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“Ministers ignored concrete advice” is the lead headline for Saturday’s Financial Times, reporting that the government failed to follow recommendations from an independent advisory group about the potentially dangerous material. The paper says the group, backed by the Institute of Structural Engineers, advised in “2020 that buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) be included on a high-risk register created by the government’s Building Safety Act”. This advice was not followed, it adds. The G20 summit in India also features prominently on the FT’s front page ahead of its first day on Saturday.

Independent Front Page 4th of February 2026

An ex-cabinet figure resigned from the Lords as ministers moved to strip his title. Police began a criminal inquiry into alleged leaks to a disgraced financier. The PM said the conduct failed the country, and the Labour leader ordered an investigation amid concerns of further disclosures.

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Independent Front Page 31st of January 2026

Minneapolis volunteers have built a network to track US immigration officers, issuing alerts to support affected residents. They monitor movements, document activity and co-ordinate legal help and transport as enforcement operations intensify across the city.

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Independent Front Page 30th of January 2026

Ministers have rejected compensation for up to 3.8m 1950s‑born women who say poor communication about rises in the state pension age left them out of pocket. The work and pensions secretary said a scheme, estimated at £10bn, won’t proceed, defying an official review. Campaigners plan legal action.

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Independent Front Page 29th of January 2026

Brook House, the immigration removal centre by Gatwick, faces scrutiny over near-daily self-harm and disorder. Official logs show force used on detainees 31 times in a month, with concerns about handcuff use and drug problems prompting calls for stronger oversight and reform.

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