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<title>Learn Common Law &#45; : POLITICS</title>
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<description>Learn Common Law &#45; : POLITICS</description>
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<dc:rights>2025 Learn Common Law</dc:rights>

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<title>Keir Starmer issues direct message to Iran as PM warns &amp;apos;there will be consequences&amp;apos; for inciting antisemitism in Britain</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-issues-direct-message-to-iran-as-pm-warns-there-will-be-consequences-for-inciting-antisemitism-in-britain</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has made a direct warning to Iran and other hostile states that any attempts made by them to stir up antisemitism in Britain will face “consequences”. Speaking at a Downing Street roundtable with senior figures from politics, policing, the arts, higher education and business, the Prime Minister outlined a series of security measures to protect Jewish communities before making clear that protection alone was not sufficient.Sir Keir said: &quot;Security is essential, but that is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place, so we&#039;re confronting them directly.&quot;Sir Keir revealed that investigators are examining whether Tehran may be behind some of the recent incidents. He continued: &quot;Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated. “That is why we passed legislation to tackle these malign threats.&quot;The Prime Minister was also careful to stress that antisemitism cannot be traced to a single source, saying: &quot;Antisemitism does not have one source alone - Islamists, far left, far right extremism, all target Jewish communities.&quot;He said the Government had responded by introducing what he described as the first co-ordinated national plan to &quot;strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all of its forms&quot;. The roundtable meeting comes after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, London on Wednesday last week - the latest in a string of attacks against Jews across the country. FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…Keir Starmer announces universities to be held to higher standard on antisemitism The Prime Minister has announced that universities will be held to a higher standard on antisemitism. Speaking at a Downing Street roundtable, Sir Keir revealed that £7million is being invested to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities, while Holocaust education will be made mandatory in all schools.He said: &quot;In our schools, colleges and universities, we&#039;re investing £7million to tackle antisemitism while making sure that Holocaust education is taught in all schools.&quot;He continued that standards must increase within universities, with the Government intending to &quot;hold them to account&quot;. Sir Keir said: &quot;We already expect universities to set out clear disciplinary consequences for antisemitism and to enforce them, and so we will hold them to account on that.&quot;He concluded that there will be fresh expectations on universities to &quot;demonstrate action&quot; against antisemitism and &quot;publish the scale of the problem on their campuses&quot;. Prime Minister calls on Arts Council to stop funding antisemitic bodiesSir Keir Starmer has called upon the Arts Council to stop funding bodies who promote or platform antisemitism. He said: &quot;We will also expect more where public funding is being used to promote or platform antisemitism, the Arts Council must act, using its power to suspend, withdraw and claw back funding.”Sir Keir added that the Government has triggered an independent review of how allegations of antisemitism are dealt with. He said: We will not, and cannot, accept complacency, delays or weak enforcement, and where inconsistency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.”The Prime Minister added the Arts Council and Home Office will be used to fund protective costs for Jewish organisations and artists as the cost of protection is &quot;forcing them out of public life&quot;. Keir Starmer speaks during antisemitism summitSir Keir Starmer is speaking now at a summit with society leaders about rising antisemitism.The Prime Minister said: &quot;Each one of us has a responsibility to face this challenge head on.&quot;Keir Starmer points finger at Iran amid pledge to crackdown on antisemitism Sir Keir Starmer said attempts by Iran to destabilise British society “will not be tolerated”.This comes as suspicion Tehran could be behind growing antisemitism in the UK. The Prime Minister is speaking with senior figures from politics, policing, the arts, higher education and business at Downing Street today for a &quot;whole of society&quot; summit on antisemitism, following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green last week.He said: &quot;Security is essential, but that is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place, so we’re confronting them directly.“One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents. We’re investigating, of course, all the possibilities and we’re clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.“Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated. That is why we passed legislation to tackle these malign threats.”Steve Reed: Do not &#039;doomscroll through leaders&#039;Labour MPs have been warned not to &quot;doomscroll through leaders&quot; even if the party suffers greatly at Thursday&#039;s local elections. This comes as backbenchers are reportedly drafting a letter placing the blame on Sir Keir Starmer if they experience the by-election defeat they are projected to face and calling for his resignation. Communities Secretary Steve Reed, a strong ally of the Prime Minister, said he was not aware of the letter. He said, speaking to Times Radio, he was &quot;absolute nonsense&quot; to suggest Labour would &quot;copy the conservatives and go doomscrolling through leaders&quot;.He added: “I’m not going to engage in it and most of our MPs would not engage in that either.” Andrew Griffith warns of &#039;toxic combination&#039; of EU reset and Net Zero deindustrialisation The Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith warned that Britain faces a damaging economic future if the government continues to pursue closer EU ties alongside its Net Zero agenda, describing the combination as &quot;toxic&quot; for British industry.Speaking to GB News this morning, he argued that the government&#039;s energy policies are already crippling businesses: &quot;We would lower energy prices by removing a lot of the so-called policy costs, the cross subsidies and the extra hidden taxes that are on energy in pursuit of Net Zero.&quot;He also weighed in on Labour&#039;s Employment Rights Act, calling it a &quot;330-page bill for unemployment&quot; and pledging to &quot;repeal every one of its job-destroying measures&quot; when the Conservatives return to power.Tories blast Labour over 200,000 Channel crossings milestoneThe Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith hit back at Labour&#039;s attempts to blame the Conservatives for the small boat crisis. Speaking to GB News this morning, the MP for Arundel and South Downs said: &quot;Night after night, the Labour Party in both houses of Parliament, bishops, the BBC, everybody was opposed to us.&quot;He accused the current Government of inaction despite having a clear mandate, saying they have &quot;presided over the fastest ever rate of people coming to this country illegally.&quot; When pressed on the Government&#039;s claim to have deported over 7,000 people, Mr Griffith said: &quot;The vast majority of those who&#039;ve gone back have been paid to do so and done so voluntarily.&quot;Ministers pledge £1million to tackle rising antisemitism The Government has announced £1 million in funding for Jewish communities across England, aimed at supporting community safety work and countering antisemitic narratives. An additional £500,000 has also been set aside for Barnet Council following a spate of targeted attacks in the area. The announcement comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to host senior figures from politics, policing, the arts, higher education and business at Downing Street today for a &quot;whole of society&quot; summit on antisemitism, following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green last week. The Prime Minister is expected to warn that attacks on British Jews are &quot;a crisis for all of us&quot; and &quot;a test of our values.&quot; Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: &quot;While we know there is more to do, we believe that quickly channelling government funding directly to the communities and places facing the greatest risks today will help local partners to take early, practical action to keep people safe, strengthen communities and stand up to hate.&quot;&#039;I am not going to be intimidated!&#039; Moment Kemi Badenoch stands up to heckler on antisemitismThis is the moment Kemi Badenoch confronted a heckler while out campaigning in Essex yesterday, amid a worrying pattern of targeted incidents against Jewish people and religious sites.The Conservative leader clashed with a member of the public who accused her of &quot;pandering to the right&quot; — pushing back on her stance on rising antisemitism in Britain.WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERESteve Reed: Number of small boat crossings is &#039;unacceptable&#039; The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed addressed the issue of small boat crossings as the today marked the anniversary of 200,000 people making the journey since the crisis began eight years ago, calling it &quot;unacceptable&quot;.Speaking to GB News, he said: &quot;It&#039;s unacceptable and it&#039;s certainly unsustainable and that&#039;s why the government is taking action to stop it.&quot;He pointed to the removal of over 60,000 people with no right to remain in the UK and the closure of asylum seeker hotels opened under the Conservatives, as evidence of progress.However, Ellie and Alex pushed back on Mr Reed, noting that only roughly 7,000 people who have come across on a small boat have been deported - less than four per cent in total. Mr Reed deflected blame onto his predecessors: &quot;Some of the conservative ministers who did that now sit in Reform UK. They opened the hotels, we are closing the hotels.&quot; He added: &quot;They like to pretend they&#039;re holier than thou on this issue when their MPs were in government, they got it badly wrong.&quot;What is happening in Westminster todayGood morning, happy Tuesday from the GB News Politics team.Thursday’s local elections are in sight, with polling looking bleak for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party across the capital. Also, people in Scotland and Wales will be heading to the polls on Thursday as it is their devolved Governments’ parliamentary elections - again the picture looks gloomy for Labour. Today on GB News, we have already heard from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed and we will be joined by the Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith shortly. Stay tuned for more politics news throughout the day.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, issues, direct, message, Iran, warns, there, will, consequences, for, inciting, antisemitism, Britain</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour MPs plot to push Keir Starmer to set resignation date amid local election wipeout fears</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mps-plot-to-push-keir-starmer-to-set-resignation-date-amid-local-election-wipeout-fears</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mps-plot-to-push-keir-starmer-to-set-resignation-date-amid-local-election-wipeout-fears</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour MPs are said to be drawing up plans to pressure Sir Keir Starmer into setting a date for his resignation amid fears of a local election wipeout on Thursday.A group of disaffected backbenchers is reportedly rallying support for a leadership challenge once the vote is over, with Labour projected to lose up to 1,900 council seats, according to The Times.As the party braces for potentially heavy losses to Reform UK and the Greens, the rebels - made up of a number of Labour MPs elected in 2024 - are expected to draft an open letter to Sir Keir laying responsibility for the anticipated defeat at his door.They are also expected to demand the Prime Minister sets out a clear timetable for stepping down.
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Several senior ministers are believed to be aware of the plans, which have reportedly been compared to the putsch orchestrated by Gordon Brown’s allies against Sir Tony Blair in 2006.The proposed open letter is understood to have been a major topic of discussion among backbenchers in recent days.However, only a handful of MPs are said to have been approached to sign it so far.To remove Sir Keir, any challenger would need the backing of at least 81 MPs from the Parliamentary Labour Party.One minister recently told The Times there was &quot;real anger&quot; within Labour ranks over Sir Keir’s leadership.Ministers are also said to believe any serious move to remove him from Downing Street would &quot;have to come from the backbenchers&quot;.Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy PM Angela Rayner are both believed to have enough support within the PLP to mount a challenge, though both are reportedly reluctant to make the first move.One MP backing the push against Sir Keir told The Times: “We will be angry and not resigned to getting absolutely f***ed.&quot;KEIR STARMER - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer defends plan to join EU loan for Ukraine as &#039;benefits outweigh the cost&#039;Britain will have to pay £1bn for closer ties with EU as Brussels tells Keir Starmer to pay upAndy Burnham &#039;clears first hurdle in bid to oust Keir Starmer&#039; - PM branded &#039;not worth protecting&#039;“People underestimate our ability to recover when he goes, but we need to do it calmly and properly,&quot; they added.No current Cabinet minister is believed to have formally joined the growing rebellion so far, though Ms Rayner is reportedly said to have held private talks with Armed Forces minister Al Carns as she looks to strengthen her credentials on defence ahead of any potential leadership bid.A source close to Mr Carns said the pair were &quot;talking,&quot; adding: &quot;Ange knows it’s one of her weaknesses and if you were looking at someone to wear that particular weakness, he is your man.&quot;If you’re putting together a fantasy cabinet, he is defence or foreign sec.”While no formal move to unseat the Prime Minister has yet materialised, that could quickly change if Labour suffers a historic defeat on Thursday.Fears are mounting that Labour could slump to a distant third in both Wales and Scotland, while losing more than 1,800 council seats across England.Sir Keir’s party is also projected to record its lowest ever vote share in London, potentially losing councils in the capital to the Greens, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Conservatives.They also face potentially devastating losses in traditional Labour heartlands, including former Red Wall strongholds such as Wakefield, Barnsley and Sunderland.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, MPs, plot, push, Keir, Starmer, set, resignation, date, amid, local, election, wipeout, fears</media:keywords>
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<title>James Cleverly accuses travellers of &amp;apos;gaming the system&amp;apos; amid &amp;apos;illegal&amp;apos; land grab</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/james-cleverly-accuses-travellers-of-gaming-the-system-amid-illegal-land-grab</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/james-cleverly-accuses-travellers-of-gaming-the-system-amid-illegal-land-grab</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir James Cleverly has accused travellers of &quot;gaming the system&quot; in an &quot;illegal&quot; land grab.The Shadow Housing Secretary said a traveller settlement on a four-acre field in Willows Green near Felsted, Essex, was an example of &quot;unauthorised traveller  development&quot; in his constituency.Hours after the council closed for the bank holiday weekend on Friday afternoon, around 30 vehicles, including cars, vans, and several diggers, arrived on the site.Floodlights and generators were used to build on the site, which neighbours fear could become a &quot;fully fledged caravan park&quot;.
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In a letter to Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, he said the work in his Braintree constituency was &quot;exploiting the gap in enforcement outside normal working hours&quot;.He added that &quot;by the time that local authority is able to act, the land has already been materially altered&quot;.In a video posted to social media, he declared: &quot;This is why we have got to take action to make sure that building work like this, taking place outside office hours, clearly seeking to game the system, that we are able to take decisive and quick action.&quot;The developed land was sold by a farmer for £125,000 a year ago, who is believed to have then split the land into 10 smaller plots to be sold.The owner of the land previously applied for planning permission to lay hardstanding for three caravans, but this was refused on April 2.This, however, did not stop the work, which Sir James said he had &quot;no doubt&quot; a retrospective planning application would be filed for.One man in his 60s told the Daily Mail: &quot;The field was swamped with vehicles, noise and lights all through the night.&quot;No doubt by the time the council reopens on Tuesday there will be a fully-fledged caravan park opposite our homes.&quot;LATEST POLITICS:Kemi Badenoch declares Tories are ‘the only alternative’ as she slams ‘unserious’ Nigel FarageKemi Badenoch forced to apologise after including Bloody Sunday footage in veterans postMore than half of Muslims would vote for pro-Gaza independents to stop Labour winning, poll revealsThis is the most recent alleged traveller development, after a development in Hertfordshire sprung up over Easter bank holiday.An anonymous parish councillor for Chiltern Hills claimed clashes had already begun with the new residents, claiming that they wielded &quot;irion bards&quot; and hurled &quot;violent abuse and threats&quot; at locals.Trespassing was only made a crime in 2022, and many police are untrained on how to appropriately deal with unauthorised development.Andrew Gillett, legal adviser for Country Land and Business Association, told the BBC: &quot;The CLA would like to see police following adequate training to understand what the new law is - and for local authorities to provide adequate number of legal sites so travellers have somewhere to go.&quot;In 2024, a High Court judge heard that between 2016 and 2018 there had been 65 encampments on Luton Borough Council land, and in 2017 there were 212 encampments in Hampshire.Between 2015 and 2017, South Gloucestershire Council dealt with about 100 unauthorised encampments.A spokesman for Canterbury City Council told the: &quot;We always take reports of unauthorised activity seriously and act as quickly as we can.&quot;In this case, we issued a stop notice on Friday and will carry out further checks to ensure they have been complied with later this week.&quot;The Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government has been reached for comment.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Reform council becomes first to quit refugee resettlement scheme as it vows to &amp;apos;put British people first&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-council-becomes-first-to-quit-refugee-resettlement-scheme-as-it-vows-to-put-british-people-first</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-council-becomes-first-to-quit-refugee-resettlement-scheme-as-it-vows-to-put-british-people-first</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lancashire County Council is poised to become the first local authority in Britain to quit the Government’s refugee resettlement programme.The Reform UK-run authority has pledged to withdraw from the scheme, vowing to put &quot;British people first&quot;.Nigel Farage’s party secured a commanding majority on the council last May, clinching 53 of 84 seats.Reform UK has argued that the Resettlement Scheme - introduced by the Conservatives in 2021 - has forced councils to prioritise newly arrived migrants ahead of long-standing local residents when it comes to support and services.
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Under the current system, refugees arriving through the scheme can receive council-backed assistance including immediate cash payments, welcome packs and help with household bills.Councils also provide support registering with GPs and arranging Jobcentre appointments to help new arrivals access benefits.Reform UK says homeless veterans and struggling locals are too often left to fend for themselves without the same level of support.The party&#039;s Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: &quot;These schemes have only served to prioritise recent arrivals and foreign nationals ahead of the British public.&quot;Reform UK in Lancashire is putting an end to a shameful Conservative policy which shoved British people to the back of the queue for housing and council services.&quot;Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for communities, said the move would put local Lancastrians &quot;at the front of the queue&quot;.Mr Roberts also called on Labour to stop placing refugees in the county and instead direct public money towards vulnerable residents and veterans who he said had been &quot;deprioritised by successive Labour and Conservative governments for far too long&quot;.The proposal will go before the council’s Cabinet this summer for formal approval.MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Foreign criminals in Britain&#039;s jails cost taxpayers almost £630 MILLION per yearOne in five small boat crossings set off from Belgium as people smugglers try to dodge border patrolEx-Tory MP backs Nigel Farage&#039;s call for Royal Navy support as 900 illegal migrants enter BritainThe withdrawal would cover both the UK Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Resettlement Programme - although support for Ukrainian refugees would remain in place.The move is expected to pile pressure on other Reform UK-controlled councils to consider similar withdrawals.It comes as Mr Farage’s party also unveiled plans to place migrant detention centres in Green-controlled council areas if it wins the next General Election.Zack Polanski’s Greens are expected to rival Reform UK as one of the biggest winners in Thursday’s local elections, with some polls suggesting both parties could secure more than 1,000 council seats.The Greens have previously condemned Reform UK’s proposed mass deportation policy - dubbed Operation Restoring Justice -describing it as &quot;ill-thought-out,&quot; &quot;cruel,&quot; and &quot;abhorrent&quot;.Meanwhile, Mr Yusuf said Reform UK would not place detention centres in areas represented by Reform MPs or councils.He told The Telegraph: &quot;Even though illegal migrants will not be allowed to leave the sites, we are committing to not placing these detention sites in areas with a Reform MP or where Reform controls the council.&quot;Given the Green Party advocates for open borders and for an infinite number of undocumented men to come here, we will prioritise Green constituencies and Green-controlled councils to locate these detention centres.&quot;He added: &quot;This is the fairest approach to ensuring democratic consent for all aspects of our mass deportation programme.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Donald Trump reveals King Charles and Queen Camilla&amp;apos;s reaction to the White House</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-reveals-king-charles-and-queen-camillas-reaction-to-the-white-house</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-reveals-king-charles-and-queen-camillas-reaction-to-the-white-house</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has disclosed that King Charles and Queen Camilla were deeply impressed by the White House during their recent State Visit, describing the presidential residence as &quot;amazing.&quot;Speaking at a gathering of small business owners in Washington DC on Monday, the US President shared Their Majesties&#039; reactions to his official home.&quot;The King and Queen were just here, and they looked, and they said, &#039;This place is just amazing&#039;,&quot; Mr Trump told attendees.He added that Charles and Camilla had been particularly struck by the Oval Office, noting: &quot;When they came into the Oval Office, they said, &#039;This is something&#039;. And they&#039;ve seen some very nice places.&quot;The King and Queen wrapped up their four-day American trip last Thursday, timed to coincide with the nation&#039;s 250th anniversary of independence.Their demanding itinerary encompassed afternoon tea with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House, followed by a formal white-tie dinner held in their honour.King Charles also delivered a landmark speech to Congress during the visit.The tour concluded with a festive street celebration in rural Virginia, complete with traditional bunting decorations.The rapid succession of engagements represented a significant diplomatic effort during a period of strained relations between Britain and the United States over the conflict in Iran.The charm offensive proved diplomatically fruitful, with President Trump announcing the scrapping of tariffs on Scotch whisky following the visit.This decision represents a substantial victory for the Scottish whisky industry, which had been subject to American import duties.The tariff removal came as the royal visit sought to strengthen transatlantic ties during a particularly fractious period in UK-US relations.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:Princess Beatrice’s husband sends message to Princess Eugenie following her pregnancy announcementJames Middleton opens up on passion he shares with Princess of WalesMeghan Markle makes solo trip to Chicago for her godson&#039;s First CommunionPresident Trump, welcoming guests to the small business summit, emphasised the unique appeal of the White House.He stated: &quot;I&#039;m thrilled to be with you and welcome you to the most fabulous place, the White House. &quot;There is nothing quite like it.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, reveals, King, Charles, and, Queen, Camillas, reaction, the, White, House</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;I am not going to be intimidated!&amp;apos; Moment Kemi Badenoch stands up to heckler on antisemitism</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/i-am-not-going-to-be-intimidated-moment-kemi-badenoch-stands-up-to-heckler-on-antisemitism</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/i-am-not-going-to-be-intimidated-moment-kemi-badenoch-stands-up-to-heckler-on-antisemitism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ This is the moment Kemi Badenoch confronted a heckler on rising antisemitism in Britain while out campaigning in Essex yesterday. She argued with a member of the public, who accused the Conservative leader of &quot;pandering to the right&quot; amid a worrying pattern of targeted incidents against Jewish people and religious sites.Ms Badenoch said: &quot;You can say all that you like, but this is how the 1930s started with people pretending not to see what is happening in front of them. I am not blind. I can see. &quot;WATCH IN FULL...Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>not, going, intimidated, Moment, Kemi, Badenoch, stands, heckler, antisemitism</media:keywords>
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<title>More than half of Muslims would vote for pro&#45;Gaza independents to stop Labour winning, new poll reveals</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/more-than-half-of-muslims-would-vote-for-pro-gaza-independents-to-stop-labour-winning-new-poll-reveals</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/more-than-half-of-muslims-would-vote-for-pro-gaza-independents-to-stop-labour-winning-new-poll-reveals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ More than half of Muslims would vote for pro-Gaza independents to stop Labour from winning, a new poll has revealed.Labour faces a dramatic collapse in support among British Muslim voters ahead of this week&#039;s local elections, with new Policy Exchange research revealing the party&#039;s backing has plummeted from a historic 80 per cent to just 33 per cent.The polling, conducted by JL Partners, shows six in 10 Muslim voters in key battleground councils are prepared to back Gaza-focused independent candidates as a means of defeating Labour.Nearly half would consider supporting the Greens for the same purpose.The findings suggest a fundamental realignment of Muslim political allegiances, with voters increasingly drawn to independent candidates who prioritise concerns about the global Muslim community alongside local issues.The Israel-Gaza conflict appears to be a significant driver of this shift away from Labour.The survey covered more than 1,000 British Muslims living in areas with significant Muslim populations where elections are being held, spanning Greater London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and parts of Lancashire, South Yorkshire and Merseyside.A separate nationally representative sample of over 1,000 UK adults was also polled for comparison.Among Muslim respondents, 49 per cent indicated they would consider voting Green to prevent a Labour victory, while 60 per cent said they would consider backing independent candidates.The Greens currently enjoy 27 per cent support among Muslim voters, which sits 10 points above the party&#039;s national polling average and 17 points higher than their support among the general population in this survey.Fourteen per cent of Muslim voters said they would back a Muslim independent candidate in a general election.The Israel-Gaza conflict emerges as a defining issue separating Muslim voters from the broader electorate.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Corbyn and pro-Gaza &#039;Independent Alliance&#039; to form &#039;new political party&#039; in latest blow to StarmerInside Labour&#039;s battle to retain hard-left heartlands as pro-Gaza independents plot Keir Starmer&#039;s downfall‘Not interested in potholes - only interested in Gaza!’ Mike Parry fumes at MPs elected on ‘sectarian’ voteA quarter of British Muslims polled said the conflict would determine their vote, compared with just five per cent of the general population – making it five times more influential among Muslim voters.On other matters, priorities align more closely. Cost of living ranks as the dominant concern across both groups, with the economy, education and welfare also featuring similarly in voter priorities.However, religious identity plays a markedly different role. Sixty-three per cent of Muslim respondents ranked their faith as their most important identity, while only 12 per cent prioritised their British identity.Among the general population, national identity topped the list at 43 per cent.The polling uncovered troubling attitudes on several fronts. One quarter of Muslim respondents expressed a favourable view of Hamas, while 28 per cent held an unfavourable opinion.Views on Iran&#039;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were similarly divided, with 23 per cent favourable compared to 20 per cent unfavourable.Nearly a quarter of Muslims surveyed believed violence could be justified in response to burning the Koran or depicting the Prophet Muhammad, more than double the 10 per cent figure among the general public.Antisemitic attitudes were notably more prevalent among Muslim respondents.Twenty-one per cent admitted unfavourable feelings towards Jews, compared with 11 per cent nationally.Some 45 per cent believed Jews wield excessive influence over the media, while 39 per cent said the same about Parliament – more than twice the national figures.The research also highlighted concerns about electoral integrity. Fourteen per cent of Muslim voters reported having a postal vote collected by a political candidate or campaigner – a practice now prohibited under the 2022 Elections Act and historically linked to electoral fraud. This figure was nearly double that of the general population.Dr Rakib Ehsan, lead author of the Policy Exchange report &quot;Understanding Islamopopulism: Views of Concern&quot;, said: &quot;The data shows that the Labour Party is on course to be further punished by British Muslims in the English local elections, with a likely surge of Muslim independent candidates being elected in cities such as Birmingham and towns like Blackburn, along with a number of London boroughs including Newham.&quot;He added: &quot;The findings show that the UK is far from being a stable multi-faith democracy.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>More, than, half, Muslims, would, vote, for, pro-Gaza, independents, stop, Labour, winning, new, poll, reveals</media:keywords>
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<title>White House &amp;apos;locked down&amp;apos; as Secret Service shoots man next to Washington Monument</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/white-house-locked-down-as-secret-service-shoots-man-next-to-washington-monument</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/white-house-locked-down-as-secret-service-shoots-man-next-to-washington-monument</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The White House has been put into &quot;lockdown&quot; as the Secret Service has confirmed it has shot a man next to the Washington Monument.The US Secret Service confirmed officers were on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Washington in which one person was shot by law enforcement.The area was placed on &quot;lockdown&quot; while emergency services hurried to the scene.A spokesman said: &quot;US Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, DC.
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&quot;One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown,&quot; the Secret Service added.GB News&#039; Ben Leo, who was live at the scene, reported: &quot;White House is currently on lockdown after shots reportedly fired on the streets outside.&quot;President Trump is safe, currently in the East Room giving a talk on small business success.&quot;I’m in the East Room currently but other press are locked in the briefing room.&quot;The top security agency instructed people to avoid the area in the city while emergency officers responded to the incident.Reporters, who were previously on the north lawn outside the White House, have said they were ushered into the briefing room during the scare.The incident unfolded around a mile away from the White House opposite the National Mall, which is home to a number of iconic monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.Meanwhile, Mr Trump was delivering a speech at the Presidential Palace after meeting small business owners, joined by Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler. LATEST US NEWS:&#039;FBI looking at connections&#039;: Mystery as 10 scientists linked to top secret research dead or missingUS denies navy warship struck by two missiles in Strait of HormuzTwo US servicemen missing in Morocco during military training exerciseThe chaotic event took place in Washington DC just a few days after a shooting in the vicinity of the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner took place.Just over a week ago, Mr Trump was rushed out of a White House event by Secret Service agents after a gunman attempted to storm the venue.As the President appeared to be speaking at his table, several loud bangs were suddenly heard, prompting an immediate response from armed agents.Secret Service officers swarmed the area, some carrying machine guns, shouting &quot;stay down, stay down&quot; as they secured the scene.The President was quickly rushed out of the Washington Hilton dining hall alongside First Lady Melania Trump.A suspected gunman who opened fire during the dinner has since been charged with attempted assassination.He was also charged with the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and the transportation of a firearm and ammunition through interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.Cole Thomas Allen faces life in prison over the alleged attack if found guilty, a judge said during court proceedings.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>White, House, locked, down, Secret, Service, shoots, man, next, Washington, Monument</media:keywords>
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<title>US shoots down seven Iranian boats as Tehran blasts South Korean vessel</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-shoots-down-seven-iranian-boats-as-tehran-blasts-south-korean-vessel</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-shoots-down-seven-iranian-boats-as-tehran-blasts-south-korean-vessel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The US has shot down seven Iranian boats after Tehran blasted a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.The operation comes just hours after Iran launched a series of assaults across the region, causing the United Arab Emirates to shoot down missiles over its waters.Donald Trump confirmed that American helicopters had taken down seven &quot;small boats&quot; today, adding &quot;it&#039;s all they (Iran) have left&quot;.Earlier today, US military chiefs said all threats across the key maritime passageway had been countered.
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Iran&#039;s military claimed it fired warning shots at an American vessel in the strait - an &quot;entirely false&quot; claim which the US denied.However, a fire and subsequent explosion on a vessel controlled by South Korean shipping company HMM was recorded, Seoul&#039;s foreign ministry said.Taking to Truth Social to wage another war of words against the Islamic Republic, the US President confirmed the military action.&quot;Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship,&quot; he said.The Commander-in-Chief added: &quot;Perhaps it&#039;s time for South Korea to come and join the mission! We&#039;ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, &#039;fast&#039; Boats. It&#039;s all they have left.&quot;Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait.&quot;The 47th President added that the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will convene a news conference to deliver updates on the war on Tuesday morning.&quot;We have initially confirmed that there have been no casualties among our nationals as of the first check,&quot; a South Korean official said.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:US denies navy warship struck by two missiles in Strait of HormuzWatch moment American GB News guest admits: &#039;I&#039;m just FLABBERGASTED&#039; at state of UK militaryWhite House: King&#039;s state visit may &#039;work magic&#039; on Donald Trump&#039;s &#039;differences&#039; with Keir StarmerMeanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said that it had intercepted a number of Iranian rockets fired their way as well.As a result, several flights headed towards the UAE were diverted to Oman&#039;s capital, Muscat.Other aircraft hovered over Saudi Arabia while further attacks from Tehran fuelled widespread travel chaos across the region.Earlier today, the UAE said its air force was fending off missile and drone attacks after a major oil port erupted into flames due to a drone attack.Furjairah is the nation&#039;s largest port and oil storage facility. Earlier this afternoon, the Fujairah Government Media Office said civil defence teams were working to control the blaze.The UAE&#039;s defence ⁠ministry later confirmed it had intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones fired by Iran.An official said: &quot;The ministry of defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities.&quot;The Islamic Republic claimed it did not have any intention to target the Emirates.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>shoots, down, seven, Iranian, boats, Tehran, blasts, South, Korean, vessel</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Anything to get out of the UK!&amp;apos; Keir Starmer accused of &amp;apos;absenteeism&amp;apos; as PM cosies up to the EU on latest trip</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/anything-to-get-out-of-the-uk-keir-starmer-accused-of-absenteeism-as-pm-cosies-up-to-the-eu-on-latest-trip</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/anything-to-get-out-of-the-uk-keir-starmer-accused-of-absenteeism-as-pm-cosies-up-to-the-eu-on-latest-trip</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of &quot;absenteeism&quot; after cosying up to the EU on his latest foreign trip to Armenia.Speaking to GB News, political commentator Benedict Spence accused the Prime Minister of doing &quot;anything to get out of the UK&quot; despite several domestic issues affecting Britons.The Prime Minister has joined fellow world leaders in Armenia at the European Political Community summit, where they will discuss a £78billion for Ukraine.Sir Keir defended the plans, claiming &quot;it outweighs the cost&quot;. He also argued the continent must &quot;move at pace&quot; to boost defence.
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Reacting to the Prime Minister&#039;s latest trip, Mr Spence argued that Sir Keir believes he &quot;thrives on the international stage&quot;.He told GB News: &quot;He is somebody who believes he thrives on the international stage. Anything to get out of the UK in the opposite direction to all the people coming here on the small boats. &quot;Yerevan isn&#039;t quite Davos, but it&#039;s still quite nice in the springtime, I assume, otherwise they wouldn&#039;t have all picked it, would they? &quot;They&#039;re not going to go to some hellhole for this summit, these sorts of people.&quot;Mr Spence argued that Sir Keir&#039;s frequent trips abroad present as &quot;absenteeism&quot; for Britons.He said: &quot;He was doing this before his Government really sort of hit the rocks.&quot;And now every time that he does it, as much as people might sort of sit and say, &#039;well, he is the Prime Minister, he needs to go and negotiate with people&#039;, the problem very much does strike people as being one of absenteeism.&quot;The political commentator accused the Prime Minister of &quot;not being in full control&quot; of his Government.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer&#039;s delay to defence upgrade scolded by Tobias Ellwood: &#039;Deeply irresponsible!&#039;Keir Starmer defends plan to join EU loan for Ukraine as &#039;benefits outweigh the cost&#039;Keir Starmer blasted for &#039;using any excuse&#039; to get back into the EU amid talks to join Ukraine loanMr Spence said: &quot;It doesn&#039;t particularly feed well into the idea that he&#039;s in charge of his own Government, given that so many of the problems surrounding his administration largely stemmed from this perception that people have of him.&quot;Which is that he&#039;s not in full control, he&#039;s at odds with his own civil servants, and he&#039;s at odds with his own appointments.&quot;He argued: &quot;How is it that you can actually portray to people, if you wish to save your premiership, that you have got a grip on everything that&#039;s possibly going on if you&#039;re never actually here?&quot;People will say the Ukraine war is incredibly important, Britain has played a very central role in supporting Ukraine, and that&#039;s all true. &quot;But still it couldn&#039;t have come at a worse time for the Prime Minister to actually be seen fleeing the country.&quot;Criticising the plans to join the EU&#039;s loan to Ukraine, Mr Spence questioned why the UK cannot help Ukraine &quot;on its own terms&quot; rather than joining Europe&#039;s cause.He told GB News: &quot;What&#039;s actually the benefit in joining some massive pool in terms of giving loans out to Ukraine. &quot;Why can&#039;t we just deal with the Ukrainians on our own terms and save ourselves the billion in that process?&quot;Britain shouldn&#039;t have to pander to being part of a bloc in order to get things done in terms of its own foreign policy, it ought to be able to stand on its own two feet.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:09:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Anything, get, out, the, UK, Keir, Starmer, accused, absenteeism, cosies, the, latest, trip</media:keywords>
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<title>Jeremy Clarkson unleashes fury at Zack Polanski over Golders Green police criticism: &amp;apos;Siding with a violent antisemitic thug!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/jeremy-clarkson-unleashes-fury-at-zack-polanski-over-golders-green-police-criticism-siding-with-a-violent-antisemitic-thug</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/jeremy-clarkson-unleashes-fury-at-zack-polanski-over-golders-green-police-criticism-siding-with-a-violent-antisemitic-thug</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Jeremy Clarkson has hit out at Green Party leader Zack Polanski following his public criticism of the police officers who responded to last week&#039;s Golders Green terror attack.In the days since the incident, Mr Polanski has maintained that police officers should face appropriate scrutiny, despite apologising for sharing a social media post criticising the arrest of the suspect.The Green Party leader has acknowledged the courage of officers who confront dangerous situations but insisted accountability remains essential.&quot;I think you can both recognise the bravery of officers who run towards incidents that most of us, including myself, would certainly want to run away from, and find the appropriate forum to say that no one, especially the police, should be above scrutiny,&quot; he told Sky News.
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Mr Polanski also criticised Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for sending him an open letter about the controversy, describing it as an inappropriate way to conduct political discourse during local elections.Mr Rowley had penned an open letter criticising Mr Polanski for his social media antics while simultaneously defending the Met Police officers who arrested the terror attack suspect.Following Mr Polanski&#039;s reaction to the Golders Green attacks, Mr Clarkson used his latest newspaper column to express his bewilderment with the Greens&#039; leader&#039;s response.The Clarkson&#039;s Farm star fumed: &quot;I do wish people would stop touting Zack Polanski as a serious contender in the next election. &quot;He isn’t. My donkey is more likely to get elected.&quot;Turning his attention to Mr Polanski&#039;s physical attributes, Mr Clarkson mocked: &quot;The man isn’t even built properly - a point that becomes clear if you watch that social media gif of him running through a conference hall. Tom Cruise he is not.&quot;It’s like his arms are where his legs should be and vice versa and as a result, he has the stupidest running style I’ve ever seen.&quot;The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host then struck a more serious note as he veered his critique towards Mr Polanski&#039;s public statements. &quot;And then there’s what he says. This week, he castigated those policemen who tackled the knife-wielding thug in London, saying he’d seen them &#039;repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head&#039;,&quot; he said.Mr Clarkson went on: &quot;Yup. He’s so right-on and so down with the ’Gram as he pursues the teenage vote that he’s going to side with a violent antisemitic thug rather than the policemanists who arrested him.&quot;And he thinks that normal people with fully formed adult brains will vote for him. Not a chance,&quot; he signed off in The Sun.This isn&#039;t the first time Mr Clarkson has publicly criticised the Green Party leader over his policy proposals and public statements. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSBBC under fire from TV exec over Scouse stereotypes in crime dramas: &#039;Wake up and smell the coffee!&#039;Amy Dowden, 35, announces death of close friend after blood clot as BBC Strictly star pens statementGraham Linehan accuses Labour of being &#039;too scared&#039; of trans activists to roll out single sex plansIn March, Mr Clarkson ripped into the Greens&#039; tax pledges, accusing them of asking the public to pay taxes to give money to the &quot;fat and lazy&quot;.He also condemned Mr Polanski over the Greens&#039; plans to legalise drugs should the party get into power.Meanwhile, the victims of the Golders Green attack have been released from the hospital following their serious injuries.Essa Suleiman, 45, faces charges of attempting to murder Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, during the knife attack in the north London suburb. He is also accused of the attempted murder of a third man, allegedly known to him, in south London earlier that day.Mr Suleiman appeared at Westminster Magistrates&#039; Court on Friday and was remanded in custody.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded a moratorium on pro-Palestinian marches, arguing they are &quot;creating a climate that is normalising a hatred towards Jews&quot;.The Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced in December they would adapt their approach to the &quot;globalise the intifada&quot; slogan following an attack on a Jewish festival at Australia&#039;s Bondi Beach.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jeremy, Clarkson, unleashes, fury, Zack, Polanski, over, Golders, Green, police, criticism:, Siding, with, violent, antisemitic, thug</media:keywords>
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<title>UK workers hit by Rachel Reeves&amp;apos;s £210bn tax grab as millions pushed into higher rates</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-workers-hit-by-rachel-reevess-210bn-tax-grab-as-millions-pushed-into-higher-rates</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-workers-hit-by-rachel-reevess-210bn-tax-grab-as-millions-pushed-into-higher-rates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ British workers are set to face a £210billion increase in income tax over the coming years as frozen thresholds continue to pull more people into higher bands. Analysis of official forecasts shows income tax receipts are expected to reach £430billion by 2030‑31, almost double the £220billion collected in 2021‑22.The rise is driven by fiscal drag, which occurs when thresholds remain fixed while wages increase, pushing earners into higher rates without any formal tax rise. The policy was introduced by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and has since been extended by Chancellor Rachel Reeves until 2031.
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Tax revenues have already climbed sharply since the freeze began, reaching £330billion last year.Income tax thresholds have been unchanged since 2021 despite rising wages and inflation.The personal allowance remains at £12,570, where the 20p basic rate begins, while the higher‑rate threshold is fixed at £50,270.The additional‑rate threshold was lowered in 2023 from £150,000 to £125,140 and has stayed at that level.As earnings rise while thresholds stay static, more workers are drawn into higher bands without a corresponding improvement in real incomes.Government projections suggest 10.5 million people will be paying higher rates of tax by 2030‑31, compared with 1.7 million in 1990 and three million in 2010.The number of basic‑rate taxpayers has risen from 27.4 million to 30.4 million since the freeze began, while the higher‑rate band has expanded from 4.4 million to 7.1 million.The number of additional‑rate taxpayers has more than doubled from 520,000 to 1.2 million.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Rachel Reeves&#039; pay-per-mile car tax plans in chaos as EV owners admit &#039;mileage fraud&#039;DWP paying businesses £3,000 to hire young people amid youth unemployment surgeHMRC&#039;s income tax threshold freeze — how fiscal drag is costing workers thousandsRachael Griffin, tax and financial planning expert at Quilter, said: “Millions of workers are facing materially higher tax bills with little or no improvement in their standard of living.”Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, said frozen thresholds had become “an incredibly effective stealth tax”, adding that the extension until 2031 means “there’s no end in sight for this relentless stealth tax”.The cost to households is expected to rise further.AJ Bell estimates that by 2030‑31 the freeze will leave higher‑rate taxpayers £4,808 worse off in that year alone, while basic‑rate taxpayers will pay an additional £961.David Little, wealth manager at Evelyn Partners, said: “The powerful tide of fiscal drag is sweeping millions into higher tax brackets.”Experts say the combined effect of the 2027 reforms means many households will need to reassess how they save, invest and report income well before the deadline. Advisers warn that leaving preparations until next spring could limit the options available, particularly for those with rental income or complex finances. Financial planners say the next 12 months will be critical for anyone looking to minimise the impact of higher taxes and tighter reporting rules.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>workers, hit, Rachel, Reevess, £210bn, tax, grab, millions, pushed, into, higher, rates</media:keywords>
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<title>Ed Miliband accused of &amp;apos;covering up&amp;apos; evidence Labour’s Net Zero plans will increase electricity bills</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-accused-of-covering-up-evidence-labours-net-zero-plans-will-increase-electricity-bills</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-accused-of-covering-up-evidence-labours-net-zero-plans-will-increase-electricity-bills</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ed Miliband has been accused of &quot;covering up&quot; evidence Labour’s Net Zero plans will increase household electricity bills for British households.The Conservative Party accused the Energy Secretary of burying documents which reveal his decision to scrap significant market reforms in order to aid his controversial green policy.A proposal for regional electricity pricing last year was abandoned as wind farm developers claimed it would derail Labour’s clean power 2030 target and affect investment.Mr Miliband vowed a “full cost-benefit analysis&quot; would be published at the end of 2025.
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However, the report has not yet been published.The Energy Secretary has also blocked the release of an official impact assessment of the policy, leading critics to slam the handling of the data.The unreleased document was never finished, and it would cause &quot;confusion and misunderstanding&quot; if released now, the publication has revealed.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero adds that &quot;work on the modelling and analysis is still ongoing&quot; despite Mr Miliband vowing its release nearly six months ago.Releasing the confidential document might &quot;disrupt both energy and financial markets&quot;, Labour argue, potentially affecting domestic bills, though it offered no supporting evidence for this claim.Sam Richards, of the think tank Britain Remade, described Mr Miliband as reckless and urged him to &quot;come clean&quot; on the decision not to move the pricing model.He added: &quot;Hiding behind process to stop the release of the impact assessment, after announcing the policy, makes no sense, unless, as suspected, it shows that decisions taken by the energy secretary will in fact raise bills.&quot;Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told The Telegraph: &quot;Zonal pricing reduces wind developer profits, but it also cuts the cost of building the grid, which is already almost a third of electricity bills.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:UK workers hit by Rachel Reeves&#039;s £210bn tax grab as millions pushed into higher ratesBritain will have to pay £1bn for closer ties with EU as Brussels tells Keir Starmer to pay upWelfare pays more than work for 600,000 households in Britain as critics slam £155bn benefits budgetShe added: “Of course, once again Ed Miliband is siding with wind developers over consumers, and now he’s trying to cover up just how much it’s going to cost you.&quot;Emma Floyd, the department’s director for clean energy investment, said: &quot;We accept that public interest heavily favours disclosure. However, we have to take into consideration the types of factors outlined above.&quot;The proposed zonal pricing system would have divided Britain&#039;s electricity market into regional areas, each establishing prices based on local supply and demand conditions.Prominent backers included the National Energy System Operator, Octopus Energy and Ovo Energy, who argued the reform would reduce bills by cutting system costs, particularly the substantial payments made to wind farms for switching off when grid congestion prevents their power from being used.Research conducted by FTI Consulting for Octopus estimated annual savings of more than £3.7billion.However, major wind farm operators such as SSE, Scottish Power and RWE resisted the changes, warning of a &quot;postcode lottery&quot; that would paralyse investment.Civil servants advising Mr Miliband reportedly supported the reform and recommended approval, yet the Energy Secretary announced in July he was scrapping it &quot;to give certainty to investors&quot;.Under the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero plans, offshore wind capacity is set to triple by 2030.A DESNZ spokesman said: &quot;Transitioning to zonal pricing would have created at least seven years of uncertainty, putting a risk premium on new investment that could have caused bills to rise in the short term.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Miliband, accused, covering, up, evidence, Labour’s, Net, Zero, plans, will, increase, electricity, bills</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump says US will &amp;apos;guide&amp;apos; ships in Strait of Hormuz as UKMTO issues stark warning</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-says-us-will-guide-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-as-ukmto-issues-stark-warning</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-says-us-will-guide-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-as-ukmto-issues-stark-warning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has said the US will &quot;guide&quot; ships through the Strait of Hormuz.In response, the UK Maritime Trading Organisation (UKMTO) has said the maritime threat inside the critical waterway remains critical.Mr Trump, who named the naval operation &quot;Project Freedom&quot;, said the US navy would accompany ships from countries not involved in the Middle Eastern conflict.Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, he said: &quot;For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.&quot;
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Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said in response that any &quot;interference&quot; in the &quot;new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz&quot; would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.The President described the operation as a &quot;humanitarian gesture&quot;, adding that many ships were &quot;running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner&quot;.He said representatives from the US were currently engaged in &quot;very positive&quot; discussions, adding that discussions &quot;could lead to something very possible&quot;.He said: &quot;I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait.&quot;In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else.&quot;This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time.&quot;The UKMTO said a British vessel was attacked late on Sunday in the strait.A tanker was struck by an &quot;unknown projectile&quot;, but all crew were said to be safe, according to the maritime organisation.LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP AND IRAN:Donald Trump gives green light for Iran to play at World CupDonald Trump prepares &#039;powerful&#039; strikes on Iran after Vladimir Putin warns of &#039;dire consequences&#039;Palace issues statement after Donald Trump claims King agrees Iran cannot have nuclear weaponsAnd earlier in the day, it reported a bulk carrier had been attacked by &quot;multiple small craft&quot;.The UKMTO released an advisory early on Monday, saying the US had &quot;established an enhanced security area to support Strait of Hormuz transits south of the Traffic Separation Scheme&quot;.It noted that vessels should continuously monitor VHF Channel 16, report any unusual activity, and note the proximity of any reported mines or threats along the route.US Central Command has said at least 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft would be involved in the maritime operation.An estimated 2,000 sailors have been trapped within the Gulf of Oman since the war in Iran began.&quot;The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong - They are victims of circumstance,&quot; Mr Trump said.It comes as Iran confirmed it received a US response to its peace proposal.Iran said it was reviewing the response, but Mr Trump earlier siad on Social Media he &quot;can’t imagine that it would be acceptable&quot; because the Middle Eastern country had not yet &quot;paid a big enough price&quot; for its actions.Speaking to reporters, he said he had been told about the &quot;concept&quot; of the deal, and had not yet been given the exact wording.President Trump told reporters on Saturday that if Iran &quot;misbehave&quot;, further strikes were a &quot;possibility&quot;.

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, says, will, guide, ships, Strait, Hormuz, UKMTO, issues, stark, warning</media:keywords>
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<title>Britain will have to pay £1bn for closer ties with EU as Brussels tells Keir Starmer to pay up for first time since Brexit</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-will-have-to-pay-1bn-for-closer-ties-with-eu-as-brussels-tells-keir-starmer-to-pay-up-for-first-time-since-brexit</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-will-have-to-pay-1bn-for-closer-ties-with-eu-as-brussels-tells-keir-starmer-to-pay-up-for-first-time-since-brexit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain will have to pay £1billion in order to have closer ties with the European Union.Sir Keir Starmer has been told by Brussels to pay up to £1billion a year by Ursula von der Leyen&#039;s European bloc in order to gain further access to the EU&#039;s single market.They expect the concession to be made in principle at a summit between European leaders this summer.One European diplomat told The Times: &quot;If the UK wants further integration, they must &#039;pay to play&#039;. That is not unusual.&quot;
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The UK is set to start talks to join the European Union&#039;s £78billion loan to Ukraine in order to support Kyiv and deepen defence ties with Europe.The Prime Minister is currently in Armenia&#039;s capital Yerevan and is expected to tell fellow European leaders that Britain wants to work more closely with them.The EU expects Britain to pay for his aim of &quot;deeper economic integration&quot; and his aim to align the UK with the single market.In March, European leaders said the UK should be forced to pay into European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for the first time since Brexit if it wanted to participate in the EU&#039;s single market for electricity.Europe also called for a &quot;permanent mechanism&quot; for an &quot;appropriate financial contribution&quot; from the UK for any further access to the single market.Ministers are currently evaluating which sector could benefit from further integration, withe chemical, pharmaceuticals and cars seen as priority.One senior European diplomat said Brussels would not allow the UK to &quot;cherry-pick&quot;, and would insist on a Swiss-style deal, tying it into contributing to annual EU budgets.Switzerland has paid 375million euros a year to the EU&#039;s social cohesion fund in exchange for access to the single market.LATEST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION:Labour urged to make deal with EU to protect £70bn car industry ahead of new Brexit rulesSpaniards admit migration is &#039;real threat&#039; as hordes of arrivals storm embassies for &#039;legal status&#039;Peter Mandelson investigated by EU&#039;s anti-fraud watchdog as scandal takes new international twistApplying a similar ratio of Bern&#039;s GDP to Britain&#039;s GDP, it is suggested the UK could be asked to pay in the region of £1billion.Dame Priti Patel, Shadow Foreign Secretary, suggested taxpayers would be paying for European institutions, &quot;with no end date and no democratic mandate&quot;.She said: &quot;At every turn, this prime minister goes to the negotiating table and comes home empty-handed, having paid handsomely for the privilege.&quot;A Labour source told The Times: &quot;The only deals the Tories seem interested in are ones with Nigel Farage.&quot;Britain is currently negotiating alignment on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which would put the UK in alignment for food and drinks, making it easier to import them to and from the EU.Such a deal could put oven chips and cakes at risk, with concerns raised that EU regulations could dramatically impact food producer&#039;s supply chains.Sir Keir has indicated he wants to work more closely with the EU on defence, as calls for an increased military budget have increased.Dame Priti criticised Labour for its long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, adding that his party &quot;continues to fail our armed forces&quot;.

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<title>Rudy Giuliani, close ally of Donald Trump, hospitalised and in critical condition</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rudy-giuliani-close-ally-of-donald-trump-hospitalised-and-in-critical-condition</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rudy-giuliani-close-ally-of-donald-trump-hospitalised-and-in-critical-condition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rudy Giuliani, a close ally and former adviser to Donald Trump, has been hospitalised and is in critical condition.The former mayor of New York City&#039;s condition was announced by President Trump, who described it as &quot;so sad&quot;.A spokesman for the former mayor said he &quot;remains in critical but stable condition&quot;.And Mr Trump, taking to TruthSocial said: &quot;Our fabulous Rudy Giuliani, a true warrior, and the best mayor in the history of New York City, BY FAR, has been hospitalized, and is in critical condition.
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&quot;What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!&quot;They cheated on the elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!&quot;Mr Giuliani served as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, and was named as Time Person of the Year for 2001 for his leadership after the September 11 attacks.His spokesman, Ted Goodman, said on social media: &quot;Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he&#039;s fighting with that same level of strength as we speak.&quot;It remains unclear what has caused Mr Giuliani to be hospitalised.He was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth on February 13, 2002 and dubbed &quot;America&#039;s Mayor&quot; by Oprah Winfrey for leading emergency efforts, frequently appearing at Ground Zero.He was succeeded by then-Republican Michael Bloomberg in 2002, who left the party in 2007 during his mayoral term and later rejoined the Democratic party in 2018.Last September, Mr Giuliani was involved in a car accident which left with multiple injuries as it was struck from behind in New Hampshire.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Buckingham Palace refuses to disclose whether Zohran Mamdani asked King for return of Koh-i-NoorDonald Tusk warns &#039;Nato is disintegrating&#039; after US withdraws thousands of troops from GermanyWhite House: King&#039;s state visit may &#039;work magic&#039; on Donald Trump&#039;s &#039;differences&#039; with Keir StarmerHe suffered a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, and injuries to his left arm and lower leg, his security guard said at the time.Last year, the former mayor hit out at current New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying that seeing him in the oval office with the President made him &quot;sick to my stomach&quot;.And when asked to give advice to the socialist mayor, he told The New York Post: &quot;My advice to him is to step down and do something else.&quot;In 2008, he entered the Presidential campaign with the highest nationwide name recognition and early polling put him above all other declared Republicans.And in the Democratic primary, Hilary Clinton led early polling, before being overtaken by Barack Obama, which led to 2016 being deemed as a replay of an election that never was.After a failed 2008 presidential campaign, the former mayor left politics before becoming the President&#039;s adviser during his 2016 election campaign.In 2017, he was named as informal cybersecurity adviser, and in 2018, joined the President&#039;s personal legal team, defending Mr Trump against Robert Mueller&#039;s special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.He garnered increasing controversy from several events in 2020, including an incident where he held a press conference in front of Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a local gardening business, instead of the Four Seasons hotel.

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Welfare pays more than work for 600,000 households in Britain as critics slam £155bn benefits budget</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/welfare-pays-more-than-work-for-600000-households-in-britain-as-critics-slam-155bn-benefits-budget</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/welfare-pays-more-than-work-for-600000-households-in-britain-as-critics-slam-155bn-benefits-budget</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Welfare paid more than work for 600,000 households in Britain as critics have slammed a ballooning £155billion benefits budget.The figures show that 635,218 households were each given more than £32,000 in welfare payouts last year, the average annual salary of a British worker after tax, despite the introduction of a benefits cap. And the new analysis has revealed that 16,000 of those households receive more than £60,000 in welfare.The analysis, conducted by the Conservative Party, is set to bolster calls to overhaul the £155billion benefits budget and reform the welfare cap, as welfare spending is set to dwarf the defence budget.
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Neil O&#039;Brien, the shadow minister for policy development, who conducted the analysis, told The Telegraph: &quot;The real-terms growth and scale of really large benefit claims from working-age households make the case for a return to welfare reform stronger.&quot;We need reforms across all types of benefit – and particularly the household benefit cap, which is no longer really constraining the growth of really large claims.&quot;Some households are getting a lot more in benefits than the average person gets to take home after working full-time. We need a system that’s fair to taxpayers as well as those benefiting from it.&quot;Labour, however, has said households who receive the highest level of support had the &quot;highest level of need&quot;, with one or more family members suffering a severe disability.The analysis suggested that the number of working-age households receiving more than £30,000 a year in benefits has climbed by more than a third - up to 800,000 - since the Department for Work and Pensions started using administrative data on the income people actually receive, rather than results taken from surveys.In 2023-24, some 667,78 households took more than the average salary of £32,00 a year, a record high up 30 per cent on the previous year.It dropped to 625,218 in 2024-25, but was still double the 392,000 in 2019-20.The 600,000-plus families accounted for one in 30 of all households in Britain.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Kemi Badenoch declares Tories are ‘the only alternative’ as she slams ‘unserious’ Nigel FarageDWP confirms major change to Universal Credit and state pension payments in just hoursState pension triple lock could be scrapped under &#039;dystopian&#039; Tony Blair proposalOf those, 16,289 families received the highest rate of more than £60,000 a year, 91,000 received more than £50,000, and 27,000 received more than £40,000 a year.The benefits cap was first introduced in 2013 by George Osborne and was designed to limit the maximum amount of benefits that a working-age household can receive, with the hopes of encouraging people into work.The Tories have now pledged to close a &quot;loophole&quot; which allows an entire household to have uncapped benefits if there is just one adult who is eligible for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).Helen Whately, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, wrote in The Telegraph: &quot;If any adult in a household can work, they must. If they don’t, the household will be capped.&quot;They will receive the &#039;exempting benefit&#039; - such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP)) - but it won’t be a golden ticket to uncapped benefits for the whole household.&quot;The Tory proposal would require a couple, that can both work, to work at least 16 hours a week to be exempt from the household benefits cap.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party&#039;s plans would &quot;stop those who abuse the system getting almost unlimited welfare payments&quot;. A government spokesman said: &quot;The two per cent of households receiving this level of support have the highest needs, and require extra support.&quot;The benefit cap exempts households where one or more residents have a severe disability requiring extra support and are among the most vulnerable in our society, and it is right that they receive it.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Welfare, pays, more, than, work, for, 600, 000, households, Britain, critics, slam, £155bn, benefits, budget</media:keywords>
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<title>Volodymyr Zelensky issues message to King Charles after monarch&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;strong words&amp;apos; in US</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/volodymyr-zelensky-issues-message-to-king-charles-after-monarchs-strong-words-in-us</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/volodymyr-zelensky-issues-message-to-king-charles-after-monarchs-strong-words-in-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation to King Charles for the monarch&#039;s vocal support of Ukraine during his recent visit to the United States.The Ukrainian leader shared his thanks while meeting Sir Keir Starmer at a hotel in Yerevan, Armenia&#039;s capital, on Sunday.&quot;Best regards and thanks to His Majesty for strong words in the United States supporting our people,&quot; Mr Zelensky said to the Prime Minister.European leaders have gathered in the Armenian capital ahead of the European Political Community summit taking place today.The King addressed Congress last week, highlighting the significance of NATO and continued assistance for Kyiv.
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His remarks came amid growing concerns about Donald Trump&#039;s diminishing focus on the conflict.The King&#039;s congressional address has been widely viewed as a measured counterpoint to certain positions held by the US president, including on Ukraine, where American attention has been diverted by the Iran war.King Charles&#039;s speech emphasised transatlantic unity and the importance of standing with Kyiv at a time when questions persist about Washington&#039;s commitment to the alliance.The diplomatic intervention by the monarch represented a notable moment during the state visit, with his words resonating particularly strongly among European partners seeking continued American engagement in supporting Ukraine&#039;s defence.During their discussions, Mr Zelensky briefed the Prime Minister on the current situation at the front lines, with both leaders examining Ukraine&#039;s progress in the ongoing conflict.According to Downing Street, the pair agreed that strengthening defence industrial partnerships with European nations was essential to sustaining Ukraine&#039;s resistance for as long as necessary.The meeting also addressed preparations for the coming months, with both leaders stressing the importance of safeguarding Ukraine&#039;s energy network before winter arrives.A government spokeswoman said this would enhance the country&#039;s ability to withstand what she described as Russia&#039;s &quot;ongoing barbaric attacks&quot; on civilian infrastructure.Mr Zelensky also expressed gratitude for Britain&#039;s sanctions regime against Moscow and its crackdown on Russia&#039;s shadow fleet, describing these measures as a &quot;great example&quot; for allied nations to follow.&quot;I think that Russia&#039;s economy feels it,&quot; the Ukrainian president remarked.In March, Sir Keir announced that British commandos would have the authority to intercept and stop shadow fleet vessels transporting oil through UK waters to fund Russia&#039;s military campaign.The Prime Minister, accompanied by EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and national security adviser Jonathan Powell, will co-chair a major session on Ukraine alongside France.The EPC was established in 2022 following Russia&#039;s full-scale invasion.

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Volodymyr, Zelensky, issues, message, King, Charles, after, monarchs, strong, words</media:keywords>
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<title>SNP slammed for ‘frittering away’ more than £1.5bn of taxpayers’ cash on defending trans ideology</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-slammed-for-frittering-away-more-than-15bn-of-taxpayers-cash-on-defending-trans-ideology</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-slammed-for-frittering-away-more-than-15bn-of-taxpayers-cash-on-defending-trans-ideology</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ SNP leaders have been slammed for “frittering away” more than £1.5billion out of hard-working Britons’ pockets to battle transgender cases.Locked in three battles with pro-women’s rights campaigners since 2022, Holyrood ministers have paid out massive bills in unsuccessful bids to nurture transgender ideology.A wider bill of a shocking £3million was racked up while Scottish politicians dug their heels in against Brexit policies - as well as independence. But the greatest spending was on their fruitless defence of transgender ideology, The Scottish Sun revealed. 
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Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton told The Scottish Sun the ministers&#039; legal challenges amounted to a mere &quot;war of grievance&quot;.She added: &quot;These staggering figures show how the SNP have wasted a shocking amount of taxpayers&#039; money on trying to defend the indefensible.&quot;Meanwhile, Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, said: “The SNP Government has frittered away what can only be called an obscene amount of taxpayers’ money in legal cases to defend their policies and actions which have tried to dismantle women’s rights.“It’s little wonder they have achieved scant progress in vital policy areas when they have spent much of the last five years in court against us.”For three years, Holyrood officials fought women&#039;s rights campaigners For Women Scotland at the cost of £766,498 - the most expensive out of the three.But in 2025, the landmark case was won with the Supreme Court ruling that the term &quot;women&quot; referred to biological sex, rather than personal identification, in the Equality Act 2010.The gender critics hailed their win, with the devolved Government kissing goodbye £242,500 to the advocacy group for its legal fees, as well as £150,000 for a previous Court of Session case.This figure was added to its own legal fees, bringing the total to the eyewatering amount of £766,498 for the legal fight.The Scottish Government has said that it has accepted the Supreme Court ruling, adding it was &quot;taking forward the detailed work necessary&quot; including updated single-sex spaces.LATEST TRANS ROWS:Graham Linehan accuses Labour of being &#039;too scared&#039; of trans activists to roll out single sex plansLondon beauty spot set to keep &#039;trans-inclusive&#039; swimming ponds - despite High Court rulingTrans prisoner charged with sexual assault on fellow inmate at &#039;mixed-gender&#039; Scottish jailThe second costly case began in 2023, when Scottish leaders fought the order by the UK Government&#039;s Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, to block its gender self-ID bill.The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill sought to facilitate gender transition by allowing citizens to self-ID themselves.The process would have been more streamlined by lowering the minimum age to 16 and cutting wait time to three months - without even requiring a medical diagnosis.A court further ruled that Whitehall&#039;s objection was lawful, shutting down any chance of real-life implementation, causing the bill to become £370,474 for the devolved body. Some £170,000 was paid to Westminster.The SNP complained the block was &quot;undemocratic&quot; despite the rule of law always having been a fundamental aspect of Britain&#039;s democratic process.Insider data exposed the high staffing costs, amounting to more than £100,000 each year.The third, final and ongoing cost bludgeoning the SNP is the controversial case which began in 2023 over trans rapist Isla Bryson.Adam Graham, who self-identified as Isla, a transgender woman, raped two women in 2016 and 2019, was originally put into a women&#039;s prison.But FWS launched a judicial review of the trans policy blighting Scottish prisons, stirring up another legal fight with the ministers.Holyrood argued trans women should be locked up in women&#039;s jails - arguing that they could be at risk in prisons for biological males.By last month, the minister forked out £187,957 on the process, with FWS spending close to £200,000. The legal battle is ongoing. 

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SNP, slammed, for, ‘frittering, away’, more, than, £1.5bn, taxpayers’, cash, defending, trans, ideology</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Nothing Labour won&amp;apos;t tax!&amp;apos; British public overwhelmingly against HMRC raid on holidays, new polling finds</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nothing-labour-wont-tax-british-public-overwhelmingly-against-hmrc-raid-on-holidays-new-polling-finds</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nothing-labour-wont-tax-british-public-overwhelmingly-against-hmrc-raid-on-holidays-new-polling-finds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new survey suggests a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) raid on hotels and other tourist accommodation would be unpopular with the British public.Fresh polling commissioned by UKHospitality has revealed overwhelming public resistance to the Labour Government&#039;s proposed tax on overnight accommodation, with opposition outstripping support by more than two to one.The survey of over 10,000 adults across Great Britain found that 56 per cent reject the planned holiday tax, whilst just 24 per cent back the measure.Respondents indicated they are nearly ten times more likely to vote against an MP who endorses the tax than to reward them for doing so, with 47 per cent stating such support would make them less inclined to back their representative.Analysis using multi-level regression and poststratification modelling shows that across 200 of the 411 constituencies Labour captured in 2024, the number of former supporters who would turn against their representative over this issue exceeds the sitting MP&#039;s majority.Four in 10 Labour voters from the last election indicated they would be less likely to re-elect an MP backing the levy.Among 2024 Conservative voters, 45 per cent expressed similar reluctance, alongside 40 per cent of Liberal Democrats, 47 per cent of Greens, and 53 per cent of Reform UK supporters.Those struggling financially are most opposed to the measure, with 62 per cent of people who find it difficult to make ends meet rejecting the proposal.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSTax raid FAILS as councils face losing £383million despite charge on second homesDWP paying businesses £3,000 to hire young people amid youth unemployment surgeState pension &#039;shock&#039; as ONE MILLION retirees &#039;dragged into tax system&#039; under HMRC ruleNearly one in five said any cost increase would deter them from booking English breaks, rising to 57 per cent if prices climbed by £50 and 85 per cent should the levy add £100 to their trip.Economic analysis by Oxford Economics, also commissioned by UKHospitality, projects that a five per cent tax modelled on Edinburgh&#039;s scheme launching in July 2026 would reduce gross domestic product (GDP) by £2.1billion.Furthermore, the research suggests introducing a sweeping tax would eliminate 33,000 jobs, and cost the Treasury £688million in lost receipts by 2030.Allen Simpson, the chief executive of UKHospitality, said: &quot;This polling should be a wake-up call for every MP tempted to back the holiday tax. It is opposed by a majority of their constituents, it would deter millions from holidaying in England, and it would hit hardest the very families the Government says it wants to help.&quot;In her Spring Statement, the Chancellor said being able to pay for a holiday should never be too much to ask, but this tax puts a holiday out of reach for many.&quot;Voters are nearly 10 times more likely to punish their MP for backing this tax than to thank them for it. That is a political signal no MP should ignore. The public’s verdict is clear and decisive: stop the holiday tax. Let’s keep holidays relaxing, not taxing.&quot;Reform UK&#039;s shadow chancellor Robert Jenrick launched a fierce attack on the proposal, declaring: &quot;There appears to be nothing that Labour won&#039;t tax. This will be the death knell for many seaside resorts and will stop up to one in five Brits holidaying in England.&quot; He pledged that no Reform UK mayors would implement the levy, adding: &quot;We want people to be able to have fun and enjoy themselves without being clobbered by the taxman.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:53:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nothing, Labour, wont, tax, British, public, overwhelmingly, against, HMRC, raid, holidays, new, polling, finds</media:keywords>
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<title>Andy Burnham &amp;apos;clears first hurdle in bid to oust Keir Starmer&amp;apos; &#45; PM branded &amp;apos;not worth protecting&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/andy-burnham-clears-first-hurdle-in-bid-to-oust-keir-starmer-pm-branded-not-worth-protecting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/andy-burnham-clears-first-hurdle-in-bid-to-oust-keir-starmer-pm-branded-not-worth-protecting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Andy Burnham is said to have cleared his first hurdle in his long-rumoured bid to topple Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.The Prime Minister&#039;s allies on Labour&#039;s ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), are no longer willing to stand in Mr Burnham&#039;s way in his charge to power.In order to stand as an MP, he must secure the NEC&#039;s permission to quit as Greater Manchester Mayor.Then, he will have to find a seat - though Bootle MP Peter Dowd opened the door to offering his yesterday.
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Mr Burnham tried to contest the Gorton and Denton by-election for Labour earlier this year, but was blocked.Last night, The Telegraph revealed how the mood had changed on the 10-strong committee of NEC officers.One source told the newspaper how in January, there were &quot;some legitimate reasons relating to the process&quot; - i.e., the &quot;genuine expense of a mayoral election&quot;.They said that back then, there was &quot;more of a feeling that Keir was worth protecting&quot;.&quot;Maybe there was a sense three months ago that there was a world in which Keir might rally, the local elections won&#039;t go as badly - but that ship has now sailed,&quot; the source admitted.A Labour source, meanwhile, said the NEC had been unhappy with Mr Burnham&#039;s &quot;un-comradely and distasteful&quot; behaviour towards Sir Keir.But now, &quot;disgust&quot; is brewing over the PM&#039;s handling of the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal.Alongside Mr Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner have emerged as the frontrunners to mount a Labour takeover.A party source said MPs were being wooed by the so-called King of the North over the former Deputy PM, who resigned over a probe into her contentious tax affairs.&quot;Do we really want to replace one scandal-ridden PM with another? The British people don&#039;t like tax-dodgers,&quot; they said, making the case for Mr Burnham.The Mayor is said to be seen as the leading soft-left Labour candidate - who would command more support from the party&#039;s restless backbenchers than &quot;right-wing&quot; pair Shabana Mahmood or Mr Streeting.Amid the in-fighting, the PM was forced to issue a plea to his colleagues to remain &quot;united&quot;, warning Labour could not succumb to the infighting which plagued the Tories in power.He has repeatedly promised to last a full five-year term in No10.&quot;I&#039;ll be judged at the end of that period of the next election by whether I&#039;ve delivered on what I promised,&quot; he vowed to the BBC.More to follow...

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<media:keywords>Andy, Burnham, clears, first, hurdle, bid, oust, Keir, Starmer, branded, not, worth, protecting</media:keywords>
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<title>Prime Minister&amp;apos;s niece selected as Labour candidate after being &amp;apos;parachuted into safe seat&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/prime-ministers-niece-selected-as-labour-candidate-after-being-parachuted-into-safe-seat</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/prime-ministers-niece-selected-as-labour-candidate-after-being-parachuted-into-safe-seat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Prime Minister&#039;s niece is contesting a council seat in one of London&#039;s most reliably Labour areas. in what critics claim to be a product of nepotism.Ellie Sandover, in her mid-twenties, is running in Croydon&#039;s Bensham Manor ward on May 7, prompting accusations from frustrated local party members that she has been &quot;parachuted into a safe Labour seat&quot;.Ms Sandover&#039;s mother, Katy Swabey, is one of the Sir Keir&#039;s three siblings, and works as a care sector nurse.It was Ms Swabey to whom Keir Starmer, when the leader of the opposition, referred to as “my sister is a poorly-paid care worker” in a Prime Minister’s Questions back-and-forth with Boris Johnson in 2021.
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Her candidacy comes after the party prevented two incumbent Labour councillors from seeking re-election in the ward.The two councillors barred from standing again are Eunice O&#039;Dame and Enid Molyneux, both of whom currently represent Bensham Manor.Ms Sandover secured her selection in August 2025, having previously served as a parliamentary intern for Sarah Jones, the policing minister representing Croydon West.Before entering politics, she held the position of youth engagement lead at Croydon-based charity Legacy Youth Zone.Her academic credentials include a degree from the Central School of Speech and Drama, and a master&#039;s qualification in law.Despite her ample credibility, local party figures have expressed reservations about her candidacy.One Labour member told the Inside Croydon website: &quot;Bensham Manor members are disappointed no selection happened. Ellie&#039;s not very visible in campaign or community.&quot;A local resident described her as &quot;a very new member to the party.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer strikes back at Labour leadership mutiny and urges party colleagues to remain &#039;united&#039;Nigel Farage makes stark Angela Rayner prediction amid preparation for early general electionKeir Starmer suggests pro-Palestine marches could be BANNED to &#039;protect Jewish community&#039;At a crucial time in the election campaign, Ms Sandover’s posted a selfie on April 9 out campaigning in the community.She heard of fly tipping incidents and uneven pavements, and posted to X: “No small issues for people in the place they call home.&quot;The usual requirement by the Labour Party is for those seeking selection as a candidate to have been a member for at least six months.Ms Sandover must have been a party member by at least February 2025, were she eligible to be selected that August.Amid criticism, Labour has firmly rejected suggestions of any irregularity in the selection process.A party spokesman stated that Ms Sandover had been chosen in accordance with party rules and procedures, adding that it was &quot;categorically incorrect&quot; to suggest her selection occurred in anything other than the standard manner.&quot;Labour is proud to have a strong set of local candidates standing for election in Croydon and right across London,&quot; the spokesman said.Questions about cronyism have plagued Sir Keir since he entered Downing Street in July 2024, with the Prime Minister having promoted several individuals with personal or familial connections.

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<title>Keir Starmer suggests pro&#45;Palestine marches could be BANNED to &amp;apos;protect Jewish community&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-suggests-pro-palestine-marches-could-be-banned-to-protect-jewish-community</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-suggests-pro-palestine-marches-could-be-banned-to-protect-jewish-community</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has suggested pro-Palestine demonstrations could potentially be banned, owing to their effect on Britain&#039;s Jewish community.When questioned about whether he favoured stricter policing of language at marches, or wanted some protests halted entirely, the Prime Minister responded: &quot;I think certainly the first, and I think there are instances for the latter.&quot;He emphasised his desire for &quot;tougher action&quot; against demonstrators using specific phrases at pro-Gaza rallies.He stated that those attending marches bear responsibility for challenging chants such as &quot;globalise the intifada&quot; - a phrase critics interpret as inciting violence against Israelis, and Jews more broadly.
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&quot;When you see, when you hear some of those chants - then clearly there should be tougher action in relation to that,&quot; he added.The Prime Minister&#039;s comments follow Wednesday&#039;s knife attack in Golders Green, where two Jewish men were stabbed in an incident subsequently classified as terrorism by police.This week, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre elevated the UK&#039;s terror threat level to &quot;severe,&quot; indicating an attack is &quot;highly likely.&quot;Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, said: &quot;Recent events, including the appalling attack on members of the Jewish community in London, come against a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country.&quot;Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that British Jews now face the greatest threat in their history following recent attacks targeting their community.Sir Keir called for a &quot;whole of society response&quot; to combat rising antisemitism, alongside &quot;further powers&quot; for policing demonstrations.Jonathan Hall KC, the Government&#039;s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, had already called for a &quot;moratorium&quot; on pro-Palestine demonstrations, arguing it was &quot;impossible&quot; for such marches not to &quot;incubate&quot; antisemitism.The Stop The War coalition rejected this characterisation, posting on X: &quot;There is no threat whatsoever to the Jewish community from these marches, and in fact they are attended by thousands of Jewish people often in a Jewish bloc and are completely safe - which they wouldn&#039;t be if these were antisemitic marches.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer strikes back at Labour leadership mutiny and urges party colleagues to remain &#039;united&#039;University of Edinburgh slammed for platforming pro-Palestine speaker who likened Zionists to NazisFlag-raisers offer to install free flagpoles on patriots&#039; homes after activists rip banners downMichael Coulston, a Palestine Solidarity Campaign organiser, believes a ban would be used as “an attack on friendly and safe marches”, and to clamp down on political protest.He said: “I think the authorities will always try to use any excuse to try and prevent protest and to prevent any kind of dissent.”Mr Coulston was speaking at a demonstration on Saturday billed as a “March to put Palestine on the ballot in the local elections”, involving around 50 protesters who took part in a protest through Lewisham, south-east London.He said: “I think the language thing is a complete red herring. I have never heard language being used by marchers which was particularly offensive.&quot;Sir Keir maintained his commitment to civil liberties, whilst acknowledging the need for boundaries.&quot;I will defend the right of peaceful protest very strongly and freedom of speech. I have defended those principles all my life and I will continue to do so. And so I&#039;m not stepping back from that one bit,&quot; he said.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch earlier attacked the Prime Minister for failing to take sufficient action against antisemitism.&quot;Enough with the platitudes, we need action. We need to shame people who think antisemitism is acceptable,&quot; she declared.Sir Keir also condemned Green Party leader Zack Polanski as &quot;disgraceful&quot; and &quot;not fit to lead any political party&quot; after he reposted online criticism of officers who detained the Golders Green suspect. Mr Polanski, who also faced rebuke from Sir Mark Rowley, has since apologised for &quot;sharing a tweet in haste&quot;.The alleged perpetrator, Essa Suleiman, 45, faces charges of attempting to murder Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, during Wednesday&#039;s attack. Born in Somalia, Suleiman arrived in Britain legally as a child during the 1990s, and is additionally charged with the attempted murder of Ishmail Hussein at a Southwark property earlier that day.

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<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, suggests, pro-Palestine, marches, could, BANNED, protect, Jewish, community</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer strikes back at Labour leadership mutiny and urges party colleagues to remain &amp;apos;united&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-strikes-back-at-labour-leadership-mutiny-and-urges-party-colleagues-to-remain-united</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-strikes-back-at-labour-leadership-mutiny-and-urges-party-colleagues-to-remain-united</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has called on Labour colleagues to remain &quot;united&quot; amid growing speculation of a challenge to his premiership from prominent party figures.The Prime Minister pointed to the internal divisions that plagued the Conservatives, where frequent, fast handed changes of leadership came in rapid succession.The plea comes amid growing speculation that both Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are positioning themselves to mount bids against him.Writing in The Observer, Sir Keir stated: &quot;We have a choice. We could sink into the politics of grievance and division. Or we could rise to this moment together in a national effort that matches the scale of the threats and turbulence we face.&quot;
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Reports surfaced this week that Mr Burnham has devised a strategy to re-enter Parliament in the coming weeks, by identifying constituencies where sitting MPs would be willing to vacate their seats.Such resignations would trigger by-elections, potentially opening a path for the Manchester Mayor to return to Westminster.Those backing Mr Burnham are allegedly seeking to circumvent a direct leadership contest, instead hoping to initiate circumstances that would prompt Sir Keir to voluntarily relinquish his position.This approach is predicated on expectations of poor Labour performance in the looming local elections scheduled for May 7.With Mr Burnham seemingly on the front foot, the Health Secretary is simultaneously preparing his own challenge to the Prime Minister&#039;s leadership.Reports emerged yesterday that Mr Streeting has secured backing from more than 81 Labour MPs for his bid to replace Sir Keir.This figure surpasses the minimum number of parliamentary supporters required under party rules to formally trigger a leadership contest.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSNigel Farage makes stark Angela Rayner prediction amid preparation for early general electionWes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer&#039;s leadership within daysAndy Burnham plotting to return to Westminster &#039;within weeks&#039; amid surge in supportAs if two potential challengers wasn&#039;t enough to cause concern, Angela Rayner has also made a bid for replacing Sir Keir.The former Deputy Prime Minister, who is still being investigated for her tax dealings, is understood to be laying the groundwork for a leadership challenge of her own.Labour MPs have been accused of plotting to block Ms Rayner&#039;s path to No10, expressing fears about her succession by warning the party risks &quot;sleepwalking&quot; into her premiership if she manages to rally support.Despite the internal turbulence, Sir Keir outlined an ambitious programme of government reform and strengthened European relations.&quot;This government will reshape our nation. Over the coming weeks, through the King&#039;s speech and beyond, we will set out our agenda of radical reform with activist, interventionist government building a stronger and fairer country,&quot; he wrote.The Prime Minister also emphasised the necessity of closer economic ties with Brussels, arguing that Brexit has harmed the British economy, and that circumstances have shifted considerably since the 2016 referendum.Sir Keir confirmed he would attend the European Political Community summit to advance cooperation on defence, security, energy and trade.

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, strikes, back, Labour, leadership, mutiny, and, urges, party, colleagues, remain, united</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage makes stark Angela Rayner prediction as Reform leader prepares for early general election</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-makes-stark-angela-rayner-prediction-as-reform-leader-prepares-for-early-general-election</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-makes-stark-angela-rayner-prediction-as-reform-leader-prepares-for-early-general-election</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage has spoken of his prediction on the future of Labour Party leadership, maintaining his prediction of a premature General Election as soon as next year.With polling day on May 7 approaching, Reform Uk anticipates securing more than 1,500 council seats nationwide - with Labour preparing for potentially devastating losses that some MPs fear could spark a leadership contest.While traversing Essex atop an open-top campaign bus this week, the party leader spoke to members of the community, sharing his vision of what a Reform government would provide.Mr Farage believes Sir Keir Starmer will be removed from Labour leadership before the year is out, and anticipates that whoever replaces him would pursue such extreme policies that a &quot;breakdown of order&quot; would ensue, creating pressure for an early General Election.
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When asked about potential successors while campaigning, the Reform leader offered somewhat blunt assessments of the future for Labour.&quot;I&#039;ve always said, at least Rayner&#039;s real,&quot; he remarked, though warning that her becoming Prime Minister would send &quot;the economy over a cliff&quot;.He also took aim at Andy Burnham&#039;s dismissive attitude towards financial markets, and said: &quot;You may not worry about the bond markets, but the bond markets will worry about you.&quot;The Mayor of Manchester is being floated as a potential replacement for Keir Starmer, alongside Health Secretary Wes Streeting as another possibility, who has secured backing from 81 party colleagues.Despite the speculation, Mr Farage maintains his longstanding prediction that a General Election due in 2029 will ultimately come sooner in 2027.The Reform leader also launched a fierce attack on the Green Party, accusing it of being &quot;hijacked&quot; by hard-line Islamism and harbouring &quot;embedded&quot; antisemitism.He suggested the party faces the same trajectory as Labour under Jeremy Corbyn - an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into institutional antisemitism.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer&#039;s leadership within daysAndy Burnham plotting to return to Westminster &#039;within weeks&#039; amid surge in supportGreens turn on Zack Polanski over &#039;inappropriate and divisive&#039; Golders Green police postHis comments followed the arrest of two Green candidates in Lambeth on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred through alleged antisemitic social media posts. Saiqa Ali, standing in Streatham, and Sabine Mairey, the Clapham Town candidate, were detained by Metropolitan Police officers under Section 19 of the Public Order Act.&quot;Wow, arrested. Bloody hell. We&#039;ve had some problems over the years, but never that,&quot; Mr Farage commented.He warned broader sectarian politics now represents &quot;a fatal wound for Labour&quot;.Reform&#039;s campaign approach has evolved significantly since the contest began. Initially, the party favoured large auditorium gatherings with audiences exceeding 1,000 people, but has since pivoted to a series of daily town centre walkabouts.Mr Farage said:: &quot;The local Facebook groups go potty. Everyone in the pub tonight will say, &#039;You never guess who was here today.&quot;He described the support he encounters as &quot;visceral&quot;, representing &quot;a kind of brand loyalty that you rarely, very rarely see in British politics&quot;.The approach appears to be yielding results, as businessman Philip Miller, who owns Adventure Island in Southend, joined in the walkabout.&quot;Let&#039;s just say I wouldn&#039;t be unhappy if he was Prime Minister,&quot; Mr Miller said. &quot;There&#039;s always an air of excitement when Nigel&#039;s around.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage, makes, stark, Angela, Rayner, prediction, Reform, leader, prepares, for, early, general, election</media:keywords>
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<title>State pension &amp;apos;nightmare&amp;apos; as Tony Blair slammed over triple lock axe proposal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/state-pension-nightmare-as-tony-blair-slammed-over-triple-lock-axe-proposal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/state-pension-nightmare-as-tony-blair-slammed-over-triple-lock-axe-proposal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Former Prime Minister Tony Blair&#039;s think tank is under fire over their &quot;nightmare&quot; policy proposal to scrap the state pension triple lock in favour of an alternative payment uprate mechanism.The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) as called for the abolition of the state pension triple lock, proposing a radical &quot;lifespan fund&quot; to replace the current system.TBI published a report yesterday arguing that Britain&#039;s pension framework is &quot;outdated, increasingly unaffordable, and too rigid for the way people live and work&quot;.Under the triple lock mechanism, introduced by the coalition government in 2010, pensions rise annually by the highest of earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5 per cent; this April saw a 4.8 per cent increase.The think tank warned that pension expenditure will climb from approximately 5 per cent of GDP currently to 7.8 per cent by 2070, as pensioner numbers grow from 12.6 million to nearly 19 million.Steve Webb, a partner at pensions consultancy LCP, has sharply criticised the proposals, describing the concept of tying state pension payments to individual health records and life expectancy as &quot;deeply troubling&quot;.Mr Webb raised concerns about confidentiality and data quality, noting the difficulty of accurately predicting life expectancy from medical records.He pointed out that while the report claims it would not reward those with poor health due to lifestyle choices such as smoking, separating such factors from overall health would prove extremely challenging.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSState pension &#039;shock&#039; as ONE MILLION retirees &#039;dragged into tax system&#039; under HMRC ruleState pension triple lock could be scrapped under &#039;dystopian&#039; Tony Blair proposalBritons could access their state pension early under Tony Blair Institute&#039;s triple lock overhaulThe pensions expert warned that any appeals process for disputed pension rates could become &quot;an administrative nightmare&quot;, calling the entire scheme &quot;fiendishly complex and highly intrusive&quot;.Age UK has mounted a defence of the triple lock, with charity director Caroline Abrahams arguing it should remain in place beyond the current parliament.Ms Abrahams highlighted that the mechanism has improved living standards for some of the poorest pensioners, stating: &quot;We continue to hear from older people who are struggling financially, and the extra money the triple lock delivers makes a meaningful difference to many lives.&quot; She cited recent polling showing three in ten pensioners report financial difficulties, even before anticipated energy price rises.The charity director called for a national conversation about the state pension&#039;s purpose, arguing current levels fail to provide a decent standard of living for those who depend on it.A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson reaffirmed the Government&#039;s commitment to maintaining the triple lock for the remainder of this parliament, noting that millions of pensioners will see annual state pension increases of up to £2,100.

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<media:keywords>State, pension, nightmare, Tony, Blair, slammed, over, triple, lock, axe, proposal</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer ‘doesn’t know what to do’ slams Kemi Badenoch as she demands ‘hate marches’ ban</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-doesnt-know-what-to-do-slams-kemi-badenoch-as-she-demands-hate-marches-ban</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-doesnt-know-what-to-do-slams-kemi-badenoch-as-she-demands-hate-marches-ban</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer “doesn’t know what to do” as she called for a ban on pro-Palestine marches. Speaking at a hairdresser&#039;s in South East London, the Conservative leader argued that the demonstrations serve as a pretext for threatening and attacking Jewish people.“It’s time to ban the marches,” she declared, adding: &quot;It&#039;s clear they are used as a cover for promoting violence and intimidation against Jews.&quot;Her intervention follows Wednesday&#039;s stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, which has prompted authorities to raise the UK terrorism threat level to “severe”.
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The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall, has separately called for a &quot;moratorium&quot; on such protests.He described recent attacks on Jews as a &quot;massive national security emergency&quot;.Mrs Badenoch endorsed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley&#039;s assessment that London faces an &quot;epidemic&quot; of antisemitism and that British Jews confront their greatest ever threat.“British Jews under siege,&quot; the Leader of the Opposition said. &quot;The Prime Minister doesn&#039;t seem to know what to do about it. “We can ban hate preachers from this country, remove visas from those who are not British and spreading antisemitism, but we need to do more.&quot;She insisted: “We need to shame people who think antisemitism is acceptable.”Her comments came as Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirivis also attributed “a tone of antisemitism” in Britain to what he termed &quot;hate marches” combined with &quot;purposeful anti-Israel demonisation&quot;.Addressing the nation in the wake of the Golders Green attack, the Prime Minister maintained the importance of freedom of speech but suggested that some demonstrations could be prohibited. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS‘Bloody battle for the Labour Party’ predicted as Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals on manoeuvresGreens turn on Zack Polanski over &#039;inappropriate and divisive&#039; Golders Green police postWes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer&#039;s leadership within daysSir Keir expressed concern about the “cumulative” effect of repeated marches on Jewish communities.He also called on protesters to challenge those chanting “globalise the intifada” and hoisting offensive banners.Hours before his address, the Prime Minister was booed and jeered by protestors during a visit to Golders Green. His motorcade was met with chants of “shame on you” and “Jew harmer” as it sped past demonstrators.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who also visited Golders Green on Thursday, accused ministers of being &quot;weak, weak, weak on all of this&quot;.He claimed that hatred had become &quot;embedded&quot; in the country.

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, ‘doesn’t, know, what, do’, slams, Kemi, Badenoch, she, demands, ‘hate, marches’, ban</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Why are Jews so low down on the UK’s security pecking order?’ &#45; Nana Akua</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/why-are-jews-so-low-down-on-the-uks-security-pecking-order-nana-akua</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/why-are-jews-so-low-down-on-the-uks-security-pecking-order-nana-akua</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Why are Jewish people so low down in the pecking order in the UK when it comes to protection? It&#039;s been that way for decades.If, like me, you hadn&#039;t noticed the level of due hatred in this country before October 7, then the events that day and the behaviour of many afterwards would have opened your eyes.Despite no immediate response by Israel the following day, people were out in the streets expressing, in my view, their hatred of Jewish people.At that point, there had been no retaliation for the attack perpetrated by Hamas, an Islamist organisation whose name translates to Islamic Resistance Movement.Their operatives have openly expressed their hatred of and ill will towards Jews and their wish to destroy them. So since that time, we&#039;ve had pro-Palestine protests pretty much every week, initially in numerous locations around the UK. The police have been outnumbered, people carrying hate-filled slogans and chanting from the river to the sea, which many interpret as death to all Jews and chants of globalise the Intifada.Many interpret those words as calling for an international uprising against Jewish people. Our publicly owned broadcaster, the BBC, is allowing chants calling for the death to the IDF to be broadcast at possibly the biggest global music event in the world, Glastonbury.And not even appearing to notice how disgraceful that was, why they didn&#039;t just cut and move on. Who knows?I mean, we&#039;ve even had Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledging the danger that Jewish people may face when being treated in some NHS hospitals.The Government is more interested in finding a definition for Islamophobia than actually delving deep into the cause of anti-Semitism, which, as far as I can see in the UK, far outweighs any hatred towards Islam.A Government which was overturned by the courts in attempting to proscribe Palestine action as a terror group. A government that has failed to prescribe the IRGC. Jewish people are being attacked from so many angles, including from the left — The so-called &quot; Be Kind &quot; group, which is supposed to care about minority groups.This week saw yet another attack on Jewish people in Golders Green, in the heart of the Jewish London community. Zack Polanski retweeted a post criticising the actions of the brave police officers who rushed to apprehend the alleged suspect and protect Jewish lives.For decades, Jewish people have had to pay for their own security, protecting their people in synagogues, schools and hospitals. It is time for the Government to step up because so far, numerous governments have failed, and it&#039;s totally unacceptable.

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Why, are, Jews, low, down, the, UK’s, security, pecking, order’, Nana, Akua</media:keywords>
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<title>Rory McIlroy explains disappointing Donald Trump after Masters win</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rory-mcilroy-explains-disappointing-donald-trump-after-masters-win</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rory-mcilroy-explains-disappointing-donald-trump-after-masters-win</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rory McIlroy opted against competing at the Cadillac Championship being held at Donald Trump&#039;s Doral resort this weekend, despite receiving effusive praise from the US President following his remarkable Masters victory.The 36-year-old Northern Irishman made history in April by claiming consecutive green jackets, becoming just the fourth golfer ever to achieve the feat alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.Rather than competing in Florida, McIlroy is enjoying a period of rest after his Augusta triumph.The decision comes despite Trump publicly expressing his hope that McIlroy would participate at the tournament hosted at his venue.
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Following McIlroy&#039;s second successive Augusta triumph, Trump took to social media to offer his congratulations, declaring: &quot;Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters!&quot;The President added: &quot;He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND!&quot;Trump also made clear his expectation that the Northern Irishman would feature at his Florida course, stating: &quot;I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral.&quot;However, McIlroy has been emphatic about his intention to focus exclusively on golf&#039;s biggest events, choosing to bypass the Trump-owned venue entirely.Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards, McIlroy provided insight into his strategic approach to the remainder of his career, explaining his decision to not play in Florida in the process.&quot;I&#039;m at a point in my career where I really have to target the bigger events, the four Major championships, the Ryder Cup,&quot; he explained. LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Bryson DeChambeau sets record straight on LIV Golf future after Saudi fiascoTyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight rocked as Dua Lipa snubs offerBBC &#039;spending thousands on riot training for staff&#039; ahead of World Cup&quot;Trying to add to that number is something that&#039;s really important to me.&quot;The six-time major winner acknowledged that while completing the career Grand Slam had long seemed destined to be his crowning achievement, his ambitions remain undimmed.&quot;Completing the career Grand Slam, I always felt like that was going to be the highlight of my career,&quot; McIlroy said. &quot;But I&#039;m still competitive, I still feel like I have a lot left to give.&quot;McIlroy revealed he draws motivation from sporting icons who continued to excel in the latter stages of their careers.&quot;I got a lot of inspiration from athletes that are maybe at the back end of their careers, and still able to achieve these great things,&quot; he said.&quot;And I think of Novak and Roger and Rafa in tennis, or I look at Messi or Ronaldo in soccer, I look at Tom Brady in American football. I take inspiration from those guys and what they were able to achieve later into their careers.&quot;The Northern Irishman also reflected on how his 2026 Masters triumph differed emotionally from his breakthrough Augusta victory.&quot;This year it felt more real, more complete,&quot; McIlroy said. &quot;When I won in 2025, I kept thinking to myself, &#039;is this real life?&#039; This year it was like validation.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rory, McIlroy, explains, disappointing, Donald, Trump, after, Masters, win</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour have ‘crippled’ the economy says Jeff Banks in devastating assessment of nation’s finances</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-have-crippled-the-economy-says-jeff-banks-in-devastating-assessment-of-nations-finances</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-have-crippled-the-economy-says-jeff-banks-in-devastating-assessment-of-nations-finances</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Successful British entrepreneur Jeff Banks has slammed Labour for “crippling” the economy. Speaking to GB News, the fashion designer and commentator delivered a devastating assessment of the nation’s finances. The businessman listed an exhaustive list of economic woes blighting the UK, including the “highest unemployment rate at 5.2 per cent that we&#039;ve had in the last ten years” and “youth unemployment at 16 per cent”. “Why was that? Because the hike in National Insurance meant a minimum wage. “It meant that employers are not going to employ young people whom they would otherwise have employed.”“We&#039;ve actually got the highest level of debt that we&#039;ve had, standing at something like £94 billion.“And we&#039;re paying an interest rate at a massive rate each year that is bigger than the economy of the NHS, defence, and all the rest of it put together,” Mr Banks informed. “We are paying the highest energy cost of any country in Europe as a result of Ed Miliband and his lunatic policies.“The cost of a watt of electricity in the UK is £0.26 per watt in France. It&#039;s £0.16 per watt in America. “So we are paying twice and three times the cost of electricity. That&#039;s in just households. That&#039;s without industry. “All of that as a result of Ed Miliband,” Mr Banks despaired. The businessman explained that Britain’s bond market was also in serious trouble. “The outside world looks on us as being a mistrustful country. “So that is what this government has done to our economy. “They’ve crippled it, and they&#039;ve nowhere to go,” Mr Banks said.

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<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 06:57:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Labour under pressure to tackle airport parking charges mayhem with new rules amid spiralling costs</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-under-pressure-to-tackle-airport-parking-charges-mayhem-with-new-rules-amid-spiralling-costs</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-under-pressure-to-tackle-airport-parking-charges-mayhem-with-new-rules-amid-spiralling-costs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has been urged to step in and tackle soaring airport drop-off charges, as drivers across the UK face relentless price hikes. It follows a growing petition which has demanded the Government review airport fees, which have spiralled out of control, placing an unfair burden on motorists.Campaigners have asked the Government to grant the Civil Aviation Authority new powers to audit and cap charges, introduce a free 10-minute grace period, and stop airports from profiting from drop-off zones. The petition, launched by Spiros Saragoudas, has already gathered more than 3,000 signatures, from drivers demanding change.
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If the petition reaches more than 10,000 signatures, it will trigger a response from the Government, but if it reaches 100,000, then it will be scheduled for debate in the House of Commons. The push comes after fees continued to rise nationwide,  with more than half of the UK&#039;s busiest airports increasing drop-off charges in the past year alone. At Heathrow Airport, drivers now pay £7 just to access terminal drop-off zones. Similar charges are now common elsewhere, with airports in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh all raising prices in recent years. Research showed that airports such as Gatwick, Bristol and Stansted now charge up to £7 for just 10 minutes, while others like Birmingham and Edinburgh have increased fees to around £6.In some cases, the increases have been even steeper. Belfast City Airport has raised prices by a third, while Newcastle has also introduced notable hikes. More recently, Stansted Airport pushed charges even higher, with drivers now paying £10 for a short stay, following a near 50 per cent increase. Gatwick Airport has also raised fees to £10 for a 10-minute drop-off, making it one of the most expensive in the country. Motoring groups have now warned that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for drivers, who are navigating huge costs this year.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSMotorhomes and campervan drivers granted £10 overnight parking at popular tourist spotElectric cars offer &#039;clear value for customers&#039; as petrol and diesel drivers suffer &#039;pump anxiety&#039;Motorists face traffic delays after five-vehicle collision causes fuel spill and serious road damageThe petition detailed: &quot;We are concerned that &#039;cost recovery&#039; claims lack transparency and that the fees are a &#039;stealth tax&#039; on the public, especially the elderly and disabled.  &quot;The Government should ensure these fees are independently audited and capped to protect the public from monopoly pricing.&quot; Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, explained that charging drivers £7 for a stop that could be no more than 10 minutes &quot;does seem a little steep&quot;.  He also warned that constant increases are likely to fuel frustration among families and travellers trying to help loved ones get to the airport.But industry body AirportsUK has defended the fees, arguing they help reduce congestion and emissions, and that free drop-off options are still available at most airports. But campaigners remained unconvinced, warning that the lack of regulation allows airports to set charges with little oversight. The petition argues that &quot;cost recovery&quot; claims are often unclear and calls for independent audits to ensure transparency. Drivers have until September 17 to sign the petition.

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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>King Charles the Trump Whisperer &#45; Inside the (White House) Palace</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-the-trump-whisperer-inside-the-white-house-palace</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-the-trump-whisperer-inside-the-white-house-palace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ GB News&#039; Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker has provided his exclusive insight into the relationship between King Charles and Donald Trump following the US State Visit, the impact of armed security when covering the King and Queen&#039;s engagements in America, and how the Prince and Princess of Wales have welcomed a new addition to their family.Sign up for the GB News Royal Newsletter to get the latest analysis straight to your inbox.KING CHARLES THE TRUMP WHISPERERThe four-day State Visit to the United States of America was arguably the biggest diplomatic test of King Charles&#039;s reign so far, and certainly his most important overseas visit. Not only was the UK-US &quot;Special Relationship&quot; under threat ahead of time, caused by the very public spat between President Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, but there were fears Britain had become less influential than it once was on the world stage. His Majesty The King personifies Britain - representing our country on the global stage in an era when global superpowers are asserting dominance.Our tiny island nation once controlled a significant portion of the world&#039;s landmass, and this week King Charles commemorated 250 years since part of it became a republic. It&#039;s no secret that President Trump already adores our King and Queen.Watching the President interact with His Majesty in person only solidified that fact; there are not many people in the world who make President Trump not feel like the most important person in the room.He clearly had great admiration for King Charles, gladly laughing and joking together as His Majesty wielded his soft power.The King&#039;s speech to a joint session of the US Congress was praised by both Republicans and Democrats, receiving 13 standing ovations. President Trump later told reporters: &quot;He made a great speech&quot;, adding that he was &quot;very jealous&quot;. The US President later joked how the King &quot;got the Democrats to stand&quot;, something Mr Trump has never managed to do.Away from Washington&#039;s political elite, it was clear ordinary Americans had a huge affection for the royals.When we arrived in rural Virginia, in the town aptly named Front Royal, we were shocked to discover thousands of people queuing for their chance to greet Their Majesties. Many told me they had been queuing since 7am for an engagement that didn&#039;t start until the early afternoon.The American block party, equivalent to a British street party, allowed the King to celebrate with locals - even bringing along some Coronation Quiche and Victoria Sponge Cake to share with the community. The atmosphere was positive, and many were waving American and British flags.It was towards the end of the engagement that the first tangible evidence emerged that His Majesty&#039;s royal soft power was beginning to work.On Truth Social, the President posted: &quot;In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky. &quot;People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used. &quot;The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A. President DONALD J. TRUMP&quot;.In response, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: &quot;The King has been informed of President Trump’s warm gesture and sends his sincere gratitude for a decision that will make an important difference to the British whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports.&quot;His Majesty will be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the US after a most enjoyable State Visit for both Their Majesties in this special anniversary year.&quot;So there you have it: the King and Queen got the President of the United States of America to do something for Britain that politicians had failed to do. Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), told Scottish Financial News that the deal represented “a significant boost for the Scotch Whisky industry in our most valuable export market”.I understand the Foreign Secretary and British diplomats were locked in intense talks behind the scenes during the State Visit on a whole variety of issues, so perhaps more good news is still to come. However, the King&#039;s diplomatic power play can only go so far; big differences remain between the Trump administration and the Labour Government. The President appeared to drag His Majesty into a political minefield, claiming he would have supported America&#039;s actions in Iran, in contrast to Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s position. The King may have cemented the relationship between the US President and the United Kingdom, but he appeared unable to bridge the gap between Mr Trump and Sir Keir.
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STREETS ON LOCKDOWN WITH HEAVILY ARMED SECURITY DURING STATE VISITFollowing the assassination attempt on President Trump&#039;s life, Secret Service security, understandably, was tightened for the State Visit.I have never felt so safe and unsafe at the same time.Armed agents swamped us wherever we, the press, were being escorted to, and heavily armed SWAT teams and snipers were a constant presence.At certain engagements in New York City, it wouldn&#039;t have surprised me if there were more guns in one building than there were in the entirety of London.This also meant American royal fans were left disappointed in both Washington DC and New York City; the public was kept at least a block away.Roads locked down, a heavy police presence, and screens obscuring a clear line of sight to the royals were commonplace.It was hard enough getting us, the media, into the locations we needed to be.Although I am grateful that the Secret Service kept everybody safe, it was a sad state of affairs that two US cities effectively went into lockdown because too many would-be assailants have access to guns.A NEW DOGGO IN THE PALACEIt has long been rumoured that the Prince and Princess of Wales had adopted a second canine companion, after members of the public spotted two spaniels running around Prince William&#039;s feet close to Kensington Palace a few months ago.Now, the future King and Queen have confirmed it - celebrating the first birthday of Otto on social media.&quot;Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today,&quot; read the caption, accompanied by a picture of Otto, taken by The Princess of Wales.Otto is a working cocker spaniel and the son of Orla, the Waleses&#039; family pet, gifted by the princess&#039;s brother, James Middleton.Otto was first officially spotted as a brown furry blur in the image released by Kensington Palace to mark the 15th anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales earlier this week.I can confirm that Otto is a very good boy, sharing a birthday week with Princess Charlotte, who turns 11 today.

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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>King, Charles, the, Trump, Whisperer, Inside, the, White, House, Palace</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Standing up for your nation makes you a target&amp;apos; &#45; Top Trump insider blows lid on &amp;apos;spiritual battle to restore the West&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/standing-up-for-your-nation-makes-you-a-target-top-trump-insider-blows-lid-on-spiritual-battle-to-restore-the-west</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/standing-up-for-your-nation-makes-you-a-target-top-trump-insider-blows-lid-on-spiritual-battle-to-restore-the-west</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump&#039;s Chief of Protocol has opened up on the President&#039;s battle to &quot;restore the West&quot; in the face of &quot;globalist evil&quot;.Monica Crowley, speaking to GB News just moments after the conclusion of the King and Queen&#039;s state visit to the US, revealed the moment she knew Mr Trump was waging a &quot;spiritual&quot; war: just as the President faced a third attempt on his life inside two years.Ms Crowley gave a chilling first-hand account of last weekend&#039;s chaos at the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner in an exclusive sit-down interview with The People&#039;s Channel.&quot;I was close to the dais, so I saw all of this start to unfold,&quot; she said.
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&quot;Initially we all thought it was a protester. But then I quickly realised that whatever was happening was not being contained. And actually the situation was getting larger, it was getting bigger.&quot;She continued: &quot;I was on the floor of that ballroom, praying with some of my table-mates that this wasn&#039;t going to escalate beyond what we were just witnessing.&quot;It occurred to me that Donald Trump is such a unique figure, such a uniquely brave figure, a uniquely courageous figure to take this on.&quot;The top White House insider said the President&#039;s run-ins with would-be assassins had a &quot;spiritual nature&quot;.&quot;This is a battle of good versus evil, of light and darkness,&quot; she said. &quot;And Donald Trump, God bless him, through sheer force of will and hard work and courage, simply presses through.&quot;It&#039;s just an extraordinary tale to to be a part of.&quot;Right now, 31-year-old suspect Cole Allen is charged with attempted assassination, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and illegally transporting guns and ammunition across state lines.Prosecutors allege Mr Allen intended to target the President, citing an email he sent to relatives on the night of the shooting in which he appeared to refer to Mr Trump as a traitor and a criminal.LATEST FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:Donald Trump pulls 5,000 troops from Germany after bitter row with ChancellorDonald Trump condemns &#039;dangerous Democrat hate speech&#039; after third assassination attemptDonald Trump described as &#039;fearless&#039; as first-hand details of Secret Service evacuation revealedAs a result, Ms Crowley has decried the &quot;escalatory nature of the criticism&quot; directed at Mr Trump.&quot;They have so dehumanised him over so many years. They have so demonised him, they have turned him into a cartoon character,&quot; she said.She also drew a chilling parallel between Mr Trump and his predecessors Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon - both of whom faced attempts on their lives.&quot;If you are an American leader or a leader in the West who is standing up for national sovereignty, for your own national interests rather than a globalist agenda... it makes you a natural target for elimination,&quot; she said.&quot;This President has stood up very bravely and said: &#039;This stops on my watch.&#039;&quot;We are going to turn this around, and I&#039;m going to stand up to the nature of this evil in order to restore the United States and the West.&quot;The President is leading the way on the &quot;correct path&quot;, Ms Crowley added: &quot;The globalist march needs to end.&quot;Mr Trump&#039;s Chief of Protocol is the second member of his inner circle to draw parallels between attempts on his life and his spirituality to GB News.Earlier this year, his pastor, Mark Burns, was pressed on whether the President had become a more spiritual man after he was shot in the ear in Pennsylvania two summers ago.&quot;He knows, without a shadow of doubt, that the hand of God was - is - upon his life,&quot; Mr Burns said.&quot;It was the hand of God that moved that bullet just sheer millimetres&quot; away from his head, he added.

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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>King Charles&amp;apos;s US state visit may &amp;apos;work magic&amp;apos; on Donald Trump&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;differences&amp;apos; with Keir Starmer, chief of protocol tells GB News</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charless-us-state-visit-may-work-magic-on-donald-trumps-differences-with-keir-starmer-chief-of-protocol-tells-gb-news</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charless-us-state-visit-may-work-magic-on-donald-trumps-differences-with-keir-starmer-chief-of-protocol-tells-gb-news</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump&#039;s Chief of Protocol has told GB News King Charles&#039;s state visit to the US may &quot;work some magic&quot; on the President&#039;s &quot;differences&quot; with Sir Keir Starmer.Sitting down with GB News star Bev Turner for an exclusive interview, Monica Crowley hailed the four-day state visit as the &quot;epitome of soft power&quot;.Reflecting on the trip, Ms Crowley told GB News: &quot;This was a massive success for both sides, for the United States, for Great Britain. &quot;Of course, for the President and First Lady, who are the most gracious hosts and really have such a fond relationship with the King and the Queen, and to be able to host them meant so much to them.&quot;
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Ms Crowley added: &quot;And I also think for the King and the Queen, they really enjoyed their time here in the United States. &quot;This trip was the epitome of soft power and the exercise of diplomacy that can sometimes work magic in terms of smoothing over relations when there are policy differences between two countries.&quot;Bev highlighted the ongoing tensions between Sir Keir and Mr Trump, and questioned Ms Crowley on how &quot;aware&quot; she was that there was a &quot;bridge to be built&quot; between our two countries.Ms Crowley responded: &quot;Well, I think all parties going into this visit understood that there may be policy differences, some very significant between the United States and the UK and our Governments. &quot;But what this visit was about was really honouring our 250 years of extraordinary history, as well as our modern partnership and the shared values that underpin it all. So it was more of a ceremonial visit.&quot; The US diplomat made clear a state visit is the &quot;highest honour&quot; Mr Trump can bestow on a guest, of which he was &quot;delighted&quot; to extend it to King Charles and Queen Camilla.She told GB News: &quot;A state visit is the highest honour that the United States can bestow upon a world leader, and upon a visiting country. We were absolutely delighted to do it. &quot;And on America&#039;s 250th birthday, we thought how extraordinarily special to make the first state visit of this President and First Lady in this second term be the King and Queen.&quot;Reflecting on the relationship between the King and US President, Bev observed that Mr Trump appeared &quot;in his element&quot; and expressed a &quot;child-like joy&quot; whilst in the monarch&#039;s company.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Donald Trump contrasts King with Keir Starmer in blunt swipe: ‘Much different person’Donald Trump threatens to pull troops out of Germany after leader said US was &#039;humiliated&#039; by IranDonald Trump prepares &#039;powerful&#039; strikes on Iran after Vladimir Putin warns of &#039;dire consequences&#039;Ms Crowley agreed, responding: &quot;Well, President Trump, having served a first term, got to know a lot of world leaders, obviously, some of whom are still in positions now and they&#039;re old friends. &quot;But I think this is a particularly special relationship and special friendship with His and Her Majesty&#039;s, simply because the president often talks about his mother, Mary Trump, who&#039;s of Scottish descent, and how much she really loved the late Queen Elizabeth II. &quot;And so I think President Trump grew up watching his mother really have great affection and admiration for Queen Elizabeth II, being raised with that.&quot;She suggested: &quot;I think having the King here, her son, who he&#039;s also grown to really know and love and respect so much, means the world to him personally. &quot;So in addition to the exercise of self-power and the power of diplomacy during this visit, I think personally it meant so much to the President as well as to the First Lady to have them here, not just as formal guests of the United States, but also as friends.&quot;Reflecting on Mr Trump&#039;s state visit to the UK in 2025, Bev asked Ms Crowley how much of the visit was in her mind when preparing to welcome the King and Queen to the US.She said: &quot;I was so honoured to attend that state visit at Windsor. It was the honour of my life, but I spent most of the trip taking notes because as we joke here in American protocol, the British, of course, invented protocols. &quot;So the pressure was really on to make this visit as absolutely extraordinary, as extraordinary as what his and Her Majesty put on at Windsor for the President, First Lady and for the rest of our delegation. It was so magical at Windsor. Truly, truly a magical experience. &quot;We wanted to recreate that in our own American way. We have our own traditions here, but the formality of it is so critical to making a state visit work. Between the flags, the flyover, the military review, the inspection of the troops, the President&#039;s very gracious remarks, which everybody thought were incredibly moving, including His Majesty.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Donald Trump pulls 5,000 troops from Germany after bitter row with Chancellor</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-pulls-5000-troops-from-germany-after-bitter-row-with-chancellor</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-pulls-5000-troops-from-germany-after-bitter-row-with-chancellor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump is to pull around 5,000 American troops from Germany after his war of words with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.Defence officials revealed the President made his move in response to his European allies&#039; refusal to pitch in with offensive action in Iran.Then, over the last few days, Mr Merz repeatedly attacked the US, claiming the Americans &quot;have no strategy&quot; in Iran, and were being &quot;humiliated&quot; by Tehran&#039;s negotiators.That led to the President writing on social media that the Chancellor &quot;doesn&#039;t know what he&#039;s talking about&quot; and was &quot;interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat&quot;.
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He later confirmed the US &quot;is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany&quot;.In a further sign of where Mr Trump&#039;s priorities lie, the officials told CBS News some of the troops may soon be sent to the Indo-Pacific - on China&#039;s doorstep.In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the mass pull-out would take place within the next year.&quot;This decision follows a thorough review of the Department&#039;s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground,&quot; he said.The withdrawal is also significant because Germany is, by far, home to the most American troops of any country in Europe.Some 36,000 active duty personnel are in the country - almost three times the number in second-placed Italy, and more than triple that in Britain.The British Army, by comparison, permanently stations around 500 personnel in Germany, though frequently rotates more troops to the country.In Mr Trump&#039;s first term in the White House, he tried to remove troops from Germany - a move which was later overturned by Joe Biden.He also repeatedly attacked Nato during that time, but his attacks on the bloc have skyrocketed in the wake of Operation Epic Fury.MILITARY HEADLINES - READ MORE:Donald Trump set to unleash new £11million &#039;Dark Eagle&#039; weapon system for first time against IranFormer Nato chief says Britain and France should take charge of Europe’s defences without Donald Trump&#039;s helpDonald Trump fires US Navy chief amid blockade of Strait of HormuzOn that front, Iran has offered a new proposal for another round of peace talks with the US after the last round saw no deal made despite nearly 24 hours of negotiations.The White House had rejected Tehran&#039;s last offer because the Iranians wanted to resolve tensions over their nuclear programme at a later date.At the time, JD Vance said in no uncertain terms the US needed &quot;to see affirmative confirmation that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon&quot;.But on Friday, Mr Trump vowed the US has &quot;already won&quot; the war - and that he was &quot;not satisfied&quot; with the new Iranian proposal. After Germany, the US may also move to remove its soldiers from Spain and Italy thanks to tensions over Iran.After Mr Trump initially threatened the Germans, he then expanded the scope of his pull-out promise to the other two Nato allies.Asked about the possibility of cuts in the Mediterranean pair, the President said: &quot;I mean, they haven&#039;t been exactly on board.&quot;&quot;Yeah, probably will,&quot; he added. &quot;Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely.&quot;Spain - led by socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez - denied the Americans permission to use joint military bases at Rota and Moron for operations against Iran.That was a step further than the UK, which limited American forces to &quot;defensive&quot; operations from joint UK-US bases.

