- Saturday, July 27, 2024
Former foreign minister James Cleverly announced on Tuesday that he is running to become the leader of the Conservative Party. The party announced on Monday that it would name its new leader on November 2. This follows the party's worst-ever election performance, which led to former prime minister Rishi Sunak's…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has appointed prominent city adviser Varun Chandra as his special adviser on business and investment, reported The Financial Times. Chandra, previously managing partner at the London-based consultancy Hakluyt, will now be the main point of contact between Downing Street and corporate executives as well as international…
WHAT'S in a name? More to the point, what is the significance of a nickname in multicultural Britain? The England right-arm off-break bowler, Shoaib Bashir, is referred to by his admiring teammates as Bash. Eastern Eye readers need not worry. The use of a nickname in this context is a…
The Conservative party said on Monday that it will announce its next leader on November 2, following the historic election loss that led to ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak's resignation. The election reduced the party to 121 MPs, marking its worst result ever, as the Labour opposition secured a 174-seat majority.…
The Conservative Party has announced the appointment of interim opposition front benchers. Party leader Rishi Sunak and interim opposition chief whip Stuart Andrew revealed these appointments on Friday, 19 July. These appointments follow the formation of the interim shadow cabinet last week and aim to prepare the Conservative Party to…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer called on Thursday (18) for closer cooperation in Europe to advance support for Ukraine and tackle the continent's most pressing problems: illegal migration, climate change and energy security. Opening a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) of more than 40 nations at Blenheim Palace, the…
BRITAIN let down its citizens by leaving the nation ill-prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic because of significantly flawed planning and failures by ministers and scientific experts, a public inquiry concluded in a scathing report on Thursday (18). The country recorded more than 230,000 deaths by December 2023, a similar death…
King Charles outlined Labour's first government programme in 15 years on Wednesday, focusing on economic stability, tougher action on irregular immigration, and improving post-Brexit relations with Europe. "We will unlock growth and take the brakes off Britain," prime minister Keir Starmer stated in his remarks before the King's Speech, a…
FORMER home secretary, Priti Patel, is expected to contest the Tory leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak as opposition leader in the House of Commons. According to media reports, the 52-year-old British Indian MP is considering throwing her hat in the ring after she won her Witham, Essex, seat with…
HALF of the public and two-thirds (67 per cent) of the 2024 voters who elected Labour to power support the government's new migrant policy, a new poll has revealed. The poll conducted by Focaldata for the British Future think tank revealed that only 20 per cent of the population disapprove…
NEWLY elected British Indian MPs to the House of Commons have been pledging their allegiance to the British Crown as a symbol of loyalty to the country, choosing to swear on holy texts or affirm their oath during the first week of a new Parliament. A new copy of the…
NEARLY half of Tory grassroots members support merging with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, according to a poll. Also, Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the favourite for the next party leader. YouGov data collected since the general election indicated that Badenoch, a former business secretary and a notable critic of Rishi…
CONSERVATIVE party leader James Cleverly has warned against “bitter infighting” among the Tories and called for a "sensible post-mortem" of the recent rout at the general election. Cleverly has been appointed to shadow his former role of home secretary after Labour’s landslide win. While writing for The Times he urged…
COMPARED to the 60 per cent turnout in the British general election last week, it was 66.6 per cent in India, where 642 million people out of the eligible electorate of 968 million cast their ballots. In Britain, polling took place last Thursday (4), whereas in India, voting was held…
RISHI SUNAK should be remembered for bringing back “moral decency” to the position of prime minister despite the Conservative party’s heavy defeat at last week’s general election, a longserving Asian parliamentarian has said. Sunak left Downing Street last Thursday (4), 20 months after he was sworn in amid political turmoil…
LISA NANDY, the new culture secretary and the only person of Indian origin in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet, is being urged to nurture the British Asian artistic fraternity. Mira Kaushik, artistic director of the dance group Akademi and a judge in Eastern Eye’s Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTA), said:…
THE Rwandan government said Tuesday (9) a multi-million pound migrant deal with Britain that was scrapped by the incoming Labour government on the weekend contained no stipulation about repaying funds. Britain has already paid Kigali £240 million since the scheme was announced in April 2022, and Rwandan president Paul Kagame…
A SCULPTOR has made a bronze bust of Rishi Sunak just as he did with the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi three years ago. “I have the Rishi bust at home in London – I haven’t had a chance to offer it to him,” Nadey Hakim told Eastern Eye. The…
“Change”. That was what this election was about. Change, above all, from Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party. Fourteen million voted Conservative last time. Fewer than seven million did this time. The Conservatives lost a quarter of the vote to Reform on the right and another quarter to their left. The losses…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman expressed outrage over the Home Office flying the pride flag, labelling it a “monstrous thing” during a speech. Her remarks were strongly criticised by LGBTQ+ Tories. She accused “liberal Conservatives” of failing to “stop the lunatic woke virus,” asserting that this failure contributed to the…
AFTER scrapping Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme, the Labour government would allow more than 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum, The Telegraph reports. Around 90,000 migrants earmarked for deportation to Rwanda will be among the 102,000 who will be processed through the asylum system. Regarding people arriving by small boats, the…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer promised to secure an improved agreement with the European Union on post-Brexit trading rules and revamp the "botched deal" signed by former premier Boris Johnson. Speaking in Belfast after talks with the leaders of Northern Ireland, where post-Brexit trade rules have dominated politics for years, Starmer…
Rishi Sunak appointed his shadow cabinet on Monday. Some senior ministers returned to roles they held in government before last week's parliamentary election, while former foreign secretary David Cameron resigned. Andrew Mitchell will handle the foreign policy brief in the interim shadow cabinet, a team of senior spokespeople chosen by…
RISHI SUNAK spent his weekend calling up Tory MPs who lost their seats at the general election and apologised to them for the Conservative party's rout in the general election, The Telegraph reports. One of the Conservative politicians told the daily that Sunak appeared emotional and sympathetic during the call…
"I hope to win," says nine-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, who will soon become the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. Bodhana is set to join the women's team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September, a milestone she describes as an honour. She is also…
BIG investors are warming to Britain after a landslide election win for its new Labour government, but remain wary of placing long-term bets until prime minister Keir Starmer can convince them his economic growth plans are credible. Sterling, the strongest major currency against the dollar this year, nudged higher on…
PRIME Minister Keir Starmer vowed to "work constructively" with Scotland's nationalist government as he kicked off a trip aimed at improving ties between London and the UK's devolved nations. Starmer met with Scotland's First Minister and leader of the pro-separatist Scottish National Party (SNP) John Swinney in Edinburgh on Sunday…
PRIME minister Keir Starmer spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Saturday (6) and said he was keen to conclude a Free Trade Agreement that worked for both sides, Downing Street said. India and the UK have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for over two years with…
BRITISH INDIAN former Tory MP Alok Sharma, who had chosen not to seek re-election in this week’s general election, will now take his seat in the House of Lords after being conferred a peerage by King Charles. The 56-year-old Agra-born former minister now becomes Lord Sharma. He was knighted as…
NEWLY appointed foreign secretary David Lammy reiterated his support Friday (5) for international efforts to secure an "immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war and for the release of remaining hostages. Lammy, 51, said he would "get to work with tireless diplomacy" towards those twin aims, in his first comments after…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer will oversee a parliament more ethnically diverse and more female than ever after securing a landslide victory in the election. Black, Asian and ethnic minority lawmakers will represent around 13 per cent of the House of Commons, up from 10 per cent in 2019, when Britain…
LISA NANDY, the British Indian MP re-elected from Wigan in north-west England, will assume her position at prime minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet table on Saturday (6) as his new culture secretary alongside a record number of fellow women ministers. The 44-year-old MP was appointed secretary of state for culture, media…
NEWLY elected Labour prime minister Keir Starmer will kickstart his plan to "rebuild Britain" on his first full day in charge on Saturday (6), after his party's landslide election win ended 14 years of Tory rule. Starmer spent his first hours in Downing Street on Friday (5) appointing his ministerial…
Keir Starmer on Friday promised to "rebuild Britain" after his Labour party's landslide general election victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. King Charles asked Starmer to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace, officially appointing the 61-year-old former human rights lawyer as prime minister. Crowds of Labour…
Rishi Sunak showed dignity and grace in defeat as he became a former prime minister this (5) morning. He told his constituency count in Richmond, Yorkshire, that he had conceded defeat during the early hours of the morning in a telephone call to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, speaking of…
A record number of around 26 Indian-origin members of Parliament have been elected to the House of Commons in the UK's general election as results were announced on Friday, with several Conservatives surviving an overall brutal outcome for their party. Outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak leads the Tory charge of…
Rishi Sunak apologised to the public on Friday after the Conservatives were defeated by Labour in the election and announced his resignation as party leader. "To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry," Sunak said outside Downing Street before going to Buckingham Palace to…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Keir Starmer on Friday (5) for his "remarkable victory" in Britain's general election, while praising his outgoing counterpart Rishi Sunak for deepening bilateral ties. "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to @Keir_Starmer on the remarkable victory," Modi wrote on the social media platform X. "Thank…
KEIR STARMER on Friday will become Britain's new prime minister, as his centre-left opposition Labour party swept to a landslide general election victory, ending 14 years of right-wing Conservative rule. "The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the national election on Friday, saying the opposition Labour Party had won. "The Labour Party has won this general election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory," Sunak said after winning his parliamentary seat in northern England.…
Penny Mordaunt, once viewed as a possible leader of Conservative Party, lost her parliamentary seat to a candidate from the opposition Labour Party, election results showed early on Friday. Mordaunt, 51, secured 13,715 votes, or 33 per cent of the total, in the Portsmouth North constituency in southern England, behind…
Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, won a seat in the British parliament for the first time on Friday in the seaside English town of Clacton-on-Sea, as voters deserted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party. Farage, whose career of anti-immigration, pro-Brexit campaigning has made him one of…
Defence secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat at Thursday's parliamentary election, becoming the most senior Conservative cabinet member so far to be defeated in what is set to be a clear overall victory for the Labour Party. Shapps was defeated by Labour's Andrew Lewin in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency in…
Keir Starmer on Friday said Britain was "ready for change", as his main opposition Labour party looked set to sweep to power in a landslide election win, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. The Labour leader won re-election in his north London constituency with ease, while around the country Labour…
Reform UK, the right-wing populist party led by Nigel Farage, looks set to emerge as a new force in British politics, winning its first seat in an election and squeezing the Conservative vote in the early results declared. Farage, a driving force behind Britain's decision to leave the European Union,…
The Labour party looks set for a landslide election win, exit polls indicated on Thursday (4), ending 14 years of Conservative rule marked by financial austerity, Brexit division and scandal. As polling stations closed at 10:00 pm, the survey for UK broadcasters suggested Labour would win 410 seats in the…
Rishi Sunak is expected to stay on as Tory leader if he loses the election to prevent party infighting and to ensure an orderly transition. Cabinet ministers have requested Sunak remain party leader until September to avoid chaos following a potential Labour victory, The Times reported. A veteran Tory MP…
BRITONS headed to the polls Thursday in a general election widely expected to emphatically return the opposition Labour party to power and end nearly a decade-and-a-half of Conservative rule. The country's first national ballot since Boris Johnson won a landslide for the Tories in 2019 follows prime minister Rishi Sunak's…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has declared the election battle “over” for the Conservatives and it should now fight to save itself from extinction. Braverman, who was sacked last year by Sunak after a series of outspoken comments, said the party needed to rediscover its “soul” and move back to…
The Conservative Party almost conceded election defeat to Labour on Wednesday, a day before polling stations opened, warning that the opposition party was on course for a record-breaking victory. Opinion polls indicate that Labour is set for a significant win in Thursday's vote, ending 14 years of Conservative government and…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson tried to rally the Conservative party faithful as UK politicians on Wednesday spent a final day campaigning ahead of the general election. The Brexit stalwart, ousted by his own Conservative lawmakers in 2022 after a string of scandals, made a surprise appearance at a party…
SOCIAL media firms have been urged to do more to tackle conspiracy theories and false information being posted on their platforms. These include messages and videos speculating about tragedies such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1984 and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings. There are also false allegations about vaccines,…
AT THE time of writing, the result isn’t in from the general election. But it is fair to say that Rishi Sunak had to endure an undercurrent of racism, not only during the election campaign, but even before he became Conservative party leader. Some of it is overt. When Rishi…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak thanked pharmacists for providing “fantastic healthcare” as he visited a healthcare service depot on Monday (1). Just two days before the general election on Thursday (4), Sunak visited Bestway Healthcare Service Centre (HSC) depot in Stoke-on-Trent. He was accompanied by Bestway’s chief executive, Lord Zameer Choudrey,…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to listen to Asian communities, saying he would like its business leaders to play an integral part in the UK’s rejuvenation, should the party win the election on Thursday (4). In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye on the sidelines of a visit to…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer and prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday kicked off the last day of campaigning before polls open in a national election, each warning voters of dire economic consequences if the other man wins. Opinion polls show Starmer's Labour Party is set for a big win…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak kicked off his campaign with a distribution centre visit in eastern England in the early hours of Tuesday (2), the penultimate day of campaigning ahead of polling day on Thursday (4), urging voters to not "do something they regret". All pre-election opinion polls indicate a strong…
A future Labour government would have a greater focus on legal migration while also tackling inactivity among British workers in order to reduce net migration to the UK, the party’s chair, Anneliese Dodds, said at an election debate hosted by Eastern Eye in London on Monday (1). In its election manifesto launched…
Rishi Sunak, trailing in the election race, started his day early on Tuesday by visiting a retail distribution centre. Before 5 am, he was at an Ocado warehouse in Luton, north of London, observing robots picking items for delivery. Sunak, who has appeared tired during the six-week campaign, spent the…
British voters rarely choose to change the government at a General Election, doing so only three times in the last half century: in 1979, 1997 and 2010. You need to be older than prime minister Rishi Sunak – born in 1980 – to have an adult memory of the last…
