Tag: News Story

STORY

Diane Abbott, the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has once again courted controversy, declaring today that she is not sorry for an article where she was accused of racism and for which she had previously apologised and withdrawn. Her comments come at a delicate time for the Labour Party, which under its new leadership is striving to project an image of inclusivity and a firm stance against all forms of hatred.

Abbott denied allegations of race hatred, saying in an interview with the BBC:

“Well of course, and I do get a bit weary of people trying to pin the antisemitic label on me because I’ve spent a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds and in particular fighting antisemitism, partly because of the nature of my constituency.”

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said in a statement:

“There is no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party. We take these comments incredibly seriously, and will assess them in line with Labour Party’s rules and procedures.”

STORY

The United Kingdom today issued a fervent plea for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at a UN Security Council meeting, co-convened with Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a stark message, highlighting the escalating humanitarian catastrophe and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.

“With each day that passes, the hostages suffer yet more agony, in appalling conditions and deprived from contact with their loved ones. And with each day that passes, the people of Gaza suffer death, desperation and displacement,” Ambassador Woodward stated, marking 650 days since the horrific Hamas attacks of 7 October. She stressed that the conflict has persisted “far too long” and that “there is a deal to be done.” The UK urged all parties to engage in a spirit of compromise to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and a pathway towards lasting peace.

Ambassador Woodward outlined three critical points. Firstly, she underscored the imperative for Israel to lift its restrictions on aid entering Gaza. She warned that without fuel, water systems and hospitals are on the verge of collapse, treatable illnesses are costing lives due to a lack of medical supplies, and Palestinians are dying from malnutrition or desperately scrambling for food. The UK called on Israel to allow the UN to deliver life-saving aid immediately and without obstruction, welcoming the recent agreement between the EU and Israel but stressing the need for “words turned into action.”

Secondly, the UK strongly opposed the expansion of Israel’s military operations and urged immediate implementation of robust measures to protect civilians. Ambassador Woodward cited the appalling statistic of over 1,000 children killed in the past four months and the tragic deaths of 800 people at aid sites, who were fired upon by the IDF while seeking food.

Thirdly, the United Kingdom expressed its dismay at the Israeli Defence Minister’s comments regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians to Rafah, asserting that such actions would contravene the fundamental principles upon which the UN was founded. She affirmed that Palestinian territory must not be reduced and civilians must be able to return home.

Concluding her statement, Ambassador Woodward emphasised that the path forward lies in diplomacy and compromise to deliver lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. She commended the leadership of France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in co-chairing the upcoming conference on a Two-State Solution, viewing it as a crucial opportunity to advance this goal.

STORY

The catastrophic data leak that exposed the personal details of thousands of Afghans seeking refuge in the UK, and the subsequent revelation of a costly secret resettlement scheme, has cast a harsh spotlight on Liz Truss’s tenure as Foreign Secretary during the critical period of the breach. While former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace staunchly defends his actions to protect lives, questions are mounting over the Foreign Office’s handling of the crisis under Truss’s leadership.

The scandal, which saw a spreadsheet containing sensitive information of nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants released “in error” in February 2022, has necessitated the creation of a secret “Afghanistan Response Route” scheme. This new initiative, established in April 2024, is already estimated to have cost the taxpayer £400 million, with a projected final bill soaring to £850 million, all to relocate approximately 6,900 individuals whose lives were put at risk by the initial blunder.

Sir Ben Wallace, the then Defence Secretary, has made no apology for applying for an injunction to prevent the reporting of the leak, a decision he insists was driven by the urgent need to protect those exposed to grave danger from the Taliban. “I make no apology for applying to the court for an injunction at the time. It was not, as some are childishly trying to claim, a cover-up,” Sir Ben asserted, emphasising that his priority was to shield vulnerable individuals living under Taliban rule. He further argued that immediate public disclosure would have “put in peril those we needed to help out.”

In stark contrast, Liz Truss, who held the Foreign Secretary portfolio when the data breach occurred, has expressed “shock” at the “cover-up” surrounding the incident. However, critics are quick to point out her position at the time of the initial failure and question the Foreign Office’s oversight that allowed such a critical error to happen. The current Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has also demanded “serious questions” be answered by former Conservative ministers regarding the data leak. The revelation of the superinjunction, which kept the full extent of the crisis secret for almost two years, has only intensified scrutiny. While Sir Ben Wallace clarifies that his department initially sought a standard four-month injunction, the eventual imposition of a two-year superinjunction by the High Court highlights the severe implications of the data exposure.

