Author: Fatimah Idera

Christina Worle, dental strategy clinical lead at the ICB, said the centre, expected to open by summer 2026, will have a “meaningful impact in an area where residents face challenges accessing NHS dental care.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to end government support for some asylum seekers as part of efforts to close more asylum hotels, reports reveals. The move, expected to begin in spring, will target those who can support themselves financially but do not, individuals with the right to work who break the law or work illegally, and those who refuse to leave the UK. This change could affect thousands of the 111,651 people currently receiving payments or accommodation, though many will still remain eligible for help. Around 36,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels at the end of September, with fewer…

The North-Central caucus of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has insisted on the immediate reinstatement of doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, as a key condition to avert an impending nationwide strike. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the caucus leader, Dr Fanen Dogoh, described the sack of the doctors over alleged unauthorised protests and union activities as unjust. He said multiple committees set up to review the matter had all reportedly recommended their reinstatement, but the Federal Government had failed to act on the findings. Dr Dogoh noted that the government had…

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Dr. Saad Ahmed, has warned that ongoing and planned strikes by health unions could seriously disrupt healthcare services across Nigeria. Speaking on Thursday, Dr. Ahmed urged sustained dialogue between the government and unions to prevent interruptions in essential medical services. His comments came amid the indefinite industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the planned resumption of strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) from January 12. Dr. Ahmed stressed that healthcare delivery, particularly in tertiary hospitals, relies on teamwork, noting that every category…

MPs have warned that too many delays for disability benefit claims to be processed is putting people at risk of debt and poverty as many waits for more than a year. A report by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlighted that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is falling short of its own targets for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims. The department aims to process 75% of new claims within 75 working days, but only 51% met this target in the last financial year. The average time for a claim to be decided at the end of October…

Councils across England are set to receive new powers to fine motorists who park on pavements and cause disruption, as part of government plans aimed at improving safety and accessibility on local streets. The measures, expected to come into force later this year, will allow local authorities to penalise drivers whose vehicles create unnecessary obstruction on pavements. Guidance will also be issued to ensure the rules are enforced in a fair and proportionate way. At present, pavement parking is completely banned in London and Scotland. In the rest of England, councils can only introduce restrictions on a street-by-street basis, a…

The principal of the University of Edinburgh, Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, has warned that Scotland’s university funding system is no longer sustainable and needs urgent reform to protect the sector. Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Scotcast podcast, Mathieson said Scottish students should be allowed to contribute towards the cost of their education through a graduate repayment scheme linked to income, rather than traditional upfront tuition fees. Undergraduate tuition is currently free for most Scottish students. He stressed that he was not calling for the return of tuition fees but argued that universities are in danger under the current model. According to…

Reform UK has become the first party to unveil its candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election, announcing Westminster councillor Laila Cunningham as its standard-bearer. Party leader Nigel Farage confirmed the decision at a media event in London on Wednesday, ending months of speculation. Cunningham is expected to challenge Labour’s Sir Sadiq Khan, should he seek another term at City Hall. Cunningham said tackling crime would be her top priority, accusing the current mayor of failing to keep Londoners safe. She described the capital as suffering from a breakdown in law and order and promised a tough stance if elected.…

Since coming to power in 2024, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government has faced repeated criticism for reversing key policies, drawing accusations of broken promises and U-turns. The latest reversal concerns business rate relief for pubs. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had planned to end temporary Covid-era relief, which would have raised bills for many pubs and restaurants. Following backlash from Labour MPs and the hospitality sector, she is now set to scale back the plan. Starmer’s administration has also softened plans to tax inherited farmland after protests from farmers. The original policy would have taxed assets above £1 million at 20%,…

Labour has warned that plans by Reform UK and the Conservative Party could push thousands of families in Wales back into poverty ahead of the May Senedd elections. According to Labour, both parties intend to reintroduce the two-child benefit cap in Wales, a policy recently scrapped by the Labour government at Westminster. The cap limited the amount of child-related benefits families could receive, regardless of household need, and was widely criticised for worsening child poverty. First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, said the policy had caused serious hardship in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. She stressed that Labour…