The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 10 June 2026.
I am horrified by the disorder and racist violence in Belfast last night.
Far too often now, we see extremists exploiting people’s anger and grief to spread hatred and violence – with the help of divisive algorithms on social media.
This has to stop.
STORY
Political leaders have appealed for calm after a serious knife attack in north Belfast left a man in his 40s in hospital with severe injuries. Police arrested a 30-year-old Sudanese man on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident on the evening of 8 June, which was partly filmed and then circulated widely on social media. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said a knife had been recovered and that the attack was not being treated as terrorism-related at this stage.
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “sickening”, while political leaders in Northern Ireland urged the public not to allow anger over the incident to spill into disorder. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said people should not share footage of the attack, both because of the distress caused to the victim’s family and because of the ongoing investigation. He also warned against people outside Northern Ireland using social media to stir up tensions.
The case has prompted wider political debate because of the suspect’s immigration status, with some politicians calling for deportation if he is convicted. Naomi Long, Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, said the incident should not be used to stigmatise communities, while Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly both condemned the violence and appealed for a measured response. Police said members of the public who intervened helped save the victim’s life, and officers have increased their presence in the area amid concerns about possible protests and online misinformation.
STORY
The Government has opened the grant application window for the national rollout of its Jobs Guarantee scheme. Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, told Parliament that phase one of the scheme had already started in six areas, with the first young people beginning work in May.
Applications are now open to organisations able to deliver job opportunities for young people, with the window running from 9 June to 13 July 2026. The Government said it wanted delivery partners with the capability and local expertise to help expand the programme across the country.
McFadden described the national rollout as a significant step in delivering the Government’s commitment that every young person should have the opportunity to succeed. The announcement links the welfare agenda with the Government’s wider labour market reforms, especially its efforts to reduce youth worklessness.
The comments made by Robert Jenrick on 9 June 2026.
Reform UK have announced we will ban visas for anyone coming from Sudan.
Enough is enough.
To those who ask why, here are some indicative statistics:
-The conviction rate for violence by Sudanese migrants is nearly double that for British people.
-Only one Sudanese criminal was successfully returned back to Sudan last year.
-99% of asylum claims from Sudan were granted in 2024.
-There were 14,150 Sudanese-born welfare claimants in 2019. That means nearly half of all Sudanese migrants here are on benefits.
The only reason to have immigration is if it makes British people safer and richer. Clearly migration from Sudan is doing the opposite.
So Reform will ban it, and finally put the British people first.
I know from my time in Westminster that only Nigel Farage has the conviction to actually get this done.
As for the Sudanese man arrested in Belfast for trying to behead someone, he needs to be on the first flight out of the country.
We don’t want to hear any human rights claims from him.
We cannot live alongside someone so barbaric.
![PRESS RELEASE : Universities face ban on international students over visa abuse [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/homeoffice-150x150.webp)
The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 June 2026.
Raised standards for recruiting foreign students come amid continued visa abuse. Student asylum claims already down 30% as government action delivers results.
Universities will be stripped of the right to recruit international students if too many drop out, as the government tightens the screws on visa abuse.
New sponsorship rules will introduce a sliding scale of penalties for higher education institutions that fail to recruit responsibly.
It comes after asylum claims from work, study and tourist visas more than tripled under the previous government – reaching 37% of all claims, with foreign students accounting for the largest share.
Asylum claims by students have since fallen by 30% in the past year alone following tough action taken in partnership with the sector.
The Home Secretary has also imposed a first-of-its-kind visa brake on study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan following a surge in asylum claims.
These reforms build on that progress, raising the pass marks of the annual test used to monitor visa sponsors – across all three of its metrics:
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said:
The UK will always welcome genuine international students, and our universities are rightly admired around the world.
But our visa system must not be used as a backdoor to asylum and illegal working.
Student asylum claims are down 30% in the last year. I thank the sector for their co-operation in achieving this, but we must go further.
Those seeking to game the system should know we are watching – and won’t hesitate to act.
High drop-out rates can indicate students have entered the illegal working economy rather than studied whilst high visa rejection rates or low enrolment figures suggest some institutions have not done enough due diligence on applicants. But from summer 2027, a new traffic light rating system will make clear to regulators, and the public, which institutions are recruiting responsibly.
Those rated red will face restrictions on the number of students they can recruit and must fund a 12-month action plan to fix failing practices.
Those that don’t improve face losing international student recruitment rights altogether.
The changes were announced during a visit to Manchester Metropolitan University by Home Office Minister Mike Tapp, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press and Universities UK.
Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL, President of Universities UK said:
UK universities are one of our greatest success stories, and we should be proud that people from around the world aspire to study here. We are fully committed to protecting the integrity of the visa system and working in partnership with the Home Office.
