Author: Fatimah Idera

Thousands of NHS staff in England are set to lose their jobs after a deal was reached with the Treasury allowing the health service to overspend this year to cover redundancy payments. The agreement clears the way for around 18,000 administrative and managerial roles to be cut as part of major reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy and redirecting funds to frontline services. NHS England, the body that oversees the health service, will be merged into the Department of Health and Social Care within two years. Health Secretary,Wes Streeting said the decision was necessary to “prioritise patients and frontline care,” adding…

The UK government has announced major reforms to the driving test booking system to tackle long waiting lists and stop bots from reselling test slots at inflated prices. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said only learner drivers will soon be allowed to book driving tests, ending the practice of third-party resellers and even instructors booking on behalf of learners. The move, she said, will help stop candidates being exploited by online bots that snap up slots within seconds. However, Alexander admitted to MPs that the target of reducing waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026 will not be met. The…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that racism is re-emerging in British politics, saying divisive rhetoric from the far right is making people feel very scared. Speaking with the media on Tuesday, Starmer accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party of reviving the racist and divisive politics Britain had thought it had overcome decades ago. He warned that such toxic narratives were “tearing our country apart” and undermining national unity. The prime minister also gave his clearest signal yet that the controversial two-child benefit cap may be lifted in the upcoming Budget, calling the policy a driver of child poverty. “I…

The UK unemployment rate has climbed to 5% in the three months to September, its highest level since early 2021 ,signalling a softening jobs market, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The rise exceeded analysts’ forecasts of 4.9% ahead of the 26 November Budget and has fuelled speculation that the Bank of England could cut interest rates when its Monetary Policy Committee meets on 18 December. Average wage growth slowed slightly to 4.6% from 4.7% in the previous quarter, while unemployment edged up to a post-pandemic high. Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said the data “points…

The High Court has ruled that asylum seekers can continue to be accommodated at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, following the dismissal of a legal challenge by the Epping Forest District Council. The council had sought to evict migrants from the hotel, arguing that its owner, Somani Hotels, breached planning regulations by using the premises for temporary asylum housing. However, in a ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mould rejected the council’s request for an injunction, describing it as “not an appropriate means of enforcing planning control.” The case had drawn national attention after protests erupted outside the hotel during…

Health

German climate activist Marcus Decker has launched a legal challenge against his deportation from the UK after serving one of the longest sentences in British history for a peaceful protest. Decker, 36, was jailed for two years and seven months after climbing the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford Crossing in October 2022, where he and fellow protester Morgan Trowland displayed a Just Stop Oil banner to call attention to the climate emergency. After serving 16 months, Decker was released from prison in February 2024. While still incarcerated, he received notice from the Home Office that he faced automatic deportation…

US govt

The UK is sending military personnel and equipment to Belgium after a series of suspected Russian drone incursions into Belgian airspace. The move follows a request for assistance from Belgium’s defence chief earlier this week, according to the UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton. Speaking to the media, Sir Richard confirmed that Britain would help Belgium “by providing our kit and capability” alongside NATO allies. Members of the RAF’s 2 Force Protection Wing are expected to be deployed as part of the mission. Brussels Airport was forced to close temporarily on Thursday night after drones were detected…

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reviewing its decision to halt child benefit payments for around 23,500 claimants after using travel data to conclude they had permanently left the UK. The tax body’s automated checks, which compared benefit records with Home Office travel data, appear to have mistakenly targeted families who had only taken short holidays abroad. Under existing rules, child benefit normally stops after eight weeks spent outside the UK. However, many affected parents said their payments were suspended even after brief trips. The move has drawn scrutiny from MPs on the Treasury Select Committee, who demanded an explanation…