Voting for the first time in a British election, Prathesh Paulraj and other immigrant voters are excited to take part in the July 4 ballot, hoping they can influence change in the country that they have chosen to call home. The opposition Labour Party is widely expected to win by…
REFORM UK party leader Nigel Farage said his party was doing better than expected after a "tough" few days, as he addressed supporters at a rally with days to go before the country votes on July 4. Farage, one of the country's most recognisable and divisive politicians, has been a…
TATA Steel workers in Britain have suspended a planned all-out strike and overtime ban after the company agreed to negotiations about future investment, the Unite trade union said on Monday. Around 1,500 Tata Steel workers at Tata's Port Talbot and Llanwern sites were due to begin an indefinite strike from…
FOR a decade, leaving the European Union was the question that dominated British politics. These days it barely comes up. Which is clearly how Labour Party leader Keir Starmer likes it. He has worked diligently to win back the support of working class voters, millions of whom were lured away…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty sought divine blessings on the last weekend ahead of the July 4 general election at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple. The couple were greeted with loud cheers as their convoy drove into the mandir grounds…
Rishi Sunak expressed his hurt and anger after a supporter of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party was recorded making a racist slur about him. Sunak, Britain’s first ethnic-minority prime minister, was responding to comments aired by Channel 4 News. A man identified as Andrew Parker was recorded calling Sunak a…
REFORM UK party leader Nigel Farage has dismissed members of his election campaign after they were filmed making racist and homophobic comments, he said in a statement Thursday. Farage, a former EU parliamentarian who has tried and failed to run for the UK parliament seven times, is seeking a seat…
BRITAIN'S economy pulled out of recession at a faster pace than previously thought in the first three months of this year, revised official data showed on Friday, but the broader economic backdrop remains fragile ahead of next week's election. The country's gross domestic product expanded by 0.7 per cent from…
SUPPORT for Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party has fallen ahead of a July 4 election, a poll showed on Thursday (27), after he said the West had provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The BMG Research opinion poll for the i newspaper, carried out June 24-26, put…
METROPOLITAN POLICE said on Thursday (27) it was investigating "a small number of bets" made on the timing of next week's national election, with at least seven of its own police officers identified as having placed such wagers. "We have agreed a joint approach with the Gambling Commission, who are…
IN Glasgow, voters at July 4 general election are poised to desert the Scottish National Party and re-establish Labour in its former fiefdom, setting back Scotland's bruised independence movement. Out shopping on Dumbarton Road in the Partick area of Scotland's biggest city, 26-year-old trainee lawyer Suzie Green said she and…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer went head-to-head on Wednesday (26) in their last debate before an election next week, with both launching highly personal attacks over their and their parties' credibility. With Sunak's Tories trailing Labour by around 20 points in the polls, the prime minister…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has told Eastern Eye that his faith and dharma have helped to guide him through difficult times. He also revealed how the “mantle of the office” adds weight to his responsibilities. Sunak spoke exclusively to Eastern Eye during a visit to the Shree Kutch Satsang…
THE Daily Telegraph has been giving excessive amounts of space to Nigel Farage, but the leader of the Reform party has now embarrassed the paper by saying the west is to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin agrees completely with Farage but the opinion of the Telegraph is that…
“Harrow East is beautifully diverse, housing someone from every religion, background and language across the world. “I am enormously proud to represent such cultural diversity in the constituency, all these communities living alongside each other harmoniously. “The Indian community is the significant backbone to Harrow, making up over 37 per…
THE wives of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly hit the election campaign trail in Suffolk last Wednesday (19) in a bid to bolster the Conservative party’s sagging fortunes. The prime minister’s wife, Akshata Murty, was joined by Lucia Hunt and Susie Cleverly, for a day of canvassing in…
THERE will be little difference in public spending whichever party wins the July 4 general election, with the UK's coffers strained largely by huge Covid expenditure. The main opposition Labour party, widely predicted to defeat the ruling Conservatives, has promised investment in key areas such as health and education but…
Five more police officers are alleged to have placed bets on the UK general election date, according to a force spokesperson on Tuesday. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support from two Conservative candidates due to the growing scandal. The issue has impacted the final days of campaigning, with Sunak…
POLICE arrested four people on Tuesday (25) on suspicion of trespassing after they entered the grounds of prime minister Rishi Sunak's property in northern England, a statement said. The arrests come during a general election campaign where Sunak is battling to overcome the centre-left Labour party's large lead in the…
BRITISH ASIAN former manager of a Post Office, wrongly jailed while pregnant, has rejected the apology of an engineer whose evidence helped convict her over faulty accounting software. Seema Misra, 47, had her conviction quashed in April 2021 as the Court of Appeal ruled that she had been wrongly imprisoned…
TORIES said on Tuesday (25) it had withdrawn support for two parliamentary candidates who are being investigated over alleged bets placed on the timing of next month's national election. A London police officer working in a special protection unit was separately arrested last week over alleged bets made on the…
“Who will speak for Kashmir in parliament? Will it be me, or Labour Party Parliamentary candidate Sonia KUMAR?” That was the question addressed to “Voters of the British Pakistani/Kashmir community in Dudley” by Marco Longhi, their Conservative candidate seeking re-election. Longhi claims to be baffled by criticism. He defends it…
A TORY candidate has been criticised for allegedly sending letters to British Pakistani voters, implying they should support him over his Labour opponent because of her Indian surname. Marco Longhi, seeking re-election in Dudley North against Sonia Kumar, has faced accusations of employing dog-whistle politics and aiming to "marginalise British…
LABOUR PARTY has criticised the Tories, led by prime minister Rishi Sunak, for failing to meet their promises on India relations. Speaking at the India Global Forum (IGF) last week, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said that if Labour wins the July 4 general election, they are prepared to swiftly…
Rishi Sunak said on Monday he would address any wrongdoing identified in an internal investigation into a betting scandal that could affect his chances in the 4 July election, which he is expected to lose. Sunak's Conservative Party trails the Labour Party by around 20 points in UK polls. His…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak visited the Sri Kutchh Satsang Swaminarayan Temple in Kenton, northwest London, on Sunday with former MP Bob Blackman and other leaders. Swami Shri Madhavapriyadas and Santavallabhdas honoured Sunak with garlands, as he accepted an invitation to the 'Vadtal Sri Lakshminarayan Dev Bicentenary Mahotsav.' Sunak received a…
HOME SECRETARY has defended a parliamentary aide who called the government plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda "crap", in a leaked audio revealed by the BBC Sunday. A controversial law by the Tory government allowing irregular migrants arriving in the country to be deported to Rwanda was finally passed…
SABIA AKRAM has spent most of her life campaigning for Labour party but she will not celebrate if it wins the July 4 election, having quit over leader Keir Starmer's handling of issues around the war in Gaza and race. The Labour holds a commanding lead in opinion polls after…
Housing minister Michael Gove has compared the recent scandal involving Tory candidates accused of betting on the election date to the Partygate controversy, which involved Covid-era parties that led to Boris Johnson's downfall. In an interview with The Times on Saturday, Gove said the betting allegations are similar to Partygate.…
A POLICE officer working in a special protection unit has been arrested over alleged bets made on the timing of Britain's national election next month, London police said. The BBC reported the officer worked as part of prime minister Rishi Sunak's close protection team. The Metropoliton Police said it was…
British businesses are growing at the slowest rate since last year’s recession, with some companies delaying major decisions until after the July 4 election, according to a survey released on Friday. Opinion polls indicate Keir Starmer's Labour Party is likely to take power for the first time since 2010, as…
WHEN the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations gather steam after the July 4 general election, whisky tariffs will be one of the important issues. The UK wants India to drastically lower tariffs on its whisky exports, currently as high as 150 per cent. Tariffs have been a major stumbling…
Rishi Sunak expressed his anger over allegations that three party colleagues placed bets on an early announcement of the general election. On a turbulent day for the Conservatives, the party's campaign director took a leave of absence due to an investigation into bets on the election timing before it was…
THE CAMPAIGN chief for prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives stepped aside two weeks before an election, the party said on Thursday, after reports he and his candidate wife were being investigated for betting on the election date. The rapidly escalating gambling scandal is the latest misfortune to unfold for Sunak,…
The Bank of England held its main interest rate at 5.25 per cent, a 16-year high, in its final meeting before the UK election on 4 July. The decision, voted 7-2 by the Monetary Policy Committee, aligned with expectations from a Reuters poll of economists. Deputy governor Dave Ramsden and…
RISHI Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, and James Cleverly’s wives hit the election campaign trail in Suffolk on Wednesday to help bolster the Conservative party's sagging fortunes. Almost all pollsters have been forecasting a rout for the Conservative party in the July 4 general election. Prime minister's wife Akshata Murty, was joined…
Former prime minister Boris Johnson celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday with a unique gift from his wife – three life-size wooden elephants supporting an Indian charity initiative. Carrie Johnson shared pictures on Instagram of the elephants being offloaded and placed on the grounds of their Oxfordshire home, with their…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced calls on Thursday to launch an inquiry after one of his close protection officers was arrested for allegedly betting on the timing of the UK general election. London's Metropolitan Police said it was told by the Gambling Commission that an officer working for the prime…
THREE opinion polls on Wednesday predicted a significant defeat for the Conservatives in the July 4 election, forecasting a large majority for the Labour Party after 14 years in opposition. Polling by YouGov showed Keir Starmer's Labour on track to win 425 parliamentary seats in Britain's 650-seat House of Commons,…
UK police arrested two people on Wednesday after environmental activists sprayed an orange substance on Stonehenge, a prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest England. The Just Stop Oil protest group stated that two activists had "decorated Stonehenge in orange powder paint" to urge Britain's next government to commit legally…
TOP stand-up talent Anuvab Pal is no stranger to dissecting the British empire with cutting edge comedy. Instead of using a scalpel, he wields a giant sword with his latest show and slices through all aspects of Britishness, from the colonisation of India to contemporary nuances of UK culture. With…
LISTENING to Reform leader Nigel Farage and other politicians on the need to cut immigration, the average voter would have no idea of the extent to which the British economy is being propped up by companies from India. This is one reason why Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian high commissioner to…
LABOUR party candidate for Dudley Sonia Kumar has expressed shock over the letter sent by her Conservative opponent to British Pakistani voters on the occasion of Eid. The NHS physiotherapist told the BBC she is “disappointed and shocked” by a “divisive” letter sent by Marco Longhi, who is seeking re-election…
THERE are approximately 5.5 million British Asians in the UK. From serving in our NHS and community pharmacies, to flying the flag for Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit – they make a wonderful contribution to our national life. Indeed, British Asians help make Britain the most successful multi-ethnic democracy in the world.…
MORE THAN 880 irregular migrants crossed the Channel to Britain on small boats on Tuesday (18), the government said, the highest number in a single day so far this year. The arrivals come as political parties in Britain campaign for a general election on July 4 at which immigration is…
Billionaire John Caudwell, a major donor for the Conservative Party before the 2019 national election in Britain, announced on Tuesday that he will now support Keir Starmer's Labour Party in the upcoming July 4 vote. "I can declare publicly that I will vote for Labour, and I encourage everybody to…
THAT pejorative word “supermajority” has cropped up again. First, it was in relation to Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting 400 seats in the Indian Lok Sabha [lower house of parliament] of 543. Now, it’s about Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party getting 400 seats in the 650-member Commons. The…
Rishi Sunak, currently facing a challenging task in the campaign for the July 4 general election, has welcomed the support of former prime minister Boris Johnson. Johnson has backed several candidates from the Conservative Party through letters and videos. When asked about Johnson's involvement, Sunak said it was “coordinated by…
UK inflation reached its 2 per cent target in May for the first time in nearly three years, data showed on Wednesday. Despite this, underlying price pressures remained strong, suggesting the Bank of England might delay cutting interest rates. The reduction in headline inflation in May will be seen as…
We are now past half-time in a six-week general election campaign. It has somehow become both the most and least predictable of electoral contests at the same time. The answer to the central question – who will govern? – is less than ever in doubt. Everything else about this election…
An Eid message by a Conservative MP addressing the British Pakistani voters to vote for him over an Asian-origin Labour candidate has kicked up a political storm. In his public letter, Marco Longhi, who is seeking re-election in Dudley North, underscored how he has spoken against India's "atrocities" towards the…
Nigel Farage, whose entry into the election has impacted Rishi Sunak's slim chances of victory, laid out his policy plans on Monday. He described them as the first step towards becoming the dominant party on the right of British politics. Farage acknowledged that the earlier-than-expected election had come too soon…
Rishi Sunak warned on Friday that voting for Nigel Farage's Reform UK party would lead to an electoral victory for Labour, following a poll that placed the right-wing group ahead of Sunak's Conservatives for the first time. Nigel Farage, known for his successful campaign for Brexit, leads the Reform UK…
PRINCESS KATE announced on Friday (14) she will make her first public appearance in six months this weekend after "making good progress" in treatment for cancer. The 42-year-old future queen will attend King Charles III's annual birthday parade on Saturday (15) with other senior royals, which the British monarch is…
The Bank of England is expected to delay any potential interest rate cut that Rishi Sunak may have been hoping for before the upcoming election. Scheduled for June 20, the Bank's meeting is likely to maintain current rates amid ongoing inflation pressures, pushing any possible reduction to after the election.…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (14) met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership in the third term of the NDA government and reviewed the progress made in the ongoing FTA negotiations. The two leaders greeted each other with…
THE CONSERVATIVE party of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has fallen behind the anti-immigration Reform UK party for the first time in a poll by YouGov, which called the development a "seismic shift". The new poll, conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, shows Brexiteer Nigel Farage's Reform with 19 per cent…
Labour party launched a "manifesto for wealth creation" Thursday, pledging to get the economy firing again if it wins power in next month's election after 14 years in opposition. Labour has consistently led Rishi Sunak's Conservatives by around 20 points for nearly two years, suggesting its leader Keir Starmer will…
Labour leader Keir Starmer performed better than his election rival Rishi Sunak in live television debate broadcast by Sky News on Wednesday, a snap poll by YouGov showed. According to YouGov, 64 per cent thought Starmer performed better, while 36 per cent thought prime minister Sunak had done better. Sunak…
LABOUR party on Thursday (13) launches its general election manifesto, hoping that a promise to get the economy growing again will catapult it into power after 14 years in opposition. Labour has been consistently some 20 points ahead of Rishi Sunak's Conservatives for nearly two years, making its leader Keir…
Rishi Sunak has said he has "absolutely not" given up hope of winning the upcoming general election, despite warnings from Tory allies about the potential for a Labour "supermajority." Sunak cautioned against granting Keir Starmer a "blank cheque" if Labour comes to power, but maintained his confidence in a Tory…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak, whose family is estimated to be wealthier than King Charles, said he went without "lots of things" as a child, including Sky TV, when asked if he was in touch with the struggles of ordinary people. Sunak, the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, is…