International students bring significant economic and soft power benefits, contributing £37 billion in export earnings. We want the UK to remain open and welcoming, but that depends on responding quickly to any risks of abuse.
What universities need from government is policy stability, transparent visa decision-making, and real-time data to act on emerging concerns. The sector relies on international student income, and recent sharp declines have led to substantial cost-cutting and job losses. It is essential that we build a fair, stable, and transparent system that works in the national interest.
The Home Office is actively exploring new ways to share data with the education sector, within a robust data protection framework.
Education institutions also hold valuable data of their own, and the government continues to urge them to work together to share intelligence across the sector and crack down on abuse wherever it occurs.
Since last summer, the Home Office has contacted 306,000 students whose visas are due to expire – warning that meritless asylum claims will be swiftly refused and those without the right to remain must leave or face removal.
These measures form part of the government’s broader drive to restore order and control to the immigration system – under which net migration has now fallen by 74%.
![PRESS RELEASE : Lex Greensill to be disqualified from acting as a company director in the UK for nine years [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/insolvencyservice2-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 4 June 2026.
Financier to be banned until June 2035.
Lex Greensill will be banned as a company director in the UK for nine years after agreeing to be disqualified following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
The 49-year-old was a director of Greensill Capital (UK) Limited, Greensill Limited and Australian parent company Greensill Capital Pty Limited, all part of the Greensill Group.
Before its collapse in 2021, the Greensill Group provided accounts receivable financing.
The financing was funded through the creation and sale of security-backed ‘notes’ – financial instruments similar to bonds.
The Credit Suisse (Lux) Supply Chain Finance Fund purchased a series of notes backed by receivables (similar to payment obligations) relating to US construction group Katerra.
The notes also benefited from trade credit insurance.
Lex Greensill caused the three Greensill companies to enter transactions that removed the legal protections underpinning the Credit Suisse fund’s investment in late 2020.
The transactions meant that the receivables no longer required payment, security held against those receivables was released, and the payment obligations supporting the fund’s trade credit insurance were cancelled. The transactions were entered into without the written consents required.
Lex Greensill also caused or allowed Greensill Capital (UK) Limited to use $440 million received in November 2020 for purposes other than redeeming the notes owed to the Credit Suisse fund.
The notes all defaulted when they fell due, resulting in a loss of $440 million to the Credit Suisse fund.
His conduct breached his legal duty under the Companies Act 2006 to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence as a company director.
A six-week trial was due to begin on Monday 8 June, but Lex Greensill signed a disqualification undertaking – a legally-binding agreement where directors do not dispute certain facts (for the purposes of the disqualification proceedings only) to end court action.
The disqualification undertaking was accepted by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on Tuesday 2 June and his ban comes into effect on Tuesday 23 June.
Duncan Beach, Chief Executive at the Insolvency Service, said:
Director disqualifications exist to protect the public from those who have demonstrated they are unfit to run companies. A nine-year ban is a significant period – above the average for director disqualifications – and reflects the serious nature of Lex Greensill’s conduct.
The Insolvency Service has ambitious plans to be recognised as the UK’s leading authority in enforcing corporate and insolvency standards. Director disqualifications are an important tool in helping us achieve our goals.
Through securing more impactful disqualifications in the months and years to come, we will continue to protect the public and safeguard the marketplace from those directors whose conduct makes them unfit to be involved in the management of companies.
Greensill Capital (UK) Limited collapsed into administration in March 2021 with liabilities of more than £1.6 billion.
Greensill Capital Pty Limited entered administration in Australia in the same month, before going into liquidation in April 2021.
Greensill Limited went into liquidation in July 2021.
Insolvency Service investigations began in May 2022, and the agency announced it had commenced disqualification proceedings against Lex Greensill in March 2024.
The businessman unsuccessfully applied to temporarily pause part of the claim in May 2025.
He then unsuccessfully applied to strike out the entire claim in March 2026, and the Court of Appeal refused to give him permission to appeal against that decision.
Lex Greensill’s disqualification prevents him from acting as a director or being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
![PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Djibouti – David Hall [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/newfco-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2026.
Dr David Hall has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti, in succession to Mr Vinay Talwar, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
Dr Hall will take up his appointment during October 2026.
Full name: David Ian Hall
| Dates | Role |
|---|---|
| 2022 to 2025 | MOD, Deputy Director, Counter Proliferation |
| 2021 | FCDO, Head of Security Policy |
| 2017 to 2020 | Vienna, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to IAEA/CTBTO |
| 2015 to 2017 | Vienna, Deputy Permanent Representative, UKMis |
| 2012 to 2015 | Nairobi, Political Counsellor |
| 2009 to 2012 | FCO, Counter Proliferation Department |
| 2007 to 2009 | FCO, Africa Directorate |
| 2003 to 2007 | Brussels, First Secretary (Nuclear Policy, NATO) |
| 1993 to 2003 | MOD |
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2026.
