“Our message to politicians & policymakers remains: pull all of the policy levers that are available to address the situation that people are finding themselves in.” Record numbers in UK seeking help with energy bills and food costs via Michael Goodier theguardian.com/society/2023/d…

Chris Skidmore has resigned the Tory whip over new oil and gas licences

We're hiring! We're looking for an interactive journalist who will create innovative and engaging visual journalism. Apply here: workforus.theguardian.com/jobs/254/

More than 2 years into the cost-of-living crisis, we’re still breaking unwelcome records. In December 2023, we helped more than 1000 people every day with a food bank referral. And we’re helping even more people in January, as the crisis gets worse at the start of 2024. 🧵

EXCL: Angela Rayner accuses Tories of cynically applying a “sticking plaster” to council finances to get through next election - with local authority leaders warning more will go bust next year. theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/j…

ANALYSIS: How a decade of austerity has squeezed council budgets in England. Read this by ⁦⁦Michael Goodier⁩ & ⁦Carmen Aguilar García⁩ - no wonder councils are on their knees… theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/j…

How a decade of austerity has squeezed council budgets in England theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/j… analysis by Michael Goodier Carmen Aguilar García Richard Partington

The parents of a 1 year old taken to hospital six times due to damp and mould in her crowded home pleaded the council for help The council initially assessed that they - 7 people living in a 1 bed flat - were not overcrowded and ineligible for urgent help theguardian.com/society/2024/f…

Our excellent #CouncilsInCrisis project continues with this jaw-dropping piece from Jessica Murray >> One in 10 councils in the UK have been subject to a corruption investigation in the past decade theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/f…

And my analysis on why the ongoing decimation of local journalism means officials are less likely than ever to face scrutiny. Thanks to Rasmus Kleis Nielsen of Reuters Institute, Sir Bob Neill KC (Hon) and richard brooks > theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/f…

Good to see this interests in crime statistics. The main answer is changes to crime recording.

I should ignore this guy but the answer is mostly because police have got better at recording them since 2014, and also it's because people have got better at reporting them in light of #MeToo in 2017 etc. There also could be a (much smaller) genuine rise as well of course

My The Guardian story: Charities warn of ‘devastating knock-on impact’ on struggling families and communities of English councils’ financial crisis theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/f… CitizensAdvice Age UK Campaigns

A lot less for a lot more, as bankrupt Birmingham given go-ahead by government to raise council tax by up to 10% (ditto Slough, Thurrock and Woking) theguardian.com/society/2024/f… via Richard Partington and Jessica Murray

🚨Update: The Home Office and the FCDO are reconsidering their decision, judgments expedited and expected soon. Please share - pressure at this stage is vital so this teenager can be allowed to reunite with his family.

Analysis: Clean energy was top driver of China’s economic growth in 2023 | Lauri Myllyvirta Read here ➡️ bit.ly/3OBSv1j

wow this is really bad

"It’ll weigh heavily on their future career prospects"