An independent, proudly progressive publication committed to covering Britain beyond the Westminster bubble. Our journalism starts with people and place, and follows the thread to the policies that shape our lives. Click to read The Lead, by The Lead Editors, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.| national.thelead.uk
There is no excuse to retain Osborne's performative cruelty. Even electorally, keeping it can only alienate any Tories who might yet vote Labour—and it makes no social, moral or economic sense either.| national.thelead.uk
While much focus is on the two-child benefit cap. We reveal how it is a cap on household benefits which is just as cruel.| national.thelead.uk
Plus: The latest from The Lead North team, Hannah Fearn on Farage's baby boom plans, our latest ReformWatch + The Lead Digest of good reads and listens| national.thelead.uk
No early years strategy is credible unless it tackles child poverty head-on.| national.thelead.uk
100 years since his birth, 60 years since his death, Malcolm X's impact continues to be felt in the UK.| national.thelead.uk
The Migration Museum sits in one of London's most diverse neighbourhoods, once the scene of fierce clashes with the Far Right. A new, timely installation opened last week - we went to take a look.| national.thelead.uk
Politics and culture with a campaigning heart, covering people, place and policy beyond the mainstream headlines. Click to read The Lead, by The Lead Editors, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.| national.thelead.uk
Four more ideas that could change Rachel Reeves' equation from taxing ultra-frequent fliers more to raising the pension age faster| The Lead
Excessive state interference or a foundation for a modern UK? The Prime Minister is due to table a compulsory new ID - BritCards - for everyone in the UK - we've been here before, so what's changed?| The Lead
The chancellor has an opportunity to reform the tax system in its entirety. Will she seize it?| The Lead
Labour cannot afford for this to become another Westminster hobbyhorse| The Lead
Plus: ReformWatch looks at the reaction to the pledge to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain, The Lead Digest with recommended reads/listens and the latest from The Lead North team| The Lead
Thirty hours of free childcare sounds great in theory, but the government's "impenetrable" and arbitrary support plan has been a burden to countless families.| The Lead
Scarlet Hannington unpicks the need for Labour to listen when it comes to caring for our youngest and most vulnerable members of society.| The Lead
Plus: Share our petition to ban Musk from the UK, all the latest from our award-winning team in the North, and hypocrisy and defections in Reform Watch.| The Lead
Authoritarianism, far-right funding, and Epstein-era corruption are seeping into UK politics. We must confront it, before it's too late.| The Lead
We can no longer justify continuing to post on a platform owned by someone intent on stoking chaos, hatred and violence.| The Lead
The racists have been emboldened and sanctioned by our government’s own rhetoric – to now talk vaguely in terms of resistance is far too little, much too late.| The Lead
We call on the Home Secretary to act following Musk's vile words and hatred stirring at the 'Unite The Kingdom' rally. Sign our petition now and get Elon Musk banned.| The Lead
Polls show support surging. St Helens should bleed the red of Labour. But if a general election were called tomorrow, would it?| The Lead
Original reporting by The Lead praised by judges as we scoop newsletter prize at Press Gazette's Future of Media Awards| The Lead
You'll hear Donald Trump mention this - and call for its abolition - when he visits the UK next week.| The Lead
Plus: Tell us who you want to win in our poll, the latest from The Lead's northern titles, and everything our team is reading and listening to this week.| national.thelead.uk
Historian Paula Akpan on what's missing from the curriculum. Plus: The Black women of history erased from the record books + an exclusive extract of Akpan's groundbreaking debut book.| national.thelead.uk
The attack on a Black girl by a gang of white teenagers makes clear the UK education system falls far short of its duty of care for Black children.| national.thelead.uk
Nigel Farage's plans for mass deportations are a test of our humanity.| national.thelead.uk
Inside the experience of trying to get by in houses of multiple occupation and the realities of renting in 2025. Ella Glover writes as the Renters' Rights Bill looks set to progress.| The Lead
Labour made a big pledge to protect women and girls by halving rates of violence. More than a year since the announcement, what progress has been made?| The Lead
A straightforward display of national pride, a hostile message to migrants or something more nuanced?| The Lead
Plus: Ice cream scandals and a war on local press in Reform Watch, the latest news from The Lead North, and our team's recommended reads in The Lead Digest.| The Lead
Nigel Farage's plans for mass deportations are a test of our humanity.| national.thelead.uk
Broadcaster Jaydee Dyer shares “dehumanising” experiences of being repeatedly detained for no reason in new documentary film.| national.thelead.uk
As Keir Starmer undertakes a test for HIV Testing Week - the second part of our special report into the UK's pledge to end the transmission of new cases of HIV by 2030| national.thelead.uk
Plus: The latest from the North of England, more hot air in this week's Reform Watch, and everything from hurling, to AI and The Beatles in The Lead Digest.| national.thelead.uk
Plus: Defections and scandal in this week's Reform Watch, everything our team recommends in the latest The Lead Digest, and more from the North of England.| national.thelead.uk
No early years strategy is credible unless it tackles child poverty head-on.| national.thelead.uk
Black women’s stories are often erased or deliberately hidden, Nova Reid's new podcast urges you to get to know the pioneering Caribbean women who have shaped our culture.| national.thelead.uk
Parents warn of lasting trauma as local authorities facing financial meltdown withdraw support from children too unwell to attend school - report Sarah Woods and Lauren Crosby-Medlicott.| national.thelead.uk
Politics and culture with a campaigning heart, covering people, place and policy beyond the mainstream headlines. Click to read The Lead, by The Lead Editors, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.| national.thelead.uk
Our editors share their top picks and favourite stories for you to enjoy this Easter weekend.| national.thelead.uk
Young people are stigmatised and written-off from an early age when labelled with a personality disorder – campaigners want to end these childhood diagnoses.| national.thelead.uk
Lauren Crosby Medlicott delves into the rise of homeschooling, unpacking the causes and what the impacts may be.| national.thelead.uk
Civil service job losses, no tax rises and more - what the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced and what it all means, Zoë Grünewald takes you inside the Spring Statement| national.thelead.uk
As the Spring Statement showed further sweeping cuts, we ask why politicians are afraid to touch the regressive tax as it’s the most vulnerable who pay the price.| national.thelead.uk
The government's new delivery plan for ME doesn't include funding. Now we're fighting back to demand fairer funding.| national.thelead.uk
The Lead has found that there were almost 6,000 out of court settlements by the train operator for fare evasion charges in the last four years.| national.thelead.uk
Exclusive: Home-educated children have an increased chance of being unemployed or dropping out of education entirely, new research reveals.| national.thelead.uk
As health and legal systems continue to fail us as disabled people, this is how we resist— as our own examples of disabled justice, in support of one another, writes William Elisabeth Cuthbert| national.thelead.uk
Listen now | Westminster Editor Zoë Grünewald gives her reaction from the Convention of the North in Preston| national.thelead.uk
The world may be a gloomy place, but optimism reigns in Preston at the Convention of the North| national.thelead.uk
Maggie Oliver, who turned whistle blower over the Rochdale grooming scandal, speaks to Susan Griffin for the first time since Home secretary Yvette Cooper's announcement of new inquiries| national.thelead.uk
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have acted quickly - and it's not clear if they have done so legally - over what they deem to be a waste of taxpayer money| national.thelead.uk
