Author: Fatimah Idera

The first migrants of the year have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in freezing conditions, marking the start of small-boat arrivals in 2026. Images released on Monday showed people stepping off a Border Force vessel in Dover after making the dangerous journey across the Channel. The crossing took place amid bitterly cold weather, with the Met Office forecasting sleet in the Dover Strait and temperatures around 1°C, feeling closer to minus 3°C. Home Office data shows that 41,472 migrants reached the UK by small boat in 2025, making it the second-highest annual total on record. The…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to abolish an outdated law that prevents communities from stopping the spread of betting shops and 24-hour slot-machine venues on Britain’s high streets. In a letter sent to Downing Street, nearly 300 politicians and campaigners called for the removal of the so-called “aim to permit” rule, introduced under Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2005 as part of the liberalisation of gambling laws. The policy requires licensing authorities to favour approval of new gambling premises unless there are strong reasons to refuse. Labour MP Dawn Butler, who coordinated the letter, said the rule…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that the future of Greenland should be decided solely by Greenland and Denmark, following renewed comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States needs the territory for national security reasons. Speaking to the media, Starmer rejected the idea of US annexation, saying Greenland’s status is a matter only for the semi-autonomous territory and the Danish kingdom. He described Denmark as a close European and NATO ally and stressed that no outside country has the right to determine Greenland’s future. President Trump and senior members of his administration have repeatedly floated the idea…

Hundreds of schools have been closed and travel severely disrupted following heavy snowfall across large parts of Northern Scotland. Amber weather warnings remain in place until 10:00 on Monday after several days of freezing conditions. Snow drifts and icy surfaces have made road, rail and air travel impossible in some areas, including Aberdeen, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands. The Orkney and Shetland Islands have also been badly affected. The Met Office warned that a further 5–10cm of snow could fall across much of the north east, Highlands and Northern Isles, with some mainland areas potentially receiving as much as…

New legal powers allowing authorities to seize mobile phones from illegal migrants without making an arrest have come into force, as the government steps up efforts to tackle people-smuggling networks. The Home Office said the measures are designed to help gather intelligence on gangs organising small-boat crossings to the UK. Phone seizures will begin on Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent, where specialist technology has been installed to extract data from devices. Under the new rules, officers can require migrants to remove outer clothing to search for phones and may also check mouths for hidden SIM cards.…

Following President Donald Trump’s statement that the US would take control of Venezuela’s massive oil reserves and recruit American companies to invest billions of dollars to refurbish the country’s gutted oil industry, trade measures continue to threaten it oil. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) that trove of crude oil will play a central role in the country’s future. Recent reports indicate that Venezuela’s oil sector is still under severe strain. Years of underinvestment, corruption, mismanagement, and international sanctions have reduced oil production far below its potential. While there have been attempts to revive output through limited foreign…

France has warned that British activists could be arrested if they try to stop migrant boats leaving the French coast for the UK. The warning follows reports that some British campaigners have travelled to northern France and interfered with small boats used by migrants, including claims that dinghies were damaged before launch. France’s interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said British nationals who interfere could face arrest for offences such as obstruction or violence. French authorities have been told to identify and stop anyone involved. The actions are linked to a group called Raise the Colours, which says it is taking action…

Reform UK says it would give automatic life sentences to people who rape children if the party wins the next general election. The party’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, said this would include whole-life jail terms, meaning offenders would never be released from prison or allowed parole. The policy is aimed especially at tackling grooming gangs. Reform UK also wants these mandatory life sentences to apply to historic child sexual abuse cases, so crimes committed years ago would still receive the toughest punishment. Government data shows there were 677 convictions for child rape involving victims under 16 in 2024. This…

A leading UK vice-chancellor has warned that a university degree can no longer be relied upon as a straightforward route to social mobility, as the country faces an oversupply of graduates and tougher competition for professional jobs. Prof Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor of King’s College London, said that while higher education once virtually assured graduates of better careers and pay, that promise has weakened now that close to half of young people go to university. A degree, he argued, now offers an opportunity rather than a guarantee. According to Kapur, graduate job competition has intensified not only because of artificial intelligence,…

The former aide to the UK prime minister, Paul Ovenden, said politicians have handed too much power to lawyers, activists and regulators, making it harder for them to deliver on their promises. The aide who previously worked as Sir Keir Starmer’s director of political strategy, said the British state has grown larger but weaker at the same time. Speaking to the media he argued that politicians have given away control in order to avoid risk, but in doing so have lost the ability to act. Ovenden said that with stronger determination, elected leaders could “take back control” of how government…