Whitehall’s spending watchdog has revealed the Home Secretary’s plans to remodel the asylum system could lead to “unintended consequences” which includes growing case backlogs and homelessness of people in need of refuge. According to the head of the National Audit Office, Gareth Davies, he noted that for the policies by Shabana Mahmood to succeed, it would require “effective action on the bottlenecks”. It was revealed in a report by the…

An Afghan national accused of raping two 14-year-old girls in Bolton had been allowed to remain in the UK with his family after receiving indefinite leave to remain, a court has been told. Sultani Bakatash, 28, appeared before Manchester magistrates’ court on Tuesday following his arrest at the weekend. He is accused of carrying out the attacks at a flat in Greater Manchester last Saturday. Bakatash, who required a Dari…

A British service member has died in Ukraine, prompting tributes across the UK political spectrum and renewed attention on Britain’s ongoing military support for Kyiv. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the individual, whose identity has not yet been released, died earlier in the day. While investigations are continuing, the Press Association understands that the death is not being attributed to hostile fire, though the precise circumstances remain undisclosed. Defence Secretary…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has raised doubts about whether the UK’s minimum wage should rise any further, warning that many businesses are already struggling to cope with current rates. Speaking in an interview, Badenoch recalled increasing the minimum wage while she was business secretary, only to hear from employers who said the higher costs forced them to cut staff. She argued that the government must listen to business concerns rather…

A former children’s commissioner, Baroness Longfield, has been appointed to chair the government’s inquiry into child sexual abuse carried out by grooming gangs. Her appointment follows months of turmoil after four women resigned from the survivors panel and two previous chairing candidates withdrew. Announcing the decision in the Commons, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the three-year inquiry would be a “moment of reckoning” and pledged to “root out this evil…

The Conservative Party has launched review of the UK’s benefits system, with party leader Kemi Badenoch warning that rising claims linked to low-level physical and mental health conditions are making welfare increasingly unsustainable. Speaking in London, she said the review would examine when support should begin, how long it should last, and which medical conditions should still qualify for state assistance. Badenoch argued that the current system was not designed…

Prince Harry’s access to police protection during visits to the UK is currently being reassessed. The development comes months after he lost a legal bid to reinstate automatic police security for himself and his family while in the country. Following the ruling in May, the Duke of Sussex said he could not safely bring his wife and children to the UK, as he was unable to guarantee their protection. The…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, for discussions on the latest Ukraine peace plan. The proposal was developed last week during meetings between Ukrainian and US officials in Florida. The meeting comes as Europe and the US appear increasingly divided in their approach to the war, according to security analysts. Before the talks began,…

A new review has revealed that the average waiting time for NHS 24 calls in Scotland has risen sharply from just nine seconds in 2014 to more than 22 minutes this year. The report, commissioned by Scottish Labour and led by former Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons president Mike McKirdy, warns that Scotland’s health service is “failing to deliver” despite having more staff, more funding and more policy initiatives…

Human rights organisations say the UK’s hardline policy aimed at stopping asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats has increased violence, deaths and smuggler activity rather than deterring arrivals. A new 176-page report by Humans for Rights Network, produced with 17 rights groups in France and six in the UK, documents the growing dangers faced by migrants in northern France. The report includes testimonies from asylum seekers and…

New evidence has emerged showing that thousands of asylum seekers are being granted refugee status without attending face-to-face interviews, as the UK’s asylum system struggles with rising demand. New documents show that migrants from countries with high approval rates, including Eritrea, Sudan and Yemen, are being permitted to submit detailed questionnaires instead of undergoing traditional interviews with specialist caseworkers. Officials tell applicants that if their written account includes enough evidence…

UK youths face benefit cuts for rejecting job scheme