STORY

Junaid Dar, a 34-year-old fitness company owner from Birmingham, has received a suspended sentence after dishonestly obtaining £45,500 in Covid Bounce Back Loans and misusing a significant portion for personal expenses, including trips to a safari park, restaurant meals and credit card payments. Dar, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, made fraudulent applications to three different banks for Bounce Back Loans in 2020 for his company, JDARPT Ltd. Businesses were only entitled to one such loan, designed to provide vital financial support during the pandemic. Dar, however, submitted three applications, falsely inflating his company’s turnover in each instance. His first application in May 2020 was for £13,000, claiming a turnover of £55,000. Just two days later, he applied for £15,000, stating a turnover of £60,000. A third application in September 2020 secured £17,500, with a claimed turnover of £70,000. Insolvency Service analysis later revealed the company’s actual turnover was closer to £61,000.

While some of the funds were used for legitimate business purposes, investigators from the Insolvency Service uncovered numerous transactions for personal use. These included payments to online retailers like Amazon and Argos, spending at restaurants and meat stores, and even payments to West Midlands Safari Park. A portion of the money was also used to pay off personal credit card debt. At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, 10 July, Dar was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs of £2,400.

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, condemned Dar’s actions, stating, “Junaid Dar deliberately made false representations to fraudulently receive three Bounce Back Loans when businesses were only entitled to one. Instead of using this money to support his fitness business through the pandemic as intended, he diverted significant sums for personal spending.” Mr Snasdell reiterated the Insolvency Service’s commitment to pursuing fraudsters who exploited schemes designed to help legitimate businesses during a national crisis. JDARPT Ltd, incorporated in March 2017 with Dar as its sole director, went into liquidation in July 2021. Dar has also been disqualified as a company director for 11 years, commencing in April 2022, due to his misconduct.

STORY

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced the appointment of Ms Alexandra Cole as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. Ms Cole will succeed Mr John Gallagher, who is set to transfer to another Diplomatic Service appointment. She is expected to take up her new role in September 2025.

Ms Cole brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to the position. Her extensive career includes serving as Deputy Head of Mission in Doha from 2020 to 2023, and in Tbilisi from 2018 to 2020. Prior to these postings, she held the role of Counsellor for Specialised Agencies at the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva from 2013 to 2018. Her background also includes roles in contingency planning, policy, and consular affairs across various regions, including the Middle East and North Africa, Cairo, Islamabad, and Sarajevo.

This appointment marks a new chapter in the diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Armenia, with Ms Cole poised to lead the British Embassy in Yerevan and further strengthen bilateral ties.

STORY

Three Labour Members of Parliament, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, and Neil Duncan-Jordan, have today been suspended from the party for what are understood to be “persistent breaches of party discipline.” The move, enacted by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, signifies a clear effort to reassert authority within the party following a series of backbench rebellions. The trio, all of whom were first elected in last year’s general election, reportedly lost the whip after voting against the Government’s planned welfare reforms earlier this month. This rebellion marked the largest backbench dissent Starmer has faced since becoming Prime Minister. The suspensions mean the MPs will now sit as independents in Parliament, no longer representing the Labour Party.

Brian Leishman, who represents Alloa and Grangemouth, confirmed his temporary suspension, stating he remains a “proud Labour member” and is “committed to the party.” He added that his votes against the Government were an effort to “effectively represent and be the voice for communities,” and that he firmly believes it is not his duty “to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences.”

The disciplinary action comes as MPs prepare for the summer recess next week and follows speculation that some Labour MPs might have been in discussions to join a new political party. While the exact number of MPs affected was initially unconfirmed, sources close to the party have indicated that these suspensions are a direct consequence of repeated deviations from the party line. This decisive action by Sir Keir Starmer underscores his determination to maintain party unity and control, particularly on key policy matters. The suspensions are expected to send a strong message to other Labour MPs regarding adherence to party discipline as the government navigates its legislative agenda.

STORY

Jacob Corrie, 31, from Carlisle, will now spend ten years and four months in prison after the Court of Appeal ruled his original sentence was too lenient. Corrie abused two teenagers over several years, targeting a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, grooming them online and coercing them into sending explicit images.

He first contacted the boy through social media in 2013 and repeatedly abused him between 2013 and 2015, sending sexually explicit messages throughout. In the same year, he also abused a 15-year-old girl, threatening her into silence and later demanding further sexual images, claiming he would share compromising photos if she refused. In 2020, he was separately convicted for sending further threatening messages to the same girl in an attempt to obtain more photos.

Corrie denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual activity with a child, eight counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual communication with a child. Victim impact statements described how his abuse left lasting psychological harm, including trauma, anxiety and depression. In April, Carlisle Crown Court sentenced him to six years and four months. The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC, referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, arguing it failed to reflect the seriousness of his crimes. Judges agreed and increased the sentence by four years.

