- Saturday, April 27, 2024
POST OFFICE has denied compensation to the widow of a postmaster, who took his own life hours after Post Office investigators raided his branch, despite admitting that the audit resulted in his suicide. Government’s compensation advisory board is now calling for the case to be reopened. The father of two…
Former sub-postmasters have called for a police investigation following a BBC report that the Post Office knew about the flaws in Horizon IT system, but continued to argue against sub-postmasters in the court. A draft report accessed by the BBC shows that in 2017 the Post Office was shown evidence…
While opinion polls may favour the Labour Party and its leader Kier Starmer, there is disquiet among some party members over his functioning. The latest to do so is Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, who advices Starmer on race relations, The Times reports. At a recent private meeting of Labour’s ethnic…
Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf hit out at the Conservative Party for being "institutionally Islamophobic", according to media reports. He said this in reaction to the comments reportedly made by Conservative party donor Frank Hester (57) about Labour MP Diane Abbott. According to The Guardian newspaper, Hester had reportedly said…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak resisted growing calls Wednesday (13) for his Tory party to return millions of pounds to a major donor accused of making racist comments about a high-profile black lawmaker. Businessman Frank Hester, 57, is alleged to have said that Diane Abbott -- Britain's longest-serving black MP --…
The UK parliament's Business and Trade Committee has listed a lot of shortcomings in the compensation plan for the postmasters wrongly prosecuted in the infamous Post Office Horizon IT scandal, according to media reports. In its report issued on Thursday (7), the committee said the post office was not fit…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
THE new Rochdale MP has said that the upcoming election would be about Muslims and the taking away of civil liberties in this country. After sworn into the Commons as the new lawmaker for Rochdale on Monday (4), George Galloway highlighted prime minister Rishi Sunak's focus on "Muslims and Gaza"…
The Rochdale by-election result will now make headlines around the world, despite having had a rather patchier grip on the town where it took place. George Galloway declared that his victory will produce a “tornado to tear through British, Israeli and global politics”. He is unlikely, however, to deliver on…
VOTERS began to cast their ballots as the Rochdale by-election got underway on Thursday (29) amid a turbulent atmosphere primarily influenced by the conflict in Gaza. Bookmakers predict Left-winger George Galloway, 69, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, will win, especially after Labour withdrew its candidate, Azhar Ali, due…
The government has announced a £31m package to help improve the security measures for MPs who are facing threats or harassment, according to media reports. The measures will include the provision of bodyguards for MPs most at risk and additional police patrols in response to increased community tensions, BBC reports.…
Conservative party MP Paul Scully's remark that parts of the London borough have become a “no-go” zone has upset the residents and businesses in Tower Hamlets. The former London minister, who represents Sutton and Cheam, on Tuesday said he regrets sparking a controversy by claiming that parts of Tower Hamlets…
An Asian-origin Labour party MP has said receiving death threats seems to have become "a norm" for her, reports BBC. While sharing her experience on a BBC programme, Preet Gill, who represents Birmingham Edgbaston, said her job worried her "in a way I've never been worried before". This comes in…
SMALL business owners who attended an event in London were unimpressed by the lack of policy detail provided by Labour’s shadow small business minister. Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, primarily discussed the entrepreneurial spirit of her constituency and emphasised the importance of immigrant founders during…
A dentist who had tweeted that he would kill his local MP has been detained in hospital, according to media reports. Amit Kerai, 34, had during a four-year campaign of harassment tweeted that Brent North MP Barry Gardiner would be "stabbed, shot, beheaded". Kerai appeared at the Old Bailey court…
LABOUR is “haemorrhaging” the Muslim vote, which will have a negative impact when Britain holds the general election, expected later this year, party MPs have told Eastern Eye. Late on Monday (12), Labour withdrew its support and suspended for its candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he…
Azhar Ali, previously Labour's choice for the upcoming Rochdale by-election, has seen his candidacy revoked following his controversial remarks concerning Israel and Jewish individuals. Initially, Labour defended Ali after he suggested Israel had intentionally not prevented a Hamas attack on October 7 to justify an invasion of Gaza. However, Labour…
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer finds himself navigating a challenging political landscape, marked by a noticeable shift in support from Muslim constituents due to his stance on the Gaza conflict. But despite this, analyses suggest that Labour's robust lead may mitigate the potential impact on election outcomes, sparing the party from…
BRITISH wildlife charities are ringing alarm bells by describing the countryside as a "racist, colonial" domain where non-white people often feel marginalised, media reports said. Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition comprising 80 organisations including the WWF, the RSPCA, and National Trust, presented their findings to MPs as part of…
FINDING an NHS dentist is becoming increasingly difficult in the UK, forcing those who can pay to the private sector and those who cannot to avoid treatment altogether – or take matters into their own hands. Increasing numbers of dentists are turning their backs on the NHS in favour of…
Kuldeep Kaur Atwal, a former post office operator, has shared a distressing account of her experience with the Post Office, alleging that she was unjustly accused of theft and faced discrimination due to her British Asian heritage. Atwal, then 46, and 73 now, was charged with stealing £30,000 from her…
FREEHOLD property owners have been accused by MPs of establishing a “rentier structure” in England and Wales, as it has been claimed they impose “exorbitant” ground rents while, in some cases, providing no service. Labour MP Barry Gardiner called it “nonsense” that pension funds would need to be used to…
IN a parliamentary hearing on Thursday (18), MPs scrutinised freeholders for establishing a "rentier structure" in England and Wales, accusing them of imposing "exorbitant" ground rents, reaching £8,000 annually in some instances. The scrutiny unfolded as a freeholder group resisted proposed changes to leasehold laws amidst the ongoing parliamentary examination…
GARETH THOMAS MP has written to the home secretary seeking his intervention over Tier 5 religious worker visas, which enable UK temples to recruit priests, saying such places of worship face closure over staff shortages. In a letter to James Cleverly on Wednesday (17), the Labour MP for Harrow West,…
Rishi Sunak faces a brewing rebellion within the Conservative party as over 30 MPs from the party's right-wing bloc rally to change the bill next week regarding the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda. The proposed amendments aim to restrict the avenues for appealing deportation orders, showcasing deep divisions within…
During his first major speech on Monday (8), Anas Sarwar, Scotland's Labour leader urged independence backers to switch allegiance from the Scottish National Party (SNP) in a bid to unseat the Tories from Downing Street. Simultaneously, during his speech, first minister Humza Yousaf emphasised to undecided voters that the current…
THE General Election is unlikely to be held until close to the end of this year, with the Prime Minister saying his ‘working assumption’ is the election in the second half of 2024. Despite Labour’s large poll lead, the results will depend on the campaigns to come. One thing we…
The upcoming UK parliament is expected to mark a significant leap in diversity, with projections suggesting it to be the most diverse in history, British Future, a leading race, and diversity think tank forecast on Sunday (7). However, the chance to bridge the gap in ethnic minority and gender representation…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
POLITICAL analysts said the impact on Muslim voters of Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict will only become clear over the next decade. Many Labour councillors and MPs have criticised Sir Kier for refusing to call for a ceasefire in the region. Dozens of councillors…
Navendu Mishra Stockport MP recently hosted an event at Portcullis House in the House of Commons, to mark the 39th anniversary of the tragic Bhopal disaster in the state of Madya Pradesh, India. The catastrophe, stemming from a gas leak on December 2, 1984, at the Union Carbide Gas Plant…
Scottish Labour head Anas Sarwar has refused to be drawn into a clear confrontation with his party leader Sir Keir Starmer over the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Sarwar said he supported a ceasefire, but refused to say if he would have supported a Westminster vote on the matter…
LONDON’S deputy mayor for business has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Leicester East parliamentary constituency which has one of the largest south Asian populations in the UK. Rajesh Agrawal was chosen at a hustings held in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday (18) to succeed incumbent MP Claudia…
Labour leader Keir Starmer was hit by a string of resignations from his frontbench in the House of Commons on Wednesday night, after facing a rebellion from his MPs over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza. The vote calling for the ceasefire was defeated by 293 votes to…
Sir Keir Starmer is making efforts to subject Labour's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict to a vote, aiming to preserve party unity. The party has introduced a Commons amendment expressing apprehensions about the civilian death toll and advocating for extended pauses in the fighting to aid delivery. However, it aligns…
A council leader and ten councillors have announced their resignation from the Labour Party, citing dissatisfaction with Sir Keir Starmer's decision not to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. Among those to leave the party is Afrasiab Anwar, the leader of Burnley Council, who had previously called for Starmer's resignation…
DIWALI – the story of good triumphing over evil – shows how multiculturalism is not failing but instead enhancing community relations in today’s Britain, prominent politicians and business leaders have told Eastern Eye. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, added their voices to the…
FORMER Labour MPs, Keith Vaz and Claudia Webbe, may stand as independent candidates in the next general election for the Leicester East constituency, warned the city's mayor. Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said that such a move could split the vote and potentially hand the seat to the Tories, reported…
TWO senior Muslim politicians in Labour have urged party leader Sir Keir Starmer to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Revealing the growing unrest within the opposition party over its position on the conflict, London mayor Sadiq Khan called on Friday (27) for a ceasefire in the conflict.…
OPPOSITION leader Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, testing the leadership mettle of the favourite to become Britain's next prime minister. The 61-year-old is battling to dampen tensions within Labour's ranks over remarks he made about the Israeli response to Hamas's October 7…
MORE students from south Asia are living in overcrowded housing in the UK due to a rising demand for beds, which campaigners criticised as a “shameful indictment of our education system”. In one case, a student from Bangladesh was sharing a two-bedroom flat with 20 other men in London. On…
An MP was prevented from boarding a flight to Canada along with fellow parliamentarians due to his name being Mohammad, the Commons heard on Monday (23). Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin, faced “humiliating” treatment while attempting to board a flight to Canada as part of a parliamentary delegation, the…
LABOUR MP Khalid Mahmood has criticised a top Mulsim group of the UK for not condemning Hamas which committed atrocities in Israel earlier this month. Hamas gunmen sneaked across the border into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing about 1,400 people and abducting dozens. In its…
THE shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said pharmacists were key to the modernisation of the NHS as he paid tribute to the sector at the annual Pharmacy Business Awards last Wednesday (4). Independent community pharmacists were in the spotlight at the event, which recognises the contribution of the sector in…
MINISTERS and the media are contributing to hate crime against British Muslims, according to politicians and community leaders. Last week (5) saw a nine per cent year-on-year increase in reported religious hate crime figures. Politicians, religious leaders and campaigning groups are urging them to stop demonising Muslims. Of the almost…
The Labour Party's leadership sees a turning point in Scottish politics, believing they can defeat the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the upcoming general and Holyrood elections following last week’s byelection result. According to party strategists, Labour's victory in Rutherglen and Hamilton West indicates their support has reached approximately 35%…
A LEADING Tory parliamentarian has accused home secretary Suella Braverman of “betraying” her own culture and background with her claim that multiculturalism in Britain has “failed”. Braverman, in a speech last week at the American Enterprise Institute, in Washington DC, described multiculturalism as a “misguided dogma” that had allowed people…
THE lead of an independent review investigating into clashes in Leicester last year has refuted suggestions that the authorities overlooked decades of deepening divides in the city. Dozens of people were arrested after community tensions erupted in August and September 2022 and led incidents of vandalism and attacks on places…
BRITISH Sikh members of Parliament Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi have reacted to “concerning” reports emanating from Canada, after prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in the country. The opposition Labour MPs, who represent heavily Sikh constituencies in England,…
LABOUR MP Tan Dhesi has been appointed as the shadow exchequer secretary to the treasury, marking a significant step in his political career. The news came as part of the Frontbench reshuffle within the party, a statement said. "After having served for over three years as shadow railways minister, really…
THE Labour party has suspended its entire Leicester East branch. The national executive (NEC) is investigating the troubled constituency Labour party (CLP) over concerns around its operation, according to an email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). All branch and constituency Labour party meetings will be stopped “until…
LABOUR MP Shabana Mahmood said she was honoured to be appointed shadow secretary of state for justice after party leader Sir Keir Starmer carried out a reshuffle on Monday (4). Days after prime minister Rishi Sunak’s mini reshuffle last week, Sir Keir named Birmingham Ladywood MP Mahmood to the shadow…
THE Labour Party has suspended its entire Leicester East branch, reports Sam Moorhouse. Its national executive (NEC) is investigating the troubled constituency Labour party (CLP) over concerns around its operation, according to an email seen by the LDRS. All branch and constituency Labour party meetings will be stopped “until further…
The Labour MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas has written to three airlines, Air India, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic to request that they consider bidding for extra slots to fly direct to Gujarat from British airports. Thomas, who is also the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, could face some transparency questions related to wife Akshata Murty’s Infosys shares, which are worth an estimated £500 million, in a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India, according to a media report. The Observer last Sunday (27) claimed that Labour and trade experts were…
THE new Eton Star College in Oldham will “remove barriers” for students previously unlikely to have a chance of a university education, the borough’s council leader has said, writes Chris Gee. Last week, the government gave approval for the expansion of the elite boarding school Eton to open a sixth…
A LABOUR MP has called for an inquiry into a “horrifying” chapati study using south Asian women in Coventry. Chapatis laced with a radioactive substance were fed to 20 south Asian women in 1969 to study iron absorption. Although the research was aimed at tracking down how iron was absorbed…
LABOUR has ditched plans to roll out clean air zones across the country aimed at cutting carbon emissions after Uxbridge by-election defeat, reported The Telegraph. A narrow by-election loss last month in outer London has been blamed on London mayor Sadiq Khan's expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez),…
THE Labour MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, who is also the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Gujaratis (APPG), joined other parliamentary representatives as they called on airports and airlines for more direct flights to Gujarat from Heathrow. The group met Heathrow airport policy lead Richard…
ASDA boss Mohsin Issa defended his price-cutting measures as he told a group of MPs he grew up in the same environment as some of his customers from low-income households. Issa, who co-owns Asda with his brother Zuber, appeared before the business and trade committee in a follow-up session to…
The ruling Conservatives on Friday (21) held the former seat of ex-prime minister Boris Johnson but saw hefty majorities in two other seats blown away as scandals and high inflation took their toll. Rishi Sunak was expected to become the first prime minister to lose three parliamentary seats on one…
Politicians, researchers and pharmacy leaders called on the government to make community pharmacy a "fundamental" part of clinical services at an event at the House of Commons on Wednesday (13). At the launch of a research publication carried out by the University of Bath in conjunction with Sigma Pharmaceuticals, community…
A SENIOR Conservative MP has accused the governing party’s major donor Mohamed Amersi of trying to suppress truth using legal threats.David Davis told the Commons that sections of a report, which alleged Amersi “mired in an international corruption scandal”, were withdrawn after the telecoms tycoon’s lawyers claimed they were defamatory.The…