Mr Chair, only a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that safeguards its sovereignty, will deter further Russian aggression. The United Kingdom’s commitment is unwavering: we will maintain pressure on Russia, continue supporting Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and help secure a peace that endures.
President Putin expected a swift victory. More than four years on, he has achieved none of his strategic aims, while inflicting immense suffering on Ukrainians and on his own people.
And make no mistake, militarily Russia is under severe strain. The Director of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) recently confirmed intelligence indicating nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion, assessing that the Russian military is “going backwards on the battlefield”. Monthly losses remain extremely high, while territorial gains have slowed markedly in 2026. The already devastatingly slow rate of advance has halved so far in 2026. This illegal campaign only serves to consume vast resources, inflict mass casualties for limited, reversible gains.
Yet a state under pressure can still inflict immense suffering, as recent strikes and threats demonstrate. On 23–24 May, Russia launched one of the largest air assaults on Kyiv, damaging or destroying more than 30 residential buildings. In May alone, Russia fired 197 missiles, including 72 ballistic or hypersonic, alongside hundreds of daily drone strikes, levels that have now become deeply alarming in their regularity. In its latest mass attack on Monday night and early Tuesday morning, Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles, resulting in the death of at least 18 civilians and leaving dozens injured. This was the largest ballistic/hypersonic missile attack since the full-scale invasion. Russia has not acknowledged responsibility for any of this.
Civilian suffering continues to intensify. In the first four months of 2026, civilian casualties increased by 21% compared to the same period in 2025. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, at least 16,149 civilians have been killed and more than 46,000 injured. The United Nations projects that up to 504,000 additional people could be displaced this year, with a further 2.7 million affected by ongoing strikes.
Russia’s warnings of “systematic strikes” on the capital and the targeting of decision-making centres are wholly unacceptable. Despite threats and warnings to evacuate, missions have remained in place, with the G7 and partners making clear they will continue to stand alongside Ukraine. This sustained presence sends a clear signal: attempts at threats intimidation will not succeed, and the international community remains engaged and visible in Kyiv.
Russia’s actions so clearly violate the core OSCE principles: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force. The Code of Conduct makes clear that such actions are a matter of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States, requiring solidarity and coordinated response.
Ukraine has demonstrated repeatedly that it is the party of peace, including by agreeing to a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and by engaging constructively with partners. Russia, by contrast, has failed to engage seriously. It continues to advance maximalist demands tantamount to Ukraine’s surrender, while prolonging negotiations and intensifying attacks. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from areas it has failed to occupy after years of fighting. That is not diplomacy, it is attempted coercion.
Mr Chair, Russia can end this war now, by engaging seriously in negotiations, withdrawing its forces, and respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty. The United Kingdom is fully committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, security and right to self-defence. Thank you.
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 June 2026.
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Freeman, who died in Iraq during routine training activity on 31 May 2026. He was 29 years old.
Lance Corporal Freeman was born on 1 January 1997. He joined the Army in June 2016, attending the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, before joining 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) in February 2017.
Lance Corporal Freeman was a dedicated and experienced Viking and Royal Anglian Regiment soldier. He deployed on Operations in South Sudan, contributed to the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, supported force protection missions in Cyprus and most recently Operation SHADER, Iraq. In addition, he served in the Falklands, Jordan, Romania and Kenya. He served in a variety of roles throughout his career, including rifleman, mortarman and machine gunner. However, it was his most recent appointment, as a Section Second in Command within the Assault Pioneer Platoon, that was most notable. He was deeply invested in this role, pushing the capability, and always suggesting improvements to techniques, kit and equipment. He had a promising career ahead of him.
A lover of the outdoors, he would often go clay pigeon shooting and regularly share stories about shooting with his dad. He also enjoyed gaming and would often play video games into the late hours with soldiers across the battalion.
Above all, he was a devoted family-man and never passed up on the opportunity to share that with his peers. He put them first in every situation whether it was a passing comment in a hard situation or expressing his excitement to see them when he was away.
I am devastated at the loss of Lance Corporal Freeman. He was a highly professional Junior Non-Commissioned Officer whose dedication to his friends, his sub-unit in the United Kingdom Mobility Company, and the wider Battalion represented the very best of his generation. Larger than life and magnetically charming, he was a trusted junior leader who naturally brought people together, forming a wide and fiercely loyal group of friends across the entire Op SHADER contingent.
His absence leaves a profound, irreplaceable void, and he will be missed beyond measure by everyone who had the privilege to serve alongside him. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, his family, and the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.