BRITAIN’S labour market showed more signs of cooling in April as the unemployment rate rose, an awkward development for prime minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the July 4 election, despite another month of robust wage growth. The jobless rate for the three months to April rose to 4.4 per cent…
COMPLETING a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) with India would be a priority for Labour, should the party come into government, MP Jonathan Reynolds has told Eastern Eye. A 14th round of negotiations between India and the UK ended in March without an agreement being reached. Progress stalled further with…
Grant Shapps has cautioned voters against giving Labour a "super majority" in the July 4 general election, warning it would grant Keir Starmer unchecked power. The defence secretary said that a decisive win for Starmer could allow him to act without restraint, placing the country in a "dangerous place," as…
NIGEL FARAGE is richly entertaining, but he is getting a little ahead of himself. Before he becomes prime minister, there is the smaller matter of becoming an MP. Can he be certain he will be elected as the Reform MP for Clacton? He appears to have forgotten that he campaigned…
LIKE millions across the country, I have been closely observing this general election, which comes at an important crossroads in our country’s future. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and a cost-of-living crisis have impacted us all, and it has never been more important to look forward to our…
BRITAIN'S economy stagnated in April after emerging from recession in the first quarter of the year, official data showed Wednesday ahead of the country's general election next month. The zero growth in April followed an expansion of 0.4 per cent in March, according to the Office for National Statistics. Britain…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (11) sought to get his lacklustre general election campaign back on track by promising voters tax cuts and lower immigration as he launched his Conservative party's manifesto. Sunak channelled Tory heroine Margaret Thatcher by pledges of greater home ownership to woo a largely disaffected…
BRITAIN'S labour market showed more signs of cooling in April as the unemployment rate rose, an awkward development for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the July 4 election, despite another month of strong wage growth. Official data on Tuesday showed the jobless rate for the three months to April…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak is due to unveil his Conservative party manifesto on Tuesday (11), promising voters "financial security" ahead of the July 4 general election as the Tories lag far behind Labour in polls. "We Conservatives have a plan to give you financial security," he will say, according to…
Rishi Sunak dismissed rumours on Monday that he would resign before the July 4 general election. This came amidst ongoing criticism of his early departure from D-Day commemoration events. The prime minister apologised following outrage from veterans' groups for his decision to skip an event in northern France marking the…
SMETHWICK was once notorious in British politics, after the 1964 election saw an overtly racist campaign succeed there at the ballot box. Smethwick’s reputation as a hotbed of racism went around the world. Even Malcolm X visited the West Midlands town, just days before his assassination back in America. Yet…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's Tories, facing an election next month, has announced details of its plan to tighten sickness benefit rules, which it said would eventually save £12 billion a year. Sunak, who has previously said he wants to change welfare rules to counter a rise in people dropping out…
OXFORD UNIVERSITY will return a 500-year-old bronze statue of the Hindu saint Tirumankai Alvar to India, following a claim by the Indian high commission that the sculpture might have been looted from an Indian temple. This 16th-century artifact, previously displayed at the Ashmolean Museum, depicts the Tamil poet and saint…
THE SEVEN-PARTY BBC election debate saw a fierce clash between Tory minister Penny Mordaunt and Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner over taxes and defence policy Mordaunt repeated the controversial claim that Labour would raise taxes by £2,000 per household, which Rayner termed as "a lie". The UK statistics watchdog has…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was roundly criticised by political rivals on Friday, hours after apologising for leaving D-Day commemorations in France early in the latest self-inflicted setback to his stuttering general election campaign. Political opponents at a live TV debate derided Sunak's decision to skip the major ceremony with…
CONSERVATIVES said they would restore full child benefit payments for households with an income up to £120,000 helping 700,000 families if they win an election on July 4. The party, which is trailing Labour by around 20 points in opinion polls, framed the policy change as a tax cut worth…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi’s historic third term in power should be celebrated, analysts told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (4) as the results from the country’s mammoth general election showed his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party, but was denied an outright majority. For the first time…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak apologised Friday (7) for leaving the D-Day anniversary commemorations in France early to conduct a television interview about Britain's general election campaign. Opposition politicians accused Sunak of "a total dereliction of duty" by skipping a major international ceremony with fellow world leaders in Normandy on Thursday…
Rishi Sunak government's move to hike minimum income for family visas to bring down migration is being challenged in the high court. An application for judicial review has been filed by Reunite Families UK (RFUK) on the grounds that it is separating children from their parents and discriminates against women…
TORIES have pledged to toughen sentences for murderers, aiming for a significant overhaul in homicide laws. This move comes following cases like the Nottingham killings, where Valdo Calocane received an indefinite hospital order rather than a prison sentence for fatally stabbing three people, The Times reported. The proposed changes include…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak spoke to India's Narendra Modi on Wednesday (5) to congratulate him on his election victory, which he said will see the bilateral relationship “thrive”. Both leaders agreed to stay in touch in the coming days before they meet at the G7 Summit in Italy, where Modi…
TRIBUTES were paid to those who took part in D-Day during the Second World War, promising to "always remember" the sacrifices made by the Allied soldiers who invaded France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany. With guests waving British flags, appearances from veterans, recollections…
The Labour Party on Wednesday accused Rishi Sunak of lying during a pre-election debate by stating Labour would increase taxes by £2,000 for each family. Sunak, whose Conservative Party is struggling in opinion polls ahead of the 4 July vote, repeatedly used this figure in Tuesday's television debate with Labour…
THE Labour MP and shadow secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, has accused the Conservative party of instigating “culture wars” to deflect from their failings as he insisted his party will deliver on its pledges. Ahead of the general election on July 4, Reynolds believes voters will…
COULD what has happened in the Indian general election be repeated in Britain? It was predicted that prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would easily cross 350 in a 543-seat Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and might even get to 400. Clearly, this hasn’t happened, and the…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour challenger Keir Starmer went head-to-head on Tuesday (4) over how to boost Britain's economy, with the PM accusing the opposition party of wanting to increase taxes if it wins power at a July 4 election. Sunak said he had "a clear plan for a…
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has said that Britain should aim for net zero migration - it should allow up to 600,000 migrants a year as nearly that many people annually leave the country. He said this after taking over as leader of the Reform party and announcing that…
The ruling Conservative party announced plans on Monday for new annual caps on work and family visas to cut immigration after the opposition laid out its plans for the key election issue. The plan laid out by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is predicted to lose to Labour's Keir Starmer…
Charli XCX, who is currently gearing up for the release of her sixth studio album, Brat, has revealed her hit song “Von Dutch” is a diss track. Her confession has left TikTokers guessing over whether it's about another artist or Rishi Sunak. The 31-year-old posted a video on TikTok where…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has attacked the controversial rescue deal thrashed out by the Sunak government to help Tata Steel transition to a less polluting furnace at its Port Talbot plant in the UK. Tata Steel had struck an agreement with Rishi Sunak earlier this year in which £500…
The Conservative party has announced a plan to modernise the NHS, focusing on expanding community care services. Key initiatives include the expansion of the Pharmacy First service to offer more treatments without a prescription, the construction of 50 new community diagnostic centres (CDCs), and the modernisation of GP surgeries. These…
LABOUR party leader Keir Starmer pledged to cut the number of migrants entering Britain, in response to one of the key issues going into the country's general election. "Read my lips — I will bring immigration numbers down" Starmer, who is favourite to defeat the ruling Tories in the July…
THE TORIES would be reduced to just 66 seats, from its current tally of 365, while Labour would bag a whopping 476 seats and the Lib Dems 59, the first MRP poll of the campaign suggests. A large-scale MRP polling by Electoral Calculus surveyed 10,000 people taking tactical voting into…
POLITICAL PARTIES must go after the south Asian vote in this general election or face a backlash in future polls, parliamentarians and experts have told Eastern Eye. They are warning candidates in every party that they ignore brown voters “at their peril”. With Labour currently 20 points ahead in the…
PARLIAMENT dissolved on Thursday, setting the stage for a general election on July 4, likely to bring Labour to power after 14 years of Conservative rule. Campaigning officially began as all 650 seats in parliament became vacant at one minute past midnight, in line with the electoral schedule. Prime minister…
THE Labour MP, Lisa Nandy, believes whichever party wins the next general election faces a battle to overcome a public perception that politicians can no longer “transform people’s lives”. Prime minister Rishi Sunak shocked the nation last Wednesday (22) when he announced that the general election will take place on…
Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party has announced a plan to create 100,000 more high-skilled apprenticeship places per year by 2029 if it wins the national election on 4 July. The party aims to replace the "worst performing" degrees, which it considers a "rip-off" due to high drop-out rates and poor job…
RISHI SUNAK was on Tuesday (28) forced to counter stinging criticism from a Tory peer that the prime minister was planning to “disappear” to California after damaging the party “beyond repair”, saying the UK was his home and he has no plans to relocate his family to the US after…
The Conservative party has reportedly pulled up some of its MPs for lacking committment towards the party's re-election efforts, according to media reports. The MPs have been accused of going on holiday, refusing to knock on doors, focusing on ministerial responsibilities, and shirking election work. A memo, which was obtained…
FORMER Tory mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has decided against pursuing a candidacy as an MP, dealing a setback to prime minister Rishi Sunak's efforts to attract notable figures to fill empty seats. Street’s loss in the mayoral election this month brought to an end seven years in…
The element of surprise was the one thing that Rishi Sunak had left. So Britain will go to the polls on July 4th. It was a very personal decision: the Cabinet was informed after the prime minister returned from the Palace having asked the King. If the campaign ends in defeat,…
Young British workers are reporting sick more frequently than foreign-born staff, a top official of a care home provider has said. Geoff Butcher, CEO of Blackadder Corporation, a care home provider in the Midlands, said there is a stark contrast between the sick leave patterns of British and overseas employees,…
Labour has garnered the support of a coalition of 120 business leaders who advocate for a "new outlook" to propel the UK out of economic stagnation, according to a report. In a letter addressed to The Times, the executives stress the necessity for change, asserting that the country needs to…
Rishi Sunak has unveiled a proposal for tax cuts aimed at pensioners in his latest campaign effort, highlighting the critical role of older voters in the forthcoming July election. Sunak's Conservative Party plans to implement a new age-related allowance, offering a tax reduction of approximately 100 pounds for each of…
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has assured that people can trust his party to safeguard the country’s economy, borders and security. In his first major speech since the general election was called, Starmer vowed to fight for the people and put 'country first, party second'. While addressing a rally in…
Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed his commitment to introducing mandatory national service if he is re-elected, despite facing criticism from within his own party. Sunak described the initiative as "bold action" necessary for ensuring a secure future for the country. On the campaign trail on Monday at Chesham Football Club, north…
Senior Conservative party leader and Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has claimed a section of Muslims in Britain “want to challenge” fundamental UK values. She said the “vast proportion” of British Muslims were “peace-loving, community-minded”, but a “very small proportion” wanted to challenge the “values that we hold dear in…
With the Conservative and Labour parties wooing voters ahead of the July 4 general election, prime minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty have shared a special Instagram post listing the common things they share. They start off by saying it is not just watching 're-runs of Friends' and the love…
In one of his first major election pledge announcements on Sunday, prime minister Rishi Sunak said he will introduce a “bold new” form of mandatory National Service for young people if the Conservatives win another five-year term in the July 4 polls. The British-Indian leader said his plan would see…
Michael Gove, a prominent member of Rishi Sunak's government, announced his resignation on Friday, becoming the highest profile Conservative lawmaker to leave parliament ahead of the July general election. Gove, who has held various ministerial roles including education, justice, and environment, is the 77th Tory MP to declare they will…
Electioneering is off to a flying start in Scotland after prime minister Rishi Sunak decided to go ahead with a snap general election on July 4. Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer reached Glasgow on Friday (24) and pledged to make Scotland "central to the mission" of a Labour government,…
Several Conservative MPs announced on Friday that they will not seek re-election in the upcoming UK general election, bringing the total to 75, a post-war record for the party. This surpasses the previous high of 72 MPs who stepped down before Tony Blair's 1997 Labour landslide, raising concerns about the…
The Labour Party has a 17-point lead over prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party in the first poll since the July 4 election date was announced. The poll was conducted by More in Common, a member of the British Polling Council. The poll surveyed just over 2,000 people and showed…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's decision to call an early general election means his flagship smoking ban will not pass before the current parliamentary session is suspended on Friday (24). The Tory party leader had pledged to create a "smoke-free generation" by introducing a law preventing young people from ever being…
The Graduate Route scheme, favoured by Indian students for post-study work, will remain unaffected for now. The government announced on Thursday that the scheme will be kept “under review” as it introduced proposals to tighten student visas to prevent them from being used as a “gateway to immigration”. These measures…
The prospect of an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) has been kicked into the long grass after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised many this week with a snap summer poll on July 4, exactly a month after India's election results on June 4. While political analysts and strategic experts…
Reform UK founder and leading Brexit campaigner, Nigel Farage, announced on Thursday that he will not stand in the upcoming UK general election after months of speculation about his potential run. "I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me…
With Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for the general election on July 4 and political parties wooing the electorate, a prominent organisation for UK Muslims has urged political leaders not to use minorities as a “punching bag” to score points during campaigns. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is calling…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has called for a national election on 4 July, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule. Voters are expected to decide on key issues including the economy, healthcare, immigration, and climate policy as they choose the next government. High inflation, a struggling NHS, immigration concerns, and…
UK political parties began jostling for position on Thursday, setting out their electoral battle plans after embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4. Sunak ended months of speculation about the date of the vote in a rain-soaked speech Wednesday outside Downing Street, which some took…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday (22), naming July 4 as the date for a vote his governing Tories are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour party after 14 years in power. Ending months of speculation as to when he would call a new…