THE former chairwoman of the Social Mobility Commission, Katharine Birbalsingh, has accused a Labour MP of 'racist and bullying behaviour', reports said. The head teacher of Michaela Community School in northwest London, Birbalsingh alleged that her race urged Jess Phillips MP to 'whip up a social media mob' against her,…
WARM tributes have been paid to Avtar Singh Lit, who challenged the broadcasting rules of his day when he set up Sunrise Radio in 1989 and was unfairly labelled a “pirate” by the authorities. His death on Tuesday (27) in his 70s was announced by the station which described him…
LABOUR MP for Brent North, Barry Gardiner, collected a prestigious honour bestowed on him by the Indian government at a ceremony in London last Friday (23). Gardiner, who founded the Labour Friends of India more than two decades ago, was presented the Padma Shri, a civilian award, at India House…
A LANCASHIRE Labour MP is asking for the competition regulator to investigate Asda’s takeover of the Blackburn-based EG Group’s UK and Ireland business. Ashley Dalton believes the proposed deal is ‘debt-laden’ and not in the interests of her constituents or the country. But EG group and Asda, both owned by…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary Suella Braverman were among prominent Asian Conservatives who did not take part in the vote on Monday (19) on a report that concluded Boris Johnson deliberately lied about rule-breaking parties during the pandemic. MPs voted 354 to seven to endorse the Privileges Committee's…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak standing up to Boris Johnson could be the making of him as a leader, an Asian parliamentarian told Eastern Eye. Sunak on Monday (12) revealed that his predecessor had asked him to “do something that I wasn't prepared to do,” in relation to the latter’s resignation…
A MOTION has been tabled in the House of Commons to convey cross-party condolences to India over the loss of lives as a result of the three-train collision in Odisha last week. The Early Day Motion (EDM), tabled on Monday (5) by the Labour MP for Southall in London, Virendra…
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)-Eastern Eye “Garden of Unity”, designed by Manoj Malde, appears to have been one of the big hits of the Chelsea Flower Show this year. Located prominently on Main Avenue and close to the Great Pavilion, Malde’s vivid colours attracted even King Charles and Queen Camilla.…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said that he is suffering from a 'cumulative' type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a combination of the regular death threats as well as dealing with the aftermath of disasters and terror attacks. Khan added that his doctor friend had told him about…
Major Tory donor and Indian rice magnate, Karan Chanana, is being investigated over allegations of fraud and money laundering, reported The Guardian. He faces probe in India over claims that tens of millions of pounds of bank loans were unlawfully diverted into shell entities. However, the tycoon has not responded…
The Conservatives suffered big losses last Friday (5) in the local election results, undermining prime minister Rishi Sunak’s attempts to revive the party’s fortunes - while Labour said it was on course to win the next national election, expected in 2024. The Tories’ worst fears were confirmed as results came…
Cricket and music marked the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi in central Birmingham over the weekend. Around 80 people, including women and children, took part in the softball Vaisakhi Cricket Cup tournament - a fun competition - organised by the Club at Edgbaston’s indoor centre.The action was accompanied by traditional Punjabi…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has accused the government of trying to alienate “certain groups of people” from the democratic process with the introduction of photo IDs which will be mandatory from next month’s local elections. Voters must show photo ID to get their ballot paper at polling stations on May…
The UK government has assured the House of Commons that it takes the security of the Indian High Commission in London "extremely seriously". In fact, on Monday (17) Security Minister Tom Tugendhat vowed to respond robustly to any criminal incidents that may occur at diplomatic missions in the country. Tugendhat's…
A senior Labour MP has questioned the rationale behind moving London-Ahmedabad direct flights from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport. Air India moved four of its services from Heathrow to Gatwick last month and this included the flights connecting the British Capital with Ahmedabad. Gareth Thomas, who represents London’s Harrow West in…
THE home secretary is pandering to right-wing racists and putting south Asian lives in danger, MPs and experts have told Eastern Eye. It follows Suella Braverman’s comments over the weekend (2) that “vulnerable white girls living in troubled circumstances have been abused, drugged, raped, and exploited”. She highlighted cases in…
Questions have been raised about a potential conflict of interest for Rishi Sunak, as his wife's childcare firm, Koru Kids, is set to benefit from significant budget changes. Akshata Murty, the prime minister's wife, is a shareholder in the company, which is expected to receive funding from a pilot scheme…
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Gujaratis will focus on issues of importance to the community in UK, a statement said. The public launch of the APPG will take place on 25 April 2023 inside the houses of parliament, coinciding with Gujarat Day, the statement added. The inaugural meeting…
THERE has been a new Sunday morning routine in our house this year. Since my ten- year-old daughter got into football by watching Euro 2020 and the Lionesses triumph in the women’s Euros, the alarm goes off at 7.30am so we can get up to watch the early morning repeat…
INDIA’S Congress MP Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians that functioning microphones in his country’s Parliament are often “silenced” to quieten the opposition. During an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons complex in London on Monday (6), Gandhi…
RUPA HUQ has been reinstated as Labour MP five months after her suspension from the party after her comments about former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. Last year, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton described Kwarteng as “superficially black” because of his educational background and the way he spoke. Labour suspended…
LABOUR MP Preet Kaur Gill said she was forced to step up her security after receiving a “direct threat” by email asking her to “watch your back”. The Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston told GB News last Saturday (4) she was worried about her family’s safety as she went about…
FORMER home secretary Priti Patel has reiterated her stance that Shamima Begum remains a “threat to our country” as she hit back at suggestions that the UK has become an “outlier” to its western allies over its stance to not allow the former Daesh member to return to the country.…
THE Local Government Association (LGA), national membership body for local authorities, has warned that staff will face increased pressure because of new rules requiring all voters to produce photo ID in order to cast their ballots, a report said. The LGA raised the issue amid concerns that the requirements are…
SIKH members of Labour have complained to the party against shadow development secretary Preet Kaur Gill after she sent a series of WhatsApp messages undermining victims of sexual violence within gurdwaras, according to a report. In the messages, Gill said that those who are calling gurdwaras unsafe are using a…
BRITAIN has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after a survey by Indian tax authorities on the media corporation's New Delhi and Mumbai offices last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons…
URGENT action needs to be taken to prevent more Asian elderly people being plunged into poverty, charities and MPs have urged. They have also backed calls to raise the state pension amount further, to lower the threshold for auto-enrolment in workplace pension schemes and for more education for workers of…
Rich tributes have been paid to Shree Ramsinghji Sardarsinghji Kumpavat, one of the pillars of Hindu community in Greater Manchester, who founded the first temple in Oldham. Shree Ramsinghji, 85, died in the early hours of Sunday (8) morning, the Indian Association Oldham announced. He arrived in Oldham in 1966,…
British extremist Anjem Choudary has called Prince Harry a ‘Muslim killer’ after his revelations in memoir and said that the Royal family has a 'dark history of occupying Muslim lands, the MailOnline reported. In his highly personal book 'Spare', Harry said that he had killed 25 people in Afghanistan when…
British MP Barry Gardiner has said that though it is important to set climate targets, more emphasis should be given to create polices to attain these goals. Gardiner also admitted that the current funding by the UK to other countries to enable them to achieve climate targets is 'critically insufficient',…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said that he is 'very concerned' after reports revealed that MPs and peers engage in 'sex and heavy drinking' on foreign trips arranged by all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs). In the wake of the report, Sunak urged lawmakers to focus on working for the public…
The UK Opposition Labour Party on Saturday slammed Rishi Sunak over a television clip showing an awkward exchange with a man while volunteering at a soup kitchen for the poor and homeless at Christmas.The British Indian leader was caught on camera during a visit to a shelter run by the…
Labour MP Navendu Mishra has called for direct flights between Britain’s third-largest airport in Manchester in northern England and key cities in India during a debate in the UK Parliament. Mishra told the House of Commons on Tuesday that it is vital that passengers get better connectivity between the north…
Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum has won the 2022 Young People’s MP of the Year award by the Patchwork Foundation at the MP of the Year awards ceremony. The event was hosted and presented by the Patchwork Foundation’s Patron and speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in Speaker’s House. Begum was…
Economist Jeevun Sandher has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Loughborough parliamentary constituency for the next general election due in 2024. “It is the greatest responsibility of my life,” he said after his selection by a voice vote of local Labour functionaries at Charnwood College this week. Conservatives…
Abolition of non-domicile tax status would not drive people away from Britain, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said, citing ‘a case in point in Downing Street’.Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty agreed to pay taxes in the UK on her worldwide income after her non-dom status became the subject…
THE BBC should be ashamed that it has radio and television stations where newsrooms are entirely white and not representing the communities they serve. That is the feeling of current staff and former employees who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They said they warned the BBC that it would not…
Only four people who left Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in the country have been resettled in the UK, official figures revealed amid the criticism of London’s “cold shoulder” to Afghans who “served British interests”. The government attributed the low number to challenges it faced in ensuring safe passage…
British Indian MP Navendu Mishra has tabled a motion in the UK Parliament to mark the 38th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy which is considered one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. Mishra, the Labour MP for Stockport in northern England and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group…
An independent investigation will be conducted into the death of a five-year-old boy who could not be admitted to a South Yorkshire hospital apparently because of the shortages of “beds and doctors”.Yusuf Mahmud Nazir who had suffered a throat infection was taken to Rotherham Hospital but the staff expressed their…
THIS month we have marked Equal Pay Day, the day that the Fawcett Society calculates that women effectively stop earning relative to their male equivalents. This year, that day fell on November 20. It’s shocking that we still have to raise awareness of the gender pay gap, or that such…
INSPIRATIONAL grocers were recognised for their achievements during a period of economic challenges and personal loss for the sector at the 33rd Asian Trader Awards, which took place at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Hotel last Wednesday (9). The top award of the evening – the Asian Trader of the Year…
RISING hate crime against Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs need to be tackled through tougher punishments for internet trolls and more action taken by social media giants, experts have urged. They have also called for further work in schools on racist speech and for the government to address poisonous rhetoric in…
Stockport member of parliament (MP) Navendu Mishra on Tuesday (15) secured a Westminster Hall debate in the UK parliament to raise awareness about the gas tragedy that took place in Bhopal in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in 1984, killing more than 3,000 and several thousands injured. The…
The government must embrace immigrants who take risks setting up businesses, create jobs, and contribute billions of pounds to Britain’s economy. That is the call from MPs and business leaders who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They have told this newspaper that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, should be ashamed…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
Cooperation on migration and security issues was on the agenda at a meeting between UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami in London. The envoy called on the British Indian cabinet minister on Tuesday (1) to discuss the India-UK security partnership and to "make progress" under…
India and UK on Wednesday (2) held an All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) inaugural meeting and discussed cooperation in sunrise sectors such as green economy, fintech, etc. The meeting was attended by Greg Hands, UK's trade minister; Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow secretary of state for international trade and Welsh Labour MP for…
A lawmaker from the opposition Labour party in UK has sparked online outrage after claiming Rishi Sunak becoming prime minister is 'not a win for Asian representation' as he is immensely rich, according to reports. Nottingham MP Nadia Whittome said that Sunak was 'not on your side' as Britain’s first…
Stockport MP Navendu Mishra co-hosted a Diwali celebration in the UK Parliament alongside Conservative MP Shailesh Vara, Labour MP Virendra Sharma and Liberal Democrat Lord Dholakia for the second year in a row. Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner have attended the event, along with…
Preet Kaur Gill, a British Sikh member of Parliament for the Opposition Labour Party, has written to UK ministers calling for “urgent action” over a spike in anti-Sikh hate crimes in the country. In her role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Sikhs, Gill has…
Leicester police have warned trouble-makers to stay away from Diwali celebrations in the city and added that officers were briefed to take 'strict actions' against perpetrators. Last week, Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon wished everyone a Happy Diwali and urged for peace during celebrations in the city. "My message to…
A British newspaper has pledged to 'redouble efforts' against racism after it used picture of a wrong person in chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng story. The Mirror newspaper has also apologised for the 'terrible error' which happened on October 1, the first day of Black History Month. “This morning a picture in…
MPs, peers, religious and civic leaders are urging Hindus and Muslims to stand together after disturbances and protests in Leicester and the West Midlands. They are also calling on the police to communicate and better engage with south Asian communities to stop religious tensions from rising. Last week [20], hundreds…
Rupa Huq MP has been suspended from the Labour party on Tuesday (27) after calling Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng 'superficially black'. She will now sit in Parliament as an independent MP. While speaking at a party conference fringe event on Monday (26), Haq said: "He's superficially, he's, a black man but…
A Labour MP has warned against a “white, privileged male” as Britain’s head of state for the next century as dozens of ‘woke’ republicans pitched for the abolition of the monarchy.At a fringe event organised by the pressure group Labour for a Republic ahead of the opposition party’s annual conference…
A Labour MP has alleged that her party failed in its duty of care in relation to her health and well-being, adding that it lacks understanding while tackling domestic abuse. Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum, in a statement on Thursday (22), said that she faced a relentless and sustained…
A minor disorder during a protest outside a Hindu temple in the city of Birmingham involving fireworks targeted at police officers has resulted in a man's arrest and stop and search powers being deployed, UK police said on Wednesday (21). Videos of Tuesday's (20) protest outside Durga Bhawan temple on…
LABOUR MPs Seema Malhotra, Preet Kaur Gill and Gareth Thomas also remembered Mrs Solanki with fondness and respect. Malhotra, who represents Feltham and Heston, said, “Mrs Parvatiben Ramniklal Solanki was an inspiration, a matriarch of a most incredible family who has helped lead bringing the voice and integration of the…
POLITICIANS, faith and community leaders paid tribute to Parvatiben Solanki, the cofounder of the Asian Media Gr oup (AMG), publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat. Mrs Solanki passed away in London last Thursday (8). She was 86. Along with her husband, the late Ramniklal Solanki CBE, Mrs Solanki played…
SENIOR SOUTH ASIAN and Black leaders have urged King Charles to make sure their communities continue to have a strong influence on Britain’s future. While he was a prince, the new monarch was outspoken on issues which concerned him. They included highlighting the dangers of climate change, the benefits of…
Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill has urged the UK government to increase aid to Pakistan following unprecedented flooding which has left thousands dead. "It was a matter of huge concern that the government has only pledged £1.5m in financial assistance to Pakistan in response to the immediate humanitarian crisis. I…
New agenda for action on race inequality in employment, education, health, civil service and online New proposals for action on racial inequality across Britain’s institutions – from employment, schools and justice to the NHS, civil service and online – are set out today in a new collection from thought leaders…