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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Britain&amp;apos;s loneliness epidemic exposed as breakdown of traditional values and &amp;apos;sicknote culture&amp;apos; to blame: &amp;apos;Off the scale!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britains-loneliness-epidemic-exposed-as-breakdown-of-traditional-values-and-sicknote-culture-to-blame-off-the-scale</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britains-loneliness-epidemic-exposed-as-breakdown-of-traditional-values-and-sicknote-culture-to-blame-off-the-scale</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Loneliness in Britain is  soaring to unprecedented highs, despite the UK becoming the first nation in the world to appoint a minister for this portfolio nearly a decade ago.GB News has explored the reasons behind the UK&#039;s chronic loneliness epidemic, with sources blaming the breakdown of traditional family structures, working habits and social media for the surge in solitude. Feelings of isolation are particularly evident among young people and working-class Britons, with 70 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds feeling lonely compared to 32 per cent of over 75s, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found.However, experts have pointed out changing social attitudes have led to a rise in loneliness among citizens. The CSJ&#039;s Head of Programme (Housing and Communities), Josh Nicholson, told the People&#039;s Channel charities he works with are dealing with levels of loneliness &quot;off the scale&quot;.
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The think-tank found 29 per cent of young Britons are suffering from a form of &quot;existential loneliness&quot;, which is described as feeling a &quot;fundamental separateness&quot; from other people in the wider world. Adults aged 16 to 24 were the group most likely to report high levels of &quot;indirect loneliness&quot;, with levels over double those of adults aged 65 to 74, who were the least likely, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport&#039;s (DCMS) latest Community Life Survey.Dr Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist and author of The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for Young Adult Mental Health, attributed the gradual rise of loneliness to the fall of &quot;third spaces&quot; such as churches, social clubs and amateur sports leagues due to austerity measures and high running costs, as well as the rise of screen time on digital devices. She added: &quot;Of course, these two trends are related as screen time replaces time spent with others. Loneliness among young men is a significant problem, one that has indeed become worse across the 20 years I have been working with young adults.&quot;One reason for lower levels of loneliness among the elderly could be they are less likely to admit they are desolate than youngsters, who could be more open about how they feel. Rebecca Ridley, National Manager of The Silver Line Helpline at Age UK, said: &quot;I witness loneliness and the devastating impact of it daily. There is no single bullet to tackling the issue of loneliness; we all hold a shared responsibility, from the Government and local councils to family members, friends and the individual themselves.&quot;She highlighted how those in low-income families may struggle to access devices or reliable internet, which may restrict opportunities for them to maintain friendships, access services, or engage with local communities. Nearly a million older Britons are often lonely, and approximately 270,000 people in England go a week without speaking to a friend or family member, Age UK says.Because of the stigma some people feel about saying they are lonely, Ms Ridley believes real numbers could be much higher. She declared: &quot;Many individuals within this generation are proud people who did not necessarily grow up with the same levels of acceptance of mental health challenges that exist today.&quot;Of course, the pandemic and its societal restrictions had a huge impact on older people, with many who rely on visiting their neighbours or trips on the bus for their social connections, then stuck behind closed doors for months on end. However, today’s outlook isn’t much brighter.&quot;Ms Ridley added: &quot;As our population ages, the number of people who are at risk of being lonely increases and if serious measures aren’t taken, the number of older people who often feel lonely will increase to 1.2 million by 2034.&quot;&quot;In fact, when surveyed, 1.1 million older people said they are embarrassed about feeling lonely, with one in five (2.7 million) not wanting to burden their family and friends by explaining how they’ve been feeling, meaning more than one in three (4.8 million) often say they’re fine when they’re not.&quot;A third of Britons aged 16 to 29 have reported feeling lonely &quot;often, always or some of the time&quot;, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) research published last November. The data also showed 17 per cent of those over 70 also reported the same feeling.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:UK birth rates: The true reason behind Britain&#039;s baby bustBritain&#039;s incredible Christian revival: Why young people are returning to church in their droves and putting faith in ChristChildren taught to be &#039;ashamed of British culture and history&#039; as &#039;corrosive&#039; rot infects UK schoolsThe issue is not restricted to the UK, with the World Health Organisation&#039;s (WHO) Commission on Social Connection revealing a sixth of people worldwide are affected by loneliness. Young adults and adolescents report the highest levels of loneliness globally.Sadly, loneliness is linked to an estimated 100 worldwide deaths every hour, or 871,000 annually - more than the population of San Francisco. Mr Nicholson suggested family estrangement and the loss of primary support systems are among the biggest causes of loneliness in modern Britain.Mr Nicholson argued, despite being identified as the leading factor in the epidemic, expanding family hubs and expanding perinatal support are almost entirely absent from the Government&#039;s loneliness strategy, saying: &quot;British families are among the most fragile in Europe. One in six kids born will not live with a father. About half don&#039;t live with both parents when they sit their GCSE.&quot;You can&#039;t separate the experience of loneliness in modern life from the distinct fragility of British families. Family is like the first relationship you&#039;re born into. It&#039;s the foundation of how you learn how to relate to other people in society. &quot;You can have learnt that through how you relate to your siblings or parents, and when that structure and security isn&#039;t there, it&#039;s no doubt that so many people say they feel more lonely.&quot;One young man, who experienced loneliness firsthand, opened up by saying: &quot;Not having a father figure is hard. There’s so many of us that don’t have that, and I see how it affects boys, the fights, not having a father to turn to, and a lot of us don’t have any male role models to help. &quot;Teachers at school are no good for this. My mum does great and I see how hard she works to bring us up so that’s a positive.&quot;The wellbeing of those in their 20s fell by 10 per cent between 1995 and 2015, which the CSJ attributes to the result of a decrease in the strength of family relationships in Britain. Mr Nicholson added: &quot;(Family) is one of those topics that Westminster and politics aren&#039;t speaking about enough. It doesn&#039;t play a big enough part, we believe, in the strategy. That&#039;s why we&#039;ve been calling on the Government to adopt a renewed strategy that really engages with these root causes.&quot;Mr Nicholson also highlighted declining marriage and birth rates are statistically significant predictors of loneliness, which have plummeted to record lows in England and Wales. If present trends continue, the number of marriages are predicted to fall by 28 per cent by 2050, meaning just three in ten Britons will be wedded, Statista forecasts predict.Rates have fallen by roughly three-quarters for men and two-thirds for women since 1972. Marriage among those in their early 20s has almost entirely disappeared, dropping from 62 per cent of men being married by 25 in 1970 to just two per cent today.Dr Jay claimed women are more likely than men to seek help for their problems due to social norms, stressing: &quot;Women tend to have more face-to-face friendships, meaning ones that centre on talking. &quot;Men tend to have more shoulder-to-shoulder relationships, or ones that are about doing. Interventions that bring men together and give them a reason to be active – groups, functions, workplaces, volunteering, sports, and churches – are almost always the way to start.&quot;Dr Jay cautioned against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a pastoral support tool because it gives a false &quot;someone&quot; for people to turn to in times of need, while social media simultaneously fosters &quot;fake portrayals of reality&quot;. The CSJ&#039;s research on &quot;Lost Boys&quot; found nine out of ten boys aged 16 to 24 have used a chatbot in the past year.Mr Nicholson stated: &quot;I think that is a really interesting development, and one that I think we&#039;re particularly worried about, because that cannot replicate a real human being in your life, like a family figure or a friend. &quot;So I think, you know, social media is one thing, but also this sort of the impact of AI on loneliness is one that needs Government to really be taking seriously.&quot;Others have pointed to Britain&#039;s ballooning welfare bill and &quot;sicknote culture&quot; as significant contributors to loneliness, with 1.78 million people reportedly unemployed between December 2025 and February 2026 — an increase of 206,000 from the previous year.Mr Nicholson acknowledged: &quot;Those out of work are much more likely to feel lonely. Half of people not in any form of education, employment or training say they are lonely, often compared to just under one in five of those in work. &quot;The number of people on the welfare system is really going to make this problem worse. We&#039;re seeing upticks of people kind of on out-of-work benefits, which is also going to then bleed through to issues like feeling more isolated and lonely.&quot;He also addressed the rise in work-from-home culture and explained the damage it can cause to forming important bonds, stating: &quot;For the young people who perhaps haven&#039;t formed a family yet, the office is where you can build relationships with your colleagues, friendships and maybe even find a partner. &quot;That&#039;s how many people met their friends and romantic partners. The screen epidemic that we&#039;re seeing is not good for issues like loneliness and isolation in modern society.&quot;Dr Meg added: &quot;The &#039;second space&#039; of work is declining as remote and hybrid work becomes more popular. &quot;Remote work may be convenient, but for many men, work was how they made connections and friends. It was an easy way to grab lunch or start a conversation. &quot;We are making work more convenient, but relationships less convenient. Another factor is how often young adults move cities and change jobs, so they are often starting from scratch again and again.&quot;In an attempt to combat loneliness in Britain, Theresa May introduced the UK’s first loneliness strategy in 2018, appointing Tracey Crouch MP as the first minister for loneliness. One year later, as Mrs May was replaced as Prime Minister by Boris Johnson, Whitehall expanded social prescribing and provided funding for charities through programmes such as the Building Connections Fund.The coronavirus pandemic, which heightened social isolation and financial strains, led Mr Johnson’s administration to provide £5million for organisations such as Age UK and NHS Volunteer Responders. Awareness campaigns became the main focus in 2021, with Boris Johnson promoting Every Mind Matters and “Lift Someone Out of Loneliness&quot;, particularly aimed at graduates. Rather than launching a new strategy, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak focused in 2022 and 2023 on continuing social prescribing and localised support.Sir Keir Starmer plans to spend £400million on grassroots sporting facilities, whilst the National Youth Strategy will allocate £500million to establish 250 new or renovated youth hubs nationwide. Approximately £150,000 in annual funding supports the Tackling Loneliness Hub — an online platform that enables practitioners to exchange research and effective approaches.Meanwhile, the state-backed Rugby League Cares programme aims to tackle male suicide by fostering face-to-face discussions about mental wellbeing and countering harmful online environments. Although the project successfully met its initial objectives, Mr Nicholson argued Labour&#039;s plan is outdated and limited.He called for a strategy &quot;that can better engage with the root causes of loneliness in society that we&#039;re seeing, one that moves from just kind of trying to understand it more to actually tackling the problem&quot;. A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman told Britain&#039;s News Channel: &quot;We know that loneliness is affecting too many boys and young men in this country. &quot;We want men to feel part of something, with a renewed sense of community, purpose and belonging. &quot;Our Team Up campaign united the biggest names in sport to tackle isolation and support the mental health of young men and boys. &quot;We’re not just working to prevent harm: we’re building a culture where men feel connected, valued and empowered.&quot;Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK, with roughly 12 men dying by suicide daily.Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britains, loneliness, epidemic, exposed, breakdown, traditional, values, and, sicknote, culture, blame:, Off, the, scale</media:keywords>
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<title>Greens turn on Zack Polanski over &amp;apos;inappropriate and divisive&amp;apos; Golders Green police post</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/greens-turn-on-zack-polanski-over-inappropriate-and-divisive-golders-green-police-post</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/greens-turn-on-zack-polanski-over-inappropriate-and-divisive-golders-green-police-post</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Zack Polanski has faced backlash from fellow Green Party politicians over his &quot;inappropriate&quot; and &quot;divisive&quot; repost about the police&#039;s response to a stabbing attack in North London.Mr Polanski retweeted a post on X criticising police officers for using force on a suspect in Golders Green after two Jewish people were stabbed.Senior figures within the Greens have now turned on Polanski, with Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter distancing himself publicly during a live Senedd Election debate.Mr Slaughter refused to defend Mr Polanski, instead describing the retweet as &quot;inappropriate”.
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Former Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali went further by accusing Mr Polanski of failing to stand with the Jewish community at a time when it was &quot;under siege like never before”.The fury came shortly after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last night penned an open letter to Mr Polanski.Sir Mark warned the Green leader risked &quot;inflaming tensions&quot; and amplifying &quot;us-and-them rhetoric&quot;.In a statement released this afternoon, Polanski said: &quot;Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste.&quot;He added: &quot;Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so.&quot;I have invited Mark Rowley to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter.&quot;The statement led to further criticism of Mr Polanski, with the Liberal Democrats accusing the Green leader of making a &quot;cynical non-apology&quot;.The party&#039;s home affairs spokesman, Max Wilkinson MP, said: &quot;It says a lot that when everyone else has been standing in solidarity with the victims and the Jewish community as a whole, his instinct was to attack the police officers who are keeping us safe. Polanski should, in unambiguous terms, disown the content of the ridiculous statement he shared.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to challenge Keir Starmer&#039;s leadership within daysKeir Starmer scolded for &#039;too much talk&#039; as terrorism expert blasts delay in raising threat levelCouncil by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted after Reform UK makes local debutThe Prime Minister also addressed the social media scandal.He called Mr Polanski &quot;disgraceful&quot; and argues the Green Party leader is &quot;not fit&quot; to lead a political party following his reposting of criticism of police in the Golders Green attack.Speaking on the first responders, the Prime Minister told the BBC: &quot;In those circumstances, I think you can quite see why what could have gone through their mind.&quot;He added: &quot;Now, when I then see Zack Polanski come out and retweet or support a criticism of that, I think it&#039;s disgraceful... He&#039;s not fit to lead any political party.&quot;The Prime Minister continued: &quot;I won’t put words into their mouth, but I want everybody just to imagine what it might be like.&quot;You’re trying to arrest someone who has already attacked two people and has no regard for life. We know that Tasers were fired. I know from my own experience with the police, that there are only two shots in a Taser, and once you’ve shot them, there’s nothing left.&quot;There’s a guy on the ground, he’s got a rucksack on. And I don’t know what was going through the mind of those officers, but if I was there, I’d be thinking, he’s going to detonate something. He’s going to blow me up and everybody around here.&quot;In those circumstances, I think you can quite see why what could have gone through their mind is, we need to do whatever we can to disable this guy.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Greens, turn, Zack, Polanski, over, inappropriate, and, divisive, Golders, Green, police, post</media:keywords>
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<title>Wes Streeting has backing of enough MPs to launch leadership challenge against Keir Starmer in just days</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/wes-streeting-has-backing-of-enough-mps-to-launch-leadership-challenge-against-keir-starmer-in-just-days</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/wes-streeting-has-backing-of-enough-mps-to-launch-leadership-challenge-against-keir-starmer-in-just-days</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Wes Streeting has now gathered sufficient support from Labour MPs to mount a leadership bid against Sir Keir Starmer, with peers pushing for him to act within days.The Health Secretary has secured backing from more than 81 party colleagues, crossing the threshold needed under party rules to enact a contest for leadership.Labour&#039;s constitution requires a minimum of 20 per cent of MPs to publicly endorse a challenger, with 81 signatures deemed enough given the current parliamentary party has 403 members.Supporters of Mr Streeting are urging him to make his move as early as next Friday, immediately following the May 7 local elections.
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By enacting a challenge at this time, the current Health Secretary would be able to leverage what is expected to be a devastating result for Labour in councils across Britain.Awkwardly, the Prime Minister became aware of the brewing challenge through an mishap involving one of his own staff.A Downing Street employee received a text message by mistake, containing details of Mr Streeting&#039;s campaign strategy including references to &quot;five pillars&quot; underpinning his pitch and a &quot;PFG&quot; (plan for government).Should Mr Streeting proceed, he faces a choice between formally declaring his candidacy or resigning from Cabinet in hopes of triggering a wave of departures to pressure the Prime Minister into standing down of his own accord.An early strike would catch potential leadership rivals off guard, particularly Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who cannot stand as he lacks a Westminster seat.Senior Labour figures are bracing for electoral devastation when results come in next week.One well-placed party source told The Telegraph: &quot;I don&#039;t think anyone really understands the scale of what is going to happen next week. &quot;Labour is going to lose in places it has never lost, including in parts of London. It will be destroyed in the Midlands and the North, and once the northern barons turn against Starmer, it&#039;s over. It will be carnage.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSShabana Mahmood issued warning over &#039;fundamental mistake&#039; amid plan to change migrant language testAndy Burnham plotting to return to Westminster &#039;within weeks&#039; amid surge in supportKeir Starmer scolded for &#039;too much talk&#039; as terrorism expert blasts delay in raising threat levelApproximately 5,000 council seats are up for grabs across England, alongside elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd.Some within the party believe Sir Keir should announce a departure timeline, potentially stepping aside after September&#039;s Labour conference to allow an orderly transition.Yet many MPs refuse to grant him such breathing room, with signs his grip on power could collapse rapidly once votes are counted.Despite having the numbers, Mr Streeting remains cautious about striking first. Historical precedent suggests those who bring down leaders seldom inherit the title themselves, weighing up alternative options such as allowing rivals to show their hand or waiting to see whether Sir Keir departs voluntarily.Angela Rayner has yet to decide on her own intentions, reportedly engaged in discussions with Mr Burnham and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband about forming a soft-left alliance to seize control.Meanwhile, Downing Street advisers are divided over strategy, with acting chief-of-staff Vidhya Alakeson advocating an immediate Cabinet reshuffle, while political director Amy Richards warns such a move would only create additional problems.Amid the ruckus, a spokesman for Mr Streeting maintained he &quot;supports the Prime Minister&quot; and remains &quot;completely focused on his job&quot;.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wes, Streeting, has, backing, enough, MPs, launch, leadership, challenge, against, Keir, Starmer, just, days</media:keywords>
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<title>King Charles holds talks with Bermuda leader after meeting Donald Trump in US</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-holds-talks-with-bermuda-leader-after-meeting-donald-trump-in-us</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-holds-talks-with-bermuda-leader-after-meeting-donald-trump-in-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles III met with Bermuda&#039;s Premier David Burt on Friday, extending his overseas engagements following the conclusion of his American State Visit.The monarch&#039;s choice to continue working rather than return home has, according to commentators, reflected his resolute commitment to royal duties.Since taking the throne three and a half years ago, the King has maintained a remarkable pace of work despite receiving a cancer diagnosis during that period.His decision to visit the British Overseas Territory rather than head straight back to Britain demonstrates what Myers describes as a determination &quot;to keep on, keeping on.&quot;The reception awaiting the King in the aptly named King&#039;s Square stood in stark contrast to more contentious royal visits elsewhere in the Caribbean.Thousands of locals and tourists packed the square, greeting Charles with enthusiastic cheers, applause and waving flags as he arrived for his official welcome.Young children stretched out their hands, hoping for a royal handshake, with one exclaiming excitedly: &quot;He shook my hand!&quot;The monarch appeared genuinely taken aback by the turnout, repeatedly raising his hands in surprise at the crowds who had gathered.Well-wishers presented him with posters, books, flowers and various gifts, though one person did faint, likely due to the heat rather than overwhelming emotion.This visit to Bermuda offers the King a markedly different atmosphere from the political pressures of Washington.During that trip, he navigated the complexities of Anglo-American relations amid tariff threats and Middle Eastern tensions.The British Overseas Territory presents none of the challenges faced during the 2022 Waleses&#039; tour of the Caribbean, which was marked by protests and demands for reparations.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:King confronts slavery legacy during Bermuda tourBeatrice leaves London with £2,700 designer suitcase‘Insulting’: Fans hit out as British royals skip birthday milestoneBermuda&#039;s relationship with the Crown remains notably stable.A 1995 independence referendum saw 74 per cent vote against separation, and no similar ballot has been proposed in the three decades since.The King&#039;s programme here will focus on traditional royal engagements rather than political controversy.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>King, Charles, holds, talks, with, Bermuda, leader, after, meeting, Donald, Trump</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer scolded for &amp;apos;too much talk&amp;apos; as terrorism expert blasts delay in raising threat level: &amp;apos;People are fed up!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-scolded-for-too-much-talk-as-terrorism-expert-blasts-delay-in-raising-threat-level-people-are-fed-up</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-scolded-for-too-much-talk-as-terrorism-expert-blasts-delay-in-raising-threat-level-people-are-fed-up</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A terrorism expert has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government for their delay in raising the terror threat level, accusing him of &quot;too much talk&quot;.Speaking to GB News, Roger Macmillan declared Britons are &quot;fed up&quot; with the Government &quot;not taking action&quot; to protect the country&#039;s Jewish community.Following the terror attack in Golders Green on Wednesday, the UK terrorism threat level was raised to &quot;severe&quot; by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre on Thursday.Declaring a &quot;severe&quot; level of threat means they believe a UK terror attack is &quot;highly likely&quot; within the next six months.
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Reacting to the decision, Mr Macmillan said there has been an &quot;increased threat&quot; to the Persian, British and Jewish communities since 2022.He told GB News: &quot;Over the last few years, I think last year, for example, there was something like 3,700 different antisemitic attacks in the UK alone. &quot;And what we&#039;re seeing now is an escalation of this, and the cumulative effect of that is for the security services to have raised the threat level to severe.&quot;Questioned by host Dawn Neesom why the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has decided now to raise the threat level, Mr Macmillan admitted there has been &quot;too much talk&quot; and not enough action on the threat facing the Jewish community.He said: &quot;There has been, quite frankly, too much talk and hand-wringing and thoughts and prayers from politicians, that&#039;s no good anymore. &quot;People are now fed up, the dial has been turned. We are now seeing direct attacks on the Jewish community and the Government has not taken action.&quot;Criticising the delay further, Mr Macmillan added: &quot;Even just recently, we have heard that Keir Starmer has promised to bring forward legislation into the new parliament sometime in July. &quot;Why do we have to wait for so long? Why does Sir Mark Rowley and his phenomenal police force have to wait so long to get the money, the resources and the support they so desperately need to?&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Terror threat level decision branded a &#039;last resort&#039; by antisemitism campaigner: &#039;It&#039;s just words!&#039;Ex-Labour adviser admits it&#039;s &#039;no surprise&#039; Keir Starmer faced protest during Golders Green visitTory MP calls for Britain&#039;s &#039;hate marches&#039; to be &#039;stamped out&#039; in support of the Jewish communityThe terrorism expert stressed that the security concerns of the country are for &quot;all people&quot;, not just the Jewish community.He explained: &quot;This is about security for all people in this country, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion or whatever.&quot;And we cannot have bands of people, Islamists, Lone Wolf, or ERW moving around and taking the law into their own hands. These are the groups who are perpetrating these threats. &quot;We must all be careful, and they will all face the the full force of the law once they can.&quot;Questioned by Dawn Neesom on why he believes people in Britain are &quot;frightened&quot; to talk about radical Islam in this country, Mr Macmillan said people are worried about being &quot;cancelled&quot; if they speak out.He concluded: &quot;I think it&#039;s a it&#039;s a general scourge. If you mention the radical Islam or the political Islam, you feel you&#039;re going to get shut down, you&#039;re going to get canceled, you&#039;re going to get, &#039;oh, we can&#039;t possibly have this chat because it is dangerous&#039;, but it is a significant threat. &quot;The United Arab Emirates, a long ally of the United Kingdom, is now preventing its students from attending universities in the UK due to the fear of radicalisation. So it&#039;s not just in the UK.&quot;Other countries, strong Muslim countries, our allies, are also feeling this fear too, and if they&#039;re doing something about it, we should be too.&quot;

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 06:26:25 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, scolded, for, too, much, talk, terrorism, expert, blasts, delay, raising, threat, level:, People, are, fed, up</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour mayor who helped son conceal evidence of raping 15&#45;year&#45;old girl jailed</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mayor-who-helped-son-conceal-evidence-of-raping-15-year-old-girl-jailed</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mayor-who-helped-son-conceal-evidence-of-raping-15-year-old-girl-jailed</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An ex-Labour mayor has been jailed after she helped her adult son conceal evidence of him raping a 15-year-old girl. Naheed Ejaz, 61, was sentenced to three years in prison at Winchester Crown Court for perverting the course of justice.The former town mayor for Bracknell Forest in Berkshire refused to allow officers into her home for more than a minute and a half while speaking Urdu to her son, Diwan Khan, 41, to allow him to hide his phone.During a six-day trial, prosecutor Ed Wylde said Ejaz and Khan used the word &quot;big bell&quot; to refer to his phone.
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Ejaz &quot;chose to protect&quot; her son, despite knowing his victim was an underage girl, Ejaz was told in court.The judge added that there was a &quot;real risk&quot; Khan could have &quot;avoided prosecution for the rape of an unconscious child&quot;.She served as mayor between 2023 and 2024 and stepped down as councillor in September 2024.Khan acted as mayor&#039;s consort while his mother was in office.He admitted to perverting the course of justice in relation to hiding his phoneFor the rape was sentenced to 12 years in prison with an extended licence period of five years upon release.Khan raped the teenager after she &quot;blacked out&quot; from MDMA he put in vodka for her to drink.The girl woke up in the backseat of Khan&#039;s car without any clothes on and could not remember what happened.CRIME IN THE SOUTH EAST - READ MORE:Man admits racially aggravated assault after accusing Jewish man of ‘killing babies’Asylum seeker found guilty of Brighton beach rape is &#039;convicted murderer in Egypt&#039;Man feared for life after being called ‘dirty f***ing Jew&#039; in alleged antisemitic attackKhan then showed a video he filmed of him raping, choking, and slapping the girl in the face, the court heard.He threatened the girl after the attack, telling her he would &quot;slit her throat&quot; if she told anyone, and that she &quot;belonged&quot; to him.He also threatened to show the video to the girl&#039;s mother is she said anything about the accident.The court heard how the young girl failed her GCSEs and attempted to kill herself following the rape.Sentencing Ejaz, Judge Rufus Taylor said: &quot;You, Naheed Ejaz, may not have known initially why he wanted you to hide [the phone], but your son told you in Urdu, &#039;Some motherf***er girl has lied about her age to me&#039; and you chose to protect him.&quot;Judge Taylor accepted Ejaz made a spontaneous decision and noted a character witness who had described her as an &quot;advocate for women&#039;s rights&quot;.Bracknell Forest Council&#039;s current Labour leader Helen Purnell thanked the victim for her courage in speaking out and said it was &quot;right&quot; that both Ejaz and Khan were behind bars.She added: &quot;Abuse against women and girls has no place in Bracknell Forest. I have put forward amendments to our domestic violence strategy to make sure more people in public roles are trained to intervene when they see unacceptable behaviours towards women in public.&quot;I have also launched an investigation into how Ejaz and Kahn were given taxi licenses, so that the public can have the full answers it deserves.&quot;In a victim impact statement to the court, the young girl said: &quot;My mental health has been all over the place due to flashbacks, not being able to sleep.&quot;In June 2025 I tried to commit suicide and ended up in hospital. I just wanted to end my life so the pain would go away.&quot;Khan will serve eight years in prison before a parole board can consider his release.He was also given a three-year concurrent sentence for perverting the course of justice, and is sexual harm prevention order of 20 years, and an indefinite restraining order against the girl.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Labour, mayor, who, helped, son, conceal, evidence, raping, 15-year-old, girl, jailed</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump gives green light for Iran to play at World Cup</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-gives-green-light-for-iran-to-play-at-world-cup</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-gives-green-light-for-iran-to-play-at-world-cup</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has given Iran the green light to compete at this summer’s World Cup after Fifa President Gianni Infantino insisted the Islamic Republic will be at the tournament.The President’s comments mark a dramatic reversal from March, when he said he did not believe it would be “appropriate that they be there”, citing fears over the Iranian squad’s “own life and safety”.He later appeared to soften that stance in an interview with Politico, saying: “I really don’t care if Iran play at the World Cup.”Now, after Mr Infantino publicly confirmed Iran’s place at the tournament, Mr Trump told reporters: “Well, if Gianni said it, I’m OK. I think let ’em play.”
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Mr Infantino reinforced that message during the Fifa Congress in Vancouver, despite the geopolitical tensions.He said: “Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.“The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”However, controversy erupted after Iranian representatives were absent from the congress in Canada.Iranian state media claimed their delegation had been stopped at border control, while Canada’s foreign affairs minister Anita Anand later confirmed their entry permission had been revoked.The decision has intensified speculation over which Iranian officials will be permitted to travel during the tournament.Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj has faced scrutiny over alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - a group designated as a terrorist organisation in Canada.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said individuals connected to the IRGC would be barred from entering.DONALD TRUMP - READ THE LATEST:Palace confirms King is &#039;raising a dram to Donald Trump&#039; following whisky update&#039;UTTER FARCE!&#039; Neil Oliver on Trump&#039;s assassination attempts, Israel and broken leadership‘They got me to do it!’ Donald Trump lifts whisky tariffs after visit from King and Queen“There are multiple hurdles in order to get into the country and I think the important thing is that those hurdles are effective,” he said.Iran had previously threatened to boycott the tournament altogether in the wake of US-Israeli military action.In March, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamal said: “Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup.“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed.“Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”Tehran also previously urged FIfa to strip the US of hosting rights, arguing a nation unable to guarantee safety should not stage matches.Iran had instead pushed for its fixtures to be moved to Mexico.Despite the row, Iran remain scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand at California’s SoFi Stadium.They will also face Belgium in California before concluding the group stage against Egypt in Seattle.Southern California is home to the world’s largest Iranian population outside the country itself, including a major Iranian Jewish community centred in Beverly Hills.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, gives, green, light, for, Iran, play, World, Cup</media:keywords>
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<title>Falklands SAFE after King’s visit as Marco Rubio insists pulling support was ‘just an idea’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/falklands-safe-after-kings-visit-as-marco-rubio-insists-pulling-support-was-just-an-idea</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/falklands-safe-after-kings-visit-as-marco-rubio-insists-pulling-support-was-just-an-idea</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands appears secure after King Charles&#039; US state visit, with Marco Rubio dismissing suggestions America could back Argentina&#039;s claim as “just an email”.Last week, a leaked Pentagon memo outlined possible measures to punish Nato allies that declined to participate in US-Israeli military strikes against Iran.The document suggested Washington could review its diplomatic backing for British “imperial possessions”, including the Falkland Islands.But during the King’s visit, Mr Rubio played down calls for the US to support Argentina’s claim over the British territory, according to The Sun.
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The leaked memo sparked a fierce backlash involving senior Argentine and British political figures, as well as Falklands War veterans.Mr Rubio told the newspaper that the reaction had been “overexcited”.He added: “It was just an email. People are getting overexcited by an email. It was just an email with some ideas.”After the document came to light, Argentine President Javier Milei and his government ramped up rhetoric over Buenos Aires’s claim to the Falkland Islands.Mr Milei, who has previously described the islands as “illegally occupied”, wrote on social media: “The Malvinas were, are, and will always be Argentine.”Vice President Victoria Villarruel also intensified pressure, declaring: “The discussion over the sovereignty of our islands is between states, therefore the United Kingdom must discuss bilaterally with Argentina the claim that we maintain for legal, historical, and geographical reasons.”She added: “The Kelpers are English people who live in Argentine territory; they are not part of the discussion. If they feel English, they should go back to the thousands of miles away where their country is.”The term “Kelpers” refers to the seaweed-rich waters surrounding the Falkland Islands.FALKAND ISLANDS - READ THE LATEST:Nigel Farage urges King to confront Donald Trump over Falklands rowFalkland Islanders issue defiant message to America after leaked US memo sparks Argentine frenzyFalkland Islands exposed as Argentina splashes millions on air defencesArgentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno also called for an end to what he described as British “colonialism”, demanding renewed bilateral negotiations.Downing Street responded forcefully, insisting that sovereignty “rests with the UK”.A spokesman said: “The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we&#039;ve always stood behind the islanders&#039; right to self-determination.”For now, the flare-up appears to be easing after Mr Rubio reaffirmed that Washington’s long-standing position had not shifted.He said: “Our position on the islands remains one of neutrality.“We acknowledge that there are conflicting claims of sovereignty between Argentina and the UK.“We recognise the de facto United Kingdom administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty claims of either party.”Mr Rubio’s intervention came after talks in Washington with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Wednesday.In 2013, a referendum on sovereignty was held in the Falklands, which saw 99.8 per cent of islanders vote to remain a British Overseas Territory, with only three votes against.Buenos Aires has dismissed that vote as illegitimate, previously alleging Britain had planted voters on the islands.Britain first claimed the islands in 1765, with Commodore John Byron establishing Port Egmont the following year.Although Britain temporarily withdrew in 1776 amid economic pressures, it left behind a plaque asserting sovereignty.After Argentina became an independent country in 1816, Buenos Aires attempted to assert control, before Britain re-established rule in 1833.British control continued until Argentina’s invasion in 1982, when its forces occupied the islands for 74 days.Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched a naval task force to the South Atlantic, with Argentine forces surrendering on June 14.The conflict claimed the lives of 649 Argentine personnel, 255 British personnel and three Falkland Islanders.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Falklands, SAFE, after, King’s, visit, Marco, Rubio, insists, pulling, support, was, ‘just, idea’</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour MP &amp;apos;steals idea to send ventilators to Ukraine so they can go to communist Cuba instead&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mp-steals-idea-to-send-ventilators-to-ukraine-so-they-can-go-to-communist-cuba-instead</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-mp-steals-idea-to-send-ventilators-to-ukraine-so-they-can-go-to-communist-cuba-instead</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Labour MP has been accused of stealing a man&#039;s idea to donate ventilators to Ukraine to instead send them to communist Cuba.Steve Eccleshall, a retired policeman and volunteer with Driving Ukraine, said he wrote to Labour&#039;s Steve Witherden to ask for his help.He said he asked Mr Witherden if he would help him secure the release of 40 unused ventilators from Wrexham Maelor Hospital.A letter from the MP - part of the Socialist Campaign Group - three days later showed him making a similar request to the hospital, but asking for them to be donated to Cuba.
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Mr Eccleshall has now accused the MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr of plagiarism.The Ukraine volunteer filed a complaint to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in which he said he met both Mr Witherden and then-MS Russell George on February 6.He said he presented his idea to the two men and explained the reason for the request.The ventilators had been provided to help the hospital during the pandemic but had never been used due to compatibility issues, Mr Eccleshall said.Mr Witherden shook his hand and said he would see what he could do, the former policeman said.But Mr Eccleshall subsequently learned the MP had filed his own letter, in his capacity as chairman for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba, through an NHS source.Mr Witherden&#039;s letter, seen by BBC Wales, claimed Donald Trump&#039;s oil ban on Cuba had &quot;worsened a humanitarian crisis&quot;.It also said he learned the country was in need of medical supplies when he visited in October.LATEST IN WALES:Motorhomes and campervan drivers granted £10 overnight parking at popular tourist spotGirl, 10, shocked after discovering critically endangered Mexican creature under bridge in WalesWatch the moment furious 77-year-old slaps traffic warden and threatens to &#039;lump&#039; herSimilar visits to the communist country were made by left-wing activists, including Irish band Kneecap, the leader of Your Party, Jeremy Corbyn, and political commentator Hasan Piker.Both Mr Eccleshall&#039;s letter and Mr Witherden&#039;s letter made similar points that while there were 40 ventilators, they were not compatible with the hospital&#039;s systems and were supplied by the Welsh Government during the Covid pandemic.Eccleshall told BBC Wales: &quot;There&#039;s a trust aspect - you are my MP, I&#039;ve come to you with an idea. You said you&#039;ll help me, and within three days, you&#039;ve stolen it.&quot;Even if he turned around on day one and said: &#039;Look, sorry, I&#039;ve got a competing interest,&#039; I wouldn&#039;t have been happy. But there wasn&#039;t much I could do about it.&quot;He then accused Mr Witherden of stealing the &quot;whole concept&quot; and said he behaved dishonestly.In a statement, the health board confirmed it had &quot;received requests for the medical equipment in question to be considered for donation to Ukraine and Cuba&quot;.&quot;We are currently assessing the financial and governance implications of any potential donation as the items are currently valued as assets of the health board,&quot; it said.&quot;We will contact the Welsh Government following our internal review of these requests.&quot;The health board also confirmed the ventilators were in a storage container and could not be used, although said the ophthalmic equipment requested is being considered for clinical use.A Welsh Government spokesman confirmed approval was required to donate the assets, and that no formal request had been received from the health board.GB News has approached the Labour Party and Mr Witherden for comment.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<media:keywords>Labour, steals, idea, send, ventilators, Ukraine, they, can, communist, Cuba, instead</media:keywords>
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<title>Buckingham Palace confirms King Charles is &amp;apos;raising a dram to Donald Trump&amp;apos; following whisky update</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/buckingham-palace-confirms-king-charles-is-raising-a-dram-to-donald-trump-following-whisky-update</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/buckingham-palace-confirms-king-charles-is-raising-a-dram-to-donald-trump-following-whisky-update</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Buckingham Palace has confirmed King Charles is “raising a dram” to Donald Trump following the update that the US President is lifting his whisky tariffs.On Thursday evening, Mr Trump confirmed he was U-turning on his tariff policy, taking to Truth Social to issue a statement.In response, a Palace spokesman told GB News: “The King has been informed of President Trump’s warm gesture and sends his sincere gratitude for a decision that will make an important difference to the British whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports.“His Majesty will be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the US after a most enjoyable State Visit for both Their Majesties in this special anniversary year.”
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This followed Mr Trump&#039;s statement, which read: “In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky.“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!“A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A.”The US leader signed the statement in his usual fashion: “President DONALD J. TRUMP”.President Trump had imposed and threatened tariffs on whisky as part of a broader &quot;America First&quot; economic strategy aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing trade deficits.His administration argued that tariffs on imports like Scotch and Irish whiskey would encourage Americans to buy domestically produced goods (like bourbon and rye) rather than overseas products.In response to Mr Trump&#039;s lifting of US tariffs on UK whisky, the UK Business and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, issued a statement.LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSPalace confirms King is &#039;raising a dram to Donald Trump&#039; following whisky updateKing leaves United States as Queen returns to UK aloneQueen removes Melania Trump jewel as soon as she leaves White HouseHe said: “This is great news for our scotch whisky industry, which is worth almost £1bn in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the UK.“I have been advocating for lower tariffs on key exports like whisky, to protect vital jobs and iconic British brands while strengthening our relationship with the US.”King Charles III is a well-known fan of whisky, specifically Scotch single malts.His appreciation for the spirit is so significant that he has integrated it into both his personal life and his official duties for decades.Laphroaig, an Islay single malt, is widely cited as the King&#039;s favourite.In 1994, as Prince of Wales, he granted Laphroaig a Royal Warrant, making it the only single malt distillery to receive such an honour from him.The King also sells his own branded organic single malt Scotch through the Highgrove Shop, which is produced for his estate.Mr Trump&#039;s praise for the King and Queen on Truth Social comes after his comments to Sky News, where he applauded His Majesty but took a major swipe at Sir Keir Starmer.“He just left, he&#039;s a fantastic guy,” the President said.Despite praising Their Majesties, the US President criticised the British Government&#039;s position on immigration and energy policy.Referring to King Charles, Mr Trump said: “He&#039;s a much different person than your Prime Minister.“Your Prime Minister has to learn to deal the way he deals, and he&#039;ll do a lot better.”

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Buckingham, Palace, confirms, King, Charles, raising, dram, Donald, Trump, following, whisky, update</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage: &amp;apos;I will stop small boat crossings within three months of being elected PM&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-i-will-stop-small-boat-crossings-within-three-months-of-being-elected-pm</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-i-will-stop-small-boat-crossings-within-three-months-of-being-elected-pm</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage has said he will stop migrants crossing illegally into the UK within three months of winning the next general election.The Reform UK leader said he had struck an informal deal with a leading French politician who is tipped to run for the Presidency to allow the Royal Navy to tow back boats trying to cross illegally into southern England.Speaking to this week&#039;s Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast, Mr Farage said stopping the crossings was &quot;vital for several reasons&quot;.These were &quot;to make women and girls safer in Britain. Two, as a matter of national security. Three, as something costing billions of pounds a year. But number four is even bigger than the first three - re-establishing trust between voters and Government&quot;.
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He added: &quot;The last six Prime Ministers have said publicly, on camera and to you, &#039;if you come here illegally, you won&#039;t be allowed to stay&#039;. But the truth is, they are.&quot;So if Reform were to win the next general election, that is the thing we would have to solve in three months.&quot;Mr Farage said the UK &quot;would have to be&quot; outside the European Convention on Human Rights for this to happen, adding: &quot;We are going to have to crack on.&quot;He said he had hammered out terms over lunch with French politician Jordan Bardella, president of the right-wing National Rally since 2022, who he said was &quot;odds on favourite to be the next premier in France&quot;.He said: &quot;I have sat with Jordan Bardella, who is odds on favourite to be the next premier in France. I took him for lunch in London. It was one of those lunches, the best French wines and some good food. The French - you got to look after them.&quot;And then sort of as pudding approached, I said, &#039;well, I am very sorry, Jordan, but we&#039;ve given you 800 million quid already, and this is before the next 660 million quid that&#039;s been promised. I&#039;m really sorry. Unless you stop this, I&#039;m going to get the Royal Marines to tow boats back to France&#039;.&quot;And it all went very quiet for a bit. Within an hour. He said, &#039;I accept that. I get that&#039;. Because, of course, can you imagine if you were a French property owner on the Northern French coast, what hell your life has been the last few years?LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Keir Starmer vows to &#039;stamp out hatred&#039; in address to nation after Golders Green terror attackUK terror threat level raised to &#039;severe&#039; after Golders Green stabbingsMet Police chief erupts at Zack Polanski as he accuses Green leader of fueling &#039;rising tensions&#039;&quot;So if they can&#039;t come to Britain, they won&#039;t go to Calais. &quot;So actually, this could work. I&#039;ve also had very positive feedback from Afghanistan, not necessarily my favourite Government.&quot;The Germans are sending back plane loads every week to Afghanistan, and they&#039;ve said they talk to me about taking people back.&quot;I&#039;ve achieved more outside Government in terms of agreements with other national Governments than Starmer did, than Boris did, than Truss did, than Rishi did.&quot;You can catch the full episode of Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast tomorrow from 6am on GBNews.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage:, will, stop, small, boat, crossings, within, three, months, being, elected, PM</media:keywords>
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<title>‘They got me to do it!’ Donald Trump lifts whisky tariffs after visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/they-got-me-to-do-it-donald-trump-lifts-whisky-tariffs-after-visit-from-king-charles-and-queen-camilla</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/they-got-me-to-do-it-donald-trump-lifts-whisky-tariffs-after-visit-from-king-charles-and-queen-camilla</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has announced he is lifting his whisky tariffs after King Charles and Queen Camilla&#039;s successful State Visit to the United States.The US President took to his favourite online platform, Truth Social, to reveal the news.He wrote: &quot;In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky. &quot;People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used. 
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&quot;The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! &quot;A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A.&quot;The US leader signed the statement in his usual fashion: &quot;President DONALD J. TRUMP&quot;.President Trump had imposed and threatened tariffs on whisky as part of a broader &quot;America First&quot; economic strategy aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing trade deficits.His administration argued that tariffs on imports like Scotch and Irish whiskey would encourage Americans to buy domestically produced goods (like bourbon and rye) rather than overseas products.King Charles III is a well-known fan of whisky, specifically Scotch single malts. His appreciation for the spirit is so significant that he has integrated it into both his personal life and his official duties for decades.Laphroaig, an Islay single malt, is widely cited as the King&#039;s favourite. LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSCrowds line the streets in Virginia for Queen and King block partyDonald Trump contrasts King with Keir Starmer in blunt swipe: ‘Much different person’‘I choose them for a reason!’ Meghan hits out at miscredited outfitsIn 1994, as Prince of Wales, he granted Laphroaig a Royal Warrant, making it the only single malt distillery to receive such an honour from him.The King also sells his own branded organic single malt Scotch through the Highgrove Shop, which is produced for his estate.Mr Trump&#039;s praise for the King and Queen on Truth Social comes after his comments to Sky News, where he applauded His Majesty but took a major swipe at Sir Keir Starmer.He admitted he does not know whether the State Visit by King Charles will help to improve his relationship with the UK Prime Minister.In a candid confession, the US President said: &quot;I can&#039;t give you an answer to that.&quot;I can tell you one thing, our relationship is very good, but you know, that&#039;s another individual. We&#039;ll find out.&quot;But I like Keir Starmer very much, but I think he&#039;s made a tragic mistake on immigration and a tragic mistake on energy.&quot;Mr Trump made the comments immediately after he bid farewell to the King and Queen Camilla at the White House.&quot;He just left, he&#039;s a fantastic guy,&quot; the president continued to state.Despite praising Their Majesties, the US President criticised the British Government&#039;s position on immigration and energy policy.Referring to King Charles, Mr Trump said: &quot;He&#039;s a much different person than your Prime Minister.&quot;Your Prime Minister has to learn to deal the way he deals, and he&#039;ll do a lot better.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘They, got, it’, Donald, Trump, lifts, whisky, tariffs, after, visit, from, King, Charles, and, Queen, Camilla</media:keywords>
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<title>Met Police chief erupts at Zack Polanski as he accuses Green leader of fueling &amp;apos;rising tensions&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/met-police-chief-erupts-at-zack-polanski-as-he-accuses-green-leader-of-fueling-rising-tensions</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/met-police-chief-erupts-at-zack-polanski-as-he-accuses-green-leader-of-fueling-rising-tensions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has fired back at Zack Polanski as he accused the Green Party leader of fueling &quot;rising tensions&quot;.Mr Polanski had reshared a highly critical social media post that read: &quot;So essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by a taser.&quot;Bodycam footage, released by the Metropolitan Police yesterday, showed two police officers taking down a Somali-born British national holding a knife after he allegedly stabbed two Jewish men in Golders Green.The officers fired tasers and could be heard shouting, &quot;Get down on the ground,&quot; and &quot;Take the taser&quot; as the man collapsed to the ground.
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Sir Mark hit back at the Green Leader, writing in a letter: &quot;I was disappointed to have seen your recent post on X amplifying a post that Met officers were &quot;repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by a taser.&quot;&quot;I am disappointed because it is this kind of inaccurate and misinformed commentary - with its associated casual disregard for the incredibly challenging and dangerous work police officers do to protect the public - that is contributing to the rising tensions we are seeing in society and undermines officers&#039; confidence to act.&quot;It is entirely possible the author of the post you retweeted had direct experience from the scene, or has years of experience handling complex, violent situations. &quot;Yet I suspect the more likely scenario is that they are another armchair critic who thinks they could do the job, possibly more effectively than the brave officers who successfully detained that individual.&quot;Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary. They were on the scene within a few minutes and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives. &quot;As I said yesterday, the officers confronted a dangerous man, they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent, and who continued to pose a clear threat. &quot;They were not armed officers, and they feared he was concealing an explosive device.&quot;He added: &quot;Using only their training, equipment and a substantial level of bravery and courage, they detained him while he continued to try and attack and subdue them. Without their efforts to stop them, I dread to think what the outcome could have been. &quot;Apprehending violent and dangerous criminals is a full-contact and messy task which may appear shocking to observers with their experience of policing in the real world. &quot;London&#039;s Jewish communities are scared. They have experienced a series of targeted attacks on the community, and they expect our officers to act and protect them. &quot;That is exactly what our officers did yesterday. Your decision to criticise these officers, using your public profile and reach, will have a chilling effect. &quot;Officers need to know that when they act to protect Londoners decisively, they will be supported. Officers know they must be accountable for their use of force, and there are processes for this to happen.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:UK terror threat level raised to &#039;severe&#039; after Golders Green stabbingsKeir Starmer vows to &#039;stamp out hatred&#039; in address to nation after Golders Green terror attackKeir Starmer heckled and booed during visit to Golders GreenThe Met Commissioner continued: &quot;Your use of your public profile to call their actions into question, hours after a terrorist incident, is not the appropriate route.&quot;&quot;Free speech is an important facet of a democratic society. We both agree on that. But against a backdrop of global instability and heightened tensions, the right approach in this situation is to show compassion, lower tensions and not inflame them further by amplifying more &#039;us and them&#039; rhetoric.&quot;&quot;We have significantly stepped up our activity across the capital in recent weeks, and in the hours and days following the attack in Golders Green three weeks ago, we have seen communities come together to reject hatred and violence.&quot;That solidarity matters, and at this moment we need politicians and community leaders to be at the forefront of it, not only condemning the holic allacks but by taking leadership in confronting antisemitism and parmissive the lone, lowering tensions and backing those who are willing to step in to protect the public and reassure the public.&quot;Britain&#039;s terrorism threat level has been upgraded from &quot;substantial&quot; to &quot;severe&quot; after two Jewish people were stabbed in north London.Security chiefs believe an attack is highly likely within the next six months.The move by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (Jtac) follows Wednesday&#039;s &quot;terrorist incident&quot; in Golders Green in which two Jewish people were injured.A Green Party spokesman said: &quot;Zack has seen the video like everyone else, and doesn&#039;t know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we do need to understand more about the response.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Met, Police, chief, erupts, Zack, Polanski, accuses, Green, leader, fueling, rising, tensions</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;UTTER FARCE!&amp;apos; Neil Oliver on Trump&amp;apos;s assassination attempts, Israel and broken leadership</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/utter-farce-neil-oliver-on-trumps-assassination-attempts-israel-and-broken-leadership</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/utter-farce-neil-oliver-on-trumps-assassination-attempts-israel-and-broken-leadership</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Neil Oliver has decried the “utter farce” of the collapse in public trust and development of a “post-trust society”.To demonstrate his point, he argued AI-made fake Lego animations of Donald Trump now command more credibility than official White House communications. Citing the growing popularity of satirical and emotionally resonant social media videos, Neil said they are increasingly winning what he called an “information war,” as scepticism spreads across all age groups. He pointed to widespread doubt surrounding recent events, including doubt in some circles over the various assassination attempts on President Donald Trump. Neil also highlighted controversy over a proposed $400 million White House ballroom, suggesting that its timing and justification fuel public suspicion, particularly after the US Department of Justice intervened. Expanding his critique globally, he argued that narratives around conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Iran are riddled with inconsistencies.The GB News star opined this contributed to what he described as a “post-trust society” across Britain, Europe and the United States, where citizens increasingly view political leadership as performative and untrustworthy.WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ABOVEOur Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UTTER, FARCE, Neil, Oliver, Trumps, assassination, attempts, Israel, and, broken, leadership</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump contrasts King Charles with Keir Starmer in blunt swipe: ‘He’s a much different person’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-contrasts-king-charles-with-keir-starmer-in-blunt-swipe-hes-a-much-different-person</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-contrasts-king-charles-with-keir-starmer-in-blunt-swipe-hes-a-much-different-person</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has admitted he does not know whether the state visit by King Charles will help to improve his relationship with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.In a candid confession, the US President said: &quot;I can&#039;t give you an answer to that.&quot;I can tell you one thing, our relationship is very good, but you know, that&#039;s another individual. We&#039;ll find out.&quot;But I like Keir Starmer very much, but I think he&#039;s made a tragic mistake on immigration and a tragic mistake on energy.&quot;
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Mr Trump made the comments immediately after he bid farewell to the King and Queen Camilla at the White House.&quot;He just left, he&#039;s a fantastic guy,&quot; the president continued to tell Sky News. Referring to his speech in Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: &quot;I thought he was fantastic. It was a brilliant speech. &quot;It was delivered beautifully, with that beautiful accent that he&#039;s got. &quot;And everybody… he got a standing ovation. And I thought it was fantastic in all respects.&quot;Despite praising Their Majesties, the US President continued to criticise the British Government&#039;s position on immigration and energy policy.Referring to King Charles, Mr Trump said: &quot;He&#039;s a much different person than your Prime Minister.&quot;Your Prime Minister has to learn to deal the way he deals, and he&#039;ll do a lot better.&quot;LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSKing and Queen honour US soldiers at Arlington National CemeteryMelania Trump delighted as Queen wears jewel she receivedKing and Queen bid farewell to Donald Trump and Melania on last dayWhen posing for photographs before entering the White House, Mr Trump told reporters: “The greatest King, in my book. We need more people like that in our country.”In the Diplomatic Reception Room, King Charles and Queen Camilla posed for another photograph with Donald and Melania Trump and exchanged thoughts about the trip.The King shook Mr Trump’s hand and kissed Mrs Trump on the cheek before leaving in a car with the Queen.“Enjoy Virginia,” one bystander shouted, to which the Queen replied: “Thank you.”Later on Thursday, Their Majesties received a military guard of honour at Arlington Cemetery.US troops carried a Union Flag, and a military band played both the UK and US national anthems.US officials greeted the King and Queen before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:44:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, contrasts, King, Charles, with, Keir, Starmer, blunt, swipe:, ‘He’s, much, different, person’</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour formally brings end to 1,000 years of British history on &amp;apos;sad and miserable day&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-formally-brings-end-to-1000-years-of-british-history-on-sad-and-miserable-day</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-formally-brings-end-to-1000-years-of-british-history-on-sad-and-miserable-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour finally brought an end to 1,000 years of British history on Wednesday after hereditary peers sat in the House of Lords for the final time.Sir Keir Starmer vowed to axe the peers during the 2024 election, with the House of Lords Act passing last month.It came into effect on Wednesday as the current session of Parliament came to a close. The historic day was marked with a farewell reception, where Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, the Lord Speaker, thanked the 92 peers for their service. 
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He told the gathering: &quot;For close to a thousand years, hereditary peers and their families have helped to shape our institutions, defend our country, preserve our culture and strengthen that spirit of public service without which no nation can flourish.&quot;Hereditary peers have brought distinctive qualities to this House - an ethos of service, a long view and, not least, independence of mind.&quot;They have often shown a willingness to speak plainly, to resist passing fashions, and to act according to conscience rather than convenience.&quot;Hereditary peers - who inherit their titles through their families - saw their numbers in the upper chamber slashed from more than 600 to just 92 under Tony Blair&#039;s sweeping reforms in 1999. However, 15 hereditaries - including Conservative peers and a small number of crossbenchers - have been granted permission to stay on in the chamber as life peers. Ministers said they were excluded from the move to ensure the House of Lords &quot;can continue to function effectively, and the experience of some departing hereditary peers is not lost&quot;.The overhaul has come under fire from departing hereditary peers, with Lord Strathclyde branding it a &quot;sad and miserable day&quot;. He argued: &quot;The hereditaries were only 10 per cent of the House.LABOUR - READ THE LATEST:Angela Rayner plotting leadership challenge against Keir Starmer immediately after local electionsWatch the moment Sir Mark Rowley and Labour MP heckled during Golders Green press conferenceKeir Starmer &#039;offers Angela Rayner Cabinet job&#039; in final dice roll to stave off leadership challenge&quot;They did no harm and provided historical perspective, so this just feels wrong.&quot;Meanwhile, Lord Salisbury - a retired Conservative peer - said he felt &quot;quite sentimental&quot; about the ancient tradition being brought to a close. He said: &quot;When I was negotiating with Tony Blair all those years ago, I was clear that if you simply remove the hereditaries, you leave a purely nominated chamber,&quot; he said.&quot;What you have is an extraordinary increase in the power of patronage of the prime minister, and that is a very powerful political tool.&quot;Labour&#039;s 2024 manifesto launched a scathing attack on hereditary peers, labelling them &quot;indefensible&quot;. The document read: &quot;Too many peers do not play a proper role in our democracy... And because appointments are for life, the second chamber of Parliament has become too big.&quot;Sir Keir Starmer has since added 96 peers to the House of Lords.Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, meanwhile, said hereditary peerages &quot;are an archaic and undemocratic principle&quot;.&quot;I am proud that we have fulfilled a key manifesto pledge of this Government,&quot; he said just weeks ago.&quot;Our Parliament should always be a place where talents are recognised and merit counts. It should never be a gallery of old boys&#039; networks, nor a place where titles, many of which were handed out centuries ago, hold power over the will of the people.&quot;The vast majority of the House of Lords is comprised of life peers - with more than 800 able to sit in the upper chamber for the duration of their lives. The  Church of England&#039;s bishops and archbishops also have 26 places assigned to them. Members of the Lords are appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, often based on recommendations from the Independent House of Lords Appointments Commission.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:14:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, formally, brings, end, 1, 000, years, British, history, sad, and, miserable, day</media:keywords>
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<title>SNP vows to &amp;apos;stop Nigel Farage at the border&amp;apos; &#45; but would throw doors open to migrants</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-vows-to-stop-nigel-farage-at-the-border-but-would-throw-doors-open-to-migrants</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-vows-to-stop-nigel-farage-at-the-border-but-would-throw-doors-open-to-migrants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ John Swinney has called on Scottish voters to “stop Nigel Farage at the border” - just as senior SNP figures called for more migrants to flood through it. The First Minister is set to rail against Reform UK on the campaign trail today, saying only a vote for his party could lock the party out of power at Holyrood, claiming other parties would do a &quot;grubby deal&quot; with them. He said: “The SNP wants to bring down people’s bills, and the other parties led by Reform want to stop us.&quot;Reform and the other parties want people to vote for an opposition to stop things from happening - I want people to vote for an SNP Government to get things done, bring down the cost of food, reduce the cost of the commute and expand support for childcare.
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“That is the choice on the ballot paper one week from today - and by uniting behind the SNP, people in Scotland can stop Nigel Farage at the border.”It comes after SNP Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan claimed &quot;too few&quot; migrants were coming to Scotland. Speaking to the BBC, Ms McAllan insisted that migration was &quot;good and necessary&quot; for the Scottish economy, adding that &quot;we are a welcoming country&quot;. While she acknowledged that housing supply was a significant issue across the country, she said the problem was not related to levels of immigration. Instead, the senior SNP figure blamed &quot;depressed construction&quot; of new homes on poor economic conditions. The SNP has previously lambasted &quot;Westminster immigration policies&quot; for their &quot;one-size-fits-all approach&quot; which it claims ignores Scotland&#039;s needs. The party website reads: &quot;Everyone in Scotland will know someone who is an immigrant - we’re not strangers to it having lost so many people to countries around the world.&quot;They’re the people who are our friends and neighbours, or even family members.&quot;SNP - READ THE LATEST HEADLINES:SNP vows to work with Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein to rip up United Kingdom foreverJohn Swinney snubs Donald Trump&#039;s invitation to state banquet with King and QueenJohn Swinney sets date for second Scottish independence referendum&quot;Many work alongside us in our health service, look after our relatives in care homes, pick our crops and keep our farms profitable, or staff our hospitality sector at the height of the season.&quot;Unlike the leading Westminster parties we’re not going to cave into the agenda of billionaire press owners wanting to distract people with lurid headlines.&quot;Meanwhile, Reform&#039;s Scottish leader, Lord Offord, told a campaign rally in Aberdeen: &quot;This idea that we’ve become the food bank of the world or the health service of the world is not right and it’s not fair.“I think that’s something that we’re hearing now - Scots are saying enough’s enough.”At the same rally, Mr Farage declared that Reform could take &quot;outright power&quot; in Scotland by 2031. He told supporters: “I do think Scottish politics deserves a jolt, and I do believe that Malcolm Offord is prepared to give the courage and the leadership to take us through May 7, to establish us in Holyrood and to put us in a position where we win outright power, outright control, next time around.&quot;According to recent polling from The Telegraph, the SNP are on course to  win 67 seats in the Scottish Parliament. The survey also points to a two-way battle for second place between Reform and Labour, with the Conservatives trailing in fourth.Mr Farage said that a second-place finish in the May 7 elections would be a &quot;breakthrough&quot; moment for Scotland. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:14:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SNP, vows, stop, Nigel, Farage, the, border, but, would, throw, doors, open, migrants</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump prepares &amp;apos;powerful&amp;apos; new strikes on Iran after Vladimir Putin warns of &amp;apos;extremely dire consequences&amp;apos; for America</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-prepares-powerful-new-strikes-on-iran-after-vladimir-putin-warns-of-extremely-dire-consequences-for-america</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-prepares-powerful-new-strikes-on-iran-after-vladimir-putin-warns-of-extremely-dire-consequences-for-america</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump is planning to hit Iran with “powerful” strikes to release its grip on the Strait of Hormuz after Vladimir Putin warned that resuming fighting would spell &quot;extremely dire consequences&quot; for the US. The Pentagon has drawn up plans to hit the Islamic Republic&#039;s key infrastructure in a bid to force the regime to sue for peace, sources told Axios.The President has become frustrated with Iran&#039;s stubbornness over refusing to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons - a stumbling block which emerged during peace negotiations. However on Wednesday, Mr Trump suggested the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was proving successful. 
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He said: &quot;The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing.&quot;They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them.&quot;Mr Trump has directed his advisers to draw up plans for a prolonged blockade of the vital waterway in a bid to strangle Iran&#039;s oil revenue - which may force the regime back to the negotiating table, according to the Wall Street Journal. US officials are said to view an extended blockade as a safer option than reigniting strikes or declaring an end to the war. Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Mr Trump on Wednesday morning to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Russian leader is said to have warned the US President that a return to fighting would have “inevitable, extremely dire consequences&quot; for the US and &quot;the entire international community&quot;. Mr Putin reportedly urged the US to carry on with the ceasefire, saying it was &quot;right&quot; to “give negotiations a chance”. Iran is now struggling to store its unsold oil, with the slashing of sales caused by America&#039;s blockade wreaking havoc on the country&#039;s economy, according to one US source. And oil prices on Wednesday reached their highest level since the start of Operation Epic Fury - $120 (£89) per barrel.DONALD TRUMP - READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump claims King &#039;would have probably helped&#039; in IranDonald Trump accused of &#039;disrespecting&#039; King Charles and Queen Camilla by enraged royal fansKing Charles mocks Donald Trump&#039;s White House ballroom plansOn Tuesday, the Trump administration held talks with leading energy industry figures to discuss how to limit the impact on American consumers as the blockade carries on. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the Islamic Republic was losing $170million (£86.74million) every day thanks to the US&#039; restriction on vessels leaving the strait. He said on Wednesday: “Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, is soon nearing storage capacity, which will force the regime to reduce oil production, resulting in an additional $170million per day in lost revenue.&quot;Mr Bessent added it was causing &quot;permanent damage&quot; to the Middle Eastern country&#039;s oil infrastructure.On Wednesday morning, the US President took to his Truth Social platform to voice his frustration over the Islamic Republic&#039;s approach to peace negotiations. He wrote: &quot;Iran can&#039;t get their act together. They don&#039;t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal.&quot;The President warned that the Middle Eastern country &quot;better get smart soon&quot;. He accompanied the message with an AI-generated image of himself brandishing a rifle in front of what appears to be an Iranian site being hit by strikes. Mr Trump accompanied the picture with a caption reading: &quot;No more Mr. Nice Guy!&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:14:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, prepares, powerful, new, strikes, Iran, after, Vladimir, Putin, warns, extremely, dire, consequences, for, America</media:keywords>
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<title>Israel demands Keir Starmer protects England&amp;apos;s Jews after horror attack &#45; as protesters brand PM &amp;apos;Jew harmer&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-demands-keir-starmer-protects-englands-jews-after-horror-attack-as-protesters-brand-pm-jew-harmer</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-demands-keir-starmer-protects-englands-jews-after-horror-attack-as-protesters-brand-pm-jew-harmer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Israel has called on Sir Keir Starmer to protect England&#039;s Jewish community - just as the Prime Minister was branded a &quot;Jew harmer&quot; by demonstrators in London.Following Wednesday&#039;s attack in Golders Green - which saw two Jewish men stabbed by a suspected Somali-born knifeman - the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement urging Britain to &quot;act decisively and urgently&quot;.It read: &quot;After attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews targeted in Golders Green, the UK Government can no longer claim this is under control.&quot;&quot;Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements are no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism festering across United Kingdom.
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&quot;British Jews should not need security patrols and emergency volunteers to live openly as Jews. Enough words.&quot;Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also hit out at Britain&#039;s &quot;weakness&quot; in dealing with antisemitism, saying it &quot;gaslights one antisemitic attack after another in London&quot;.He added: &quot;Words are not enough to confront this scourge.&quot;We demand and expect action by the British Government to protect the Jews of England and bring antisemites to justice.&quot;On the streets of Golders Green on Wednesday night, demonstrators gathered waving both British and Israeli flags.Protestors were heard chanting “Keir Starmer, Jew-harmer” and “shame on Sadiq Khan”, as well as calls for Labour to proscribe “IRGC terrorists&quot; in Britain. The incident left 34-year-old Shilome Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine wounded, with both being rushed to hospital shortly after the attack. Speaking to ITV News from hospital, Mr Rand said he &quot;definitely&quot; felt let down by the Labour Government. ATTACKS ON BRITAIN&#039;S STREETS - READ THE LATEST:Met Police release bodycam footage of Golders Green terror attack suspect arrestMan arrested on suspicion of preparing terror acts on London Jewish sitesJewish-owned shop hit by arson attack in Watford - manhunt launched for &#039;group of young males&#039;&quot;The Government, they are the ones that are able to take care of the problems - and they are not doing their job.&quot;The 34-year-old also said: &quot;It&#039;s for the past few months really that our community is suffering from these type of attacks.&quot;And now it&#039;s going on and trying to take people&#039;s lives and it&#039;s really terrible.&quot;He added that felt lucky to be alive, describing it as a &quot;miracle&quot;. Sir Keir has yet to make an appearance at the scene of the attack, but has vowed to visit “as soon as possible”.Following the attack, the PM said he was &quot;deeply concerned&quot;, adding that it was &quot;not an isolated incident&quot;.He chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday afternoon, which was attended by senior members of the Metropolitan Police, the Mayor of London, and Cabinet ministers. Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch visited Golders Green, where she declared the string of recent attacks on the Jewish community was a &quot;national emergency&quot;.She said:  &quot;There are terrorists and violent people who are seeking out visibly Jewish people... It is time to ban these marches, they were initially about a war in the Middle East, but now it’s quite clear they are used as a cover for violence and intimidation against Jews.&quot;The suspect - confirmed to be a 45-year-old Somali-born British national - was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken into custody, where he remains.Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with Scotland Yard to establish the full circumstances.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:14:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Israel, demands, Keir, Starmer, protects, Englands, Jews, after, horror, attack, protesters, brand, Jew, harmer</media:keywords>
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<title>The dark truth about the green revolution: From forced child labour and deaths to &amp;apos;silent cartels&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/the-dark-truth-about-the-green-revolution-from-forced-child-labour-and-deaths-to-silent-cartels</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/the-dark-truth-about-the-green-revolution-from-forced-child-labour-and-deaths-to-silent-cartels</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A damning new report has exposed troubling realities underpinning Britain&#039;s transition to green energy, driven by shadowy supply chains from countries with dire human rights records.GB News has been given exclusive access to a devastating report by think-tank Facts4EU and its partner organisations - The Campaign for an Independent Britain and Stand for Our Sovereignty.The People&#039;s Channel understands overseas suppliers powering Britain&#039;s Net Zero mission are accused of being rife with child labour, deaths and &quot;silent cartels&quot;.The revelations emerge as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commits Britain to closer cooperation with China on offshore wind farms, electricity grids, battery storage, carbon capture and hydrogen.
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China currently maintains a near-monopoly over the global cobalt supply chain, controlling nearly every stage from extraction to processing.These minerals are an essential part of lithium-ion batteries, without which the hundreds of thousands of imported Chinese cars flooding the British market would not run. Even more critically, the entire electricity infrastructure would grind to a halt, as enormous battery storage facilities are essential for capturing electricity needed when the sun fails to shine and the wind stops blowing.While China holds only about one per cent of the world’s natural cobalt reserves, Chinese companies dominate the global supply chain, controlling roughly 46 per cent of mined cobalt production, set to grow by 2030.Chinese firms own 15 of the 19 major cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produces more than 75 per cent of the world&#039;s supply.This concentration of control at virtually every stage of production has created what the report describes as a &quot;silent cartel&quot; over this critical resource.The new report witnessed by GB News reveals cobalt mining operations are taking place on an industrial scale in primitive conditions, where mass deaths are a regular occurrence.Tragically, young children are used as a labour force, and are among the victims of the regular accidents which occur during the extraction of rare minerals being mined.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Lib Dem candidate wins legal bid after being blocked from standing as MP due to Christian beliefsKeir Starmer to visit Golders Green &#039;as soon as possible&#039; as he issues statement following emergency Cobra meetingDonald Trump claims King &#039;would have probably helped&#039; in IranIn February, a mine collapse in the eastern Congolese city of Rubaya killed hundreds of people, including 70 children.Beyond recurring deaths under dire conditions, the exploitation of young workers within artisanal and small-scale mining operations throughout the country remains widespread.Vast areas are now run by the Chinese, with the apparent complicity of the government in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, allegedly involving corruption on a significant scale.Ben Philips, Vice-Chairman of The Campaign for an Independent Britain, said: &quot;For a Labour Government to be actively working with the Chinese Government on this, when they are guilty of breaking many international laws and treaties on the treatment of workers, is quite extraordinary.&quot;While being forced to work around imminent risk to life, workers are paid the bare minimum as a cruel supplement.On average, mine workers earn about the equivalent of £5.90 per 9.5-hour working day, with a proportion earning less than half that amount. The report highlights one mine, where 40,000 children are said to be working and receive &quot;a pittance&quot;, despite being subject to the same risks as their adult peers.While it remains unclear just how dependent the UK is on its import of these rare minerals, it appears the UK has been taking over one-quarter of the world&#039;s importing market at 25.3 per cent, behind the US at 34.8 per cent.Lord Redwood told GB News: &quot;The so-called ‘green’ products - batteries, turbines and solar panels - require big quantities of copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earths and other hard-to-get chemicals. &quot;The Chinese were early into the business opportunities. They set about controlling key deposits worldwide, investing in new and expanded sites and accepting bad standards of employee safety, payment and welfare. The results are well-documented in this excellent Facts4EU report.&quot;The government’s net zero policies are an economic disaster, closing down all our petrol car factories, losing us refineries and petrochemical plants, giving us high cost energy which drives out jobs and investment. &quot;It is even worse if we import from China and her suppliers materials and finished products based on dreadful standards for employees, doing environmental damage. &quot;The Government should enforce high standards on imports to ensure there is no child labour, poverty pay and unsafe working.&quot;GB News has contacted the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for comment.

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<title>Royal Navy chief warns UK faces &amp;apos;inflection point&amp;apos; and must take more risks to stay ahead of enemies</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-navy-chief-warns-uk-faces-inflection-point-and-must-take-more-risks-to-stay-ahead-of-enemies</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-navy-chief-warns-uk-faces-inflection-point-and-must-take-more-risks-to-stay-ahead-of-enemies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain must take more risks to stay ahead of its enemies and maintaining the status quo is “simply not good enough,” the head of the Navy has said.First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war has shown the “vulnerability of traditional naval platforms”.The head of the Navy said in a speech at the Royal United Services Institute he planned to leave the Royal Navy “much stronger than the one I inherited” by 2029.Sir Gwyn continued: “Just maintaining the capable status quo is simply not good enough. We are at an inflection point.
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“This need has come into focus as threats have developed and evolved over the last decade but it became irrefutable in 2022 with Russia’s egregious, full-blown invasion of Ukraine.“That rallying call has only grown louder with the geopolitical developments of the last four years, including in the Middle East.“The most recent conflict, in particular the shutting of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, has also confirmed something else – sea power is vital if we are to maintain the free flow of trade, uphold freedom of navigation, deter our adversaries and safeguard Britain’s economy against the kind of global shocks we have been experiencing.”He explained that the key to the Navy’s plan is a “hybrid approach”, where both crewed ships and drones will work with other “cutting-edge” technology. He emphasised “investing in the way we train” so that personnel can focus their skills in “complex, high-threat battle scenarios, much of which can only be practised through simulation”.Sir Gwyn continued: “It’s not about replacing existing capabilities. It is about increasing the survivability and lethality of our force.“We must end the mentality that we need ever more expensive and ever larger platforms.”Sir Keir Starmer’s government has committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027, with a Nato-agreed target of 3.5 per cent by 2035. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Dozens of homes evacuated after &#039;suspected ordinance&#039; discovered in Plymouth - 400-metre cordon in effectNearly two thirds of British teenagers to have mental health problem within next four yearsProtesters who climb on national memorials to face prison as new crackdown introducedSir Gwyn added: “We must not only invest in the technologies of the future, we must change our entire mindset if we are to stay ahead of our enemies.“That requires us to take more risk, to ruthlessly remove unnecessary regulations and other barriers holding us back so that we can cut the time it takes between trialling new systems and putting them to sea or alongside our commanders.“It requires courage and getting used to failing occasionally in order that we succeed more often.”The first Navy-wide war game took place last month to test the new ”hybrid” approach, with “clear evidence” of significantly heightened capability, with missile capacity increasing “threefold to the level necessary to win a contest in the North Atlantic.”Sir Gwyn warned that Russian incursions into British waters had jumped by almost a third in the last two years.“In 2025 alone, the Royal Navy was required to respond dozens of times in support of homeland defence against Russian navy surface vessels,” he said.“That is why the Royal Navy has to be ready every day of every month of every year.”At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said the Government had increased defence spending to “the highest since the Cold War” and hit out at the previous Tory administration’s record.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Government of “spending so much on welfare that we cannot afford to defend the country”.The Prime Minister responded: “This is the Labour Government that increased defence spending to the highest since the Cold War.“What did they do? When they came into power, defence spending was 2.5% and when they left power, it was 2.3%, and even their own Secretary of State admitted they hollowed out our armed forces.“So we’ll take no lecture from them on defence.”

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<title>Angela Rayner considering leadership challenge against Keir Starmer immediately after local elections</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/angela-rayner-considering-leadership-challenge-against-keir-starmer-immediately-after-local-elections</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/angela-rayner-considering-leadership-challenge-against-keir-starmer-immediately-after-local-elections</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Angela Rayner is reportedly considering a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer immediately after the local elections.Supporters are said to be urging the former Deputy Prime Minister to turn against Sir Keir.The local elections, which take place next Thursday, are understood to be make-or-break for the Prime Minister, as his premiership hangs in the balance.Allies of Ms Rayner claim any delay would allow opposition candidates more time to lock in support among Labour MPs, the Times reports.
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Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is widely seen as a favourite for the next Prime Minister.Ms Rayner is currently under investigation by HM Revenue &amp; Customs for her tax affairs.Some polls show Labour could lose up to 2,000 seats.It is understood the rumoured leadership challenge depends on the outcome of the votes.If the former Deputy Prime Minister were to make a formal challenge, it would likely take the form of a speech, interview, or statement. Insiders have claimed Ms Rayner was privately offered a return to Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s Cabinet in a final roll of the dice to stave off the potential leadership challenge.Ms Rayner discussed her political future with Sir Keir during a visit to a school in Greater Manchester on April 14.Other potential leadership candidates include Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, and Ed Miliband.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Lib Dem candidate wins legal bid after being blocked from standing as MP due to Christian beliefsShabana Mahmood vows to ‘strain every sinew’ and tackle ‘societal issue’ after Golders Green attackNigel Farage confirms £5million gift from donor amid &#039;deep fears for my personal safety&#039;Mr Burnham was present at the conversation between Sir Keir and Ms Rayner.It is understood that Ms Rayner is hopeful that an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs will be closed as soon as this week.Sir Keir managed to face down a leadership scare last night after 15 Labour MPs rebelled on a vote to investigate him over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US.The vote would have referred him to the privileges committee, the powerful Commons ethics body that forced Boris Johnson to resign.After the Prime Minister refused to rule out demoting Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: &quot;The former Deputy Prime Minister is on manoeuvres.&quot;This Government is like a bad episode of Game of Thrones. His own people have turned against him, and all the while, the Prime Minister is holed up in his castle, wetting himself about a visit from the King in the North yesterday.&quot;Mr Speaker, yesterday, one Labour MP actually said that his days are numbered.&quot;Speaking on the potential cabinet reshuffle, Sir Keir&#039;s spokesman told the Times: &quot;I don’t comment on reshuffle speculation. But you’ve got what the PM said before, that she’s hugely talented and he was really sad that he lost her.&quot;A spokesman for Ms Rayner said: &quot;Angela is focused on supporting Labour candidates ahead of these crucial elections.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Angela, Rayner, considering, leadership, challenge, against, Keir, Starmer, immediately, after, local, elections</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump claims King Charles &amp;apos;would have probably helped&amp;apos; in Iran</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-claims-king-charles-would-have-probably-helped-in-iran</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-claims-king-charles-would-have-probably-helped-in-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has claimed that King Charles &quot;would have probably helped&quot; America&#039;s military campaign against Iran, suggesting the monarch would have supported the offensive if the decision had been his to make.The US President delivered these remarks from the Oval Office after the King addressed Congress, where Charles made the case for robust Nato support and continued assistance to Ukraine, positions that have drawn criticism from Mr Trump.&quot;The King is fantastic. We spent a lot of time together. We had a lot of talk. We talked about this also, and he loves his country, and he&#039;s a great king, and he&#039;s a great friend of mine,&quot; Mr Trump said.&quot;And I think if he were doing that, if that were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran.&quot;Mr Trump continued his effusive praise for the monarch, describing him as &quot;a phenomenal representative for his country&quot; and declaring that British citizens ought to feel proud of their sovereign.The President&#039;s comments came amid ongoing tensions between Washington and London over the UK&#039;s refusal to participate in strikes against Tehran.Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer, labelling the Prime Minister as weak and lacking decisiveness for not joining the military action.The warm words for Charles stood in stark contrast to Mr Trump&#039;s attacks on the British Government, appearing to draw a distinction between the King and the elected leadership.The President emphasised the personal connection he had forged with Charles during their extensive discussions throughout the state visit.During a white-tie state banquet on Tuesday, Mr Trump went further by publicly claiming that Charles shared his view on the necessity of blocking Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.Breaking with the convention that conversations with the monarch remain confidential, the president told guests: &quot;We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we&#039;re never going to let that opponent ever Charles agrees with me, even more than I do we&#039;re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.&quot;Buckingham Palace issued a carefully worded response to Mr Trump&#039;s characterisation of the King&#039;s views. A spokesperson stated: &quot;The King is naturally mindful of his Government&#039;s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.&quot;The Palace&#039;s statement notably referenced the British Government&#039;s established stance rather than confirming any personal agreement between the monarch and the president.The state visit also provided the backdrop for diplomatic discussions on the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, with State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirming the pair addressed &quot;the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.&quot;The conflict between the US and Iran, coupled with a fragile truce, has effectively shut down the vital shipping lane.The closure has sent energy prices surging and inflicted damage on the global economy, given the strait&#039;s importance for oil and gas transportation.First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins observed that the international shock caused by the route&#039;s closure demonstrated that &quot;sea power is vital.&quot;However, transatlantic friction persists over responsibility for the waterway&#039;s security. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently dismissed UK and French-led efforts as &quot;silly,&quot; suggesting Europeans should have &quot;less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat.&quot;Tensions escalated further on Wednesday when Mr Trump issued fresh warnings to Tehran over nuclear negotiations. The President shared an image on Truth Social depicting himself holding an assault rifle against a backdrop of an exploding hillside, accompanied by the caption &quot;no more Mr Nice Guy.&quot;&quot;Iran can&#039;t get their act together. They don&#039;t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!&quot; Mr Trump wrote, appearing to threaten renewed military action.The President has maintained that the US-Israeli offensive against Iran was justified as a means of halting Tehran&#039;s nuclear weapons programme.Testifying before Congress on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon had examined &quot;all aspects&quot; of the risk posed by Iranian blockade of the shipping route.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:14:22 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, claims, King, Charles, would, have, probably, helped, Iran</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;He’s run out of words!&amp;apos; Golders Green community leader slams Keir Starmer’s response to terror attack</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/hes-run-out-of-words-golders-green-community-leader-slams-keir-starmers-response-to-terror-attack</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/hes-run-out-of-words-golders-green-community-leader-slams-keir-starmers-response-to-terror-attack</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Golders Green community leader has slammed Keir Starmer’s response to the terror attack that struck the north west London suburb today.Speaking to GB News, Levi Schapiro said the Prime Minister’s promises of action did not “translate to reality”. “This keeps on happening under the current Government and with the current Prime Minister,” he said. “As much as he (Sir Keir) is trying to reassure us, I mean, I think he&#039;s almost run out of words. “He&#039;s already used all the words that he can.”Mr Schapiro said Sir Keir’s expressions of sympathy and pledges to take action had “all been said in the past” and did not “translate to reality”.“I hear this from the community, people don&#039;t feel reassured. They feel concerned and worried,” he added.WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE

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<media:keywords>He’s, run, out, words, Golders, Green, community, leader, slams, Keir, Starmer’s, response, terror, attack</media:keywords>
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<title>Socialist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani urges King Charles to return diamond to India</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/socialist-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-urges-king-charles-to-return-diamond-to-india</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/socialist-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-urges-king-charles-to-return-diamond-to-india</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ New York&#039;s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has urged King Charles to hand back the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.The Democratic socialist, who has Indian heritage, made the remarks to reporters on Wednesday ahead of meeting the monarch at the city&#039;s 9/11 memorial.&quot;If I were to speak to the King separately from that, I&#039;d probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond,&quot; Mr Mamdani said.The mayor indicated he intended to bring up the matter should an opportunity arise for a private conversation with the King during the afternoon&#039;s events.The jewel has been a source of diplomatic tension between Britain and India for generations. Originally weighing 186 carats, the diamond&#039;s name translates from Persian as &quot;mountain of light.&quot;Its precise origins remain uncertain, though records first place it in 17th-century India as part of the Mughal Empire&#039;s treasures.The stone subsequently passed through Persian hands and travelled to what is now Afghanistan before returning to the subcontinent.The British East India Company acquired the 105-carat gem in 1849 following the annexation of Punjab, presenting it to Queen Victoria.Critics like Mr Mamdani view the diamond as emblematic of colonial exploitation. India mounted an unsuccessful diplomatic effort to recover the jewel in 2023.The King and Queen were on the third day of their US state visit when they joined Mr Mamdani at the National September 11 Memorial on Wednesday afternoon.Their Majesties paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, placing a bouquet at the edge of one of the memorial pools.It marked the royal couple&#039;s first visit to the site, which opened in 2011 as a space for remembrance and public education.They met with victims&#039; families, emergency workers who participated in rescue operations, and current serving staff.New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also attended alongside Commonwealth representatives.The Queen made a conscious choice not to wear a crown containing the Koh-i-Noor at the King&#039;s Coronation, seeking to sidestep potential controversy.Following Elizabeth II&#039;s death, a spokesman for Narendra Modi&#039;s Bharatiya Janata Party warned that displaying the diamond could &quot;transport&quot; some &quot;back to the days of the British Empire in India.&quot;The King had navigated his US state visit without diplomatic friction with Donald Trump until Mr Mamdani&#039;s intervention.The mayor&#039;s remarks threaten to revive debate over one of the Crown Jewels&#039; most contentious pieces.The royal couple were due to attend further engagements in New York before returning to Washington, DC.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Socialist, NYC, mayor, Zohran, Mamdani, urges, King, Charles, return, diamond, India</media:keywords>
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<title>Pro&#45;migrant human rights lawyers haul Labour to High Court over one&#45;in, one&#45;out deal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/pro-migrant-human-rights-lawyers-haul-labour-to-high-court-over-one-in-one-out-deal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/pro-migrant-human-rights-lawyers-haul-labour-to-high-court-over-one-in-one-out-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has been dragged into the High Court by pro-migrant human rights lawyers over Shabana Mahmood&#039;s &quot;unlawful&quot; one-in, one-out deal with France. Legal challenges have been brought against the Government by six migrants - three of whom have already been sent back to France - who claim to be victims of human trafficking.The group are challenging the legality of how they were treated under the Home Secretary&#039;s scheme. If their claims are upheld, Ms Mahmood could be significantly hindered in the number of migrants she would be able to deport in exchange for other asylum seekers in France. 
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In September, the Home Secretary altered guidance on modern slavery in a bid to fast-track deportations under the terms of the deal. The previous guidance enabled migrants who had seen their claims turned down by the Home Office appeal the decision prior to their deportation from Britain. But under the changes, they are not able to launch a challenge, and must instead apply for support once in France. Now, Sam Grodzinski KC - representing the six migrants - has argued that Labour&#039;s changes to the guidance breached human rights and are illegal. The barrister said that a lawful system is one that “identifies the paramount importance of identifying victims [of trafficking] correctly” and the Home Secretary&#039;s policy was an “institutional disregard of potentially relevant evidence”.Mr Grodzinski told Justice Sheldon the move infringed upon the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking (ECAT).He said the migrants have &quot;have a fundamental right under ECAT to have their claims properly investigated&quot;.The human rights lawyer cited Home Office data from last year which showed that almost 80 per cent of modern slavery rejections were overturned. MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Britain&#039;s population growth to be entirely reliant on migration as number of UK nationals on declineAfghan migrants on Greek island stone teenage girl after she refused forced marriageAfghan migrant admits stabbing 14-year-old boyHe also argued that migrants arriving into Britain do not give their full trafficking history when questioned upon arrival because they do not understand what they are being asked.  The barrister told the court: &quot;Victim identification is a process that takes time; it can’t be done speedily, not if it is to be done properly.&quot;The Home Office has said that in exceptional cases, migrants are able to apply for reconsideration prior to their deportation.But Mr Grodzinksi told Justice Sheldon that this was not made clear to caseworkers in guidance and it only occurred when legal cases were under threat. Last month, the Home Secretary&#039;s overhaul of Britain&#039;s asylum system was met with fury from around 100 Labour backbenchers, who penned a letter to her urging the Government to reconsider. Tony Vaughan MP - who coordinated the correspondence - wrote: &quot;We can change our immigration system for the better without forgetting who we are as a Labour Party.&quot;You don’t win back public confidence in the asylum system by threatening to forcibly remove refugees who have lived here lawfully for 15 or 20 years.&quot;That just breeds insecurity and fractured communities,&quot; he added. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pro-migrant, human, rights, lawyers, haul, Labour, High, Court, over, one-in, one-out, deal</media:keywords>
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<title>England cricket&amp;apos;s Barmy Army blasts its own &amp;apos;unofficial leader&amp;apos; for standing for Reform UK</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/england-crickets-barmy-army-blasts-its-own-unofficial-leader-for-standing-for-reform-uk</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/england-crickets-barmy-army-blasts-its-own-unofficial-leader-for-standing-for-reform-uk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Barmy Army has said its &quot;unofficial leader&quot; does not represent their views after he announced he was standing for Reform UK in the upcoming local elections.Vic Flowers, 74, announced last week he would stand for Reform UK in the Medlock Vale ward in the elections for Oldham Council on May 7.Mr Flowers is one of the more notable England cricket supporters due to his distinctive look and outrageous clothing.He discovered the Army in Melbourne in 1998 and often led the group in singing.
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In 2004, it was reported that he sold all his belongings to dedicate himself to being a member - and he has been labelled the unofficial leader of the group.He was most recently spotted in Australia for the 2025-26 Ashes, but has been seen less on tour in recent years.But in response to his political announcement, the Barmy Army released a statement which said he was not an &quot;active member&quot; of the group.The Army, founded in 1995, also serves as a business, organising tour packages and selling priority tickets to England matches.In 2009 it was reported the group paid for tours for him and fellow notable member Billy Cooper, commonly known as Billy the Trumpet.But the Army has now said: &quot;We wish to be clear that the individual referred to in recent media coverage, in connection with his candidacy for Reform UK at a local election, is not an active member of the Barmy Army, nor is he employed by, or affiliated with, the Barmy Army in any official capacity.&quot;Any views attributed to him do not reflect the views, values or position of the Barmy Army as an organisation or its wider support community.&quot;The group clarified it does not any endorse any political agenda, candidate, or campaign.REFORM UK IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS - READ MORE:Royal Mail launches probe after postman boasted about &#039;dumping&#039; Reform UK fliers in binKeir Starmer plots election battle with Nigel Farage as PM questions Reform&#039;s &#039;patriotic values&#039;&#039;Forgotten&#039; voters want referendum to leave London: &#039;We don&#039;t want wokey stuff in our borough!&#039;Mr Flowers told the Manchester Evening News he had not previously been involved in politics and did not usually vote, having previously voted for Sir Tony Blair&#039;s Labour - which he now believes was a &quot;mistake&quot;.He said: &quot;The way things have gone in this country, I feel it needs my contribution, whatever that might be.&quot;There are so many people who are fed up. I&#039;m fed up. Things have to be done. And if you can do something, do it.&quot;Reform UK&#039;s leader Nigel Farage, whom Mr Flowers described as &quot;different&quot;, was the reason the dedicated England supporter said he decided to stand.&quot;Just like in The Barmy Army you must have a leader, a good leader. Farage is cut out for that. I&#039;ll follow him,&quot; he said.He said Mr Farage is willing to &quot;call a spade a spade&quot;, adding that since Margaret Thatcher, Britain has not had &quot;anything like a leader&quot;.For residents in the ward of Medlock Vale, Mr Flowers said he and Reform UK would offer a &quot;bit of honesty&quot; and accused the current Labour leadership of Oldham Council of wastefully spending money.Comparing his experience in the Barmy Army to a potential political career, the joiner and carpenter by trade said: &quot;To stand up in front of a big crowd, it takes some guts. I think you have got to have a certain amount of leadership in you.&quot;I discovered a lot about myself. Things have moved on now. Before it was cricket, now it was politics.&quot;The Candidates standing in Medlock Vale ward for Oldham Council in the 2026 local elections are:Shona Farnworth (Liberal Democrats)Victor Flowers (Reform uK)Cameron Lee Gates (Green)Junaid Hussain (Labour and Co-operative)Sharoon Zaman (Oldham Group Party)

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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>England, crickets, Barmy, Army, blasts, its, own, unofficial, leader, for, standing, for, Reform</media:keywords>
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<title>Sadiq Khan heaps praise on Brexit&#45;hating socialist Spanish PM &#45; who just handed 500,000 migrants &amp;apos;legal status&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/sadiq-khan-heaps-praise-on-brexit-hating-socialist-spanish-pm-who-just-handed-500000-migrants-legal-status</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/sadiq-khan-heaps-praise-on-brexit-hating-socialist-spanish-pm-who-just-handed-500000-migrants-legal-status</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Sadiq Khan has heaped on praise for Spain&#039;s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after the pair met in Madrid yesterday. Despite the Mayor of London having no official role in Britain&#039;s foreign policy, the politicians held bilateral talks - with Sir Sadiq citing the more than 100,000 Spaniards living in the capital as the reason. During the meeting, Mr Sanchez revealed Madrid backed Britain rejoining the EU, according to a City Hall source. The insider said: &quot;Sadiq has said it before and he&#039;ll say it again - Brexit has done real damage to London and is costing Londoners, day in, day out, economically, socially and culturally. 
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&quot;Hearing directly from Prime Minister Sanchez that Spain would welcome the UK back into the EU was incredibly powerful. &quot;Europe needs us and we need Europe,&quot; they added. The London Mayor posted an image of the two following the talks, saying it was &quot;great&quot; to speak to Mr Sanchez yesterday. Sir Sadiq added: &quot;At a time when too many leaders are looking the other way, it matters that we stand together.&quot;We discussed Gaza, Europe and the shared values that unite London and Spain.&quot;The London Mayor signed off the post by hailing the pair&#039;s shared commitment to &quot;progressive, internationalist politics&quot;.Meanwhile, the Spanish PM wrote on social media after the talks: &quot;Cities are on the front lines of democracy&#039;s defence. Today I shared this reflection with the Mayor of London.&quot;Affordable housing, social cohesion, and quality public services are much more than a priority.SADIQ KHAN - READ THE LATEST:Sadiq Khan sets the record straight after Buckingham Palace confusionSadiq Khan’s London homes target ‘impossible to meet’ as building falls far short of 88,000 targetSadiq Khan urged to make major Ulez changes as drivers risk &#039;unnecessary fines&#039;&quot;They are the best antidote to curb the far right in Spain and around the world.&quot;Sir Sadiq also met with Barcelona&#039;s far-left mayor Jaume Collboni in Madrid, where the London Mayor hailed the Catalonian city for its approach to tackling &quot;climate change&quot;, saying it was &quot;one of my ambitions is to learn from Barcelona&quot;.The Spanish PM has come under fire in his home country in recent weeks after his socialist administration&#039;s large-scale migrant amnesty programme formally commenced. The plans - pushed through by royal decree - grant legal status to around 500,000 undocumented migrants. The scheme is seen as a cornerstone of Mr Sanchez&#039;s agenda - even though his neighbouring European nations battle a Mediterranean migrant crisis.But Santiago Abascal, leader of the right-wing Vox party, accused the socialist PM of accelerating an &quot;invasion&quot; of Spain.The bilateral talks between Sir Sadiq and the anti-Brexit Spanish leader come amid Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s pursuit of closer ties with Brussels. Labour is planning to force through legislation that would enable ministers to sign Britain up to EU single market rules - without the consent of Parliament. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sadiq, Khan, heaps, praise, Brexit-hating, socialist, Spanish, who, just, handed, 500, 000, migrants, legal, status</media:keywords>
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<title>King Charles praises Donald Trump&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;courage and steadfastness&amp;apos; following assassination attempt</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-praises-donald-trumps-courage-and-steadfastness-following-assassination-attempt</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-praises-donald-trumps-courage-and-steadfastness-following-assassination-attempt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles used Tuesday&#039;s state dinner at the White House to call for the renewal of the UK-US alliance, delivering a warmer, more personal speech than his historic address to Congress and marking the moment with a symbolic naval gift to President Donald Trump.Speaking in Washington DC, the King told guests that the United States and the United Kingdom were bound by “an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens”, as he moved to underline shared history and continuing strategic cooperation.The speech, delivered in a less formal tone than his earlier remarks to Congress, again referenced the recent incident in Washington that saw a Secret Service officer injured during an attempted attack on political figures last weekend. The King praised the response of US security services and paid tribute to what he described as President Trump’s “courage and steadfastness”.
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Golfing ace Rory McIlroy, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Apple chief Tim Cook were among the guests at the dinner.King Charles told guests that the American character had long been defined by “courage, tenacity and the spirit of adventure”, adding that across generations the two nations had “traded, innovated and created together” and “stood together in the best of times and worst of times”.The King said that in a more uncertain global climate, both countries now faced challenges that demanded renewed cooperation. “Those challenges encourage us to reaffirm, tonight, the basis on which our partnership has been built,” he said, pointing to defence collaboration and intelligence sharing as key pillars of the relationship.He specifically highlighted the Aukus defence pact with Australia as an example of modern security cooperation, describing it as part of a wider effort to strengthen deterrence and long-term stability.The speech concluded with a ceremonial moment that drew particular attention.The King presented President Trump with the original bell from the conning tower of HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine that saw service in the Pacific during World War Two.The Palace described the gift as a symbol of “shared history and a shining future”, echoing the Queen’s bicentennial gift of the Liberty Bell during her 1976 visit to the United States.LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSCamilla turns heads in deep pink gown as Donald and Melania Trump host State DinnerMelania Trump dazzles in pale pink Dior gown as First Lady complements QueenRevealed: The cutting two words King Charles told impersonator in Washington DCIn a lighter moment, the King quipped that if either side ever needed to get in touch, they could simply “give us a ring”, prompting laughter from guests.The gesture was framed as part of a broader effort to underline continuity between past and present transatlantic ties, with the King also referencing historic meetings between US presidents and British sovereigns over the decades.He told the dinner that the alliance was now being “renewed” for a new era, adding: “Across the ocean and from coast to coast, we have traded, innovated and created together. “We have stood together in the best of times and worst of times.”Diners at the glitzy dinner will enjoy a starter of delicate garden herb velouté, complemented by a hearts of palm salad, and finished with crisp toasted shallots and micro mint.For the second course there is a handcrafted spring herb ravioli, with herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden, filled with creamy ricotta, morels, dressed with a light parmesan emulsion.Diners will then be presented with a classic dover sole meunière, bathed in a nutty brown butter. It will be accompanied by sweet snow peas, layered potatoes pave and a parsley oil.For dessert, guests will be served a sweet beehive shaped chocolate gâteau with a smooth vanilla bean cremeux custard, set inside with an almond joconde. The beehive will be complimented with creme fraiche ice cream and White House honey.The King&#039;s remarks came after his earlier address to Congress, where he delivered a more formal warning about global instability and urged continued unity between the two nations amid conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.At the state dinner, however, the tone shifted towards celebration and personal diplomacy, with the King emphasising friendship, shared heritage and optimism about the future of the relationship.The King concluded his toast by thanking him for a “wonderful dinner” and joking that it was “a considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party”.The visit marks only the second time a reigning British monarch has addressed Congress and the first state visit of King Charles’s reign to the United States, with both sides seeking to reinforce ties at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting global alliances.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<media:keywords>King, Charles, praises, Donald, Trumps, courage, and, steadfastness, following, assassination, attempt</media:keywords>
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<title>King Charles &amp;apos;agrees that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon&amp;apos;, Donald Trump declares</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-agrees-that-iran-must-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-donald-trump-declares</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-agrees-that-iran-must-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-donald-trump-declares</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump claimed King Charles III &quot;agrees&quot; that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon in his State Dinner speech on Tuesday evening.&quot;We&#039;re doing a little Middle East work right now,&quot; Mr Trump said in his landmark address.&quot;Some of you might know, and we&#039;re doing very well.&quot;We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we&#039;re never going to let that opponent ever... Charles agrees with me even more than I do.&quot;We&#039;re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.
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&quot;They know that. And they&#039;ve known it right now very powerfully.&quot;As sovereign, the King must avoid expressing partisan views to maintain &quot;national unity&quot;.While not legally forbidden, expressing political opinions risks public backlash and violates the constitutional convention that the monarch must not interfere in Government policy.Though in his own address, the King also referenced the crisis in Iran.Charles joked about Queen Elizabeth II&#039;s first State Visit to the US - just a year after the Suez Crisis.&quot;When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the &#039;special&#039; back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East,&quot; he said.&quot;Nearly 70 years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today,&quot; he prodded.The monarch also suggested Mr Trump should not abandon Ukraine - mere days after his youngest son attracted the President&#039;s ire for a speech in Kyiv.&quot;American leadership helped rebuild a shattered continent playing a decisive role as a defender of freedom in Europe,&quot; the King said. &quot;We - and I - shall never forget that, not least as freedom is again under attack following Russia&#039;s invasion of Ukraine.&quot;ROYALS IN AMERICA - READ MORE:King Charles praises Donald Trump&#039;s &#039;courage and steadfastness&#039; following assassination attemptNo tiara for Camilla at State Dinner despite Elizabeth II decisionKing &#039;praying our alliance continues&#039; as monarch addresses UK-US special relationshipThe President&#039;s bombshell Iran claim came after he raged at a new proposal from Tehran to end the war - which he started to stop it from acquiring a nuclear bomb.Mr Trump said the Iranians had admitted their country had fallen into a &quot;state of collapse&quot; and was figuring out its leadership situation.He blasted on Truth Social: &quot;Iran has just informed us that they are in a &#039;State of Collapse&#039;.&quot;They want us to &#039;Open the Hormuz Strait,&#039; as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).&quot;Last night, he added: &quot;If Iran had a nuclear weapon, the whole world would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other nations, or presidents, should have done long ago.&quot;Iran&#039;s most recent offer for resolving the two-month war would shelve any discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was over and the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz was brought to an end.However, US officials have warned that Mr Trump wants the nuclear issue wrapped up as his first priority.An Iranian military spokesman told state media the Islamic Republic did not consider the war over.Just moments after the President and King addressed the room, it emerged that Mr Trump had told his aides to prepare for an &quot;extended blockade&quot; of Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.He is said to have opted not to pursue &quot;high risk&quot; options - and chose to continue squeezing Tehran&#039;s economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports.While he was presented with further options, like resuming bombing or walking away from the conflict, he turned those down.White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, meanwhile, said the US has met Operation Epic Fury&#039;s military objectives - and that &quot;thanks to the successful blockade of Iranian ports, the United States has maximum leverage over the regime&quot;.

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<title>Americans to receive limited&#45;edition &amp;apos;Donald Trump passports&amp;apos; for 250th anniversary of US independence</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/americans-to-receive-limited-edition-donald-trump-passports-for-250th-anniversary-of-us-independence</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/americans-to-receive-limited-edition-donald-trump-passports-for-250th-anniversary-of-us-independence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The US State Department has unveiled plans to release a limited run of special passports featuring President Donald Trump&#039;s portrait to mark 250 years of American independence.Between 25,000 and 30,000 of the commemorative travel documents will be made available at the Washington DC passport agency just before July 4.The President&#039;s image will appear on the inside cover, positioned alongside the text of the Declaration of Independence and an American flag.Mr Trump&#039;s signature will also feature in gold within the passport.A separate page will display the renowned painting depicting the founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776.&quot;These passports will feature customised artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US passport the most secure documents in the world,&quot; State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.The front cover design has been modified, with &quot;United States of America&quot; appearing in enlarged gold lettering at the top, while &quot;passport&quot; sits at the bottom.On the rear cover, an American flag bearing the number 250 will be positioned among 13 stars, reflecting the 1777 version of the national banner.Officials have confirmed there will be no additional charge for obtaining one of the special-edition passports.Those applying in-person at the DC passport office will automatically receive the commemorative version as their default option.Anyone who wants a standard passport can still get one by submitting their application online or at offices outside the capital.The passports form part of the Trump administration&#039;s wider &quot;America250&quot; festivities planned for this summer.US NEWS - READ THE LATEST:Camilla turns heads in deep pink gown as Donald and Melania Trump host State DinnerRoyal fans make feelings clear after White House calls Donald Trump a &#039;king&#039;Yvette Cooper looks on as King left in stitches during Donald Trump crunch talksOther events include a Grand Prix motor race on the National Mall scheduled for August and a UFC bout on the White House&#039;s South Lawn in June.The National Mall will be transformed into the &quot;Great American State Fair&quot; between June 25 and July 10, featuring rodeo events, a Ferris wheel and pavilions representing every state and territory.A fireworks display at Mount Rushmore is also planned as part of the celebrations.The commemorative passport announcement follows news that the US Mint will produce a gold coin bearing an image of Mr Trump for the anniversary.Unveiling the design last month, US Treasurer Brandon Beach branded it a &quot;beautiful commemorative gold coin&quot; in a statement.He added: &quot;As we approach our 250th birthday, we are thrilled to prepare coins that represent the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, and there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald J Trump.&quot;The Treasury Department has also confirmed that paper currency will carry the President&#039;s signature, marking the first occasion a sitting head of state has signed American banknotes.During his second term, Mr Trump&#039;s name has been added to the US Institute of Peace building and the Kennedy Center.The President is also planning a triumphal arch in Washington featuring a winged figure, eagles and lions - all covered in gold.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Queen Camilla turns heads in deep pink gown as Donald and Melania Trump host State Dinner</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/queen-camilla-turns-heads-in-deep-pink-gown-as-donald-and-melania-trump-host-state-dinner</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/queen-camilla-turns-heads-in-deep-pink-gown-as-donald-and-melania-trump-host-state-dinner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Queen Camilla is wearing a deep pink Fiona Clare evening gown for Tuesday&#039;s state dinner in Washington DC, completing a day of carefully chosen royal fashion moments during the high-profile US visit.For the evening engagement at the White House, the Queen paired the gown with a historic amethyst and diamond necklace, originally gifted by a former Duchess of Kent to Queen Victoria before being passed down to Queen Mary. The piece is understood to have remained within the royal collection ever since, and its appearance at the state dinner continued Camilla’s pattern of selecting jewellery with strong historical resonance during the visit.Meanwhile, Melania Trump wore a pale pink Haute Couture Dior gown, paired with gloves and heels from the same French label.
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The Queen’s evening appearance came after a landmark day for the King, who became only the second British monarch in history to address Congress, following Queen Elizabeth II’s speech in 1991.The State Dinner marks the culmination of the official engagements in Washington, with both King Charles and Queen Camilla continuing a programme designed to underline the depth of UK-US ties through symbolism, history and carefully staged royal presentation.On Wednesday, Their Majesties are travelling to New York, where they will visit the 9/11 Memorial and greet the city&#039;s mayor, Zohran Mamdani.Earlier today, Camilla wore a cream coat and dress by Anna Valentine with black detailing as she attended King Charles’s address to a joint session of the United States Congress.She complemented the outfit with the Queen Mother’s Art Deco brooch, a diamond and rock crystal piece frequently worn by the Queen Consort on formal overseas engagements.The brooch choice followed a series of carefully curated jewellery moments throughout the visit, with Camilla also seen wearing additional historic pieces during earlier engagements in Washington.On Tuesday afternoon, Queen Camilla donned a pistachio green crepe silk Fiona Clare dress for the state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.She paired this with a diamond heart brooch belonging to Queen Elizabeth II.LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSKing &#039;praying our alliance continues&#039; as monarch addresses UK-US special relationshipQueen Camilla makes striking jewellery choice to hear King&#039;s speechPalace issues statement after King receives 13 standing ovationsOn Monday, Camilla arrived at Joint Base Andrews wearing a new Pink Dior coat dress, alongside a Cartier Union Flag and Stars and Stripes brooch presented to the late Queen by the Mayor of New York in 1957.When arriving at the White House to meet the US President and First Lady, the Queen changed into a white chiffon dress with black beaded embroidery by Anna Valentine.Meanwhile, Melania Trump has stunned with all her outfits so far during this state visit.On Monday, the First Lady wore a yellow bespoke Adam Lippes skirt suit with Manolo Blahnik heels.During Tuesday&#039;s state arrival ceremony, Mrs Trump wore a Ralph Lauren collection silk and wool suit in ivory.She paired this with an Eric Javitz straw boater hat and ivory Manolo Blahnik heels.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Queen, Camilla, turns, heads, deep, pink, gown, Donald, and, Melania, Trump, host, State, Dinner</media:keywords>
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<title>Reform UK makes local debut while Tories fight off rivals in crunch ballot box test</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-makes-local-debut-while-tories-fight-off-rivals-in-crunch-ballot-box-test</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-makes-local-debut-while-tories-fight-off-rivals-in-crunch-ballot-box-test</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform UK is gearing up to make its debut while Tories fight off rivals in an upcoming ballot box test this Thursday.Voters in Worcestershire will cast their ballot to vote for a new councillor for the Tenbury ward on Malvern Hills District Council after Conservative Andrew Willmott resigned.Last time locals headed to the polls was in 2023, when the local Conservative Party took home 37 per cent of the vote on the district council.Despite the local candidate taking home 42 per cent, the Tories are defending the seat because Tenbury previously was a two-seater ward. 
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This time, at the ballot box, individuals will be voting to vote a candidate into one seat. The local candidate will not be standing again.Meanwhile, the Greens won 20 per cent of the vote, with the party&#039;s current candidate vying for a greater share this week.The MP for the area is Dame Harriett Baldwin, who has served in Parliament for West Worcestershire since 2010, winning a majority of 6,547 almost two years ago.The Tories&#039; national rival, Reform UK, came fourth at the 2024 General Election, behind the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour.At last year&#039;s round of Local Elections, Reform stormed to victory on Worcestershire County Council, booting out the Conservative administration.Nigel Farage&#039;s party pushed the council to go under no overall control, with Reform UK becoming the authority&#039;s largest party. Their time in the local authority has been widely criticised, particularly for slapping a nine per cent council tax hike on residents - despite campaigning to cut taxes.The authority ended up requiring almost £60million in emergency Government support to dodge effective bankruptcy.Mr Farage said he wished his party &quot;hadn&#039;t bothered&quot; with taking minority control of a &quot;virtually bankrupt council&quot;. POLITICS LATEST:Morgan McSweeney: Pictures of Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein were a &#039;knife through my soul&#039;Robert Jenrick referred to watchdog over foreign donations&#039;They&#039;ve FAILED veterans!&#039; Troubles Bill pushed through Parliament despite fears for British troopsTHE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN TENBURY FOR MALVERN DISTRICT COUNCIL:Carl Fordington - Conservative and Unionist PartyDuane Anthony Hubbard - Reform UKSam Lewis - Green PartyJed Marson - Liberal DemocratsMaking his bid to voters, the district council hopeful declared that he &quot;fell in love&quot; with Tenbury, with a &quot;lifelong affinity&quot; for the area. Mr Hubbard said: &quot;Having worked in Law Enforcement, our aim was to settle here and join the rural life where we live. &quot;Immediately we became part of a fabulous community, enjoying the wonderful countryside, agriculture and farming, soon starting our own small holding rearing livestock, becoming involved and supporting groups like the Tenbury Wells Young Farmers Club.&quot;Meanwhile, Conservative Mr Fordington has pledged to look out for locals, business as well as the environment of the Worcestershire villages. Last May, he came runner-up to Reform candidate Justin Bowen for a county council seat, losing out by 126 votes.He has pitched himself as the &quot;only candidate who can beat Reform&quot; - and vowed to freeze council tax.Meanwhile, Mr Lewis, of the Green Party, has said it is &quot;important in the current environment to stand up for compassion, especially for those struggling to get by&quot;. &quot;We could do so much more to help with cost of living, finding affordable homes and protecting public services, and I will fight for all of those things in Tenbury Wells and beyond,&quot; he added.Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat&#039;s candidate, Mr Marson, blasted the &quot;neglect&quot; left over from the Tories.&quot;Why vote for them again when I&#039;m here willing to do the hard lifting needed?&quot; the candidate asked.He added that Tenbury locals are &quot;paying way over the odds for fuel and fertiliser because of Trump&#039;s lack of self control&quot;. 

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<title>Revealed: The cutting two words that King told impersonator in Washington DC</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/revealed-the-cutting-two-words-that-king-told-impersonator-in-washington-dc</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/revealed-the-cutting-two-words-that-king-told-impersonator-in-washington-dc</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Impersonator Matt Friend has revealed to GB News exactly what King Charles III told him at last night&#039;s Washington DC Garden Party.Mr Friend had met the monarch as festivities got underway ahead of his landmark Congress speech and State Dinner on Tuesday.&quot;I&#039;ve been studying you and I&#039;m trying to do you,&quot; he told the King. Now, the celebrity impressionist has opened up on what Charles said - and did - next.&quot;He looks at me quickly without missing a beat,&quot; Mr Friend said - but after his two-word jab, the impersonator said the King &quot;couldn&#039;t have been nicer&quot;...WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Royal fans make feelings clear after White House calls Donald Trump a &amp;apos;king&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-fans-make-feelings-clear-after-white-house-calls-donald-trump-a-king</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-fans-make-feelings-clear-after-white-house-calls-donald-trump-a-king</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A photograph depicting President Donald Trump standing alongside King Charles at the White House has been shared on the official White House X account with the caption &quot;TWO KINGS.&quot;The image was posted on Tuesday to mark the British monarch&#039;s arrival in Washington for what represents the first state visit by a reigning British sovereign in almost 20 years.King Charles and Queen Camilla received a ceremonial military welcome at the White House following their initial engagement at the British embassy on Monday evening.The royal couple&#039;s four-day programme includes a state dinner, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York, and a Virginia block party commemorating America&#039;s 250th anniversary of independence.The American President has a history of likening himself to royalty.Following a legal victory against New York City&#039;s congestion pricing scheme last winter, Mr Trump declared &quot;LONG LIVE THE KING&quot; on Truth Social.The White House subsequently circulated an illustration showing Mr Trump adorned with a crown on a mock magazine cover styled after Time, reinforcing the regal messaging.On Tuesday, Mr Trump shared a Daily Mail article suggesting he and King Charles might share a common ancestor, adding: &quot;I&#039;ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!!&quot;When questioned in June about whether the president considers himself a king, press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded: &quot;The President views himself as the President of the United States of America.&quot;This is a constitutional republic.&quot;The White House post provoked sharply contrasting responses on social media.Critics condemned the imagery, with one commenter describing it as &quot;absolutely abhorrent.&quot; Another labelled the President &quot;a megalomaniac.&quot;LATEST ROYAL NEWS:King &#039;praying our alliance continues&#039; as monarch addresses UK-US special relationshipQueen Camilla makes striking jewellery choice to hear King&#039;s speechPalace issues statement after King receives 13 standing ovationsSupporters, however, dismissed the controversy. &quot;Take a breath. It&#039;s meant to be a joke,&quot; one defender wrote.Another praised Mr Trump&#039;s approach, declaring him the &quot;funniest President ever.&quot;The divided reaction reflects broader tensions surrounding Mr Trump&#039;s second term, with thousands of Americans participating in &quot;No Kings&quot; demonstrations across the country since June.Protest organisers have stated: &quot;The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don&#039;t have kings.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Royal, fans, make, feelings, clear, after, White, House, calls, Donald, Trump, king</media:keywords>
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<title>Paedophile ex&#45;Labour councillor jailed for &amp;apos;appalling&amp;apos; online child sex crimes</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/paedophile-ex-labour-councillor-jailed-for-appalling-online-child-sex-crimes</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/paedophile-ex-labour-councillor-jailed-for-appalling-online-child-sex-crimes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A former Labour councillor in the West Midlands has been jailed for a series of &quot;appalling&quot; online child sex offences.Former Dudley councillor Adrian Hughes, 36, was sentenced for 32 months after he sent explicit messages to two accounts he believed were girls aged 12 and 13 between May and June 2025.Both accounts were decoy profiles created by police.Hughes pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 13 and with a child aged 13 to 15.
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He previously admitted four offences including attempting to initiate non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.Police had created the characters of 13-year-old &quot;Lucy&quot; and 12-year-old &quot;Molly&quot; online.Hughes told the undercover officer posing as Lucy she had an &quot;amazing body&quot; - despite the account admitting she was 13.Miss Recorder A Siddiqi told Friday&#039;s sentencing hearing: &quot;You thought you were messaging 12 and 13-year-olds, you could have done a great deal of harm.&quot;Unacceptable does not capture how appalling your behaviour was; immediate custody was inevitable.&quot;Georgia Faulke, for the defence, told the court Hughes was of previous good character and that Hughes was having mental health difficulties at the time of the crime.The court also heard how he was self-medicating with drugs including cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol at the time of the offense, but had now reduced his drinking and was experiencing remorse for his actions.Hughes tried to conceal evidence of his crimes by deleting some of the chats from his phone, but was given credit for admitting his crimes at the first opportunity.MORE IN THE WEST MIDLANDS:Locals &#039;up in arms&#039; over 8ft-tall parcel locker &#039;plonked&#039; outside their front doorsBirmingham bin strike end &#039;within sight&#039; as council reaches deal with union after bitter disputeHundreds defy major warnings to attend huge St George&#039;s Day paradeHughes was a member of Dudley Council between 2022 and 2024.He was a member of the Children&#039;s Services Select Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committee from May to September 2023.He was also a member of the Children and Young Persons&#039; Scrutiny Committee and Children’s Corporate Parenting Board from May 2022 to May 2023.He was suspended by the Labour Party in 2023 following a complaint about his behaviour, but said he would continue to sit on the council as an independent.In March, another former Labour councillor, Liron Woodcock-Velleman, was handed a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offences, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.Woodcock-Velleman, a councillor for Barnet, sent naked images of himself to an undercover officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.He also demanded the girl &quot;show me your bra&quot; and asked if she was a virgin, a court was told.Judge James Lofthouse told Woodcock-Velleman: &quot;You know you have no one to blame for the disintegration of your personal and professional life but yourself.&quot;This is where your reckless, vile and frankly devious interest in children has led you.&quot;

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<title>&amp;apos;They have FAILED veterans!&amp;apos; MPs push Troubles Bill through Parliament despite major fears for British troops</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/they-have-failed-veterans-mps-push-troubles-bill-through-parliament-despite-major-fears-for-british-troops</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/they-have-failed-veterans-mps-push-troubles-bill-through-parliament-despite-major-fears-for-british-troops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ MPs voted to push the controversial Troubles Bill through Parliament last night in the face of fears for the immunity of Northern Ireland veterans.The Bill will continue to progress in the next parliamentary session, after MPs voted 279 to 176, majority 103, in support of a carry-over motion late on Monday night.Troubles veterans had been handed protections under the previous Tory Government&#039;s Legacy Act.But that was rapidly scrapped by Sir Keir Starmer - with Labour claiming the Act was &quot;incompatible&quot; with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
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On Sunday night, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch confirmed her MPs would be voting against the carry-over motion - and they did, alongside Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.But 279 Labour, Green and Northern Irish SDLP and Alliance MPs were enough to send it through.Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said it was &quot;essential&quot; the Bill was resumed again in the next Parliament to give protections to veterans.He said veterans would be given &quot;protections&quot; like promises for no repeated investigations, no cold-calling, a requirement to consider the age and welfare of veterans, and that that any veteran can give evidence remotely and anonymously.But his shadow counterpart, Alex Burghart, warned the Bill &quot;will reopen the door to vexatious litigation, it will drag old soldiers through the courts and subject split-second decisions taken under high stress decades ago to the post hoc algorithm of a legal framework that did not exist at the time&quot;He added: &quot;The number of answers that victims will get will be minimal, and all the while veterans will be hauled before the courts, investigated for years, subjected to all the pain and ignominy that will bring. &quot;The process has become the punishment.&quot;Late last year, former SAS commanders accused the Government of &quot;doing the enemy&#039;s work&quot; by exposing Britain&#039;s elite troops to legal action.LABOUR&#039;S TROUBLES BILL - READ MORE:Fears Labour&#039;s SAS &#039;witch-hunts&#039; could leave UK-US &#039;special relationship&#039; in tattersLabour branded &#039;spineless&#039; over &#039;witch hunt&#039; of Troubles veterans‘National disgrace!’ Keir Starmer accused of driving British Army veterans to brink of suicide over Northern Ireland billThey said troops were being used as &quot;scapegoats&quot; - while handing propaganda victories to hostile states.&quot;Britain&#039;s special forces are small, discreet, uniquely lethal... Their humiliation rewards Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing,&quot; the commanders wrote in The Telegraph.And before the vote, DUP leader Gavin Robinson issued a scathing put-down of the Troubles Bill in its entirety.Mr Robinson said the Government had lost the confidence of both Troubles victims as well as veterans.&quot;This Government has had two years to honour their commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, and they have summarily failed,&quot; he told reporters during a press conference at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Monday morning,&quot; he said.&quot;They have failed victims, they have failed veterans and all they’re offering now is to pick up their broken Bill in a number of months&#039; time so that Parliament can consider shedloads of Government amendments to their own Bill.&quot;The truth is they have lost the confidence of victims in Northern Ireland through this process, they have lost the confidence of veterans throughout the United Kingdom during this process.&quot;The right thing for the Labour Government to have done would have been to withdraw this bill, to consider not only their own amendments but those tabled by myself, our party and colleagues from Northern Ireland who are represented in the House of Commons, consider those amendments, and bring forward a Troubles Bill that could command the confidence of not only Westminster, but communities most deeply impacted here in Northern Ireland.&quot;

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<title>American teacher sacked after &amp;apos;mourning how Donald Trump survived assassination attempt&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/american-teacher-sacked-after-mourning-how-donald-trump-survived-assassination-attempt</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/american-teacher-sacked-after-mourning-how-donald-trump-survived-assassination-attempt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An American teacher has been sacked after posting a video in which she appeared to say she was disappointed that Donald Trump survived his assassination attempt on Saturday.Corinne Baum, a teacher for pre-school provider BrightPath, posted a clip on TikTok captioned: &quot;Waking up to the news but not THAT news&quot;.In the video, she said: &quot;Man, there&#039;s been a few creators on here saying that like Friday or yesterday could have been the day and then I wake up to that news, but not that news.&quot;We&#039;re going to have to pay really close attention to what they&#039;re trying to actually distract us from.&quot;
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On Monday, a spokesman for BrightPath said: &quot;Our organisation does not tolerate and explicitly condemns any calls for violence.&quot;The comments made online by this individual are deeply inconsistent with our values. The individual in question has been terminated.&quot;Ms Baum&#039;s LinkedIn said she worked at The Children&#039;s House, which rebranded to BrightPath in 2023.Ms Baum was working at BrightPath Bridgetown Child Care Centre, a centre for pre-school aged children, as of Sunday, according to Fox News.The Children&#039;s House had six locations before joining the BrightPath group.Fox News reported that a friend of Ms Baum said she was not interested in commenting.The friend said Ms Baum was &quot;going through a difficult time&quot; and was &quot;distraught&quot;.Saturday&#039;s assassination attempt on the President was the third attempt on his life in two years.DONALD TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT - READ MORE:‘I shrieked!’ US journalist reacts to ‘shocking’ attack on ‘free speech’ after Washington shootingDonald Trump insists King Charles &#039;will be very safe&#039; in the USDonald Trump condemns &#039;dangerous Democrat hate speech&#039; after third assassination attemptMr Trump and First Lady Melania were rushed out of the Washington Hilton hotel as shots rung out on Saturday.Suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has now been charged with trying to assassinate the President, interstate transportation of weapons, and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.He is set to next appear in court on May 11 for a pre-trial hearing.He appeared in court wearing a blue jumpsuit and was led into court by marshals.Court documents alleged Allen had a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory .38-calibre pistol, both purchased in California.He apologised to his family and said he planned to assassinate members of Mr Trump&#039;s administration, a note seen in a court document alleged.The White House met with both the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security to address security for major events as the President hosts King Charles this week.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said law enforcement &quot;did not fail&quot; on Saturday in a press conference earlier on Monday announcing the federal charges.Joined by FBI head Kash Patel and US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro, he said the attack on Saturday provided &quot;no better example&quot; for why the East Wing ballroom needed to be constructed. 

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<title>Labour admits it will force internet restrictions on Britons &#45; regardless of what consultation says</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-admits-it-will-force-internet-restrictions-on-britons-regardless-of-what-consultation-says</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-admits-it-will-force-internet-restrictions-on-britons-regardless-of-what-consultation-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has admitted it will force internet restrictions on young Britons, regardless of the outcome of a consultation on a social media ban.The Government &quot;will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions&quot; on social media for under-16s whatever the consultation says, Education Minister Olivia Bailey told the Commons last night.The concession by the Government comes after relentless pressure from the House of Lords over the issue, led by Tory Education Minister and academy chain founder Lord Nash.Peers voted four times to press the Commons into forcing a ban onto the British people.
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Ms Bailey told MPs: &quot;On the remaining question on access to social media, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised across both Houses about the importance of the Government acting swiftly once the consultation has concluded.&quot;The Government has said repeatedly that it is a question of how we act, not if, but to put beyond any doubt, we are playing a clear statutory requirement that the Secretary of State must rather than may, act following the consultation.&quot;This brings forward regulations without pre-empting the consultation&#039;s outcomes, and does not ignore the tens of thousands of parents and children who have already engaged with us.&quot;Let us be clear, the status quo cannot continue.&quot;We are consulting on the mechanism, and that is the right thing to do. But we are clear that under any outcome, we will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16.&quot;I can also confirm that consideration of restrictions such as curfews will be in addition, not instead of this.&quot;The overwhelming push for a ban from campaigners, MPs and peers comes despite fears of censorship and Government overreach at home and abroad.Just days ago, Baroness Fox warned that demands to ban social media for under-16s are “authoritarian” and driven by “moral panic”.SOCIAL MEDIA BANS - READ MORE:Keir Starmer&#039;s social media ban plans could be derailed as parents launch High Court challengeLabour to trial new internet restrictions on 300 teenagers in test run for nationwide plansKeir Starmer reveals fresh details of plan for major new internet restrictions&quot;Normalising censorship in the name of &#039;safetyism&#039; is dangerous,&quot; she said.The crossbench peer also cautioned that once such powers are introduced, they may not stop with children.“It could extend beyond 16… beyond 18,” she told a conference last week. “Who decides what is harmful?”A week earlier, Sir Keir Starmer hauled in tech bosses from X, Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google to warn them that changes were urgently needed.&quot;Things can&#039;t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk,&quot; he told assembled business leaders.&quot;In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.&quot;The opposition frontbench has fallen in line with the Government in calls for a ban, too - and has even criticised Labour for not imposing restrictions fast enough.Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: &quot;We now have a commitment on the floor of the House, from the Government, that they will impose an age restriction for children under 16, and this is in addition to, not instead of, any curfews.&quot;This is a huge step forward in keeping children safe and supporting parents in their fight against screens destroying children’s lives.&quot;Every month a delay just leaves children more exposed to the harms of social media online, so I urge the minister to keep to her words today and make sure that action is as swift as possible.&quot;

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<title>King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured mingling with US politicians at Garden Party</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-and-queen-camilla-pictured-mingling-with-us-politicians-at-garden-party</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-and-queen-camilla-pictured-mingling-with-us-politicians-at-garden-party</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a Garden Party at the British Embassy in Washington DC on Monday evening, marking the start of their official state visit to the United States.The reception at the ambassador&#039;s residence brought together an array of guests representing the transatlantic relationship between Britain and America.Their visit commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence.The royal couple&#039;s itinerary spans engagements across Washington DC, New York and Virginia from April 27 to 30.Following the American leg, the King will travel to Bermuda for his first visit to a British Overseas Territory since ascending to the throne.Among the senior American officials present were White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also attended the gathering, alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife, Kelly Johnson.Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in attendance with her husband, Paul Pelosi.The event was hosted by Christian Turner, Britain&#039;s ambassador to the United States, and his wife Claire Turner.The British Embassy had earlier revealed preparations for the occasion, with chefs creating four varieties of tea sandwiches, scones and desserts for 650 guests, featuring British ingredients including smoked Scottish salmon and British beef.Prior to the embassy reception, the King and Queen were greeted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House&#039;s South Portico.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:King and Queen greet Donald and Melania Trump at White House in landmark momentKing to honour &#039;people of all faiths and none&#039; in historic Congress speechQueen appears to send hidden message with jewellery amid US arrivalThe two couples posed for photographs before retiring inside for a private tea, their first meeting since the Trumps&#039; state visit to Britain in September 2025.Speaking to the BBC last week, the President described the monarch as &quot;fantastic&quot; and &quot;a brave man.&quot;When asked whether the state visit might help mend relations between the two nations, which have been strained amid the conflict in Iran, Mr Trump responded: &quot;Absolutely.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<title>King Charles III to make case for &amp;apos;reconciliation&amp;apos; in speech to US Congress after last&#45;minute change</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-iii-to-make-case-for-reconciliation-in-speech-to-us-congress-after-last-minute-change</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-iii-to-make-case-for-reconciliation-in-speech-to-us-congress-after-last-minute-change</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Buckingham Palace has shared details of King Charles&#039;s historic US Congress speech today - including a major push for &quot;reconciliation&quot;.The King will deliver a landmark address to lawmakers on Tuesday, becoming only the second British monarch to address a joint meeting following Queen Elizabeth II’s speech in 1991.GB News understands the speech, expected to last for 20 minutes, has been prepared with input from the UK Government to reflect its strategic priorities, though the tone and language will also carry the King’s personal imprint.The monarch will use the address to emphasise the strength of the UK-US relationship at a time of global uncertainty, highlighting the enduring importance of shared democratic values.
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In what was a last-minute change to the speech, the King will reference the events of Saturday evening in his opening remarks, offering a message of solidarity and support.Charles will also honour &quot;people of all faiths and none&quot; in his address.Elsewhere, he will tell representatives he brings “the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States” during the latter&#039;s landmark anniversary year.The central theme of the speech will focus on the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, forged over more than two centuries. While acknowledging that Britain and America have not always agreed, the King will stress that their shared “democratic, legal and social traditions” have ensured they consistently find common ground.GB News understands the monarch will underline how these foundations, which trace back as far as Magna Carta, have enabled both countries to work together in ways that deliver not only national benefits but global impact.The King is also expected to draw on his personal faith, speaking about the moral responsibilities shared by both nations.He will highlight what he sees as a common “generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value people of all faiths and none”.Defence and security will feature prominently in the address. The King is set to reflect on his own experience in the Royal Navy, while pointing to the long-standing cooperation between the UK and the US.LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSKing and Queen greet Donald and Melania Trump at White House in landmark momentDonald Trump and King sit down for tea as President to discuss &#039;everything&#039;King and Queen touch down in Washington DC as Donald Trump meeting loomsTheir defence, intelligence and security partnerships, he will note, are “measured not in years but in decades”.GB News understands he will also touch on current geopolitical challenges, including Nato, Aukus, the Middle East and Ukraine, framing them within the broader need to defend shared values and uphold the rule of law.Looking ahead, the King is expected to highlight the importance of future trade and technology partnerships in sustaining economic prosperity, while also addressing environmental concerns. He will stress the need to protect “Nature’s own economy” alongside traditional economic interests.The address will conclude with a reflection on the long arc of UK-US relations, which the King will describe as a story of “reconciliation and renewal”, culminating in “one of the greatest alliances in human history”.

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<title>Aukus submarine deal under threat due to UK&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;dwindling political leadership&amp;apos;, MPs warn</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/aukus-submarine-deal-under-threat-due-to-uks-dwindling-political-leadership-mps-warn</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/aukus-submarine-deal-under-threat-due-to-uks-dwindling-political-leadership-mps-warn</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain&#039;s Aukus deal with the United States and Australia is in jeopardy due to waning political commitment, stalling investment, and an overstretched submarine fleet, a damning parliamentary defence report has warned.The Commons Defence Committee today concluded &quot;shortcomings and failures threaten to prevent the promise becoming a reality&quot; for the trilateral pact, established in 2021 to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines while deepening defence technology collaboration.The committee found senior political engagement has &quot;faded&quot;, attributing the difficulties to insufficient funding and poor prioritisation, rather than technical obstacles.MPs warned of investment at Barrow-in-Furness, home to Britain&#039;s sole submarine construction yard, &quot;faltering&quot;, describing the facility&#039;s regeneration as &quot;too big to fail&quot; given Aukus&#039;s heavy reliance on the shipyard&#039;s success.
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Committee chairman Tan Dhesi urged the Prime Minister to assume a more prominent role in steering the programme, warning against &quot;political drift&quot; that has taken hold.He said: &quot;Any undertaking of this scale requires committed, consistent political will and leadership. Unfortunately, we found that the UK&#039;s political leadership on Aukus has dwindled.&quot;Aukus can&#039;t be seen as just another defence programme - if it is to stay on track, then leadership must come from the very top.&quot;The Labour MP cautioned even small setbacks risked compounding over time, with &quot;potentially severe consequences&quot; for national security and Britain&#039;s relationships with Washington and Canberra.MPs also pressed for greater public engagement on Aukus as part of a broader &quot;national conversation&quot; about defence, arguing such support would prove essential for a project of this duration and expense.The committee highlighted submarine availability has reached critically low levels, placing immense strain on the Royal Navy&#039;s capacity to fulfil its Aukus commitments.Earlier this year, HMS Anson, the only operational Astute-class attack submarine available, sailed to Australia for the first visit mandated under the agreement.However, the deployment was reportedly cut short when conflict erupted in Iran, leaving no alternative vessels to respond to the crisis.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Donald Trump shooting suspect charged with attempted assassinationKing and Queen greet Donald and Melania Trump at White House in landmark momentFalkland Islanders told to &#039;GO BACK TO ENGLAND&#039; in major escalation by Argentina&quot;Submarine availability is critically low,&quot; Mr Dhesi warned.&quot;Without urgent infrastructure improvements at HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde, the Government risks finding itself unable to meet its obligations under Aukus.&quot;The regular Australian visits required by the pact could leave the Navy with &quot;no breathing space&quot; during emergencies, MPs heard, prompting calls for swift upgrades at the Plymouth and Faslane bases.Beyond the submarine programme, MPs expressed deep concern about the second pillar of Aukus, which focuses on collaborative development of advanced defence technologies between the three nations.While acknowledging this strand could prove &quot;transformative&quot;, the committee concluded it had &quot;so far failed to deliver on its promise&quot;.A delegation visit to Washington left MPs in &quot;no doubt that time was running out for it to retain credibility&quot;, the report found.The committee recommended that proposals to bring additional countries into pillar two should be shelved for now.Instead, ministers should concentrate on reaching &quot;swift agreement&quot; with American and Australian counterparts on initiatives that would deliver &quot;tangible benefit&quot; to military personnel on the ground.

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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:15:30 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Donald Trump and King Charles sit down for tea with Melania and Camilla as President to discuss &amp;apos;everything&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-and-king-charles-sit-down-for-tea-with-melania-and-camilla-as-president-to-discuss-everything</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-and-king-charles-sit-down-for-tea-with-melania-and-camilla-as-president-to-discuss-everything</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump and King Charles have sat down for tea with Melania Trump and Queen Camilla, just days after the US President said he would discuss &quot;everything&quot;.The King and Queen arrived at the White House to meet the President and First Lady earlier this evening, marking a momentous occasion in Anglo-American relations.Their Majesties are now taking tea with the Trumps at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the first engagement of what promises to be a significant diplomatic tour.Mr Trump previously said he planned to talk to the King about “everything” during the royal state visit, including the Iran war, which has strained transatlantic relations.
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The US President also said he would raise the issue of Nato, which he has lambasted throughout the conflict.Mr Trump said: “I’m going to talk about everything ... I&#039;m going to talk about it. He is a friend of mine, and he is a great guy.&quot;Among other topics he was set to raise with the King was the UK’s digital services tax on American social media firms.The President has threatened to impose a “big tariff” on Britain unless it drops the 2 per cent levy on the revenues of several major US tech companies.Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has urged King Charles to confront Mr Trump over the Falkland Islands row during the state visit.The Reform leader also expressed his support for the King to restore the fractured relationship between Britain and the United States in the aftermath of the public dispute between President Trump and Sir Keir Starmer.Argentine President Javier Milei maintains a close alliance with Mr Trump, and Buenos Aires has persistently asserted its sovereignty claims over the British overseas territory.Mr Farage outlined precisely what he believes the King should convey to the American President regarding the disputed islands.LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSKing and Queen greet Donald and Melania Trump at White House in landmark momentKing and Queen touch down in Washington DC as Donald Trump meeting loomsQueen appears to send hidden message with jewellery amid US arrival&quot;I&#039;d like him to say to President Trump that the Falkland Islands have never been Argentinian ever at any point in history and that&#039;s the way it&#039;s staying,&quot; he said.The Reform UK leader added that such a message from the monarch would be &quot;very useful&quot; in clarifying Britain&#039;s position on the matter.This request comes amid growing concerns that Washington may reconsider its stance on Argentina&#039;s territorial claims over the South Atlantic archipelago, reportedly as a response to insufficient British backing for the conflict in Iran.According to a Reuters report published last week, an internal Pentagon memorandum examined the possibility of reassessing American diplomatic support for what it termed European &quot;imperial possessions&quot;, including the Falklands.The islands were at the centre of a military conflict between Britain and Argentina in 1982.This is Their Majesties&#039; first visit to America since King Charles ascended to the throne, emphasising the enduring bond between the two nations.This trip commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence, with Their Majesties set to travel across Washington DC, New York and Virginia over the coming days.It marks the first state visit by a British monarch since the late Queen Elizabeth II travelled to the United States in 2007 for the Jamestown settlement anniversary celebrations.