AFTER Judge Brian Langstaff's report on the decades-long contaminated blood scandal became public, the survivors felt vindicated but wanted the government to take prompt action. Around 3,000 people died and more than 30,000 people, including children, were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given tainted blood…
RETIRED GP Doc Anand made history this month as he claimed the Tories’ first election victory in the city since 1992, defeating the Liberal Democrats to win a seat in Gosforth. Breaking their 32-year duck in Newcastle was a rare election night highlight for the Tories, as Rishi Sunak’s party…
Migrant graduates on the Graduate Route visa in the UK may soon face annual English tests under a new proposal by the government. This scheme permits international students to work in the UK for two years post-graduation. Pending Cabinet approval, this policy aims to bolster the Graduate Route's criteria. Institutions…
Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his residence to celebrate 100 years of United Kingdom-Nepal's friendship treaty. The Heeramandi star took to her Instagram to share a series of photographs from the celebrations at Sunak's official residence 10 Downing Street in London. "It was an honour…
BRITAIN'S annual inflation rate dropped to a near three-year low in April as energy prices cooled further, official data showed Wednesday, easing a cost-of-living crunch and stoking rate cut expectations. The Consumer Prices Index slowed to 2.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent in March, the Office for National Statistics…
Universities and Indian students group have urged prime minister Rishi Sunak to retain the country's post-study visa offer. This visa, primarily utilised by Indian graduates, allows them to gain work experience for about two years after their degree. Reports indicate that Sunak may restrict or end the Graduate Route to…
There are probably still six months to go before the general election – but this Thursday’s (23) statistics from the Office of National Statistics are likely to be the final net migration scores of this parliament. They are likely again to show net migration over double the level that it…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has apologised to thousands of people infected with contaminated blood in a decades-long scandal that a damning report concluded was covered up and largely could have been avoided. More than 30,000 people were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given the tainted…
A decades-long scandal in which thousands of people died in the UK after being treated with infected blood was covered up and largely could have been avoided, found a bombshell report published on Monday. More than 30,000 people were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given…
Syed Ahmed from Oldham was given Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award for distributing over 8,000 portable Quran devices to over 300 hospitals. Ahmed came across this concept after his father was admitted to a hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. He provided him with a small, rechargeable…
A report is set to lay bare on Monday a decades-long scandal in which thousands of people died after being treated with infected blood in the UK. Tens of thousands of people were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given contaminated blood between the 1970s and…
THE opposition Labour Party’s lead over prime minister Rishi Sunak’s governing Tories has increased to 18 points, according to an opinion poll published on Saturday (18). A national election is expected later this year. The poll, conducted by Opinium Research, predicted Labour would take 43 per cent of the vote,…
Producer Anushka Shah, whose production house Civic Studios focuses on creating civic entertainment content for Indian audiences, is next attached as the executive producer to Gurinder Chadha's much-anticipated directorial venture Christmas Karma. She said that being a producer is a big responsibility as each project involves a lot of capital,…
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will "of course" remain an MP if he loses the next general election. The prime minister expressed his commitment to staying in parliament regardless of the election outcome, as reported by Sky News. Speculation had arisen that Sunak, who previously worked at a hedge…
Sex education will not be taught to children under five, and parents will have the right to see the relationships, health and sex (RSHE) resources that are being used to teach their children. These are some of the recommendations made in the updated draft guidance provided by the Department for…
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has made it clear that he would not have permitted Natalie Elphicke to join the party, differing from Keir Starmer's decision. Sarwar described past comments by Elphicke as “reprehensible” following her defection from the Conservatives to Starmer's party last Wednesday. Elphicke has issued an apology…
The Rishi Sunak government, which is keen to bring down migration, has urged the nation’s universities to focus on “education, not immigration”, The Telegraph reports. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that British students should be the priority for our education system and universities. Student visas must be used for…
Labour party on Thursday set out its stall for this year's general election, outlining six key pledges to voters in a de-facto campaign launch. The vote is likely months away but the UK's two main parties are already positioning themselves to the electorate in what is looking like a long…
Faulty pumps caused raw sewage to spill into Windermere, England's largest lake, for about 10 hours. The documents from United Utilities, viewed by the BBC on Wednesday, revealed that a telecoms glitch on February 28 halted the main pumps. Emergency back-ups then took over and pumped raw sewage intermittently over…
England is planning to ban sex education for children under nine years old, as well as any teaching about gender identity, according to a news report. The move comes alongside a review of relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) guidance. This new guidance, set to be announced on Thursday, would…
While prime minister Rishi Sunak may be going through a politically turbulent period with the Conservative party facing a defeat in the recent local election and opinion polls favouring Labour in the forthcoming general elections, his wife Akshata Murty appears unperturbed and focused on the smooth running of the house.…
WHEN he took office as First Minister of Wales in March, Vaughan Gething became the first Black head of government in Europe - yet he believes UK society is more overtly racist than a decade ago. "On virtually every piece of social media that went out for my campaign, there'd…
An Asian-origin businessman who used to donate regulary to the Conservative party has now pledged to fund the Labour. Puneet Gupta, who co-owns PG Paper with his wife, has said that the country's economic growth has stagnated under Rishi Sunak and the overall performance of the government is 'hugely disappointing',…
A review commissioned by Rishi Sunak government has concluded that the post-study visa route, dominated by Indian graduates, is helping the universities make up for financial losses on the domestic front and expanding the country’s research landscape. Home Secretary James Cleverly had tasked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), consisting…
THE families of Nottingham attack victims have expressed their 'deep disappointment' following the court’s decision to uphold Valdo Calocane's sentence. Criticising the criminal justice system, they said they now face a lifelong mission to ensure he is never released, media reports said. Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal…
Tata Steel's firm stand on replacing both blast furnaces at Port Talbot plant with electric furnaces, which could result in job losses, has now triggered a war of words between Wales First Minister Vaughan Gething and the Welsh Conservatives. Gething, who returned from Mumbai after meeting Tata Steel officials said…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak will set out his plans on Tuesday (14) to improve food security and to cut reliance on imports from other countries. The government will also publish a new annual UK Food Security Index to track the impacts of external factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war or…
Senior Conservative party leaders have warned that Rishi Sunak government's move to clampdown on international student visas could prove to be counter-productive. They pointed out that higher education institutions rely on overseas income and many of them are already facing financial crunch, The Guardian reports. University and industry leaders fear…
A former counter-terrorism expert has called for decisive action to dismantle the gangs involved in human trafficking to bring down the influx of boat migrants to Britain. Neil Basu, former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner and head of counter terrorism, wrote in The Telegraph that though The National Crime Agency (NCA)…
Former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock has warned that though the voters are upset with the Tories, they are not yet in love with Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. He told BBC Radio Four’s Week that it was “fair” to say that voters were not fully convinced by his party,…
Britain's economy experienced its most substantial growth in almost three years during the first quarter of 2024, marking the end of the recent recession. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.6 per cent expansion in gross domestic product from January to March, the highest since late 2021. Analysts…
Former Tory minister Robert Jenrick said that immigration was not making Britain “richer” and called for reducing the number of people coming to the country to make it more cohesive and united. Jenrick had quit as immigration minister in December after prime minister Rishi Sunak defied his calls to go…
Labour has achieved its most substantial polling lead since the era of former Conservative prime minister Liz Truss. According to a YouGov poll, Labour is 30 points ahead of the Conservatives, marking the worst reading for Rishi Sunak since assuming the role of prime minister, reported The Times. The Conservatives…
Another lawmaker from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party defected to the opposition Labour Party on Wednesday, the second to do so in less than two weeks, criticising what she called broken promises of a "tired and chaotic government". Sunak's Conservatives trail Labour by about 20 points in opinion polls…
RESEARCHERS have described the prospect of the UK and India concluding a free trade agreement as “prolonged optimistic caution”, adding that issues the ongoing general election and immigration visas will play a major part in how any deal is concluded. Last month, a delegation led by a senior UK government…
THE ASIAN founder of a start-up has revealed his ambition to bridge the “global washing divide” as he announced a collaboration with Whirlpool Foundation to help families in low-income and displaced communities. Navjot (also known as Nav) Sawhney is the founder of the Washing Machine Project, which aims to alleviate…
RE-ELECTED London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the rest of the country to follow the lead of Londoners and reject the Conservative Party’s “racist” and “fear-mongering” politics at the next general election. Khan, 53, last Saturday (4) secured a historic third term in office, the first London mayor to…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (7) helped prepare meals in a community kitchen along with volunteers as visited the charity Go Dharmic in London. Sunak helped make vegan kichari, a nutritious and affordable meal that is part of Go Dharmic’s “feed everyone” initiative. The prime minister spoke to Go…
MY DAD still plans to vote for Rishi Sunak at the general election. He mostly feels that somebody should. He sees the prime minister as a decent man, trying his best in difficult times. Because dad arrived in Britain during the week after Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘rivers of blood’ speech,…
THE West Midlands mayor Andy Street has called on the Conservative Party to come together and back prime minister Rishi Sunak despite admitting the pair previously “fell out”. Sunak’s position has been under scrutiny in recent months, with former home secretary Suella Braverman on Monday (22) refusing to rule out…
Rishi Sunak has suggested that Britain could face a hung parliament in the upcoming general election, urging Conservative MPs to unify in the face of Labour's challenge. In his first comments since the full extent of the party’s local election losses became clear, the prime minister admitted that the results…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday promised to work "as hard as ever" after a disastrous set of election results saw his Conservative Party being unseated across several local authorities. The British Indian leader admitted his disappointment after Andy Street, the party's popular Mayor of West Midlands, narrowly lost to…
LABOUR capped off the local elections on Saturday evening (4) with a narrow win for Richard Parker in the West Midlands mayoral race, defeating Conservative incumbent Andy Street by just 1,508 votes. Earlier this evening, Labour's Sadiq Khan was re-elected as London mayor for the third consecutive term, after he…
Labour called for a general election announcement by Rishi Sunak after significant gains in the local elections, and also securing a seat in the parliament in the bypoll. Party leader Keir Starmer said the party's parliament seat win in Blackpool South in northwest England sent a clear message to Sunak.…
BUSINESSMAN David Skaith has pledged to “bring York and North Yorkshire together to grow as one” after sweeping to victory as the first mayor of a traditionally Tory-dominated region. After weeks of speculation that the contest to become the chair of the area’s first combined authority would be closely fought,…
One of the most high-profile mayors for prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, Ben Houchen, was re-elected on Friday, albeit with a much-reduced majority, in a rare win for the party on what was otherwise a tough set of election results. Houchen won re-election in Tees Valley in northern England, an…
THE Conservatives lost a parliamentary seat to Labour on Friday (3), as Britain awaited local election results likely to pile more pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak. Labour seized the constituency of Blackpool South, in the northwest of England, in the latest by-election defeat for the Tories as it appears…
BRITISH INDIAN leaders have welcomed a glowing report which recommends India as the ideal country for foreign investment. Ian Cowie, in his “Personal Account” column in the Sunday Times (28), wrote: “The country is bidding to become the world’s third-biggest economy and I think it’s a great time to join…
Polling stations opened across England early Thursday for a host of crunch local elections likely to increase the pressure on embattled Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The polls - a mix of council, mayoral and other local contests as well as a parliamentary by-election - are the last major electoral…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak invoked the Sikh principle of service (sewa) as he hosted a reception to celebrate Vaisakhi at Downing Street last Wednesday (17). More than a hundred guests – including politicians, community and faith leaders and members of the military – gathered to hear the prime minister pay…
Britain will suffer some of the lowest rates of economic growth and highest inflation among Group of Seven countries this year and next, forecasts from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development suggested on Thursday. The OECD cut this year's growth forecast for the British economy to 0.4% from 0.7%…
Police named a 14-year-old boy killed in a sword attack in London this week as Daniel Anjorin and said the suspect will face murder and other charges over the violent rampage. The teenager died on Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Hainault, in the east of London, when…
MIGRANTS are being detained across Britain in preparation to be sent to Rwanda in the next nine to 11 weeks, the government said on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for prime minister Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy. A law to pave the way for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda if they…
THE ruling Conservative party is expected to suffer heavy losses in crunch local elections this week that are likely to increase pressure on beleaguered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The polls are the last major electoral test before a general election that Sunak's party, in power since 2010, seems destined to…
BRITAIN has sent its first asylum seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, The Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday, saying the unnamed migrant was flown out of the country on Monday (29). The voluntary scheme is separate from a forced deportation programme that Britain is about to embark on in…
THE police are losing the trust of their communities because of weak leadership, “wilful blindness”, and politicians “bullying” chief constables, the country’s former top south Asian cop has told Eastern Eye. In a wide-ranging interview for this paper, Neil Basu, former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner and head of counter terrorism,…
THE country is considering making changes to disability and mental health benefit payments as prime minister Rishi Sunak aims to slow the rise in the government's welfare bill and get more people into work. Ahead of a national election expected later this year that opinion polls show he is likely…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak received encouraging news ahead of local elections, with polls indicating that Tory mayors in Tees Valley and the West Midlands could cling on in two crucial mayoral contests. According to a YouGov survey, Ben Houchen is currently leading by seven points in his bid for a…
A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday for the first time since he was diagnosed with cancer in February, telling patients at a treatment centre for the disease in London that he was "alright". Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that doctors were sufficiently pleased with…
The Scottish National Party (SNP) opened nominations on Tuesday (30) for a new leader, setting up a fractious fight, after first minister Humza Yousaf said he was quitting. Yousaf, 39, announced on Monday (29) that he would resign once a successor has been chosen to lead the SNP and Scotland.…
The government’s Spring Budget cut to National Insurance contribution that kicks off with April’s pay-packets is expected to benefit 27 million employees. The main rate of employee National Insurance has been cut to 8 per cent from 12 per cent. Those earning an annual income of £35,400 will save over…
