3 h. ago How Starmer opened the floodgates on asylum claims: Record 111,000 in Labour's first year in power despite PM's pledge to 'smash the gangs'

Official government data shows 111,084 people claimed asylum in the year to June, up 14 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Events

3 h. 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

3 h. 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

37 h. ago Government strikes returns deal with Iraq in latest bid to deter small boats

The agreement signed during a visit to the UK by Iraq’s deputy prime minister will allow for the ‘swift’ return of failed asylum seekers.

Politics

3 d. ago I used to run the Foreign Office. This is my advice for today’s extraordinary White House meeting

With so much at stake for Europe, the most important thing is to choose a lead speaker. I’d go with Starmer or RutteSimon McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peerLast week’s extraordinary summit meeting in Alaska is being followed today by an even more extraordinary international conference in Washington. None of the participants knew they were going to take part two days ago. In recent decades, diplomacy has been increasingly conducted in ad hoc contact groups – but the group of seven countries (the US, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Finland, Italy and France) and two international organisations (Nato and the EU) has never met in this way before.Officials will be preparing in the usual way, assembling briefing packs and writing talking points, aiming to please their bosses and, hopefully, allowing them to make the most effective intervention. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago I used to run the Foreign Office. This is my advice for today’s extraordinary White House meeting | Simon McDonald

With so much at stake for Europe, the most important thing is to choose a lead speaker. I’d go with Starmer or RutteSimon McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peerLast week’s extraordinary summit meeting in Alaska is being followed today by an even more extraordinary international conference in Washington. None of the participants knew they were going to take part two days ago. In recent decades, diplomacy has been increasingly conducted in ad hoc contact groups – but the group of seven countries (the US, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Finland, Italy and France) and two international organisations (Nato and the EU) has never met in this way before.Officials will be preparing in the usual way, assembling briefing packs and writing talking points, aiming to please their bosses and, hopefully, allowing them to make the most effective intervention. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago Trump rules out Ukraine reclaiming Crimea or joining Nato as European leaders gather in Washington

US president’s comments may prove a setback for Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he flies to US for crucial Oval Office meeting in wake of Alaska summitDonald Trump has put pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of Monday’s talks in Washington with European leaders, saying the Ukrainian president could end the war “almost immediately” if he wanted to. The US president also ruled out allowing Ukraine to join Nato or retake Russian-occupied Crimea as part of negotiations with Moscow.Trump posted the remarks on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, hours before he was due to meet European leaders including Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Zelenskyy at the Oval Office in a bid to counter a reportedly US-backed plan that would see Ukraine give up territory. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago More than 100 migrants in one vessel thought to have bumped crossings to 27,799

Home Office figures show 325 migrants crossed the English Channel by small boat on Wednesday.

Events

8 d. ago 50,000 migrants have crossed Channel on small boats since Labour took power

There have been 27,029 arrivals so far this year, which is 47% higher than at the same point of 2024.

Events

8 d. ago More than 50,000 people have crossed Channel in small boats since Labour took power

Number of people who arrived in UK via small boats in first half of 2025 up 48% on same period last yearMore than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Keir Starmer became prime minister, official figures have confirmed.Home Office figures released on Tuesday showed that 50,271 people, most of whom successfully claim asylum, have arrived in the UK from France since Labour won the general election in July 2024. A total of 474 people arrived on Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Kemi Badenoch proposes housing migrants in ‘camps’ as crossings near 50,000 under Labour

Kemi Badenoch has suggested placing asylum seekers currently housed in hotels into “camps”, as new Home Office figures reveal that almost 50,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer took office.

Events

2 w. ago Hundreds of children from Gaza to be brought to UK for medical treatment on the NHS

The Sunday Times reported that a parent or guardian will accompany each child, as well as siblings if necessary

Politics