A British cabinet member admitted Friday "I don't know where Boris is" as the prime minister checked out on holiday, in a week that saw the Bank of England warn a year-long recession is coming. Boris Johnson has since Wednesday been on a belated honeymoon with his wife Carrie, according…
Climate activists have urged London mayor Sadiq Khan to halt the Silvertown tunnel project under the River Thames as it will 'increase pollution and exacerbate the climate crisis', according to a media report. Work on the £2 billion Silvertown tunnel, which links Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula in east London,…
An employment tribunal ruled that Labour MP Khalid Mahmood had dismissed former aide Elaina Cohen 'unfairly', according to reports. Senior adviser Cohen was dismissed a year after she raised serious concerns about alleged criminal behaviour by a work colleague, the tribunal heard. Meanwhile, the 61-year-old lawmaker for Birmingham Perry Bar…
LEADING Hindu saints, religious and community leaders, MPs and peers took part in a ground-breaking ceremony of Europe’s first purpose-built Hindu crematorium in Buckinghamshire last Friday (15). AUM will be the first dedicated crematorium for the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities in England after the Anoopam Mission UK received planning…
There are fresh calls for overhauling the judicial appointments process as the latest statistics reveal that 95 per cent of senior judges in England and Wales are white barristers.Critics feel that the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has a long way to go in fully meeting its objective of making the…
Britain should formally apologise to unmarried mothers who were forced to give up their babies for adoption, according to an official report Friday that gave harrowing detail of the anguish suffered by the women.Some 185,000 children were taken away for adoption between 1949 and 1976 in England and Wales, the…
A British parliamentary committee has said that domestic security agency MI5 needs more funds to tackle the increasing threat of extreme-right terrorism, according to a report. The intelligence and security committee has said that the agency could not expand other activities since it is more focused on dealing with Islamist…
Home secretary Priti Patel declined to attend a hearing of the Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday, citing the “recent changes in Government”.She was expected to face tough questions on the UK’s controversial policy on asylum seekers from the cross-party parliamentary committee which scrutinises the work of the Home Office and…
LEADING Asian MPs and commentators have condemned racist attacks on Asian fans watching the fifth Test between England and India at Edgbaston on Monday (4), which left some “literally in tears”. Footage shared on Twitter showed India supporters being targeted with abuse such as “you smelly P****”. One fan, Anil…
A report by MPs has revealed that Universities in England are facing significant financial risks because of their over-dependence on foreign students, according to a media report. The report by the public accounts committee (PAC) blamed the government and regulators for failing to ensure students receive value for money for…
A police watchdog is investigating four Met Police officers over an alleged inappropriate strip-search of a black girl at an east London school more than a year ago.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officers were served with gross misconduct notices. The watchdog is also considering whether the…
WEALTHY British Asians continued to pump money into the Conservative Party with businessman Dr Selva Pankaj making the largest total donation with £78,250 in the first quarter of 2022. Dr Pankaj is the CEO of Regent Group, a London based educational group which has a number of institutes across the…
As the British Academy’s annual two-day Summer Showcase will be held later this week, a research team will explain how a regional difference in English accents could lead to prejudice.According to the team which will set up a stall at the event, its exhibit will map the “deeply embedded prejudices…
BRITISH Parliamentarians are unhappy over the plan to burn personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gowns worth £4 billion, according to a report. These were bought during the pandemic and will not be used by the NHS. Now, MPs are demanding answers over the financial and environmental cost…
A court has heard that a white supremacist described Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie as an ‘abomination that should be put down’ in his online podcast, media reports said. Christopher Gibbons, 38, also called for the duke to be ‘prosecuted’ and ‘judicially killed for treason’ in the ‘Black…
A DISMISSED aide of Labour MP has accused party leader Sir Keir Starmer of ignoring her complaints about the British Asian lawmaker bullying her.Elaina Cohen, who is claiming unfair dismissal by Khalid Mahmood, MP for Perry Barr, said her former boss used vulnerable women for “entertainment” but no action was…
AN ex-lover of a Birmingham MP has told a tribunal that she was unfairly dismissed by her old boss as she made serious criminal claims about a female colleague, according to a report. Elaina Cohen, 62, the former parliamentary aide of Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr Khalid Mahmood, 60,…
INDIA's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (24) questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's meeting with former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. BJP’s Kapil Mishra slammed Gandhi and raised questions over the meaning of the meeting. Earlier, Corbyn was criticised for his ‘anti-semantic’ views and he has been a vocal…
Auctioneer and valuer Andrew Stowe, who sold a pair of Gandhi’s spectacles for a record £260,000 in 2020, told Eastern Eye that interest among collectors for the Mahatma’s memorabilia, especially in America, remained high. He said: “Gandhi is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. He’s right…
UK home secretary has said that a series of last-minute legal challenges have helped more than 100 killers, rapists and paedophiles to avoid deportation to Jamaica, according to a media report. Priti Patel called the claims 'meritless' and blasted ‘political interventions’ for stopping the deportations, reported the MailOnline. It is…
A top government adviser on extremism has urged to ban Britain’s biggest far-right organisation Patriotic Alternative for racially abusing the England footballer Raheem Sterling, according to a report. Dame Sara Khan, the first counter-extremism commissioner and No 10’s independent adviser for social cohesion and resilience has made the demand as footage…
THE Social Democratic Party (SDP) has won a Leeds council seat for the first time since 1988, in one of the most shocking local election results the city has ever seen. 39-year-old mental health support worker Wayne Dixon won the Middleton Park ward from Labour by 700 votes. The SDP…
A British Indian Cabinet minister has said that a minority of male politicians “behave like animals”. UK attorney general Suella Braverman told the BBC that she was “ashamed” that an MP accused of watching porn in Parliament reportedly belonged to her party and “wore a Conservative rosette”. “My personal experience,…
MIGRANT women from south Asia are being sexually exploited due to being in legal limbo in the UK over their immigration status, charities have warned. They have supported victims who have been pressured into intimate relationships with an employer or landlord who have threatened with reporting them to the Home…
A FORMER Birmingham councillor, found guilty of electoral malpractice, has joined the Labour campaign trail in local elections to canvass for his son.Ayaz Khan and five other Labour councillors were found guilty of corrupt and illegal practice in the 2004 elections.The councillors and a party worker were all accused of…
BRITISH MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi met Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh as they discussed policy changes required to bring investment into the north Indian state.They also exchanged their views about enhancing trade and tourism in Punjab through greater connectivity, especially direct flights from London and Birmingham to the…
A Tory MP accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a party has explained his distress over the allegations during the trial and added that he was "simply trying to be kind" to a "troubled" young man. Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, is accused of groping the boy…
A court in the UK has heard that a British MP sexually assaulted a man at a guest house in Pakistan around 12 years ago, according to media reports. Imran Ahmad Khan, the Conservative MP for Wakefield, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court, where he denies sexually assaulting a…
LABOUR MP for Brent Central "Dawn Butler" recently had a mastectomy at Royal London Hospital after being diagnosed with breast cancer, reports said. Butler is now taking time off work to recover from surgery. However, the MP said she wants to raise awareness about breast cancer and has urged women…
BRITISH lawmaker David Amess was "assassinated" while meeting constituents last year by a "fanatical, radicalised Islamist terrorist," a court heard as the accused killer went on trial. Veteran Conservative MP Amess was stabbed to death at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea in southeast England in October. Ali Harbi Ali, 26,…
INDIA has stepped up efforts to evacuate its nationals from Ukraine as new Delhi confirmed on Tuesday (1) that a student had died in shelling in Ukraine.Prime minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Air Force to bring back stranded citizens, most of whom are students pursuing medicine in Ukraine’s…
Business and doctors’ leaders have criticised the government’s decision to stop free lateral flow tests in April. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the decision in his “living with Covid” statement to parliament on Monday (21). He told MPs that all Covid restrictions would end in England on Thursday (24)…
There must be a root and branch investigation into the culture of racism, misogyny, and Islamophobia in every police service in England and Wales. That is the demand from south Asian and black MPs, as well as serving and past police officers. They have told Eastern Eye that they do…
BRITAIN's parliamentary speaker Lindsay Hoyle warned that "relentless abuse" on social media targeting female lawmakers was damaging the democratic process and driving women out of politics. Hoyle on Tuesday (15) said the reason female MPs had quit parliament was not due "to the long hours, time apart from their families,…
THE Indian High Commission in London said that it has not been approached for the repatriation of the mortal remains of three British victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots. It was responding to a comment made by Kim Leadbeater MP in the UK Parliament on Wednesday (9). Leadbeater, Labour MP…
Representation of south Asian and black judges “remains unacceptably low”, according to the man who heads the UK’s tribunal courts. Writing on the judiciary’s internal website, the senior president of tribunals, Sir Keith Lindblom said ethnic minorities do less well than white candidates being considered to join the judiciary. In…
As party faces Islamophobia allegations, Sunak touted as next leader THE Conservative party has a problem with black and Asian ministers, an influential Tory politician has said, after MP Nusrat Ghani’s claimed last week she was sacked in a reshuffle because of her ‘Muslimness’. Former junior transport minister Ghani, who…
UK business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said that allegations of blackmail by government whips against Tory rebels need to be investigated, reported the Guardian. He added that those allegations are 'unlikely to be true'. “Any form of blackmail and intimidation of that kind simply has no place in British politics. We…
THE partner of an MP found guilty of harassment could be called to give evidence for the first time as she bids to overturn her conviction, reported the BBC. Claudia Webbe, former Labour MP for Leicester East, was given a suspended sentence in November. A court heard she threatened a…
GRIEF-STRICKEN MPs branded Boris Johnson a "liar" as the prime minister on Tuesday (11) gave a Commons grilling over No10 parties a miss. Instead he sent Paymaster General Michael Ellis to answer an important question on an email inviting staff to a "BYOB" lockdown party. Labour's Angela Rayner said the…
TRIBUTES have been paid to veteran Labour politician Jack Dromey, 73, who died on Friday (7) morning, reported the BBC. The shadow minister, who had held the seat of Birmingham Erdington since 2010, is survived by his wife, fellow Labour MP Harriet Harman, and three children. His family said that he…
A Labour MP has said that he would welcome the opportunity to meet the woman who stabbed him in 2010 as part of a “restorative justice process”, The Guardian reported. East Ham MP Stephen Timms has said that he had received a letter from Roshonara Choudhry apologising for having stabbed…
Senior Tories urge PM not to “exacerbate and aggravate” pandemic fallout One in 10 health workers could be forced to stop working because of Covid come the New Year, according to the chair of the British Medical Association (BMA). The warning comes as senior Conservatives urged the prime minister to…
AN MP accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008 is to go on trial in March next year, media reports said. Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who represents Wakefield in West Yorkshire, faces a single count of sexual assault against the teenager in Staffordshire. The 48-year-old appeared at…
Revealed: Fewer than one in four has had third vaccination Health experts are urging south Asians to get their booster jab after Eastern Eye revealed that fewer than one in four has taken a third vaccine. Analysis by this newspaper suggests that as of 5 December, only 22.6 per cent…
LABOUR MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy has a new role as shadow secretary for levelling up, as party leader Sir Keir Starmer carried out a reshuffle on Monday (29). The former shadow foreign secretary was quoted as saying her new role was “to deliver on the broken promises” of the…
Why turning climate change promises into practical policies will be challenging FINANCE DAY at COP is always the point when the rhetoric of the leaders’ speeches hits the ground with a thump. During two days of high-level sessions, a succession of presidents and prime ministers were keen to explain to…
A lawmaker from Britain's main opposition party was given a suspended jail sentence Thursday (4) after being found guilty of threatening to throw acid at another woman she harassed. Labour MP Claudia Webbe was convicted at a trial last month of harassing a long-term friend of her boyfriend, including by…
AFTER receiving death threats, a Labour MP along with her children were forced to flee her home in the middle of the night. A 30-year-old woman, Sundas Alam has admitted threatening the Bradford West MP Naz Shah via email. Shah said she had previously received many death threats, but this…
A disgraced former MP would not have to serve his suspension if he managed to get re-elected, the leader of the House of Commons has said. Keith Vaz, who served as Leicester MP for 32 years, retired from Parliament two years ago after being caught with "male prostitutes and offering…
VIRENDRA SHARMA and other Asian-origin MPs in Britain have spoken about the threat facing them following the murder last week of Sir David Amess, the Conservative member for Southend West, who was stabbed 17 times in a frenzied attack. British politicians have to decide whether their traditional approach of freely…
AN ASIAN MP has spoken of her safety fears, saying, “we didn’t sign up to have our children burying our bodies”, as police and security authorities review security for parliamentarians following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess last week. Eastern Eye spoke to Asian and black MPs who revealed…
A Labour MP who was stabbed by an Islamic extremist has said that he wanted to meet his attacker and asked her why she did it, reported the BBC. Stephen Timms, 66, who has represented East Ham for 27 years, was stabbed twice in the stomach by Roshonara Choudhry in…
AFTER the murder of Sir David Amess, reality has hit home for many MPs as they no more can't ignore threats from trolls on social media. Tulip Siddiq on an estimate receives an abusive message every day on social media and some violent - threatening that she will be raped,…
THE attacker who fatally stabbed British lawmaker David Amess was referred to an official counter-terrorist scheme for those thought to be at risk of radicalisation, according to media reports. Police said late Saturday (16) that detectives had until Friday, October 22, to question the suspect after he was detained under…
THE fatal stabbing of British lawmaker David Amess was a terrorist incident, police said Saturday (16), as MPs pressed for tougher security in the wake of the second killing of a UK politician while meeting constituents in just over five years. Veteran Conservative MP David Amess, 69, was talking with…
Conservative MP David Amess has died this afternoon (15) after being stabbed at an event in his local constituency in southeast England. Police did not name Amess, but said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea" and that the victim "later…
CAMPAIGNERS have warned that Asian victims of abuse are “being failed” due to a lack of cultural understanding by authorities, which they said can cause police investigations to “fall apart”. In interviews with Eastern Eye this week, charity bosses have said police should do more to recognise the specific barriers…
LABOUR MP and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy evoked Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence struggle during her flagship speech at the party's annual conference in Brighton this week. Nandy is the daughter of Dipak Nandy, a Kolkata-born academic known for his work in race relations in the UK. Addressing…
THERE is, of course, a risk that some of the violent politics of Afghanistan will spill over on to the streets of Britain. Those refugees coming to Britain from Afghanistan will include people strongly opposed to the Taliban. If they set up opposition groups in Britain, supporters of the Taliban,…
TWO ministers have resigned from Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet of the Labour party, The Guardian reported. Shadow equalities secretary and MP for Battersea Marsha de Cordova has resigned to focus on her marginal constituency. Shadow women’s minister Charlotte Nichols has also stepped down for personal reasons, the report added. “It…
Politicians urge ministers to help Britons with relatives seeking to flee Taliban rule MPs HAVE revealed that they have been flooded with pleas from Britons to help evacuate their relatives from Afghanistan to escape the Taliban. Britain’s last military flight left Kabul at the end of August after helping more…
