Category: News Story

STORY

The United Kingdom has reinforced its commitment to Middle East peace by hosting Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa for the first official visit to the UK since 2021. The meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing the two-state solution and bolstering the PA’s governance capabilities. ​ Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed Prime Minister Mustafa to London, underscoring the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people during a critical period in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The MoU reaffirms the UK’s recognition of the PA as the sole legitimate governing body in these territories and emphasizes the importance of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under its authority. ​

In conjunction with the MoU, the UK announced a £101 million aid package directed at humanitarian relief, economic development, and governance reforms within the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding aims to support the PA’s reform agenda, enhance service delivery, and promote financial sustainability. ​

Foreign Secretary David Lammy highlighted the significance of the visit, stating:​

“This visit marks a significant step in strengthening our relationship with the Palestinian Authority – a key partner for peace in the Middle East – at a critical moment.” ​

The UK and PA also agreed on a coordinated approach to Gaza’s future, building on Arab and Palestinian-led initiatives. The UK reiterated that Hamas must immediately release hostages and relinquish control of Gaza, advocating for the PA’s central role in governance, security, and reconstruction efforts

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The UK government has confirmed the arrival of a crucial shipment of over 55,000 tonnes of blast furnace coke at Immingham Bulk Terminal. Sourced from Bluescope Steel’s plant in Australia, this delivery is essential for maintaining operations at British Steel’s Scunthorpe facility. The coke, transported by the MV Navios Alegria, will be transferred by rail to Scunthorpe, ensuring the continued operation of both blast furnaces in the coming months. An additional shipment comprising more than 66,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets and 27,000 tonnes of iron ore fines from Sweden is expected next week, funded directly by the government through existing Department for Business and Trade budgets.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasised the strategic importance of this move:​

“The action we’ve taken to secure primary steelmaking at Scunthorpe will not only support our national security but help our steel sector supply the construction of the homes and infrastructure of the future, as part of our Plan for Change.”

British Steel’s Interim CEO, Allan Bell, acknowledged the efforts of the company’s teams:​

“We’ve successfully secured the raw materials we need to keep the blast furnaces running, meaning our production of steel can continue.”

The Community union’s Assistant General Secretary, Alasdair McDiarmid, also expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, noting the assurance it provides to workers at the Scunthorpe site. This development follows the government’s recent actions to stabilise British Steel, including the appointment of new interim leadership and the conclusion of a staff redundancy consultation initiated by the company’s owners, Jingye Group. The continued operation of the Scunthorpe blast furnaces secures approximately 3,000 jobs and reinforces the UK’s commitment to sustaining its domestic steel production capabilities.

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Liverpool is set to implement a £2 per night “City Visitor Charge” on overnight stays in hotels and serviced apartments from 1 June 2025, following a successful ballot among local accommodation providers. ​The charge, applicable to establishments with a rateable value of £45,000 or more, aims to generate approximately £9.2 million over two years. Of this, £6.7 million is earmarked to support the city’s visitor economy, including funding for marketing campaigns, street cleaning, and major events. ​The proposal was approved by 26 votes to 18 in a ballot conducted among 83 hotels and serviced apartments within Liverpool’s Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), with a turnout of 53%. ​

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, welcomed the decision, stating:​

“The ‘Yes’ vote for an extension of the BID to create a visitor charge is a great vote of confidence in the growth of our successful visitor economy. This positive step lays solid foundations in our endeavour to formalise the establishment of a sustainable Tourism Tax, akin to what is being looked at in Glasgow and has already been introduced in other major European cities.” ​

The levy will be administered by the Liverpool BID Company, which oversees the city’s business improvement districts. Funds collected will be reinvested into initiatives designed to enhance Liverpool’s appeal as a tourist destination. The introduction of the City Visitor Charge aligns Liverpool with a number of other UK cities like Manchester, which implemented a similar £1 per night fee in April 2023, raising £2.8 million in its first year.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly dismissed a proposed peace plan from US President Donald Trump that would see Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia, reiterating that any such concession is unacceptable and does not constitute a genuine path to peace. The US President, hit by poor polling and economic chaos in the United States from the tariffs policy, had previously given a pledge that he could resolve the Ukrainian issue in one day, something which his representatives have since backed away from.

In a recent interview, Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to consider any concrete peace proposals but made it clear that surrendering Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and the Donbas region, is not negotiable. “Yes, we can stop this war if we give to Russia Donbas and Crimea. In my mind, our country will not be ready for such a peace plan. It is not a peace plan” he stated.

Zelenskyy emphasied that Ukraine will determine its own course of action regarding Crimea without external consultation. “We will be returning Crimea by any means, because this is our territory. We will decide on our own, without consulting with any other country in the world” he asserted. The Ukrainian leader has consistently maintained that reclaiming Crimea is essential for restoring international law and order. “It all began with Crimea, and it will end with Crimea” he declared, highlighting the peninsula’s significance in the broader context of global security. Earlier in the day, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the US approach.

Trump’s proposal, which includes recognising Russia’s control over Crimea and freezing the conflict along current frontlines, has faced criticism from Ukrainian officials and European lawmakers, who warn against appeasing Russia As diplomatic efforts continue, Zelenskyy’s unwavering stance underscores Ukraine’s commitment to its territorial integrity and the challenges facing international negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. Russia is expected to welcome the US capitulation with Putin expected to make a statement in the near future.

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The UK government has deported 43 individuals to Nigeria and Ghana as part of its intensified efforts to enforce immigration laws and secure national borders. The operation, conducted via a charter flight, included 15 failed asylum seekers, 11 foreign national offenders who had completed their sentences and 7 voluntary returnees.

