Student Protests

Gaza campus protests: What are students’ free speech rights and what can universities do?

— Universities have a difficult balance to strike between protecting student speech rights and ensuring campus safety.

Austerity

Rising knife crime in London is linked to austerity cuts to youth services

— In 2023, London saw a sharp increase in knife and gun crime, primarily attributed to significant police funding cuts and austerity measures by the Conservative government, which undermined efforts to tackle the escalating violence effectively.

UK Politics

The size of the swing to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election made this such an unpleasant night for Rishi Sunak

— Debates ponder if the upcoming general election will mirror the close 1992 or landslide 1997 outcomes. Amid significant shifts, including in Blackpool South, Labour sees unprecedented by-election success, while the Conservatives face potential annihilation, struggling even against the Reform party.

OPINION

How right-wing do you need to be not to be welcome in the Labour Party?

— Marking a continuation of notable Tory defections to Labour, Natalie Elphicke, a staunch right-wing Conservative MP, has defected to Labour this week, highlighting shifts in party ideologies and stirring questions about Labour’s embrace of centre-right values under Keir Starmer’s leadership.

UK Politics

If Rishi Sunak is ousted, should Tory MPs or members pick his replacement?

— Rishi Sunak faces a potential Tory leadership challenge as 52 MPs could trigger a confidence vote. Leadership rules emphasize parliamentary support, yet member ballots could shift influence, reflecting broader legitimacy and control mechanisms within the Conservative Party.

UK Politics

Rishi Sunak claims the UK is heading for a hung parliament — let’s check his maths

— In recent local elections, the Conservative Party lost 478 councillors, suggesting a hung parliament may loom, despite Labour’s strong performance and a 10% swing in their favour.

Long-Read

(Still not) facing up to Brexit

— The Brexit process caused significant shifts. Two recent announcements — one about a delayed Brexit-related import control, another on a potential EU-UK Youth Mobility Scheme — highlight the ongoing complexities and political strategies surrounding Brexit negotiations and their impacts.

Rwanda Deportations

Is the Rwanda plan acting as a deterrent? What the evidence says about this approach

— The Rwanda plan was meant to stop the boats – but all the evidence shows deterrence doesn’t work. It is all about the Tories trying to reverse the polls ahead of the next elections.

News Brief

Sunak’s £75 billion defence boost: Fact or fiction?

— PM Rishi Sunak’s defence spending announcement has sparked debate, with experts challenging the £75 billion figure as inflated and misleading, and criticising potential job cuts and lack of transparency in funding.

Long-Read

Britain’s Brexit drift

— The UK government’s new ‘common user charge’ on EU imports adds significant costs, affecting particularly small firms and highlighting the ongoing economic and political instability post-Brexit, with broader impacts on sectors like agriculture and financial services.

2024 General Election

Polls predict total wipeout for the Tories – and Britain’s constitution makes it a real possibility

— Recent polls suggest the Tories could face a historic loss in the next general election, with projections showing a potential loss of 250 MPs, leaving them under 100 seats, and both the Prime Minister and Chancellor losing their constituencies.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Gaza war: Countries selling Israel weapons are violating international law

— The UK government has received advice that Israel is breaking international law in its assault on Gaza, so has an obligation to stop supplying it with arms.

UK Politics

How seriously should we take a plot to replace Rishi Sunak with Penny Mordaunt? The answer lies in the Tories’ own recent history

— Penny Mordaunt’s potential bid to replace Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership mirrors past slogans, highlighting Tory uncertainties and leadership challenges.

Immigration

I’ve spent time with refugees in French coastal camps and they told me the government’s Rwanda plan is not putting them off coming to the UK

— Refugees, despite enduring relentless hardships and evictions, persist in seeking sanctuary in the UK through perilous crossings, displaying unwavering determination.

Immigration

Rwanda asylum deportation plan faces more delays

— The UK government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda faces legal hurdles in Parliament. Despite attempts to pass a bill, delays persist, raising doubts about the feasibility of the scheme.

NHS England

Behind closed doors: The shadowy dealings of NHS England and Palantir

— The Good Law Project has revealed NHS England’s opaque contract with Palantir, sparking concerns over privacy and transparency. The deal, lacking open tender, raises questions about data ethics and governmental accountability.