Author: Fatimah Idera

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…

Britain is prepared to send troops to Ukraine to help defend its skies and ports as part of international efforts to secure the country’s future, though it will not commit forces to the frontline, according to UK military officials. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin is attending high-level meetings at the Pentagon on Wednesday, where representatives from 30 countries are working to define their commitments to Ukraine’s national security in the event of a postwar settlement. Radakin is expected to confirm that Britain is willing to provide military personnel for logistical and training roles in Ukraine, but…

Middle-class households in rural areas could see their council tax bills increase by up to £376 annually as part of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s proposed overhaul of local government funding. The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents rural local authorities outside major cities, has warned that wealthier towns and villages such as those in Surrey and other Home Counties will bear the financial burden of redistributing funds to poorer areas. According to the CCN, a typical family living in a Band D property in the countryside could face council tax rising from £2,380 today to around £2,756 by 2029…

Migrant accommodation across the UK faces uncertainty following a High Court ruling that forced the closure of a hotel housing asylum seekers. On Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council won a temporary injunction to shut down the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after it was revealed that the hotel’s use for asylum accommodation breached local planning permission. As a result, all asylum seekers currently housed there must leave by September 12. The court sided with the council’s argument that the building was no longer operating as a hotel, making the placement of asylum seekers a violation of planning laws. This ruling…

UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has come under renewed pressure after a petition calling for an immediate general election passed a major milestone. The campaign demands a fresh vote, arguing that “the majority need and want change,” despite the next general election not being scheduled until 2029. 13 months after Starmer’s victory The push comes just 13 months after Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory in the July 2024 election. However, the government has firmly rejected the calls. In a response issued last week, officials said: “This government was elected on a mandate of change at the July…

For the first time, heart patients in England will be able to complete their rehabilitation programmes at home using mobile phone apps. Six digital platforms have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to deliver online cardiac rehab, offering patients personalised exercise routines, dietary advice, medication management, and mental health support. Some apps also connect with wearable devices to track physical activity and monitor recovery. NICE has granted the apps a three-year provisional licence, allowing NHS services to use them while further evidence on their effectiveness is gathered. Experts say the technology has “real potential…