SCOTLAND's first minister Humza Yousaf stepped down on Monday (29) saying he was not the right candidate to rebuild ties with other parties after he ended a coalition with the Greens and faced defeat in confidence votes this week. Here are some of the possible candidates to be the next…
THE local elections were bound to make this a febrile week for political leadership. Mayors and councillors across England will discover their fate at the hands of the voters on Friday (3). Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s team in Downing Street will wait anxiously to find out how his MPs at…
Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Monday it had issued an unprecedented alert to hundreds of thousands of education professionals over an increase in cases of financially motivated sexual extortion, including in schools. The NCA said there had been a global rise in "sextortion" cases - in which people…
SCOTLAND'S first minister Humza Yousaf resigned on Monday, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party to regain ground in its former Scottish heartlands in a national election expected later this year. Yousaf quit as head of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) after a week of chaos…
Ireland's prime minister Simon Harris has warned that Dublin would take action to stem an influx of asylum seekers from Northern Ireland, the British territory across the border. Ireland would not, he said, let other countries use it as a "loophole" for their own immigration policy. His comments on Sunday…
TORY MP Dan Poulter has defected from the ruling party to the opposition Labour party, in a blow to prime minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a set of local elections that could put further pressure on his leadership. Sunak's Tories are trailing Labour by around 20 points in opinion polls…
King Charles is set to resume his public duties next week after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. In February, it was disclosed that the 75-year-old monarch had been diagnosed with cancer following a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Despite continuing with official…
THE police have charged two men with immigration offences after five migrants, including a child, died when a small boat crossed the English Channel from France earlier this week. Three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl lost their lives in the early hours of Tuesday in the sea near…
POLICE said Thursday (25) that they had arrested another man after five migrants, including a child, died this week trying to cross the Channel from France. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it arrested an 18-year-old from Sudan late Wednesday (24) on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak faces heavy losses in a swathe of local votes next week, and one of the best hopes for success for his Tories is a prominent mayor who is loath to even mention his party or its leader in his campaign. Andy Street has been mayor of…
Former Labour minister Frank Field has passed away at the age of 81, confirmed his family on Wednesday. "He will be mourned by admirers across politics but above all he will be greatly missed by those lucky enough to have enjoyed his laughter and friendship," a statement from his family…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (23) he would lift defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP a year by 2030, saying the British arms industry must be on a "war footing" when the world is at its most dangerous since the Cold War. Standing alongside NATO leader…
In a bid to bolster the recruitment and retention of teachers in crucial subjects, the Department for Education of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced a new incentive scheme offering up to £6,000 to educators for vital subjects. From September, teachers specialising in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), construction, and…
“Success is when the boats have been stopped”. He has been short of political victories in the past six months, but prime minister Rishi Sunak was not content to hail the Safety of Rwanda bill finally getting through parliament without continuing to raise expectations about how much he will achieve…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak promised to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of parliament finally passed required legislation, delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the plan. Sunak said the government had booked commercial charter planes and trained staff to take…
The head of the government's advisory body on climate change, Chris Stark, has expressed concerns that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's actions are setting Britain back in its efforts to tackle climate change. Stark, who is set to step down as chief executive of the independent Climate Change Committee, highlighted that…
THE former chairman of the Post Office has defended himself against claims of using derogatory language during a board meeting, reported the BBC. An investigation into Henry Staunton and the Post Office's current CEO, Nick Read, revealed that Staunton made inquiries about a potential board member's race and background. During…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
THE government has said that it continues to work towards striking an “ambitious” trade deal with India as a negotiating team from Delhi resumed talks with their British counterparts in London this week. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reiterated its stance of only signing a free trade agreement…
The United Kingdom's (UK) annual inflation rate decreased to a two-and-a-half year low of 3.2 per cent last month, a smaller decline than analysts had forecast, according to data released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This outcome may complicate the economic outlook and influence the timing…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak was met with vehement opposition to his proposal aimed at effectively prohibiting smoking for individuals aged 15 and under, as a fresh bill was introduced for a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Sunak introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to effectively ban the…
In an address to the parliament, prime minister Rishi Sunak strongly criticised Iran for launching an attack that sent 300 missiles and drones towards Israel, describing Iran as a nation "intent on creating disorder" in the Middle East. On Monday, he commended the Royal Air Force pilots who, in collaboration…
The parliament is expected to approve a contentious law this week that would allow the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda, a significant policy spearheaded by prime minister Rishi Sunak. The law's passage appears imminent, yet it faces potential legal challenges that could delay or obstruct its implementation. Prime minister…
Britain's economy expanded by 0.1 per cent in February, fuelling modest recovery hopes after sinking into recession in the second half of last year, official data showed on Friday. The gross domestic product uptick followed an upwardly-revised 0.3 per cent rise in January, after an initial reading of 0.2 per…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has awarded an Asian-origin London resident for promoting cricket and making a positive change within the south Asian community. Himanshu Jain, who co-founded a charity cricket community for south Asian men, got the daily Points of Light award on April 10. The Prime Minister makes daily…
Eleven men and one woman, all said to be Indian nationals, have been arrested by immigration authorities in a series of raids in West Midlands on suspicion of violating visa conditions and working illegally. According to a statement from the Home Office on Wednesday, Immigration Enforcement officers descended on the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to British Muslims as Eid was celebrated on Tuesday (9) at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In his festive message, the prime minister also said Britain was making efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. Protests have been held for weeks…
The Rishi Sunak government on Thursday increased the income required to sponsor someone coming to the country on a family visa as part of the government's plan to cut immigration. From Thursday, the minimum income requirement needed to bring a family member to the UK will go up to £29,000…
Healthcare for children and young people grappling with gender identity issues should be "holistic" and providers should exercise "extreme caution" around prescribing hormone treatments to older teens, an eagerly-awaited independent UK review said on Wednesday. The four-year probe of gender identity services for the cohort, led by retired paediatrician Hilary…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame reiterated Tuesday (9) that they expect Britain to soon start sending undocumented migrants to the African country, despite fresh questions over the controversial scheme. Sunak hosted Kagame at his official residence in London just as a British newspaper reported that properties…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said the "terrible" war between Israel and Hamas "must end", six months on from the start of the conflict. "We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by…
Train drivers in the United Kingdom (UK) have gone on strike, affecting rail services across the country, including routes to key tourist destinations and airports. The strike, organised by the Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union, is due to cost-of-living pressures and high inflation. Union chief Mick…
Driving around with hockey sticks in the boot of the car and stockpiling petrol bombs to defend themselves are among some of the gripping accounts that make up a new UK documentary chronicling racist attacks faced by British Indians in the 1970s and 80s. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, a…
Rishi Sunak, known for his love of cricket, has announced a £35 million investment plan to boost grassroots cricket facilities and enhance access to the sport in schools. The British Prime Minister shared his excitement about harnessing the "magic of cricket" to engage more young people in physical activity by…
Senior doctors in England have voted to accept an improved offer from the government on pay and conditions, easing some pressure on National Health Service (NHS) after months of disruptive strike action. The British Medical Association (BMA) trade union said on Friday about 83 per cent of senior doctors, also…
Reform UK has removed two more parliamentary candidates from their roster amidst allegations of racist remarks on social media. Campaign group Hope Not Hate uncovered tweets by Jonathan Kay and Mick Greenhough, where derogatory comments were made about Muslims and black individuals. Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's Tory party is set for a heavy defeat at a national election expected this year, according to a seat projection which showed the opposition Labour winning more than 400 seats. The YouGov model, which predicts results in individual parliamentary seats based on estimated vote share, projected…
Three former Supreme Court justices have joined more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit in genocide in Gaza. Echoing the growing number of opposition politicians who have called for a halt…
THE government’s decision to impose visa restrictions on international students to cut immigration figures is “anti-universities” and “economic illiteracy”, according to a peer and university chancellor. From January, the Home Office stopped postgraduate students from bringing their families with them when studying in the UK. When he announced the restriction,…
THE son of a British man held in an Indian jail for more than five years awaiting trial on Tuesday (2) criticised the government over its response to the case. Arms dealer Christian Michel, 62, has been detained in India since December 2018 after being extradited from the United Arab…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (2) spoke with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to demand a probe into a strike that killed charity workers in Gaza, including British citizens, a Downing Street spokesperson said. The UK also summoned Israel's ambassador in London to hear its "unequivocal condemnation" of the killing…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has revealed his desire to call a general election when people "feel that things are improving," reiterating his intention to hold the polls in the latter half of the year, reported The Times. During a regional radio appearance on Tuesday (2), Sunak chuckled when faced with…
Rishi Sunak government's expansion of the free childcare scheme aims to close the gap in support between the end of maternity leave and a child's third birthday. This is expected to benefit thousands of couples from having to choose between family and career. The prime minister said the new scheme…
King Charles attended the annual Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. Charles, 75, waved as he and Queen Camilla arrived by car at St George's Chapel, the resting place of his late mother…
Rishi Sunak's Conservative party is set to win less than 100 seats in the general election and draw a blank in Scotland and Wales, according to a survey published in The Sunday Times. Around 15,000 people were surveyed by Survation, on behalf of Best for Britain. It indicated that the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has admitted it is a hard balance for him to strike as the father of two young children and holding the top job of leading the country through various crises. In a friendly podcast interview for The Times with former Tory leader William Hague, the 43-year-old…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak is being criticised by Opposition parties for a surprise honours list which confers a knighthood on an Egyptian-born businessman who is a major donor to the Conservative Party. The list, announced late on Thursday just before the long Easter weekend, honours Mohamed Mansour, a senior treasurer…
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…
More than 4,600 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats so far in 2024, a record total for the first three months of the year. This is bound to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his 'stop the boats' plan. Provisional data from the Home Office,…
No issue has caused Rishi Sunak more trouble as prime minister than immigration. He identifies himself as a prime minister with a plan, determined to deliver. That has been a challenging battle on the economy and public services, but has been most difficult of all on immigration. The government has increased…
An Asian-origin trader in Hillingdon was recently fined more than £3,400 for selling illegal and smuggled tobacco products. The trader, Kultar Rajwansi, from Hayes has pleaded guilty to 26 offences at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on March 5. Hillingdon Council’s trading standards team carried out an inspection following reports from some…
CATHERINE, the Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William, have been "enormously touched" by the messages of support received following her shock announcement that she is being treated for cancer, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said on Saturday. Catherine said on Friday she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests done…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak waded into a row over a new England football shirt designed by Nike that changes the colours of the St George's Cross, saying "we shouldn't mess" with national flags. The US sportswear giant altered the appearance of the Cross -- the flag of England -- using…
AFTER weeks of wild speculation, the country was on Saturday (23) digesting the shock news that the Princess of Wales has cancer, with many praising her courage and others criticising those who spread conspiracies. The Princess revealed the news on Friday (22) in a highly personal video, which came just…
PRINCESS OF WALES said on Friday (22) she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests taken after she had major abdominal surgery in January revealed that cancer had been present. The Princess, 42-year-old wife of heir to the throne Prince William, called the cancer discovery a "huge shock". The news comes…
British police said on Friday they were investigating possibly racist comments allegedly made by the biggest donor to the ruling Conservative party at a meeting in 2019. The Guardian newspaper reported on March 11 that businessman Frank Hester - who gave £10 million to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party in…
ONE of Britain’s first ethnic minority members of parliament has told Eastern Eye of his regret at not being able to “move the dial forward” in the fight against racism, while urging the current generation to do more. Keith Vaz was the first Asian MP for nearly sixty years when…
THE passage of prime minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport refugees to Rwanda may be delayed until at least next month after the upper house of parliament defeated the government and reinstated demands for greater protections. The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain…
The passage of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport refugees to Rwanda may be delayed after the House of Lords defeated the government and reinstated a demand for greater protections. The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on boats to live in…
BRITISH Asian donors made significant contributions to political parties in what is shaping up to be the highest-spending general election contest expected to be held later this year. Political parties accepted £93 million in donations last year, nearly double the £52m from the previous year, according to the Electoral Commission…
SPORTS SECRETARY Lucy Frazer has said all sporting bodies in the country should look carefully at their rules on transgender athletes competing in women's sports to ensure fairness. Global governing bodies for cricket, cycling, athletics, swimming and chess have tightened their participation rules for transgender players in elite women's competitions…
THERE was a sense of occasion at the Garrick Theatre in London last Sunday (17) when Charithra Chandran made her West End debut in a solo show, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. You had the feeling many young Asians had been drawn by the show’s lead, billed as “Bridgerton’s Charithra…
Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in February, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England may cut interest rates in coming months. Inflation reached 3.4 per cent last month - the lowest level since September 2021 - after hitting 4.0 per cent in January,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Monday (18) launched measures to help small businesses navigate the weak economy, as he seeks to boost his standing before this year’s general election. Sunak unveiled a £60 million investment aimed at cutting red tape and generating 20,000 apprenticeships. “This government is sticking to the…
