Author: Fatimah Idera

Sir Keir Starmer’s government has come under fire for increasing spending on consultants during its first year in power despite a campaign pledge to slash such costs. New data from procurement analysts Tussell reveals that the public sector awarded 580 consultancy contracts worth £1.29 billion between July 2024 and June 2025. This marks a 5% increase on the £1.23 billion spent during the same period under the previous Conservative government. The figures appear to undermine Labour’s promise to curb unnecessary consultancy spending and deliver £1.2 billion in savings by 2026. Upon entering government, Labour introduced new controls on Whitehall’s use…

David Jones, a former Conservative cabinet minister and Welsh secretary, has defected to Reform UK, becoming the highest profile figure yet to join Nigel Farage’s insurgent party. Announcing his decision on Monday night, Mr Jones said Reform was the only political party confronting Britain’s key challenges with the urgency they demand. Speaking to GB News, the ex-MP said: “Today, Reform UK is the party that best represents my views and, I believe, those of many others who have become disillusioned with the two old major parties. Across the country, people are rightly concerned about the rising cost of living, the…

Sir Keir Starmer is racing to salvage a key migrant returns agreement with France just days before Emmanuel Macron’s high profile state visit to the UK, amid growing EU unease over the proposed arrangement. The one in, one out deal would see France agree to take back migrants who cross the Channel illegally in small boats, in exchange for the UK accepting a similar number of asylum seekers currently in France. The proposal was meant to serve as the centrepiece of an Anglo-French summit on Thursday, focused on tackling the surge in small boat crossings. However, senior government sources admitted…

Hospitals across England are preparing for fresh strikes by resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, who are demanding a 29% pay increase, a move that NHS leaders warn could lead to widespread disruption and the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations. A ballot of the 55,000 resident doctors represented by the British Medical Association (BMA) closes on Monday, with results expected the following day. NHS officials fear a strong vote in favour of industrial action, potentially triggering six months of rolling strikes that could stretch into January 2026. The looming dispute comes despite a recent 5.4%…

An 18-year-old British teenager, Marcus Fakana, jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl during a holiday, has been released and is now back in the UK, a campaign group has confirmed. Fakana from Tottenham in north London was sentenced to a year in prison under the United Arab Emirates’ strict laws prohibiting sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18. His release was secured after Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, granted him a royal pardon, according to the advocacy group Detained in Dubai. “Marcus is currently recovering,” said Radha Stirling, the group’s chief…

The United Kingdom Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, refused multiple times on Sunday to confirm whether legally binding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) would be retained under the new system. These plans currently guarantee tailored support for nearly 640,000 children in England, covering areas such as teaching assistance, therapy, and specialist school placements. This was as the UK Government is considering scrapping the current system of personalised education plans for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including autism and ADHD, as part of a wider review aimed at reforming the UK’s special needs provision. Laura Kuenssberg, Ms. Phillipson, said…

Britain has surged to the top of global investment rankings following a new trade agreement with the United States, according to a survey of top finance executives conducted by Deloitte. The British country has overtaken major economies like the US, Japan, and Middle Eastern nations to become the most attractive destination for investment. Just six months ago, the country ranked sixth in the same survey. Deloitte credited the dramatic leap to the UK-US trade deal, announced in early May, which has boosted confidence among corporate leaders. Geopolitical instability in the Middle East and fluctuating oil prices have also reduced the…

The Labour government is increasing legal aid fees for asylum and immigration cases by 30%, raising the total cost to taxpayers from £47 million to £61 million per year. The move comes as the number of small boat arrivals reached 20,000 the earliest this milestone has ever been hit in a calendar year. Announced by the Ministry of Justice, the immigrants policy is intended to speed up the processing of asylum claims and reduce reliance on hotels for migrant accommodation. Ministers say the investment will help clear the current backlog of 90,000 cases and improve the functioning of the immigration legal…

The Reform UK MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, James McMurdock, has voluntarily stepped down from the party whip while allegations concerning his pandemic-era business dealings are investigated. The move follows a report which claims Mr McMurdock received a total of £70,000 in Bounce Back loans through two of his companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Mr McMurdock said: “All my business dealings have always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations.” He described his decision to suspend the whip as a “precautionary measure” taken “for the…

The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is urging the government to restrict access to key disability benefits for foreign nationals in a bid to reduce Britain’s growing welfare bill. Under new proposals, Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and health-related Universal Credit top-ups would be limited to British citizens only, with an exception for EU nationals with settled status. The plan comes as the cost of welfare claims by households with at least one foreign national has reportedly doubled to nearly £1 billion per month. PIP, which can be worth up to £750 per month, is intended to support people…