A LABOUR MP claimed that family members of his constituents, including a “seven-month-old child,” were disembarked from rescue flights and “thrown out of the Kabul airport”. Imran Hussain accused the government of “leaving behind Afghans and British nationals” in Afghanistan after the Taliban overran the Asian country. “What is completely…
WITH the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating fast, British parliamentarian Navendu Mishra and 49 of his colleagues from across political parties have written a letter to foreign secretary Dominic Raab for extending urgent help to the refugees in the violence-ravaged nation who are at threat of persecution by the Taliban. In…
BRITISH veteran filmmaker Ken Loach has said that he had been expelled from the Labour Party in a "purge" by leader Keir Starmer. Loach, 85, said he had been kicked out after refusing to "disown" other far-left members who have already been ejected. "Labour HQ finally decided I'm not fit…
BRITISH online fashion retailer Boohoo has unveiled plans to create 5,000 jobs over the next five years. The company said jobs will come from a £500 million growth programme, as it expands its warehouse and builds new IT systems. Boohoo published a report on its positive economic impact on the…
Business barriers remain despite change in India's travel status, says analyst THE UK government’s decision to move India from the red list of countries to amber will help UK-India bilateral trade and business – but more needs to be done to reduce the barriers. This is the view of Anuj…
Survey shows violent incidents in shops increased during the pandemic TOUGHER laws are needed to tackle rising levels of abuse and violence against shop workers, according to business owners and retail chiefs. Around 85.5 per cent of employees surveyed said they suffered verbal abuse in 2020, with 56.8 per cent…
LABOUR MP Naz Shah on Wednesday (4) criticised the Conservative government for promoting India to the amber list while not moving Pakistan from the red zone. As per the guidelines updated today (5), India is now on the amber list while Pakistan continues to remain in the red zone. Calling…
LONDON boroughs with a substantial Asian population have some of the lowest first and second Covid-19 vaccine intake in the country, statistics showed. Tower Hamlets has the lowest percentage of second doses administered at 40.3 per cent. According to the 2011 census, more than two thirds (69 per cent) of…
THE Labour MP accused of housing fraud has been cleared of all charges. Apsana Begum MP burst into tears and collapsed as she was found not guilty of three charges of housing fraud between 2013 and 2016. The jury reached their verdict on the second day of their deliberation, after…
Rishi Sunak tops annual ranking of most influential Asians in the UK PANDEMIC heroes who went above and beyond their call of duty have been honoured in a special edition of the GG2 Power List, which ranks the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. Thirty Asian doctors, nurses and researchers…
ONE of the founders of the UK-based Overseas Friends of the BJP, Lalubhai (Dhirubhai) Parekh, passed away on Monday (26). Parekh was also a leader of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and a former president of the National Congress of Gujarati Organizations and a trustee. A native of Rajkot, Gujarat,…
LABOUR MP Apsana Begum has denied “deliberately and dishonestly” obtaining social housing as the prosecutor claimed in the court that she cheated a council out of £64,000 in a housing scam by deliberately withholding information to boost chances of obtaining a council flat, reports said. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard on…
MPs have slammed the "complete absence" of regulation in non-surgical beauty treatments, such as botox-style injections and fillers, claiming such unregulated practices are putting Britons at risk, stated media reports. The parliamentary group has also proposed recommendations like making fillers prescription-only, psychological pre-screening of customers and a complete ban on…
A LONDON court was scheduled to begin on Wednesday (21) the trial of Apsana Begum, the Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, in a case of alleged council housing fraud. Snaresbrook Crown Court is expected to hold the hearing for six to eight days and the MP is exempted from…
HEALTHCARE workers, pharmacists, faith leaders, restaurateurs and retailers have expressed concern over rising Covid-19 infection rates, as experts predicted the UK will soon have more new cases each day than it did at the height of a second wave of the pandemic earlier this year. Laws requiring masks to be…
UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer clashed in the House of Commons over a controversial by-election leaflet, which had been branded “divisive” and “anti-India” by Indian diaspora groups in Britain. During a heated debate over the issue of racism at the prime minister’s Questions (PMQs) session…
POLITICIANS have expressed their shock after the Oldham Council leader was reportedly targeted in a firebomb attack on her car. The vehicle of Arooj Shah, the first Muslim woman council leader to lead a northern authority, was firebombed in the early hours of Tuesday (13), stated media reports. Emergency services…
“Don’t let racists spoil the success of England Lions in bringing the country together” Anti-racism pressure groups, think-tanks and MPs are urging everyone associated with professional football to build on the achievements of England during Euro 2020, in cementing better race-relations throughout the country. During the past four weeks the…
With football fever in the air, you might have missed on to some other interesting developments and news from UK and around the world. Eastern Eye brings to you seven major highlights of this week to keep you updated: 1. Second Indian-born woman to go to space: [caption id="attachment_148753"…
A Labour MP has blasted the “absolute disgrace” of ministers defending Dominic Cummings’ breach of lockdown rules last year, while other people missed funerals and last moments of loved ones. This happened when Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi made a passionate intervention at prime minister's questions on Wednesday (7). However, as reported…
“BATLEY and Spen” were the words on the rosette of a pumped-up Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and “Battered and Spent” on a frazzled prime minister Boris Johnson’s. The Times cartoonist had clearly prepared his material so it could be flipped, either way, depending on the actual result. And by 323…
LABOUR has been urged to engage with Asian communities and “treat them as individuals”, as polls suggest its popularity with Muslim voters is dwindling. The call comes after the party’s victory in the Batley and Spen by-election last week, with candidate Kim Leadbeater, the younger sister of Jo Cox, who…
A new whistle blowing policy for judges is “virtually ineffective”, “a missed opportunity”, and “unlikely to make effective change” to the existing culture of fear, bullying and racism in the judiciary, angry south Asian judges have told Eastern Eye. They also criticised the appearance before the justice select committee of…
LABOUR MP Kim Johnson has accused the Metropolitan police of institutional racism after she and her family were stopped by officers in central London last month, reported The Guardian. The MP said they had arrived in Covent Garden near the end of the England v Scotland Euro 2020 match when…
A group of Muslim women from Batley and Spen have written an open letter condemning “shameful” behaviour of a “loud minority” of Muslim men, reported The Guardian. The letter, written anonymously citing safety fears, described the men as “the same faces that have plagued the area as ‘community leaders’ for…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer received a boost in Batley and Spen on Friday (2), fighting off a challenge from the Conservatives to hang on to a parliamentary seat that if lost, would have heaped pressure on him to stand down. Kim Leadbeater's win in Batley and Spen seat, which saw…
By AMIT ROY THE Labour Party has dragged India’s prime minister Narendra Modi into Thursday’s (1) Batley and Spen by-election by issuing a leaflet which says prime minister Boris Johnson has failed to condemn the Indian leader for his policies in Kashmir. The literature has been widely condemned by many…
The Labour Party has dragged India’s prime minister Narendra Modi into Thursday’s (1) Batley and Spen by-election by issuing a leaflet which says prime minister Boris Johnson has failed to condemn the Indian leader for his policies in Kashmir. The literature has been widely condemned by many of Labour’s Indian…
CRIME against retail store workers should be “treated with the same seriousness as those on police and other emergency workers”, Home Affairs Committee said on Tuesday (29), seeking a new standalone criminal offence to protect retail workers from violence and abuse in England and Wales. “Other public workers have rightly…
LABOUR activists were pelted with eggs and “kicked in the head” by a group of young men in Batley on Sunday (27), the region's mayor said, while they were on a campaign trail for the upcoming by-election in the region. Newly-elected West Yorkshire mayor Tracey Brabin claimed that she…
Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister and Labour’s candidate in the upcoming Batley and Spen by-election, was heckled and chased on Friday (25) while she was on a campaign trail by a group of men, in an incident which party president Keir Starmer has described as “disgraceful”. In a video uploaded…
LAWYERS and police chiefs have warned British Asians that using the word “coconut” as a slur towards another person risks breaking hate crime laws. They said the jibe, often used towards BAME people by members of their own community, accusing them of shunning their heritage to get ahead, may incite…
NOT HAPPY with a recent education committee report- that says white working-class pupils have been “let down” by England's education system- a Labour MP has accused Tories of trying to create a “culture war”. Referring to "white privilege" – a term defined as white people benefiting from particular advantages in…
UK health secretary Matt Hancock failed to tell prime minister Boris Johnson about a Public Health England (PHE) study showing the effectiveness of vaccines against the delta variant during a key meeting to decide whether to extend Covid restrictions, according to a report in The Telegraph. Hancock had known about…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson's former race adviser, Samuel Kasumu, said he feels the government is stoking a “bitter culture war” that could lead to another “Jo Cox, Stephen Lawrence and Windrush scandal” - referring to the murder of a Labour MP, a black teenager and discrimination by the Home Office…
WHILE British Muslims have traditionally backed the Labour party, that support appears to have become less strong now, according to a new poll ahead of the parliamentary by-election in Batley and Spen. Conducted by Survation on behalf of the Labour Muslim Network, the poll found that while Labour remains popular…
Exclusive The government, police and councils are failing thousands of south Asian children, some just a few months old, who have been sexually abused, an eleven month Eastern Eye investigation has uncovered. Using freedom of information requests, we asked 50 councils and 13 police forces how they collate figures for…
A LABOUR MP raising funds for a dementia charity has spoken about his inspiration after he witnessed the impact that the pandemic had on those suffering from the disease. Brent North MP Barry Gardiner will take part in a 26-mile walk around London next Saturday (5) to raise awareness of…
A Labour MP has triggered a political row by suggesting that Boris Johnson's Covid-19 condition was exaggerated by No 10. Valerie Vaz said the prime minister was “not quite at death’s door as we were led to believe” when he was put in intensive care in April last year. Johnson…
LABOUR party has announced that sister of murdered British lawmaker Jo Cox has been chosen to stand in an upcoming byelection in northern England. Kim Leadbeater, 44, will contest in Batley and Spen, the Yorkshire constituency where her late sister represented at the time of her death in 2016. When…
CONFUSION prevailed over the alleged “sneaky” announcement made by the government under which Britons are told not to travel in or out of eight Indian variant hotspots to stop the spread of the mutant strain. The eight Indian variant hotspots identified are Bedford, Blackburn and Darwen, Bolton, Burnley, Kirklees, Leicester,…
A LABOUR MP and qualified doctor has admitted she struggled to get out of bed after seeing Covid-19 patients die in hospital. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the shadow minister for mental health, reflected upon her experiences while attending hospital wards at London’s Nightingale and St George’s hospitals. They were both overwhelmed…
A Bolton MP has asked the health secretary not to blame the people of Bolton over the spread of Indian Covid variant in the region. Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, objected after Matt Hancock said that majority of people admitted to hospital in the town had been eligible…
By Amit Roy WE CAN all understand the deep concern about the Indian variant of the Covid-19 virus threatening prime minister Boris Johnson’s plan to lift all restrictions on social contacts on June 21. But there was some dodgy reporting last weekend. Many in the media followed a Sunday…
A leadership hopeful for one of Britain’s biggest unions has been reportedly suspended by Labour after suggesting Priti Patel was ‘disgusting’ and should be deported. It has been learnt that Howard Beckett has apologised for his comment and said it was "never meant to be literal". Beckett, a Unite leadership…
By Pooja Shrivastava Shabana Mahmood MP (Birmingham- Ladywood)- National Campaign Coordinator Labour MP Shabana Mahmood has represented Birmingham-Ladywood since 2010. She was appointed as the party’s National Campaign Coordinator in the Shadow Cabinet. [caption id="attachment_139470" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Shabana_Mahmood (Pic from Wikimedia Ccommons)[/caption] Born and brought up in Birmingham, Mahmood traces…
By Pooja Shrivastava Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said the party is seen as “out of touch” as he criticised its election strategy which led to a disappointing result in Thursday’s (6) elections. Writing in the Telegraph, the MP for Birmingham said, “There is a national narrative that runs strongly against…
By Joseph Timan LABOUR are celebrating success in Salford, where they have come out stronger from an all-out election in which they secured a surprise win against the Tories. The ruling group have gained two seats overall, taking their total to 52, which leaves the Conservatives with seven councillors and…
By George Torr Ros Jones will be Doncaster’s elected mayor for a third term and secured a majority of over 10,000. It wasn’t as simple for Labour this time around as the count went to second preference votes. Jones received 48.3 per cent on the first ballot – any candidate…
Prime minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives scored a stunning election victory in a Labour stronghold on Friday, after Britain held its first major ballot box test since Brexit and the coronavirus crisis. The "Super Thursday" regional and local elections could reshape the UK as pro-independence forces in Scotland, where voting for…
by LAUREN CODLING SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has revealed that racist abuse targeting him has increased since he was elected head of his party, but said he no longer pays attention to it. In an exclusive interview on Monday (26) with Eastern Eye, the Asian politician also said that…
By Amit Roy INDIAN soldiers who gave their lives for Britain in the First World War were often buried in unmarked mass graves in Mesopotamia and in Africa, a report published last week by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has revealed. An inquiry was set up in December 2019…
A parliamentary committee led by MPs will launch an investigation into the impact of the Greensill Capital collapse on Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance. The steel tycoon's business dealings are expected to come up for investigation before the business select committee. The steelmaker is now looking to arrange new financing after…
AN ASIAN MP has urged UK prime minister Boris Johnson to offer continuous support to India amid their battle against the coronavirus crisis. Navendu Mishra, Labour MP for Stockport, made the call as India continues to struggle with a shortage of hospital beds, tests, medicines and oxygen. The country has…
FEWER than half of ethnic minorities feel St George’s Day celebrations bring people equally together, new research revealed today (23). Only 39 per cent of ethnic minority respondents agreed a St George’s Day party belonged equally to people of every race and ethnic background today, analysis by integration thinktank British Future said.…
by LAUREN CODLING CAMPAIGNERS have criticised a “wasted opportunity” as Tory lawmakers voted against amendments to a domestic abuse bill designed to protect migrant victims of domestic violence last week. The Commons last Thursday (15) rejected three House of Lords-supported amendments to give migrant women with insecure immigration status equal…
By Claudia Webbe Labour MP for Leicester East NEARLY 12 years since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, almost no one has been held accountable for international crimes, and the alleged perpetrators continue to occupy key positions in the current government. This impunity for past abuses…
[caption id="attachment_136684" align="alignleft" width="140"] Nadia Whittome[/caption] by NADIA WHITTOME, Labour MP for Nottingham East AT THE end of March, a government-commissioned report into race in the UK was released. Produced by the Independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, it immediately came under fire from academics, campaigners and MPs for…
AT LEAST 20 organisations and individuals credited in UK race review have now distanced themselves from the report and its findings alleging that the commission ignored their testimonies. The report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, released at the end of March, concluded that while racism and racial…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIANS suffering with insomnia during lockdown have been urged against buying sleeping pills online from south Asia. Experts have warned of the potential health risks of buying prescription tablets, which have not been tested in the UK, from the internet. They have highlighted cases of…
By Nadeem Badshah CAMPAIGNERS have demanded cheaper public transport to tackle the pollution crisis, highlighting the fact that ethnic minorities are more likely to live in toxic air hotspots in the UK compared to the wider population. Experts have also called for less reliance on diesel fuel and electric…
