.Marks and Spencer’s chief executive Stuart Machin revealed that more than 1,000 M&S products destined for Northern Ireland will need to have a “Not for EU” sticker affixed from next week More

Labour ministers have announced two major changes to their controversial welfare reforms amid intense criticism over the measures.Over 120 Labour MPs were threatening to rebel against the government over its ‘Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill’ which is still set to be voted on by members on Tuesday.Writing to Labour MPs on Thursday evening, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: “These important reforms are rooted in Labour values, and we want to get them right.”“We have listened to colleagues who support the principle of reform but are worried about the impact of the pace of change on those already supported by the system.”The piece of legislation will still bring in the two key changes to Universal Credit and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, tweaks have been made to ensure that existing claimants have greater protections than first promised.Here’s everything you need to know:What PIP claimants need to knowThe central cost-cutting measure remains a tightening of the eligibility to be awarded PIP. Currently claimed by 3.7 million people, the benefit is designed to help with extra costs related to health or disability.Under the changes, around 1.5 million of the current claimants would not be found eligible for the “daily living” side of the benefit. This is because, while they scored the eight points needed at assessment to be awarded at least the lowest payment rate, they did not score four in any single category.Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has written to MPs outlining changes to the Bill (Jacob King/PA) More

Assisted dying in England and Wales has moved a step closer after MPs voted by a majority of 23 in favour of a Bill legalising it for terminally ill people.After an emotional four-hour debate in the Commons, 314 MPs voted for the Bill and 291 against.Supporters of assisted dying wept, jumped and hugged each other outside Parliament as the news spread that it had been passed.The Bill, which allows adults who have less than six months to live to end their lives, will move to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny.Public support for a change in the law remains high, according to a YouGov poll, suggesting nearly three in four people back assisted dying.MPs had a free vote on the Bill, meaning they decided according to their conscience and the arguments rather than along party lines.This was the first time Kim Leadbeater’s Bill had been debated and voted on in its entirety since last year’s historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55 at second reading. Labour MP Ms Leadbeater argued her Bill would “correct the profound injustices of the status quo”. Both Houses must agree on the final text of the Bill before it can be signed into law.Due to the four-year implementation period, it could be 2029 – potentially coinciding with the end of this Government’s Parliament – before assisted dying is offered.Encouraging or assisting suicide is currently against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.Supporters of assisted dying have described the current law as not being fit for purpose, with desperate terminally ill people feeling the need to end their lives in secret or go abroad to Dignitas alone, for fear loved ones will be prosecuted for helping them.Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer remained supportive of the Bill, voting yes on Friday as he had done last year.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who had urged MPs to vote against the legislation, describing it as “a bad Bill” despite being “previously supportive of assisted suicide”, voted no. Friday was the first time the Bill was debated and voted on in its entirety since last year’s historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55 at second reading.Labour MP Ms Leadbeater has argued her Bill will “correct the profound injustices of the status quo and to offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it”.During an hours-long date on Friday, MPs on both sides of the issue recalled personal stories of loved ones who had died.Conservative former minister Sir James Cleverly, who led the opposition to the Bill in the Commons, spoke of a close friend who died “painfully” from cancer.He said he comes at the divisive issue “not from a position of faith nor from a position of ignorance”, and was driven in his opposition by “concerns about the practicalities” of the Bill. More