The Latest Breaking News from Polly Toynbee

A letter has laid bare the scale of poverty in Britain – but will Rishi Sunak be moved?

Life’s essentials cost £120 a week, far above what benefits provide, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Aug 24, 2023

Labour is parading its true leftwing credentials in the byelection fight against the SNP

In the battle for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Keir Starmer has said that the party will smash the ‘class ceiling’, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Aug 22, 2023

Faced with evil like Lucy Letby’s, we yearn for a rational explanation. Sometimes there is none

It is right to hold an inquiry, but the hunt for ‘lessons to be learned’ and a system to blame can easily go too far, says the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Aug 18, 2023

We can see what happens when political posturing replaces public health: people die prematurely

Talk to those paid to protect us, and you hear the frustration of experts cynically denied resources they need by Westminster, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Aug 1, 2023

We must bridge the gap between local councils and the Whitehall elite

Letters: Following Polly Toynbee’s appreciation of Bob Kerslake, Jane Roberts and David Griffiths describe the gulf between local and central government

The Guardian - UK · Jul 30, 2023

We laid Bob Kerslake to rest this week. Think of him – and give the civil service the respect it deserves

Whitehall is not perfect, but neither is it the Blob demonised by the right, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Jul 27, 2023

The Tories have laid a ‘cut the green crap’ trap for Keir Starmer. He must not fall for it

Labour’s path to victory lies in sticking to its guns. Any allies who argue for a green retreat should be shown the door, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Jul 25, 2023

Misery for Sunak, glee for Davey, mostly joy for Starmer – our panel on the byelection results

Our panel assesses the positions of the parties after an extraordinary night of bellwether byelections

The Guardian - UK · Jul 21, 2023

Will Keir Starmer’s Labour really do more than it is promising?

Letters: Critics of Labour caution should know Tory damage can’t be reversed without democratic power, says Neil Kinnock. And Paul Gravett writes that citing New Labour’s record isn’t helpful

The Guardian - UK · Jul 20, 2023

Listen up, critics: first let Labour win power. Then scrutinise its real record

Of course Keir Starmer is cautious in the runup to an election – Labour can’t change Britain from the opposition benches, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK · Jul 17, 2023