Author: Fatimah Idera

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is set to take centre stage at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) this afternoon, where he will face shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge across the despatch box. The pair will be standing in for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who are both absent from the weekly Commons session. It marks Lammy’s first appearance at PMQs in his new role, and Cartlidge’s debut as his party’s stand-in opponent. Cartlidge, who has represented South Suffolk since 2015, was appointed as shadow defence secretary earlier this year. The session comes a day after Chancellor Rachel…

Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson has urged the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to prioritise helping the government implement new gender recognition rules rather than engaging in public debate, as tensions grow over delays in approving the watchdog’s guidance. The EHRC recently called on ministers to act with speed in approving its 300-page statutory guidance on interpreting an April supreme court ruling that defined woman and sex under the Equality Act as referring to biological sex. The ruling was hailed by gender-critical campaigners but sparked concern among transgender rights groups. Phillipson, who is also education secretary, told the media that…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out tax increases ahead of her first Budget later this month, saying she will make the necessary choices to steer the UK economy through a difficult period. Speaking in London on Monday, Reeves said her 26 November Budget would focus on growth and fairness, while acknowledging that the global economy has presented fresh challenges over the past year. Her comments have fuelled expectations that tax rises are imminent, despite Labour’s manifesto pledges not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance. Analysts believe Reeves could be forced into tough fiscal decisions after the…

Serious concerns have been raised over the UK government’s plan to remove an Iranian man for the second time under its “one in, one out” scheme, despite warnings about his deteriorating mental health and claims of modern slavery. The 24-year-old, currently held in a UK immigration detention centre, is undergoing hourly welfare checks after staff expressed concerns for his wellbeing. He says he was trafficked and abused by smugglers in northern France, and fears for his safety if returned. “If I thought France was safe, I would never have come to the UK,” he said. “Only my body can go…

Following a coup plot by the military to overthrow the current democratic system of government and its administration in Nigeria, the 65th Independence Day celebration of the country annually held on October 1st was cancelled. The New Daily Prime, a few days after the cancellation of the Independence Day celebration reported that 16 senior military officers have been arrested in connection to the planned coup. The Nigerian military, through its Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, earlier dismissed the claims as false and malicious, clarifying that the detained officers were being investigated for professional misconduct  not for plotting…

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has revealed that the party almost ran out of money following its historic election defeat last year, describing the period as one of financial and organisational crisis. Speaking on the BBC’s Newscast to mark her first year as leader, Badenoch said she inherited a party struggling with internal turmoil and dwindling donor confidence after losing 250 parliamentary seats, the worst result in Conservative history. “There was a point where we were at real risk of going bankrupt,Without money, a party can’t survive.” She said much of her early work involved rebuilding trust with donors to…

The UK’s manufacturing sector returned to growth in October, buoyed by the reopening of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plants and stronger consumer spending, according to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index rose to 49.7, its highest level in a year, up from 46.2 in September, signalling a significant rebound in industrial activity. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Factory output surged, with a key sub-index climbing to 51.6 from 45.7, marking a clear turnaround after months of contraction. The revival was largely driven by Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s largest carmaker, which resumed production after a…

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has backtracked on his party’s high-profile pledge to cut £90 billion in taxes, saying deteriorating public finances under Labour and the Conservatives make such measures unrealistic. Speaking in the City of London, Farage said Reform would first prioritise bringing public spending under control, describing the 2024 manifesto tax-cut target as an aspiration rather than a fixed promise. “I cannot tell you what the state of the economy will be by the next election, They were only ever aspirations. What you’re seeing today is us being realistic about the economy.” Farage also declined to guarantee the…

A pregnant British teenager, Bella May Culley, has been freed from a Georgian prison after spending nearly six months in custody on drug-smuggling charges, following a plea agreement with prosecutors. Culley, 19, was arrested in May at Tbilisi International Airport and accused of attempting to smuggle 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into Georgia. She was convicted by a Georgian court on Monday and sentenced to five months and 25 days the exact period she had already served in detention. As part of the plea deal, Culley’s family paid a fine of 500,000 lari (about £137,000). Georgian prosecutors had…

Britain’s Electric Vehicle (EV) charging industry could face an unexpected £100m tax bill if government plans to impose business rates on public charging bays. This prompted warnings that the costs may slow investment and push up prices for drivers. ChargeUK, the industry body representing charging operators, said the proposal would see businesses paying rates on about 64,000 parking bays linked to public chargers areas that have not previously been taxed. The group estimates the change could add up to £300 a year to some drivers’ charging costs if operators pass on the expense. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which sets…