Author: admin

  • PRESS RELEASE : Three members appointed to the Tribunal Procedure Committee [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Three members appointed to the Tribunal Procedure Committee [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 May 2026.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointments, for 3 years, of Sanaz Saifolahi, Jennifer McCarthy and Peace Egbulefu as members of the Tribunal Procedure Committee.

    Sanaz Saifolahi’s tenure will start on 1 June 2026. The tenures of Jennifer McCarthy and Peace Egbulefu will commence on 3 July 2026.

    Sanaz Saifolahi

    Sanaz Saifolahi is a barrister specialising in immigration, asylum, human rights and public law. In addition, Ms Saifolahi also delivers training on all aspects of immigration and asylum law.

    In 2024, Ms Saifolahi was appointed as a Legal Aid Review Panel Member for a 5-year term. In 2026, Ms Saifolahi was appointed by The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service as a disciplinary panel member, also to sit as a Inns’ Conduct Committee panel member for a 3-year term. She has declared no political activity.

    Jennifer McCarthy

    Ms McCarthy is a specialist Employment Law Solicitor who has been representing clients on complex matters in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal for over 25 years. She is also an accredited Mediator. She has declared no political activity.

    Peace Egbulefu

    Ms Egbulefu is a senior legal professional with over ten years’ experience working across disputes, civil and criminal procedure, and tribunal practice. She is a qualified Solicitor Advocate with experience across administrative law, procedural compliance, and complex multi-party proceedings, and brings active engagement with digitalisation and access to justice initiatives to the Committee. She has declared no political activity.

    The TPC was established by the Tribunals, Courts, and Enforcement Act 2007 (TCEA). It makes rules governing the practice and procedure in the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, and the Employment Tribunals.

    These appointments are made under the TCEA and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK renews £1.6M for Cambodia mine action [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK renews £1.6M for Cambodia mine action [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2026.

    The UK renews £1.6M for Cambodia mine action, marking its fourth decade of support. With this, a total of 1,940,000 square metres of land will be cleared.

    • A total of 1,940,000 square metres of land to be cleared of mines and explosive remnants through the renewed funding 
    • More than 44,000 people to receive life-saving explosive ordnance risk education 
    • Funding supports Cambodia’s progress towards its 2030 mine-clearance obligations 

    Thousands of Cambodian farming families will live and work more safely as the UK renews its commitment to mine action in Cambodia, now in its fourth decade of support with an estimated total contribution of £65 million (over USD 85 million). 

    This year, the UK Government is renewing a commitment of £1.6 million (USD 2.1 million) for another year of mine clearance and risk education, contributing to increased community safety and enhanced livelihoods. Delivering through leading demining organisations HALO Trust (HALO), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and APOPO; this funding will help clear mines, enabling the safe return of communities and productive use of land in conflict-affected areas.  MAG and APOPO will continue to further support the local organisations Mlup Baitong and the Cambodian Institute for Research and Rural Development (CIRD), respectively, to deliver post‑land release livelihoods and sequenced agricultural support. 

    From 2026 to 2027, HALO and MAG’s total land release target is 890,300 square metres across Battambang, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Pursat, and Koh Kong provinces, directly benefiting 5,414 individuals. This includes landmine, cluster munitions remnants, and other explosive ordnance clearance, contributing to safe and productive land use and improved environmental outcomes. HALO and MAG will provide more than 4,000 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education sessions through a variety of channels, reaching more than 44,280 people, including over 8,000 women and 12,000 girls. 

    The UK is also supporting APOPO and its partner, CIRD to deliver the Minefields to Rice fields (M2R) project, integrating mine action with regenerative agricultural development. From 2026 – 2027, APOPO will release 1,050,000 square metres of land. A minimum of 500 farmer households will benefit directly with a minimum 45% participation of women and 20% youth, alongside an estimated 500 or more additional households benefiting indirectly through seed banks, other project elements, or selected training.  The project is delivered in close partnership with the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), whose engagement is key to its success. Our collaboration with CMAA helps to strengthen national ownership and ensures that communities are able to benefit sustainably from cleared land in the long-term.  

    British Ambassador to Cambodia, Dominic Williams MBE, said: 

    The UK and Cambodia share a strong and broad partnership, spanning security, development and shared prosperity. As part of this, the UK has prioritised support for demining for over 30 years, in partnership with the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), precisely because we believe no community should continue to live in fear of landmines. The scale of the challenge in Cambodia is significant, and continued investment in mine action remains essential to secure safe land, economic recovery and lasting confidence.  

    In renewing our funding, we commend Cambodia’s sustained commitment and the brave work of Cambodian deminers in the field. We hope our efforts will support the safe return of displaced people and strengthen protection for border communities at a time of heightened tension. 

    This renewed funding will continue to help Cambodians reclaim cleared land, working with Cambodian NGOs to support small business development as well as training in innovative agricultural techniques. It is also crucial in directly supporting Cambodia’s progress towards fulfilling its Article 5 clearance obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention by 31 December 2030, a treaty the UK helped found as one of its original signatories in 1997. 