I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the death of Lance Corporal James Freeman. A soldier with a bright future ahead of him, he was everything you could wish for in a junior leader – selflessly committed, thoughtful and professional. His loss is felt profoundly by all those who had the privilege of serving alongside him. Most of all, our thoughts are with his family to whom he was utterly devoted. My condolences go out to them at this incredibly difficult time.
Lance Corporal Freeman was the very essence of a Viking soldier and a highly regarded member of the Royal Anglian Regiment. Unfailingly dependable, he set the highest standards for those he led, demonstrating consummate professionalism in every task he undertook. He was the kind of soldier you wanted by your side – steadfast and resolute. His enthusiasm, unwavering humour in the face of adversity, and determination were the cornerstones of his success. Whatever the challenge, he brought people with him.
Beyond his military excellence, Lance Corporal Freeman was a devoted husband and father. His greatest pride was his daughter, and the simple walks to and from school were the moments he cherished most each day. His loss will be deeply felt by his fellow Vikings, but none more so than by his family. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them during this profoundly difficult time.
Lance Corporal Freeman was my go-to man – steadfastly dependable, unwaveringly professional, and a genuine joy to be around. He earned the respect and affection of everyone he met, and quick-witted humour never failed to brighten a room. I will always remember LCpl Freeman for his deep commitment and dedication to his family, whom he loved dearly and spoke about with great pride.
It has been an absolute privilege to have commanded and served alongside LCpl Freeman. He will forever remain in the hearts and memories of all those in B (Suffolk) Company and will be sorely missed.
Lance Corporal Freeman was the epitome of a Viking Non-Commissioned Officer. He was utterly reliable and I could always count on him. If I ever asked how he was progressing, he would flash a cheeky side smile and say, “Don’t worry Sir, I’m on it” – and he always was.
He excelled as a junior leader and commander whilst deployed in Iraq. A devoted family-man and a true mate to his comrades. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, daughter, and family during this difficult time.
As his Platoon Commander, he was the first person I would turn to. As well as his professionalism, we will remember him for his strength of character and sense of humour. He was often to be found sitting in the office, laughing, telling stories about the Platoon on previous exercises, and was a genuine pleasure to be around. An impressive soldier, he particularly stood out for his leadership and initiative.
He loved his role and was pivotal in the re-creation of the Assault Pioneers Platoon and its subsequent success. Working with Lance Corporal Freeman has been a huge pleasure, and he will be sorely missed, rightfully commemorated, and never forgotten. He was one of the best. His passing is a shock to the Company, and his wife and daughter have my profound sympathy.
I have had the privilege of serving as Lance Corporal Freeman’s Platoon Sergeant over the past eight months. James was everything you would want in a Section Second in Command, when something needed doing, you knew James would get it done. More than that, James had that rare ability to lift those around him; whether through his example, his work ethic, or simply his presence.
Outside of work, a devoted family man, who spoke about his wife and child with pride and carried this responsibility with purpose. In the short time I knew him, James was a reliable soldier, a committed father and a truly good man.
James was my best friend. A man who was committed to achieving any task before him to the highest standard and always professional, but also someone to talk to in confidence, either for advice or, most often, for a moan. I do not believe I would be where I am today without him, especially for the amount of “just do me a favour” favours I owe him.
Lance Corporal James Freeman has had a large influence on me as an individual and as a soldier from very early in my career. Having spent my first months with him in Troodos, Cyprus I quickly got to learn what kind of man he was. Not just an experienced and high-quality soldier, but also a deeply compassionate soul, who was willing to help the next man out before himself.
James and I clicked very quickly, and we realised we had a very similar sense of humour. I considered him one of my best friends within work, and someone I looked up to as he steered me in the right direction to promote as a Lance Corporal. The world has lost a tremendous character, and we have lost a brother.
Lance Corporal James Freeman served our country with dedication, professionalism and pride. He was a greatly valued member of his regiment who will be deeply missed.
My thoughts are with his family, loved ones and colleagues at this devastating time. The tributes paid to James make clear he was an exceptional soldier, leader and friend.
STORY
Leading chefs and restaurant figures have backed Andy Burnham’s call for a lower VAT rate for hospitality. The intervention follows the launch of a campaign arguing that VAT should be cut from 20% to 10% for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses under pressure from rising costs.
Supporters of the campaign argue that hospitality venues are closing at an alarming rate and that tax reform is needed to help protect jobs, high streets and local economies. Burnham, who is standing in the Makerfield by-election, has made the issue part of a wider pitch about practical economic support for working communities and struggling businesses.
The issue also has clear national political implications. Reform UK has also backed a VAT cut for hospitality, making the policy part of a wider argument about who can speak most directly to small businesses, town centres and voters frustrated by the cost pressures facing everyday social life.