A person deported to France under the PM’s ‘one in, one out’ returns deal reportedly came back to the UK by small boat 29 days later, prompting claims the policy is failing. Arrivals this year have already surpassed 2024 levels, intensifying pressure on the Home Office and No 10.
Analysts anticipate Chancellor Reeves’s Budget could target savings to raise revenue, with options including reduced pension tax relief, tighter ISA perks, and higher capital gains and dividend taxes. Supporters call it fiscally necessary; critics warn it would hit long‑term savers.
Questions mount over how Prince Andrew can fund residence at Royal Lodge after reports he received no significant inheritance from the late Queen or Queen Mother and the King withdrew his reported £1m annual allowance. Scrutiny focuses on the lease and whether private family support will sustain it.
Charles warned he would strip Prince Andrew of remaining titles and honours if he refused to relinquish them, amid continuing fallout over his conduct and links to a disgraced figure. The stance was seen as obstructive, though legally removing titles would require Parliament.
Prince Andrew will give up the Duke of York title and resign from the Order of the Garter, surrendering remaining royal honours after pressure from the King. He keeps the style of prince as the monarch’s son.
Prince Andrew faces scrutiny after photos indicate he met senior Beijing official Cai Qi several times. The meetings surfaced as a Westminster espionage case collapsed, with the MI5 chief reportedly rebuking Starmer’s handling of the probe.
Reports allege a state‑linked buyer from China gained control of a Whitehall data hub, creating a backdoor that exposed sensitive government systems for years, including No.10. The revelations add pressure on Starmer after a collapsed espionage case, with calls for an inquiry and tighter vetting.
Britain faces worsening data: the IMF projects the highest inflation in the G7 this year, unemployment is at a four‑year high, and wage growth and living standards are stalling. A senior Bank official warned of a possible hard landing and rising recession risk, increasing pressure on Reeves ahead of the Budget.
After 738 days in captivity, a freed Israeli hostage has reunited with his partner. He reportedly hid his Special Forces role from a militant group. The release formed part of a wider handover of surviving captives, while only some remains were returned, prompting anger.
As Trump travels for a Gaza summit, a militant group prepared to release 20 Israeli hostages held for two years, with the Red Cross coordinating transfers and talks also addressing the return of 28 bodies.