Nigel Farage has pledged, as Reform leader, to build extra prisons funded by cuts to foreign aid and parts of HS2, end automatic early release for violent and serious offenders, and tighten policing to improve public safety.
Security procedures are under scrutiny after an Afghan evacuee admitted through a resettlement route managed to bring 22 family members to the UK, sparking questions about data handling, vetting standards and the strain on local resources.
Sir Keir Starmer is proposing to extend the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds, a move billed by Labour as democratic modernisation yet denounced by Reform UK and others as a tactical bid to harvest youthful votes before the forthcoming election.
High Court papers show senior ministers tried to stop a covert 2021 airlift that brought Afghan special forces and officials to Britain on security grounds but were overridden after accusations of “emotional blackmail”, casting fresh doubt on the Government’s handling of the Kabul evacuation and the safeguards applied to those subsequently resettled.
A leaked dossier reveals ministers secretly spent £7 billion housing thousands of Afghan personnel in the UK after a data breach exposed them to reprisals, prompting allegations of a prolonged cover-up and demands for transparency.
Donald Trump has warned Beijing it will face punitive 100 per cent tariffs on oil imports within 50 days unless it halts controversial crude dealings, arguing the measure would strengthen Western leverage and align Washington with London, though economists caution it risks significant market disruption.
Middle-class earners may face steeper charges under Labour’s evolving definition of “working people,” as higher-rate taxpayers are drawn into plans that could extend levies beyond their traditional scope.
Families will see prices on water usage rise during heatwaves, as smart meter trials target high consumption to avoid further supply restrictions.
Macron has blamed so-called “Brexit lies” for the heightened immigration dispute, prompting the PM and Starmer to accelerate efforts on new border arrangements.
Claimants on full government support are reportedly set to receive an annual amount surpassing the typical minimum wage by around £2,500, triggering discussions about economic incentives and the balance between welfare provision and employment.