Author: Fatimah Idera

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a policy commission to push back against what she calls growing restrictions on free speech and to press Labour to act on its findings. Badenoch said the public debate has become overly censorious, arguing that offending someone has effectively been turned into a crime and that policing has become politicised. She said her party will defend what she described as British values of open debate and robust argument. The commission will be chaired by commentator Toby Young and will examine laws and rules that affect freedom of expression across universities, social media, broadcasting and…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has insisted she will not be “blown off course” following the defection of senior Tory MP Danny Kruger to Reform UK.

High winds have caused widespread travel disruption across England and Wales, with gusts reaching 63mph overnight. The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for most of England and all of Wales, in place until 6pm on Monday. Inland gusts of up to 55mph are expected, while exposed coasts and hills could see winds as strong as 70mph. At 3am, Aberdaron in northwest Wales recorded gusts of 63mph. By 7am, winds had reached 60mph at Crosby, near Liverpool, and 56mph at St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight. The weather has forced major transport closures like; DFDS cancelled…

Downing Street was on Sunday night in crisis mode as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer came under mounting pressure over his handling of the Lord Mandelson affair with MPs openly speculating he could be forced out before the next general election. He has learned that No 10 was informed early last week that Lord Mandelson had suggested Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction for sex offences was wrongful and should be challenged. Despite this, sources claim the Prime Minister himself was not briefed before he publicly expressed confidence in Mandelson during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. The revelation has fuelled anger among…

First-time buyers in the UK are being offered the opportunity to borrow up to 98% of the value of a property under a new mortgage scheme, but they will not be allowed to rely on financial help from parents for their deposit. The First Step mortgage, launched by Newcastle Building Society, is designed specifically for those who have independently saved for their deposit and are looking to step onto the housing ladder. According to property firm Savills, more than half (52%) of first-time buyers in 2023 relied on parental support to purchase their homes, highlighting the growing challenge for those…

Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has revealed that she and her family were attacked by a racist gang who set dogs on them during a violent assault 30 years ago. The Tooting MP, who is of Polish-Pakistani heritage, spoke about the traumatic incident in light of weekend protests in London linked to far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday, Dr Allin-Khan said memories of the past came flooding back after seeing scenes of violence and hate during Saturday’s rally. “Thirty years ago, I was attacked in the park with my brother and my dad,” she said. “We had…

Bristol City Council is under fire over a controversial proposal to charge small business owners up to £450 a year to use public parks for work-related activities. The plan, which would affect dog walkers, yoga instructors, and fitness coaches, has sparked widespread backlash and political infighting. The Green-led council proposed a licensing fee of £450 for use of a single park, or £900 for access to multiple parks, to be introduced in October 2025. The council argued the fee would help protect green spaces and ensure fair access, but critics labelled the idea a cash grab, bonkers, and barking mad.…

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing growing criticism after analysis revealed he has clocked over 73,000 miles of international flights, enough to fly to the moon and back while attending climate conferences and global events over the past eight years. Despite championing environmental policies such as the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) and campaigning against airport expansion, the mayor has flown with his entourage across four continents, generating an estimated 43.6 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from 13 international trips. When team members are included, the air miles soar to 473,000 miles, equivalent to flying around the Earth…

The UK is set to deport the first group of Channel migrants back to France as early as Monday, under Sir Keir Starmer’s newly signed one-in, one-out migration agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron. Asylum seekers who arrived by small boats in early August have been issued formal removal directions, with deportation flights expected throughout the week. The UK government confirmed that 100 individuals detained upon arrival had their details shared with French authorities for clearance. In return, a similar number of asylum seekers currently in France with family ties in the UK will be resettled in Britain. This reciprocal…

MPs have voiced outrage after the reported racially motivated rape of a 20-year-old Sikh woman in Oldbury, near Birmingham. The incident is alleged to have occurred on Tuesday morning off Tame Road. Police say two white men are suspected of carrying out the attack, during which racist abuse was hurled at the victim. One suspect is described as having a shaved head and wearing gloves. According to a Sikh community group that spoke to the victim, the attackers told her, “You don’t belong in this country, get out.” West Midlands Police confirmed they are treating the case as a racially…