9 d. ago Record disruptions of people smuggling gangs last year including seizures of small boats

After the small boats crisis dominated headlines over the summer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will take the issue head on as she outlines significant reforms to Britain’s asylum system

Events

2 w. ago Pressure grows on holidaying Keir Starmer as seven in 10 voters think he's handling asylum hotel issue badly

A YouGov poll for The Times found that 71 per per cent of voters believe the Prime Minister is handling the asylum hotel issue badly.

Events

2 w. ago Police issue asylum seeker dispersal centre protest warning over actions to be 'taken'

The protest is being held over plans for asylum seekers to be housed at the Ambrose Centre, which is in the market town in Flintshire, North Wales

Events

2 w. ago Labour has to convince reasonable, concerned people that progress is being made on asylum issue

Just because there is a political problem does not mean there is a readily available answer

Events

2 w. ago Government looking at contingency options for where to house asylum seekers after Epping court ruling – UK politics live

Security minister Dan Jarvis says government is considering options after council granted injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell hotelIn case you missed the Guardian’s news piece about the Bell hotel high court ruling:Keir Starmer’s asylum plans have been plunged into turmoil after a high court ruling blocked people seeking refuge from being housed in an Essex hotel.We will carefully consider this judgment. As this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.I haven’t read Mr Farage’s op-ed, but I’ve always thought that the best politicians try and bring people together, and the very worst politicians try and drive them apart.Well, we’ll see where we get to with that specific decision. We’re looking very closely at it.The bigger issue is how we can tackle the asylum backlog. We inherited a very significant backlog from the previous government who effectively stopped processing asylum claims. That’s why we...

Politics

3 w. ago Labour needs to ‘pick things up’ after a ‘tough’ first year, says Sadiq Khan – UK politics live

London mayor says he has ‘confidence we will turn it round’ as he addresses audience at Edinburgh fringeThe former home secretary Jack Straw has urged Labour not to panic about the threat of Reform, who are riding high in the polls as Nigel Farage capitalises on the “small boats” and asylum backlog issue. Here is an extract from the write up of the interview he gave to the Guardian’s deputy political editor, Jessica Elgot:In an interview with the Guardian, he praised Starmer’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state after an ultimatum to Israel – but defended the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, saying he would also have proscribed the direct action group Palestine Action.The British political veteran said he believed Starmer and his cabinet were “head and shoulders” above opposition politicians and would reap the rewards of a gradual improvement in the economy and public services, which would not come immediately. Continue reading...

Politics