Steve Hughes

UK ministers are moving to close a legal loophole from the 1971 Immigration Act to enable the deportation of convicted child sex offender Shabir Ahmed, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposing powers to override current restrictions. The UK is considering visa sanctions to pressure Pakistan to accept Ahmed’s return, a strategy previously used to secure cooperation from other countries. Pakistani authorities are reportedly reluctant without concessions, while UK officials continue exploring diplomatic options to ensure removal.

Polling shows a majority of voters believe Nigel Farage acted improperly regarding undeclared gifts from donors, including a £5m contribution from Christopher Harborne and alleged support from convicted fraudster George Cottrell. Farage’s personal and party ratings have declined as he faces growing scrutiny, while the Labour Party urges the Electoral Commission to investigate further. Count Binface benefits politically from the controversy as Reform UK confronts mounting accusations of sleaze.

Mobile data shows dating app usage surging during hydration breaks and half-time of England’s World Cup matches, with Tinder, Hinge, Grindr and Bumble all seeing large increases in activity. Fans report using downtime during games to message and match, though some note it is harder to arrange dates during the tournament. Psychologists link the spikes to heightened arousal and excitement from the matches boosting social behaviour.