Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

The UN has sharply criticised the Government’s proposed welfare reforms, warning they could significantly worsen poverty among disabled people. Following a recent parliamentary vote that passed the benefits bill by 75 votes, secured only after last-minute concessions to Labour rebels, the UN’s committee on the rights of persons with disabilities has raised ten pressing concerns about the legislation. Key issues include politicians’ rhetoric suggesting disabled individuals exploit benefits and the reforms’ potential impact on young claimants, women with disabilities, and those requiring high-level support. The UN warns that the bill could deepen existing economic hardship, echoing findings from earlier reports which linked previous welfare cuts to increased food bank reliance, homelessness, and mental health crises. Disability advocates have condemned the reforms as punitive, urging MPs to consider the profound human consequences before advancing the legislation. Parliament will further debate the bill in the coming days, amid mounting national and international scrutiny. See

Twenty years after the 7/7 terrorist attacks that claimed 52 lives in London, survivors, bereaved families, and emergency workers gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember and reflect. The solemn service featured the gentle fall of 52,000 white petals, symbolising each life lost. Deep emotion marked the readings of victims’ names, with family members like Saba Edwards, who lost her mother Behnaz Mozakka, and Thelma Stober, a survivor who lost a leg, sharing the weight of enduring grief. Bishop Sarah Mullally delivered a message of hope as 'an act of resistance' against terror and hatred, acknowledging the long journey toward healing. Outside the cathedral, the sun broke through grey skies, reflecting a glimmer of hope amid sorrow. Later, around 500 people gathered at Hyde Park’s 7/7 memorial, where steel pillars stand in silent tribute. Families like the Foulkes and Taylors spoke movingly of pain that evolves over time, urging others to cherish life.

Heart-wrenching testimonies were shared at the Southport inquiry, revealing the harrowing courage of young survivors of the 29 July 2024 knife attack at a dance workshop. A mother described how her seven-year-old daughter, referred to as C1, 'fought like hell' to save herself and others, despite being stabbed 33 times by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana. CCTV footage showed C1 attempting to escape before being dragged back by her attacker, suffering catastrophic injuries. Despite her own wounds, she shielded other children and urged them to flee. Parents of other survivors, including a nine-year-old girl critically injured, spoke of the lifelong physical and emotional scars their daughters now bear. They emphasised the stark reality that, in those terrifying moments, the children had to protect themselves, comfort one another, and summon remarkable bravery. The inquiry aims to uncover not only the events of that tragic day but also broader issues regarding how young people become entangled in extreme violence. The session adjourned until September, with further evidence and systemic reviews expected in its next phase.

Birmingham faces escalating disruption as the Unite union is threatening bin strikes 'beyond Christmas' following the city council’s decision to end negotiations. Bin workers have been on an all-out strike since March, leaving many streets piled with rubbish. Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, condemned the council’s proposals as 'fire and rehire,' accusing leaders of imposing pay cuts of up to £8,000 (a quarter of some workers’ salaries) and forcing staff to choose between lower pay or redundancy. Council leader John Cotton defended the move, citing the authority’s ongoing equal pay liabilities, which have cost hundreds of millions and threaten Birmingham’s financial stability. He stressed the urgent need to reform the city’s waste services to improve efficiency and ensure long-term sustainability, while still offering options like voluntary redundancy and redeployment. Expressing regret over the stalemate, he insisted further concessions would jeopardise essential services and financial recovery. ACAS, the conciliation service, remains open for dialogue. Residents continue to endure the consequences of uncollected waste.

Schools across England are struggling to provide nutritious meals as rising costs outpace government funding for free school lunches. Michael Hales, incoming chair of the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACE), reports caterers are reducing meat portions, using cheaper ingredients, and serving smaller meals to cope with financial shortfalls. While the government recently announced an expanded free meals programme - potentially benefiting an additional 500,000 children by 2026 - the funding increase of just 3p per meal, to £2.61, falls far below actual costs, estimated at £3.45 per meal. Headteachers say they are having to divert tens of thousands of pounds from educational resources to cover meal deficits. Parents, expressing concern over declining meal quality and nutrition, have called for significant investment in school food programmes. Regional disparities further complicate matters, with higher funding rates in London, Wales, and Scotland. Without intervention, schools will struggle to meet government food standards and ensure children receive the healthy meals essential for learning and well-being.

