Displaying items by tag: British Isles

Scottish first minister John Swinney has announced a series of measures in response to the crisis in Gaza, declaring that Israel’s actions 'constitute genocide'. The Scottish government has paused new awards of public money to arms companies supplying the Israeli military; Swinney also confirmed that Palestinian flags are now flying at government buildings. He urged the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine and withdraw from its free trade agreement with Israel immediately. Scottish Conservatives called the Gaza conflict a 'blight on humanity'; Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar condemned Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'war criminal'; Greens welcomed the action but sought a broader boycott; and Liberal Democrats pressed both governments to help more injured children from Gaza receive treatment in Scotland. Swinney insisted Scotland will continue offering practical humanitarian support within its devolved powers. See https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/crown-prosecution-service-london-southwark-palestinian-cardiff-b2819723.html

New Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures reveal that despite a rise in applications and new recruits, the UK’s armed forces continue to shrink. In the 12 months to June 30, 13,520 people joined the regular forces, up 13% on the previous year, but 14,020 left, leaving the overall strength reduced by 500. While applications surged, the overall full-time strength of the army, navy, and RAF fell by 2,190 (2%), with the reserves down 1.2%. Personnel often cite poor housing conditions as a key reason for leaving, though the government has pledged investment to improve service homes. Defence leaders warn the decline threatens national security at a time of heightened global instability and looming threats from Russia. While ministers stress decisive action is being taken, critics argue that Britain’s defence capability remains dangerously undermanned.

Hundreds of workers from the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Killingholme rallied outside Parliament this week, urging government action to save their jobs. The refinery, owned by Prax Group, went into liquidation in June after £75m of losses over three years, reducing the UK’s domestic fuel supply by at least 10%. Unite union leader Sharon Graham condemned the lack of a transition plan for oil and gas workers into green jobs, calling the situation 'a disgrace'. The Department for Energy Security acknowledged workers had been 'let down' but highlighted a proposed training guarantee to help staff move into the clean energy sector. Workers expressed deep concerns for their families, futures, and communities, warning that closure could devastate livelihoods. With 450 direct employees, 500 contractors, and thousands more in the supply chain affected, Unite argues the refinery is 'critical national infrastructure' whose future must be guaranteed. Officials confirmed that the Official Receiver has received bids for the site, but workers remain anxious for urgent decisive action.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has admitted underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove, blaming reliance on flawed legal advice. The property purchase in May was part-funded by selling her stake in a Greater Manchester family home, which had been placed in trust to support her disabled son. Fresh advice later revealed that complexities in the trust meant she should have paid the higher rate reserved for second homes. Rayner has now alerted HMRC, pledged to pay the outstanding tax, and referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser for investigation. Sir Keir Starmer defended his deputy, praising her transparency and family priorities, while critics - led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch - argued her position was untenable. The case presents political difficulties for Labour, as Rayner previously criticised Conservative ministers over integrity issues. While some voiced sympathy for her circumstances, many continue to press for her removal. Downing Street has confirmed that an independent inquiry will now examine the matter.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has defended his hardline immigration plan, ‘Operation Restoring Justice’, which would see all illegal Channel crossings - including those by women and children - met with deportation if his party won power. He argued that the proposals align with Britain’s Judeo-Christian heritage, despite opposition from Church leaders, whom he accused of being 'out of touch' with ordinary believers. Farage suggested that criticism from bishops and 'The Establishment' was inevitable, but insisted meaningful change often comes through struggle. His plan includes withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, scrapping the Human Rights Act, and suspending treaties used by courts to block deportations. Labour dismissed the proposals as an 'unworkable gimmick,' while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Reform of copying Tory policies. The announcement follows rising protests near asylum seeker accommodation and record asylum claims in 2024. Reform UK claims it could deport up to 600,000 people in its first term. See

A surge in flag-flying across Blackley, north Manchester, has sparked fierce debate about patriotism, immigration, and racism. England and Union Jack flags now line lamp posts and homes, part of a wider campaign called 'Raising The Colours’. Supporters argue it is a proud display of national identity and frustration with government failures on illegal migration, insisting the flags are not racist. Don and Anne Lees, who joined the movement, said it made them 'proud to be English’. Yet critics see the campaign as intimidating, echoing past racial tensions. One resident compared the masked men who put up flags at night to the far right of the 1970s, warning that Polish neighbours might feel threatened. While some shopkeepers welcome the extra sales, others worry that it risks division. Labour MP Graham Stringer said patriotism has deep roots in Blackley and insisted national flags 'shouldn’t feel threatening’, urging people not to see them as owned by extremists. Rising asylum numbers and strained services fuel the controversy.

This year’s Notting Hill Carnival saw more than 500 arrests over two days, a sharp rise from 349 in 2024. Police deployed over 7,000 officers daily, supported by CCTV, knife searches, and live facial recognition technology, which directly led to 61 arrests, including a registered sex offender, a machete attacker, and a fugitive wanted for a decade. While four stabbings occurred, none were fatal - a reduction in serious violence compared to recent years when murders took place. Arrests included 167 for drugs, 50 for offensive weapons, 21 for sexual offences, and 55 for assaults on police, with two officers requiring hospital treatment. Deputy assistant commissioner Matt Ward praised both proactive policing and carnival organisers for discouraging violence. Despite improvements, concerns remain over crowd safety and overcrowding risks. An independent review is expected to report in October.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that 67 people have been charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation. Those charged, aged between 21 and 83, were arrested during central London protests on 5 and 12 July. They face a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment and are due to appear for trial in September and October. Since the group’s proscription on 5 July, more than 700 arrests have been made nationwide. Critics argue the ban infringes free speech, but Yvette Cooper  insists Palestine Action has been responsible for serious crimes, including aggravated burglary and violent disorder. Commander Dominic Murphy rejected claims that protests had stretched police resources, stressing that law enforcement remained robust. The group has been granted permission to challenge the ban in the High Court in November, setting up a legal battle over the boundaries between protest and terrorism.

In a televised cabinet meeting, Donald Trump launched a furious tirade against the UK, blaming wind farms for rising energy costs. Reviving his long-standing grudge against offshore turbines near his Scottish golf course, he falsely claimed that 'windmills' had sent UK energy prices 'through the roof' and were 'ruining every country’. He also repeated discredited conspiracy theories linking turbines to whale deaths, despite scientists attributing recent strandings to climate change and warming seas. Experts note that wind power is in fact one of the cheapest energy sources, significantly undercutting gas, coal, and nuclear power. Surveys show it is the UK’s second most popular form of energy generation, just behind nuclear, while fossil fuels remain the least favoured. Trump also criticised solar farms for taking up too much land and suggested the UK faced a 'bad awakening' for closing down oil operations. His comments marked a rare direct attack on a US ally, stirring debate over his reliability on climate and energy issues.

Fertility rates in Great Britain have fallen to record lows, continuing a long-term decline seen since 2010. In England and Wales, the average dropped to 1.41 babies per woman in 2024, while Scotland recorded an even lower 1.25. Demographers say a replacement rate of 2.1 is needed to sustain population levels. Despite this, the number of births rose in 2024 due to immigration-driven population growth, with more women of childbearing age now living in the UK. Births to mothers from southern Asia and Africa have risen sharply, while births to EU-born mothers have declined since Brexit. Luton now records the highest fertility rate, with seven in ten babies born to foreign-born mothers. Fertility has fallen in all local authorities since 2014, though Birmingham has seen a recent rise. Experts warn that fewer babies combined with an ageing population will increase economic pressure, as fewer workers will be available to support rising healthcare and pension demands in the future.