After last year’s exposé, we challenge the judiciary to prove it is not institutionally racist By Barnie Choudhury The judiciary is 20 years behind the Met Police in accepting it is institutionally racist. That is the damning accusation from named and anonymous south Asian, black and white judges. In a…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson said a race inequality review commissioned by his government was stimulating but more needed to be done to tackle the issue, as some campaigners accused the report of “gaslighting” the experiences of minorities. The report on Wednesday (31) by the Commission on Race and Ethnic…
THERE is “no evidence of institutional racism” in Britain, a new report by the government’s race disparity unit said on Wednesday (31). According to the new report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, the success of much of the ethnic minority population in education, and, to a lesser…
by LAUREN CODLING THE real-life relationship between the author of the Sherlock Holmes novels and a wrongly convicted Indian solicitor has been explored in a new nonfiction book. Set in a village near Birmingham in the 19th century, The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer explores the true-life story of lawyer…
Speaking at prime minister's questions, an MP revealed that he lost his mother and both parents-in-law to the coronavirus and urged Boris Johnson to set a date for the public inquiry. Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, said his family lost “an entire generation to this virus”. His…
A group of MPs in Britain will meet on Monday (22) to decide whether to launch a formal inquiry into the collapse of supply chain financier Greensill. The meeting happens amid claims that former prime minister David Cameron personally lobbied the government on its behalf, reported The Telegraph. The Treasury…
by LAUREN CODLING THE murder of Sarah Everard has “reinforced the fear” of travelling and going outside alone, women have said, as they detailed the measures they take to feel safe. The body of Everard, 33, was found last week in a woodland area of Kent. The marketing executive was…
Revealed: Asian children under 10 ‘arrested’ for sex crimes By Barnie Choudhury & Abhijeet Gaur Police have arrested more than 30,500 south Asians for sex offences in the past decade. Shockingly, during that period they arrested 1,490 children, Eastern Eye can reveal. Two of these were under 10 and cannot…
The trial of former Labour peer Nazir Ahmed, on charges of rape and attempted rape, has been stopped at Sheffield Crown Court. Judge Jeremy Richardson reprimanded the prosecution and police for mishandling the case and committing errors which made a fair trial difficult. He said the prosecution 'sabotaged' the case…
By Nadeem Badshah MATERNITY care needs an “urgent” shake-up, according to experts who welcomed an inquiry into how alleged racism in the NHS impacts the care provided to pregnant women. Women from south Asian backgrounds face nearly twice the risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth compared to white women,…
by LAUREN CODLING ACCUSATIONS of racism against the British royal family by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shown that racial discrimination is “still pervasive in British society”, commentators have said. In a wide-ranging interview aired in the UK on Monday evening (8), the duchess spoke about her experiences…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North IMAGINE the outcry if the UK government was to tell farmers what crops they must sow and how much they were allowed to produce. Or if it forbade farmers from selling their produce to anyone they choose and forced them to sell…
THE high commission of India in London has condemned false assertions in a 'distinctly one-sided discussion' among a group of British parliamentarians on Monday (8) on the issue of peaceful protests and press freedoms in India. The high commission pointed out that foreign media, including British media, had been present…
by LAUREN CODLING AS THE world celebrates International Women’s Day on Monday (8), it is important to reflect on the progress made during a challenging year for many. Eastern Eye spoke to several influential women to find out what they have learnt about themselves during the last 12 months and…
MORE than 100 public figures have signed an open letter to the BBC criticising Radio 4 Woman’s Hour 'strikingly hostile' interview with Zara Mohammed, the first woman to head the Muslim Council of Britain. The letter, organised by the writers Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Mariam Khan, and signed by Tory peer Sayeeda…
By Nadeem Badshah ROGUE landlords are charging migrants from south Asia for how many hours they rest in bed and forcing them to “sleep in shifts”, experts have revealed. The issue was raised in a BBC documentary, aired in January, when a group of men from India were found…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN mothers have revealed the strain on their mental and physical wellbeing during the pandemic as they struggle to juggle their work commitments and childcare at home during lockdown. Three women spoke to Eastern Eye on the challenges they have faced over the past 12 months, after…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, and shadow employment minister AS THE shadow minister for employment, I have been working hard to hold the government to account on supporting young people into work during this crisis. Figures published last month show that more than 620,000 16- to…
By Nadeem Badshah MENTAL HEALTH problems in children have been overlooked in the fight against Covid 19 and a long-term action plan is needed, according to British Asian parents, MPs and experts. Parents have revealed the challenges of lockdown and remote learning on their children and shared their advice for…
Exclusive By Barnie Choudhury MPs and experts have called for an overhaul of the Home Office’s strategy to tackle drug-related crime after an Eastern Eye investigation revealed a steep increase in the number of south Asians being arrested for drug offences. After an 11-month investigation, we can disclose that in…
by LAUREN CODLING MORE than 100,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Britain, figures revealed on Tuesday (26), amid calls for ministers to take stronger action to increase the uptake of vaccines among ethnic minorities. “It’s hard to compute the sorrow contained in that grim statistic, the years of life…
By Nadeem Badshah NEW coronavirus rules for travellers to England are not tough enough compared to measures implemented in other countries including India, according to experts and MPs. From Monday (18), everyone arriving by boat, train or plane have to test negative for Covid-19 before they can enter the UK.…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIANS have been urged to take the coronavirus vaccine as doctors expressed concerns that “fake news” was causing many from the community to reject it. Rumours claiming that the vaccines contain alcohol and animal products (such as beef and pork) have been circulating on social media and…
THE trial of Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse Apsana Begum over housing fraud allegations will start in July after a judge prioritised her trial in the 'public interest'. Begum, 30, is accused of concealing the true state of her living conditions, between January 2013 and March 2016, when she was…
By Nadeem Badshah ACTIVISTS and MPs have called for a radical shake-up after it emerged the number of asylum seekers waiting longer than six months for a decision on their application has risen threefold. Figures show that there is a record backlog of 60,548 people waiting for an initial decision…
The UK government on Tuesday (12) praised India’s religious diversity and its "rich tapestry of religious minorities alongside its sizable Hindu majority" during a debate in the House of Commons complex and highlighted the important work being done to promote UK-India interfaith dialogue on tackling shared global challenges. Foreign, Commonwealth…
LABOUR MP Apsana Begum has asked the government to reassess vaccination priorities in light of pandemic BAME community statistics. “The mortality rate from Covid-19 among people of black, African descent in English hospitals was 3.5 times higher when compared to rates among white British people. Besides, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity…
By Nadeem Badshah BORIS JOHNSON has been urged to raise the plight of Indian farmers who have been protesting against new laws introduced by Narendra Modi’s government, when the British prime minister visits New Delhi next month. Thousands of agriculture workers from Punjab and several other states have held demonstrations…
by LAUREN CODLING A POLICE force in England received more than 75 calls a day on average relating to domestic abuse over the past eight months. The data emerged as charities cautioned they were at “breaking point” owing to the huge increase in abuse incidents during the pandemic. Police forces…
BRITAIN has not yet installed all the complex IT systems and port infrastructure needed to ensure Brexit runs smoothly, a group of British MPs warned in a report released Saturday(19). The Committee on the Future Relationship with the EU, a cross-party group of lawmakers, released the report after meeting Thursday(17)…
THE Conservative party’s London mayoral candidate was criticised for sending voters letters using fake City Hall coat of arms for a second time in recent weeks. Shaun Bailey's campaign has sent letters to potential voters saying that Londoners’ taxes would rise in language that echoed financial penalty notices, reported The…
Research says disregard for women enables abuse as Patel vows justice for victims MOST group-based offenders of child sexual exploitation (CSE) offences are white, a new government report has found. Research published on Tuesday (15), showed that although there is an overrepresentation of Asian and black offenders in group-based CSE,…
ETHNIC minority solicitors are underrepresented in larger firms and earn approximately £20,000 less annual salary than their white counterparts, a recent report has found. New analysis by the Law Society last Wednesday (9) revealed only one in 10 solicitors are from an ethnic minority background in the largest firms. The…
By Nadeem Badshah FOR Sukhdev Reel, it has been a daily fight for justice and answers since her son Ricky died 23 years ago. No one has been charged over the death of the computer science student, who was 20 when he went missing following a racist attack in Kingston,…
By Jon Ashworth Labour MP for Leicester South and shadow health and social care secretary THE pictures last week of 90-year-old Margaret Keenan, the first person in Britain to receive the Covid vaccine from May Parsons, a nurse who came to work in our NHS from the Philippines (pictured together,…
MPs call for independent inquiry after BAME producer attempts suicide By Barnie Choudhury Asian and black MPs have called for a parliamentary investigation into bullying and racism at the BBC. It comes after Eastern Eye revealed that a black BBC freelance producer tried to take their life after they complained…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday(9) seemed to confuse the ongoing farmers' protest in India with India-Pakistan dispute. WHILE responding to a question on farmers' protest by Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi in Parliament, Johnson said that 'any dispute between India and Pakistan was for the two countries to…
by LAUREN CODLING COMMUNITY leaders have questioned why ethnic minority groups have not been prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine, as the UK became the first country in the world to roll out the immunisation on Tuesday (8). As Eastern Eye went to press, the shot became available at 50 hospitals…
BRITISH parliamentarians have extended their support to farmers in India who are protesting against new agricultural reforms in the country. A group of 36 cross-party parliamentarians has written to UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab asking him to make representations with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, about the impact on British…
By Amit Roy VIRENDRA SHARMA, the veteran Labour MP for Ealing Southall, has congratulated the National Trust for publishing a report which reveals that nearly 100 of the properties it looks after were built with the proceeds of either the slave trade or colonial loot from India. He has also…
POLICE launched a hate crime investigation after a video showing a Sikh schoolboy being attacked at Charlton School in Telford, Shropshire, went viral on social media. Describing the incident as 'incredibly distressing', the West Mercia Police said that it had taken 'immediate and appropriate' action following the incident. The incident…
By Amit Roy THE Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is becoming fond of using the phrase. “If I were prime minister…,” no doubt to get people used to the idea. He used it last week in relation to Priti Patel: “If I were prime minister, the home secretary would have…
By Nadeem Badshah THE number of British Asians taking apprenticeships has increased each year since 2015 while the figure has dropped among people from other backgrounds, new figures have revealed. Some 5.5 per cent of people of south Asian origin, 21,370 individuals, signed up for the training schemes in…
By Amit Roy A LABOUR MP has urged the government not to launch a “witch hunt” against the National Trust for revealing that nearly 100 of the stately homes it looks after were built with the proceeds of either the slave trade or colonial loot from India. During a…
A CONFERENCE to discuss the future of the UK’s aviation and transport industries will be held on Friday (20). The inaugural ‘Blue Skies Conference 2020: Reimagining our Global Hub’ is a virtual, free-to-attend event, and has been organised by Labour MP for Feltham, Seema Malhotra. Speakers include aviation minister Robert…
by LAUREN CODLING COUNCIL leaders have urged faith communities to follow lockdown guidelines during Diwali, as a top police officer confirmed the service would investigate reports of rule-breaking during major religious celebrations. David Jamieson, the West Midlands police and crime commissioner, warned officers would intervene if large groups gathered during…
By Rachael Burford, Local Democracy Reporting Service POPLAR AND LIMEHOUSE MP Apsana Begum on Thursday(29) said that she will “vigorously contest” charges of housing fraud after being accused of wrongly securing a social rent home. The Labour MP, who was elected with a 28,904 majority last year, has been charged…
By Amit Roy MARC WADSWORTH has spoken about his updated and, in fact, scholarly biography of Shapurji Dorabji Saklatvala, a member of the wealthy Tata family in India who became a Communist, representing Battersea North in London as a Labour MP from 1922-1923 and from 1924-1929. It took Wadsworth…
UK is mooting a legislation to address the ethnic pay gap issue in companies across the country. Under the proposed legislation, being presented in parliament on Tuesday(20), businesses would have to report pay gaps between staff from different ethnic groups and draw up plans for tackling imbalances. Lawmaker Stella Creasy, who…
BRITISH ASIAN MP Yasmin Qureshi has praised the “wonderful staff” caring for her following her admittance to hospital on Saturday (17) with Covid-related pneumonia. Qureshi, the Labour MP for Bolton South East, was admitted to the Royal Bolton hospital at the weekend after her condition deteriorated. The shadow international development…
New figures show over one in five in intensive care with COVID is Asian By Barnie Choudhury Leaders of doctors’ groups have accused the government of “letting down” south Asian communities in its handling of the pandemic. Their criticism comes as new figures show that in the past month, 170…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have been praised by businesses and MPs for their work in trying to save the planet by tackling climate change. Thirty tech start-ups addressing green issues have been chosen to join the world-first Net Zero support programme, business and energy secretary Alok Sharma recently…
by LAUREN CODLING ISLAMOPHOBIA is “deeply embedded” in the Conservative party, a Muslim MP has said, following a new poll that revealed almost 50 per cent of members believe Islam is a threat to the British way of life. Data compiled by anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate found that 57…
By S Neeraj Krishna A BREXIT campaign group has apologised and paid damages to Labour lawmaker Naz Shah after it called her a “grooming gangs apologist” in a social media post. The Bradford West MP had initiated libel action against Leave.EU’s “horrendous” post in December last year that spurred online…
LABOUR MP Gareth Thomas has urged the UK government to offer financial support to temples and Saturday clubs to support young people learn minority languages as latest data shows a sharp fall in obtaining qualifications in languages such as Gujarati and Urdu. Figures sourced by the MP from the House…
Asian staff in despair as select committee MPs question Davie by BARNIE CHOUDHURY SOUTH ASIAN staff have told Eastern Eye their boss is in denial about the extent of racism in the BBC. The director general, Tim Davie, appeared before MPs on Tuesday (29) for a marathon session about the…
OVER 200 overseas students -- including many Indians -- have appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a "free and transparent scheme" to prove their innocence in an English language test scam reported six years ago. At least 34,000 international students were affected after a cheating scandal hit the Test…
by LAUREN CODLING A HEALTHCARE worker has revealed the “living nightmare” of being put on the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) immigration status by the Home Office, as migrant groups called for the condition to be scrapped. Sonia Rawal*, 36, has been put on NRPF twice after applying…
By Nadeem Badshah CELEBRITIES and activists have urged the government to overhaul laws to help save migrant domestic abuse victims. Singers Dua Lipa and Emile Sandé, along with actors including Dame Judi Dench and Olivia Colman, are among those who have called for legislation to help women who fear…
EXCLUSIVE By Barnie Choudhury A FORMER shadow minister has demanded that the head of the BBC “takes control” of tackling racism in the corporation. Following an Eastern Eye exposé about the experiences of current and former BBC employees earlier this month (September 9), the Labour MP for Brent Central, Dawn…
By S Neeraj Krishna LABOUR MP Marsha de Cordova believes the party should “really move away” from using “a blob of the term BAME” to describe minority ethnic groups in the UK Speaking at online Labour meet on Sunday (20), the shadow women and equalities secretary said the blanket categorisation…
By S Neeraj Krishna A CARE HOME that “sacked” Labour MP Nadia Whittome over her “media appearances and speaking out about a lack of PPE” has acknowledged that it did face dearth of supplies. The Labour lawmaker from Nottingham East had voluntarily returned to care work at Lark Hill Retirement…
AN ASIAN entrepreneur-activist was on Monday (14) dropped as a prospective London mayoral candidate to contest against Sadiq Khan next year after her past antisemitic comments came to light. Geeta Sidhu Robb is the founder of organic food and juice products firm Nosh Detox. She was shortlisted as the Liberal…
