Housing Crisis

Homelessness in England has reached record levels

— Without state investment, strategic consideration and political support, the lessons learned since the start of the pandemic on the importance to society of a place to call home will be lost.

Environment

Sunak defends North Sea oil and gas licences

— Rishi Sunak said new licences for oil and gas in the North Sea are consistent with the government’s net zero target and reduced carbon emissions compared to importing oil and gas.

Public Health

How austerity made the UK more vulnerable to COVID

— Evidence shows austerity has wide-ranging consequences for health.

UK Politics

Goldsmith on Government’s green policies: Gove is a monster, Shapps is backward, Sunak not interested

— In a recent interview, Zac Goldsmith, former international environment minister, criticised fellow Tories for their handling of climate commitments.

Net Zero

Sunak wants to balance Net Zero with pragmatism

— Rishi Sunak supports Net Zero but worries about green costs. The PM backs the ban on petrol and diesel cars but wants to invest in nuclear and wind.

COMMENT

In having nothing to say about Rishi Sunak, new Tory MP Steve Tuckwell said it all

— Some people, like Britain’s prime minister, have hideously good luck.

UK Politics

By-election losses are terrible for the Conservatives – but there are glimmers of hope

— The Conservatives lost two more by-elections, and only just held Uxbridge by a whisker. The party faces its worst defeat since 1997 as Sunak lags far behind Starmer. Is there more trouble ahead?

UK Politics

Labour leads in latest YouGov poll on general election outcome

— A new survey by YouGov shows that more people think Labour will win the next general election than the Conservatives.

UK Immigration Policy

How the UK’s new immigration law will put more people at risk of modern slavery

— The government has claimed that irregular migrants are falsely claiming to be victims of modern slavery to avoid being deported, but there is little evidence to support this.

Modern Slavery

Theresa May: Illegal Migration Bill will hurt modern slavery victims

— Former PM Theresa May criticised the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill, saying it could harm victims of modern slavery and arguing that it conflates immigration and modern slavery issues.

UK Politics

The UK’s island identity has long shaped its political outlook – is that why it currently feels so adrift?

— Geographical happenstance became a matter of national identity in imperial times and is now a handy rhetorical device for Brexit enthusiasts.

OPINION

Lies, hypocrisy and distraction: The British media toolkit

— There’s something deeply wrong with the right-wing British nationalist media – AKA the media – and it represents a serious threat to the future of democracy in the UK.

EU Citizens

The double punishment of Marcus Decker: A peaceful protester facing deportation after Brexit

— The story of Marcus Decker, a German citizen facing deportation after a peaceful protest, underscores the urgent need to defend everyone’s right to protest.

Politicians

Minority ethnic politicians are pushing harsh immigration policies – Why representation doesn’t always mean racial justice

— The UK has more minority ethnic politicians, but they don’t always champion racial justice. Some align with conservative values and justify policies that harm immigrants and minorities. They use their own identity to dismiss racism and ignore its link to immigration.

Long-Read

The new Brexit consensus

— On the failure of Brexit and the lack of consensus on how to fix it. Professor Chris Grey criticizes some Brexiters who propose unrealistic or recycled solutions, such as mutual enforcement for Northern Ireland or no deal at all, suggesting that Brexit is a problem that needs a new approach.

Rwanda Deportations

It could cost the taxpayer £169,000 to deport each migrant to Rwanda – and possibly even more

— The government says it will cost £169,000 per person to send migrants to Rwanda, but this is based on shaky assumptions and does not include many other costs. The real cost is likely to be much higher and the plan may not work at all.