Conservative Friends of India & Indian High Commission host joint reception at Conservative Party Conference
The event, which saw the presence of several dignitaries including Indian high commissioner to the UK HE Vikram Doraiswami, celebrated the importance of strong ties between the UK and India and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Britain.
The Conservative Friends (CF) of India and the Indian high commission in London recently hosted a joint reception at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham which was attended by more than 400 guests, including many high-profile ones.
The event celebrated the importance of strong ties between the UK and India and the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Britain.
The reception saw, besides the presence of the Indian high commissioner to the UK, HE Vikram Doraiswami; former British home secretary Suella Braverman; foreign secretary James Cleverly; international trade secretary Kemi Badenoch; environment, food, and rural affairs secretary Ranil Jayawardena; Lord Chancellor and secretary of state for justice Brandon Lewis; digital, culture, media, and sports secretary Michelle Donelan; CF India patron Lord Rami Ranger; and other dignitaries.
Indian high commissioner to the UK, HE Vikram Doraiswami (third from left), along with other dignitaries at a joint reception hosted by the Conservative Friends of India and the Indian high commission in the UK in Birmingham recently. (Picture: Conservative Friends of India, Indian high commission in UK)
High commissioner from Bangladesh, HE Saida Muna Tasneem; and the Maldives, HE Dr Farah Faizal, were also present on the occasion.
Cllr Reena Ranger, CF India co-chair, paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and delivered the proclamation "God Save the King". She highlighted India's secular tradition and how CF India is led by British Indians who are Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim -- all working in harmony and promoting the secular and meritocratic values of India and the Conservative Party.
Cllr Ameet Jogia, also a co-chair, introduced the guests.
Indian high commissioner to the UK, HE Vikram Doraiswami (third from left), speaks at a joint reception hosted by the Conservative Friends of India and the Indian high commission in the UK in Birmingham recently. (Picture: Conservative Friends of India, Indian high commission in UK)
Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands who played the conference's host, said how proud he was to be the mayor of the region, which the diaspora has enriched and how he was delighted to meet the new Indian high commissioner HE Doraiswami. He said he looked forward to continuing the strong engagement the region has with Indian businesses.
He also thanked CF India and Ranger, Jogia, and Nayaz Qazi, its director.
HE Doraiswami, who welcomed the guests and paid tribute to the late Queen, lauded the UK as India's oldest partner. He said people are important to the relationship and the finalising of the trade agreement, and defence and strategic partnership, coupled with the mobility of the brightest talents between the two countries will provide opportunities to both.
Welcoming the high commissioner and other members, Braverman said she would "like to put on record and thank Rami Uncle (Lord Ranger), Reena, Ameet, and Nayaz for all the work they do for CF India and the Conservative Party".
She said CF India plays a crucial role in helping to win elections and bring the Indian community closer to the party.
"The Conservative Party is a party of meritocracy & talent; which has the most diverse cabinet in history, and we look forward to the start of the free trade agreement between UK and India," she said.
Speaking of how he enjoyed the reception, foreign secretary Cleverly said, “You can tell it is an Indian event; it is noisy, busy and with so much energy in the room”.
“The British-Indian community and the links with India are hugely important to the United Kingdom; India is one of our closest friends in the world. The UK-India relationship has gone from strength to strength. Two countries bound by heritage and family, I could not be more proud to work with Kemi to make the free trade agreement happen quickly," he said and thanked CF India and its members.
Lord Ranger welcomed the Indian high commissioner, and the guests, and acknowledged the contributions of CF India members.
“We are delighted that our new high commissioner HE Vikram Doraswami is here with us, witnessing the vibration of India outside India. Britain is a vibrant economy because we are both secular democracies, and our respect for the rule of law and women. The free trade agreement between the 5 & 6th largest economies will be the mother of all free trade Agreements," he said.
Lord Chancellor Lewis spoke of the importance of the British Indian community and how it brings the UK and India closer together and how the free trade agreement will create many new opportunities, including that in legal services.
He spoke about how the UK and India value democracy and the rule of law. He also thanked CF India for its contributions to the party, and during elections to get more Conservatives elected.
Secretary Jayawardena welcomed the high commissioner and said how proud he was to have worked on building the enhanced trade with India and the soon to be announced free trade agreement.
Secretary Donelan emphasised on the closeness between both countries and how the soon-to-be-announced free trade agreement would help to bring greater opportunities in information technology and digital -- key technologies for now and the future.
Qazi gave the vote of thanks with Ranger and Ameet and invited special guest speakers and members to the upcoming CF India Diwali reception.