MPs call for public inquiry amid fresh allegations of bias by ‘scared’ Asian staff by Barnie Choudhury THE BBC’s new director general, Tim Davie, will be questioned by MPs over claims of “insidious, toxic and covert racism” in the corporation after Eastern Eye’s exposé last week prompted further complaints from current and…
INDIAN students have been struggling to access Covid-19 hardship funds set up by UK universities, a study has found. The Unis Resist Border Controls and Migrants’ Rights Network noted a “woeful lack of support structures” within UK higher education for international students in the country on the Tier 4 visa,…
by LAUREN CODLING “IMMEDIATE” action is needed to protect ethnic minority communities ahead of a potential second Covid-19 wave, a Labour party task force said on Monday (17), as an inquiry described the impact of the virus on people from a BAME background as an “urgent medical emergency”. The task…
Labour Friends of India, a representative group part of the Labour Party, on Saturday launched its new 'Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders Programme' to encourage greater Indian diaspora representation in the elected offices of the party. The group said that its new programme will cover modules such as community engagement, communications,…
LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has accused the Met Police of racial profiling, after she and a male friend were pulled over while driving through Hackney in a "nice car" on Sunday (9). The former shadow equalities minister said there was "institutional racism in the police", adding that it was "about…
By Amit Roy IT WAS July 19, 2006, and Amar Singh, a powerful politician from India’s Samajwadi party who described himself as Amitabh Bachchan’s “younger brother”, had accompanied the Bollywood legend to Leicester where the actor was being given an honorary degree by De Montfort University. That was then.…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER British Asian teenagers are going to university, with opposition MPs and business leaders warning that students are being put off by rising debt levels. The tradition in many Asian families of children getting a degree appears to be changing, with new government figures showing that 73…
By Amit Roy THE chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is also “master of the mint”, is said to have decided that the first-ever ethnic minority figure on a British coin is to be Mahatma Gandhi. In a letter to former Conservative candidate Zehra Zaidi, who is leading the ‘We Too Built…
By Barnie Choudhury THE government is concerned that south Asian people do not trust its test and trace system, and so will not divulge any information regarding who they have been in contact with, Eastern Eye can reveal. Scientists have also warned that the current system is inadequate to…
A TORY MP has come under fire for blaming black, Asian, minority ethnic communities for a surge in coronavirus cases. Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley, recently told LBC radio that "sections of our community" were "just not taking the pandemic seriously". Asked if he was referring to the Muslim…
by LAUREN CODLING COMMUNITY leaders have welcomed the recent claim that police are considering dropping the term “Islamist terrorism” when describing terror attacks, asserting that such language did “not help community cohesion.” According to reports last week, the term could be changed to “faith-claimed terrorism” or “terrorists abusing religious motivations”.…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, and shadow employment minister SMALL businesses are the backbone of our economy. They have been hit hard by the lockdown and the slow steps back to trading. SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] account for three-fifths of the employment and around half…
By Barnie Choudhury THE government’s newly appointed race commission has been widely criticised by Asian and black leaders, who said that it lacks credibility and consists of a “rigged panel whose minds are already made up”. Some senior Tory parliamentarians accused Number 10 of setting up the latest review to…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North “LUNCH at the Wig and Pen Club?” That was my reward for helping a barrister friend out on a tricky maritime case in the 1990s. But nothing educated me about the old boy network of the legal profession quite so much as…
By Barnie Choudhury They administer justice and safeguard the law, and yet they are the powerless victims of racism. South Asian judges have this week blown the whistle on “a culture of racism, fear and bullying” in the British judiciary. After a six-week investigation, Eastern Eye can exclusively reveal a…
THE LABOUR PARTY has accused the government of announcing “review after review” but doing “precious little with recommendations” as it called for clarity on Boris Johnson’s new racial inequality commission. In mid-June, following massive anti-racism protests, the prime minister had announced “a new cross-government commission to look at what is going on…
WELCOMING the Lawn Tennis Association’s drive to support local authorities grow tennis participation in local parks, Labour MP Virendra Sharma has urged “everyone to pick up their rackets and book a court”. He underscored that the plan came amid huge demand for tennis courts across his constituency, Ealing Southall, which…
By Nadeem Badshah EXTENDING Sunday trading hours would boost supermarket sales but devastate smaller community stores, some Asian shop owners and MPs believe. Retailers and politicians are split over the latest plan to relax trading rules, which is believed to have been part of the government’s coronavirus recovery bill. The…
The UK government’s £1.57 billion emergency support package for the arts and culture sector has been described as a lifeline for an industry “brought to its knees” by the coronavirus pandemic. The package covers funding for Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues. It includes a…
By Claudia Webbe Labour MP for Leicester East AT EVERY step in this crisis, from lockdown delay, PPE shortages and care home neglect, to track, trace and testing disinformation, the prime minister has failed to adequately protect our communities. That is why the UK had the worst coronavirus death…
BRITISH MPs have flagged Beijing's "bullying behaviour" in the border dispute with India amid calls to check the UK's "dependence" on China's. The Indo-Chinese border standoff came up in Parliament when Conservative lawmaker Ian Duncan Smith raised the issue during a discussion on the Chinese government's ill-treatment of the Uyghur minority…
A 2011 VIDEO featuring Munira Mirza has resurfaced under the spotlight as she is seen arguing against banning hate speech, and asking a black youth how using the “N-word” was different from calling someone “fat”. The head of Number 10’s policy unit – who’s been asked to set up UK’s…
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel on Sunday (28) hit back at MPs from the Labour Party for being "racist" in their treatment of her. The row emerged after a group of ethnic minority Labour MPs, including MPs Virendra Sharma, Tan Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill, Valerie Vaz, Seema Malhotra and Nadia…
By Amit Roy A PETITION calling for the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Leicester is being scrutinised by the city council to ensure it is not a fake one, given there appear to be multiple signings by the same people. Those who sign the petition also have to live…
By Barnie Choudhury ASIAN law enforcers and parliamentarians have warned that Britain will lose yet another generation to structural racism and inequality if the government does not “get a grip”’ and carry out some of the hundreds of recommendations from previous race inquiries. They have told Eastern Eye that…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston Shadow minister for work and pensions and employment AS WE emerge from lockdown into a new “normal”, a clear plan for tackling unemployment has to be on the government’s agenda, based on a proper needs assessment of different groups. The first…
By Tan Dhesi Labour MP for Slough Shadow minister for railways THE nation needs a full, independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, which has taken the lives of so many people, including three of my own close family members. We need to scrutinise ministers’ decisions…
LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has called on the government to make a concerted effort to “dismantle structural and systemic racism” in society, as she referred to Eastern Eye’s exclusive investigation this week on a lack of BAME leaders in the NHS. During a Backbench Business Debate on Thursday (18), Butler referred…
DOMINIC RAAB on Thursday (18) sparked mockery and dismay by suggesting the anti-racism protest of taking the knee was a symbol of "subjugation" that originated with the Game of Thrones. Premier League footballers took a knee on Wednesday evening in solidarity with demonstrations across the world sparked by the killing…
THE UK Home Office has not made a proper assessment of the number of illegal immigrants over the past 15 years, reveals a new report. The National Audit Office (NAO) said there were about 430,000 people in the country with no right to remain, according to the last official estimate…
By Barnie Choudhury ASIAN and black people are dying needlessly and disproportionately because they are not being represented in senior ranks of the NHS, doctors, parliamentarians, and health bosses have told Eastern Eye. The paper can also reveal that a further 17 BAME doctors have died in the past 10…
CONSERVATIVE leaders have slammed critics of No.10 adviser Munira Mirza’s involvement in the new racial equalities commission announced by Boris Johnson. Following the recent anti-racism protests in the UK, the prime minister had said he was setting up a commission to study "all aspects of inequality — in employment, in…
THE Ealing Council has said it will launch a statutory consultation over renaming a road in Southall -- known as "Little Punjab" -- after the founder of Sikh faith, Guru Nanak. The proposal to rename a section of Havelock Road as "Guru Nanak Road" came to the fore as Sadiq…
By Nadeem Badshah BANGLADESHI business leaders have expressed fears over the relaxing of lockdown measures and restaurants reopening in July after it emerged they are twice as likely to die from coronavirus than white Britons. They are also worried at the absence of any recommendations or conclusions to protect people…
By Amit Roy THE home secretary, Priti Patel, has condemned the demolition of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston by ‘Black Lives Matter’ protestors in Bristol last Sunday (7). “I think that is utterly disgraceful,” she said. “Sheer vandalism and disorder is completely unacceptable and it’s right the police…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North WE ARE moulded by our background, our family, our ethnicity. They all contribute to who we are. But they do not define us. We have the power to think not only of how things are, but also of how they ought…
By Barnie Choudhury QUESTIONS are being asked about whether a minister misled parliament during a debate on Public Health England’s (PHE) review into the disproportionately high number of Asian and black people who died from Covid-19, Eastern Eye has learnt. It follows last Thursday’s (4) urgent question to the equalities…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP, Brent North We are moulded by our background, our family, our ethnicity. They all contribute to who we are. But they do not define us. We have the power to think not only of how things are, but of how they ought to be.…
by LAUREN CODLING PRIME minister Boris Johnson told his ministers on Tuesday (9) that there was more to be done to eradicate prejudice and create opportunity in Britain, but society was much less racist than it was before, his spokesman said. Johnson’s comments came as further protests were held in…
PRITI PATEL on Monday (8) recalled being "racially abused in the streets" as she dismissed the opposition's "lectures" on racism and inequality. The home secretary said in the House of Commons that a minority of protesters who were violent during the weekend's "Black Lives Matter" protests in Britain undermined the…
ANTI-RACISM protests in Britain have been "subverted by thuggery", Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday (8), warning those responsible would be held to account. Tens of thousands took to the streets of London on Sunday, rallying for a second day running to condemn police brutality after the killing of…
DURHAM POLICE has said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings committed a "minor breach" by driving to a scenic spot at the height of the lockdown, and closed the politically explosive case. The force, however, ruled out retrospective against Cummings. The Brexit campaign master created a political scandal…
By Sunder Katwala Director, British Future thinktank THE immigration bill currently before parliament is the biggest change in British immigration policy for 40 years, though it has had a much lower profile than it would have done in usual times. The bill was carried comfortably – the second reading majority…
by LAUREN CODLING A LABOUR MP has urged the government to consider inclusive messaging for disabled people during the coronavirus pandemic, calling ministers’ current response “poor”. Marsha de Cordova, the shadow secretary for equalities and women, has spoken of the difficulties that disabled groups may face during the crisis and…
LONDON’S Brent Council sent elderly patients discharged from hospital to a dedicated coronavirus care home to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether they had tested positive for COVID-19. The council spent £1.5 million on PPE in February and ensured these patients were quarantined to stop them potentially infecting other…
A Muslim man has been arrested by the police for breaking into a gurdwara in an area in England where a stabbing incident was reported earlier. Guru Arjan Gurdwara on Stanhope Street in Derbyshire reported a break-in to Derbyshire Police after its front doors were found smashed in the early…
BRITISH MPs on Monday (18) gave their initial backing to legislation ending free movement of workers with the European Union, but the vote was overshadowed by a row over foreign healthcare staff and coronavirus. The bill would abolish the special immigration status for citizens of the EU, the European Economic…
By Amit Roy SIR KEIR STARMER has realised something that Jeremy Corbyn did not, with fatal consequences for the former Labour party leader – which is that Kashmir is the coronavirus of British politics. If you get infected by the India versus Pakistan politics of Kashmir, dating back to the…
Labour MP and shadow health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has hit back at health secretary Matt Hancock after he told her to watch her "tone" during a debate in the House of Commons. "I will not 'watch my tone' when dozens of NHS and care staff are dying unnecessarily. Families…
SENIOR doctors have demanded “immediate” government action to tackle the disproportionate number of deaths among ethnic minority communities suffering from the Covid-19 virus. Although the government announced on April 16 that it would launch an inquiry into why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds appear to be…
By Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Labour MP for Tooting and shadow cabinet minister for mental health HAVING been an A&E doctor and a humanitarian doctor working in disaster zones across the world, I have become used to death. I have become used to the painful universal sound of a person losing…
PRITI PATEL is set to be cleared of charges of bullying and breaching the ministerial code as an internal inquiry “trawled through lots of material but found no evidence”. The investigation headed by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill had been initiated after former Home Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North THIS is an open letter to Dominic Raab, first secretary of state. Since the first report of a UK death from Covid-19 in early March, my constituency of Brent North and its hospital at Northwick Park have been at the epicenter of…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH MUSLIMS have expressed the hope that Ramadan will be a time for communities to “reflect”, as lockdown measures are expected to be in place during most of the holy month, which begins later this week. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, places of worship across the UK…
London-based NGO Ramgarhia Youth Forum (RYF) has taken up a mission to provide essential kits based on requirements of NHS workers. It started off with an interaction between RYF director Danny Bhambra and Hillingdon hospital authorities, who informed him about shortage of toiletries and supplies for staff staying overnight in…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed the disproportionate number of ethnic minorities affected by coronavirus has “highlighted the structural inequalities in our society”. Speaking to Eastern Eye on Tuesday (21), the mayor said it was important to recognise that the Covid-19 virus was “affecting some communities disproportionately…
A REVIEW into why a disproportionate number of ethnic minorities across the UK have succumbed to the coronavirus was announced by the government this afternoon. Recent data has revealed a third of patients suffering from Covid-19 symptoms and who are in intensive care are of BAME heritage. A spokesperson…
By Amit Roy LABOUR’S apparent backing for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue is hardly a priority for Sir Keir Starmer, except that on being elected party leader last week after four disastrous years under Jeremy Corbyn, he pledged to “tear out this poison” of anti-Semitism. Sooner or later, he will…
by LAUREN CODLING LEADING doctors and MPs have slammed health officials for failing to react to the rapidly growing rates of Covid-19 infections and rising death toll among Asians. The criticism comes as data on Tuesday (7) suggested that ethnic minorities could be at a higher risk of developing life-threatening…
British foreign secretary Dominic Raab on Monday (6) confirmed that flights are being fixed from India to bring British nationals stranded in the coronavirus lockdown back to the UK this week. During the daily Downing Street press briefing, the senior Cabinet minister revealed that the UK’s death toll from the…
LISA NANDY has made a plea for rebuilding "a more compassionate, resilient country" as the postal ballot for the Labour leadership election closed on Thursday (2). The Wigan MP had called on the party to be "brave" and elect her during a series of hustings around the country. Nandy, 40,…
by LAUREN CODLING THE NHS is prepared for the coronavirus outbreak to “go from bad to worse” as the infection continues to spread across the UK, a medical expert has claimed. The comments came after prime minister Boris Johnson warned last month the health service could be “overwhelmed” by the…
