Gordon Brown calls for gambling tax to cut child poverty Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has repeated his call for higher taxes on gambling to lift half a million children out of poverty. He has backed a think tank report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), saying the move could raise £3.2bn… Continue reading Gordon Brown calls for gambling tax to cut child poverty

Police respond to council leader’s ‘rape cover-up’ claim Warwickshire Police has responded to a claim it held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, saying officers “did not and will not cover up such criminality”. County council leader George Finch had claimed two men charged in connection with the reported… Continue reading Police respond to council leader’s ‘rape cover-up’ claim

UK-French small boats pilot plan comes into force The UK-French “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme, aimed at reducing the number of small boats crossing the Channel, has come into force with detentions of illegal migrants due to start within days. The deal will see some of those arriving in the UK in small boats detained and… Continue reading UK-French small boats pilot plan comes into force

Government pledges extra £100m to tackle people smuggling 3 hours ago Victoria Bourne BBC News YOAN VALAT/EPA/Shutterstock The Home Office has announced £100m in extra funding to crack down on illegal people-smuggling in the English Channel. The money will pay for up to 300 additional National Crime Agency (NCA) officers as well as new technology… Continue reading Government pledges extra £100m to tackle people smuggling

Crackdown on Channel crossing social media adverts People advertising illegal Channel crossings online could face up to five years in prison under a new offence the government plans to introduce. The offence, which the government is seeking to create under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently going through Parliament, would form part of… Continue reading Crackdown on Channel crossing social media adverts

Top MoD civil servant to leave in wake of Afghan data breach The chief civil servant at the Ministry of Defence will be replaced in the wake of the Afghan data breach, the department has announced. The move follows one of the worst UK data breaches for decades being revealed to the public last month,… Continue reading Top MoD civil servant to leave in wake of Afghan data breach

Lawyers warn Starmer recognising Palestinian state could break law Jennifer McKiernan Henry Zeffman PA Media Some of Britain’s most distinguished lawyers have warned the government that recognising a Palestinian state would breach international law. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK would move towards recognition unless Israel met certain conditions, including agreeing a ceasefire… Continue reading Lawyers warn Starmer recognising Palestinian state could break law