The Church in Wales faces deepening scandal as fresh historical sexual abuse allegations emerge against former bishop Anthony Pierce, already jailed earlier this year for child sexual abuse, and an unnamed former vicar. BBC Wales said that warnings about Pierce’s predatory behaviour surfaced as early as 1986, yet he rose to become Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999. Survivors like Alisdair Adams, who endured unwanted sexual advances, question how he advanced within church ranks despite earlier concerns. Other victims described how Pierce’s inaction allowed further abuse, such as that perpetrated by choirmaster David Gedge. Additional testimony highlighted a culture of secrecy, intimidation, and institutional protectionism, with victims and whistleblowers often silenced or discouraged from speaking out. Calls are mounting for an independent inquiry to investigate the Church’s failures. In response, the Church in Wales has apologised, pledging a comprehensive safeguarding audit and cultural review to restore trust. However, survivors remain sceptical, fearing systemic issues persist beneath public assurances of reform and accountability.

Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer are engaged in critical talks aimed at curbing illegal Channel crossings in small boats. During Macron’s historic state visit to the UK, the first by a French president since 2008, the two leaders are negotiating enhanced border enforcement, including a ‘one in, one out’ migrant returns deal. The plan would allow the UK to return asylum seekers to France in exchange for accepting migrants with family ties in Britain. Macron stressed the importance of EU-level cooperation and reaffirmed the shared responsibility to combat irregular migration with humanity and fairness. Talks also include expanding French police powers to stop boats in shallow waters - a shift already showing signs of implementation. Despite optimism, challenges remain, including opposition from some EU countries. Small boat arrivals in the UK reached a record high in the first half of 2025, which underscores the urgency of finding ways of curbing the flow. Both nations hope for tangible progress in their joint response to people-smuggling networks.

Financial markets reacted sharply this week after Rachel Reeves appeared tearful during Prime Minister’s Questions, after the Government’s sudden U-turn on welfare reforms. Sterling fell by 1% against the dollar, while UK borrowing costs surged in one of the largest single-day moves since the market turmoil following Liz Truss’s 2022 mini-budget. The welfare reversal has left an almost £5 billion gap in Reeves’s fiscal plans, prompting investor concerns about how the Government will balance the books. While Downing Street insisted Reeves retains Starmer’s full support, analysts say the episode highlights market anxiety over potential leadership instability and future fiscal policy. Speculation mounted about possible tax rises in the autumn, though ministers reiterated pledges not to increase income tax, VAT, or National Insurance. Despite the turbulence, experts noted that markets are not as fragile as during the 2022 crisis.

MPs have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, with 385 in favour and 26 against. Home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the move, stating that violence and serious criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest. Critics, however, warn that the decision could chill free expression, likening it to punishing suffragette-style activism. The move follows incidents such as activists vandalising planes at RAF Brize Norton and blockading defence firm Elbit Systems, aiming to disrupt UK arms links to Israel. Protesters outside Parliament condemned the Government for hypocrisy and accused it of suppressing effective dissent. Palestine Action insists its tactics, though disruptive, are non-violent and necessary to oppose alleged human rights abuses in Gaza. However, once the ban is approved by the House of Lords, membership or support of the group could carry prison sentences of up to fourteen years. The decision has sparked fierce debate over balancing security and civil liberties.

Keir Starmer has unveiled an ambitious ten-year plan to transform the NHS by shifting healthcare from hospitals to local communities. Central to the proposal are 200 new 'neighbourhood health centres', offering scans, outpatient services, mental health support, and more - all aimed at reducing hospital demand. Starmer declared the NHS must 'reform or die’, pledging accessible, community-based care under one roof. Health secretary Wes Streeting promised thousands more GPs, reversing current trends favouring hospital consultants, and aims to slash waiting lists while prioritising British doctors for NHS jobs. The plan also includes an enhanced NHS app, AI safety alerts, and a focus on helping patients return to work. However, experts express caution, noting that past governments have announced similar visions without delivering meaningful change. Questions remain over funding, but Starmer insists the plan will 'fundamentally rewire' healthcare and prioritise patient-centred care, especially in deprived areas.