The exodus comes after the Labour government scrapped the centuries-old non-dom regime and extended the 40 per cent inheritance tax to overseas assets.
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
AT LEAST 10 per cent of the UK’s non-domiciled residents have left the country following recent changes to tax rules, according to a report by Chris Walker, a former Treasury economist.
The report, based on 2024 data from Henley & Partners on London’s millionaire population, was commissioned by entrepreneur Andrew Barclay and published by the Onward think tank.
The exodus comes after the Labour government scrapped the centuries-old non-dom regime and extended the 40 per cent inheritance tax to overseas assets. The changes go beyond proposals made by the previous Conservative government.
The reforms, along with higher capital gains tax and stricter rules on private equity investments announced last year by chancellor Rachel Reeves, have led to departures by wealthy individuals including Shravin Bharti Mittal, Nassef Sawiris, and Richard Gnodde.
The Treasury said the UK remains attractive, adding, “Our main capital gains tax rate is lower than any other G7 European country and our new residence-based regime is simpler and more attractive than the previous one.”
Walker estimated 26,000 non-doms have left in 2024. Charlie Sosna of Mishcon de Reya said, “That figure will only get bigger.” Walker’s report warned the reforms may have gone too far and suggested policy adjustments.
Scottish Labour candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election Davy Russell arrives at a polling station to cast his vote on June 05, 2025 in Quarter, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
VOTERS are casting ballots across Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in Scotland to choose a new MSP following the death of Christina McKelvie.
The by-election follows the death in March of the SNP government minister, who passed away aged 57 after battling secondary breast cancer. McKelvie had served as drugs and alcohol policy minister and held the constituency since its creation in 2011.
Ten candidates are competing for the seat, with results expected in the early hours of Friday (6) after polls close at 10pm on Thursday (5). The contest represents the first Scottish Parliament by-election since 2019, offering parties a crucial test of public opinion less than a year before the next Holyrood elections in May 2026.
The late MSP had won the seat comfortably in 2021 with a majority of 4,582 over Labour, making it a key battleground for the main parties. McKelvie first entered Parliament in 2007, representing the Central Scotland region before moving to Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse when boundary changes created the constituency.
The full list of candidates standing includes Katy Loudon for the SNP, Davy Russell for Scottish Labour, and Richard Nelson for the Scottish Conservatives. Other contenders are Aisha Mir (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Ann McGuinness (Scottish Green Party), Ross Lambie (Reform UK), Janice MacKay (UKIP), Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party), Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party), and Marc Wilkinson as an independent.
Voters do not need identification to cast their ballots in this first-past-the-post election, where the candidate with the most votes wins. Those who requested postal votes but haven't sent them can still hand them in at polling stations before the 10pm deadline.
The contest comes at a significant time for Scottish politics, with all parties keen to build momentum ahead of next year's crucial Holyrood elections. The result will provide the first major electoral test since the general election and could offer insights into shifting voter allegiances in Scotland.
South Lanarkshire council is overseeing the election, with counting taking place at their Hamilton headquarters once polls close. The winner will serve as MSP for less than a year before facing voters again in the scheduled May 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
Broadcasting restrictions prevent media outlets from reporting on campaigning or election issues while polls remain open. However, comprehensive coverage of the count and result will begin once voting ends at 10pm, reports said.
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Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf. (Photo: Getty Images)
A PUBLIC row has erupted within Reform UK after one of their newly-elected MPs called for Britain to ban the burqa, with the party's own chairman branding the move "dumb".
Sarah Pochin, Reform's MP for Runcorn and Helsby, used her first appearance at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday (4) to ask Sir Keir Starmer whether he would follow European neighbours in banning the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.
"Given the Prime Minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he, in the interests of public safety, follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?" the former Tory councillor asked.
Her question prompted audible disquiet in the Commons, with cries of "shame" from fellow MPs. The prime minister declined to engage with the proposal, telling Pochin: "I am not going to follow her down that line."
