Author: Fatimah Idera

Dozens of demonstrations or protests are expected this weekend outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers, as political and legal battles intensify over the government’s approach. The latest figures show that more than 32,000 asylum seekers are currently accommodated in hotels an 8% increase since Labour came to power, though still below the 2023 peak under the Conservatives. Anti-migrant rallies, alongside counter-protests organised by Stand Up to Racism, are due to take place in towns and cities, including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Perth and Aberdeen. Two weeks ago, 3,000 riot police were placed on standby ahead of similar protests, but…

For some days, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, have dominated headlines amid an alleged supremacy dispute. The rift reportedly began after Oba Owoade issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Oba Ogunwusi, demanding that he revoke the chieftaincy title of “Okanlomo of Yorubaland,” which was conferred on businessman Dotun Sanusi. According to the report, Oba Abimbola claimed that the Ooni of Ife lacked the exclusive right to bestow such a chieftaincy title. Oba Abimbola Owoade further asserted that the right to confer Yoruba chieftaincy titles is exclusive to the Alaafin, while the…

The Government is considering scrapping compulsory GCSE resits in English and maths, in what could mark the most significant reform to post-16 education in a decade. At present, pupils who fail to achieve a grade 4 (equivalent to a C under the old system) in either subject at 16 are required to resit them if they remain in education. The policy was designed to ensure school leavers met the minimum standards needed for work and further study, since most employers demand passes in both subjects. However, the approach has come under growing criticism amid falling pass rates. This summer, only…

Britain is heading into an autumn of strikes that threaten to disrupt essential services, with industrial action planned across transport, healthcare, and local government. The RMT union confirmed on Thursday that the London Underground will face a week of strikes starting September 5, just as schools reopen and passenger numbers surge. Signallers, engineers, and service control staff will walk out on staggered days, causing severe disruption across the capital. The strike follows members’ rejection of a 3.4 per cent pay offer, with union leaders also citing demands over Boxing Day payments, shorter working weeks, and long-standing grievances about fatigue and…

Labour membership a political party in the UK has fallen by nearly 200,000 since Keir Starmer became leader, according to the party’s latest accounts. Despite Labour’s landslide general election victory in July 2024, one in ten members left the party over the course of the year, with 37,215 departing in 2024 alone. Labour’s membership stood at 333,235 at the end of last year, down significantly from its peak of 532,046 under former leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. Despite the decline, Labour remains the largest political party in the UK. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has seen a surge in…

The UK General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results released this week show overall grade stability compared to last year, but also highlight ongoing inequalities in student achievements. As core subjects like english and maths continue to be major hurdles, with this year’s results showing the highest failure rates in a decade for both subjects. There is also a clear divide between school types. Almost half (48.1%) of GCSEs taken at private schools in England were graded 7 or higher, compared to just 18.2% at non-selective state schools. Fiona Spellman, CEO of the education charity SHINE, said, “The primary difference…

The United Kingdom (UK) Government has taken control of the country’s third-largest steelworks after a High Court ordered the compulsory winding up of Speciality Steels UK (SSUK), part of Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel empire. The decision puts nearly 1,500 jobs in Rotherham and Sheffield at risk. The court found SSUK to be hopelessly insolvent, with just £600,000 in cash against a £3.7m monthly wage bill, while its parent group faces insolvency proceedings across nine jurisdictions. As a result, the official receiver, a government-appointed liquidator along with consultants from Teneo, will oversee the company while ministers cover wages and running costs…

Smyth, who has served as an MSP for South Scotland since 2016 and previously held several frontbench roles including Scottish Labour’s transport and constitutional affairs spokesperson, was suspended by the party after it became aware of the investigation.

The UK Home Office has issued an urgent appeal for 5,000 residential properties to house up to 20,000 asylum seekers, following a High Court ruling that could further disrupt current accommodation plans

Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from within Labour ranks after a landmark High Court ruling in Epping Forest sparked a wave of potential legal challenges from local councils including Labour-led authorities over the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers. On Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council successfully obtained a temporary injunction to shut down the Bell Hotel, where migrants were being housed. The court ruled the site was in breach of planning rules, requiring all asylum seekers to be removed by September 12. The case has set a significant legal precedent, with other councils now considering similar…