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<title>Robert Jenrick referred to watchdog over foreign donations</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/robert-jenrick-referred-to-watchdog-over-foreign-donations</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/robert-jenrick-referred-to-watchdog-over-foreign-donations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Robert Jenrick has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards by the Conservative Party amid a complaint over foreign donations.The action follows an Electoral Commission inquiry, which resulted in a file being handed over to the Metropolitan Police.The matter centres on financial contributions made to the Newark MP, which are now subject to both a potential criminal investigation and scrutiny under parliamentary rules.The Tories have indicated they are prepared to supply additional evidence to the Commissioner if requested.
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The referral marks a significant development in questions surrounding the funding arrangements of the former leadership contender.The donations in question comprise four separate payments of £25,000 each, made between July and September 2024.These contributions were registered in the House of Commons Register of Members&#039; Financial Interests as originating from Spott Fitness Limited, a company incorporated in the UK.However, the Conservative Party now claims to possess evidence that £37,500 of the £100,000 total actually came from Innovyz USA LLC, an American firm.This US company is controlled by Gary Klopfenstein, an American citizen who previously admitted to wire fraud charges in the United States.Klopfenstein is also reportedly facing an ongoing FBI investigation.According to the party&#039;s submission, payments from Innovyz were specifically marked as a &quot;Robert Jenrick Campaign Contribution&quot; before being channelled through Spott Fitness.The Conservatives allege Klopfenstein utilised company funds to honour a personal pledge to financially back Mr Jenrick.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Green Party leader slams Keir Starmer for ‘parading’ King before Donald TrumpKeir Starmer did NOT raise Falkland Islands&#039; sovereignty issue with Donald Trump during phone callWATCH: Speaker grants vote on investigation into whether Keir Starmer misled MPsThe money was deposited into the &quot;Newark Parliamentary Campaign Fund&quot;, a bank account established via the MP&#039;s parliamentary office rather than through the local Conservative Association.The party maintains it had no involvement in or knowledge of these funds being accepted at the time.Under Commons rules, MPs are personally responsible for verifying the sources of donations within 30 days and must return impermissible contributions.The party&#039;s letter argues that while Spott Fitness qualified as a permissible UK donor, parliamentary rules require members to disclose intermediaries and the genuine origin of funds.The Conservatives contend that Spott Fitness&#039;s role as a conduit and the American source of part of the money were not adequately disclosed.The submission further claims evidence exists suggesting Mr Jenrick and his team knew funds were being routed via the fitness company.Despite the Electoral Commission&#039;s police referral, the party insists a separate parliamentary standards inquiry remains essential, noting rules governing MP conduct operate independently from electoral law.Kevin Hollinrake MP, Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party, said: &quot;Foreign donations are illegal. Politicians who funnel and hide unlawful money should face the full force of the law.&quot;The police must investigate Reform UK’s spokesman for Financial Affairs, Robert Jenrick. The Conservative Party has also reported Mr Jenrick to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, given the apparent serious breach of House of Commons rules. Parliament, the public and the Conservative Party all appear to have been deceived.&quot;While Robert Jenrick has been kicked out of the Conservative Party and is now Nigel Farage’s right-hand man, this represents serious malpractice in a leadership contest.&quot;A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said: &quot;The suggestion that Robert knowingly accepted impermissible donations is an untrue, politically motivated smear, put about years later by the Conservatives, despite the fact that Mr Ullmann was introduced to Robert by a Tory MP, and had his donations’ permissibility checked by the party.&quot;Robert and his campaign team complied with all electoral laws when receiving the donation received from Spott Fitness Ltd in 2024. &quot;Mr Jenrick has never met, spoken to, or had any contact with Mr Klopfenstein, nor was he aware of any connection between him and Mr Ullmann’s donation until he was contacted by the Electoral Commission. &quot;He fully cooperated with the Electoral Commission inquiry, providing detailed records that categorically disproved these smears in 2025.&quot;The dispute between these two businessmen, which seems to be the cause of these claims, has nothing to do with Robert.&quot;He does not know anything about the police’s review of this matter and has not been contacted by them, but he would, of course, provide any assessment, if indeed there is one, with the same records he provided the Electoral Commission.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:15:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Robert, Jenrick, referred, watchdog, over, foreign, donations</media:keywords>
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<title>King Charles and Queen Camilla greet Donald and Melania Trump at White House in landmark moment</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-and-queen-camilla-greet-donald-and-melania-trump-at-white-house-in-landmark-moment</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/king-charles-and-queen-camilla-greet-donald-and-melania-trump-at-white-house-in-landmark-moment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the White House to meet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, marking a momentous occasion in Anglo-American relations.The monarch and his wife touched down at Joint Base Andrews on Monday, beginning their historic four-day state visit.Their Majesties are now taking tea with the Trumps at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the first engagement of what promises to be a significant diplomatic tour.Queen Camilla has changed into a white chiffon dress with beautiful black beaded embroidery, designed by Anna Valentine.This is Their Majesties&#039; first visit to America since King Charles ascended to the throne, emphasising the enduring bond between the two nations.This trip commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence, with Their Majesties set to travel across Washington DC, New York and Virginia over the coming days.It marks the first state visit by a British monarch since the late Queen Elizabeth II travelled to the United States in 2007 for the Jamestown settlement anniversary celebrations.The trip offers an opportunity to acknowledge the shared heritage between both nations, alongside the extensive economic, security and cultural ties that have flourished since American independence.The state visit proceeds despite Saturday&#039;s shooting at the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner, which saw President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the First Lady evacuated from the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom.A gunman exchanged fire with Secret Service agents in the lobby before being subdued and arrested. The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen from Torrance, California, shot an agent in his ballistic vest; the officer has since been discharged from hospital and is expected to recover fully.Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the visit would go ahead following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:King and Queen touch down in Washington DC as Donald Trump meeting loomsQueen appears to send hidden message with jewellery amid US arrivalGreen Party leader slams Keir Starmer for ‘parading’ King before Donald TrumpGB News understands that Charles and Camilla privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected and gratitude towards the security services.The royal itinerary includes a ceremonial military review, garden party and bilateral discussions between the President and King, whilst the Queen and First Lady hold their own separate meeting.King Charles will become only the second British monarch to address a joint session of Congress, following Queen Elizabeth II&#039;s speech at the Capitol during her 1991 state visit.A state dinner hosted by the Trumps will conclude the Washington programme before the couple departs for New York, where engagements will focus on economic and cultural ties.The tour culminates in Virginia with community events and a block party celebrating America&#039;s milestone anniversary.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:15:30 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Labour rebels urge Keir Starmer to set out resignation date as Angela Rayner told to strike Blair&#45;Brown style leadership pact with Andy Burnham</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-rebels-urge-keir-starmer-to-set-out-resignation-date-as-angela-rayner-told-to-strike-blair-brown-style-leadership-pact-with-andy-burnham</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-rebels-urge-keir-starmer-to-set-out-resignation-date-as-angela-rayner-told-to-strike-blair-brown-style-leadership-pact-with-andy-burnham</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour MPs are urging Sir Keir Starmer to set out his resignation date in the fallout over the Peter Mandelson scandal. In the wake of the upcoming set of local elections, which is expected to bring a day of historic losses for the party, backbenchers are readying themselves to call on the Prime Minister to disclose the day he will leave Downing Street.Despite many rallying around the Prime Minister to move out of No10 after the May elections, rebels will encourage Sir Keir to step down by Labour&#039;s autumn conference – despite the PM vowing to lead the party &quot;beyond&quot; the next general election, the Daily Mail reports.Meanwhile, Westminster rival Angela Rayner has been told to strike a Blair-Brown-style leadership pact with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. The pair could be combining their influence on the left of Labour, with Mr Burnham running for the leadership role. Ms Rayner, however, would support his bid for Downing Street – as well as &quot;any job she wanted&quot; in his Cabinet, The Telegraph was told. The deal would be reminiscent of the &quot;Granita pact&quot; between New Labour giants Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Follow along for more updates throughout the day...Greens leader proposes &#039;cannabis cafe or club&#039; as part of party&#039;s plan to regulate drugsThe Greens&#039; Zack Polanski has proposed the concept of a &quot;cannabis cafe or social club&quot; as part of his party&#039;s bid to regulate drugs.Declaring the &quot;war on drugs has clearly failed&quot;, he called for the legalisation and regulation of drugs, including cannabis, in the UK. He said they would not &quot;necessarily&quot; be on a high street and assured there would be a &quot;whole conversation&quot; about the impact on the local community.Protesters prepare to descend on Westminster to protest Rachel Reeves&#039;s fuel taxProtesters are preparing to descend on Westminster to protest Rachel Reeves&#039;s fuel tax this morning. Whipped up by Reform UK&#039;s top brass, the party&#039;s economic spokesman, Robert Jenrick, has taken aim at the rising gas prices taking a toll on Britons&#039; budgets.He said: &quot;As fuel prices have shot up, the Chancellor has been raking it in. Spain, Canada, Germany, Ireland have all cut taxes on fuel. But Rachel Reeves? She’s done nothing.&quot;Since 2011, fuel duty had been frozen, and was later slashed by 5p after Russia illegally invaded Ukraine.But now, at the last Budget, Ms Reeves said the 5p cut would be returned between September 2026 and March 2027.WATCH: Labour minister admits she feels &#039;quite tired&#039; of leadership rumours



The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has admitted she feels &quot;quite tired&quot; of leadership plots flooding Westminster. Asked whether she would prefer Andy Burnham or Angela Rayner as her party leader, Emma Reynolds told GB News: &quot;I would rather retain our current Prime Minister. &quot;He won a clear mandate from the British people in July 2024, not even two years ago, to change this country for the better, to improve public services, to help people with the cost of living. &quot;I do get quite tired, frankly, of this constant leadership speculation. &quot;We are in the process of going to the country in the local elections and in important elections in Scotland and Wales, and I want to be talking to people, which is what I do week in, week out on the doorstep, about what this Government has done to help improve their lives and what Labour councils are doing to improve their high street and their local services.&quot;Zack Polanski welcomes &#039;progressive&#039; Angela Rayner or Andy Burnham while leadership rumours ramp upThe Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said that he would welcome Angela Rayner or Andy Burnham as a potential future Labour leader. The ex-hynotherapist told Sky News: &quot;It&#039;s no secret that Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner would be much closer to my politics than Keir Starmer is.&quot;He said that the duo, both of whom are thought to be scheming together to overthrow their boss, care about the impact of the cost of living crisis and people in the UK. But he added: &quot;They&#039;re still in the Labour Party and my question would be: Why have they been so quiet while the Labour Party and the Labour government have done some pretty egregious things?&quot;WATCH IN FULL: Christopher Hope grills Shadow Defence Secretary over Tories&#039; history of sleaze scandals



Watch the moment Christopher Hope grilled the Shadow Defence Secretary over the Tories&#039; history of sleaze scandals. While James Cartlidge, joining GB News this morning, laid into Labour as MPs threaten Sir Keir Starmer with a sleaze probe over appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US, the GB News presenter stopped him in his tracks. WATCH ABOVE FOR MORE.Any Labour leadership race &#039;won&#039;t happen particularly quickly&#039;, top Tory tells GB NewsAny future Labour leadership race &quot;won&#039;t happen particularly quickly&quot;, a top Tory has told GB News. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge condemned the &quot;deeply distracted and deeply divided&quot; state of the governing party amid leadership rumours swirling around Westminster. &quot;I think that this isn&#039;t good for the country at a time when we need strong leadership,&quot; Mr Cartlidge told GB News. &quot;We&#039;re just not getting that (strength). It&#039;s understandable there&#039;s now a lot of attention on who comes next.&quot;If indeed the Prime Minister is going to go, my suspicion is that this will not happen particularly quickly,&quot; he forecast.  &quot;But let&#039;s see what what matters from our point of view is that the Government actually grips the challenges the country is facing at home and abroad.&quot;Kemi Badenoch accuses &#039;vindictive&#039; Keir Starmer of &#039;obsession with lawfare&#039; ahead of key Commons vote TODAYKemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of having an &quot;obsession with lawfare&quot; in the face of an upcoming key Commons vote today.The Tory leader has regularly hit out at the Prime Minister for his &quot;vindictive&quot; plan to take veterans through the courts in its Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Mrs Badenoch slammed the Prime Minister for &quot;hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals&quot;, writing for the Daily Mail. She said: &quot;Today in Parliament, Labour MPs have a choice. They can support Starmer’s vindictive plan to pursue our brave veterans through the courts. &quot;Or, they can decide that they’ve finally had enough of blindly following the orders of a PM who keeps letting them, and the country, down.&quot;Labour urged to cut welfare spending to accelerate growth, data showsLabour has been encouraged to cut welfare spending to accelerate growth, a new report revealed today. Britons scattered across the political spectrum, of all ages and from all regions, have agreed that the Government must slice funding to save the UK&#039;s economic prospects.The report, commissioned by the 2030 Prosperity Alliance, polled around 3,000 people. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Donald Trump insists King Charles &amp;apos;will be very safe&amp;apos; in the US</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-insists-king-charles-will-be-very-safe-in-the-us</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-insists-king-charles-will-be-very-safe-in-the-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has insisted King Charles &quot;will be very safe&quot; ahead of the monarch&#039;s State Visit this week.While the US President has talked up his excitement for seeing his &quot;friend&quot; King Charles once again, the trip falls on the backdrop of a shooting scare in Washington DC.While gunshots rang out around the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were swiftly whisked away to safety, and a federal officer suffered a gunshot wound from close range, though he has since been discharged from hospital.The suspect of the attack, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, is due to appear in court today, where he is expected to be formally charged with assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
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The FBI&#039;s criminal investigation and terrorism task force are investigating the incident.Despite the scare, in an interview with CBS News, President Trump insisted he &quot;wasn&#039;t worried&quot;.&quot;I understand life. We live in a crazy world,&quot; he told the outlet.The incident, thought to be an attempt on the President&#039;s life, prompted a response from Buckingham Palace, which confirmed the visit would &quot;proceed as planned&quot;.&quot;The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,&quot; the statement, released on Sunday, read.Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News earlier that the situation was &quot;very concerning&quot; and security would need to be &quot;further strengthened&quot;.Speaking to the American outlet, President Trump once again expressed his excitement for the trip and maintained: &quot;He&#039;ll be very safe.&quot;&quot;The White House grounds are really safe,&quot; he added. &quot;This area of not very many acres, it&#039;s really safe. And he&#039;ll be staying here.LATEST ROYAL NEWSBuckingham Palace releases major statement on US State Visit after Donald Trump&#039;s claimAndrew and Harry set to be left out of King Charles&#039;s Congress speechKing signals possible changes to US state visit in fresh statement&quot;Now, I believe he&#039;s going to a couple of other locations, because he&#039;s here for a few days, and he&#039;s a great guy.&quot;Oh, they called, and they are so looking forward to being here. We spoke this morning.&quot;The President used the opportunity to call for a review of his plans to build a new White House ballroom. A judge halted the construction of the proposed £296million plans earlier this month.&quot;I have to say it&#039;s not a safe ballroom,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#039;m building a safe ballroom.&quot;And one of the reasons I&#039;m building it is exactly what happened last night. We&#039;re building a room right there.&quot;If you walk out and move 20 yards to the left, you&#039;ll be right at the entrance to the ballroom. And that ballroom is being built on the safest piece of property in this country, probably one of the safest pieces of land in the world.&quot;The 90,000 sq ft plans would fit up to 999 people inside and mark the most significant structural change to the White House in more than 70 years.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, insists, King, Charles, will, very, safe, the</media:keywords>
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<title>Lord Hermer hailed lawyer&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;dedication&amp;apos; for prosecuting British soldiers and argued troops &amp;apos;never made a real difference to people&amp;apos;s lives&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-hailed-lawyers-dedication-for-prosecuting-british-soldiers-and-argued-troops-never-made-a-real-difference-to-peoples-lives</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-hailed-lawyers-dedication-for-prosecuting-british-soldiers-and-argued-troops-never-made-a-real-difference-to-peoples-lives</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lord Hermer told a human rights lawyer representing Iraqi insurgents that she had &quot;improved lives&quot; whereas British soldiers had not, leaked emails have revealed.The Attorney General sent the message more than a decade ago after evidence emerged at a public inquiry which undermined claims British troops tortured and executed Iraqi civilians.In the email, obtained by The Telegraph, Lord Hermer said the falsely-accused soldiers could never claim to have &quot;made a real difference to people’s lives&quot; - unlike the lawyer.Further correspondence revealed the future Attorney General dismissed anger from the military at the cases as &quot;venting&quot;.
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Lord Hermer has now insisted he has the &quot;greatest respect&quot; for the Armed Forces.A spokesman added: &quot;These emails simply show the Attorney offering support to a junior lawyer - who was exonerated of any wrongdoing - and who was going through a difficult time.&quot;It also confirms his view of Phil Shiner, whose actions were reprehensible.“Over a 30-year legal career, the Attorney General represented many clients, including British military personnel, such as a soldier killed by IRA terrorists and injured servicemen in the Iraq War.&quot;He always acted with the highest professional standards, and the suggestion he acted for individuals knowing their claims were false is categorically untrue.&quot;The email at the centre of the latest twist, dated to April 2014, shows Lord Hermer voicing his support for a junior solicitor who had not recognised the significance of a key document which emerged during the inquiry.He wrote to Anna Crowther, a solicitor at Leigh Day: &quot;You should not feel too low about it. There is a much more important big picture: you are making an extraordinary contribution to securing redress for torture victims in Iraq. &quot;Your hard work, dedication and ability are outstanding and have made a real difference to people&#039;s lives - that is not something that Forbes, Neil Garnham or his clients can ever say.&quot;Sir Neil Garnham was the lead counsel for the British troops at the public inquiry, known as the Al-Sweady Inquiry, and his clients included the soldiers falsely accused by the Iraqis.Lord Hermer, meanwhile, acted as leading counsel for claims of mistreatment by UK troops. Among cases associated with the claims were accusations of British soldiers murdering Iraqis who were held as prisoners of war at a British Army base.One of the claims centred around the Battle of Danny Boy in 2004, and resulted in the Al-Sweady Inquiry held 10 years later, however GB News understands Lord Hermer&#039;s role in this case was minimal.The inquiry later concluded the allegations against British forces were “deliberate lies” driven by “ingrained hostility” towards the British Army.Lord Hermer denies ever acting for Iraqis knowing their claims were false.Last night, General Sir Peter Wall, a former head of the Army and commander of British forces in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, said: &quot;This latest revelation confirms the mismatch between the Attorney General&#039;s role in overseeing the legality of military operations and his apparent disdain for soldiers on the front line and their contribution to the nation. &quot;This cannot be tenable.&quot;While L/Cpl Brian Wood, who won a Military Cross at the Battle of Danny Boy, said: &quot;It is extraordinary that Lord Hermer thinks lawyers, including himself, acting for Iraqi insurgents do more for society than the soldiers his clients falsely accused of war crimes. &quot;He is clearly not fit to be Attorney General and must resign.&quot;A Leigh Day spokesman said: &quot;The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ruling completely exonerated the firm and its solicitors of any wrongdoing, including all issues related to the OMS detainee list. This was further confirmed by the High Court in dismissing the SRA&#039;s appeal.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Kemi Badenoch issues last&#45;ditch plea to protect British veterans from Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;obsession&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/kemi-badenoch-issues-last-ditch-plea-to-protect-british-veterans-from-keir-starmers-obsession</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/kemi-badenoch-issues-last-ditch-plea-to-protect-british-veterans-from-keir-starmers-obsession</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kemi Badenoch has issued a last-ditch plea to Labour MPs to stop Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s controversial Troubles Bill in the Commons today.Last night, the Tory leader confirmed her party would vote against any efforts to scrap immunity protections for Northern Ireland veterans - and secure &quot;yet another U-turn&quot; from Labour.The protections were awarded under the previous Tory Government&#039;s Legacy Act.But Sir Keir Starmer threw it out as it was &quot;incompatible&quot; with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), because it &quot;prevented potential rights violations from being properly investigated&quot;.
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The new Troubles Bill was introduced to Parliament last year after Labour reached an agreement on a joint framework with the Irish Government.It has long prompted warnings that Special Forces&#039; ability to act rapidly and effectively would be neutered.Mrs Badenoch has now written an impassioned plea for Sir Keir&#039;s MPs to &quot;examine their consciences&quot; and vote against his &quot;obsession&quot;.Today&#039;s vote will enable the Government to bring the legislation back before MPs after the King&#039;s Speech, and is essential for its survival.&quot;Hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals will make people think twice about joining our Armed Forces, just when we need to recruit more. Only the hard-of-thinking can’t see this,&quot; she wrote in the Mail.&quot;This is student politics at its worst.&quot;An obsession with righting what some see as the wrongs of the distant past, rather than doing anything about the real challenges currently facing Britain.&quot;Last week, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn confirmed a &quot;substantial package of amendments&quot; would be made to protect veterans, including allowing them anonymity and giving them protection in old age.LABOUR&#039;S TROUBLES BILL - READ MORE:‘National disgrace!’ Keir Starmer accused of driving British Army veterans to brink of suicide over Northern Ireland BillFears Labour&#039;s SAS &#039;witch-hunts&#039; could leave UK-US &#039;special relationship&#039; in tatters&#039;Unfair and disastrous!&#039; Nigel Farage warns Troubles Bill risks morale and recruitment in UK special forcesBut veterans&#039; supporters say the legislation will still allow for vexatious prosecutions and have called for cases to be reopened only if there is new and compelling evidence.Meanwhile, Labour&#039;s most senior veteran MP will be absent from the Commons today.Former Royal Marine Al Carns will be abroad visiting British troops in the Middle East, The Sunday Times revealed.&quot;Deep down he knows, and Labour MPs know, that Keir Starmer’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is bad and wrong,&quot; Mrs Badenoch said.She also highlighted that both he and the Defence Secretary were &quot;conveniently&quot; absent the last time the Bill was put to MPs.Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois told GB News last night: &quot;Why should any Labour backbencher vote for it?&quot;Just to suck up to a Government that probably won&#039;t be there in a couple of months&#039; time?&quot;He added: &quot;It&#039;s two tier justice. Tony Blair gave hundreds of alleged terrorists so-called letters of comfort after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.&quot;Our soldiers don&#039;t have any such letters... The reason they&#039;re in this position is because the Prime Minister and his Attorney General are human rights fanatics.&quot;A Government spokesman said Mr Benn&#039;s amendments &quot;will, among other things, clearly differentiate in law between the role played during the Troubles by our Armed Forces and the heinous actions of terrorists who were responsible for 90 per cent of Troubles killings.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Donald Trump condemns &amp;apos;dangerous Democrat hate speech&amp;apos; after third assassination attempt</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-condemns-dangerous-democrat-hate-speech-after-third-assassination-attempt</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-condemns-dangerous-democrat-hate-speech-after-third-assassination-attempt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has condemned &quot;dangerous Democrat hate speech&quot; after the President suffered his third assassination attempt in the past two years.Mr Trump had been at the fateful White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner alongside those affected by high-profile killings - including Robert F Kennedy Jr and Erika Kirk.And in an extended sit-down interview after Saturday night&#039;s chaos, Mr Trump was asked if there was something he could do to deal with political violence and its recent increase.He told CBS News: &quot;Well, you know, you go back 20 years, 40 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, it&#039;s always been there. &quot;People are assassinated. People are injured. People are hurt. And I&#039;m not sure that it&#039;s any more now than there was.
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&quot;I do think that the hate speech of the Democrats much more so is very dangerous. I really think it&#039;s very dangerous for the country.Mrs Kirk was sitting next to Mr Trump after she previously withdrew from a Turning Point USA with Vice President JD Vance over security concerns.Her late husband Charlie had warned just five months prior to his killing: &quot;Assassination culture is spreading on the left. Forty-eight per cent of liberals say it would be at least somewhat justified to murder Elon Musk. Fifty-five per cent said the same about Donald Trump.&quot;The left is being whipped into a violent frenzy.&quot;Just days after Mr Kirk&#039;s assassination, Lord Young, the director of the Free Speech Union, had warned of a rise in political violence in the United States.He told GB News: &quot;I don&#039;t think it&#039;s accurate to say this reflects the increasing polarisation of American politics since nearly all the violence has been meted out by one side against the other.&quot;It reflects the accelerating derangement of the woke left.&quot;Last night, Mr Trump was confronted by alleged shooter Cole Tomas Allen&#039;s bizarre &quot;manifesto&quot; - though said it was &quot;disgraceful&quot; to have the shooter&#039;s words read out to him on-air.&quot;I am no longer willing to permit a paedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,&quot; Mr Allen wrote - allegations which the President vehemently denied.Earlier on Sunday, Trump told Fox News the &quot;strongly anti-Christian&quot; suspect &quot;had a lot of hatred in his heart for a while&quot;, and said his family knew he had &quot;difficulties&quot;. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT - READ MORE:‘We saw Secret Service running with guns!’ Bev Turner&#039;s first-hand account of DC dinner shootingDonald Trump bundled out by Secret Service as shots fired at White House Correspondents’ DinnerDonald Trump slams ‘wackjob’ as suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman identifiedActing US Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the alleged gunman&#039;s motive is still under investigation - but &quot;preliminary&quot; findings indicate he was targeting administration officials.The FBI&#039;s criminal division and terrorism task-force are investigating the incident.One Secret Service Agent was shot in the assassination attempt.Mr Trump said the agent initially did not want to go to the hospital and was protected by his bulletproof vest.&quot;He didn&#039;t want to go to the hospital. He really didn&#039;t. They asked him to go, and he said he didn&#039;t want to go. He said: &#039;I don&#039;t need to go to the hospital.&#039; But he went because they asked him to go,&quot; the President said.Discussions are now underway for new security measures for the President, including wearing a bulletproof vest for future public appearances, according to Fox News.Other major security improvements are said to be under discussion at the highest level.The President, immediately after the shooting, said the events showed the need for his new East Wing ballroom, which will not be ready until 2028, although Mr Trump has said it is ahead of schedule.Mr Trump said: &quot;I didn&#039;t want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we&#039;re planning at the White House. It&#039;s actually a larger room, and it&#039;s much more secure. It’s got - it’s drone-proof, it’s bulletproof glass.&quot;The White House Correspondent&#039;s Association organise the annual dinner and the President has said he hopes to reschedule the event as soon as possible.He said: &quot;I don&#039;t want to have a crazy person - I think it&#039;s really bad for a crazy person to be able to cancel something like this.&quot;The annual event is an opportunity for the sitting President to deliver a less formal speech to the media in DC.This year&#039;s was the first to be attended by Mr Trump as President - though he infamously attended as a citizen in 2011.Then-President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers made jokes at his expense, leading to to speculation this was reason he decided to run for high office.The President was expected to deliver a speech he described as the &quot;most inappropriate speech ever made&quot;, after he sued numerous press outlets in his second term, including the BBC.Mr Trump had a previous assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and two months later survived another assassination attempt while golfing at his Mar-a-Lago course.As a result, his pastor Mark Burns told GB News the President had become a more spiritual man after the first attempt on his life.&quot;He knows, without a shadow of doubt, that the hand of God was - is - upon his life,&quot; he said.

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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, condemns, dangerous, Democrat, hate, speech, after, third, assassination, attempt</media:keywords>
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<title>Falkland Islanders issue defiant message to America after leaked Pentagon memo sends Argentina into frenzy</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/falkland-islanders-issue-defiant-message-to-america-after-leaked-pentagon-memo-sends-argentina-into-frenzy</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/falkland-islanders-issue-defiant-message-to-america-after-leaked-pentagon-memo-sends-argentina-into-frenzy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Falkland Islanders have issued a defiant message to America after a leaked Pentagon memo revealed the US was considering Argentina&#039;s claim to the territory.The archipelago, which was first landed on by English explorers some 120 years before Argentina existed as an independent state, could have its sovereignty challenged as &quot;punishment&quot; to the UK after it withheld the use of British airbases in the Iran war.Teslyn Barkman, a Falklands-born former politician, said it was disappointing to hear about her home &quot;spoken about as a possession&quot;.She told The Times: &quot;Whether it came from Trump directly or whether it was someone else who came up with it, I think people here would want to show him what the Falklands really looks like. 
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&quot;Because we’re always an idea to people and the reality when you come here is usually quite shocking.&quot;When you walk around you’d see British flags, you would see the postboxes... And then you go to the beach and there’s a huge haul of penguins. It is very distinctly Falklands.&quot;Downing Street was quick to confirm the Falklands were British, saying the islanders&#039; right to self-determination was &quot;not in question&quot;, adding the position had been made &quot;clearly and consistently&quot;.Gary Clement, 70, a veteran of the Falklands War who has lived on the islands for 35 years, said the most recent diplomatic tensions has left locals &quot;very concerned&quot;.He said when the &quot;slightest thing&quot; threatens the islands, residents are &quot;quick to respond&quot;.Argentina has continued to claim sovereignty over the territory after the Falklands War in 1982.Its President, Javier Milei has reasserted the country&#039;s claim to the territory and called for direct negotiations with Britain.The country has been upgrading its military capabilities with US help - with Mr Milei aligning himself with Mr Trump&#039;s foreign policy positions.FALKLAND ISLANDS - READ MORE:Falkland Islands exposed as Argentina splashes millions on air defencesCalls grow for King to address Donald Trump over Falklands rowDonald Trump slammed for ‘lashing out’ at the UK after Iran ‘misadventure’ with Falklands threatOn Friday, he wrote on social media: &quot;The Malvinas were, are, and will always be Argentine. Long live freedom, damn it!&quot;The US historically has remained neutral to the challenge of sovereignty.On Saturday, Pablo Quirno, the Argentine Foreign Minister, rejected a 2013 referendum held by the Falkland Islands where 99.8 per cent of its population voted to remain British, labelling it a sham and rejecting the concept of self-determination.Mr Quirno said: &quot;We reject the British invocation of the principle of the free determination of peoples.&quot;The current inhabitants of the Falklands have never been recognised as a &#039;people&#039; by the United Nations. It is not acceptable for the island’s inhabitants to become arbiters of a territorial dispute in which their own country, as an implanted population, is a party.&quot;While the British Army has shrunk since the Falklands War, residents of the islands say they are not worried about Britain&#039;s ability to protect the territory as Argentina has upgraded its military capabilities with US help.It is defended at all times by four Typhoon aircraft, 1,000 military personnel, and a permanent naval base.The Falklands Islands Defence Force also trains locals to Royal Marines standards.Mrs Barkman said: &quot;Obviously, as Falkland Islanders, we know this land better than anybody.&quot;It’s our way of also giving back and contributing to the defence of the island.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Falkland, Islanders, issue, defiant, message, America, after, leaked, Pentagon, memo, sends, Argentina, into, frenzy</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer to make Labour MPs block sleaze probe as PM braces for crunch vote</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-make-labour-mps-block-sleaze-probe-as-pm-braces-for-crunch-vote</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-make-labour-mps-block-sleaze-probe-as-pm-braces-for-crunch-vote</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has been planning to make Labour MPs vote down any attempt to refer him to a parliamentary sleaze inquiry over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US. The Prime Minister is expected to face a crunch vote on Tuesday after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened the door to a debate on referring Sir Keir to the privileges committee. The privileges committee ultimately brought about the downfall of Boris Johnson in June 2023, with the former Prime Minister resigning as the MP for Uxbridge &amp; South Ruislip after being found to have misled MPs over Partygate. Sir Lindsay, who No10 was hoping would deny the request for a vote, is expected to grant the request due to the “relatively low” procedural bar for doing so. 
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However, The Times has revealed that the Prime Minister is planning to whip Labour MPs to oppose any attempt to bring about a parliamentary investigation. Labour grandees Sir Alan Johnson and Lord Blunkett have also issued a joint statement opposing the vote.The pair said: “The fact that Kemi Badenoch has changed the accusations she is levelling against the PM on an almost daily basis as her claims have failed to stand up to scrutiny shows what this is really about. &quot;This is a nakedly political stunt with no substance ahead of the May elections.“Any comparison with Boris Johnson is absurd. When parliament referred that matter to the privileges committee, a police investigation had directly disproved his categoric statements that he knew nothing about the breach of lockdown rules.”The Prime Minister&#039;s allies also argue that a parliamentary probe would be a &quot;waste of public money&quot; and a &quot;diversion from the major challenges this country faces&quot;. Sir Keir, who consistently denies misleading MPs, is expected to face a challenging week over the scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson.Morgan McSweeney, who resigned as the Prime Minister&#039;s chief of staff in February, will appear before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSBuckingham Palace releases major statement on US State Visit after Donald Trump&#039;s claimPolice to question No10 staff over Morgan McSweeney&#039;s missing phone‘King Charles is coming!’ Donald Trump says State Visit will go ahead amid security fearsMr McSweeney will likely be asked about claims he told ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Philip Barton to &quot;just f**king approve&quot; Lord Mandelson&#039;s move to Washington. Despite romping to victory in 2024 with a majority of 170, Sir Keir risks emboldening Labour rebels by whipping MPs to vote against a sleaze probe. A growing group of Labour backbenchers have broken ranks with the Prime Minister to call for him to resign.Speaking to GB News last week, Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash said: “They just need to get a grip. I&#039;m completely fed up about it, and I think it&#039;s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, you know, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it&#039;s not a case of if, it&#039;s when.&quot;Meanwhile, veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer told The People&#039;s Channel: &quot;He should announce a timetable for him going so the Labour Party could have a proper discussion and debate about what is best for the country, what is best for the Labour Party and choose a leader accordingly.&quot;Labour rebels have also been tipped to join forces with the Tories to force through a parliamentary sleaze probe. A Labour MP told The Sun on Sunday: “Watch out for the Privileges Committee – a lot of Labour MPs are angry.”Tory MP Saqib Bhatti also appeared to extend an olive branch to Labour backbenchers.He said: “Labour MPs need to decide pronto if they stand with the victims of abuse or Starmer who didn’t care at all.”However, Sir Keir insists a majority of Labour MPs remain supportive of his leadership. &quot;What you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job. And that is the vast majority of people in the Parliamentary Labour Party,&quot; the Prime Minister told The Sunday Times.Sir Keir added: &quot;They&#039;ve waited a long time to be in power. And they just want to get on with their job. They don&#039;t make a lot of noise about it. &quot;They don&#039;t talk to journalists about it. It&#039;s really important that is reflected in these debates.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, make, Labour, MPs, block, sleaze, probe, braces, for, crunch, vote</media:keywords>
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<title>Buckingham Palace releases major statement on US State Visit after Donald Trump&amp;apos;s claim</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/buckingham-palace-releases-major-statement-on-us-state-visit-after-donald-trumps-claim</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/buckingham-palace-releases-major-statement-on-us-state-visit-after-donald-trumps-claim</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles will travel to the United States for his scheduled State Visit after Donald Trump faced his third assassination attempt, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.Buckingham Palace released its statement just hours after the US President claimed the royals were still intending to embark on the scheduled trip.&quot;Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned,&quot; Buckingham Palace said.&quot;The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow.&quot;
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Following last night&#039;s assassination attempt in Washington, Mr Trump suggested King Charles and Queen Camilla would still arrive in the US tomorrow.The US President, who made the announcement ahead of the release of Buckingham Palace&#039;s statement, said: “First of all, King Charles is coming.“He’s a great guy. We look forward to it,&quot; he said, phoning in to the US broadcaster.&quot;He&#039;s really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative. And he&#039;s brave. He&#039;s a friend of mine for a long time.&quot;Mr Trump added: &quot;So he&#039;s coming, and we&#039;re going to have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it.&quot;However, Buckingham Palace had been locked in talks about additional security measures following last night&#039;s shooting. A senior palace source confirmed the decision to alter the programme was made on official advice at emergency meetings scheduled in the aftermath of the Washington Hilton shooting.GB News understands that some operational adjustments will be included to the programme.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS‘King Charles is coming!’ Donald Trump says State Visit will go ahead amid security fearsHow safe is King after Donald Trump&#039;s evacuation from hotel shooting?Andrew and Harry set to be left out of King Charles&#039;s Congress speechThe trip had been thrown into doubt after last night&#039;s attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents&#039; Association dinner at the Hilton hotel. Mr Trump and senior members of his administration were swiftly evacuated from the scene by Secret Service agents. King Charles&#039;s visit will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.The monarch will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York’s Twin Towers.The shooting suspect, 31-year-old teacher Cole Tomas Allen, was armed with guns and knives when he stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton.Video footage showed the suspect running through a metal scanner outside the ballroom. Secret Service agents raced to protect Mr Trump, taking the US President backstage. One officer was shot but the bullet was prevented from doing major damage by a bulletproof vest.The gunman, who was tackled to the ground, was not injured.Allen has been taken into custody but is not cooperating with authorities. Last night&#039;s incident in Washington is the third attempted assassination against Mr Trump since 2024.The US President, who was at the time campaigning ahead of the 2024 US Presidential Election, was hit by a bullet during a rally in Pennsylvania.Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, killed attendee Corey Comperatore, 50, a former volunteer fire chief who was in the crowd and shielding his family. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Buckingham, Palace, releases, major, statement, State, Visit, after, Donald, Trumps, claim</media:keywords>
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<title>Police to question No10 staff over Morgan McSweeney&amp;apos;s missing phone</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/police-to-question-no10-staff-over-morgan-mcsweeneys-missing-phone</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/police-to-question-no10-staff-over-morgan-mcsweeneys-missing-phone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Scotland Yard will question No10 staff over the theft of Morgan McSweeney&#039;s phone, it has been revealed.Mr McSweeney, who resigned as Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s chief of staff over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US in February, lost the phone on October 20 last year.A balaclava-clad man was said to have snatched the device from the Irishman&#039;s hand while travelling on an e-bike. Mr McSweeney was replying to messages while walking home from a London restaurant at 10.30pm.
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However, the incident sparked concern given Mr McSweeney&#039;s close relationship with Lord Mandelson.Scotland Yard will now speak to civil servants after reopening the investigation into the mugging incident.Officers want to know whether No10 or the Cabinet Office still holds tracking data on the device, The Telegraph has revealed. Mr McSweeney will be grilled by MPs on Tuesday after being called to appear at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The 49-year-old is expected to be challenged on the account given by former Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins.It has been suggested that Mr McSweeney told Sir Olly&#039;s predecessor, Sir Philip Barton, to &quot;just f**king approve it&quot;. However, Mr McSweeney has already rejected the suggestion that No10 put pressure on Foreign Office officials.Speaking at a security conference earlier this week, the former No10 chief of staff said: &quot;I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer ‘broke ministerial code’ after meeting with top Peter Mandelson client‘People feel let down!’ Suspended Labour MP issues devastating verdict on Keir Starmer’s GovernmentLabour backbenchers set to join forces with Tory MPs to force Keir Starmer into sleaze inquiryMr McSweeney previously took “full responsibility” for giving Sir Keir advice that resulted in the “wrong” appointment decision when he resigned from Downing Street. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister continues to dismiss calls to resign over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment.Sir Keir said: &quot;Last week, my political opponents were saying that there’s no way a civil servant wouldn’t have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise.“Turns out my political opponents were completely wrong about that.”The Prime Minister added: “Then they said that I was dishonest. It turns out they were completely wrong about that. &quot;They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why – they are opposed politically to what this government is trying to achieve.”However, Mr McSweeney&#039;s friendship with Lord Mandelson has raised concerns about the mobile phone holding messages about the New Labour grandee&#039;s appointment.Scotland Yard opened a second investigation into the theft on March 27, after reports revealed the device was stolen. The Prime Minister&#039;s political opponents appeared to initially suggest that elements of the phone theft incident did not add up.However, Sir Keir responded: &quot;Unfortunately, there are thefts like this.&quot;It was stolen. It was reported at the time, the police have acknowledged and confirmed that. That is what happened.&quot;The idea that somehow everybody could have seen that some time in the future there&#039;d be a request for the phone is, to my mind, a little bit far-fetched.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Police, question, No10, staff, over, Morgan, McSweeneys, missing, phone</media:keywords>
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<title>Washington shooting suspect shared anti&#45;Donald Trump manifesto with family just minutes before attack</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/washington-shooting-suspect-shared-anti-donald-trump-manifesto-with-family-just-minutes-before-attack</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/washington-shooting-suspect-shared-anti-donald-trump-manifesto-with-family-just-minutes-before-attack</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Washington shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen allegedly sent his manifesto just moments before last night&#039;s attack, a new report has revealed. Allen, who adopted the moniker &quot;friendly federal assassin&quot;, used the manifesto to outline his intent to target members of Donald Trump&#039;s administration.The written statement was handed over to law enforcement by a family member who received it,&quot; The New York Post has reported. The 31-year-old teacher seemingly planned out the shooting, detailing both his intended victims and his reasoning for the attack.
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Allen&#039;s written justification centred on the suffering of others rather than any personal grievance. &quot;Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed,&quot; he wrote. &quot;I&#039;m not the person raped in a detention camp. I&#039;m not the fisherman executed without trial.&quot;The 31-year-old, who is accused of rushing a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives, continued: &quot;I&#039;m not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration.&quot;The suspect also framed his actions through a religious lens, arguing that failing to act when others face oppression amounts to &quot;complicity in the oppressor&#039;s crimes&quot; rather than Christian conduct.The manifesto detailed Allen&#039;s targeting methodology, identifying &quot;administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel)&quot; as his intended victims, ranked by seniority from highest to lowest.He also appeared to describe Mr Trump as &quot;a paedophile, rapist and traitor&quot; whose actions he was &quot;no longer willing to permit&quot;.Allen, who donated to Kamala Harris&#039;s 2024 US Presidential Election campaign, added: &quot;In order to minimise casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer warns Donald Trump of &#039;severe consequences&#039; to Iran war after &#039;assassination attempt&#039;Keir Starmer holds crunch talks with Palace over King&#039;s &#039;security&#039; after White House dinner shootingWho is Cole Tomas Allen? &#039;Evil&#039; teacher who stormed White House dinnerFollowing the release of the suspect&#039;s supposed manifesto, Mr Trump revealed Allen&#039;s family knew of the 31-year-old&#039;s difficulties.The US President, who faced two other assassination attempts on the 2024 US Presidential Election campaign trail, told Fox News: “It was a religious thing.“He had a manifesto, can you believe it? He’s got some big problems with the rest of his life.”Mr Trump added: “His family knew that he had difficulty ... maybe they should have reported him a little more strongly, probably, but it’s a hard thing to do, I guess.”Allen, who is not cooperating with authorities, has no prior convictions and was not previously on US law enforcement&#039;s watchlist.He was recently awarded &quot;teacher of the month&quot; at the California Institute of Technology.However, the manifesto also revealed how the suspect had booked into the hotel ahead of the gala event. Attendees only had to show their ticket and go through one round of magnetometers to get to the main ballroom.Allen wrote: “The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before.“Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope it’s corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again.”Following the release of the manifesto, Mr Trump reiterated that King Charles&#039;s trip to the US is going ahead as scheduled.The US President also appeared to use the shooting as a reason to continue with the plans for a ballroom in the White House again.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:06:13 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, shooting, suspect, shared, anti-Donald, Trump, manifesto, with, family, just, minutes, before, attack</media:keywords>
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<title>‘We saw Secret Service running with guns!’ Bev Turner gives her first&#45;hand account of DC dinner shooting</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/we-saw-secret-service-running-with-guns-bev-turner-gives-her-first-hand-account-of-dc-dinner-shooting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/we-saw-secret-service-running-with-guns-bev-turner-gives-her-first-hand-account-of-dc-dinner-shooting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bev Turner has shared her first-hand account after an armed “would-be assassin” broke into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC.The GB News host was attending the glitzy event, which hosted President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials.Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher from California, allegedly breached a security checkpoint before attempting to reach the ballroom where the President and other senior officials were gathered.Armed officers moved quickly to subdue the suspect, wrestling him to the ground and placing him in handcuffs moments after he penetrated the security perimeter.
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Bev was attending the dinner alongside throngs of other top media representatives when the dramatic scenes unfolded.“The first thing I knew of what was happening, or anybody knew in the bars on the lobby level, was that we saw about four Secret Service guys running through with guns running to the top of the escalators,” she recalled shorty after.“At that point, the speculation was that perhaps there had been a bomb threat. Maybe somebody had threatened something.“Then there was a period of waiting around. “They locked the ballroom down. Those of us upstairs in the bar were trying to ascertain what had happened.&quot;GB News&#039; Chief US correspondent Ben Leo was also able to provide context of the incident.He said: “Gunshots rang out from the lobby just yards from the main ballroom where the President was sitting. He was accompanied by his wife, Melania.“Press secretary Caroline Leavitt was with them on the head table on the stage. She just went on maternity leave yesterday. She&#039;s expecting her second child next week. LATEST US NEWS:WATCH: Armed man storms towards ballroom with Donald Trump inside in shocking footageWho is Cole Tomas Allen? &#039;Evil&#039; teacher who stormed White House dinnerDonald Trump slammed for ‘lashing out’ at the UK after Iran ‘misadventure’ with Falklands threat“Also in attendance were many, many members of President Trump&#039;s top team, the cabinet secretary of War Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr, the Vice President, JD Vance was on the stage as well. So many big names in the room.&quot;Footage from the incident showed heavily armed Secret Service agents storming the stage and rushing Mr Trump and his top team away. Other clips showed the dozens of guests taking cover under tables in the hotel banquet hall. Among those was White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, who could be seen with a Secret Service agent attempting to shield his pregnant wife.The alleged attempted shooter is believed to have been staying at the hotel as a guest, and was seen in surveillance footage sprinting towards the ballroom doors after bypassing screening.Police recovered a cache of weapons, including a shotgun, a handgun and several knives, according to the President.Mr Trump later released an image showing the suspect lying shirtless and face down on the floor after being detained.US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro confirmed the suspect has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘We, saw, Secret, Service, running, with, guns’, Bev, Turner, gives, her, first-hand, account, dinner, shooting</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour warns Iran conflict will push UK prices higher for &amp;apos;eight&#45;plus months&amp;apos; after resolution</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-warns-iran-conflict-will-push-uk-prices-higher-for-eight-plus-months-after-resolution</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-warns-iran-conflict-will-push-uk-prices-higher-for-eight-plus-months-after-resolution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The economic impact of the Iran conflict could last for more than eight months after any resolution, according to Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones. He said the financial fallout would be felt through rising prices rather than shortages on shop shelves.“You’re going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East,” he told the BBC, adding the effects would have “a long tail”.Asked how long elevated petrol and diesel prices could persist, Mr Jones said the impact may continue for months after stability returns to the region.
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“I think our best guess is eight‑plus months from the point of resolution that you’ll see economic impacts coming through the system,” he said.Household energy bills, food costs and airfares were identified as the areas most likely to be affected.“People will see higher energy prices, food prices and those types of issues, flight ticket prices, as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East,” he said.Mr Jones added the Government is assessing measures to support households through the period of higher costs.“The Government here in the UK, the work that I’m doing with the Prime Minister is looking at all of those things and saying, ‘What can we do within our power to help people to get through those difficult times?’”The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched a military strike against Iran, escalating tensions across the region.Fighting disrupted energy infrastructure and shipping routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit point for oil and gas.A temporary ceasefire was announced on April 8, providing a pause in hostilities.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSHow GB News’s own Alex Armstrong co‑founded a startup that could change the way we eat for good&#039;I&#039;ll have to sell my property&#039;: Landlord warns tenants will pay more under &#039;very damaging&#039; reformsCar finance scandal &#039;likely&#039; to hike prices for hard-pressed drivers despite redress schemeAnalysts have warned that even if stability is maintained, damage to infrastructure and disruption to supply chains could continue to affect energy markets.The UK remains exposed to global energy price shocks as a net importer, despite receiving around one per cent of its gas from the Middle East.Mr Jones also confirmed a Government working group is monitoring the risk of carbon dioxide shortages that could affect beer supplies during the World Cup this summer.“I raised this issue because if there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure that it’s not the case,” he said.The Government has committed £100million to reopen a carbon dioxide plant that closed in September to maintain supplies used in drinks production and industrial processes.Jet fuel has been among the commodities most affected by the conflict, contributing to higher flight costs and ongoing disruption to travel.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, warns, Iran, conflict, will, push, prices, higher, for, eight-plus, months, after, resolution</media:keywords>
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<title>Calls grow for King Charles to address Donald Trump over Falklands row</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/calls-grow-for-king-charles-to-address-donald-trump-over-falklands-row</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/calls-grow-for-king-charles-to-address-donald-trump-over-falklands-row</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Charles is facing calls to address Britain&#039;s concerns about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with Donald Trump during the State Visit.The shadow home secretary has said it would be “very reasonable” for the King to speak to the US President about UK sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.This follows reports that the US could review its position on the South Atlantic territory in retaliation for Sir Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran.Chris Philp told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “The British Government should do everything possible to keep those islands British, including making sure there is enough military hardware on the islands to protect them.”
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He added: “I think it would be a reasonable point for the King to raise, of course, it’s up to him what he decides to discuss, but I think it would be very reasonable for the King to raise that with President Trump.”On Friday, a leaked memo from the Pentagon suggested the US should re-evaluate its position on the Falkland Islands to punish Britain for its lack of involvement in Iran.Since then, the Prime Minister, veterans, and Falkland Islanders have weighed in on the email, sharply condemning the suggestion.The Falkland Islands Government said in a statement that 99.8 per cent of islanders voted in favour of remaining as a British Overseas Territory.It said: &quot;The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination.&quot;Sir Keir Starmer also declared on Friday, in response to the memo, that the Falkland Islands belong to Britain.Downing Street insisted the UK&#039;s &quot;long-standing&quot; stance on the British territory remains &quot;unchanged&quot;.The Prime Minister&#039;s spokesman said: &quot;We could not be clearer about the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands. It’s long-standing. It’s unchanged.&quot;LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTSPrincess Diana photograph &#039;removed&#039; from church ahead of King&#039;s visitKeir Starmer holds crunch talks with Palace over King&#039;s &#039;security&#039; after White House‘Bound to trigger review’: White House shooting casts shadow over King and Queen&quot;Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the Islands’ right to self-determination is paramount.&quot;That’s been our consistent position and will remain the case.&quot;The PM has been clear repeatedly that he won’t be pressured.&quot;He will always take a strong position on the UK’s national interests, and the Falklands is no different to that.&quot;Reform leader Nigel Farage simply posted on X: &quot;The Falklands are and will always be British.&quot;Mr Philp also said during his interview that King Charles’s trip “should absolutely go ahead” despite the attempted shooting at a Washington dinner attended by the US President.On Saturday night, an attempted attack occurred during the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner at the Washington Hilton, resulting in the immediate evacuation of the President and First Lady.The suspect is facing charges including assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday, April 27.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/falklands-veteran-simon-weston-hits-out-at-president-donald-trump-and-says-the-falklands-have-nothing-to-do-with-him.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Calls, grow, for, King, Charles, address, Donald, Trump, over, Falklands, row</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves blasted as &amp;apos;economically illiterate&amp;apos; amid National Insurance hikes</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-blasted-as-economically-illiterate-amid-national-insurance-hikes</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-blasted-as-economically-illiterate-amid-national-insurance-hikes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ British employers have warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to raise National Insurance contributions has triggered a hiring crisis.Business owners are branding the policy &quot;economically illiterate&quot; as job vacancies fall to their lowest level in nearly five years.Firms grappling with elevated National Insurance bills and increased wage pressures are increasingly turning to automation rather than hiring new staff, according to industry experts.Young people are bearing the brunt of the tightening labour market, with the number of those not in education, employment or training approaching one million.
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Specialists have cautioned an entire generation risks being excluded from the workforce, raising concerns about long-term economic and social consequences.The latest quarterly figures show vacancies have dropped to 711,000, marking a decline of 29,000 compared with the previous quarter.This represents the lowest vacancy level since the period between February and April 2021, with a 3.9 per cent fall recorded between October and December 2025.The number of employees on company payrolls has also declined, falling by 74,000 in the 12 months to February 2026.Between December 2025 and February 2026, payrolled workers decreased by 87,000 compared with the same period a year earlier.Early estimates for March 2026 suggest the total has fallen to 30.3 million, down 65,000 on an annual basis.Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: &quot;The number of workers on payroll remained broadly flat in recent periods, reflecting ongoing weak hiring.&quot;Vacancies fell to their lowest level in almost five years, but with unemployment also falling the number of vacancies per unemployed person remains broadly unchanged.&quot;Unemployment fell to 4.9 per cent, down from 5.2 per cent in the previous quarter.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer ‘planning to axe Rachel Reeves’ in ‘final roll of the dice’ to save premiershipRachel Reeves car tax raid sees hybrid drivers hit twiceBusiness creation falls to record low as Britain loses 4,500 firms amid Rachel Reeves&#039;s tax raidsTony Redondo, founder of Newquay-based Cosmos Currency Exchange, said: &quot;I have no intention of hiring anytime soon. &quot;The Iran war&#039;s impact on energy prices, supply bottlenecks and inflation have not helped, but the root cause is this Government&#039;s economically illiterate policies, which have left employers facing record taxes and regulatory burden.&quot;Mr Redondo said business owners are increasingly shifting focus away from growth as conditions tighten.He said: &quot;Most UK business owners I speak with have shifted from growth to survival, turning to AI agents to fill entry-level roles.&quot;Rohit Parmar-Mistry, founder of AI consultancy Pattrn Data, said: &quot;Most firms are not replacing whole teams overnight. &quot;What they are doing is freezing junior hiring, stretching existing staff further, and using automation to avoid adding headcount.&quot;Mr Parmar-Mistry warned entry-level roles, which traditionally provide early career development, are becoming less available.Katrina Young, Chief Technology Officer at KYC Digital, said: &quot;Businesses are not replacing junior staff with AI systems. They are simply not replacing them at all.&quot;Mary Maguire, Managing Director of Derby-based Astute Recruitment, said smaller firms have been hit by a combination of rising National Insurance costs, minimum wage increases and wider economic pressures, including energy price volatility and developments in artificial intelligence.Speaking before Parliament’s Treasury Committee last month, the Chancellor said there was a &quot;valid argument&quot; against raising employers’ National Insurance contributions following an increase in youth unemployment.Ms Reeves said the decision was necessary to fund public services, including a £29billion annual uplift for the NHS.She said: &quot;But I do recognise there are particular issues around youth unemployment. &quot;A lot of that, with respect, we inherited with a big increase in the young people not in education, employment or training, but we are facing into that with actions coming on stream from next month.&quot;Labour has pointed to expanded apprenticeship opportunities and a youth guarantee offering paid work to eligible young people unemployed for 18 months.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, blasted, economically, illiterate, amid, National, Insurance, hikes</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer holds imminent crunch talks with Buckingham Palace over King&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;security&amp;apos; after White House shooting</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-holds-imminent-crunch-talks-with-buckingham-palace-over-kings-security-after-white-house-shooting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-holds-imminent-crunch-talks-with-buckingham-palace-over-kings-security-after-white-house-shooting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer is holding crunch talks with Buckingham Palace over King Charles&#039;s &quot;security&quot; alongside Donald Trump in the United States, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has confirmed.On Saturday night, an attempted attack occurred during the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner at the Washington Hilton, resulting in the immediate evacuation of the President and First Lady.As a result, the Prime Minister has sent a message of solidarity to Mr Trump.Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones confirmed: “These are remarkable scenes. 
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“The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the President of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.“As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”Asked if there are any extra concerns for the King’s safety during his upcoming state visit to the US, Mr Jones continued to tell Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”Sir Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” by the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.“It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to arrive in the US on Monday for a three-day State Visit, where they will stay in Washington, DC, with Donald and Melania Trump.Sir Keir&#039;s Chief Secretary has said discussions on the King’s security during his visit to the US would take place on Sunday.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS‘Bound to trigger review’: White House shooting casts shadow over King and Queen US visitDonald Trump bundled out by Secret Service as shots fired at White House Correspondents’ DinnerWho is Cole Tomas Allen? &#039;Evil&#039; teacher who stormed White House dinnerMr Jones told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace were in close co-operation with American counterparts in advance of the visit anyway, and further discussions will be taking place today ahead of next week.”Asked if that meant there would be any escalation on what had been planned, he said: “There’ll be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk.”Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News earlier this morning: &quot;This is obviously very concerning. Security will have been extremely tight anyway, especially given the War with Iran.&quot;Clearly, it will be further strengthened. To my knowledge, no walkabouts were planned. This devastating security scare turned the event into chaos.&quot;GB News has contacted both Buckingham Palace and the White House for comment.Secret Service agents intercepted the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. One Secret Service officer was shot at close range but was saved by his bulletproof vest.The suspect, who was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, was tackled and taken into custody. He was not shot but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.Hundreds of guests, including journalists and Government officials like Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, took cover under tables.The suspect is facing charges including assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday, April 27.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/donald-trump-bundled-out-by-secret-service-agents-as-shots-fired-at-white-house-event.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, holds, imminent, crunch, talks, with, Buckingham, Palace, over, Kings, security, after, White, House, shooting</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo takes ANOTHER shot at Donald Trump hours after &amp;apos;firing squads&amp;apos; revelation</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/pope-leo-takes-another-shot-at-donald-trump-hours-after-firing-squads-revelation</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/pope-leo-takes-another-shot-at-donald-trump-hours-after-firing-squads-revelation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV has denounced capital punishment as a violation of human dignity, delivering his rebuke just hours after Donald Trump&#039;s administration approved firing squads as an acceptable federal execution method on Friday.The Pontiff&#039;s condemnation came via a recorded video address to DePaul University in Chicago, timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of Illinois abolishing the death penalty.&quot;We affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed,&quot; he stated.Earlier that same day, the Pope had also spoken out against executions while aboard the papal aircraft, responding to questions about Iran&#039;s use of capital punishment.
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The Justice Department simultaneously announced it would restore the use of pentobarbital for lethal injections. The move reverses a Biden-era decision that had suspended the sedative over concerns it could inflict unnecessary suffering.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the policy shift, with the administration disputing its predecessor&#039;s scientific conclusions and maintaining that pentobarbital induces unconsciousness swiftly enough to prevent pain.These measures form part of a broader push by Mr Trump.  He has directed federal prosecutors to prioritise seeking and implementing death sentences since his return to the White House.Five US states already permit firing squads: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.The announcement has deepened an already significant rift between the Trump administration and Catholic Church leadership in the United States.Church officials have repeatedly clashed with the White House over immigration enforcement, particularly the administration&#039;s sweeping detention operations targeting undocumented migrants.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump bundled out by Secret Service agents as shots fired at White House Correspondents’ DinnerDonald Trump cancels US trip to Pakistan at 11th hour as Iran peace talks plunge into chaosKeir Starmer ‘planning to axe Rachel Reeves’ in ‘final roll of the dice’ to save premiershipUS bishops formally entered the legal fray in February, submitting an amicus brief opposing the administration&#039;s stance on birthright citizenship.The Catholic Church maintains every human life, from conception through to natural death, is sacred and warrants protection. A position that places it fundamentally at odds with the administration&#039;s aggressive expansion of capital punishment.Federal death row now holds just three inmates following former Mr Biden&#039;s decision to commute 37 death sentences to life imprisonment during his final days in office.One of the condemned prisoners is Dylann Roof, convicted of murdering nine black worshippers at Charleston&#039;s Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015.Despite this reduced number, the administration is pursuing capital punishment against 44 defendants.Executions nationwide nearly doubled last year, rising from 25 in 2024 to 47 in 2025, with Florida alone accounting for 19.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/watch-now-donald-trump-jesus-ai-post-sparks-backlash-as-nigel-farage-reacts-to-row-with-pope-leo-latest.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, takes, ANOTHER, shot, Donald, Trump, hours, after, firing, squads, revelation</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Bound to trigger review’: White House shooting casts shadow over King Charles and Queen Camilla US visit</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/bound-to-trigger-review-white-house-shooting-casts-shadow-over-king-charles-and-queen-camilla-us-visit</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/bound-to-trigger-review-white-house-shooting-casts-shadow-over-king-charles-and-queen-camilla-us-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Saturday night&#039;s White House shooting has cast a shadow over King Charles and Queen Camilla&#039;s United States visit, a royal commentator has told GB News.Their Majesties are due to arrive in the US on Monday for a three-day State Visit, where they will stay in Washington, DC, with Donald and Melania Trump.However, on Saturday night, an attempted attack occurred during the White House Correspondents&#039; Dinner at the Washington Hilton, resulting in the immediate evacuation of the President and First Lady.President Trump addressed the media from the White House later in the evening, describing the shooter as a &quot;lone wolf&quot; and confirming that all protectees were safe.
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The event has been postponed and will be rescheduled within 30 days, despite tomorrow&#039;s State Visit going ahead as planned.Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News: &quot;This is obviously very concerning. Security will have been extremely tight anyway, especially given the War with Iran.&quot;Clearly, it will be further strengthened. To my knowledge, no walkabouts were planned. This devastating security scare turned the event into chaos.&quot;Royal fans took to social media to express their concerns for the safety of the King and Queen in the US.One questioned: &quot;Is it safe for King Charles to visit the USA?&quot;Another quipped: &quot;King Charles shouldn’t go to America, your secret service is so incompetent.&quot;Someone else commented: &quot;Although the schedule is unlikely to change, last night&#039;s shooting is bound to trigger a security review of King Charles and Queen Camilla&#039;s US tour and meetings with President Trump this week.&quot;A royal fan expressed: &quot;We cannot allow King Charles&#039;s visit to go ahead. America is not safe.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump bundled out by Secret Service as shots fired at White House Correspondents’ DinnerWho is Cole Tomas Allen? &#039;Evil&#039; teacher who stormed White House dinnerDonald Trump cancels US trip to Pakistan at 11th hour as Iran peace talks plunge into chaosSomeone else pointed out: &quot;The event was highly protected. The head of the FBI was there.&quot;President Trump said there was security at every table. I’m curious if King Charles&#039;s security team will advise against it.&quot;One social media user said: &quot;Another good reason to cancel King Charles&#039;s visit to America.&quot;A royal watcher posted: &quot;There&#039;s the visit of King Charles coming up. In the UK, the King strolls among the public, shaking hands, etc., with no special security, nothing. But in the UK, people can&#039;t carry guns. Will the visit be cancelled now?&quot;Similarly, someone wrote: &quot;King Charles shouldn’t go; the amateur secret service agents couldn’t protect him properly.&quot;Another said: &quot;I pray that the UK doesn&#039;t let King Charles visit America now that we just had a targeting shooting.&quot;A royal fan commented: &quot;How can King Charles travel to the US in the midst of this?&quot;Finally, someone stated: &quot;So thankful the President and First Lady, and everyone are safe, and the perpetrator is in custody.&quot;The radicals are out of control in this country, and I wonder if this will have any effect on the royal visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla?&quot;GB News has contacted both Buckingham Palace and the White House for comment.Secret Service agents intercepted the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. One Secret Service officer was shot at close range but was saved by his bulletproof vest.The suspect, who was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, was tackled and taken into custody. He was not shot but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.Hundreds of guests, including journalists and Government officials like Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, took cover under tables.The suspect is facing charges including assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday, April 27.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/donald-trump-bundled-out-by-secret-service-agents-as-shots-fired-at-white-house-event.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Bound, trigger, review’:, White, House, shooting, casts, shadow, over, King, Charles, and, Queen, Camilla, visit</media:keywords>
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<title>Who is Cole Tomas Allen? &amp;apos;Evil&amp;apos; teacher who stormed White House dinner</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/who-is-cole-tomas-allen-evil-teacher-who-stormed-white-house-dinner</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/who-is-cole-tomas-allen-evil-teacher-who-stormed-white-house-dinner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The teacher who opened fire at the Washington hotel whilst United States President Donald Trump hosted a dinner has been named. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance in California, was captured by the authorities after opening fire at the annual correspondants meal and is currently in custody. The suspected shooter stormed a security checkpoint at the hotel, where US politicians, officials and journalists were attending the White House Correspondents&#039; Association dinner - Mr Trump later described it as &quot;not a particularly secure building&quot;. Armed with multiple weapons – a shotgun, handgun and knives - the shooter exchanged gunfire with a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer, shooting the security personnel&#039;s bulletproof vest. 
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He was tackled to the ground and handcuffed and taken into custody. The authorities believe he was a &quot;lone actor&quot;, DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll said, with the US President describing him as a &quot;lone wolf whack job&quot; who &quot;looked evil&quot; and would spend &quot;life in prison&quot;. Allen has no prior convictions and was not previously on US law enforcement&#039;s watchlist. His motive remains unclear. Recently awarded &quot;teacher of the month&quot;, the shooter&#039;s work history includes a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Technology and a mechanical engineer.He attended the Pacific Lutheran High School in Gardena, California, where he played on the volleyball team and was described by a former high school teammate as a &quot;borderline genius&quot; and &quot;super stable&quot;. The teammate, who spoke anonymously to NBC News, said Allen was noticeably intelligent: &quot;Other people study hard. He didn&#039;t have to study. It would just come to him. He was really, really smart.&quot;They summarised that Allen as someone who was &quot;really knowledgeable, really curious&quot; across the board.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump slams ‘wackjob’ as suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman identifiedWATCH: Armed man storms towards ballroom with Donald Trump inside in shocking footageDonald Trump bundled out by Secret Service as shots fired at White House Correspondents’ DinnerThey also expressed disbelief at Allen&#039;s alleged involvement in the shooting, noting he had been a &quot;gentle&quot; presence at school.&quot;He was probably the most gentle person on the team, which makes it even more shocking that he did this,&quot; they said.Allen is also described as a self-employed &quot;indie game developer&quot; by US media, calling his creations &quot;Bohrdom&quot; and &quot;First Law&quot;.The only political activity known of him is he made a single $25 donation to Kamala Harris&#039;s presidential campaign in 2024.Allen has a degree in computer science from California State University and was listed among graduates in the institution&#039;s May 2025 commencement programme.In 2014 he participated in a summer undergraduate research fellowship at NASA&#039;s Jet Propulsion laboratory.The FBI are now searching Allen&#039;s home in Torrance, California - a city of roughly 140,000 residents, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Allen has been charged with two counts of &quot;using a firearm during a crime of violence&quot; and &quot;assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon&quot;, US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro confirmed.She added that &quot;many more charges&quot; are expected to be filed against him. Allen is scheduled to be arraigned in court tomorrow.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/police-raid-suspected-shooter-s-home-after-trump-bundled-out-of-hotel.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Who, Cole, Tomas, Allen, Evil, teacher, who, stormed, White, House, dinner</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour backbenchers set to join Tory MPs to force Keir Starmer into sleaze inquiry over Lord Mandelson scandal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-backbenchers-set-to-join-tory-mps-to-force-keir-starmer-into-sleaze-inquiry-over-lord-mandelson-scandal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-backbenchers-set-to-join-tory-mps-to-force-keir-starmer-into-sleaze-inquiry-over-lord-mandelson-scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour backbenchers are preparing to side with Conservative MPs in an attempt to force Keir Starmer before a parliamentary sleaze probe over the Lord Mandelson scandal. The Prime Minister faces accusations of misleading the Commons regarding the appointment of the ex-Labour peer as ambassador to Washington.A parliamentary debate is expected this week to determine whether the matter should be referred to the Privileges Committee for formal scrutiny.Senior Labour figures have privately expressed fears the Government may not secure enough votes to block the referral.
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A party insider told The Sun: &quot;We have a big majority but MPs can vote with their feet like they did on welfare.&quot;One Labour MP also told the newspaper: &quot;Watch out for the Privileges Committee a lot of Labour MPs are angry.&quot;Should the vote fail, Sir Keir would face examination by the same committee that effectively ended Boris Johnson’s political career during the partygate scandal.The allegation centres on claims that Downing Street exerted pressure on the Foreign Office to approve Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment, which Sir Keir has denied at the despatch box.Fresh controversy erupted following the disclosure of text messages sent by the Prime Minister to Lord Mandelson after his selection for the Washington role.Sir Keir reportedly messaged the peer &quot;you&#039;ll be brilliant&quot; prior to the public announcement of the ambassadorship.The Prime Minister is also said to have conveyed his eagerness about the prospect of working &quot;side by side&quot; with Lord Mandelson.The revelations have intensified scrutiny of Sir Keir&#039;s handling of the appointment, which has already prompted the dismissal of Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins.KEIR STARMER - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer ‘planning to axe Rachel Reeves’ in ‘final roll of the dice’ to save premiershipKeir Starmer plots election battle with Nigel Farage as PM questions Reform&#039;s &#039;patriotic values&#039;UK could be left with a ‘zombie government’ as Keir Starmer clings to power amid mounting crisesConservative MP Saqib Bhatti launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of disregarding the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.He declared: &quot;Labour MPs need to decide pronto if they stand with the victims of abuse or Starmer who didn&#039;t care at all.&quot;Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn added: &quot;Starmer knew Mandelson had continued his friendship with Epstein when he sent this message.&quot;Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told The Times that her party was deploying every available parliamentary mechanism to uncover the truth.She said: &quot;There are many times when Starmer has said things at the dispatch box that were not true and I&#039;ve let it go. This time he has done it repeatedly.&quot;Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of dismissing blameless officials for his own errors and damaging relations between ministers and senior civil servants.However, former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve warned against what he described as &quot;political games&quot;.He said: &quot;Seeing that this appointment is being explored during these processes and all the evidence is not yet considered, it is impossible to see how starting a reference to the Privileges Committee is either useful or indeed &#039;due process&#039;.&quot;A Downing Street source dismissed the Conservative push as a &quot;ridiculous and baseless political stunt&quot; timed to coincide with local elections.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, backbenchers, set, join, Tory, MPs, force, Keir, Starmer, into, sleaze, inquiry, over, Lord, Mandelson, scandal</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump slams ‘wackjob’ as suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman identified</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-slams-wackjob-as-suspected-white-house-correspondents-dinner-gunman-identified</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-slams-wackjob-as-suspected-white-house-correspondents-dinner-gunman-identified</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has branded the White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman a “wackjob” after authorities released the identity of a suspect in custody.Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a schoolteacher from California, allegedly breached a security checkpoint before attempting to reach the ballroom where the President and other senior officials were gathered.Armed officers moved quickly to subdue the suspect, wrestling him to the ground and placing him in handcuffs moments after he penetrated the security perimeter.Mr Allen, who is believed to have been staying at the hotel as a guest, was seen in surveillance footage sprinting towards the ballroom doors after bypassing screening.
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Police recovered a cache of weapons, including a shotgun, a handgun and several knives, according to the President. Mr Trump later released an image showing the suspect lying shirtless and face down on the floor after being detained.US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro confirmed the suspect has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.He is due to appear in federal court on Monday, with further charges expected.“It is clear… this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Ms Pirro said.At a press conference, Mr Trump branded the attacker “a sick person - a very sick person” and “a lone wolf, a wack job”.CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was just metres from the gunman, described the moment shots rang out.“The noise was so loud. I was a few feet away from the gunman who was shooting randomly,” he said.DONALD TRUMP - READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump slammed for ‘lashing out’ at the UK after Iran ‘misadventure’ with Falklands threatDonald Trump cancels US trip to Pakistan at 11th hour as Iran peace talks plunge into chaosDonald Trump&#039;s bombshell UFO files reveal &#039;reality-bending secrets&#039; from bone-chilling incidents“Next thing I knew, a couple of police officers were jumping on me trying to protect me.”Metropolitan Police interim chief Jeffrey Carroll confirmed officers tackled the suspect, adding that he exchanged gunfire with police but was not hit.Secret Service agents swiftly secured the venue and escorted Mr Trump from the scene as he prepared to address the dinner.The President briefly stumbled during the evacuation but was helped to his feet and taken to safety.Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also safely evacuated.Witnesses said attendees ducked for cover, with some later singing “God Bless America” as the evacuation unfolded.One Secret Service agent was struck in the chest - protected by a bulletproof vest - and is not believed to have sustained any serious injuries.No other injuries were reported.National Guard troops were deployed to secure the venue as authorities carried out sweeps of the scene. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:48:44 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, slams, ‘wackjob’, suspected, White, House, Correspondents’, Dinner, gunman, identified</media:keywords>
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<title>Britain could be left with a ‘zombie government’ as Keir Starmer clings to power amid mounting crises</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-could-be-left-with-a-zombie-government-as-keir-starmer-clings-to-power-amid-mounting-crises</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-could-be-left-with-a-zombie-government-as-keir-starmer-clings-to-power-amid-mounting-crises</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain could be left shouldered with a “zombie government” as Keir Starmer battles to stay in power while the nation is mired in multiple crises.Speaking to GB News, former No10 Communications Director Jonathan Haslam predicted Labour would be paralysed with indecision on who should replace the embattled Prime Minister. “We might find ourselves facing a bit of a zombie government for the next 10 to 12 months,” Mr Haslam said.“Nobody in the Labour Party can agree on who might be best placed to take on that particular job.”He feared: “We&#039;re going to be faced as a country looking at all of the issues of the Iran war, the effect that is having on prices, the cost of living issues that we have, our energy prices, all of that. “It&#039;s so difficult to deal with when you have all of this fuss and bother going around,” Mr Haslam warned.WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain, could, left, with, ‘zombie, government’, Keir, Starmer, clings, power, amid, mounting, crises</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Vengeful’ Donald Trump has ‘every right to be aggrieved’ over UK’s lack of support on Iran amid Falklands threat, military expert warns</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/vengeful-donald-trump-has-every-right-to-be-aggrieved-over-uks-lack-of-support-on-iran-amid-falklands-threat-military-expert-warns</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/vengeful-donald-trump-has-every-right-to-be-aggrieved-over-uks-lack-of-support-on-iran-amid-falklands-threat-military-expert-warns</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump has “every right to be aggrieved” over the UK’s lack of support on Iran, defence analyst Simon Diggins has said. Speaking to GB News, the former British Army officer was reacting to concerns the US could reevaluate its position on the Falkland Islands to punish Britain.The plan was revealed in a leaked Pentagon email, which outlined potential measures to remind Nato allies who declined to participate in US-Israeli military strikes against Iran.It suggested Washington could reassess its diplomatic backing for what it termed British “imperial possessions,” including the Falklands.
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The Pentagon has not confirmed the existence of the email, but a spokesman suggested the President had “credible options” to address allies who were “a paper tiger”.President Trump has prosecuted a volcanic feud with Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister’s initial reticence to allow American warplanes to use British bases and position on his war with Tehran.Limited authorisation was eventually given for facilities such as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia to support defensive missions targeting Iranian missile installations threatening the Strait of Hormuz, though only after Iran began retaliatory strikes.“He is vengeful,” Mr Diggins said. “I think he&#039;s got every right to be aggrieved by our failure to support him in the war with Iran.” The defence expert observed that Mr Trump was: “Looking at something that&#039;s very sensitive to us. And I can&#039;t think of anything more sensitive than the sovereignty of the Falklands.”Last month, GB News revealed that Britain was woefully underprepared to defend the South Atlantic territory, with veterans of the 1982 conflict warning that the UK lacked “credibility” as a global power. Mr Diggins said the leaked memo: “Ticks quite a lot of boxes in terms of some of the wider thinking that&#039;s gone on inside the Maga movement and President Trump&#039;s entourage.“LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:US forced Britain to accept deal allowing Argentina to buy F16 jetsFalkland Islanders tell &#039;bully&#039; Donald Trump to back offArgentina scales up military amid fears over Britain&#039;s sovereignty of Falkland Islands“I think what we&#039;ve seen from President Trump and his team is a very bold statement of the challenge and the failure of Europe to rearm and defend itself,” the former Army officer told The People’s Channel. “This includes the so-called ‘Donroe’ Doctrine, which essentially dictates that the United States of America is in control of the Western Hemisphere,” he said. Much like the historical Monroe Doctrine, Mr Diggins believed the current US posture towards the UK and Europe did not begin with President Trump. “Go back to 2011, when you&#039;ve got President Obama in the white House and Secretary Clinton talking about the pivot to the Pacific. “That was a kind of subtle hint to them that Europe needs to look after their own.Downing Street has maintained that Britain&#039;s position on the Falklands would not shift, with a spokesman emphasising that sovereignty rests with the UK and that self-determination remains paramount.Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added that the Government&#039;s commitment to the islands was “unwavering”.The US turning a blind eye to a hypothetical Argentina attempt to seize the islands would not be unprecedented.In 1956, Britain and France moved to seize the Suez Canal following its nationalisation by the anticolonial Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser.President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened decisively, using financial and diplomatic pressure to force a humiliating withdrawal of Western powers from the region. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Vengeful’, Donald, Trump, has, ‘every, right, aggrieved’, over, UK’s, lack, support, Iran, amid, Falklands, threat, military, expert, warns</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump&amp;apos;s bombshell UFO files reveal &amp;apos;reality&#45;bending secrets&amp;apos; from bone&#45;chilling incidents</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-bombshell-ufo-files-reveal-reality-bending-secrets-from-bone-chilling-incidents</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-bombshell-ufo-files-reveal-reality-bending-secrets-from-bone-chilling-incidents</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump issued an order in February instructing the Pentagon to declassify all records relating to UFOs and extraterrestrial life, a directive that could expose mysteries kept hidden for decades.Joshua Golembeske, a field investigator with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), one of the oldest civilian UFO research bodies globally, described the move as groundbreaking.&quot;This is significant. A sitting US President publicly calling for the release of UAP-related information is unprecedented,&quot; Mr Golembeske told the Daily Mail.He posed the central question facing Americans: &quot;What reality-bending secrets or world-changing technologies could be sitting inside these programmes?&quot;
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been charged with overseeing the production of these files, with a coalition of lawmakers now backing the president&#039;s push for answers.Less than a month after Trump&#039;s directive, on March 18, the White House secured the domain aliens.gov, sparking immediate speculation about its intended purpose.In recent weeks, the federal website has begun displaying signs of activity despite remaining inaccessible to the public.The domain is now returning an SSL error, a technical indicator suggesting it may be connected to a live server that has not yet been fully configured for public viewing.Such errors typically arise when a server has been established but lacks the digital certificate necessary for secure connections.This development suggests the site is no longer dormant and could be undergoing active development, even though no content has been made publicly available.The registration and subsequent technical activity have fuelled expectations that an official disclosure platform may be in preparation.Mr Golembeske believes the disclosure could verify several well-documented incidents that have captivated UFO researchers for decades.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump lays ground to end Iran war WITHOUT reopening Strait of Hormuz - risking UK fuel chaosForeign Office is &#039;refusing to wake up&#039; to reality of Donald Trump, ex-diplomat admitsGB News&#039; question to Donald Trump exposed an unbearable truth for Keir StarmerAmong these is the Roswell crash, where a New Mexico rancher discovered strange debris in 1974 that the US Army initially identified as a &quot;flying disc&quot; before swiftly changing its explanation to a weather balloon.The 2004 &quot;Tic Tac&quot; encounter could also receive official confirmation, referring to the oblong white object observed by Navy pilots travelling at extraordinary speeds off the California coast.Fighter pilot David Fravor testified to Congress in 2023 that the roughly 40-foot craft, lacking windows or wings, mirrored his movements before accelerating to thousands of miles per hour and appearing moments later at a classified rendezvous point 60 miles distant.The 1978 Fort Dix incident, involving reports of a glowing object over the New Jersey military base, may also feature in any release.Mr Golembeske outlined a four-stage process through which he expects disclosure to unfold, beginning with official recognition that humanity is not alone in the universe.&quot;First comes acknowledgement that we are not alone, and then it gets weird,&quot; he said, anticipating a gradual and carefully controlled release of information.The second phase would involve defining precisely what these mysterious phenomena represent, followed by revelations about the nature of any beings involved, whether extraterrestrial, interdimensional, or something entirely different.Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has claimed to have witnessed evidence of &quot;interdimensional beings&quot;. The final stages would address recovered technology and whether any materials have been reverse-engineered before tackling fundamental questions about why these encounters occur and their potential historical or religious significance.&quot;Once that&#039;s established, the real questions begin, the ones that could change everything,&quot; Mr Golembeske said.Mr Trump confirmed the declassification of the documents after he accused Barack Obama earlier in the day of revealing classified information when the former President said &quot;aliens are real&quot; on a podcast last week.&quot;He&#039;s not supposed to be doing that,&quot; Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding: &quot;He made a big mistake.&quot;Asked if he also thinks aliens are real, the US President answered: &quot;Well, I don&#039;t know if they&#039;re real or not.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trumps, bombshell, UFO, files, reveal, reality-bending, secrets, from, bone-chilling, incidents</media:keywords>
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<title>Farmers, lorry drivers, and tradesmen to descend on Westminster in &amp;apos;national fuel tax protest&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/farmers-lorry-drivers-and-tradesmen-to-descend-on-westminster-in-national-fuel-tax-protest</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/farmers-lorry-drivers-and-tradesmen-to-descend-on-westminster-in-national-fuel-tax-protest</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Farmers, lorry drivers and tradesmen are set to descend on Westminster in the first &quot;national fuel tax protest&quot; in two decades. Organised by Reform UK, the demonstration is due to take place on Monday morning and will call on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to address the &quot;out of control&quot; fuel prices. The protest will feature speeches from party members, who will call for the cutting of fuel duty and a reduction of VAT to soften the sharp spike of fuel prices that UK households and businesses have been subject to since the war in Iran kicked off. Robert Jenrick, Reform&#039;s spokesman for the Treasury, took to social media to promote the protest. 
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In the video, he said: &quot;Millions of people are suffering as a result of the cost petrol and diesel at the forecourts - care workers, cabbies, white van men - you name it. &quot;Yet, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Treasury... is doing nothing.&quot;In fact, it&#039;s even worse than that - she&#039;s raking it in with all the taxes and yet she&#039;s refusing to cut VAT and won&#039;t even rule out an increase in fuel duty she&#039;s got coming down the line.&quot;Mr Jenrick called upon drivers to join Monday&#039;s protest in order to &quot;send a powerful message&quot; that &quot;enough is enough&quot;. Approximately £35billion is raised by fuel tax across the UK.The Treasury levies around 50 per cent in tax for every litre of fuel purchased.This comes as protests have been organised throughout Ireland over the price of fuel, which saw tractors, lorries and other vehicles block traffic as petrol stations across the country ran out of fuel.The Irish army had to be deployed to manage the protests.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:British Airways warns of higher airfares as jet fuel prices surge amid Strait of Hormuz disruptionRachel Reeves car tax raid sees hybrid drivers hit twicePetrol and diesel drivers ripped off as motorists should &#039;see cheaper fuel prices in days&#039;Britain&#039;s exposure to the global price shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz applies to both petrol and diesel, since fuel prices are set internationally regardless of domestic supply.In peacetime, the critical waterway carries roughly one fifth of the world&#039;s liquefied natural gas and the crude oil. The final tankers to pass through before the conflict began arrived in Europe last week.A full reopening is not expected for many months as the US and Iran continue their delicate ceasfire. Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK and a former Reform UK London mayoral candidate, warned the price rises were already having a devastating real-world impact, the Times reports.He said: &quot;We are finding that people are not going to hospital appointments simply because they can&#039;t afford to get there. &quot;We are seeing white van men not going to chase up quotes because they can&#039;t afford to get there. &quot;It could cost them 30 quid to go and give a quote when they might not get it.&quot;With fuel the second-highest cost for the transport industry, passenger bus and coach operators have reported bills rising by as much as 50 per cent.Roland Eglinton, managing director of Chalkwell Coach Hire in Kent, warned his fleet of 55 diesel vehicles could be forced to cancel school runs and special needs transfer services if prices do not fall.The National Farmers Union said it was closely monitoring red diesel prices, describing the situation as &quot;critical&quot; and warning that food prices would likely rise as a result.Martin Williams, a Herefordshire livestock and arable farmer, said the increase in red diesel costs was adding £160 per tractor per day to his outgoings.He said: &quot;It&#039;s horrible actually, it makes you consider if jobs are worth doing. Recreational farming comes to a halt when the diesel price doubles.&quot;The protest will start at 9am on Monday, beginning at Whitehall. 

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Farmers, lorry, drivers, and, tradesmen, descend, Westminster, national, fuel, tax, protest</media:keywords>
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<title>Former Nato chief says Britain and France should take charge of Europe’s defences without Donald Trump&amp;apos;s help</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/former-nato-chief-says-britain-and-france-should-take-charge-of-europes-defences-without-donald-trumps-help</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/former-nato-chief-says-britain-and-france-should-take-charge-of-europes-defences-without-donald-trumps-help</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former head of Nato has urged Britain and France to take charge of a European defence coalition capable of operating independently from Washington.Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who led Nato from 2009 to 2014, made the comments following President Trump&#039;s characterisation of Nato as a &quot;paper tiger&quot; and his statement that leaving the alliance was &quot;beyond reconsideration.&quot;Mr Rasmussen said: &quot;I still consider Nato the cornerstone of European and North Atlantic security.&quot;However, he added: &quot;After President Trump has raised doubts about his commitment towards Article Five and the whole Nato alliance, we need to strengthen the European pillar of Nato.&quot;
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The proposal would see an existing 35-nation coalition, currently headquartered in Paris, expand its remit from Ukraine protection to broader continental defence. Leadership would rest with Europe&#039;s two nuclear powers.Mr Rasmussen envisions Ukraine playing a central role within this expanded security framework, serving as a defensive barrier against Moscow.&quot;Ukraine will actually be an asset within this Coalition of the Willing,&quot; he said.The former secretary-general argued that regardless of how peace talks conclude, Europe will continue to face a hostile neighbour to the east.&quot;Whatever will be the outcome of possible future peace negotiations, we will still have an aggressive Russia bordering Europe, so we need Ukraine as a bulwark against that aggressive Russia,&quot; he explained.&quot;That&#039;s why I think we should include Ukraine in a new European security architecture, and by that, we can strengthen Nato.&quot;The coalition, which includes Kyiv among its 35 members, was originally established to deploy forces protecting Ukraine following any ceasefire agreement.Mr Rasmussen was dismissive of alternative defence arrangements being discussed within the European Union, including the bloc&#039;s own mutual defence provision.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Rachel Reeves car tax raid sees hybrid drivers hit twice despite &#039;barely using electric&#039;Serial fraudster jailed for 10 years after taking more than £218,000 from victimsMan admits racially aggravated assault after accusing Jewish man of ‘killing babies’ in ‘pure hate crime’He characterised Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty as &quot;weaker than Article Five,&quot; noting that Brussels lacks the military capacity to enforce it.&quot;The European Union, as such, does not have the military capabilities needed to actually implement 42.7,&quot; he said told the Telegraph.The former Nato chief also took aim at proposals from Andrius Kubilius, the EU&#039;s defence commissioner, for a European security council, describing them as &quot;fluffy&quot;.&quot;We are speaking about the hard defence of Europe. So we need a group of countries in Europe that are capable and willing to do what is needed,&quot; Mr Rasmussen continued.He emphasised the need for immediate action rather than lengthy institutional discussions.Mr Rasmussen advocated for a transactional approach with Washington, suggesting Europe could offer assistance with President Trump&#039;s military operations in Iran in return for continued American commitment to the continent.&quot;We&#039;re in this together. &quot;We are willing to help you, provided that you will stay engaged in Europe, including supporting Ukraine, and we don&#039;t understand why you are imposing tariffs on your allies. Ideally, they should be taken off the table,&quot; he said.&quot;This is a transactional approach, exactly the approach President Trump would use. Something for something we will help you, if you will help us. &quot;That&#039;s how allies work together,&quot; he concluded. The former Nato chief stressed that any new European defence structure should complement rather than supplant the Atlantic alliance, with America retaining overall command to preserve its nuclear guarantee over the continent.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Former, Nato, chief, says, Britain, and, France, should, take, charge, Europe’s, defences, without, Donald, Trumps, help</media:keywords>
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<title>US forced Britain to accept deal allowing Argentina to buy F16 jets</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-forced-britain-to-accept-deal-allowing-argentina-to-buy-f16-jets</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-forced-britain-to-accept-deal-allowing-argentina-to-buy-f16-jets</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The US forced Britain to accept a deal allowing Argentina to buy F16 jets.Washington compelled British officials to stand aside and permit the transfer of F16 fighter jets from Denmark to Argentina. According to three separate sources, Foreign Office representatives received explicit instructions from their American counterparts not to block the weapons agreement.&quot;There were meetings in the UK and Britain was told in no uncertain terms that this is how the deal would be,&quot; one source revealed, the Telegraph reports. 
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While the UK possessed no formal power to veto the transaction, British diplomats could have lodged protests with both Washington and Copenhagen to attempt to halt the transfer.The arrangement was finalised during Joe Biden&#039;s presidency in 2024, shortly before Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street.Buenos Aires received two dozen of the American-made warplanes from Copenhagen in December of last year, marking an unusual instance of Western nations supplying military hardware to Argentina.President Javier Milei welcomed the aircraft with enthusiasm, describing them as his country&#039;s &quot;guardian angels&quot; upon their arrival.Just days before taking delivery of the jets, the Argentine leader said that he was engaged in discussions with the British Government about ending the arms embargo dating back to the Falklands conflict, which sparked a diplomatic row.The UK maintains a comprehensive prohibition on selling any weaponry or military components to Argentina due to the ongoing territorial dispute over the South Atlantic islands.Throughout the negotiation process, American officials worked to address British reservations about arming a nation with which it has an unresolved sovereignty dispute.An Argentine source with knowledge of the discussions said Washington had presented a &quot;strong&quot; argument to London behind closed doors.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Falkland Islanders tell &#039;bully&#039; Donald Trump to back offNigel Farage defies Donald Trump as he says the Falklands will &#039;always&#039; be BritishFalklands veteran urges Donald Trump to &#039;stop bullying people&#039; amid fresh sovereignty threatThe American position centred on the belief that supplying Western military equipment was essential because the preceding Argentine administration had been &quot;flirting with China and Russia&quot;.Two additional sources, comprising one British official and one Argentine representative, verified that these conversations occurred and confirmed American pressure had been applied.Britain&#039;s longstanding policy bars the export of any weapons or components to Buenos Aires, a restriction implemented due to the competing claims over the Falkland Islands that led to the 1982 conflict.Reports emerged on Friday that the Pentagon has assembled a catalogue of potential retaliatory measures against Nato allies considered insufficiently supportive of the American and Israeli campaign against Iran.Among the options under consideration is a reassessment of diplomatic backing for European &quot;imperial possessions&quot; such as the Falklands, according to a leaked email.A spokesman for Sir Keir responded: &quot;We could not be clearer about the UK&#039;s position on the Falkland Islands. It&#039;s long-standing. It&#039;s unchanged.&quot;The Ministry of Defence stated that Britain&#039;s commitment to the islands &quot;remains undiminished&quot; and the islanders alone should determine their future.However, when questioned about the alleged American pressure over the F16 deal, an MoD spokesman said: &quot;We do not recognise these claims.&quot;The Falkland Islands Government said in a statement that 99.8 per cent of islanders voted in favour of remaining as a British Overseas Territory.It said: &quot;The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination.&quot;The Falkland Islands, which were first landed on by English explorers some 120 years before Argentina existed as an independent state, are a self-governing British overseas territory.Britain went to war with Argentina over the islands in 1982, where 225 British soldiers lost their lives defending the territory, as well as 650 Argentine soldiers.

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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>forced, Britain, accept, deal, allowing, Argentina, buy, F16, jets</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves car tax raid sees hybrid drivers hit twice despite &amp;apos;barely using electric&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-car-tax-raid-sees-hybrid-drivers-hit-twice-despite-barely-using-electric</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-car-tax-raid-sees-hybrid-drivers-hit-twice-despite-barely-using-electric</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rachel Reeves is under growing pressure after new plans to tax hybrid drivers were pushed ahead, despite official evidence showing they rarely use electric power.Under Labour&#039;s proposals announced at the Autumn Budget, plug-in hybrid motorists will be charged a new pay-per-mile tax from April 2028, as part of a wider shake-up of car taxes. As part of the new policy, drivers will pay 1.5p per mile, even though most of their journeys are not powered by electricity. But the move has sparked anger, with critics warning drivers are being hit twice, once through fuel duty and again through the new mileage charge.
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The controversy deepened after the Government quietly admitted it had overestimated how often hybrids run on battery power. In a Department for Transport report, officials explained: &quot;Evidence indicates that PHEVs complete a smaller proportion of their journeys in electric mode than previously assumed.&quot; Despite that admission, ministers are still pressing ahead with the new tax, known as Electric Vehicle Excise Duty. The scheme sits at the heart of Ms Reeves&#039;s plans to overhaul motoring taxes and plug a looming hole in the public finances as fuel duty revenues fall.In its own consultation, HM Treasury made clear that the aim is to make all drivers pay more based on how far they travel. The document stated: &quot;All drivers should contribute to account for the wear and tear on our roads.&quot; It added that the current system is unfair because electric drivers do not pay fuel duty, warning: &quot;If we do nothing, then by 2030 around one in five car drivers are expected to pay no fuel duty at all.&quot; Under the plans, fully electric drivers will pay 3p per mile, while hybrid drivers will pay half that rate. But crucially, hybrid motorists will still pay fuel duty when using petrol, something critics warned undermines the fairness of the argument.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Young drivers targeted in new road safety crackdown as fatality risk soarsOlder motorists may have to &#039;stop driving altogether&#039; ahead of new eye test rulesLabour refuses to &#039;confirm or deny&#039; emergency meetings amid fears of &#039;mass purchasing of fuel&#039;One driver warned that the policy &quot;feels like double taxation&quot;. &quot;While there is logic in pure EVs having a charge per mile, I struggle with hybrids such as my Land Rover Defender P400 paying a charge on total mileage,&quot; he told The Telegraph. He shared: &quot;It has a maximum electric range of 26 miles.&quot; &quot;I already pay full road tax of £620 a year and fuel duty on the vast majority of my mileage, so the Government&#039;s argument makes little sense and feels like double taxation.&quot; Plug-in hybrids typically have an electric range of between 15 and 60 miles, far below the 300 miles or more offered by fully electric cars. As a result, many drivers rarely charge them or rely on electric functions.The Government has also ruled out tracking how much of each journey is done using petrol or electricity, arguing it would be too complicated. Instead, ministers explained how a flat-reduced rate for hybrids would be the best compromise. The Treasury insisted this approach balances fairness with simplicity, stating it will avoid &quot;a whole new tax system&quot; and &quot;protect motorists&#039; privacy&quot;. Drivers will be required to estimate their annual mileage, pay upfront or monthly, and then reconcile the figure at the end of the year. Mileage will be checked through MOT tests and official records. The Government argued the policy is necessary to protect tax revenues, with fuel duty expected to fall sharply as more drivers switch to electric vehicles. According to Treasury figures, fuel duty currently raises around £24billion a year but could drop to roughly £12billion by the 2030s. The consultation warned that losing this income would be &quot;fiscally irresponsible&quot; and that replacement taxes are needed to avoid spending cuts or rises elsewhere. 

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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, car, tax, raid, sees, hybrid, drivers, hit, twice, despite, barely, using, electric</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour&amp;apos;s leasehold reforms could leave millions of flats unsellable, critics warn</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-leasehold-reforms-could-leave-millions-of-flats-unsellable-critics-warn</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-leasehold-reforms-could-leave-millions-of-flats-unsellable-critics-warn</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour’s proposed overhaul of the leasehold system has drawn criticism from homeowners and industry groups, with warnings that millions of flats could become difficult to sell.A consultation on commonhold reforms closed on Friday after receiving 187 submissions from campaigners, property owners and trade bodies.The plans, led by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, would ban new leaseholds, introduce commonhold ownership and cap ground rents at £250 before phasing them out entirely by 2068.Critics argue the changes risk creating a two‑tier housing market, with buyers potentially favouring new commonhold properties over existing leasehold flats that remain subject to charges and legacy arrangements.
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Concerns from current leaseholders featured prominently in the consultation responses.One said: “The draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill will not end the feudal leasehold system for me and my long‑suffering neighbours,” adding that it would instead “condemn us to ongoing financial abuse in a two‑tier system”.Another respondent said a divide had already emerged following the 2022 ban on ground rents for new leases, leaving existing leaseholders at a disadvantage.Caroline Wild, a solicitor at Forsters, warned that the proposals could leave current leaseholders without a clear route forward.“The draft bill prioritises future commonhold developments while offering no practical, affordable or timebound route for existing leaseholders who could be left trapped; worse off than before,” she said.Financial services organisations also raised concerns about the cost and complexity of implementing the reforms.UK Finance said adapting systems to support commonhold structures would require significant investment, noting: “This work will likely cost individual mortgage firms multi‑millions of pounds to implement.”Pension funds expressed similar worries.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:British Airways warns of higher airfares as jet fuel prices surge amid Strait of Hormuz disruptionApprentice star reveals boardroom secrets and why winning Alan Sugar&#039;s £250k &#039;wasn&#039;t for me&#039;Historic British school shuts down as new Chinese owner denies &#039;asset-stripping&#039; allegationsNationwide, which manages a £7billion pension scheme, said retrospective limits on ground rents could affect investor confidence and “damage the international reputation and appeal of the UK as a place of investment.”The reforms face additional challenges following delays to existing legislation.The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, passed in May 2024, has been slowed by legal disputes, and a recent Court of Appeal ruling in favour of landowners Cadogan Estates and Grosvenor has added further uncertainty.The Ministry of Housing rejected claims that the proposals would negatively affect existing leaseholders.A Labour spokesman said: “This is not true,” adding that the reforms would make buying and selling leasehold flats easier by capping ground rents, increasing transparency on service charges and giving homeowners more control through commonhold.“Far too many people have fallen victim to the feudal leasehold system across the country,” the spokesman said.“That is why we are taking action to end it for good.”There are around five million leasehold properties in Britain, the majority of them flats.Property values in London have fallen by 4.2 per cent over the past year.

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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labours, leasehold, reforms, could, leave, millions, flats, unsellable, critics, warn</media:keywords>
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<title>Toddler throws tantrum in the White House while Donald Trump makes announcement of &amp;apos;miracle cure&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/toddler-throws-tantrum-in-the-white-house-while-donald-trump-makes-announcement-of-miracle-cure</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/toddler-throws-tantrum-in-the-white-house-while-donald-trump-makes-announcement-of-miracle-cure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A two-year-old boy named Travis Smith became the unexpected star of a White House event after throwing a tantrum during President Donald Trump&#039;s Oval Office address.The youngster, who came dressed in a suit, rolled about on the carpet while officials struggled to suppress their amusement.Mr Trump had invited Travis and his mother, Sierra, to celebrate a medical breakthrough that restored the child&#039;s hearing.&quot;That&#039;s really incredible,&quot; Mr Trump remarked, noting that Travis &quot;was 100 per cent deaf, but he took this miracle cure and now he can hear his mum Sierra, say &#039;I love you&#039;.&quot;
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The White House later posted a photograph of Travis sprawled face-down, captioned: &quot;ALMOST FRIDAY.&quot;The light-hearted moment at the White House came against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic friction between Washington and London.Residents of the Falkland Islands have urged President Trump to stay out of the sovereignty dispute, firmly restating their allegiance to Britain.A leaked Pentagon document emerged yesterday proposing that America should reconsider its stance on the South Atlantic territory as retribution for what it deemed insufficient British engagement in Iran.The controversial memo has drawn swift and sharp criticism from the Prime Minister, war veterans, and the islanders themselves, all of whom have strongly rejected the suggestion.Sir Keir Starmer responded on Friday by unequivocally affirming British ownership of the islands.Downing Street emphasised that the United Kingdom&#039;s position on the territory has been consistent for decades and will not shift.&quot;We could not be clearer about the UK&#039;s position on the Falkland Islands. It&#039;s long-standing. It&#039;s unchanged,&quot; the Prime Minister&#039;s spokesman said.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:US Embassy in London advises Americans to use caution when visiting Jewish areas in Britain amid rise in antisemitismWATCH: Pete Hegseth takes aim at &#039;free riding&#039; Europe in direct swipe - &#039;Much more their fight than ours!&#039;US-Iran peace talks set to resume after previous last-minute collapseThe spokesman added: &quot;Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the Islands&#039; right to self-determination is paramount.&quot;He stressed that this stance would continue, noting: &quot;The PM has been clear repeatedly that he won&#039;t be pressured.&quot;The Government maintains Sir Keir will robustly defend Britain&#039;s national interests.The Falkland Islands Government pointed to the 2013 referendum, in which 99.8 per cent of residents voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.In a statement, the Government expressed &quot;complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination&quot;.Simon Weston, a veteran of the 1982 conflict, described the American intervention as &quot;deeply saddening&quot; when he spoke to GB News.&quot;It&#039;s none of his business what the sovereignty of the islands is,&quot; Mr Weston declared.The veteran expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister&#039;s stance, saying: &quot;Mr Starmer has reiterated that, and we and the Islanders can only thank him for that.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Toddler, throws, tantrum, the, White, House, while, Donald, Trump, makes, announcement, miracle, cure</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump cancels US trip to Pakistan at 11th hour as Iran peace talks plunge into chaos</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-cancels-us-trip-to-pakistan-at-11th-hour-as-iran-peace-talks-plunge-into-chaos</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-cancels-us-trip-to-pakistan-at-11th-hour-as-iran-peace-talks-plunge-into-chaos</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has confirmed a US delegation will no longer travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran.Mr Trump was expected to send US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks with their Tehran counterparts.However, the US President is now insisting America still holds the cards in the Middle East conflict.The announcement, which comes after Tehran issued a new set of demands, ultimately cancelled peace talks between the two nations. 
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already left Pakistan&#039;s capital, Islamabad.Confirming the last-minute decision to cancel the trip, Mr Trump told Fox News: &quot;I&#039;ve told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, &#039;Nope, you&#039;re not making an 18-hour flight to go there.&quot;We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you&#039;re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing’.&quot;Negotiations had been planned for the weekend as both sides look to secure a permanent peace deal. Pressure is mounting from other world leaders amid economic concerns about Mr Trump&#039;s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Iran&#039;s delegation left Pakistan earlier today warning that no further rounds of talks have been planned. In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump again explained why he had cancelled the trip at the last moment.He said: &quot;I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS‘Vengeful’ Donald Trump has ‘every right to be aggrieved’ with UK amid Falklands threatNigel Farage defies Donald Trump as he says the Falklands will &#039;always&#039; be BritishToddler throws tantrum in the White House while Donald Trump makes announcement of &#039;miracle cure&#039;&quot;Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!&quot;Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their &#039;leadership.&#039; Nobody knows who is in charge, including them.&quot;Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!&quot;Washington is said to remain at loggerheads with Tehran over nuclear enrichment, security guarantees or the Strait of Hormuz.The regime&#039;s military said: “If the aggressive US military continues its blockade, banditry, and piracy in the region, it should be certain that it will face a response from Iran’s powerful armed forces.”Meanwhile, Mr Araghchi said that at the talks he “explained our country’s principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran”.Following Mr Trump&#039;s announcement, Iran&#039;s Foreign Minister arrived in Muscat, Oman.Mr Araghchi said: &quot;Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value. &quot;Shared Iran&#039;s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.&quot;However, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth insists Iran has a chance to make a &quot;good deal&quot;. He added: “Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely.“All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways.”

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<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:33:29 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, cancels, trip, Pakistan, 11th, hour, Iran, peace, talks, plunge, into, chaos</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage vows to face down RIOTS in crusade against Britain&amp;apos;s benefits bill</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-vows-to-face-down-riots-in-crusade-against-britains-benefits-bill</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-vows-to-face-down-riots-in-crusade-against-britains-benefits-bill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage has vowed to face down strikes, protests and riots in a crusade to slash Britain&#039;s ballooning benefits bill.The Reform UK leader said a &quot;massive change of thought&quot; was needed on the welfare system - with the country needing to toughen up and shrug off handouts for things like &quot;mild anxiety&quot;.&quot;I&#039;m sorry, but mild anxiety is not a reason to be on disability benefit - it just isn&#039;t. We can&#039;t afford it, it can&#039;t continue,&quot; he told the Mail.&quot;And there&#039;ll be riots, and there&#039;ll be strikes and there&#039;ll be protests, and we know all of that, but that&#039;s what we&#039;re going to have to do. It has to be done. We just can&#039;t afford it now.&quot;His party is set to unveil radical proposals after the local elections which would cut tens of billions of pounds of tax-funded payouts.They could require the millions of so-called &quot;inactive&quot; people around the country to look for a job.Mr Farage also said Reform was taking over the mantle of the &quot;party of working people&quot; in a major challenge to Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s floundering Labour.&quot;I&#039;m sorry, but as I go around the country... I now believe there&#039;s one big divide in British society: those that work and those that don&#039;t,&quot; he said.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY...Kevin Hollinrake: Peter Mandelson scandal is &#039;complete mess&#039;Kevin Hollinrake MP, Conservative Party Chair said the Peter Mandelson scandal was a &quot;complete mess&quot;, and it comes down to Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s judgement.Speaking to GB News this morning, he said: &quot;It was clear from the start that the Prime Minister wanted Lord Mandelson as ambassador at all costs - at any cost.&quot;He acknowledged that more light needed to be shed on the situation and anticipates more will be revealed after Morgan McSweeney will sit for the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee next week, as Sir Olly Robbins and Cat Little did this week. President Trump should be taken &#039;seriously&#039; but not &#039;literally&#039; following Falkland Islands rumours, says Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake MP, Conservative Party Chair said, speaking to GB News this morning, that Mr Trump should be taken &quot;seriously&quot; but not &quot;literally&quot;, admitting that the UK has managed the Iran situation &quot;poorly&quot;, getting the President &quot;off-side&quot;. He said: &quot;It is fair to say we are not in a good position with President Trump right now.&quot;He continued to say that any relationship with Mr Trump is not &quot;straightforward&quot;, but he hoped the special relationship will get back on an &quot;even keel&quot;, particularly after King Charles will visit America in the summer. Donald Trump could punish Keir Starmer for Iran inaction by backing ARGENTINA over Falkland IslandsPresident Donald Trump could punish Sir Keir Starmer for his inaction over Iran by backing Argentina&#039;s claim to the Falkland Islands.An email circulating within the Pentagon outlines potential US responses to what it sees as inadequate support from NATO allies in the Iran conflict, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reassessing its stance on the Falkland Islands.The memo expresses frustration over some allies’ reluctance to join the war or grant the US access to airbases and overflight rights (ABO) for Operation Fury, the paused US-Israeli offensive against Iran.It wrote ABO is &quot;just the absolute baseline for Nato&quot;, according to a US official who spoke to Reuters under anonymity.READ FULL STORY HERENigel Farage RULES OUT pact with Tories just days after Kemi Badenoch&#039;s plunging polling exposedNigel Farage has ruled out forming an electoral pact with the Conservatives just days after Kemi Badenoch&#039;s plunging polling was exposed. While the Reform leader admitted he could not rule out a deal after an election, he told the Daily Mail it would be a &quot;highly undesirable&quot; outcome. &quot;They don&#039;t deserve it,&quot; Mr Farage spat. According to a recent YouGov poll, Mrs Badenoch&#039;s party sits ten percent lower than Reform at a dismal 17 per cent. Last month, Reform MP - and Tory defector - Danny Kruger urged his former party to give way and allow Reform to become the sole party of the British right. He said: &quot;There is a real danger that some kind of terrible coalition of the left wins the next election because the right is split.&quot;I don&#039;t think there is a future for the Conservative Party as a national party.&quot;Lord Hermer reported for &#039;misconduct&#039; after being accused of &#039;witch-hunt&#039; of British troopsLord Hermer has been reported to the barristers&#039; watchdog over alleged serious professional misconduct for his role in a so-called &quot;witch-hunt&quot; against British soldiers.A former Defence Minister and the Shadow Justice Secretary have requested the Bar Standards Board investigate the Attorney General for his role in Iraqi clients&#039; legal battles against UK troops.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has separately reported the Attorney General to the House of Lords&#039; standards commissioner.The Attorney General acted as leading counsel in a case where UK troops were accused of murdering Iraqis who were held as prisoners of war at a British Army base...READ THE FULL STORY HEREBreaking overnight... Donald Trump threatens Britain with all-new tariffs over &#039;cash grab&#039; tax on American firmsPresident Donald Trump has threatened to slap Britain with all-new tariffs if it does not drop its &quot;cash grab&quot; tax on American companies.The digital services tax - which came into effect in 2020 - imposes a two per cent levy on the revenues of a number of major US tech companies.It was introduced by the Conservatives to address the large gap between the revenue being generated by British users for the social media firms compared to the amount of tax being paid to the Government.On Thursday, Mr Trump threatened to impose a &quot;big tariff&quot; on Britain if Labour does not scrap the measure.He told reporters at the Oval Office: “We’ve been looking at it and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK, so they better be careful.“If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.”READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage, vows, face, down, RIOTS, crusade, against, Britains, benefits, bill</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump could punish Keir Starmer for Iran inaction by backing ARGENTINA over Falkland Islands</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-could-punish-keir-starmer-for-iran-inaction-by-backing-argentina-over-falkland-islands</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-could-punish-keir-starmer-for-iran-inaction-by-backing-argentina-over-falkland-islands</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump could punish Sir Keir Starmer for his inaction over Iran by backing Argentina&#039;s claim to the Falkland Islands.An email circulating within the Pentagon outlines potential US responses to what it sees as inadequate support from NATO allies in the Iran conflict, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reassessing its stance on the Falkland Islands.The memo expresses frustration over some allies’ reluctance to join the war or grant the US access to airbases and overflight rights (ABO) for Operation Fury, the paused US-Israeli offensive against Iran.It wrote ABO is &quot;just the absolute baseline for Nato&quot;, according to a US official who spoke to Reuters under anonymity. 
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The official added that options to punish Nato allies were being circulated amongst senior Pentagon staff. One suggestion includes reassessing the US&#039;s support for longstanding &quot;imperial possessions&quot; of Europe, such as the Falkland Islands. The US&#039;s current position is that the islands are administered by the UK, but Argentina still claims the archipelago.The Falkland Islands, which was first landed on by English explorers some 120 years before Argentina existed as an independent state, is a self-governing British overseas territory. Britain went to war with Argentina over the islands in 1982, where 225 British soldiers lost their lives defending the territory, as well as 650 Argentine soldiers.The US played a strategic role in the Falklands War, providing diplomatic, intelligence and arms support to the UK, officially abandoning its initial position of neutrality to back its ally against Argentina. Argentina&#039;s President Javier Milei is an ally of President Trump&#039;s. Whereas the special relationship between the UK and the US is going through a rough patch, with Mr Trump verbally attacking Sir Keir Starmer, often over social media, over his unwillingness to send military power to the Middle East. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump threatens Britain with all-new tariffs over &#039;cash grab&#039; tax on American firmsDonald Trump says King Charles state visit can &#039;absolutely&#039; help relations between US and UKDonald Trump issues &#039;shoot to kill&#039; order on Iranian boats laying mines in Strait of HormuzThe US President said Sir Keir was &quot;no Winston Churchill&quot; and described the UK&#039;s naval vessels as &quot;toys&quot;.MORE TO FOLLOW...

