Category: News Story

STORY

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake has told Conservative councillors that Tory-run local authorities should comply with Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on single-sex spaces. His intervention followed reports that some councils led by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens could choose not to follow the guidance.

The guidance covers the operation of single-sex services including toilets and changing rooms under the Equality Act 2010. The Guardian reported that it states such facilities should be used according to a person’s sex at birth and sets out the circumstances in which a service remains legally separate or single-sex.

Hollinrake said he would ensure Conservative-run authorities comply and circulated his position in a letter to Tory councillors that was subsequently posted online. The letter followed reports that some Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green-led councils could choose not to follow the guidance.

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Scottish Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon has criticised the state of the party as she continues trying to secure enough support to reach the ballot in the contest to succeed Anas Sarwar. Lennon said Scottish Labour had “turned to rubble” after 19 years in opposition and six Holyrood election defeats.

Lennon made the intervention after Labour MP Jon Trickett publicly called for her to be included on the ballot. At the time of the latest update, she had not secured enough support to join MSPs Michael Marra and Joe Fagan in the leadership contest.

Lennon said the party needed more time to determine its future direction before losing further members and activists. The nomination process remains ongoing as Scottish Labour prepares to choose Sarwar’s successor.

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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered an urgent review of historical grooming gang cases after concerns that some offenders could remain eligible for early release despite Government promises to exclude grooming gang members from the scheme. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had personally intervened in the issue.

The concern relates to offenders convicted for abuse committed before changes to sexual offences legislation in 2003. Some were prosecuted for offences such as indecent assault rather than offences that now fall within the Government’s explicit exclusions, creating the possibility that the legal wording of older convictions could affect eligibility.

Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to qualify for earlier release under the revised sentencing arrangements, reduced from an earlier estimate of 6,000 after additional categories of serious sexual offenders were excluded. The Ministry of Justice is examining case records to identify grooming-related convictions and determine whether further changes are required before the scheme begins.

STORY

Komborero Sibanda has been found guilty following a trial arising from allegations that he sexually assaulted women at a nightclub in Norwich. The case concerned incidents at Mojo’s Nightclub on Prince of Wales Road, with Sibanda having previously denied charges of sexual touching.

The court had heard that the allegations related to separate incidents involving two women at the venue. Sibanda, who was reported as being 38 when he appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court last year, had pleaded not guilty. He had also faced an allegation of assault involving a security guard following an incident on 25 May 2026.

Sibanda was found guilty at the trial but avoided prison, being sentenced to a twelve month community order.

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Referrals to the Government’s Prevent counter-radicalisation programme rose by 39% to 10,293 in the latest annual figures, the highest total recorded since the current data series began. The increase followed heightened concern about people displaying an interest in extreme violence after the Southport murders committed by Axel Rudakubana.

The figures show that extreme right-wing ideology was the largest identified ideological category, accounting for around one fifth of referrals and increasing on the previous year. Referrals linked to Islamist extremism fell, while a newer category covering fascination with extreme violence without a clear ideological motivation accounted for hundreds of cases.

Rudakubana had previously been referred to Prevent on three occasions, but the cases were closed because officials did not identify a clear terrorist ideology. The case prompted renewed scrutiny of how the programme deals with individuals whose behaviour presents serious concerns without fitting established extremist categories.

STORY

Labour Party membership fell by around 20% during 2025, according to the party’s latest accounts, reducing its membership from 333,235 at the end of 2024 to 264,754 a year later. The figures place Labour much closer to the membership total being claimed by the Green Party of England and Wales.

The Greens reported 186,441 members at the end of December 2025 and said in May that the total had subsequently risen to around 230,000. If that figure remains accurate, the gap between the two parties would be about 35,000 members, although the totals relate to different dates and are therefore not directly comparable.

A Green Party spokesperson said membership had increased sharply since Zack Polanski became leader. Labour remains substantially larger in parliamentary representation, but the membership figures provide a measure of the changing activist bases of the two parties as they compete for support on the political left.

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The Conservative Party has proposed making most foreign nationals ineligible for social housing in England, including ending some existing tenancies. The party says the policy could make around 228,000 homes available to British families and would require affected tenants to leave within six months.