VETERAN lawmaker Sharma on Tuesday (31) urged everyone to strictly follow the government's social distancing advice to help contain the coronavirus pandemic as he revealed his own Covid-19 diagnosis and discharge from hospital. The 72-year-old Labour MP for Ealing Southall in west London had revealed on Twitter that he was…
REPORTS reached me at the weekend that some Asian shopkeepers were engaging in profiteering, with fresh green chillis, for example, marked up to £17.99 per kg and karela (bitter gourd) priced at £9.99 per kg. Other reports spoke of hoarding. One house was apparently packed to the rafters with bags…
A British MP said that she will be returning to her previous role of a care-worker on Tuesday (24) to join the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. Nadia Whittome, born in the UK to a Punjabi father, became the youngest MP in the House of Commons representing…
By Nadeem Badshah BUSINESS leaders have praised chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget for scrapping business rates for small firms and his Coronavirus response fund, but critics have hit out at the chancellor’s response to the social care crisis. Sunak announced in his first spring Budget last Wednesday (11) that thousands of…
By Amit Roy IN MY local branch of Sainsbury’s, the shelves have been stripped bare – and not just of food, toilet rolls, pasta and rice – but something else, which, in a curious way, indicates all is not lost. An announcement said copies of Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror &…
LABOUR MP Alex Norris is set to table a Private Members’ Bill that seeks to protect shop workers from the rising tide of violence and abuse. The Ten Minute Rule Bill, due to be introduced on Monday (16), proposes to make assaults on shop workers aggravated offences. “I am shocked…
By Nadeem Badshah FRAUDSTERS are posting videos on YouTube showing people how to make fake passports and Indian Aadhar cards, an Eastern Eye investigation has found. The world's biggest video sharing website has been urged to take action with concerns that criminals could learn the tricks in the footage and dupe…
By Gareth Thomas Labour MP for Harrow West PUNCHED in the face by a shoplifter, threatened with a needle by a drug user, spat at, verbally abused more times than they can remember- this is the real-life experience of working in a British high street store for one shopworker. This…
The UK government has reiterated its concern over the potential impact of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said it is continuing to follow the events in India closely. In response to an urgent question on “Recent Violence in India” tabled by Labour Party MP Khalid Mahmood in the House…
LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan has led tributes to Ramniklal Solanki, a giant of Gujarati journalism and pioneer of British Asian media, who passed away on Sunday (1), after a brief illness. He was 88. Mr Solanki was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, when he suffered a stroke last week. He was admitted…
By Nadeem Badshah LEADING businessmen have backed the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project despite the controversies over its spiralling budget. Boris Johnson recently gave the green light for the route London to Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. Supporters of the plan say it will improve transport times, reduce overcrowding, create jobs…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asian patients with mental health problems are among the least likely to improve after having NHS treatment compared to other groups, new government data shows. Experts have called for services to be urgently improved after it emerged that patients of south Asian origin were among the least likely to…
By Amit Roy IT NEVER looks good when India refuses to admit a British member of parliament, which is what happened when the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Debbie Abrahams, landed in New Delhi last week, apparently without a visa. Personally, I would have let her in and…
MUSLIM men should be profiled at airports as terrorists will "generally be of a Muslim persuasion", Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said in an interview published Saturday (22), sparking accusations of racism. "Who are the bombers?" the budget airline's controversial chief executive said while discussing airport security in the interview with…
ALMOST two-thirds of black and minority ethnic (BAME) MPs have experienced some form of racism while working in parliament, new research has shown. According to a recent study carried out by ITV, half of respondents said they have faced abuse from fellow MPs. The study was based on anonymous responses…
HOME SECRETARY Priti Patel has formally apologised to Yvette Cooper after a Tory activist was jailed last week for texting that he was hiring “crackheads” to get the Labour MP beaten up. In a message sent last April to an online acquaintance, Joshua Spencer had implied that Cooper should be…
By Amit Roy BORIS JOHNSON has already indicated the government will stop the early release of convicted terrorists. It follows the incidents involving Usman Khan 28, on London Bridge on November 29 last year, and Sudesh Amman, who was shot dead by armed police in Streatham in south London last…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Pakistanis have dismissed fears that a new film highlighting “disappearances” in Kashmir will spark tensions in the UK and have praised the director for highlighting human rights. No Fathers in Kashmir, directed by Ashwin Kumar, was released in cinemas in January and is about a…
False narratives and propaganda are being spread against India by mutating forms of terrorism to create disharmony, threaten peace and prevent progress in the country, India's High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanashyam said in London. Addressing a gathering of Indian diaspora members and UK ministers and officials at the…
By Gareth Thomas Labour MP for Harrow West LABOUR’S next leader faces a herculean task after our worst result since 1935. If we choose the wrong leader, things could get even worse. The number of Labour MPs with very, very low majorities is striking. We need a street fighter…
by LAUREN CODLING THE UK’s criminal justice system is “biased” against ethnic minorities, leading experts have claimed, as research showed that BAME offenders are “far more likely than others” to be jailed for drug offences. New analysis, commissioned by the Sentencing Council, revealed that people from Asian and other minority…
By Nadeem Badshah THE sharp rise in the number of primary school children suspended for racism is linked to antimigrant comments and the spike in hate crimes since the Brexit vote, campaigners believe. Primary schools in England issued temporary exclusions to pupils for racist behaviour 496 times in the…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston AS PARLIAMENT returns, it is a bittersweet time – we welcome new colleagues but also share sadness and disappointment for those who lost their seats across the country. There is no doubt that this was Labour’s reverse 1997. It is a defeat…
SOME newly elected ethnic minority MPs have complained that they have been mistaken for Commons staff, it has emerged this week. Labour MPs Florence Eshalomi and Abena Oppong-Asare claimed they had been questioned by fellow politicians, who have confused them for parliamentary staff members. The women, who were part of…
by LAUREN CODLING A NEW book which highlights the contribution of 15 Punjabi women in the UK will have universal resonance, the author has claimed. Voices from Punjab is a collection of stories from a variety of prominent women, including Conservative peer Baroness Sandip Verma, Labour MP Seema Malhotra, writer…
By Nadeem Badshah MINISTERS have been urged to step up in 2020 and tackle problems faced by Asian families looking after a disabled loved one. Campaigners say there remains a low uptake among south Asians for accessing some support services. They have also highlighted the high number of benefits…
AN Asian origin British MP has come under severe criticism for not taking an oath of allegiance to the Crown on the Bhagavad Gita. Virendra Sharma, 72, made the solemn affirmation instead of taking a religious oath during the swearing-in at the House of Commons. Sharma, a Punjabi origin…
by SUNDER KATWALA Director, British Future AS THE newly elected parliament met earlier this week, it did not take long for prime minister Boris Johnson to declare that its first task will be to “get Brexit done”. Once Britain leaves the European Union in January, it will be just as…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CAMPAIGNERS have called for action over the lower pay packets of British Asian workers in the civil service – when compared to other groups. Asian and white staff had the lowest average annual pay in 2019 of £27,200, followed by black staff (£28,400) and Chinese-origin staff (£29,500).…
BIRMINGHAM MP Khalid Mahmood on Tuesday announced his decision to stand to become Labour's new deputy leader. Announcing his bid, Mahmood said his aim was to ensure that Labour was not London-centric. A former engineer who lives and works in the West Midlands, Mahmood believes he is the ideal candidate…
A SIKH candidate from the Labour party has accused his Conservative Party rival of "insulting" remarks that targeted his turban during a poll hustings in the West Midlands. Kuldip Sahota, contesting the Ludlow constituency in Shropshire, demanded a Tory party investigation after Conservative candidate Philip Dunne said he was…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITAIN’S top entrepreneurs have urged the next UK government to make ending the Brexit uncertainty, addressing the lack of housing and enabling more trade deals with India among its top priorities. Ahead of the general election on December 12, they have unveiled their Christmas wish lists,…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist EVERYONE knows where they were on September 11, 2001, when two planes slammed into the World Trade Centre twin towers in New York. But few of us will remember where we were the day before. Except I can, and for reasons which will soon…
BRITAIN’S parliament could be the most diverse ever – with 67 ethnic minority MPs – when the results of the December 12 election are announced next month, a leading thinktank has predicted. There were 52 BAME MPs when parliament was dissolved in October, in the run up to the general…
THE Labour Party's selection of Claudia Webbe as a replacement for Keith Vaz as its candidate in Leicester East has enraged a few supporters. Navin Shah, a London Assembly member from Brent, has accused Labour of being not transparent enough in its selection process. "UK Labour has perfected stitch up…
by NADEEM BADSHAH TOUGHER punishments are needed for people trafficking gangs after 39 people were found dead in a refrigerated trailer, lawyers and charities have urged. They have called for a fresh clampdown on criminals convicted of making a fortune from smuggling migrants to the UK, and more investment towards…
THE Labour party's failure to select enough number of British Indian candidates to contest in the upcoming general elections has attracted severe criticism. Labour Friends of India (LFIN), the representative diaspora group of the party, on Wednesday (13) noted that the relation between the Indian community and Labour has already…
DIFFERENCES over Kashmir must not be allowed to divide communities against each other here in the UK, the chair of the Labour Party has said, adding the party would not adopt any “anti-India or anti-Pakistan” position over the matter. In a letter dated November 11, Ian Lavery said that “Kashmir…
LABOUR MP Keith Vaz, facing suspension for expressing willingness to purchase cocaine for others, said he will not stand for re-election. In a statement released yesterday evening (10), Vaz, 62, said he will be standing down as MP for Leicester East after 32 years representing the constituency. ALSO READ: Barnie…
HINDUS in the UK are being urged to vote against Labour in the upcoming general election. WhatsApp messages accusing the party of being "anti-India" and "anti-Hindu" have been sent using the app's forward function. One message has called on "all India sympathisers" to "defeat Labour candidates from as many seats…
Dawn Butler has become the first major candidate to enter Labour deputy leadership race. Following Tom Watson's resignation as deputy leader of the Labour party Wednesday evening, Butler said that she would like to enter the leadership race. The Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities told Bloomberg: "I…
MORE efforts are needed to create an inclusive environment for the UK’s Gujarat community, it was argued during a parliamentary debate last week. Labour’s Gareth Thomas and Conservative MP Bob Blackman took part in a parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall last Wednesday (30) to celebrate the contribution of the British…
A MAN who sent threatening messages to former prime minister Theresa May and several other politicians did so with a phone he hid in his mother's shoe, a court heard on Wednesday (6). Wajid Shah, 26, is accused of sending threats to Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton…
A LABOUR candidate who courted controversy for saying she would celebrate the death of Tony Blair has now been accused of using anti-white slurs. Zarah Sultana, who is standing for Coventry South, reportedly referred to a Jewish student as YT, a slang used against white people, while she was a…
A DEBATE on the Gujarati community in the UK has heard the contribution of Eastern Eye’s publishers being highlighted in the House of Commons. Gareth Thomas MP singled out, among others, the Solanki family, which runs the Asian Media Group (AMG) – the publisher of Eastern Eye – for praise during the debate held…
by LAUREN CODLING A LABOUR MP has urged the government to consider making Diwali and Eid national holidays in the UK. Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Gareth Thomas called for the government to debate on recognising religious celebrations such as Diwali, which fell last Sunday (27), as…
A Labour MP who headed a parliamentary committee probing drug policies is facing a six-month suspension after a lengthy inquiry into claims he offered to pay for cocaine. Former Europe minister Keith Vaz, 62, committed a "very serious breach" of code of conduct for MPs, said the House of Commons…
A Labour candidate for the West Midlands metro mayor has vowed to continue to fight on in the face of "vicious character assassination." Salma Yaqoob is reportedly being pressurised to stand down in the race to become Labour's candidate for West Midlands mayor. But she has no intention of doing…
A LABOUR MP has once again opened up about being diven to "contemplating suicide" by a West Midlands mayoral candidate from her own party. Naz Shah, the shadow minister of state for women and equalities, took to Twitter on Tuesday (22) to reiterate her claims that Salma Yaqoob, who ran…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE number of British Asians who feel they are part of their neighbourhood has fallen sharply, government figures showed. Experts believe rising hate crime since the Brexit referendum and families moving to wealthier parts of the UK are the main causes behind the drop. Between 2017-2018 and…
Furious Tories have lashed out at BBC presenter Andrew Marr who on Sunday (13) accused home secretary Priti Patel of "laughing" at Brexit fears after she appeared to smirk during their interview. While talking about industry groups who expressed concern at their future after Brexit, the veteran political presenter stopped…
SENIOR Labour MPs are said to be working to refer the party’s controversial Kashmir motion, which alleged “state-endorsed sexual violence of women by armed forces”, back to its National Executive Committee (NEC). At its annual party conference in Brighton last month, Labour passed a resolution which said: “The enforced disappearance…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians are the least likely to receive government-backed Start Up loans for their business when compared to other ethnic groups, figures show. Experts have called for an investigation into any evidence of “discrimination” to ensure more Asian entrepreneurs do not miss funding for their firm. From…
An Indian man accused of rape and murder in the UK ten years ago has been charged with the crimes as he landed in London after being extradited from India, Scotland Yard said. Aman Vyas, 35, landed at Heathrow Airport on Friday (4) night and will appear before Uxbridge Magistrates'…
THE leader of Redbridge Council has been suspended from the Labour Party following serious allegations. Jas Athwal, who was taking part in the race to be prospective parliamentary candidate in Ilford South, was suspended on Friday (4) over allegations that were first made against him in August. The move has…
By Nadeem Badshah MINISTERS have been criticised for failing to stop the collapse of travel firm Thomas Cook – as customers were told they may have to wait up to two months for refunds. An online refund system is due to launch on October 7 after the company went into…
by LAUREN CODLING ACTIVIST Gina Miller has described the “disturbing” threats made towards herself and her children in light of her supreme court case against the government last week. Her comments come after a number of MPs have spoken out about the abuse and death threats they have faced in…
by LAUREN CODLING POLITICIANS have raised concerns over the declining rates of childhood immunisations, as the health secretary announced on Monday (30) that compulsory vaccinations were being “seriously considered”. The latest NHS statistics released last week showed the number of children being vaccinated has dropped, with only two of the…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CALLS for a British boycott of Indian products following anger over Kashmir must not spill over into hate speech online and spark further tension between communities, MPs and shopkeepers have warned. Images of Indian flags being burned have been posted on Twitter since prime minister Narenda Modi’s…
LAST week among the continued parliamentary battle over Brexit and during Boris Johnson’s first Prime Minister’s Questions, he was accused of being racist. This accusation was made by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough. First, let me state I know Tanmanjeet. There are not that many turban wearing…
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for the “shameful” Amritsar atrocity as he visited the Jallianwala Bagh memorial site on Tuesday (10). Archbishop Justin Welby made the apology as he visited India during his 10-day tour, claiming that he felt “ashamed and sorry” for the impact that the incident had…
by LAUREN CODLING FORMER Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq has revealed she consulted her two children while writing her new book which centres on a young British-Bangladeshi girl. Cookie!...and the Most Annoying Boy in the World explores the world of Cookie Haque – a nine-year-old girl obsessed with science and…