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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, could, punish, Keir, Starmer, for, Iran, inaction, backing, ARGENTINA, over, Falkland, Islands</media:keywords>
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<title>Lord Hermer reported for &amp;apos;misconduct&amp;apos; after being accused of &amp;apos;witch&#45;hunt&amp;apos; of British troops</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-reported-for-misconduct-after-being-accused-of-witch-hunt-of-british-troops</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-reported-for-misconduct-after-being-accused-of-witch-hunt-of-british-troops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lord Hermer has been reported to the barristers&#039; watchdog over alleged serious professional misconduct for his role in a so-called &quot;witch-hunt&quot; against British soldiers.A former Defence Minister and the Shadow Justice Secretary have requested the Bar Standards Board investigate the Attorney General for his role in Iraqi clients&#039; legal battles against UK troops.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has separately reported the Attorney General to the House of Lords&#039; standards commissioner.The Attorney General acted as leading counsel in a case where UK troops were accused of murdering Iraqis who were held as prisoners of war at a British Army base.
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The claims centred around the Battle of Danny Boy in 2004, and resulted in the Al-Sweady Inquiry held 10 years later.The inquiry found the claims to be &quot;wholly without foundation&quot; and a result of &quot;deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility&quot;.Lord Hermer denies acting for the Iraqis knowing their claims were false.Sir Gavin Williamson, the former Defence Secretary, urged the Bar Standards Board to open an investigation - and accused Lord Hermer of &quot;advancing claims that were ultimately discredited as egregious and unfounded&quot;.He said the Attorney General&#039;s obligations to &quot;honesty and integrity&quot; appeared &quot;at the very least, to sit in stark and uncomfortable tension&quot; with those traits.Nick Timothy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, wrote to the Bar Standards Board saying Lord Hermer&#039;s role in the case &quot;may constitute serious professional misconduct&quot; and the &quot;the public interest in thorough and independent regulatory scrutiny could scarcely be higher&quot;.Mr Farage then accused Lord Hermer of being &quot;a deeply unpatriotic man, a man of questionable judgment and a man who is very happy to prosecute the very people who are prepared to give their life for King and country to keep us safe&quot;.&quot;The actions Lord Hermer has taken in the legal cases against British veterans is treacherous, and a full investigation should now take place,&quot; he added - and labelled the Attorney General &quot;a national security threat&quot;.A spokesman for the Attorney General said: &quot;Over a 30-year legal career, the Attorney General represented many clients - including British military personnel, such as a British soldier killed by IRA terrorists, and injured servicemen in the Iraq War. &quot;Any suggestion that the Attorney acted improperly during his private career is false.&quot;The AG&#039;s spokesman added that he was &quot;not involved substantially in the Al-Sweady claims after 2008, beyond less than a day’s work where he made clear further investigation was needed&quot;. LATEST ON LABOUR&#039;S TROUBLES BILL:Labour branded &#039;spineless&#039; over &#039;witch hunt&#039; of Troubles veteransMurdered MP&#039;s daughter slams Keir Starmer’s Troubles bill - &#039;What happened to reconciliation?&#039;Fears Labour&#039;s SAS &#039;witch-hunts&#039; could leave UK-US &#039;special relationship&#039; in tattersHe continued: &quot;The Attorney did work on a different set of group civil cases involving a wider range of victims, that was ultimately settled by the Ministry of Defence&quot;.The reports come as former military chiefs have called for Lord Hermer to step back from Labour&#039;s contentious Troubles Bill, which will scrap immunity protections for Northern Ireland veterans.The protections were awarded under the Tory Government&#039;s Legacy Act.But Sir Keir Starmer scrapped that as it was &quot;incompatible&quot; with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as it &quot;prevented potential rights violations from being properly investigated&quot;.The Troubles Bill, as a result, has long prompted warnings that Special Forces&#039; ability to act rapidly and effectively would be neutered.Months ago, ex-SAS leaders warned the spectre of legal action at home could even prove fatal on the battlefield.&quot;Commanders turn risk-averse, soldiers hesitate where boldness saves lives, wars drag on, spilling more blood and costing more lives,&quot; they wrote.And now again, two former SAS commanders have now insisted Lord Hermer must quit - while Tory MP Sir David Davis has urged the Attorney General to step back from dealing with the Bill.Lt Col Richard Williams, who used to lead 22 SAS, the regular special forces unit, said: &quot;What we long suspected is now proven: Attorney General Hermer has been part of a group of ideologically motivated human rights lawyers that have acted in a vexatious and biased way to persecute British soldiers, not because they broke any law, but to serve some twisted anti-military, anti-British agenda. He must step down.&quot;Col David White, another retired SAS commander who is part of the Special Air Service Regimental Association said it represented a &quot;new low&quot; for the relationship between Britain&#039;s elite forces and Government.Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, admitted to Parliament on Wednesday that the Government &quot;must do more through the legislation to safeguard our veterans community&quot;.A Government spokesman said: &quot;The last Government’s Legacy Act offered the false promise of conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes. It was found to be incompatible with international law, thrown out twice by the courts and left veterans without any protections.&quot;In contrast, we are bringing forward a substantial package of amendments at committee stage to further safeguard our veterans, in addition to the vital new protections already in the bill so there is no question of veterans being prosecuted for having followed the rules.&quot;We will continue to speak to veterans’ organisations so that the amendments we bring forward are robust, workable and lawful.&quot;Regarding the AG being reported to the Bar Standards Board, a spokesman for the watchdog said it does not comment on &quot;whether or not it has received any information about potential misconduct by a barrister, regardless of how any information comes to our attention&quot;.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lord, Hermer, reported, for, misconduct, after, being, accused, witch-hunt, British, troops</media:keywords>
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<title>Metropolitan Police probe into Lord Mandelson BLOCKED by US Department of Justice</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/metropolitan-police-probe-into-lord-mandelson-blocked-by-us-department-of-justice</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/metropolitan-police-probe-into-lord-mandelson-blocked-by-us-department-of-justice</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Scotland Yard&#039;s investigation into Lord Mandelson appears to have screeched to a halt after being blocked by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).The DoJ is demanding the Metropolitan Police file a formal Mutual Legal Assistance request before releasing censored documents connected to the ex-Labour peer. This bureaucratic process could take at least 18 months to complete.The delay is set to significantly impede the criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson, who was arrested in February under suspicion of misconduct in public office.Lord Mandelson has previously denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.Despite attempts by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to speed up the process, American officials have declined to voluntarily share potential evidence, according to The Telegraph.Sir Mark approached Warren Stephens, the American ambassador to Britain, about the issue earlier this year.He subsequently flew to Washington in March to request that officials provide all pertinent materials.These appeals have reportedly been ignored, and the Met is now preparing a formal MLA application for the evidence.The Met Police opened their criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson in January following the DoJ&#039;s publication of millions of files relating to the historic paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. These files indicated he may have passed sensitive information to Epstein during his tenure as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown.The allegations include claims he disclosed plans for a multi-billion-pound EU bailout to the convicted paedophile and billionaire financier.He is also accused of sharing details about Mr Brown&#039;s departure from office and information regarding potential Government property sales.LORD MANDELSON - READ THE LATEST:Peter Mandelson&#039;s Epstein ties investigated by crime agency months before US ambassador appointmentRupert Lowe speaks out on Keir Starmer, Lord Mandelson, and his vision for BritainKeir Starmer messaged Lord Mandelson the night before US ambassador announcementDespite both Lord Mandelson and Andrew-Mountbatten Windsor facing arrest in Britain, US authorities have not pursued similar action against Americans named in the Epstein files.The DoJ maintains there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against individuals named in the files, despite bipartisan calls for investigations.Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche told CNN in February that investigators examined the files last summer and found &quot;there was nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute anybody&quot;.First Lady Melania Trump has called on Congress to disclose the identities of abusive men whose names were redacted from the documents.&quot;Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone,&quot; she said during a White House address on April 10.Marjorie Taylor-Greene, once an ally but now a critic of Mr Trump, has alleged the President worried his associates &quot;would get hurt&quot; by the file releases.But the White House has characterised Ms Greene&#039;s remarks as &quot;petty bitterness&quot;.British police and prosecutors require original documents rather than copies to proceed with charges - hence the Mutual Legal Assistance request.However, the Met could yet find a workaround while the DoJ sorts out its paperwork.&quot;If police feel that there&#039;s somebody who is a potential victim, [they can] contact them and say: &#039;Would you like to come to the UK voluntarily?&#039;,&quot; former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley told GB News.&quot;That has happened in the past, quite recently with murder investigations, for example. &quot;So that could possibly happen, but it&#039;s going to be a slowing down of the process. It&#039;s going to be hampering Scotland Yard.&quot;I think the Yard will have to busy themselves about seeing where they can gather evidence elsewhere, until such time as a Mutual Legal Agreement comes into being.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Metropolitan, Police, probe, into, Lord, Mandelson, BLOCKED, Department, Justice</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump threatens Britain with all&#45;new tariffs over &amp;apos;cash grab&amp;apos; tax on American firms</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-britain-with-all-new-tariffs-over-cash-grab-tax-on-american-firms</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-britain-with-all-new-tariffs-over-cash-grab-tax-on-american-firms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump has threatened to slap Britain with all-new tariffs if it does not drop its &quot;cash grab&quot; tax on American companies. The digital services tax - which came into effect in 2020 - imposes a two per cent levy on the revenues of a number of major US tech companies.It was introduced by the Conservatives to address the large gap between the revenue being generated by British users for the social media firms compared to the amount of tax being paid to the Government. On Thursday, Mr Trump threatened to impose a &quot;big tariff&quot; on Britain if Labour does not scrap the measure. 
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He told reporters at the Oval Office: “We’ve been looking at it and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK, so they better be careful.“If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.”The levy impacts tech firms whose worldwide revenues from exceeds £500million, with more than £25million of the revenues from British users of their digital services. The tax has been a point of friction between the US and Britain since it was introduced six years ago - with critics blasting it as a &quot;cash grab&quot; at the time.The President said the levy specifically targeted the  “top companies in the world”.Mr Trump told reporters: “The UK did it, a couple of other people did it.“They think they’re going to make an easy buck, that’s why they’ve all taken advantage of our country.”Despite being a point of discussion during negotiations for the UK-US trade deal agreed in May 2025, the digital services tax went unchanged. THE &#039;SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP&#039; IN CRISIS - READ MORE: Donald Trump says King Charles state visit can &#039;absolutely&#039; help relations between US and UKDonald Trump warns Keir Starmer currently &#039;doesn&#039;t have a chance&#039; of surviving leadership crisisDonald Trump threatens to downgrade Britain&#039;s trade deal in latest attack on Keir StarmerWhen probed about how high the prospective tariff on Britain could be, Mr Trump said it would be “more than what they’re getting” from the tax. He added: “What we’ll do is we’ll reciprocate by putting something on that’s equal or greater than what they’re doing.&quot;Britain is not the only country with a similar measure in place, with European countries such as France, Italy and Spain all enforcing their own digital services tax.Mr Trump has previously vowed to “stand up to countries that attack our incredible American tech companies”.In August, the President wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Digital taxes, digital services legislation, and digital markets regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology.&quot;He warned that “unless these discriminatory actions are removed”, the US would move to “impose substantial additional tariffs” on the countries involved. In the 2024/25 financial year, the Government collected around £800million from the digital services tax. If the levy remains in place, it is projected to generate between £4.4billion and £5.2billion in revenue between 2024 and 2029. A Treasury review into the DST last November outlines how ministers think reforming the international tax framework is the &quot;most sustainable long-term solution&quot; and are &quot;committed to leading efforts to create a system suited to the digital era&quot;.&quot;In the meantime, DST continues to operate as an interim measure to ensure that digital businesses make a contribution that reflects their economic activities in the UK,&quot; it says.GB News has approached the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade for comment following Mr Trump&#039;s remarks last night.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, threatens, Britain, with, all-new, tariffs, over, cash, grab, tax, American, firms</media:keywords>
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<title>Vladimir Putin sends warship packed full of weapons sailing through Channel in open defiance of Keir Starmer</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/vladimir-putin-sends-warship-packed-full-of-weapons-sailing-through-channel-in-open-defiance-of-keir-starmer</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/vladimir-putin-sends-warship-packed-full-of-weapons-sailing-through-channel-in-open-defiance-of-keir-starmer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Russian warship escorted a shadow fleet cargo vessel suspected of carrying weapons.The Kremlin sent the Admiral Grigorovich the guard a trio of Russian ships including the Sparta. The Sparta has been linked in the past to military equipment ferried to Syria, off the south coast.It was allegedly bound for Port Said in northern Egypt as it travelled west through the Channel near Dover.
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The Sparta is travelling alongside two other vessels: the General Skobelev, a tanker under international sanctions, and the Akademik Pashin, a refuelling ship suspected of supporting the convoy&#039;s journey from Russian waters to Africa.The cargo vessel has a notorious history as part of the so-called &quot;Syrian Express&quot;, a fleet that conducted supply runs through the Bosphorus to support the Assad regime.Intelligence reports indicate the ship transported military equipment and personnel between the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and Russia&#039;s naval facility in Tartus, Syria.Following Bashar al-Assad&#039;s fall in December 2024, the Sparta assisted in evacuating Russian troops and equipment from Syria to Libya.The Sparta is a roll-on roll-off cargo ship specifically built to transport wheeled military vehicles and heavy equipment.During a previous mission to Syria, the vessel suffered engine failure near Portugal and drifted while crew members attempted repairs, according to Ukrainian intelligence services.Despite the Prime Minister&#039;s authorisation for special forces and National Crime Agency officers to board shadow fleet ships, Britain has not conducted a single interception operation.Labour&#039;s inaction stems from an ongoing dispute about where seized tankers would be taken and which department would bear the costs of such operations.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSLabour &#039;dragging its feet&#039; over seizure of sanctioned Russian ships amid money worriesPrince Harry sends direct message to Vladimir Putin and issues Ukraine rallying cry in KyivRussian agents targeted Lord Mandelson for decades and closely monitored relationship with EpsteinRussia&#039;s shadow fleet comprises an estimated 700 ships, responsible for transporting roughly 40 per cent of the country&#039;s oil exports to fund its war in Ukraine.These vessels avoid detection by frequently changing their names, electronic signals, ownership records and flags of registration. Since the Prime Minister announced his crackdown, more than 100 shadow fleet ships are thought to have sailed past British waters in defiance.Earlier this month, the Admiral Grigorovich was observed escorting two sanctioned tankers near Dover, with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Tideforce following but taking no action.A Royal Navy spokesman told GB News they do not comment on ongoing investigations.Earlier this week, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the UK’s biggest ever drone package for Ukraine, a technology he said is &quot;defining the battlefield&quot; in the war in which Kyiv is reporting record Russian losses.Mr Healey used a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in Berlin to announce 120,000 drones will be delivered to the country.In opening remarks at the talks of the 50-strong group, Mr Healey said: &quot;Ukraine needs our help in one vital area above all others, and that is drones. Drones are defining the battlefield in this war…&quot;So in the UK, we’re stepping up further to recognise this pressure. I’m announcing today that the UK will be providing this year the biggest ever package of drones for Ukraine, over 120,000 in this year alone. &quot;This will be backed by the £3billion of military support and the Russian frozen assets that we can free up to devote to Ukraine military aid.&quot;The senior minister said that even as Russian President Vladimir Putin &quot;wants us to be distracted by the conflict in the Middle East...we remember our duty to Ukraine and we recognise that Russian aggression is growing across Europe&quot;.For four consecutive months, Russia has lost more troops than it can recruit, Mr Healey said.Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, who chaired the UDCG alongside Mr Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, put the figure of Russian casualties at &quot;over 35,000 a month”.Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told the meeting: &quot;We are not only holding the line. We are increasing pressure. Russian losses reached record levels, exceeding their monthly mobilisation.&quot;

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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vladimir, Putin, sends, warship, packed, full, weapons, sailing, through, Channel, open, defiance, Keir, Starmer</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump hits back at Prince Harry claims: &amp;apos;He doesn&amp;apos;t speak for the UK!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-hits-back-at-prince-harry-claims-he-doesnt-speak-for-the-uk</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-hits-back-at-prince-harry-claims-he-doesnt-speak-for-the-uk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has hit back at Prince Harry after the Duke of Sussex called on the US for &quot;leadership&quot; amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.Harry made a surprise and unexpected appearance in Ukraine this morning, where he directly challenged Washington to fulfil its commitments to the nation.Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum, the duke said the US has a &quot;singular role&quot; in the conflict in Ukraine because it vowed to protect the country&#039;s borders and its sovereignty.&quot;This is a moment for American leadership,&quot; he said.
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&quot;A moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations - not out of charity, but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.&quot;And this evening, the US President responded.Speaking in the Oval Office, when asked about Harry&#039;s comments, Mr Trump said: &quot;How&#039;s he doing? How&#039;s his wife? Please give her my regards, OK?&quot;But he then went on to claim he &quot;speaks more for the UK than Prince Harry,&quot; who left his royal duties to migrate to the US back in 2020.&quot;I don&#039;t know,&quot; President Trump said. &quot;I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that&#039;s for sure.&quot;I think I&#039;m speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry, that&#039;s for sure. But thank him for his advice.&quot;The war of words comes merely days before King Charles is due to head over for his state visit.The King and Queen Camilla will visit three locations on the trip, which coincides with America&#039;s celebration of 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.LATEST ROYAL NEWSKing Charles hiring extra staff at beloved estate amid security concerns with 135 new homes plannedWilliam and Catherine share new photograph of Prince Louis to mark their youngest son&#039;s 8th birthdayPrince Harry warned &#039;it could get uncomfortable&#039; in visa scare after scolding Donald TrumpPresident Trump has struggled to contain his excitement regarding his royal visitors, and this evening proved no different.&quot;We&#039;re having King Charles come, he&#039;s a friend of mine,&quot; he continued.&quot;We&#039;re really looking forward to it. We&#039;ve spoken, and we&#039;re going to have a great time.&quot;I tell you, if we&#039;d had that ballroom built, it would be full. I wish we had more seats.&quot;The President concluded by professing his &quot;love&quot; for the UK - despite his recent condemnation of the country&#039;s governance.Earlier today, Mr Trump said the upcoming visit could &quot;absolutely&quot; go some way to mending the fractured relationship between the US and UK.The President has repeatedly hammered UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his hesitation to join the US-Israeli offensive in Iran.As a result, the so-called &quot;special relationship&quot; between the two nations has waned, as the Prime Minister continues to condemn Mr Trump for the war in Iran.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/watch-meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-slammed-as-they-tour-australia-by-co-host-of-the-pierce-vs-maguire-podcast-kevin-maguire.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, hits, back, Prince, Harry, claims:, He, doesnt, speak, for, the, UK</media:keywords>
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<title>Major UK fashion brand demands £7million from US after Donald Trump&amp;apos;s tariff &amp;apos;volatility&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-uk-fashion-brand-demands-7million-from-us-after-donald-trumps-tariff-volatility</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-uk-fashion-brand-demands-7million-from-us-after-donald-trumps-tariff-volatility</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A major UK-based fashion brand is looking to recover millions of pounds resulting from President Donald Trump&#039;s sweeping tariffs.Retailer Asos has disclosed plans to recoup £7million in American import duties paid during the first half of its financial year.The company confirmed it has initiated proceedings to reclaim tariffs levied on goods shipped to the United States in the six months ending March 1.This move comes after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that President Trump&#039;s tariff regime was unlawful, determining that a 1977 statute did not grant him authority to impose import taxes without congressional approval.The landmark ruling against the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs has triggered numerous repayment claims from affected businesses.According to the online retailer, these tariffs dealt a blow to Asos&#039;s financial performance during the period.The company stated: &quot;The market was affected by widespread volatility and, in particular, the introduction of IEEPA tariffs which caused fulfilment disruption early in the half and impacted profit by £7million in the half-year 2025-26.&quot; Despite these headwinds, the retailer managed to reduce its pre-tax losses significantly, reporting a deficit of £137.9million compared with £241.5million in the same period last year.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSOil prices SURGE past $105 per barrel despite Donald Trump extending ceasefireHistoric food company that supplies Pukka Pies falls into liquidationUK records biggest tax rise on workers in developed world after Rachel Reeves&#039;s Budget raidsGross merchandise value declined by nine per cent to £1.17billion, though the company noted &quot;early signs&quot; of recovery were emerging.Asos has implemented pricing adjustments to counterbalance the increased tariff and duty expenses whilst maintaining its competitive position to support future expansion.The company emphasised that America remains a crucial strategic market and one of its most profitable territories, with strong profit per order underpinning the region&#039;s long-term appeal despite short-term uncertainty.The retailer has additionally taken &quot;proactive action&quot; to mitigate rising expenses stemming from the Middle East conflict.It stated: &quot;We continue to monitor developments closely and are continuously reviewing a range of levers to protect profitability whilst ensuring seasonally relevant product arrives to meet customer demand.&quot; Domestically, UK gross merchandise value fell by five per cent, yet the business recorded approximately a 10 per cent increase in new British customers.Trading momentum has continued into the third quarter, with the company reporting further sales improvements that helped push shares up four per cent during midday trading on Thursday.Jose Calamonte, Asos chief executive, said: &quot;The first half of 2026 has seen significant progress and momentum for Asos.Together, we are taking decisive steps towards re-establishing Asos as a leading online fashion destination.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Major, fashion, brand, demands, £7million, from, after, Donald, Trumps, tariff, volatility</media:keywords>
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<title>Rupert Lowe speaks out on Keir Starmer, Lord Mandelson, and his vision for Britain</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rupert-lowe-speaks-out-on-keir-starmer-lord-mandelson-and-his-vision-for-britain</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rupert-lowe-speaks-out-on-keir-starmer-lord-mandelson-and-his-vision-for-britain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rupert Lowe has spoken about his vision for the nation and his thoughts on Keir Starmer as he grapples with the Peter Mandelson scandal.Sitting down with Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Great Yarmouth MP outlined the purpose of his party, Restore Britain, and answered questions on his own place in British politics.Beginning their discussion, Jacob and Mr Lowe discussed the crisis currently enveloping No10, which began with the sacking of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador last year and now concerns his security vetting failure.The Restore Britain leader stressed he had long spoken against giving the plum diplomatic job to the New Labour architect, describing the move as “the most extraordinary appointment, and one which didn&#039;t make any logical sense”.
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He told Jacob the drama represented “more of the same” from the British establishment.To that end, Mr Lowe said: “I blame Blair, Brown, Campbell, and Mandelson for undermining the British Constitution.”“The Human Rights Act, the creation of the Supreme Court, to the Equality Act, all the things that they did that I think had long-lasting, damaging consequences for the way in which we are governed.“It&#039;s probably part of the reason why we ended up with a human rights lawyer like Keir Starmer.”Regarding Sir Keir himself, Mr Lowe said: “I don&#039;t like him. I don&#039;t respect him. I think he&#039;s a very poor Prime Minister.“If I were forced to vote on whether he should resign, I would vote for him to resign.“But half of me says, actually, leaving in there as a lame duck is probably better for the other parties in terms of the British public that has become tired of the offering which they’re getting.&quot;Moving on to his own ambitions, Jacob pressed the Great Yarmouth MP on how well known he is among the British public, citing a JL Partners poll that found that only eight per cent of respondents recognised him.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer urged to set out exit plan by Labour MP in scathing takedown: &#039;He can&#039;t survive&#039;Labour ministers challenged to ‘follow Tory example’ and oust Keir Starmer: ‘Put party second!&#039;Donald Trump sets out what Keir Starmer must do to survive leadership crisisMr Lowe rejected the findings, pointing to the growth of Restore Britain.He said: “Maybe I&#039;m deluding myself, Jacob, but I&#039;m going to continue to delude myself. I&#039;m going to continue to build my party.“I can tell you reassuringly that a lot of the people who are joining us, we now have 131,000 signed up, have not been involved in British politics for the past 25 or 30 years.“We are offering an opportunity to join a party, which I think is reflective of what they want and what they think.”Mr Lowe pledged: “We&#039;re going to release honest people and allow them to pursue their lives unfettered by a nanny state, which has become a burden on the back of productive Britain.“Since we launched in February, we&#039;ve now got over 400 branches up and running.&quot;The Restore Britain leader hailed the level of enthusiasm of real people fighting for local democracy”.Responding to the scrutiny over Lord Mandelson’s vetting, a spokesman for HM Government said: “Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government Minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.“Once the Prime Minister was informed, he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the Developed Vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.&quot;Peter Mandelson has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, stating: “I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else, I learned the actual truth about him after his death.”He added that he had “relied on assurances of his innocence that turned out later to be horrendously false”.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rupert, Lowe, speaks, out, Keir, Starmer, Lord, Mandelson, and, his, vision, for, Britain</media:keywords>
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<title>Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein investigated by crime agency months before US ambassador appointment</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/peter-mandelsons-ties-to-jeffrey-epstein-investigated-by-crime-agency-months-before-us-ambassador-appointment</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/peter-mandelsons-ties-to-jeffrey-epstein-investigated-by-crime-agency-months-before-us-ambassador-appointment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Peter Mandelson&#039;s ties to Jeffrey Epstein were investigated by a crime agency months before he was appointed as the US ambassador.The relationship between the ex-Cabinet minister and the convicted paedophile was assessed by the National Crime Agency back in 2024.Lord Mandelson was officially confirmed to take on the top diplomatic role in December of that year. A human rights activist reportedly met with the police bosses, holding several meetings to review the allegations laid against one of Labour&#039;s biggest names.
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Eventually, the allegations were swept under the rug after the authorities deemed the accusations were only based on hearsay. They said such information was not sufficient to not open a full investigation, the Financial Times reported. The allegations were then said to have been put to Downing Street after the claims were provided to the NCA.Lord Mandelson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said that he regrets his relationship with the child sex offender.Last week, it was revealed the ex-spin doctor failed security vetting, but ascended to the lofty role anyway.The Prime Minister was subsequently hit with a barrage of criticism from MPs across the House of Commons – including many of his own. Sir Keir, who has dismissed calls to resign, was accused of throwing Foreign Office officials under the bus after the PM shirked responsibility to officials over Lord Mandelson&#039;s vetting.Earlier this year, he was warned the New Labour titan&#039;s relationship with Epstein posed a &quot;reputational risk&quot; before his appointment.LABOUR LATEST:Keir Starmer faces investigation for &#039;misleading&#039; Parliament as suspended Labour MP turns on PMBritain strikes £160 MILLION migrant deal with France but can stop funding if new tactics failLabour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit live on GB News amid Mandelson scandalHe had been told the appointment posed a &quot;general reputational risk&quot;.A vetting file on the disgraced peer indicated that contact with Epstein started in 2002 and persisted after he was convicted of paedophilia in 2008.Lord Mandelson also stayed at Epstein&#039;s house while the sex offender was behind bars a year later.The grandee&#039;s ties with Russia and China were also flagged. Lord Mandelson was booted from the high-flying role after Downing Street declared that they had been made aware new information about his relationship with Epstein.In February, the peer was arrested from his home on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The police have said their investigation would &quot;take some time&quot;. GB News has approached the NCA and No10 for comment.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:14:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Peter, Mandelson’s, ties, Jeffrey, Epstein, investigated, crime, agency, months, before, ambassador, appointment</media:keywords>
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<title>Home Office &amp;apos;secretly&amp;apos; moves migrants into cottage just yards from primary school</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/home-office-secretly-moves-migrants-into-cottage-just-yards-from-primary-school</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/home-office-secretly-moves-migrants-into-cottage-just-yards-from-primary-school</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fury has erupted in a Surrey village after the Home Office &quot;secretly&quot; moved a group of migrants into a £500,000 cottage.Laleham locals and councillors say they were not given any warning before asylum seekers were placed in the property - which lies just 200 yards away from a primary school. The moving of migrants into properties across the country is part of Labour&#039;s push to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers - Home Office minister Alex Norris said had “spiralled out of control”. The practice has long been dubbed &quot;Operation Scatter&quot; by critics.Under current planning laws, developers are not required to apply for permission to convert a property into a HMO for up to six occupants. 
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But fears are rising thousands of homes nationwide risk being reassigned without due diligence as the Government races to end hotel use by 2029. One Laleham parent - who remains anonymous - told The Sun: “It’s mind-boggling. I just don’t understand why you would put asylum seekers in the middle of a tiny village where there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go.“The first duty of a Government is to keep people safe, but we don’t feel this was a safe thing to do.”The small Surrey village is home to around 2,500 residents and lies around five miles away from Heathrow Airport. Villagers&#039; fears came to pass when an Afghan asylum seeker - believed to be in his early 20s - was arrested outside the £500,000 HMO after allegedly harassing schoolgirls in the area. The migrant had allegedly been told by police to stay away from the school, but was held on suspicion of harassment after he was accused of returning to the grounds. He has since been transferred to a security facility under the Mental Health Act. The Afghan national is said to have been spotted hanging around the school during drop-off and pick-up times over a number of days, according to concerned parents. MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Britain to strike £160 MILLION migrant deal with France but can &#039;stop funding&#039; if new tactics failBriton charged with killing three people in the US is found dead in prisonMigrant boy from Africa who raped teenage girl, 17, in park is jailed for five yearsThe issue was brought up during PMQs on Wednesday, with Tory MP for Spelthorne, Lincoln Jopp, asking the Prime Minister: “Who was responsible for the risk assessment that put him there?“Who screwed up, and who can I hold accountable?”Sir Keir Starmer responded: “Obviously, this is a live police investigation, and I know the Asylum Minister is looking very closely at this case.“Can I reassure him that all accommodation must meet contractual standards and the Home Office works with the police to manage all sites safely.&quot;Local authorities are consulted prior to any accommodation being procured and can object to any proposal.”Mr Jopp also penned a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, outlining the concerns of Laleham residents about the safety of their children in the community. He wrote: “I would be grateful if you would investigate this as a matter of urgency and also confirm that the proper safeguarding checks have been made on all HMOs used by the Home Office in Spelthorne.“I would also add that no such placements should be made within the vicinity of schools.”Spelthorne Borough Council told residents that the migrant were moved in to the area &quot;without the normal risk assessment&quot;, pointing towards a lack of communication between the Home Office and the local authorities. “The council has written directly to the Home Office asking for an explanation and an assurance that this will not happen again,&quot; it added. But a spokesman for the Home Office maintained that “Spelthorne Council was consulted before this accommodation was procured.&quot;They said: “We urge anyone who witnesses unacceptable behaviour to report it to the police as soon as possible, and we remain in close contact with Surrey Police on this incident.“Illegal migrants are being moved into basic accommodation, as the Government scales up the use of military barracks.”A spokesman for the local authority insisted that &quot;protecting our children remains our highest priority&quot;.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Home, Office, secretly, moves, migrants, into, cottage, just, yards, from, primary, school</media:keywords>
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<title>Reform UK will order all schools to fly Union Jack and display portrait of King</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-will-order-all-schools-to-fly-union-jack-and-display-portrait-of-king</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-will-order-all-schools-to-fly-union-jack-and-display-portrait-of-king</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform UK has announced plans to mandate that all schools display a portrait of King Charles and fly the Union Jack as part of sweeping education reforms.The party unveiled its proposals ahead of St George&#039;s Day, pledging to implement a &quot;patriotic curriculum&quot; within the first 100 days of taking power.Under the policy, at least 60 per cent of assessed history content would need to focus on Britain.The Education Secretary would gain powers to intervene at schools that fail to comply with the new requirements.Suella Braverman, Reform&#039;s education spokeswoman, said: &quot;Tory and Labour governments have failed a generation of young people with a substandard curriculum that undermines academic rigour and national identity in favour of promoting their mass migration agenda.&quot;She added: &quot;Reform will end this. As Education Secretary, I will introduce a new curriculum that will rekindle national pride and ensure that every child leaves school with an understanding of what a privilege it is to be British.&quot;The party also laid into the current approach to teaching history, arguing it is delivered through a &quot;progressive lens&quot; and shaped to fit contemporary viewpoints.Reform affirmed its revised syllabus would present &quot;the true story of these isles including all of our successes, failures and turning points&quot;.Mandatory topics would include the Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the Act of Union, the Enlightenment, and Victorian Britain.These subjects already feature within existing GCSE history specifications offered by examination boards in England.Schools would also be required to observe St George&#039;s Day in England.REFORM UK - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer snaps at Sarah Pochin in row over grooming gangs - ‘I don’t need lectures from Reform!’Richard Tice predicts Keir Starmer&#039;s exit from No10 with joke at how PM will spend his summerShabana Mahmood tells &#039;white liberal&#039; heckler to &#039;f**k off&#039; after being accused of copying ReformFunding would be made available for flagpoles to display the Union flag alongside national flags in Scotland and Wales.The party acknowledged that education policy is devolved to the Scottish and Welsh governments - but indicated it would pursue identical reforms if it gained control of Holyrood or the Senedd.Reform noted that in 2024, every state-funded school received an offer of a royal portrait, yet only 34 per cent accepted.The announcement came as Sir Keir Starmer staked claim to England&#039;s flag in his St George&#039;s Day message.The PM launched a scathing attack on &quot;plastic patriotism that corrodes the very bonds that tie us together&quot;.Following a St George&#039;s Day reception at Downing Street, the Prime Minister vowed to confront those who &quot;try to hijack our flag to spread hate&quot;.He said: &quot;I know what the flag of St George stands for. It stands for decency over division. Unity over hate. &quot;And a country where patriotism is measured by what you put in, not what hate you stir up.&quot;“Those are the values I will always fight for.”The Prime Minister added: “We will fly our flag proudly. It’s our flag. It belongs to us, and we will fly it for the values that we believe in, and they are the values of the people I’ve named in this room tonight.”Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reform, will, order, all, schools, fly, Union, Jack, and, display, portrait, King</media:keywords>
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<title>SNP vows to work with Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein to rip up United Kingdom forever</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-vows-to-work-with-plaid-cymru-and-sinn-fein-to-rip-up-united-kingdom-forever</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-vows-to-work-with-plaid-cymru-and-sinn-fein-to-rip-up-united-kingdom-forever</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The SNP has vowed to work alongside separatist parties in Wales and Northern Ireland to rip up the United Kingdom forever after next month&#039;s local elections. While Sinn Fein already holds power in Stormont, Plaid Cymru is on course to topple Labour in the Senedd on May 7. John Swinney’s party is projected to win a majority in the Scottish Parliament - a result he argues would give him a mandate to negotiate with Westminster on a second independence referendum. The Scottish First Minister said he would “enjoy the co-operation” of working alongside separatist parties as the devolved nations each push for independence from the UK. 
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On Wednesday, Mr Swinney told reporters that pro-independence administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would leave the UK “changed irreversibly”.He suggested the three devolved governments would push to alter the Union&#039;s &quot;dynamic&quot;, and ultimately lead to its break-up. If Plaid Cymru and SNP were to win the most seats in their respective legislatures, it would mark the first time that separatists controlled all three nations since devolution occurred in 1999. The First Minister told journalists on the campaign trail: &quot;I certainly would enjoy the co-operation with counterparts in Plaid and Sinn Fein in Wales and Northern Ireland.“It is for each of those individuals to lead their political campaigns in their own countries, and I don’t speak for them.“But certainly from my part I would appreciate that collaboration to change the dynamics of the UK so that we can - I can - secure my objective of winning Scottish independence.“Aside from that, I think the UK would be changed irreversibly if that outcome was to be the case.“Obviously, Michelle O’Neill does not face an election in Northern Ireland at this stage, but she will be in office. SCOTTISH ELECTION - READ THE LATEST:Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urges voters to ‘give me five years&#039; to fix SNP&#039;s messJohn Swinney sets date for second Scottish independence referendumNigel Farage sets sights on ‘massive political shakeup’ at Reform UK&#039;s Scottish manifesto launch&quot;And obviously the opportunities for Plaid Cymru are very visible in Wales.”Mr Swinney suggested the outcome would significantly change the &quot;nature of the discussions&quot; between Westminster and the devolved nations. Last week, a poll carried out by The Telegraph predicted the SNP to win 67 seats in the Scottish Parliament next month. The survey also pointed towards to a two-way battle for second place between Labour and Reform UK, with the Conservatives trailing in fourth.During a televised debate, Mr Swinney argued that an SNP majority of any size would serve as a mandate for a second referendum. When asked when another vote could take place, the First Minister said it would be “perfectly conceivable” for a referendum to be held by 2028.Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar insisted the election is “not about independence” - while Reform UK’s Scottish head, Lord Malcolm Offord, said another referendum would be “divisive”, but did not rule out the idea.However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said earlier this month there would not be another referendum, even if the SNP wins a majority at Holyrood.He argued that Labour’s 2024 landslide - which saw the party win 37 of Scotland’s 57 Westminster constituencies - gave Sir Keir Starmer a mandate to refuse another independence referendum.Scottish Labour is projected to record its worst result since the creation of the Scottish Parliament, finishing second on just 19 seats.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SNP, vows, work, with, Plaid, Cymru, and, Sinn, Fein, rip, United, Kingdom, forever</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer declares England&amp;apos;s flag &amp;apos;belongs to us&amp;apos; in St George&amp;apos;s Day message</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-declares-englands-flag-belongs-to-us-in-st-georges-day-message</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-declares-englands-flag-belongs-to-us-in-st-georges-day-message</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer declared the English flag &quot;belongs to us&quot; last night in a St George&#039;s Day broadside at flag-raisers up and down the country.The PM hosted a St George&#039;s Day celebration at Downing Street on Monday evening in which he named &quot;service, generosity, and respect&quot; as his English values.The reception brought together members of the public with well-known faces to mark England&#039;s patron saint&#039;s day - officially celebrated today.Sir Keir singled out three individuals present at the No10 gathering who he believed exemplified true English characteristics.Among them was Isaac Davidson, a York-based window cleaner who helped take down racist graffiti from a Chinese restaurant in the city last year.
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The Prime Minister also praised George Sutherland, who volunteers at a Telford food bank, and whom Sir Keir had previously referenced during his 2025 Labour Party conference address.The third person honoured was Ben Huntley - the nurse who provided care for the Prime Minister&#039;s brother Nick during his final months battling stage four cancer.During his address, the Prime Minister also railed against those attempting to create &quot;division&quot; within the nation.&quot;There are voices both here and abroad, who would seek to divide us, who want to set us apart from each other,&quot; he told guests, warning against those promoting &quot;a sort of toxic culture of hatred between different individuals, different groups, different communities&quot;.Speaking about his brother&#039;s death, Sir Keir&#039;s voice reportedly wavered as he addressed the gathering.&quot;Sadly, my brother passed on Boxing Day 2024 and it hit me like a bus,&quot; the Prime Minister said.He spoke of how Ben Huntley&#039;s compassionate approach had made a profound difference during an incredibly difficult period.&quot;But because of Ben, my brother always felt cared for and respected, because of the way that he was treated by Ben and the whole team, and that was really important to a vulnerable man with stage four cancer going through a really challenging time.&quot;POLITICS - READ MORE:Labour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit live on GB News amid Mandelson scandal: ‘When, not if!’Pat McFadden gives two reasons why PM rushed through Mandelson appointment amid vetting furyHalf of young people say they would NEVER fight for BritainAddressing the nurse directly, he added: &quot;Ben, I&#039;ll never forget what you did for me and my family.&quot;Sir Keir also drew attention to violence targeting religious communities, describing attacks on synagogues and mosques as &quot;acts of violence designed to send a message to the Jewish and Muslim communities of this country that they are not safe&quot;.&quot;We reject their division completely, and we will fly our flag proudly,&quot; he added.Then, he turned his attention to Britons who have raised their flag up and down the country in what critics have branded a &quot;national embarrassment&quot;.Some patriotic flag-raisers have even been subjected to abuse and attacks on the streets.&quot;It&#039;s our flag. It belongs to us, and we will fly it for the values that we believe in, and they are the values of the people I&#039;ve named in this room tonight,&quot; the Prime Minister vowed.The reception featured a notable guest list from the worlds of sport and entertainment.Former England and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman attended, alongside ex-England footballer and Strictly Come Dancing winner Karen Carney, as well as actor Joe Thomas - best known for his role in The Inbetweeners.Olympic cycling champions Dame Laura Kenny and Sir Jason Kenny introduced the Prime Minister, recalling how they had first encountered him at the Pride of Britain awards some years earlier.Following a day where he faced scrutiny over appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador - which has sparked calls for him to resign - Sir Keir appeared to see the funny side.He joked that he enjoyed occasions where conversation steered away from politics.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, declares, Englands, flag, belongs, us, Georges, Day, message</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s EU reset built on sand, warns bombshell report as charts expose who really stands to benefit</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-eu-reset-built-on-sand-warns-bombshell-report-as-charts-expose-who-really-stands-to-benefit</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-eu-reset-built-on-sand-warns-bombshell-report-as-charts-expose-who-really-stands-to-benefit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Government has been accused of pursuing a &quot;worst of all worlds&quot; deal with the EU that&#039;s based on &quot;ideology&quot; after a new report exposed the paltry returns to Britain. Brexit think tank Facts4EU, in collaboration with Stand for our Sovereignty and CIBUK.Org, crunched HMRC data released last week on the number of businesses importing and exporting goods in 2025.The input-output ratio leans heavily in the EU&#039;s favour, the analysis found, with only 1.9 per cent of all British businesses exporting goods to the EU, yet 98.1 per cent of them would be subject to a thicket of EU laws and regulations. The findings, shared exclusively with GB News, cast fresh doubt over the Government&#039;s insistence on ever-closer, dynamic alignment with the EU’s Single Market.
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According to the HMRC, 1.9 per cent of all UK businesses were exporting goods to the EU in 2025.This means 98 per cent of all UK businesses aren’t affected by additional paperwork the EU Commission places on goods exports from the UK.  However, due to the Government’s EU re-set, 100 per cent of all UK businesses will have extra costs and rules imposed.Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith told GB News: &quot;These figures blow the Government’s strategy out of the water. &quot;Just two per cent of British businesses export goods to the EU yet Keir Starmer wants to shackle the other 98 per cent domestic businesses to Brussels’s bureaucratic rulebook, with no vote, no voice, and no way out.&quot;Overall, fewer than eight per cent of all UK business employers export goods to the EU, meaning around 92 per cent of businesses who employ people sell nothing to EU27 countries.This equates to only 108,136 businesses out of all 5,690,265 businesses across the UK, who are involved in exporting goods to the EU.Of the 362,992 businesses importing or exporting goods during 2025, 106,620 of businesses were moving goods to or from EU countries only. This decreased by 2,343 or two per cent, with 144,381 of businesses moving goods to or from non‑EU countries only, in an increase by 12,233 or nine per cent. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSBritish chips and cakes could be BINNED under Keir Starmer&#039;s Brexit resetThree graphs reveal &#039;eye-watering&#039; impact of PM&#039;s incoming Erasmus deal as fears of Brexit betrayal skyrocket‘We have one chance to stop this!’ Brexiteers draw up battle plan to stop Keir Starmer’s EU reset betrayalMr Griffiths said: &quot;I spent 25 years building businesses; this Government has spent the last year taxing them, regulating them and now signing our sovereignty away to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. &quot;Labour’s &#039;EU Reset&#039; is a Trojan Horse surrender of powers that rightly belong with Parliament, just as they do in the way other sovereign countries do.&quot;The Conservatives will oppose it at every turn.&quot;

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, reset, built, sand, warns, bombshell, report, charts, expose, who, really, stands, benefit</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump fires US Navy chief amid blockade of Strait of Hormuz</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-fires-us-navy-chief-amid-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-fires-us-navy-chief-amid-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The civilian head of the US Navy has been fired nine days into the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Navy Secretary John C Phelan was confirmed to have left his job on Wednesday.The Pentagon said in a statement that Mr Phelan was &quot;departing the administration, effective immediately,&quot; without providing further detailsIt was later revealed by Reuters that he had been sacked.
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The Navy&#039;s civilian second-in-command, Undersecretary Hung Cao, will take over as acting secretary.Mr Phelan had not served in the military, nor did he have a civilian leadership role in the Navy, before he was nominated for Secretary in 2024.And only on Tuesday, he addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry chiefs at the navy&#039;s annual conference in Washington DC.It comes just weeks after War Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army&#039;s top general over &quot;tensions&quot; with US military bosses.While last year, the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General CQ Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff, were all shown the exit door.Earlier on Wednesday, White House press chief Karoline Leavitt said the President was &quot;satisfied&quot; with the naval blockade, and &quot;understands Iran is in a very weak position&quot;.&quot;The cards are in President Trump&#039;s hands right now,&quot; she added, and cautioned that reports of an up-to-five-day deadline for the extended ceasefire were &quot;not true&quot;.Asked how long the war will continue, Ms Leavitt said that was a matter for Mr Trump - who will do so &quot;when he feels it&#039;s in the best interests of the United States and the American people&quot;.&quot;We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade, they&#039;re losing $500million a day,&quot; she continued.&quot;Kharg Island is completely full, they can&#039;t move oil in and out. They can&#039;t even pay their own people as a result of this economic leverage that President Trump has inflicted over them.&quot;READ MORE ON IRAN:Donald Trump opens door to &#039;blowing up the rest of Iran&#039; just hours after extending ceasefireRachel Reeves considers war bonds to fund £17.6billion defence spending push&#039;It didn&#039;t go well for them!&#039; US forces blow a hole in hulking Iranian ship - then seize itBut that morning, Iran targeted three cargo ships and seized two during passage through the Strait of Hormuz.Tehran went on to issued the US a stark warning that the ceasefire means &quot;nothing&quot;.Iran&#039;s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said a full ceasefire only made sense if the US blockade was lifted - while reopening the strait was impossible with such a &quot;flagrant breach of the ceasefire&quot;.In a show of defiance, Iran showcased its ballistic weapons at a parade in Tehran on Tuesday evening, with images on state TV showing large crowds waving Iranian flags and a banner in the background with a fist choking off the strait.Captions read: &quot;Indefinitely under Iran&#039;s Control&quot; and &quot;Trump could not do a damn thing&quot;, referring to the strait, which Iran has effectively shut to ships other than its own by attacking vessels that attempt to transit without its permission.The Revolutionary Guards accused the seized ships, the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, of operating without required permits and tampering with their navigation systems.Though Ms Leavitt said the seizures did not violate the ceasefire.&quot;These were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships,&quot; she said - though accused the Iranians are &quot;acting like a bunch of pirates&quot;.Asked whether American fores could consider striking the boats, she says the US &quot;could&quot;, and that the President has &quot;many options&quot; on the table. But she added that the seizures were only carried out by a pair of small boats - and Iran&#039;s navy is otherwise &quot;obliterated&quot;.

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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, fires, Navy, chief, amid, blockade, Strait, Hormuz</media:keywords>
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<title>Britain to strike new £160 MILLION migrant deal with France but holds power to &amp;apos;stop funding&amp;apos; if new tactics fail</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-to-strike-new-160-million-migrant-deal-with-france-but-holds-power-to-stop-funding-if-new-tactics-fail</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britain-to-strike-new-160-million-migrant-deal-with-france-but-holds-power-to-stop-funding-if-new-tactics-fail</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain is on the verge of agreeing a new £160million migrant deal with France which includes a get-out clause should new tactics fail.The Home Secretary will sign the deal which commits Britain to paying their French counterparts on the condition its new strategies are effective. The agreement will expire three years from now.A £500million fund is already earmarked to boost enforcement action across northern France in a bid to crack down on people smugglers.Almost 1,100 law enforcement, intelligence and military officers will be deployed to crack down on the surging number of migrants making the perilous trip across the Channel.
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A further £160million will be invested - but only if new tactics and measures deployed to clamp down on illegal migration prove successful. If the new wave of tactics fail to prove value for money, funding will be withdrawn in its entirety after one year.For the first year, the UK will commit £51million of investment as part of the results-based sum. Part of the funding will be allocated to bulking up the personnel along the French coast, which have stopped 42,000 crossings since the election. The cash will also go towards the establishment of a new riot police unit, designed to handle hostile crowds and violent outbreaks.Meanwhile, an intelligence and judicial unit, which works on arresting the people smugglers, will triple in size, from 18 to 30 specialists.Last year, the 18-strong team arrested 480 individuals.The Tories however did not agree with the Government, claiming that &quot;France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and even let those illegal immigrants go to try again.&quot;Drones, two helicopters and a new camera surveillance system will be also installed to intercept both people smugglers as well as those crossing.New maritime tactics will be rolled out aimed at clamping down on taxi boats, as well.BRITAIN&#039;S BORDERS CRISIS - READ MORE:Council denies &#039;hundreds of migrants&#039; will fill care home converted into massive 35-bed HMOMigrants&#039; English language tests could soon be run on Duolingo despite major security warningMigrants handed record levels of legal aid to fight their deportation - paid for by YOUThe French will use a new vessel, in addition to 20 maritime officers to target those making the crossing.Sir Keir Starmer declared: &quot;We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice.&quot;Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings, and this Government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here.&quot;The deportation and removal figure of &quot;nearly&quot; 60,000 has appeared to not have budged since the start of February.More than two months ago, the Home Office boasted the same claim that it had returned almost 60,000 unauthorised migrants and convicted criminals since July 2024.The PM added: &quot;This historic agreement means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain’s borders.&quot;Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed: “Our work with the French has stopped tens of thousands of illegal migrants boarding boats headed to Britain.&quot;But we must do more. This landmark deal will stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars.&quot;The Conservatives however slammed the new agreement, with Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, saying: “The government’s deal hands over half a billion pounds of our money with no conditions at all. &quot;France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and even let those illegal immigrants go to try again. &quot;France shouldn’t get a single penny unless they stop the vast majority of the boats.“This weak government has no control of our borders. Since the election over 70,000 illegal immigrants have crossed – a 45 per cent increase compared to before the election. &quot;Their claim to smash the gangs is laughable.“The only way to fix this is the Conservative Party’s BORDERS plan – leave the ECHR so we can deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival, and then the crossings would soon stop. &quot;But Shabana Mahmood and Keir Starmer are too weak to do this.”

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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain, strike, new, £160, MILLION, migrant, deal, with, France, but, holds, power, stop, funding, new, tactics, fail</media:keywords>
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<title>Treasury losing £7bn a year to illegal UK tobacco black market as smoking ban approved</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/treasury-losing-7bn-a-year-to-illegal-uk-tobacco-black-market-as-smoking-ban-approved</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/treasury-losing-7bn-a-year-to-illegal-uk-tobacco-black-market-as-smoking-ban-approved</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Treasury is losing billions of pounds in tax revenue and contributing to a growing black market economy due to its tax handling of tobacco, figures suggest.New analysis from KPMG and IPSOS sounding the alarm over the illegal tobacco market, which the Labour Government&#039;s Tobacco and Vapes Bill seeks to tackle.Ministers have claimed the Bill aims to establish a generation free from smoking by prohibiting anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 from purchasing cigarettes.The legislation also provides ministers with authority to outlaw flavoured vaping products, designate smoke-free public spaces, and ban vaping in cars carrying children.A report from KPMG cited that a flourishing illicit tobacco trade is already draining billions from public coffers, while a regulatory gap permits the sale of high-capacity vaping devices capable of delivering thousands of puffs.Furthermore, IPSOS data from 2025 reveals that 46 per cent of cigarettes consumed are now non-duty paid, either purchased illegally or brought in from overseas, depriving the Treasury of an estimated £7billion annually.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receipts for the period from April 2025 to February 2026 fell £500million short of the previous year, a six per cent decline.Critics have also warned that the entire framework faces a fundamental legal obstacle in Northern Ireland, where the Windsor Framework renders the generational ban unenforceable.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSThe £100,000 tax trap leaving workers turning down pay rises and bonusesMajor British retailer expected to suffer losses of £1m as bosses blame Rachel Reeves&#039;s tax raidsBritons rush to withdraw pension savings to avoid Rachel Reeves&#039;s tax raidYet smoking rates dropped by only four per cent during the same timeframe, suggesting a £167million gap attributable to consumers switching to illicit sources.The price differential makes the black market attractive: legitimate cigarettes cost £16.60 per pack on average, while illicit alternatives sell for roughly £5.Dr Christopher Snowdon, the head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: &quot;The explosion of black market tobacco in recent years will not come as news to smokers, nor to anyone who pays attention to cigarette packs on the pavement and in beer garden. &quot;But, the dramatic decline in legal sales at a time when the number of smokers has been falling more modestly, is conclusive proof that we have a serious problem.&quot;Those prohibited from buying tobacco will remain free to purchase so-called &quot;monster vape&quot; kits capable of producing up to 100,000 puffs, the equivalent of approximately 8,000 cigarettes.John Larkin KC, formerly Attorney General of Northern Ireland, has concluded that Section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 means EU law takes precedence over domestic legislation, including the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.Sir Robert Buckland KC, the former Lord Chancellor, has publicly described the Bill as &quot;legally indefensible&quot; in its application to Northern Ireland.Despite these criticisms of the legislation, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: &quot;Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.&quot;

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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Treasury, losing, £7bn, year, illegal, tobacco, black, market, smoking, ban, approved</media:keywords>
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<title>Lord Hermer accused of &amp;apos;witch hunt&amp;apos; against British troops despite warnings</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-accused-of-witch-hunt-against-british-troops-despite-warnings</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-hermer-accused-of-witch-hunt-against-british-troops-despite-warnings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Attorney General Lord Hermer has been accused of a &quot;witch hunt&quot; against British troops despite warnings,  an investigation has claimed.Lord Hermer pursued compensation claims against UK soldiers on behalf of Iraqi clients despite apparently receiving warnings their allegations were fabricated.The Telegraph obtained more than 25,000 pages of emails and legal documents revealing one of Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s closest Cabinet ally served as lead counsel in civil claims against the Ministry of Defence, pressing for substantial payouts for eight Iraqi clients. Lord Hermer, who was working on a no-win, no-fee basis and stood to gain significantly if the claims succeeded, later maintained it was irrelevant whether his clients were &quot;a saint or a member of al-Qaeda&quot; when bringing human rights cases against British troops.
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The compensation case stemmed from allegations from a group claims case that claimed British forces had tortured and executed civilians following the Battle of Danny Boy in southern Iraq in 2004.Lord Hermer&#039;s clients presented themselves as innocent farmers and labourers caught up in the conflict. However, after years of investigation, the £31million Al-Sweady public inquiry concluded their accusations were &quot;deliberate lies&quot; motivated by &quot;ingrained hostility&quot; towards the British Army.The claimants were subsequently revealed to be members of the Mahdi Army, an Islamist insurgent group with backing from Iran&#039;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.British troops were completely exonerated in 2014 and the scandal triggered disciplinary proceedings against several human rights lawyers. Phil Shiner, the disgraced solicitor who worked alongside Lord Hermer, was struck off the legal register and later convicted of fraud.Lance Corporal Brian Wood, a Military Cross recipient who was falsely accused of war crimes by Lord Hermer&#039;s clients, has demanded the Attorney General step down from his position.&quot;I have gone through hell for years. It&#039;s disgusting that Hermer is Attorney General. He pursued us in a witch hunt and yet is now the senior lawyer in Government. That is just wrong – he was representing the people trying to kill us,&quot; Mr Wood said.Hilary Meredith, who acted for soldiers wrongly accused over the Danny Boy incident, called for the Bar Standards Board to investigate Lord Hermer&#039;s conduct. She described it as &quot;the worst case ever of soldiers, who had fought so bravely in that battle, being dragged through the mud for years&quot;.General Sir Peter Wall, the former Army chief who commanded UK forces in Basra, stated the orchestrated claims against British troops at Danny Boy were &quot;tantamount to treason&quot;.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSBritain&#039;s concerns about migration MUST be taken seriously, says Council of Europe bossKeir Starmer told to &#039;take responsibility and go&#039; as Kemi Badenoch mounts Mandelson attack in fiery PMQsRachel Reeves&#039;s pension power grab looms as Lords to vote AGAIN on &#039;mandation&#039; rule changeInternal emails suggest Lord Hermer advised solicitors on media strategy while acknowledging uncertainty about the underlying claims. He appears to have suggested they needed &quot;wriggle room if the killings did not in fact happen&quot; and asked whether press materials should be &quot;slightly more explicit&quot; about execution allegations &quot;in order to generate sufficient interest&quot;. The context of the exchange is unclear.Martyn Day wrote to Shiner asking whether they should &quot;up the ante&quot;, with the latter responding &quot;Richard is right, so let&#039;s up the ante&quot;.By March 2013, Mr Day, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2017, reportedly informed Lord Hermer it was &quot;odds-on likely&quot; the claims would be exposed as &quot;nonsense&quot; and allegedly described the Iraqi clients in private as &quot;lying Bs&quot;. Despite this, Lord Hermer allegedly continued advocating for settlement offers of £45,000 to £55,000 per claimant, advising this would be &quot;low risk&quot;.A spokesman for Lord Hermer rejected the claims, saying Lord Hermer “did a small amount of work at the start of this case, where he made clear that serious allegations at the time needed further investigation&quot;.They added: &quot;He always acted with the highest professional standards and the suggestion he acted for individuals with the knowledge that their claims were false is categorically untrue.&quot;The Attorney argued it would be unfair on armed services personnel if they didn’t have the opportunity to show their innocence through a proper investigation.&quot;On the civil claims, his spokesman said “the Attorney General had minimal involvement in the Al-Sweady claims, limited to a small number of hours between 2008 and 2013”.In regards to Phil Shiner, the spokesman said: “As soon as the SRA case was brought forward, the Attorney General was clear in his condemnation for the reprehensible behaviour of Mr Shiner, that rightly led to him being disqualified and successfully prosecuted.”Lord Hermer was elevated to the House of Lords by Sir Keir specifically to serve as Attorney General, chosen over Dame Emily Thornberry, who had held the shadow position.Since taking office, he has been instrumental in negotiations to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a decision that has sparked diplomatic tensions with Donald Trump.An ally of Lord Hermer said: &quot;The Telegraph has deliberately misrepresented different legal claims and key facts in an attempt to improve their story, and were warned of this pre-publication.”“Their investigation simply shows the Attorney’s minimal involvement in the Al-Sweady claims, limited to a small number of hours between 2008 and 2013, and that there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part. &quot;This has been conflated with his work on a set of group claims involving a wider range of victims, that was ultimately settled by the Ministry of Defence. The Attorney was not involved in the Al-Sweady inquiry.”“Over a 30-year career, the Attorney has represented many clients prior to his time in government. These also include representation of a British soldier killed by IRA terrorists, other British military personnel such as injured servicemen in the Iraq War and Porton Down Veterans.&quot; Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lord, Hermer, accused, witch, hunt, against, British, troops, despite, warnings</media:keywords>
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<title>Britain&amp;apos;s concerns about migration MUST be taken seriously, says Council of Europe boss</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britains-concerns-about-migration-must-be-taken-seriously-says-council-of-europe-boss</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britains-concerns-about-migration-must-be-taken-seriously-says-council-of-europe-boss</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The head of the Council of Europe has said Britain&#039;s concerns about migration must be taken seriously, as he held discussions with Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy in London today regarding a contentious reinterpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).Alain Berset, the organisation&#039;s secretary-general, arrived in the capital for negotiations centred on granting member states greater flexibility over migration and deportation policies.Mr Berset acknowledged British frustrations with the ECHR&#039;s impact on immigration enforcement required serious attention.&quot;Clearly it is a sensitive discussion,&quot; he told The Times. &quot;That&#039;s normal — the work is not easy.&quot;
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The proposed political declaration would urge both domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to acknowledge nations&#039; &quot;undeniable sovereign right&quot; to manage their own borders.Under the plan, Governments would gain expanded powers to remove foreign nationals who have committed serious offences.Judges would also be encouraged to adopt a firmer stance when weighing claims based on family life protections and the prohibition against &quot;inhuman or degrading&quot; treatment.The declaration aims to provide stronger legal foundations for offshore processing centres modelled on the Rwanda scheme, where asylum claims would be handled outside European territory.It would additionally address situations involving &quot;instrumentalised&quot; migration, such as Belarus&#039;s orchestrated pushing of irregular migrants towards Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.Negotiations on the declaration are understood to be &quot;95 per cent&quot; complete, with the remaining details expected to be settled at a Council of Europe summit in the Moldavian capital Chisinau next month.Although the document would carry no legal force, similar political statements have previously wielded significant influence over judicial decisions.The initiative represents an attempt to address growing unrest across the continent, with nine European nations having publicly demanded ECHR reform last year.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer told to &#039;take responsibility and go&#039; as Kemi Badenoch mounts Mandelson attack in fiery PMQsDonald Trump in awkward moment with American students after bragging about banning trans athletesLabour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit live on GB News amid Lord Mandelson scandal: ‘When, not if!’Denmark and Italy led that coalition of dissatisfied states.Within Britain, the pressure has been particularly acute, with both Reform and the Conservatives committing to withdraw from the convention entirely should they enter Downing Street.However, polling suggests fewer than a third of voters back such a move.Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s Labour administration has opted to remain within the convention while pursuing changes from within the system.Human rights organisations have responded to the Chisinau proposals with alarm.Certain legal academics have described the plan as an &quot;unprecedented regression&quot; in protections afforded to migrants.Amnesty International has cautioned against what it termed a &quot;dangerous rollback&quot; of safeguards.Yet Mr Berset maintained European conversations around immigration had remained in a &quot;comfortable&quot; space for too long.&quot;We are still struggling with different positions, different views,&quot; he commented, &quot;but I&#039;m strongly convinced that the best way to take those discussions forward is to debate, to try and find a convergence together.&quot;The secretary-general insisted it was time to confront disagreements openly rather than avoid difficult exchanges.Mr Berset argued the human rights system must adapt to the realities confronting member states or risk undermining its own authority.The Council of Europe, established in 1949 partly through Winston Churchill&#039;s vision, created the ECHR as a foundation for democratic norms following the devastation of the Second World War.The organisation now encompasses 46 member states and its convention substantially shapes British court rulings.Mr Berset cautioned a British departure from the ECHR would mean surrendering the opportunity to influence &quot;core values, European values, human rights, the rule of law and democracy&quot; during a period when such principles require active defence.&quot;Let us address all the points where we have differences and let us find out what it means to address them, and how we can correct them,&quot; he urged.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:04:22 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britains, concerns, about, migration, MUST, taken, seriously, says, Council, Europe, boss</media:keywords>
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<title>Major high street retailer expected to suffer losses of more than £1m as bosses blame Rachel Reeves&amp;apos;s tax raids</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-high-street-retailer-expected-to-suffer-losses-of-more-than-1m-as-bosses-blame-rachel-reevess-tax-raids</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-high-street-retailer-expected-to-suffer-losses-of-more-than-1m-as-bosses-blame-rachel-reevess-tax-raids</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Shoe Zone has warned it expects to swing to an annual loss of between £1million and £2million for the financial year ending October 3, 2026.The Leicester-based footwear retailer had previously guided investors towards a £1million pre-tax profit.Shares in the AIM-listed company fell by more than 22 per cent during Wednesday morning trading.The high street chain, which operates 259 stores and employs more than 2,000 people across Britain, said the downgrade reflects a combination of geopolitical disruption and domestic economic pressures.
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&quot;These macroeconomic factors have increased customer caution, leading to lower footfall, less discretionary spend and additional costs such as container prices and transportation costs, with a resultant reduction in revenue and profit,&quot; the company said.Shoe Zone said the Iran conflict and Chancellor Rachel Reeves&#039;s fiscal policies have contributed to the deterioration in trading conditions.The retailer described first-quarter performance as &quot;challenging&quot;, citing &quot;a continued weakening in consumer confidence, following on from the Government&#039;s last two budget announcements, and the geo-political issues in the Middle East&quot;.The ongoing conflict has disrupted global supply chains, with the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz contributing to higher energy and shipping costs for retailers reliant on overseas manufacturing.Container and transportation costs have increased, adding pressure to margins.Consumer spending on non-essential goods has fallen by 6.7 per cent compared with the end of last year, reflecting increased caution among households.Shoe Zone reported pre-tax profits fell from £10million to £3.3million in the year to last September.Store sales declined by 10.3 per cent over the same period.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:UK inflation rises to 3.3% as Iran war takes toll on British economyRachel Reeves declares &#039;we belong in Europe&#039; as inflation rises and economic growth stallsBritons rush to withdraw pension savings to avoid Rachel Reeves&#039;s tax raidThe company closed 28 stores on a net basis during that time.Shoe Zone said Government policies have been &quot;highly adverse&quot;, adding that they have affected both consumer demand and operating costs.Founded in 1917, the retailer operates 53 smaller high street outlets alongside 206 larger format stores.The business sells around 13.3 million pairs of shoes each year, with an average selling price of about £13.Increases to the living wage have added to cost pressures.Shoe Zone said it is not alone in experiencing weaker trading conditions.Primark said on Tuesday that April trading had weakened as tensions in the Middle East affected consumer sentiment.Despite the outlook, Shoe Zone said its balance sheet remains strong.The company has no debt and reported a cash position at the end of March above the level recorded at the close of the previous financial year.Shoe Zone expects trading conditions and cost pressures to continue through the second half of 2026.The retailer will publish interim results in early May, which are expected to provide further detail on performance.

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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Major, high, street, retailer, expected, suffer, losses, more, than, £1m, bosses, blame, Rachel, Reevess, tax, raids</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves declares &amp;apos;we belong in Europe&amp;apos; as inflation rises and economic growth stalls</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-declares-we-belong-in-europe-as-inflation-rises-and-economic-growth-stalls</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-declares-we-belong-in-europe-as-inflation-rises-and-economic-growth-stalls</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rachel Reeves has delivered her most forthright declaration yet on Britain&#039;s relationship with the European Union (EU), asserting that the nation &quot;belongs&quot; within the continental bloc. Addressing delegates at the National Growth Debate conference on April 21, the Chancellor positioned strengthened EU ties as one of three major opportunities facing the country.&quot;There are big power blocs in the world. Our closest power bloc is in Europe and that is where we belong,&quot; Ms Reeves said.The remarks represent a notable departure from her previous commentary, which had centred primarily on the economic advantages of closer Brussels relations.
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She described EU nations as &quot;our closest neighbours, our biggest trading partners&quot;, adding that the relationship also concerns &quot;the sort of country we want to be&quot;.The Chancellor drew a direct connection between the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the case for regulatory alignment with Brussels.Ms Reeves argued that the Iran war has heightened concerns about rising prices, making it imperative to reduce unnecessary costs on trade.&quot;One of the things we&#039;re most worried about because of the conflict in the Middle East is the impact on prices,&quot; she said.&quot;If you load additional costs on exporters and importers, the costs are ultimately going to be borne by the consumer,&quot; she added.By dismantling trade barriers through fresh agreements with the EU, the Chancellor said Britain could alleviate pressure on household budgets.In sectors such as chemicals and food standards, she noted, the UK already follows European regulations but receives none of the commercial benefits due to existing trade obstacles.Ms Reeves acknowledged that deeper integration would necessitate adopting additional EU regulations, though she maintained the trade-off would prove worthwhile.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRachel Reeves braces for &#039;severe&#039; hit to economy as borrowing costs to SURGE by £16bnRachel Reeves&#039;s cash ISA shake-up in chaos as uncertainty grows for millions of saversRachel Reeves hikes tax in latest energy bills move&quot;Alignment should be the default position unless there are reasons not to,&quot; Ms Reeves said.However, she said certain industries would remain under British regulatory control despite closer ties with Brussels.Financial services, which she described as too vital to the national economy, would not be subject to EU oversight.Similarly, artificial intelligence and technology regulation would remain within Westminster&#039;s control.Beyond these protected sectors, Ms Reeves said alignment with European rules would present limited drawbacks.&quot;In areas like chemicals, in food standards, where we already align but get none of the benefits because we still have those trade barriers, it makes sense to align, and it would be good for business,&quot; she said.The Chancellor&#039;s remarks come as Labour intensifies efforts to revise elements of the Brexit settlement negotiated by the Conservatives following the 2016 referendum.Reports emerged last weekend that Sir Keir Starmer was considering an arrangement that would bring Britain into alignment with the EU&#039;s Single Market for goods.Such a deal would require British firms to adhere to regulations determined in Brussels, without direct input into how those rules are set.Ms Reeves has previously described Brexit as a &quot;chaotic wrong turn&quot; that inflicted &quot;deep damage&quot; on the economy and &quot;suppressed investment&quot;.Earlier this year, she said closer European ties represent &quot;the biggest prize&quot; available to policymakers seeking to restore economic growth.

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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, declares, we, belong, Europe, inflation, rises, and, economic, growth, stalls</media:keywords>
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<title>US civil rights organisation &amp;apos;funded and promoted the same racist groups its own activists campaigned against&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-civil-rights-organisation-funded-and-promoted-the-same-racist-groups-its-own-activists-campaigned-against</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/us-civil-rights-organisation-funded-and-promoted-the-same-racist-groups-its-own-activists-campaigned-against</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A hugely influential US civil rights organisation has been indicted for allegedly funding and promoting the same white supremacist groups its own activists campaigned against.The Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC) allegedly paid &quot;leaders and organizers of racist groups&quot;, including the Ku Klux Klan, despite its stated goal of dismantling white supremacy and confronting hatred.In a statement, Bryan Fair, the SPLC’s chief executive, said the allegations were &quot;false&quot; and the justice department&#039;s action &quot;will not shake our resolve to fight for justice and ensure the promise of the civil rights movement becomes a reality for all&quot;.But an Alabama grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against the civil rights organisation, with charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.It accused the group of &quot;actively promoting racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website&quot;.
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Todd Blanche, acting US Attorney General, alleged the group was &quot;doing the exact opposite of what it’s told its donors it was doing – not dismantling extremism, but funding it&quot;.The indictment document alleges SPLC had a field source who played a &quot;leadership and organisational&quot; role in the 2017 &quot;Unite the Right&quot; event in Charlottesville, Virginia.The source allegedly helped plan the event, attend it, &quot;made racist postings under the direction of the SPLC&quot; and helped bus in several attendees.That rally has long been used as a way to tie Donald Trump and his supporters to neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.The field source was allegedly paid by the organisation through &quot;bank accounts connected to a series of fictitious entities&quot;.The indictment continued: &quot;The covert nature of the accounts allowed the SPLC to disguise the true nature, source, ownership, and control of the fraudulently obtained donated money the SPLC paid the field sources. &quot;In order to keep the scheme going, the SPLC made a series of false statements related to the operation of the accounts.&quot;Prosecutors alleged SPLC funneled more than $3million to sources between 2014 and 2023, with fictious entities &quot;Center Investigative Agency&quot;, &quot;Fox Photography&quot;, and &quot;Tech Writers Group&quot; established to conceal the transfer of funds.In 2020, Joe Biden announced his candidacy for President in a three-minute long video, the large majority of which he spent condemning the Unite the Right rally and Donald Trump.LATEST ON US POLITICS:Donald Trump opens door to &#039;blowing up the rest of Iran&#039; just hours after extending ceasefire&#039;A really bad pick!&#039; Donald Trump brutally rips into Keir Starmer for appointing Lord MandelsonPope Leo backtracks on Donald Trump feud and says &#039;tyrants&#039; dig was not aimed at US PresidentThe then-77-year-old said the event made him realise the threat represented by Mr Trump was &quot;unlike any I had ever seen in my lifetime&quot; and warned that consecutive terms would &quot;fundamentally alter the character of this nation&quot;.And in 2024, one month after Kamala Harris was endorsed by the SPLC Action Fund, she accused Mr Trump of coddling the attendees of the Unite the Right.Mr Blanche was joined at his press conference by FBI Director Kash Patel, who described the paid informant programme as &quot;a serious and egregious violation of a group that purported to dismantle violent extremist groups, but in turn, actually only fueled the hatred&quot;.The SPLC produces an annual &quot;Hate Map&quot;, documenting the locations of hate groups and classifying them into categories including &quot;Radical Traditional Catholicism&quot;, &quot;Male Supremacy&quot;, &quot;Antisemitism&quot; and &quot;Conspiracy Propagandists&quot;.SPLC provided information about hate groups to the FBI until October 2025, when Mr Patel cut ties to the advocacy group and said: &quot;Their so-called &#039;hate map&#039; has been used to defame mainstream Americans and even inspired violence.&quot;That decision followed the assassination of Charlie Kirk, whose organisation was added to the Hate Map as an anti-Government organisation.When asked if previous FBI leaders were aware of the field sources, Mr Blanche said the SPLC &quot;never told anybody in law enforcement that they were paying off the Ku Klux Klan&quot;.In a previous video statement, Mr Fair said the organisation &quot;frequently shared what we learned from informants with local and federal law enforcement, including the FBI&quot;.He added: &quot;Today, the federal Government has been weaponised to dismantle the rights of our nation&#039;s most vulnerable people and any organisation like ours that stands in the breach.&quot;We will not be intimidated into silence or contrition, and we will not abandon our mission or the communities we serve.&quot;

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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>civil, rights, organisation, funded, and, promoted, the, same, racist, groups, its, own, activists, campaigned, against</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s support CRUMBLING just two weeks before local elections as PM branded &amp;apos;dead man walking&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-support-crumbling-just-two-weeks-before-local-elections-as-pm-branded-dead-man-walking</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-support-crumbling-just-two-weeks-before-local-elections-as-pm-branded-dead-man-walking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer support among Labour MP&#039;s is crumbling just two weeks before the local elections.Cabinet colleagues Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband have already publicly distanced themselves from the PM - while one MP labelled him a &quot;dead man walking&quot; and said a leadership challenge could soon follow.&quot;It&#039;s over for him,&quot; they told The Telegraph. &quot;He can’t come back from this. Someone needs to put an arm around him and say: &#039;It’s over.&#039;&quot;This comes after yesterday&#039;s explosive Foreign Affairs Select Committee session with Sir Keir&#039;s fall guy, Sir Olly Robbins, and Kemi Badenoch&#039;s emergency House of Commons debate.Labour MP Imran Hussain also weighed in, saying Sir Keir had divided the party - while colleague Ian Byrne warned of a &quot;toxic culture&quot; inside No10.The Government is said to be concerned the looming release of more so-called &quot;Mandelson files&quot; could push the PM over the edge, with new documents set to be published shortly after May 7.Angela Rayner, a long-touted challenger, said last night there were &quot;more important questions out there&quot; than details over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as ambassador.But neither she nor Wes Streeting want to cause further chaos just before more than 2,000 Labour councillors try to keep their jobs, MPs told Bloomberg.A Government source said Sir Keir would limp on because &quot;everyone is depressed, but nobody is resigning&quot; - though that may change if, as polls predict, Reform UK wipe out Labour at the locals and Plaid Cymru take the Senedd.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY...Labour officials charged after criminal investigation into alleged vote-riggingFour Labour officials have been charged after a police probe into alleged vote-rigging during a parliamentary selection process ahead of the 2024 General Election.Joel Bodmer, 40, his wife Shila Bodmer, 41, Gabriel Leroy, 24, and Carole Bonner, 69, a former councillor in Croydon, each face charges of conspiracy and computer misuse connected to alleged irregularities in how the Croydon East candidate was chosen.Labour has confirmed all four individuals have had their party memberships suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.The selection contest for the London constituency was halted in 2023 after concerns emerged regarding alterations to party members&#039; contact information.READ FULL STORY HERE.Northern Ireland defence sector set for £50million cash injection from UK Government Northern Ireland&#039;s defence industry is set to receive a £50million cash injection in the hope to stimulate hundreds of jobs in the region. The Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal is being launched by the UK Government. Defence minister Luke Pollard will be heading to Belfast today alongside Northern Ireland Office minister Matthew Patrick. The deal is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in the NI to make it easier for businesses to enter the defence supply-chain. It also aims to initiate greater collaboration between the defence industry and educational establishments, to create a talent pipeline into the sector. First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the BBC: “Northern Ireland has a really strong track record in relation to aerospace and defence and security.“Today is a positive day to highlight the excellence within those sectors.”WATCH: &#039;Critical disagreement&#039; between Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins is over who made &#039;final&#039; decision over Peter Mandelson appointment, says Pat McFadden



Pat McFadden, DWP Secretary said that the &quot;critical disagreement&quot; between Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Olly Robbins was over who made the final decision over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson. He said that Sir Olly wanted the final say, to which the Prime Minister disagreed.Speaking to GB News, he said: &quot;What the dispute here is who&#039;s decision should it really have been on the final result of that vetting. &quot;Sir Olly Robbins&#039;s answer to that question is he was in the right to take that decision, the Prime Minister believes the information should of been passed to him.&quot;Pat McFadden: Peter Mandelson appointment was welcomed at timePat McFadden, DWP Secretary and close ally of Sir Keir Starmer, said he saw &quot;the rationale&quot; for the appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK&#039;s ambassador to the US, citing that the disgraced peer was a &quot;very experienced political operator&quot; who was thought to do well in the &quot;unusual, highly political US administration&quot;. Speaking to GB News, he also said the political appointment of the ambassador was &quot;not met in horror&quot; at the time, but acknowledged this was now &quot;a mistake&quot;. Green party to conduct &#039;full review&#039; of their policies The Green Party is set to conduct a &quot;full review&quot; of its policies, including abolishment of the monarchy, making private landlord illegal and reducing motorway speed to 55mph.Zack Polanksi, leader of the Greens, said he will review the party&#039;s policy platform to rid of unpopular proposal, reports Politico. He said: &quot;Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. &quot;We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is — it&#039;s not working as well as it should at the moment.&quot;WATCH: &#039;Completely catastrophic&#039; - Opposition Assistant Whip predicts vote of no confidence of Prime Minister will not happen



Katie Lam, Opposition Assistant Whip, said yesterday&#039;s revelations from Sir Olly Robbins were &quot;completely catastrophic&quot;, emphasising the Government were not interested hearing anything about Lord Peter Mandelson during his appointment process. She said, speaking to GB News, that a vote of no confidence is not &quot;within [the Tories] control&quot;, predicting such a vote wouldn&#039;t be pursued by the Labour Party as it would make them &quot;look weak&quot;. Ms Lam further suspected that the Government will prorogue Parliament early ahead of the local elections, meaning PMQs will not happen next week, in what she described as a &quot;cowardly&quot; move. Inflation rises to 3.3 per cent The rate of inflation (consumer price index) rose to 3.3 per cent in March from 3 per cent in February, according to the Office of National Statistics. This is the highest level of inflation since December 2025. In response to the new figures, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, said: “This is not our war, but it is pushing up bills for families and businesses. That’s why it’s my number one priority to keep costs down.&quot;What did Angela Rayner - and Rachel Reeves - say last night?Angela Rayner spent yesterday evening urging the media to look away from Lord Mandelson and to tune in to Labour&#039;s &quot;bold story&quot; about how it was grappling with the Iran war.&quot;I&#039;ll let this sink in to any journalists that are here: There&#039;s some more important questions out there, and it&#039;s on that note that I want to just take a moment at the end of the day to reflect on why all this matters, and to the world outside and beyond the bubble,&quot; she said.&quot;Right now, ordinary people feel that their lives are too hard and that the basics of a good life are unaffordable.&quot;They suspect that this is because of an economy and a system that is rigged in favour of vested interests, and they’re right... Over and over ordinary people feel that they’ve paid the price for every crisis, the financial crash, austerity, Brexit, Covid.&quot;&quot;Let&#039;s tell a bold story about how we&#039;re tackling the immediate crisis and taking the first steps towards an economy that&#039;s built for one interest that we should all serve, and that’s the British people,&quot; she added.Sources close to Ms Rayner suggested her Tuesday speech instead signalled she was open to a return to serving as a minister - rather than the Prime Minister.Later, Rachel Reeves insisted there was “no Labour leadership contest” and said holding one would be economically damaging.“I do not want to go down the route the Conservatives went down, of three prime ministers in five years and five chancellors,&quot; she fumed.Also on Keir Starmer&#039;s radar... Military planners from around the world descend on Britain to work out exactly what to do with Strait of HormuzMilitary planners from countries seeking to join a UK and France-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the Iran war ends will meet in London on Wednesday.They aim to build on talks held by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week with a view to setting up a joint defensive mission after a sustainable ceasefire agreement has been reached.The mission is intended to protect merchant vessels, reassure commercial shipping operators and conduct mine clearance operations.The talks in London will focus on military capabilities, command and control, and how military forces could deploy to the region.Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait and support a lasting ceasefire.“I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made. International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation.“By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational co-ordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people.”Christopher Hope reveals real reason why Labour MPs are dodging GB News amid Lord Mandelson scandalChristopher Hope last night revealed the reason why Labour MPs have been dodging opportunities to speak directly to GB News viewers amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US.GB News&#039;s political editor was speaking after several fruitless attempts to get a Labour perspective on the status of the embattled Prime Minister.Earlier, Chris posted on X that the chair and deputy chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Beamish and Sir Jeremy Wright, had refused to speak on College Green just outside the House of Parliament...WATCH CHOPPER&#039;S ANALYSIS HEREMore on Labour... Party officials charged after criminal investigation into alleged vote-riggingFour Labour offiials have been charged after a police probe into alleged vote-rigging during a parliamentary selection process ahead of the 2024 General Election.Joel Bodmer, 40, his wife Shila Bodmer, 41, Gabriel Leroy, 24, and Carole Bonner, 69, a former councillor in Croydon, each face charges of conspiracy and computer misuse connected to alleged irregularities in how the Croydon East candidate was chosen.Labour has confirmed all four individuals have had their party memberships suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings...READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, support, CRUMBLING, just, two, weeks, before, local, elections, branded, dead, man, walking</media:keywords>
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<title>Proms brace for anti&#45;Trump protests after announcing &amp;apos;pro&#45;American&amp;apos; programme for 2026</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/proms-brace-for-anti-trump-protests-after-announcing-pro-american-programme-for-2026</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/proms-brace-for-anti-trump-protests-after-announcing-pro-american-programme-for-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Proms are bracing for anti-Trump protests after announcing a pro-American programme to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.Despite being decided long before the Iran war, the BBC is pressing ahead with its 2026 musical lineup.The pro-American catalogue also comes as the President is suing the broadcaster for $10billion in Florida over the Panorama editing scandal.Proms director and BBC Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson said the concerts were planned two years ago, before the election even took place.
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He told RadioTimes: &quot;What we didn&#039;t know then was the way in which world events - particularly those relating to the USA - would take an, at times, unprecedented course.&quot;He added: &quot;I believe strongly that the potency and power of classical music, and the stories of those who compose it, should be shared with a broad audience.&quot;What&#039;s more, we must not allow our current geopolitical climate to stifle culture, or to dissuade us from championing music of both the past and the present. Great art can&#039;t be cancelled.&quot;But he has acknowledged the potential risk of protests, potentially from artists themselves.He told The i Paper: &quot;I respect people’s right to share their views.&quot;He added: &quot;We speak to all artists and make them aware that the Proms is a celebration of music and that is what we’re there to do. But we’re not in the position of censoring people.&quot;The concerts will showcase works by US composers such as George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, with American conductors leading several shows.Rather than one dedicated American performance, the series of concerts will have themed elements woven throughout.PROTESTS - READ MORE:Several people arrested at anti-Donald Trump &#039;No Kings&#039; protest as thousands of &#039;rioters&#039; take to the streetsAnti-monarchy protesters target special Queen Elizabeth II exhibition just hours before King&#039;s visitMet Police arrest more than 500 protesters supporting banned terror group Palestine ActionThe work of Charleston-born composer Edmund Thornton Jenkins, one of the first people to introduce jazz and spirituals to classical music, will be performed by Californian soprano Angel Blue and the Chineke! Orchestra.There will also be a celebration of Miles Davis&#039; centenary featuring his influences and will feature American trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.Mr Jackson said: “From our American Classics Prom with Marin Alsop, to our celebration of the revolutionary Miles Davis, to concerts with the LA Phil and the Met Orchestra of New York, this year’s BBC Proms season takes this significant anniversary as the prism through which to explore America’s profound impact on global culture.&quot;Other artists to be celebrated by the proms will include Motown singer Marvin Gaye and British prog rock bands Genesis, Emerson Lake &amp; Palmer and Jethro Tull.Proms concerts have been the targets of protests in recent years, with pro-Palestine activists disrupting a show in 2025 and Just Stop Oil protesters wreaking havoc on the First Night of the Proms.The President&#039;s lawsuit against the BBC after Panorama spliced together his speech on January 6 played a role in the resignation of director-general Tim Davie.Mr Trump had his £10billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal thrown out on April 13 after US District Judge Darrin Gayles said it was &quot;nowhere close&quot; to showing actual malice against the President, the threshold for defamation in the US.The President will be allowed to refile an amended suit, something his lawyers have said they plan to do.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Proms, brace, for, anti-Trump, protests, after, announcing, pro-American, programme, for, 2026</media:keywords>
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<title>Migrants&amp;apos; English language tests could soon be run on Duolingo despite major security warning</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/migrants-english-language-tests-could-soon-be-run-on-duolingo-despite-major-security-warning</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/migrants-english-language-tests-could-soon-be-run-on-duolingo-despite-major-security-warning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ US language app Duolingo is eyeing up a deal with the Home Office to take control of English language tests for migrants, it has been revealed. The app - used by up to 135 million people across the globe every month - is close to signing a £816million contract to run language tests for migrants attempting to gain entry into Britain, according to The Telegraph. The potential deal to test migrant workers, students and other new arrivals would last for five years. The Home Office is evaluating bids from other firms - with technical assessments of the bidders not due to take place until next month. 
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The department will remain open to offers throughout the summer, and plans to offer the contract around November. Duolingo is one of a host of companies seeking to close the deal, and there is no guarantee it will be awarded to the US firm. Migrants seeking a visa to Britain must sit physical exams overseas - overseen by invigilators - to demonstrate they have a minimal level of English language knowledge. But Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is planning an overhaul of the system - replacing it with an entirely digital testing scheme. She is also seeking to raise the standard of English that migrants must possess before they can be approved a visa to enter Britain. Under current rules, universities can set their own English language requirements for incoming foreign students. The Home Office’s primary immigration assessment - the secure English language test - does not currently allow for Duolingo to be used for the process. However, the Home Secretary has been warned the switch to all-digital testing could leave Britain&#039;s immigration system vulnerable to cheating. MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Afghan man becomes first person convicted of endangering migrants during Channel crossingMigrants handed record levels of legal aid to fight their deportation - paid for by YOUIslamist terrorist allowed to stay in Britain - despite having asylum claim turned downIn a letter sent to Ms Mahmood last month, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) consortium cautioned that online testing would cause “weaker security and more opportunities for malpractice”.IELTS - who also previously expressed interest in taking on the contract - dropped out of the race last month over fears surrounding online testing. Its board said: “Evidence from research and regulatory practice shows that fully remote testing presents challenges in meeting these standards consistently - especially in the highest stakes environments where security is paramount.&quot;The consortium also warned that applicants could exploit AI to cheat the test, and fraudsters may impersonate as candidates to pass the test. When probed about the potential Duolingo deal in Parliament, immigration minister Mike Tapp told MPs: “Prior to the Home Office English language testing programme publishing invitation to tender, five rounds of market engagement were conducted under non-disclosure agreements.“However, there were opportunities for those who participated to share information that they wished for the Home Office to consider and ask clarifying questions.“It would not be appropriate to disclose details of individual organisations’ participation in a confidential market engagement process.”Meanwhile, a Government spokesman said: “The Home Office English language test is in live procurement and has not yet been awarded.” GB News has approached Duolingo for comment. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Migrants, English, language, tests, could, soon, run, Duolingo, despite, major, security, warning</media:keywords>
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<title>Fears Labour&amp;apos;s SAS &amp;apos;witch&#45;hunts&amp;apos; could leave UK&#45;US &amp;apos;special relationship&amp;apos; in tatters</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/fears-labours-sas-witch-hunts-could-leave-uk-us-special-relationship-in-tatters</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/fears-labours-sas-witch-hunts-could-leave-uk-us-special-relationship-in-tatters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ SAS resginations over &quot;witch-hunts&quot; thanks to Labour&#039;s Troubles Bill could further harm the UK-US special relationship, a former SAS chief has warned.A &quot;significant&quot; number of SAS soldiers have resigned over fears human rights lawyers could begin court proceedings for actions carried out under Government orders.Lt Col Richard Williams, a former commanding officer of 22 SAS, said he feared the exodus of troops had become a &quot;national security risk&quot;.He said the resignations would worry the US, whose own Special Forces work closely with the UK, and further harm relations between Washington and Whitehall.
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Relations between the UK and US have been under increasing strain after Donald Trump said Sir Keir Starmer was &quot;no Winston Churchill&quot;, criticised the Prime Minister for his response to the Iran war, and threatened to downgrade Britain&#039;s trade agreement.Lt Col Williams told LBC: &quot;The Americans bring scale, resources, helicopters, drones. We bring highly trained personnel. &quot;If that capability is diminished, it affects not just us but the wider alliance... It is putting national security at risk.&quot;The resignations have come amid fury over recent &quot;war crimes&quot; probes into soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Syria.Another factor has been the treatment of elderly Troubles veterans, who have been subject to &quot;baseless&quot; and &quot;meritless&quot; legal challenges according to two former Army commanders.Pat Harrigan, a US representative and former Green Beret in the US, said on social media: &quot;This is not good for America or its allies, and only serves to reduce our readiness and embolden our adversaries.&quot;Mr Harrigan, who also serves on the House armed services committee in Congress, said the SAS was losing soldiers over fears the operators fear a &quot;a knock on the door from a human rights lawyer&quot; more than the &quot;enemy&quot;.He told The Telegraph the British Government&#039;s response to the SAS resignations was poor and could result in soldiers losing motivation to serve.&quot;As someone who served in Special Forces, I can tell you that when you break the trust between a government and its warriors and let lawyers turn combat decisions into courtroom spectacles, you do not just lose soldiers, you lose the will to fight,&quot; he said.NORTHERN IRELAND VETERANS - READ MORE:Labour branded &#039;spineless&#039; over &#039;witch hunt&#039; of Troubles veteransMurdered MP&#039;s daughter slams Keir Starmer’s Troubles bill - &#039;What happened to reconciliation?&#039;Three IRA bomb victims drop High Court claim against Gerry AdamsThe Telegraph reported Mr Harrigan received briefings from senior retired British military officials about the &quot;persecution&quot; faced by Northern Ireland veterans.Mr Harrigan said the application of human rights laws &quot;retrospectively&quot; to determine how special forces can combat mass murderers and terror groups was &quot;dangerous&quot;.He added: &quot;This is not good for America or its allies, and only serves to reduce our readiness and embolden our adversaries.&quot;Joni Ernst, a Republican Senator from Iowa who served in the US military for 23 years, has now joined with Mr Harrigan to draft a joint resolution to &quot;condemn the political prosecution of special operators by our allies&quot;.The resignations follow the Government&#039;s decision to scrap the Tories&#039; Northern Ireland Legacy Act which provided immunity to British veterans who served in the conflict.Labour said the legislation did not comply with human rights laws, but Armed Forces campaigners have said the Bill offers &quot;inadequate&quot; protections and could expose veterans to vexatious court claims.Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, is set to be questioned over the human rights implications by the Joint Committee on Human Rights today.Three associations representing thousands of troops from the SAS, Special Boat Service and Special Reconnaissance Regiment sent a joint letter to MPs saying the Nill is &quot;unworkable&quot; and an &quot;egregious infringement of veterans&#039; rights&quot;.Alex Burghart, the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, said: &quot;The Government needs to kill this unloved Bill. Veterans are being dragged through the courts on ludicrous grounds decades after the event. It is time to draw a line and move on.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fears, Labours, SAS, witch-hunts, could, leave, UK-US, special, relationship, tatters</media:keywords>
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<title>British holidaymakers to face fresh EU red tape chaos as Brussels wages war on pet owners</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/british-holidaymakers-to-face-fresh-eu-red-tape-chaos-as-brussels-wages-war-on-pet-owners</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/british-holidaymakers-to-face-fresh-eu-red-tape-chaos-as-brussels-wages-war-on-pet-owners</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ British holidaymakers heading to the EU are now set to face additional red tape when taking their pets abroad.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned pet owners they can no longer use pet passports unless they live in Europe full-time.Britain is not part of the pet passport programme - but second home owners and regular visitors to the EU have long utilised a loophole to obtain pet passports from vets in Europe.The passports serve as a single document for the animal&#039;s life and allow easy travel to and from Europe.
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Irish vets were able to grant the pet passport to British animals for €90 (£78).Pets without a passport require a single-use animal health certificate (AHC), which can cost up to £350, including a microchip, a rabies vaccination and more.But new rules coming into force today will crack down on pet passports, mandating they &quot;should not be used by people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally&quot;.Additional regulations now mean more paperwork is needed if a pet is travelling with a family member, and restricts the number of pets that can cross to five per vehicle, reduced from five per person.A pet must travel within five days of their owner, and the person accompanying the animals must carry written permission from its owner.The process for obtaining an AHC within the UK was described as challenging by Dr Elliott Simpson-Brown, a vet with the International Zoo Veterinary Group.He told The Telegraph: &quot;Where it goes wrong at all, those animals can be held up or even rejected at the border – the stakes are quite high.&quot;The Government asked to rejoin the EU&#039;s pet passport scheme as part of Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s Brexit reset negotiations.BRITAIN AND EU NEGOTIATIONS - READ MORE:British chips and cakes could be BINNED under Keir Starmer&#039;s Brexit resetEU offers Britain &#039;emergency brake&#039; on new youth mobility scheme but continues to reject hard capEasyJet passengers &#039;vomiting and passing out&#039; after being stranded abroad thanks to new EU rulesBritain is expected to align with the EU&#039;s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules after a meeting in July.AHCs must be issued within 10 days of entry and are valid for six months of onward travel within the EU and re-entry to Great Britain.The document is only granted to dogs if they are treated for tapeworm between one and five days before travel.Dog, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies and wait three weeks after their first jab before going abroad.Defra has warned that pet passports issued prior to April 22 &quot;may no longer be valid&quot; for entry into the EU, but remain valid for British residents returning to the UK.An estimated 250,000 UK pet owners took their pets on holiday to the EU each year before Britain left the pet passport programme.Gwen Rees, the British Veterinary Association’s junior vice-president, said: &quot;Post-Brexit pet travel requirements from Great Britain to the EU have required an AHC issued by a vet, but we’ve heard reports of some UK-resident owners travelling with pet passports issued in the EU.&quot;These new rules will close that loophole. The Government’s recent announcement of a new veterinary agreement with the EU could see some realignment on pet travel rules in the near future, which should make the process of taking pets abroad easier for everyone.&quot;A spokesman for the Animal and Plant Health Agency said: &quot;Anyone planning to travel should check guidance on Gov.uk, and the entry rules for their destination.&quot;To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an AHC if they’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>British, holidaymakers, face, fresh, red, tape, chaos, Brussels, wages, war, pet, owners</media:keywords>
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<title>British chips and cakes could be BINNED under Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s Brexit reset</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/british-chips-and-cakes-could-be-binned-under-keir-starmers-brexit-reset</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/british-chips-and-cakes-could-be-binned-under-keir-starmers-brexit-reset</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Oven chips and cakes could be forced into the bin rather than put on shop shelves under a potential post-Brexit food trade deal.Discussions over the deal began last May as part of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement - a bid to simplify trade for farmers and food producers while reducing bureaucratic burdens and export costs.But industry bodies have now warned the deal would require the UK food sector to adopt more than 400 EU rule changes.This alignment could render food already planted, harvested or frozen unsellable if it was produced using pesticides that Brussels has since prohibited.
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Karen Betts, the chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, highlighted the lengthy production timelines that make this particularly problematic.&quot;If you look at potatoes going into oven chips or crisps, it&#039;s a three-year cycle from planting your potato to it appearing in an oven chip in a supermarket freezer,&quot; she said. &quot;So if your potato was grown using a pesticide that is not approved by the EU, then potentially, when it gets to supermarket sale in three years&#039; time, it is not going to be allowed to be sold.&quot;Baked goods face similar difficulties, with wheat potentially stored as grain for a year before being milled and kept for another year prior to becoming cake ingredients.&quot;Businesses are going to have to change that supply chain because that pesticide is no longer approved,&quot; Ms Betts explained.British food regulations stayed the same when the UK left the EU - but Brussels has continued updating its rules in the years since.Ms Betts noted that closer alignment has revealed &quot;more than 400 amendments that companies will have to comply with where EU law has changed while UK law has not&quot;.Smaller enterprises which conduct little or no business with Europe are anticipated to bear the heaviest burden, having been less likely to monitor Brussels&#039; evolving rule changes.READ MORE ON BREXIT:&#039;Brainwashed by Brussels!&#039; British children taught &#039;European Integration&#039; as UK schools forced to fly EU flag under Labour&#039;s controversial Erasmus schemeRejoining the EU will cost £22billion a year warns former Vote Leave chief‘We have one chance to stop this!’ Brexiteers draw up battle plan to stop Keir Starmer’s EU reset betrayalYet the concerns extend beyond modest operations. Sources indicated that numerous major companies have also privately voiced significant worries about the forthcoming regulatory shifts.Despite these challenges, Ms Betts maintained that moving closer to EU standards &quot;is the right thing to do&quot; from a strategic perspective.The Food and Drink Federation is pressing ministers to establish transition periods allowing products already within supply chains to continue being sold.&quot;If we don&#039;t, we&#039;ll end up with loads of food waste and those oven chips being dumped when you know really they shouldn&#039;t be,&quot; she warned.A Government spokesman stated: &quot;Our food and drink deal will deliver billions for British industry; a smooth transition is critical to unlocking that growth.&quot;Ministers expect negotiations to conclude by summer, with legislation subsequently introduced to incorporate EU rules into British law.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>British, chips, and, cakes, could, BINNED, under, Keir, Starmers, Brexit, reset</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour blows MILLIONS in taxpayers&amp;apos; cash amid delays to one of Britain&amp;apos;s largest building projects, damning report reveals</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-blows-millions-in-taxpayers-cash-amid-delays-to-one-of-britains-largest-building-projects-damning-report-reveals</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-blows-millions-in-taxpayers-cash-amid-delays-to-one-of-britains-largest-building-projects-damning-report-reveals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has been accused of blowing millions of pounds of taxpayers&#039; cash amid delays to &quot;one of Britain&#039;s largest building projects&quot;, a damning new report has revealed.The New Hospital Programme (NHP), which was introduced in 2020 by the then-Conservative Government, aimed to build more than 40 new hospitals across England by 2030 — a goal which has since been deemed &quot;not realistic&quot; by the National Audit Office.The ambitious project was later expanded to include a further five hospitals which were built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).In 2023, it was revealed RAAC was prone to sudden failure in hundreds of public buildings, including schools and hospitals. 
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As a result, several buildings were closed and needed repairs. However, many are still in operation.After winning the 2024 general election, Labour increased the number of new hospitals to 60, all of which are planned to be built within the next 35 years with £49billion of taxpayers&#039; cash. However, nearly two years into Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s reign as Prime Minister, none have been constructed.As a result, the scheme has come under fire for its &quot;slow progress&quot; with delays of up to three years, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed in its report today.The cross-party committee found &quot;slow progress to date means the RAAC hospitals will be replaced two to three years later than originally planned, resulting in greater cost to the taxpayer from mitigating risks to patients and staff&quot;. The group of MPs, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, has consequently urged Labour to speed up the process to minimise the impact on patients.Sir Geoffrey told GB News: &quot;This Labour Government came in. They added to the number of new hospitals and added to the money. This is one of our largest building projects.&quot;But the Tory MP for Cirencester and Tewkesbury told Whitehall to &quot;get on and build&quot; as many hospitals as soon as possible.&quot;But there is a real problem in that they&#039;ve only had a very small contingency in the early projects, the so-called Wave One project,&quot; he added.&quot;They need to get those early projects built on time and on budget.&quot;Seven hospitals most affected by RAAC have been identified for a full replacement, including:Airedale General Hospital, Keighley;Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley;Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon;James Paget University Hospital, Great Yarmouth;Leighton Hospital, Crewe;Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn; andWest Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.LABOUR LATEST:Keir Starmer secretly pushed for SECOND disgraced peer to be ambassadorShabana Mahmood tells &#039;white liberal&#039; heckler to &#039;f**k off&#039; after being accused of copying ReformLabour&#039;s &#039;reckless reach to gamble your pension savings&#039; rejected AGAIN amid state overreach fearsThe &quot;First Wave&quot; is made up of 16 high-priority schemes, including seven affected by RAAC projects, set to replace ageing infrastructure with modern facilities.This phase has a planned spend of £8.9billion from 2025/26 to 2029/30, a noticeable leap from £720million for schemes in what was called &quot;Wave Zero&quot;.Civil servants plan to splash around £1billion on maintenance and mitigations alone throughout the project&#039;s lifespan.So far, officials have half this on maintenance and mitigations &quot;to ensure patient and staff safety&quot;.They intend to fork out a further £440million while construction has not even commenced, Sir Geoffrey said.&quot;We haven&#039;t seen any of them really being started yet,&quot; Sir Geoffrey told the People&#039;s Channel, urging Labour to tear down the offending buildings in their entirety.&quot;We know that they&#039;ve spent sort of about a billion pounds on maintenance so far, but that&#039;s really not money well spent.&quot;They really need to demolish them, start again and build new hospitals.&quot;The PAC&#039;s report recommended the RAAC hospital schemes should be completed &quot;as soon as possible&quot; and should report annually to Parliament on the plan&#039;s progress.A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: &quot;This Government has put the New Hospital Programme on a stable long-term footing after inheriting a plan and timetable that were undeliverable, but we are not complacent about the challenges that remain.&quot;Single‑room wards are designed to reduce infection and improve dignity and privacy for patients. The evidence suggests they can reduce length of stay and support safe occupancy levels.&quot;For frail and vulnerable people, hospitals will allow patients to have a guest stay overnight.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:28:30 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, blows, MILLIONS, taxpayers, cash, amid, delays, one, Britains, largest, building, projects, damning, report, reveals</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Really bad pick!&amp;apos; Donald Trump rips into Keir Starmer for appointing Lord Mandelson in latest swipe at PM</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/really-bad-pick-donald-trump-rips-into-keir-starmer-for-appointing-lord-mandelson-in-latest-swipe-at-pm</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/really-bad-pick-donald-trump-rips-into-keir-starmer-for-appointing-lord-mandelson-in-latest-swipe-at-pm</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has laid into Sir Keir Starmer over his appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US in his latest swipe at the PM.In a late-night social media post, Mr Trump said: &quot;Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he &#039;exercised wrong judgement&#039; when he chose his ambassador to Washington.&quot;I agree, he was a really bad pick.&quot;&quot;Plenty of time to recover, however,&quot; the President prodded.The Labour grandee had been sent to DC to help charm the President just before his return to the White House last January.
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At the signing of the US-UK trade deal, Lord Mandelson was complimented by Mr Trump for his &quot;beautiful accent&quot; and was given the floor to make remarks to reporters.He was later reported to have left that meeting with a handwritten note from the President reading: &quot;Peter, Great Job!&quot;Even with his links to Jeffrey Epstein aside, some in Maga circles had raised eyebrows over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment.Steve Bannon had told GB News he was a &quot;terrible choice&quot; because of his prior remarks about the President.He said he was left &quot;stunned&quot; by the pick, adding there were &quot;20 other people&quot; he would have chosen ahead of Lord Mandelson.The then-Labour peer had previously referred to Trump as a &quot;bully&quot;, &quot;reckless&quot;, and a &quot;danger to the world&quot; in comments he later walked back on to Fox News.Back in the UK, the Prime Minister yesterday insisted No10 had not forced through Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as ambassador.He claimed to MPs he would not have appointed him if he had known the peer had failed his checks and &quot;full due process&quot; was followed throughout.The House of Commons will subject Sir Keir&#039;s efforts to lay out the facts of the scandal to further scrutiny on Tuesday, as MPs hold an emergency debate on Lord Mandelson’s appointment.The debate is expected to start at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, shortly after ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins provides evidence to MPs.That comes ahead of the looming release of a new tranche of so-called &quot;Mandelson files&quot;.Politico revealed yesterday that ministers and officials&#039; harshest comments about Mr Trump will not be made public in the next document dump to avoid further tearing up the &quot;special relationship&quot; after a series of blows over Iran, Greenland, oil and the Chagos Islands.Already this year, Mr Trump has publicly lambasted Sir Keir for his refusal to allow offensive US strikes on Iran from UK or joint bases.He has also branded the Chagos &quot;surrender&quot; deal an &quot;act of great stupidity&quot;, chastened Britain over its stance on a potential American takeover of Greenland, and repeatedly urged Labour to open up the North Sea to oil drilling.Now, Parliament&#039;s Intelligence and Security Committee will be casting an eye over the files to ensure nothing emerges which could make things worse.Ministers are said to be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2019 row which saw the then-British ambassador to Washington, Lord Darroch, described the first Trump administration as &quot;inept&quot; and &quot;clumsy&quot; in a leaked diplomatic cables.His replacement, Dame Karen Pierce, was well-liked by the White House, with the President viewing her as a &quot;respected&quot; and &quot;effective&quot; diplomat, according to reports.The current British ambassador, Sir Christian Turner, attempted to cool tensions just days ago.Speaking at an event in Washington during Rachel Reeves&#039;s trip to the States, Sir Christian said now was an &quot;extraordinary moment&quot; for UK-US relations, but joked disagreements were &quot;relative&quot; compared to the American War of Independence.&quot;250 years ago we had a small disagreement. We were in the midst of a dispute back then,&quot; he said.&quot;To our credit, we&#039;ve only tried to burn down the White House once since, and what began in that moment of tension has been forged into one of the deepest and closest alliances in history.&quot;In just six days, King Charles and Queen Camilla will also jet across the Atlantic for a State Visit.Mr Trump labelled the King a &quot;great gentleman&quot; last week, insisting his strained relationship with the Prime Minister would &quot;not at all&quot; overshadow or impact the monarch&#039;s visit.Charles is set to play what Palace sources have called a unique diplomatic role in supporting a UK-US partnership that has &quot;survived many presidencies and of course many reigns&quot;.&quot;So yes, we are close allies, we do disagree on things, but that doesn&#039;t detract from the value that both sides get from this relationship and have done over many decades,&quot; a Foreign Office spokeswoman said as details of the visit were announced.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Really, bad, pick, Donald, Trump, rips, into, Keir, Starmer, for, appointing, Lord, Mandelson, latest, swipe</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer &amp;apos;could impose internet bans on ADULTS&amp;apos; warns peer in major censorship alert</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-could-impose-internet-bans-on-adults-warns-peer-in-major-censorship-alert</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-could-impose-internet-bans-on-adults-warns-peer-in-major-censorship-alert</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain risks heading down a “dangerous path” towards state control of the online public square, an independent peer has warned, as ministers consider a social media ban for under 16s.Speaking at a conference last week Baroness Fox of Buckley, a prominent free speech advocate, warned that banning young people from social media would hand sweeping powers to the state over how people communicate and access information.Baroness Fox also told the conference, hosted by the economic growth and public policy think tank, the Prosperity Institute, that calls to ban social media for under 16s are “authoritarian” and driven by “moral panic”.And she warned banning young people from social media would hand sweeping powers to the state over how people communicate and access information.
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“You can’t take young people out of the public square,” she said. “This is how people communicate in the modern day and how they inform themselves.”In one of her starkest warnings, Baroness Fox, also director of the Academy of Ideas, which aims to promote public debate, added: “This is a censorship role and normalising censorship in the name of &#039;safetyism&#039; is dangerous… You could be safer in China, but this is at the expense of your freedom.”She cautioned that once such powers are introduced, they may not stop with children.“It could extend beyond 16… beyond 18,” she said. “Who decides what is harmful?”Her intervention comes amid mounting pressure on ministers to act over rising screen use among children and its potential impact on mental health.Sir Keir Starmer has told tech giants “things can’t go on like this” and the Government is currently consulting on new rules, with options ranging from a total social media ban for children, stricter age verification to curbs on addictive features like autoplay and infinite scrolling.But Baroness Fox argued the evidence that social media is harming children remains widely contested - and that wider social factors are being ignored.Young people, she said, are also being “overprotected”.&quot;We don’t let kids play outside; we locked them up during lockdowns. This means they are becoming less resilient in a culture of &#039;cotton wool kids&#039;,&quot; she added.“Of course all freedom leads involves risk” she said. “It is up to parents to decide what risk their children will take.”Her warning was echoed by concerns over whether bans can even be enforced in practice.INTERNET BANS - READ MORE:Labour to trial new internet restrictions on 300 teenagers in test run for nationwide plansKeir Starmer&#039;s social media ban plans could be derailed as parents launch High Court challengeKeir Starmer reveals fresh details of plan for major new internet restrictionsBaroness Fox pointed to evidence from Australia where a social media ban for children was introduced earlier this year but where regulators have acknowledged major challenges, with children easily bypassing age restrictions using fake accounts, VPNs or adult logins.Experts there have admitted age verification technology remains unreliable - fuelling concerns that restrictions could simply push usage underground rather than stop it.Children’s campaign group UsForThem claimed the evidence of harm to children from social media was undeniable and called for stronger action on children’s digital lives.Co-founder lawyer Ben Kingsley called for clearer age limits and greater accountability for tech firms.He told the conference children are being exposed to harmful content and addictive design features without adequate protection - and that Government intervention is now necessary.Dr Sanjiv Nichani, a consultant paediatrician at Leicester Children’s Hospital and honorary lecturer at the University of Leicester, warned that the scale of harm he is seeing in clinics is irrefutable and called for a ban on the ‘most addictive” apps.“I have been a paediatrician for 40 years and have been totally shocked by what I have seen in the last few years,” he said.Dr Nichani, who has spent decades working on the NHS frontline, described modern childhood as “phone and technology controlled” - and coined the term “the Screen-demic.”“This is an epidemic of mental health illness in children and young people… as well as communication difficulties and language delays… due to excessive device use,” he said.He warned that 35 per cent of UK teenagers spend six hours or more a day on smartphones and social media, adding: “This time spent is an addiction - make no mistake about it,” he said.Citing studies of numerous children, he said heavy use is linked to changes to brain development, anxiety, depression and behavioural problems, with teenagers spending more than three hours a day on social media facing double the risk of poor mental health.He also raised concerns about younger children, pointing to rising speech delays and attention problems linked to excessive screen exposure.“In medicine… clinical evidence alongside research is the gold standard,” he said. “The clinical and research evidence is overwhelming.”He rejected arguments that restrictions infringe freedom, insisting children must be protected from harm.“Children have a right to be protected from addictive algorithms… toxic poisonous apps… and dopamine surges,” he said.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, could, impose, internet, bans, ADULTS, warns, peer, major, censorship, alert</media:keywords>
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<title>Three graphs reveal &amp;apos;eye&#45;watering&amp;apos; impact of PM&amp;apos;s incoming Erasmus deal as fears of Brexit betrayal skyrocket</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/three-graphs-reveal-eye-watering-impact-of-pms-incoming-erasmus-deal-as-fears-of-brexit-betrayal-skyrocket</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/three-graphs-reveal-eye-watering-impact-of-pms-incoming-erasmus-deal-as-fears-of-brexit-betrayal-skyrocket</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A damning new report has revealed the true impact of rejoining the EU&#039;s flagship student exchange scheme, with the cost 14 times that of the current offering. It comes less than a week after Britain signed the legal texts in Brussels, formally enabling it to take part in the Erasmus+ programme starting on January 1, 2027. Ever since it emerged last year that the Labour Government would rejoin the scheme, which allows people to study and train across much of Europe for up to a year, Brexiteers have warned that it would amount to restoring freedom of movement. The latest report from Brexit Facts4EU think-tank, in collaboration with The Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIBUK) and Stand for Our Sovereignty, crystallises these fears, with Reform UK&#039;s Education Spokesman branding it a &quot;Brexit betrayal&quot;.
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Suella Braverman told the People&#039;s Channel: “Rejoining the Erasmus scheme is Labour’s latest Brexit betrayal.“Not only is it the first step to freedom of movement in all but name but British taxpayers also face paying an eye watering bill for the privilege.“This Government has yet again failed to negotiate a good deal for the country.”The Erasmus+ scheme is set to cost the taxpayer over 14 times more then the current Turing scheme does for Year 1 alone. GB News is also able to exclusively reveal that this will rise to more then 20 times in Year 2, at the current rates. This means that the first-year payment to the EU for 2027/2028 will be &quot;approximately £570million.&quot;Lord Redwood did not hold back after reading the findings. The veteran Brexiteer said: &quot;These devastating charts from Facts4EU show how big a sell-out the government has signed.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSIt took 17 minutes for the PM to cover the nation in dung, but MPs should hold their nose - Kelvin MacKenzieOlly Robbins will go down as a national hero if he blows the whistle on our useless PM - Carole MaloneAmerica is preparing for the curtains to fall on Labour&#039;s reign of terror in just 17 days - Lee Cohen&quot;UK taxpayers will be robbed again to pay for tens of thousands of EU students to come, whilst UK students will lose out.&quot;This weak, anti-Brexit Government is falling over itself to give more money to the EU and to let them run the UK as their colony.&quot;The Government is doing bad deals in its haste to undermine the referendum decision of the people they said they would respect.&quot;The report also reveals that 99.6 per cent of students did not use the Erasmus+ scheme when it was in effect in the UK.The first year of the UK&#039;s reentry in the scheme was announced to have a 30 per cent discount, which means that with the first year costing taxpayers £570million, from Year 2 of the scheme will see the UK billed £815million per annum. Facts4EU point out within their report: &quot;These are massive sums when the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is apparently struggling to find urgent and desperately needed extra monies for defence.&quot;Mrs Braverman continued: &quot;We still need answers about the future of the highly successful Turing programme which, in 2024-2025, saw 40,000 outward placements for Brits compared to an average of around 10-15,000 outward placements for Brits under Erasmus, and at a significant fraction of the cost.&quot;Turing’s focus on widening access meant that 50-60 per cent of British participants were from disadvantaged backgrounds, and there is no doubt that they will suffer as a result of the decision to rejoin a scheme which is designed primarily for European university students and biases towards those with university education.&quot;So, why is the Erasmus+ scheme so much more expensive? Since the UK’s exit, Erasmus+ no longer resembles anything like a student exchange scheme and includes under-30s coming for any reason loosely connected with education.Crucially, the EU has also expanded it to include eligibility for young people from more countries, especially those lining up to join the EU, most of which are very poor. This means the EU (including the UK) will be footing the bill and Facts4EU reports the extra is likely to be in excess of £1.5billion. The UK will in effect be subsidising the EU’s candidate countries.The EU insisted the UK reduce its fee levels from the current average for overseas students of £22,000 per year down to the level paid by UK students, £9,000 per year. The difference is set to be footed by the UK taxpayer.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Three, graphs, reveal, eye-watering, impact, PMs, incoming, Erasmus, deal, fears, Brexit, betrayal, skyrocket</media:keywords>
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<title>Ed Miliband to double down on clean power push and take huge swipe at net zero critics</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-to-double-down-on-clean-power-push-and-take-huge-swipe-at-net-zero-critics</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-to-double-down-on-clean-power-push-and-take-huge-swipe-at-net-zero-critics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will double down on his drive for renewables and insist the quest for clean power becomes “faster, deeper and more wide-ranging&quot;. A range of measures he will set out today will include streamlining “outdated and bureaucratic planning rules” to allow projects such as “essential grid upgrades” to go through more swiftly. Some 640,000 hectares of the public estate, including land linked to the railway and the Ministry of Defence, could be used for green energy schemes such as solar panels and wind turbines, he is expected to say. He is also due to announce plans to break the link between electricity and gas prices to protect households and businesses from gas price spikes.
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Mr Miliband will hit back at critics who say his race to Net Zero is harming the country, saying: “We will double down, not back down, on our mission for clean energy.&quot;In his speech, Mr Miliband is expected to outline measures including speeding up the rollout of renewables and electrifying heating and transport to get homes and businesses off fossil fuels. These include expanding renewables on publicly owned land, including solar panels alongside railway lines, and making it easier for people to install green technology, such as electric vehicle chargers when they do not have driveways. Speaking at a “national growth debate”, Mr Miliband will answer critics who have pushed a rethink on net zero and more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea by warning that ignoring two fossil fuel crises in less than five years “would be completely irresponsible”. Consumers face high prices at the petrol pumps and looming energy bill rises in the next price cap period from July as a result of disruption to global energy markets caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The latest crisis comes three years after the last energy spike prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Key to the plans is breaking the link between gas and electricity prices, with volatile fossil fuel prices setting the cost of wholesale electricity the majority of the time. Gas plays an outsized role in the cost of electricity in Britain, setting the wholesale price of power around 60 per cent of the time, down from around 90 per cent at the beginning of the decade, despite supplying a much smaller and decreasing share of power. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSThat is because of the marginal pricing system, in which the most expensive source of energy brought on to the grid to meet demand sets the price for all generators, apart from those on other types of contract. That price-setting source is often gas, leaving British consumers at the mercy of volatile wholesale gas prices, while delivering a windfall for generators such as nuclear and older renewables that are not on fixed contracts. The Government is now proposing a voluntary move by “legacy” clean power generators, which supply around a third of Britain’s power, on to fixed-price contracts, with the Treasury expected to provide tax incentives to encourage them to switch. It is hoped the new contracts will deliver benefits on consumers’ bills over the next 12 months, though officials are not yet able to say what savings could be delivered. Mr Miliband is expected to tell the Good Growth Foundation event: “As we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear: The era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age. “For Britain and so many other countries, clean energy is now the only route to financial security, energy security and national security. “While some have said we have gone too far and too fast, I profoundly disagree. “In response to recent events, our action must now be faster, deeper and more wide-ranging. That is why we will double down not back down on our mission for clean energy.” The plans include making it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles and heat pumps, getting them off oil and gas, with deregulation to make it easier and quicker to install clean tech. These include permitted development rights for people to install cross-pavement facilities for on-street charging and making it easier for renters and leaseholders to request and install chargers. Officials say it will support surging demand for heat pumps, solar panels and electric cars, boosted by the Iran war. Plans to “massively” expand renewables across the public estate, using brownfield land, industrial sites and railway land to host solar panels and wind turbines, could unlock up to 10 gigawatts (10GW) of capacity – powering the equivalent of five million homes – officials say. There have been calls from the Tories and Reform UK to increase supplies of oil and gas from the North Sea and to bring down bills by scrapping measures to help the UK shift to a “net-zero” clean economy, such as new renewables and heat pump subsidies. Mr Miliband will say: “To ignore one fossil fuel crisis and carry on with business as usual, as some wanted to do, was wrong. “To ignore two in less than five years would be completely irresponsible. And it would be even more irresponsible because unlike the twin fossil fuel shocks of the 1970s, there is now a compelling alternative in the form of clean energy. “An alternative that cannot be disrupted by foreign wars because it comes from our own wind, sun and nuclear resources.” Holly Brazier Tope, director of politics at the Green Alliance think tank, said: “The Government’s renewed focus on clean energy is a necessary and welcome response to the hard lessons of the latest fossil fuel crisis. “The Energy Secretary is right to prioritise accelerating electrification and clean power as the surest path to security and long-term economic resilience.”

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Miliband, double, down, clean, power, push, and, take, huge, swipe, net, zero, critics</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer faces emergency debate on Lord Mandelson appointment in just hours</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-faces-emergency-debate-on-lord-mandelson-appointment-in-just-hours</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-faces-emergency-debate-on-lord-mandelson-appointment-in-just-hours</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer will face an emergency debate on Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US following an application by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.The Prime Minister was today hit with a barrage of criticism from MPs across the House of Commons after it emerged that Lord Mandelson did not pass security vetting. Mrs Badenoch, who said &quot;serious questions [remain] about what he knew and when&quot; and warned the Prime Minister had &quot;serious inconsistencies&quot; in his position, had her pitch accepted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The debate is expected to start at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, shortly after ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins provides evidence to MPs. 
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Sir Keir, who defiantly dismissed calls to resign, was accused of throwing Foreign Office officials under the bus after the Prime Minister shifted the blame to mandarins over Lord Mandelson&#039;s vetting.&quot;It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in Government,&quot; Sir Keir told MPs. &quot;That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, Government, or accountability to work. And I do not think it is how most public servants think it should work, either.&quot;However, the Prime Minister was met with a chorus of laughter after describing key facts surrounding Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as &quot;incredible&quot;. During the debate, Mrs Badenoch claimed Sir Keir broke the ministerial code after the Prime Minister told MPs &quot;full due process&quot; was followed during Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment.Responding to Tory MP John Lamont later in the debate, Sir Keir dismissed the suggestion he misled MPs over Lord Mandelson.“No, I did not mislead the House of Commons,&quot; the Prime Minister said. &quot;I accept that information that I should have had and information that the House should have had should have been before the House but I did not mislead the House and that’s why I have set out the account in full.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSLee Anderson kicked out of Commons after accusing PM of &#039;lying&#039; about Lord MandelsonWATCH: MPs erupt with laughter as Keir Starmer blasts &#039;incredible&#039; vetting failureKeir Starmer told to resign after PM met with howls of laughter over Lord Mandelson appointmentSir Keir faced fury from MPs across the Commons, with Reform UK&#039;s chief whip Lee Anderson and ex-Labour hardliner Zarah Sultana being ejected from the chamber after accusing the Prime Minister of lying. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Green Party MP Ellie Chowns heaped pressure on Sir Keir to resign as Prime Minister. Labour veterans Diane Abbott, John McDonnell and Richard Burgon all launched scathing attacks against the Prime Minister for his previous association with Lord Mandelson. After being asked by now-suspended Labour rebel Karl Turner about how he intends to win back the trust of the country, Sir Keir said: &quot;It is important that we remain focused on the cost of living and dealing with the war on two fronts that we face in this country, and I intend to do that.&quot;However, Sir Olly&#039;s appearance at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee tomorrow comes shortly after Sir Keir publicly fumed at Whitehall officials.Lord Mandelson was unveiled as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US in December 2024. UK Security Vetting, a specialist agency within the Cabinet Office that started the vetting process in late December 2024, recommended that Developed Vetting clearance should be denied on January 28, 2025. Foreign Office mandarins opted to go against this advice and grant the New Labour grandee clearance just two days later.Allies of Sir Olly have argued he had a duty not to disclose details of the vetting, which are highly intrusive and personal, as this would undermine the process.Sir Keir, who effectively sacked Sir Olly last week, insisted no law was preventing the Foreign Office&#039;s top official from sharing the information.The Prime Minister told MPs: “There is no law that stops civil servants sensibly flagging UKSV recommendations, while protecting detailed sensitive vetting information, to allow ministers to make judgments on appointments or explaining matters to Parliament.”However, Sir Keir today refused to set a date for the release of the next tranche of files relating to Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment. “We are complying with the humble address as quickly as possible and we will comply with it fully,&quot; the Prime Minister instead said. The Intelligence and Security Committee is now putting pressure on the Prime Minister to &quot;expedite&quot; the disclosure of the information after previously being told the documents relating to the vetting process did not exist. 

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, faces, emergency, debate, Lord, Mandelson, appointment, just, hours</media:keywords>
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<title>Strait of Hormuz crisis underlines how Labour&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;energy austerity&amp;apos; plays into China&amp;apos;s hands, warns expert</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/strait-of-hormuz-crisis-underlines-how-labours-energy-austerity-plays-into-chinas-hands-warns-expert</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/strait-of-hormuz-crisis-underlines-how-labours-energy-austerity-plays-into-chinas-hands-warns-expert</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed how the UK’s decision to push ahead with &quot;energy austerity” risks playing into China&#039;s hands, a top industry strategist has told GB News.Chris Johnson, president of the American Energy Leadership Institute, predicted the global oil price volatility will calm soon, adding the impression that it will go on long-term is “bizarre”.He suggested the crude crisis will be abated due to the US’s military might dwarfing Iran’s capabilities. Speaking to The People’s Channel, Mr Johnson said: &quot;I already had the assumption that this was going to get resolved relatively quickly.
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“When you compare just military strength on military strength, Iran isn&#039;t even close to the ability to compete with us, so they&#039;re always going to have to give in at some point and allow oil through the Strait.&quot; However, he remained sceptical about the reality of an agreement ever being reached and warned further “kinetic” action is likely to continue. Mr Johnson, who advises Republican policymakers on energy, said: “Unless there is new leadership [in Iran] that is aligned with the West, aligned with the US, ideally aligned with the UK as well, there&#039;s going to have to be some sort of kinetic effort.“I would be amazed if there is some kind of agreement that both sides agreed to, unless one side completely got rolled by the other, and I don&#039;t see this administration as being willing to get rolled by a much smaller, much weaker country like Iran.&quot;The top energy strategist’s prediction came shortly before the US Navy struck an Iranian vessel on Monday as it attempted to surpass America’s blockade on the strait.The closure of the world&#039;s most important oil transit chokepoint and the wider conflict in the Middle East appear to have strained the “special relationship” between the UK and the US. Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced a string of public insults from US President Donald Trump, has reiterated the conflict is &quot;not our war&quot;.Alongside Britain’s European allies, the Prime Minister has refused to send warships to protect the shipping lane, despite President Trump beckoning them to come to support the war effort. However, Mr Johnson did not think the overall relationship was deteriorating – despite President Trump’s “no Churchill” attack on Sir Keir – viewing the conflict as more of a “blow-up fight” between a married couple, which might yet result in a “breakthrough”.Optimistically, he hoped the UK and the US would “fall more deeply in love than before”. He said: “I think this shake-up was genuinely necessary. It feels alarming from the outside, like the special relationship is in danger, but it&#039;s really more like a marriage. “You can have a big blow-up fight, argue fiercely with one another, and then break through to what the real underlying issue actually was. “You communicate better from that point on, and you fall more deeply in love than before.”Despite the optimism, the security of the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile, with Mr Johnson warning that if the critical waterway remains closed for a prolonged period, states which have not “priced in” for a “long-term supply crunch” will face serious economic consequences. The global price of oil has been volatile since Iran officially closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 2, with the price of Brent crude oil often tipping over the $100-a-barrel mark. While countries such as Ireland, Australia and India have taken precautions to mitigate the financial burden of raising oil prices, such as cutting fuel duty or introducing subsidies for those hit hardest, the UK Government has not offered such assurances.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRachel Reeves considers war bonds to fund £17.6billion defence spending pushIran fires at ships in Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump threatens to re-start bombing blitzLabour &#039;dragging its feet&#039; over seizure of sanctioned Russian ships amid money worriesThe UK instead said it will step in if petrol retailers start to profiteer from global oil price fluctuations. Fending off calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK to invest in domestic fuel production to protect Britons from spiralling fuel prices, the Labour Government remains undeterred in sticking to its Net Zero policies, spearheaded by Ed Miliband, who has resisted granting more oil and gas exploration licences. Despite the Government’s drive for cleaner energy, 70 per cent of the UK’s energy is generated through the burning of oil and gas. Mr Johnson said the UK’s Net Zero ambitions contribute to a broader “managed decline”. &quot;The UK&#039;s per capita GDP has been basically stagnant for the last 20 years,” Mr Johnson pointed out. “A lot of that is because energy, and the productivity that comes from energy development, is not being implemented into the economy. And then when you have a crisis like this, it gets even worse.&quot;&quot;The stance in the UK has been one of managed decline. “You&#039;re not going to get fully on board with all the Net Zero stuff, but you&#039;re basically allowing the Left to drive it anyway, just maybe at a slower pace.&quot;Mr Johnson explained that energy production does not need to be a “zero-sum game”, with non-renewables and renewables instead being explored in tandem.However, he accused the UK and the EU of pursuing so-called “energy austerity”.“In a world with increasing energy demand, you can do both,” he said. “What ends up happening is you get a zero-sum mentality made even worse by the Left&#039;s view that any new energy production is somehow bad for the environment.&quot;He concluded that North Sea drilling must happen and was perplexed as to why it was not already taking place.The UK has “the skills and know-how&quot;, with companies like BP having “been doing this for a long time”, Mr Johnson told GB News. He also called for the UK to lift its fracking ban, saying: “Finding out that ban exists blew my mind.”The US energy guru warned that simply going down “the renewables route” would likely create a further overreliance on China and possibly greater fracturing of the “special relationship” between the UK and the US, which could lead to “geopolitical disasters… far bigger than just the Iran situation”. He said: &quot;If you go just the renewables route, you&#039;re going to become further intertwined with the Chinese economy and less intertwined with ours, and that leads to geopolitical disasters in the future far bigger than just the Iran situation.&quot;China dominates in renewable energy technology manufacturing – producing 80 per cent of the world’s solar panels and 60 per cent of the globe’s wind turbines. It also refines roughly 90 per cent of rare earth minerals, which are used in the production of wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs), as well as crucial metals for battery production, such as lithium and cobalt. Mr Johnson described Beijing as having a “chokehold” over Western nations when it comes to renewable energy investment, offering cheap technologies to those who want to quickly transition to cleaner energy. He warned that purchasing and installing Chinese-made renewable technology could mean the UK is openly giving Beijing access to Britain’s own grid, emphasising that “there’s a geopolitical disaster waiting to happen”. As a solution, the energy strategist suggested the UK should be looking into domestic energy production or &quot;friend-shoring&quot; – importing from allies, such as the US, to ensure you “negate that risk entirely”.Mr Johnson believes there will be a multiplier effect if the UK invested in domestic energy production, with the hope that this would reverse the UK’s manufacturing decline more broadly and “grow your economy as a whole”. He acknowledged that while “folks in the UK and the EU don’t like learning from Americans”, admitting people from the US are “very obnoxious about our jingoism”, Western nations could benefit from a more US-style “energy dominance approach”. &quot;I know a lot of folks in the UK and the EU don&#039;t like learning from Americans, I get that we&#039;re very obnoxious about our jingoism, but we are the fastest-growing economy in the West, and that is not an accident,” he said. &quot;It is largely due to taking the all-of-the-above, energy dominance approach: nuclear, geothermal, oil, natural gas.”

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Strait, Hormuz, crisis, underlines, how, Labours, energy, austerity, plays, into, Chinas, hands, warns, expert</media:keywords>
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<title>Lee Anderson kicked out of Commons after accusing PM of &amp;apos;lying&amp;apos; about Lord Mandelson</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/lee-anderson-kicked-out-of-commons-after-accusing-pm-of-lying-about-lord-mandelson</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/lee-anderson-kicked-out-of-commons-after-accusing-pm-of-lying-about-lord-mandelson</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lee Anderson has been booted out of the House of Commons after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of &quot;lying&quot;.Addressing MPs following the Prime Minister&#039;s statement on Lord Peter Mandelson&#039;s appointment, the Reform UK MP declared Sir Keir &quot;couldn&#039;t lie straight in bed&quot;.Mr Anderson declared: &quot;The problem is no one believes him. The public don&#039;t believe him. &quot;The MPs on this side of the House don&#039;t believe him. His own gullible backbenchers don&#039;t believe him. 
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&quot;So does the Prime Minister agree with me? He&#039;s been lying.&quot;Interjecting Mr Anderson, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle scolded the Reform MP&#039;s use of language.He stated: &quot;Sorry, we don&#039;t use those words, and I&#039;m sure the member&#039;s withdrawn it?&quot;Mr Anderson stood firm on his accusation, doubling down on his statement to the House.Mr Anderson made clear: &quot;Mr Speaker, I have the greatest respect for you in your office, but I will not withdraw. &quot;That man couldn&#039;t lie straight in bed!&quot;The Speaker was forced to remove the Reform MP from the Commons, telling him he &quot;had to leave&quot;.The Speaker declared: &quot;Order! Mr Anderson, you&#039;ll have to leave.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWATCH IN FULL: Keir Starmer sets out &#039;staggering&#039; timeline of Peter Mandelson vetting failure&#039;Why didn&#039;t you ask more?!&#039; Labour veterans turn on Keir Starmer as PM urged to launch urgent probeSix ways MPs could topple Keir Starmer as Prime MinisterThe incident follows a 15-minute statement from the Prime Minister, where he set out the &quot;staggering&quot; timeline of the disgraced peer&#039;s appointment as US Ambassador.Addressing MPs, Sir Keir admitted that he &quot;should not of appointed him&quot;, but made clear that he was &quot;not told&quot; about the failed security vetting by Foreign Office officials.He said: &quot;Last Tuesday evening, April 14, I found out for the first time that on January 29, 2025, before Peter Mandelson took up his position as ambassador, the Foreign Official officials granted him developed vetting clearance against the specific recommendation of the United Kingdom Security Vetting that developed vetting clearance should be denied.“Not only that, the Foreign Office officials who made that decision did not pass this information to me, to the Foreign Secretary, to her predecessor, the Deputy Prime Minister, to any other minister, or even to the former cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald.&quot;I found this staggering, and therefore last Tuesday I immediately instructed officials in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office to urgently establish the facts on my authority.&quot;Expressing his outrage at not being informed of the failed vetting, Sir Keir made clear: &quot;I do not accept that I could not have been told about UK&#039;s denial of security vetting before Peter Mandelson took up his post in January 25th.&quot;I do not accept that the then cabinet secretary could not have been told in September 2025, when he carried out his review into the process. &quot;I do not accept that the Foreign Secretary could not have been told when making statements to the select committee again in 2025.&quot;

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Lee, Anderson, kicked, out, Commons, after, accusing, lying, about, Lord, Mandelson</media:keywords>
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<title>Shabana Mahmood BANS influencer from entering Britain after she burned Quran with flamethrower</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/shabana-mahmood-bans-influencer-from-entering-britain-after-she-burned-quran-with-flamethrower</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/shabana-mahmood-bans-influencer-from-entering-britain-after-she-burned-quran-with-flamethrower</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has blocked an American influencer from travelling to Britain, despite having already secured clearance through the UK&#039;s electronic visa system.Colombian-born social media figure Valentina Gomez, 26, who has aligned herself with Tommy Robinson, had been scheduled to address the &quot;Unite the Kingdom&quot; demonstration in London next month.Ministers intervened at the eleventh hour, determining allowing Ms Gomez into the country would not serve the public good.The move follows a comparable decision taken earlier this month, when authorities refused entry to rapper Kanye West on account of antisemitic comments.
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Ms Gomez has previously provoked anger during appearances in Britain, where she delivered speeches directed towards Muslim communities.At a rally last year, the Christian influencer claimed &quot;rapist Muslims&quot; were &quot;taking over&quot; the country. And she called on British citizens to &quot;fight for this nation&quot;.She also directed comments at police officers, urging them to cease &quot;following orders&quot;.Last year&#039;s gathering drew an estimated 100,000 attendees, making it what is thought to be among the largest political demonstrations in British history.Government officials emphasised while peaceful expression of views remains a democratic right, this protection does not extend to &quot;the promotion of hatred and extremist ideology&quot;.In the United States, Ms Gomez has attracted similar controversy through such provocative actions.During an unsuccessful bid for a Congressional seat, she set fire to a copy of the Quran and publicly declared her intention to eliminate Islam from Texas.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSBenjamin Netanyahu condemns Israeli soldier’s smashing of Jesus statue ‘in strongest terms’TfL driver suspended for saying Jews ‘aren’t safe’ to ride Bakerloo line while he’s drivingGreece scraps new European Union fingerprint checks for British travellersThese incidents formed part of a pattern of behaviour that ultimately led British authorities to conclude her presence would &quot;pose risks to public order&quot;.A Home Office spokesman confirmed the exclusion, stating: &quot;The Home Secretary has the power to cancel a person&#039;s permission to enter or stay in the UK. &quot;We recognise the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views; however, this does not include promoting hatred and extremist views.&quot;The Muslim Council of Britain raised concerns following Ms Gomez&#039;s initial ETA approval, stating: &quot;The decision highlights a clear double standards in how freedom of speech is applied and can potentially lead to less safety and security on the streets of Britain.&quot;The organisation noted others had been refused entry for rhetoric aimed at different religious communities, questioning &quot;whose speech is deemed unacceptable, and who is permitted&quot;.The decision to exclude her represents the latest in a series of moves by the Home Office to prevent individuals deemed to hold extremist views from entering the country and potentially inciting hatred at public gatherings.Rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, was due to headline Wireless Festival this summer but was banned from entering the UK on similar grounds to Ms Gomez.Among many of the controversial antics that sparked furore was Mr West releasing a song called Heil Hitler, as well advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.He has also faced bans from social media platform X for publishing series after series of antisemitic posts.As a result of his inability to attend the festival scheduled for July 10 to 12 at London&#039;s Finsbury Park, Wireless was thereafter cancelled entirely, leaving prospective attendees to seek refunds for purchased tickets.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Shabana, Mahmood, BANS, influencer, from, entering, Britain, after, she, burned, Quran, with, flamethrower</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: Zarah Sultana SUSPENDED by Speaker after calling Keir Starmer a &amp;apos;barefaced liar&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-zarah-sultana-suspended-by-speaker-after-calling-keir-starmer-a-barefaced-liar</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-zarah-sultana-suspended-by-speaker-after-calling-keir-starmer-a-barefaced-liar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Your Party MP Zarah Sultana has been suspended by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of being a &quot;barefaced liar&quot;.Ms Sultana told MPs: &quot;He [Keir Starmer] defended him and now he claims to know nothing. &quot;He is gaslighting the nation, so let&#039;s call this out for what it is. The Prime Minister is a barefaced liar.&quot;The Speaker interjected Ms Sultana, declaring: &quot;Leave now! I&#039;ll name you otherwise. I&#039;d go now if I were you.&quot;Refusing the leave, the Speaker then suspended the MP, telling the House: &quot;It&#039;s my duty to carry out and control this house. I name Zarah Sultana to be suspended from the House.&quot;WATCH ABOVE.

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, Zarah, Sultana, SUSPENDED, Speaker, after, calling, Keir, Starmer, barefaced, liar</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: MPs erupt with laughter as Keir Starmer blasts &amp;apos;incredible&amp;apos; vetting failure</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-mps-erupt-with-laughter-as-keir-starmer-blasts-incredible-vetting-failure</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-mps-erupt-with-laughter-as-keir-starmer-blasts-incredible-vetting-failure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ MPs sitting opposite Sir Keir Starmer burst into howls of laughter after the Prime Minister described the facts of Lord Mandelson&#039;s security vetting as &quot;incredible&quot;.Sir Keir looked ashen-faced as he briefly stared down MPs who were then heckling his comments.The Prime Minister said: “I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.”After the chorus of laughter died down, Sir Keir added: “To that, I can only say they are right.&quot;It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in Government.“That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, Government or accountability to work.”WATCH ABOVE.

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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:52 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, MPs, erupt, with, laughter, Keir, Starmer, blasts, incredible, vetting, failure</media:keywords>
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<title>Six ways MPs could topple Keir Starmer as PM prepares for Commons showdown</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/six-ways-mps-could-topple-keir-starmer-as-pm-prepares-for-commons-showdown</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer is just moments away from a crunch showdown with MPs in the House of Commons.Having dodged a question on his future as Prime Minister on Friday, Sir Keir is now preparing to update MPs on what he knew about Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US. Lord Mandelson, known as the &quot;Prince of Darkness&quot; during his New Labour days, now risks bringing down Sir Keir&#039;s Government altogether. A small gaggle of Labour MPs, the Tory Party and Liberal Democrats have all put pressure on the Prime Minister to resign. However, when asked whether he will resign, Sir Keir said: &quot;That I wasn&#039;t told that he&#039;d failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.&quot;So, what can MPs actually do to topple the Prime Minister?
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Confidence voteLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has confirmed his MPs will join the Tories in a confidence vote against the Prime Minister.Confidence votes have resulted in a change of leader before, including in 1979 when a razor-thin defeat for Jim Callaghan triggered a general election that subsequently saw Margaret Thatcher win a landslide victory. However, Sir Keir&#039;s stonking 156-seat majority makes it almost impossible for MPs to topple the Prime Minister. Opposition MPs would need to win over 79 Labour MPs to pass the motion.Labour leadership campaignA Labour challenger could emerge to take on Sir Keir after the 2026 Local Elections.However, the Prime Minister appears somewhat protected, with the Labour Party rulebook requiring any challenger to obtain the backing of 80 MPs.GB News has covered how Health Secretary Wes Streeting and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have both been earmarked as potential challengers to Sir Keir. Despite the two ambitious Labour MPs doing a fair amount of posturing, the appetite for a successor to come forward was dealt a blow following a warm reaction to Sir Keir&#039;s response to events in Iran. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRachel Reeves to hit offices with £600million stealth tax in business rates raidKeir Starmer to address Parliament today amid calls for his resignationReform UK pledges to deport 400,000 asylum seekers and &#039;reverse the invasion of Britain&#039;Cabinet cabalWhile Boris Johnson&#039;s departure from No10 was overshadowed by the partygate scandal, the ex-Prime Minister was only forced out as a result of mass Cabinet resignations following revelations about Chris Pincher.Cabinet bigwigs Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid fired the starting gun on the premiership-ending revolt.An unprecedented 62 resignations in early July 2022 prompted Mr Johnson to eventually tender his resignation. However, for the moment at least, Sir Keir&#039;s Cabinet colleagues appear far more supportive of the Prime Minister. Privileges committeeThe Liberal Democrats have demanded that MPs on the privileges committee investigate whether Sir Keir committed contempt of Parliament after he told the Commons that &quot;full due process&quot; had been followed ahead of Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment. Boris Johnson faced a similar probe over his comments to the House of Commons on partygate.The committee was responsible for Mr Johnson&#039;s resignation as the MP for Uxbridge &amp; South Ruislip in June 2023 following its investigation.However, Mr Johnson would have been at risk of a 90-day suspension if he had not resigned, bringing the risk of a humiliating by-election defeat. Standards investigationSir Keir could face an investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog over a possible breach of the rules linked to the Lord Mandelson scandal.All complaints are considered by the parliamentary standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, who is responsible for deciding whether any rules may have been broken.In more serious cases, Mr Greenberg can refer matters to the Commons standards committee, which has the power to recommend tougher sanctions.At the most severe end, this could include suspension from the Commons, potentially forcing Sir Keir to step down.Ethics investigationThe final way MPs could look to oust Sir Keir is through an investigation by the Prime Minister&#039;s independent ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. Any MP can urge Sir Laurie to open a probe into a potential breach of the ministerial code. Previous investigations by Sir Laurie have prompted the resignations of Angela Rayner and Tulip Siddiq. Sir Keir has been accused of misleading MPs over Lord Mandelson’s vetting failure, marking a potential breach of the ministerial code.  

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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Rachel Reeves to hit offices with £600million stealth tax in business rates raid</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-to-hit-offices-with-600million-stealth-tax-in-business-rates-raid</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-to-hit-offices-with-600million-stealth-tax-in-business-rates-raid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rachel Reeves is set to impose a £600million stealth tax on shared office providers across England through sweeping changes to business rates.Flexible workspace landlords face new tax burdens under the Chancellor&#039;s reforms, with economists projecting an additional £594million annually in levies.These increased costs are expected to fall on tenants, leaving thousands of small enterprises facing higher expenses.Research from economics consultancy ChamberlainWalker suggests the financial strain could force as many as 150,000 workers to abandon co-working arrangements and return to home-based employment.
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Such a shift could reduce high street footfall nationwide, affecting local economic activity.The tax increase stems from a change in how the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assesses shared office buildings.Under the revised approach, co-working premises will be treated as single establishments rather than collections of individual units.This distinction has significant financial implications for occupants.Previously, tenants operating within these spaces could claim small business rates relief when their units were assessed separately.The revised classification removes this entitlement, increasing costs for many businesses.ChamberlainWalker estimates that affected firms will face average additional rental expenses of £5,400 per year.The retrospective nature of these changes has already affected some operators, with The Fisheries in east London receiving a £400,000 historical tax demand last autumn.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSUK unemployment to top two million as economy &#039;flirting with recession&#039;Rachel Reeves issued warning as £75billion raid pushes Britain to &#039;peak taxation&#039;Rachel Reeves blasted by pub landlord for tax hikes and pushing up costs: &#039;They&#039;re not listening!&#039;For micro-businesses and sole traders who rely on co-working spaces, the implications are significant.Paul Wilson, policy director of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: &quot;Every small business, potentially a self-employed person or micro-business using a shared space, faces thousands of pounds of extra costs.&quot;He added: &quot;That is very likely to be a decisive factor for some of them with the decision not to use a shared space.&quot;Mr Wilson said: &quot;If shared office spaces face increased bills, it will undoubtedly be negative for the Government&#039;s local growth agenda.&quot;Chris Walker, founder of ChamberlainWalker, said: &quot;This is just about the most damaging way I can think of for a government to raise what would be a modest amount of revenue.&quot;Richard Johnson, managing director of UBC, which runs 17 flexible offices across Britain, said: &quot;These are local entrepreneurs and small teams, not big corporations with deep pockets.&quot;He added: &quot;Expecting a small business to suddenly find an extra £5,400 a year just to keep their office door open is completely unrealistic.&quot;The Federation of Small Businesses has called on ministers to take action, while industry representatives have sought engagement with the Treasury.FlexSA, the trade body representing flexible workspace operators, has held three meetings with the Exchequer Secretary, though no resolution has been reached.A Treasury spokesman said: &quot;We have the right economic plan we&#039;re reforming business rates to back the high street with a £4.3billion support package to limit bills rises, alongside capping corporation tax at 25 per cent, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost the sector.&quot;He added that hospitality businesses would benefit from a 5p reduction in their rates, funded through higher levies on the most valuable properties.

