UK Unveils £4bn Education Overhaul Amid Immigration and Trade Developments

The UK government has unveiled a "generational" overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, pledging £4bn to transform provision in schools in England. The reforms, announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, aim to improve the lives of thousands of children with SEND and come after a ferocious backlash from MPs and parents last autumn. The plans, which have been backed by five former education secretaries, including David Blunkett and Estelle Morris, will create a new system for supporting children with SEND and give parents more control over their child's education. The government has also warned councils that they could lose control of SEND services if they fail to meet their legal duties. However, not all parties are focused on education reform. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has outlined plans for a hardline immigration stance, including the creation of an ICE-style agency dedicated to deporting hundreds of thousands of people. The party also plans to terminate the status of those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and ban the conversion of churches into mosques. Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, will tell Britons that he will make them "feel safe" with the party's plans, which also include a radical expansion of stop and search and a deradicalisation programme focused on Islamist extremism. Meanwhile, the UK government is working with the US to assess the impact of a supreme court ruling against Donald Trump's global tariffs. The ruling, which was announced last week, has left businesses and governments around the world waiting to see how it will affect trade. A spokesperson for Downing Street said: "The UK government is working with the US to understand how the overturning of Donald Trump's tariffs by the supreme court will affect the UK, but expects our privileged trading position with the US to continue." The UK was the first to strike a tariff deal with the US, with 10% tariffs on some goods imposed in 2018. The EU is also seeking clarity on the US's next steps, with a spokesperson saying: "We are assessing the implications of the US supreme court ruling and will continue to work with the US to find a solution that works for both sides." In other news, Greece has stopped the sale of Nazi execution photos on eBay, which were taken just before the prisoners were killed in 1944. The images were put up for auction on the online marketplace, but were pulled shortly after. As the UK government pushes ahead with its education reforms, it remains to be seen how the country will navigate the complex issues of immigration and trade in the coming months. One thing is clear, however: the next few weeks will be crucial in shaping the future of the UK.