Chris Smyth

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, was criticised for saying ‘normal ups and downs’ were being medicalised amid concern about effects of ill health on the economy

Labour has promised to cut the number of people on sickness benefits, saying the cost cannot continue putting “ever higher pressure on taxes”.Liz Kendall, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said

Labour has promised to introduce statutory sick pay for all workers and to repeal trade union laws in the first 100 days of office

Michael Gove’s proposal to encourage development on brownfield land is a welcome step. But more is needed to solve Britain’s catastrophic housing crisis

Structure of the benefits system offers struggling families a clear incentive to seek diagnoses — boosting income by over £10,000, think tank says

From Wednesday, pharmacists will be able to prescribe antibiotics for minor conditions such as ear infections in an effort to free up NHS GP appointments

Increase in mental health problems and greater awareness of conditions such as ADHD are behind the rise, experts say

The Tony Blair Institute argues that a dedicated prevention organisation could save the NHS billions of pounds a year

A ban on under-16s using platforms such as TikTok, Snap and Twitch is one option under consideration

More than seven million people will be dragged into paying higher levels of income tax after Hunt used higher receipts from some taxes to cut others.In what he described as “an autumn statement for a

Rishi Sunak wanted to “just let people die” during discussions of a second lockdown in 2020, according to extracts from Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary.The former chief scientific adviser also said that

Benefit claimants who refuse to look for a job will lose their right to free NHS prescriptions, dental care and help with energy bills under a “whole-state” ap

Suella Braverman has urged police to act on “sick, inflammatory and clearly criminal” chants and placards at a pro-Palestinian protest as she waded back into a row over Armistice Day marches.The home

The NHS has been urged to hand a £480 million contract to manage the data of millions of patients to a British start-up with “the right intentions” instead of t

Over-labelling everyday problems as mental health issues is contributing to a surge in benefit claims, the work and pensions secretary has suggested.Mel Stride

Ageing population adds to pressure on spending

Who can see my records now?GPs, hospitals and other NHS organisations all have their own record systems which allow doctors and nurses to see patient data. But

Simon Case has been accused of allowing Rishi Sunak to use Downing Street as “PR for the Conservative Party” over a net-zero announcement branded with the Tory

Life coaches will help the long-term sick join social clubs and get debt advice even once they have a job under plans to lower record numbers on disability benefits. Tens of thousands of claimants will be matched with personal advisers in a scheme that begins on Wednesday. New figures show a record 2

Liz Truss has branded a newspaper stunt that compared her time in Downing Street to the shelf-life of a lettuce as “puerile” and not “particularly funny”.The To