Author: Fatimah Idera

The Home Office has dropped plans to house asylum seekers in a block of town centre flats in Waterlooville, Hampshire, after significant local opposition led by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. The proposed site, a former high-street clothing store converted into flats, was set to accommodate 35 asylum seekers. However, officials have now confirmed to Mrs Braverman that the Home Office contractor Clearsprings will no longer proceed with the procurement of the property. The move marks the first government reversal in response to the wave of protests this summer against the use of hotels and other locations for asylum accommodation.…

Middle-class children could lose out on places at top schools under Labour’s proposed changes to the Equality Act, according to the Conservative Party. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer plans to reintroduce a section of the 2010 Equality Act that would require public authorities to take socio-economic background into account when making strategic decisions. The proposal originally known as Harman’s law after former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman was never enacted and was dropped by the coalition government in 2010. The Conservatives warn that reviving this clause could mean working-class applicants are given priority for school places, potentially at the expense…

Transgender women will be barred from accessing female-only public spaces such as toilets, changing rooms, and women’s sports under new guidance being prepared by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), according to reports.

The Conservative Party is considering the potential introduction of compulsory digital ID cards, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp suggesting there is a very strong case for the move to improve identity verification for access to taxpayer-funded services. Philp said that while the proposal could help ensure only eligible individuals access services such as welfare or the NHS, it also raises important concerns around privacy and civil liberties. “It’s a legitimate and valid debate to have, and I think any responsible party should think about it very carefully,” he said. “There are questions about civil liberties and personal freedom, but…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out tax increases this autumn.

The UK has agreed to pay for the transportation of asylum seekers to and from France as part of a new “one in, one out” agreement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Birmingham Airport has been forced to shut down temporarily after a private aircraft made an emergency landing earlier today.

Over the last 25 years, Britain has seen an unprecedented rise in net migration, from just 68,000 between 1972 and 1997 to nearly 6 million between 1997 and 2022, according to the Centre for Policy Studies. This fast rise has raised urgent concerns about sustainability, economic contribution, and public service capacity. While migration has traditionally played a role in Britain’s growth, the current system has become increasingly unselective. In recent years, most migrants arriving in the UK have not come for work, nor were they required to meet a minimum salary threshold. Even those on skilled worker visas often fall…

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for greater transparency from police forces, including the release of information about a suspect’s ethnicity in criminal investigations. Her remarks come amid rising public pressure following recent high-profile cases involving asylum seekers, which have prompted accusations of official cover-ups. Cooper: Government reviewing existing guidance Speaking to BBC, Ms Cooper stated that the government was reviewing existing guidance around the disclosure of suspect information, aiming to provide the public with more transparency. She emphasized that the decision to release such details ultimately lies with police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). “We do want…

Jay Blades, the well-known presenter of BBC’s The Repair Shop, has been charged with two counts of rape, according to a statement released by West Mercia Police. The 55-year-old, whose full name is Jason Blades, is due to appear at Telford Magistrates’ Court on 13 August 2025 to face the charges. The alleged offences are separate from an ongoing legal matter in which Blades is accused of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour. Blades pleaded not guilty On Tuesday, Blades appeared via video link at Worcester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing related to the coercive control charge. He pleaded…