25 h. ago How the 1,097 migrants who arrived on small boats last Saturday will cost British taxpayers £44million in a single year... including free dental care, legal aid and even swimming lessons

On Saturday, the new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood's first full day in office, 17 dinghies arrived on the shores of Britain carrying a staggering total of 1,097 migrants.

Economics

4 d. ago 30,000 reasons why Labour won't stop the boats... as country hits a new Channel migrant record on Home Secretary's first day on the job

The surge of 1,097 small-boat migrants tipped the total for 2025 to more than 30,000 in record time - and is 37 per cent up on the same date last year. Ms Mahmood said it was 'utterly unacceptable'.

Society

4 d. ago First small boat removals to France 'imminent' says Labour's new Home Secretary

Shabana Mahmood said the first removals of small boat arrivals to France are imminent after a 'one in one out' deal was reached between the two nations over the summer

Society

4 d. ago Vernon Kay says ‘I just got fired’ after branding BBC Radio 2 co

Vernon Kay playfully flattered his BBC Radio 2 in the Park co-cost Michelle Visage during their Saturday show, before cheekily hinting at the consequences he might face for the compliment

Events

5 d. ago Trash to transport: crossing Bass Strait in a boat made of Tasmanian fish farm debris

Samuel McLennan spent two years salvaging for his ocean-going vessel and has slowly made his way to Victoria. Otis Filley jumps aboard for part of the journeySign up for the Rural Network email newsletterWord spread through French Island’s WhatsApp group before we’d even docked – there was a boat made of rubbish heading their way. By the time Samuel McLennan secured his vessel built from marine debris at Tankerton Jetty, a small crowd had formed. Alan Pentland, editor of Off-the-Grid, the island’s newsletter, was already waiting to get a photo and eager for a story.A constant stream of people came down over the next two hours – to have a chat, come onboard, ask questions and share their excitement.French Island residents gather to inspect the unusual vessel after word spread through the islands WhatsApp group about the arrival of a boat made of rubbish. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Postal traffic into US plunges by more than 80% after Trump ends exemption

Dozens of operators have suspended service to the US until a solution is implemented on parcels worth $800 or lessPostal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after the Trump administration ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports, the United Nations postal agency said Saturday.The Universal Postal Union says it has started rolling out new measures that can help postal operators around the world calculate and collect duties, or taxes, after the US eliminated the so-called “de minimis exemption” for lower-value parcels. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Farage confirms he wants to deport female asylum seekers back to the Taliban in Afghanistan

Farage also backtracked on a promise to stop small boat arrivals within two weeks of gaining power

Events

5 d. ago Nigel Farage says Reform WILL deport Afghan women back to the Taliban if they arrive in Britain via small boats

The Reform UK leader has promised to deport 600,000 migrants over five years if his party wins power at the next general election.

Politics

6 d. ago The queue for Dover? Pictures show large group of men idling by notorious French people smuggling port as UK little boat arrivals pass 50,000 since Labour swept to power last year 

The milestone underscores the failure of Sir Keir Starmer 's 'smash the gangs' strategy, which critics have long insisted will not work without an effective deterrent for the migrants themselves.

Politics

6 d. ago Brexit didn’t solve Britain’s woes, but no matter: leaving the ECHR definitely will. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? | Polly Toynbee

As Reform gathers for its conference, momentum builds for ditching the European convention on human rights. It would be a disasterSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreThere will be fireworks and celebration at Nigel Farage’s party conference this weekend. Burgeoning membership and council seats as Reform UK tops 30% in the polls. Immigration is the boat that sailed him here: the more small boats arriving, the broader his wolfish grin. Prime inflamer of foreigner hatred that he is, black and brown people report what they call the Farage effect in a wave of attacks: Mothin Ali, new deputy head of the Greens and a Leeds councillor, was attacked with bottles while with his family last week on Cromer beach in Norfolk, and racist abuse was hurled at them. He said that Reform rhetoric was causing people to blame immigrants and non-white people for Britain’s prob...

