London, UK — Tony Smith, the former director-general of the UK Border Force, has called for a radical overhaul of the asylum system that would require migrants granted refugee status to repay the costs of their accommodation and processing once they are permitted to work. Speaking amid record Channel crossings and spiralling asylum-related expenditure, Mr Smith said the government could recover up to £2.7 billion annually, nearly half of the…

London, UK – A UK tribunal has blocked the deportation of a Pakistani national with a criminal record after hearing compelling psychological evidence that removal would severely harm the mental health of his eldest son. The Upper Tribunal was informed by expert witnesses that the child—already suffering from heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and stress—would experience significant psychological deterioration if forced to relocate to Pakistan with his family. According to…

The Labour government is increasing legal aid fees for asylum and immigration cases by 30%, raising the total cost to taxpayers from £47 million to £61 million per year. The move comes as the number of small boat arrivals reached 20,000 the earliest this milestone has ever been hit in a calendar year. Announced by the Ministry of Justice, the immigrants policy is intended to speed up the processing of asylum…

The Reform UK MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, James McMurdock, has voluntarily stepped down from the party whip while allegations concerning his pandemic-era business dealings are investigated. The move follows a report which claims Mr McMurdock received a total of £70,000 in Bounce Back loans through two of his companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Mr McMurdock said: “All my business…

The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is urging the government to restrict access to key disability benefits for foreign nationals in a bid to reduce Britain’s growing welfare bill. Under new proposals, Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and health-related Universal Credit top-ups would be limited to British citizens only, with an exception for EU nationals with settled status. The plan comes as the cost of welfare claims by households…

The Labour government has signed Britain up to a new United Nations agreement that advocates higher taxes on the wealthy, fossil fuels, alcohol, and other unhealthy products. Known as the Sevilla Commitment, the non-binding pact was agreed by 192 countries at a five-day summit in Seville, Spain, and aims to help developing nations raise revenue for sustainable development. The agreement, while focused on funding support for poorer nations, contains 42…

The Home Office has announced a “nationwide blitz” targeting asylum seekers who are working illegally, following political uproar over reports that some individuals living in asylum hotels have been delivering food for major gig economy platforms. In a statement issued on Monday, the department said it would launch “a major operation to disrupt this type of criminality”, focusing on enforcement across the gig economy, particularly among delivery riders. The move…

Britain’s fiscal stability has been called into question by the world’s largest credit ratings agency following Labour’s abrupt reversal on welfare cuts.  S&P Global has warned that the government’s inability to implement even modest savings measures highlights the scale of the political and economic challenges now facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The agency said the decision to scrap a proposed £5 billion cut to welfare spending has left the UK’s public…

Emmanuel Macron is expected to urge Sir Keir Starmer to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state during his state visit to the UK next week. The French President will embark on a three-day trip featuring high-level talks, policy announcements, and royal pageantry, including an address to both Houses of Parliament and a summit with the Prime Minister. A key focus of the visit will be a proposed one-in, one-out…

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to shut down further wealth tax proposals amid warnings from a key adviser that taxing the rich could harm the UK economy. The Blairite director of policy delivery, Liz Lloyd, has reportedly raised concerns that measures such as the scrapping of non-dom tax status may be driving wealthy individuals out of the country, potentially stifling investment and growth. Her intervention follows a difficult week for…

Marcus Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United training on Monday, marking the beginning of what could be a pivotal summer in the 27-year-old’s career. After a turbulent season that saw him loaned out to Aston Villa following a fallout with manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford’s Old Trafford future remains unresolved. Rashford, who has been with United since the age of seven, spent the second half of the 2024-25 season…

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with multiple sexual offences, including five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The charges, which involve three women and span alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022, were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday. Partey, 32, who until recently played for Premier League side Arsenal, has denied all the allegations through his lawyer and said he looks forward to…