UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Migrant chaos as hundreds of asylum seekers leave Bibby Stockholm and RAF base

3 hours ago

Rishi Sunak’s flagship sites to house asylum seekers have been criticised as eye-wateringly expensive, badly run and unsuitable – and now The Independent can reveal that hundreds of migrants have moved out.

More than 400 asylum seekers have left RAF Wethersfield in Essex and the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset in the first three months of the year, data shows.

The government has come under fire for splashing £145.7m on the former airbase and £15.8m on the boat in Dorset, and the ‘prison-like’ conditions.

However, data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that 74 vulnerable people were moved from Wethersfield by the Home Office for their safety, and 170 people left voluntarily. The authorities say they have gone to live with friends and family but campaigners said some had become homeless because they were so desperate to leave.

A total of 162 migrants were “dispersed” from the Bibby Stockholm, the data showed. The remote airbase in Essex has seen desperate migrants attempting suicide and going on hunger strike, while one asylum seeker has died at the Bibby Stockholm.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/h ... 41589.html

[Time_Traveller]

Rishi Sunak apologises to infected blood scandal victims and says it is 'day of shame for British state'

Monday 20 May 2024 17:36, UK

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologised to the victims of the infected blood scandal, saying it was a "day of shame for the British state".

Mr Sunak said the scandal should have been avoided as he gave a statement in the Commons after the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry's final report.

The document blamed "successive governments, the NHS, and blood services" for failures that led to 30,000 people being "knowingly" infected with either HIV or Hepatitis C through blood products - around 3,000 of whom have now died.

Calling it a "calamity", Mr Sunak said the report showed a "decades-long moral failure at the heart of our national life", as he condemned the actions of the NHS, civil service and ministers - "institutions in which we place our trust failed in the most harrowing and devastating way".

The prime minister said those people "failed this country", adding: "Time and again, people in positions of power and trust had the chance to stop the transmission of those infections.

https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak- ... e-13140267

[Time_Traveller]

Assange wins right to challenge US extradition

20 May 2024, 12:51 BST

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange can bring a new appeal against extradition to the US, the High Court has ruled.

He was granted permission to appeal against the order that he be sent to the US to stand trial for leaking military secrets.

The decision means Mr Assange will be able to challenge US assurances over how his prospective trial would be conducted and whether his right to free speech would be infringed.

The 52-year-old’s lawyers hugged each other in court after the latest ruling in the legal saga.

They have argued that the case against him - relating to the release of highly classified documents almost 15 years ago about alleged US war crimes - is politically motivated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw44l170xdwo

[Time_Traveller]

Move to extend police protest powers ruled unlawful

38 minutes ago



An attempt by the government to widen police powers over protests has been ruled unlawful by the High Court.

Legislation introduced last year under ex-home secretary Suella Braverman gave officers more leeway to stop disruption.

But now two judges have ruled it did not have a proper legal basis, and the Home Office failed to consult properly on it.

The department said it was "disappointed" and would be appealing.

An accelerated appeal process will now take place, with an order quashing the legislation put on hold.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-69043611

[Time_Traveller]

Water firms ask for bill rises of between 24% and 91%

33 minutes ago

Water companies in England and Wales want bills to increase by between 24% and 91% over the next five years, according to figures compiled by the consumer watchdog.

Southern Water is asking for the biggest jump of 91%, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), with South Staffordshire and Cambridge Water asking for the lowest rise of 24%.

Water firms say the increases will fund £100bn of spending over the period, which will include replacing ageing, leaking pipes and reducing sewage discharges into rivers and seas.

The latest bill hike demands come ahead of a crucial meeting this week when the industry regulator Ofwat will decide what companies can charge between 2025 and 2030.

Water companies have been heavily criticised for widespread leaks and the amount of sewage being discharged, which critics have blamed on under-investment in the country's infrastructure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce55vp78n40o

It would be cheaper to cut the water off and create your own water system by getting it from rain.

[Time_Traveller]

General election called for 4 July, as Rishi Sunak says 'now is the moment for Britain to choose its future'

Wednesday 22 May 2024 17:26, UK

Rishi Sunak has called a general election for 4 July, saying "now is the moment for Britain to choose its future".

In a statement outside Downing Street, the prime minister said he had met with the King to request the dissolution of parliament, and that request was granted.

The surprise moves comes after official figures showed inflation had come down to 2.3% in April.

Mr Sunak said: "Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future and to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one. With no plan and no certainty."

The Tories are currently trailing behind Labour in the polls by around 20 points.

https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak- ... s-13141213

Glad, this is finally happened and it's time to vote the Tories out for good for a generation I hope.

[wjfox]

Glad, this is finally happened and it's time to vote the Tories out for good for a generation I hope.

I hope you have photo ID? It's needed for voting now.

[Time_Traveller]

Glad, this is finally happened and it's time to vote the Tories out for good for a generation I hope.

I hope you have photo ID? It's needed for voting now.

Luckily Will, I have been voting by post now ever since the 2015 elections.

[weatheriscool]

Kind of weird it is occurring on the 4th of july but I guess they want to have one hell of a fireworks display of their own. You know of the kind where the conservative government literally gets bent over and fucked so hard by the british public that the screams are heard all away here in america!

[Time_Traveller]

MP suspended after endorsing Reform UK candidate

27 May 2024, 17:26 BST

The Conservative Party says MP Lucy Allan has been suspended for backing a Reform UK candidate.

Ms Allan insists that she quit the party in order to support Reform UK candidate Alan Adams in the seat she is vacating.

She publicly gave her support to Mr Adams rather than Tory Hannah Campbell in Telford, Shropshire.

A Conservative Party spokesman said she had been suspended "with immediate effect" while the prime minister said a vote for Reform would "put Keir Starmer in power".

Mr Adams would offer an alternative to "more of the same politics and more of the same politicians", Ms Allan said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kkzv12wndo