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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, hit, offices, with, £600million, stealth, tax, business, rates, raid</media:keywords>
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<title>Russian agents targeted Lord Mandelson for decades and closely monitored relationship with Epstein</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/russian-agents-targeted-lord-mandelson-for-decades-and-closely-monitored-relationship-with-epstein</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/russian-agents-targeted-lord-mandelson-for-decades-and-closely-monitored-relationship-with-epstein</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Peter Mandelson was a key person of interest to the Russian state and targeted by Moscow during his time as a Labour peer, it has been revealed.The former British Ambassador to the US, who was sacked due to links to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, had failed security vetting for his appointment to the country&#039;s most prized diplomatic position.Security was aware of Moscow&#039;s interest throughout the years, stretching back to before his most recent diplomatic position, according to fresh reports.The interest began in 2004, when Lord Mandelson became European Commissioner for Trade, according to the Telegraph.
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During his vetting process, investigators are understood to have flagged his previous position as a non-executive director at Sistema, which holds shares in defence firm RTI.Officials noted that RTI manufactured technology &quot;for Russia&#039;s land-based missile early-warning system&quot; and characterised Sistema&#039;s chairman as a &quot;Putin ally&quot;.The report also emphasised that Lord Mandelson had continued serving on the company&#039;s board until June 2017, years after Russia&#039;s seizure of Crimea in 2014.Additional red flags emerged regarding his consultancy Global Counsel, with checks identifying business ties to both Russia and China.Lord Mandelson&#039;s association with Oleg Deripaska, formerly Russia&#039;s wealthiest oligarch, has been publicly documented since at least 2008 during his tenure as EU trade commissioner.Critics have pointed to this long-standing friendship, suggesting that Sir Tony Blair&#039;s and Gordon Brown&#039;s Labour Governments were likely aware of his Russian connections.The Epstein files also revealed that Global Counsel pursued commercial opportunities with Rusnano, a technology investment fund under Russian state control.Russian intelligence operatives are also understood to have kept close watch on Lord Mandelson&#039;s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in a New York prison cell in 2019, awaiting trial on trafficking charges.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer to address Parliament today amid calls for his resignationKeir Starmer &#039;WAS told about Lord Mandelson&#039;s red flags - then waved them away&#039;Keir Starmer accused of acting like a &#039;bystander&#039; amid Peter Mandelson vetting row: &#039;No curiosity!&#039;The Prime Minister has maintained he had no knowledge that the former ambassador had failed his security clearance.Lord Mandelson&#039;s dismissal from the Washington posting came after revelations that he had urged Epstein to contest his early release following a previous conviction for soliciting a minor.Intelligence sources from both the US and the UK have suggested that, while Epstein was probably not a Russian operative himself, he served as a valuable asset to foreign intelligence agencies through his extensive network of contacts.Sir Keir Starmer will be fighting to save his job as he faces the House of Commons today amid mounting pressure over the vetting controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment.In what Kemi Badenoch has branded a &quot;shaming affair&quot;, the Prime Minister will face allegations he misled Parliament after telling MPs the proper process had been followed in appointing the Labour grandee as ambassador to the US.&quot;Keir Starmer is either grossly incompetent or a liar,&quot; Robert Jenrick said last night, adding his Government was &quot;paralysed by a paedophile scandal&quot;.The Foreign Office&#039;s top official, Sir Olly Robbins, was sacked last week after it emerged Lord Mandelson had been given developed vetting status despite failing security checks.It also emerged that Sir Keir was told about the the warning signs which made the former peer fail his security checks - then &quot;waved them away&quot;.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Russian, agents, targeted, Lord, Mandelson, for, decades, and, closely, monitored, relationship, with, Epstein</media:keywords>
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<title>UK unemployment to top two million as Britain &amp;apos;flirts with recession&amp;apos;, economists warn</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-unemployment-to-top-two-million-as-britain-flirts-with-recession-economists-warn</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-unemployment-to-top-two-million-as-britain-flirts-with-recession-economists-warn</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain faces the prospect of unemployment climbing above two million for the first time in over a decade, according to new forecasts from the Item Club.The influential economic research group predicts the jobless rate will jump from 5.2 per cent to 5.8 per cent next year as the Iran conflict batters an already fragile economy.Such a rise would push the number of people out of work from 1.87 million currently to more than 2.1 million, a level not witnessed since 2014.The Item Club&#039;s projections carry particular weight because its economists employ the same forecasting model used by the Treasury, suggesting Chancellor Rachel Reeves will likely receive similarly bleak assessments from her own officials.
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The Item Club warned Britain is &quot;flirting with recession&quot; this year, with economic growth expected to stall completely during the second and third quarters of 2026.Matt Swannell, the group&#039;s chief economic adviser, said: &quot;The recent spike in energy prices and disruption to supply chains will be the biggest jolt to the jobs market since the pandemic.&quot;Faced with higher costs and soft demand, we think businesses will reduce headcount, causing almost 250 thousand more people to become unemployed.&quot;Spiralling energy costs and disruption to supply chains will push the UK to the brink of a technical recession in the middle of this year.&quot;Consumer spending power will be eroded while costlier financing and global uncertainty will dampen business investment, according to the forecasters.The Chancellor is convening a meeting with the heads of Britain&#039;s largest banks on Wednesday to address the economic fallout from the conflict.Executives from Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC and Santander will attend the discussions, Sky News reports.The talks will focus on how the war is affecting both household and business finances amid surging energy costs and supply chain problems.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Rachel Reeves issued warning as £75billion raid pushes Britain to &#039;peak taxation&#039;Rachel Reeves blasted by pub landlord for tax hikes and pushing up costs: &#039;They&#039;re not listening!&#039;&#039;He&#039;ll be seething!&#039; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to exploit North Sea oilMs Reeves has been outspoken in her criticism of the US-led conflict, describing Donald Trump&#039;s war with Iran as a &quot;folly&quot; and a &quot;mistake&quot;.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has argued American actions demonstrate the need for Britain to forge closer economic ties with European partners.Consumer confidence has plummeted at the fastest pace since Russia&#039;s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a separate Deloitte survey has revealed.Households report growing pessimism about their disposable income, job security, career prospects and their children&#039;s welfare, the quarterly research found.Céline Fenech, UK consumer products insight lead at Deloitte, said: &quot;The impact of recent geopolitical events on the price of energy will likely feel like another setback for consumers.&quot;She added that many families were already struggling with squeezed budgets at the start of the year due to slowing wage growth and a cooling labour market.The Item Club expects living standards to fall by 0.3 per cent this year as price rises outpace earnings.A Treasury spokesman said: &quot;The war in Iran was not of our making but it is imposing costs on the UK economy. &quot;That is why we are taking the right, fair and necessary action to protect families and businesses.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>unemployment, top, two, million, Britain, flirts, with, recession, economists, warn</media:keywords>
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<title>Ed Miliband to double down on Net Zero and declare fossil fuel era &amp;apos;over&amp;apos; as energy crisis deepens</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-to-double-down-on-net-zero-and-declare-fossil-fuel-era-over-as-energy-crisis-deepens</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-to-double-down-on-net-zero-and-declare-fossil-fuel-era-over-as-energy-crisis-deepens</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ed Miliband will deliver a major address on Tuesday, setting out fresh energy measures designed to tackle the crisis triggered by the conflict with Iran.The Energy Secretary intends to reaffirm Labour&#039;s dedication to achieving Net Zero, arguing surging fossil fuel costs demonstrate the urgent need for Britain to embrace renewable power.He is expected to say: &quot;As we face the second global energy shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear; the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.&quot;The speech comes as oil markets remain volatile following dashed hopes that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, with prices set to climb roughly four per cent today.
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The minister&#039;s package comprises three central initiatives aimed at shielding households from escalating energy costs.First, the Warm Homes Programme will be accelerated to drive faster adoption of solar panels and electric vehicles across the country.Second, Labour plans to increase solar panel installations on publicly owned land.Third, ministers intend to separate electricity prices from gas costs in a move designed to bring down consumer bills.Currently, wholesale electricity prices are determined by the most expensive form of generation at any given moment, which frequently means gas-fired power stations set the rate.While the precise mechanism for decoupling these prices remains unclear, potential approaches include negotiating improved contracts for existing green energy projects.Mr Miliband will also use the address to push back against those advocating expanded North Sea drilling, a position championed by the Conservatives and Reform since oil prices surged past $100 per barrel in March.He is expected to say: &quot;I do not agree with those who say we should &#039;turn off the taps&#039; overnight. But nor do I agree with those who suggest that somehow &#039;drilling every last drop&#039; will take a penny off bills or give us energy security.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Ed Miliband warns delays to Net Zero plans are &#039;not acceptable&#039; as wind and solar projects falter&#039;He&#039;ll be seething!&#039; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to exploit North Sea oilConfederation of British Industry chief demands Labour &#039;drill, baby, drill&#039; in North SeaThe Energy Secretary will characterise such demands as &quot;retreating to the comfort of false solutions&quot;.However, he will acknowledge the North Sea&#039;s ongoing importance, describing it as &quot;an important resource for our country which we will continue to use for decades to come&quot;.The Government maintains that decisions regarding the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields remain under consideration.Mr Miliband will highlight evidence that British consumers are already embracing cleaner alternatives in response to the Middle East turmoil.&quot;Octopus report a 50 per cent rise in solar panel sales and a 50 per cent rise in heat pump sales since the war began. &quot;And March was the best month ever for EV sales in the UK.&quot;He will also challenge what he describes as widespread misinformation about running costs, insisting that electric vehicles were already more economical than petrol or diesel cars before the current crisis.Mr Miliband will argue that heat pumps can likewise prove cheaper to operate than gas boilers when households select appropriate tariffs.

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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Keir Starmer to address Parliament today amid calls for his resignation</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-address-parliament-today-amid-calls-for-his-resignation</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-address-parliament-today-amid-calls-for-his-resignation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer will be fighting to save his job in the Commons today with a statement on exactly what he knew about Lord Mandelson&#039;s vetting.In what Kemi Badenoch has branded a &quot;shaming affair&quot;, the PM will face allegations he misled Parliament after telling MPs the proper process had been followed in appointing the Labour grandee as ambassador to the US.&quot;Keir Starmer is either grossly incompetent or a liar,&quot; Robert Jenrick said last night, adding his Government was &quot;paralysed by a paedophile scandal&quot;.The Foreign Office&#039;s top official Sir Olly Robbins was sacked last week after it emerged Lord Mandelson had been given developed vetting (DV) status despite failing security checks.It also emerged that Sir Keir was told about the the warning signs which made the former peer fail his security checks - then &quot;waved them away&quot;.And today, the PM will try to explain how Lord Mandelson was able to take up his role without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the vetting decision.One senior Government figure told The Guardian the next few days could be make-or-break for Sir Keir&#039;s career.&quot;We just don&#039;t know how it will all play out, but all roads lead back to the original sin: Keir&#039;s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson to Washington even though everybody knew it was high risk. This week could go either way,&quot; they said.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY...Kemi Badenoch brands Keir Starmer as ‘recklessly negligent’ over Lord Mandelson ahead of Commons showdownKemi Badenoch has branded Sir Keir Starmer &quot;recklessly negligent&quot; and &quot;dishonest&quot; in a letter over the Mandelson scandal.Writing about the Mandelson scandal, the Conservative leader claimed the Prime Minister had been &quot;contemptuous of Parliament&quot; and &quot;discourteous to the House&quot;.The two are set to go head-to-head in the Commons this afternoon.In her letter to Sir Keir, Mrs Badenoch said: &quot;This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country.&quot;Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but you have also undermined our national security by giving the highest diplomatic post to an individual that the security services found to be of &#039;high concern&#039;.She added: &quot;Instead of another round of blaming everyone else and demeaning the office of Prime Minister, I trust we can look forward to a frank statement in which you will take due responsibility.&quot;WATCH: Labour Secretary of State for Scotland defends Keir Starmer amid calls to resign



Douglas Alexander has defended Sir Keir Starmer, claiming the Prime Minister has not misled Parliament and lied to the public.The Secretary of State for Scotland told GB News: &quot;The Prime Minister is being alleged by the leader of the opposition to have knowingly misled Parliament and lied to the public. That is not true. &quot;The Prime Minister will set out why that&#039;s not true when he speaks at the dispatch box of the House of Commons just behind me this afternoon.&quot;For that claim to be true would require you to set aside what&#039;s a growing body of evidence that would suggest every minister involved in this decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a growing number of senior civil servants and indeed the friends and allies of Olly Robbins, the former secretary at the Foreign Office, were all part of some grand conspiracy not to tell the truth. &quot;It&#039;s simply not the case.&quot;WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVEPublic will get to see &#039;angry Starmer&#039; in the Commons later today, No 10 sources sayNo 10 sources have said the public will get to see &quot;angry Starmer&quot; in the Commons later today.The Prime Minister will make clear his &quot;fury&quot; with Sir Olly Robbins, the sacked Foreign Office civil servant, according to The Times.Sir Keir claims he was not aware the Foreign Office had granted Lord Peter Mandelson vetting clearance against recommendations until a meeting on Tuesday night.On Friday, the Prime Minister said it was &quot;staggering&quot; and &quot;unacceptable&quot; that he was not told the former US ambassador had failed his security vetting as he fought to save his job.Speaking from Paris, Mr Starmer said: &quot;That I wasn&#039;t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering.&quot;That I wasn&#039;t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.&quot;Not only was I not told, no minister was told, and I&#039;m absolutely furious about that.&quot;Today will be the first time the Prime Minister has addressed the Commons since last Wednesday.Deadline day to register to vote in May 7 electionsAnyone not yet registered to vote in the elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales on May 7 has only a few hours left to apply.The deadline to register is 11.59pm on Monday.Elections are being held on May 7 to elect members of the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales, while some 5,013 council seats in England are up for grabs across 136 local authorities.Some 42,827 applications to register to vote were submitted on Sunday, April 19, the highest on a single day so far this year, Government figures show.An average of 33,218 applications were made per day in the week to April 19, up from 23,255 the previous week and 21,426 a fortnight ago.The contests on May 7 represent a crucial test at the ballot box for all political parties.&#039;Kemi Badenoch will lead the charge&#039; - Chairman of the Conservative Party tells GB News



The Chairman of the Conservative Party, Kevin Hollinrake, has told GB News that Kemi Badenoch will lead the charge in calling for Keir Starmer&#039;s resignation.Speaking to the People&#039;s Channel, the MP for Thirsk and Malton said: &quot;We&#039;ve led the way on this right from the start.&quot;Kemi Badenoch brought this to parliament in September last year about the issues with Mandelson and which led to his resignation, and we followed this all the way through. &quot;So, for the parties that want to support our efforts to hold the Prime Minister to account for his terrible lack of judgement, appalling judgement, they are welcome to do so.&quot;Kemi Badenoch again will lead the charge on this in Parliament today. And we think the Prime Minister is not fit to leave this country and should resign.&quot;Kemi Badenoch says Lord Mandelson row was &#039;an issue of national security&#039;Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the Lord Mandelson row was &quot;an issue of national security&quot;.She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: &quot;Somebody who was a national security risk, and this had been flagged, was put into the most senior and sensitive diplomatic post, where all sorts of information, intelligence, which I would not have seen as a secretary of state, would have come across his desk. A national security issue.&quot;And what I find really shocking is how so many people’s careers are being ended over this, but the Prime Minister is not taking responsibility. &quot;He’s throwing everybody under a bus.”Mrs Badenoch said that, ultimately, it would be Labour MPs who had to decide the Prime Minister’s fate.She added: &quot;I’ve already said that he should resign, I don’t think that he will resign.&quot;&quot;He’s going to cling on. He will throw everybody under a bus, including his own MPs who are, some of them, going out to defend him.&quot;Sadly, the public did not give enough Conservative MPs to bring down the Labour Prime Minister. It’s Labour MPs who can do that. &quot;They will have to look in their own hearts and decide whether they want to be complicit in this cover-up.&quot;&#039;The Prime Minister should be gone!&#039; Liberal Democrat MP slams Keir Starmer for &#039;catastrophically poor judgement&#039;



The Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart has criticised Sir Keir Starmer over his &quot;catastrophically poor judgement&quot; on the handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.She told GB News: &quot;The Prime Minister should be gone. &quot;He has shown catastrophically poor judgement throughout this whole sorry Peter Mandelson scandal, and he&#039;ll be coming to the House of Commons today. He&#039;ll have a lot of questions to answer. &quot;Did he know? What did he know? When and why didn&#039;t he come to the house when he said he did know? He said he did know last Tuesday and he came to Prime Minister&#039;s Questions on Wednesday, and he didn&#039;t mention it.&quot;That&#039;s why we of the Liberal Democrats have said he should go on his poor judgement. &quot;But we&#039;ve also said that he should be referred to his own ethics Adviser and also the Privileges Committee to investigate what happened, when it happened, and whether there were any breaches of the ministerial code. &quot;We&#039;re talking about some of the very most sensitive positions that our Government can appoint, the ambassador to the United States of America. She added: &quot;This whole thing is just a sorry series of catastrophically poor judgement from the Prime Minister. And he should go.&quot;Russian agents targeted Lord Mandelson for decades and closely monitored relationship with EpsteinPeter Mandelson was a key person of interest to the Russian state and targeted by Moscow during his time as a Labour peer, it has been revealed.The former British Ambassador to the US, who was sacked due to links to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, had failed security vetting for his appointment to the country&#039;s most prized diplomatic position.Security was aware of Moscow&#039;s interest throughout the years, stretching back to before his most recent diplomatic position, according to fresh reports.The interest began in 2004, when Lord Mandelson became European Commissioner for Trade, according to the Telegraph.READ THE FULL STORY HEREEd Miliband to double down on Net Zero and declare fossil fuel era &#039;over&#039; as energy crisis deepensEd Miliband will deliver a major address on Tuesday, setting out fresh energy measures designed to tackle the crisis triggered by the conflict with Iran.The Energy Secretary intends to reaffirm Labour&#039;s dedication to achieving Net Zero, arguing surging fossil fuel costs demonstrate the urgent need for Britain to embrace renewable power.He is expected to say: &quot;As we face the second global energy shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear; the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.&quot;The speech comes as oil markets remain volatile following dashed hopes that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, with prices set to climb roughly four per cent today.Mr Miliband will also use the address to push back against those advocating expanded North Sea drilling, a position championed by the Conservatives and Reform since oil prices surged past $100 per barrel in March.He is expected to say: &quot;I do not agree with those who say we should &#039;turn off the taps&#039; overnight. But nor do I agree with those who suggest that somehow &#039;drilling every last drop&#039; will take a penny off bills or give us energy security.&quot;READ THE FULL STORY HEREAway from Labour... Reform UK pledges to deport 400,000 asylum seekers and &#039;reverse the invasion of Britain&#039;Nigel Farage is set to announce that a Reform UK Government would deport as many as 400,000 asylum seekers who broke into Britain illegally.The Reform chief is set to commit to an immediate examination of all asylum decisions made over the past five years.The review would track down anyone who entered illegally or overstayed their visa and subsequently claimed asylum - which home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf pledged would &quot;reverse the invasion of Britain&quot;.&quot;Reform will reverse this. Today we announce that a Reform Government will review the previous five years of asylum grants, and anyone who broke into the country illegally or overstayed on another visa will be stripped of their status and deported. We will do what it takes to restore justice in Britain,&quot; he added.READ THE FULL STORY HERELabour&#039;s Lord Glasman leads calls for PM to resign - &#039;He CANNOT continue!&#039;Labour peer Lord Glasman has led calls from within Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s own party for the PM to resign with a withering attack yesterday.&quot;He cannot conceivably continue as a credible Prime Minister any longer. And that&#039;s all because he cannot say: &#039;I made a mistake, I&#039;m sorry,&#039;&quot; the Blue Labour heavyweight warned.When asked last night if he would apologise to MPs, Sir Keir told the Mirror: &quot;I shall be making it absolutely crystal clear, as I have done a number of times - and I don&#039;t think anybody is disputing this - that I was not told that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting, and I should have been told.&quot;Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey went on to accuse the PM of &quot;catastrophic misjudgement&quot; - and has demanded he face an inquisition from MPs on the privileges committee as well as a probe by the Government&#039;s ethics watchdog for alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code.On Tuesday... Olly Robbins sets out the counter-argumentSir Olly Robbins will have a day to reel from the PM&#039;s Commons statement before he answers questions from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on the Lord Mandelson scandal on Tuesday.He is currently reported to to be taking legal advice over his sacking as Foreign Office chief.The Guardian reports Sir Olly feels &quot;angry&quot; at what he believes to be his &quot;unfair treatment&quot; by Sir Keir Starmer - and is determined to put out his side of the story.RECAP: Keir Starmer &#039;WAS told about Lord Mandelson&#039;s red flags - then waved them away&#039;Sir Keir Starmer was told about the the warning signs which made Lord Mandelson fail his developed vetting security clearance, it has been revealed.On Monday, the Prime Minister will tell the Commons it was &quot;unforgivable&quot; that he was not told that the Labour grandee had failed the process prior to his appointment as US ambassador.But it has now been claimed that Sir Keir was already aware of his &quot;red flags&quot; ahead of the security protocol - then went ahead with his appointment anyway.The UK Security Vetting agency (UKSV) recommended the rejection due to Lord Mandelson&#039;s ties to China and Russia, insiders said.The Government claimed last week that the Prime Minister would have pulled the appointment if he had been made aware of the rejection.“The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away,&quot; one senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph.READ THE FULL STORY HEREOur Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, address, Parliament, today, amid, calls, for, his, resignation</media:keywords>
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<title>Reform UK pledges to deport 400,000 asylum seekers and &amp;apos;reverse the invasion of Britain&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-pledges-to-deport-400000-asylum-seekers-and-reverse-the-invasion-of-britain</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-pledges-to-deport-400000-asylum-seekers-and-reverse-the-invasion-of-britain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage is set to announce that a Reform UK Government would deport as many as 400,000 asylum seekers who broke into Britain illegally.The Reform chief is set to commit to an immediate examination of all asylum decisions made over the past five years.The review would track down anyone who entered illegally or overstayed their visa and subsequently claimed asylum - which home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf pledged would &quot;reverse the invasion of Britain&quot;.Home Office staff under a Reform Government would be tasked with investigating three key factors under the proposed scheme.Officials would determine whether asylum seekers crossed the Channel on small boats, arrived hidden in lorries or aircraft, or overstayed their visas before lodging their claims.They would also assess whether an individual&#039;s country of origin is now considered safe by Government standards.Should any of these conditions be met, the refugee and their family members would lose their permission to stay in Britain.Those affected would be allocated an unspecified timeframe to depart voluntarily.The overwhelming majority of those seeking asylum reached Britain via small boat, vehicle, or by switching to refugee claims after entering on work, study or tourist visas.Anyone refusing to leave of their own accord would face detention and forced removal through Reform&#039;s proposed Deportation Command.This new body would bear responsibility for expelling migrants who entered illegally.The party estimates that over 400,000 people would fall within the scope of this retrospective policy.MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Belgium emerges as new launching point for small boat migrants gunning for British shoresIranian arsonist imprisoned in Britain for 20 years avoids deportation after claiming he was gayIllegal migrants in army bases would be BANNED from towns under Reform government, Nigel Farage saysThis number comes on top of 600,000 unsuccessful asylum applicants whom Reform UK has already pledged to remove.Stripping status from those who have already had their asylum granted marks a radical doubling-down on the party&#039;s earlier position of simply blocking illegal arrivals from making claims.Mr Yusuf said: &quot;For years, Tory and Labour governments have presided over an invasion of Britain.&quot;They have effectively operated an open borders policy. Instead of upholding the law, they have rewarded those who broke it by entering Britain illegally.&quot;He added: &quot;Reform will reverse this. Today we announce that a Reform government will review the previous five years of asylum grants, and anyone who broke into the country illegally or overstayed on another visa will be stripped of their status and deported. We will do what it takes to restore justice in Britain.&quot;But the party is bracing for backlash, with the proposals expected to draw fury from NGOs and refugee organisations.In the face of potential court challenges, Reform UK is also pledging to change the law and exit international refugee agreements.The party has committed to leaving the controversial European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and abandoning the 1951 Refugee Convention.A proposed Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Act would legally compel the Home Secretary to expel any migrant lacking residence rights.Among the more than 100,000 asylum applications submitted last year, roughly 41 per cent arrived on small boats.An additional 11 per cent came hidden in lorries or without proper documentation.Approximately 39 per cent made their claims after arriving legitimately on work, study or holiday visas.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reform, pledges, deport, 400, 000, asylum, seekers, and, reverse, the, invasion, Britain</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer &amp;apos;WAS told about Lord Mandelson&amp;apos;s red flags &#45; then waved them away&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-was-told-about-lord-mandelsons-red-flags-then-waved-them-away</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-was-told-about-lord-mandelsons-red-flags-then-waved-them-away</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer was told about the the warning signs which made Lord Mandelson fail his developed vetting security clearance, it has been revealed. On Monday, the Prime Minister will tell the Commons it was &quot;unforgivable&quot; that he was not told that the Labour grandee had failed the process prior to his appointment as US ambassador. But it has now been claimed that Sir Keir was already aware of his &quot;red flags&quot; ahead of the security protocol - then went ahead with his appointment anyway.The UK Security Vetting agency (UKSV) recommended the rejection due to Lord Mandelson&#039;s ties to China and Russia, insiders said.
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But the advice was later overruled by former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins, after he determined that the security risk presented was manageable.Sir Olly was axed from his role on Thursday after losing the confidence of both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper after the bombshell new details came to light.Sir Keir said it was &quot;staggering&quot; he was not informed of Lord Mandelson&#039;s failure of the process.The Government claimed last week that the Prime Minister would have pulled the appointment if he had been made aware of the rejection.“The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away,&quot; one senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph.Sir Olly claimed he was unable to inform the Prime Minister due to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act of 2010 - a claim ministers have rejected.A No10 statement on Sunday night said that although civil servants rather than ministers make decisions on vetting and clearance, there was nothing in the law to prevent ministers being told.Downing Street has insisted there was no reason he could not have &quot;sensibly&quot; told the Prime Minister.On Tuesday, Sir Olly will appear before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, where he is expected to outline his reasonings for withholding the information from Sir Keir. The former Foreign Office chief is also expected to argue that he overruled the UKSV&#039;s recommendation as the concerns surrounding Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment had already been &quot;priced in&quot;.Last month, he told MPs it was apparent “the Prime Minister wanted to make this appointment himself”. PM UNDER PRESSURE - READ THE LATEST:David Lammy backs PM over Lord Mandelson vetting scandal - &#039;He would never have appointed him!&#039;John Major warns not funding defence is &#039;betrayal of our future&#039; in latest blow to Keir StarmerKeir Starmer&#039;s two top aides knew Lord Mandelson failed security vetting weeks agoSir Keir is also facing mounting pressure over the revelations that the ex-Labour peer was handed the highest level of security clearance during his spell in Washington despite his vetting failure, The Times reported last night. Lord Mandelson was granted &quot;strap three&quot; during his tenure - reserved for information that would pose a major security risk in itself or to Britain&#039;s intelligence services. It is shared on a &quot;need to know basis&quot; and is likely to include sensitive information surrounding Russia and China - to which Lord Mandelson&#039;s ties presented a red flag during the vetting process. He was warned it could take &quot;at least three months&quot; for strap clearance to be approved - but was fast-tracked due to the significance of the ambassadorial role, according to the newspaper. Ahead of his Commons grilling today, Sir Keir told the Mirror he would make it &quot;crystal clear&quot; to MPs that he had been kept in the dark.The Prime Minister said: &quot;The fact that I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting when he was appointed is astonishing. &quot;The fact that I wasn’t told when I said to Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable, and that’s why I intend to set out in Parliament on Monday the facts behind that, so there’s full transparency in relation to it.“Am I furious that I wasn’t told? Yes, I am. Am I furious that other ministers weren’t told? Yes, I am. I should have been told, and I wasn’t told.”In a scathing letter to the PM on Sunday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch wrote: “As an experienced barrister you will know the importance of telling the truth, but you will also know that many people think you have been at best recklessly negligent and at worst dishonest about this whole affair.“You have failed to answer very simple questions about what you did and what you knew. “This is contemptuous of Parliament, discourteous to the House, and against the fundamental requirement set out in your own Ministerial Code.”Lord Mandelson was sacked last year, just nine months into his DC posting, after further details of his association with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein emerged.Mrs Badenoch said: “This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country.“Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but you have also undermined our national security by giving the highest diplomatic post to an individual that the security services found to be of ‘high concern’.”GB News has approached No10 for comment. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, WAS, told, about, Lord, Mandelsons, red, flags, then, waved, them, away</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;It didn&amp;apos;t go well for them!&amp;apos; US forces blow a hole in hulking Iranian ship &#45; then seize it</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/it-didnt-go-well-for-them-us-forces-blow-a-hole-in-hulking-iranian-ship-then-seize-it</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/it-didnt-go-well-for-them-us-forces-blow-a-hole-in-hulking-iranian-ship-then-seize-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ American forces have blown a hole in the side of a massive Iranian ship - before seizing it altogether.The 900-foot cargo ship Touska had tried to run the US blockade near the Gulf of Oman, but then refused &quot;fair warning to stop&quot;, Donald Trump said on Sunday.The US Navy fired on and took &quot;full custody&quot; of the vessel, with footage posted by US Central Command showing the moment the USS Spruance opened fire on the tanker.Iran&#039;s military said the ship had been travelling from China towards Iran&#039;s Bandar Abbas port.
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&quot;We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military,&quot; a military spokesman said.Mr Trump, meanwhile, said the Touska&#039;s attempt to get around the US blockade &quot;did not go well for them&quot;.&quot;The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room,&quot; he said. &quot;Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.&quot;It marks the first known time that the US has fired on a commercial ship during the conflict.American forces have so far turned back more than 20 Iranian-linked ships since the blockade began - though until Sunday, had never used force to do so.The US military had earlier threatened to board and seize any vessels attempting to flout its maritime siege of ships heading to or from Iranian ports, which reached its seventh day on Monday.While the clock counts up on the blockade, a countdown is on for a shaky US-Iranian ceasefire, which is set to expire on Tuesday.Iran has said it would not participate in a second round of negotiations with the Americans, with Tehran pointing to the blockade, &quot;threatening&quot; rhetoric, Washington&#039;s shifting positions and its &quot;excessive demands.&quot;IRAN - READ THE LATEST:Iran &#039;prepared to respond with full force&#039; to Donald Trump as ceasefire deadline nearsUK and France set to lead &#039;multinational mission&#039; to protect peace in Strait of HormuzPubs warned beer taps could run dry during World Cup due to US-Iran war&quot;One cannot restrict Iran&#039;s oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone,&quot; Iran&#039;s First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref said.Mr Trump had earlier warned Iran that the United States would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran rejected his terms.&quot;NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!&quot; he said. &quot;They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my honour to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.&quot;IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!&quot;His envoys - JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - are set to return to Pakistani capital Islamabad today.The President also said Iran &quot;aimed bullets&quot; at a British freighter on Sunday.The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre has declared the threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf was &quot;critical&quot;, its highest risk level.And Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that any talks between the US and Iran must result in a toll-free passage for vessels through the waterway.She added: &quot;This argument is not just about the Strait of Hormuz, it is about the precedent this will set for freedom of navigation all over the world.&quot;If the wrong precedent is set, it would be deeply damaging not just for the global economy, but for global security, and that is why it is an argument we must win.&quot;

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>It, didnt, well, for, them, forces, blow, hole, hulking, Iranian, ship, then, seize</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: Sadiq Khan skewered on GB News after getting St George&amp;apos;s Day wrong in social media post</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-sadiq-khan-skewered-on-gb-news-after-getting-st-georges-day-wrong-in-social-media-post</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-sadiq-khan-skewered-on-gb-news-after-getting-st-georges-day-wrong-in-social-media-post</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Watch as GB News contributor Paul Cox laid into Sir Sadiq Khan after the London Mayor said St George&#039;s Day was &quot;today&quot; on social media - four days early.In a now-deleted post, Sir Sadiq had hailed the capital&#039;s diversity as &quot;our greatest strength&quot; and labelled England&#039;s flag the &quot;St George&#039;s Day flag&quot;.&quot;Today on St George&#039;s Day I&#039;m joined by interfaith leaders from across London,&quot; he said on Sunday. &quot;We come together to celebrate all that unites us and affirm St George&#039;s Day flag as a symbol that unites us all.&quot;He went on to share an updated post which included the words &quot;ahead of St George&#039;s Day&quot;.But Paul had some choice words for the Mayor...WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:42 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, Sadiq, Khan, skewered, News, after, getting, Georges, Day, wrong, social, media, post</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour urges more young people to have say in online safety amid calls for social media ban</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-urges-more-young-people-to-have-say-in-online-safety-amid-calls-for-social-media-ban</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-urges-more-young-people-to-have-say-in-online-safety-amid-calls-for-social-media-ban</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has urged more young people to have a say in their online safety amid calls for children under 16 to be banned from social media.Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has made the calls for children to submit to their Growing Up In The Online World Government consultation.Despite more than 50,000 responses to the consultation, she said only 6,000 children have weighed in.The plea comes ahead of the Childhood in the Age of AI summit on Monday, where Ms Kendall and the NSPCC - a leading children&#039;s safety charity - will meet young people to discuss how artificial intelligence has shaped their childhood.
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Ms Kendall said: &quot;What you tell us will shape what happens next.&quot;We’re listening, and we will act.&quot;The event will be held at Wilton Park in Sussex and include policymakers, tech industry representatives, and online safety campaigners.Sir Keir Starmer held a meeting with technology giants Meta, Snap, Google, and TikTok on Thursday as the Government seeks to keep children safe in a rapidly-evolving online environment.Sir Keir said: &quot;Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk.&quot;In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.&quot;A social media ban for under-16s was shot down in the Commons on Wednesday after an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was introduced by Lord John Nash.It is the second time MPs rejected the amendment, despite pressure building for online safety measures to be implemented rapidly.LATEST FROM LABOUR:Labour’s biggest union donor cosies up to Nigel Farage in secret meetingLabour wins vote to take control of private pension pots in &#039;another attack on savers&#039;Labour scraps ‘not fit for purpose’ carbon tax on electricity generation amid soaring billsLord Nash said a US court cases, which ruled Google and Meta had intentionally made addictive platforms, were &quot;game changers&quot; for his case for a ban.Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died as a result of an online challenge has criticised the Government for not implementing the ban.Earlier this week, she said: &quot;The Prime Minister says he will take all necessary steps to protect children – except the one step that is actually in his power: acting now to raise the age limit for harmful social media to 16.&quot;The Government is looking for families in the Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland specifically to respond to the consultation.Ms Kendall said: &quot;I want every young person to hear this clearly: we are determined to keep you safe online and prepare you for the future. It’s not a question of if we will act but how.&quot;This week, the Prime Minister and I told tech companies that children’s safety must come first. No excuses, and no delays.&quot;But we want to understand what life online really feels like for you, so we can make it better. What you tell us will shape what happens next. We’re listening, and we will act.&quot;Since Thursday&#039;s meeting, the Prime Minister has urged top social media executives around the world to use their full resources to help young people.Sir Keir added: &quot;I am determined we will build a better future for our children, and look forward to working with you on this.&quot;I do think this can be done. I think the question is not whether it is done, the question is how it is done.&quot;The Growing Up In The Online World consultation concludes on May 26 and the Government has pledged to move quickly based on its findings.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, urges, more, young, people, have, say, online, safety, amid, calls, for, social, media, ban</media:keywords>
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<title>Iran &amp;apos;prepared to respond with full force&amp;apos; to Donald Trump as ceasefire deadline nears</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-prepared-to-respond-with-full-force-to-donald-trump-as-ceasefire-deadline-nears</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-prepared-to-respond-with-full-force-to-donald-trump-as-ceasefire-deadline-nears</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Iran has said it is &quot;fully prepared&quot; to respond to the US if they &quot;make the slightest mistake&quot;.Delivering a speech on Iran state media, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran&#039;s Parliament, said the ceasefire represented a military victory for Iran.&quot;When the enemy fails to achieve its objectives, it means it has been defeated,&quot; he said.Having now prevailed in war, he said, Iran would approach diplomacy with caution.
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Mr Ghalibaf, who also served as lead negotiator in peace talks, said: &quot;We are fully prepared, if they make the slightest mistake, we will respond with full force.&quot;He also doubled down on control over the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that actions Iran deemed as violating the ceasefire, including mine-clearing operations, would result in the crucial waterway being closed again.The US and Iran remain far from any permanent peace agreement, Mr Ghalibaf said.He said Tehran had &quot;stated our demands firmly&quot; but there were &quot;misunderstandings&quot; between the two sides.&quot;But in direct negotiations, we understood each other better,&quot; he added.And a separate senior Iranian official said he would handing what Donald Trump has called &quot;nuclear dust&quot; to the US.Iran&#039;s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said: &quot;I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States.&quot;This is a non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we&#039;re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.&quot;LATEST ON IRAN WAR:Iran fires at ships in Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump threatens to re-start bombing blitzIran closes Strait of Hormuz after Donald Trump announced key waterway was &#039;completely open&#039;UK and France set to lead &#039;multinational mission&#039; to protect peace in Strait of HormuzBoth Iranian officials have made it clear an agreement with the US is far apart from coming together, with the 10 day ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday.Mr Trump has threatened to &quot;start dropping bombs again&quot; unless the two sides can reach a long-term deal.&quot;We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,&quot; Mr Khatibzadeh said.Iran&#039;s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday Iran&#039;s &quot;brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats&quot;.Donald Trump did not address the Iran war on Saturday as he held a press conference on medicinal psychedelics in the Oval Office.But after on Truth Social, he said: &quot;Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America.&quot;They are courageous, bold, loyal, and smart and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!&quot;He also posted a four minute video of Frank Sinatra singing &quot;My Way&quot;, which starts with the phrase &quot;and now the end is near&quot;.

Our Standards:
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Iran, prepared, respond, with, full, force, Donald, Trump, ceasefire, deadline, nears</media:keywords>
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<title>Lord Mandelson paid millions by Chinese&#45;military linked firm in new twist to security vetting scandal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-mandelson-paid-millions-by-chinese-military-linked-firm-in-new-twist-to-security-vetting-scandal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/lord-mandelson-paid-millions-by-chinese-military-linked-firm-in-new-twist-to-security-vetting-scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Chinese company with government links has been revealed as the single largest client of Lord Peter Mandelson.As the scandal over his security vetting continues, a science company WuXi AppTec was the largest client of Lord Mandelson&#039;s lobbying firm Global Counsel.The Shanghai-listed company paid £2.24million to Lord Mandelson&#039;s company and topped a list of &quot;biggest clients by revenue&quot; that was shared by senior executives at the firm.Senior government sources told The Times it was his ties to foreign entities that caused the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) agency to recommend against his appointment to the role of British ambassador to the US, rather than his alleged links to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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WuXi AppTec paid £1.42million to Lord Mandelson&#039;s firm in 2024, when the peer was appointed to his ambassadorial role.The company was one of five companies of concern targeted by the US Biosecure Act which banned federal agencies from purchasing biotechnology equipment from the Chinese firm.The Pentagon had described it as a company which engaged in assisting the Chinese People&#039;s Liberation Army and links to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, according to Bloomberg.US Representatives Brad Wenstrup and Raja Krishnamoorthy directly named the company as they introduced the Biosecure Act into the House of Congress.&quot;Chinese company WuXi AppTec has sponsored events with China&#039;s military, reportedly stolen U.S. IP, and jointly operated genetic collection sites with China&#039;s military,&quot; they said in May 2024.But Ge Li, WuXi AppTec&#039;s chair and chief executive, denied the company was any national security risk to any country in a 2024 letter.Lord Mandelson resigned from Global Counsel shortly before the 2024 general election but did not divest his stake in the company.Sir Olly Robbins told MPs in November that determining if Lord Mandelson should abandon his ownership was the &quot;hardest&quot; part of the &quot;process for both of us&quot;.LATEST LORD MANDELSON VETTING SCANDAL:David Lammy backs PM over Lord Mandelson vetting scandal - &#039;He would never have appointed him!&#039;Taxpayers forced to foot £100,000 compensation for Sir Olly Robbins following sackingKeir Starmer fumes over &#039;unforgivable&#039; Lord Mandelson chaos as he flees to France for key summitSir John Whittingdale, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Commons &quot;some Chinese walls&quot; were put into place to &quot;ensure that he was not aware of who the clients of Global Counsel were, or of the work being undertaken&quot;.A source familiar with the negotiations between Lord Mandelson and Sir Olly over his ownership stake in Global Counsel said the former permanent under-secretary was in favour of the peer divesting, but made no serious effort for it to happen.Sir Olly is expected to disclose more information about the vetting process when he appears before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday, which some have described as a &quot;judgement day&quot; for Sir Keir Starmer and Downing Street.All opposition parties have called for him to resign as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the report the Prime Minister received to be published, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared Sir Keir &quot;unfit&quot; to run the country, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was &quot;totally unbelievable&quot; he had not be told about the vetting process.But the Government has maintained Sir Keir was not aware Lord Mandelson had not cleared vetting until Tuesday, even as it emerged Dame Antonia Romeo and Catherine Little knew of the failure in March.Friends and allies have said the developed vetting process is not a simple pass or fail but an assessment of risks and mitigating factors with a set of rules to ensure the confidence of information.Ciaran Martin, former head of the National Cyber Security Centre said the Prime Minister had &quot;sacked someone who appears to have applied the current rules correctly&quot;.Lord Simon McDonald, who ran the Foreign Office from 2015 to 2020, argued vetting report details are &quot;very closely held&quot; and would &quot;never be shared with No 10 or the prime minister&quot;.When asked if Sir Olly had been thrown under the bus, he answered &quot;yes&quot;.Sources claimed the former Foreign Office chief would ultimately be exonerated after he appears in front of MPs.One former senior ambassador and friend of Sir Olly said: &quot;Olly Robbins did not deserve to be fired, and certainly didn’t deserve the subsequent pile-on. And ultimately, it won’t work — everyone knows it was Starmer that made the decision, and hanging a brilliant and dedicated civil servant out to dry won’t shift that one iota.&quot;A Government spokesman has previously said: &quot;Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.&quot;Once the Prime Minister was informed he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the Developed Vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.&quot;The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full as soon as possible. Any documentation within the scope of the Humble Address that requires redaction on the basis of national security or international relations will be provided to the ISC. This will include documents provided to the FCDO by UK Security Vetting.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lord, Mandelson, paid, millions, Chinese-military, linked, firm, new, twist, security, vetting, scandal</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;He would never, ever have appointed him as ambassador&amp;apos; David Lammy backs Keir Starmer over Lord Mandelson vetting scandal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/he-would-never-ever-have-appointed-him-as-ambassador-david-lammy-backs-keir-starmer-over-lord-mandelson-vetting-scandal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/he-would-never-ever-have-appointed-him-as-ambassador-david-lammy-backs-keir-starmer-over-lord-mandelson-vetting-scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ David Lammy has publicly backed Sir Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, suggesting the Prime Minister would never have sent the Labour veteran to Washington had he been aware of the security concerns.The Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Secretary expressed certainty about his leader&#039;s position on the matter.&quot;I have absolutely no doubt at all, knowing the PM as I do, that had he known that Peter Mandelson had not passed the vetting, he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador&quot;, he told The Guardian.The intervention represents Mr Lammy&#039;s first public remarks on the affair as Downing Street has rallied to defend the Prime Minister ahead of a crunch week in his premiership following the latest twists in the scandal. 
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Mr Lammy described the failure to inform Downing Street about the vetting outcome as &quot;inexplicable&quot;.The Deputy Prime Minister recounted the dramatic moment he first learned of the situation while aboard a military aircraft returning from the Middle East.He was summoned to the cockpit mid-flight, where the captain informed him that Downing Street required an urgent conversation via radio.Mr Lammy said: &quot;That obviously felt dramatic and serious and unexpected, That was the first time I had heard this.&quot;When pressed on whether he or his team had received any information about Lord Mandelson&#039;s vetting during his time running the Foreign Office, Mr Lammy was emphatic in his denial.He said: &quot;No. And let me just be absolutely clear, in the years in which I have been both in this Government and the last Government, I have never had any official talk to me about vetting, or the detail of vetting, so I would remember if this had ever been raised with me.&quot;However, former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly has cast significant doubt on these claims, arguing it is &quot;inconceivable&quot; that senior ministers remained uninformed.Drawing on his own tenure at the Foreign Office from 2022 to 2023, Sir James told The Independent that officials would invariably brief ministers about such sensitive matters.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer&#039;s two top aides knew Lord Mandelson failed security vetting weeks ago as pressure mounts to resignKeir Starmer could face vote of no confidence as Lib Dems &#039;prepared to join forces with Tories&#039; to topple PMLord Mandelson scandal proves broken state needs &#039;real outsiders&#039;, says Whitehall whistleblowerSir James said: &quot;I cannot envisage a universe where someone senior in the Foreign Office wouldn&#039;t have sat down with the foreign secretary and said something to warn about this.&quot;He maintained that the Government&#039;s account was &quot;just not credible&quot;, suggesting that with political appointments, foreign secretaries are explicitly warned they are personally assuming considerable risk.&quot;This is why I think David Lammy may have even more problems than Keir Starmer,&quot; Sir James added.A source close to the Deputy Prime Minister dismissed the criticism as &quot;odd&quot; given all parties have confirmed ministers were not informed.Mr Lammy acknowledged that pressure had mounted on the Foreign Office to finalise Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment swiftly as Donald Trump prepared to return to the White House in January.&quot;There was a feeling that obviously Trump had won the election in November, he was moving into the White House, and it would be good if we had an ambassador. So there was some time pressures around that I recall at the time,&quot; he explained.Despite the controversy surrounding Sir Oliver Robbins, who was forced out of his position this week, Mr Lammy spoke warmly of the former permanent secretary.Having appointed Sir Oliver to the role in January 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister described him as an &quot;outstanding&quot; civil servant.&quot;I don&#039;t know what happened in this circumstance. I&#039;m surprised and shocked by it. He was only a few weeks into the job,&quot; Mr Lammy added.He conceded that next month&#039;s local elections were already shaping up to be difficult for Labour before the Mandelson affair resurfaced, with polling suggesting harsh results across the country.&quot;It feels to me like these are tough midterm elections,&quot; he said, noting that voters remained anxious about living costs and the state of public services.The Deputy Prime Minister expressed frustration that the scandal had returned to dominate headlines when the public faced more immediate concerns.&quot;Clearly the fallout of Peter Mandelson&#039;s behaviour and the decision to appoint him has rumbled on for months and months and months,&quot; Mr Lammy observed.&quot;I regret that this is back again in the news when actually most people are worried about petrol prices, how the closure of the strait of Hormuz and the war in Iran is going to affect them.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>He, would, never, ever, have, appointed, him, ambassador, David, Lammy, backs, Keir, Starmer, over, Lord, Mandelson, vetting, scandal</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo backtracks on Donald Trump feud and says &amp;apos;tyrants&amp;apos; dig was not aimed at US President</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/pope-leo-backtracks-on-donald-trump-feud-and-says-tyrants-dig-was-not-aimed-at-us-president</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/pope-leo-backtracks-on-donald-trump-feud-and-says-tyrants-dig-was-not-aimed-at-us-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo has downplayed his feud with Donald Trump as he claimed his &quot;tyrants&quot; comment was not aimed at the US President.The Pontiff said reporting about comments he has made during his Africa tour has &quot;not been accurate in all its aspects&quot;.Speaking to reporters in English aboard his flight to Angola for the third leg of his 10-day tour, Pope Leo said comments he made two days earlier in Cameroon decrying that the world was being &quot;ravaged by a handful of tyrants&quot; were not aimed at President Trump.He said the speech &quot;was prepared two weeks ago, well before the President ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting&quot;.
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On Sunday, as Pope Leo prepared to embark on his tour, President Trump called him &quot;WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy&quot; in a post on Truth Social. He also posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism including from some religious conservatives who usually support the President. The post was quickly removed on Monday morning.President Trump appeared to be responding to Pope Leo&#039;s growing criticism in recent weeks of the US-Israeli war against Iran.Pope Leo told reporters on Monday that he would keep speaking out about the war, and President Trump reiterated his criticism on Tuesday.On Thursday, Pope Leo blasted leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was &quot;being ravaged by a handful of tyrants&quot;, though he did not mention President Trump directly again.The Pontiff said earlier today: &quot;As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all.&quot;Pope Leo, originally from Chicago, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but has debuted a new forceful speaking style in Africa, sharply denouncing war, inequality and global leaders.His current Africa tour is one of the most complicated ever arranged for a pontiff, with stops in 11 cities and towns in four countries, traversing nearly 18,000 km over 18 flights.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSIran fires shots at ships going through Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump threatens to re-start bombing blitzIran closes Strait of Hormuz after the US &#039;did not fulfil their obligations&#039; just hours after Donald Trump announced key waterway was &#039;completely open&#039;Israel violates ceasefire with Lebanon just hours after Donald Trump announced truce, Beirut claimsBefore leaving Cameroon, Pope Leo celebrated a farewell Mass in the capital, Yaounde, urging participants not to lose hope despite the challenges faced by the Central African country.This includes a simmering conflict in its two anglophone regions that has killed thousands.He told the crowd: &quot;In moments when we seem to be sinking, overcome by adverse forces, when everything appears bleak...Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil.&quot;In every storm, he comes to us and repeats: &#039;I am here with you: do not be afraid&#039;.&quot;While pontiffs have long been a moral voice on the global stage, they have also generally attempted to keep the Church neutral in world conflicts, allowing the Vatican to act as a mediator if asked to do so.Massimo Faggioli, an expert on the papacy at Trinity College Dublin, pointed to the example of Pope Pius XII, who directed a clandestine network to shelter Jews during the Holocaust.However Pope Pius XII, who was Pontiff from 1939 until his death in October 1958, is accused by some modern critics of not speaking loudly enough about the genocide.Professor Faggioli said &quot;There&#039;s always the ghost of Pius XII hanging there...I don&#039;t think he wants the Vatican to be accused of being soft on Trumpism because he&#039;s an American.&quot;Pope Francis, Leo&#039;s predecessor, was from Argentina and was also known for forceful denunciations of conflict. He also clashed with President Trump, who once called Francis &quot;disgraceful&quot;. John Thavis, a retired Vatican correspondent who covered three papacies, said: &quot;Other popes, including John Paul II and Francis, have spoken about the dangers of ideological tyrannies and neocolonialism.&quot;But when Leo says the world is &#039;ravaged by a handful of tyrants,&#039; that strikes me as a much more direct challenge to the leaders of powerful nations.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, backtracks, Donald, Trump, feud, and, says, tyrants, dig, was, not, aimed, President</media:keywords>
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<title>UK risks destruction of £70billion car trade partnership with EU as new rules threaten Brexit agreement</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-risks-destruction-of-70billion-car-trade-partnership-with-eu-as-new-rules-threaten-brexit-agreement</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-risks-destruction-of-70billion-car-trade-partnership-with-eu-as-new-rules-threaten-brexit-agreement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Experts have called on the European Union to amend its upcoming policies to ensure that the UK remains a &quot;trusted partner&quot; in the automotive sector, or risk disastrous consequences.The EU&#039;s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act introduces new &quot;Made in EU&quot; measures designed to protect companies across the continent from outside competition, especially from China.These measures aim to stimulate manufacturing across Europe, as well as create jobs over the coming years and boost net zero prospects for sectors including the automotive industry.At present, the UK is not included as one of the member states, nor a &quot;trusted partner&quot;, prompting concerns from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
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The trade body has called on the European Union to include the UK as a trusted partner to maintain its &quot;long-nurtured, mutually beneficial trading relationship&quot;.Data from the SMMT states that the EU-UK automotive trading relationship is worth €80billion or £69.6billion, while 70 per cent of automotive products imported into the UK come from the EU, which is worth €60billion (£52.2billion) to the bloc.More than three in five vehicles registered in the UK are built in factories across the EU, with just UK-made cars representing just three per cent of cars sold in Europe.The SMMT warned that if the EU excluded the UK from the &quot;Made in Europe&quot; policy, it would inflict &quot;significant harm&quot; on both actors and disrupt supply chains.Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: &quot;Brexit put the resilience of our shared industry under enormous stress, but manufacturers have overcome those challenges to grow our trade in electrified vehicles alone to record levels. &quot;If the Industrial Accelerator Act proceeds as drafted, it threatens to reverse progress, undermining the Trade and Cooperation Agreement all sides worked so hard to deliver and jeopardise our respective competitiveness, damaging to jobs, investment and innovation.&quot;He added that the UK and EU should &quot;seize the opportunity to deepen collaboration and unlock the full promise&quot; of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.Mr Hawes also highlighted that continued collaboration would help protect the industry from global competition and instability across the world.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSVauxhall, Peugeot and Fiat included in huge car recall amid fears engine parts could &#039;fall onto road&#039;Britons ditch cars in protest against petrol and diesel prices amid growing support for cyclingDrivers warned of traffic delays as car fire prompts closure of tunnel used by thousands dailyThe SMMT has consistently called for the UK to be included in the &quot;Made in EU&quot; framework, which would see UK-built vehicles and components considered equivalent to EU products.Brussels has touted the benefits of the IAA, including launching measures to ensure foreign direct investments would bring value.One of the biggest automotive benefits outlined by the EU includes €100million (£87million) for emerging sectors, such as electric vehicles and batteries.The basis of the IAA was created by the Draghi Report, which emphasised the threat of Chinese manufacturers to the electric vehicle market.The EU has already taken steps against Chinese companies, accusing them of &quot;unfairly&quot; profiting from competition rules by selling cheaper electric vehicles across the continent.These included a tariff of 17 per cent for BYD, 18.8 per cent for Geely, 35.3 per cent of SAIC, and a 7.8 per cent rate for Tesla&#039;s Shanghai factory.In response, some manufacturers have expressed interest in developing factories and production sites across Europe, with BYD opening facilities in Hungary, and Chery Commercial Vehicles choosing Liverpool as its European hub. 

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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>risks, destruction, £70billion, car, trade, partnership, with, new, rules, threaten, Brexit, agreement</media:keywords>
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<title>Iran fires shots at ships going through Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump threatens to re&#45;start bombing blitz</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-fires-shots-at-ships-going-through-strait-of-hormuz-as-donald-trump-threatens-to-re-start-bombing-blitz</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-fires-shots-at-ships-going-through-strait-of-hormuz-as-donald-trump-threatens-to-re-start-bombing-blitz</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At least two merchant vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz have come under fire.The incident follows Iran&#039;s decision to close the critical shipping lane, with Tehran claiming Washington has failed to honour its commitments under a ceasefire deal.Prior to the closure, multiple ships had begun navigating the strait in the &quot;first major movement&quot; of maritime traffic through the waterway since hostilities began.The UK Maritime Trade Operations has confirmed it logged a reported incident in waters northeast of Oman, near the strait.
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According to the Royal Navy-run organisation, a tanker captain reported that vessels belonging to Iran&#039;s Revolutionary Guard approached his ship before opening fire.Despite the gunfire, both the tanker and its crew are understood to be safe.The incident was recorded by UK Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors shipping activity in the region.Ships were reportedly informed that the key waterway was &quot;completely open&quot; following Donald Trump&#039;s announcement on Friday evening.However, despite hopes that the relationship between Tehran and Washington was improving, the Iranian military said in a statement that the strait had &quot;returned to its previous state&quot; and that Iran&#039;s approval is required to travel through it.The statement from Iran&#039;s Central Military HQ said: &quot;Iran agreed to allow a limited number of ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz according to agreements.&quot;But the US did not fulfil their obligations. So, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again and passage requires IRAN approval.&quot;The passage of water has been effectively closed since the start of America&#039;s attack on February 28.Iran&#039;s top national security body says as long as the enemy applies a naval blockade, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire and will prevent the conditional and limited opening of the Strait of Hormuz.MarineTraffic monitoring showed multiple vessels navigating the passage this morning, including carriers designed for oil, liquefied petroleum gas and chemical cargo.The movement represents the first significant transit of commercial shipping through the strait since hostilities commenced seven weeks ago.Since the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, 23 ships have complied with US forces orders to turn back toward Iran, the US military said.The UK and France have said they will &quot;lead a multinational mission&quot; to protect vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz &quot;as soon as conditions allow&quot;.Speaking from Paris yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer said: &quot;I can confirm that along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow.&quot;This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance.&quot;We invite all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us. Some have already indicated their readiness to contribute.&quot;We will take this forward with a military planning conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Iran, fires, shots, ships, going, through, Strait, Hormuz, Donald, Trump, threatens, re-start, bombing, blitz</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Forgotten&amp;apos; voters want referendum to leave London: &amp;apos;We don&amp;apos;t want wokey stuff in our borough!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/forgotten-voters-want-referendum-to-leave-london-we-dont-want-wokey-stuff-in-our-borough</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/forgotten-voters-want-referendum-to-leave-london-we-dont-want-wokey-stuff-in-our-borough</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Forgotten&quot; voters in a London borough have been promised a referendum should Reform win the May 7 local elections, as locals have blasted Sir Sadiq Khan for giving &quot;grants for all this ‘wokey’ stuff, and we don’t want any of it in our borough.&quot;Stallholders volunteered to display posters bearing the slogan &quot;Vote Reform, Get Starmer Out,&quot; while Union flags flew prominently throughout the market area of Romford.The outer east London borough of Havering, where Romford serves as the principal town, already appears to be fertile ground for Reform&#039;s message as Nigel Farage was met with excited locals. No single party has managed to secure outright control of the council historically, and financial troubles persist despite the Havering Residents Association taking charge four years ago with Labour&#039;s assistance.
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The Reform leader has promised an independence referendum on whether the borough should leave Greater London altogether, if Reform takes charge.Located 14 miles from central London, Romford feels worlds apart from the capital&#039;s inner districts. Residents express deep frustration with worsening local services and claim the Mayor of London has neglected their concerns entirely.&quot;Sixty years on from the 1965 expansion of London, people here still feel they&#039;re part of Essex,&quot; Mr Farage observed following his walkabout. &quot;Somehow, Khan becoming the Mayor has exacerbated all of this.&quot;Local traders point to their struggling town centre, noting fewer market stalls and dwindling customer numbers. They resent substantial payments flowing to City Hall while Metropolitan Police resources concentrate in inner London areas. Romford no longer has its own police station.Butcher Steve Wickenden, displaying a Reform poster at his stall, offered a blunt assessment: &quot;I don&#039;t think anybody likes Sadiq Khan – I don&#039;t even think his own family likes him!&quot;Jen Simmons, visiting from Hornchurch, cited rising crime as her primary concern. &quot;I don&#039;t believe that Sadiq Khan is doing anything,&quot; she said, adding that she previously supported the Conservatives but is now considering backing Reform.Immigration has emerged as a significant factor in local discontent, with some residents suggesting the area feels unfamiliar compared to previous decades.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS‘Always somebody else’s fault!’ Martin Daubney slaps down Labour MP’s defence of Keir Starmer as Peter Mandelson row engulfs Labour‘We have one chance to stop this!’ Brexiteers draw up battle plan to stop Keir Starmer’s EU reset betrayalRachel Reeves blasted by pub landlord for hiking taxes and driving up costs: &#039;They&#039;re not listening!&#039;Steve Parsons, seated on South Street, expressed his alienation from the capital, complaining that authorities &quot;bend over backwards&quot; for Muslim communities while ordinary residents feel overlooked.David Johnson, another former Conservative supporter now backing Reform, identifies more strongly with Essex than London. &quot;If I could quote Mrs Thatcher, there&#039;s nothing wrong with immigration – what&#039;s wrong is mass immigration,&quot; he said, expressing concern that Britain is transforming too rapidly.Andrew Rosindell, the Romford MP who switched from the Conservatives to Reform in January, stands as the principal advocate for Havering&#039;s departure from Greater London.Born and raised locally, he insists the area&#039;s true character remains fundamentally unchanged despite six decades under London governance. &quot;Romford is an Essex market town,&quot; he declared. &quot;It has been since medieval times.&quot;He points to numerous ties binding the borough to its historic county: the local football club competes in Essex leagues, residents use Essex postcodes, and the area falls under the Anglian Regiment&#039;s traditional territory.Mr Rosindell argues that substantial sums currently directed to the Mayor could better serve local needs.He has criticised Sir Sadiq for funding murals bearing &quot;no connection to Romford at all,&quot; saying: &quot;The Mayor of London gives grants for all this ‘wokey’ stuff, and we don’t want any of it in our borough.&quot;Despite Mr Rosindell&#039;s confidence that demographic changes will not undermine support for separation, others remain sceptical about the campaign&#039;s prospects.Tony Travers, a local government specialist at the London School of Economics, suggests migration from inner London to outer boroughs like Havering has gradually altered their character. &quot;They have become more like London boroughs,&quot; he observed.One trader of Punjabi heritage, who declined to meet Mr Farage, views Reform as divisive. &quot;We&#039;re part of Greater London and have been for a long, long time,&quot; he said. &quot;I think all they do is stir up trouble.&quot;Council leader Roy Morgon of the Residents&#039; Association emphasised that Romford sits within the M25, warning that departure could cost over-60s their free travel on the Tube and trains.Prof Travers drew parallels with Brexit: &quot;How do you leave a bloc without losing the advantages? There is a journey to the unknown about this.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Forgotten, voters, want, referendum, leave, London:, We, dont, want, wokey, stuff, our, borough</media:keywords>
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<title>Taxpayers forced to foot £100,000 compensation for Sir Olly Robbins following sacking</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/taxpayers-forced-to-foot-100000-compensation-for-sir-olly-robbins-following-sacking</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/taxpayers-forced-to-foot-100000-compensation-for-sir-olly-robbins-following-sacking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Taxpayers could be required to fund a compensation package worth more than £100,000 for Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over the Lord Mandelson security vetting scandal.Three Whitehall insiders confirmed that the payout, calculated based on his salary, would surpass six figures.Those close to Sir Olly maintain he committed no wrongdoing by not alerting Downing Street to Lord Mandelson&#039;s failed vetting for the Washington ambassadorship.The sacked secretary is scheduled to appear before the foreign affairs committee on Tuesday, where allies say he intends to present his account of events.
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His predecessor Sir Philip Barton received £260,000 upon departing the same role early last year.Professor Ciaran Martin, formerly head of the National Cyber Security Centre and a friend of Sir Olly, has challenged the basis for his dismissal.Speaking on BBC Radio, he stated: &quot;As far as I can tell, from what little we know, there is no abuse of process, there&#039;s no failure of process.&quot;Professor Martin argued that officials were actually prohibited from sharing vetting details, saying: &quot;Not only is there no duty to disclose the details of a vetting case, there is a duty not to disclose them.&quot;His defence stands in stark contrast to the Prime Minister&#039;s reaction in Paris on Friday, where a visibly furious Sir Keir declared: &quot;That I wasn&#039;t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering.&quot;The Prime Minister added that being kept uninformed while telling Parliament due process had been followed was &quot;unforgivable&quot;.The scandal erupted on Thursday when The Guardian revealed that Lord Mandelson had been refused security clearance, only for Foreign Office officials to deploy exceptional powers to overturn the decision.The UK Security Vetting Agency conducted the assessment on behalf of the Foreign Office, which bore responsibility for managing the process as Lord Mandelson&#039;s employer.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer&#039;s two top aides knew Lord Mandelson failed security vetting weeks ago as pressure mounts to resignJohn Major warns not funding defence is &#039;betrayal of our future&#039; in latest blow to Keir StarmerKeir Starmer&#039;s Lord Mandelson scandal proves broken state needs &#039;real outsiders&#039; not grandees holding PM&#039;s ear, says Whitehall whistleblowerDowning Street responded nearly three hours after the story emerged, attributing the decision to disregard the agency&#039;s recommendation to Foreign Office &quot;officials&quot;.By Thursday evening, Sir Olly had departed after Sir Keir and the Foreign Secretary concluded his position was untenable.Sources indicated he was being positioned to shoulder blame for the affair before his exit.Sir Olly reportedly informed friends he would refuse to serve as the &quot;fall guy&quot; for the scandal.Sir Olly&#039;s earlier testimony to the foreign affairs committee is now facing scrutiny, with one committee member accusing him of attempting to &quot;obfuscate the truth&quot;.During a November 3 evidence session, he was questioned whether any element of the vetting process had been &quot;skipped, removed or stripped entirely&quot; and answered: &quot;No&quot;.The same MP told The Telegraph this response &quot;looks like a deliberate attempt to obfuscate the truth&quot;, adding it was implausible Sir Olly would &quot;make a decision as monumental as this unilaterally&quot;.In that appearance, Sir Olly stated it was &quot;clear that the Prime Minister wanted to make this appointment himself&quot; by the time it reached his desk.Documents released in March showed national security adviser Jonathan Powell had described the vetting process as &quot;weirdly rushed&quot;.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Taxpayers, forced, foot, £100, 000, compensation, for, Sir, Olly, Robbins, following, sacking</media:keywords>
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<title>Iran closes Strait of Hormuz after the US &amp;apos;did not fulfil their obligations&amp;apos; just hours after Donald Trump announced key waterway was &amp;apos;completely open&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-closes-strait-of-hormuz-after-the-us-did-not-fulfil-their-obligations-just-hours-after-donald-trump-announced-key-waterway-was-completely-open</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-closes-strait-of-hormuz-after-the-us-did-not-fulfil-their-obligations-just-hours-after-donald-trump-announced-key-waterway-was-completely-open</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Iran&#039;s state broadcaster  IRIB has confirmed Tehran has &quot;now closed&quot; the Strait of Hormuz after they claimed the US &quot;did not fulfill their obligations&quot;.It comes just hours after Donald Trump announced the key waterway was &quot;completely open&quot;.In a statement, the military said that the strait had &quot;returned to its previous state&quot; and requires Iran&#039;s approval to travel through.The passage of water was effectively closed shortly after the start of America&#039;s attack on February 28.
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However, a convoy of oil tankers successfully traversed the Strait of Hormuz this morning, which Iran claims was in accordance with agreements.MarineTraffic monitoring showed multiple vessels navigating the passage, including carriers designed for oil, liquefied petroleum gas and chemical cargo.The movement represents the first significant transit of commercial shipping through the strait since hostilities commenced seven weeks ago.Several ships were observed passing through in both directions at approximately 5am, indicating that the route remained accessible despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the blockade.Donald Trump has insisted the American naval blockade will remain &quot;in full force and effect&quot; until an agreement is reached, rejecting Iran&#039;s conditions for free passage.Speaking aboard Air Force One whilst returning to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona, the US President significantly escalated his rhetoric.Mr Trump told reporters: &quot;Maybe I won&#039;t extend it [the ceasefire], but the blockade is going to remain. So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again.&quot;The President warned that military action would resume if no deal was finalised before the temporary ceasefire expires at 1am on Wednesday.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSUK and France set to lead &#039;multinational mission&#039; to protect peace in Strait of HormuzIran opens Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announces waterway is now &#039;ready for full passage&#039;Israel and Lebanon leaders to hold talks for the first time in 34 years as US eyes up peace talksMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran&#039;s parliament and a central figure in the ongoing peace negotiations, declared the waterway would &quot;not remain open&quot; whilst American forces maintained their blockade of Iranian ports.The senior Iranian official accused President Trump of making seven &quot;false&quot; claims within a single hour, highlighting the deepening rift between the two nations over the terms of any potential agreement.Tehran has said it cannot accept Washington&#039;s position that the blockade will continue until a deal is signed, setting the stage for a potential confrontation as the Wednesday deadline approaches.Iran&#039;s top national security body says as long as the enemy applies a naval blockade, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire and will prevent the conditional and limited opening of the Strait of Hormuz.The conflict has left hundreds of tankers stranded within the Persian Gulf, with the closure triggering sharp increases in oil, fuel and natural gas prices as shipments were choked off and regional producers were forced to reduce output.US Central Command reported that 21 vessels had been compelled to turn back by American naval forces after attempting to exit the Gulf.Iranian media outlets have suggested restrictions may still apply to certain traffic, with the Tasnim news agency reporting that ships and cargo linked to &quot;hostile&quot; nations would be denied passage.The Fars news agency warned the strait would close again if the US blockade continued, characterising it as a ceasefire violation.The UK and France have said they will &quot;lead a multinational mission&quot; to protect vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz &quot;as soon as conditions allow&quot;.Speaking from Paris yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer said: &quot;I can confirm that along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow.&quot;This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance. We invite all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us. Some have already indicated their readiness to contribute.&quot;We will take this forward with a military planning conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:04:23 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s two top aides knew Lord Mandelson failed security vetting weeks ago as pressure mounts to resign</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-two-top-aides-knew-lord-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-weeks-ago-as-pressure-mounts-to-resign</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-two-top-aides-knew-lord-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-weeks-ago-as-pressure-mounts-to-resign</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two of Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s senior civil servants knew Lord Peter Mandelson had failed the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) process weeks ago as Downing Street faces &quot;judgement day&quot; next week.After Sir Olly Robbins was forced out of his job as Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office on Thursday, it has emerged he was not the only civil servant to know the former ambassador to the US had not cleared the vetting process.Sir Keir said he was &quot;furious&quot; to not be told Lord Mandelson had failed to pass his security vetting, with the Government saying he was not aware until earlier this week.But it has emerged Dame Antonia Romeo, the head of the Civil Service, and Catherine Little, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, have both been aware since March, the Guardian reported.
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Dame Antonia was told about Lord Mandelson&#039;s failure to clear security clearance by Ms Little.A government source said Ms Little, the top civil servant in the Cabinet Office - which runs UKSV - was not sitting on the information but attempting to establish the risk of sharing highly sensitive information.Government sources said Ms Little had been in favour of disclosing the outcome of the UKSV process to the public, but officials in the Cabinet Office were divided on how to proceed.Some argued it would be &quot;unprecedented&quot; to disclose the file, as officials also asked the Foreign Office why it had granted him developed vetting clearance against advice.The Cabinet Office also involved lawyers to determine if releasing information could prejudice the Metropolitan Police&#039;s criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson.Up to a dozen officials and lawyers were aware of the vetting failure in the process, it has been suggested.Sir Keir has maintained he did not know of the former US ambassador&#039;s vetting failure until earlier this week.The back and forth on how to proceed will not ease concerns the Government is being run by mandarins rather than ministers.A readout of a Tuesday meeting, published by Downing Street on Friday night, seemed to support the reporting from The Guardian.LORD MANDELSON SCANDAL - LATEST:Keir Starmer fumes over &#039;unforgivable&#039; Lord Mandelson chaos as he flees to France for key summitLord Mandelson scandal proves broken state needs &#039;real outsiders&#039;, says Whitehall whistleblowerKeir Starmer accused of avoiding scrutiny with plot to CANCEL Prime Minister&#039;s QuestionsIt said: &quot;There is some discretion for departments to proceed with clearance and the FCDO had exercised it in this case, granting Mandelson vetting clearance.&quot;Cat [Ms Little] had not seen the audit trail for this decision so we did not yet know on what basis the decision had been taken, contrary to the recommendation.&quot;The PM was not aware of any of this before the meeting, including that it was even possible to grant clearance against the advice of UKSV.&quot;Ciaran Martin, a former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre and friend of Sir Olly said he could not &quot;comprehend the basis of the decision&quot; to fire the former top Foreign Office official.Dame Antonia - the first woman to hold the role of head of the Civil Service - was appointed on 19 February, and would have only been in the role for a few weeks.She is said to have been supportive of the process to determine how move forward conducted by Ms Little.The Prime Minister is now expected to face a &quot;judgement day&quot; next week, with Sir Olly expected to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee as early as next Tuesday.One senior MP told The Guardian they would be &quot;amazed&quot; if Sir Olly &quot;didn&#039;t keep receipts&quot;.The Cabinet Office denied Ms Little had sat on details, with a Government source saying &quot;Cat has been the one doggedly fighting Olly Robbins to get the documents out of his clutches and into the public domain.&quot;This is a laughable attempt to shift blame from the actual person who kept the PM in the dark.&quot;There are cross-party calls for Sir Keir to resign from all leaders of the major opposition parties.A Cabinet Office spokesman said: &quot;As part of the Government&#039;s commitment to comply fully with the Humble Address, the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office requested the vetting summary document.&quot;Once she received this document, the Cabinet Office immediately undertook a series of expedited checks in order to be in a sound position to share the document, or the fact of it.&quot;As soon as these checks were conducted, the Prime Minister was informed.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, two, top, aides, knew, Lord, Mandelson, failed, security, vetting, weeks, ago, pressure, mounts, resign</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump slams Nato: &amp;apos;absolutely useless&amp;apos; as he declares Iran war &amp;apos;almost over&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-slams-nato-absolutely-useless-as-he-declares-iran-war-almost-over</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-slams-nato-absolutely-useless-as-he-declares-iran-war-almost-over</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has slammed Nato as &quot;absolutely useless&quot; in opening the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.The President said the remarks during a speech at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, and was introduced by Erika Kirk.He reiterated the Strait of Hormuz has been opened by Iran, but warned the US naval blockade will remain in place until &quot;transaction with Iran is 100 per cent complete&quot;.Mr Trump said he recently received a phone call from Nato offering support.
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Mr Trump said: &quot;Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is almost over, I received a phone call from Nato asking if we would like some help. Thank you very much Nato.&quot;And I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don&#039;t want your help anymore because they were absolutely useless when we needed them.&quot;Keir Starmer earlier today announced a &quot;multinational mission&quot; to &quot;reassure commercial shipping&quot; and &quot;support mine clearance&quot; in the Strait of Hormuz.The President compared the Nato call to a campaign donor offering to give money after an election is over.Mr Trump said: &quot;After I won, people came up to me, &#039;sir I&#039;d like to make a major contribution to your campaign&#039;, and I said, listen, just so you understand, campaign contributions after I won don&#039;t count.&quot;And Nato, after we won at this encounter, was the same.&quot;He also said Nato &quot;needed&quot; the support of the US, pointing to the large sums the country contributes to the military alliance.The US is the largest contributor to Nato and gave an estimated $980billion, which represents 3.2 per cent of GDP.TRUMP AND NATO - LATEST:Donald Trump confronts Nato chief at White House as he suggests leaving alliance in two-hour meetingBritain&#039;s military collapse exposed by Nato as Keir Starmer&#039;s promise branded &#039;empty gesture&#039;Iran opens Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announces waterway is now &#039;ready for full passage&#039;Members of the organisation have pledged to contribute five per cent of GDP to Nato by 2035, but there have been calls for Britain to invest more in defence expenditure as the war has continued.Nato chief Mark Rutte admitted members of his organisation were slow to support the US during the early stages of the Iran war.&quot;When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow, to say the least,&quot; the Secretary General of Nato said.Oil prices plunged as the Strait of Hormuz was declared open, with prices falling below $90 (£66.55) on Friday, the first time in two weeks.Despite declarations from both Mr Trump and Iran&#039;s foreign minister the critical waterway was open, very few vessels have passed through the strait.Iran has published two &quot;co-ordinated routes&quot; for oil tankers and warned ships not on the designated routes are at risk of hitting mines or being attacked.The President also addressed the upcoming November midterms at the Turning Point USA event, telling the crowd Republicans were &quot;going to win&quot;.He attacked Democrats for wanting to &quot;protect criminal aliens&quot; and said Democrats wanted to &quot;drag America down, destroy our country, put it into crime, poverty and squalor&quot;.Arizona is seen as a swing state in the upcoming elections - with Democrats holding both Senate seats and the governorship -  despite Mr Trump winning the state&#039;s electoral votes in the 2024 election by 5.5 per cent.Mr Trump endorsed Andy Biggs in the upcoming gubernatorial election, who is likely to face incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs, who narrowly defeated former news anchor Kari Lake in 2022.

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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, slams, Nato:, absolutely, useless, declares, Iran, war, almost, over</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour’s biggest union donor cosies up to Nigel Farage in secret meeting</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-biggest-union-donor-cosies-up-to-nigel-farage-in-secret-meeting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-biggest-union-donor-cosies-up-to-nigel-farage-in-secret-meeting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour&#039;s biggest union donor has been spotting cosying up to Nigel Farage in a secret meeting earlier this week.Officials from Unite held their first direct meetings with Reform UK&#039;s top brass, which have been described as &quot;constructive&quot;.The Reform UK leader&#039;s allies have hailed the meeting as a &quot;significant step&quot; towards solving the year-long walkout of Birmingham&#039;s binmen, with the talks focusing on the ongoing dispute over pay.Residents have been up in arms over Europe&#039;s largest council inability to bring the long-running dispute to an end.
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Rubbish-ridden residential streets have attracted rats as big as cats - as well as politicians looking to capitalise on voters&#039; disillusionment with Birmingham City Council in the upcoming local elections. Unite, historically one of Labour&#039;s largest union donors, has defended the demands of the binmen, who initially walked out over pay. The union, led by Sharon Graham, has criticised Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s party for dragging its feet on paying the bin workers.The leading union has now cut its affiliation fee by 40 per cent, reducing funds from £1.45million to £870,000, a move which the union said &quot;shows the anger of Unite members&quot;.Ms Graham suspended working class champion Angela Rayner from the major union over her handling of the crisis, while the union sought to &quot;re-examine their relationship&quot; with the party.Labour, which prides itself on being the voice of the working class, has now been spurned further by Unite - with its top brass being spotted in a &quot;secret meeting&quot; with Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s rival, Nigel Farage.A spokesman for Reform told The Times its &quot;administration in Birmingham will rapidly get round the table with Unite to agree a solution&quot; if they were to win control of the major council when Britons cast their vote in May.Latest polling from More in Common has indicated Mr Farage&#039;s party could come second in the council that has been Labour-run for 14 years.REFORM UK LATEST:Council by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted in dual showdownZia Yusuf lays out Reform crackdown on fraudulent asylum claims: &#039;Absolutely disgusting!&#039;Nigel Farage reveals plan to jail lawyers who help illegal migrants make false gay claimsThe data has suggested Reform UK would win 26 Birmingham councillors on the local authority, while Labour would win 32. The Conservative Party would be pushed into third - and the council is set to have no overall control. Ms Graham, however, did not attend the Reform rendez-vous in Birmingham.Previously, the trade union chief declared she would &quot;talk to the devil himself&quot; if it was necessary to strike a deal for the workers.The party&#039;s spokesman added that, if elected, Reform UK vowed to &quot;resolve the bin strike and end the absurd waste of millions of pounds of agency staff&quot;. They said they would &quot;prioritise more appropriate, stable, permanent jobs that offer better conditions for staff and better value for taxpayers&quot;. A Reform spokesman told The Times: &quot;The council has wasted £34million already on this dispute.&quot;They have argued about the legal risks involved, but while Unite have published their legal advice on equal pay, the council has not produced any evidence or provided documents to back up their arguments.&quot;We call on the council to be transparent and share its legal advice now. This is vital to enable a new Reform UK administration to hit the ground running and get this settled in May.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour’s, biggest, union, donor, cosies, Nigel, Farage, secret, meeting</media:keywords>
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<title>The unprecedented campaign against the church in the world&amp;apos;s oldest Christian nation: &amp;apos;It&amp;apos;s absurd!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/the-unprecedented-campaign-against-the-church-in-the-worlds-oldest-christian-nation-its-absurd</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/the-unprecedented-campaign-against-the-church-in-the-worlds-oldest-christian-nation-its-absurd</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Driving towards the ancient Armenian city of Vagharshapat, it is impossible to miss the snow-capped peaks of Mount Ararat dominating the horizon under a cloud-washed azure. Set against the backdrop of the “Holy Mountain” — where Noah&#039;s Ark is believed to have rested after the Great Flood — lies the rock on which the world&#039;s oldest Christian country was built.The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was constructed in 301 AD, two centuries after two disciples of Jesus — the apostles Jude and Bartholomew — introduced Christianity to the country. Armenia is heralded as the first civilisation on Earth to adopt Christianity as a state religion, and despite the country being ruled for most of its existence by a succession of foreign empires — including Persian, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman and Soviet powers — the Church today stands as a spiritual covenant for Armenia’s three million inhabitants and 10 million-strong diaspora.Walking into the medieval temple of St Gregory the Illuminator — a Unesco World Heritage Site that features a museum displaying liturgical treasures, pearl vestments and a piece of wood from the True Cross — gives you a sense of how devoted the Armenian people are to their faith. Now, 1,700 years after Christianity was woven into the fabric of Armenian society, the Church faces a reckoning — this time from within.Over the past decade, tensions between the Armenian Government and the Church have escalated into a tense stand-off, with officials threatening legal action against Christian ministers and political opponents. At the heart of this crisis lies an unprecedented demand from Armenia’s liberal prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan: a revised ecclesiastical charter to dethrone the Catholicos of All Armenians for the first time in nearly 100 years.
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“Armenia is at a very important crossroads from (a) historical point of view,” says Aram Vardevanyan, a board member of a new opposition party called Strong Armenia. Speaking from the party’s headquarters in the capital Yerevan, Mr Vardevanyan said it was “absurd” how Government officials were treating clergymen, adding: “This is in comparison (to) the president of France or any other country, the society of which is predominantly Catholic, (demanding) the resignation of the Roman Pope.”Shortly after assuming office in 2018, Mr Pashinyan insisted the Government had no right to meddle in the “Church&#039;s internal issues”. The former journalist appeared to change his tune when he removed the Church’s history from Armenia&#039;s national curriculum as part of a broader push for secular education.A major escalation occurred in 2020 following Armenia’s defeat in the 44-day War with Azerbaijan. Three years later, following a lightning offensive by the Azerbaijani military in 2023 — which resulted in 120,000 Armenians fleeing their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave that was governed by ethnic Armenians under the breakaway Republic of Artsakh — the Catholicos, Karekin II, said Mr Pashinyan joined calls from various political factions for the PM to resign.Things came to a head in 2024 when a high-ranking Church figure led the “Tavush for the Homeland” — one of Armenia’s most intense protest movements since the end of the Cold War. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the head of the Diocese of Tavush, urged university students to boycott classes, while citizens were ordered to &quot;engage in peaceful acts of disobedience” over Mr Pashinyan efforts to demarcate the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.Last year, during a landmark meeting hosted by Donald Trump in Washington, Mr Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan&#039;s President, signed a historic agreement aimed at reopening key transit routes and expanding energy trade. Nevertheless, the Church accused Mr Pashinyan of failing to secure the right of return for refugees displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and &quot;revising national narratives&quot; by removing an image of Mount Ararat from its passport stamps to satisfy Turkey, a close ally of Baku. His administration also stated the international recognition of the 1915 Genocide that killed up to 1.5 million people is &quot;not our number one priority&quot;, opting instead to establish economic ties with Ankara.When diplomatic talks were brokered by the White House, the Armenian Government began detaining several priests — including Archbishop Galstanyan — charged with orchestrating what Mr Pashinyan called a “sinister plan&quot; to stage a coup d&#039;état with the help of two former presidents — Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. Meanwhile, Mr Pashinyan ordered bishops to remove any references to the Catholicos and primates from the Divine Liturgy.Growing authoritarianism is not just a problem affecting Armenia’s religious leaders: social media users are continuing to be questioned or purged by police under “online hooliganism” laws to clamp down on dissent. One Armenian native, who spoke to the People’s Channel on the condition of anonymity, commented: “We live in a frightened society where people cannot talk.”A human rights barrister said ordinary Armenians were being sentenced “just for criticising the Government” and branded the charges being pressed on clerics “a mockery against law”. She told Britain’s News Channel: “A lot of this repression started with legitimate criticism of the way Mr Pashinyan handled the conflict and the forced deportations of people in the (Nagorno-Karabakh) region.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Pope Leo&#039;s brother forced to evacuate from home after bomb threatBiblical artwork thought to be the largest textile project in 600 years goes on display in YorkshireVicar swamped with Bible requests after offering to send them out for FREE in viral TikTok clipMr Pashinyan has used various lines of attack to defend his relentless campaign against the Church. He has accused multiple monks of having sexual affairs in breach of their vows of celibacy. Mr Pashinyan then labelled the Church a “national security threat” over its purported financial ties to the Kremlin and members’ alleged ties to the KGB, although he has not provided proof.But Dr Arsen Gasparyan, a former senior adviser to Mr Pashinyan and founding director of the Genesis Armenia think-tank, accused the PM of fuelling a culture of “anger and indifference” by pivoting Armenia towards the West in the ambitious hope of joining the European Union but failing to address issues closer to home, including high rates of poverty. “People are depressed,” he added.The row threatens to divide public opinion even more going into this year’s general election, scheduled for June 7, in what Dr Gasparyan dubbed a “referendum on national survival”. Some analysts predict it could be Armenia’s tightest electoral race since independence was declared in 1991, with Armenian-Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan launching Strong Armenia to take on Mr Pashinyan’s party, Civil Contract.The property and electricity tycoon — who is listed on Forbes’ rich list with an estimated wealth of $4billion (£3billion) and is one of the largest benefactors of the Church — has been plastered on just about every billboard and bus stop in Yerevan. Despite being the face of Strong Armenia, Mr Karapetyan is currently on trial for suspected tax evasion, money laundering and “making public calls for the seizure of power”. Mr Karapetyan denies any wrongdoing and says he is acting “in his own way” to stop Armenian Christians being persecuted by the state. His nephew Narek said Mr Karapetyan was held “in a KGB basement and now he&#039;s under house arrest”, saying of Strong Armenia&#039;s mission: “The idea is to change the leadership in our country to a more democratic one based on national values.”Mr Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia currently polls second behind Mr Pashinyan’s Civil Contract, according to a February ⁠survey by the International Republican Institute. But yesterday, anti-corruption authorities detained a further 14 suspects connected to Strong Armenia on suspicion of electoral bribery, less than two months before voters cast their ballots. It was not immediately clear if all those taken into custody were parliamentary candidates.In an interview with GB News a fortnight before the raid, Mr Vardevanyan said, win or lose, Strong Armenia will continue to defend the Church and campaign for stronger international relations “from the perspective of Armenia&#039;s interests”. He said: “Throughout our history, there were times when we were deprived of our independence (and) sovereignty, and the Armenian Apostolic Church was the anchor (and) protector of Armenian lives.“I believe the government cannot intervene in the actions of the Church, because this is what religious freedom requires… zero tolerance towards the Government&#039;s intervention in the internal affairs of the Church. “We want strong peace, but for that you have to have the political will and the means for ensuring it, and the last few years have shown the ruling party doesn&#039;t have the necessary tools for this.”Earlier this month, Mr Pashinyan published Civil Contract’s draft pre-election programme, which states the ideological basis of his party is one of “Real Armenia” that saw his administration and Azerbaijan drop mutual territorial claims. In spite of Mr Pashinyan’s self-declared achievements, increasing attention is being paid to his pre-emptive catalyst against conservative opposition: “We returned the state to the people,” Mr Pashinyan said. “Now we must return the Church to the people.&quot;The events unfolding in the South Caucasus have not gone unnoticed in the West: the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has urged Mr Pashinyan to stop his “suppression” of the Church, while Human Rights Watch has highlighted “serious human rights concerns” involving activists and journalists in Armenia. The UK Government recently announced it “is monitoring the situation” in Armenia and Reform UK Danny Kruger told The Times: “I can only pray that (Mr) Pashinyan decides to change his mind and reconciles with the Armenian Church.”Defending his actions against the Church, Mr Pashinyan told the European Parliament: “Some clergymen, who cynically violated all the rules of spiritual good conduct, have assumed leadership of the war party. Some are using the altar of Christ to preach conflict, war and intra-Armenian violence — this cannot be tolerated in any democratic country.”Allies of Karekin II told GB News the supreme head has no intention of leaving his pontifical residence because Mr Pashinyan has no jurisdiction over the Church under Armenia’s constitution. One senior bishop told the People’s Channel: “The Catholicos is happy to work with the Government… (but) the only person he fears is Him (God); people have continuously laid their lives for the Church, and so will he.”A spokesman for the Church’s governing Supreme Spiritual Council added. “Emphasising the imperative of respecting and protecting the Church’s rights and autonomy, as well as the principles of justice and democracy, we condemn these arbitrary and discriminatory actions.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, unprecedented, campaign, against, the, church, the, worlds, oldest, Christian, nation:, Its, absurd</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves blasted by pub landlord for hiking taxes and driving up costs: &amp;apos;They&amp;apos;re not listening!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-blasted-by-pub-landlord-for-hiking-taxes-and-driving-up-costs-theyre-not-listening</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-blasted-by-pub-landlord-for-hiking-taxes-and-driving-up-costs-theyre-not-listening</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The head of a major British pub and brewing company has criticised the Government’s economic approach, warning that rising costs and tax changes are placing increasing pressure on businesses.Jonathan Lawson, who leads Butcombe Group and oversees more than 130 pubs, bars and inns across southern England, said planning for the year had already been difficult before global events pushed energy costs higher.He said: &quot;The Government is not listening, and we need to be very clear about this.&quot;Mr Lawson accused ministers had failed to engage with business concerns, particularly around business rates and wider fiscal pressures affecting the sector.
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The financial impact on the company has been significant, with Mr Lawson stating that national insurance increases alongside above-inflation rises in the minimum wage reduced profits by more than £2million last year.He told the BBC: &quot;This year was quite difficult for us to plan already.&quot;Despite reporting a strong performance in the previous year and continuing to invest in operations, he said the cumulative effect of policy changes has created uncertainty.Mr Lawson said: &quot;The rising costs and tax base that this Government and previous governments have inflicted on business and on our sector in particular make it very difficult for us to have confidence around investment and employment growth.&quot;Recent increases to the minimum wage have added further pressure, particularly for younger workers.An 8.5 per cent rise for those aged 18 to 20 has taken hourly pay to £10.85, contributing to a broader increase of 26 per cent since Labour took office as part of plans to align pay with workers aged 21 and above.Concerns have been raised by business leaders that such increases could affect hiring decisions, particularly as youth unemployment has reached its highest level in 11 years.The policy has prompted debate over the balance between improving pay and maintaining employment opportunities for younger workers.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS&#039;He&#039;ll be seething!&#039; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to exploit North Sea oilRachel Reeves slammed for &#039;blocking MoD funding&#039; over a lack of women in the departmentRachel Reeves is increasing taxes faster than any developed country in the worldMr Lawson also dismissed the significance of recent business rates relief, arguing that the savings did not offset wider cost increases.He said: &quot;They have made a big deal out of what in context is a small amount of money for our business.&quot;The Chancellor’s revisions to business rates delivered a saving of £150,000 for the company, which Mr Lawson said was limited in comparison to broader financial pressures.He also questioned the Government’s interpretation of recent economic data, including figures showing 0.5 per cent growth in February.Mr Lawson said: &quot;We are always optimistic. But I think the Government&#039;s narrative at the moment that the latest GDP figures are showing signs that they are doing a good job, I would challenge that.&quot;Expectations that ministers would reform business rates for the hospitality and retail sectors have yet to be met, according to Mr Lawson, who said this continued uncertainty is affecting long-term planning.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, blasted, pub, landlord, for, hiking, taxes, and, driving, costs:, Theyre, not, listening</media:keywords>
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<title>American aircraft carrier erupts in &amp;apos;mystery fire&amp;apos; amid Iran conflict</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/american-aircraft-carrier-erupts-in-mystery-fire-amid-iran-conflict</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/american-aircraft-carrier-erupts-in-mystery-fire-amid-iran-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ America&#039;s largest aircraft carrier has erupted in a &quot;mystery fire&quot; amid the Iran conflict.Three sailors have been injured after a fire broke out on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower  (CVN-69), the US&#039;s largest aircraft carrier, whilst docked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. A small fire broke out on board the vessel, a Navy spokesman has said, with the sailors being treated by medical teams, but have since returned to full duty. They said, speaking to USNI News: &quot;On April 14, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower experienced a small fire that was immediately contained and extinguished by ship&#039;s force and Norfolk Navy Shipyard personnel, who responded swiftly as trained. 
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&quot;Three Sailors were treated by ship&#039;s medical and returned to full duty.&quot;They also confirmed that there was no damage to the &quot;ship&#039;s propulsion plant&quot;, concluding the vessel &quot;remains fully operational&quot;, the Express reports.The vessel has been docked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for 16 months. Located in Portsmouth, Virginia, the shipyard is the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the US Navy as well as the most advanced. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1977. It is the second of ten Nimitz-class vessels in service and has been deployed in the Gulf War in the 1990s and in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. This is not the first reported fire onboard an American aircraft carrier since the Iran war broke out, with another one occurring on the USS Gerald Ford, which has been deployed in the Middle East.The fire was non-combat related, the US military confirmed, with it occurring in the vessel&#039;s laundry area.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSGreens plan to spend more on foreign aid than on defence in what rivals brand &#039;complete fantasy&#039;Britain and US ramp up drills to counter ‘devastating’ Russian nuclear space threatKeir Starmer hits back at ex-Nato chief after attack on Labour&#039;s defence plansThe USS Gerald Ford broke a 50-year record today, surpassing 297 days at the sea - the longest deployment of any US Navy aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. The milestone exceeds the USS Abraham Lincoln&#039;s 294-day deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which had previously held the record.What began as a normal routine of a European and Mediterranean rotation, evolved into a multi-theatre operation for the vessel, spanning three separate deployments. The carrier departed its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on 24 June 2025, initially participating in Nato exercises.By autumn 2025, the ship was redirected to the Caribbean as the US military began a significant buildup amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.The Ford&#039;s crew had expected to return home by late December 2025, but the deployment was extended to support a special US operation in early January 2026 that resulted in the extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.In February 2026, the Pentagon ordered a major military buildup in the Middle East, and the Ford was redirected once again — this time to the Central Command area of responsibility, where it joined the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region.The US vessel&#039;s record is a stark contrast in comparison to the UK&#039;s HMS Dragon&#039;s performance, with the frigate taking three weeks to reach the eastern Mediterranean from deployment. The ship remained at Portsmouth harbour for over a week, as necessary preparations needed to be carried. After departing on March 10, the Type 45 destroyer loitered in the English Channel for three days.Reports came in that it had only reached Gibraltar on March 17.Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the frigate arrived at the Cypriot coast on March 23, to which it is still located. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>American, aircraft, carrier, erupts, mystery, fire, amid, Iran, conflict</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Always somebody else’s fault!’ Martin Daubney slaps down Labour MP’s defence of Keir Starmer as Peter Mandelson row engulfs Labour</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/always-somebody-elses-fault-martin-daubney-slaps-down-labour-mps-defence-of-keir-starmer-as-peter-mandelson-row-engulfs-labour</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/always-somebody-elses-fault-martin-daubney-slaps-down-labour-mps-defence-of-keir-starmer-as-peter-mandelson-row-engulfs-labour</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ GB News host Martin Daubney has shut down a Labour MP&#039;s defence of Sir Keir Starmer in a fiery row over the latest revelation in the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.Speaking to the People&#039;s Channel, David Pinto-Duschinsky accused Martin of &quot;conflating&quot; the situation, declaring the Prime Minister is a &quot;good man&quot; who has been &quot;fundamentally let down&quot;.As Martin argued that Sir Keir &quot;needs to go&quot;, Mr Pinto-Duschinsky was quick to disagree, dismissing Martin&#039;s remark.He hit back: &quot;This is just ridiculous. Keir Starmer is angry and he&#039;s right to be angry. He is a good man who I trust, who has been fundamentally let down.
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&quot;Keir is right to be angry, but this is not a failure of him at all, this is a state failure and a bureaucratic failure that has let down a good man. We&#039;re right to be angry, and we&#039;re absolutely committed to transparency. But the idea that this is an attack on Keir is simply for the birds.&quot;The Labour MP defended Sir Keir further, launching criticism at Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage: &quot;When I talk to my colleagues around the Labour Party, what they all tell me is that especially at this time, we have seen over the last month Keir show extraordinary leadership. &quot;We have kept out of a war that Nigel Farage that Kemi Badenoch would have dragged us into.&quot;Interjecting Mr Pinto-Duschinsky, Martin urged him to stick to &quot;defending his own boss&quot; and not swiping at other leaders.Martin made clear: &quot;David, I really don&#039;t think today&#039;s the day where you&#039;re really allowed, to be frank, to be attacking Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch. Let&#039;s stick to the point. You need to defend your own boss here. This just doesn&#039;t pass the sniff test, mate.&quot;Mr Pinto-Duschinsky argued: &quot;With the deepest respect, I think that is a very misleading way to approach it. Vetting is a separate process, and Olly Robbins actually wrote to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. &quot;In his letter, he said the process is also independent of ministers who are not informed of any of the findings other than the final outcome.&quot;Martin then interjected, stating: &quot;Exactly, the final outcome! You&#039;ve been hung by your own petard, David. He failed the vetting process and so they should have been told.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWATCH: Kemi Badenoch calls on Keir Starmer to resign over Peter Mandelson scandalKeir Starmer handed bleak leadership verdict by Labour MP amid Peter Mandelson scandal: &#039;Inevitable&#039;Lib Dem MP calls for Keir Starmer to face parliamentary probe over Peter Mandelson scandal&quot;It&#039;s inconceivable that an appointment of this magnitude simply wasn&#039;t put under the Prime Minister&#039;s nose. It sounds like a fantasy.&quot;The Labour MP furiously accused Martin of &quot;intentionally conflating&quot; the situation.He responded: &quot;The point is it is the department&#039;s decision, and it is an outrageous situation that we aren&#039;t told these things, but it is for the department and the department alone. They are not actually allowed in the current process to tell ministers of any issue. &quot;They simply say whether someone has passed in their opinion or failed, it is that simple. And so the Prime Minister is right to be angry, he has been let down. He is going to come to Parliament on on Monday to show complete transparency. &quot;But this is fundamentally not a failure of the Prime Minister, this is a failure of state processes that have been in place for many, many years.&quot;Martin then argued that when it comes to Labour scandals it is &quot;always somebody else&#039;s fault&quot; and not the Prime Minister&#039;s.He told Mr : &quot;It was Morgan McSweeney&#039;s fault, nobody knew about Louise Haigh when she had a fraud claim, nobody knew that Rachel Reeves had massaged her CV. Nobody knows anything until it all comes out in the wash. Your prime minister spends more time in the door than Count Dracula.&quot;Mr Pinto-Duschinsky hit back: &quot;No, that&#039;s not true at all, he&#039;s someone who is showing real leadership. And the contrast between him and the transparency he&#039;s shown and the leadership he&#039;s shown to previous prime ministers, there is a real difference. &quot;But look Keir Starmer has said all along that he is sorry he appointed Peter Mandelson. We are committed to transparency and that&#039;s what you will continue to see from this Government.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Always, somebody, else’s, fault’, Martin, Daubney, slaps, down, Labour, MP’s, defence, Keir, Starmer, Peter, Mandelson, row, engulfs, Labour</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s Lord Mandelson scandal proves broken state needs &amp;apos;real outsiders&amp;apos; not grandees holding PM&amp;apos;s ear, says Whitehall whistleblower</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-lord-mandelson-scandal-proves-broken-state-needs-real-outsiders-not-grandees-holding-pms-ear-says-whitehall-whistleblower</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-lord-mandelson-scandal-proves-broken-state-needs-real-outsiders-not-grandees-holding-pms-ear-says-whitehall-whistleblower</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s Lord Mandelson vetting scandal proves the British state does not need any more Westminster skulkers who hold the ear of the Prime Minister, a former diplomat has told GB News.Ameer Kotecha, who resigned from the Foreign Office following Sir Keir&#039;s &quot;craven surrender&quot; of the Chagos Islands, instead called for Whitehall to welcome genuine &quot;outsiders&quot;.The 34-year-old pointed out the Prime Minister and his then-No10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had been determined to secure Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as the UK&#039;s Ambassador to the US.Speaking to GB News, Mr Kotecha said: “We need more outsiders to come into Government, people of integrity and calibre, rather than people who have been skulking around Westminster for decades like Lord Mandelson. Besides, he is hardly some sort of Henry Kissinger when it comes to diplomacy.
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&quot;He got the ambassadorship less out of talent than because he’s been in Westminster long enough to have had the ear of those in No10 and was able to convince them to give him the coveted role.&quot;Mr Kotecha, who now serves as CEO of the Centre for Government Reform, also argued the scandal yet again exposes &quot;dysfunction&quot; at the heart of Whitehall.“What this shows is that the whole system is unfit for purpose,” he said.“You’ve got a person with all sorts of skeletons in their closet to the extent that they can’t pass vetting, and you’re not even allowed to inform the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary about that.”Lord Mandelson’s was appointed as UK Ambassador to the US in December 2024.The New Labour grandee, who was known as the “Prince of Darkness”, failed vetting on January 28, 2025.The Foreign Office appeared to overrule the UK Security Vetting’s decision just two days later.Lord Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has caused constant headaches for the Prime Minister.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSEd Miliband warns delays to Net Zero plans are &#039;not acceptable&#039; as wind and solar projects falterWATCH: Kemi Badenoch calls on Keir Starmer to resign over Peter Mandelson scandalUK and France set to lead &#039;multinational mission&#039; to protect peace in Strait of HormuzMorgan McSweeney, Sir Keir’s former chief of staff, resigned in February due to his professional relationship with Lord Mandelson.A bombshell dossier on Lord Mandelson’s appointment heaped yet more pressure on Downing Street last month.However, Sir Keir wielded the axe against the Foreign Office&#039;s top mandarin last night.Sir Olly Robbins, who was appointed as the department&#039;s permanent under-secretary just two weeks before the Foreign Office overruled the initial security vetting checks, lost the confidence of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.He recently admitted the Prime Minister was determined to make Lord Mandelson the UK&#039;s man in Washington.Addressing MPs in November, Sir Olly said: “By the time we are describing, it was clear that the Prime Minister wanted to make this appointment himself.“Therefore, I understand, the FCDO was informed of his decision and acted on it, and, via the Foreign Secretary, sought and obtained the King’s approval for the appointment.“In this case, as Chris explained, the Prime Minister took advice and formed a view himself, and we then acted on that view.”Mr Kotecha said the affair had revealed “the total dysfunction of Whitehall and the machine”, warning that ministers were being left in the dark on critical issues.“Ministers, ultimately, are the ones who need to carry the political risk and ministers, ultimately, are the boss,” he said.“We can’t have a situation where ministers are being kept in the dark about key matters, including national security - if that is what happened.”The 34-year-old also suggested Downing Street may have been wilfully incurious about potential problems, despite the recent dossier describing Lord Mandelson’s appointment as carrying “reputational risk”.“Starmer should not be let off the hook - as one does get the strong impression that he or No10 didn’t want to know about concerns; they were more focused on getting Mandelson into that job,” Mr Kotecha said.Calling for sweeping reform, Mr Kotecha added: “We need more professional rigour in the machine. There is an amateurism at the moment in the way the government operates.“It’s hard to imagine that this sort of thing would happen in a private sector company dealing with this sort of classified information.”

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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Ed Miliband warns delays to Net Zero plans are &amp;apos;not acceptable&amp;apos; as wind, solar and battery projects falter</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-warns-delays-to-net-zero-plans-are-not-acceptable-as-wind-solar-and-battery-projects-falter</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ed-miliband-warns-delays-to-net-zero-plans-are-not-acceptable-as-wind-solar-and-battery-projects-falter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ed Miliband has issued a stern rebuke to Labour officials, declaring that setbacks to Britain’s Net Zero ambitions will not be tolerated.The Energy Secretary’s intervention comes as renewable energy schemes face mounting difficulties securing connections to the national grid.Michael Shanks, serving as Mr Miliband’s principal deputy at the department, has directed criticism at the National Energy System Operator over growing delays linked to inaccurate data and planning complications.In correspondence addressed to civil servants, Mr Shanks and Ofgem stated: &quot;We have been clear that further slippage is not acceptable and have set expectations for a firm, coordinated response.&quot;
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The energy minister has demanded that Neso produce regular progress updates, enabling industry stakeholders to monitor improvements to the system.Tensions have escalated following Neso’s decision in January to impose a temporary moratorium on fresh grid connection applications, citing an overwhelming backlog of requests.Substantial additions of wind, solar and battery capacity remain essential if Britain is to achieve Mr Miliband’s objective of generating 95 per cent clean electricity by 2030.The Government-controlled body took over responsibility for connections when it was separated from National Grid two years ago.Meanwhile, the conflict in Iran has driven up oil and gas prices, pushing petrol costs and household energy bills higher.Mr Miliband has argued that the Middle Eastern turmoil strengthens the case for accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, cautioned that the rush to connect large volumes of renewable generation would impose significant costs on households.&quot;If we keep dashing towards renewables before the grid is ready, then we will just keep paying more to switch off wind and solar that can&#039;t get to the right place with an £8billion a year price tag because of Ed&#039;s botched plans.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS&#039;He&#039;ll be seething!&#039; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to exploit North Sea oilConfederation of British Industry chief demands Labour &#039;drill, baby, drill&#039; in North SeaNorth Sea energy firm faces closure putting 100 jobs at risk as Net Zero plans shun drillingMs Coutinho added that the grid infrastructure required for renewables would be &quot;two to three times more than other systems&quot; and would ultimately &quot;land on people&#039;s bills.&quot;Ministers introduced reforms last year designed to prioritise projects nearing completion within the grid connection queue.Mr Miliband’s clean power action plan, released in December 2024, described these changes as &quot;critical&quot; to Labour’s 2030 mission, warning that essential projects would otherwise face delays.According to Mr Shanks, the restructuring has removed 221 gigawatts of stalled or redundant schemes from the waiting list.Nevertheless, battery storage projects continue to create bottlenecks, with planned capacity exceeding actual requirements.The difficulties are not new, with Octopus chief executive Greg Jackson revealing in 2024 that a County Durham solar farm faced a 13-year wait for connection, prompting the company to consider overseas investment instead.

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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:10:59 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Miliband, warns, delays, Net, Zero, plans, are, not, acceptable, wind, solar, and, battery, projects, falter</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump&amp;apos;s War Secretary Pete Hegseth quotes fake bible verse from Pulp Fiction</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-war-secretary-pete-hegseth-quotes-fake-bible-verse-from-pulp-fiction</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-war-secretary-pete-hegseth-quotes-fake-bible-verse-from-pulp-fiction</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth mistakenly quoted Quentin Tarantino&#039;s Pulp Fiction instead of the Bible during a military prayer at a Pentagon service on Wednesday.The prayer, known as CSAR 25:17, takes its name from the biblical reference Ezekiel 25:17, and echoes the famous monologue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson&#039;s character before he shoots another man in the 1994 crime film.Mr Hegseth recited the adapted prayer during a service at the Department of War, revealing it had been used by air rescue personnel during a recent combat mission to retrieve an American pilot from hostile territory.The prayer was recited during the rescue operation for a US F-15E fighter jet pilot, who was shot down in Iran earlier this month.
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He told the assembly: &quot;So the prayer is CSAR 25:17 and it reads, and pray with me please, &#039;The path of the downed aviator is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. &quot;Blessed is he who in the name of camaraderie and duty shepherds the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother&#039;s keeper and the finder of lost children.&quot;He concluded with a vow of retribution against anyone attempting to capture the downed airman, invoking the call sign Sandy 1.Videos of Mr Hegseth reading the prayer spread across social media on Thursday, with many mistakenly believing the War Secretary had made a blunder, intending to quote a genuine scripture.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell hit back at the mockery in a statement posted on X.He wrote: &quot;Secretary Hegseth on Wednesday shared a custom prayer, referenced as the CSAR prayer, used by the brave warfighters of Sandy-1 who led the daylight rescue mission of Dude 44 Alpha out of Iran, which was obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction.&quot;He dismissed suggestions Mr Hegseth had misquoted Ezekiel 25:17 as &quot;fake news,&quot; insisting critics were &quot;ignorant of reality&quot;.The actual verse from Ezekiel 25:17 reads: &quot;And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS&#039;Furious&#039; Keir Starmer sacks Foreign Office chief over Lord Mandelson vetting scandalIsrael violates ceasefire with Lebanon just hours after Donald Trump announced truce, Beirut claims&#039;He&#039;ll be seething!&#039; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to exploit North Sea oil“There’s a passage I got memorised, seems appropriate for this situation: Ezekiel 25:17,” Samuel L Jackson said, before killing another character in the film.The Secretary for War has attracted criticism for frequently incorporating Christian themes into his media briefings and for establishing monthly prayer services at the Pentagon.Former White House strategist Steve Bannon weighed in, counselling the War Secretary to dial back religious references when discussing the Iran conflict.He argued such elements draw attention away from the operational information being presented by military commanders.The Bible passage was noted as a condemnation of Philistines and the Cherethites, historic enemies of the Israelites, dating to the fifth century BC. The Old Testament book in which it appears, focuses on a demonstrative prophet of the name Ezekiel, who engages in street theater to attract the attention of crowds to deliver his message.In Thursday&#039;s press briefing, Mr Hegseth likened the media to Pharisees, a New Testament-era group often in conflict with Jesus Christ and his teachings.

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trumps, War, Secretary, Pete, Hegseth, quotes, fake, bible, verse, from, Pulp, Fiction</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour updates EV forecasts for 2030 as petrol and diesel drivers dominate &amp;apos;longer than expected&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-updates-ev-forecasts-for-2030-as-petrol-and-diesel-drivers-dominate-longer-than-expected</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-updates-ev-forecasts-for-2030-as-petrol-and-diesel-drivers-dominate-longer-than-expected</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour&#039;s flagship electric car plans, which would see petrol and diesel cars phased out by 2030, have faced mounting pressure after new data suggested the transition to EVs will be slower than previously expected.Updated modelling from the Department for Transport showed while electric vehicles are still set to dominate in the long term, their uptake over the next decade is expected to fall short of earlier predictions. Electric cars are now expected to account for 29.6 per cent of total vehicle kilometres by 2030, while Light Goods Vehicles are expected to reach around 21 per cent.  The department said the changes reflect updated evidence and policy assumptions, stating the revisions are based on &quot;new historic data&quot; and &quot;updated modelling for the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate&quot;.
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The revision means electric driving is now expected to be roughly four percentage points lower for cars and just over four percentage points lower for vans in 2030 compared with previous forecasts. Officials explained the change has been largely driven by updated rules on how carmakers can meet emissions targets and new evidence on how plug-in hybrid vehicles are actually used in real life. Changes to the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 have given manufacturers more flexibility in how they comply with the UK&#039;s ZEV mandate.  These changes allow companies to borrow credits from future years, trade allowances between firms and use surplus emissions credits to meet their obligations.As a result, manufacturers are now expected to rely more heavily on plug-in hybrid vehicles in the short term. The ZEV mandate still requires 80 per cent of new car sales and 70 per cent of new van sales to be zero emission by 2030, but the way firms meet those targets has become more flexible. This increased use of hybrids affects overall electric mileage because plug-in hybrids do not drive as much of their distance in electric mode as previously assumed. The department said &quot;PHEVs complete a smaller proportion of their journeys in electric mode than previously assumed&quot;, meaning less of their total mileage is now counted as electric driving. This has led to a reduction in expected electric vehicle kilometres, particularly in the early years of the forecast period. The updated modelling described the overall effect as a short-term reduction in electric driving, rather than a long-term shift away from electrification.Despite the downgrade in the near term, the gap between the old and new forecasts is expected to narrow over time. By 2050, the difference between projections is expected to fall to less than two percentage points for both cars and vans.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSMotorhome and campervan bans spark major backlash as &#039;knee-jerk&#039; rules impact tourismUninsured driving cases surge as police seize thousands of vehicles and issue £300 finesMajor car brand vows to keep &#039;consistent&#039; production at UK factory despite axing 550 jobsThe department also stressed that the overall impact on petrol and diesel use remains limited. It states that &quot;the resulting increase in petrol and diesel vkm is small in scale and does not significantly alter long-term trends&quot;. In other words, while fossil fuel use is slightly higher in the short term, the long-term direction of travel remains largely unchanged. But the DfT did state that the forecasts remain consistent with the Government&#039;s wider energy and emissions planning assumptions, which include existing policies such as the ZEV mandate.  Alongside changes in vehicle usage, the update also revises expectations for fuel efficiency across different types of vehicles.Petrol cars are now expected to become slightly more efficient over time, although the improvement is described as modest. Diesel cars, however, are expected to become less efficient as newer models tend to be larger and heavier than older ones. The department noted this trend becomes more pronounced from the 2040s onwards, as less efficient diesel vehicles make up a greater share of the remaining fleet. For Light Goods Vehicles, changes are relatively small. Petrol vans are expected to improve in efficiency more slowly than previously forecast, while diesel van efficiency remains broadly unchanged. Overall, the updated figures suggest a slower early transition to electric driving, driven by both policy flexibility and real-world usage patterns. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, updates, forecasts, for, 2030, petrol, and, diesel, drivers, dominate, longer, than, expected</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s premiership now hangs in the balance due to a dangerous cumulative effect &#45; Christopher Hope</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-premiership-now-hangs-in-the-balance-due-to-a-dangerous-cumulative-effect-christopher-hope</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-premiership-now-hangs-in-the-balance-due-to-a-dangerous-cumulative-effect-christopher-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Prime Minister heads into one of the most important weekends of his premiership, ahead of a week when he must convince MPs he did not mislead them about what he knew about the security vetting of Peter Mandelson. Is it credible or even plausible that he only found out this week that he did not know Mandelson had failed the Government&#039;s security checks - a decision which was overruled by officials in the Foreign Office in January last year. Helpfully for the PM, Mandelson&#039;s friends insist he also had no idea. This matters because Sir Keir Starmer told MPs last September that &quot;due process&quot; was followed. Will this stand up to scrutiny in the House of Commons? His future hangs on it, according to his own ministerial code, which he signed off on. It says: &quot;Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister.&quot;Elsewhere, the Government has begun to look not just divided, but adrift: a group of competing voices without a clear sense of direction. Over the past month, this impression has hardened that Britain is being steered in the wrong direction by an ever-increasingly out-of-touch Prime Minister. Consider this chain of events. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy flies to Washington, D.C. for a last-minute meeting with Vice President JD Vance, a visit that might usually signal constructive talks with Britain’s most important ally, the United States. All the while, Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, is left twiddling her thumbs, hardly a sign of a well-run operation. Then comes the big shock. Days later, Mr Lammy states that a prisoner was released in error every two days over the past 12 months, the sort of announcement that sends a shiver up the spine of most law-abiding members of the community, hardly a sign of being tough on crime on the domestic front. More like calamity, Lammy. At the same time, across the pond, Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticised the US administration.Speaking to CNBC, she said: “I’m not convinced this conflict has made the world a safer place”, and in an interview with The Mirror, she took direct aim at President Trump, saying: “I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan.”Elsewhere, the Government has begun to look not just divided, but adrift: a group of competing voices without a clear sense of direction. Over the past month, this impression has hardened that Britain is being steered in the wrong direction by an ever-increasingly out-of-touch Prime Minister. Consider this chain of events. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy flies to Washington, D.C. for a last-minute meeting with Vice President JD Vance, a visit that might usually signal constructive talks with Britain’s most important ally, the United States. All the while, Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, is left twiddling her thumbs, hardly a sign of a well-run operation. Then comes the big shock. Days later, Mr Lammy states that a prisoner was released in error every two days over the past 12 months, the sort of announcement that sends a shiver up the spine of most law-abiding members of the community, hardly a sign of being tough on crime on the domestic front.More like calamity, Lammy. At the same time, across the pond, Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticised the US administration. Speaking to CNBC, she said: “I’m not convinced this conflict has made the world a safer place”, and in an interview with The Mirror, she took direct aim at President Trump, saying: “I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan.”This language may play well with her party&#039;s soft left base, but it sits uncomfortably against the Government line that its special relationship with the United States is still strong. More like on the rocks. Diplomacy, in the end, is as much about the mood music as it is about substance. Mixed messages, as in any relationship, personal or diplomatic, rarely end well.Back on the home front, criticism is ratcheting up from within. Lord Robertson, an ex-Labour defence secretary, has attacked Sir Keir Starmer for his failure to concentrate on keeping the country safe, accusing him of “corrosive complacency”. The former NATO Secretary General was also critical of what he has seen as splurging more taxpayer money on benefits, saying: “The cold reality of today’s dangerous world is that we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.” Whether voters agree with this view or not, it demonstrates a far deeper issue: the feeling that this government is reactive, and not agenda-setting. For now, the UK’s attitude looks strangely passive. On the global stage, members of the Cabinet talk about stability, peace, and cooperation, all admirable goals in themselves. The Prime Minister’s arrival in Paris on Friday for a summit with France&#039;s president Emmanuel Macron, designed to open up the Strait of Hormuz, is framed in exactly this way. But a government unable to maintain consistent messaging in Washington will find it difficult to convince others that there’s a clear strategy to deal with anything, especially with this President. Successful governments debate the issues behind closed doors and present a united front to voters. What we are seeing with this Labour government is a series of badly timed, badly thought-out interventions, each one different from the other, each showing a more divided Cabinet. The danger for the Prime Minister is the cumulative effect. On their own, they are mere flesh wounds; collectively, it’s death by a thousand cuts. Critics will argue that the foundation of Starmer’s premiership is cracking: a leader unable to control his troops or simply choosing not to. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, premiership, now, hangs, the, balance, due, dangerous, cumulative, effect, Christopher, Hope</media:keywords>
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<title>Sharron Davies launches furious tirade on Bridget Phillipson over failure to implement Supreme Court ruling: &amp;apos;Utter disgrace!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/sharron-davies-launches-furious-tirade-on-bridget-phillipson-over-failure-to-implement-supreme-court-ruling-utter-disgrace</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/sharron-davies-launches-furious-tirade-on-bridget-phillipson-over-failure-to-implement-supreme-court-ruling-utter-disgrace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has launched a scathing attack on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, accusing her of failing to act on the Supreme Court&#039;s landmark ruling regarding women&#039;s rights.Speaking to GB News, Ms Davies expressed her frustration that 12 months have passed since the court&#039;s decision, which confirmed that the Equality Act was founded on biological sex rather than gender identity.&quot;Bridget Phillipson has been an utter disgrace,&quot; she declared, condemning the minister for allowing guidance to languish on her desk without action.The ruling, delivered a year ago, did not establish new legislation but instead clarified the existing legal framework.
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Ms Davies voiced her profound disappointment at the Government&#039;s continued inaction, noting that ministers repeatedly promise to implement the law yet fail to follow through.&quot;We constantly get told that they are going to implement the law and you&#039;d like to think, when we have a Prime Minister who&#039;s supposed to be a lawyer, that he would actually really value the law.&quot;But it seems as if he only seems to value international law, not British law,&quot; she said.The former athlete expressed particular dismay given Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s legal background, suggesting his professional experience should have made him a champion of domestic legislation.Ms Davies recounted how women found their rights stripped away without any consultation or opportunity to provide input on the changes affecting them.&quot;We would turn around and all of a sudden we&#039;ve got men in our sports and we&#039;ve got men in our changing rooms, and we just had no say about it, and any woman that came out and spoke was ostracised and canceled, and their life was made absolutely hell,&quot; she explained.The Olympian emphasised that prior to the Supreme Court&#039;s intervention, what had been treated as law was effectively &quot;Stonewall law&quot; rather than genuine UK legislation.The court&#039;s ruling simply reaffirmed what the legal position had always been.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSTrans woman appointed as endometriosis charity representative steps down after backlashTrans ruling ignored by hundreds of taxpayer-funded bodies as PM told &#039;end this madness&#039;Labour delays trans guidance until after elections as pressure mounts on Bridget PhillipsonMs Davies condemned the Education Secretary for allowing the guidance to remain untouched for an extended period, despite Ms Phillipson herself acknowledging that the law is already in place.&quot;She herself has said the law is in place and it doesn&#039;t change the law, so get the guidance out, and she&#039;s come up with ridiculous excuses,&quot; she stated.The former swimmer dismissed justifications centred on risk assessments and cost evaluations as inadequate, pointing out that no such assessments were conducted when policies were initially changed.&quot;Stupid excuses constantly, and now they can&#039;t put it on the table because we&#039;ve got an election coming up,&quot; she added, accusing the government of perpetually delaying action.Following the Supreme Court&#039;s ruling last year, the Equality and Human Rights Commission&#039;s updated guidance was sent directly to Ms Phillipson, placing responsibility for its release squarely with her department.The current EHRC chair, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, confirmed that her organisation had revised portions of the guidance following ministerial feedback and returned an amended draft to Ms Phillipson in April.Ms Phillipson has said of the guidance: &quot;The code will apply across Great Britain and, as we are currently in the pre-election period for the devolved administrations, we are unable to make further announcements on this matter at this time.&quot;The Education Secretary insisted the Government was pursuing &quot;urgent action&quot; to meet its goal of presenting the code to Parliament in May, pledging to do so &quot;as soon as practicable after the election period&quot;.

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Sharron, Davies, launches, furious, tirade, Bridget, Phillipson, over, failure, implement, Supreme, Court, ruling:, Utter, disgrace</media:keywords>
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<title>Israel violates ceasefire with Lebanon just hours after Donald Trump announced truce, Beirut claims</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-violates-ceasefire-with-lebanon-just-hours-after-donald-trump-announced-truce-beirut-claims</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-violates-ceasefire-with-lebanon-just-hours-after-donald-trump-announced-truce-beirut-claims</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Israel has already violated the ceasefire with Lebanon just hours after the White House announced a truce, Beirut officials have claimed.The official Lebanese news service reported Israeli machine gunfire at an ambulance belonging to the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority in the southern Lebanese town of Kounin.There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which had said earlier that its forces remained deployed in the area, in what a spokesman said was in response to continued Hezbollah militant activity.Hezbollah released a lengthy statement on its military operations against Israel throughout Thursday, which listed its last attack as being 10 minutes before the ceasefire took effect.
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Conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group in Lebanon was reignited by the US-Israeli war with Iran. Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon that authorities say has killed 2,000 people, 15 months after their last major conflict.Celebratory gunfire rang out across parts of Beirut as the clock struck midnight on Thursday to mark the start of the truce and witnesses heard explosions from rockets fired in celebration, prompting a safety warning and threat of arrests from the Lebanese Army.The truce was &quot;essential, urgently needed and a demand shared by all,&quot; senior Hezbollah official Bilal Lakkiss told NBC News ahead of the start of the ceasefire, but said the group would not comply with Israel’s demand that it disarm &quot;except within a framework tied to a broader national security vision&quot;.In Qasmiyeh in south Lebanon, cars were driving across a makeshift crossing over the Litani River, hastily erected after the ceasefire came into effect. Israel destroyed all the bridges over the Litani during the war, blowing up the one at Qasmiyeh on Thursday. Ali Hamza, who had just visited his house in the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh, said: &quot;I inspected my home and praise God the building is still standing.&quot;But he said &quot;people are scared to come and live, and it is impossible to live in these circumstances, and with these smells. A full return is difficult now, despite the hardship of displacement&quot;.In the largely destroyed southern city of Nabatieh, some returning residents defiantly said they would stay. Others said there was nothing to come back to.Fadel Badreddine, who came with his young son and wife, said: &quot;There&#039;s destruction and it&#039;s unliveable. Unliveable. We’re taking our things and leaving again. &quot;May God grant us relief and end this whole thing permanently, not temporarily, so we can return to our homes and lands.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE MIDDLE EASTBiblical plague of bees swarm Israel as locals warned to stay indoorsDonald Trump brokers 10-day Israeli-Lebanon ceasefire with deal set to begin in hours after historic talksIsrael and Lebanon leaders to hold talks for the first time in 34 years as Donald Trump tries to &#039;get a little breathing room&#039;Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he was confident that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire.He told reporters outside the White House: &quot;We&#039;re going to see what happens. But I think we&#039;re very close to making a deal with Iran.&quot; However, just hours later in Las Vegas, the US President went on to say the war &quot;should be ending pretty soon&quot;.A Pakistani source involved in mediating between the US and Iran said there was progress in backdoor diplomacy and that an upcoming meeting between the two sides could result in the signing of an agreement.In a post on social media, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Shari Sharif said  he was optimistic the ceasefire “will pave the way for sustainable peace&quot; adding: &quot;Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and will continue to support all efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region.&quot;Later today, France and Britain will chair a meeting on Friday of around 40 countries, with Sir Keir Starmer expected to say reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a &quot;global responsibility&quot;.Iran has largely closed the strait to ships other than its own since the start of US-Israeli air strikes on February 28. On Monday, Washington imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.President Trump has called on other countries to help enforce the blockade and has slammed Nato allies for not doing so.Britain, France and others say joining the blockade would amount to entering the war, but they have said they would be willing to help keep the strait open once there is a lasting ceasefire or the conflict ends.During a trip to Washington this week Chancellor Rachel Reeves said a &quot;swift and lasting&quot; end to the conflict was the best way to get prices down for the UK public and insisted she is continuing to work &quot;very constructively&quot; with the US administration.The Foreign Secretary is on her own diplomatic offensive in run-up to the US-Iran ceasefire expiring on Tuesday and is due to visit Turkey and the Gulf as well as Japan.Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has this week visited Oman and Kuwait and minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer has been to Lebanon.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Israel, violates, ceasefire, with, Lebanon, just, hours, after, Donald, Trump, announced, truce, Beirut, claims</media:keywords>
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<title>Council by&#45;election results in full: Find out how Britons voted in dual showdown</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/council-by-election-results-in-full-find-out-how-britons-voted-in-dual-showdown</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/council-by-election-results-in-full-find-out-how-britons-voted-in-dual-showdown</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A pair of by-elections took place in Leicestershire and Northumberland this week with Reform aiming to hold on to two key seats. Voters went to the polls for the Narborough and Whetstone ward on Leicestershire County Council and for the Cramlington South West ward in Northumberland. Nigel Farage&#039;s party had hoped to secure a defence in both seats after two of the party&#039;s councillors resigned from their position several weeks ago.With the full local elections just 20 days away, GB News has taken a look at the results of both of these seats and what they mean for the parties...
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Narborough &amp; Whetstone (Leicestershire)Reform UK&#039;s Dee North won the contest in Leicestershire after her predecessor Andrew Thorp quit his post without giving a reason.&quot;It was a tough campaign but I&#039;m grateful for the trust voters have put in me,&quot; she told the BBC.Ms North won 1,033 votes to beat Conservative candidate Les Phillimore who got 927 votes, with Green candidate Mike Jelfs finishing third with 884 votes.Liberal Democrat Ande Savage came in fourth on 134 votes, with Labour&#039;s Lisa Pendery-Hunt coming in fifth on 124 votes.In last place was Martin Garfoot from Advance UK on 28 votes. &quot;This is the people&#039;s choice across Narborough, Littlethorpe and Whetstone&quot;, Ms North said. She added: &quot;Residents have voted for stronger representation on local issues and that is exactly what I will deliver. &quot;I&#039;m grateful for the trust placed in me and from day one I will be a visible, accessible councillor.&quot;Cramlington South West (Northumberland)Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Neil Graham won the by-election in Cramlington South West, taking the ward off Nigel Farage&#039;s party. The mid-term contest was triggered by the resignation of Reform UK Cllr Shaun Knowles, who stepped down from his role on health grounds amid a kidney cancer diagnosis.Mr Graham won the contest for Kemi Badenoch&#039;s Conservatives gaining 278 votes, ahead of Reform&#039;s Bridget Anne Byrne on 212 votes. Labour&#039;s Lynne Robinson finished in third on 187 votes with Green candidate Alex Phimister in fourth on 116 votes. Independent candidate Dawn Furness got 13 votes with Liberal Democrat candidate Nick Cott receiving seven votes. 

