Category: News Story

STORY

Reform UK has been accused of treating immigration policy as a political punishment after Zia Yusuf announced that a future Reform government would prioritise migrant detention centres in Green Party controlled areas. Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman, said the party would not put migrant detention facilities in constituencies with Reform MPs or in areas where Reform controlled the council. He said that, of the remaining areas, Green controlled councils and Green parliamentary constituencies would be prioritised, adding that voters would “get what they vote for”.

Reform says the centres would form part of its plan to deport “all illegal migrants”, with proposed facilities holding up to 24,000 people. The announcement has prompted criticism across party lines, with opponents saying it turns asylum and deportation policy into an explicit threat against communities that vote the wrong way. The Green Party described the plan as “abhorrent”, while Labour chair Anna Turley called it a “grotesque policy” and accused Nigel Farage’s party of betraying basic democratic principles by threatening to punish places where people did not support Reform.

STORY

Sir Keir Starmer and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have agreed a new UK-Armenia Strategic Partnership following talks in Yerevan. The Prime Minister met Pashinyan during a visit to Armenia, where he thanked him for hosting the European Political Community summit. Downing Street said Sir Keir also praised Armenia’s efforts to secure peace in the region and thanked the Armenian leader for his work on the issue.

The new partnership is intended to strengthen cooperation between the UK and Armenia in defence and security, economic growth and democratic resilience. The talks also covered UK support for Armenia’s resilience, including countering disinformation, improving cyber security and supporting an independent judiciary and media sector.

STORY

Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have said the UK and EU are committed to improving relations, following talks at the European Political Community summit in Armenia.

In a joint statement, the two leaders said they had discussed ways to deliver benefits for consumers and businesses, as well as strengthening European security. They also looked ahead to the next UK-EU summit and said both sides should be “ambitious” about what could be achieved together.

The meeting included discussion of the UK’s planned participation in the EU’s €90 billion, or £78 billion, loan for Ukraine, which they described as a significant step in the UK-EU defence industrial relationship. The leaders also reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Starmer and von der Leyen also agreed to begin negotiations on UK participation in the European Innovation Council Fund, including the Scaleup Europe Fund. The scheme is intended to support high-growth technology firms and keep promising innovators in Europe.

STORY

The Prime Minister has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Armenia, praising Ukraine’s resilience and reaffirming the UK’s long-term support as the war with Russia continues. According to a Downing Street statement, Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the “remarkable courage and strength” shown by President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. The Ukrainian leader provided an update on the situation on the frontline, with both sides discussing the current momentum of the conflict.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to step up defence industrial collaboration with European partners, with a focus on ensuring Ukraine can continue to defend itself “for as long as it takes”. The meeting took place ahead of the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, where wider regional security and cooperation are expected to be key themes.

STORY

The Government has said passengers do not need to change their travel plans, despite concerns about jet fuel supplies following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers said UK airlines are not currently reporting a shortage of jet fuel, adding that fuel is usually bought in advance and airports maintain stocks to support resilience. The Government said it is working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to monitor risks and minimise disruption.

Passengers have been advised to keep checking with their airline before travelling, consult Foreign Office travel advice and ensure they have suitable travel insurance. If a flight is cancelled, passengers departing from a UK airport, arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline, or arriving in the EU on a UK airline are entitled to a refund or alternative flight.

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Local government bodies have renewed calls for ministers to change the law so councillors can attend formal council meetings remotely, arguing that the current rules are outdated and make it harder for some people to serve in local democracy. The Digital Democracy Partnership has written to the Government urging legislation in the next parliamentary session, after earlier Government proposals suggested a move towards allowing remote attendance in some circumstances.

Councils were able to meet remotely during the Covid period, before the legal basis for doing so expired, and campaigners have long argued that a return to some form of hybrid attendance would help councillors with caring responsibilities, disabilities, work commitments or long journeys in large rural areas.

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Green Party candidate Saiqa Ali has been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred after allegations were made about antisemitic social media posts. Ali, who had been standing for the party in Streatham St Leonard’s ward in Lambeth, was detained by Metropolitan Police officers alongside another Green candidate, Sabine Mairey, who had been standing in Clapham Town. The Met said two women, aged 57 and 54, were arrested under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 over alleged online material.

The allegations against Ali had already been raised before the arrest by both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. Lambeth Liberal Democrat leader Donna Harris wrote to Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Lambeth Green leader Scott Ainslie on 16 April, citing reports that Ali had allegedly shared material supporting Hamas, promoted conspiracy theories about 9/11 and claimed that the Government had too many “Zionist Jews”. The Guardian reported that Ali had allegedly posted an image of an armed man linked to Hamas with the caption “resistance is freedom”.

STORY

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has apologised after sharing a social media post criticising Metropolitan Police officers over their handling of an arrest following the Golders Green stabbings. Polanski, who leads the Green Party of England and Wales, said he had shared the post “in haste” and accepted that social media was not the right place to raise questions about police conduct during such a sensitive incident.

The apology followed a rare public rebuke from Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who said Polanski had promoted “inaccurate and misinformed commentary” and risked undermining public confidence in officers. Rowley said the officers involved had acted in an extremely dangerous situation and warned that criticism from prominent public figures could have a “chilling effect” on police responding to violent incidents.

Polanski said leaders had a responsibility to “lower the temperature” at a time of heightened tension and said he had invited Rowley to meet him to discuss the police response and wider issues raised by the commissioner’s letter.

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Ann Crimmings has been elected as the new leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, following Andrew Morgan’s decision to stand down earlier this year. Her appointment was confirmed at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday 29 April, making her only the second woman to lead the authority.

Crimmings has represented Aberdare West and Llwydcoed since 2004 and has held cabinet responsibilities covering environmental services, frontline services and leisure. She was also Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf in 2013-14 and has been involved in several local community roles, including Friends of Aberdare Park, Cwmdare for Cwmdare, Aberdare Parkrun and the Nos Galan Road Races Committee.

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City of Doncaster Council’s chief executive, Damian Allen, has threatened legal action after Reform UK councillors tabled a motion raising governance concerns linked to the £193m project to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The dispute centres on allegations made by Reform councillors Craig Ward and Jason Charity about Mr Allen’s conduct in relation to the airport scheme, a major local regeneration project with significant political importance for the city.

According to LocalGov, Mr Allen’s personal solicitors wrote to Cllr Charity accusing him of defamation and demanding a retraction, an apology and payment of legal costs. Cllr Charity said he regarded the legal threat as “frivolous”, rejected it “in fact and in law” and said he would not retract or apologise.

The council has described the potential legal action as a personal matter for Mr Allen, rather than a formal action by the authority. The row is politically significant because it places a senior council officer, opposition councillors and one of Doncaster’s most high-profile economic projects into direct conflict.