Under the proposal, UK and Irish citizens and people with EU settled status would remain eligible. Foreign nationals with refugee status or other humanitarian protections who currently qualify could lose access under the Conservative plan, while asylum seekers are already generally ineligible for social housing except in limited circumstances.

Labour described the policy as unworkable and said it would not address the underlying shortage of homes. Shelter warned that it could increase homelessness and place additional pressure on councils, while the Royal College of Nursing raised concerns about the effect on overseas staff working in public services. Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the party wanted social housing to be prioritised for British families.

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From 2030, Gatwick Airport’s expansion is expected to enable up to 100,000 additional flights a year, increasing passenger choice and boosting airline competition.

• Gatwick Airport’s second runway can now be brought into full use after the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge against the expansion project, bringing years of uncertainty to an end
• expansion will create 14,000 new jobs across the region and deliver an additional £1 billion in economic benefits every year (PDF), helping to drive growth across the South East and beyond through Gatwick’s national supply chain
• first flights to take off from the extended Northern Runway from 2030, which will mean 100,000 additional flights each year – massively expanding on the 200+ destinations currently offered to give passengers more choice and boosting competition to drive down fares
• the government remains committed to improving sustainability in aviation, with any expansion project – including a third runway at Heathrow – required to meet strict conditions on air quality, carbon emissions and noise
• the government has just announced £219 million to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel in the UK, as well as £43 million to drive forward hydrogen-powered and electric flight, to make the UK a leader in greener flight
• the Court of Appeal has also today refused permission for the campaign group to appeal

Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, said:

This is a major milestone for Gatwick and for local communities, with expansion unlocking investment and creating thousands of new jobs.

Around 13 million more passengers and 100,000 more flights will give holidaymakers greater choice and strengthen global links to help make the UK one of the most attractive places in the world to invest.

We’ll back expansion that supports growth and our climate goals. To drive forward sustainable change, we’re also investing over £219 million for green fuel production to cut emissions from flying and secure the future of aviation.

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Simon & Schuster is proceeding with the publication of Jason Arday’s memoir despite continuing questions about claims made by the former University of Cambridge professor and allegations concerning his academic work. Great and Unfortunate Things is scheduled for publication in the United States on 11 August and in the United Kingdom on 27 August, with the publisher continuing to promote it as an account of Arday’s journey from a non-verbal childhood to becoming Cambridge’s youngest Black professor.

Arday resigned from Cambridge after the university and Jesus College began examining questions about his qualifications, honorary appointments and published biography. He has also faced allegations that passages in his doctoral thesis resembled an earlier academic work, although Liverpool John Moores University previously concluded that he had not committed plagiarism. Arday has denied dishonesty and said his resignation was intended to protect his wellbeing and family rather than represent an admission of wrongdoing.

The Guardian reported that Arday had said Simon & Schuster paid him an advance of £1.4 million, although the currency and precise terms have not been confirmed. The publisher has declined to explain how the memoir was fact checked, stating only: “We do not comment on our editorial processes.” By continuing with publication while questions remain about parts of Arday’s public story, Simon & Schuster is placing its editorial judgement and reputation behind a book whose central claims are likely to receive intense scrutiny.

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Police and the local MP have appealed for calm following two nights of disorder in Thetford connected with claims that properties in the town were being used to accommodate asylum seekers. A crowd gathered outside homes on Tuesday evening, with police reporting attempts to enter properties, smashed windows and damage to a fence, door and letterbox. Five men believed to be asylum seekers were removed from one address by officers for their own safety, although their immigration status has not been officially confirmed.

A largely peaceful anti-immigration demonstration was held outside Thetford Police Station on Wednesday before further disorder was reported elsewhere in the town. Norfolk Police said a male officer was struck by a rock, a female officer was bitten badly enough to break the skin and a third officer was spat at. Two men were arrested on suspicion of offences including public order violations, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon, while significant police resources were deployed to maintain public safety.

South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy condemned what he described as mob rule and vigilantism, while acknowledging the legitimate opposition to proposals to use nearby RAF Barnham as asylum accommodation. Norfolk Police said it would continue to support peaceful protest but warned that violence, intimidation and criminal behaviour would not be tolerated. Residents have been urged to remain calm, avoid speculation on social media and allow the police investigation to continue.