Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Setback for Starmer's border force plan as Neil Basu declines job

As the former national head of counterterrorism, he managed the national command during high-threat periods, including six terror attacks like the Manchester Arena bombing.

Setback for Starmer's border force plan as Neil Basu declines job

Keir Starmer’s plan to address the small boats crisis has encountered a setback as the top police officer chosen to combat illegal gangs has declined the position.

Neil Basu, the leading candidate for the head of the new Border Security Command, confirmed to The Times that he was one of several candidates asked to apply for the job but decided against it.


Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is creating the new unit to target people-smuggling gangs responsible for small boat crossings, a key Labour manifesto pledge.

Sources confirmed to The Times that Basu was a frontrunner due to his counterterrorism experience.

As the former national head of counterterrorism, he managed the national command during high-threat periods, including six terror attacks like the Manchester Arena bombing. He was recognized for disrupting numerous plots and enhancing the Prevent strategy.

Basu has previously stated that the small boats issue should be addressed similarly to how authorities handle terrorism, with a coordinated strategy between departments.

Basu said on Thursday, “I was a very proud cop and crown servant who was very proud to do a very long and hard job of defending this realm. This job is very important, but I am no civil servant.”

The new Border Security Command is a key manifesto pledge, involving hundreds of specialist investigators and the use of counterterrorism powers to combat criminal boat gangs.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less