Keir Starmer speaks during a reception for public sector workers at 10 Downing Street in London on July 1, 2025. (Photo by CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer faced the most serious test of his leadership on Tuesday (1) as his government’s flagship welfare reforms came under fierce attack from within his own party.
The day was marked by emotional speeches, last-minute concessions, and a deep sense of division among Labour MPs, many of whom said the proposed changes would push vulnerable people into poverty
The atmosphere in the House of Commons as tense, with about 50 Labour MPs expected to vote against the bill, reported The Times.
The government, aware of the scale of the rebellion, was reportedly considering further concessions, including delaying the most controversial measures until after a full review of the welfare system.
One of the most contentious points was the introduction of a four-point threshold for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility, which critics said would deny help to those unable to wash or dress below the waist from November 2026
Marie Tidball, one of the only MPs with a visible physical disability, delivered a moving speech, saying, “It is with a broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today. As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted. Low-level support like PIP helps disabled people, keeping us out of the dark corners of hospitals, prisons and social care settings.”
She warned that the changes could put about 150,000 people into poverty.
Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse, has announced she will vote against the bill, citing deep concerns about its impact on disabled people.
Apsana Begum
Begum said, “When it comes to people’s lives and wellbeing, there can be no compromise. Politics should serve people – not the other way around.” She criticised the planned £3.5 billion cuts to disability benefits, calling them unacceptable.
The MP expressed strong opposition to what she described as a “two-tier system” that would force disabled people into greater hardship.
Begum also pointed out the anxiety felt by disabled constituents in her area, who have already endured years of austerity and hardship. “I say to them: I am with you,” she declared.
She also condemned other welfare measures such as the two-child limit and the “poisonous narrative” that blames people for their poverty. “My constituents voted for an end to austerity. They want a welfare system that supports people, not one that pushes into poverty,” Begum said.
“That’s why I’m voting against this cruel Disability Benefit Cuts bill”
Rebecca Long Bailey, a former Labour leadership contender, echoed these concerns. She said the planned cuts “will still push hundreds of thousands of vulnerable sick and disabled people into poverty,” adding that “existing claimants will live in fear that if the situation changes and they are reassessed, they could lose everything under the new system.”
Long Bailey criticised the government for rushing the bill through without proper consultation, warning that it would worsen human rights violations already highlighted by the United Nations
Dame Meg Hillier, who had initially led efforts to block the bill, withdrew her amendment after the government agreed to a “staggered approach.”
She told the Commons, “Divided parties do not hold power or government. If we want to power our government, if we want to see our values in this country, we have to vote for this today.” Yet she admitted that “there is still a lot to be done” to protect disabled people and those seeking work
Meanwhile, the government’s climbdown last week was prompted by a major revolt from Labour MPs who argued the original proposals went too far. More than 120 MPs had signalled their willingness to rebel, forcing ministers to water down the changes.
The new plan means the stricter criteria for sickness and disability benefits will only apply to new claimants, not those already receiving support
Secretary of state for work and pensions, Liz Kendall, presented the revised bill to parliament, but newly released government data estimated that even the watered-down reforms could push an extra 150,000 people into poverty.
This left some Labour MPs still reluctant to back the bill, with backbenchers exposing “so many holes in the government’s plans,” as one put it
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Times Radio, “We’re all trying to find a way to protect the most vulnerable people and get people back into work if they need it,” defending the government’s approach.
However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch rejected the bill outright, calling it “a fudge” and saying, “A fundamental and serious programme to reform our welfare system is required, and this bill is not it."
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Letby, from Hereford in western England, was charged in 2020 after a series of deaths in the hospital's neo-natal unit.
POLICE on Tuesday said they had arrested three senior staff members at the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies. The arrests were made on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The investigation was launched in 2023 at the Countess of Chester Hospital (CoCH) in northwest England, following Letby’s conviction and life sentence for killings that took place between 2015 and 2016.
Arrests part of wider criminal probe
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes said the three individuals were "part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH in 2015-2016" and were arrested on Monday.
He confirmed they were held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and have been released on bail.
Hughes said the arrests were the first under the wider criminal investigation into the hospital’s handling of the baby deaths. He added that the arrests had no impact on Letby’s convictions.
Letby case and ongoing review
The case drew national attention during trials held in 2023 and 2024. Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others.
Letby, from Hereford in western England, was charged in 2020 after a series of deaths in the hospital's neo-natal unit. She has maintained her innocence throughout.
According to the prosecution, she attacked the premature babies—usually during night shifts—by injecting air, overfeeding with milk, or using insulin.
In February, a panel of international experts said the evidence used to convict her was flawed. They suggested the babies may have died due to natural causes or poor medical care.