Lucy Rigby KC said: “Jacob Corrie’s crimes were appalling. I commend Cumbria Police for their thorough investigation and welcome the decision to increase his sentence.”

STORY

The UK Government has today launched a comprehensive review into the future of the Post Office, inviting postmasters and customers to help shape its direction for the next decade. This marks the first such in-depth examination in 15 years and comes in the wake of significant challenges, including the Horizon IT scandal and evolving consumer behaviours. The “Post Office Green Paper,” published on 14 July 2025, aims to usher in a “decade of renewal” for the vital national institution. It seeks to transform the organisation’s culture and ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing world. Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas emphasised the need for a fresh vision, stating, “This Green Paper marks the start of an honest conversation about what people want and need from their Post Office in the years ahead.”

A 12-week public consultation, open until 6 October 2025, will gather views on several key areas. These include how Post Office services should adapt to meet changing consumer needs, ways to strengthen the relationship between the Post Office and its postmasters, and options for modernising the network while ensuring services remain locally accessible. The consultation will also explore how the Post Office can improve and develop its banking services. The review acknowledges the Post Office’s enduring importance, with research published alongside the Green Paper highlighting its social value of approximately £5.2 billion per year to households and £1.3 billion annually to small and medium-sized businesses. Despite a decline in traditional postal services and a rise in online transactions, the Post Office has seen growth in areas such as bank deposits and parcel drop-offs.

To support this transformation, Ministers have announced a proposed new subsidy package of up to £118 million. This funding will support the Post Office’s Transformation Plan and further investment in the network, protecting key services like access to cash and government services, and helping to deliver cost-saving measures. Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office Chief Executive, described this as a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” for a national conversation about the role of post offices in communities across the UK. The Post Office will also be launching a survey in partnership with the National Federation of SubPostmasters, the Voice of the Postmaster, and the Communication Workers Union to gather further input. The government is also considering changes to the Post Office’s ownership structure, including the possibility of a mutual model that could hand ownership to its thousands of subpostmasters. This comprehensive review aims to rebuild trust, embed a culture of transparency and accountability, and ensure the Post Office remains at the heart of communities for generations to come.

STORY

European foreign ministers have issued a stark warning to Georgia over what they describe as a deliberate and dangerous slide towards authoritarianism. In a strongly worded joint statement, ministers including the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the recent detention of opposition leaders, journalists and activists as politically motivated and incompatible with democratic principles.

The statement, issued on 11 July, said the arrests, which occurred shortly before local elections, appeared to be timed to undermine political competition and silence dissent. Ministers expressed alarm at Georgia’s adoption of repressive laws, including those targeting civil society and independent media, which they claim represent a serious breach of European values. The coordinated crackdown on peaceful protesters and critics of the government was described as deeply troubling and a sign that Georgia’s ruling authorities are turning their back on democratic norms.

In response to these developments, the foreign ministers announced a recalibration of relations with Georgia. This includes reductions in assistance and cooperation, with further measures such as sanctions not ruled out. The statement emphasised that should the Georgian government continue to erode democratic space and disregard fundamental freedoms, further actions would be considered both individually and collectively by the signatory nations. Despite the severity of the criticism, the ministers noted that it is not too late for Georgia to change course. They called for the immediate release of those detained for political reasons, the repeal of repressive legislation, and a return to genuine democratic dialogue that includes all political stakeholders.

STORY

The Charity Commission has issued a formal warning to the Al-Manar Centre Trust in Cardiff after finding the trustees had shared a video that could be interpreted as supporting Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. The regulator described the charity’s conduct as “reckless, grossly mismanaged and falling far below the standards expected of those entrusted with public confidence and charitable funds” and the trustees of the charity have agreed in the future not to promote terror, violence or hate speech.

The offending video was posted to the mosque’s Facebook page in November 2023 and remained online for nearly three days. It contained content that appeared to glorify or justify the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Charity Commission reported that the trustee responsible admitted he hadn’t even watched the full video before sharing it, relying solely on the audio and a flowchart to decide if the content aligned with the charity’s aims. The Commission dismissed this as a dereliction of duty and noted that even the audio should have raised red flags.

This wasn’t the charity’s first brush with extremism-related concerns. It had been warned by the Commission as far back as 2014 to strengthen its safeguards against such risks, but despite this, the trustees still lacked even basic social media controls, leading the Commission to issue a statutory order requiring them to remove all potentially harmful content and implement proper oversight procedures. The Commission’s head of compliance, Joshua Farbridge, said the trustees had shown an “alarming lack of care” and stressed there was “no excuse” for their failure. He warned that charities can lose public trust in an instant through careless online behaviour, particularly when it involves material that could be construed as supporting terrorism. The Al-Manar Centre has since complied with the regulator’s demands, revising its governance procedures and removing the problematic content.