    H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) said: 

    Still going strong’ is more than a theme. It reflects four decades of unwavering partnership. The United Kingdom stood with Cambodia when we needed it most, and it continues to stand with us today. For 33 years of cooperation have taken us beyond partnership. Today, Cambodia and the United Kingdom are true friends, united by a shared commitment to humanity and dignity. 

    Behind every contribution are lives transformed, a child walking safely to school, a family returning home, a community restored. That is the true measure of mine action.  Cambodia is now in the final chapter of its mine action journey. Our commitment is clear: by 2030, no Cambodian community will live under the threat of explosive remnants of war.

    This commitment reflects the UK government’s Plan for Change vision of building international stability and expanding opportunity for communities most affected by conflict. 

    Notes to Editors 

    • Cambodia is contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) as a result of approximately 30 years of armed conflict, starting with the Cambodian Civil War in 1967 and ending in 1998. 
    • According to the Mine Action Review, Cambodia currently has an estimated 524 square kilometres of remaining contamination. 
    • The UK has funded mine clearance operations in Cambodia for over 33 years. 
    • HALO and MAG are operating under the FCDO’s Global Mine Action Programme 3 Multi-Country Contract. APOPO is delivering the Minefields to Ricefields project, combining mine action and agricultural development to ensure land release and agricultural programming remain tightly coordinated. 
    • As one of the founding signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997, the UK has had a major role in tackling the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Since the treaty was signed, UK Government aid has made a substantial contribution to the peace and wellbeing of millions of people around the world. 
  • NEWS STORY : Reform UK Wins Control of Newcastle-under-Lyme Council from Conservatives

    NEWS STORY : Reform UK Wins Control of Newcastle-under-Lyme Council from Conservatives

    STORY

    Reform UK has won control of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, securing an early local election breakthroughs and taking the authority from the Conservatives.

    The party won 27 of the council’s 44 seats, comfortably passing the 23 needed for a majority. The Conservatives finished with 15 seats, while Labour was reduced to just two. Before the election, the Conservatives held 26 seats, Labour had 17 and Reform UK had only one.

    The result marks a dramatic change in control for the Staffordshire authority, which had been run by the Conservatives since December 2017. All 44 seats were contested across 21 wards, with the count held overnight at Keele University sports centre and turnout rose to 47.8%, up from 43.01% in 2022.

  • NEWS STORY : Conservatives Take Control of Westminster City Council

    NEWS STORY : Conservatives Take Control of Westminster City Council

    STORY

    Labour has lost control of Westminster City Council to the Conservatives, but the party will point to a wider London picture in which it remains a dominant force across much of the capital. The Conservatives won 32 seats in Westminster, with Labour reduced to 22, giving them control of one of the country’s most high-profile local authorities.

    The result is symbolically important because Labour only won Westminster for the first time in 2022, ending decades of Conservative control in the borough. Despite stronger performances elsewhere in the capital, the result will still be disappointing for Labour, given the political significance attached to its 2022 breakthrough in Westminster. At the time, the victory was seen as evidence that the Conservatives were losing ground even in areas once regarded as natural territory. The Conservative recovery there will therefore be used by the party as evidence that it can still compete strongly in parts of London.

  • NEWS STORY : Six Mayoral Elections Being Counted After Major Polling Day Across England

    NEWS STORY : Six Mayoral Elections Being Counted After Major Polling Day Across England

    STORY

    Voters have chosen six directly elected mayors in England as part of a major set of local elections that also included contests for thousands of council seats, alongside elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd.

    The mayoral contests were held in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford. Five of the six were in London, where every borough council seat was also up for election, making the results an important test of political strength in the capital. Watford also held a mayoral election alongside its borough council contests, with the results of the Mayoral elections being announced later today.

    The candidates for election are:

    Croydon

    Rowenna Davis (Labour)
    Ben Flook (Reform)
    Ben Goldstone (TUSC)
    Richard Howard (Lib Dem)
    Jose Joseph (ND)
    Jason Perry (Conservative)
    Michael Pusey (TTIP)
    Peter Underwood (Green)

    Hackney

    Vahid Almasi (Reform)
    Zoe Garbett (Green)
    Tareke Gregg (Conservative)
    Eva Steinhardt (Lib Dem)
    Caroline Woodley (Labour)

    Lewisham

    Jay Coward (TUSC)
    Kayode Damali (Independent)
    Amanda De Ryk (Labour)
    Josh Matthews (Lib Dem)
    Roger Mighton (Independent)
    Pete Newman (Reform)
    Liam Shrivastava (Green)
    Sylbourne Sydial (Conservative)

    Newham

    Terri Bloore (Conservative)
    Areeq Chowdhury (Green)
    Clive Furness (Reform)
    Forhad Hussain (Labour)
    Kamran Malik (Communities)
    Mehmood Mirza (Newham)
    Bharath Swamy (CPA)
    Laura Willoughby (Lib Dem)

    Tower Hamlets

    Zami Ali (THI)
    John Bullard (Reform)
    Abdul Hannan (Lib Dem)
    Sirajul Islam (Labour)
    Hirra Khan Adeogun (Green)
    Terence McGrenera (Independent)
    Dominic Nolan (Conservative)
    Hugo Pierre (TUSC)
    Lutfur Rahman (Aspire)

    Watford

    Ryan Bonar (Independent)
    Mark Dixon (Reform)
    Abdul Laskar (Conservative)
    Jake Mitchell (Green)
    Keith Morgan (Labour)
    Ketankumar Pipaliya (Voice)
    Peter Taylor (Lib Dem)

  • James Cleverly – 2026 Comments on Illegal Traveller Camp at Willows Green

    James Cleverly – 2026 Comments on Illegal Traveller Camp at Willows Green

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree, on 3 May 2026.

