The Lead
@theleaduk.bsky.social
The Lead is a lean, mean mag on politics, culture and everything in between.
Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.
November 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.
Some parts of Lancashire are experiencing severe levels of child poverty. Out of 317 local authorities, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley all feature high on the list with 440 per cent or more of children coming from families struggling to make ends meet.
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Some parts of Lancashire are experiencing severe levels of child poverty. Out of 317 local authorities, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley all feature high on the list with 440 per cent or more of children coming from families struggling to make ends meet.
What causes child poverty?
A fall in earnings is the event most likely to put household incomes below the poverty line. But nearly a fifth of families tip into poverty after the arrival of a new child. Knock-on impacts like someone giving up work for childcare add to the risk.
A fall in earnings is the event most likely to put household incomes below the poverty line. But nearly a fifth of families tip into poverty after the arrival of a new child. Knock-on impacts like someone giving up work for childcare add to the risk.
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
What causes child poverty?
A fall in earnings is the event most likely to put household incomes below the poverty line. But nearly a fifth of families tip into poverty after the arrival of a new child. Knock-on impacts like someone giving up work for childcare add to the risk.
A fall in earnings is the event most likely to put household incomes below the poverty line. But nearly a fifth of families tip into poverty after the arrival of a new child. Knock-on impacts like someone giving up work for childcare add to the risk.
November 18, 2025 at 8:32 AM
What do children miss out on when they live in poverty? Data journalist @clairemiller.bsky.social dug into the stats around material deprivation
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
November 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
What do children miss out on when they live in poverty? Data journalist @clairemiller.bsky.social dug into the stats around material deprivation
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
Child poverty isn’t evenly distributed across the country. Children in the hardest hit local authority area are seven times more likely to live in poverty compared to those in the area with the lowest rates.
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
November 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Child poverty isn’t evenly distributed across the country. Children in the hardest hit local authority area are seven times more likely to live in poverty compared to those in the area with the lowest rates.
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
The child poverty crisis in numbers national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The child poverty crisis in numbers national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...
Child poverty is at a record high. But how did we get here? And what do we do about it?
As part of The Lead's campaign to end child poverty, data journalist Claire Miller drills into the numbers behind the problem.
As part of The Lead's campaign to end child poverty, data journalist Claire Miller drills into the numbers behind the problem.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Child poverty is at a record high. But how did we get here? And what do we do about it?
As part of The Lead's campaign to end child poverty, data journalist Claire Miller drills into the numbers behind the problem.
As part of The Lead's campaign to end child poverty, data journalist Claire Miller drills into the numbers behind the problem.
FYI: You can get 30% off our annual membership if you sign up before the end of the month.
On top of our agenda-setting independent reporting, expert analysis and vital explainers, paid subscribers also have access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes and longer versions of our video reports.
On top of our agenda-setting independent reporting, expert analysis and vital explainers, paid subscribers also have access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes and longer versions of our video reports.
November 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
FYI: You can get 30% off our annual membership if you sign up before the end of the month.
On top of our agenda-setting independent reporting, expert analysis and vital explainers, paid subscribers also have access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes and longer versions of our video reports.
On top of our agenda-setting independent reporting, expert analysis and vital explainers, paid subscribers also have access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes and longer versions of our video reports.
Last week, demonstrations organised by SEND Sanctuary were held outside town halls across the country. Shoes were left as part of a protest about "failed or forgotten" children with special educational needs and disabilities. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Last week, demonstrations organised by SEND Sanctuary were held outside town halls across the country. Shoes were left as part of a protest about "failed or forgotten" children with special educational needs and disabilities. 🧵
Locals in a wealthy Cheshire village have objected to plans for a riding school to help deprived children, so comedian @jasonmanford.bsky.social went to a meeting to speak up for the ‘children who grow up surrounded by concrete and chaos, who’ve never seen a field that wasn’t forbidden, fenced off’.
November 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Locals in a wealthy Cheshire village have objected to plans for a riding school to help deprived children, so comedian @jasonmanford.bsky.social went to a meeting to speak up for the ‘children who grow up surrounded by concrete and chaos, who’ve never seen a field that wasn’t forbidden, fenced off’.
