2 h. 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

16 h. 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

32 h. 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

43 h. 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

6 d. 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

8 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. 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

1 week ago Farage says Reform UK would carry out ‘mass deportation’ of small boat arrivals

Deals with third countries could also include reviving the Conservatives’ Rwanda link-up.

Politics

2 w. ago UK asylum applications hit record of 111,000 in Starmer’s first year in office

Figure reflects surge in small boat arrivals to the country

Events

2 w. ago UK asylum applications hit record 111,000 in Starmer’s first year in office

Figure reflects surge in small boat arrivals to the country

Events

2 w. ago Labour revolt on migrant hotels: After shock Epping court ruling, Left

Town hall leaders across the country said they are already looking to follow Epping Forest District Council and take legal action to prevent small boat arrivals being placed in local hotels.

Events

2 w. ago Government’s deal with Iraq to return illegal migrants will ‘deter small boat arrivals’, says Starmer – UK politics live

Prime minister says ‘strengthened partnership with Iraq will secure our borders’ as more councils in England plan to challenge asylum hotelsTrain fares in England are now expected to rise by a higher-than-expected 5.8% next year, causing concern among passenger groups.Rail ticket increases are usually calculated by adding one percentage point to July’s inflation reading on the retail prices index (RPI), which came in 0.2 points above forecasts on Wednesday at 4.8%. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Libyan migrant, 24, who arrived in Britain by small boat is arrested after three people injured in knife attack

Khalifa Eissa Benyzeed, 24, originally from Libya, is being held by police on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after one man suffered a 'potentially life-threatening' stab wound to his chest.

Events

3 w. ago Labour minister says small boat Channel crossings 'unacceptable' as milestone passed

In Home figures described as "unacceptable" by Labour former home secretary Baroness Smith, it also emerged 474 migrants arrived by small boat on Monday alone

Politics

3 w. ago Moment small boat arrives at Gravelines beach to pick up migrants to take them illegally across to the UK

The rubber vessel (pictured) was seen off the French coast, just east of Calais, this morning, before heading off into the English Channel.

Events

3 w. ago So much for a deterrent! Hundreds more Channel crossings pushes total migrant arrivals since Labour's 'one in one out' deal with France past 400

More than 400 small boat migrants have arrived in the first two days of Labour's returns deal, dashing claims it would be a 'new deterrent'.

Economics

4 w. ago Fury as small boat detentions begin amid threat of human rights legal challenges

The Home Office has announced a first wave of detentions of small boat arrivals set to be returned to France, but human rights groups have voiced their outrage

Events

4 w. ago First people detained under ‘one in, one out’ deal before being sent back to France – UK politics live

Home secretary says the move ‘sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK’Keir Starmer has also issued a statement about the detention of small boat arrivals (see 9.58am) on his social media feed. He says:We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France. No gimmicks, just results.If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back.The transfers to immigration removal centres are under way as we speak, so we won’t provide operational details at this point that criminal gangs can simply use and exploit.But no-one should be in any doubt: anyone who arrives from now on is eligible for immediate detention and return.The pilot has now begun, so the first migrants who have arrived on the small boats are now in detention. We will then swiftly make the referrals to France and that process will now start to be able to return people to France.It’s the beginning of the pil...

Politics