Jill Lawless

Read the latest stories and analysis from Jill Lawless.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, makes his keynote address to the annual Conservative Party conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England, Monday Sept. 29, 2014. Osborne said working age benefits will have to be frozen for two years, in a fresh assault on welfare spending. Osborne told the Conservative Party conference that it was unfair that increases in state help outstripped pay rises since the start of the recession. (AP Photo/PA, Stefan Rousseau) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

UK Conservatives rally troops after sexting sting

Jill Lawless · September 29, 2014 2:29 pm

After vote to stay in UK, Scots must heal divide

Jill Lawless · September 19, 2014 8:50 pm

An official reacts as counting continues in the Scottish Independence Referendum at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. From the capital of Edinburgh to the far-flung Shetland Islands, Scots embraced a historic moment - and the rest of the United Kingdom held its breath - after voters turned out in unprecedented numbers for an independence referendum that could end the country's 307-year union with England. (AP Photo/David Cheskin)

High turnout seen in Scotland’s independence vote

Jill Lawless · September 19, 2014 3:53 am

A view of cupcakes decorated with the Union and Scottish Saltire flags, and question marks, along with the results of sales, at Cuckoo's bakery, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. The bakery has been monitoring the sales of its Union and Saltire flag and undecided cupcakes for 200 days to try and predict the outcome of the referendum. 43.5 percent of sales were Yes cakes, 47.7 percent No, and 8.8 percent undecided. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Emotions mount on final day of Scottish campaign

Jill Lawless · September 18, 2014 5:43 am

A man talking on a phone walks past images of Scots inventor Alexander Graham Bell and Scots doctor Marie Stopes outside the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. The land that gave the world haggis and tartan has produced so much more, from golf and television to Dolly the Sheep and "Grand Theft Auto." If Scotland splits from Britain after a referendum this week, it can stake a claim to inventions that transformed modern life, from surgical anesthetic and penicillin to television, the telephone and even the flush toilet. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Scots’ inventions are fuel for independence debate

Jill Lawless · September 17, 2014 10:24 am

A pair of Saltire's fly above a Yes sign in Eyemouth, Scotland, Tueday, Sept. 16, 2014. The two sides in Scotland's independence debate are scrambling to convert undecided voters, with just two days to go until a referendum on separation. Anti-independence campaigners are pushing home their message that a "No" vote doesn't mean the status quo. The three main British political parties are promising Scotland greater powers, including tax-raising authority, if it remains part of the United Kingdom. The Yes campaign says the promises are vague and reveal the No side's desperation, with polls suggesting the outcome will be close. Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "the only way to guarantee the real powers we need in Scotland is to vote Yes." (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Sides in Scottish referendum make final push

Jill Lawless · September 16, 2014 5:06 pm

National Security

Scotland took long road to independence vote

Jill Lawless · September 16, 2014 3:23 pm

"No Thanks" badges, wrist bands and stickers are offered to supporters as Member of Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Jim Murphy, speaks in support of the Union on the final day of his 100 Streets in 100 Days Better Together tour, in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday Sept. 13, 2014. Scotland will vote in an independence referendum on September 18. (AP Photo/PA, Jane Barlow) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

Scottish independence could mean messy divorce

Jill Lawless · September 14, 2014 8:45 am

FILE - This Oct. 16, 2012 file photo shows author J.K. Rowling at an appearance to promote her latest book "The Casual Vacancy," at The David H. Koch Theater in New York. (Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP, File)

Scottish celebrities take sides on independence

Jill Lawless · September 12, 2014 8:28 am

FILE - In this Tuesday Oct. 12, 2010 file photo, British author Howard Jacobson, displays his book 'The Finkler Question', winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2010, following the announcement at central London. Three British writers, two Americans and an Australian are finalists for the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction. The British nominees, announced Tuesday, are Ali Smith's "How to Be Both," Howard Jacobson's "J'' and Neel Mukherjee's "The Lives of Others." The U.S. is represented by Joshua Ferris' "To Rise Again at a Decent Hour" and Karen Joy Fowler's "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves." Australia's Richard Flanagan is nominated for "The Narrow Road to the Deep North." This is the first year writers of all nationalities have been eligible for the Booker, previously open only to authors from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth of former British colonies. The winner of the 50,000-pound ($80,000) prize will be announced at a ceremony in London on Oct. 14. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, file)

Americans Ferris, Fowler on Booker Prize shortlist

Jill Lawless · September 9, 2014 12:19 pm

A Yes sign is displayed in a field with Llamas grazing in Jedburgh, Scotland, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. The British government plans to offer Scotland more financial autonomy in the coming days as polls predict a very close vote in the September 18 referendum on Scottish independence. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Pound sinks as Scottish independence race tightens

Jill Lawless · September 8, 2014 5:01 pm

Director Roy Andersson poses for photographers with his Golden Lion for Best Film for his movie A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence following the awards ceremony of the 71th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/David Azia)

Sweden’s Andersson wins Golden Lion at Venice fest

Jill Lawless · September 6, 2014 7:53 pm