However, the controversy deepened when Reform UK's chairman Zia Yusuf publicly distanced himself from the question on social media. "I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the prime minister if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do," he wrote on X.
Yusuf said he had "no idea" that Pochin would raise the issue and confirmed it was not party policy. "Had no idea about the question nor that it wasn't policy. Busy with other stuff," he added.
The split became more apparent when other Reform figures offered conflicting views. Lee Anderson, the party's whip, supported the ban on social media, writing: "Ban the burqa? Yes we should. No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public."
Sarah Pochin (Photo: UK Parliament)
Party leader Nigel Farage later told GB News that he believed "face coverings in public don't make sense and I think we deserve a debate about that, of which I see the burqa being part."
The debate sparked heated discussion on LBC Radio, where journalist Khadija Khan supported the ban, describing the burqa as coming with a "misogynistic ideology" that "denigrates women". She called it a security and gender equality concern, criticising the prime minister's "dismissive" response as "staggering".
However, Muslim Yemeni activist Lila Tamea strongly opposed the proposal, telling LBC that "forcing people to uncover something they don't wish to uncover is outright totalitarian". She warned it was a "dangerous move" and a "slippery slope", arguing there was "deep misunderstanding" over the meaning of the veil.
Several European countries have implemented similar bans. France introduced its prohibition in 2010 under then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, with fines of 150 euros (£126) for wearing face coverings in public spaces. Belgium followed a year later, while Denmark, Austria and Switzerland have since adopted comparable laws.
Pochin later defended her question, saying it was something "a number of people had raised" with her since her election last month.
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In England, MMR vaccine uptake has declined over the past decade.
MEASLES outbreaks are continuing in England, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirming 109 cases in April and 86 so far in May. Since January, there have been 420 confirmed cases, mostly among unvaccinated children aged 10 and under.
London accounted for nearly half of the cases in the last four weeks and has reported 162 cases in total this year. Other affected regions include the North West and the West Midlands.
UKHSA has warned of a possible surge in cases over the summer holidays as families travel abroad, particularly to countries currently experiencing outbreaks. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF reported 127,350 measles cases in Europe this year, the highest since 1997. Large outbreaks have also been seen in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria.
In England, MMR vaccine uptake has declined over the past decade. London has the lowest coverage, with only 73.3 per cent of children receiving their second MMR dose by age five, compared to the national average of 83.9 per cent.
Dr Vanessa Saliba of UKHSA said: “It’s essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family.”
Dr Amanda Doyle of NHS England said: “Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems.”
Measles remains highly infectious and can cause complications, especially in unvaccinated individuals. The first MMR dose is given at age one, and the second at around three years and four months. Anyone who has missed a dose can contact their GP to catch up.
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Under the current rules, families must earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify. (Representational image: iStock)
FROM September 2026, all children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals, regardless of household income, the government has announced.
Under the current rules, families must earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify.
The change is expected to make 500,000 more pupils eligible. Prime minister Keir Starmer said the move would “help families who need it most.” The Department for Education has allocated £1 billion to fund the expansion until 2029 and has also pledged £13 million to 12 food charities to redistribute surplus farm food.
Ministers said the new eligibility criteria would save families £500 a year and could lift 100,000 children out of poverty. However, Christine Farquharson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the figure was unlikely to be reached next year. She noted that protections introduced in 2018 already extended free school meal eligibility.
The announcement has been welcomed by education groups and anti-poverty campaigners. Nick Harrison of the Sutton Trust called it a “significant step,” while the Child Poverty Action Group said the policy now covers “all children in poverty and those at risk.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC ministers were “working as quickly as we can” to implement the plan. On the separate issue of the two-child benefit cap, Phillipson said it was “on the table” but added it was not a “silver bullet” and would be costly to scrap.
BBC reported that the total number of pupils on free school meals in England is currently about 2.1 million, or 24.6 per cent of all pupils.
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The child’s parents, Tai Yasharahyalah, 42, and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, were found guilty of multiple offences
A three-year-old boy who died of malnutrition in Birmingham was failed by authorities reluctant to intervene due to fears of being perceived as racist, according to a newly published safeguarding review.