The Lead is campaigning to end child poverty. We cannot allow our most vulnerable members of society to be treated with such disdain – the government must take decisive action, now.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
October 21, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The Lead is campaigning to end child poverty. We cannot allow our most vulnerable members of society to be treated with such disdain – the government must take decisive action, now.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
Sally Wainwright's latest series, Riot Women, set in Hebden Bridge, is airing this Sunday.
Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.
calderdale.thelead.uk/p/new-calder...
Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.
calderdale.thelead.uk/p/new-calder...
October 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Sally Wainwright's latest series, Riot Women, set in Hebden Bridge, is airing this Sunday.
Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.
calderdale.thelead.uk/p/new-calder...
Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.
calderdale.thelead.uk/p/new-calder...
We asked, you answered. Which of our nine expert-backed tax policies should the chancellor use to plug the gap in her autumn budget? 💸
What do you think? Will Reeves go after the banks and the super rich? 👀
✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
What do you think? Will Reeves go after the banks and the super rich? 👀
✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
We asked, you answered. Which of our nine expert-backed tax policies should the chancellor use to plug the gap in her autumn budget? 💸
What do you think? Will Reeves go after the banks and the super rich? 👀
✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
What do you think? Will Reeves go after the banks and the super rich? 👀
✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
The Southport Lead continues to report on Sefton Council's plans for a new homeless shelter. ‘Homeless people are friends and family’, said Cllr Liz Dowd today as she addressed some of the concerns raised about plans to purchase The Salfordian Hotel.
southport.thelead.uk/p/lancs-coun...
southport.thelead.uk/p/lancs-coun...
October 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The Southport Lead continues to report on Sefton Council's plans for a new homeless shelter. ‘Homeless people are friends and family’, said Cllr Liz Dowd today as she addressed some of the concerns raised about plans to purchase The Salfordian Hotel.
southport.thelead.uk/p/lancs-coun...
southport.thelead.uk/p/lancs-coun...
Day 3 at #LabourPartyConference in #Liverpool
September 30, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Day 3 at #LabourPartyConference in #Liverpool
Now at the Future of Education talk with the @tonyblairinstitute.bsky.social and education minister @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Now at the Future of Education talk with the @tonyblairinstitute.bsky.social and education minister @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
Beyond supply issues, what’s driving the housing crisis, and what are the solutions? We’re hoping to find out from @ippr.org and @crisis-uk.bsky.social ft. The i Paper’s Vicky Spratt and @rachelblakemp.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Beyond supply issues, what’s driving the housing crisis, and what are the solutions? We’re hoping to find out from @ippr.org and @crisis-uk.bsky.social ft. The i Paper’s Vicky Spratt and @rachelblakemp.bsky.social
Zoe asks how journalists, activists and politicians can collaborate to fight extremism
September 29, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Zoe asks how journalists, activists and politicians can collaborate to fight extremism
He discusses the “atomisation of society” that pushes people towards the far right
September 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
He discusses the “atomisation of society” that pushes people towards the far right
@joemulhall.bsky.social discusses the mainstream media’s shift to the right and it’s part to play in the journey of radicalisation
September 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
@joemulhall.bsky.social discusses the mainstream media’s shift to the right and it’s part to play in the journey of radicalisation
At the campaign fringe @zoegrunewald.bsky.social calls this one of the most pertinent conversations of the conference — on using the media to help dismantle the far right
September 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
At the campaign fringe @zoegrunewald.bsky.social calls this one of the most pertinent conversations of the conference — on using the media to help dismantle the far right
Now at the @89up.org panel talk on the media can be used to dismantle the far right. Chaired by our very own @zoegrunewald.bsky.social, Westminster Editor at The Lead
September 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Now at the @89up.org panel talk on the media can be used to dismantle the far right. Chaired by our very own @zoegrunewald.bsky.social, Westminster Editor at The Lead
Day 2 at the #LabourPartyConference in Liverpool
September 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Day 2 at the #LabourPartyConference in Liverpool