Author: Fatimah Idera

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended the government’s tax-raising Budget, insisting it will help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. He described child poverty as abhorrent and said he is “absolutely determined” to reduce it. The government has been responding to questions on the Budget, which includes new measures affecting everything from electric vehicles to pensions. On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised taxes for millions while announcing the end of the two-child benefit cap. The government also maintained its defence of its economic growth record despite downgraded medium-term forecasts. Under the Budget, millions will pay higher rates…

Net migration to the UK dropped by two-thirds in the year ending June 2025, with provisional data showing a fall from 649,000 to 204,000. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the decline was largely driven by fewer arrivals for work and study. Also, Home Office figures reveal asylum claims reached a record high of 110,051 in the year to September 2025. The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels also rose by 2% compared with the previous year. Thursday’s statistics were released in two parts: ONS figures on net migration to June 2025 and Home Office data on the…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to proceed with plans to remove about £300m worth of tax breaks from the Motability scheme, which provides cars to disabled people. Although the Treasury had reportedly examined options to cut tax reliefs worth up to £1bn, ministers have stepped back from the most drastic proposals amid fears they could destabilise the Motability scheme. The savings are now expected to fall well below the £1bn figure, with one government source saying that level of reduction had never been realistic. As part of the budget, Reeves is set to withdraw certain tax reliefs for Motability vehicles,…

Justice Secretary David Lammy is proposing a radical overhaul of the criminal courts in England and Wales, aiming to tackle the record backlog of over 78,000 cases currently waiting to be completed in the crown courts. The core of his plan is to scrap the use of jury trials for all but the most serious offenses, which would fundamentally change the justice system. Under this proposal, only public interest crimes like murder, manslaughter, and rape, which carry a possible prison sentence of more than five years, would guarantee a jury. For thousands of defendants facing other serious offenses, which could…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to a headteacher after unintentionally leading pupils in the viral “6-7” dance during a visit to Welland Academy in Peterborough. Starmer, who was at the school with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to promote the expansion of free school meals, was reading with children when one pointed out they were on pages six and seven. In response, the prime minister instinctively performed the well-known juggling hand gesture associated with the “6-7” meme sending the classroom into laughter. A teacher quickly informed him the dance was banned in the school. “You know children get into…

The UK Government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates from April next year, following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. Under the revised structure, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and above will rise by 4.1%, increasing from £12.21 to £12.71 per hour. Workers aged 18 to 20 will receive a larger boost of 8.5%, taking their hourly rate from £10 to £10.85, while the rate for 16- and 17-year-olds, as well as first-year apprentices, will increase by 6%, from £7.55 to £8. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who announced the changes ahead of her first Budget, said…

Ofcom has issued new guidelines calling on social media platforms to take stronger action against online abuse, particularly targeting women and girls, including tougher measures to prevent coordinated “pile-ons.” The recommendations, released on Tuesday under the Online Safety Act (OSA), outline practical steps for tech companies to curb misogynistic harassment, coercive control and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. While voluntary, Ofcom warned that failure to comply could lead to formal proposals to strengthen the law. A key measure urges platforms such as X to introduce limits on the number of replies a post can receive, aiming to reduce situations…

Nigel Farage has publicly addressed allegations of racism and antisemitism dating back to his school years, nearly a week after former classmates accused him of repeated offensive behaviour. According to reports, about 20 individuals who attended Dulwich College with Farage described incidents of racial abuse, antisemitic remarks and targeted harassment during his teens. Farage’s team had initially issued a categorical denial, dismissing the claims as “without foundation”. However, in a broadcast interview on Monday, the Reform UK leader offered a more qualified response. When asked whether he racially abused fellow pupils, Farage replied: “No … Have I ever tried to…

People who discontinue the weight-loss drug Mounjaro tend not only to regain lost weight but also lose other health improvements linked to the medication, new research shows. Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, has surged in popularity, with previous studies showing average weight loss of around 20% after 72 weeks of treatment. However, earlier findings have already indicated that much of this weight returns once treatment stops. Researchers analysing data from the Surmount-4 clinical trial now report that gains such as reduced blood pressure, lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and improved blood glucose levels also diminish once patients stop taking the medication. Naveed…

Two veteran members of the House of Lords have been suspended after a parliamentary watchdog found they violated lobbying rules according to reports. Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, received a four-month suspension after he was secretly filmed offering to arrange meetings with ministers for what he believed was a potential commercial client. He told undercover reporters he could facilitate introductions and would “make a point of getting to know” the most influential politicians. Subsequent reporting uncovered three additional instances in which he provided parliamentary services in return for payment, including corresponding with ministers and attending meetings…