Politics

7 d. ago Man whose arrest sparked asylum hotel protests found guilty of sexual assault

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu assaulted a woman and a girl days after arriving in the UK on a small boat

Events

8 d. ago I want more migrants to LEAVE the UK than come here... and I'll put boat arrivals in camps, pledges Robert Jenrick

The Tory justice spokesman also argued that the points-based system created under previous governments was the 'worst policy mistake' in his lifetime.

Events

8 d. ago Small boat arrivals in Britain see quietest August in four years

Despite small boat crossings continuing between France and UK shores, last month was the quietest August since the world was dealing with the Covid pandemic

Politics

1 week ago Richard Tice hits back at C of E criticism of Reform immigration policy

Deputy leader says archbishop should stay out of matter after Stephen Cottrell calls policy isolationist and kneejerkReform UK has engaged in a war of words with the Church of England over the party’s plans to deport all asylum seekers who arrive in small boats, after the church’s most senior bishop called the proposal “isolationist, short-term [and] kneejerk”.Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, hit back against the archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, on Sunday, accusing him of interfering in domestic politics. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Cate Blanchett is all smiles as she makes a chic arrival to her Italian hotel by boat amid Venice Film Festival

Cate Blanchett was the picture of understated glamour this week as she continued to enjoy her stay in Italy amid the Venice Film Festival.

Culture

2 w. ago Outrage as migrants facing deportation from UK to be taught balloon craft, flower arranging and cake decorating

A hairdressing tutor, hospitality and floristry tutor, painting and decorating tutor and gym manager are among the 32 jobs currently available at Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre.

Events

2 w. ago ‘I’m not a wild animal’, asylum seeker tells sexual assault trial

Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu denies touching a teenager just days after arriving in the UK on a small boat.

Events

2 w. ago Tory chair says party would consider deal with Taliban to return Afghan migrants – UK politics live

Kevin Hollinrake says party would ‘potentially’ set up returns agreement with country as he says deportation plan is ‘far more comprehensive’ than Reform’sNigel Farage has been accused of “ugly” and “destructive” rhetoric after announcing plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and pledging to pay despotic regimes such as the Taliban to take them back.Unveiling Reform UK’s “Operation Restoring Justice” at a combative press conference in Oxford, Farage said he would rip up the UK’s postwar human rights commitments, contained in a range of international conventions, to deport “absolutely anyone” – including women and children – arriving by small boat.We really are through the looking-glass now. Nigel Farage pretending to be patriotic while pledging to rip up Britain’s proud record of leading the world on human rights.As we’ve seen across history, his populist playbook is ugly, powerful and incredibly destructive. We know where it will lead if we don’t stop it.If today ...

Society

2 w. ago Farage attacked for ‘ugly’ rhetoric of plan for mass deportation of asylum seekers

Reform UK leader says he will rip up UK’s human rights commitments and pay despotic regimes to take people backNigel Farage has been accused of “ugly” and “destructive” rhetoric after announcing plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, and pledging to pay despotic regimes such as the Taliban to take them back.Unveiling Reform UK’s “Operation Restoring Justice” at a combative press conference in Oxford, Farage said he would rip up the UK’s postwar human rights commitments, contained in a range of international conventions, to deport “absolutely anyone” – including women and children – arriving by small boat. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Farage’s plan to deport thousands of asylum seekers draws scorn from legal experts

Reform UK leader told scheme is ‘simply not rooted in reality’ after he dodges questions on how it would workUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage’s plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers to despotic regimes such as Afghanistan’s Taliban and withdraw the UK from vital human rights protections have triggered fierce condemnation from legal experts and political opponents, who said the proposals would dismantle Britain’s postwar commitments and shred fundamental rights.Unveiling Reform UK’s “Operation Restoring Justice” at a combative Oxford press conference, Farage claimed his party would detain and deport “absolutely anyone” arriving by small boat and ensure they are “never, ever allowed to stay”, insisting this would stop crossings “within days” and “save tens and possibly hundreds of billions of pounds”. Continue reading...

Events