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Council, by-election, results, full:, Find, out, how, Britons, voted, dual, showdown</media:keywords>
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<title>Pension fears grow as Labour wins vote to take control of private pots in &amp;apos;another attack on savers&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/pension-fears-grow-as-labour-wins-vote-to-take-control-of-private-pots-in-another-attack-on-savers</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/pension-fears-grow-as-labour-wins-vote-to-take-control-of-private-pots-in-another-attack-on-savers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ MPs have backed Government plans giving ministers the authority to direct how pension schemes invest billions of pounds in retirement savings.The House of Commons approved a &quot;reserve power&quot; that would allow the Government to compel pension providers to put money into private markets and other assets.This measure sparked significant concern when first proposed last summer, with industry experts warning it could endanger people&#039;s retirements by removing investment choices from trustees and professional fund managers.The House of Lords rejected the original proposal last month, prompting ministers to return with a revised version that secured approval from the Commons.The vote saw 276 MPs back the measure against 155 who opposed it.Conservatives fought against the proposal, with shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately describing it as &quot;another attack on savers.&quot;Sir Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, warned the power could enable Rachel Reeves to use pension savings as an &quot;economic bailout.&quot;The Tories have promised to scrap the policy should they win the next election.Despite the Commons victory, the legislation must now go back to the House of Lords for further consideration, where it previously faced defeat.The Government had previously secured a voluntary agreement with major pension providers in May 2025 known as the Mansion House Accord.Under this deal, 17 providers controlling 90 per cent of pension savings committed to putting at least 10 per cent of their assets into private markets by 2035, with half of that going to British investments.Ministers announced the following month they would keep a reserve power to enforce these targets if the voluntary approach failed.The Lords initially blocked the measure because it contained no clear limits on how much investment could be forced.Following pushback from the pensions industry, the Government scaled back its proposal to match the Accord&#039;s terms, capping any mandated investment at 10 per cent of assets with 5 per cent directed towards Britain.Sir Mel Stride argued the revised proposal still needed to be abandoned entirely, stating: &quot;Your savings should be invested in your best interests not to fund the pet projects of Rachel Reeves.&quot;He added: &quot;Under a Conservative Government your pension pot will be there for you and you alone, not for Rachel Reeves to bail herself out of the economic mess she has created.&quot;Ms Whately warned that Labour had sought control over £400billion in private pension savings, declaring: &quot;That money is not theirs to spend.&quot;She cautioned that if confidence in pensions erodes, people might leave auto-enrolment schemes altogether, leaving them worse off in retirement.Baroness Ros Altmann, a former pensions minister, said peers remained &quot;determined to reject the Government mandation of pension investment decisions.&quot;She warned the proposals would give future ministers broad powers to channel money into &quot;politically favoured assets, even if pension managers have decided this is not in their members&#039; best interests.&quot;The baroness added: &quot;There is no reason to believe the Government knows better than professional managers how to invest members&#039; money.&quot;A Government spokesman defended the approach, saying the reserve power exists only as a backstop to reassure providers that the whole market would move together, adding they did not expect to use it.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pension, fears, grow, Labour, wins, vote, take, control, private, pots, another, attack, savers</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Someone in No10 knew about Peter Mandelson’s vetting failure&amp;apos;, says Labour’s Lord Cryer</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/someone-in-no10-knew-about-peter-mandelsons-vetting-failure-says-labours-lord-cryer</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/someone-in-no10-knew-about-peter-mandelsons-vetting-failure-says-labours-lord-cryer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lord John Cryer, a former chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, has said that it appears that someone in Number 10 may have known that Peter Mandelson had failed to pass security vetting.He told GB News: “I&#039;m not underestimating the seriousness of this. This is really serious…I don&#039;t see him going out and misleading Parliament. If he knew about the vetting, I don&#039;t think he would have said what he said in front of the House of Commons. “I don&#039;t know if there&#039;s going to be some sort of inquiry. I suppose it&#039;s a bit too recent for us to know that, but an inquiry has got to look at who did know what and when.“Clearly, the FCO knew about it. They seem to have overruled it. Can I believe that they did that? Yeah, I can, and I can talk more about the way the Foreign Office operates, in my experience.“There&#039;s also the question of, did somebody Number 10 know what was going on, they knew about the vetting? “Well, it looks like possibly somebody did, because if you go back to, as Chris said, the statement that came on the 10th of September, he gave Mandelson his full backing, as well as saying that full due process was being followed.“We found out afterwards that morning, if you remember, the cache of emails that came from Bloomberg had landed in Number 10.“That morning, somebody in Number 10, in my view, sent the Prime Minister out into the House of Commons, said what he said, gave Mandelson his full backing because they hadn&#039;t told him. In my view, I don&#039;t think they told him.”He added: “This is a very, very serious crisis. You said possibly the most serious crisis since Profumo, and it could be.“All I can go on is what I know of Keir, and what I know of Keir - I just cannot see him going in front of Parliament saying what he said if he knew what had happened before.“What&#039;s going to happen on Monday is the Prime Minister goes to the House of Commons. You&#039;ve got to make a statement, and he&#039;s got some serious questions to answer.“I mean, I&#039;m not exactly sure what&#039;s going to happen when the next tranche of emails is going to come out next week. All these emails are being trawled by the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee. They&#039;re going through all the emails, whether they&#039;re in a position to conduct a proper inquiry into this latest story, I&#039;m not sure.“I’m wondering if that&#039;s going to have to be done by a separate body, perhaps somebody from outside Parliament, some sort of inquiry into this.”WATCH ABOVE.

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Someone, No10, knew, about, Peter, Mandelson’s, vetting, failure, says, Labour’s, Lord, Cryer</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: Keir Starmer breaks silence on Peter Mandelson vetting scandal &#45; &amp;apos;I am furious!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-keir-starmer-breaks-silence-on-peter-mandelson-vetting-scandal-i-am-furious</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-keir-starmer-breaks-silence-on-peter-mandelson-vetting-scandal-i-am-furious</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has said he is &quot;absolutely furious&quot; and it was &quot;unforgivable&quot; that neither he nor any minister was told Lord Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.The Prime Minister told reporters in Paris he will &quot;set out the relevant facts&quot; in Parliament on Monday.WATCH ABOVE.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, Keir, Starmer, breaks, silence, Peter, Mandelson, vetting, scandal, furious</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer fumes over &amp;apos;unforgivable&amp;apos; Lord Mandelson chaos as he flees to France to address &amp;apos;global responsibility&amp;apos; in Middle East</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-fumes-over-unforgivable-lord-mandelson-chaos-as-he-flees-to-france-to-address-global-responsibility-in-middle-east</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-fumes-over-unforgivable-lord-mandelson-chaos-as-he-flees-to-france-to-address-global-responsibility-in-middle-east</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer will be jetting off to France to address a &quot;global responsibility&quot; to open the Strait of Hormuz - while every other major party leader is calling for his head at home.Last night, shortly before news of Sir Olly Robbins&#039;s Foreign Office exit emerged, Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Sir Ed Davey and Zack Polanski all demanded the PM resign.&quot;In these dangerous times, Britain cannot afford to have a Prime Minister who the country doesn&#039;t trust. Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go,&quot; Mrs Badenoch warned.The Prime Minister told reporters this morning he is &quot;furious&quot; that Downing Street was not informed about Lord Peter Mandelson failing the security vetting. But in Paris, Sir Keir will be co-hosting a &quot;virtual meeting&quot; of global leaders with Emmanuel Macron - before lunch with the French President.Around 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation are expected to dial in.The Prime Minister is expected to tell the summit: &quot;The unconditional and immediate reopening of the strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again.&quot;Emmanuel Macron and I are clear in our commitment to establish a multinational initiative to protect freedom of navigation.&quot;We must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security.&quot;Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who also &quot;lost confidence&quot; in Sir Olly last night, will be joining too, alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton.Planning for a joint defensive mission is underway with a view to countries sending a combined military effort as soon as conditions allow, Downing Street has said.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…Liberal Democrats demand investigation into Keir Starmer&#039;s remarks to ParliamentThe Liberal Democrats have asked Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser to investigate the Prime Minister for failing to tell Parliament Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting as soon as he became aware.In a letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, Lib Dem frontbencher Lisa Smart said the Prime Minister &quot;appears to have failed in his obligation to correct inadvertent errors ‘at the earliest opportunity&#039;&quot;, as required by the ministerial code.In a separate statement issued by the Lib Dems, Ms Smart said: &quot;The Prime Minister failed to tell Parliament that he knew Mandelson had been denied vetting on Wednesday, presumably crossing his fingers and hoping the truth would not come out. What a shameful way for a Prime Minister to behave.&quot;To stand in front of the dispatch box and deny Parliament such crucial information looks like a serious breach of ministerial code. That’s why I’ve written to the ethics adviser to report this breach and ask him to investigate at the earliest opportunity.&quot;Starmer made catastrophic errors of judgment from the very beginning of the Mandelson scandal and it seems he has just kept on making them. His position is now untenable.&quot;Keir Starmer arrives in Paris for Middle East talksSir Keir Starmer has arrived in Paris for talks with fellow world leaders aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.Ahead of the meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir pledged to do “everything I can” to reopen the vital shipping laneThe strait has been blockaded by Iran since the joint US-Israeli strikes on the country began at the end of February, threatening world oil supplies.In retaliation, US President Donald Trump has begun his own blockade of Iran’s oil ports, aimed at stemming Tehran’s fossil fuel income, and demanded allied nations help end Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait.Friday’s meeting at the Elysee Palace brings together 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation to formulate plans for a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation.Council by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted in dual showdownA pair of by-elections took place in Leicestershire and Northumberland this week with Reform aiming to hold on to two key seats.Voters went to the polls for the Narborough and Whetstone ward on Leicestershire County Council and for the Cramlington South West ward in Northumberland.You can read the full set of results here.WATCH: Keir Starmer speaks out on Peter Mandelson scandal



Keir Starmer &#039;furious&#039; he wasn&#039;t told Peter Mandelson had failed security vettingSir Keir Starmer has said he is &quot;furious&quot; and it was &quot;unforgivable&quot; that neither he nor any minister was told Lord Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting.The Prime Minister told reporters in Paris he will &quot;set out the relevant facts&quot; in Parliament on Monday.Keir Starmer&#039;s premiership now hangs in the balance due to a dangerous cumulative effect, writes Christopher HopeAs the crisis surrounding the botched appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador continues to cast a shadow over Sir Keir Starmer, our Political Editor Christopher Hope and Senior Politics Producer Keith Bays have taken a look as to how we got here and what could happen next. Writing for GB News Members, the pair said: &quot;The Government has begun to look not just divided, but adrift: a group of competing voices without a clear sense of direction.&quot;GB News Members can read the full analysis here.Diane Abbott says Keir Starmer needs to &#039;consider his position&#039;Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said Sir Keir Starmer &quot;needs to consider his position&quot; as she issued a warning to the Prime Minister.The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, who served alongside Sir Keir in Jeremy Corbyn&#039;s shadow Cabinet, told Sky News that it was &quot;just not possible&quot; that Downing Street didn’t know about Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting.She added: &quot;I think to try and pretend Downing Street didn’t know, when anybody who follows those issues would know that that can’t be true, is the kind of thing that undermines people’s faith in politics.&quot;It’s always been the process that if you mislead the House, you have to step down.&quot;Zack Polanski says today &#039;needs to end&#039; with Keir Starmer&#039;s resignationThe Green Party leader Zack Polanski has reiterated his calls for the Prime Minister to resign, as he called for an end to &quot;Rip Off Britain.&quot;Mr Polanski said: &quot;There’s no way today should end without Starmer’s resignation. Any other outcome would be an absurd scenario where this Labour Government, and all in it, would be laughing in our faces.&quot;The ethics and morality...are an important question. Just as vital and urgent is the fact it’s all such a distraction.&quot;We have sky high bills and an energy crisis we need to end Rip Off Britain. All attention needs to be on a Government capable of doing the basics.&quot;Pension fears grow as Labour wins vote to take control of private pots in &#039;another attack on savers&#039;MPs have backed Government plans giving ministers the authority to direct how pension schemes invest billions of pounds in retirement savings.The House of Commons approved a &quot;reserve power&quot; that would allow the Government to compel pension providers to put money into private markets and other assets.This measure sparked significant concern when first proposed last summer, with industry experts warning it could endanger people&#039;s retirements by removing investment choices from trustees and professional fund managers.Our personal finance reporter Temie Laleye has the full story here.Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of &#039;taking the public for fools&#039;Kemi Badenoch said the Prime Minister is &quot;taking the public for fools&quot; as she questioned why Foreign Office officials would overall security vetting procedures.&quot;The Prime Minister and ministers like Darren Jones are taking the public for fools, they must think that everybody is stupid. Why would officials overrule an appointment of a politician?&quot;, she told the BBC. &quot;Let’s remember, Peter Mandelson was not a civil servant who they were covering up for, he was a Labour Party member who had been brought in from outside.&quot;Why would officials say, ‘Well he’s failed the security vetting, but let’s not tell the Prime Minister’, why would they do that? It just doesn’t make any sense.&quot;&quot;I don’t buy this story. I don’t think that they would overrule vetting unless it was for something minor,&quot; she added.Rejoining the EU will cost £22billion a year warns former Vote Leave chiefBritons will have to pay £22billion a year to rejoin the European Union, the head of the winning Brexit campaign has said.Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell, who as Matthew Elliott was chief executive of the victorious Vote Leave campaign, also said that polling he has seen shows that most people do not want to rejoin the EU.Polls have repeatedly suggested that most Britons are concerned about the cost and impact of the UK&#039;s decision to leave the EU 10 years ago in June.However, Lord Elliott told GB News&#039; Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast: &quot;The polling I look at shows that people don&#039;t want to rejoin the polling. They&#039;re still worried about the cost of rejoining.&quot;WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE.Nigel Farage brands Olly Robbins as the &#039;sacrificial lamb&#039; Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the Foreign Office’s top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins is the &quot;sacrificial lamb in an attempt to try and save the Prime Minister&quot;.&quot;None of this adds up, the idea they weren’t told about the vetting&quot;, he told LBC.The Clacton MP continued: &quot;Remember, in the House of Commons, Starmer actually said that the vetting had told him about the ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, then outside of the House, in Hastings, he gave a speech in which he said that Mandelson had cleared security vetting.&quot;They are all over the place on this, it is totally unbelievable and Robbins, he’s the sacrificial lamb in an attempt to try and save the Prime Minister, and it just isn’t good enough.&quot;Keir Starmer showed &#039;catastrophic error of judgement&#039; in Peter Mandelson appointment says senior Liberal DemocratA senior Liberal Democrat said Sir Keir Starmer had shown a &quot;catastrophic error of judgement&quot; in appointing Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.The party&#039;s Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart told GB News: &quot;Let&#039;s not forget Peter Mandelson had been sacked twice from ministerial positions because of poor judgement for behaviour.&quot;So it baffled many people that the PM thought this was a good call to begin with.&quot;We in the Liberal Democrats don&#039;t think all the information is out there. We&#039;re calling for the PM to be referred to the privileges committee in Parliament.&quot;​Keir Starmer was &#039;right&#039; to tell Parliament that due process says Labour ministerSir Keir Starmer was &quot;right&quot; to tell Parliament that due process had been followed throughout Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, &quot;because it had&quot;, Darren Jones has told the BBC.The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister saif: &quot;The Prime Minister was right when he told the House that due process had been followed, because it had.&quot;But the fact that that process did not require officials to tell the Foreign Secretary or the Prime Minster that they ignored the advice of security and vetting officials is totally unacceptable.&quot;Senior Conservative says Peter Mandelson appointment is &#039;the great political scandal of our time&#039;Shadow Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart has called Peter Mandelson&#039;s appointment as US Ambassador the &quot;great political scandal of our time&quot; as he demanded Sir Keir Starmer resign as Prime Minister. He told GB News: &quot;I find it very hard to believe anything from the Government anymore...We know the PM was told there were serious concerns with Peter Mandelson.&quot;Ultimately, I find it very unlikely that no one in the Foreign Office would have told anyone in Number 10 there were red flags about the guy they wanted to send to Washington.&quot;The PM thinks the rules don&#039;t apply to him, he doesn&#039;t care if he tells the truth. It is totally unacceptable and these people are not fit to govern.&quot;Keir Starmer &#039;furious with the state&#039; over vetting process for Peter MandelsonThe Prime Minister&#039;s Chief Secretary Darren Jones said Sir Keir Starmer was &quot;furious with the state&quot; because the Foreign Office was able to overrule the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson.He said he had ordered an urgent review after discovering that the Foreign Office and other Government departments the right to ignore security advice when appointing people to sensitive roles.Mr Jones told Sky News: &quot;It is utterly unacceptable, not just in the individual case of Peter Mandelson and respect of the Prime Minister’s fury at the Foreign Office for not having taught him this information, but the very fact that their processes were in place that allow for that to happen in the first place.&quot;That’s why in my role in the Cabinet Office, immediately last night, I suspended the rights for these organisations to make these judgments.&quot;I’ve asked for an urgent review about what decisions these organisations have taken in the past to overrule the recommendations from UK security vetting, and I was due to announce a broader, independent review of the vetting process anyway. And this will now be part of that.&quot;Conservatives offer damning assessment of Labour&#039;s handling of Lord Mandelson appointmentTop Conservatives came out swinging last night with a damning assessment of the scalps taken by the fallout over Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment as ambassador to the US.Frontbencher Alex Burghart said there would be &quot;more to come&quot; after the resignations of Lord Mandelson himself, Morgan McSweeney, Tim Allan and now Sir Olly Robbins.Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly then said it was clear that No10&#039;s strategy was to make Sir Olly the &quot;scapegoat&quot;.&quot;There is ZERO chance that someone who’d just been appointed would risk their entire career by NOT telling the Foreign Secretary about the vetting,&quot; he added.&quot;Perhaps verbally rather than in writing, but he would have been told!&quot;Here&#039;s what&#039;s happening today in Westminster...Good morning and happy Friday from all of us on the GB News Politics team. Here&#039;s what&#039;s happening today in Westminster and beyond...It&#039;s 20 days to go until the local elections, with all 32 London Boroughs, Holyrood and Senedd up for grabs. Last night&#039;s sacking of the Foreign Office’s most senior official, Olly Robbins, continues to cause shockwaves across Whitehall this morning. The Prime Minister held several meetings with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Downing Street throughout the evening before firing Mr Robbins over the phone. This morning, Sir Keir&#039;s Chief Secretary Darren Jones has said it is &quot;astonishing&quot; and unacceptable the Foreign Office was able to overrule the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson and reiterated the Prime Minister is &quot;furious.&quot;Elsewhere, Rachel Reeves has confirmed she is planning to speed up drilling in the North Sea in a bid to soften the blow of the Iran war on energy bills. Our reporter Peter Stevens has the full story here.Leaked Green Party documents have revealed Mr Polanski&#039;s party is planning to spend more on foreign aid than on defence in what rivals have branded as a &quot;complete fantasy&quot;. Alice Tomlinson has the write up here.Here on GB News, we&#039;ll be joined by Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart and Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart.

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:38 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, fumes, over, unforgivable, Lord, Mandelson, chaos, flees, France, address, global, responsibility, Middle, East</media:keywords>
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<title>Chopper&amp;apos;s Political Podcast episode 94 &#45; Matthew Elliott, Baron Elliott of Mickle Fell &#45; WATCH IN FULL</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/choppers-political-podcast-episode-94-matthew-elliott-baron-elliott-of-mickle-fell-watch-in-full</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/choppers-political-podcast-episode-94-matthew-elliott-baron-elliott-of-mickle-fell-watch-in-full</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sit back, pour yourself a drink and join GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope at his regular table where he will discuss the latest insider political intrigue and gossip with everyone from popstars to politicians. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/watch-the-true-cost-of-brexit-keir-starmer-to-cost-taxpayer-ps22billion-a-year-in-pursuit-of-rejoining-eu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Choppers, Political, Podcast, episode, Matthew, Elliott, Baron, Elliott, Mickle, Fell, WATCH, FULL</media:keywords>
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<title>Rejoining the EU will cost £22billion a year warns former Vote Leave chief</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rejoining-the-eu-will-cost-22billion-a-year-warns-former-vote-leave-chief</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rejoining-the-eu-will-cost-22billion-a-year-warns-former-vote-leave-chief</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britons will have to pay £22billion a year to rejoin the European Union, the head of the winning Brexit campaign has said.Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell, who as Matthew Elliott was chief executive of the victorious Vote Leave campaign, also said that polling he has seen shows that most people do not want to rejoin the EU.Polls have repeatedly suggested that most Britons are concerned about the cost and impact of the UK&#039;s decision to leave the EU 10 years ago in June.However, Lord Elliott told GB News&#039; Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast: &quot;The polling I look at shows that people don&#039;t want to rejoin the polling. They&#039;re still worried about the cost of rejoining.&quot;
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The peer said that the cost of rejoining would be £22billion a year - three times the UK&#039;s prisons budget. Lord Elliott said: &quot;The bill will be roughly £22billion... That&#039;s the estimated fee we&#039;d have to pay every year to be a member of the EU now.&quot;Lord Elliott said the figure was based on the inflation increase of the rebate which the UK received back from the EU at the time of Brexit in January 2020.In 2020, the UK paid £17billion to be a member of the EU - or £22billlion today, according to inflation calculations by the peer, he said.The peer added that his calculation was &quot;based on inflation, what we were paying last time, inflation plus losing the rebate to rejoin&quot;.Lord Elliott also took issue with claims made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that Brexit had lost the UK 8 per cent in economic growth.He questioned the accuracy of the figure which he said was based on &quot;a combination&quot; of the economies of US and Estonia.He said: &quot;What they really should pick is basically France and Germany. And actually we&#039;ve outperformed France and Germany.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Labour ADMITS Foreign Office overruled Lord Mandelson vetting but says PM was not toldKeir Starmer told to resign if Lord Mandelson security claim misled MPsGreens plan to spend more on foreign aid than on defence in what rivals brand &#039;complete fantasy&#039;The claims were rejected by Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who is fiercely critical of Brexit and wants the UK to rejoin the EU&#039;s customs union.He said later on Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast: &quot;People want to see trade increased and they want to see our businesses have reduced costs because unfortunately there&#039;s a lot of bureaucracy that&#039;s come with Brexit.&quot;Lots of red tape, lots of delays, lots of extra costs. And that&#039;s bad for business. It&#039;s bad for trade and that&#039;s bad for the wider economy, people&#039;s jobs and the money going to the exchequer. &quot;So we&#039;ve got to reverse that I think. And I think there&#039;s a really strong case for that.&quot;Watch or listen to Chopper&#039;s Political Podcast on YouTube, Spotify or Apple podcasts from 6am on Friday.

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rejoining, the, will, cost, £22billion, year, warns, former, Vote, Leave, chief</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;He will be seething!&amp;apos; Rachel Reeves risks war with Ed Miliband over plans to speed up North Sea drilling</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/he-will-be-seething-rachel-reeves-risks-war-with-ed-miliband-over-plans-to-speed-up-north-sea-drilling</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/he-will-be-seething-rachel-reeves-risks-war-with-ed-miliband-over-plans-to-speed-up-north-sea-drilling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rachel Reeves has confirmed she is planning to speed up drilling in the North Sea in a bid to soften the blow of the Iran war on energy bills.The Chancellor said she was looking at ways to &quot;exploit&quot; Britain&#039;s oil and gas resources - and was &quot;pretty intensely&quot; working out technical details.In November, Ms Reeves announced plans for &quot;tie-backs&quot; which would connect new fields to existing drilling infrastructure.Speaking at International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington DC, the Chancellor said the Government was now looking at ways to speed up those plans, with an announcement expected soon.
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She said: &quot;I announced in the Budget last year that we were going to allow tie-backs.&quot;What tie-backs are is where you use existing infrastructure to exploit sort of larger geography of oil and gas as the quickest way to bring on-stream more oil and gas,&quot; she added.The move could risk further tensions between Ed Miliband and the Chancellor - though it is understood the Energy Secretary is accepting of tie-backs so long as they do not require new exploration.Earlier this month Ms Reeves gave her support to both the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields, while Mr Miliband is still weighing up their approval.The Chancellor said she was &quot;very happy&quot; to back both projects as the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have laid failures in Britain&#039;s energy security bare.It was previously reported that Mr Milliband had decided to approve the Jackdaw oil field - but the Department for Energy said the reports were &quot;unfounded&quot; and he was still considering whether or not to approve the licences.The two Cabinet colleagues have clashed on the North Sea before, with the Energy Secretary previously labelling the Rosebank oil field &quot;climate vandalism&quot;.And in its own election manifesto, Labour pledged not to issue any new exploratory licences for North Sea oil.LATEST FROM THE CHANCELLOR:Rachel Reeves slammed for &#039;blocking MoD funding&#039; over a lack of women in the departmentRachel Reeves pension tax raids pushing firms to scrap salary sacrifice schemes entirelyRachel Reeves is increasing taxes faster than any developed country in the worldHowever, Jackdaw had previously been granted a licence under the Conservatives, which could leave the door open to the major unexplored gas field being approved.Richard Tice, Reform UK&#039;s energy spokesman, said: &quot;Reeves and Miliband are increasingly at loggerheads. The Chancellor is backing policies championed by the Reform Party, and Miliband is channelling the Greens.&quot;But consumers will not care about internal party battles. They just want a fair price put on energy.&quot;And Claire Coutinho, Shadow Energy Secretary, said Mr Miliband would be &quot;seething&quot; that Labour has ended its Carbon Price Support Levy, a tax which artificially raised the price of generating electricity from gas and coal in order to encourage Net Zero investment.Ms Reeves also said she was working with Mr Miliband to break the link between gas and electricity prices and reduce Britain&#039;s exposure to global oil volatility.&quot;It is quite a big change but is absolutely the right thing to do, especially as electricity makes up an increasing part of our energy mix, and we hope, within the next sort of few days, weeks, to be able to give more details on what that looks like,&quot; she said.Britain has some of the highest energy prices in Europe for both domestic consumers and industry.Electricity prices in Britain were 23 per cent above the EU average in the first half of 2025, with the ratio of electricity to gas prices in the UK higher than any EU country.And its energy woes have long provoked the ire of Donald Trump, too.Just days ago, the President warned of how &quot;Europe is desperate for energy, and yet the United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea oil, one of the greatest fields in the world&quot;.&quot;Tragic!!!&quot; he added. &quot;Aberdeen should be booming. Norway sells its North Sea oil to the UK at double the price.&quot;They are making a fortune. UK, which is better situated on the North Sea for purposes of energy than Norway, should, DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! It is absolutely crazy that they don’t.&quot;

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>He, will, seething, Rachel, Reeves, risks, war, with, Miliband, over, plans, speed, North, Sea, drilling</media:keywords>
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<title>Man tackled to the ground after attempting to break into White House &#45; with Donald Trump inside</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/man-tackled-to-the-ground-after-attempting-to-break-into-white-house-with-donald-trump-inside</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/man-tackled-to-the-ground-after-attempting-to-break-into-white-house-with-donald-trump-inside</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A man has been tackled to the ground by Secret Service agents and arrested after attempting to break into the White House. The individual, whose identity remains unknown, allegedly made a dash for the entrance on Thursday morning before attempting to scale a perimeter fence at the President&#039;s residence. However, Secret Service officers apprehended the man almost immediately, hauling him to the ground in a swift takedown. Donald Trump is believed to have been inside the building during the attempted breach, as he prepared to leave Washington DC for a two-day trip to Nevada and Arizona. 
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In a statement, Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said: “Shortly after 11.30 am, a man was quickly detained by uniformed US Secret Service police officers after jumping over a construction bollard near the Treasury Building on the northeast side of the complex.“Officers encountered the individual near a pedestrian gate, where he engaged in a physical altercation before being taken into custody,&quot; he added.Mr Guglielmi confirmed one Secret Service officer suffered a laceration during the scuffle - but his injuries have been described as non-life-threatening.The suspected intruder is believed to have been taken into custody after the incident. Agents swarmed the area around the complex in the wake of the attempted break-in, one local witness reported. It is the second security incident to be reported at White House in the past few weeks. On March 11, Christopher Cavanaugh, 35, was arrested after a van ploughed through a security barrier near the complex. He was later charged with unlawful entry and destruction of property, according to local media reports. US NEWS - READ THE LATEST:World Cup train row erupts with Fifa blamed for extortionate pricesIsrael and Lebanon leaders to hold talks for the first time in 34 years as US eyes up peace talksInfluencer jailed after kissing memorial to World War Two sex slavesMr Cavanaugh - originally from Ohio - is said to have told Secret Service agents that was trying to “deliver a present&quot; to Mr Trump. The 35-year-old was reportedly wearing a t-shirt which read, “Trump is my President, Jesus is my saviour,” during the incident. The area was subsequently blocked off by Secret Service and police vehicles following the crash, which took place at the northeast corner of Lafayette Park - just north of the White House. Mr Trump is believed to have been inside the building at the time. Since the start of the Iran war, the Secret Service has ramped up security measures at sensitive American sites both domestically and abroad. After the conflict erupted, the agency said: &quot;The US Secret Service is actively monitoring the situation in Iran and remains in close coordination with our federal and local partners.&quot;The agency’s protective model is designed to be adaptable to meet the needs of the current security environment and ensure the continued safety of our protectees, protective sites, and the surrounding communities.&quot;While we do not discuss our specific protective measures for operational security reasons, the public may notice an increased law enforcement and federal presence around US Secret Service protected sites.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Man, tackled, the, ground, after, attempting, break, into, White, House, with, Donald, Trump, inside</media:keywords>
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<title>Britons blame &amp;apos;Donald Trump tax&amp;apos; for soaring household energy costs</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/britons-blame-donald-trump-tax-for-soaring-household-energy-costs</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/britons-blame-donald-trump-tax-for-soaring-household-energy-costs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Interest in solar panels and heat pumps has soared since the Iran conflict broke out, with people blaming a “Trump tax” for rising household costs, polling shows. A third of adults say they are more interested in installing the climate-friendly systems than they were before bombing began in the Middle East. But the survey of more than 2,000 adults by Survation for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found 60 per cent thought energy tech was too expensive to install. Nearly three-quarters (71 per cent) want greater Government support for insulation, and 68 per cent would like more funding for solar panels and heat pumps to tackle a future energy crisis by reducing energy use and bringing down bills. 
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With looming energy price rises from July, which more than four-fifths are worried about (83 per cent) and 44 per cent say they will not be able to afford, nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) want to see targeted help from the Government and 67 per cent want to see support for all households, the polling found. The survey also found that three-quarters of the public (76 per cent) hold US President Donald Trump responsible for energy bill increases set to hit UK households due to the conflict in Iran. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) agree the rise amounts to a “Trump tax” on their bills. People also blame energy companies, with two-thirds (64 per cent) agreeing the energy industry is profiteering from the Iran conflict, which has seen oil and gas prices climb. More than half think ending the windfall tax on energy firms now is wrong. As a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran pushing up energy prices, 35 per cent of people quizzed in the survey said they had become more interested in home energy technology that could save them money on bills, while only a quarter said they had not and a fifth said they already had such tech in their homes. Of those who were more interested, 45 per cent were keen on roof-top solar panels, 36 per cent would like more home insulation, 35 per cent are interested in the new plug-in solar option the Government is planning to bring into shops and 26 per cent are more interested in getting a heat pump. Simon Francis, End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator, said: “The public has had enough of history repeating itself. “They want to protect themselves from oil and gas price shocks for good, and the Government has both the means and the mandate to help them do it. “Energy firms made £125billion in profits on their UK operations over the last five years and companies like BP are already expecting bumper profits from the fresh crisis. “The windfall tax revenue raised by the Treasury should be going further to help households cut their bills for good,” he said, urging the Government to make its “warm homes plan” more ambitious and guarantee every upgraded home will see energy efficiency improve and bills come down. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Natural selection &#039;favours gingers&#039; as scientists believe it was &#039;beneficial 4,000 years ago&#039;Travellers descend on medieval village for FOURTH time despite council spending £20k on barrierPublic sector pensions land £900m windfall but &#039;working Britons taxed at record highs to fund them&#039;Under the £15billion plan, homeowners will be able to access low and zero-interest loans, while low-income and fuel-poor households will get free upgrades, for insulation, solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. Robert Palmer, deputy director of campaign group Uplift, which backs the transition from fossil fuel production in the UK, said: “People know they’re being hit with a Trump Tax, plain and simple. “We’re facing higher energy bills, rocketing fuel prices and more expensive mortgages. “Our dependence on fossil fuels is making all of us poorer. All except for the oil and gas bosses and their shareholders who – once again – are set to cash in at our expense.” He said more drilling in the North Sea, as Mr Trump has repeatedly called for, would not “take a penny off our bills” and have no meaningful impact on UK gas supplies. “The only way to insulate ourselves from these risks is to press on with renewables, like wind, and upgrade our homes with solar power and heat pumps, so we can free ourselves from oil and gas and ensure we have a liveable planet,” he said. Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “We are determined to fight people’s corner to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, going further and faster to protect consumers from the fossil fuel rollercoaster for good. “It’s clear the British people’s interest in upgrading their homes and lowering their bills is also stepping up, and we want all households to benefit from our clean power mission. “That’s why we’re making plug-in solar panels available in shops within months. “We are also helping low-income households access free solar and clean energy upgrades, alongside zero and low-interest loans, through the Warm Homes Plan – the biggest home upgrade scheme in British history.” A separate poll found that half of people support phasing out new gas and oil boilers in favour of clean heating from 2035. But the poll of 3,000 adults for the MCS Foundation, which certifies renewables in homes, found support was higher (58 per cent) when people were asked if they backed all new heating systems having zero-carbon emissions from 2035 rather than focusing on a boiler “phase out”. 

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britons, blame, Donald, Trump, tax, for, soaring, household, energy, costs</media:keywords>
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<title>&amp;apos;Furious&amp;apos; Keir Starmer sacks Foreign Office chief over Lord Mandelson vetting scandal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/furious-keir-starmer-sacks-foreign-office-chief-over-lord-mandelson-vetting-scandal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/furious-keir-starmer-sacks-foreign-office-chief-over-lord-mandelson-vetting-scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has sacked the Foreign Office&#039;s most senior civil servant over the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal. The department&#039;s permanent under-secretary, Sir Olly Robbins, will be leaving his position, it was confirmed late on Thursday night.Both the PM and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost their confidence in him after bombshell new details about the ex-British ambassador&#039;s vetting process came to light.It emerged that the Labour grandee had failed the enhanced vetting process for his appointment in Washington - but was given the job anyway.Downing Street insists that ministers, including David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary at the time of Lord Mandelson&#039;s appointment, did not know the Foreign Office overruled the vetting process until Thursday afternoon.
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While Rachel Reeves, speaking to reporters in Washington ahead of her meeting with her US counterpart, toed the same line.&quot;I didn’t know anything about the vetting process. I’m the Chancellor, I’m not the Foreign Secretary, and I’m not 10 Downing Street, so I can’t give you any more information on that,&quot; she said.It is understood that Sir Olly was sacked after a phone call with Sir Keir on Thursday evening, which itself followed meetings between the PM and Ms Cooper earlier.Earlier in the day, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee intended to summon Sir Olly to give fresh evidence after his previous answers on the vetting process did not uncover Thursday&#039;s revelations.Sir Keir - reported to be &quot;absolutely furious&quot; - is now set to make a statement to MPs about Lord Mandelson on Monday.But the PM is facing cross-party calls to follow Sir Olly out the door.Reform UK chief Nigel Farage said: &quot;Keir Starmer said in February that the security services had given Mandelson &#039;clearance for the role&#039;.&quot;Now we discover that he has blatantly lied, the Prime Minister should resign.&quot;While Kemi Badenoch said: &quot;The Prime Minister appointed Peter Mandelson before the vetting had been completed, vetting Mandelson failed. Starmer then said full due process was followed. That is misleading Parliament.&quot;I&#039;m only holding him to the same standards to which he&#039;s held previous prime ministers - that if they mislead Parliament, they should resign. &quot;In these dangerous times, Britain cannot afford to have a Prime Minister who the country doesn&#039;t trust. Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go.&quot;Lib Dem boss Sir Ed Davey and Green Party chief Zack Polanski have also demanded he resign.LATEST ON LORD MANDELSON:Labour ADMITS Foreign Office overruled Lord Mandelson vetting but says PM was not toldKeir Starmer told to resign if Lord Mandelson security claim misled MPsEx-Labour adviser says Keir Starmer is in a &#039;delicate situation&#039; after Lord Mandelson revelationMorgan McSweeney resigned for his part in the appointment, with reports he advocated for Lord Mandelson to be placed in the ambassadorial role.A phone stolen from Mr McSweeney led to fears messages relevant to the appointment of the former ambassador could be permanently lost.At the time of his resignation Mr McSweeney said: &quot;When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment, and I take full responsibility for that advice.&quot;Sir Olly was appointed permanent under-secretary for the Foreign Office on January 8 last year.He had previously come into the spotlight during Brexit negotiations under the May Government - when he was accused of wielding &quot;pro-EU&quot; influence over the 2018 Chequers plan, which Brexiteers warned tied the UK too closely to the EU.The top mandarin also previously served under Lord Cameron as his Deputy National Security Advisor, a role responsible for managing Britain&#039;s intelligence and security services.Before that, he served as principal private secretary under Tony Blair and worked in the Cabinet Office under Gordon Brown.A Government spokesman said: &quot;Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.&quot;Once the Prime Minister was informed he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the Developed Vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.&quot;The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full as soon as possible. Any documentation within the scope of the Humble Address that requires redaction on the basis of national security or international relations will be provided to the ISC. This will include documents provided to the FCDO by UK Security Vetting.&quot;

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Furious, Keir, Starmer, sacks, Foreign, Office, chief, over, Lord, Mandelson, vetting, scandal</media:keywords>
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<title>Republican senator takes swipe at Meghan Markle’s ‘most trolled person’ claim</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/republican-senator-takes-swipe-at-meghan-markles-most-trolled-person-claim</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/republican-senator-takes-swipe-at-meghan-markles-most-trolled-person-claim</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Senator Ted Cruz has dismissed Meghan Markle&#039;s assertion that she tops the list of online harassment victims globally, suggesting the distinction actually belongs to Donald Trump.The Texas Republican offered his view on Thursday, responding to the Duchess of Sussex&#039;s recent remarks during her Australian visit.He said: &quot;I&#039;d probably say it&#039;s Donald Trump.&quot;When questioned about whether the persistent mockery directed at the president was justified, Mr Cruz observed: &quot;Like most trolling in life, some is fair, and some is unfair.&quot;The senator acknowledged experiencing internet ridicule himself, noting: &quot;When it&#039;s funny, I laugh!&quot;Despite his scepticism of her claim, Mr Cruz expressed appreciation for Meghan&#039;s acting work, describing Suits to TMZ as &quot;awesome.&quot;Meghan made her comments whilst addressing students at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, where she spoke about social media&#039;s harmful effects on mental wellbeing.The duchess urged young people to remain resilient, drawing on her own experiences in the public eye.&quot;For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked,&quot; she told the audience. &quot;And I was the most trolled person in the entire world.&quot;She emphasised her determination to persevere despite the sustained criticism, adding simply: &quot;I&#039;m still here.&quot;The remarks came as part of the couple&#039;s ongoing Australian tour, which has generated considerable media attention.During the same Australian visit, Prince Harry made striking admissions about his relationship with royal duties.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:Harry’s foundation to rally support at London MarathonKing set to miss Princess Charlotte birthday celebrationsAndrew asked to renounce his Freedom of the City of London in fresh statementSpeaking at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, where tickets cost approximately £500 each, the duke revealed he never wished to serve as a working member of the monarchy.Harry told attendees that the role had &quot;killed&quot; his mother, Princess Diana, explaining he had felt &quot;lost, betrayed, or completely powerless&quot; throughout periods of his life.The duke acknowledged burying his feelings for years before eventually departing official duties and relocating to America with his wife, suggesting this path aligned with what his late mother would have wished for him.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Republican, senator, takes, swipe, Meghan, Markle’s, ‘most, trolled, person’, claim</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour scraps ‘not fit for purpose’ carbon tax on electricity generation amid soaring bills</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-scraps-not-fit-for-purpose-carbon-tax-on-electricity-generation-amid-soaring-bills</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-scraps-not-fit-for-purpose-carbon-tax-on-electricity-generation-amid-soaring-bills</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A carbon tax on electricity generated from fossil fuels is “not fit for purpose” and will be axed, the Government has announced.The Carbon Price Support (CPS) levy was introduced in 2013 to help drive coal-fired power off the grid.But, as energy prices soar, the Government has announced it will be scrapped in 2028. A second carbon tax on industry –the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) – remains. The CPS, which is charged at £18 per tonne of carbon, is levied on top of ETS. It is aimed only at electricity generation.
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The UK ETS is intended to limit the amount of carbon that can be emitted each year by the heavy industry, power and aviation sectors.It sets a cap, or limit, on emissions, with companies paying more if they breach these limits. Permits are currently trading for around £49 per tonne. Coal was removed from the UK energy mix in 2024, with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant in Nottinghamshire. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Dan Tomlinson, said that, with coal gone, CPS was no longer required. ETS alone was sufficient to encourage decarbonisation, he explained. He said: “I am today confirming to the House that Carbon Price Support (CPS) will be removed from April 2028.“CPS is a tax on fossil fuels used in electricity generation, introduced in 2013 by a previous government to strengthen the carbon price for electricity generation above the price provided by the Emissions Trading Scheme. “CPS has done its job and is no longer fit for purpose. “Coal has been driven off the grid and the ETS has matured, with a tighter cap to drive the signal for electricity generators to decarbonise, so now is the right time to simplify the tax and carbon pricing system.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSElectricity bills slashed for over 10,000 UK manufacturers as Iran crisis pushes prices higherNorth Sea energy firm faces closure putting 100 jobs at risk as Net Zero plans shun drillingUK energy firm collapses into administration after £5.4million loss with all staff made redundant“With our Clean Power 2030 mission, we are already reducing our electricity system’s reliance on volatile fossil fuels and we no longer need this additional tax to provide incentives in the system to decarbonise our grid.” The move follows an announcement that an industrial electricity subsidy scheme would be expanded from 7,000 manufacturers to 10,000.The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme cuts bills by up to 25 per cent by exempting eligible firms from three green levies. Mr Tomlinson said that today’s announcement would see these bills further reduced. He said: “CPS removal will also help to offset costs to all billpayers of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) which will reduce electricity bills for manufacturing sectors in the Industrial Strategy.” Tom Cantillon, Senior Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said that the CPS had done its job in forcing coal from UK power, He said: &quot;The Carbon Price Support has been a quiet success story of UK carbon pricing, driving coal from generating nearly 40 per cent of UK electricity generation to zero in a little over ten years.” INEOS boss, Sir Jim Ratclife, previously labelled carbon taxation as “the most idiotic tax in the world”. Kemi Badenoch has said that her Tory party will scrap all carbon levies for industry, including the ETS. “We all want to leave a better environment for the next generation, but it is madness to pursue that goal by killing British industry and fatally weakening our national resilience,” she said, on announcing her plans earlier this month. 

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, scraps, ‘not, fit, for, purpose’, carbon, tax, electricity, generation, amid, soaring, bills</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour ADMITS Foreign Office overruled Lord Mandelson vetting but says PM was not told</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-admits-foreign-office-overruled-lord-mandelson-vetting-but-says-pm-was-not-told</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-admits-foreign-office-overruled-lord-mandelson-vetting-but-says-pm-was-not-told</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Government spokesman has confirmed Lord Peter Mandelson failed security vetting but has said Sir Keir Starmer was not “aware” the clearance had been granted.The statement comes after it was revealed that Westminster sources were confirming the disgraced peer had failed developed vetting, but the Foreign Office utilised a rarely used power in overriding the decision, allowing them to push ahead with his appointment as the UK&#039;s ambassador to the US. The spokesman said: “The security vetting process for Peter Mandelson was sponsored by the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office].&quot;Neither the Prime Minister, nor any Government Minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted Developed Vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week.
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“Once the Prime Minister was informed he immediately instructed officials to establish the facts about why the Developed Vetting was granted, in order to enact plans to update the House of Commons.“The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full as soon as possible.“Any documentation within the scope of the Humble Address that requires redaction on the basis of national security or international relations will be provided to the ISC. This will include documents provided to the FCDO by UK Security Vetting.”Lord Mandelson had been granted developed security clearance despite failing the vetting before he was appointed the UK’s chief diplomat to the US, the Guardian reported on Thursday evening. Despite the claim that Sir Keir only found out about the vetting failure this week, politicians have called for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir had misled Parliament by saying “full due process” was followed, that he had wrongly said Lord Mandelson cleared the vetting, and that he failed to put out all documents required under a parliamentary measure to disclose details of the appointment.She said: “Each of those three things is a very serious problem for the Prime Minister, unless he can prove all three wrong, he is definitely in resigning territory. “There are not enough Conservative MPs to make that happen.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer told to resign if Lord Mandelson security claim misled MPsEx-Labour adviser says Keir Starmer is in a &#039;delicate situation&#039; after Lord Mandelson revelationWatch the moment Keir Starmer confronts Speaker after being handed PMQs dressing down“However, Labour MPs now need to ask themselves, are we prepared to keep this man who has lied and lied again in Downing Street?”The Prime Minister had previously shared that Lord Mandelson underwent a “security vetting” process by the security services, alluding that the disgraced peer had “lied” about the “extent of the relationship” he had with dead paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein.Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Democrats also weighed in, saying the Prime Minister needed to step down if he &quot;misled Parliament&quot; over the Peter Mandelson appointment scandal.He said: “Keir Starmer had already made a catastrophic error of judgment. Now it looks as though he has also misled Parliament and lied to the British public. If that is the case, he must go.“Labour came into government on a promise to clean up politics. Instead we’re seeing the same old sleaze, scandal and cover-ups as we did under the Conservatives.”It appears that the Labour Party have set their sights on senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, Sir Oliver Robbins, as the Mandelson scandal’s latest scapegoat. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee is planning to summon Sir Oliver Robbins over his previous account on the vetting process of Lord Peter Mandelson, reports the Guardian.Emily Thornberry, committee chair, said: &quot;Looking at the evidence that was given and the letters that have been written, to be charitable, there are glaring holes. It really is a question of whether we were knowingly misled.&quot;Ms Thornberry also said on X: &quot;My committee asked several times whether red flags had been raised by Peter Mandelson&#039;s vetting process.&quot;It seems there were. Who overrode these concerns? Why were we kept in the dark?&quot;People need to stop messing us about and tell us the truth.&quot;The Green Party also called for Sir Keir to resign.Lord Mandelson has declined to comment.
However, a friend of the peer told GB News: &quot;Peter has absolutely no knowledge of this matter. This is the first he has heard of it.
&quot;No one at any level, raised or explored any subject further with him following the vetting interview process and no issue has been raised with him since.&quot;

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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, ADMITS, Foreign, Office, overruled, Lord, Mandelson, vetting, but, says, was, not, told</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: Donald Trump swipes at Britain AGAIN after dramatic ceasefire announcement</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-donald-trump-swipes-at-britain-again-after-dramatic-ceasefire-announcement</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-donald-trump-swipes-at-britain-again-after-dramatic-ceasefire-announcement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump took aim at Britain once again over its reluctance to drill for North Sea oil.The Labour Government has so far resisted calls to lift its ban on drilling in the North Sea, despite mounting dissent, now amplified by the Oval Office. Mr Trump has repeatedly suggested Britain is sitting on a gold mine and is wasting a major opportunity by instead pursuing its net zero ambitions.Speaking to reporters outside the White House after dramatically announcing Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, the President turned his attention to matters across the pond.Mocking Britain&#039;s clean energy pursuit, he quipped: &quot;Windmills do one thing, they put you out of business!&quot; ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:58:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, Donald, Trump, swipes, Britain, AGAIN, after, dramatic, ceasefire, announcement</media:keywords>
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<title>WATCH: Peter Kyle defends Rachel Reeves tax hikes despite damning IMF findings</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-peter-kyle-defends-rachel-reeves-tax-hikes-despite-damning-imf-findings</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-peter-kyle-defends-rachel-reeves-tax-hikes-despite-damning-imf-findings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has defended the Government&#039;s taxation approach during an appearance on GB News, conceding that Britain maintains a lower tax threshold compared to France.Mr Kyle told GB News: &quot;We did have to take some difficult decisions at the beginning of this Government, and we acknowledge that we still have a lower tax threshold than France.&quot;The Cabinet minister drew a distinction between the overall threshold level and the necessity of raising taxes to fund investment. He pointed to economic fundamentals moving in a favourable direction, suggesting the early tough choices were yielding results.Kyle expressed considerable frustration that economic indicators were trending positively prior to the current conflict. He told GB News: &quot;That&#039;s why Rachel expressed such frustration, and it&#039;s why I have such frustration that going into this conflict, all of the indicators for our economy are going in the right direction.&quot;The minister argued that Britain cannot sustain a combination of sluggish growth and elevated taxation. He emphasised that boosting economic expansion remains the Government&#039;s priority, which would allow authorities to reduce obstacles and friction for businesses operating within the UK. Mr Kyle stated the country must inject growth into the economy to alleviate these burdens.The Business and Trade Secretary highlighted the international dimension of the Government&#039;s growth strategy. He pointed to ongoing negotiations with multiple major economies as central to improving Britain&#039;s trading position.Mr Kyle told GB News: &quot;That&#039;s not just domestic, it is internationally, which is why we&#039;re striking so many trade deals with South Korea, with America, with the European Union, with all of these deals are going to benefit hugely the UK.&quot;The minister described these agreements as transformative for the country&#039;s economic foundations. He said such deals would &quot;fundamentally improve the fundamentals of our economies as we go forward and create opportunities.&quot;WATCH ABOVE.

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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>WATCH:, Peter, Kyle, defends, Rachel, Reeves, tax, hikes, despite, damning, IMF, findings</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage reveals plan to jail lawyers who help illegal migrants make false gay claims</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-reveals-plan-to-jail-lawyers-who-help-illegal-migrants-make-false-gay-claims</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-reveals-plan-to-jail-lawyers-who-help-illegal-migrants-make-false-gay-claims</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform UK has pledged to prosecute lawyers who help illegal migrants make false claims about being homosexual. Nigel Farage&#039;s party plans to make facilitating false asylum claims a &quot;strict liability&quot; criminal offence, meaning prosecutors would not have to show intent, with a potential two-year prison sentence.The policy would bring the practice in line with the current legislation in place for lawyers and legal firms that fail to prevent bribery and tax evasion. “If you were a corrupt accountant and you got your client to avoid paying tax that they legally should be paying, well, it’s very simple, that accountant can be open to criminal charge,&quot; Mr Farage told The Telegraph.&quot;The same should happen to this industry that has now sprung up amongst our legal profession, the illegal immigration industry.&quot;If you’re a lawyer giving illegal information like this to somebody, not only could that person pose a threat to women and girls or even national security, but you, as a lawyer, should yourself be subject to prosecution.&quot;It comes after a BBC investigation exposed law firms and advisers charging thousands of pounds to help asylum seekers pretend to be gay so they could make a successful claim to stay in the UK.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has promised lawyers would &quot;face the full force of the law&quot; for assisting with false claims. She said: &quot;Anyone abusing protections for people fleeing persecution over gender or sexual orientation is beyond contempt.&quot;FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…Nigel Farage says second independence referendum in Scotland could be &#039;quite reasonable&#039;Nigel Farage has suggested a second independence referendum would be &quot;quite reasonable&quot; if the issue becomes &quot;relevant&quot; in future.While saying his party is opposed to the &quot;dissolution&quot; of the UK, the Reform UK leader said he cannot predict how people will feel about independence in 20 years’ time.He also claimed there are certain types of SNP voters who could be swayed to back Reform.Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on May 7, polls currently suggest Reform could be vying to become the second-largest party at Holyrood.Speaking to The Scotsman while in Glasgow, Mr Farage said Reform is &quot;totally opposed to a dissolution&quot;, and he does not think independence is an issue for voters at this election.He said: &quot;We believe in the United Kingdom. We think it’d (independence) be bad for both parties.&quot;But look, we were told in Scotland in 2014, and the whole country was told in 2016, that these referendums were once-in-a-generation, and we just stick to that.&quot;Wes Streeting says NHS is making progress &#039;in spite of strikes&#039;The NHS is making progress &quot;in spite of strikes&quot;, Wes Streeting has said.Speaking to LBC, the Health Secretary suggested the NHS could have hit its waiting list target of 65 per cent of patients seen within 18 weeks early if resident doctor strikes had not taken place.He said: &quot;If we hadn’t had those strikes, I’d probably be sat here on the basis of the published numbers saying we’ve done it a bit early.&quot;I suspect that when I’m back, when the data comes out, I will either be saying, &#039;We’ve just hit it, what a miracle, given the strikes&#039;, or &#039;I would have hit it, but for those strikes&#039;.&quot;Which, I think, captures really my frustration about where we are with the resident doctor strikes, because we are making progress in spite of strikes, we could be making more progress more quickly.&quot;Keir Starmer tells social media bosses &#039;things can&#039;t go on like this&#039;Sir Keir Starmer has told social media bosses that &quot;things can’t go on like this&quot; as he hauled them into Downing Street to talk about the risks children face online.The Prime Minister told the tech bosses: &quot;Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk.&quot;In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.&quot;The Prime Minister added: &quot;I am determined we will build a better future for our children, and look forward to working with you on this. I do think this can be done. I think the question is not whether it is done, the question is how it is done.&quot;Among those who gathered inside Downing Street were Wifredo Fernandez of X, Alistair Law of TikTok, Markus Reinisch of Meta, and Kate Alessi of Google.Iconic hotel closes doors to asylum seekers as Labour MP hails end of Blackpool&#039;s &#039;migration scandal&#039;



An iconic Blackpool hotel has closed its doors to asylum seekers as part of Labour&#039;s push to house small boat migrants at alternative accommodation sites, GB News can exclusively reveal.The Metropole Hotel, a Lancashire landmark that first opened in 1785, was repurposed to house hundreds of asylum seekers in 2021.Local MP Chris Webb today confirmed the hotel will start welcoming tourists again, with a July deadline set for asylum seekers to leave.Speaking to GB News, Mr Webb said that those currently housed at the Metropole Hotel will have a managed transition into more &quot;appropriate asylum accommodation.&quot;READ THE GB NEWS EXCLUSIVE STORY HERE.Transport Secretary’s car damaged by &#039;moon crater&#039; pothole in latest blow to Britain’s crumbling roadsTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander was left stranded after her car was wrecked by what she described as a &quot;moon crater&quot; pothole in Oxfordshire.The Cabinet minister’s green Mini Cooper was left undriveable after hitting the crater on the B4437 near Burford late at night, as she returned from a Labour fundraising event last month.Images showed the damaged vehicle being loaded onto an AA recovery truck following the incident.Ms Alexander later joked the pothole was comparable to one spotted in space, telling The Sun: &quot;I thought that the astronauts on Artemis II might have seen a similar-size crater when they were slingshotting around the Moon last week.&quot;Rachel Reeves announces plans to cut electricity bills for manufacturing firmsRachel Reeves has expanded plans to cut electricity bills for thousands of UK manufacturing firms as she continues talks in Washington focused on the economic fallout from the Iran conflict.The Chancellor, who is in Washington for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, said the plan will help UK businesses compete and create jobs despite the uncertain economic backdrop.During her trip, she has stepped up criticism of US-Israeli military action in Iran, saying war was a &quot;mistake&quot; and has not made the world a safer place.Her comments came as she was due to meet US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who has referred to the impact of the war as &quot;short-term volatility for long-term gain&quot; which he said would prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.Ms Reeves also cautioned against knee-jerk responses to the cost-of-living crisis triggered by the war in a joint statement with international counterparts at the IMF.In a bid to help businesses hit by rising costs, a plan announced last summer to cut electricity bills by up to 25 per cent for more than 7,000 UK businesses will be expanded to cover 10,000 firms.The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will cut costs by up to £40 per megawatt-hour from 2027 by exempting businesses from certain extra charges that currently support green energy and back-up power supply systems.An additional one-off payment in 2027 will be given to an extra 3,000 businesses, including companies in the automotive, aerospace, steel and pharmaceuticals sectors.The Government said it will also cover the support firms would have received if the BICS had been in place from this month. The scheme is expected to be worth up to £600million per year from next April.SNP on course for majority in Scotland amid mounting calls for second independence referendumThe Scottish National Party is on course to sweep Scotland according to a new poll, as calls for a second independence referendum grow.John Swinney’s party is projected to win 67 seats in the Scottish Parliament, a survey by The Telegraph has found.The result is one the First Minister said would give him a mandate to negotiate with Westminster on a second vote.The poll also points to a two-way battle for second place between Labour and Reform UK, with the Conservatives trailing in fourth.READ THE FULL STORY HERE.Business Secretary says supplies of carbon dioxide are &#039;not a concern&#039; for the UKBusiness Secretary Peter Kyle says Labour has &quot;un-mothballed&quot; a company to assist with the British production of CO2, as he said supplies are &quot;not a concern&quot; for the UK.Mr Kyle told GB News: &quot;What you saw released, there was a leak of contingency plans that we have been making since the very beginning of this conflict. &quot;Now, if we go back to six months ago, when I was appointed to this job with business and trade, I decided to mothball a company in the north east of England that nobody had ever heard of because it produced as its byproduct, CO2.&quot;Then in the first few days after the conflict began in the Middle East, back in the beginning of March, I un-mothballed it and it resumed production.&quot;I can reassure people that as of this week, that facility is up to full production. We are producing CO2 to the degree where we can supply more than 50 per cent of Britain&#039;s need.&quot;Reform says at least £135millon has been spent on asylum legal aidReform UK has claimed at least £135million of taxpayer money has been spent on asylum legal aid between 2018 and 2023.It follows the BBC investigation that focused on migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh whose student, work or tourist visas had expired and then sought to claim asylum.When asked about the report on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: &quot;Any attempt to misuse protections designed for people fleeing genuine persecution because of their sexuality is deplorable.&quot;Those trying to defraud the British people to enter or remain in the UK will have their asylum claim cancelled, support cut off and find themselves on a one-way flight out of Britain.&quot;Where unethical and illegal practices are identified and evidence exists, the team will refer legal practitioners to the relevant regulatory body or to the police.&quot;The asylum system is built on robust safeguards so every claim is rigorous and fairly assessed, abuse is actively uncovered and these procedures are continually reviewed to shut down misuse.&quot;Senior Cabinet minister says Labour&#039;s economic plan is &#039;the right one&#039;Chief Secretary to the Treasury has said Labour&#039;s plan is the &quot;right one&quot; as he reacted to the latest Office for National Statistics figures suggesting the economy has grown by 0.5 per cent. James Murray said: “Growth only happens when the economy is on solid ground. That’s why in a changing world our plan to restore stability, boost investment and deliver reform is the right one to build a more stronger more resilient Britain.&quot;At the IMF meetings in Washington, the Chancellor has set out how we will go further and faster to boost Britain’s competitiveness and build a stronger, more resilient economy, keeping costs down for families and businesses and taking back control of our energy costs as today we cut bills by up to 25 per cent for 10,000 British businesses.&quot;Here&#039;s what&#039;s happening in Westminster todayGood morning and welcome to the Politics Live blog. Here&#039;s what&#039;s happening today in Westminister and beyond...Rachel Reeves is in Washington today for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, as the Chancellor has stepped up criticism of US-Israeli military action in Iran, saying war was a &quot;mistake&quot; and has not made the world a safer place.We&#039;ve just been joined by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who explained the &quot;leak of contingency plans&quot;, as he addressed reports that CO2 supplies could fall to just 18 per cent of current levels, triggering major disruption across the food industry.Also, the latest Office for National Statistics figures have just dropped revealing the UK economy grew by 0.5 per cent in February. Our personal finance correspondent Temi Laleye has the full write up here.Closer to home, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the SNP of being &quot;completely obsessed with tearing our country apart&quot;.John Swinney&#039;s party, which is launching their manifesto later today, hitting back saying the &quot;Tories have absolutely nothing to offer the people of Scotland.&quot;Sir Keir Starmer will summon social media bosses to Downing Street as the Prime Minister weighs up new restrictions to protect children. Our reporter Peter Stevens has the full story here.We&#039;ll be joined by Reform&#039;s Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf later this morning as well as his Liberal Democrat counterpart Max Wilkinson. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage, reveals, plan, jail, lawyers, who, help, illegal, migrants, make, false, gay, claims</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer summons social media bosses to No10 as Labour weighs new restrictions</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-summons-social-media-bosses-to-no10-as-labour-weighs-new-restrictions</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-summons-social-media-bosses-to-no10-as-labour-weighs-new-restrictions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer will summon social media bosses to Downing Street as Labour weighs up new restrictions to protect children.The Prime Minister said the talks to senior figures from TikTok, X, Meta, and other US social media companies will focus on &quot;making sure social media companies step up and take responsibility&quot;.The meeting will come midway through the Government&#039;s consultation on how to protect children online, which has considered an Australia-style ban for under-16s, limits on addictive features, and mobile phone bans in schools.Sir Keir will be joined by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall as the Government questions leaders from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, Elon Musk’s X, Snap, TikTok, and Google about their measures to protect children.
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Ahead of talks, the Prime Minister said: &quot;Social media shapes how children see themselves, their friendships and the world around them.&quot;When that comes with real risks, looking the other way is not an option.&quot;He added: &quot;The consequences of failing to act are stark. We owe it to parents, and to the next generation, to put children&#039;s safety first – because they won&#039;t forgive us if we don&#039;t.&quot;Some social media companies have already implemented protective measures for younger users, such as disabling autoplay.But they have pushed back against a blanket under-16 ban, with Google UK&#039;s boss warning it is not the &quot;right approach&quot;.Last month, Kate Alessi, managing director and vice-president of Google UK and Ireland, said: &quot;We believe blanket bans take choices away from parents and push kids out of supervised spaces.&quot;The meeting follows a California court case which found Meta and Google liable for intentionally building addictive platforms which harmed the mental health of a 20-year-old woman.Both Meta and Google said they disagreed with the verdict and intended to appeal.LATEST FROM THE PRIME MINISTER:PM&#039;s bid to slap EU rules on Britain using Henry VIII powers &#039;blown out the water&#039; with chartKeir Starmer spent £30k of taxpayers&#039; cash on Downing Street flat – including £1.6k on shower screenMore than 300 council bosses now better paid than Keir Starmer as six-figure salaries surgeDonald Trump, meeting with tech giants at the White House last September, said measures such as the Online Safety Bill were &quot;sad&quot; and a restriction on free speech.Lord John Nash has said the US court cases were &quot;game changers&quot; for his cause of an under-16 social media ban.He introduced an amendment to the Children&#039;s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords which would immediately implement a social media ban, but it has twice been shot down in the Commons.Education minister Olivia Bailey said: &quot;Instead of the narrow amendment proposed in the House of Lords, our consultation allows us to address a much wider range of services and features.&quot;Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge, called the meeting a &quot;stunt&quot;.She said: &quot;Social media companies have sat in rooms with parents like me – parents who have lost their children – and heard exactly what their platforms do. They have heard it in meetings and they have heard it in courtrooms. And still they do nothing. This meeting will be no different.&quot;It is just a stunt designed to distract from the fact that the Government told its own MPs to vote against raising the age limit.&quot;&quot;The Prime Minister says he will take all necessary steps to protect children – except the one step that is actually in his power: acting now to raise the age limit for harmful social media to 16. My message to the Prime Minister is very clear: we don’t need more meetings, we just need leadership.&quot;The Growing Up In The Online World consultation concludes on May 26 and the Government has pledged to move quickly based on its findings.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, summons, social, media, bosses, No10, Labour, weighs, new, restrictions</media:keywords>
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<title>SNP on course for majority in Scotland amid mounting calls for second independence referendum</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-on-course-for-majority-in-scotland-amid-mounting-calls-for-second-independence-referendum</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/snp-on-course-for-majority-in-scotland-amid-mounting-calls-for-second-independence-referendum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Scottish National Party is on course to sweep Scotland according to a new poll, as calls for a second independence referendum grow.John Swinney’s party is projected to win 67 seats in the Scottish Parliament, a survey by The Telegraph has found.The result is one the First Minister said would give him a mandate to negotiate with Westminster on a second vote.The poll also points to a two-way battle for second place between Labour and Reform UK, with the Conservatives trailing in fourth.
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Mr Swinney has argued that an SNP majority at the May 7 election would serve as a mandate for a second independence referendum, speaking during a televised debate.When asked when another vote could take place, the SNP leader said it would be “perfectly conceivable” for a referendum to be held by 2028.Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the election is “not about independence”.Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay warned a break-up of Britain would be an “unmitigated disaster”.Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer said the country’s future should be “in Scotland’s hands”.Reform UK’s Scottish head, Lord Malcolm Offord, said another referendum would be “divisive”, but did not rule out the idea.Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he was focused on other issues and had not given a second referendum “a moment’s thought”.Health Secretary Wes Streeting said earlier this month there would not be another referendum, even if the SNP wins a majority at Holyrood.SCOTTISH ELECTION - READ MORE:Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urges voters to ‘give me five years&#039; to fix SNP&#039;s messJohn Swinney sets date for second Scottish independence referendumJeremy Corbyn&#039;s Your Party hit hard as 12 leaders resign en masse with plan to form rival groupHe argued that Labour’s 2024 landslide - which saw the party win 37 of Scotland’s 57 Westminster constituencies - gave Sir Keir Starmer a mandate to refuse another independence referendum.Scottish Labour is projected to record its worst result since the creation of the Scottish Parliament, finishing second on just 19 seats.Reform UK is forecast to sit close behind on 17 seats.The Scottish Conservatives would be pushed into fourth place, with just 10 MSPs.Neither the Conservatives nor the Greens are projected to win any constituency seats, with the Greens instead expected to secure nine MSPs via the regional list.The Liberal Democrats are predicted to win seven seats.Lord Offord has claimed Mr Sarwar approached him at the start of the campaign to “work together” to block an SNP victory.However, Mr Sarwar rejected the allegation, describing it as a “lie” and “nonsense”.The poll was conducted using multilevel regression and post-stratification (MRP), widely considered the gold standard for election forecasting as it enables pollsters to estimate results in individual constituencies.It typically involves larger sample sizes than standard polling and analyses detailed demographic data from both respondents and constituencies.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SNP, course, for, majority, Scotland, amid, mounting, calls, for, second, independence, referendum</media:keywords>
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<title>One in five British teenagers hide political views over fears of being cancelled</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/one-in-five-british-teenagers-hide-political-views-over-fears-of-being-cancelled</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/one-in-five-british-teenagers-hide-political-views-over-fears-of-being-cancelled</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ One in five teenagers are holding back their political views over fears of being cancelled, a new survey has found.Research by the Economist Educational Foundation, based on more than 4,000 pupils aged 10 to 17, found 22 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds avoid sharing their opinions due to cancellation concerns.Nearly a quarter said they had been told to stop discussing politics at school.The findings come as the Government pushes ahead with plans to give 16-year-olds the vote through the Representation of the People Bill.
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However, despite the proposal, 44 per cent of older teenagers admit they would feel unprepared to cast a ballot.Tiffany Smyly, chief growth officer at the foundation, warned the trend risks driving young people into more extreme online spaces.“If teenagers are worried about being cancelled, then they are not going to be sharing their viewpoints at school or with friends,” she said.“Instead, they are likely to go into chat rooms or forums that do allow them to share a fringe opinion, and that might be where their views become more extreme.”The survey found the cost of living is the top concern for young people, cited by 70 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds and 58 per cent of younger pupils.The respondents ranked health in second place. Helen Blachford, a citizenship and PSHE lead, said many teenagers are directly experiencing financial pressures.“They might have real, tangible experience of the cost of living on a day-to-day basis which would affect their voting choices,” she said.CANCEL CULTURE - READ THE LATEST:BBC torn apart for axing Bob Monkhouse tribute episode after ONE complaint: &#039;Absolutely disgusting!&#039;Hospital tears down Union Jacks which were put up to &#039;bring joy and a smile to patients&#039;Victory for &#039;silenced&#039; police chairmen as union DROPS legal challenge against themDespite concerns, interest in politics remains high, with 65 per cent of older teenagers saying they would feel more confident voting if they had a better understanding of party policies.Flora Letanka, chief executive of the foundation, warned: “Young people are curious about politics, but the worry is that if they don’t have the opportunity to engage and debate on topics that matter to them, then they may turn to social media which can be very polarising.“Instead, we need to ensure young people are given the chance to think critically about what’s going on in the world, to explore different perspectives, and see the real impact of political decisions on the people around them.”Julie George, a teacher at Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, said the research highlights a lack of confidence among Britain’s youth.She told the Independent: “Many older teenagers are self-aware and realise they don’t know enough about politics and are unsure how to express their views without offending others.“Students want to be able to talk about the big political issues of the day, but in a supportive environment where they can learn to share ideas.”Labour’s Representation of the People Bill is currently at committee stage in the House of Commons, with a sitting scheduled for Thursday.Across Britain, a 2021 YouGov survey found a majority of people (57 per cent) have felt unable to express their views over fears of judgement or negative reactions from others.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>One, five, British, teenagers, hide, political, views, over, fears, being, cancelled</media:keywords>
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<title>Israel and Lebanon leaders to hold talks for the first time in 34 years as Donald Trump tries to &amp;apos;get a little breathing room&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-and-lebanon-leaders-to-hold-talks-for-the-first-time-in-34-years-as-donald-trump-tries-to-get-a-little-breathing-room</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/israel-and-lebanon-leaders-to-hold-talks-for-the-first-time-in-34-years-as-donald-trump-tries-to-get-a-little-breathing-room</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lebanese and Israeli leaders are set to speak for the first time in decades after Donald Trump said he was &quot;trying to get a little breathing room&quot; between the two countries. The Lebanon conflict spiralled out of the US-Israeli war with Iran, with the Iran-backed Hezbollah opening fire in support of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon just 15 months after the last major conflict.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains under pressure from the White House to reach a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. President Trump, alongside Israeli cabinet members, has now suggested the leaders will agree to talk for the first time in decades. 
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Taking to his Truth Social page last night, President Trump said: &quot;It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!&quot;He did not offer any further details about potential talks between Mr Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.Gila Gamliel, a member of Israel&#039;s security cabinet, told local media that Mr Benjamin Netanyahu would &quot;speak for the first time with the president of Lebanon after so many years of no contact between the two countries&quot;.A senior Lebanese official told reporters Beirut had no information about a potential call between the two leaders. The Lebanese government has been sharply at odds with Hezbollah over its decision to enter the war, having spent the last year seeking to secure the peaceful disarmament of the group founded by Iran&#039;s Revolutionary Guards in 1982.Beirut banned Hezbollah&#039;s military activities on March 2.Washington expressed optimism about reaching a deal to end the war with Iran on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, following mediation by Pakistan.Israel and the US have ⁠said the campaign against Hezbollah was not part of that ceasefire, though Pakistan&#039;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said the truce would include Lebanon, as demanded by Iran.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM IRANDonald Trump confirms he will permanently open the Strait of HormuzIran war latest: UK will &#039;not be involved&#039; in Donald Trump&#039;s blockade of Strait of HormuzDonald Trump urged by Saudi Arabia to rein in Middle East war amid fears of Iranian retaliationA senior US administration official said the White House had not asked for a ceasefire, but President Trump &quot;would welcome the end of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon&quot;.Mr Netanyahu, in a video statement released late last night, said the Israeli military continued to strike at Hezbollah and was about to &quot;overcome&quot; the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, located at the border.The senior Lebanese official said that Lebanon’s assessment was that Israel wanted to secure a victory in Bint Jbeil before diplomatic progress could be made.The Israeli military said its troops were continuing &quot;targeted ground operations in southern Lebanon&quot;.Iran has said Lebanon must be included in any agreement to end the wider war in the Middle East, while Washington has pushed back, saying there is no link between the two sets of talks.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades, and both sides said they held positive discussions.However, it was not immediately clear if they agreed to a framework for peace.Hezbollah on Wednesday condemned the meeting in Washington, saying it would deepen the rift among the Lebanese population.The US State Department released a statement after the meeting saying the two sides had &quot;productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations&quot;.On the ground in Lebanon, an Israeli strike has severed the last bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, according to a senior Lebanese security official.They added that the strike &quot;shattered&quot; the bridge and left no possibility of repairing it.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Israel, and, Lebanon, leaders, hold, talks, for, the, first, time, years, Donald, Trump, tries, get, little, breathing, room</media:keywords>
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<title>Transport Secretary’s car damaged by ‘moon crater’ pothole in latest blow to Britain’s crumbling roads</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/transport-secretarys-car-damaged-by-moon-crater-pothole-in-latest-blow-to-britains-crumbling-roads</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/transport-secretarys-car-damaged-by-moon-crater-pothole-in-latest-blow-to-britains-crumbling-roads</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was left stranded after her car was wrecked by what she described as a “moon crater” pothole in Oxfordshire.The Cabinet minister’s green Mini Cooper was left undriveable after hitting the crater on the B4437 near Burford late at night, as she returned from a Labour fundraising event last month.Images showed the damaged vehicle being loaded onto an AA recovery truck following the incident.Ms Alexander later joked the pothole was comparable to one spotted in space, telling The Sun: “I thought that the astronauts on Artemis II might have seen a similar-size crater when they were slingshotting around the Moon last week.”
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But she admitted the breakdown - which caused “added expense and inconvenience” - reflected a much wider issue across Britain’s roads.“I think that&#039;s the experience of far too many people in the country at the moment,” she said.The incident underscores the growing crisis facing the UK’s road network, with the national repair backlog now estimated at £18.6billion.Industry figures show just over half of local roads are in acceptable condition, with some only resurfaced once every 97 years.Ms Alexander said the episode reinforced why fixing Britain’s roads has been her top priority since taking office in November 2024.The Government has earmarked £27billion for transport infrastructure across the country.Councils now risk losing up to a third of their pothole funding if they fail to prove money is being spent on repairs.Of a £1.6billion pot, around £525million could be withheld from underperforming authorities.BRITAIN&#039;S ROADS IN CRISIS? - READ MORE:Labour to remove funding from local councils failing to tackle major road problemsSUVs and larger vehicles &#039;exacerbate&#039; pothole problem on UK roads, claim scientistsMotorhome and campervan drivers to be banned from popular tourist hotspot to improve road safetyMs Alexander warned “second-rate work” would not be tolerated, adding councils could face public backlash if improvements are not delivered.“I expect local councils… will start to feel the wrath of their own public if they’re not seeing progress,” she said.She insisted motorists should begin to notice improvements before the next general election.Earlier this year, the AA said pothole-related call outs had surged by more than 18 per cent across the country.More than 6,200 pothole-related incidents were recorded in the East of England alone in January.Mobile tyre fitter George Mircas told the BBC: &quot;The potholes are absolutely crazy - the roads have got so bad over the last year.&quot;Recently, on the M25 at Potters Bar there was a massive pothole in the middle of the motorway and eight cars had damaged tyres. It&#039;s very risky.&quot;Meanwhile, in Suffolk, 30 vehicles were damaged by a single pothole on the same night in February.Julie Williamson, who hit the pothole, said: &quot;It took me three hours to get the AA [to arrive] and to get home because they had so many calls.&quot;The road was full of AA vans and RAC vans.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Transport, Secretary’s, car, damaged, ‘moon, crater’, pothole, latest, blow, Britain’s, crumbling, roads</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump ‘planning Cuba invasion’ after President warns island nation is ‘next’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-planning-cuba-invasion-after-president-warns-island-nation-is-next</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-planning-cuba-invasion-after-president-warns-island-nation-is-next</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump is considering a potential military operation in Cuba after warning the island could be “next”.The US military has begun drawing up plans as tensions with Cuba escalate following the oil blockade imposed on January 30.Two anonymous sources familiar with the discussions confirmed the plans to USA Today.On Monday, Mr Trump said: “We may stop by Cuba after we’re finished with this,” referring to the ongoing war in Iran.
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The comments come just two weeks after the President declared: &quot;Cuba is going to be next.&quot;He also previously suggested he would have the &quot;honour&quot; of &quot;taking Cuba, in some form&quot;.Mr Trump added: &quot;Whether I free it, take it - I think I can do anything I want with it.&quot;The plans, first reported by Zeteo’s Substack, have since circulated among officials in Washington and on Capitol Hill.The Pentagon said in a statement it has plans in place for a range of contingencies and is prepared to carry out Mr Trump’s orders.Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a recent interview with NBC that Cubans would be willing to fight in the event of military intervention.He said: “If that happens, there will be fighting, and there will be a struggle, and we will defend ourselves, and if we need to die, we’ll die, because as our national anthem says, ‘Dying for the homeland is to live&#039;.”However, he added that both sides should “engage in discussions, to debate” in order to “reach agreements” and avoid conflict.LATEST DONALD TRUMP:Donald Trump confirms he will permanently open the Strait of HormuzDonald Trump threatens to downgrade Britain&#039;s trade deal in latest attack on Keir StarmerDonald Trump shares AI photo with Jesus days after &#039;blasphemous&#039; post being depicted as ChristBrian Fonseca, an academic who has extensively studied Cuba’s military, told USA Today he believes the talk of military plans is intended as a warning.“Right now, this is a lot of signaling,” said the director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University.Cuba has been plunged into widespread blackouts and fuel shortages, undermining food supplies, disrupting hospitals, and forcing schools and universities to close.On March 30, Russia sent 700,000 barrels of crude oil - the first significant shipment since the US fuel blockade was imposed.One Cuban resident, Marino Galvez, 66, compared the shipment to “finding water in the desert”.The island’s foreign ministry said it could take between 25 and 35 days for the oil to be fully processed and distributed.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would continue to support Cuba.He said: “I have no doubt that we will continue providing such assistance, and that (China) will, of course, continue to take part in this cooperation as well.”The US said it allowed the shipment to enter Cuba for humanitarian reasons and would assess future deliveries on a “case-by-case” basis.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US reserves the right to seize vessels heading to Cuba that violate sanctions.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, ‘planning, Cuba, invasion’, after, President, warns, island, nation, ‘next’</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s bid to slap EU rules on Britain using Henry VIII powers &amp;apos;blown out the water&amp;apos; with &amp;apos;stunning&amp;apos; chart</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-bid-to-slap-eu-rules-on-britain-using-henry-viii-powers-blown-out-the-water-with-stunning-chart</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-bid-to-slap-eu-rules-on-britain-using-henry-viii-powers-blown-out-the-water-with-stunning-chart</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s bid to slap European Union regulations on Britain using Henry VIII powers has been &quot;blown out the water&quot; by damning new data.The Prime Minister has received criticism after plans to sign the UK up to the Brussels bloc&#039;s food and drink laws are set to be unveiled in the upcoming King&#039;s Speech.The same bill will also hand ministers powers to rubber-stamp secondary legislation under &quot;Henry VIII powers&quot;, once a deal between the UK and EU is reached. Sir Keir, along with his Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has regularly pushed the claim the economy&#039;s deterioration should be blamed on a number of issues – from the 14 years&#039; of Tory government to Donald Trump&#039;s presidency.
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However, Ms Reeves has also attempted to dodge accountability by blaming the public&#039;s 2016 decision to leave the EU.As a result, Labour has pushed for a closer relationship with EU member states, despite the public voting against the move 10 years ago.At the start of the month, when Sir Keir held a conference to discuss the economic damage by the Iran war, he said Brexit did &quot;deep damage to our economy&quot;. The claim formed part of his argument that &quot;our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe&quot; - including &quot;closer economic cooperation&quot;. But a chart whipped up by Facts4EU has revealed the UK has not suffered any damage from Brexit.The analysis compares the UK economy with the EU&#039;s top five economies over the past decade – with each nation following the same pattern.The chart marks the GDP of each nation in relation, showing the UK&#039;s $3,814billion in comparison to Germany&#039;s $5,106billion in 2025.France is just behind on $3,801billion and Italy, Spain and the Netherlands trailing behind.After the public voted to rescind membership of the bureaucratic body, the graph reveals there is not any &quot;deep damage&quot;, excluding the pandemic era.From the six nations, the UK is the second-largest economy, behind Germany and just ahead of France, the OECD data analysis shows.Deputy leader of Reform UK Richard Tice told GB News: &quot;Sir Keir and friends seem to think if they tell the public a big enough whopper, and repeat it often enough, the public will be fooled.&quot;We think people are smarter than that. And now there’s one chart that totally destroys what little credibility this Government still had.LABOUR&#039;S &#039;BREXIT BETRAYAL&#039; - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer accused of Chagos-style handover of Britain&#039;s electricity to the EU in Brexit betrayalLabour minister denies &#039;Brexit betrayal&#039; by Keir Starmer in GB News grilling: &#039;Right thing to do!&#039;Keir Starmer accused of &#039;direct Brexit betrayal&#039; as Labour plans putting UK under EU control&quot;The whole justification for Labour’s flagship bill in the King’s speech next month has just been blown out of the water by this stunning chart from the Facts4EU think tank.&quot;The &quot;reset&quot; legislation is expected to be unveiled in the King&#039;s Speech on May 13. Such legislation will then follow the regular parliamentary process. Labour, armed with its current plans, will revive 76 EU directives while seeking closer alignment with European member states, which Ms Reeves insisted was in the &quot;national interest&quot;. Speaking at a conference last month, the Chancellor said specific unique industries would stay under British law. However, she added these would be the &quot;exception, not the norm&quot;. London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has even suggested the party should campaign to rejoin the bloc at the next general election. Meanwhile, other key Cabinet figures, such as Peter Kyle, have been more reserved in their support for the closer alignment. The Business Secretary said No10&#039;s previous refusal to join the EU single market and customs union was &quot;for the moment we&#039;re in&quot;. On the &quot;reset&quot; bill, a Government spokesman said: &quot;The bill will go through Parliament in the normal way. Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.&quot;This will allow us to deliver a food and drink trade deal worth £5.1billion a year, backing British jobs and slashing costly red tape for our farmers, producers and businesses.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, bid, slap, rules, Britain, using, Henry, VIII, powers, blown, out, the, water, with, stunning, chart</media:keywords>
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<title>Hungary’s new PM Peter Magyar poses for photo with country’s president &#45; then takes to X to slate him and demand his resignation</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/hungarys-new-pm-peter-magyar-poses-for-photo-with-countrys-president-then-takes-to-x-to-slate-him-and-demand-his-resignation</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/hungarys-new-pm-peter-magyar-poses-for-photo-with-countrys-president-then-takes-to-x-to-slate-him-and-demand-his-resignation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hungary’s new Prime Minister posed for a photo with the country’s President and then took to social media to slate him and demand his resignation.Péter Magyar, whose party won Hungary’s parliamentary election on April 10, uploaded a photo with Tamás Sulyok, the country’s President to social media and captioned the image with a damning statement towards the Head of State, saying he is “unfit” and “unworthy” of representing the nation. He wrote on X, alongside an image of him with President Sulyok: “I have arrived at the Sándor Palace to meet the President of Hungary.“@DrTamasSulyok is unworthy of representing the unity of the Hungarian nation. He is unfit to serve as the guardian of legality. He is not fit to serve as a moral authority or a role model.
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“Following the formation of the new government, Tamás Sulyok must leave office immediately.”Mr Sulyok has been Hungary’s President since 2024 and represents the Fidesz–KDNP party. The Hungarian President is elected indirectly via Parliament and generally serves a five-year term. A predominantly ceremonial role, the President is the official Head of State, Commander of the Armed Forces and can propose laws as well as referendums. The incoming Hungarian Prime Minister is leader of the opposing Tisza party - he was formerly a member of Fidesz, but renounced his membership over a presidential pardon scandal in 2024. His party won the Hungarian parliamentary election on Friday by a two-thirds legislative majority, bringing Viktor Orbán&#039;s 16-year rule in the country to an end. After the Tisza party’s win, Mr Magyar took little time to call for the Orbán-supporting President to step-down from his position. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, he said: “&quot;I repeated to him that, in my eyes and in the eyes of the Hungarian people, he is unworthy of embodying the unity of the Hungarian nation, incapable of ensuring respect for the law”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump confirms he will permanently open the Strait of HormuzEU chief races to congratulate new Hungarian PM after JD Vance warns of &#039;foreign interference&#039;Greek police &#039;using masked migrants to push illegal arrivals back across border into Turkey&#039;He continued to say his Government would introduce a law to remove the President and “all the puppets nominated to top posts by the Orbán system”. Other posts he set his sights on included Hungary’s chief prosecutor and the head of the constitutional court, reports Le Monde. The landslide victory for the Tisza party will allow the new Prime Minister to overturn Mr Orbán&#039;s policies, vowing to make Hungary a “European country again”.He also intends to re-establish Hungary’s international relationships, after the former leader was known to cosy up to Putin.In February, Mr Orbán utilised his veto to block an EU financial agreement to give Ukraine a €90billion handout to add to their warchest. Mr Magyar had previously worked in Mr Orbán’s office in 2015. He came to prominence for criticism over the Katalin Novák presidential pardon scandal in February 2024.In a covertly made voice recording of his ex-wife Judit Varga, it revealed that the President of Hungary at the time, Katalin Novák, had granted a presidential pardon in April 203 to Endre Kónya, the deputy director of a state-run children&#039;s home near Budapest. Kónya had coerced children into covering up sexual abuse by his superior, János Vásárhelyi, the home&#039;s director.The information resulted in anti-government protests calling for Ms Novák’s resignation, to which she did on February 10, 2024. President Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Orbán, appeared to swiftly move on from his defeat, telling ABC News he believed the incoming Hungarian leader would do a &quot;good job”. He had repeatedly and publicly backed Mr Orbán in the days leading up to the vote, including a direct endorsement just two days before Hungarians went to the polls.The incoming Hungarian Prime Minister has pledged to halt economic stagnation, reform health care, quash corruption and suspend the country’s state media, which he described as a “propaganda machine”. 

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hungary’s, new, Peter, Magyar, poses, for, photo, with, country’s, president, then, takes, slate, him, and, demand, his, resignation</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump urged by Saudi Arabia to rein in Middle East war amid fears of Iranian retaliation</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-urged-by-saudi-arabia-to-rein-in-middle-east-war-amid-fears-of-iranian-retaliation</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-urged-by-saudi-arabia-to-rein-in-middle-east-war-amid-fears-of-iranian-retaliation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump is being urged by Saudi Arabia to rein in the Middle East conflict amid fears of Iranian retaliation, according to Gulf diplomats.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pressing the President to end the American naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and return to diplomatic talks.The intervention marks a striking shift from one of the Arab world’s most hawkish voices on Iran, with Riyadh increasingly concerned the conflict could spiral.The development was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and later confirmed to The Telegraph by two Gulf officials.
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Mr Trump announced on Sunday that US forces would begin intercepting vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, framing the move as a response to Tehran’s failure to offer sufficient concessions in talks.However, Saudi Arabia is said to fear that Iran could retaliate by ordering its Houthi proxies in Yemen to shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait - a critical Red Sea route through which a significant share of Saudi oil exports passes.Such a move would threaten one of the kingdom’s key export alternatives following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Arash Azizi, an Iranian-American historian, told The Jerusalem Post the Houthis were likely preparing to close the Bab al-Mandeb “in the next round” of hostilities if tensions escalate further.However, he added: “There&#039;s a strong desire on the part of Iran to avoid that and to, in fact, de-escalate and seek a deal. So that&#039;s not something they&#039;re actively planning for.”The Crown Prince’s current caution marks a sharp contrast to his stance following US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June.At the time, he is said to have shifted towards a more aggressive position, aligning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in viewing the strikes as a rare opportunity to weaken Tehran decisively.Saudi Arabia’s earlier confidence was believed to be rooted in its geography, with coastlines on both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.IRAN WAR - READ THE LATEST:US on high alert for terror attacks as Iran will try to &#039;extract revenge&#039; for strikesChina defies Donald Trump and sends tanker through Strait of Hormuz slamming US blockadeUS rejects Iran&#039;s proposal to halt nuclear development for 5 years as JD Vance labels it &#039;red line&#039;After Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, the kingdom diverted crude from its Ras Tanura terminal to the Red Sea port of Yanbu via its 750-mile east-west pipeline, restoring exports to around seven million barrels a day.However, that resilience could quickly unravel if the Iran-backed Houthis resume attacks or attempt to seize control of the Bab al-Mandeb.Between 2023 and last year, the group launched 190 attacks on commercial vessels, sinking two ships and capturing another, causing Red Sea traffic to plunge by more than 60 per cent.The Southern Transitional Council president’s special representative, Amr al-Bidh, warned: “The conditions for a resumption of strikes on shipping are now more permissive than at any point since 2023.”Bahraini analyst Ahmed Alkhuzaie said Gulf states ultimately want Washington “to act as a guarantor of maritime security rather than as a disruptor”, seeking deterrence against Iran without harming regional exporters.On Tuesday, Mr Trump told the New York Post that talks with the Islamic Republic could resume within “the next two days”.The President said: “Something could be happening over the next two days, and we&#039;re more inclined to go there [Pakistan].”Last weekend, Vice President JD Vance held talks with senior Iranian figures in Islamabad, but the negotiations ended without a deal to bring the conflict to an end.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, urged, Saudi, Arabia, rein, Middle, East, war, amid, fears, Iranian, retaliation</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves outlines ‘limited’ defence support amid warnings Britain’s ‘security and safety’ at risk</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-outlines-limited-defence-support-amid-warnings-britains-security-and-safety-at-risk</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-outlines-limited-defence-support-amid-warnings-britains-security-and-safety-at-risk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rachel Reeves has outlined a limited increase in defence spending despite warnings Britain’s national “security and safety is in peril”.The Chancellor is expected to raise spending by less than £10billion over the next four years, after Lord George Robertson - author of last year’s Strategic Defence Review - accused Labour of “corrosive complacency”.The armed forces say they are facing a funding gap of around £28billion over the next four years under current plans.A Government source told The Times that Mrs Reeves has proposed an increase of less than £10billion during talks with Sir Keir Starmer, amid concerns a larger rise would not be affordable.
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Defence chiefs are meeting this week to discuss potential budget cuts of around £3.5billion, sources told Sky News.Officials from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are understood to be pushing for funding to be made available more quickly as part of the defence investment plan.Without additional funding, military planners have been forced to look for ways to cut costs.Despite the pressure, Mrs Reeves is unwilling to break her fiscal rules or raise taxes to boost defence spending, according to The Times.Defence Secretary John Healey is understood to be pushing for a larger increase, amid concerns £10billion will not be sufficient if British troops are deployed to Ukraine or the Middle East.The dispute has further delayed the defence investment plan, which was due to be published more than six months ago.Lord Robertson said: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe.”The Labour peer also argued the welfare budget should be reduced to boost defence spending.RACHEL REEVES - READ THE LATEST:Rachel Reeves&#039;s VAT raid forces doors shut of UK&#039;s top Jewish private schoolRachel Reeves&#039;s inheritance tax raids risk forcing major British manufacturing firm JCB abroadRachel Reeves&#039;s tax rates put people off work as £100k threshold raids workers&#039; pockets, report saysHe said &quot;We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.&quot;We are simply not ready and we need to rebuild war readiness in order to deter any adversary.&quot;Lord Geoff Hoon, himself a former Labour Defence Secretary, told GB News it was &quot;remarkable&quot; for his fellow Labour peer to attack the Government.&quot;My suspicion is that something has gone wrong inside the Treasury. It&#039;s not unusual for defence ministers, and former defence ministers to complain about the Treasury, and I suspect that&#039;s really his target,&quot; he told the People&#039;s Channel.Sir Keir “completely rejected” Lord Robertson’s claims, with No10 insisting Britain’s “armed forces are among the best in the world”.The Prime Minister’s spokesman added: “Our armed forces are working around the clock... Our armed forces are among the best in the world and work 24/7 to keep us safe - we have made the largest defence investment since the Cold War.”A Government source said that both previous Conservative administrations and Labour had failed to cut the welfare budget.The insider also pointed to Sir Keir’s abandonment of welfare reforms following a backbench rebellion by more than 100 Labour MPs in July last year.A Government spokesman said: “We have delivered the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War - taking the total investment to more than £270 billion across this parliament.“We are finalising our defence investment plan that we will publish as soon as possible, rebuilding British industry to make defence an engine for growth and doubling down on our own commitment to Nato.”

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, outlines, ‘limited’, defence, support, amid, warnings, Britain’s, ‘security, and, safety’, risk</media:keywords>
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<title>Robert Jenrick demands Southport killer’s ‘shameful’ parents be deported from Britain</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/robert-jenrick-demands-southport-killers-shameful-parents-be-deported-from-britain</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/robert-jenrick-demands-southport-killers-shameful-parents-be-deported-from-britain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Robert Jenrick has called for the parents of Axel Rudakubana to be deported to Rwanda following the publication of the Southport Inquiry’s findings.The Reform UK Treasury spokesman accused Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire of acting disgracefully and said they should face prosecution.Speaking to the Telegraph&#039;s Daily T podcast, Mr Jenrick said: “The family of Axel Rudakubana have behaved shamefully.”He acknowledged the pressures parents can face but said the couple knew their son was amassing weapons and feared for their own safety, yet failed to act.
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“These individuals should face criminal charges and they should be deported. &quot;They came here for asylum. They enjoyed the hospitality [and] generosity of the UK, and they&#039;ve abused that,” he added.The inquiry, chaired by Sir Adrian Fulford, found the parents bore “very considerable responsibility” for the attack on July 29, 2024.The retired judge concluded that had they acted as they were morally obliged to, their son would not have been able to carry out the killings.“This terrible event could have been and should have been prevented,” Sir Adrian said.His two-volume report, running to more than 763 pages, described the parents’ “complete abandonment of responsibility” as “utterly unconscionable”.The inquiry found the couple - who arrived in the UK in 2002 after fleeing the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide - allowed weapons to be kept in the home, failed to set boundaries and did not alert authorities to warning signs.Three young girls were killed in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport - Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSEx-detective marks &#039;dark day for Britain&#039; as &#039;catastrophic&#039; Southport Inquiry findings are releasedSouthport inquiry chairman declares &#039;this culture has to end&#039; after uncovering pre-attack failuresSouthport killer facing &#039;half a century in solitary confinement&#039;Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, also attempted to murder 10 other people and was handed a minimum sentence of 52 years.The inquiry heard his parents were aware he had been stockpiling knives, viewing violent material online and making poison in his bedroom.Sir Adrian also criticised the father for creating “significant obstructions to constructive engagement” with authorities.The citizenship status of the parents remains unclear, though they are believed to hold British nationality.Their son, now 19, was born in Cardiff and is a British citizen.Under UK law, citizens cannot be deported - but the British Nationality Act 1981 allows citizenship to be revoked in certain circumstances, including where it is deemed in the public interest and the individual holds another nationality.International law also prevents deportation if it would leave a person stateless.Current guidance states citizenship can only be removed where individuals pose a threat to the UK or their actions amount to “very high harm”, such as terrorism, espionage or serious organised crime.The families of the victims have also called for the parents to face criminal consequences.Chris Walker, solicitor for the bereaved families, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There should be individual criminal accountability for the parents.”He said existing laws make prosecution difficult but welcomed calls for reform.Mr Walker also warned he would name social workers and police officers who failed to act if disciplinary action is not taken.Merseyside Police, which previously concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge the parents, is now reviewing the inquiry’s findings.The killer’s older brother Dion, 21, described him as a “ticking timebomb”, saying the family lived in constant fear of his violent outbursts.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Robert, Jenrick, demands, Southport, killer’s, ‘shameful’, parents, deported, from, Britain</media:keywords>
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<title>Reform set to defend seats across Britain after two councillors step down</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-set-to-defend-seats-across-britain-after-two-councillors-step-down</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-set-to-defend-seats-across-britain-after-two-councillors-step-down</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform UK is gearing up to defend two local seats this Thursday as Britons head to the polls.Narborough and Whetstone residents are set to elect a new county councillor to Leicestershire County Council, just as locals in Cramlington, Northumberland are set to cast their votes too. Nigel Farage&#039;s party will be looking to secure a defence in both seats after two of the party&#039;s councillors resigned from their position several weeks ago. Last year&#039;s local election results, however, indicate another victory for Reform UK, with both sets of results securing around 40 per cent of the vote. 
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Narborough &amp; Whetstone (Leicestershire)Reform UK will be defending their seat in Leicestershire County Council this Thursday after their serving councillor stepped down back in February.Andrew Thorp quit his post without giving a reason just 10 months after securing his seat last May. While his party stormed to victory across England, the local councillor took home 42.3 per cent of the vote, with the Tories&#039; candidate coming second with 24.5 per cent.Currently, Reform UK runs a minority administration on the local authority with 23 councillors.The local Conservatives serve as the governing party&#039;s main opposition on the county council with 15 seats.The authority also has 11 Liberal Democrats, two Labour members, two independents and one Green Party councillor.LIST OF CANDIDATESMartin Garfoot - Advance UKMike Jelfs - GreenDee North - Reform UKLisa Jane Pendury-Hunt - LabourLes Phillimore - ConservativeAnde Savage - Liberal DemocratPOLITICS LATEST:Ex-Royal Navy officer blasts Keir Starmer for &#039;kicking the can down the road&#039; on defence spendingZia Yusuf despairs at &#039;eye-watering&#039; £250billion foreign aid bill amid Britain&#039;s defence crisisRobert Jenrick demands Rachel Reeves to implement an emergency VAT cutCramlington South West (Northumberland)Reform will be looking to bat off any rivals in its upcoming contest in Cramlington South West, on Northumberland County Council. The mid-term contest was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Shaun Knowles, who stepped down from his role on health ground amid a kidney cancer diagnosis. Last year, Reform took home 39.4 per cent of the vote, with Labour coming second place with 28.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the Tories secured 25.2 per cent of the vote. LIST OF CANDIDATESBridget Anne Byrne - Reform UKNick Cott - Liberal DemocratsDawn Furness - IndependentNeil David Graham - ConservativesAlex Phimister - GreensLynne Robinson - Labour

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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Key details of King Charles and Donald Trump&amp;apos;s meeting in the US revealed as White House to host crunch talks</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/key-details-of-king-charles-and-donald-trumps-meeting-in-the-us-revealed-as-white-house-to-host-crunch-talks</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Buckingham Palace has announced the key details surrounding King Charles and Queen Camilla trip to the United States later this month.The royal couple will visit three locations: Washington D.C., New York and Virginia.The trip coincides with America&#039;s celebration of 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. King Charles and Queen Camilla will join the American people in marking this significant milestone.Buckingham Palace has said the visit presents an opportunity to acknowledge the shared heritage between Britain and the United States. It will also highlight the extensive economic, security and cultural bonds that have developed over two and a half centuries.
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The Palace emphasised the importance of the deep connections between communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Following the American tour, the King will continue to Bermuda for a Royal Visit from 1st to 2nd May, representing his inaugural trip as Sovereign to a British Overseas Territory.Upon arrival in the American capital, the King and Queen will receive an informal greeting from President Trump and the First Lady. The two couples will share a private tea together.Later in the programme, the King and Queen will attend a Garden Party with guests set to represent the many connections linking Britain and America.A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that the visit &quot;recognises the challenges the United Kingdom, the United States, and our Allies face across the world; this visit is a moment to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we address those challenges together, in the UK&#039;s national interest.&quot;The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office described the occasion as historic, noting it will &quot;demonstrate the very best of the UK-US relationship that is central to our shared prosperity, security and history.&quot;Officials added that trade between the two nations generates economic growth, technological innovation and millions of jobs.A formal welcoming ceremony will take place at the White House later during the visit. This official reception will include a ceremonial military review. The military review element reflects the longstanding defence partnership between Britain and America.The formal White House ceremony represents a significant diplomatic occasion, distinct from the earlier informal tea. It underscores the official nature of the State Visit and the importance both governments place on the relationship.The King will then hold a bilateral meeting with President Trump. While the two leaders confer, the Queen and First Lady will undertake a separate engagement together.A highlight of the Washington programme will see the King deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress, with the Queen by his side. This speech will represent only the second occasion in history that a British Monarch has spoken before both houses of the American legislature.The last such address was given by Queen Elizabeth II during her State Visit in September 1991. In his remarks, the King is expected to acknowledge the challenges confronting both nations.Speaking before Congress offers the King a platform to address American lawmakers directly. The Palace described this congressional appearance as &quot;a key moment in the visit.&quot;Both Donald Trump and King Charles will deliver remarks at the State Dinner that evening, hosted by the President and the First Lady at the White House.Prior to departing Washington, the King and Queen will participate in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony to honour those who have fallen in service.This tribute will commemorate service members from the United States, the United Kingdom and allied nations.The Foreign Office spokesperson emphasised that &quot;UK-US security, military, and intelligence cooperation keeps our citizens, nations, and allies safe from threat.&quot;The royal couple will spend a day in New York undertaking engagements that reflect the contemporary economic and cultural bonds between Britain and America. Community initiatives aimed at improving lives across the United States will also feature prominently.A particularly poignant element of the New York programme will see the King and Queen pay tribute to victims of the 9/11 attacks. This commemoration comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy later this year.The King and Queen will meet serving first responders who continue to protect the city. They will also spend time with families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. The Palace described the 9/11 anniversary as &quot;a poignant moment in our recent shared history.&quot;The King will also visit a grassroots organisation dedicated to supporting young people facing food insecurity. This community project uses sustainable urban farming as an after-school programme to mentor children and teenagers.Meanwhile, the Queen will attend a celebration of literature that honours the shared literary heritage of both nations. The event will mark the centenary of A.A. Milne&#039;s beloved character Winnie the Pooh.Camilla’s charity, The Queen&#039;s Reading Room, will host a reception bringing together prominent authors and readers. The gathering aims to champion literature across the Atlantic, uniting the publishing worlds of Britain and America.The literary celebration reflects the cultural connections that have flourished between the two countries over centuries. Children&#039;s literature in particular has crossed borders freely, with British authors finding devoted readerships in America.The New York programme will conclude with a reception hosted by The King&#039;s Trust. This event will celebrate the charity&#039;s work in shaping the lives of young Americans across the country.The reception will also showcase cultural links between the two nations, with particular emphasis on Britain&#039;s world-leading creative industries.The Foreign Office noted that trade between the countries &quot;generates economic growth, technological innovation and millions of jobs for our people.&quot;In Virginia, the royal couple will experience Appalachian cultural traditions through performances by local groups representing the region&#039;s distinctive heritage. They will also meet residents and community organisations from the area.A &quot;block party&quot; will form part of the celebrations marking America&#039;s 250th birthday. This festive gathering will allow King Charles and Queen Camilla to join Americans in commemorating the nation&#039;s founding.The King will travel to one of America&#039;s National Parks, where he will meet members of an indigenous community. He will also engage with individuals working on conservation projects and environmental protection efforts.The Queen will undertake a separate engagement at a farm connected to the American horse racing industry.The Virginia programme combines cultural celebration with environmental awareness, reflecting the King&#039;s well-known interest in conservation alongside the commemorative purpose of the State Visit.Following the conclusion of the American State Visit, the King will travel onwards to Bermuda for a Royal Visit from May 1st to 2nd. This will mark His Majesty&#039;s first trip as Sovereign to any British Overseas Territory.The King last visited Bermuda in an official capacity more than five decades ago. He returns now to engage with communities across the island and celebrate various aspects of Bermudian life.Upon arrival, King Charles will receive a formal welcome ceremony featuring a Guard of Honour provided by the Royal Bermuda Regiment. A 21-gun salute will accompany the official reception.The Foreign Office described Bermuda as &quot;the UK&#039;s oldest Overseas Territory&quot; and noted the visit will give the King &quot;an opportunity to connect with the younger generation.&quot;Officials stated that the partnership between Britain and Bermuda is &quot;founded on respect, and focused on shared priorities of security, good governance, and resilient growth.&quot;The Bermuda programme will include a focus on biodiversity, with the King meeting young people participating in educational sessions run by the Bermuda Zoological Society.These classroom activities involve hands-on conservation work to preserve local habitats and restore native species.In Hamilton, the King will celebrate the island&#039;s arts and culture by meeting Bermudians from various creative fields. At the dockside, the King will meet youth organisation representatives and Commonwealth Games athletes preparing for the 2026 Games.King Charles will formally open the new Great Bay Coast Guard Station, learning about operations to ensure maritime safety and combat illegal activity at sea.The visit will conclude with a meeting with UK Space Agency representatives discussing plans for a new telescope installation in Bermuda, supporting international efforts to track space debris.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Sadiq Khan’s London homes target ‘impossible to meet’ as building falls far short of 88,000 target</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/sadiq-khans-london-homes-target-impossible-to-meet-as-building-falls-far-short-of-88000-target</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/sadiq-khans-london-homes-target-impossible-to-meet-as-building-falls-far-short-of-88000-target</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Sadiq Khan’s target of building 88,000 homes a year in London has been branded “impossible” by property analysts after a sharp slowdown in construction.Market analysts Molior found just 2,103 private new‑build homes were started in the capital in the first three months of 2026 — far below the 22,000 quarterly starts needed to hit the Mayor’s goal.Although the figure is higher than last year’s quarterly average of 1,397, analysts said the overall pace of development remains “awful”. The slowdown raises fresh questions over Labour’s national pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2030, with London expected to shoulder a significant share of the build‑out.
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By the end of March, 36,735 homes were under construction in the capital — around 84 per cent below the estimated 225,000 needed to sustain annual completions of 88,000.Molior founder Tim Craine said: “To complete 88,000 homes a year, you need more than 88,000 homes under construction. You probably need two and a half times that number.”He noted that while London has roughly 300,000 planning permissions, many are outline approvals unlikely to be delivered simultaneously.“London maybe has a natural delivery rate of about 20,000 homes a year,” he said.Molior projections suggest that by early 2028, just 5,889 private homes will be under construction.The slowdown has coincided with a steep drop in transactions.Only 2,838 homes were sold in London in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 8,586 in a single quarter in 2015.Mr Craine said falling values have dampened demand, leaving buyers unwilling to commit to off‑plan purchases. “No incentive to buy off‑plan,” he said.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSUK growth forecasts SLASHED as Rachel Reeves warned risk of recession &#039;rising fast&#039;British households offered FREE electricity for sunny weekend usage in new energy bill schemeUK entertainment chain collapses into administration but 80 jobs rescued amid business rate hikes“And with zero off‑plan buyers, you get zero construction from anyone that needs to get debt from the bank.”Halifax data shows London house prices fell 1.2 per cent on average, amid wider market uncertainty and higher mortgage rates.Deutsche Bank has warned UK prices could fall by up to five per cent this year.The Ministry of Housing said it remains committed to boosting supply.A spokesman said: “We’re taking decisive action to get spades in the ground in the capital so we can restore the dream of homeownership for Londoners,” citing emergency measures to unblock stalled sites and deliver more affordable homes.“We will leave no stone unturned to help London meet its housing target,” he added.Sir Sadiq Khan has already reduced the affordable housing requirement from 35 per cent to 20 per cent in an effort to accelerate development.But Mr Craine said even with these changes, the target remains out of reach. “It’s physically impossible to reach the target,” he said.

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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Royals stay overnight in White House after meeting Melania and Donald Trump</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/royals-stay-overnight-in-white-house-after-meeting-melania-and-donald-trump</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/royals-stay-overnight-in-white-house-after-meeting-melania-and-donald-trump</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands were welcomed to the White House on Monday evening by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for dinner and an overnight stay.The Dutch royals are undertaking a working visit to the United States rather than a formal state visit, with their itinerary spanning Philadelphia, Washington DC and Miami. &quot;Thank you for having us,&quot; the King remarked upon arrival.The Royal House of the Netherlands stated that transatlantic ties between the two nations &quot;are important for security and prosperity&quot; and that the trip aims to strengthen cooperation across multiple areas at federal and state levels.The visit coincides with America&#039;s 250th anniversary of independence celebrations, providing an opportunity to reflect on longstanding historical connections between the two countries.Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten attended the dinner and subsequently shared details of the discussions on social media.He wrote: &quot;Our visit focused on the special and deeply rooted bond between the United States and the Netherlands. We talked about our strong trade relations and our security cooperation, including within NATO.&quot;Of course we also discussed the recent developments in and around Iran. It is important that we now work towards a sustainable solution and prevent the situation from escalating further. Russia&#039;s continuing aggression in Ukraine was also a key topic of discussion.&quot;Mr Jetten characterised the three-course dinner as &quot;open and constructive, where no one had to beat around the bush.&quot;However, he acknowledged that differences of opinion emerged but remained unresolved, telling De Telegraaf it was &quot;too brief to convince each other.&quot;The royal couple spent the night in the Lincoln Bedroom, one of the White House&#039;s most historic rooms, situated close to the presidential quarters.The overnight invitation represented a reciprocal gesture from President Trump, who stayed at the Dutch royals&#039; Huis ten Bosch Palace during the Nato summit in The Hague last June.That earlier arrangement allowed for informal moments, including breakfast, creating space for frank discussions away from official agendas.The Dutch visit has proved divisive at home, with a recent poll showing 44 per cent of citizens opposed to the trip, roughly matching those who supported it.Mr Jetten acknowledged that &quot;many Dutch people feel uncomfortable&quot; with the visit but maintained that &quot;it is positive to maintain a dialogue in these times of tension.&quot;Queen Máxima selected a burnt-orange gown from Claes Iversen with elegant draping and a cinched waist for the occasion, a colour choice that nodded to the Dutch national flag.The First Lady opted for a sleeveless white Erdem dress featuring bold black floral appliqué, which she paired with Christian Louboutin slingbacks.The London-based designer&#039;s creation, from the Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, retails at approximately £4,000.Both women were photographed on the red carpet at the White House entrance, flanked by ceremonial guards and national flags.President Trump described his guests as &quot;highly respected&quot; during the welcome ceremony, while King Willem-Alexander remarked on the tulips in the garden.The reception reportedly lasted longer than anticipated due to the US President&#039;s eagerness to converse with his visitors.King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to arrive in the United States later this month for a State Visit.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Rachel Reeves handed stark warning as agricultural campaigners prepare for UK fuel protests: &amp;apos;Asleep at the wheel!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-handed-stark-warning-as-agricultural-campaigners-prepare-for-uk-fuel-protests-asleep-at-the-wheel</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-handed-stark-warning-as-agricultural-campaigners-prepare-for-uk-fuel-protests-asleep-at-the-wheel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Farmers for Action has issued a stark warning to the Government that demonstrations against fuel duty could extend into England.William Taylor, representing the agricultural campaign group, appeared on GB News where he announced the organisation is now weighing up nationwide protests targeting both taxation and fuel costs.&quot;We have taken the decision that Farmers for Action will consider UK-wide tax and fuel protests,&quot; Mr Taylor stated.The group has formally contacted ministers seeking urgent discussions, with Mr Taylor expressing hope for a meeting &quot;in the next couple of weeks&quot; to address their concerns and find a resolution to the mounting tensions.
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The campaign group traces its roots back to the fuel strike of 2000, with Mr Taylor noting that Farmers for Action emerged directly from that industrial action.&quot;Farmers for Action connects back all the way to the fuel strike of 2000 which some people may remember, and Farmers for Action was born out of that,&quot; he explained.Mr Taylor acknowledged the organisation had drawn valuable insights from recent demonstrations in the Republic of Ireland, whilst emphasising that agricultural grievances predated the current fuel dispute.&quot;The problems on farms and other industries and small and medium sized businesses were boiling up before the fuel issue came to pass,&quot; he said.According to Mr Taylor, inheritance tax represents a critical pressure point for the farming community, compounded by numerous other levies imposed upon the sector.&quot;For farmers it&#039;s inheritance tax, and it&#039;s all the other taxes that have been piled on us. &quot;And now we have the fuel, which is basically enough to break the camel&#039;s back,&quot; he declared.The group maintains it possesses workable solutions to the current impasse and is seeking constructive dialogue with ministers.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSOil prices surge back above $100 as Britain stares down the barrel of mass protestsMassive fuel protests now set to hit Britain as farmers plan Irish-style nationwide blockadesFurious Irish protesters ready to shut down country over fuel prices as army placed &#039;on standby&#039;&quot;If they meet with us in the next couple of weeks, good. That&#039;s what we want to do; sit down with them and sort this out once and for all,&quot; Mr Taylor added.He confirmed that scattered protests have already occurred in Northern Ireland, with further action anticipated, and similar demonstrations potentially emerging in England.Mr Taylor endorsed peaceful protest activity, provided participants avoid obstructing access to hospitals, schools or other essential services.The campaign group spokesman placed responsibility for the current crisis squarely on successive governments, urging people not to attribute blame solely to Donald Trump.&quot;If this Government had gone forward with biofuel in 2012 and did their duty back then, you would have aviation on biofuel. You would have farm tractors and biofuel,&quot; Mr Taylor argued.&quot;This Government and the previous one have been asleep at the wheel,&quot; he concluded.Frustration among farmers and hauliers over diesel availability and prices has grown significantly in recent weeks.Diesel is now selling above £2 per litre at more than 50 filling stations nationwide - and while average prices have not yet reached this threshold, the most expensive forecourts are charging up to £1.99 for petrol and even more for diesel.

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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Donald Trump turns on Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and accuses ally of ’not caring if Iran has a nuke’ in extraordinary swipe</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-turns-on-italian-pm-giorgia-meloni-and-accuses-ally-of-not-caring-if-iran-has-a-nuke-in-extraordinary-swipe</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has turned on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and accused his ally of &quot;not caring if Iran has a nuke&quot; in an extraordinary swipe.The US President said Ms Meloni was &quot;very different to what he thought&quot; and admitted he was &quot;shocked&quot; after she criticised his online rants branding Pope Leo &quot;weak on crime&quot; and &quot;terrible for foreign policy&quot;. His string of posts on Truth Social have enraged Christians across the globe, with the President partnering the scathing criticism of the Pontiff with an AI-generated image of himself depicted as Jesus Christ. In the offending - and now-deleted - image, he can be seen donning white robes with an American flag billowing behind him.
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The AI-crafted image appeared to evoke religious imagery of Jesus healing the sick, with the Republican touching the forehead of a man lying on a hospital bed.Mr Trump has since insisted he thought it depicted him as a &quot;doctor making people better&quot;.On the same day, the PM, who is often cited as one of Mr Trump&#039;s closest European allies, spoke out against the President. She said: &quot;I find President Trump&#039;s words towards the Holy Father unacceptable.&quot;The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war.&quot;But, today, Mr Trump appeared disheartened by Ms Meloni&#039;s stance on the matter, admitting he was &quot;shocked by her&quot;.He went on to accuse the world leader of not caring if Iran has access to nuclear warfare which, he said, &quot;would blow up Italy in two minutes&quot; if given the chance.&quot;I thought she had courage. I was wrong,&quot; he added.DONALD TRUMP&#039;S ROW WITH POPE LEO - READ MORE: Pope Leo hits back at Donald Trump after US President&#039;s criticism of &#039;weak on crime&#039; PontiffDonald Trump deletes Truth Social post portraying himself as Jesus Christ amid furious backlash‘Stick to morality!’ JD Vance takes swipe at Vatican as Donald Trump’s feud with Pope Leo escalatesHis fury towards the Church leader was ignited by Pope Leo&#039;s evening prayers at St Peter&#039;s Basilica on Saturday, where he addressed world leaders who participated in war.The Pope declared: &quot;To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.&quot;Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life.&quot;Nor has the President proved to be immune from criticism from his own American followers, with Bishop Robert Barron, a member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, weighing in and urging the President to apologise. &quot;The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful,&quot; the bishop said. &quot;They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation.&quot;Meanwhile, the Pope has appeared unbothered by the comments while on a trip to Africa, where he said he has &quot;no fear&quot; of the Trump administration. He vowed to &quot;continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, ⁠promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems&quot;.The holy leader added he did not fear &quot;speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do&quot;.

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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Scrapping of jury trials torn apart as Keir Starmer pushes ahead with plan: &amp;apos;A historic moral setback!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/scrapping-of-jury-trials-torn-apart-as-keir-starmer-pushes-ahead-with-plan-a-historic-moral-setback</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/scrapping-of-jury-trials-torn-apart-as-keir-starmer-pushes-ahead-with-plan-a-historic-moral-setback</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Alan Miller has launched a scathing attack on proposed modifications to jury trials in Britain, describing the plans as a major regression for the nation.Speaking to GB News, the co-founder of the Together Declaration characterised the potential changes as &quot;an enormous step backwards. A historic one, a legal one and a moral one&quot;.The campaigner expressed deep alarm at proposals that could see a significant reduction in cases heard before citizen juries, warning that such reforms threaten fundamental principles that have underpinned British justice for centuries.Mr Miller&#039;s intervention comes amid growing debate about court backlogs and the future of the legal system, with critics arguing that removing jury trials from complex cases would undermine a cornerstone of democratic accountability.
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The right to trial by jury was established in England during the 17th century, following the imprisonment of jurors who defied judicial pressure. Mr Miller argued this principle has since become a model adopted across the globe.&quot;We&#039;re the envy of the world with it, still one of the few things we still are, in the Commonwealth and elsewhere,&quot; he stated, contrasting Britain&#039;s system with nations such as China where such rights do not exist.Mr Miller raised concerns that magistrates, whom he described as predominantly professionals rather than ordinary working people, cannot match the comprehensive deliberations of a jury.He suggested that investigations conducted by judges alone have been shown to lack the thoroughness achieved when twelve citizens examine evidence together.Rather than reducing jury trials, Miller proposed practical alternatives to address court delays. He noted that many judges currently retire at 70 and suggested their service could be extended to ease capacity pressures. Accelerating procedures following arrests was another solution he advocated.Mr Miller warned that eliminating half of jury trials on grounds of length and complexity could create dangerous precedents. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer&#039;s mentor accuses PM of &#039;betrayal&#039; over controversial plans to axe jury trialsAndrew and Peter Mandelson &#039;could be denied jury trials&#039; under Keir Starmer proposalLabour MP suspended after criticising David Lammy&#039;s plans to scrap jury trials&quot;We should not allow a situation where this kind of tyrannical situation could arise, because it&#039;s not also just about this Government, which people have a lot of concerns about, but anyone else in the future, too,&quot; he cautioned.He linked his concerns to broader anxieties about state overreach, referencing worries about two-tier policing and individuals being imprisoned for social media posts.Mr Miller contended that a panel of twelve citizens drawn from diverse backgrounds provides a far more representative cross-section of society than any single judicial figure. &quot;It&#039;s much more likely to have a situation where a magistrate or a judge has very particular views about certain circumstances and situations,&quot; he argued.He maintained that juries encompass a broader demographic range, incorporating different age groups and perspectives, whereas individual judges may be influenced by personal biases.Mr Miller also accused those behind the proposals of showing &quot;disregard and a contempt for the public and our citizens,&quot; insisting that ordinary people possess the capacity to set aside political opinions and weigh evidence fairly.He noted that concern about the reforms extends across party lines, with Labour backbenchers among those recognising the changes could cause irreversible harm to Britain.He concluded: &quot;There&#039;s a recognition across the board that this could profoundly damage Britain in a way that&#039;s irrevocable.&quot;And we should not allow a situation where this kind of tyrannical situation could arise, because it&#039;s not also just about this Government, which people have a lot of concerns about, but anyone else in the future, too.&quot;

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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:26:20 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scrapping, jury, trials, torn, apart, Keir, Starmer, pushes, ahead, with, plan:, historic, moral, setback</media:keywords>
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<title>Minister admits Chagos deal now ‘impossible to agree’ after Donald Trump pulls support for &amp;apos;surrender&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/minister-admits-chagos-deal-now-impossible-to-agree-after-donald-trump-pulls-support-for-surrender</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/minister-admits-chagos-deal-now-impossible-to-agree-after-donald-trump-pulls-support-for-surrender</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Labour minister has admitted the Chagos deal has become &quot;impossible to agree&quot; after Donald Trump pulled support for the agreement which would have ceded sovereignty to Mauritius.Stephen Doughty, Europe and North America Minister, told Parliament the deal was initially negotiated in close coordination with the US, but said the President&#039;s position &quot;appears to have changed&quot;.Mr Trump called the deal a &quot;a very woke thing&quot; in March after pulling support for the deal.He had initially described the treaty as &quot;very strong and powerful&quot; and later conceded the deal was the &quot;best he could make&quot;.
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Mr Doughty said updating the 1966 UK-US agreement, which concerns the availability of British Indian Ocean territories, was necessary to ratify the treaty.He confirmed to Parliament there was a &quot;finalised text was agreed at official level&quot; before the shift in position.But after the President withdrew his backing, he said: &quot;The Diego Garcia Bill cannot complete its passage in this parliamentary session, and it cannot be carried over due to its advanced progression through Parliament.&quot;The Government nevertheless remain confident that the Diego Garcia treaty is the best means of protecting the full operation of the military base for us and our allies for future generations,&quot; he added.Mr Doughty also addressed concerns for the Chagossians who were removed from the islands.He said the Government &quot;deeply regret the manner of their removal&quot; and said Mauritius had plans to resettle the Chagossian people.&quot;The delay to the treaty will be sad news to many Chagossians - although I accept not all - who rightly see it as the only viable means of a sustainable programme of resettlement, which Mauritius would be able to implement under its terms,&quot; the Minister said.Responding to Mr Doughty, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said the &quot;surrender treaty is Labour’s mess&quot;.LATEST ON CHAGOS DEAL:Inside UK Border Force&#039;s &#039;bizarre and irresponsible&#039; storming of Chagos aid vesselNow Labour MPs urge Keir Starmer to finally kill off Chagos deal after PM shelves &#039;surrender&#039; plansMauritius issues fiery swipe at Britain with vow to reclaim Chagos Islands after Labour delays dealShe added: &quot;The Government put one of our most important defence and security assets at risk. They compromised the special relationship with the United States, they ignored and betrayed the wishes of the Chagossian community, and they were prepared to hand over £35billion of taxpayers’ money to lease back a land that we own.&quot;And Reform UK MP Danny Kruger said he welcomed the Government&#039;s withdrawal of the bill, and raised two questions about the future of the Chagossians.He said: &quot;First, will the Government commit that if there is to be any future constitutional change to the status of the islands, the Chagossian community here in the UK will be given the chance to express its view through a referendum of that community?&quot;He then raised the issue of former Conservative MP and member of Reform UK Adam Holloway, who recently attempted to travel to the Chagos Islands as part of an aid mission and was intercepted by British Border officials.&quot;Why will the Government not recognise that they have a right of abode there, and why are the Government frustrating the very legitimate efforts of philanthropists to support them to re-establish their community?&quot; Mr Kruger said.Responding, Mr Doughty said he was &quot;shocked&quot; Reform UK supported what he described as a &quot;reckless political stunt&quot;.Mr Holloway, speaking to GB News, said: &quot;The Government didn&#039;t give permission for me to get on the boat here in the Maldives and to go down there on the voyage, which again, is completely bizarre and irresponsible because I&#039;m the person who&#039;s lived on the islands with the settler party, so I know them best.&quot;I&#039;m the best person to assess their welfare and everything else.&quot;Mr Trump&#039;s withdrawal of support of the Chagos deal, worsening US-UK relations, came as he lambasted Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s response to the Iran war.

