Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

The Guardian - UK

Politics

Tom Wall

‘Profiteering off children’: care firms in England accused of squeezing cash from councils

Barry Lewis England

A young person wearing a hooded top and trainers sitting in an underpass — Councils say they have to accept expensive care packages for children as there is a national shortage of places in care homes in England. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Care companies are insisting on unnecessary and expensive support packages for vulnerable children to boost their profits, a council leader has claimed.

Barry Lewis, the Tory leader of Derbyshire county council, said that former family-run businesses acquired by private equity groups were trying to get “as much cash as possible” out of local authorities.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence

EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence

Officials will call on UK to ‘step up’ financial support at Brussels summit – with post-Brexit issues also on agenda

The Guardian - UK

Man Taken to Hospital After ICE Crash as DHS and Sheriff Give Different Collision Accounts

Man Taken to Hospital After ICE Crash as DHS and Sheriff Give Different Collision Accounts

A Mexican national was hospitalised and taken into federal custody after a vehicle collision involving ICE agents in Harris County, with authorities offering conflicting accounts of how it happened.

International Business Times UK

Taiwan shuts down schools and businesses as Typhoon Champi approaches

Taiwan shuts down schools and businesses as Typhoon Champi approaches

As Typhoon Champi approached Taiwan, most businesses and schools were closed across the island Friday and hundreds of flights were canceled in the region. Authorities reported at least one death and dozens of injuries and more than 1,200 people have evacuated their homes.

Ukraine's Starlink Speeds Improve After Trump–Musk Call, Officials Tell Wall Street Journal

Ukraine's Starlink Speeds Improve After Trump–Musk Call, Officials Tell Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Starlink speeds rose once Donald Trump rang Elon Musk, yet Ukrainian sources insist the limit stays, so read who claims what and why drones need it.

International Business Times UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why

DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why

Florida fentanyl deaths fell from 4,962 in 2023 to about 2,000 in 2025. State data confirm the drop but cannot show that one program caused it.

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

A Pensacola Beach doctor pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing at least 25,500 opioid and stimulant pills without exams. What patients and families should know.

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence

EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence

Officials will call on UK to ‘step up’ financial support at Brussels summit – with post-Brexit issues also on agenda

The Guardian - UK

Man Taken to Hospital After ICE Crash as DHS and Sheriff Give Different Collision Accounts

Man Taken to Hospital After ICE Crash as DHS and Sheriff Give Different Collision Accounts

A Mexican national was hospitalised and taken into federal custody after a vehicle collision involving ICE agents in Harris County, with authorities offering conflicting accounts of how it happened.

International Business Times UK

Taiwan shuts down schools and businesses as Typhoon Champi approaches

Taiwan shuts down schools and businesses as Typhoon Champi approaches

As Typhoon Champi approached Taiwan, most businesses and schools were closed across the island Friday and hundreds of flights were canceled in the region. Authorities reported at least one death and dozens of injuries and more than 1,200 people have evacuated their homes.

Ukraine's Starlink Speeds Improve After Trump–Musk Call, Officials Tell Wall Street Journal

Ukraine's Starlink Speeds Improve After Trump–Musk Call, Officials Tell Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Starlink speeds rose once Donald Trump rang Elon Musk, yet Ukrainian sources insist the limit stays, so read who claims what and why drones need it.

International Business Times UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why

DeSantis Credits Florida's S.A.F.E. Program for Nearly 60% Fentanyl Death Drop, but State Data Cannot Show Why

Florida fentanyl deaths fell from 4,962 in 2023 to about 2,000 in 2025. State data confirm the drop but cannot show that one program caused it.

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

Pensacola Beach Doctor Pleads Guilty to Prescribing at Least 25,500 Opioid and Stimulant Pills Without Examining Patients

A Pensacola Beach doctor pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing at least 25,500 opioid and stimulant pills without exams. What patients and families should know.

Our Picks

Restaurant server asks couple about food allergies. Then the man refuses and says: ‘I’m not disclosing my medical information with someone like you’

That's some overreach!

We Got This Covered

McDonald’s customer finishes her Diet Coke. Then she looks inside the cup and realizes what she just swallowed: ‘Literally, it was in someone’s ear’

That's going to scar her for life.

We Got This Covered

Sacha Baron Cohen reveals Marvel’s ‘devil’ dilemma over his Jewish heritage as he admits feeling finally understood

The Borat and Ali G comedian has opened up about the unusual sensitivity shown by the creative team behind Disney+ series Ironheart, revealing how historical antisemitic stereotypes influenced discussions about his casting as Marvel villain Mephisto.

Noah Wyle Gets Absolutely Eviscerated After Becoming Clear Favorite To Win Famous Title: “Used To Mean Something”

Noah Wyle is reportedly leading the race for People magazine’s 2026 Sexiest Man Alive title, but the buzz has sparked plenty of criticism online.

Cara Delevingne reveals bizarre lesbian sex party disaster

The supermodel and actress has opened up about an unforgettable romantic encounter while discussing her sobriety, relationship with musician Minke and her changing attitude towards love as she embarks on a new chapter in her career.

Your License Plate Is Public — But Should Your Driving History Be?

A stranger can photograph your license plate at a red light without asking permission. That doesn’t mean the stranger should get your driving history, home address, or a convenient timeline of your movements. In the United States, those are different kinds of information, governed by different rules. Yet modern technology…

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play