Politics

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Labour ministers are exploring changes to student loans reform after growing political pressure. The review follows weeks of concern about repayment rules affecting graduates across England and Wales. Officials at the HM Treasury and the Department for Education are examining options carefully. Their focus is on easing the burden created by plan 2 student loans. The debate centres...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. As new UK border rules come into force today, travel has become a source of frustration and confusion for many British dual nationals returning home from abroad. From 25 February 2026, the UK Home Office has stepped up enforcement of its digital border controls, meaning international carriers must now check that every passenger bound for the United Kingdom has...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Abraham Lincoln is widely celebrated as one of history’s greatest leaders, yet his political manoeuvring remains less explored. Historian Matthew Pinsker, a professor at Dickinson College, examines Lincoln’s role as a partisan strategist in his latest work, Boss Lincoln: The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln, and on his Substack, What Would Lincoln Do?. Pinsker argues that understanding Lincoln’s...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Russian trade channels through Britain’s overseas territories have come under intense scrutiny after a groundbreaking report revealed roughly $8bn of commerce flowed through secretive island jurisdictions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The analysis, compiled by Transparency International’s Russian office in exile, shows that opaque legal and financial networks in British island territories have been used to move...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The student loans crisis in England has escalated, leaving graduates across the country deeply frustrated. Labour backbench MPs have criticised the government, claiming the student loans system unfairly burdens graduates with debts that continuously grow despite monthly repayments. Central to this outrage is the so-called “plan 2” student loans, taken out by around 5.8 million students between 2012...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Tensions over Iran have sharply intensified in Washington this week. The phrase Iran tensions now dominates political debate across Capitol Hill. Just hours before delivering his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump signalled a tougher stance on Tehran. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided a classified update to senior lawmakers. The developments have stirred fresh...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Wales’s Senedd has voted to support Westminster’s assisted dying bill, marking a historic shift. The focus keyword assisted dying appears early, highlighting the growing debate surrounding terminally ill patient rights in Wales. In a tense session stretching into Tuesday night, members voted 28 in favour and 23 against, with two abstentions, reflecting the contentious nature of the legislation...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Peter Mandelson has sharply criticised police following his arrest, insisting the claims against him were entirely unfounded and motivated by a misunderstanding regarding his intentions to leave the country. Lawyers representing Mandelson stressed that his detention by the Metropolitan Police Service on Monday was prompted by a false suggestion he might relocate abroad, highlighting the absence of any...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Education leaders and MPs in England have cautiously welcomed the government’s new SEND plan, while expressing serious concerns about the potential workload and implementation challenges for schools. The proposals, announced by Bridget Phillipson, aim to ensure that every child with special educational needs receives tailored support, but officials and teachers warn the plans could place significant pressure on...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Political donations in cryptocurrency should face an urgent temporary ban to prevent foreign interference. The focus on crypto in political finance has intensified following global security concerns and the increasing use of digital currencies in campaigns. Matt Western, chair of the national security committee, stressed that a moratorium is necessary until robust safeguards are in place to verify...