David Hughes

The Home Secretary plans to amend the Immigration and Asylum Bill to allow the deportation of serious criminals by disapplying protections under the 1971 Immigration Act, aiming to enable the removal of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed. The Government is pressuring Pakistan to accept his return, including considering visa restrictions, though Islamabad is reportedly reluctant without concessions. Ministers emphasised that legal changes alone cannot guarantee deportation, while opposition figures urged swifter emergency legislation. MPs highlighted strong public interest in removing Ahmed and the failures that previously allowed his crimes to occur.

Andy Burnham, currently the sole candidate to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader, is preparing for an online question session on Reddit while outlining potential tax changes within the constraints of the party’s 2024 manifesto. He suggests higher business rates for out‑of‑town warehouses to support high street businesses and maintains that firms contributing social value should benefit from tax relief. Burnham emphasizes his financial credibility from past government and mayoral roles and rejects major welfare cuts, instead advocating vocational education and expanded council housing to reduce long‑term costs. He has not yet chosen a chancellor and defends limiting media questions as part of shifting political culture.

A senior military adviser warned that the UK’s new defence investment plan will not provide sufficient funding to prepare the country for emerging threats, despite adding £15 billion to defence spending. General Sir Richard Barrons argued that Britain is falling behind allies and adversaries and requires significantly more resources to meet security demands, particularly in the face of Russia. The plan, delayed by internal disputes that prompted the resignation of former defence secretary John Healey, prioritises expansion of drone and autonomous weapon capabilities under new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the investment would modernise the armed forces and strengthen British industry, though the settlement remains below levels defence officials previously deemed necessary.

Andy Burnham outlines a decade-long plan to redistribute power from Whitehall to UK regions, promising expanded regional control over housing, transport, utilities and a major council housebuilding programme. He pledges fiscal discipline while offering short-term support for households facing rising costs and vows to reorient public procurement toward British firms. Burnham signals willingness to collaborate across parties in Westminster but faces criticism for not taking press questions. Business leaders express conditional support while warning against excessive market intervention. If unchallenged for Labour leadership, Burnham is set to become prime minister on July 20.