Author: Fatimah Idera

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…

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is moving forward with plans to raise the minimum wage for 18 – to 20-year-olds, despite warnings from business leaders that the policy could harm youth employment. Under current rules, workers aged 21 and over are entitled to a minimum wage of £12.21 an hour, while those aged 18 to 20 receive just £10. Rayner has asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to explore eliminating this £2 gap, calling the age-based pay bands discriminatory. The move is part of a broader Labour strategy to win support from younger voters, particularly in light of growing competition…

UK ministers have announced an extra £100 million in funding to bolster efforts to stop small boat crossings in the English Channel as part of a broader push to tackle irregular migration.

Downing Street has warned the public not to attend a planned protest in support of the proscribed Palestine Action group, as police confirmed they would arrest anyone suspected of breaching terrorism laws. The protest, scheduled for this weekend, is being organised by the campaign group Defend Our Juries in response to the government’s decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Demonstrators are being encouraged to hold signs reading: “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action” a message that has led to arrests at similar events. Asked whether the government discourages participation, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer…

The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is set to roll out the world’s first vaccination programme targeting gonorrhoea in response to record-high infection rates and rising antibiotic resistance. In 2023, England recorded over 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea, which was highest since records began. Health officials are particularly concerned about emerging antibiotic-resistant strains, which threaten to make the infection increasingly difficult to treat. The vaccination programme, beginning August 1, will primarily target gay and bisexual men who have had multiple recent sexual partners or a history of bacterial STIs, as they are considered at higher risk. Transgender women…

A number of Labour MPs, including serving ministers, have voiced opposition to a Supreme Court ruling that defined sex in equality law as referring solely to biological sex. The ruling, delivered over three months ago, stated that transgender women are not legally considered women under the Equality Act when it comes to single-sex spaces. Following the decision, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the judgment brought clarity by affirming that a woman is an adult female. He also urged public bodies to update their policies accordingly. However, several Labour MPs have expressed disagreement, characterizing the ruling as regressive and harmful…

US President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines toward Russian waters in response to threats from Russia’s former president. The move marks a rare break from the Pentagon’s usual secrecy regarding strategic military deployments. Trump said the submarines were being sent to appropriate regions, signaling a show of strength amid escalating tensions with Moscow. This announcement comes after a heated exchange between Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. Experts warn the deployment risks provoking a reciprocal response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially escalating tensions…

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has been accused of altering election spending rules in a way that could disadvantage her main Labour leadership rival, Wes Streeting. Critics warn that her proposed changes may reopen a loophole that could benefit pro-Gaza candidates, including those aligned with Jeremy Corbyn’s new party. Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, condemned the move, saying it risks “fuelling divisive and sectarian politics” and appears motivated by internal Labour conflicts. Ms Rayner has announced plans to scrap the current ban preventing organisations from registering simultaneously as a campaign group and a political party. Under existing rules, this…

A group of migrants in the early hours of Saturday moved into the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London. Photos from the scene showed a bus arriving at the hotel and dropping off the group under the cover of night, just days after protests erupted over the site’s proposed use as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. The protests, which took place in late July, followed reports that the government planned to house migrants at the four-star hotel. Demonstrators from both sides of the debate, including members of the group Stand Up To Racism, gathered outside the hotel in response.…