Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, along with other church leaders, have voiced strong concerns regarding the recently passed Safety of Rwanda Bill. This legislation, aimed at deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda, has met with considerable opposition. The church leaders criticised the bill for unfairly maligning migrants fleeing war, persecution, and violence for political purposes. In a joint statement, they highlighted the potential precedent this bill sets for the treatment of vulnerable individuals, including victims of modern slavery. They expressed disappointment in the rising hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers, whom they describe as being used as 'political footballs.' The UN has also urged the UK to reconsider this bill, especially after the tragic deaths on 23 April of five people attempting to cross the English Channel. Rishi Sunak defended the bill, citing the need for a deterrent against criminal exploitation of vulnerable migrants. See

Rishi Sunak has committed to increasing UK military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, to address threats from what he calls 'an axis of authoritarian states’. During a visit to Poland, he highlighted the challenging international environment reminiscent of the Cold War era, necessitating this boost in the defence budget. Sunak said that this investment, which will bolster the military industry, does not signal an imminent war but prepares the nation for potential threats. The increased funding will support existing MoD projects, including new frigates, a fighter jet, and nuclear weapons system modernisation, despite the financial strains these expensive programmes have placed on current resources. The commitment aims to set a new benchmark for NATO members, surpassing the decade-old target of 2% GDP for defence spending. This spending strategy is framed as a priority re-allocation within the government budget.

Homeowners face rising mortgage rates as a Bank of England interest rate cut is delayed. Several banks have raised some mortgage rates, responding to uncertain economic forecasts. Inflation remained higher than expected at 3.2% in March, influencing market predictions and delaying anticipated rate cuts. Mortgage brokers have advised securing rates swiftly to avoid financial strain. One broker highlighted the volatile nature of current rates, while another noted increasing frustration among homebuyers due to these changes. Currently, the average two-year and five-year fixed mortgage rates stand at 5.82% and 5.40% respectively.

London police are set to meet with Jewish leaders following concerns raised by the Jewish community over their safety. The discussions are a response to tensions from pro-Palestinian marches, with reports of some participants expressing extremist views. Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley, under scrutiny for the force's handling of an incident involving an 'openly Jewish' man, will also confer with mayor Sadiq Khan and home secretary James Cleverly. The police apologised after suggesting the man’s presence could provoke demonstrators, a comment they later retracted, clarifying that being Jewish is not provocative. The Met has been actively deploying officers during these events to balance the rights of protesters with the safety of Jewish residents and counter-demonstrators.

In 2023, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a 27% increase in 'self-generated' child sexual abuse images and videos, marking a disturbing trend involving very young children, including those as young as three years old. The foundation particularly noted a significant rise in the most severe imagery, which involves the worst forms of sexual abuse. Perpetrators are targeting children within the safety of their own homes, manipulating them into producing abusive content through devices commonly found in family settings. Most imagery was captured in children’s bedrooms, often surrounded by innocent items like toys and cartoon-themed bedding. The IWF stresses that 'self-generated' does not imply the child is at fault, but rather highlights the grim reality of grooming and coercion by online predators. It has urged early education about online dangers for children under six and called for significant protective measures from tech companies.

Labour has announced plans to renationalise the railways within five years if elected, aiming for the 'biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation’. According to shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh, the transition to public ownership would occur within the party's first term by incorporating expiring private passenger rail contracts into a new entity, avoiding compensation costs to taxpayers. This entity would be a public, expert-led version of the Great British Railways (GBR), differing from the Government’s plan which also involves establishing a new public sector body. Labour aims to deliver reliable, efficient, and quality services which would benefit the economy, taxpayers, passengers, and railway staff, while still allowing private sector roles.

Despite a decline in UK church attendance, the Church of England's recent report reveals signs of growth, particularly in Blackburn, where innovative initiatives are drawing in more children and young people. At St Leonard’s church and school in Balderstone, around sixty people of all ages participated in a creative worship service, collecting natural items to represent the Easter story. This inclusive approach mirrors efforts across the diocese to engage with new worshippers, resulting in a 17% increase in children attending weekly services compared to 2021. The local synod has identified successful strategies for church outreach, including schools ministry and online worship. Over the past five years, more than a hundred new local congregations have emerged, ranging from forest churches to café gatherings, indicating a promising trend of community expansion within the CofE.

The Government's Rwanda bill faced fresh setbacks in the House of Lords, with Labour-backed amendments passing despite previous reversals in the Commons. These amendments include exceptions for children and adherence to international law. Rishi Sunak has faced ongoing resistance since the proposal was announced in April 2022. While the government's majority suggests amendments may be overturned, the margin of defeat narrowed as additional peers were enlisted. The bill must reconcile differences between the Commons and Lords before becoming law, a process known as parliamentary ping-pong. Some peers emphasised the importance of international and domestic laws, including human rights and modern slavery legislation, in their amendments. They also supported measures requiring independent verification of Rwanda's safety and exemptions for individuals who had assisted the UK military or government abroad. Sunak has vowed to curb illegal immigration, emphasising the bill's role in this effort.

The UK's unemployment rate surged unexpectedly to 4.2% in the three months to February, up from 3.9% in January, the highest level in nearly six months. This increase, alongside a slowdown in earnings growth, reflects economic uncertainty affecting the job market. Real wages rose by 2.1% due to falling inflation. Economists suggest these weaker-than-expected employment figures may prompt the Bank of England to consider interest rate cuts as early as June. HMRC data revealed a significant decline in workers on payrolls by 67,000 in March, the largest drop since November 2020. Vacancies also decreased for the 21st consecutive period. While recent output data suggests potential economic growth in the first quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) advises caution in interpreting unemployment rate data due to low survey response rates. There are also concerns over industrial action and increasing inactivity rates. Acting shadow work and pensions secretary Alison McGovern said:  'Tory failure is laid bare by the reality that we are now the only country in the G7 with an employment rate stuck below pre-pandemic levels’. See also

Children's doctors have called for the prohibition of smacking children in England and Northern Ireland, decrying current laws as 'unjust and dangerously vague’. They argue that physical punishment inflicts lasting mental and physical harm on children. While Scotland and Wales have already banned corporal punishment, England and Northern Ireland still allow parents to justify smacking as 'reasonable punishment’. Professor Andrew Rowland says, 'Changing the laws in England and Northern Ireland will give us absolute clarity and ensure there are no instances where it is acceptable or lawful to smack a child’. Challenging the Government’s reluctance, Joanna Barrett has said, 'All children deserve the same protection from assault as adults’.