THE government's decision to reduce the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by moving them to sites such as military bases will end up costing taxpayers more money, parliament's spending watchdog said on Wednesday (20). Thousands of asylum seekers arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats every…
THE latest round of trade talks between Britain and India has concluded without a deal, with a British official saying an agreement could not be finalised ahead of the upcoming Indian elections. The two countries have held stop-start talks over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for two years and both…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda moved closer to becoming law after his government rejected all the proposed changes from the upper house of parliament. Under the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill, asylum seekers who arrive in England by boats would…
THE father-in-law of prime minister Rishi Sunak and the co-founder of Indian IT giant Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy, has gifted 1.5 million shares of the company, valued at £23 million, to his grandson, reports said. According to stock exchange data released on Monday (18), Murthy's gift to Ekagrah Rohan Murty…
THE government’s controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to the House of Commons this week, where MPs will debate amendments proposed by the Lords. Facing the conundrum of what to do with the Bill – which overrules the UK Supreme Court to deem Rwanda a safe place to which asylum seekers…
VAUGHAN GETHING won the Welsh Labour party leadership contest on Saturday (16), marking a historic moment as he is set to become the first black leader of the country's semi-autonomous government. Gething, 50, will succeed Mark Drakeford, 69, who announced in December that he was stepping down. The new leader…
THE fourteenth round of trade talks between Britain and India concluded on Friday (15) without a deal, while India heads to a general election. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the general election schedule on Saturday. Formal talks will not take place during India’s pre-election period. The…
A London woman who started an initiative to design light installations to celebrate Ramadan has received prime minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award this week. Aisha Desai received the award on Tuesday (12) for her Ramadan Lights UK initiative, which was inspired by her childhood joy of seeing…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday ruled out calling an election on May 2, hinting the country was on course for a late 2024 ballot. Mounting speculation at the Westminster had suggested Sunak could call the general election on the same day as local polls in early May. However,…
The UK government on Thursday unveiled a new definition of extremism, as church leaders warned it risked disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. The new definition comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned earlier this month of a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" that risked the country tipping into "mob…
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 --…
IT was a great privilege for Westcombe Group to have the opportunity to support and attend GG2’s Diversity and Leadership Awards on 5th March. It was so inspiring to hear from so many inspiring speakers and see so many leaders win recognition of their success. Amazing Awards The evening celebrated…
Britain's economy returned to growth in January after entering a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, offering some relief to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an election expected this year, official data showed. Gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent month-on-month - boosted by a rebound…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to hundreds of Post Office branch managers, including several British Asians, as a new law to quash their wrongful convictions was introduced on Wednesday (13). Sunak had pledged action in the historic Post Office scandal involving a faulty accounting software named Horizon, which wrongly…
Akshata Murty, the wife of British prime minister Rishi Sunak, has lauded her mother Sudha Murthy as a prominent female role model in business. During an International Women's Day celebration at Downing Street, Akshata emphasised the significance of mentors for women and girls in the business world. As part of…
Embattled UK leader Rishi Sunak suffered a fresh blow Monday when a former ally defected to a right-wing populist party that is worrying the ruling Conservatives ahead of this year's general election. Lee Anderson announced that he was joining Reform UK, weeks after he was suspended from Sunak's Conservative party…
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner has said integration appears to be failing in Britain following a decade of increased migration, The Telegraph reports. The 68-year-old Baroness of Margravine expressed concern over the “complacency” among politicians regarding increased immigration. The former Liberal Democrat said in the…
The British government on Monday pledged £117 million towards protecting Muslim communities amid a rise in Islamophobia as it promises more action to tackle extremism. The new funding, announced just over a week after extra cash was promised to enhance security for Jewish groups amid soaring anti-Semitism, will be used…
The mother-in-law of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was on Friday appointed to serve in India's parliament, capping a career working for the philanthropic arm of her billionaire husband's tech firm. Sudha Murty, 73, is the former chair of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global tech behemoth…
FORMER prime minister Theresa May announced on Friday she will stand down as an MP at the next election, adding to a growing list from the UK's ruling Conservatives to abandon leader Rishi Sunak. May, 67, is the most high-profile of scores of Tory lawmakers to say they will not…
TRADE secretary Kemi Badenoch on Thursday (7) said she did not see a forthcoming election in India as a deadline for securing a trade agreement between the countries, saying it would be "challenging" to secure a deal by then but possible. Britain and India have held stop-start talks over a…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “incredible contribution of south Asian people to our economy and our society” as he congratulated winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards. Sunak also witnessed the unveiling of the GG2 Power List which profiles the country’s 101 most influential and…
British finance minister Jeremy Hunt's new tax cuts have given his struggling Conservatives slim hope of narrowing the wide gap with the opposition Labour Party before an election expected later this year, but the scale of the challenge remains huge. Hunt announced a two percentage-point cut in the rate of…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt offered voters tax cuts in a bid to woo them back to prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories ahead of an expected 2024 election, slashing the emergency reserves in the public finances to the bone. Hunt said he was reducing the rate of social security contributions (NICs) paid…
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, chairman of the British Asian Trust, was recognised for over three decades of public and community service with the GG2 Hammer Award at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (5). After coming to Britain as a refugee from…
BRITAIN has more than three million Muslims from many cultural backgrounds. It has become customary for politicians to say, “the vast majority of Muslims are hardworking, decent and law-abiding, but there a small extremist fringe”. My guess is most Muslims in Britain are pleased George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election.…
FORMER home secretary Dame Priti Patel has called for an “acceleration” in reforms to support those affected by violence against women in memory of the late Sarah Everard and other women. Findings of an inquiry into the rape and murder of Everard by a British police officer three years ago…
BRITAIN almost doubled the number of visas given to foreign health and care workers last year, government data showed, adding to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak over immigration ahead of an election expected later this year. Data released last Thursday (29) by the Home Office showed that Britain granted…
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…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has got the thumbs up on his cooking skills from his wife Akshata Murty, who admitted that he does not get much time to spend in the kitchen with a busy day job running the country. The British Indian first couple were speaking to Grazia women’s…
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"…
Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will be blocked from entering Britain under new plans being drafted by the government, according to a UK media report on Sunday. ‘The Daily Telegraph' reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase”…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak suffered his first defeats over his legislation to send asylum seekers to Rwanda after the upper house of parliament demanded greater protections to be introduced before deportation flights can take off. Under the Rwanda plan, which has yet to be carried out, asylum seekers who arrive…
With the general elections around the corner, there is now speculation that energy secretary Claire Coutinho could get yet another plum posting. Quoting Whitehall sources, Politico has said the Asian-origin politician, whose career trajectory witnessed a rapid rise under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, could be his chancellor in waiting. During…
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls. Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy. Finance…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt sought to dampen speculation about big pre-election tax cuts in this week's budget, saying there had been a worsening in the economic outlook, but he hinted at some help for voters. The forecasts that underpin the budget "have gone against us," Hunt told the Sunday Telegraph in…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said Britain's multi-ethnic democracy was being deliberately undermined by Islamist and far-right extremists, calling for a tougher approach to policing protests in light of an increase in hate speech and criminality. British lawmakers this week have been given funding for new security provisions after…
THE British government's controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda might end up costing more than £600 million to deport 300 refugees, parliament's spending watchdog said on Friday (1). Under the policy first announced in 2022, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would…
A public inquiry into a British police officer whose rape and murder of a woman horrified the nation concluded on Thursday (29) that without a sweeping overhaul of failed vetting procedures, there was nothing to stop another similar case arising. Wayne Couzens, 51, whose job was to guard diplomatic premises…
Veteran left-wing political maverick George Galloway won a vote to become the new lawmaker for the English town of Rochdale on Friday, vowing to be a thorn in the side for the opposition Labour Party before a national election it is tipped to win. After running a pro-Palestinian campaign, Galloway…
There has been a 60 per cent increase in Indian nationals using illegal small boats to cross the English Channel to enter the UK in 2023, reports Times of India. They pay around £100 to smugglers in Calais to undertake this risky journey and make asylum claims once they land…
The Metropolitan Police is "assessing" a report of hate speech made against MP Lee Anderson after he accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of being controlled by Islamists, according to media reports. The police said an unknown complainant approached them a day after Anderson made the controversial remark on a TV…
BRITAIN is descending into "mob rule" and police will do more to protect the country's democracy, prime minister Rishi Sunak said, after the government announced extra funding to keep lawmakers safe. Many British lawmakers have said the abuse directed at them has become more intense since the Oct. 7 Hamas…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has denounced the ongoing controversy surrounding Islamophobia within the Tory party as "hysteria," urging prime minister Rishi Sunak to address Islamist extremism promptly, reported The Telegraph. Braverman believes stripping Lee Anderson, the former Tory party deputy chairman, of his party privileges was an overreaction to…
Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and daughter of prominent industrialist couple, Narayan and Sudha Murthy was spotted in the Indian city of Bengaluru with her family. She was seen casually roaming around in an area, Raghvendra Mutt with her parents and her daughters Anoushka and Krishna. She…
THE mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has told Eastern Eye he believes communities will come together to stand up against “politics of extremism, division and blame”. His comments came amid an escalating row after Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, last Saturday (24) claimed “Islamists had…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt should not announce further pre-election tax cuts in his budget next week unless he can explain the painful spending cuts needed to pay for them, a leading economic thinktank said on Tuesday (27). Hunt and prime minister, Rishi Sunak, have said they want to lower Britain’s tax…
Keeping prejudice out of politics is becoming increasingly fraught in polarised times. Taking to the streets to protest must be part of free speech – within decent democratic boundaries. That deal is broken if prejudiced placards, chants and slogans go unchecked – but undermined too when politicians declare every protestor…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has declared he is “living proof” that Britain is not a racist country as he sought to douse the Islamophobia row, The Times reports. He warned that all politicians had an obligation to be “careful” and not “unnecessarily inflame” tensions after the former deputy Tory chairman,…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has issued a warning about the increasing toxicity in political culture, in light of reports that members of Parliament are encountering security threats due to their voting intentions in the House of Commons concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. He issued a statement on Saturday (24) to condemn…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak denied on Monday that his governing party has Islamophobic tendencies, saying comments by Conservative lawmaker Lee Anderson were unacceptable and that was why he had been suspended. Anderson said on Friday the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists in widely…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said that Western nations should take a more assertive stance on confiscating Russian assets, which were frozen following the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sunak, in an article in an early edition of the Sunday Times to mark two years since the start of…
The Tories on Saturday (24) suspended their former deputy chairman Lee Anderson from the parliamentary party after he refused to apologise for claiming that London's Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, was controlled by Islamists. Pressure had been growing on prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Anderson's contentious remarks…
KING CHARLES was shown on Friday (23) reading and chuckling at some of the thousands of cards sent to him by well wishers since it was announced he was receiving treatment for cancer. Buckingham Palace disclosed earlier this month that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with a unspecified form of…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has claimed the UK is losing its identity as a great nation where different faiths and races co-existed peacefully because Islamists and extremists are taking charge in all walks of life. British Indian Braverman, with a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, writes in The Telegraph…
BRITAIN will gain access to the EU's intelligence on criminal gangs involved in human trafficking as part of a deal with the bloc's border protection agency, Frontex, in another sign of closer cooperation between the two sides after Brexit. The deal between Britain and the European Union will allow both…
KING CHARLES said during a meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday (21) he had been reduced to tears by messages of good will following his cancer diagnosis. King met Sunak in person for their weekly audience for the first time since announcing his diagnosis. The palace announced earlier…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
Akshata Murty, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s wife, wore a suit designed by Lady Cameron at an event on the final day of London Fashion Week in a nod to one of her predecessors in Downing Street. The event was a lunch at Downing Street, which saw the presence of 20…
ENGLAND’S health service will move about 40,000 pending child consultations for ADHD, autism and other conditions from its main waiting list, a person with direct knowledge of the change said, trimming the politically sensitive list ahead of an expected election. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to reduce wait times…
BRITISH retail sales jumped by the most in almost three years in January as consumers recovered their appetite for spending, suggesting the economy could emerge quickly from its recession in the second half of last year. Sales volumes increased by 3.4 per cent from December and January’s jump was the…
In a decisive move to enhance the learning atmosphere in classrooms, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools across England. Through a video message shared on the X platform, Sunak underscored the disruptive influence of mobile phones on education, advocating for a more focused…
The independent media watchdog in Britain launched an investigation on Monday (19) to assess whether there was a breach of impartiality rules in a recent television appearance by prime minister Rishi Sunak, after receiving about 500 complaints from viewers. The Office of Communications (OFCOM) said its probe covers the ‘People's…
Britain's new legislation regarding its controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing was criticised by the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, on Monday (19), for undermining fundamental principles of rights. Turk said the moves to facilitate removals to Rwanda ran contrary to the basic principles of…
