Author: Fatimah Idera

A new poll has revealed that most Britons do not view immigration as a pressing local concern, despite widespread political and media focus on the issue. According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Best for Britain, only 26% of respondents listed immigration and asylum as one of the top three issues affecting their communities half the 52% who said it was one of the biggest problems facing the UK nationally. The findings, published in Best for Britain’s latest report, suggest that while immigration ranks second among national concerns, it falls to seventh when people are asked about what matters most…

The head of the UK government’s new partner in tackling Islamophobia has revealed being refused service in a shop because she is Muslim, as the organisation launches a new reporting service to address rising anti-Muslim hate. The chief executive of the British Muslim Trust (BMT), Akeela Ahmed, said the experience reflected the growing problem of insidious micro-aggressions and open hostility faced by Muslims across the country. The BMT was chosen in July as a key partner under the government’s Combating Hate Against Muslims Fund and will run a telephone and online helpline for victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes from 30…

UK house price growth eased in October as prospective buyers delayed purchases ahead of the upcoming budget, amid speculation over potential new property taxes. Data from Nationwide Building Society showed that average house prices rose by just 0.3% month-on-month in October, compared with 0.5% in September. The average home now costs £272,226, up slightly from £271,995 the previous month. On an annual basis, prices increased 2.4%, up marginally from 2.2% in September. Analysts say many buyers are sitting on the sidelines as they await clarity from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s 26 November budget, which could include a new tax on homes…

Britain is facing mounting pressure to suspend arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following reports that UK-made military equipment has been found in the hands of Sudanese militias accused of committing genocide in Darfur. According to documents submitted by Sudan’s army to the United Nations Security Council, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia backed by the UAE have used British-made small-arms targeting systems and engines from UK manufacturers in attacks that have killed at least 2,000 civilians in El Fasher. Satellite images show mass killings and bodies in the streets. Sudan’s ambassador to the UK, Babikir Elamin,…

Five women who survived grooming gang abuse have demanded an apology from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, accusing him of making degrading and humiliating comments that questioned their credibility as victims. In a joint statement, the women said Farage’s remarks showed ignorance about grooming and dismissed their lived experiences. “Nigel Farage should apologise. What he said about us is categorically untrue … We are survivors of grooming and grooming gangs,” they stated. The backlash followed Farage’s suggestion during a press conference on Monday that some of the women advising the government’s grooming inquiry were not genuine victims of grooming gangs…

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has admitted that the Home Office remains not yet fit for purpose, even as new figures show arrests for illegal working have reached record levels across the UK. According to the latest Home Office data, immigration enforcement visits rose to 21,858 in the 12 months to September the highest since comparable records began in 2011. That figure represents a 38% increase from the previous year, while arrests for illegal working climbed 63%, reaching 8,232 over the same period. Officials say the surge follows a renewed crackdown on illegal employment, with £5 million allocated to support enforcement…

Santander UK Chief Executive Mike Regnier has urged the government to weigh in over a car finance pay out plan following a landmark supreme court ruling in August. He said the level of industry concern warranted material changes to the regulator’s proposals, which are currently under consultation. “Without such change, the unintended consequences for the car finance market, the supply of credit, and the resulting negative impact on the automotive industry and its supply chain could significantly affect jobs, growth and the broader UK economy,” Regnier said. Although the bank said it did not expect any material adverse impact on…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has suspended its child benefit crackdown after a major data error wrongly halted payments to 23,500 families across the UK. The suspension followed an investigation revealing that incomplete Home Office travel records had falsely flagged parents as having left the country and never returned. The affected families included many who had simply gone on holiday or travelled for work. In one case, a Belfast mother received a letter claiming she had travelled to Amsterdam in June 2023 and failed to return, despite her child being born in October 2024. “Big Brother wants me to explain…

Asylum seekers housed in two London hotels have taken part in a football match organised by Southwark council as part of its efforts to promote inclusion and build a culture of welcome for migrants. The Labour-run council, which is working to become a “borough of sanctuary” by 2027, has introduced several initiatives aimed at improving housing, education, and health services for refugees and asylum seekers. It also plans to lobby the Labour government to ease restrictions preventing asylum seekers from working before they are granted refugee status. The football match, held during Refugee Week in June 2024, brought together residents…

A 49-year-old man has died and two others have been injured in a triple stabbing incident in Uxbridge, west London, prompting a murder investigation. Police were called to Midhurst Gardens at around 5:00 p.m on Monday following reports of multiple stabbings. Officers found the 49-year-old dog walker with serious stab wounds; despite efforts by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A 45-year-old man was rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries, while a 14-year-old boy also sustained knife wounds that are not believed to be life-threatening. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after…