By Rithika Siddhartha LABOUR MP Tan Dhesi prompted unprecedented applause in the Commons this afternoon (4) as he challenged prime minister Boris Johnson over the use of his language describing women wearing veils as looking like letterboxes. Dhesi, a turban wearing Sikh who represents Slough, said: “If I wear…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist FOR those who don’t know about the best city in the UK, let me enlighten you. Leicester is home to the 2015-16 Premier League football champions; the place which produced Martin Johnson, the man who led the England squad to a glorious rugby World…
by BARRY GARDINER Labour MP for Brent North and shadow international trade secretary IT HAS been widely reported that when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, a young Boris Johnson answered, “world king!” It is less widely reported that when US president Donald Trump heard this…
An Indian man accused of rape and murder in the UK 10 years ago is set to be extradited from India to face charges in Britain, according to a media report. Aman Vyas, 34, is believed to be in custody in India before he is flown to London to face…
LABOUR MP Preet Kaur Gill has called Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament a "coup" and termed the prime minister a "dictator." Taking to Twitter on Wednesday (28), Gill wrote: "I make no apology in calling this for what it is: This is a coup made by an extreme Right…
HOW THE JADE-SHILPA ROW CHANGED BRITAIN by AMIT ROY BROADCASTER Channel 4’s three-part documentary, Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, has reminded many viewers of the racist abuse that was heaped on Shilpa Shetty when the Bollywood actress appeared in the fifth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2007. Others are discovering for…
THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of Kingsbury in north London last Saturday (24) to witness the fifth anniversary celebrations of the Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan Shree Swaminarayan Mandir. Celebrations were led by global spiritual leader Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, leader of the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, and they kicked…
TAN Singh Dhesi MP held talks with Indian politicians about introducing direct flights from London to Amritsar. The Labour MP for Slough in Berkshire travelled to New Delhi last week to meet civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri and commerce and industry minister Som Parkash. Dhesi MP called for national…
by LAUREN CODLING ETHNIC communities in northern England have been “ignored” in light of the Brexit vote as politicians and media focus on the “white working class”, a new report has cautioned. Class, Race and Inequality in Northern Towns showed that the focus on the “mythical white working class” had…
MPs on Thursday (15) called on home secretary Priti Patel to "get a grip" and put an end to the "terrifying rise in violent crime," after it was revealed that the number of offenders avoiding prison for assaulting police officers has doubled over the past decade. On Thursday night, PC…
By Nadeem Badshah MORE Indian students are saying au revoir to Britain and are choosing to study in France. Figures show that about 10,000 people from India are taking courses in French cities including Paris, a number which has trebled in three years. Alexandre Ziegler, France’s ambassador to India, said the…
THE Home Office has been accused by critics of making a profit from soaring immigration fees that delivered a £500 million surplus last year. Charges levied on thousands of people for British residency and citizenship have risen in the past five years, with profits increasing by 91 per cent. Applicants…
A MAN who sent a threatening email to an MP was on Tuesday (13) jailed for 12 weeks. Stewart Hanson, 57, accused Naz Shah of antisemitism and made racist comments and threats of violence to the Bradford West MP and her family in the email sent to her work account…
KASHMIRI community leaders in Birmingham on Monday (12) called for a boycott of Indian products and Bollywood films over anger at India stripping their homeland of its special status. To express their anger over the fate of their homeland, the Kashmiri community in Birmingham will hold a protest on August…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist “I HEAR you’re the most hated Asian in the BBC,” the national newspaper journalist said. It was December 2001, and I was at a Radio 4 Today Christmas party. “I was told by one of your Asian colleagues that you’re a sell-out, an Uncle…
by LAUREN CODLING SENIOR doctors and MPs have called for more funding for the NHS as prime minister Boris Johnson announced the health service would receive £1.8 billion to improve hospital facilities and equipment. Last Sunday (4), Johnson said various NHS Trusts across the country would receive the one-off cash…
by DR FAIZA SHAHEEN Director of CLASS HOW did we end up with Boris Johnson as prime minister? It feels like we are trapped in a nightmare from which we can’t seem to wake up. He is the man who compared Muslim women in veils to letterboxes, and who suggested…
by LAUREN CODLING BORIS JOHNSON has promised to “deliver Brexit and unite the United Kingdom”, as he won the race to become Britain’s next prime minister on Tuesday (23). The Conservative MP and former London mayor made the comments after he comfortably beat his rival, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, with…
A NUMBER of British politicians have signed a letter of support for the four US congresswomen of colour who were targeted by president Donald Trump last week. In a letter co-ordinated by Labour MP Naz Shah, British MPs and peers condemned the "abhorrent racist and fascist chants" about the four…
by NADEEM BADSHAH BRITISH INDIAN and Bangladesh-origin school children are outperforming their white peers in the classroom, latest government figures show. Some 76 per cent of British Indian 10- and 11-year-olds met the “expected standard” in reading, writing and maths, compared to 64 per cent of white pupils. The figure…
By Nadeem Badshah MINISTERS have been criticised for failing to extradite an Indian man who is also accused of three alleged rapes to face trial over the murder of a British woman 10 years ago. Michelle Samaraweera, 35, was found dead in a playground in Walthamstow, east London, after…
By Nadeem Badshah CAMPAIGNERS have called for an overhaul of adult social care after a damning report called for ministers to spend £8 billion to bring it to “acceptable levels”. They have warned that the system is affecting more south Asian families than estimated and said services are not reaching…
MORE Asians, blacks and ethnic minority youths are in young offender institutions compared with white people, government figures show. In May, there were 415 black, Asian and minority young people in custody in England and Wales compared with 396 whites, Ministry of Justice figures showed. This was the first time…
STAFF working for lawmakers in Britain's lower house of parliament face an unacceptable risk of sexual harassment, bullying and abuse, which has been hidden because they fear reprisals, according to an official report on Thursday (11). An independent inquiry, led by lawyer Gemma White, was commissioned after parliament became one of several…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE Indian Navy’s move to end colonial-style traditions, including the VIP culture, has been met with a mixed response in Britain. Admiral Karambir Singh, the new chief of staff, called on senior officers to be “disciplined and respectful, but not subservient” in their conduct. He wants to…
By NADEEM BADSHAH SHOPKEEPERS have slammed police chiefs and ministers for failing to treat thefts and assaults seriously enough. The Federation of Small Businesses warned this month that criminal activity is costing the industry almost E17 billion every year and have called for more officers on the streets to…
By NADEEM BADSHAH MINISTERS have been urged to launch a crackdown on frauds posing as immigration officials and targeting migrants in money scams. Victims are contacted by criminals who exert pressure and force people to hand over up to £10,000; in some cases, people have been threatened with being…
AN MP, a television presenter and two parliamentary staffers are set to perform at a charity concert in the Palace of Westminster on July 2. Known as the Statutory Instruments, the ensemble of Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, councillor Katherine Chibah and Emily Benn, former…
INDIAN origin labour MP Tan Dhesi and conservative MP Richard Benyon met the Rail Minister, Andrew Jones MP, to discuss the work of the all-party parliamentary group for a western rail link to Heathrow (APPG WRLtH) on Wednesday (27). Both Tan and Richard are co-chairs of the cross-party group of…
A LABOUR MP who agreed to let Chris Williamson back into the party has called for the decision to be reviewed. Keith Vaz, who sat on the panel that made the decision to readmit Williamson, on Wednesday (26) wrote to Jennie Formby, the party's general secretary, saying that the decisions…
by NADEEM BADSHAH FIRE service chiefs have been urged to investigate the lack of diversity after figures showed only 0.6 per cent of firefighters in England are of Asian origin. Home Office data showed there were 203 British Asians in 2018, which makes up less than one per cent, compared…
A FORMER Labour minister has challenged protests against LGBT equality teaching saying such education is not "propagandising", but about respecting their rights to have an "equal welcome in school." Angela Eagle, who was the first openly gay female MP when she came out in 1997, insisted during a Commons debate…
THE Labour Party is under immense pressure to suspend MP Roger Godsiff after he backed Birmingham school protesters saying they had a "just cause." Godsiff represents Anderton Park School and surrounding community, and in an exchange captured on video, he is heard telling demonstrators that they were "in the right."…
THE headteacher of a Birmingham school that has been at the centre of protests over LGBT equality classes said yesterday (10) she was "delighted" after a judge issued a fresh interim injunction against the demonstrations. Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, headteacher at Anderton Park Primary School, said the 12 weeks of demonstrations had…
A LABOUR MP will be "reminded of responsibilities" after he told parents protesting against LGBT classes outside a primary school in Birmingham that they were right and they had a “just cause.” A video circulated on social media shows Roger Godsiff telling parents they had a "just cause" and that…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MINISTERS have been urged to “take their head out of the sand” after research showed the police record 29 race hate crimes a day against children. There were 10,571 offences against children in 2017-2018, with toddlers and babies among those suffering – a figure which has risen…
by NADEEM BADSHAH PAKISTAN is set for a tourism boom after British Airways (BA) resumed flights to the country this week for the first time in more than a decade, experts said. The airline is offering three flights a week from Heathrow airport to Islamabad, 11 years after suspending operations…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CAMPAIGNERS and MEPs have welcomed the failure of Tommy Robinson and UKIP in the European elections but have warned about the sweeping rise of far-right parties in other countries. Former English Defence League founder Robinson, accused of pursuing an anti-Muslim agenda, did not secure enough votes to…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MORE than a million protesters and the return of the “baby blimp” are set to greet Donald Trump when he makes his controversial state visit to the UK in June. Campaigners have predicted one of the biggest ever demonstrations when the US president arrives on June 3…
by NADEEM BADSHAH SLAVERY victims from south Asia are being recruited in places of worship by relatives in the UK who use “threats and blackmail” to control them, a report found. Campaigners have called for more funding and awareness to tackle the issue after the Unseen charity revealed that its…
A POLICE chief has called for an end to protest outside a Birmingham school over LGBT equality classes. Dave Thompson, the chief constable of West Midlands police, said a number of criminal offences had occurred outside Anderton Park primary school since Sunday evening.. “In recent months some Birmingham primary schools…
Prime minister Theresa May set out on Tuesday (21) a "new deal" for Britain's departure from the European Union, offering parliament sweeteners including the chance to vote on whether to hold a second referendum to try to break the impasse over Brexit. Three years since Britain voted to leave the…
The percentage of people from Asian background reporting racial discrimination has increased since the EU referendum, a survey reveals. The survey by Opinium showed that 71 per cent of people from ethnic minorities said they faced racial discrimination, compared to 58 per cent before the EU vote. For the survey,…
Labour MP Jess Phillips got into a row with a Muslim protester outside a school in Birmingham amid ongoing protest over LGBT equality lessons. Phillips was filmed arguing with a protester outside Anderton Park Primary School, where parents have been protesting for weeks claiming LGBT inclusion lessons were promoting homosexuality.…
A new Offensive Weapons Bill aimed at tackling rising knife crime in the UK completed its journey through Parliament to become an act of law after receiving the Royal Assent of Queen Elizabeth this week. The bill had been amended late last year to ensure that it would not impact…
by LAUREN CODLING THE growing threat of the far-right needs to be urgently tackled, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned, as some polls indicate Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party (BP) looks to make gains in the EU elections next Thursday (23). Britons will head to polling stations next week to elect…
Home secretary Sajid Javid has been slammed for his apparent lack of action after he promised to look into claims that grooming gangs comprised mainly men of Pakistani heritage. Last July, Javid ordered officials to work with police to build profile of sex gangs. However, the Home Office has yet…
by Nadeem Badshah FORMER UK military staff from Commonwealth countries should be exempt from paying “rocketing” immigration fees to settle in Britain, campaigners have said. Personnel who leave the Armed Forces after four years of service have to pay visa application costs that have risen by 127 per cent in…
There is an "unprecedented" increase in the number of threats against MPs and Brexit divide may have contributed to the rise in attacks. Between January and April this year, the number of crimes soared to 152, a rise of 90 per cent compared with the same period last year. Cressida…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH SRI LANKANS have spoken of their concerns for the safety of their island country after the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks which left more than 250 people dead. B Muraleetharan, the co-owner of M Wine Merchant in Tooting, south London, revealed that her husband was in…
A BRITISH charitable foundation has launched a major higher education programme to support underprivileged Muslim students through top universities. The COSARAF Charitable Foundation aims to provide up to 24 graduate and undergraduate scholarships at four major UK universities - St Anne’s College, Oxford; any Cambridge college (administered by Downing College);…
FOREIGN students who have been accused by the Home Office of cheating on English tests have detailed how they have had to put their lives on hold, unable to work in the UK or use the NHS. About 36,000 student visas have been cancelled since 2014. Fatema Chowdhury is one…
BRITISH home secretary Sajid Javid is under immense pressure to resolve a scandal that has the potential to be "bigger than Windrush." Around 34,000 overseas students have had their visas cancelled and more than 1,000 were forcibly removed from the UK after they were accused of cheating in a Home…
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump's state visit to the UK is due to take place in early June. President Trump and first lady Melania visited the UK in July 2018 for a two-day working visit. They met prime minister Theresa May at Chequers and the Queen at Windsor Castle before heading…
by NADEEM BADSHAH THE first trial in Britain of crime victims being given support dogs to stroke during police interviews has been welcomed by campaigners. They believe the move by Kent Police could tackle the stigma faced by south Asian survivors of sex attacks. Oliver, a Labrador-retriever cross, is being…
Manchester Museum has launched an exhibition on Jallianwala Bagh in collaboration with the Partition Museum in Amritsar to mark the centenary of the British colonial era massacre. 'Jallianwala Bagh 1919: Punjab Under Siege' opened at the Museum in time for Saturday's 100th anniversary of the tragedy that affected thousands. The…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH prime minister Theresa May expressed regret for the Amritsar atrocity, but stopped short of a full apology on Wednesday (10). “We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused,” she said in the House of Commons at the start of Prime Minister's Questions, as India marks…
by LAUREN CODLING and NADEEM BADSHAH APOLOGISING for the Amritsar massacre would be a “reflection of the close relationship between the UK and India”, a British-Asian peer said, as Saturday (13) marks 100 years since the tragedy. Hundreds were killed in Jallianwala Bagh, a walled area in the Sikh holy…
by NADEEM BADSHAH FINANCE chiefs and ministers have been urged to intervene after it emerged that ethnic minorities experience discrimination by banks. Mick McAteer, who runs the Financial Inclusion Centre think-tank, accused the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) watchdog of failing to protect vulnerable groups from being charged excessive amounts for…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a landmark report which found that international students provide a £22 billion boost to the UK economy – and have urged ministers to relax immigration rules. The research found that a typical student from outside the EU was worth at least £102,000 to Britain…
BRISTOL MP Thangam Debbonaire has slammed a senior judge for saying it's a "fundamental human right" for a man to have sex with his wife. Justice Hayden, a senior High Court judge, made the comment during a hearing in a case to determine whether a man should be banned from…
BRITISH prime minister Theresa May on Tuesday (2) called for a further extension to Brexit as she offered to meet Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to agree on a plan that could overcome resistance from MPs to leave the EU. After a seven-hour meeting with her cabinet, the prime minister…
by Amit Roy AN ENGLISH friend of mine who fell ill and could not attend last Friday’s (22) launch of Eastern Eye’s Rich List sent her regrets at having to pull out at the last minute. She said that she and her husband, who enjoys any excuse for an outing…
THE TREATMENT of minorities in the criminal justice system has not improved since a major review in 2017, Labour MP David Lammy - who did the review - has said. The Tottenham MP told the House of Commons Justice Committee it would be “crazy” to suggest that things had not…