A man who piloted an "unseaworthy" boat across the English Channel was found guilty Monday of the manslaughter of four migrants who drowned during the crossing. Ibrahima Bah, from Senegal, took the helm of the poor quality inflatable carrying 43 people, which should have held no more than 20 passengers,…
AN unnamed British policeman underwent a misconduct hearing after it emerged that he had shared details of injuries via WhatsApp following a stabbing attack on a British Indian teenager and her friend in Nottingham last year. According to a report in The Sun newspaper on Monday (19), a misconduct hearing…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Saturday (17) made a direct appeal to voters to stick with his plan to turn things around as he made a plea for the Tory family to come together to beat Labour party in a general election later this year. Writing in The Daily Telegraph,…
In the face of two significant defeats that cast a shadow over his leadership before the upcoming general election, prime minister Rishi Sunak pointed to "low voter turnout" on Friday (16) as the reason for the Labour Party's success in overturning substantial Tory majorities to win the by-elections in England.…
LABOUR dealt a crushing blow to prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories on Friday (16), winning contests for two new lawmakers in votes that suggested the opposition party was on track to win a national election later this year. The double defeat underlined the flagging fortunes of the governing party and…
The economy entered a recession in the latter half of 2023, presenting a challenging environment in the lead-up to the anticipated election this year for prime minister Rishi Sunak, who has committed to boosting growth. Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.3% in the three months to December, having shrunk…
IN the dynamic landscape of international relations, the influence of non-state actors, including transnational religious organisations, plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s global standing. India, with its rich tapestry of religious diversity, has witnessed the emergence and growth of various such organisations that contribute significantly to the country’s…
DENTISTS in England will receive cash to accept new patients amid a critical shortage of state-funded dental care. Announced last Wednesday (7), the plan is backed by £200 million in government funding. It comes as the number of dentists providing care in the NHS stands at its lowest level in…
LABOUR'S lead over Tories has fallen 7 percentage points to its lowest since June 2023, a Savanta poll showed on Wednesday (14), after the opposition party scrapped a green spending target and struggled with anti-Semitism allegations. Polls over the past year have consistently shown Labour on course for victory in…
THOUSANDS of international students are campaigning to clear their names over an English-language test scandal after fresh evidence was presented to the Home Office. The issue dates to 2014 when a BBC Panorama investigation revealed cheating on a compulsory language test that was required for a visa at two London…
HOW ambitious would a Labour government be in office? The party’s scaling back of its flagship green economy investment plan dominated the past week in Westminster. But this was also a week in which it sought to illuminate its plans on racial equality. Keir Starmer did two things to respond to…
Britain's unemployment rate dipped in the final quarter of last year, but wage growth eased as the country's inflation stays elevated, official data showed Tuesday. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8 per cent from 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of November, the Office for National…
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…
The trade deal talks between India and the UK have run into a deadlock with both sides hardening their stands amid elections scheduled in both the countries. The UK has alleged that India was pushing for a watered-down trade deal as time runs out to conclude an agreement before negotiations…
Rishi Sunak has embraced the challenge of narrowing the gap between the Tories and Labour in the current polls. Speaking to the Times, the prime minister emphasised his commitment to tax reductions, pledging to cut taxes when it becomes fiscally prudent. “At the beginning of this year there is a…
King Charles III expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to well-wishers on Saturday (10), in his first statement following his shock announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace said Monday that Charles had begun treatment, but did not specify what type of cancer he has. "I would like to…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid £508,000 in tax in the last financial year after income from his investments dwarfed his official salary, a report by his accountants showed on Friday (9). Sunak is the wealthiest prime minister in British history through a combination of his past career in financial services…
Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III, disclosed on Thursday (8) that her husband, who has been diagnosed with cancer, is "doing extremely well" given the circumstances. King Charles has been "very touched by all the letters and the messages the public have been sending from everywhere", she said during…
FOREIGN SECRETARY David Cameron has pledged to help Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish man imprisoned in India for over six years, and has vowed to push for an investigation into allegations of torture, reported The Times. Johal, 36, was detained in Punjab in 2017 after travelling to India for his…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
Allegations have surfaced that prime minister Rishi Sunak is the primary obstacle in resolving the ongoing doctors' strikes in England, a situation that is exacerbating the NHS waiting lists crisis, an exclusive report in The Guardian said. Despite repeated warnings from health officials and NHS England, Sunak's apprehension about setting…
BREXIT complicated the already convoluted communal politics of Northern Ireland, but the role of the British prime minister Rishi Sunak in bringing about power sharing in Stormont has been praised by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). “Credit to Rishi Sunak, he delivered where others haven’t,”…
KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…
Despite her shortcomings as the prime minister, Liz Truss continues to maintain her presence on the political stage. On Tuesday (6) she launched a new movement dedicated to steering the ruling Tories in a more rightward direction. Truss spent just 49 days in office before she was ousted by her…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (6) that he was “shocked and sad” upon discovering that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, though he found solace in the fact that the condition was detected early. Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday evening that the King had commenced outpatient treatment for…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged that his government had fallen short in reducing the significant backlog of patients awaiting hospital treatment within the health service, conceding a failure to fulfill one of his key promises ahead of an upcoming election. Sunak set out five major policy pledges at the start…
KING CHARLES has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said on Monday (5), but added he remained "wholly positive" about the scare less than 18 months into his reign. Charles, 75, who became king in September 2022 following the…
The Labour Party has asserted that Infosys received preferential "VIP access" following allegations in a media report that claimed the software services company was assured assistance for its expansion in Britain, a favour purportedly tied to prime minister Rishi Sunak's family relation with Narayana Murthy, a co-founder of Infosys. A…
King Charles III has appointed his first female equerry, who will serve as the monarch's representative and assistant during most of his overseas visits and tours. Captain Kat Anderson, 33, is an officer with the Royal Artillery who has previously worked for prime minister Rishi Sunak. She will be the…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has shared insights into the challenges of growing up facing racism and the efforts his family made to ensure he assimilated into British society, including enrolling him in additional drama classes to eliminate any accent, The Guardian reported. "You are conscious of being different," Sunak told…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is under pressure to cut immigration as new figures indicate Britain must construct 156,000 homes annually to accommodate influx, reported The Times. The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predict that net migration will add an additional 6.1 million people to the UK population…
Should the main opposition Labour Party secure victory in the next UK general election, as current opinion polls suggest, a familiar scene is expected outside the prime minister's official residence the following day: removal vans. The overnight transition, unique in major Western democracies, contrasts with the roughly two months' preparation…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak launched a new business council on Wednesday (31), establishing routine meetings with several of the country's top bosses, such as the chief executives of BT BT.L, Rolls-Royce RR.L, and Unilever ULVR.L. The newly-appointed council will be used to gain business perspectives on the global economic climate…
LABOUR will cap corporation tax at 25 per cent if it wins the next election and will look to cut that rate if needed, the party's finance policy chief Rachel Reeves told business leaders on Thursday (1). Businesses have long complained about a lack of visibility on everything from tax…
Amidst concerns of dwindling support from the UK's largest ethnic minority, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is implementing new strategies to reengage with British Indians. Recent initiatives include recruiting two community outreach volunteers, revitalising the Labour Friends of India group, and arranging a visit to India for senior shadow ministers David…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak secured a victory in the upper house of parliament's first vote on his legislation aimed at reviving a plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda despite the bill facing several hours of criticism from lawmakers, who labelled it as unethical and unworkable. Under the Rwanda plan,…
THE UK and Indian governments are striving to establish a modern relationship, Alex Chalk, the lord chancellor and justice secretary, said last Friday (26). He was speaking at the Guildhall in the City of London where the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, hosted a reception to mark the 75th anniversary…
THE far-right section of the Conservative party is plotting to get rid of Rishi Sunak. But, then, no one should be surprised. Fascism has always appealed to a section of the Conservative Party and indeed to many in English aristocracy. Here is a summary of a seriously regarded book, Hitler’s…
BUSINESS secretary Kemi Badenoch said last Sunday (28) that she had sacked the chairman of the Post Office amid tensions over the scandal of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft due to faulty accounting software. An ITV television drama in early January that told the story of the subpostmasters’…
FAMILIES of the victims of last June’s Nottingham attacks said prime minister has not ruled out a public inquiry into the incident after they met Rishi Sunak at Downing Street on Monday (29) evening. Barnaby Webber's father, whose son was fatally stabbed alongside Grace O'Malley Kumar, 19, and school caretaker…
Immigration is expected to add 6.1 million people to the UK population by mid-2036, official projections that will add to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak to reduce it in the run-up to an election. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday (30) the UK's population is projected…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is known for his dedication to physical fitness, engaging in intense cycling workouts on his Peloton bike and having a weakness for mint chocolate and Mexican Coca-Cola. However, the Sunday Times (28) revealed that Sunak's self-discipline includes a weekly 36-hour fast, in accordance with his Hindu…
The government is set to implement new legislation to prohibit single-use e-cigarettes or vapes as a measure to address the increasing trend of vaping among young people, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday (29). "As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment…
Business minister Kemi Badenoch announced on Sunday (28) that she has sacked the chairman of the Post Office. The decision comes amidst growing tensions related to the scandal involving the wrongful conviction of hundreds of subpostmasters for theft, attributed to faulty accounting software. A television drama in early January that…
Indian-origin filmmaker Gurinder Chadha on Tuesday said she is working on a festive film in the same vein as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but her Scrooge will be “an Indian Tory who hates refugees”. Appearing in front of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee at Westminster, Chadha said it…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt said he would use his budget statement in March - possibly his last before a national election expected this year - to boost economic growth and he said tax cuts were part of his plans. “My priority in the upcoming spring budget will be to build on…
Simon Clarke, a senior Tory MP on Tuesday (23), voiced his concerns regarding the party's leadership. He openly called for a change in the prime ministerial role, expressing his belief that under Rishi Sunak's leadership, the party is heading towards a significant defeat in the upcoming election later this year,…
THE Labour party said it would aim to save £10 billion by cutting waste and reforming the health service if in power, saying these measures could free up cash to spend on frontline care. The NHS emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic in crisis, crippled by long waiting lists, ambulance delays…
HAVING survived the biggest Commons backbench rebellion of his premiership to date, Rishi Sunak made a pre-emptive strike on the upper house over his Rwanda Bill: “Will the opposition in the appointed House of Lords try and frustrate the will of the people as expressed by the elected House?”, he…
The rising number of UK employees needing time away from work due to mental health concerns has sparked alarm, with a charity warning that the nation could be heading towards widespread burnout, The Guardian reported. Mental Health UK's chief, Brian Dow, has highlighted the role of global issues like climate…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt said he would use his budget statement in March - possibly his last before a national election expected this year - to boost economic growth and he said tax cuts were part of his plans. "My priority in the upcoming Spring Budget will be to build on…
Rishi Sunak urged members of the UK's unelected upper chamber of parliament on Thursday (18) to approve his controversial proposal to send migrants to Rwanda, asserting that it reflected "the will of the people." The prime minister survived a key test of his leadership on Wednesday night, fending off right-wing…
GOOGLE will invest $1 billion on building a data centre just outside of London, the US technology giant said on Thursday (18), in its latest investment in Britain as it meets growing demand for internet services in the region. The data centre, located on a 33-acre (13-hectare) site bought by…
In a crucial test of his leadership, prime minister Rishi Sunak successfully navigated a key parliamentary vote on Wednesday (17), overcoming opposition from right-wing rebels for his controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda. Sunak, in power since October 2022, has staked his political future on the scheme, as Britain…
Facing a crucial vote on the Rwanda bill, Rishi Sunak encounters resistance as two Tory deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide, namely Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith, and Jane Stevenson, resigned to rebel against the legislation, seeking amendments for increased stringency. In a setback for the prime minister's authority, 60 Tory…
JUST before Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in Westminster Abbey, on April 29, 2011, I went to see Hasmukh and Chandrika Shingadia in the Berkshire village of Upper Bucklebury, where they ran the local Peach’s grocery store cum sub-post office. They had been invited to the royal wedding…
ASIAN sub postmasters have described the devastating impact of the Post Office Horizon scandal as they revealed the consequences of the injustice on their families as well as their health and finances. In interviews with Eastern Eye, some post masters recalled the fallout of discriminatory and racist behaviour by Post…
IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a political leader with an election to fight must be in want of campaign advice. As Rishi Sunak embarks on the most challenging re-election campaign of any British prime minister in living memory, there is no shortage of pitches about the best spells…
From Tuesday (16) onward, an estimated 3.5 million Britons residing overseas will gain eligibility to vote in UK general elections. This marks one of the most substantial expansions of the country's electoral franchise in a century. The expansion in the electorate follows a change in the law, approved by parliament…
The spotlight returns to Britain's plan to send migrants to Rwanda as lawmakers debate the controversial scheme on Tuesday (16), testing the authority of leader Rishi Sunak with a general election around the corner. The prime minister -- in power since October 2022 -- has staked his political future on…
A House of Lords inquiry has conveyed that Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda treaty is unlikely to alleviate concerns raised by the Supreme Court regarding the country's suitability for sending asylum seekers. As the legal and human rights communities prepare for a showdown on the legislation, the Law Society, along with academics…
BRITAIN is on course to elect its most diverse parliament ever following the general election later this year, a thinktank has said, while a leading Conservative parliamentarian has urged MPs to better engage with ethnic minority voters. Based on current candidate selections, a record number of ethnic minority MPs are…
INDIAN Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday (11) after a “warm meeting” with prime minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception. Singh called on Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (10) evening for discussions on…
All the glitz and glamour from the 25th anniversary of the Asian Business Awards will be aired on Zee TV on Sunday, January 28th, at 7 pm. A total of nine awards were handed out at the glittering ceremony, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in central London and attended…
