Author: Fatimah Idera

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to limit how migrants use the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent their deportation from the UK. He said the government would re-examine how Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR are interpreted, particularly in cases involving foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers. Article 3 protects against torture and inhumane treatment, while Article 8 guarantees the right to family life. Starmer pointed to cases where these provisions have been used to avoid deportation, including a Brazilian paedophile who argued he would face worse prison conditions in Brazil than in the…

The first named storm of the UK season, Storm Amy, is forecast to bring severe weather conditions as it moves across the north-west of the UK on Friday and Saturday. The Met Office has confirmed yellow severe weather warnings for wind and rain from 12:00 Friday to 23:59 BST Saturday. Storm Amy is expected to bring widespread gales, heavy rainfall, and gusts reaching up to 80mph (129 km/h), particularly in northern and western Scotland. These high winds could cause damage, power outages, and travel disruption throughout the weekend. Before Amy arrives, Thursday will see wet and windy weather across Northern…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil plans for a groundbreaking online hospital as part of his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The initiative, branded NHS Online, aims to deliver millions of extra appointments and significantly reduce waiting times by harnessing digital technology. Set to launch in 2027, the service will connect patients directly to specialist clinicians via the NHS app. According to government estimates, NHS Online could facilitate up to 8.5 million additional appointments in its first three years. In his speech, Starmer is expected to declare, “A new world is coming,” and describe the move as…

General practitioners (GPs) in England have warned they may take industrial action over government plans to expand online appointment booking, arguing the move will overwhelm surgeries and put patient safety at risk. The new system, set to begin Wednesday, will allow patients to request GP appointments online between 8am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. The policy is designed to end the 8am scramble for appointments, but doctors say it risks triggering a surge in demand. The British Medical Association (BMA) accused ministers of breaking a February agreement to introduce safeguards before the rollout, ensuring non-urgent queries were filtered out. The…

Labour has announced plans to raise pay for care workers in England from 2028, alongside the creation of a new negotiating body bringing together trade unions and employers to improve wages and conditions in the sector. Health secretary Wes Streeting will allocate £500m to fund the initial increase and begin setting up the body this year. The first of its kind in the UK, will establish a legally backed fair pay agreement, with recommendations applying across both public and private care providers. The move forms part of Labour’s wider workers’ rights package, aimed at addressing the sector’s recruitment and retention…

Retailers in the UK have warned the government that further tax increases could fuel inflation, as shop prices rose again in September. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and analysts NIQ, annual shop price inflation climbed to 1.4 per cent in September, up from 0.9 per cent in August. Rising costs in home improvement and gardening products drove the increase, offsetting stabilising food prices. For the first time in 18 months, deflation in non-food goods appears to be ending, with prices falling by just 0.1 per cent year-on-year in September compared with a larger 0.8 per cent drop in…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce a major crackdown on long-term youth unemployment, warning that young people could lose their benefits if they refuse job offers after 18 months on Universal Credit. Unveiling the new Youth Guarantee, Reeves will promise paid work placements for 18 to 21-year-olds who have been out of work, education, or training for over 18 months. Those who turn down job offers without a valid reason could face sanctions, including loss of benefits. The scheme, to be outlined at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, will be funded through government subsidies and aims to engage major employers…

Rail passengers in Yorkshire are being invited to take part in a new ticketless travel trial that uses smartphones to track journeys and charge the lowest fare automatically. The trial is being run on Northern services between Leeds and Harrogate, where passengers can download an app that uses GPS to detect their location and check in when they begin a journey. A unique QR code is then generated, which can be used to pass through ticket barriers and for inspection by train conductors. At the end of their trip, passengers simply tap the end journey in the app, and a…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she is proud of the government’s economic record after 15 months in office but admits there’s more to do. Speaking in a BBC interview, Reeves highlighted that the UK currently has the “fastest growth in the G7,” despite official figures showing only 0.3% growth last quarter. She also pointed to trade deals and falling interest rates as evidence of progress. Reeves announced a new scheme to guarantee work placements for young people who have been out of work or education for 18 months. However, when asked which businesses had signed up to provide placements, she said…

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced tough new rules that will require migrants to earn the right to settle permanently in the UK. In her first Labour conference speech, Mahmood said indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would no longer depend only on time spent in Britain but also on how much migrants contribute to society. Under the proposed reforms, migrants will need to pay taxes and national insurance, support themselves without claiming benefits, keep a clean criminal record  volunteer or contribute to the community, and speak English to a high standard. Also, the waiting period for ILR will rise from…