Letby’s legal team has submitted an application to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to examine if there was a possible miscarriage of justice in her two trials.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Uber Eats and Deliveroo will tighten ID checks, including facial verification, to curb illegal migrant work after UK government pressure. (Photo: Getty Images)
FOOD delivery companies Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have agreed to strengthen security measures, including facial verification checks, to prevent irregular migrants from working through their platforms, following criticism from the UK government.
The announcement came after the Labour government summoned the three firms for a meeting in response to a report by The Sun which exposed how some migrants were bypassing rules and working illegally in the gig economy sector.
Although the companies already have controls to verify workers’ legal right to work in the UK, the Home Office said "there continues to be abuse in the sector" through account sharing.
Facial verification checks to be expanded
According to the government, many asylum seekers who cross the Channel and await decisions on their asylum claims are using verified delivery driver accounts rented from others to work illegally. These individuals do not have the legal right to work while their claims are pending.
The Home Office said the delivery platforms have “agreed to increase the use of facial verification checks” to ensure “only registered account holders can work off their platforms.” The companies also committed to “combat illegal working”.
“We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal working across the board,” said Border Security and Asylum minister Angela Eagle.
Immigration pressure and proposed legislation
Prime minister Keir Starmer has faced pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage to reduce irregular migration. A new immigration bill currently before parliament seeks to expand police powers against smuggling networks and tighten work eligibility controls.
Since January, over 19,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats to reach the UK from France, marking a record number for this point in the year despite efforts to deter such journeys.
French officials, including former interior minister Gerald Darmanin, have said that the availability of illegal work opportunities in the UK continues to act as a pull factor for migrants making the crossing.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Joseph has chaired several BRIT Awards shows and was an executive producer of the Oscar and BAFTA-winning 2015 documentary Amy.
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS (RSA) has announced the appointment of David Joseph CBE as its next chief executive officer. He will take over the role in September, succeeding Andy Haldane.
Joseph previously served as chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK for 17 years. During his time at the company, he oversaw its transformation into a global exporter of British music and worked with several major international artists.
He began his career in advertising before moving into music, where he held roles in artist development and label management. He became chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK in 2008.
Alongside his commercial career, Joseph has been involved in a number of social and cultural initiatives. In 2019, he launched Universal Music’s Creative Differences initiative, which produced the first industry handbook for supporting neurodiversity in the workplace. The handbook has been adopted by more than 200 organisations globally.
He is a founding board member of Julie’s Bicycle, a group focused on climate issues in the cultural sector, and served on the National Council of Arts Council England for eight years. In 2013, he collaborated with Baroness Doreen Lawrence to mark the 20th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s murder through the Unity project. He also serves as Chair of the Grenfell Foundation.
Joseph has chaired several BRIT Awards shows and was an executive producer of the Oscar and BAFTA-winning 2015 documentary Amy.
RSA Chair Sir Loyd Grossman said: “David’s commitment to effecting social change, his compassion and his commitment to nurturing people is exemplary.
“We are thrilled that David will join us in the autumn, knowing that he will foster a collaborative and caring culture that speaks to our fellows, partners, staff teams and the wider world. These qualities make David superbly placed to lead the RSA into its next vital phase, and we are thrilled to have him on board.”
Commenting on his appointment, Joseph said: “The RSA has a remarkable heritage and untapped potential. At a time when fresh thinking and collective action are urgently needed across the globe, the RSA is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change - uniting its rich tradition of arts, creativity and policy influence with the energy of its global Fellowship to spark ideas that shape society. I’m excited to join such a talented organisation where we will build a bold new chapter together.”
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People take part in a protest against disability welfare cuts on June 30, 2025 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
DOZENS of Labour MPs are expected to vote against the government’s welfare reforms despite recent concessions aimed at easing opposition.
The government had initially planned to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (Pip) but later said the stricter rules would only apply to new claimants from November 2025.
Ministers also promised a review of the Pip assessment process, in partnership with disability organisations, due to conclude by autumn 2026.
More than 120 Labour MPs had signed an amendment to block the legislation, though a revised amendment supported by 39 MPs and backed by disability charities remains active.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC her party would oppose the bill, saying, “The benefits bill is too high. It was £40bn just before Covid. It is now projected to be a £100bn by 2030. And what Labour is doing is not making any savings at all.”
Labour MP Olivia Blake, who opposes the reforms, told BBC Newsnight, “I strongly believe that these kind of punitive measures of cutting welfare are not going to have the outcomes that we've been told they will.”
According to Department for Work and Pensions modelling, the revised proposals could push 150,000 people into poverty by 2030, down from an earlier estimate of 250,000.
Sir Stephen Timms, who will lead the review, told BBC Newsnight the government’s measures would help reduce poverty and make Pip more sustainable.