    This weekend, construction began on an unauthorised traveller site in Willows Green in my constituency, timed to exploit the gap in enforcement over the bank holiday.

    There is already fencing and groundworks and work has gone on until late into the night.

    This is a deliberate tactic and it is happening across the country. The current system is not working.

    I have written to the Housing Secretary, demanding answers and calling on the Government to adopt the Conservative Party’s five-point plan to fix the enforcement framework once and for all.

    This has to stop.

    I have also written to Uttlesford District Council and Essex Police about this.

  • NEWS STORY : Willows Green Traveller Site Threatens Wildlife and Raises Planning Enforcement Questions

    NEWS STORY : Willows Green Traveller Site Threatens Wildlife and Raises Planning Enforcement Questions

    STORY

    An unauthorised traveller site at Willows Green in Essex has prompted anger from residents and criticism of Uttlesford District Council, after construction work began on a four-acre rural field over the Bank Holiday weekend.

    Reports said vehicles, diggers, lights and generators arrived at the site near Felsted shortly after council offices closed, with work then beginning to prepare the land for hardcore and a possible caravan site. Residents said the sudden development caused noise and disruption, while local concerns have focused on the reported removal of vegetation, the creation of a new access road and the possible impact on wildlife including protected great crested newts.

    Sir James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree and Shadow Housing Secretary, accused those behind the development of “gaming the system” by carrying out work outside normal office hours. He said the case showed the need for faster action where unauthorised building work appears to be timed to exploit gaps in planning enforcement.

    Uttlesford District Council had previously said it was aware of local concerns, but that planning enforcement is reactive and formal action can only be taken once a breach has occurred. After the work began, the council said officers were working “at pace” to assess activity on the site and gather evidence before considering enforcement options.

  • NEWS STORY : Pope Calmly Rejects Trump’s False Claim He Supports Nuclear Weapons

    NEWS STORY : Pope Calmly Rejects Trump’s False Claim He Supports Nuclear Weapons

    STORY

    Pope Leo XIV has rejected Donald Trump’s false claim that he supports Iran having a nuclear weapon, in the latest public clash between the Vatican and an increasingly beleaguered US President.

    Trump had claimed that the Pope thought it was “OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” and accused him of “endangering a lot of Catholics” because of his criticism of the US-Israeli war with Iran. The claim was not supported by the Pope’s public remarks, which have focused on calls for peace, restraint and dialogue.

    Speaking to journalists outside Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo calmly restated the Catholic Church’s opposition to nuclear weapons and said his mission was to preach peace. He said violence must always be a last resort, making clear that opposition to war should not be misrepresented as support for nuclear proliferation.

    The Vatican has also pushed back against Trump’s comments. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, described the US President’s attacks on the Pope as “strange” and said the Holy See remained committed to its long-standing position against nuclear arms.

  • Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Hantavirus Outbreak

    Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Hantavirus Outbreak

    The statement made by Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, on 6 May 2026.

    The outbreak of Hantavirus is very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families. The UK response is being led by the UK Health Security Agency working with the WHO.

    The Foreign Office is working urgently to support the UKHSA’s work overseas and to make sure British nationals on the MV Hondius can all get safely home with proper protection for public health.

    Foreign Office consular staff are in direct contact with British nationals onboard the ship and stand ready to provide further assistance to any British national in need of support overseas 24/7 – our crisis response centre has been operating for the last few days to provide support. Ministers are in close touch with our Dutch and Spanish counterparts and we have been working with other countries to facilitate the medical evacuations, to support our Overseas Territories and to get British nationals home safely as quickly as possible.

  • NEWS STORY : UK Tells Russia to End Threats and Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians

    NEWS STORY : UK Tells Russia to End Threats and Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians

    STORY

    The UK has called on Russia to stop threatening Ukraine’s capital and end attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, warning that such actions breach international humanitarian law and undermine the European security order built after the Second World War.

    Ankur Narayan, the UK’s Politico-Military Counsellor at the OSCE, made the statement in Vienna on 6 May 2026. He said Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine had caused “horrific casualties” and represented a clear breach of OSCE principles, including the Helsinki Final Act.

    The UK said Ukraine was exercising its right of self-defence under the UN Charter and repeated that Britain would continue to support Kyiv in line with international law. Narayan also backed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest call for a ceasefire, saying Russia must demonstrate a commitment to peace by agreeing to a ceasefire as a first step towards a full and lasting end to hostilities.

    The statement strongly criticised Moscow’s threats to strike the heart of Kyiv and warnings to diplomatic missions to leave. Narayan said any deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and civilian objects would be a serious violation of international humanitarian law.