This latest deportation is part of the government’s “Plan for Change” aimed at restoring order to the immigration system. Since the election, over 24,000 individuals have been returned, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Additionally, deportations of foreign national offenders have risen by 16%, with 3,594 criminals removed.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, stated:​

“This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders. Through the Plan for Change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.”

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, FCDO Minister responsible for Irregular Migration, added:​

“Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration – by working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together. I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change.”

The operation follows the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, where the UK collaborated with over 40 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, to combat smuggling gangs and enhance border security. The Home Office emphasised that all returns are conducted in a dignified and respectful manner, in line with international standards and human rights obligations.

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Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has strongly criticised the United States’ proposed peace plan for Ukraine, arguing that it offers no tangible benefits to Kyiv and effectively rewards Russian aggression.​ Johnson’s remarks come in response to a plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, which reportedly includes recognising Russia’s annexation of Crimea and freezing conflict lines, without securing any real security guarantees for Ukraine. Johnson contends that such a proposal fails to prevent future Russian aggression and undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Johnson said:

“As for Ukraine – what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion? What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made – for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world? Apart from the right to share their natural resources with the United States they get nothing. What is there in this deal that can realistically stop a third Russian invasion? Nothing. If we are to prevent more atrocities by Putin then we must have a long-term, credible and above all properly funded security guarantee for Ukraine – a guarantee issued by the UK, the US and all western allies.”

The former Prime Minister emphasised the importance of a robust, long-term security guarantee for Ukraine from Western allies, warning that the current proposal could embolden further Russian aggression. He also highlighted the need for the West to demonstrate a strong commitment to Ukraine to deter similar actions by other authoritarian regimes.​ Johnson’s comments follow a deadly Russian airstrike on Kyiv, which killed or injured over 100 civilians. While President Trump condemned the attacks, he reiterated his call for a peace deal, a stance that Johnson and other Western leaders view as insufficiently supportive of Ukraine’s position. ​

Labour leader Keir Starmer echoed Johnson’s concerns, emphasising the need for an unconditional and lasting ceasefire. The UK government continues to advocate for international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and to hold those responsible for atrocities to account.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Downing Street on Thursday, as the UK and EU move towards a renewed partnership encompassing defence, trade, and energy cooperation.​ The meeting focused on shared priorities, including support for Ukraine, energy security, and the global economy. Both leaders condemned the recent deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv and reaffirmed their commitment to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes” .​

Discussions also addressed ongoing negotiations aimed at strengthening the UK-EU relationship. Significant progress has been made, with both sides instructing their teams to continue working towards an ambitious package of agreements to be unveiled at the first UK-EU summit next month.

Potential areas of agreement include a youth mobility scheme, a veterinary deal to ease food trade, and enhanced defence cooperation. The proposed defence pact could grant UK defence firms access to the EU’s €150bn SAFE fund, while the SPS agreement may mirror the EU-Switzerland model to reduce border checks on agricultural goods. ​

Prime Minister Starmer emphasised that a strengthened UK-EU partnership would improve the lives of working people in the UK, drive economic growth, and enhance national security. The leaders agreed to maintain close contact in the coming weeks as preparations continue for the May summit, which aims to formalise a new chapter in UK-EU relations.

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The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Alexandra Marks CBE as the new Chair of the Parole Board for England and Wales. Her five-year term will commence on 18 July 2025.​ The Parole Board, an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system by assessing the risk of prisoners to determine their suitability for release into the community. Established under the Criminal Justice Act 1967, the Board operates independently to ensure public safety through meticulous risk evaluations.​ Since 2023, she has served as Chair of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Regulatory Tribunal. Her judicial career includes appointments as a Recorder since 2002 and as a Deputy High Court Judge since 2010.

Additionally, she has been a First Tier Tribunal Judge in the General Regulatory Chamber since 2018.​ Her previous roles include serving as a Commissioner at the Criminal Cases Review Commission from 2013 to 2018 and as a Judicial Appointments Commissioner between 2012 and 2018.

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has issued a stark warning over the escalating violence in El Fasher, North Darfur, labelling recent atrocities as bearing the “hallmarks of ethnic cleansing” and potentially amounting to crimes against humanity.​ In a statement released by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Lammy condemned the ongoing siege of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the obstruction of civilians attempting to flee the conflict. He urged both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to de-escalate hostilities immediately and to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736, which calls for the cessation of fighting and the protection of civilians.​

“The reports of violence in and around the city of El Fasher are appalling,” Lammy stated. “Both sides must de-escalate urgently in Darfur and implement UNSCR2736, which calls on the RSF to halt its siege of El Fasher and bring an immediate stop to the fighting.”

The Foreign Secretary emphasised the responsibility of both parties to uphold international humanitarian law, highlighting their commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. He called for a 72-hour pause in fighting to allow for the delivery of aid and safe passage for civilians seeking refuge.​

“Hundreds of thousands have been displaced; yet many more in Zamzam IDP camp and El Fasher are being blocked from fleeing this violence by the warring parties,” Lammy noted. “They must be free to seek safety wherever they think best and be protected as they do so.”

The UK Government has pledged to use all available tools to hold those responsible for atrocities to account and continues to advocate for international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

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US President Donald Trump has condemned the overnight attacks by Russia on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. After some recent controversial criticism of Vladimir Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader, Trump posted on TruthSocial:

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attacks, saying that Ukraine couldn’t accept any ceasefire terms when Russian attacks were continuing. Nine people were killed in the capital, and many more injured, after the recent Russian attacks.