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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Minister, admits, Chagos, deal, now, ‘impossible, agree’, after, Donald, Trump, pulls, support, for, surrender</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour blasted for retirement overreach by Tories: &amp;apos;Pensions belong to savers, not the state!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-blasted-for-retirement-overreach-by-tories-pensions-belong-to-savers-not-the-state</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-blasted-for-retirement-overreach-by-tories-pensions-belong-to-savers-not-the-state</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ministers have introduced amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill that would limit their ability to direct how defined contribution pension schemes invest members’ savings.Under the revised proposals, any mandated asset allocation would be capped at 10 per cent of total assets held in default funds.Within that, no more than five per cent could be directed specifically into UK-based investments.The changes come ahead of the Bill’s return to the House of Commons on April 15.
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The legislation suffered a defeat in the House of Lords last month, where peers voted 217 to 113 to remove the reserve power entirely.Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers led opposition to the measure.The original version of the Bill contained no limits on ministerial powers.The reserve power would allow ministers to require defined contribution schemes to invest in areas such as infrastructure, start-ups and private markets.The proposal has faced sustained criticism from across the pensions industry.Industry groups have argued that investment decisions should remain with trustees, who are legally required to act in the best interests of members.Zoe Alexander, executive director of policy and advocacy at Pensions UK, said: &quot;This is a win for savers.&quot;She added that the original proposal &quot;would expose millions of workers&#039; retirement savings to political cycles and undermine the duty of pension trustees to act at all times in the interests of savers&quot;.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSPensioners to be slapped by tax withdrawal charges by HMRC in latest crackdownState pension &#039;more modest&#039; for millions of Britons despite £575 triple lock boostState pension age rise to cost British workers £4,000The Government has said it does not intend to use the power and that it is designed as a backstop to the voluntary Mansion House Accord.Julian Mund, chief executive of Pensions UK, welcomed the amendment.&quot;Pensions UK firmly supports the passage of the Pension Schemes Bill, which enacts a series of critical reforms in savers&#039; interests.&quot;He added: &quot;The amendment to the reserve power which mandates DC pension schemes&#039; asset allocation addresses our most serious concern and brings the legislation in line with the Government&#039;s stated intention of acting only as a backstop to the Mansion House Accord.&quot;The revised caps reflect targets already agreed by 17 of the UK’s largest defined contribution pension providers under the Mansion House Accord.These firms have committed to increasing investment in unlisted assets both in the UK and internationally.Mr Mund said the sunset clause should be brought forward to limit the long-term use of the power.The Conservative opposition has called for the provision to be removed entirely.Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: &quot;The principle at stake is simple: pensions belong to savers, not the state.&quot;She urged ministers to reconsider following their defeat in the Lords and said the Government has &quot;no business directing how pensions are invested&quot;.Baroness Sharon Bowles, who led opposition to the measure in the Lords, said the changes represented an improvement but did not go far enough.&quot;We think any mandation is bad news. Ministers should not be overriding trustees.&quot;She added that the policy was &quot;anti-competitive and economically illiterate&quot;.A survey conducted by YouGov for the Association of British Insurers found 72 per cent of respondents had little or no confidence in Government decisions about pension investments.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, blasted, for, retirement, overreach, Tories:, Pensions, belong, savers, not, the, state</media:keywords>
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<title>More than 300 council bosses now better paid than Keir Starmer as six&#45;figure salaries surge</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/more-than-300-council-bosses-now-better-paid-than-keir-starmer-as-six-figure-salaries-surge</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/more-than-300-council-bosses-now-better-paid-than-keir-starmer-as-six-figure-salaries-surge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ More than 300 council staff earned more than Sir Keir Starmer last year, according to new analysis.Research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance found 320 local authority employees took home more than the Prime Minister’s salary in the last financial year.The number of six-figure council salaries has surged over the past two decades, with pay packages increasing eightfold.Those earning more than £150,000 have risen twentyfold, while staff on over £200,000 have increased dramatically - up 70 times.
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A council employee in Staffordshire topped the list, earning £457,500 in 2024/2025.By comparison, the Prime Minister was entitled to £172,153 over the same period.Since the pandemic, the number of council workers earning at least £100,000 has almost doubled, rising from 2,441 to 4,733.John O’Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, told The Times there was a “surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation”.He added that taxpayers were “caught in a pincer movement with a record-breaking tax burden on one side and a bloated public sector feathering its nest on the other”.Mr O’Connell said: “Residents can see exactly how many local bureaucrats are receiving plush packages and judge for themselves whether they&#039;re getting value for money.”Council tax bills have also risen sharply over the same period.The average Band D bill in England has increased by 79 per cent over 20 years, climbing from £1,214 in 2005/2006 to £2,171 in 2024/2025.KEIR STARMER - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer’s ‘failed’ one-in, one-out deal sees taxpayer cost hit £50k per migrant sent to France‘National disgrace!’ Keir Starmer accused of driving British Army veterans to brink of suicideKeir Starmer&#039;s clutch on northern cities under threat as Reform ties neck-and-neck with LabourGenerous pension arrangements also mean councils face significant redundancy payouts.Cambridge City Council’s assistant chief executive received £220,000 in compensation after losing their role last year.At least nine other departing officials also received six-figure payouts.Labour’s planned overhaul of local government has also drawn criticism, with warnings it could drive costs higher rather than lower.Ministers argue the reforms will reduce the number of highly paid council roles.The Government plans to scrap England’s two-tier system, under which 21 county councils sit above 164 district councils.Lord Fuller has warned of “multibillion-pound implications” from Labour&#039;s planned reforms.Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverly said: “With soaring council tax and the threat of the four-day week in local government, people feel they are paying more and getting less.”He added: “What&#039;s more, Labour&#039;s top-down restructuring of local government will lead to a bonanza of golden goodbyes and pension payments to laid-off council staff all funded by the taxpayer.”A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Councils are independent employers and are responsible for setting their own pay levels. &quot;We&#039;re clear that we expect all councils to secure value for taxpayers&#039; money.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>More, than, 300, council, bosses, now, better, paid, than, Keir, Starmer, six-figure, salaries, surge</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer’s ‘failed’ one&#45;in, one&#45;out deal sees taxpayer cost hit £50k per migrant sent back to France</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-failed-one-in-one-out-deal-sees-taxpayer-cost-hit-50k-per-migrant-sent-back-to-france</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-failed-one-in-one-out-deal-sees-taxpayer-cost-hit-50k-per-migrant-sent-back-to-france</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sending a small boat migrant back to France now costs just under £50,000 per person under Sir Keir Starmer’s one-in, one-out deal, it has been revealed. Analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford suggests a single flight from Stansted to Paris - carrying 32 male migrants alongside 73 escorts and two paramedics - could cost taxpayers up to £1.52million.The research found the cost of removing a migrant has risen sharply from around £15,000 per person a decade ago.The total includes casework, charter flights and financial support provided to migrants after they leave the UK.
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As part of the one-in, one-out scheme, Britain bears the cost of transporting migrants to and from France.An HM Inspectorate of Prisons report found the men had all arrived in the UK on small boats and were being held at Brook House, Harmondsworth and Tinsley House immigration removal centres.In total, 498 people have been returned to France, while 482 have arrived in the UK via the legal route since the deal was struck.Last week, GB News revealed that 21,172 migrants had crossed the Channel since the scheme - intended as a deterrent - was introduced.Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told GB News: “This weak Home Secretary’s small boat policy lies in tatters.“More illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel under Keir Starmer than any other Prime Minister and numbers are up 45 per cent since the election. Their claim to smash the gangs is a laughing stock.”Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf added: “Keir Starmer’s ‘one in, one out’ deal was nothing more than a hopeless gimmick, and this proves it.”Britain and France’s border patrol deal had been due to expire in March but was extended by two months as negotiations continued.MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Smuggling gangs circulate &#039;how-to guide&#039; to sneak illegal migrants into BritainReform UK pledges to hold national inquiry into &#039;Boriswave&#039; migration surgeLabour set to announce closure of 11 asylum hotels but communities &#039;left vulnerable by alternative&#039;France rejected an offer to deploy British Border Force vessels to intercept small boat migrants, according to French newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné.The paper also reported that British taxpayers funded nearly £20million for a helicopter used by elite French riot police.Migrants have recently circulated a guide on how to successfully claim asylum in the UK.In one case, a migrant was heard falsely claiming to be a member of the Bidoon community, a stateless Arab minority primarily based in Kuwait.He falsely claimed he had been imprisoned and tortured for taking part in political demonstrations, The Telegraph reported.Last week, four people drowned while attempting to board a small boat in Calais.A Sudanese national has been charged with allegedly piloting the vessel and is due to appear in court next month.Mr Philp told The Sun: “The one-in one-out scheme is a failure.“No wonder more illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel under Keir Starmer than any other prime minister.”A Home Office spokesman said: “Illegal migrants and foreign criminals are given escorts where risk assessments show they are needed.“Since the 2024 election, the Government has saved close to £1billion in asylum costs and returned or deported nearly 60,000 people.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer’s, ‘failed’, one-in, one-out, deal, sees, taxpayer, cost, hit, £50k, per, migrant, sent, back, France</media:keywords>
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<title>Zohran Mamdani mocks iconic Margaret Thatcher quote as New York’s socialist mayor marks first 100 days in office</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/zohran-mamdani-mocks-iconic-margaret-thatcher-quote-as-new-yorks-socialist-mayor-marks-first-100-days-in-office</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/zohran-mamdani-mocks-iconic-margaret-thatcher-quote-as-new-yorks-socialist-mayor-marks-first-100-days-in-office</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Zohran Mamdani mocked an iconic Margaret Thatcher quote as the socialist Mayor of New York marked his first 100 days in office.Speaking to thousands of supporters at the Knockdown Centre in Queens, he said his administration proved a socialist could successfully govern.New York City is currently facing an estimated $5billion budget deficit, with the 34-year-old Mayor invoking Lady Thatcher’s famous line to blame previous administrations for fiscal mismanagement.He said: &quot;I have thought often of the Margaret Thatcher quote: &#039;The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people&#039;s money&#039;.
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&quot;If anything my friends, it seems that you eventually need a socialist to clean up the mess.&quot;Mr Mamdani - New York&#039;s first Muslim mayor - also doubled down on his political identity as a democratic socialist, vowing to not shy away from ideas deemed too radical.He said: &quot;As I said on that freezing January afternoon to more than 8 and a half million New Yorkers, &#039;We will make no apology for what we believe. I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist.&#039;&quot;Tonight, I want to talk about what we’ve done. Not to congratulate ourselves, but as a reminder of what is possible. With what we’ve accomplished in 14 weeks, imagine what we can do together in four years.&quot;While Mr Mamdani has yet to deliver many of the flagship policies he was elected on, he used the speech to highlight his administration’s early achievements and unveil a series of new proposals.The New York Mayor pointed to pothole repairs as proof there was “no task too small” for his administration.He said: “By the end of this fiscal year, the Department of Transportation will repave 1,150 lane miles of our streets. Enough to stretch from New York City to Miami.“This is pothole politics, our 2026 answer to sewer socialism, where government is not too busy, not too self-important, not too mired in paperwork to fix the problems of this city, no matter their size.”ZOHRAN MAMDANI&#039;S FIRST 100 DAYS - READ MORE:&#039;Disgusting!&#039; Zohran Mamdani breaks Ramadan fast with prisoners at notorious NYC jail while &#039;snubbing city&#039;s police&#039;Terror probe launched after &#039;Isis fanatics&#039; hurl bomb at New York City Mayor&#039;s homeSadiq Khan hails New York&#039;s first Muslim mayor as &#039;inspiring&#039; after he is sworn in on KoranOne of the Mayor’s key achievements, he said, was securing $1.2billion in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul to expand New York’s 3-K programme and launch a pilot scheme offering free childcare for two-year-olds.However, many of his flagship policies - including free buses, expanded fast lanes, a rent freeze for rent-stabilised flats and city-owned grocery stores - have stalled.In his speech, he vowed to open the first of five city-owned grocery stores by next year.But plans for the East Harlem site, already owned by the city, are expected to cost $30million - nearly half of the proposed $70million budget for all five stores, according to The New York Times.His plan for a rent freeze will not move forward until the Rent Guidelines Board - which Mr Mamdani has stacked with appointees who support his position - votes this summer.To plug the budget gap, Mr Mamdani had proposed raising property taxes - the only levy the mayor can increase unilaterally - but has since backed away from the plan.The proposal was widely rejected by the City Council, with the Mayor warning it would have to be reconsidered unless the Governor and state legislature raise taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents.Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance at the event, telling the crowd: “This is the first time I was ever introduced by someone who talked proudly about democratic socialism.”The long-time democratic socialist, who ran for President in 2016 and 2020, added: “What you are doing and what the mayor is doing is providing hope and inspiration not only to people all across our country but honestly all across the world.”A survey by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found 48 per cent of New Yorkers approve of Mr Mamdani’s administration, while 30 per cent disapprove and 23 per cent remain unsure.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Zohran, Mamdani, mocks, iconic, Margaret, Thatcher, quote, New, York’s, socialist, mayor, marks, first, 100, days, office</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Stick to morality!’ JD Vance takes swipe at Vatican as Donald Trump’s feud with Pope Leo escalates</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/stick-to-morality-jd-vance-takes-swipe-at-vatican-as-donald-trumps-feud-with-pope-leo-escalates</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/stick-to-morality-jd-vance-takes-swipe-at-vatican-as-donald-trumps-feud-with-pope-leo-escalates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Vice President JD Vance has urged the Vatican to focus on morality as tensions between the Trump administration and the Holy See continue to escalate.Fox News host Bret Baier grilled Mr Vance on Donald Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV after the Pontiff spoke out against US military action against Iran.The Vice President insisted that Mr Trump is responsible for setting US public policy.He said: “In some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what&#039;s going on in the Catholic Church.&quot;
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“Let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy,” he added.Mr Vance continued: “But when they&#039;re in conflict, they&#039;re in conflict. I don&#039;t worry about it too much.&quot;I think it&#039;s a natural thing, it&#039;s not that big of a deal.&quot;The feud between the President and the Pontiff erupted last week after Pope Leo launched a scathing attack on Mr Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation, branding the remarks “truly unacceptable”.On Sunday, the Pope issued a fresh rebuke over the US conflict with Iran, condemning what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” fuelling war - in an apparent swipe at Mr Trump.However, this is not the first time the Pope has criticised the Trump administration.Last year, the 70-year-old Chicago-born Pontiff also questioned Mr Trump’s hardline stance on immigration, saying: “I don’t know if that’s ⁠pro-life.”On Sunday, the Republican leader hit back, branding the Catholic leader “weak” and “terrible”.DONALD TRUMP - READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump&#039;s lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein links dismissedZia Yusuf defends Nigel Farage’s Donald Trump friendship during tense GB News grillingDonald Trump says US will blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks collapseIn an extraordinary post on Truth Social, the President said Pope Leo was “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy”.He also accused the Pontiff of believing “it&#039;s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.He further claimed the Catholic Church chose an American to lead the Vatican because they “thought it was the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump”.Concluding his message, Mr Trump said: &quot;Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great Pope, not a politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!&quot;The President&#039;s comments follow a reportedly contentious meeting between the Holy See&#039;s former ambassador to the US Cardinal Christophe Pierre and the Pentagon.But on Monday, the Pope appeared to shrug off the comments, insisting he had “no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel”.Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, he said: “We are not politicians, we don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective (as) he might understand it.“But I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”On Palm Sunday, the Pontiff also used the occasion to call for peace in the Middle East, declaring: “Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.“He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Stick, morality’, Vance, takes, swipe, Vatican, Donald, Trump’s, feud, with, Pope, Leo, escalates</media:keywords>
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<title>‘National disgrace!’ Keir Starmer accused of driving British Army veterans to brink of suicide over Northern Ireland bill</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/national-disgrace-keir-starmer-accused-of-driving-british-army-veterans-to-brink-of-suicide-over-northern-ireland-bill</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/national-disgrace-keir-starmer-accused-of-driving-british-army-veterans-to-brink-of-suicide-over-northern-ireland-bill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of driving British Army veterans to the brink of suicide over his Northern Ireland bill.Veterans’ groups including the SAS Regimental Association (Sasra), the Special Boat Service Association and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment Association issued the warning in a letter to MPs on Monday.They branded the legislation a “national disgrace” and said it was leading to veterans being “relentlessly persecuted”.A briefing document sent to MPs included the case of a former soldier known as Fred, who attempted to take his own life following an inquest into a historic incident.
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Labour’s proposed legislation would scrap plans to implement the Legacy Act, which offered immunity to veterans who served during the Troubles from civil and criminal proceedings.The groups warned that veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are being pushed towards suicide.They said: “Elderly special forces veterans who served this country faithfully are being relentlessly persecuted in the court of Northern Ireland. &quot;They have done nothing wrong. Some are being driven to suicide by their treatment at the hands of the state they served.“The treatment of former special forces soldiers who served in Northern Ireland is a national disgrace.”Ministers argue immunity provisions are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, as they could prevent alleged violations from being properly investigated.Instead, the Government has proposed a new commission to examine Troubles-related deaths, alongside legal protections for veterans.In their letter, the groups said Fred attempted to take his own life after being told his medical records would have to be “disclosed to the next of kin of the deceased terrorists”.THE TROUBLES - READ MORE:Labour branded &#039;spineless&#039; over &#039;witch hunt&#039; of Troubles veteransMurdered MP&#039;s daughter slams Keir Starmer’s Troubles bill - &#039;What happened to reconciliation?&#039;Three IRA bomb victims drop High Court claim against Gerry AdamsThey said he “fortunately” survived, but has since been left communicating through his wife after contact with legal representatives left him “very depressed, anxious, unable to work and have suicidal thoughts”.A fellow veteran described the prospect of court proceedings as the “straw that broke the camel&#039;s back”.Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Alex Burghart has tabled amendments aimed at strengthening protections for veterans.The Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar drafted the proposals alongside senior military figures including General Sir Peter Wall, head of the British Army from 2010 to 2014, and General Sir Nick Parker, the last commander of operations in Northern Ireland.Up to nine inquests could be reopened if the legislation passes in its current form.Sasra has urged its members not to give evidence in future inquiries and has threatened to boycott proceedings.A Sasra spokesman told The Telegraph: “After constructive efforts on our part, we are concerned that we have not yet received concrete assurances or seen any draft text of the proposed amendments with the committee stage imminent.“We ask that the Government delay this bill in order to ensure that all parties who are concerned including ourselves, the generals, veterans commissioners and veterans groups are satisfied with the proposed amendments and that we are given time for proper scrutiny.”A Government spokesman said: “We thank the associations for their letter, and the NI Secretary and Defence Secretary will continue to speak to veterans and former senior officers about how to ensure we get this right.“We have been clear that there never has been and never will be any moral equivalence between our Armed Forces - who laid down their lives for this nation - and terrorist organisations.“Our approach ensures new and robust protections, in law, for our brave Operation Banner veterans, including protection against repeat investigations and being required to travel to Northern Ireland to give information.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘National, disgrace’, Keir, Starmer, accused, driving, British, Army, veterans, brink, suicide, over, Northern, Ireland, bill</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s clutch on northern cities under threat as Reform ties neck&#45;and&#45;neck with Labour in key seats</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-clutch-on-northern-cities-under-threat-as-reform-ties-neck-and-neck-with-labour-in-key-seats</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-clutch-on-northern-cities-under-threat-as-reform-ties-neck-and-neck-with-labour-in-key-seats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s clutch on seats across several northern cities could be under threat at the next general election, a new poll has revealed.Reform UK has become Labour&#039;s main rival in key seats across Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool – all of which were once strongholds for the mainstream party. Overall, the pollsters at More in Common have shown they expect Labour to fall to 101 seats across the UK at the next general election, losing 310 MPs to their competitors.Now, Labour&#039;s grip on the region appears to have been tested by Nigel Farage&#039;s party in the four cities, according to the latest MRP poll.
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GB News has analysed the forecasted vote shares across Labour held seats across the four cities and where they are set to be booted out by Reform UK.The assessment has subsequently revealed there are several key seats across the northern cities where voters could tilt the pendulum in Mr Farage&#039;s favour.While Labour&#039;s grasp is stronger in Liverpool and Manchester, Reform UK often takes home upwards of 20 per cent of support across the cities.On the whole, Reform UK fares much better in the poll across Sheffield and Leeds, taking home several seats in the process.More in Common UK Director Luke Tryl said: &quot;If anything, what this latest model shows is that Labour, in a mirror of what faced the Tories in 2024, now faces a very real war on two fronts. &quot;Losing 100s of seats to Reform, while at the same time being threatened by Polanski’s Greens in their former urban strongholds.&quot;SHEFFIELDAcross Sheffield, both Reform UK and the Greens are set to reap the benefits of voters&#039; disillusionment with Sir Keir&#039;s party.Reform UK is forecast to take home Sheffield South East with a five-point lead, while the Greens would take Sheffield Central and Sheffield Heeley.The forecast results:Sheffield Hallam: Labour HOLDLabour: 31 per centReform UK: 14 per centGreens: 15 per centSheffield Brightside and Hillsborough: Labour HOLDLabour: 26 per centReform UK: 22 per centGreens: 22 per centSheffield South EastLabour: 23 per centReform UK: 28 per centGreens: 14 per centPOLITICS LATEST:Keir Starmer&#039;s mentor accuses PM of &#039;betrayal&#039; over controversial plans to axe jury trialsRachel Reeves&#039;s inheritance tax raids forcing major British firm abroadAndrew and Peter Mandelson &#039;could be denied jury trials&#039; under Keir Starmer proposalLEEDSLeeds paints a unique picture with a double Reform UK gain in Leeds East and Leeds West and Pudsey, which is Chancellor Rachel Reeves&#039;s current seat.While Labour is set to keep a hold on two seats across the city, it has tied neck-and-neck with Reform UK in Leeds North West. The forecast results:Leeds North West - Labour HOLDLabour: 26 per centReform UK: 26 per centGreens: 14 per centLeeds North East - Labour HOLDLabour: 32 per centReform UK: 19 per centGreens: 24 per centLeeds West and Pudsey - Reform GAINLabour 27 per centReform UK 29 per centGreens 17 per centLeeds East - Reform GAINLabour 25 per centReform UK: 33 per centGreens 15 per centMANCHESTERIn Manchester, Labour will keep its six seats, although Reform UK has secured its runner-up position in every seat across the major city.The forecast results:Manchester Central - Labour HOLDLabour: 29 per centReform UK: 22 per centGreens: 29 per centSalford - Labour HOLDLabour: 33 per centReform UK: 27 per centGreens: 18 per cent Streford and Urmston - Labour HOLDLabour: 30 per centReform UK: 24 per centGreens: 20 per centManchester Withington - Labour HOLD Labour 35 per centReform UK: 12 per centGreens: 34 per centWythenshawe and Sale East - Labour HOLDLabour: 30 per centReform UK: 27 per centGreens: 19 per centStockport - Labour HOLDLabour: 30 per centReform UK: 25 per centGreens: 20 per centLIVERPOOLOver in Liverpool, Labour has a firmer grasp on its seats. The party is currently looking at upwards of 38 per cent of the vote across five city seats.The forecast results:Liverpool Garston - Labour HOLDLabour: 38 per centReform UK: 23 per centGreens: 12 per centLiverpool Wavertree - Labour HOLDLabour: 38 per centReform UK: 16 per centGreens: 29 per centLiverpool Riverside - Labour HOLDLabour: 37 per centReform UK: 19 per centGreens: 28 per centLiverpool West Derby - Labour HOLDLabour: 40 per centReform UK: 24 per centGreens: 16 per centLiverpool Walton - Labour HOLDLabour 41 per centReform UK: 28 per centGreens 13 per centOur Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, clutch, northern, cities, under, threat, Reform, ties, neck-and-neck, with, Labour, key, seats</media:keywords>
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<title>Smuggling gangs circulate &amp;apos;how&#45;to guide&amp;apos; to sneak illegal migrants into Britain</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/smuggling-gangs-circulate-how-to-guide-to-sneak-illegal-migrants-into-britain</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/smuggling-gangs-circulate-how-to-guide-to-sneak-illegal-migrants-into-britain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ People smuggling gangs have circulated a “how-to guide” to sneak illegal migrants into Britain.The gangs are circulating audio recordings coaching migrants on how to fabricate asylum claims and trick Home Office officials into granting them the right to stay in the UK. Shared on encrypted Telegram channels used by migrants camping in northern France, the recording features an Iraqi national secretly recording his own asylum interview with a Home Office caseworker. The recording has been distributed as an example of how to successfully claim asylum in the UK. 
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In the audio, the man poses as a member of the Bidoon community, a stateless Arab minority group primarily found in Kuwait, falsely claiming he was imprisoned and tortured for taking part in political demonstrations demanding identity documents, the Telegraph reports. He follows a detailed script previously circulated by people smugglers, describing his arrest, his signing of a forced confession admitting to vandalising state property and his subsequent coercion into acting as an informant for state security services.The recording also captures the man correctly answering a series of knowledge-based questions posed by the caseworker to test the credibility of his claim, including naming Kuwait&#039;s currency, its international dialling code, the appearance of its flag and the number of governorates in the country.The tape was distributed by Abu Hussein Al-Iraqi, the ringleader of a people smuggling gang based in Calais. The gang leader regularly posts videos boasting that his network sends people to Britain from France every day, with footage of dinghies being launched from French beaches. Migrants are required to send footage of themselves crossing the Channel back to him via WhatsApp or Telegram as part payment for the crossing.Immigration officials have described the broader tactic as &quot;nationality shopping&quot; - migrants will change where they are from to maximise the likelihood of the approval of their asylum claim.One Home Office insider said the practice was already spreading beyond the Bidoon scam, with growing numbers of migrants falsely claiming to have fled Iran since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSAsylum seeker on the run after assaulting schoolgirl, 14, accused of offering her cocaine and whiskyLeaders of people-smuggling operation jailed after launching ‘Tripadvisor-style’ system for migrantsSudanese man arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died in Channel crossingThe insider said: &quot;An Afghani can say he&#039;s Iranian, an Iranian can say he&#039;s Iraqi and so on and so forth. “Then all you&#039;ve got to do is Google your nationality questions.&quot;Eritrea, where 85 per cent of asylum applications were granted last year, was cited as a particularly common false nationality, with the insider saying it was almost impossible to disprove such claims.The number of asylum applications from Kuwait has risen more than fourfold in just two years, climbing from 276 in 2023 to a record 1,210 in 2025.However, the proportion of those Kuwaiti applications being granted has fallen sharply, from 84 per cent last year to just over 40 per cent now, suggesting the Home Office is becoming increasingly alert to the scam.The Bidoon are recognised by the Home Office as a stateless Arab minority and a particular social group under the UN Refugee Convention.The group, particularly if they are undocumented, are considered at genuine risk of persecution or serious harm in Kuwait.To succeed with such a claim, applicants must demonstrate they genuinely lack Kuwaiti nationality, hold no official documentation and face systemic denial of basic rights - conditions the Iraqi man in the recording falsely claimed to meet.In November, the Telegraph obtained a separate leaked 25-page document, written in Arabic, providing a detailed written script for those applying to the Home Office as Bidoons despite having no genuine connection to the community.Concerns among the migrant community that the UK Government would catch on to the scam, the smuggling gangs circulated the audio to reassure those making the crossing. The Home Office said it was already aware of such networks, adding that a range of tools were used by caseworkers to establish the credibility of asylum cases, including examining nationality and identity through language analysis conducted by trained translators.A spokesman said: &quot;Our message to them is clear - the asylum system is not open to abuse.&quot;Officials said applicants were also required to provide biometric information within 45 working days, which could be cross-referenced against records from other countries to identify those who had passed through safe nations before arriving in the UK or had provided inconsistent nationality claims.The Home Office added it was reforming the asylum system to remove the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain and increase the removal of those with no right to remain.Some 4,766 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, down nearly 30 per cent compared to the same point last year, though last year&#039;s overall total of 41,472 crossings was itself the second highest on record.This comes after footage emerged of French police standing by as dozens of migrants scrambled onto Channel-bound dinghies on Dunkirk beach, weeks after Britain handed Paris £16.2 million to fund additional beach patrols.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Smuggling, gangs, circulate, how-to, guide, sneak, illegal, migrants, into, Britain</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s mentor accuses PM of &amp;apos;betrayal&amp;apos; over controversial plans to axe jury trials</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-mentor-accuses-pm-of-betrayal-over-controversial-plans-to-axe-jury-trials</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmers-mentor-accuses-pm-of-betrayal-over-controversial-plans-to-axe-jury-trials</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer’s mentor has accused him of a “betrayal” over Labour&#039;s controversial plans to axe jury trials.Geoffrey Robertson KC, the prominent human rights barrister who founded the chambers where Sir Keir practiced law for nearly two decades, has come out as one of the most high-profile critics of the Government&#039;s proposed justice reforms.Mr Robertson warned removing jury trials would endanger the &quot;whole edifice&quot; of British criminal justice. He further said Labour MPs who voted in favour would find themselves on the wrong side of their own party&#039;s history, the Telegraph reports. 
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Mr Robertson founded Doughty Street Chambers, in which the Prime Minister was a member of from 1990 to 2008. The proposals, spearheaded by Justice Secretary David Lammy, who also practised at the same chambers, defendants facing sentences of up to three years in prison would lose their right to be tried by a jury of their peers.Mr Robertson said: &quot;Given its record of support for progressive causes, for free speech and peaceful political protests, the Bill does seem a betrayal of Labour traditions and values.&quot;He described the legislative plan as both &quot;ill-conceived&quot; and &quot;bizarre&quot;, arguing it would not speed up the justice system but could in fact create more delays.His intervention comes as up to 60 Labour MPs have threatened to vote against the reforms unless the Government backs down or offers concessions.The proposals already face opposition from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and senior figures in the House of Lords.Mr Robertson argued out of all the institutions comprising the justice system, judges, magistrates, jurors and probation, the Government had chosen to dismantle &quot;the only one that commands public respect”. He warned juries provided two irreplaceable advantages no judge-only court could replicate: independence from the state and the power to extend mercy to defendants who deserved it.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRachel Reeves&#039;s inheritance tax raids forcing major British firm abroadAndrew and Peter Mandelson &#039;could be denied jury trials&#039; under Keir Starmer proposalKeir Starmer blasted by Chagos lawyer after swipe at &#039;self-appointed&#039; Chagossian GovernmentThat power to show mercy, he said, was an &quot;important safeguard&quot;, particularly given offences carrying sentences of under three years were far from trivial and could permanently alter a defendant&#039;s life, for instance, disqualifying them from future employment and public office.Mr Robertson said government ministers who dismissed jury trials for offences such as shoplifting fundamentally misunderstood how vital they were to innocent defendants charged with such crimes.He pointed to the case of civil servant Clive Ponting, who was cleared by a jury over an official secrets leak relating to the sinking of the Belgrano during the Falklands War.Under the new proposals, he would face a judge-only court.Mr Robertson also noted should Lord Mandelson or Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ever face prosecution, they too could lose their right to a jury trial under the new framework.Juries, he argued, were a uniquely English institution dating back more than 800 years, serving as a fundamental safeguard against authoritarian government. They reflect the common sense and shared values of ordinary citizens, he said, rather than the personal views of a judge or bench of magistrates.He was also critical of magistrates as an alternative, pointing out fewer than three per cent were manual workers, none were unemployed and more than 40 per cent of guilty verdicts handed down by magistrates&#039; courts were overturned on appeal.Mr Robertson also took direct aim at Sir Brian Leveson, the Court of Appeal judge whose review recommended the jury curbs, accusing him of using &quot;apocalyptic&quot; language to justify the changes and failing to consider alternative solutions to the court backlog.Those alternatives, Mr Robertson suggested, could include a taskforce of senior judges targeting the most delayed cases or legislation capping court delays at two years – approaches he argued would be far less damaging to the justice system.He also warned the Government faced both a constitutional challenge to the legislation and potential legal action from defendants who had been promised jury trials and would now be retrospectively denied that right.A Labour source defended the reforms, saying the criminal justice system inherited from the Conservatives was on the “brink of collapse”, with a backlog of more than 80,000 Crown Court cases.The source said Sir Brian Leveson himself had been clear money and efficiency measures alone would not be sufficient and the Government&#039;s approach was designed to pull every available lever to bring the backlog under control before the end of the parliament.Labour insisted the alternative was continued drift, collapsed trials and victims walking away from the system entirely.GB News has reached out to No10 for response.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmers, mentor, accuses, betrayal, over, controversial, plans, axe, jury, trials</media:keywords>
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<title>Reform UK pledges to hold national inquiry into &amp;apos;Boriswave&amp;apos; migration surge</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-pledges-to-hold-national-inquiry-into-boriswave-migration-surge</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/reform-uk-pledges-to-hold-national-inquiry-into-boriswave-migration-surge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform UK has pledged told hold an unprecedented national inquiry into the so-called &quot;Boriswave&quot; migration surge. Nigel Farage would haul in Boris Johnson and Dame Priti Patel to testify in a national investigation into the staggering number of migrants who arrived in Britain under the Tories - should he be handed the keys to Downing Street.Mr Farage intends to launch the probe over fears that 1.6 million migrants expected to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK between 2026 and 2030 will devastate the public finances.Party insiders told the Express the inquiry would examine whether Mr Johnson and Dame Priti&#039;s actions in Government amounted gross negligence rising to the level of criminal conduct.
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Reform&#039;s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: &quot;Boris Johnson perpetrated one of the biggest scandals in British history by throwing open our borders to millions who are now set to destroy the country&#039;s finances.&quot;A Reform Government will launch a national inquiry to reveal exactly what happened and how. &quot;Boris himself will be forced to testify, under penalty of perjury. He will be held to account.&quot;The Conservatives, however, have dismissed the proposal as political posturing.Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp responded: &quot;This is a piece of cheap party political theatrics that will cost taxpayers millions to mask Reform&#039;s lack of actual policies or solutions.&quot;Mr Philp, a Home Office Minister while the &quot;Boriswave&quot; begun, insisted his party had changed under Kemi Badenoch&#039;s leadership and now had concrete plans to address immigration.The Conservatives want to European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and prohibiting asylum applications from those who enter illegally.The party would also establish a parliamentary vote on annual immigration caps - set below the level it oversaw in power.MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST:Labour set to announce closure of 11 asylum hotels but communities &#039;left vulnerable by alternative&#039;Thousands of migrants from peaceful countries caught entering Britain on Ukraine war refugee schemeLeaders of people-smuggling operation jailed after launching ‘Tripadvisor-style’ system for migrantsReform UK has published analysis revealing the &quot;Boriswave&quot; of migration will burden each British household with £20,000 in costs.Approximately 1.6 million individuals who relocated to Britain under Mr Johnson and subsequent Tory PMs between 2021 and 2024 are expected to receive ILR.The party&#039;s report calculates that NHS treatment, welfare payments and infrastructure expansion will total as much as £622.5billion in real terms through to 2085.This sum represents triple the annual NHS budget and 10 times Britain&#039;s defence spending.Mr Yusuf declared: &quot;We are standing on the edge of a fiscal disaster. The Boriswave is a legacy of Tory incompetence and Labour&#039;s open border ideology.&quot;The former Prime Minister relaxed Britain&#039;s immigration rules to address labour shortages following the pandemic.Net migration skyrocketed to an unprecedented 944,000 in the year ending March 2023.Mr Johnson and his Conservative successors went on to grant 3.8 million long-term visas - leading to net migration of 2.6 million people.Between 1.6 and 2.2 million of these arrivals will qualify for permanent settlement, granting them full access to the welfare state.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who herself has attacked the &quot;Boriswave&quot; by name, has committed to extending the qualifying period for permanent residency.But she faces pressure to soften these measures following a rebellion led by former Deputy PM Angela Rayner.Under Labour&#039;s current proposals, migrants would wait 10 to 15 years before applying for settlement rights - up from the current five.Those dependent on state support would face a 20 to 30-year wait for ILR.But Reform UK plans to scrapping it entirely, replacing it with five-year renewable visas.The party would also end all welfare payments to non-citizens and withdraw from the ECHR.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reform, pledges, hold, national, inquiry, into, Boriswave, migration, surge</media:keywords>
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<title>John Swinney sets date for second Scottish independence referendum</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/john-swinney-sets-date-for-second-scottish-independence-referendum</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/john-swinney-sets-date-for-second-scottish-independence-referendum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Scottish First Minister John Swinney has set out a timeline for a potential second independence referendum. It would be &quot;perfectly conceivable&quot; that a vote on major constitutional overhaul could be held within two years, the SNP leader insisted during a BBC debate.Mr Swinney told the audience that Scottish voters were &quot;entitled&quot; to choose the direction of their country&#039;s constitutional future. He claimed that delivering an SNP majority - which the party achieved prior to the 2014 vote - would unblock a &quot;constitutional logjam&quot; the country now finds itself in. 
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The SNP boss pleaded with voters to give an &quot;emphatic mandate of an SNP majority so the future of our country can be taken into our own hands&quot;.He insisted it was &quot;perfectly conceivable to have a second referendum by 2028&quot;.Scottish Greens leader Ross Greer backed the First Minister, insisting that Scotland&#039;s future must be &quot;in Scotland&#039;s hands&quot;.The Greens had entered into a power sharing agreement with the SNP in 2021 - but this was later axed by then-First Minister Humza Yousaf in 2024. During the debate, Labour leader Anas Sarwar insisted May&#039;s elections were &quot;not about independence&quot;.Meanwhile, Conservative leader Russell Findlay said that breaking away from the UK would be an &quot;unmitigated disaster&quot;.Malcolm Offord, Reform UK&#039;s Scottish leader, branded a second independence referendum &quot;divisive&quot; - but refused to rule out another vote if support for the move hit 60 per cent. Any referendum must be approved by Westminster before it could take place in the future. SCOTLAND - READ THE LATEST:Chinese brands &#039;taking money from UK taxpayers&#039; as Wrightbus boss slams &#039;national scandal&#039;Incredible 1980s North Sea Atlas reveals Britain&#039;s vast oil empire - before Net Zero took holdLabour-run council scraps 300 per cent second home tax after just eight daysLast year, Sir Keir Starmer said he could not imagine a second vote taking place during his stint in Downing Street. The Prime Minister said at the time that &quot;nobody&#039;s raising that with me as their first priority&quot; - remarks which were later blasted as &quot;arrogant&quot; by the SNP.When asked about a second referendum on Sunday, Health Minister Wes Streeting told LBC: &quot;We&#039;re not having one.&quot;&quot;This country has had enough of chaos,&quot; he added. It comes as polling guru Sir John Curtice warned that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could all have nationalist governments by May 8 if the opinion polls are correct.YouGov’s first MRP poll of the Holyrood elections shows the SNP could take 67 of 129 seats - a tiny majority, but a majority.Sir John said the polls also pointed towards a Plaid Cymru victory in Wales - which, when coupled with Sinn Fein holding power in Stormont, would mean “nationalist first ministers in all three devolved jurisdictions”.Discussing the prospects of a second referendum, the pollster said: “The SNP would say precedent suggests they have a mandate.“We can probably anticipate the UK Government will say no. &quot;Swinney says he’s got something up his sleeve, but we don’t know what it is.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>John, Swinney, sets, date, for, second, Scottish, independence, referendum</media:keywords>
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<title>Inside UK Border Force&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;bizarre and irresponsible&amp;apos; storming of Chagos aid vessel</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/inside-uk-border-forces-bizarre-and-irresponsible-storming-of-chagos-aid-vessel</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/inside-uk-border-forces-bizarre-and-irresponsible-storming-of-chagos-aid-vessel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former Conservative MP who was leading an aid mission bound for the Chagos Islands - before it was stormed by British border officials - has hit out at the Government, branding the storming of the vessel “bizarre and irresponsible”.The ship was stocked with supplies intended for a group of Chagossians who set up camp on the island in February, more than 50 years after the population was evicted from the British colony.Adam Holloway, who originally helped the group raise funds and build their settlement on the island, was overseeing the launch of a vessel from the Maldives.He told GB News that essential items were prevented from being taken ashore, including an emergency solar water still, mosquito nets, bed linen and sunglasses.
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Footage posted on social media showed officials rifling through boxes and documents after boarding the boat.Speaking to Britain&#039;s News Channel last night, Mr Holloway explained that British officials asked for a list of all items intended for the Chagos camp, before informing him which ones would be allowed.He added that when he asked to board the vessel before it left, he was denied permission.“The Government didn&#039;t give permission for me… to go on the voyage, which is completely bizarre and irresponsible because I&#039;m the person who&#039;s lived on the island with the settler party, so I know them best… to assess their welfare.“We&#039;ve got these philanthropists who are spending enormous amounts of money… I&#039;ve spent four months on this unpaid and we&#039;re finding the Government is thwarting us at every turn.”The First Minister of what was the Chagossian Government-in-exile, Misley Mandarin, also hit out at the action against the mission.He told the Telegraph that it tainted the news he had welcomed earlier this week - that the Bill to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius is to be removed from next month&#039;s King&#039;s Speech.This followed President Donald Trump’s scathing attack of the Chagos deal, labelling it &quot;an act of great stupidity&quot;.CHAGOS CHAOS - READ MORE:‘Obviously ethnic cleansing!’ Chagos First Minister weighs in after Keir Starmer reported to UN for &#039;crimes against humanity&#039;Mauritius issues fiery swipe at Britain with vow to reclaim Chagos Islands after Keir Starmer delays dealDonald Trump could buy Chagos Islands if Keir Starmer&#039;s deal with Mauritius collapsesA Government spokesman insisted that Britain will continue to make the case to Washington that the deal was the “best way to protect the long-term future of the base”.However, it also emerged this week that the United Nations is reviewing whether the deal to hand over the archipelago breaches international human rights laws.While Labour backbenchers on Sunday called on the Prime Minister to abandon the &quot;surrender&quot; plans altogether.Mr Holloway claimed the Government was in danger of committing “a crime against humanity.”“A crime against humanity is also the forced removal of a native population... that is what this Government of so-called human rights lawyers is in danger of doing.“I say this and so does Misley Mandarin, the First Minister: Bring it on. Bring in some fake immigration officers backed up by Royal Marines.&quot;Those guys are not leaving there except by force. And we will broadcast that live on television if that happens.”GB News has approached the Foreign Office for comment.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Inside, Border, Forces, bizarre, and, irresponsible, storming, Chagos, aid, vessel</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump launches extraordinary attack on the POPE &#45; President labels Pontiff &amp;apos;weak and terrible&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-launches-extraordinary-attack-on-the-pope-president-labels-pontiff-weak-and-terrible</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-launches-extraordinary-attack-on-the-pope-president-labels-pontiff-weak-and-terrible</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has attacked Pope Leo XIV, saying the first American Pontiff is &quot;weak&quot; and &quot;terrible&quot;.In an extraordinary post on Truth Social, the President said Pope Leo was &quot;weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy&quot;.He accused the Chicago-born Catholic leader of thinking &quot;it&#039;s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon&quot;.He also alleged the Catholic Church chose an American to lead the Vatican as they &quot;thought it was the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump&quot;.
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&quot;If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,&quot; he said.Concluding his message, Mr Trump said: &quot;Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great Pope, not a politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!&quot;He later shared an AI-generated image appearing to compare himself to Jesus Christ.The President&#039;s comments follow a reportedly contentious meeting between the Holy See&#039;s former ambassador to the US Cardinal Christophe Pierre and the Pentagon.Cardinal Pierre served as ambassador until March, when he was replaced by Cardinal Gabriele Giordano Caccia, who previously served as the permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN.On April 6, the Free Press described the January 22 meeting as a &quot;bitter lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants - and that the Church had better take its side&quot;.However, the Vatican claimed the &quot;narrative&quot; of the meeting was &quot;completely untrue&quot;.It claimed the meeting was &quot;was part of the Papal Representative’s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest&quot;.And Mr Burch said: &quot;It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.&quot;Mr Trump, on his return from UFC 327 in Miami, told the press &quot;we don&#039;t like the Pope&quot; when asked why he released his Truth Social statement.He said: &quot;I don&#039;t think he&#039;s doing a very good job. He likes crime, I guess.&quot;He added: &quot;We don&#039;t like a Pope, that&#039;s going to say that it&#039;s okay to have a nuclear weapon.LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP:Donald Trump says US will blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks collapseDonald Trump requests change to UFC White House card as new fight added for major eventDonald Trump unveils plan for 250-foot ‘Arc de Trump’ set to tower over Washington&quot;We don&#039;t want a Pope that says &#039;crime is okay in our cities&#039;. I don&#039;t like it. I&#039;m not a big fan of Pope Leo.&quot;He&#039;s a very liberal person, and he&#039;s a man that doesn&#039;t believe in stopping crime.&quot;On Saturday, Pope Leo condemned wars during the evening prayer at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.Addressing world leaders who participate in war, he said: &quot;To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.&quot;&quot;Enough with the idolatry of self and money! Enough with the display of force! Enough with war! True strength is manifested in serving life,&quot; the Pope added during his speech, which he delivered in Italian.While the Pontiff did not directly name Mr Trump or the Iran war, it was seen as the most direct rebuke of the President&#039;s actions in the Middle East yet.He had previously said the President&#039;s threat to destroy Iran&#039;s &quot;whole civilisation&quot; was &quot;truly unacceptable&quot;.Pope Leo also previously said on social media: &quot;Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.&quot;The President has increasingly framed the war through religious terms, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth comparing the recovery of a downed US airman to the Easter miracle.He has also used the book of Psalms to justify &quot;overwhelming violence&quot; against enemies, referencing a direct quote from Psalm 18 verses 37 - 42.The majority of Catholic voters supported the President during the 2024 election, with 55 per cent of voters to Kamala Harris&#039; 43 per cent.

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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Now LABOUR MPs urge Keir Starmer to finally kill off Chagos deal after PM shelves &amp;apos;surrender&amp;apos; plans</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/now-labour-mps-urge-keir-starmer-to-finally-kill-off-chagos-deal-after-pm-shelves-surrender-plans</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/now-labour-mps-urge-keir-starmer-to-finally-kill-off-chagos-deal-after-pm-shelves-surrender-plans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has been urged by Labour MPs to put the final nail in the coffin for the Chagos deal after the Prime Minister shelved plans to &quot;surrender&quot; the archipelago.  Labour backbenchers have called on Sir Keir to abandon the plans altogether after it was revealed legislation to ratify the agreement will be omitted from the King&#039;s Speech. The Government was seeking the ratify the deal - which would see Britain transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while leasing back the joint US-UK Diego Garcia base on a 99-year agreement.But a Bill to give the islands away was shelved from the King&#039; Speech after President Donald Trump&#039;s repeated attacks. 
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The American leader lambasted the deal as an “act of great stupidity” and a &quot;very woke thing&quot;.Britain cannot legally transfer sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius without American consent under a 1966 treaty between the two countries.On Sunday, ministers insisted the agreement had not been completely axed yet, suggesting ratification was being paused while Labour attempts to regain the backing of the US.But now, Sir Keir&#039;s backbenchers have called on him to drop the deal for good to avoid “further embarrassment”.Dan Carden, MP for Liverpool Walton, told The Times: “It’s clear the US administration doesn’t support the Chagos deal, and the Government should make the best of a bad situation and finally drop it.”Meanwhile, Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley &amp; Middleton South, urged the Prime Minister to &quot;ditch this financially and militarily unjustifiable policy&quot;.On Sunday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that the Government had &quot;not U-turned on our position on the Chagos Islands&quot;. He said: “I think it’s fair to say elements of the US administration have had a change of heart.THE CHAGOS &#039;SURRENDER&#039; - READ MORE: Keir Starmer reported to UN for &#039;crimes against humanity&#039; over treatment of ChagossiansKeir Starmer on verge of Chagos Islands U-turn as he delays decision to give up UK sovereigntyChagossians allowed to remain on islands in major sovereignty victory&quot;We said all the way along, we wouldn’t proceed without American support.”Mr Streeting claimed the deal was &quot;vital&quot; for the collective security for both the US and Britain, adding: &quot;We want to make sure that it is secure for the long term.&quot;“The Americans agree with that objective. We’ll work through with Washington to iron out some of the difficulties.&quot;We will be in the right position. The UK Government hasn’t changed its position but we need to take the Americans with us.”However, the White House appears to be holding firm.&quot;Never say never, but it would take something truly extraordinary to change President Trump&#039;s mind,&quot; a Maga figure with close links to the administration told The Times.&quot;The failure of Starmer to back him with Iran is something you just don&#039;t come back from.&quot;Labour are said to be fearful of an international law-based backlash from Mauritius if the deal is formally scrapped, with concerns mounting that the Indian and Chinese-allied island nation could launch legal action against Britain under the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Despite the Chagos deal being shelved for now, the Mauritian Government has vowed that the archipelago will be &quot;decolonised&quot;.  The country&#039;s Foreign Minister, Dhananjay Ramful, seethed: “We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process.&quot;“This is a matter of justice,&quot; he added.The deal would cost Britain approximately £35billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia base, which it currently enjoys for free.The Foreign Office insists it will &quot;secure the future of the base, ensuring that it can continue to operate securely for generations to come&quot;.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Ursula von der Leyen races to congratulate Viktor Orban&amp;apos;s election opponent &#45; after JD Vance&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;EU interference&amp;apos; warning</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ursula-von-der-leyen-races-to-congratulate-viktor-orbans-election-opponent-after-jd-vances-eu-interference-warning</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ursula-von-der-leyen-races-to-congratulate-viktor-orbans-election-opponent-after-jd-vances-eu-interference-warning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Viktor Orban&#039;s election opponent in a matter of minutes following his victory on Sunday night.Mr Orban had served as the leader of Hungary for 16 years after his party Fidesz came into power - but was turfed out by former colleague Peter Magyar yesterday evening.Shortly after Mr Orban conceded defeat, Mrs von der Leyen said: &quot;Europe&#039;s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight.&quot;She added on social media: &quot;Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary... A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.&quot;
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Tensions have long simmered between Mr Orban and the EU chief over his blocking for an aid deal for Ukraine - and frequently clashed with its President Volodymyr Zelensky.Mr Magyar, the leader of the Tisza party, promised to back the deal, and said Hungary wants to be a &quot;European country again&quot; on the campaign trail.Mr Orban has labelled him a &quot;puppet&quot; of the EU and Ukraine in the past - while the new PM has long called for Hungary to adopt the Euro.Just days ago, US Vice President JD Vance had warned the EU was committing &quot;foreign election interference&quot; on a visit to Hungary.Mr Vance said &quot;outside forces&quot; were exerting influence on the election, endorsing Mr Orban while saying European leaders &quot;hate this guy&quot;.He said: &quot;We want you to make a decision about your future with no outside forces pressuring you or telling you what to do.&quot;I&#039;m not telling you exactly who to vote for - but what I am telling you is that the bureaucrats in Brussels, those people should not be listened to.&quot;Responding to the US Vice President&#039;s visit, Mr Magyar said: &quot;No foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections.&quot;He added: &quot;Hungarian history is not written in Washington, Moscow, or Brussels - it is written in Hungary’s streets and squares.&quot;RUSSIA, EUROPE AND THE US - READ MORE:Viktor Orban admits defeat in phone call to rival after landslide Hungarian electionIt&#039;s no deal: JD Vance returns to US after Iran &#039;fails to accept American terms&#039; in 21-hour talksVladimir Putin violates his own ceasefire with Easter kamikaze drone barrageSir Keir Starmer also congratulated Mr Magyar on his victory.He said: &quot;This is an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.&quot;I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries.&quot;While UK Government insiders told The Spectator that Britain was hoping Hungary &quot;will now return to the European fold&quot;.Hungary&#039;s Prime Minister-designate laid out his first international visits in his first speech.He said he first planned to visit Poland, then Austrian capital Vienna and a third to Brussels - to &quot;bring home the EU funds that the Hungarian people are entitled to&quot;.Hungary has been barred from receiving €17billion in EU cash by the bloc over concerns of &quot;democratic backsliding&quot; and judicial independence.Mr Magyar also called for all &quot;the puppets who have been in power for the past 16 years&quot; to leave their office in his initial speech.Sir Keir was not the only British party leader to congratulate Mr Magyar.Green Party leader Zack Polanski seized the chance to turn developments in Europe into a swipe at Reform UK, crowing: &quot;Orban’s defeat shows that when we stand together against the politics of hate and division, hope wins and the far right friends of Farage can be defeated.&quot;Liberal Democrat chief and outspoken Donald Trump critic Sir Ed Davey used the defeat to take a shot at Mr Vance.He said: &quot;Has anyone noticed that wherever JD Vance goes, he just makes a mess.&quot;In Munich he insulted European allies. In Greenland he turned everyone against Trump. And now he’s helped Viktor Orban lose re-election,&quot; Sir Ed said.

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<title>Taxpayers footing £800 a MINUTE disability benefits bill for people claiming to suffer from anxiety</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/taxpayers-footing-800-a-minute-disability-benefits-bill-for-people-claiming-to-suffer-from-anxiety</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/taxpayers-footing-800-a-minute-disability-benefits-bill-for-people-claiming-to-suffer-from-anxiety</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ British taxpayers are having to fork out £800 every minute on disability benefits for people claiming anxiety, new figures have revealed.The annual cost of Personal Independence Payments for anxiety has soared from less than £100million in 2019 to nearly a gobsmacking £427million last year.In the year to January, 66,818 people in England and Wales listed anxiety as their main disability condition, with each claimant receiving an average of £122.77 weekly, the Daily Mail exposed.The benefit can reach up to £194 per week and requires no medical examination for the cash.Applicants are able to secure payments using only a personal diary or a letter from a friend describing how anxiety affects their daily routine.Since PIP is not means-tested, a company director earning six figures can qualify on identical terms to anyone else. Recipients also face no requirement to stop working.The system hands out points across 12 daily living and mobility activities, including washing, cooking, socialising and planning journeys.Needing prompting to socialise earns two points, while complete inability to manage social situations scores eight.Just eight points from a possible 72 triggers the standard daily living rate of £73.90 per week - while a separate mobility component can add up to £77.05 on top.Under current rules, someone who occasionally needs prompting to socialise, takes longer to cook, requires reminders to wash and finds travel stressful can accumulate enough points for payment.No diagnosis or doctor&#039;s note is necessary.Since the Covid pandemic, psychiatric disorders have driven a boom in claims, now accounting for over 40 per cent of PIP applications.THE BRITISH BENEFITS BILL - READ THE LATEST:Unpaid carers £160 worse off a month as benefit lags behind wages: &#039;Income simply isn’t enough!&#039;Working families pay £111 while benefit claimants pay just £4 at top UK attractionsDWP pays £850million to dead claimants in benefits error as Reform UK slams &#039;appalling&#039; scandalThe Institute for Fiscal Studies found mental health conditions represented 55 per cent of the rise in disability benefits.A thriving industry of unregulated no-win, no-fee firms has emerged to coach applicants through the claims process, pocketing up to 60 per cent of any backdated payment secured.Unlike PPI firms, which are legally capped at 20 per cent of payouts, benefit claims companies face no fee limit and no regulatory oversight.TikTok accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers can even teach people which words to use and how to describe symptoms for maximum effect.Last month, think tank Policy Exchange discovered last month that AI chatbots are generating model answers for PIP claim forms, even when users say they lack medical evidence.Cath Wieland, 33, from West Sussex, received a suspended jail sentence after investigators found she had been surfing and ziplining in Mexico while claiming anxiety left her housebound.She had claimed £23,000, splashing the cash on acrylic nails, tanning sessions and beauty appointments while telling the DWP she could not cook, wash herself or travel alone.Meanwhile, Sara Morris, 50, from Staffordshire, was jailed for eight months in July 2024 after competing in 73 races as a running club member while claiming anxiety prevented her from leaving home.Reform UK&#039;s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick branded the cost &quot;offensive&quot; to everyday hard-working Britons.&quot;The eyewatering amount we spend on mild mental health conditions is absurd,&quot; the Newark MP fumed.Echoing a similar fury, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said: &quot;Millions are getting benefits for anxiety and ADHD, along with a free Motability car. The bill is too high and the system is broken.&quot;But, in the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s attempt to tighten PIP rules last year was scrapped after 126 Labour rebels threatened to block the changes.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>‘Obviously ethnic cleansing!’ Chagos First Minister weighs in after Keir Starmer reported to UN for &amp;apos;crimes against humanity&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/obviously-ethnic-cleansing-chagos-first-minister-weighs-in-after-keir-starmer-reported-to-un-for-crimes-against-humanity</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/obviously-ethnic-cleansing-chagos-first-minister-weighs-in-after-keir-starmer-reported-to-un-for-crimes-against-humanity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Misley Mandarin has declared that what has occurred on the Chagos Islands is “obviously” ethnic cleansing after Keir Starmer reported to the UN for “crimes against humanity”.Speaking to GB News, the Chagossian First Minister was reacting to the international body&#039;s launch of an inquiry into plans to remove the indigenous Chagossian people from their homeland.James Tumbridge, the Attorney General for the Chagossian Government-in-exile, has submitted an urgent appeal to the UN human rights commissioner.The submission accuses the British Government of acts that could be considered &quot;ethnic cleansing and potentially crimes against humanity&quot; in its attempts to expel islanders.
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The removals relate to four Chagossians, including Mr Mandarin, who have recently returned to their homeland in protest of plans to cede sovereignty of the British territory to Mauritius.“They try to keep us out of our ancestors&#039; home, where my dad, my grandparents, and my family were born,” the First Minister said. When asked if it was fair to describe what the British Government was doing as ethnic cleansing, Mr Mandarin answered: “Obviously!”“It is obviously because we have got a distinct culture… By doing this, all our culture is disappearing.”“We need to be in our homeland. If you give our homeland to a third country, it will be lost. “So basically, what he&#039;s (Keir Starmer) doing is ethnic cleansing,” he stressed. Speaking for his people, Mr Mandarin added: “We are not surprised because a Labour government started deportation.”Mr Mandarin was referring to the initial removal of Chagossians, which began in 1966 under Harold Wilson’s Labour government and continued under Edward Heath’s Conservative government.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWes Streeting addresses ‘fundamental differences’ with the US and insists need to &#039;iron out issues’‘You&#039;ve scrapped plans to scrap the cap!’ Camilla Tominey and Zia Yusuf clash on Reform ‘U-turns’‘They’ve got some nerve!’ Top Tory furiously slams Labour for ‘prioritising welfare over defence’More than 300 Chagossians have expressed interest in joining the First Minister in returning to Chagos, despite protests from the British Government. However, resettlement efforts have been hampered by Border Force officials, who were seen on Saturday intercepting a supply ship trying to help the native islanders.“If people know about our struggle here. Please, please, please get the commissioner to get our stuff from the boat and get back the thing we need on land,” Mr Mandarin pleaded. Meanwhile, the bill to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands was dropped from next month’s King&#039;s Speech.The legislation underpinning the transfer of the islands from British control will be omitted from the declaration after President Donald Trump publicly slammed the deal as &quot;an act of great stupidity&quot;.Mr Mandarin warned that the deal was stalled but “not dead yet”.“We have to kill it. Parliamentarians, politicians, lords, they have to watch out for Keir Starmer trying to bring it back in sneakily,” he cautioned.Reacting to Mr Mandarin&#039;s claim, a Government spokesman said: “The Diego Garcia military base is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.“There are ongoing legal proceedings before the BIOT courts. Various UK and international courts have found that there is no right of abode on the Archipelago.”

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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>‘Whose human rights is Keir Starmer protecting? The whole thing stinks!’ says Nana Akua</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/whose-human-rights-is-keir-starmer-protecting-the-whole-thing-stinks-says-nana-akua</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/whose-human-rights-is-keir-starmer-protecting-the-whole-thing-stinks-says-nana-akua</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The so-called forensic human rights lawyer Sir Keir Starmer may well be in breach of international human rights law. We all know he&#039;s an out-and-out hypocrite.The Prime Minister once said: “Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental, and we support it.”Yeah, but when it came to the Chagossians, he couldn&#039;t give a fig removal order.
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Now, his attempts to evict the native Chagossians from their homeland to facilitate his surrender deal are rapidly unravelling. It seems that Sir Keir Starmer is a human rights lawyer only when it suits him, because by evicting the island&#039;s rightful residents, his Government may be committing a crime against humanity.Yesterday, we learned that vital supplies of food, medicine, mosquito nets, bed linen, and clothing destined for the islands may have been seized by UK immigration officers. This isn&#039;t the first time supplies have been seized. Nigel Farage recently tried to deliver aid to the British Government on the island.In a submission to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, James Tunbridge, the attorney general for the Chagossian Government-in-exile has demanded intervention on behalf of the Chagossians, who now live on the archipelago.He accused the British Government of ethnic cleansing, stating that this could be a “violation of the right of indigenous peoples not to be forcibly removed from their lands”.The application claimed that Britain violated the minority rights of the Chagossians in the 1960s, and 70s by forcibly removing the Chagos population from their homeland to make way for a base in Diego Garcia.Yesterday, Nigel Farage said: “How ironic it is that international law may scupper Starmer&#039;s vile attempt to deny Chagossians their rights?”LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:‘Obviously ethnic cleansing!’ Chagos First Minister weighs in after Keir Starmer reported to UNZia Yusuf defends Nigel Farage’s Donald Trump friendship during tense GB News grilling‘You&#039;ve scrapped plans to scrap the cap!’ Camilla Tominey and Zia Yusuf clash on Reform ‘U-turns’And even though the time has run out to put the deal through Parliament, and Donald Trump opposes it, something that Labour said they would scrap if he were not behind it.Keir Starmer is stubbornly vowing to pursue the deal, a deal he signed with the Mauritian government last year, a deal that would put the British taxpayer £35billion out of pocket. I don&#039;t know about you, but I&#039;m wondering whose human rights he&#039;s actually protecting. I suspect the trail may lead to those who put together its latest iteration. Frankly, the whole thing stinks.

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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Whose, human, rights, Keir, Starmer, protecting, The, whole, thing, stinks’, says, Nana, Akua</media:keywords>
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<title>Zia Yusuf defends Nigel Farage’s Donald Trump friendship after Camilla Tominey jibed it was ‘looking a bit embarrassing’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/zia-yusuf-defends-nigel-farages-donald-trump-friendship-after-camilla-tominey-jibed-it-was-looking-a-bit-embarrassing</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/zia-yusuf-defends-nigel-farages-donald-trump-friendship-after-camilla-tominey-jibed-it-was-looking-a-bit-embarrassing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Zia Yusuf has defended the “close relationship” between Nigel Farage and President Donald Trump, after Camilla Tominey wondered whether the bond was “looking a bit embarrassing”.The GB News host cited some of the US leaders&#039; most explosive remarks and social media posts amid increasing global turmoil. “Everyone knows that one can be friends with somebody without agreeing with them on all matters, particularly when it comes to politics,” the Reform Home Affairs spokesman said.“Nigel has taken a stance in direct contradiction with certain things that have come out of the administration at the right time.
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“Now, what I will say about Trump, look, President Trump is doing what he believes is in the best interests of the American people, and that&#039;s what he&#039;s making these decisions through. “We need leadership in this country that is making decisions through one lens and one lens only. And that is what is in the interest of the British people,” he told Camilla.WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE

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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:56:57 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>It&amp;apos;s no deal: JD Vance returns to US after Iran &amp;apos;chose not to accept American terms&amp;apos; during 21 hours of talks</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/its-no-deal-jd-vance-returns-to-us-after-iran-chose-not-to-accept-american-terms-during-21-hours-of-talks</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/its-no-deal-jd-vance-returns-to-us-after-iran-chose-not-to-accept-american-terms-during-21-hours-of-talks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The US and Iran have not reached any deal after 21 hours of peace talks in Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance has said.In a three-minute-long briefing after negotiations, Mr Vance said there were &quot;shortcomings&quot; and the Iranians &quot;chose not to accept the US terms&quot;.&quot;The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that&#039;s bad news for Iran much more than it&#039;s bad news for the United States of America,&quot; he said. &quot;So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We&#039;ve made very clear what our red lines are.&quot;
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&quot;We were quite flexible,&quot; he continued, adding: &quot;We need to see affirmative confirmation that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon.&quot;Iran&#039;s pursuit of nuclear weapons was Donald Trump&#039;s motive for striking the country - both this year and last.The VP himself said that was Mr Trump&#039;s &quot;core goal&quot;, and revealed he had spoken with the President half a dozen times during the talks.Last night, and before the press conference, Mr Trump said it &quot;makes no difference&quot; to him if a deal was made.&quot;Regardless of what happens, we win,&quot; he added.Mr Vance did not address what the lack of breakthrough would mean for the ceasefire with Iran - or for the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.An Iranian state TV reporter had earlier said the talks would continue on Sunday - which appeared to have been dashed by the American exit.The US motorcade was seen leaving the Serena hotel in the Pakistani capital mere minutes after Mr Vance wrapped up.Tasnim, Iran&#039;s state news agency, reported that the Americans&#039; &quot;excessive&quot; demands had &quot;hindered&quot; any deal.On Saturday, Mr Trump said he was now working to open up the strait, which he says the US is doing on behalf of countries who are either &quot;afraid or weak or cheap&quot;.PEACE IN IRAN? READ MORE:Iran peace hopes teeter on the edge as &#039;dishonourable&#039; Tehran violates ceasefire in Strait of HormuzKeir Starmer warns of ‘fragile’ ceasefire with Iran as he stresses there is ‘work to be done’Donald Trump threatens &#039;bigger and better&#039; strikes if Iran refuses to sign &#039;real agreement&#039;&quot;We were not helped by Nato,&quot; he said.On social media, he said reopening the waterway would be a &quot;favour to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others&quot;.The President did not directly address the UK.&quot;Incredibly, they don’t have the courage or will to do this work themselves,&quot; he added.Mr Trump&#039;s negotiating duo - special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner - had accompanied the Vice President in Islamabad.There, they met Iran&#039;s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, marking the highest-level talks between the two adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The Iranian delegation arrived on Friday dressed in black in mourning for the dead Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran had insisted it would only deal with a more senior US official - in particular, JD Vance, seen as the strongest opponent of overseas military intervention inside the White House.

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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Its, deal:, Vance, returns, after, Iran, chose, not, accept, American, terms, during, hours, talks</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer reported to UN for &amp;apos;crimes against humanity&amp;apos; over treatment of Chagossians</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-reported-to-un-for-crimes-against-humanity-over-treatment-of-chagossians</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-reported-to-un-for-crimes-against-humanity-over-treatment-of-chagossians</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has been reported to the United Nations for alleged crimes against humanity.In another hammer blow to the PM&#039;s Chagos Islands &quot;surrender&quot; deal after it emerged the Bill to give away the islands would be shelved, the UN is now probing whether it violates international human rights law. UN officials are investigating claims that the Prime Minister is committing a &quot;crime against humanity&quot; by seeking to remove the indigenous Chagossian people from their homeland.James Tumbridge, the Attorney General for the Chagossian Government-in-exile, has submitted an urgent appeal to the UN human rights commissioner.
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The submission accuses the British Government of acts amounting &quot;to ethnic cleansing and potentially crimes against humanity&quot; in its attempts to expel islanders.Four Chagossians, including First Minister Misley Mandarin, recently returned to their homeland.More than 300 more have expressed interest in joining them.But their efforts at resettlement have been hampered by Border Force officials, who were seen on Saturday intercepting a supply ship trying to help the native islanders.Mr Mandarin accused Sir Keir of blocking humanitarian supplies for six people camped on the island.He also revealed: &quot;We were happy when we heard the giveaway had been halted.&quot;&quot;But even that good news turned to a very, very bad experience when our resupply boat was blocked. They refuse us solar panels to make clean water, mosquito nets and sheets to sleep on.&quot;The British Government removed us from the island in the 60s and 70s. Now, when we are back, they are trying to remove us in another way by not supplying us with humanitarian aid.&quot;Mr Tumbridge&#039;s letter argues their removal would constitute a &quot;violation of the right of indigenous peoples not to be forcibly removed from their lands&quot;.The submission follows a recent legal victory that confirmed the islanders have a right to live on their homeland.Sir Keir&#039;s deal originated from a 2019 International Court of Justice resolution requesting Britain give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.But after Donald Trump&#039;s repeated attacks on the giveaway, the Prime Minister was forced to put his bid to enshrine it in law on hold.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS&quot;Never say never, but it would take something truly extraordinary to change President Trump&#039;s mind,&quot; a Maga figure with close links to the administration told The Times.&quot;The failure of Starmer to back him with Iran is something you just don&#039;t come back from.&quot;It also emerged on Saturday that Mauritius, a key ally of India and China, has pledged to &quot;reclaim&quot; the islands.Dhananjay Ramfal, the country&#039;s Foreign Minister, said: &quot;We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process. This is a matter of justice.&quot;The Maldives and Seychelles have also lodged opportunistic claims to the territory.Back in the UK, politicians of all stripes emerged to claim victory over Labour after Friday&#039;s news.Last night, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told The Telegraph: &quot;Keir Starmer spent decades in wigs and courtrooms defending everyone except the British national interest, and now the UN is on his doorstep. Poetic justice at its finest.&quot;&quot;We fought this outrageous surrender of British sovereign territory every step of the way, which has led to his Chagos vanity project now destined for the bin. Unlike Labour, Conservatives will always put our country first.&quot;But Reform UK, to whom MP Andrew Rosindell defected over the Tories&#039; &quot;complicity&quot; in giving away the islands, was quick to highlight that the Conservatives opened negotiations with Mauritius while in Government.The party&#039;s policy chief James Orr said: &quot;The uniparty surrendered Chagos because international law always mattered more to it than the interests of the British people.&quot;The Tories lost negotiations they never needed to start. Labour was delighted to capitulate. Reform will always defend British sovereign territory.&quot;Labour remains committed to the proposed agreement despite its setback.The deal would cost Britain approximately £35billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia base, which it currently enjoys for free.The Foreign Office insists the deal will &quot;secure the future of the base, ensuring that it can continue to operate securely for generations to come&quot;.

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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, reported, for, crimes, against, humanity, over, treatment, Chagossians</media:keywords>
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<title>Mauritius issues fiery swipe at Britain with vow to reclaim Chagos Islands after Keir Starmer delays deal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/mauritius-issues-fiery-swipe-at-britain-with-vow-to-reclaim-chagos-islands-after-keir-starmer-delays-deal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/mauritius-issues-fiery-swipe-at-britain-with-vow-to-reclaim-chagos-islands-after-keir-starmer-delays-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mauritius has issued a fiery swipe at Britain after Keir Starmer delayed the announcement of the Chagos Islands bill following a loss of support from Donald Trump.The nation promised to exhaust all available options to regain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.Speaking at an Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful declared the nation would pursue every possible route to achieve this goal.&quot;We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process in this part of the Indian Ocean,&quot; Mr Ramful said.
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&quot;This is a matter of justice.&quot;The archipelago&#039;s principal island, Diego Garcia, houses a joint military facility operated by Britain and the United States.Britain has confirmed the agreement will only move forward subject to American backing, according to a statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer&#039;s Downing Street office.The Government has been compelled to suspend legislation transferring the islands to Mauritius owing to opposition from Washington.US President Donald Trump previously condemned the proposed arrangement as &quot;an act of great stupidity,&quot; adding it was a &quot;big mistake&quot;.His criticism has proved decisive in halting the parliamentary process.Reports indicate the necessary legislation now faces insufficient time to pass through Parliament ahead of next month&#039;s King&#039;s Speech, with no new bill currently scheduled.A Government spokesman indicated Britain would persist in arguing to Washington that the agreement represents the optimal approach to safeguarding the base&#039;s future operations.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Met Police arrest more than 200 protesters supporting Palestine ActionUS military plane damaged after man breaks into airport and attacks aircraft with hatchetShabana Mahmood told to ‘get a grip’ and ban DJ from UK after antisemitism probe in AustraliaMauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover said the development had been anticipated, attributing the impasse to deteriorating relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir.Speaking to a local newspaper, Glover emphasised the interconnected nature of the dispute with bilateral Anglo-American dynamics.&quot;We are dependent on Anglo-American relations...the USA and Britain will have to reach an agreement,&quot; Glover said.He noted that resolution would ultimately require Washington and London to find common ground.Talks between Mauritian representatives and British government officials are scheduled to take place on 22 April to address the future of the Chagos arrangement.The meeting will represent the next opportunity for the two nations to negotiate a path forward on the stalled agreement.The suspended agreement would have seen Britain surrender sovereignty while paying approximately £35billion to lease back the military installation for 99 years.The archipelago&#039;s position in the middle of the Indian Ocean provides crucial military capabilities and serves as a counterweight to Chinese regional influence.Between the late 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly removed up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to establish the Diego Garcia air base.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mauritius, issues, fiery, swipe, Britain, with, vow, reclaim, Chagos, Islands, after, Keir, Starmer, delays, deal</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump&amp;apos;s granddaughter Kai, 18, appears to break golden Augusta rule &#45; but all is not what it seems</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-granddaughter-kai-18-appears-to-break-golden-augusta-rule-but-all-is-not-what-it-seems</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trumps-granddaughter-kai-18-appears-to-break-golden-augusta-rule-but-all-is-not-what-it-seems</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kai Trump found herself at the centre of an online storm this week after sharing snaps from her visit to Augusta National during Masters week.The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, whose father is Donald Jr, was spotted wandering the grounds of golf&#039;s most exclusive venue on Tuesday.Two days later, she posted a series of photographs from her trip, including one selfie in front of the famous Amen Corner signpost and another alongside American golfer Bryson DeChambeau and his caddie Greg Bodine.The images quickly went viral, with fans convinced she&#039;d committed a cardinal sin at the Georgia course.Augusta National is famously strict when it comes to electronics, with the club&#039;s rules leaving little room for interpretation.The regulations state that anyone caught carrying a mobile phone will be removed from the grounds and permanently banned from purchasing tickets in future.It&#039;s a policy the club takes seriously, as 1989 Open champion Mark Calcavecchia discovered recently when he was reportedly asked to leave after being found using his phone.When Golfweek contacted Calcavecchia about the incident, he refused to confirm or deny what happened, saying only: &quot;I&#039;ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now.&quot;But here&#039;s the thing – Kai didn&#039;t actually break any rules at all.        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Kai Trump (@kaitrumpgolfer)
It turns out she was using a digital camera rather than a mobile phone, and that makes all the difference.According to the official Masters website, cameras are permitted for still photography and personal use on practice days, which is exactly when Kai visited the course.So despite the furious online debate, the president&#039;s granddaughter is completely in the clear.Golf.com reporter Claire Rogers also pointed out that some people are allowed phones on site, with the club providing special stickers for those with permission.While Kai won&#039;t have upset anyone at Augusta with her photographs, her grandfather faces a rather different situation when it comes to the prestigious club.Despite being President of the United States, Donald Trump himself is unlikely to ever secure membership at the Georgia venue.Legendary golf coach Butch Harmon, 82, suggested Trump&#039;s personality simply doesn&#039;t fit the Augusta mould.&quot;I think he is who he is. He&#039;s full of himself,&quot; Harmon said. &quot;I&#039;ve known Donald pretty much my whole life. What you see is what you get with him. And I don&#039;t think his personality fits the membership at Augusta.&quot;Harmon noted that other golf-playing presidents like Clinton and Obama never became members either.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trumps, granddaughter, Kai, 18, appears, break, golden, Augusta, rule, but, all, not, what, seems</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Defence is a mess &#45; and it seems we have clowns at the helm,’ slams Nana Akua</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/defence-is-a-mess-and-it-seems-we-have-clowns-at-the-helm-slams-nana-akua</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/defence-is-a-mess-and-it-seems-we-have-clowns-at-the-helm-slams-nana-akua</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Defence is in a mess, and it seems that we have clowns at the helm.In a recent interview, Defence Secretary John Healy was unable to say how many frigates and destroyers the UK has. How can you not know that? What are you doing all day, John? After the news that a Russian shadow fleet is in the English Channel, he warned the Russian leader: “We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines. “And you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.”Oh, I bet Vladimir Putin was really scared when he heard that. 
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I&#039;m pretty sure he has a better idea of how many ships we have. More than you, John, anyway. Vladimir Putin has been casing the joint for a while. He knows what&#039;s going on in our Channel more than our own defence sector. And get this, apparently the Russian crew of the Shadow fleet would be eligible to claim asylum here in the UK if they so chose. What a joke. Don&#039;t get me started on HMS Dragon. Then there&#039;s the Chagos, a strategically important military base that we own. Although Sir Keir Starmer and Co are doing their very best to dispatch it at an eye-watering expense to British taxpayers.The Prime Minister has claimed that the average cost of the deal was £100million per year, with a net overall cost of £ 3.4billion over 99 years. He said this was the same or slightly less than the running cost of an aircraft carrier minus the aircraft.LATEST DEFENCE NEWS: ‘Get our hands dirty!’ Kemi Badenoch calls on UK to ‘act decisively’ in the ‘age of Donald Trump’US military plane damaged after man breaks into airport and attacks aircraft with hatchet&#039;Prepare for war,&#039; Britons to be told as Army revives emergency plans for attack on UKAlthough it wasn&#039;t £3.4billion, was it? It was more like I think it misplaced the dot for like £34billion. And Donald Trump, in fact, most of the people of this country have no idea why Sir Keir Starmer would impose such a nonsensical and unnecessary self-inflicted wound on this country.The US leader said: “I think they should keep it. I don&#039;t know why they&#039;re doing it there. They need money.”We need the Americans for our security. Yet Keir Starmer has gone out of his way to create a rift.It&#039;s got so bad that the Ukrainian President Zelensky is now suggesting that if the US pull out of Nato, the UK should rejoin the EU, which is what Sir Keir Starmer wanted in the first place.And the way our armed forces treated the brave men and women who are willing to lay down their lives to keep us all safe. We have a Government led by a human rights lawyer prepared to bow down to international courts, a Government who do not appear to have a patriotic bone in its body, even willing to hound down patriots whilst terrorists are freed. Prosecutions of veterans continue, not just in Northern Ireland. Now they&#039;re going for the SAS. The recruitment results are literally catastrophic. Take Dennis Hutchins, who was hounded through the courts and arrested at the early hours of 5am for carrying out his duty. Hounded until the day he died, whilst IRA terrorists faced no prospect of prosecution. If we&#039;re going to absolve those who were potentially terrorists. The very least we can do is absolve our armed forces. And now we have potential people who help the Royal Navy looking to go on strike. The Tories were just as bad. They refused to stand up for the veterans, which meant that Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, resigned by the end of the Tories&#039; 14 years. Well, there was less spending on defence than the previous Government. We seriously need to get our house in order. Our Government has shown the rest of the world what a weak position we are in. Why can&#039;t we create a proper defence industry right here in the UK? It&#039;s not as if we haven&#039;t done it before, creating jobs and a strong manufacturing base, which would provide jobs and revenue instead of pouring money into welfare and illegal migration.We need to industrialize, make more of our own weapons, our own weapons, create a protective dome over our country like Israel, and get with the program because currently we are a sitting duck.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Defence, mess, and, seems, have, clowns, the, helm, ’, slams, Nana, Akua</media:keywords>
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<title>‘We need to get our hands dirty!’ Kemi Badenoch calls on Britain to ‘act decisively’ in the ‘age of Donald Trump’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/we-need-to-get-our-hands-dirty-kemi-badenoch-calls-on-britain-to-act-decisively-in-the-age-of-donald-trump</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/we-need-to-get-our-hands-dirty-kemi-badenoch-calls-on-britain-to-act-decisively-in-the-age-of-donald-trump</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kemi Badenoch has called on Britain to “act decisively” as the nation scrambles to find its place in the world during the “age of Donald Trump”. Speaking at the London Defence Conference, the Conservative Party leader said the UK would have to “show we are willing to get our hands dirty” on the armed forces. Addressing the audience, Mrs Badenoch said: “The United States is playing by very different rules from what we&#039;re used to. “We are in the age of Donald Trump,” she said, explaining that America’s posture on global defence under him could now be the status quo.
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“For decades, the United States has been complaining, at least privately, that Europe is not pulling its weight on defence.“President Trump may be unorthodox in how he speaks to us, but there are forces at play here that are much larger than his presidency.“The mirror that he is holding up to Europe that we find so uncomfortable to look in is showing us that, without the United States, we cannot properly defend ourselves,” she warned. “Many people find President Trump&#039;s actions to be anathema. They find his words unstatesmanlike, his treatment of allies needlessly provocative.“Some of the president&#039;s social media posts and comments have dismayed me, too,” Mrs Badenoch assured.Nevertheless, she stressed that the state of the UK’s defence and Keir Starmer’s rowing with the US leader was putting the “Atlantic Alliance under greater strain every day”. To that end, the Tory leader insisted that “we must show our allies and our enemies that we are willing to get our hands dirty”. “That doesn&#039;t mean that when President Trump says jump, we ask how high. No, it means acting decisively to protect British interests.” LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWATCH: Border Force officials storm ship bringing vital supplies to ChagosDawn Neeson touchingly reflects on career with Eamonn Holmes as GB News star recovers in hospital‘It’s a different world!’ Steve N Allen slams Sadiq Khan over Londoners ‘feeling unsafe’“I&#039;m not a military expert, but I do understand the nature of power.“Power does not come from wishful thinking.”Mrs Badenoch declared: “Power does not come from speeches about values if those values are not defended by hard capability.”During her speech, the Tory leader also acknowledged that her own party had met her demands when in government. “I will be honest, the Conservative Party made mistakes in government. “We did not do enough early enough to rebuild the resilience and readiness that a more dangerous world required.Mrs Badenoch pledged: “We are under new management. “I will not repeat those mistakes, but we need Labour and other parties to learn those lessons too,” she said. Mrs Badenoch&#039;s comments echoed those made by Tory Shadow Housing Minister James Cleverly to GB News earlier this week.“We recognise that we could and indeed should have perhaps spent more on defence,” Sir James said.Comparing this stance to that of the Labour Government, he claimed: “The difference is we&#039;ve recognised when we didn&#039;t do things right, and we&#039;re setting about changing our behaviour.“Labour has been warned from day one that they need to give certainty over defence. They have chosen to increase the welfare budget rather than invest that money in defence,” the top Tory claimed.

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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘We, need, get, our, hands, dirty’, Kemi, Badenoch, calls, Britain, ‘act, decisively’, the, ‘age, Donald, Trump’</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump unveils plan for 250&#45;foot ‘Arc de Trump’ set to tower over Washington</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-unveils-plan-for-250-foot-arc-de-trump-set-to-tower-over-washington</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-unveils-plan-for-250-foot-arc-de-trump-set-to-tower-over-washington</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump has revealed plans for a monumental triumphal arch in Washington DC, standing at an imposing 76 metres from base to summit.The structure will be crowned by a gold-gilded winged figure, with a pair of eagles positioned on either side and four lions standing guard below.Golden inscriptions reading &quot;One Nation Under God&quot; and &quot;Liberty and Justice for All&quot; will adorn the top of each side of the monument.At more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial, which reaches 30 metres, the arch will be positioned on land situated between that landmark and Arlington National Cemetery.
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Announcing the design on his Truth Social platform, the president declared it the &quot;GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World&quot;.Mr Trump expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: &quot;This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!&quot;The president has argued that Washington remains the only major world capital lacking such a monument.According to Mr Trump, efforts to construct a similar structure date back two centuries but were derailed by the American Civil War. A subsequent attempt in 1902 also failed to materialise.Beyond the arch, Mr Trump has undertaken several modifications to the White House grounds, including alterations to the Oval Office and the transformation of the Rose Garden into a stone-paved patio.However, his ambitious £301million ballroom project has encountered significant legal obstacles.US District Judge Richard Leon, a George W Bush appointee, issued a temporary suspension of construction work on Tuesday.The judge concluded that a preservationist organisation opposing the development was likely to succeed with its legal challenge.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSMasterminds of mega people-smuggling operation jailed after launching ‘Tripadvisor-style’ service for migrantsChurch magazine apologises after readers offended by poems about migrants, benefits cheats and fat peopleWhen is Artemis III? Nasa to make major next step in returning mankind to Moon after historic mission successIn his ruling, Judge Leon determined that the president lacks statutory authority to proceed with such a project without obtaining Congressional approval.The Trump administration responded on Friday by filing an appeal against the ruling, with lawyers from the US National Park Service arguing that the construction halt poses severe risks to national security.Legal representatives emphasised the urgency of the situation, writing: &quot;Time is of the essence!&quot;The motion contends that the suspension threatens &quot;grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president&#039;s staff&quot;.Administration lawyers argued that temporary canvas tents, which would be required in the absence of a permanent ballroom, offer far less protection against missiles, drones and other aerial threats than a fortified structure would provide.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, unveils, plan, for, 250-foot, ‘Arc, Trump’, set, tower, over, Washington</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour deputy issues fierce warning to Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals amid fears party will be plunged into ‘bloody’ civil war</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-deputy-issues-fierce-warning-to-keir-starmers-leadership-rivals-amid-fears-party-will-be-plunged-into-bloody-civil-war</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-deputy-issues-fierce-warning-to-keir-starmers-leadership-rivals-amid-fears-party-will-be-plunged-into-bloody-civil-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lucy Powell has cautioned potential challengers against attempting to oust Sir Keir Starmer following next month&#039;s local elections, arguing that internal party warfare would be deeply inappropriate during the ongoing Iran conflict.The deputy leader made clear that Labour members would react negatively to any bid to unseat the Prime Minister.&quot;I&#039;ve got my own job and my own mandate. I&#039;m not saying this because I want to suck up to anyone. I&#039;m saying it because it&#039;s the right thing for the party and country,&quot; she stated.Ms Powell emphasised that &quot;some kind of messy, bloody internal contest is not going to help us address these issues&quot;.
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She noted that party gatherings respond most enthusiastically when she discusses Mr Starmer&#039;s approach to the Iran crisis. &quot;We need calm, sensible, grown-up leadership to take us through this,&quot; Ms Powell added to the Financial Times.The deputy leader&#039;s intervention comes despite her own complicated history with Sir Keir. She was dismissed from her role as Leader of the Commons last September, becoming the sole cabinet-level departure at that time.Ms Powell subsequently secured her current position through a vote of party members, taking over from Angela Rayner. Ms Rayner had stepped down following controversy surrounding underpaid tax on her property in Hove.Despite the deputy leader&#039;s defence of the Prime Minister, Labour faces a potentially devastating set of results on May 7.Analysts predict the party could shed close to 2,000 council seats, with Reform UK and the Greens expected to make significant gains at Labour&#039;s expense.The picture looks equally bleak in the devolved nations. Labour is anticipated to lose control in Wales, whilst in Scotland the party may slip to third or even fourth place.Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has already publicly demanded that Sir Keir step aside, breaking ranks with the party leadership ahead of what promises to be a bruising electoral test.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump unveils plan for 250-foot ‘Arc de Trump’ set to tower over WashingtonChurch magazine apologises after readers offended by poems about migrants, benefits cheats and fat peopleMasterminds of mega people-smuggling operation jailed after launching ‘Tripadvisor-style’ service for migrantsNevertheless, a growing consensus has emerged among Labour MPs and ministers that Starmer will weather the electoral storm, even among those who have been sharply critical of his leadership.Though the Prime Minister remains deeply unpopular with voters, his handling of the Iran conflict and willingness to confront President Trump appears to be generating support.Downing Street believes the crisis could offer an opportunity to revive Mr Starmer&#039;s fortunes. On Thursday, he expressed frustration with Mr Trump&#039;s role in driving up energy costs for British households and businesses, drawing parallels between the US-Israeli military action in Iran and Putin&#039;s invasion of Ukraine.Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, deputy, issues, fierce, warning, Keir, Starmer’s, leadership, rivals, amid, fears, party, will, plunged, into, ‘bloody’, civil, war</media:keywords>
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<title>Shabana Mahmood told to ‘get a grip’ and ban DJ from UK after antisemitism probe in Australia</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/shabana-mahmood-told-to-get-a-grip-and-ban-dj-from-uk-after-antisemitism-probe-in-australia</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/shabana-mahmood-told-to-get-a-grip-and-ban-dj-from-uk-after-antisemitism-probe-in-australia</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Shabana Mahmood has been told to &quot;get a grip&quot; and ban an American DJ from travelling to the UK after an Australian antisemitism probe was launched into the artist.Zubeyda Muzeyyen, stage name DJ Haram, is set to play several gigs across Britain in the coming weeks in London and Birmingham.But the DJ is currently being probed by New South Wales Police after she delivered an anti-Israel speech in Sydney ahead of a set last month.Addressing mammoth crowds at the Sydney Biennale on March 13, Ms Muzeyyen declared her solidarity with nations including Iran, Lebanon and Palestine - condemning civilian deaths in the Gaza war. 
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Dedicating her subsequent performance to pro-Palestinians, she declared it was her &quot;duty&quot; to rally against a &quot;Zio-Australian... empire&quot;, making references to &quot;martyrs&quot; and &quot;the resistance&quot;. Her speech led to furious complaints from the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies. The group claimed her rhetoric risked echoed that of proscribed terrorist organisations. Additionally, they claimed it could exacerbate hostility towards local Jewish communities. Police have confirmed they are investigating Ms Muzeyyen&#039;s comments.The major Australian city is home to more than 43,000 Jews, making up around 40 per cent of the nation&#039;s Jewish community. Now, just weeks before the DJ&#039;s performances, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told Jewish News: &quot;The last thing this country needs is a visit from yet another international musician embroiled in allegations of antisemitism and promoting terrorism.&quot;As the Government continues to struggle to get a grip on the relentless wave of anti-Jewish racism and Islamist extremism in the UK, it is patently not conducive to the public good for Zubeyda Muzeyyen (DJ Haram) to perform here.&quot;The Home Secretary needs to get a grip and ban her.&quot;Mr Philp&#039;s fury has echoed that of politicians in Sydney, with its premier Chris Minns branding the comments as &quot;horrid rhetoric&quot;. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Kanye West breaks silence after Wireless axe and UK ban with cryptic messageKanye West&#039;s shock antisemitic rants &#039;could be bipolar breakdown&#039;, experts sayCamilla Tominey wades into Kanye West row after UK entry ban sparks backlash: &#039;Double standard!&#039;Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Jewish Leadership Council said: &quot;Zubeyda Muzeyyen has repeatedly engaged in rhetoric that appears to support acts of terror carried out against Israelis, alongside the repetition of some of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. This goes far beyond legitimate political criticism.&quot;The Jewish community in Britain knows all too well where such language can lead. There are serious questions for the venues in London and Birmingham which are hosting her. It is also open to the Home Secretary to consider whether her entry into the UK would be conducive to the public good.&quot;Ms Muzeyyen is currently set to perform at Phonox in London and Birmingham&#039;s Supersonic Festival.A Home Office spokesman said: &quot;While we do not comment on individual cases, we fully support the Jewish community and will always take allegations of antisemitism seriously.&quot;That is one of the reasons why an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation is under way – to make sure police have the powers they need to keep vulnerable and targeted communities safe. We have also ramped up security around synagogues and Jewish schools, backed by record levels of funding.&quot;GB News has approached Phonox and Supersonic Festival for comment.The potential ban of the musician would follow last week&#039;s barring of Kanye West from entering the UK. The rapper, who was set to headline Wireless festival in July, was denied entry on the grounds that his presence would &quot;not be conducive to the public good&quot;.Mr West has received criticism for his behaviour over recent years, from releasing a track called &quot;Heil Hitler&quot; to selling clothing featuring a swastika on his merchandise website.He has also been suspended from X multiple times over repeated antisemitic posts shared on the platform.Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously commented on the controversy, describing plans for him to headline Wireless Festival as “deeply concerning”.Shortly after the Home Office announcement, Wireless Festival organisers announced they have cancelled this year&#039;s event and that refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.

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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Shabana, Mahmood, told, ‘get, grip’, and, ban, from, after, antisemitism, probe, Australia</media:keywords>
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<title>Online privacy should be treated like &amp;apos;stranger danger&amp;apos; warnings, says UK regulator</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/online-privacy-should-be-treated-like-stranger-danger-warnings-says-uk-regulator</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/online-privacy-should-be-treated-like-stranger-danger-warnings-says-uk-regulator</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Parents are urged to treat children&#039;s online privacy as &quot;as natural as teaching a child to cross the road&quot; or stranger danger campaigns, according to the Information Commissioner&#039;s Office (ICO). This comes as the ICO uncovered in a survey that three in four parents worry their child can&#039;t make safe choices when it comes to protecting their personal details online.The ICO said online privacy includes children’s names, ages, and where they live, &quot;but also less obvious information like their browsing history, purchases, photos, voice notes and social media or gaming activity.&quot; GB News&#039; Patrick Christys reveals 3 ways to boost privacyAround 22% of children have handed over personal information like health details to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, while nearly a quarter have shared their real name or home address online. Younger children, including eight and nine-year-olds, appear to be most at risk. The survey also found that 35% of parents think their child would happily hand over personal details in exchange for game tokens or rewards.Nearly half of the parents surveyed admitted they don&#039;t feel confident protecting their children&#039;s privacy online. Another 44% said they&#039;re trying but aren&#039;t sure they&#039;re doing enough.And if you&#039;re guilty of not checking your child&#039;s privacy settings often enough, you&#039;re not alone. About 42% of parents admitted they probably don&#039;t spend enough time on this.Subscribe to ExpressVPN for just £1.99 – just 6 pence a dayProtect your personal information and encrypt everything you do online for just £1.99 with the latest ExpressVPN deal. That equates to just 6p a day for military-grade encryption across 10x devices.Unsurprisingly, this blockbuster sale trounces NordVPN, its biggest competitor.ExpressVPN boasts apps for iPhone, Android, Linux, Windows, Mac, Fire TV, and dozens more, to secure your internet traffic from prying eyes, advertisers, and governments. We praised its speed and reliability in our ExpressVPN review. For a limited time, you&#039;ll benefit from an extra 4 months free with a two-year plan [countdown-2026-04-22]The ICO says many parents feel underprepared for the challenge of keeping their children&#039;s data safe in the digital age.Emily Keaney, the ICO&#039;s deputy commissioner, explained, &quot;The internet offers amazing opportunities for children – but every click can leave a hidden data trail and these digital footprints can last forever.&quot;We wouldn’t expect our children to share their birthdays or address with a stranger in a shop, because we’d explain stranger danger to them from a very young age, but kids these days are growing up online.&quot;We know that where children’s details, like their name, interests and pictures, aren’t protected, the potential risks are serious: unwanted contact from strangers, grooming and radicalisation.”Patrick Christys speaks with the Chief Research Officer at ExpressVPN



Dame Rachel de Souza, children’s commissioner for England, said that tech companies also need to take some of the responsibility. She said, &quot;We all have a role to play in protecting children from these dangers, many of which we as adults are also still learning to navigate.“Too often, we are playing catch-up. This is why it is important that parents feel confident having early, everyday conversations with children about the risks of being online and how to respond if something makes them uncomfortable.“But we cannot let tech companies off the hook.How a VPN protects your privacy“They must be held accountable for putting profits before protections and must be required to design services that prioritise children’s safety and privacy by design, rather than treating children’s safety as an optional tick box exercise, after harm has already occurred.”Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, echoed these concerns: &quot;Many parents are already talking to their children about harmful content or screen time, but privacy often gets overlooked.&quot;She added that families are increasingly looking for clear, practical guidance as worries grow about how children&#039;s data gets used online.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSUpdate WhatsApp today, and unlock all-new app for your carGoogle has simple fix for &#039;difficult decision&#039; faced by millions of Windows 10 usersBest VPN dealsVirgin Media offers full-fibre internet and 200 channels at lowest EVER priceMost expensive Kindle EVER launches in UK todayPopular messaging app discontinued on Galaxy phonesParents and campaign groups have called for a social media ban for under-16s in the UK.The Government has launched its own review to see if banning social media platforms for all those aged under 16 would be beneficial.Australia recently became the first country to ban social media for children aged under 16.Some argue that, should the Labour Government decide to follow in the footsteps of the Australians, the outcomes would not always be positive for millions of young people living in the UK.Girlguiding advocate Imogen, 15, said: “Should a ban come in, 16-year-olds would end up entering the digital world without any guidance to navigate it safely, which could be more dangerous and harmful. Platforms need to be made safer and young people be provided with the right online safety education.”The Government recently launched an experiment to see if the ban would positively affect families. Ministers have set up a six-week trial where 300 children between the ages of 13 and 17 will test out possible social media bans, from a one-hour cap to an overnight blackout. MPs will review whether these restrictions make any difference to children&#039;s academic performance, sleep, and home life.Teenagers and their parents will be split into four different groups.The first group will have parents use parental controls to completely block social media apps – an attempt to mimic how a full ban would feel.Group two will have a one-hour daily cap on the major social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.The third group will face an overnight blackout, with social media switched off between 9pm and 7am – so you can still scroll a bit before and after school.However, the final group will carry on using social media exactly as they do now, giving researchers a point of comparison.Families taking part will also sit down for interviews at the beginning and end of the trial, sharing how the restrictions affected them and any challenges they ran into along the way.However, there are trepidations about the way this test is being conducted. Mark Jones, Online Safety Act expert and Criminal partner at Payne Hicks Beach, said, “The pilot appears too narrow, focusing only on screen time and curfews, which risks oversimplifying the problem. How young people spend their time online also matters, not just how long. Any social media ban could increase the risk of young people devising workarounds.&quot;The UK Government&#039;s recent roll-out of the Online Safety Act last summer added strict age verification barriers to thousands of popular websites, forums, and social media services. Britons must verify their age by providing a passport scan, a facial scan, or entering credit card details.Children under 16 living in the UK have also said they don&#039;t feel safe from online content, despite existing safety measures.And fewer than one in six say that a blanket social media ban for anyone underage would make them feel safer online, according to new research from youth organisation Girlguiding.Girlguiding chief executive Felicity Oswald said: &quot;Young people are clear that they don’t think technology is safe, however, they also recognise its benefits. It is crucial they are part of this important national conversation, especially girls who are often more likely to experience sexist and misogynistic online harms.&quot;Our approach to online safety must support young people, not make them feel punished. As the consultation gets underway, we look forward to ensuring any government policies do not disproportionately impact girls or police their behaviours.&quot;The Government&#039;s review into the ban is expected to end in late May. 

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Online, privacy, should, treated, like, stranger, danger, warnings, says, regulator</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour holds talks on potential of widespread protests over cost of living caused by Iran war</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-holds-talks-on-potential-of-widespread-protests-over-cost-of-living-caused-by-iran-war</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-holds-talks-on-potential-of-widespread-protests-over-cost-of-living-caused-by-iran-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Downing Street has held talks on the potential of mass protests over a cost of living crisis following the war in Iran.Experts have previously warned energy bills could rise by £160 if the war in the Middle East drags on, with fuel prices hitting their highest level since 2022.Now, GB News understands representatives from several Whitehall departments held conversations about the prospects of mass demonstrations due to high prices and shortages of key goods.Ministers have also held Iraq war-style &quot;stop the war&quot; demonstrations, which they believe could be focused in communities with a large population of Muslims.
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Housing Secretary Steve Reed is believed to be in charge of &quot;community cohesion&quot; during the war, however any potential mass protests or rioting would be under the responsibility of the Home Office.Sources told GB News that community tensions were not assessed as &quot;a likely outcome&quot;.One added: &quot;Suggestions that we are bracing for public disorder are categorically incorrect and the UK has strong and diverse energy supplies.&quot;GB News understands that departments across Whitehall carry out continuous, routine work with industry, local government, and emergency services to ensure national resilience.Petrol stations in the UK are being supplied as normal with a diverse and resilient supply for both petrol and diesel, they said, although officials &quot;continue to monitor the situation closely&quot;.Ministers have previously urged the public not to stockpile petrol and diesel, with some fuel stations having already reported shortages. Farmers have complained that red diesel, the low-tax fuel used for farm machinery, has been rationed by suppliers.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:WATCH NOW: Protestors storm Ministry of Defence and swarm Royal Navy officers as police overwhelmedRoyal Navy sailors responsible for tracking Russian warships set to go on strikeSudanese man arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died in Channel crossingFuel price protests have already broken out in Ireland, where the Army was deployed to clear demonstrators from a port in Limerick and an oil refinery in Cork.Officials are also watching the price of food, which is expected to rise as a result of the higher cost of global shipping and the impact of the war on domestic farming.Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicated ministers would step in to support struggling households, but said support would probably be means-tested.The Government is concerned that mass protests would place additional stress on public resources and inflame community tensions.No10 insisted the chance of mass protests was remote, although contingency planning in the Cabinet Office’s civil contingencies directorate is reportedly underway.A Government spokesman said: “While we don’t comment on Cobra meetings, the government maintains contingency arrangements across a wide range of scenarios, however unlikely. That is exactly as the public would expect.”Sir Keir Starmer said he would avoid the “mistakes of Iraq”, when the UK followed the US into conflict in the Middle East, and prompted million-strong demonstrations in Westminster.

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, holds, talks, potential, widespread, protests, over, cost, living, caused, Iran, war</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer on verge of Chagos Islands U&#45;turn as he drops Bill to cede British sovereignty to Mauritius</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-on-verge-of-chagos-islands-u-turn-as-he-drops-bill-to-cede-british-sovereignty-to-mauritius</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-on-verge-of-chagos-islands-u-turn-as-he-drops-bill-to-cede-british-sovereignty-to-mauritius</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer is thought to be on the verge of a U-turn over the Chagos Islands deal after the bill to cede sovereignty to Mauritius was removed from next month&#039;s King&#039;s Speech.The legislation underpinning the transfer of the islands to Mauritius will be absent from the declaration after Donald Trump publicly slammed the deal as &quot;an act of great stupidity&quot;.This reversal would constitute the Prime Minister&#039;s 16th significant policy U-turn since taking office.While Downing Street maintains its commitment to the agreement and intends to seek a change of heart from the US President, officials have conceded that proceeding without Washington&#039;s endorsement is impossible.
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Mr Trump initially endorsed the deal following detailed negotiations between intelligence services from both nations, however he reversed course amid tensions with Nato concerning his ambitions for Greenland.Under the proposed arrangement, Britain would have ceded sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while simultaneously securing a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base, which has played a role during the Iran conflict.Although the financial implications of the deal became a point of sharp disagreement between the two main parties. Ministers maintained the total cost would reach £3.5billion, while Conservative critics insisted the true figure over the agreement&#039;s lifetime would amount to £35billion.The Prime Minister had staked considerable political capital on pushing through the controversial agreement, despite fierce resistance from both the Tories and Reform UK.Critics had cautioned proceeding would violate a 1966 Anglo-American treaty affirming British sovereignty over the islands and guaranteeing their availability for mutual defence purposes.A Government source defended the administration&#039;s position, telling The Times: &quot;Diego Garcia is a critical strategic asset for both the UK and the United States and securing its long-term operational future is the sole purpose of this deal.&quot;We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base. &quot;But we have always been clear that we would only proceed with US support.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Britain to host crunch talks with 41 nations in bid to unblock Strait of HormuzKeir Starmer gets some luck in the Middle East - but it may not help him - Christopher HopeNigel Farage agrees Donald Trump must ‘take some blame’ for economic impact of Iran warOfficials blamed delays within the American system for leaving insufficient parliamentary time to complete the necessary steps this session, describing the situation as &quot;deeply frustrating following years of intensive engagement&quot;.Relations between Sir Keir and Mr Trump have soured considerably throughout the Iran conflict. The American President was put out when Britain refused permission for US forces to launch initial strikes from British bases, accusing Sir Keir of weakness and declaring he was &quot;no Winston Churchill&quot;.This week, the Prime Minister remarked that the public is &quot;fed up&quot; with both Mr Trump and President Putin&#039;s actions driving up living costs for Britons.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed credit for the deal&#039;s apparent collapse, declaring: &quot;If Keir Starmer&#039;s Chagos surrender deal now finds its rightful place on the ash heap of history, it will be because the Conservatives led the fight against it from day one.&quot;That it took so long is another damning indictment of a prime minister, who fought to hand over British sovereign territory and pay £35billion to use a crucial military base which was already ours.&quot;Unlike Labour, we will always put our country first. We are the only party who can be trusted to stand up for Britain’s interests abroad.&quot;Reform leader Nigel Farage also personally lobbied senior Trump administration figures to oppose the agreement during his discussions with them.Ministers now fear Mauritius may pursue legal action through the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.They believe any &quot;provisional measures&quot; could grant Mauritius temporary access to waters surrounding Diego Garcia, potentially hampering nuclear submarine operations and naval patrols.Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK Treasury spokesman, responded to the development on X, writing: &quot;If the Chagos surrender is dead, this is a great victory.&quot;One day, there should be an inquiry into this shabby saga - the Ministers and officials, under Labour and the Tories, who tried to sell Britain out. Shameful.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, verge, Chagos, Islands, U-turn, drops, Bill, cede, British, sovereignty, Mauritius</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Not paid to be fed up!’ Keir Starmer told to ‘do better’ after Prime Minister hit out at Donald Trump</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/not-paid-to-be-fed-up-keir-starmer-told-to-do-better-after-prime-minister-hit-out-at-donald-trump</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/not-paid-to-be-fed-up-keir-starmer-told-to-do-better-after-prime-minister-hit-out-at-donald-trump</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Keir Starmer has been told to “do better” in a scathing assessment after the Prime Minister said he was “fed up” with the actions of President Trump.Appearing on GB News, Telegraph Foreign Affairs Correspondent David Blair argued that the remarks did not meet the challenge posed by increasing global turmoil. Speaking while touring the Gulf, Sir Keir admitted: “I&#039;m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses&#039; bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”Mr Blair was less than impressed, despairing: “I don&#039;t pay my Prime Minister to be fed up. I pay the Prime Minister to act.” 
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“When you&#039;re the Prime Minister of the six biggest economies in the world, you should be able to do a bit better than express your frustration,” the foreign policy expert said. To that end, Mr Blair hit out at Sir Keir’s response to the war with Iran. “We&#039;ve just had six weeks where British people in the Gulf, about 300,000 of them, have been living in countries targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles. “Now we still have six destroyers that can shoot these things down, but not one of them was in the right place at the right time. “Keir Starmer still hasn&#039;t answered the question of why he neglected to take that step,” Mr Blair said. While the Telegraph writer felt the Prime Minister’s remarks about President Trump were not “entirely fair”, he admitted that: “I can see his point”.“We have enormously disruptive forces in the world today. And when you&#039;re a medium-sized power like Britain, you&#039;re inevitably vulnerable to that. “But we pay our government to minimise our vulnerability, to ensure us against risks. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Nigel Farage agrees Donald Trump must ‘take some blame’ for economic impact of Iran warKeir Starmer braces for widespread protests across Britain over cost of living caused by Iran warBank of England warns of 2008-style financial crash as Iran conflict decimates British economy“If they&#039;re going to do that, the first thing they&#039;ve got to do is get serious about spending more on defence. We&#039;re not doing that at the moment.”Mr Blair was questioned on the UK’s leading role in convening a coalition of nations to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, a move celebrated by Nato chief Mark Rutte on Thursday. “Anybody can be a convening power. Sweden can be a convening power. Switzerland can be a convenient power. “The sixth biggest economy in the world should aim a little higher than simply to convene others. “We should be in the business of being one of the security partners of our friends in the Gulf, not least because 300,000 British people live there,” Mr Blair reiterated. The Prime Minister was not alone in his criticism of President Trump, as Nigel Farage agreed that the US leader must “take some blame” for the economic fallout of the war with Iran.“If Trump and Israel do stuff, it affects us. No doubt about that,” the Reform UK leader said.Mr Farage simply answered “yes” when asked if he would assign “some of the blame for the economic impact of what&#039;s going on in the Middle East at the feet of Trump”.

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>‘Ministers don’t know what to do!’ Keir Starmer issued dammning verdict on cost of living protests</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ministers-dont-know-what-to-do-keir-starmer-issued-dammning-verdict-on-cost-of-living-protests</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ministers-dont-know-what-to-do-keir-starmer-issued-dammning-verdict-on-cost-of-living-protests</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Keir Starmer and the Labour Government have been dealt a damning verdict on the potential cost-of-living protests erupting across the country. Speaking to GB News, commentator Dan Hodges declared that lawmakers “don’t know what to do” as global pressures on the British economy spin out of their control.Mr Hodges was unimpressed with Sir Keir’s efforts to reassure the country, slamming him for “saying nothing”.“I think the reality is ministers simply don’t know what to do about this crisis.“There are obviously aspects of this that are now being driven by global events… there&#039;s very little in the practical sense they can do,” the commentator despaired.He was speaking as it emerged Downing Street had held talks on the potential of mass protests over the cost of living crisis following the war in Iran.GB News understands that representatives from several Whitehall departments discussed the prospects of mass demonstrations over high prices and shortages of key goods.Experts have previously warned energy bills could rise by £160 if the war in the Middle East drags on, with fuel prices hitting their highest level since 2022.WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Keir Starmer blasts European allies for &amp;apos;needing to do more on Nato&amp;apos; as he advises Donald Trump alliance is &amp;apos;in America&amp;apos;s interest&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-blasts-european-allies-for-needing-to-do-more-on-nato-as-he-advises-donald-trump-alliance-is-in-americas-interest</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-blasts-european-allies-for-needing-to-do-more-on-nato-as-he-advises-donald-trump-alliance-is-in-americas-interest</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has told reporters that Britain&#039;s European allies need to do more in Nato after Donald Trump stepped up threats to pull out of the alliance.The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters as part of a visit to the Gulf states following the agreement of a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.Sir Keir said: &quot;We’re very strong supporters of Nato and I’ve been making the argument for some considerable time that we need to do more. It’s the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known.&quot;Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes, I’ve been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else. We continue to make that case and we will make that case.&quot;
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He added: &quot;It is in America’s interests, it’s in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been.&quot;So we’re strong supporters of Nato. We’ll always be strong supporters of Nato. Do I think this will be a stronger European element to Nato? Yes, and I think we should step into that space.&quot;We’re already doing it, which is why we’re coordinating strategically with our partners in Nato.&quot;Sir Keir acknowledged the ceasefire in the Middle East was &quot;fragile&quot;, as he left Qatar at the end of his trip to the region.His comments come after he spoke to US President Donald Trump about the need for a &quot;practical plan&quot; to get shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz as transatlantic tensions run high.On the question of American military operations from British soil, Sir Keir yesterday confirmed the Government is actively monitoring how US forces utilise UK bases.The Prime Minister was emphatic that Britain would not participate in offensive military operations or become entangled in the wider conflict.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Keir Starmer gets some luck in the Middle East - but it may not help him - Christopher HopeShabana Mahmood told to tear up &#039;21,600-in, 498-out&#039; deal as GB News exposes £100m French &#039;farce&#039;Nigel Farage agrees Donald Trump must ‘take some blame’ for economic impact of Iran warSir Keir once again outlined that British involvement would be strictly limited to protecting &quot;British lives, British interests and, of course, our allies here in the Gulf&quot;.He invoked the shadow of past conflicts, saying: &quot;We have to learn the lessons of Iraq. We need to be clear where we stand as a country&quot;.The Prime Minister emphasised that decisions on British national interest remained solely his responsibility.He also addressed the critical question of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels must be able to pass without facing charges.Sir Keir also described the emotional atmosphere among Gulf leaders during his regional visit, noting they were &quot;pleased to see a friend&quot; at such a critical juncture.The Prime Minister detected genuine astonishment among his counterparts at the scale of attacks they had endured, despite not having participated in strikes against Iran.&quot;There&#039;s a relief that there is a ceasefire, I think a sense from them that it&#039;s fragile, that there&#039;s a lot of work to do on the ceasefire,&quot; Sir Keir said.He suggested this sentiment of relief extended to the British public, who had watched events unfold with considerable anxiety about potential consequences for themselves.He also mentioned he would not echo the language US President Donald Trump has used in his recent posts on Truth Social.Asked about Mr Trump’s use of expletives and phrases such as &quot;praise be to Allah&quot;, Sir Keir said: &quot;Let me be really clear and blunt about this.&quot;They’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Royal Navy sailors responsible for tracking Russian warships set to go on strike</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-navy-sailors-responsible-for-tracking-russian-warships-set-to-go-on-strike</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/royal-navy-sailors-responsible-for-tracking-russian-warships-set-to-go-on-strike</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Royal Navy sailors who are responsible for tracking Russian warships are set to go on strike next week in a long-running dispute over pay.Personnel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the civilian support arm of the Royal Navy, will stage industrial action on Thursday after rejecting a 4.5 per cent pay offer from the Ministry of Defence.The RMT union, which represents the workers, said its members had seen their wages fall by around 30 per cent in real terms over the past decade.Civilian sailors work shifts of up to 12 hours a day in some of the most demanding conditions at sea.
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Eddie Dempsey, the RMT&#039;s general secretary, said the MoD needed to come forward with a serious long-term commitment to improving pay and conditions if it wanted to retain staff.He said: &quot;Our members play a vital role in supporting the Navy, often in some of the most demanding and dangerous working conditions. But they have faced years of below-par pay and unresolved concerns about conditions.&quot;Mr Dempsey warned that workers would not accept what he described as a substandard offer and were prepared to take further action if necessary, the Telegraph reports. He also called on the MoD to ensure it was complying with national minimum wage legislation as part of any future settlement.The timing of the walkout raises questions about Britain&#039;s ability to monitor Russian naval activity in the Channel should Vladimir Putin dispatch further vessels through British waters while the strike is ongoing.As the Royal Navy has shrunk to its smallest size in living memory, the RFA’s role has grown considerably in recent years. Britain now operates just seven frigates, most of which are currently in port undergoing maintenance.Where once a Type 23 frigate would have been deployed to shadow Moscow&#039;s warships through British waters, the task has increasingly fallen to civilian RFA vessels.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Nigel Farage agrees Donald Trump must ‘take some blame’ for economic impact of Iran warKeir Starmer gets some luck in the Middle East - but it may not help him - Christopher HopeDefence Secretary lashes out at Vladimir Putin in emergency press conference - &#039;We see you!&#039;It emerged this week that RFA Tideforce, a 39,000-ton tanker crewed by civilian sailors, had been deployed to track the Admiral Grigorovich, a heavily armed Russian frigate from the Black Sea Fleet, through the English Channel, rather than a Royal Navy warship.Following the Russian frigate were two sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, which are used by Putin to fund his war in Ukraine. The fleet tankers illegally export oil in defiance of sanctions imposed by the UK, the European Union and the United States.Confirming it had been involved in a ten-day operation to track multiple Russian vessels around the UK, the Navy deployed frigates HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans, patrol ship HMS Mersey and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron at various points between March 29 and April 7.Among the vessels monitored were a surfaced Russian submarine, a Ropucha-class landing ship and a Kilo-class submarine, with HMS Mersey scrambled three times during the operation.Defence Secretary John Healey also disclosed this week that Russia had conducted a covert submarine operation in British waters targeting vital energy and data cables.The RFA&#039;s growing workload comes as the wider Armed Forces face intense scrutiny over their capacity to respond to simultaneous global threats.HMS Dragon, the UK&#039;s only deployable destroyer, was dispatched to the Middle East following the outbreak of the Iran war but took three weeks to arrive and has since had to return to port after developing water supply issues.Meanwhile, only one of Britain&#039;s six Astute-class nuclear attack submarines has been deployed to Australia, with the remainder sitting in port at HMNB Clyde in Faslane.The state of Britain&#039;s military has drawn scathing commentary from allies, with US President Donald Trump previously dismissing the country&#039;s two aircraft carriers as &quot;toys&quot; and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mocking the &quot;big, bad Royal Navy&quot;.Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson added his voice to the criticism this week, urging Sir Keir Starmer to board the sanctioned shadow fleet vessels passing through British waters and warning that inaction was allowing Putin to laugh at Britain.He said: &quot;I think it&#039;s pathetic. I don&#039;t know why we don&#039;t board these sanction-busting ships. &quot;They are fuelling Putin&#039;s war machine and funding his slaughter of innocent Ukrainians and we have a golden opportunity to stop it.&quot;The RMT said despite the strike action, RFA members would continue to ensure the safety of vessels was maintained at all times.GB News has contacted the MoD for comment. 

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Royal, Navy, sailors, responsible, for, tracking, Russian, warships, set, strike</media:keywords>
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<title>Alex Armstrong erupts over Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s Spanish holiday amid fragile Middle East ceasefire: &amp;apos;Utter joke!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/alex-armstrong-erupts-over-keir-starmers-spanish-holiday-amid-fragile-middle-east-ceasefire-utter-joke</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/alex-armstrong-erupts-over-keir-starmers-spanish-holiday-amid-fragile-middle-east-ceasefire-utter-joke</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Alex Armstrong has hit out at the Prime Minister as criticism grows over the timing of Keir Starmer’s recent holiday during a period of heightened global tensions.The backlash comes after it emerged that Sir Keir Starmer had been on an Easter break in Spain while Donald Trump issued stark warnings about potentially “obliterating” Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.The Prime Minister returned to the UK on Tuesday evening before quickly departing again for a planned diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.The People&#039;s Channel presenter took to X to vent his frustration, writing: “The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary both taking a mid-war holiday. 
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&quot;What an utter joke,&quot; Alex brutally surmised. The GB News star&#039;s remarks quickly gained traction online, with social media users piling into the debate.Some critics accused Sir Keir of failing to demonstrate leadership at a critical moment.“Doesn’t that just show how unserious they are about running this country?” one user wrote. Another added: “If they really wanted to protect this country, they wouldn’t swan off on holiday at this critical time.”A third critic penned: “The world knows a leader that does nothing leads nothing.”Others drew comparisons with Sir Keir&#039;s political rivals, with one commenting: “While Nigel Farage and the Reform team are working hard all over the country, showing they care about the British people.”However, not all responses were critical of the Prime Minister.Some users defended Sir Keir&#039;s schedule, pointing out the diplomatic nature of his trip.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSAmy Winehouse’s ex claims Trainspotting fuelled drug battle amid film&#039;s ‘woke’ trigger warning rowMuslim MasterChef contestant refuses to cook pork dish over religious beliefsFleetwood Mac legend marries for fifth time in secret ceremony: &#039;Magic!&#039;The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary both taking a mid-war holiday.What an utter joke.— Alex Armstrong (@Alexarmstrong) April 9, 2026 “He has gone to Saudi Arabia to talk peace... no other leader has gone there yet,” one person noted.Another questioned the framing of the criticism altogether, asking: “Are we at war?”&quot;Is he not allowed to spend time with his family?&quot; penned another.GB News presenter Patrick Christys also weighed in on the debate.He posted on X: “Starmer nipped off to Valencia, John Healey disappeared to the South of France. &quot;The PM and Defence Secretary both went on holiday as WW3 threatened to erupt,.&quot;The row has drawn renewed attention to comments Sir Keir made while in opposition, when he criticised former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab for remaining on holiday during the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.At the time, Sir Keir said: “You cannot coordinate an international response from the beach,” adding that he “wouldn’t stay on holiday while Kabul was falling.”Despite the backlash, allies of Keir Starmer have suggested the timing of his travel was part of long-standing diplomatic planning, noting his Middle East visit was only confirmed after a ceasefire was announced from Washington.Polling has indicated a mixed public response, with voters divided over Sir Keir’s performance during the crisis.

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Alex, Armstrong, erupts, over, Keir, Starmers, Spanish, holiday, amid, fragile, Middle, East, ceasefire:, Utter, joke</media:keywords>
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<title>Council by&#45;election results in full: Find out how Britons voted in a crunch seaside contest this week</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/council-by-election-results-in-full-find-out-how-britons-voted-in-a-crunch-seaside-contest-this-week</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/council-by-election-results-in-full-find-out-how-britons-voted-in-a-crunch-seaside-contest-this-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A crunch council by-election took place on the coast of Kent this week after a former councillor was jailed back in February.The mid-term contest in Cliftonville, Margate was triggered after ex-councillor Daniel Taylor was handed a 12-month jail sentence for controlling behaviour towards his wife.Taylor was initially elected as a Reform UK councillor but was expelled from the party after he pleaded guilty to the charges laid against him. Now, after eight weeks of campaigning, the Greens were victorious - with its new councillor saying the win was a &quot;victory for hope, not hate&quot;.
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Mr Yates took home 38.8 per cent of the vote share, tripling his party&#039;s success with a substantial 26.7 per cent at the coastal poll.The councillor said: &quot;This result shows that across Kent and across the country the Greens are the antidote to Reform.&quot;Leader of Kent County Council&#039;s Green Group, Mark Hood, said the &quot;seismic&quot; result was a &quot;major embarrassment&quot; for Mr Farage. He said: &quot;Reform lost this seat after less than a year due to their dismal record of failure, chaos and managed decline running Kent County Council.&quot;Coming second, Reform UK&#039;s Marc Rattigan snatched up 33.1 per cent, dropping by seven per cent from Reform&#039;s success at last year&#039;s round of elections.At the last election, Mr Farage&#039;s party secured 40 per cent of the Cliftonville vote, securing a majority of 867. Meanwhile, the Conservatives&#039; vote fell some 4.5 per cent to 15.2 per cent of the vote. In the same round, Labour&#039;s vote share for the local seat halved as they nabbed some 10.4 per cent of the vote and fell into fourth place.POLITICS LATEST:Rachel Reeves&#039;s tax rates put people off work as £100k threshold raids workers&#039; pockets, report saysShabana Mahmood told to tear up &#039;21,600-in, 498-out&#039; deal as GB News exposes £100m French &#039;farce&#039;Keir Starmer holds call with Donald Trump just hours after saying he was &#039;fed up&#039; with USRESULTS IN FULL:Green Party - Rob Yates: 38.8 per centReform UK - Marc Rattigan: 33.1 per centConservative Party - Charlie Leys: 15.2 per centLabour Party - Joanne Bright: 10.4 per centIndependent - Lucy Gray: 1.3 per centLiberal Democrats - Mo Shafaei: 1.2 per centThe turnout was 37.69 per cent.The results have followed a hotly-contested seat with its election even being compared to the likes of a parliamentary contest with dozens of activists&#039; pouring resources into the race.Over the past eight weeks, big hitters from Reform UK and the Green Party have also paid the seaside town a visit in a bid to sway voters.For instance, earlier on the campaign trail, Newark MP Robert Jenrick spoke to local residents, urging them to &quot;send a strong message to Keir Starmer that they are sick of Labour&quot;.He also stressed the election was a chance to highlight their worries about the increasing challenges posed by the number of illegal migrants making the illegal crossing from northern France into Kent.And, in a last-minute appearance on the day before Britons headed to the polls, Mr Polanski joined his candidate, Mr Yates, to canvass voters.Speaking at a local Margate pub, Mr Polanski addressed hundreds of supporters, declaring the &quot;knife edge&quot; battle was between the Green Party and Reform.He stressed Mr Yates&#039;s love for the local area, and encouraged voters to support someone who would &quot;stand up for their area&quot;.But Mr Polanski was not the only familiar face on the campaign trail, with ex-leader Caroline Lucas paying the locals a visit in the run-up too.Meanwhile, the Labour Party&#039;s Joanne Bright was supported by MP Dame Emily Thornberry, while the Conservative candidate Charlie Leys was backed by ex-Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay.