Child suffered severe malnutrition and died of a respiratory infection
Abiyah Yasharahyalah died in 2020 from a respiratory illness, which was significantly worsened by prolonged malnutrition. A post-mortem examination revealed that he had rickets, anaemia and stunted growth. His diet, based on strict vegan restrictions imposed by his parents, contributed to his weakened state and eventual death.
The child’s parents, Tai Yasharahyalah, 42, and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, were found guilty of multiple offences, including child neglect, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice. They were sentenced in December 2023 to 24 years and six months, and 19 years and six months in prison, respectively.
Unconventional beliefs and isolation from society
Tai, a medical genetics graduate who also went by the name Tai-Zamarai, and Naiyahmi, a former shop worker, developed an unusual belief system that included elements of Igbo culture. The couple rejected mainstream society and lived in unconventional settings, including a shipping container and a caravan in Somerset.
During their trial at Coventry Crown Court, it was revealed that the pair had created their own legal structure, referred to by Tai as “slick law”. They also kept their son away from state institutions such as the NHS and education services.
Following their eviction from a property in Handsworth, Birmingham, in March 2022, authorities discovered Abiyah’s body buried on the premises. The parents had concealed his death for nearly two years.
Limited professional contact and missed opportunities
A serious case review by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP), published on 5 June 2025, concluded that Abiyah was only in limited contact with professionals throughout his life. He was seen by a health visitor shortly after his birth in April 2016 and once more the following month.
The parents were sentenced in December 2023Telegraph
Although there were some interactions with social services in London in 2018 and a few visits to a children’s centre in Birmingham, the report noted that there was a “very limited insight” into his health, development or overall welfare.
A police visit to the family's Handsworth residence in 2018 did not lead to further action, and Abiyah’s presence was scarcely documented in official records. Health visitors also did not follow up after missed appointments, including at the one-year and two-year milestones, nor did they question the parents’ decision to avoid immunisations and mainstream healthcare.
Cultural sensitivities cited in failure to act
The review said that professionals working with the family demonstrated a reluctance to challenge the parents’ cultural and lifestyle choices. This hesitation was, in part, due to fears of appearing racist or discriminatory.
The report author, Kevin Ball, wrote that child safeguarding should always remain paramount and not be compromised by fear of cultural insensitivity. “If any family engages in cultural practices which are harmful to children, this must not be overlooked,” he stated.
The review added that “there was no exploration or curiosity” into the impact of the parents’ beliefs on Abiyah’s welfare, and that parental behaviour frequently “distracted or diverted” professionals’ focus from the child's safety.
Mother admits regret during review process
Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah agreed to participate in the review and stated that she had believed she was acting in her son’s best interests at the time. She acknowledged, however, that she regretted not doing more research into nutrition and medical care. “It’s hard to accept that my approach did not lead to the best outcomes for my child,” she said.
Recommendations and responses
The report recommended revisiting workforce guidance to ensure professionals are equipped to assess and intervene when children become “hidden from professional sight”, especially in families living off-grid or with alternative lifestyles. It also calls for greater emphasis on understanding how a parent’s beliefs may affect a child’s development and well-being.
Annie Hudson, chair of the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, said the case raised “very serious questions” about the local and national child protection systems. “It is important to respect parents’ faith and beliefs. However… professionals must always be mindful of whether their views about parents… is inhibiting their capacity to be questioning and act,” she said.
James Thomas and Sue Harrison, co-chairs of the BSCP, emphasised the difficulty of protecting children who are not in regular contact with professionals. They stated that addressing the risk to children “out of sight” had become one of the Partnership’s top strategic priorities.
Discovery and conviction
Abiyah’s parents were arrested in Somerset on 9 December 2022. His body was discovered five days later. At trial, the court heard that the couple had deliberately avoided seeking medical help for their child despite obvious signs of deteriorating health.
The judge ruled that they had each played a role in his death, which could have been prevented with timely intervention.