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…
BRITAIN will seek to use new legislation to overturn the wrongful convictions of hundreds of Post Office managers, prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday (10) in the wake of renewed national outrage over the scandal. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of self-employed sub-postmasters at branches of the state-owned Post…
INFOSYS co-founder NR Narayana Murthy was not in favour of his wife Sudha joining the company because he did not want the then start-up to be perceived as nepotistic, a new book has claimed. Murthy, whose daughter Akshata is married to prime minister Rishi Sunak, set up the company along…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's legislation to block further court challenges to the government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda will return to parliament next week. Sunak faced the most serious threat to his leadership when he saw off a revolt by dozens of his lawmakers during the first parliamentary…
THE four-part ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, has changed the debate about the scandal resulting from the implementation of the faulty Horizon software by Japan’s Fujitsu company. Following the national outcry triggered by the show, prime minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg last…
THE former boss of Britain's Post Office said on Tuesday (9) she will return a royal honour received from Queen Elizabeth II as public anger mounts over a miscarriage of justice scandal. Former-CEO Paula Vennells said she had "listened" to the growing clamour to hand back the CBE (Commander of…
INDIA’s defence minister Rajnath Singh arrived in London on Monday (8) for a three-day visit focusing on the India-UK defence partnership as well as security and industrial cooperation. Singh has been accompanied by a Ministry of Defence delegation comprising officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters,…
PUBLIC anger is mounting over what has been described as Britain's biggest ever miscarriage of justice that saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft because of a computer software glitch. Lives were ruined by the false accusations that led to some Post Office branch managers being jailed, going bankrupt,…
INDIAN defence minister Rajnath Singh will discuss bilateral issues with his UK counterpart Grant Shapps during his official visit, the ministry of defence said in a statement. Singh arrived in UK on Monday (8) night. Notably, this marks the first visit of a sitting Indian defence minister to the UK…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday (7) called upon voters and members of his party to "stick to the plan" for achieving "long-term change" ahead of an election he indicated would likely occur in the latter part of this year. After firing the starting gun on election campaigning last week…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has outlined his commitment to reducing taxes by tightening welfare spending and implementing government reforms before and after the upcoming general election. In an interview with The Telegraph, Sunak indicated a significant focus on tax reductions. The Tory leader presented the party's position as a key…
BRITAIN intends to become the first European country to produce an advanced uranium fuel that is currently commercially available only from Russia, the government announced Sunday (7). The UK government said it would invest £300 million building a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) programme that would help "displace" Moscow from global…
Former energy minister, Chris Skidmore announced on Friday (5) that he is resigning as an MP, citing disagreements with the ruling Conservatives over the contentious oil and gas legislation. In an embarrassing setback for embattled prime minister Rishi Sunak, MP Chris Skidmore also said he will quit the Conservative parliamentary…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
LABOUR has raised concerns over the closure of Catamaran Ventures UK, a start-up investment firm owned by Rishi Sunak's wife, reported the BBC. The company was wound up by Akshata Murty in December, prompting questions about its impact on government-backed businesses and other companies it holds stakes in. The establishment…
RISHI SUNAK fired the starting gun on Britain's next election on Thursday (4), saying his "working assumption" was it would take place in the second half of the year, all but ruling out an earlier vote opposition parties had called for. The prime minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer both…
Ahead of the upcoming general election this year, the ruling Conservatives find themselves once again challenged by a fringe right-wing political party, originally founded by the eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage. Reform UK -- formerly called the Brexit Party and whose current leader admires former US president Donald Trump -- rails…
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD British Indian schoolgirl made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess event. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in London, won the European Blitz chess championship in Zagreb, Croatia, last month. During the event, she went head-tohead with some of the best players…
BRITAIN’S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter and flatlined in the previous three months, official data showed last month, raising fears of a recession before an election due this year. The downbeat news delivers a blow to Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak, who trails Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced on Tuesday (2), that he had achieved his goal of clearing the nation's "legacy" asylum backlog by the end of 2023 and also defied the prevailing trend across Europe by reducing arrivals of illegal migrants via small boats by 36 per cent. The UK Home…
Junior doctors in England on Wednesday (3) commenced the longest consecutive strike witnessed in the seven-decade history of the NHS. Junior doctors -- those below consultant level -- started a six-day walkout, in a major escalation of their long-running pay dispute with the UK government. The industrial action comes at…
DEMOCRACY is the theme of 2024. Around half of the world’s population has the chance to go to the polls. This weekend’s vote in Bangladesh, boycotted by the opposition to Shekih Hasina, is an inauspicious start. Pakistan in February holds its first elections since 2018. More than 600 million will…
Tories have expressed strong disapproval and concern over allegations that Rishi Sunak offered Dominic Cummings a secret deal to assist him in winning the election. One Tory MP said that Boris Johnson's former chief aide should have no role in the political sphere, following these claims. Within WhatsApp groups, other…
Health chiefs warned this weekend that Rishi Sunak's goal for the NHS, aiming to eradicate wait times surpassing 65 weeks by March, might fall short due to impending NHS strike action. The health system braces for an unprecedented six-day national strike by junior doctors in England starting Wednesday (3) at…
Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain from mainland Europe in small boats in 2023, an annual drop of more than a third, government figures released Monday showed. However, the unauthorised arrivals of 29,437 people on the southeast English coast remains the second largest yearly tally since officials began…
According to a UK media report, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aims to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with India by Easter, which falls at the end of March 2024. The India-UK FTA talks began in January last year, aimed at significantly enhancing the £36-billion bilateral trading partnership. A new…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who was under pressure from the Opposition regarding the customary resignation Honours List from his short-lived predecessor Liz Truss, has authorised the controversial peerages. Truss made 11 nominations of some of her close friends and allies, including Conservative Party donor Jon Moynihan and former Brexit Vote…
During the Christmas holidays, Rishi Sunak shared a quirky skit inspired by the 1990s Hollywood film 'Home Alone' on social media. The post included the message “Merry Christmas from Downing Street,” aiming to showcase the prime minister's humorous side during the festive period. The 43-year-old can be seen hard at…
CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, will present the spring budget on March 6, in what is likely to be the government's last major chance to prepare the ground for an election that must be held by January 2025. Prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives are heavily trailing the main opposition…
BRITAIN'S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter, official data showed Friday (22), raising fears of a potential recession before an election due next year. Gross domestic product contracted 0.1 per cent between July and September, down from a prior estimate of zero growth, the Office for National Statistics said…
THE government has said it will raise its controversial minimum salary requirement for family visas in stages "to give predictability" to immigrant families. It unveiled a raft of measures earlier in December, aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration - a key battleground issue in the general election…
AN eight-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess championship. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European blitz chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend. During the event, she went head-to-head with some of…
JUNIOR doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday (20), beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said…
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…
A NEW round of discussions in the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will begin in the New Year after the 13th round was completed last week, a joint outcome statement issued by the British government said on Monday (18). The Department for Business and Trade…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak encounters another challenging vote to fill a vacant parliamentary seat following the removal of a lawmaker on Tuesday (19). The lawmaker was ousted amid allegations of bullying an employee and engaging in sexual misconduct. A parliamentary watchdog found that Peter Bone, who had been a member…
INFLATION has slowed sharply to the lowest level in more than two years on falling petrol prices, official data showed Wednesday (20), easing a cost-of-living crisis after aggressive interest-rate hikes. The Consumer Prices Index hit 3.9 per cent in November from 4.6 per cent in the previous month, attaining the…
WHAT did we learn from 2023 about the state of the nation? It was a year that showed how identity can both unite and divide Britain today, depending not only on events at home and abroad, but on how our public conversations are led too. If Britain needs more bridging…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak hailed his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni's approach to tackling illegal migration, in a visit to Rome where they agreed to co-fund a project to help migrants return home from Tunisia. The two leaders held formal talks at Meloni's office on Saturday (16) and the British Conservative…
BRITAIN'S economy shrank in October, official data showed on Wednesday (13), raising the risk of a recession and testing the Bank of England's resolve to stick to its tough line against cutting to interest rates from their 15-year high. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3 per cent from September,…
GRADUATE ethnic minority voters are more likely to vote for the Conservative party, a new survey has found. Lead researcher James Kanagasooriam, from FocalData, said the voting intentions of ethnic minority graduates is in contrast to their white counterparts. They are more left-leaning and more likely to vote Labour, although…
A LEADING Conservative parliamentarian has warned fellow Tory politicians they face a decision to either “unify or die” as party infighting threatens to derail the leadership of prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday (12) Sunak narrowly won in his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda. The way in which…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak avoided defeat in parliament on Tuesday (12) on an emergency bill to revive his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, seeing off a revolt by dozens of his lawmakers that laid bare his party's deep divisions. Sunak, who has pinned his reputation on the strategy,…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said he was "deeply sorry" for those who lost family during the Covid pandemic as he was quizzed about his actions as finance minister during the global health emergency. Sunak is expected to face questions at the public inquiry into the UK's handling of…
RISHI SUNAK did not imagine that his premiership would end up like this. His intention was to lead an economy-first government, rebuild trust in politics and deliver on many fronts. Sunak has become the embattled leader of a single-issue government and mutinous party. Every week seems to be immigration week…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak faces the biggest parliamentary test of his premiership on Tuesday (12) when MPs vote on his plan to send asylum seekers to live in Rwanda. The Supreme Court ruled last month that Rwanda was an unsafe place to send those arriving in small boats on England's…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak faces questions Monday over whether his "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme to help the struggling hospitality sector during the pandemic spurred the spread of Covid-19. Sunak, who was finance minister at the time, is due to give evidence to the public inquiry into the UK…
The London mayor's office strongly condemned a "grotesquely irresponsible" attack on a camera responsible for enforcing the city's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). The incident involved damaging the camera with what seemed to be a homemade bomb, posing a risk to lives, The Guardian reported. No immediate response regarding the incident…
SIX former London police officers on Thursday (7) were given suspended prison sentences for sharing offensive and racist messages on WhatsApp, including references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. In a statement after the sentencing hearing Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan…
RISHI SUNAK insisted Thursday (7) that his latest immigration plan would work, as the issue threatened to tear apart his ruling Tories, putting his premiership in jeopardy. Sunak came out fighting after his government's latest attempt to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda sparked the resignation of his immigration minister, who…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman said on Thursday (7) the government's proposed Rwanda legislation, part of a scheme to try to send thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country, will not work. Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt from the right-wing of his Tory party over efforts to…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak set out draft emergency legislation on Wednesday (6) which he said would pave the way for asylum seekers to be deported to Rwanda, but immediately suffered a major setback when his immigration minister quit. The "Safety of Rwanda Bill", published the day after Britain signed a…
THE Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt, is the sole Indian to be selected by the Financial Times (FT) among its “25 most influential women of 2023” chosen from across the world. The paper’s selection is a little like Eastern Eye’s Power List (the next one will be published on March 5,…
BRITAIN signed a new treaty with Rwanda on Tuesday (5) which it said would overcome a court decision blocking its plan to deport asylum seekers to the East African country, a ruling that dealt a huge blow to the government's immigration policy. The Rwanda scheme is at the centre of…
A MAJORITY of Britons support rejoining the European single market, even though it would mean restoring free movement of workers from member states, according to a survey published last Wednesday (29). The YouGov findings come as prime minister Rishi Sunak faces rising political pressure from record high levels of migration…
JUNIOR doctors in England will take further strike action later this month and in January, their trade union said on Tuesday (5), after weeks of talks with the government failed to end a long-running dispute over pay. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents nearly 200,000 doctors in Britain, said…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson will make a much-anticipated appearance before an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday (6) with his personal reputation and that of the Tory government at stake. The inquiry has already heard damaging testimony about Johnson's handling of the crisis, including claims…
Home Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday (5), to finalise a new treaty aimed at deporting asylum seekers to the African nation, following the UK's highest court ruling that declared the previous deportation scheme unlawful. The Rwanda plan is at the centre of the government's strategy to cut…
The embattled Conservative government unveiled a raft of measures Monday aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration -- a key battleground in a general election expected next year. The UK announced it would raise the minimum salary threshold for a skilled worker visa and prevent overseas health and…
A Labour government would not "turn on the spending taps" but will focus obsessively on growth because British prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories have wrecked public finances, the party's leader Keir Starmer will say on Monday (4). With Labour some 20 points ahead in opinion polls before an election expected…
Rishi Sunak has said he started listening to his Christmas music playlist two weeks back. However, the reaction from friends and family has led him to enjoy the tunes privately. The prime minister, known for his fondness for Michael Bublé’s Christmas tracks and often listening to them during late work…
A House of Lords committee responsible for scrutinising bills presented in Parliament has expressed apprehension regarding the inclusion of India in the UK's extended list of safe states which would prevent individuals from India entering the country illegally from seeking asylum. The cross-party House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee…
Rishi Sunak said on Friday (1) that he had conversations with President Paul Kagame concerning plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as he finalises his response to the block on the policy in the London Supreme Court. Sunak's government has said it is working on a new treaty with…