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Council, by-election, results, full:, Find, out, how, Britons, voted, crunch, seaside, contest, this, week</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer finally gets some luck in the Middle East &#45; but it may not help at the ballot box &#45; Christopher Hope</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-finally-gets-some-luck-in-the-middle-east-but-it-may-not-help-at-the-ballot-box-christopher-hope</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-finally-gets-some-luck-in-the-middle-east-but-it-may-not-help-at-the-ballot-box-christopher-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Every Prime Minister needs luck, and this week, Sir Keir Starmer got some. The Prime Minister found himself en route to the Gulf for a Middle East tour just as US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire in his five-week war against Iran. Number 10 did not try to hide this, making clear that the PM&#039;s arrival in Riyadh at the start of the tour, just as the ceasefire began, was a pure coincidence.Setting aside the fact that it shows again the poor relationship between Donald Trump and Sir Keir, the PM has tried to make the most of being in the right place at the right time. And for now, the tentative ceasefire has broadly started to take hold in the Middle East, although at the time of writing it feels dreadfully fragile. The PM has done his best, setting himself two goals: helping to support a lasting ceasefire between the US and Iran, and amassing a team of allies to help get the oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. That&#039;s why he has been convening a Middle Eastern version of the &quot;Coalition of the Willing&quot;, which has been used to corral support for a Europe-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is declared there. Last week, 30 foreign ministers discussed the idea at a meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and this week military chiefs from 40 countries gathered in Army HQ in north London to work out who can bring what to support a ceasefire.In terms of getting the tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz, the PM chaired a gathering of Gulf countries dubbed the &quot;Dragon group&quot; - including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and others in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.So far, so good. But the worry is that all this diplomatic activity simply draws attention to how limited the UK&#039;s military support can be. Most of the blame for this should be aimed at the Tories, who hollowed out the defence budget over 14 years. Successive governments have cut real-term defence spending by 22 per cent between 2009 and 2017, which frankly tells its own story. No wonder the PM momentarily lost his temper when being challenged by Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin over the Government&#039;s defence plans in Parliament a fortnight ago.And this impotence was demonstrated in his words when the PM said he was &quot;fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy&quot; because of the &quot;actions of Putin or Trump across the world&quot;.So, after a slow start when the PM failed to move defence assets to the region as the US forces built up, Sir Keir Starmer has done what he could from a diplomatic front in the Middle East.But MPs returning to Parliament on Monday will be pondering what effect all this might have on Labour&#039;s woeful standing among voters.The answer is not much. History shows us that leadership on the world stage does not automatically translate into political success at home. Tory PM Theresa May received plaudits for her leadership after the Salisbury poisoning in March 2018, when dozens of Russian diplomats were expelled around the world, but she struggled to win over voters. Just over a year later, she was out of No 10. The same is true for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who convened and led the global response to the financial crisis in September 2008 and lost the general election 18 months later. And - of course - Sir Winston Churchill was turfed out of office two months after the Nazis surrendered at the end of the Second World War. And the same risk presents itself for Sir Keir. His fate will be decided by whether he can get the economy growing, tackle the cost of living crisis, bring down NHS waiting lists and stop the boats. On all these measures - perhaps apart from the NHS - the Prime Minister is failing. And this is how he will be judged. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Labour Minister clashes with Stephen Dixon over ‘talking down’ Britain’s defence</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-minister-clashes-with-stephen-dixon-over-talking-down-britains-defence</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-minister-clashes-with-stephen-dixon-over-talking-down-britains-defence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour defence minister Luke Pollard has rowed with GB News host Stephen Dixon for “talking down” the state of Britain&#039;s armed services.Speaking to GB News and standing before a Royal Navy frigate, the Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry hit back at claims that the military was “on its knees”.Quizzing Mr Pollard on the nation’s defence posture, GB News host Stephen Dixon despaired: “We&#039;ve got high unemployment, flat growth, above target inflation, massively high electricity bills compared to Europe. &quot;We&#039;ve got a huge welfare bill. Businesses are crumbling under high taxes. Armed forces on their knees.
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“And yet the Prime Minister says resilience has been at the heart of my government&#039;s approach?”Shooting back, the minister responded: “I don&#039;t agree with what you&#039;ve just said there. Our armed forces are not on their knees. “We have capable, lethal armed forces that are globally deployed, keeping us safe at the very moment. “I just don&#039;t subscribe to this talking down of our armed forces that we&#039;re seeing from some features, some figures in the media and some politicians in Parliament.“I&#039;m really proud of the work that the men and women of our armed forces are doing.&quot;“Nobody is talking down the men and women serving in our armed forces,” Stephen returned fire. “I should know I&#039;m married to one, now a veteran. But when he was in a tank regiment, they didn&#039;t have any tanks. “A tank regiment with no tanks, minister,” the GB News star stressed. Mr Pollard accepted that it was “certainly true that we&#039;ve inherited a situation where over the last decade and a half, our armed forces were hollowed out and underfunded”. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSPM blasts European allies for &#039;needing to do more on Nato&#039; as he sends message to Donald Trump‘Talking down the Royal Navy!’ GB News stars clash over HMS Dragon after ship forced to dockNigel Farage agrees Donald Trump must ‘take some blame’ for economic impact of Iran war“In the first budget, the last government made, they cut the armed forces in our first budget with increased defence spending. “Now it takes about six to eight years to build a frigate like the one behind me… We know there&#039;s more to do to bring this new technology forward.“That&#039;s precisely why we&#039;re investing in more shipbuilding, in more industrial capabilities, and adding more uncrewed and autonomous systems alongside our crewed platforms to give our fighting forces the extra capability that they need to deal with the threats that we are facing,” the Labour Minister insisted.The topic of “talking down” the armed forces proved to be an emotive one in recent days, with GB News stars Charlie Peters and Pierce also clashing over the issue. As news of HMS Dragon being forced to dock emerged over the week, a despairing Andrew began to refer to the vessel as “HMS Hopeless”.Charlie was keen to address this characterisation, telling the GB News hosts that he was “slightly concerned” about the moniker.“I think we are a little bit at risk of taking down the Royal Navy amid this situation,” he said.“These sailors have grafted quite an extraordinary feat to get that ship out. It&#039;s not. It&#039;s not their fault.&quot;

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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:57:49 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>&amp;apos;Import the third world, become the third world,&amp;apos; warns Donald Trump after illegal migrant beats woman to death with hammer in Florida</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/import-the-third-world-become-the-third-world-warns-donald-trump-after-illegal-migrant-beats-woman-to-death-with-hammer-in-florida</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/import-the-third-world-become-the-third-world-warns-donald-trump-after-illegal-migrant-beats-woman-to-death-with-hammer-in-florida</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has shared a horrific video of an illegal migrant beating a woman to death with a hammer in Florida.The President warned &quot;if you import the third world, you become the third world&quot; and said the violent incident was a result of former President Joe Biden &quot;allowing tens of millions of criminals, lunatics, and the mentally insane&quot; into the US.The Deportment of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (Ice) helped Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) haul in Rolbert Joachin, a Haitian illegal migrant.FMPD responded to an emergency at a local petrol station, where CCTV footage showed him smashing the woman&#039;s car windshield with his hammer, DHS said.
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When the woman - reportedly a store clerk - came out of the shop, he approached her and then repeatedly hit her in the head with the hammer.Joachin was located by FMPD with the assistance of Ice on Mango Street in Fort Myers, Florida, and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder.The Haitian illegal migrant first entered into the US in August 2022 and released into the country under the Biden administration, the DHS said.The Biden administration granted him a Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which expired in 2024, the department added.A witness told police he saw a man holding a mallet and a knife striking a black SUV.Meanwhile, a police report said the woman was pronounced dead on the scene.Mr Trump said Mr Biden was the &quot;worst President in history&quot;, blaming him for the death on social media.He said: &quot;This animal was allowed to stay here because the Biden administration granted him, and all Haitians, &#039;Temporary Protective Status,&#039; a massively abused and fraudulent program which my administration is working to terminate, but deranged liberal district court judges are standing in our way.LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP:Iran peace hopes teeter on the edge as &#039;dishonourable&#039; Tehran violates ceasefire in Strait of HormuzDonald Trump reveals secret CIA ‘Ghost Murmur’ tool was ‘very important’ in rescuing downed airmanKeir Starmer holds call with Donald Trump just hours after saying he was &#039;fed up&#039; with US President&quot;This one killing should be enough for these radical judges to stop impeding my administration’s immigration policies, and allow us to END THIS SCAM ONCE AND FOR ALL.&quot;On Wednesday, US district judge Brian Murphy, who was appointed by Joe Biden, blocked a move by the Trump administration to end TPS for 5,000 Ethiopians.TPS under federal law is available for people whose home countries are deemed to have experienced natural disasters or armed conflicts.The DHS said in December that Ethiopia &quot;no longer met the conditions&quot; for TPS designation and protections would expire on February 13.But Mr Murphy ruled the Trump administration had terminated the status &quot;without regard for the process delineated by Congress&quot;.The district judge said: &quot;Fundamental to this case - and indeed to our constitutional system - is the principle that the will of the President does not supersede that of Congress.&quot;He said &quot;armed conflict and natural disasters continue to create dangerous conditions&quot; in Ethiopia.DHS in a statement on Wednesday said: &quot;This stay by radical, Biden-appointed Judge Brian Murphy is just the latest example of judicial activists trying to prevent President Trump from restoring integrity to America&#039;s legal immigration system.&quot;Temporary means temporary. Country conditions—including armed conflicts—in Ethiopia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law&#039;s requirement for Temporary Protected Status. The Trump administration is putting Americans first.&quot;Addressing the Florida attack, the Acting Assistant Secretary for DHS, Lauren Bis, said: &quot;This heinous murderer was RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration. Not only did the Biden administration release him into the country, but they then gave him Temporary Protected Status.&quot;Their reckless immigration policies cost this woman her life.&quot;The arrest of this criminal is an example of how Ice and local authorities can work together to swiftly bring criminals to justice and make our communities safer.&quot;Ice has placed an immigration detainer on Joachin, and DHS said he will be deported regardless of the outcome of the case.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Import, the, third, world, become, the, third, world, warns, Donald, Trump, after, illegal, migrant, beats, woman, death, with, hammer, Florida</media:keywords>
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<title>Hamstrung Royal Navy &amp;apos;left unable to board Russian ships over fears of breaching international law&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/hamstrung-royal-navy-left-unable-to-board-russian-ships-over-fears-of-breaching-international-law</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/hamstrung-royal-navy-left-unable-to-board-russian-ships-over-fears-of-breaching-international-law</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Government has failed to send the Royal Navy in to intercept sanctioned Russian tankers &quot;over concerns it may breach international law&quot;. On Wednesday, Moscow sent a warship to escort two vessels through the English Channel - despite Sir Keir Starmer pledging to hit Vladimir Putin&#039;s shadow fleet &quot;even harder&quot;.Just weeks ago, the Prime Minister gave the green light for Britain&#039;s special forces to be able to capture two sanctioned Russian tankers.The Government was said to have determined a &quot;legal basis&quot; for how to do this.Attorney General Lord Hermer had handed the Government advice on how to block the shadow fleet from sailing through British waters to disrupt Russian oil from reaching its allies, it was revealed last night. 
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Lord Hermer advised Sir Keir that the tankers could be boarded by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and special forces.However, the Royal Navy has not seized a single vessel over fears such a move would breach international maritime law.Each operation must be legally justified with evidence the ship has evaded sanctions placed on it by the Government. On Thursday, Defence Secretary John Healey revealed a covert Russian operation threatening vitial British energy cables and issued a stark message to Mr Putin: &quot;We see you.&quot;He added: &quot;We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.&quot;Mr Healey admitted there was “more we can do” to halt the shadow fleet, but insisted Britain was &quot;ready&quot;.He said: &quot;We have the military options, and we’re ready to take action, not just in support of but actually with allies, to interdict shadow fleet vessels.”But just hours later, Moscow sailed three more vessels through the Channel without any intervention from Britain. RUSSIA - READ THE LATEST:Vladimir Putin announces temporary 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine‘Talking loudly with a small stick!’ Former defence chief says UK ‘not in position’ to resist RussiaRussia announces pay for athletes banned from Winter Olympics in controversial moveAfter the two sanctioned vessels made their way through British waters on Wednesday, it has been revealed that a Royal Navy vessel kept its distance and simply monitored the ship.Crucial supplies and spare parts for Mr Putin&#039;s armed forces are feared to have been aboard one of the tankers, The i Paper has reported. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir&#039;s &quot;pathetic&quot; response, saying the Russian leader is &quot;laughing at us&quot;. He wrote in The Telegraph that seizing the vessels would claw back “some of the respect Britain has lost recently” over its response to the conflict in the Middle East. Mr Johnson fumed: “I think it’s pathetic. I don’t know why we don’t board these sanction-busting ships.&quot;They are fuelling Putin’s war machine and funding his slaughter of innocent Ukrainians and we have a golden opportunity to stop it.“I think if we did, it would do a lot to recover some of the respect Britain has lost recently for our inability to defend our friends in the Gulf and use our bases in Cyprus.“This is not the fault of the Armed Forces - it’s the abysmal leadership of the Government.”GB News has approached the Attorney General&#039;s Office for comment. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hamstrung, Royal, Navy, left, unable, board, Russian, ships, over, fears, breaching, international, law</media:keywords>
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<title>Iran peace hopes dangle by a thread as ceasefire &amp;apos;violated&amp;apos; in Strait of Hormuz &#45; Donald Trump brands Tehran &amp;apos;dishonourable&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-peace-hopes-dangle-by-a-thread-as-ceasefire-violated-in-strait-of-hormuz-donald-trump-brands-tehran-dishonourable</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-peace-hopes-dangle-by-a-thread-as-ceasefire-violated-in-strait-of-hormuz-donald-trump-brands-tehran-dishonourable</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hopes for peace in Iran look to be dangling by a thread after Donald Trump accused Tehran of violating Tuesday night&#039;s ceasefire agreement.The President took a series of increasingly fierce swipes at the regime on social media overnight after it emerged it was charging fees to tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz.Late on Thursday, Mr Trump warned the Iranians to &quot;stop now&quot; - then an hour later, said the country was &quot;doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the strait&quot;.&quot;That is not the agreement we have,&quot; he added.
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Allowing the unfettered passage of oil through the vital waterway was a key detail of the President&#039;s breakthrough peace announcement earlier this week.&quot;Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,&quot; he said.But now, Iran has started demanding payments for the hundreds of ships looking to pass through.During the two-week ceasefire, Hamid Hosseini, Iran&#039;s oil exporters&#039; union spokesman, declared that a $1 per barrel fee would be levied on the ships.Vessels will also need to email Iranian authorities about what they are carrying, he told the Financial Times.“Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given a few seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions,&quot; Mr Hosseini said.On Wednesday, it emerged that tankers stationed in the Gulf received an unsettling radio broadcast from Iranian authorities - demanding they seek approval from the Islamic Republic or face military strikes.The warning, delivered in English, said: “If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.&quot;IRAN - READ THE LATEST:Ayatollah demands &#039;blood money&#039; compensation for Iran&#039;s &#039;martyrs&#039; - but STILL hasn&#039;t been seen aliveSpain to reopen embassy in Tehran after permanent removal of ambassador in IsraelKeir Starmer warns of ‘fragile’ ceasefire with Iran as he stresses there is ‘work to be done’Fears are also mounting that the ceasefire could collapse over Israel&#039;s continuation of strikes in Lebanon.On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted he would carry on attacking Hezbollah - the most powerful regional proxy of Iran - with &quot;full force&quot;.Mr Netanyahu insisted “there is no ceasefire” in Lebanon - triggering retaliation threats from Tehran for the continued military action.Iran&#039;s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned &quot;time is running out&quot; in an ominous message posted to social media.He had earlier posted that “ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and strong responses&quot;, before urging Israel to &quot;extinguish the fire immediately&quot;.Under Iran&#039;s 10-point peace plan - which Mr Trump previously labelled as &quot;workable&quot; - Lebanon and the so-called &quot;Resistance Axis&quot; of Iranian allies are described as &quot;an inseparable part of the ceasefire&quot;.On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance suggested that Israel would rein in strikes on Lebanon to protect the fragile ceasefire.Mr Vance - who has played a key role in negotiations with the Islamic Republic - said the Israeli leadership “offered to… check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful”.Back in Britain, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper accused Iran of holding &quot;the global economy hostage” by closing the Strait of Hormuz, declaring there is &quot;no place for tolls on an international waterway&quot;.Speaking at Mansion House on Thursday, she said: “We were not involved in the start of this conflict but we will work together to support a sustainable end to it.“So, most important of all for us, that means the restoration of freedom of navigation, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and getting the global economy moving once more.”The Foreign Secretary said the Islamic Republic&#039;s closure of the vital waterway had wreaked havoc on supplies of “fertiliser for Africa, liquid natural gas for Asia, and jet fuel for the world”.She continued: “The trading route for Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman all hijacked by Iran so that they can hold the global economy hostage.“But this is an international shipping route, it’s a transit route for the high seas.“No country can close those routes, and it goes against the fundamental principles of the Law of the Sea and here in Britain, the importance of this runs deep in our history.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Iran, peace, hopes, dangle, thread, ceasefire, violated, Strait, Hormuz, Donald, Trump, brands, Tehran, dishonourable</media:keywords>
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<title>Now even Tony Blair urges Ed Miliband to open up North Sea oilfields in major energy warning</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/now-even-tony-blair-urges-ed-miliband-to-open-up-north-sea-oilfields-in-major-energy-warning</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/now-even-tony-blair-urges-ed-miliband-to-open-up-north-sea-oilfields-in-major-energy-warning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ed Miliband must approve drilling at Britain’s largest untapped oil field, Tony Blair’s think tank says. More North Sea exploration is “essential”, it argues, warning that the UK’s approach to energy “is increasingly out of step with global competitors”. While the UK is right to commit to Net Zero by 2050, it needs to adopt a more pragmatic approach, the report finds, explaining: “Energy is not an area where ideology can substitute for outcomes.” Drilling at Rosebank, Britain’s largest untapped oil field, with an estimated 300 million barrels, along with Jackdaw, a gas field, has been frozen after a legal challenge on environmental grounds. 
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Energy Secretary Mr Miliband has the final say over whether work can resume at either site. Activists say exploiting Rosebank would be “climate vandalism”. But Tone Langengen, energy policy advisor at the Tony Blair Institute, says both Rosebank and Jackdaw should be approved “at pace”. She points out that 70 per cent of the nation’s energy demand is still reliant on oil and gas. Clean energy should play a central part in our energy mix rather than “being pursued as an end in itself”.Arguing for both Rosebank and Jackdaw to be given the go-ahead, she said: “As long as demand remains, reducing domestic production does not reduce reliance on fossil fuels – it increases reliance on imports.“In a context of sustained geopolitical disruption and tightening global supply, this not only exposes the UK to greater price volatility and security risks, it also weakens the UK’s trade balance.“This is why domestic supply must be understood as a strategic resilience issue, not simply a question of climate signalling.”Jackdaw was particularly important as it could displace 15 per cent of liquified natural gas imports.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Keir Starmer tells Israel to stop strikes on Lebanon after US-Iran ceasefire deal - &#039;They&#039;re wrong!&#039;Irish army called in to tackle protesters after heavy vehicles block fuel depotsLabour-run council scraps 300 per cent second home tax after just eight daysRosebank could account for eight per cent of UK oil production this decade, she writes.Other “viable” North Sea projects should be unblocked and a more stable licensing regime put in place, she argues.The windfall tax, which sees producers paying a headline figure of 78 per cent, also required reform.In her paper, More Than Clean Energy: Electrification is the UK’s Best Bet for Resilience, she calls for a “fundamental reset” in our approach to energy, warning that, without this, plans to transition to Net Zero by 2050 will be under threat.She points out that the Iran war has shown how quickly global shocks feed through to the UK economy.“This is not just an energy shock,” she writes. “It’s an inflation shock, a cost-of-living shock and a test of the UK’s economic resilience.”The result of the Iran crisis won’t be a slow return to normal, she suggests, but a faster shift towards “regional, diversified and security-driven energy systems”.Clean electricity would help move Britain away from fossil fuel reliance. But Ms Langengen warned against viewing all energy policy “through the lens of decarbonisation”.She writes: “Across China, the United States and India, that rewiring is already underway. In these economies, decarbonisation is not the organising logic of energy policy.“The priority is to build electricity systems that are abundant, secure and cheap enough to support economic growth, industrial strength and rising demand.“Clean energy plays a central role but it is being deployed as part of a broader strategy of system expansion and national resilience – not pursued as an end in itself.“The UK appears set to follow a different, riskier path.”The Government plans to run the electricity system with 95 per cent low-carbon sources by 2030.Ms Langengen said electrification was the right approach.But high electricity prices were slowing electrification, and weak electrification keeps demand on fossil fuels high, she said, describing this as a “self-reinforcing loop”.She said that while the Government was not focused enough on reducing the cost of electricity, the opposition approach – maximising North Sea production – was not a silver bullet, because resources are finite in the declining basin.Yet neither side was giving ground.“The deeper problem is that energy policy is increasingly being shaped by competing ideological positions, rather than by a clear-eyed assessment of physical and economic realities.“Yet energy is not an area where ideology can substitute for outcomes. The core strategic issue is not simply how quickly the UK decarbonises the power sector, nor whether it can marginally increase domestic fossil fuel supply.“It is whether the UK can build an energy system capable of delivering abundant, affordable and secure electricity at scale – and use that to reduce dependence on fossil fuels across the wider economy.”Ms Langengen said that Iran posed a “test of Britain’s economic resilience” but also gave the country the opportunity to reset its energy policies.Without more affordable energy, the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target is under threat, she warns.She says: “The case for strengthening domestic supply and backing projects like Jackdaw and Rosebank was already strong – the crisis has simply exposed how vulnerable the UK remains without it.“If the Government doubles down on the wrong parts of the system, the UK will remain exposed to the same vulnerabilities.“But this is also an opportunity to reset - including by accelerating domestic supply to reduce reliance on volatile imports and support UK jobs and tax revenues.“The lesson from Iran is clear: the UK doesn’t just need more clean power, but electrification, greater resilience and a more affordable system over time.“Without it, households will face repeated price shocks, businesses will carry persistently high costs, and the transition itself will fail.”But campaigners insisted that more North Sea drilling was not the answer, claiming 90 per cent of accessible North Sea reserves had gone.Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “Anyone who paid a gas bill during the last crisis when Russia invaded Ukraine knows that the North Sea didn’t stop costs shooting up.“The problem is the debate becomes a distraction from the things that will permanently insulate us from this volatile global oil and gas system - like boosting electric technologies that increasingly run off British renewables.”A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We are taking action to bear down on the cost of living, including taking £117 off average energy bills this month and supporting de-escalation in the Middle East.“The lesson of yet another fossil fuel crisis is the UK needs to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and onto clean homegrown power we control.”DESNZ said it could not comment on individual projects. It has previously denied media claims that Jackdaw was about to be approved, saying that the process was ongoing.

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Now, even, Tony, Blair, urges, Miliband, open, North, Sea, oilfields, major, energy, warning</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump keeps Queen Elizabeth portrait at Mar&#45;a&#45;Lago with &amp;apos;no one else on the wall&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-keeps-queen-elizabeth-portrait-at-mar-a-lago-with-no-one-else-on-the-wall</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-keeps-queen-elizabeth-portrait-at-mar-a-lago-with-no-one-else-on-the-wall</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A newly published biography by Robert Hardman reveals that President Donald Trump keeps a reproduction of Queen Elizabeth II&#039;s final official portrait displayed in his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.According to Mr Hardman&#039;s book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, the American President sought a &quot;permanent reminder&quot; of the late monarch, who died in September 2022.The artwork now hangs in the dining room of President Trump&#039;s Florida estate, positioned above a painting depicting a medieval vessel.&quot;She was so great. I wanted to hang her picture in a room where there is no one else on the wall,&quot; the US President reportedly explained to the biographer.The portrait was created by Polish-British artist Basia Kaczmarowska-Hamilton, who sat with the Queen just four months before her death.Mr Hardman&#039;s book explains that the painting was initially commissioned for London&#039;s Polish Institute, but the monarch was so pleased with the finished work that she asked to retain it.The original artwork continues to hang at Windsor Castle, whilst a reproduction was subsequently delivered to the Polish Institute as originally planned.The artist also provided President Trump with his own reproduction of the portrait, according to Mr Hardman&#039;s account, making it one of only a small number of copies in existence.President Trump has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the late sovereign. Following her death in 2022, he issued a statement praising her, declaring: &quot;What a grand and beautiful lady she was – there was nobody like her!&quot;LATEST ROYAL NEWS:King Charles and Queen Camilla quietly celebrating special milestoneDominic Cummings &#039;warned Boris Johnson he could kill the Queen by infecting her with coronavirusAndrew&#039;s alleged &#039;physical altercation&#039; with Palace staff member explainedHe added that he and his wife would &quot;always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty&#039;s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor.&quot;During his second official state visit to Britain in September 2025, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump spent 10 minutes in reflection at the Queen&#039;s burial site in St George&#039;s Chapel, with the president describing the visit as a &quot;great honour.&quot;Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, keeps, Queen, Elizabeth, portrait, Mar-a-Lago, with, no, one, else, the, wall</media:keywords>
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<title>Nato chief takes veiled swipe at Keir Starmer as he addresses ‘slow to react’ allies following Donald Trump meeting</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nato-chief-takes-veiled-swipe-at-keir-starmer-as-he-addresses-slow-to-react-allies-following-donald-trump-meeting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nato-chief-takes-veiled-swipe-at-keir-starmer-as-he-addresses-slow-to-react-allies-following-donald-trump-meeting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Nato Secretary General took a veiled swipe at the UK as he addressed some allies being “slow to say the least” in reaction to the war with Iran.Mark Rutte was speaking on the future of the military pact after crunch talks with President Donald Trump.He said a “mindset shift” was required after Mr Trump branded the allies “disappointing” and threatened to back out of the 32-member ⁠transatlantic alliance. Since the launch of operations against Iran, the US leader has publicly rowed with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the UK’s initial reticence to allow American warplanes access to British bases. 
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The high-profile fallout continued throughout the conflict and has left the special relationship on frosty terms during the current fragile ceasefire with the Islamic Republic. Seemingly addressing the tension, Mr Rutte said:  “When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow, to say the least.”Tempering the criticism, he added:  “In fairness, they were also a bit surprised. To maintain the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump opted not to inform allies in advance, and I understand that.”“What I see when I look across Europe today is allies providing a massive amount of support, basing logistics and other measures to ensure the powerful US military succeeds in denying Iran a nuclear weapon and degrading its capacity to export chaos. “Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything that the United States is asking... They have heard and are responding to President Trump&#039;s requests,” Mr Rutte added.While the Nato chief appeared to criticise the British response, he also took time to specifically praise British efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.“The United Kingdom is leading a coalition of countries that are aligning the military, political and economic tools that will be required to ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” he praised. Addressing Nato more broadly, Mr Rutte acknowledged that the alliance was not a “one-way” pact with the United States. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:‘Talking loudly with a small stick!’ Former defence chief says UK ‘not in position’ to resist RussiaDonald Trump threatens &#039;bigger and better&#039; strikes if Iran refuses to sign &#039;real agreement&#039;&#039;That&#039;s simply incorrect!’ Priti Patel slaps down claim Tories &#039;hollowed out&#039; Britain&#039;s defenceTo that end, he declared: “I am confident that a stronger Europe and a stronger Nato will not take US leadership for granted.“Nato is changing thanks to American leadership and a collective commitment to ensuring continued freedom and security.”Mr Rutte ensured that the alliance was “growing stronger thanks to the mindset shift underway”. “I see a true partnership on the transatlantic horizon,” the Secretary General predicted. Following his meeting with Mr Rutte, President Trump took to Truth Social to declare: “Nato wasn&#039;t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again.”Meanwhile, the Secretary General described the meeting as  “very frank” and &quot;very open”, despite clear disagreements.Regarding the US leader’s frustration, one Nato diplomat said:  “We note the frustration in Washington, but they did not consult allies either before or after starting this war. “Nato as such would not play a role in the war against Iran, but allies want to be helpful in seeking longer-term solutions for Hormuz. With negotiations ongoing with Iran, this could be helpful,” they told Reuters. 

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nato, chief, takes, veiled, swipe, Keir, Starmer, addresses, ‘slow, react’, allies, following, Donald, Trump, meeting</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer holds call with Donald Trump just hours after saying he was &amp;apos;fed up&amp;apos; with US President</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-holds-call-with-donald-trump-just-hours-after-saying-he-was-fed-up-with-us-president</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-holds-call-with-donald-trump-just-hours-after-saying-he-was-fed-up-with-us-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has held a phone call with Donald Trump tonight, just hours after the Prime Minister said he was &quot;fed up&quot; with the US President and Vladimir Putin. A Downing Street spokesman confirmed: &quot;The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump from Qatar this evening.&quot;The Prime Minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders and military planners in the region on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the UK&#039;s efforts to convene partners to agree a viable plan.&quot;They agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the Strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution.
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&quot;The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible. They agreed to speak again soon.&quot; The call comes just hours after the Labour leader said he was &quot;fed up&quot; with Mr Trump and Mr Putin for the effects their actions have on UK families. He said earlier on Thursday: &quot;I&#039;m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.&quot;The Prime Minister has been travelling across the Middle East following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.Sir Keir met with leaders in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Following the visits, he spoke to broadcasters following Israel&#039;s strikes on Lebanon. He told reporters the strikes were &quot;wrong&quot;.When asked directly whether Israel was wrong to conduct strikes in Lebanon, Sir Keir responded unequivocally: &quot;Yes, that shouldn&#039;t be happening. That should stop - that&#039;s my strong view&quot;.The Prime Minister acknowledged uncertainty over whether the attacks constitute a breach of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, stating it was &quot;hard to say&quot; given limited access to the full details.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Irish army called in to tackle protesters after heavy vehicles block fuel depotsRSPCA finds 250 ‘frightened’ dogs crammed into ONE house in ‘shocking’ discoveryVladimir Putin announces temporary 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine&quot;The question isn&#039;t a technical one of whether it&#039;s a breach of the agreement or not,&quot; Sir Keir said, arguing that Lebanon &quot;should be included in a ceasefire&quot;.The Prime Minister was emphatic that Britain would not participate in offensive military operations or become entangled in the wider conflict.&quot;I&#039;m saying I&#039;ve been really clear about the use of the bases for collective self-defence only and we are monitoring,&quot; he said.He also addressed the critical question of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels must be able to pass without facing charges.&quot;There are lots of things being said - they need to be tested.&quot;Our position is &#039;open&#039; means open for safe navigation. That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through,&quot; the Prime Minister stated.&quot;There&#039;s a relief that there is a ceasefire, I think a sense from them that it&#039;s fragile, that there&#039;s a lot of work to do on the ceasefire.&quot;He also mentioned he would not echo the language Mr Trump has used in his recent posts on Truth Social.Asked about Mr Trump’s use of expletives and phrases such as &quot;praise be to Allah&quot;, Sir Keir said: &quot;Let me be really clear and blunt about this.&quot;They’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, holds, call, with, Donald, Trump, just, hours, after, saying, was, fed, up, with, President</media:keywords>
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<title>Will Kingston warns Iran believes Donald Trump is ‘full of empty threats’ amid fragile ceasefire</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/will-kingston-warns-iran-believes-donald-trump-is-full-of-empty-threats-amid-fragile-ceasefire</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/will-kingston-warns-iran-believes-donald-trump-is-full-of-empty-threats-amid-fragile-ceasefire</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Will Kingston has warned Iran may now believe President Donald Trump is “full of empty threats” amid a fragile ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.The GB New star feared the US leader had “played the art of the deal one time too many” with his stance on Tehran and Nato.   Discussing President Trump&#039;s threat to Iran that a “civilisation will die” hours before the ceasefire was brokered and warning to Nato he may leave the alliance, Will said:  “He didn&#039;t mean that. And if we&#039;re both saying that and all intelligent people are saying that, the Iranians know that as well.  “What&#039;s the point in saying it if it&#039;s not going to be step one of the art of the deal, which is to put forward an outrageous position, hope that they believe it and then pull back to something where you get what you want.  “My concern is that the Iranians will go: &#039;Trump is full of empty threats, and therefore we&#039;re going to hold our ground&#039;,” he cautioned. 

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Will, Kingston, warns, Iran, believes, Donald, Trump, ‘full, empty, threats’, amid, fragile, ceasefire</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer tells Israel to stop strikes on Lebanon after US&#45;Iran ceasefire deal &#45; &amp;apos;They&amp;apos;re wrong!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-tells-israel-to-stop-strikes-on-lebanon-after-us-iran-ceasefire-deal-theyre-wrong</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-tells-israel-to-stop-strikes-on-lebanon-after-us-iran-ceasefire-deal-theyre-wrong</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has declared Israeli military action against Lebanon &quot;wrong&quot; and that it must cease during his Middle East tour.When asked directly whether Israel was wrong to conduct strikes in Lebanon, Sir Keir responded unequivocally: &quot;Yes, that shouldn&#039;t be happening. That should stop - that&#039;s my strong view&quot;.The Prime Minister acknowledged uncertainty over whether the attacks constitute a breach of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, stating it was &quot;hard to say&quot; given limited access to the full details.However, he framed his opposition as a matter of principle rather than legal technicality when speaking on ITV&#039;s Talking Politics podcast.
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&quot;The question isn&#039;t a technical one of whether it&#039;s a breach of the agreement or not,&quot; Sir Keir said, arguing that Lebanon &quot;should be included in a ceasefire&quot;.On the question of American military operations from British soil, he confirmed the Government is actively monitoring how US forces utilise UK bases.The Prime Minister was emphatic that Britain would not participate in offensive military operations or become entangled in the wider conflict.&quot;I&#039;m saying I&#039;ve been really clear about the use of the bases for collective self-defence only and we are monitoring,&quot; he said.Sir Keir once again outlined that British involvement would be strictly limited to protecting &quot;British lives, British interests and, of course, our allies here in the Gulf&quot;.He invoked the shadow of past conflicts, saying: &quot;We have to learn the lessons of Iraq. We need to be clear where we stand as a country&quot;.The Prime Minister emphasised that decisions on British national interest remained solely his responsibility.He also addressed the critical question of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels must be able to pass without facing charges.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Keir Starmer&#039;s digital ID cards will not let Britons say if they are male or femaleRoyal Navy in &#039;doom loop&#039; as Britain&#039;s &#039;degraded&#039; fleet running on &#039;overstretched staff&#039;Donald Trump threatens &#039;bigger and better&#039; strikes if Iran refuses to sign &#039;real agreement&#039;When questioned whether the vital waterway was now accessible, the Prime Minister urged caution about various claims being made.&quot;There are lots of things being said - they need to be tested,&quot; he said.He set out Britain&#039;s unambiguous position on what constitutes genuine access to the strait.&quot;Our position is &#039;open&#039; means open for safe navigation. That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through,&quot; the Prime Minister stated.The UK&#039;s stance reflects the importance of maintaining unimpeded commercial shipping through one of the world&#039;s most strategically significant maritime routes.Sir Keir also described the emotional atmosphere among Gulf leaders during his regional visit, noting they were &quot;pleased to see a friend&quot; at such a critical juncture.The Prime Minister detected genuine astonishment among his counterparts at the scale of attacks they had endured, despite not having participated in strikes against Iran.&quot;There&#039;s a relief that there is a ceasefire, I think a sense from them that it&#039;s fragile, that there&#039;s a lot of work to do on the ceasefire,&quot; Sir Keir said.He suggested this sentiment of relief extended to the British public, who had watched events unfold with considerable anxiety about potential consequences for themselves.The Prime Minister noted that British service personnel had been engaged in intensive collective self-defence operations in the region over the preceding six to seven weeks, and discussed defence capabilities with regional leaders.He also mentioned he would not echo the language US President Donald Trump has used in his recent posts on Truth Social.Asked about Mr Trump’s use of expletives and phrases such as &quot;praise be to Allah&quot;, Sir Keir said: &quot;Let me be really clear and blunt about this.&quot;They’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind.&quot;

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, tells, Israel, stop, strikes, Lebanon, after, US-Iran, ceasefire, deal, Theyre, wrong</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer warns of ‘fragile’ ceasefire with Iran as he stresses there is ‘work to be done’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-warns-of-fragile-ceasefire-with-iran-as-he-stresses-there-is-work-to-be-done</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-warns-of-fragile-ceasefire-with-iran-as-he-stresses-there-is-work-to-be-done</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Keir Starmer has issued a warning over the “fragile” ceasefire with Iran as he stressed that there was “work to be done” to prevent a resumption in hostilities. The Prime Minister is touring the Gulf to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire” just hours after Donald Trump declared the temporary pause in hostilities.While in Bahrain, Sir Keir addressed a “general sense” among regional allies that the current ceasefire was “fragile” and that “there’s work to do in relation to it”. He explained that his current goal was to ensure that the “ceasefire is permanent and that the Strait of Hormuz is open. “That takes more than just words. It takes a lot of action,” the Prime Minister added. WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE

Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:39:26 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, warns, ‘fragile’, ceasefire, with, Iran, stresses, there, ‘work, done’</media:keywords>
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<title>Angela Rayner’s new workers’ rights agency handed powers to arrest and use ‘reasonable force’</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/angela-rayners-new-workers-rights-agency-handed-powers-to-arrest-and-use-reasonable-force</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/angela-rayners-new-workers-rights-agency-handed-powers-to-arrest-and-use-reasonable-force</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour’s new Fair Work Agency will have the power to arrest suspects and use “reasonable force” under fresh employment legislation.The body - dubbed the “jobs police” - can carry out surprise workplace inspections and enter premises without consent by securing warrants under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.Government documents confirm officials may use force “where reasonable and necessary” to enforce the new Employment Rights Act.The agency also has the power to search individuals, seize materials and detain those suspected of labour market offences.
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Angela Rayner championed the legislation before stepping down as Deputy Prime Minister last year.The FWA is responsible for enforcing a range of workplace protections, including minimum wage rules, modern slavery laws, holiday entitlement and sick pay.Ministers have instructed the body to identify areas where “legislative, operational or strategic changes may be required”, while also exploring “future remit expansion”.The agency has been handed an annual budget of £60.1million - more than £12million higher than the combined funding of its predecessor bodies.Officials say the increase reflects the additional regulations introduced under the new law.Business leaders have voiced concern about the scale of the agency’s authority.Alex Hall-Chen, from the Institute of Directors, said: “The Fair Work Agency will already have significantly broader powers than the enforcement bodies it has replaced, such as the authority to enter business premises without a warrant.”She added that the instruction to expand its remit “could extend its powers beyond its original purpose without proper scrutiny or consultation with business&quot;.THE LABOUR PARTY - READ THE LATEST:Keir Starmer accused of Chagos-style handover of Britain&#039;s electricity to the EU in Brexit betrayalLabour under pressure to close major driving licence loopholeLeon declares &#039;the high street is dead&#039; as Labour ‘kills the restaurant industry&#039; with tax burdenTina McKenzie, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Small businesses are already facing an enormous amount of change through the Employment Rights Act.”She continued: “What they need from the Agency right now is clear guidance and compliance support and not the prospect of a broader enforcement reach down the line.”Ms McKenzie noted that as Britain grapples with a record tribunal backlog, “the priority must be getting the basics right first.”Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “The remit letter simply confirms it will inevitably seek to add more staff and more red tape, raising unemployment still further. &quot;This is clearly a blank cheque to expand its powers.”He added: “Conservatives will scrap this unwarranted body and give its staff first-hand experience of finding a new job!”The Employment Rights Act marks the biggest overhaul of workplace protections in a generation, with ministers claiming more than 15 million workers - around half the UK workforce - stand to benefit.Changes include day-one entitlement to sick pay and a simplified process for bringing unfair dismissal claims.The FWA can issue financial penalties to non-compliant firms and bring tribunal cases on behalf of workers.However, industry figures warn the reforms could trigger a surge in claims, piling further pressure on an already stretched tribunal system.A Government spokesman said it was “simply bringing existing powers into one place to ensure businesses know where to turn and spend less time on bureaucracy&quot;.They added: “The Fair Work Agency is there to take action when needed against rogue employers who undercut the vast majority of businesses who comply with the law. That&#039;s fair for workers, and creates a level-playing field for businesses too.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Angela, Rayner’s, new, workers’, rights, agency, handed, powers, arrest, and, use, ‘reasonable, force’</media:keywords>
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<title>France rejects Britain’s offer to intercept and return small boat migrants in fresh blow to Shabana Mahmood</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/france-rejects-britains-offer-to-intercept-and-return-small-boat-migrants-in-fresh-blow-to-shabana-mahmood</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/france-rejects-britains-offer-to-intercept-and-return-small-boat-migrants-in-fresh-blow-to-shabana-mahmood</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ France has rejected a proposal from Shabana Mahmood to allow British Border Force vessels to intercept and return small boat migrants across the Channel.The Home Secretary tabled the plan as part of negotiations to renew a multimillion-pound migrant patrol deal.The current agreement was due to expire in March but was extended by two months while talks continue.Under the proposal, British Border Force vessels would intercept small boats before they reached UK waters and return migrants to northern France.
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However, French authorities rejected the plan as it would have required British vessels to enter French territorial waters.Details of the negotiations were reported by French newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné.As part of the existing arrangement, the British Government funded the purchase of 100 police vehicles in the Pas de Calais region to patrol for illegal migrants and people smugglers, the paper said.French officials have reportedly made clear that the sovereignty of their territorial waters is a red line.The two sides are understood to be at an impasse, with Britain pushing for a migrant detention centre in Dunkirk and an increase in French patrols.The extension of the current deal is costing British taxpayers £16.5million and is set to expire at the end of next month.Ms Mahmood has proposed a payment-by-results model for the new agreement and is seeking a higher interception rate than the current 35 per cent.A former Home Office source previously told The Times that France rejected a target of 80 per cent.LATEST ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS:Almost 300 small boat migrants swarm across Channel in one day - with more expected in hours aheadLabour ministers working with rebels to water down Shabana Mahmood&#039;s migrant crackdown measuresMark White exposes &#039;worrying&#039; small boats trend as migrants transform tactics to reach BritainLast month, Xavier Ducept, France’s general secretary for the sea, said linking funding to interception rates would not be possible and could endanger lives.The French newspaper also reported that British taxpayers funded nearly £20million for a helicopter used by elite French riot police.Earlier this week, GB News reported that the Border Security Command used new vessels to pick up small boat migrants for the first time. More than 300 migrants crossed the Channel on Wednesday as temperatures rose.More than 5,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year.Home Office figures show the French interception rate has fallen to its lowest level, with 2,064 of 6,233 attempted crossings stopped.A Home Office spokesman said: &quot;France is our most important migration partner and together our joint work is bearing down on small boat crossings.&quot;We have prevented over 42,000 attempts by illegal migrants to make the journey across the Channel since this government took office.&quot;While we finalise a new and improved UK-France deal, French law enforcement operations to stop illegal migrants in France will continue. We will do whatever it takes to restore order and control at our borders.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>France, rejects, Britain’s, offer, intercept, and, return, small, boat, migrants, fresh, blow, Shabana, Mahmood</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump reveals secret CIA ‘Ghost Murmur’ tool was ‘very important’ in rescuing airman trapped in Iran</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-reveals-secret-cia-ghost-murmur-tool-was-very-important-in-rescuing-airman-trapped-in-iran</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-reveals-secret-cia-ghost-murmur-tool-was-very-important-in-rescuing-airman-trapped-in-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump has claimed a classified CIA tool known as “Ghost Murmur” played a key role in locating a downed American pilot in Iran over the weekend.&quot;It was very important. The CIA was fantastic,&quot; Mr Trump said in an interview with The New York Post on Wednesday.&quot;Nobody even knows what it is. Nobody ever heard of it before,&quot; he added.&quot;Everybody&#039;s surprised. We have many other things that nobody has ever heard about. We have equipment the likes of which nobody has ever even thought about.&quot;
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The technology is said to enable the detection of human heartbeats from great distances.According to two sources cited by the New York Post, the system was developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division and combines nitrogen-vacancy diamond sensors with artificial intelligence to filter background interference.Thad Walker, a physics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the system could theoretically involve a drone-mounted magnetometer array.&quot;Assuming the description of the technology is accurate, my best guess is that this is a drone-mounted NV center magnetometer, probably a magnetometer array,&quot; he speculated.Prof Walker said: &quot;It is essential to get the magnetometer close to the source... even mounted on a drone, it would be astounding to detect a heartbeat with NV centers at even a distance of 100 metres.&quot;At 100 metres, an adult heartbeat is not impossible to detect in a very magnetically quiet background with plenty of time to do advanced signal processing.&quot;However, the best NV magnetometers I have heard of would take days of signal averaging for an array of such detectors to reach the detection limit at a distance of 100 [metres].&quot;Mr Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe both referenced the technology during a White House briefing earlier this week.DONALD TRUMP - READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump confronts Nato chief at White House as he suggests leaving alliance in two-hour meetingDonald Trump threatens 50 per cent tariffs for any country supplying weapons to IranWhite House demands Fifa ban transgender footballers before committing to 2031 Women&#039;s World Cup bidThe President claimed the agency was able to locate the pilot from 40 miles away, though it remains unclear whether this referred directly to “Ghost Murmur”.A source familiar with the operation told the newspaper that environmental conditions in Iran may have aided efforts to track down the airman. The Iranian countryside was described as &quot;about as clean an environment as you could ask for&quot; due to low electromagnetic interference and minimal competing signals.In January, President Donald Trump revealed a separate mysterious tool - dubbed the “Discombobulator” - was used in the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.The weapon allegedly rendered enemy military equipment entirely inoperable as American helicopters descended on Caracas to apprehend Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.An account attributed to a Venezuelan security guard loyal to the dictator paints a harrowing picture of the weapon&#039;s effects.The unnamed witness described the moment American forces deployed the device: &quot;Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside.&quot;&quot;We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move,&quot; the guard recounted in testimony shared by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.The soldier characterised the assault as a &quot;massacre&quot; and claimed he had &quot;never seen anything like it&quot;.He added: &quot;We couldn&#039;t even stand up after that sonic weapon or whatever it was.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/watch-patrick-christys-and-his-panel-discuss-meeting-between-donald-trump-and-nato-chief-mark-rutte.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, reveals, secret, CIA, ‘Ghost, Murmur’, tool, was, ‘very, important’, rescuing, airman, trapped, Iran</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump confronts Nato chief at White House as he suggests leaving military alliance in two&#45;hour meeting</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-confronts-nato-chief-at-white-house-as-he-suggests-leaving-military-alliance-in-two-hour-meeting</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-confronts-nato-chief-at-white-house-as-he-suggests-leaving-military-alliance-in-two-hour-meeting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has held talks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte just hours after suggesting the US could leave the military alliance.At a press conference ahead of the meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: &quot;I have a direct quote from the President of the United States on Nato, and I will share it with all of you: ‘They were tested, and they failed&#039;.&quot;Mr Trump said last week he was strongly considering leaving the alliance, branding it a &quot;paper tiger&quot; - a term he has repeatedly used to describe the transatlantic bloc.The US remains Nato’s largest contributor, spending $935billion on defence - nearly double the combined total of the rest of the alliance in 2024.
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Mrs Leavitt added: &quot;I would add that it was quite sad that Nato turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks, when it’s the American people who have been funding their defence.&quot;Following the meeting, Mr Rutte said he had a &quot;frank and open&quot; discussion with the President.When asked whether some Nato members had failed, he replied: &quot;Some of them yes, but a large majority of European countries, and that&#039;s what we discussed today, have done what they promised before in a case like this.&quot;He told CNN: &quot;I was also able to point to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they lift up to the commitments.&quot;Mrs Leavitt had earlier said the pair would have a &quot;very frank and candid conversation&quot;.Writing on his Truth Social platform after the meeting, Mr Trump said: &quot;Nato wasn&#039;t there when we needed them, and they won&#039;t be there if we need them again.&quot;Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!&quot;Reports have suggested Mr Trump is considering reducing US support for Nato by relocating American troops from certain Western European countries.LATEST ON NATO:Nato chief to hold emergency talks in US after Donald Trump threatened to pull out of allianceBritain&#039;s military collapse exposed by Nato as Keir Starmer&#039;s promise branded &#039;empty gesture&#039;British sailors forced to use GERMAN ship on crucial Nato mission in &#039;national embarrassment&#039;Rather than withdrawing entirely - which would require congressional approval - troops could be moved from nations such as Spain, Italy, France and Germany to Eastern European countries including Romania, Poland, Lithuania and Greece.Spain is reported to have blocked the use of its airspace for strikes on Iran, while German officials criticised the conflict and Italy restricted access to one of its air bases.Romania, by contrast, approved the use of its bases by the US Air Force.White House officials also told the Wall Street Journal the President could shut a US military base in at least one European country, possibly Spain or Germany.Mr Rutte has been dubbed the &quot;Trump whisperer&quot; in Europe, with the pair maintaining a relatively warm relationship.One European diplomat described the Nato chief’s approach as deferential but effective.Mr Rutte was expected to raise maritime security concerns and discuss ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, while also attempting to temper the President’s criticism of the alliance.Unlike previous engagements, Wednesday’s meeting was not open to the press.Earlier this week, Mr Trump suggested his frustrations with Nato stemmed in part from tensions over Greenland - the Danish-controlled territory he has repeatedly said the US should acquire.He said: &quot;It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland. We want Greenland. They don’t want to give it to us. And I said, &#039;bye, bye&#039;.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, confronts, Nato, chief, White, House, suggests, leaving, military, alliance, two-hour, meeting</media:keywords>
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<title>Husbands who tell wives how to vote could face jail as ‘family voting’ warning issued</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/husbands-who-tell-wives-how-to-vote-could-face-jail-as-family-voting-warning-issued</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/husbands-who-tell-wives-how-to-vote-could-face-jail-as-family-voting-warning-issued</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Electoral Commission has warned that spouses who pressure their partners over how to vote in the upcoming local elections could face prison.The watchdog issued the alert over the “serious crime” of family voting ahead of polling day on May 7. The illegal practice involves individuals influencing or directing how another person casts their ballot - including instructing a spouse which party to support.Niki Nixon, the Commission’s director of communications, said: “No matter how you vote, your vote is yours alone.”
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She added: “Your right to vote independently, privately, and free from undue pressure is protected in law.”“Anyone who tries to induce or compel someone to vote a particular way, or not to vote at all, is committing a serious crime that can result in a prison sentence.”Ms Nixon also stressed: “Cases of reported fraud in the UK are very low, but we must not be complacent.”The warning follows Greater Manchester Police (GMP) dropping an investigation into allegations of family voting during February’s Gorton and Denton by-election.The contest saw the Green Party win what had previously been a safe Labour seat.Democracy Volunteers, an election observer group, reported “concerningly high levels” of the banned practice in the constituency.Police launched an inquiry after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the claims raised “serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas”.However, GMP confirmed last month it had closed the case, finding no evidence of any “intent to influence or deter any person from casting a ballot”.LOCAL ELECTIONS - READ THE LATEST:Reform UK looks to bat off rivals ahead of crunch vote after councillor jailed‘No experience necessary!’ Labour struggles to find candidates ahead of crucial local electionsCalls for election campaigning in foreign languages to be BANNED amid &#039;worrying&#039; sectarianism riseMr Farage lambasted the decision as an &quot;establishment whitewash&quot;.He said: “This isn&#039;t good enough. We need proper oversight, real accountability and the courage to admit when something isn&#039;t right, not another brushed-under-the-carpet report from the usual suspects.”A specific offence targeting family voting was introduced in 2023.The law makes it illegal to accompany someone into a polling booth or stand nearby with the intention of influencing their vote. Lord Hayward, the Conservative peer who introduced the measure, said the system had “gone wrong in a substantial way” in Gorton and Denton.Mark Hallas, chief executive of Crimestoppers, said tackling the issue also required vigilance from the public.He said: “Our country has a history of holding elections that are internationally trusted and seen to be fair. This is a tradition we can all play a part in protecting.”He added: “It&#039;s vital that anyone with suspicions of voter fraud speaks up, either to the police or completely anonymously to Crimestoppers.”Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Husbands, who, tell, wives, how, vote, could, face, jail, ‘family, voting’, warning, issued</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer accused of Chagos&#45;style handover of Britain&amp;apos;s electricity to the EU in major Brexit betrayal</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-accused-of-chagos-style-handover-of-britains-electricity-to-the-eu-in-major-brexit-betrayal</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-accused-of-chagos-style-handover-of-britains-electricity-to-the-eu-in-major-brexit-betrayal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The EU is demanding Britain pay an exorbitant sum to join its energy grid and hand over any control of the output as part of Keir Starmer&#039;s &#039;Brexit reset&#039;, a bombshell new report has claimed.The reports, produced by Facts4EU in collaboration with Stand for our Sovereignty and CIBUK.Org, would amount to a Chagos-style surrender, former Conservative MP Lord Redwood told the People&#039;s Channel. He told to GB News: “Keir Starmer wants to pay the EU for inflicting this damage on us.“Then he wants on top to free gift them a large unspecified sum to help them tackle their economic and policy failures in countries of their Union.
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“This is the man who wants to give away the valuable base of Diego Garcia to Mauritius and fell for the need to pay them a huge sum to take the gift!”The most shocking part of the new report is that the EU is demanding that the UK share in the cost of its “Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion funding,” something required as a member.The UK contributed billions to one part of the funding called “the Cohesion Fund” while a member, but never received any benefit from it, with the UK not receiving single euro.The EU’s paperwork does not contain actual numbers, but it seems the total demanded from the UK will be high.As a member, the UK contributed around 13.5 per cent of the total budget for these funds. Even if the EU sets the UK’s percentage to be one-quarter of its previous level, it would still involve payments in the order of billions.Lord Redwood continued: “The PM is the world&#039;s worst negotiator. He wants to sign us up to even dearer energy and higher energy taxes than we already have.“He wants to throw away any UK right to amend or improve the system.“This sentences us to perpetually dearer energy which will complete the disastrous de-industrialisation of the UK, which his home policies have furthered.” LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Keir Starmer was on holiday in Spain when Donald Trump threatened to obliterate IranMatthew Perry drug supplier &#039;Ketamine Queen&#039; jailed for 15 years over Friends star&#039;s deathChurch vandalised for SIXTH time over Easter weekend as pastor confesses his heart ‘aches’The report stated that, according to the EU, since Sir Keir Starmer’s UK-EU Re-Set Summit on May 19, 2025, the Commission and the UK Government have explored in detail “the necessary conditions” for the UK&#039;s possible participation in the Union&#039;s internal electricity market.One of the EU documents stated: “The EU aims to establish a permanent, legally binding mechanism for the financial contribution of the United Kingdom towards reducing economic and social disparities between the regions of the Union, at an appropriate level.“The financial contribution of the United Kingdom should be calculated based on the Union financial contribution towards reducing the disparities between the regions of the Union, adjusted to reflect the relative size of the UK economy and the proportion of the internal market to which the United Kingdom participates.”Despite the new agreement, the EU has made clear the UK will have no say in matters relating to the EU, but we will be forced to align with any changes imposed. A document for December reads: “The agreement should not give the United Kingdom the right to participate in the Union&#039;s decision-making.“The agreement should provide for an obligation for the United Kingdom to dynamically align to the relevant Union legislation.“The mechanism of dynamic alignment should ensure that identical rules within the scope of the agreement are simultaneously applied.“The agreement should ensure uniform interpretation and application of Union law on the basis of the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union; in particular, the interpretation given to the applicable rules within the Union should also apply in the context of the relations between the Parties.”Lord Redwood concluded that: “Starmer wants to please the EU whilst damaging the UK. The EU, despising his weakness, intend to truss him up over controlling our energy market.“They still feel able to demand a huge free gift of cash to help out their slow growth and no-growth failing policies as well.“The problem is Starmer will fall for this and send another whopping tax bill to the better off and businesses who have stayed in the UK.”GB News has contacted the Department of Energy and Net Zero for comment. Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, accused, Chagos-style, handover, Britains, electricity, the, major, Brexit, betrayal</media:keywords>
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<title>Tories to ban councils from working four&#45;day weeks to &amp;apos;ensure value for money for taxpayers&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/tories-to-ban-councils-from-working-four-day-weeks-to-ensure-value-for-money-for-taxpayers</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/tories-to-ban-councils-from-working-four-day-weeks-to-ensure-value-for-money-for-taxpayers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Conservatives have pledged to outlaw councils from offering staff four-day working weeks while maintaining full salaries, should they secure victory at the next general election.Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly announced plans to bring forward legislation targeting all public services, including local authorities, that pay employees five days&#039; wages for four days&#039; work.&quot;Taxpayers should not be paying full rates for part-time services,&quot; Sir James stated.He described the arrangement as failing to deliver value for money and argued it &quot;does a disservice to hard-working families just trying to get by&quot;. 
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The Conservatives intend to introduce a bill establishing work conditions for public sector employees.South Cambridgeshire Council, led by the Liberal Democrats, has already implemented a permanent four-day week arrangement and stands as the sole authority to have fully adopted the practice.Under the scheme, participating employees are required to deliver their full workload within 80 per cent of their usual contracted hours, without any reduction in pay.Bridget Smith, the council&#039;s leader, has maintained that the authority performs &quot;exceptionally high&quot; and that the policy has generated approximately £400,000 in yearly savings.Council officials have cited academic studies supporting the trial&#039;s effectiveness.Ms Smith dismissed the Conservative proposal on Tuesday, calling it &quot;political gymnastics&quot; from an &quot;outdated and out-of-touch&quot; party.The Government has already signalled its concerns about the practice. Communities Secretary Steve Reed wrote to local authorities in December cautioning that intervention could follow if they operated four-day weeks for full-time staff.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSAlmost 300 small boat migrants swarm across the Channel in just one day - with more expected in the coming hoursMillionaires lose battle to block sculpture tribute to Queen Elizabeth IIBBC violated own editorial standards by broadcasting Baftas racial slur, says investigationIn his correspondence, Mr Reed indicated that employees working part-time hours for full-time pay could be &quot;considered an indicator, among a wide range of factors, of potential failure&quot; within a council.Such a designation would empower ministers to take control of affected authorities and restore traditional five-day working patterns.However, Sir James argued that the Government&#039;s warning did not go far enough and that an outright prohibition was necessary.More than 20 councils have held discussions about implementing similar arrangements, with 25 authorities reportedly in talks with the Four Day Week Foundation last year. Among those exploring the programme were Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Fermanagh and Omagh.In Wales, Plaid Cymru has committed to rolling out four-day weeks across the nation if it wins the Senedd elections in May.Labour dismissed the Conservative announcement, with a party spokesman calling it &quot;a total embarrassment for the Tories to be, yet again, railing against things that happened on their own watch, and which they took zero action on.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tories, ban, councils, from, working, four-day, weeks, ensure, value, for, money, for, taxpayers</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer was on holiday in Spain when Donald Trump threatened to obliterate Iran</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-was-on-holiday-in-spain-when-donald-trump-threatened-to-obliterate-iran</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-was-on-holiday-in-spain-when-donald-trump-threatened-to-obliterate-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer was on an Easter holiday in Spain with his family when Donald Trump threatened to &quot;obliterate the entire civilisation&quot; of Iran.The Prime Minister only returned on Tuesday evening, arriving on a commercial flight while the world awaited Mr Trump&#039;s decision on whether to follow through on threats to send Iran to the &quot;Stone Age.&quot;He then departed Stansted airport shortly after 8am this morning, embarking on a three-day diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners.The trip, which had been in preparation for weeks, was only confirmed after Mr Trump announced a ceasefire via social media just before midnight on Tuesday.
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The Prime Minister has previously criticised his predecessor, Boris Johnson, and ex-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab for taking holidays during the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021.At the time, he claimed the pair exhibited a failure of leadership and said he had shown poor judgment and complacency on how to handle the situation.He said at the time: &quot;You cannot coordinate an international response from the beach. &quot;I wouldn&#039;t stay on holiday while Kabul was falling.&quot;The Prime Ministers&#039; allies suggest this moment of international crisis could define his premiership, drawing comparisons to Gordon Brown&#039;s response during the financial crash.Labour MPs have responded positively to his willingness to challenge Donald Trump on the legality of the conflict, leading some to question whether his departure after the May 7 elections remains inevitable.Britain&#039;s modest military contribution has created friction with Gulf allies, particularly Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, who expressed concern at the UK&#039;s limited action.The UK sent only HMS Dragon, a single destroyer, to Cyprus – a vessel that took weeks to arrive and has since returned to port due to a minor technical fault.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSPM mocked by Vladimir Putin as warship sails through Channel despite PM’s vow to seize vesselsShips pass through Strait of Hormuz for first time since Donald Trump halted Iran strikesAlmost 300 small boat migrants swarm across Channel in one day - with more expected in hours aheadCyprus has demanded enhanced security guarantees from Britain, questioning whether UK forces can adequately protect the two RAF bases on the island following a drone strike that damaged a hangar at RAF Akrotiri.The economic fallout from the conflict threatens to undermine the Prime Minister&#039;s central domestic priority of reducing the cost of living.Experts warn that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately, prices would continue climbing for up to six months.Diesel has already reached £100 per tank, energy bills are projected to increase by nearly £200, and supermarket prices will rise due to fertiliser shortages and persistently high gas costs.Meanwhile, the Prime Minister&#039;s relationship with Mr Trump has collapsed entirely.The US President has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir, labelling him weak, likening him to Neville Chamberlain, and performing a mocking impression at a White House dinner.A YouGov survey from March 30 found that 38 per cent of voters approved of Keir Starmer&#039;s handling of the Iran situation, while 45 per cent disapproved – a result his team considers relatively successful given his broader standing.Among Labour supporters, 62 per cent gave him positive marks on the crisis.However, his overall approval remains catastrophic, with 71 per cent rating his performance poorly and just 21 per cent positively – a slight improvement from February&#039;s 73 per cent disapproval.Meanwhile, support for Labour has not recovered either, with the party polling at 16 per cent.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, was, holiday, Spain, when, Donald, Trump, threatened, obliterate, Iran</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour sparks concern as proposed guidance permits boys to participate with girls in school sports</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-sparks-concern-as-proposed-guidance-permits-boys-to-participate-with-girls-in-school-sports</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-sparks-concern-as-proposed-guidance-permits-boys-to-participate-with-girls-in-school-sports</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour has prompted renewed concerns over fairness in women&#039;s sport after a new proposed guidance appeared to permit schoolchildren to participate in sports categories designated for the opposite sex.A Department for Education consultation on school sports guidance, set to conclude later this month, has critics worried about the new wording on single-sex sports in schools.A vague definition could be seen as unfair and put some girls off taking part.Under the proposed changes, both boys and girls can compete in sports designated for the opposite sex, unless there are clear &quot;safety concerns&quot;.
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Campaign groups and education professionals have expressed alarm at the proposed wording, arguing it could prove unfair to female pupils and potentially deter girls from participating altogether.They warn that the phrasing of safety may overlook fairness in sports where physical differences can affect performance.Evidence suggests that perceptions of unfairness can lead to a lack of engagement, particularly at competitive levels.The proposals form part of a wider set of safeguarding updates, including expanded guidance on mental health, online safety, and harmful sexual behaviour.Olympic gold medalist Sharron Davies MBE said: &quot;This cannot be allowed. It’s deliberately removing opportunities from girls in ‘girls sport’, that positively changes their lives, and giving them to boys, who already have vastly more opportunities available to them compared to females&quot;.Former MP Kate Hoey echoed the sentiment, adding: &quot;This is madness. We have a female Sports Minister and a female Secretary of State. They must put a stop to this nonsense immediately&quot;.Women&#039;s Policy Centre Chair Paola Diana also condemned the proposal, claiming the Labour Government &quot;worsens by the day&quot;.She continued: &quot;Every time you think they cannot sink any lower, they do. We must save girls’ sports. This is unacceptable&quot;.The section on gender-questioning pupils and single-sex provision has emerged as one of the most contested elements.The consultation reads: &quot;Where there are safety concerns about mixed-sex provision, we have been clear that sports should be provided in single-sex groups.&quot;However, we recognise how important it is that all children can participate in sports and PE, and the draft reflects the importance of considering fairness and safety for all children.&quot;The Government has highlighted its intention to provide a flexible framework that allows schools to make decisions in the best interests of children, rather than imposing blanket rules.LATEST SPORT NEWSEFL awards shortlists released with Frank Lampard tipped for major honourPremier League icon denies tax dodging after police launch investigation into Deliveroo ordersFootball legend splits from girlfriend 35 years his junior after being accused of cheatingThe Department for Education is expected to review feedback before publishing a final version of the guidance later this year.However, it would seemingly contradict UK law following the Supreme Court gender ruling in 2025. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 16, 2025, that the terms &quot;woman&quot; and &quot;sex&quot; in the Equality Act 2010 refer to &quot;a biological woman and biological sex&quot;.Critics fear that these new proposals will allow British institutions to ignore the ruling.When the ruling was passed, presenter Bev Turner welcomed the Supreme Court&#039;s confirmation that biological sex is a legally recognised and immutable characteristic under UK law, in a video message.Speaking shortly after hosting Britain&#039;s Newsroom, Bev Turner described the decision as &quot;historic&quot; and said it brings much-needed clarity to the debate surrounding gender recognition and sex-based rights.She said: &quot;It’s like the stuff of satire that we should even be having to have that conversation.&quot;But today, common sense has ruled - has reigned supreme - in the Supreme Court.&quot;The Department of Education claims the proposed guidance sets out that - referencing the Equality Act 2010 - schools can implement single-sex sports for fairness reasons, but will also need to consider what is in the best interests of a child who is questioning their gender, alongside the interests of other children.A spokesman said: &quot;Schools and colleges should provide equal sporting opportunities for girls and boys and aim to ensure that all children participate in sport safely and fairly, encouraging maximum participation and in line with the guidance of sports’ National Governing Bodies.&quot;Schools and colleges should make sure nobody is made unsafe - and the guidance is clear that where schools implement single-sex sports for safety reasons there should be no exceptions.&quot;The guidance is also clear that fairness is a legitimate reason for limiting mixed -sex competitive support where necessary.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Keir Starmer mocked by Vladimir Putin as Russian warship sails through Channel despite PM’s vow to seize vessels</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-mocked-by-vladimir-putin-as-russian-warship-sails-through-channel-despite-pms-vow-to-seize-vessels</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-mocked-by-vladimir-putin-as-russian-warship-sails-through-channel-despite-pms-vow-to-seize-vessels</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s threat to seize sanctioned Russian tankers has been directly defied by Vladimir Putin after Moscow sent a warship to escort two vessels through the English Channel. Admiral Grigorovich, a Black Sea fleet frigate, accompanied sanctioned ships in British waters earlier today.A British naval vessel trailed the boats, with The Telegraph witnessing the Russian flotilla sailing past RFA Tideforce. However, today&#039;s sighting in the Channel came just weeks after Sir Keir granted special forces the authority to capture two sanctioned Russian vessels.
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The Prime Minister, who is currently in the Middle East, pledged to hit the shadow fleet &quot;even harder&quot; if it sailed through British waters.However, the UK is still yet to seize a single Russian vessel.The Russian warship&#039;s journey through the English Channel marks another blow for Sir Keir, with the Prime Minister facing criticism after an Iranian-made drone hit RAF Akrotiri.HMS Dragon&#039;s arrival in the Middle East was also delayed by as much as three weeks after Britain&#039;s lone deployable destroyer suffered from water supply issues. The Russian warship, which weighs in at 3,620-tonne armed with anti-ship missiles, was spotted sailing between Universal and Enigma tankers shortly after 9am as the flotilla headed west towards Plymouth.Universal is believed to have departed the Russian port of Vyotsk on January 18.Meanwhile, the Cameroon-flagged Enigma is bound for Turkey and left the port of Primorsk on March 29. Both vessels were sanctioned by the UK for pumping money into the Kremlin&#039;s coffers. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer was on holiday in Spain when Donald Trump threatened to obliterate IranShips pass through Strait of Hormuz for first time since Donald Trump halted Iran strikesVladimir Putin ally threatens to blow up British landmark after UK drones destroy Russian bridgeAndrew Fox, a retired major in the Parachute Regiment who is now a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: “The Russians are desperate to keep that oil flowing and keep the war in Ukraine going. They are running rings around Starmer right now.“If we’re really serious about helping Ukraine, we need to clamp down on these shadow fleet ships. &quot;That would send a message... It would embarrass Putin. At the moment, we’re not sending that message.&quot;Sir Keir had announced his crackdown on sanctioned Russian ships in March, with around 544 vessels being identified by the UK. The Prime Minister said: “Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.“That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.”Sir Keir added: “He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”The Prime Minister&#039;s plan allows the Royal Navy and National Crime Agency to capture the tankers under sanctions legislation passed in 2018. Special forces personnel from the Special Boat Service and Special Air Service could be used to seize tankers if armed guards are spotted onboard.Meanwhile, the Royal Marines have been granted the power to take action if the vessels do not pose a danger.However, the Kremlin continues to threaten to retaliate if the UK deploys the military to seize sanctioned ships. Russia&#039;s ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said: “The appropriate measures are being developed. Let this come as a surprise to the British people.”A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on ongoing operations.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Green Party activist launches petition to remove all flags from Essex lampposts &#45; and prosecute those who raised them</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/green-party-activist-launches-petition-to-remove-all-flags-from-essex-lampposts-and-prosecute-those-who-raised-them</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/green-party-activist-launches-petition-to-remove-all-flags-from-essex-lampposts-and-prosecute-those-who-raised-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Green Party activist has launched a petition to remove all flags from Essex&#039;s lampposts and prosecute those who have raised them.The petition, organised by Howard Beaumont, was launched on March 9 and is set to close on April 17.It currently boasts over 1,400 signatures.It asks for the highways service to &quot;immediately remove all flags from lampposts and street furniture&quot; on &quot;safety grounds&quot;.
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&quot;We would also like Essex County Council to prosecute any known individuals who placed these flags, or attempt to do so in the future, in an attempt to recover Essex County Council&#039;s cost of removal,&quot; the petition adds.The justification for the safety grounds are the use of nylon ties which &quot;degrade in sunlight&quot;.These, it says, have left the flags &quot;hanging on by a thread&quot; - with some falling off &quot;near carriageways or fallen down the lampposts obscuring road safety signs&quot;.Another &quot;safety&quot; issue raised by the petition is the risk of residents putting themselves &quot;in danger&quot; by attempting to remove flags.But just weeks ago, Mr Beaumont warned the e-petition system could be &quot;politically abused&quot;.Harlow Council prevents an e-petition being submitted if it would &quot;substantially address the same topic&quot; which has been covered in the last six months.In February, the Green activist and candidate said the system could be &quot;politically abused by bad actors&quot; and prevent &quot;genuine public e-petitions&quot; from being submitted.He called for the council to consider allowing &quot;very low response&quot; petitions to be resubmitted.FLAGS UNDER FIRE - READ MORE:County council offers &#039;unsettled staff support&#039; over &#039;increased visibility&#039; of St George and Union Jack flagsCouncil now threatens to prosecute patriotic flag-raisers who were subjected to &#039;violent physical attacks by left-wing mob&#039;Britons raising Union flags on busy road &#039;attacked&#039; by locals who &#039;punched and kicked them&#039;Hospital tears down Union Jacks which were put up to &#039;bring joy and a smile to patients&#039;In response, council leader Dan Swords said the rules existed to prevent abuse of petitions.One third of Harlow District Council wards - and all Essex County Council wards - will be contested in the upcoming local elections.Mr Beaumont is contesting the Latton Bush and Stewards ward for Zack Polanski&#039;s Greens.This is the final election both Harlow and Essex councils will have in their current forms, as the two-tier authorities in Essex are set to be replaced by five unitary authorities. Patriotic grassroots activists launched the informal &quot;Operation Raise the Colours&quot; movement last summer, which saw Union Jacks and St George&#039;s crosses raised across the country.Flag-raising Britons were only strengthened in their convictions after councils in Birmingham and east London pulled down the banners.In August, Mr Polanski addressed the flag-raising by talking about colonialism.&quot;If a flag is being used to intimidate people, that is a very difficult conversation,&quot; he told the BBC.&quot;Our country&#039;s got a very problematic history with empire and colonialism, and I think we need a massive national conversation about who is England, who does it represent and actually what does our future look like?&quot;He went on to claim the English flag worried people concerned about its &quot;problematic history&quot;.

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Green, Party, activist, launches, petition, remove, all, flags, from, Essex, lampposts, and, prosecute, those, who, raised, them</media:keywords>
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<title>Oil prices plunge after Donald Trump&amp;apos;s ceasefire announcement in major reprieve for Britons</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/oil-prices-plunge-after-donald-trumps-ceasefire-announcement-in-major-reprieve-for-britons</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/oil-prices-plunge-after-donald-trumps-ceasefire-announcement-in-major-reprieve-for-britons</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Global oil prices have nosedived after President Donald Trump&#039;s announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran in a major reprieve for Britons. The price of US-traded oil plunged by nearly 16.5 per cent to $93.80 per barrel in the aftermath of Mr Trump&#039;s statement on Tuesday night.  Meanwhile, the cost of benchmark Brent crude dipped by 15.9 per cent to $92.30 per barrel. On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump declared: &quot;Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.&quot;
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The President insisted the agreement was a &quot;double sided ceasefire&quot;. He added: &quot;We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. &quot;Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated.&quot;The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has wreaked havoc on global markets since the conflict erupted on February 28.Around 20 per cent of the world&#039;s petroleum and 25 per cent of liquefied natural gas flows through the critical waterway.The checkpoint in the Gulf typically sees around 20.3 million barrels of petroleum and crude oil every day. The Islamic Republic has confirmed it will allow ships to pass through safely - for a fee - for the duration of the ceasefire period. In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: &quot;For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran&#039;s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.&quot;PANIC AT THE PUMPS - READ MORE:Isle of Man runs out of diesel fuel as thousands of drivers at risk of becoming strandedBritons could face lower speed limits and be forced to take summer staycations instead of fly abroadPetrol prices to surge to £1.50 across Britain TODAY amid Iran crisis, RAC warnsHowever, Iran&#039;s Supreme Security Council has warned: &quot;Our fingers are on the trigger, and as soon as the enemy makes the slightest mistake, it will be answered with full force.&quot;The price of oil remains higher than before the conflict began.And on Tuesday, RAC data revealed petrol prices had jumped 3p per litre in the last five days alone, to 157.02p, which is already 24p higher than before the start of the war in Iran.Diesel drivers are struggling even more, with prices skyrocketing from a relatively low level of 142.38p at the end of February to 189.42p yesterday.The insurance firm had said diesel looked set to go through the 190p-a-litre mark on Wednesday - though Mr Trump&#039;s words have already sent prices down.Andrew Lilley, chief rates strategist at Australia-based investment firm Barrenjoey, warned there was still a “long way to get back to where we were before this began”.He added: &quot;The worry now is the markets are unsure of the extent to which the oil price is going to get back to $75.&quot;This little precipice where actually oil is flowing, no one has a shortage, but it stays at an equilibrium price of $90, that is actually where you remove the tail risk that central banks are cutting.&quot;It&#039;s kind of the scenario that results in permanently high yields because we&#039;re going to have damaged infrastructure and a sticky high oil price for months to come, which means that we are going to get higher inflation.&quot;Meanwhile, Annex Wealth Management chief economist Brian Jacobsen said the President&#039;s move was &quot;enough to keep hopes alive that not only will an entire civilisation not be destroyed, but we could see oil start flowing through the Strait of Hormuz&quot;.He added: &quot;Is it just kicking the can down the road, moving the goal posts, &#039;Taco Tuesday&#039;, or whatever metaphor we&#039;d like, to only to have tempers flare and bombs drop again? Who knows? &quot;But it&#039;s good enough for now to elicit a positive response from the markets.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Oil, prices, plunge, after, Donald, Trumps, ceasefire, announcement, major, reprieve, for, Britons</media:keywords>
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<title>Iran warns Donald Trump: &amp;apos;Our fingers are on the trigger&amp;apos; &#45; but AGREES to open Strait of Hormuz</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-warns-donald-trump-our-fingers-are-on-the-trigger-but-agrees-to-open-strait-of-hormuz</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/iran-warns-donald-trump-our-fingers-are-on-the-trigger-but-agrees-to-open-strait-of-hormuz</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Iran has issued a deathly warning to Donald Trump after he announced a &quot;double-sided&quot; ceasefire for two weeks - but has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz.Tehran&#039;s Security Council, early on Wednesday morning, said: &quot;Our fingers are on the trigger, and as soon as the enemy makes the slightest mistake, it will be answered with full force.&quot;Formal talks are set to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 10, to finalise the details of a peace plan - while US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will address the media later today.Pakistan has brokered negotiations between Iran and the US - with China also playing a role in the final ceasefire talks.
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Iran&#039;s new Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, agreed to the conditional ceasefire, three Iranian officials told The New York Times - despite him being unconscious.Alongside the Americans&#039; 15-point plan, Iran&#039;s proposed 10-point peace plan will be the basis of the negotiations.The latter would see Iran charging vessels to pass through the strait, the end of the war against Iran and its proxies, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from all regional bases.It contains no concessions over its nuclear programme, which the US says was its basis for starting the war.Iran said the goals of its April 10 talks with the US would be to confirm &quot;Iran&#039;s battlefield achievements politically within maximum of 15 days&quot; in line with the peace plan.But it added the talks may continue past the planned date if both sides agree.On Wednesday morning, Mr Trump declared it was a &quot;big day for world peace&quot;.&quot;Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!&quot;The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. &quot;We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just &#039;hangin&#039; around&#039; in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will,&quot; he added.Though Iran&#039;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said &quot;if attacks against Iran are halted&quot;, Tehran &quot;will cease their defensive operations&quot;.LATEST ON IRAN:WATCH: Crowds chant &#039;Allahu Akbar&#039; outside Downing Street for &#039;emergency anti-Trump protest&#039;Tehran forces Iranians to form &#039;human shields&#039; as US prepares to destroy &#039;whole civilisation&#039;Donald Trump announces &#039;double-sided&#039; ceasefire with Iran for two weeksHe also said &quot;safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran&#039;s armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations&quot;.Iranians in Tehran were seen celebrating the ceasefire gathering in the streets - and burning Israeli and American flags.Since the agreement, which is in place &quot;everywhere&quot; - including Lebanon and Israel - was announced, Israel was forced to activate at least two missile alarms.No casualties or damage have been reported, but bangs were heard in the skies over central Israel.Other countries across the Middle East have issued warnings or sounded sirens since the ceasefire was announced.Authorities in the UAE said its air defence systems were engaging with both missiles and drone threats from Iran - and urged the public to find shelter.Kuwaiti officials said its air defence was intercepting &quot;hostile&quot; missiles and drone attacks.Bahrain had its missile sirens blare, encouraging the public to head to a safe place.And the Saudi Civil Defense issued a warning of potential danger.Qatar has said the security threat level is high and encouraged the public to remain indoors.

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Iran, warns, Donald, Trump:, Our, fingers, are, the, trigger, but, AGREES, open, Strait, Hormuz</media:keywords>
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<title>Vladimir Putin ally threatens to blow up iconic London landmark after UK drones destroy key Russian bridge</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/vladimir-putin-ally-threatens-to-blow-up-iconic-london-landmark-after-uk-drones-destroy-key-russian-bridge</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/vladimir-putin-ally-threatens-to-blow-up-iconic-london-landmark-after-uk-drones-destroy-key-russian-bridge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A key Vladimir Putin ally has threatened to blow up a London landmark in revenge for British-made drones destroying a Russian-controlled bridge.Pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Kornilov said Westminster Bridge should burn after it emerged Ukraine used UK Malloy T-150 heavy-lift drones to blow up a bridge in Kherson, an oblast in eastern Ukraine under Russia&#039;s thumb.Mr Kornilov, who himself as a British affairs specialist, condemned what he described as open boasting about &quot;participation in acts of sabotage on Russian territory.&quot;&quot;It&#039;s high time we started bragging: &#039;Russian missiles destroyed the key Westminster Bridge&#039;. &quot;Of course, the Houthis or the Iranians will be the ones doing the hitting,&quot; he frothed.
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He also labelled the Ukrainian operation a &quot;terrorist attack.&quot;The strike against the Konka river crossing, a distributary of the Dnipro, took place in March 2025 - but details of the British drone involvement only emerged on Tuesday.Ukraine&#039;s 426th Unmanned Systems Regiment, a unit renowned for pioneering drone warfare techniques, executed the mission using the heavy-lift aircraft across more than 30 sorties spanning 60 days.Throughout the operation, the drones transported an extraordinary 1.5 tonnes of explosives whilst evading Russian detection and defences.Dramatic footage captured the moment blasts tore through the critical structure, which had been enabling Russian forces to threaten the city of Kherson.Ukrainian forces had previously attempted to demolish the crossing on multiple occasions, deploying conventional strikes and American-supplied HIMARS rocket systems without success.The breakthrough came when commanders assigned the task to the specialist 426th Regiment.Colonel Oleksii Bulakhov, who leads the unit, explained the tactical approach: &quot;Bridges are relatively easy to destroy from underneath. But they are engineered in a way that makes them extremely robust from the outside.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSHMS Dragon forced to dock in Med as Royal Navy&#039;s only warship deployed in Iran war undergoes repairsPolice launch murder probe after man stabbed at popular London beauty spotMajor Iran ceasefire update expected imminently amid &#039;good news&#039; following Donald Trump&#039;s ultimatumHis team lowered a 50-kilogramme shaped charge by cable to target the structure&#039;s most vulnerable points beneath the deck.A missile subsequently detonated the explosives, completing what has been described as one of the conflict&#039;s most significant operations.Westminster Bridge, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament, has attracted Russian attention before.The landmark&#039;s connection to Moscow&#039;s intelligence operations was illustrated when photographs emerged of Anna Chapman, the Russian spy later arrested by the FBI in New York, posing on the bridge before being stripped of her British citizenship.Another Kremlin-aligned media outlet, Tsargrad, accused Britain of &quot;literally gushing with delight about their direct involvement in the terrorist attack.&quot;The publication questioned whether the time had come to redirect military strikes towards &quot;the decision-making centre after such a candid admission.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vladimir, Putin, ally, threatens, blow, iconic, London, landmark, after, drones, destroy, key, Russian, bridge</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump declares &amp;apos;total victory&amp;apos; after securing two&#45;week ceasefire with Iran</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-declares-total-victory-after-securing-two-week-ceasefire-with-iran</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-declares-total-victory-after-securing-two-week-ceasefire-with-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has suspended his threat to destroy Iran&#039;s &quot;whole civilisation&quot; after talks with Pakistan.In a social media post late on Tuesday night, the President confirmed that he would hold off on wiping out the country for two weeks - with some conditions.&quot;Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,&quot; he said.&quot;This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East.&quot;He went on to tell AFP he had secured a &quot;total and complete victory... 100 per cent. No question about it&quot;.
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Pakistan had earlier requested Mr Trump grant a two-week extension to his ominous deadline for Iran to open up the strait.And the President personally thanked the country&#039;s PM, Shehbaz Sharif and armed forces chief, Asim Munir.Iran itself had put forward a 10-point peace proposal yesterday, which Mr Trump has now described as &quot;workable&quot;.&quot;Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated,&quot; he said.&quot;It is an honour to have this long-term problem close to resolution.&quot;Iran&#039;s new Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, agreed to the conditional ceasefire, three Iranian officials told The New York Times - despite him being unconscious.Iran confirmed the ceasefire on state TV, with a message which read: &quot;Trump&#039;s humiliating retreat from anti-Iran rhetoric: Trump accepts Iran&#039;s terms for ending the war.&quot;Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country had agreed to halt its &quot;defensive operations&quot; if the attacks against the country stopped.He added: &quot;For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran&#039;s armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.&quot;China was also reported to have made a &quot;last-minute&quot; intervention, which played a role in the peace negotiations.Mr Trump later confirmed he believed China had helped get Iran to the table.Israel&#039;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said his country supported the President&#039;s decision to suspend attacks against Iran - but said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.Iran has said talks with the US will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, to &quot;finalise details&quot;, with the &quot;aim of confirming Iran’s battlefield achievements&quot;.But the regime has warned the war is not over, and that it would &quot;only accept&quot; a conclusion once the 10-point plan is agreed upon.While both sides have confirmed the two week ceasefire, Iran&#039;s Supreme Security Council said its &quot;fingers are on the trigger, and as soon as the enemy makes the slightest mistake, it will be answered with full force&quot;.In what appeared to have been another breakthrough, a White House official told CNN that Israel had agreed to a temporary ceasefire - just moments after the IDF identified a number of missiles heading from Iran.Iran&#039;s 10-point &quot;peace plan&quot;, which will be the basis of the negotiations, does not include concessions to Iran&#039;s nuclear programme, the conflict which started the entire war.Iran has also demanded the ability to operate the strait in conjunction with Oman, and charge a toll fee of $2million per ship to pass through the key waterway.As the world waited for the deadline, Iranians were saying goodbye to loved ones and preparing for the worst.Supermarket shelves were stripped bare and families stockpiled water amid fears there would be rolling blackouts.Some Iranians attempted to leave their cities, with major roads packed with traffic.One Iranian said his entire family had relocated to his uncle&#039;s villa in the countryside amid the tension.With fears over the regime monitoring social media and their messages, people made virtual goodbyes.Bahraheh, an Iranian woman, said: &quot;My internet connection keeps cutting out for long periods. If our chat stays on Instagram, it could put me in serious danger - the regime randomly connects people&#039;s phones to the internet in the streets and checks their apps.&quot;I have to delete our chat. Wishing you a path full of success.&quot;

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Major Iran ceasefire update expected imminently amid &amp;apos;good news&amp;apos; following Donald Trump&amp;apos;s ultimatum</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-iran-ceasefire-update-expected-imminently-amid-good-news-following-donald-trumps-ultimatum</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/major-iran-ceasefire-update-expected-imminently-amid-good-news-following-donald-trumps-ultimatum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A major update on a potential ceasefire between the US and Iran is expected imminently with reports of &quot;good news&quot; as President Donald Trump&#039;s deadline looms closer. Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator between the two countries, requested for Mr Trump to grant a two-week extension to a deadline he imposed on Tehran to end its blockade of Gulf oil.A regional source told CNN “some good news is expected from both sides soon” and that discussions were steered directly by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.Mr Trump said he was about to be fully briefed on Pakistan’s two-week deadline extension request, before lauding Mr Sharif as &quot;a highly respected man, all over&quot;. 
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Mr Sharif said: &quot;To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.He urged &quot;all warring parties&quot; to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks &quot;to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war&quot;.The Pakistani Prime Minister added that diplomatic efforts to settle the war peacefully were &quot;progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future&quot;.Sources told reporters that talks between the US and Iran were at risk of being derailed following Tehran&#039;s attacks on Saudi Arabian industrial facilities.A personal envoy of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to visit Iran as part of his efforts to encourage an end to the Iran war, but his travel plans will depend on security and logistics, a UN source said.Jean Arnault, a veteran UN diplomat named as Mr Guterres&#039;s envoy on the conflict last month, headed to the Middle East on Monday.Mr Trump&#039;s threat to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran unless it ends the blockade of Gulf oil unnerved global leaders, shook financial and energy markets and drew widespread condemnation, including from the head of the United Nations and Pope Leo. Some international law experts have said a widespread attack on civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump vows to destroy Iran&#039;s &#039;whole civilisation&#039; in just hours and declares &#039;extortion, corruption and death will end&#039;Keir Starmer to ban US using British bases for strikes on Iran&#039;s bridges - as Donald Trump prepares to unleash hellIran&#039;s new Supreme Leader &#039;unconscious and unable to be involved in decision-making&#039; after US strike that killed his fatherThe Israeli military said there was a possibility of increased fire towards Israel as Trump&#039;s ultimatum nears. It said it was ready to operate both &quot;defensively and offensively&quot;.Iranians were also watching the clock in hope of a reprieve. Shima, 37, from the central city of Isfahan, said: &quot;I hope it is another bluff by Trump.&quot;Mr Trump has abruptly called off similar threats over the past several weeks, citing what he has described as productive negotiations with figures in Iran he did not identify. Tehran has denied any such substantive talks have taken place.Brian Finucane, a former US State Department legal adviser now with the International Crisis Group, said Trump&#039;s remarks &quot;could plausibly be interpreted as a threat to commit genocide&quot; under US and international law.

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Major, Iran, ceasefire, update, expected, imminently, amid, good, news, following, Donald, Trumps, ultimatum</media:keywords>
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<title>‘UK could be in grave peril!’ Nigel Farage issues warning over US relationship amid Donald Trump&amp;apos;s threats to Iran</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-could-be-in-grave-peril-nigel-farage-issues-warning-over-us-relationship-amid-donald-trumps-threats-to-iran</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/uk-could-be-in-grave-peril-nigel-farage-issues-warning-over-us-relationship-amid-donald-trumps-threats-to-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage has said the UK could be in “grave peril” if its relationship with the US collapses over the conflict in Iran.The Reform UK leader was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon as Donald Trump threatened to destroy the Islamic Republic&#039;s &quot;whole civilisation&quot;. “I have a major, major worry that the relationship with America is looking very broken,&quot; Mr Farage despaired, referring to the rift that has developed between the US President and Sir Keir Starmer. “It doesn&#039;t matter whether it&#039;s a Biden in the White House, whether it&#039;s a Trump in the White House. You know, we&#039;ve got to face the fact that without America, we are virtually defenceless.The latest saga of the dispute has seen US warplanes set to be barred from British bases to launch such strikes, should they be sent to critical civilian infrastructure in Iran.Putting himself in Sir Keir&#039;s shoes, the Reform leader said: “Provided I receive satisfactory answers to those questions, I would say the continued use of our bases was the right thing to do.“I think for us to finish up breaking the alliance with America would put this country in very grave peril.&quot;

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘UK, could, grave, peril’, Nigel, Farage, issues, warning, over, relationship, amid, Donald, Trumps, threats, Iran</media:keywords>
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<title>Tasers and ammunition vanish in SECOND Met Police blunder just days after force lose weapons outside Sadiq Khan&amp;apos;s home</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/tasers-and-ammunition-vanish-in-second-met-police-blunder-just-days-after-force-lose-weapons-outside-sadiq-khans-home</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/tasers-and-ammunition-vanish-in-second-met-police-blunder-just-days-after-force-lose-weapons-outside-sadiq-khans-home</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tasers and ammunition have gone missing in yet another Metropolitan Police blunder just days after a holdall containing weapons was left on a street near the London Mayor&#039;s residence in Clapham.Scotland Yard&#039;s specialist firearms unit reported the disappearance of three Tasers, with two of the 50,000-volt stun guns still unaccounted for.MO19, the force&#039;s armed response command, also permanently lost two Taser cartridges over the five years leading up to April 2025.Additionally, 25 rounds of ammunition, comprising 9mm and 5.56mm bullets, went missing over the same period.
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These revelations emerge less than a week after armed officers from a different Scotland Yard unit, the Royalty and Security Protection Command, abandoned a holdall containing weapons on a street near the London Mayor&#039;s residence in Clapham.A pregnant woman stumbled upon the abandoned bag on a kerbside in south London late on Tuesday evening.Noticing the luggage appeared unusually heavy, she returned home to fetch her partner, Jordan Griffiths, for assistance.The scaffolder initially suspected the weighty holdall might contain coins. Upon opening it, however, he discovered an arsenal of police-issue weaponry.Inside sat an American-made Heckler &amp; Koch MP5SF A3 semi-automatic carbine capable of firing 800 rounds per minute. An Austrian Glock 17 pistol loaded with at least ten rounds was stored in a leather holster alongside the rifle.The bag also contained a Taser stun gun in a nylon holster and additional ammunition.The Metropolitan Police confirmed a member of the public contacted them at approximately 9.40pm after finding the holdall. Officers arrived within seven minutes to retrieve the items.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSMet Police arrest two more in connection with shooting of boy, 14, in WoolwichPolice Federation boss arrested in London on suspicion of corruption&#039;What are they doing?!&#039; Ex-armed officer &#039;raging with fury&#039; after Sadiq Khan&#039;s bodyguards &#039;misplace&#039; bag full of gunsMr Griffiths described his disbelief at the discovery. &quot;I could not believe my eyes and took some pictures as proof of what we had found,&quot; he told The Sun.He immediately contacted the police, who arrived within minutes to collect the weapons. &quot;When they arrived they were really shocked. They looked through the bag carefully and hurriedly took them away,&quot; he recounted.Officers informed him the holdall had been left by one of Sir Sadiq security detail. Mr Griffiths expressed concern about what could have happened had the weapons fallen into different hands. He said: &quot;I hate to think what might have happened if any of the people in Clapham had found that bag. It could have been mayhem.&quot;When he enquired about a potential reward, officers offered him &quot;a bag of sweets&quot; in response.Retired Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville warned the MO19 losses would &quot;further dent trust and confidence&quot; in the force.He said: &quot;It seems like an element of sloppiness has crept into the Met&#039;s firearms unit&quot;, calling for &quot;an urgent audit.&quot;Mr Neville also noted that gun crime remained prevalent in south London, adding that &quot;too many villains would have been very pleased&quot; to discover the holdall outside the Mayor&#039;s home.Five armed protection officers have been temporarily removed from frontline duties while the Met&#039;s Directorate of Professional Standards investigates the Clapham incident.A spokesman for Sir Sadiq described it as &quot;a very serious incident&quot; and stated the Met &quot;must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again&quot;.Sir Sadiq receives round-the-clock armed protection from approximately 15 officers following repeated threats to his safety.

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Islamic Republic tells Iranians to form &amp;apos;human shields&amp;apos; around power plants as Donald Trump prepares to destroy &amp;apos;whole civilisation&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/islamic-republic-tells-iranians-to-form-human-shields-around-power-plants-as-donald-trump-prepares-to-destroy-whole-civilisation</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/islamic-republic-tells-iranians-to-form-human-shields-around-power-plants-as-donald-trump-prepares-to-destroy-whole-civilisation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Iranians have started forming human chains around power plants after Donald Trump promised &quot;a whole civilisation will die tonight&quot;.The US President has given Iran&#039;s leaders until 1am to end its blockade of Gulf oil or see the US destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran.Iranian state media has released photographs showing crowds gathering around some bridges and power plants in linked chains and holding up flags of the Islamic Republic.An Iranian official had earlier called on people to stand hand in hand to say: &quot;Attacking public infrastructure is a war crime.&quot;
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Meanwhile, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said 14 million people had signed up in a voluntary drive to fight for their country and &quot;declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives in defence of Iran&quot;.As the clock ticks down, strikes on Iran intensified, hitting railway and road bridges, an airport and a petrochemical plant. US forces attacked targets on Kharg Island, home to Iran&#039;s main oil export terminal.Iran responded by declaring it would no longer hold back from hitting its Gulf neighbours&#039; infrastructure and said it had carried out fresh strikes on a ship in the Gulf and a huge Saudi petrochemical complex.Mr Trump has criticised the human chains, telling NBC News they were &quot;Totally illegal. They’re not allowed to do that.&quot;Mr Trump is aware of Pakistan&#039;s proposal for a two-week extension to a deadline he imposed on Iran, and a response will come, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.The Pakistani President Shehbaz Sharif said: &quot;Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks.&quot;Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.&quot;We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSFrench village elects English mayor for first time in history: &#039;She&#039;s a breath of fresh air!&#039;Tasers and ammunition vanish in SECOND Met Police blunder just days after force lose weaponsHMS Dragon forced to dock in Med as Royal Navy&#039;s only warship deployed in Iran war undergoes repairsA Tehran official told Reuters Iran is simultaneously ready for peace and war.  Explosions were heard in Doha late on Tuesday night, according to an eyewitness in the Qatari capital.Iran&#039;s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, called Mr Trump&#039;s threat &quot;deeply irresponsible&quot; and &quot;profoundly alarming&quot;. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, where China and Russia vetoed a resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Mr Iravani said Mr Trump&#039;s &quot;rhetoric is unfitting of any political leader&quot;. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has spoken with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper about the escalating Middle East crisis.US State Department principal deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper about the Iranian regime’s ongoing attacks across the Middle East and the critical importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.“The secretary and Foreign Secretary agreed on the need for international efforts to ensure shipping can move freely and energy supplies can reach global markets.”The Israeli military said there was a possibility of an increase of fire towards Israel as President Trump&#039;s ultimatum nears. It said it was ready to operate both &quot;defensively and offensively&quot;.

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Islamic, Republic, tells, Iranians, form, human, shields, around, power, plants, Donald, Trump, prepares, destroy, whole, civilisation</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage outlines first thing Keir Starmer must do after Donald Trump compared PM to Neville Chamberlain</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-outlines-first-thing-keir-starmer-must-do-after-donald-trump-compared-pm-to-neville-chamberlain</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-outlines-first-thing-keir-starmer-must-do-after-donald-trump-compared-pm-to-neville-chamberlain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reform leader Nigel Farage has today urged the Prime Minister to get on the phone to Donald Trump and potentially allow the US to use UK military bases to launch attacks on Iran.The US President’s latest deadline for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz expires at 1am tonight, with Mr Trump threatening “a whole civilisation will die tonight”. In an expletive-laden post on Truth Social on Sunday, Mr Trump warned: &quot;Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day.&quot;The US President yet again lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer yesterday, comparing him to former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who famously appeased Adolf Hitler in the years preceding World War Two.
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However, Mr Farage told GB News: “All it needs is a quick phone call between the PM and the American President, so that we can ascertain exactly what the end plan is, what the game plan is. That&#039;s what needs to be done.”The Prime Minister has allowed the US to use UK military bases for defensive purposes only in the conflict started by America and Israel.But using UK bases to attack civilian infrastructure in Iran remains an entirely different matter.Experts warn the US would be in breach of international law if it acted on Mr Trump’s threats to target energy plants and bridges.Asked by GB News about such action and what role Britain might play, Mr Farage said: “Remember, when we go back to World War II. &quot;We were attacking German infrastructure, energy production in a massive, massive way. &quot;It all depends what the war aim is. Our war aim was to destroy Nazi Germany. &quot;That was perfectly clear. That&#039;s why we did things that we couldn&#039;t have even contemplated a few short years before.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSZia Yusuf warns Donald Trump against ‘mass human suffering’ as US prepares for Iran blitz in hoursNigel Farage to block visas for all countries demanding £18trillion slavery reparationsRobert Jenrick vows to ensure &#039;dignity and security&#039; after Reform&#039;s bombshell pension announcementThe Prime Minister has been clear that “this is not our war”, and has stood firm despite clear frustration from the US President.No10 points to lack of public support for the war and surging prices that are already hurting Britons in the pocket.Meanwhile, Mr Farage, a long-time friend of Mr Trump, warned: “The relationship with America is crucial.”When GB News pointed out that the US’s aims in Iran were not clear, Farage agreed, saying: “It doesn&#039;t seem clear at all.” However, Farage suggested that might be deliberate, adding: “The last thing Trump would ever do is signal to the world exactly what the plan was.”Urging the Prime Minister to get in contact with Mr Trump again, he added: “The Prime Minister in confidence could find that out, and that might give him the reassurance that he needs to let America use the bases.”Mr Farage is also worried that the consequences of war in the region could send terrorists to British shores.“I&#039;m very worried about it,&quot; Mr Farage explained. &quot;I&#039;m very, very worried, as I have been, frankly, going way back to 2015. &quot;You know, the first boats crossed the Mediterranean in 2015. &quot;Isis boasted then they would use the Med as a means of getting their operatives into Europe. &quot;The same principle applies today. So, look, I&#039;m deeply concerned too. &quot;I want to see an end to this as quickly as possible. But we need to understand, or at least the PM needs to understand, what is America&#039;s endgame.&quot;

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<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:04:05 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage, outlines, first, thing, Keir, Starmer, must, after, Donald, Trump, compared, Neville, Chamberlain</media:keywords>
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<title>Kemi Badenoch declares war on illegal traveller camps as Britain&amp;apos;s towns and villages face &amp;apos;invasion&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/kemi-badenoch-declares-war-on-illegal-traveller-camps-as-britains-towns-and-villages-face-invasion</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/kemi-badenoch-declares-war-on-illegal-traveller-camps-as-britains-towns-and-villages-face-invasion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kemi Badenoch has unveiled plans for a crackdown on illegal traveller camps in order to &quot;stop two-tier justice&quot;.The Conservative chief will campaign to give police the power to remove travellers at the request of landowners and prevent them from returning indefinitely.Police are currently unable to evict travellers who have trespassed on private property unless they have caused significant damage, disruption or distress.In 2022, legislation was passed by the Conservative Government to ban travellers from an area for up to 12 months.
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But this was overruled after the High Court in 2024 found parts of the law to be in violation of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).Mrs Badenoch said: &quot;For years, towns and villages across Britain have been forced to accept criminality in their communities, but each measure we have used to deal with illegal traveller sites has fallen foul of the ECHR.&quot;That is why I have serious plans to end the power of foreign courts to frustrate the will of Parliament, and to back our police with the powers and resources they need.&quot;She said the party would implement the changes by first leaving the ECHR.&quot;The Conservatives are the only party who are doing the proper work needed to leave the ECHR, take back our streets, and stand up for the rule of law. We will get Britain working again,&quot; Mrs Badenoch said.Travellers in Hertfordshire, near the village of Flamstead, began laying concrete as they barged onto green belt land, The Telegraph reported on Monday.Wielding iron bars, the travellers brought &quot;lorryloads&quot; of concrete as they &quot;barged their way through&quot; and damaged a few cars, one parish councillor said.He added: &quot;They play all the cards and know how to work the system. It’s created huge insecurity. Some people are worried about going out of their house.&quot;LATEST ON KEMI BADENOCH:WATCH: Kemi Badenoch delivers Easter message and marks a &#039;moment of hope&#039; for Britons&#039;What&#039;s the plan?!&#039; Kemi Badenoch calls on Donald Trump to reveal plan to reopen Strait of HormuzKemi Badenoch launches Conservative ‘Pothole Patrol’ to fix Britain’s broken roadsJust last month a village in Buckinghamshire accused a group of travellers of &quot;holding them to ransom&quot; after they demanded more than £600,000 to purchase back the land they were sitting on.In Surrey, travellers rented out caravans for nearly £1,000 a month, turning their village into a caravan park, Shipley Bridge locals said.And in Bristol, the number of travellers and van dwellers has increased in recent years, with an estimated 800 people living in 650 vans in the city.The Tory chief has said &quot;too many&quot; people have had to &quot;tolerate the behaviour of a small minority of travellers&quot; - whom she accused of undermining the rule of law.&quot;The measures will stop the two-tier justice that so often plays out when these sites appear, with law-abiding citizens powerless as travellers go unpunished for crimes that other communities simply wouldn’t get away with,&quot; she said.In addition to leaving the ECHR, the Conservatives plan to scrap the Human Rights Act and recruit 10,000 more police officers over three years, at a cost of £800 million, to &quot;give them the manpower&quot; to deal with travellers.A Labour spokesman said: &quot;The Labour Government recognises the importance of protecting public spaces and supporting communities affected by unauthorised encampments.&quot;The powers available to police and local authorities are designed to ensure enforcement can be carried out effectively where disruption occurs.&quot;The measures in place aim to support local residents and maintain public confidence in shared community spaces.&quot;

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kemi, Badenoch, declares, war, illegal, traveller, camps, Britains, towns, and, villages, face, invasion</media:keywords>
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<title>Sharia law is BANNED in Florida under &amp;apos;terrorist infiltration&amp;apos; crackdown</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/sharia-law-is-banned-in-florida-under-terrorist-infiltration-crackdown</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/sharia-law-is-banned-in-florida-under-terrorist-infiltration-crackdown</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sharia law has been banned in Florida under new legislation to crackdown on terrorist organisations within the state.Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, signed into law House Bill 1471, which bolsters &quot;protections against the application of foreign and religious laws&quot;.The law will also establish new safeguards against terrorism in the state.Mr DeSantis said: &quot;To uphold the rule of law, our state must operate under one legal system, the constitution must remain the law of the land, and we must defend our institutions from those who would harm us - especially terrorist organisations that seek to infiltrate and subvert our education system.
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&quot;HB 1471 reinforces these principles in Florida, and I was proud to sign it into law today.&quot;The law states that the courts must not &quot;apply or enforce foreign or religious law&quot; if it falls into conflict with the US constitution.It also blocks &quot;foreign judgments, contracts, or legal provisions&quot; which attempt to bypass the law.The law will make sure foreign terrorist organisations recognised by the United States federally are also enforced at the state level.The organisations will then be subject to strict rules, including bans on &quot;public funding and support&quot;.Any person in Florida providing material support to foreign terrorist organisations would face &quot;significant criminal penalties&quot;.The education system is also addressed in the bill as it bans taxpayer funds to support or promote terrorist organisations.Students caught supporting terrorism may face disciplinary action and institutions might lose access to public funds.READ MORE ON SHARIA LAW:Police accused of ‘turning blind eye’ as Sharia courts run rife and honour crimes go unpunishedMost young Muslims in France put sharia law ABOVE their own country&#039;s rules - damning pollPlan to build &#039;1,000-home Muslim city&#039; sparks Sharia law fears as locals launch fightbackIn a social media post announcing his signing of the bill, Mr DeSantis said: &quot;Millions for education and public safety but not one cent for jihad!&quot;Several other states have implemented some form of Sharia ban.In September, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law to ban the building of &quot;Sharia compounds&quot;, such as EPIC City.North Carolina introduced a ban on &quot;foreign law&quot; in family law cases in 2013.In 2010, voters in Oklahoma passed a ballot measure to ban all foreign or religious law from state courts - but this was found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge and later upheld by appeals court.Though in Britain, police have been accused of turning a blind eye to the spread of Sharia courts.Government figures released just weeks ago show that fewer than three per cent of so-called “honour crimes” were successfully prosecuted last year.Mr DeSantis, a former Republican presidential primary candidate, is term-limited as Governor and ineligible to stand in Florida&#039;s upcoming elections.Democrats have not won a gubernatorial race in the state since 1994 - with Republicans in control of both US Senate seats, state House, and state Senate.Mr DeSantis has declined to endorse anyone in the race, including his own Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, who was appointed in August.He said on Monday: &quot;I think everybody knows that when I’ve got something on my mind, that I want to let people know, that people know.&quot;Donald Trump has endorsed Byron Donalds, a US Congressman representing Florida&#039;s 19th house district.Also notable in the Republican primary are James Fishback, an investor who opened an anti-woke exchange-traded fund and Paul Renner, former speaker of the Florida House.

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sharia, law, BANNED, Florida, under, terrorist, infiltration, crackdown</media:keywords>
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<title>Keir Starmer to ban US using British bases for strikes on Iran&amp;apos;s bridges &#45; as Donald Trump prepares to unleash hell</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-ban-us-using-british-bases-for-strikes-on-irans-bridges-as-donald-trump-prepares-to-unleash-hell</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/keir-starmer-to-ban-us-using-british-bases-for-strikes-on-irans-bridges-as-donald-trump-prepares-to-unleash-hell</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sir Keir Starmer has banned Donald Trump from using RAF bases for any strikes on Iranian bridges.On Monday, the President repeated threats to &quot;unleash hell&quot; on Iran&#039;s civilian infrastructure, including &quot;every bridge&quot; and &quot;every power plant&quot; - and warned the US had a plan to do so. Downing Street has previously said it would only allow the use of British air bases for &quot;defensive&quot; capabilities, which have included strikes on Iran&#039;s missile silos or storage depots.The US is granted permission to strike from British bases on a case-by-case basis, and if bridges or power plants were raised as targets, they would be denied, according to The i Paper.
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As of now, no request has been raised by the US to use the RAF bases, including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, for Tuesday&#039;s planned attacks.Mr Trump&#039;s deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz was extended by one day on Sunday, after he previously moved the deadline to April 6.A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: &quot;The UK authorised the United States to use British bases for defensive missions to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities which are threatening British people, bases, and our partners in the region.&quot;The United States is using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk. &quot;This is alongside the defensive action the UK is taking to protect British people across the region.&quot;We won’t be providing a running commentary on our allies&#039; operations, including their use of our bases.&quot;Critics of the planned strikes have claimed targeting civilian infrastructure would comprise a war crime.But the President rebuffed the claims, saying he was &quot;not worried about it&quot; - adding that Iran possessing a nuclear weapon was a &quot;war crime&quot;.The President on Monday also took a swipe at Sir Keir, telling GB News the UK had a &quot;long way to go&quot; when asked if Britain could be &quot;resurrected&quot; like Jesus Christ.LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP:Donald Trump endorses ex-David Cameron aide who clashed with former PM over BrexitDonald Trump threatens journalist with prison sentence if they don&#039;t name &#039;sick Iran leaker&#039;Donald Trump asks if Canada has &#039;stopped&#039; recognising KingMr Trump said: &quot;We don&#039;t want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We don&#039;t want another Neville Chamberlain.&quot;Sir Keir allowed the use of British air bases on March 1, saying the &quot;only way&quot; to peace was to &quot;destroy the missiles at source – in their storage depots or the launchers&quot;.The President has indicated a strike on Tuesday - which he called &quot;Power Plant Day&quot; and &quot;Bridge Day&quot; in a social media post - would be definitive.He told reporters: &quot;Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o&#039;clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again.&quot;He added the strikes on civilian infrastructure could be done &quot;over a period of four hours if we wanted to - we don&#039;t want that to happen&quot;.But the strikes won&#039;t happen if the US&#039;s demands are met, Mr Trump says.As well as reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, other demands include the shutdown of its nuclear programme and ending the building of its ballistic missiles.&quot;We’re never going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon,&quot; Mr Trump said.Richard Foord MP, who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticised the strikes as being against international law - a common and controversial justification for Sir Keir&#039;s foreign policy.He told The i: &quot;Rules of engagement exist in war for very good reason&quot;.The former British Army officer added: &quot;Rules of engagement also serve to maintain the law of armed conflict, and stop disciplined use of force from becoming unmitigated blood-spilling, motivated by bloodlust.&quot;He said the strikes could cause Iranians to view the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the &quot;enemy&#039;s enemy&quot;, turning them into &quot;their friend&quot;.

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Keir, Starmer, ban, using, British, bases, for, strikes, Irans, bridges, Donald, Trump, prepares, unleash, hell</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump endorses ex&#45;David Cameron aide who clashed with former PM over Brexit with jibe at rival Gavin Newsom</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-endorses-ex-david-cameron-aide-who-clashed-with-former-pm-over-brexit-with-jibe-at-rival-gavin-newsom</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-endorses-ex-david-cameron-aide-who-clashed-with-former-pm-over-brexit-with-jibe-at-rival-gavin-newsom</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Steve Hilton in the race to become California&#039;s next governor, announcing his backing via Truth Social on Monday morning.The US President described Mr Hilton, who worked for David Cameron between 2010 and 2012, as a &quot;truly fine man&quot;. &quot;I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years,&quot; Mr Trump wrote in his endorsement.He added: &quot;Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE &amp; TOTAL ENDORSEMENT...He will be a GREAT Governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!&quot;
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Mr Hilton, a former Fox News presenter who hosted The Next Revolution from 2017 to 2023, holds dual British and American citizenship.Prior to his media career, the 56-year-old served as one of the most influential figures in British politics during the coalition era, having been cited as an inspiration for the character of Stuart Pearson in the cult BBC sitcom, The Thick of It. He worked as Lord Cameron&#039;s director of strategy and ranked among the former Prime Minister&#039;s closest confidants in Downing Street. Mr Hilton departed British politics in 2012 and subsequently made the transatlantic move to California, where he has resided ever since.His time advising Cameron came before the Brexit referendum that would later divide the Conservative Party and ultimately contribute to the former Prime Minister&#039;s shock departure from No10 in 2016.Mr Trump opted to endorse Mr Hilton over fellow Republican candidate Chad Bianco, the Sheriff of Riverside County, who has also expressed support for the US President during his campaign.Meanwhile, Mr Trump launched a scathing attack on the current Democratic governor, accusing Gavin Newsom of presiding over a catastrophic decline in the state&#039;s fortunes.&quot;Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job,&quot; the President wrote, deploying his favoured derogatory nickname for the outgoing governor.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump tells GB News’s Ben Leo that UK ‘needs to resurrect like Jesus’ but has ‘long way to go’Donald Trump asks if Canada has &#039;stopped&#039; recognising King CharlesDonald Trump threatens journalist with prison sentence if they don&#039;t name &#039;sick Iran leaker&#039;Mr Trump pointed to soaring crime rates and what he described as the nation&#039;s highest tax burden as evidence of mismanagement under Democratic leadership.&quot;People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World,&quot; he added.Governor Newsom, who has held the governorship since 2019, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.The last Republican to occupy the governor&#039;s mansion in Sacramento was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served from 2003 until 2011.The latest polling suggests Mr Hilton holds a slender advantage in what remains a tightly contested race.A recent Berkeley IGS survey placed him one percentage point ahead of the field in California&#039;s open primary system.Both Republican contenders face stiff competition from a trio of Democratic challengers vying for the top two spots that would secure passage to November&#039;s general election.Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Representative Katie Porter and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer are all closely grouped with Mr Hilton and Mr Bianco in the polls.California&#039;s unique electoral rules mean the two highest-polling candidates on June 2 will progress to the autumn contest, regardless of their party affiliation.Both Mr Hilton and Mr Bianco have centred their campaigns on tackling crime and reducing the state&#039;s tax burden.

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, endorses, ex-David, Cameron, aide, who, clashed, with, former, over, Brexit, with, jibe, rival, Gavin, Newsom</media:keywords>
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<title>Nigel Farage to block visas for all countries demanding £18trillion slavery reparations</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-to-block-visas-for-all-countries-demanding-18trillion-slavery-reparations</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/nigel-farage-to-block-visas-for-all-countries-demanding-18trillion-slavery-reparations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nigel Farage will block visa requests from any country demanding slavery reparations from the UK, Reform UK&#039;s home affairs spokesman has confirmed.Zia Yusuf, who was last month unveiled as Reform UK&#039;s immigration chief, claimed countries pushing for £18trillion repayments ignore the &quot;huge sacrifices&quot; made by the UK to ban the barbaric practice. Nigeria and Jamaica have been involved in the charge for reparations from the UK, prompting concerns nationals from both nations risk being banned from Britain if Reform wins the next general election. Mr Yusuf said: &quot;A growing number of countries are demanding reparations from Britain. 
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&quot;They ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition.&quot;Astonishingly, of the countries demanding reparations, Tory and Labour governments issued 3.8 million visas to their nationals and sent them a staggering £6.6billion in foreign aid over the past two decades. Enough is enough.&quot;British ships were said to have transported around 3.4 million Africans across the Atlantic between 1640 and 1807.However, the Royal Navy&#039;s West Africa Squadron ultimately led the charge in clamping down on the practice, seizing roughly 1,600 slave ships and freeing around 150,000 enslaved Africans by 1860. While the UK abolished slavery in 1833, France only definitely outlawed the act in 1848 and the United States waited until 1865. However, a number of former British colonies have led the charge to seek reparations from the UK, including Kenya and Barbados. The United Nations recently voted in favour of Britain and other former colonial powers coughing up trillions over the practice. The UK was one of 52 countries that abstained on the resolution which described slavery was the &quot;gravest crime against humanity&quot;. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSCarol Vorderman accused of &#039;unhealthy&#039; Nigel Farage obsession as Alex Armstrong slams Easter messageCouncil by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted across the four contests this weekWATCH: Nigel Farage and Derek Chisora ride a tank across Tower BridgeA bloc of 55 member states, known as the African Union, is leading the charge for compensation.It argues that countries who played a major role in the slave trade should now begin &quot;good faith dialogue on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution and compensation&quot;.However, Mr Farage last week told GB News: &quot;It was a UN court that gave an advisory judgment to give away the Chagos Islands.&quot;And it is now the UN telling us we should go bankrupt, to apologise for what people did in 1775 or whatever it might have been. Forget it. The UN has no legitimacy over this country whatsoever.&quot;However, Labour MPs have joined calls for the UK to pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who briefly threw her hat into the ring for Labour&#039;s deputy leadership race last year, urged the UK to &quot;engage&quot; in discussions about the &quot;enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism&quot;. Ex-minister Dawn Butler suggested the decision to pay slave owners £20million in compensation in 1833 showed the possibility of reparations today. Ms Butler said: &quot;There has been a precedent in paying reparations for slavery, it’s just been paid to the wrong people.&quot;However, Sir Keir Starmer has previously ruled out issuing a national apology on behalf of the UK.The Prime Minister also insisted the UK will not pay reparations.He said: &quot;I’d rather roll up my sleeves and work with them on the current future-facing challenges than spend a lot of time on the past.&quot;A Foreign Office spokesman added: &quot;The UK&#039;s position on reparations is clear – we will not pay them.&quot;

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigel, Farage, block, visas, for, all, countries, demanding, £18trillion, slavery, reparations</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump threatens journalist with prison sentence if they don&amp;apos;t name &amp;apos;sick Iran leaker&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-journalist-with-prison-sentence-if-they-dont-name-sick-iran-leaker</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-journalist-with-prison-sentence-if-they-dont-name-sick-iran-leaker</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has threatened a journalist who was told about two US airmen shot down in Iran with prison time if they do not name the culprit behind the sensitive information leak.The US President, who issued his threat during an update to reporters at the White House on Easter Monday, claimed the issue was a matter of national security. After lashing out at &quot;fake news&quot;, Mr Trump said: &quot;We are gonna go to the media company that released it and we are going to say &#039;national security, give it up or go to jail&#039;.&quot;The US President added: &quot;We have to find that leaker because that is a sick person; probably didn&#039;t realise the extent of how bad it was... They put this mission at great risk.&quot;
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Mr Trump claimed the leak prompted Tehran to offer &quot;a very big reward&quot; for anyone who was able to capture the missing pilots. However, today&#039;s press conference was not the first time the US President has threatened journalists with prison sentences. Mr Trump warned a Time magazine photographer could face a custodial sentence after apparently taking a picture of a letter from Kim Jong-un in 2019.He also seemed to suggest journalists who leaked the Supreme Court&#039;s Roe v Wade verdict in 2022 should be jailed until the identity of the person who provided the information is revealed.The US President appeared to threaten journalists with prison rape over the leak, telling a crowd in Texas: &quot;When this person realises that he is going to be the bride of a prisoner very shortly, he will say, ‘I very much would like to tell you exactly who that leaker is&#039;.&quot;During today&#039;s press conference, Mr Trump appeared to suggest Iran would face a fresh barrage of aerial attacks in the coming hours. He said: &quot;Iran can be taken out in one night, might be tomorrow [Tuesday] night.&quot;Secretary of War Pete Hegseth added that tonight will be &quot;the largest volume of strikes since day one of the Iran operation&quot;.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump warns US could wipe out Iran in just hours as deadline looms on ultimatumRevealed: The &#039;Easter miracle&#039; US rescue mission to save downed airman inside IranDonald Trump threatens to unleash &#039;Hell&#039; blitz in major warning to Iran - &#039;Open the f***in’ Strait!&#039;However, the US President has made multiple U-turns on the deadlines set for Iran.Having initially given Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on March 21, Mr Trump extended his deadline to 8pm on April 7. Tonight&#039;s expected bombardment follows Mr Trump&#039;s claim that Iran wants to be bombed.He told reporters: &quot;We’ve had numerous intercepts, ‘please keep bombing’ - bombs that are dropping near their homes - ‘please keep bombing’. ‘Do it’.&quot;Mr Trump added: “And these are living where the bombs are exploding.&quot;When we leave and we’re not hitting those areas, they’re saying ‘please come back, come back’.”Mr Trump also hailed the &quot;historic&quot; rescue of the two F-15 crew members, revealing hundreds of US servicemen were involved in the &quot;amazing&quot; operation.The US President said: &quot;He was injured, it was an amazing, amazing thing... he scaled cliff faces, bleeding rather profusely, treated his own wounds and contacted American forces to transmit his location. &quot;We immediately mobilised a massive operation to retrieve him. I will never forget the extraordinary risk taken by the warriors that we send into battle.&quot;I ordered the US armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring our brave warriors back home, a risky decision, because we could have ended up with 100 dead, as opposed to one or two. But in the United States military, we leave no American behind.&quot;Mr Trump, who pointed out the US military &quot;leaves no American behind&quot;, added: “Our armed forces deployed 21 military aircraft into hostile airspace, many flying at very low altitude, being shot by bullets.“We have a helicopter that’s got a lot of bullets in it. The flight crews and war fighters aboard those aircraft took extraordinary risks to rescue their fellow service members.”

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, threatens, journalist, with, prison, sentence, they, dont, name, sick, Iran, leaker</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump warns US could wipe out Iran in just hours as deadline looms on ultimatum</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-warns-us-could-wipe-out-iran-in-just-hours-as-deadline-looms-on-ultimatum</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-warns-us-could-wipe-out-iran-in-just-hours-as-deadline-looms-on-ultimatum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has warned the US could wipe out Iran in just hours as Tehran faces a deadline ending the conflict in the Middle East. Iran said it wanted a lasting end to the war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefireSpeaking at a press conference, Mr Trump said: &quot;Iran can be taken out in one night, might be tomorrow [Tuesday] night.&quot;Secretary of War Pete Hegseth added that today will be &quot;the largest volume of strikes since day one of the Iran operation&quot;. 
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In the press conference, the US President revealed details related to the escape and rescue of one of the crew of the downed F-15 jet.He said: &quot;He was injured, it was an amazing, amazing thing... he scaled cliff faces, bleeding rather profusely, treated his own wounds and contacted American forces to transmit his location. We immediately mobilised a massive operation to retrieve him.&quot;I will never forget the extraordinary risk taken by the warriors that we send into battle.&quot;I ordered the US armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring our brave warriors back home, a risky decision, because we could have ended up with 100 dead, as opposed to one or two. But in the United States military, we leave no American behind.&quot; Mr Trump added he would demand that the reporter who first leaked that an airman in Iran had been rescued reveal their source, and threatened them with jail if they refused.He said: &quot;They put the mission at great risk. They put that man at great risk and they put the hundreds of people that went in looking for him.&quot;We have to find that leaker because that is a sick person; probably didn&#039;t realise the extent of how bad it was.&quot;&quot;We are gonna go to the media company that released it and we are going to say &#039;national security, give it up or go to jail.&#039;&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSUS and Iran receive ceasefire plan that could last 45 days as Donald Trump&#039;s deadline loomsRevealed: The extraordinary &#039;Easter miracle&#039; US rescue mission to save downed airman inside IranDonald Trump threatens to unleash &#039;Hell&#039; blitz in expletive-filled warning to Iran - &#039;Open the f***in’ Strait!&#039;Critics have said Mr Trump would be committing war crimes if the US attacked civilian power plants, a point that was dismissed by the Republican.However, the US President said: &quot;I&#039;m not worried about it. You know what&#039;s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon.&quot;Mr Trump instead insisted the five-week conflict could end quickly if Iran does &quot;what they have to do&quot;, adding: &quot;They have to do certain things. They know that, they&#039;ve been negotiating I think in good faith.&quot;Mr Trump, who had extended his initial deadline, gave no indication he would do so again. He said that he thought the Iranian people should rise up against the Islamic Republic if a ceasefire was not declared.Senior White House aides have been negotiating with Iran indirectly through Pakistan, attempting to get a deal in which Iran will forswear nuclear weapons and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the oil transit waterway. However, Iran said it wanted a permanent end to the war, not just a temporary ceasefire.Mr Trump suggested it appeared the latest team representing Tehran is &quot;not as radicalised&quot; as others who have been killed in airstrikes.He said: &quot;We think they&#039;re actually smarter.&quot;Mr Trump also said the US would take control of Iran&#039;s oil if it was up to him, but added that the American people would probably not understand such a move.Speaking at this afternoon&#039;s press conference, Mr Trump claimed Iranians have been telling the US to &quot;please keep bombing&quot; near their homes.He said: &quot;We’ve had numerous intercepts, &#039;please keep bombing&#039;...bombs that are dropping near their homes...&#039;please keep bombing. Do it.“These are living where the bombs are exploding. &quot;When we leave and we’re not hitting those areas, they’re saying &#039;please come back, come back&#039;.&quot;

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, warns, could, wipe, out, Iran, just, hours, deadline, looms, ultimatum</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump tells GB News that UK &amp;apos;needs to resurrect like Jesus&amp;apos; but has &amp;apos;long way to go&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-tells-gb-news-that-uk-needs-to-resurrect-like-jesus-but-has-long-way-to-go</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-tells-gb-news-that-uk-needs-to-resurrect-like-jesus-but-has-long-way-to-go</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump has told GB News the UK &quot;has a long way to go&quot; after being asked if Britain needs to resurrect like Jesus Christ this Easter.The US President was speaking to reporters as part of the annual Easter egg roll that takes place on the lawns of the White House.Addressing a question from Chief US Correspondent Ben Leo, Mr Trump said: &quot;That&#039;s what they need. There&#039;s a long way to go. The UK has a long way to go.&quot;Discussing Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s response to events in the Middle East, the US President added: &quot;We don&#039;t want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We don&#039;t want another Neville Chamberlain.&quot;
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When asked the same question, the US President&#039;s son Eric Trump told GB News: &quot;It needs to be. It needs to be. Free speech needs to be resurrected in the UK.&quot;]The US President has threatened to rain &quot;hell&quot; on Tehran if it does not make a deal tonight.Mr Trump&#039;s administration wants Iran to allow goods to start moving again through the Strait of Hormuz.The US and Iran are currently weighing up a framework plan to end their five‑week-old conflict, as Tehran said it wanted a lasting end to the war and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the strait under a temporary ceasefire.Iran conveyed its response to the US proposal for ending the war to Pakistan, rejecting a ceasefire and emphasising the necessity of a permanent end to the war, the official IRNA news agency said.The Iranian response consisted of 10 clauses, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction, the agency added.In response, Mr Trump said: &quot;They made a proposal, and it&#039;s a significant proposal. It&#039;s a significant step. It&#039;s not good enough.&quot;Last month, the US President dismissed Sir Keir Starmer with a pointed comparison: &quot;This is not Winston Churchill that we&#039;re dealing with.&quot;At that same meeting, Mr Trump insisted that the UK &quot;should be giving us, without question or hesitation, things like bases where we can use others&quot;.Sir Keir has previously defended Britain&#039;s decision to stay out of the opening wave of military action against Iran, describing the choice as calculated and serving the country&#039;s interests.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump threatens to unleash &#039;Hell&#039; blitz in expletive-filled warning to Iran - &#039;Open the f***in’ Strait!&#039;US and Iran receive ceasefire plan that could last 45 days as Donald Trump&#039;s deadline loomsEx-Attorney General points to Keir Starmer&#039;s &#039;reset opportunity&#039; with Donald Trump as special relationship fizzles outSpeaking at a press conference in March, the Prime Minister said: &quot;That decision was deliberate, it was in the national interest, and I stand by it.&quot;Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has recently called Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of Sir Keir &quot;childish&quot;, as she suggested the President has made a &quot;mess&quot; in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage suggested last week that the Prime Minister was right not to join the US campaign.He said: &quot;I wouldn&#039;t have joined the war, but we should have supported him in the sense of not obstructing him [from] using the bases and that&#039;s what&#039;s caused the fault line.&quot;Speaking to GB News today, Labour MP Tom Hayes defended the Prime Minister and insisted Mr Trump is &quot;not serious&quot;.He told The People&#039;s Channel: &quot;Let&#039;s be honest here, is anybody seriously listening to Donald Trump when he makes these comments. He is no student of history, that is clear.&quot;He&#039;s launching wars that have no endpoint, wars with changing goals, wars which he claims have been won when they haven&#039;t been. He is not a serious world leader. &quot;GB News should not be giving him the attention he is craving. We should not be baiting him with these questions so he can score open goals against our Prime Minister when he has done what the country wants, which is to learn the lessons from Iraq.&quot;

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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, tells, News, that, needs, resurrect, like, Jesus, but, has, long, way, go</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour ministers working behind the scenes with rebels to water down Shabana Mahmood&amp;apos;s migrant crackdown measures</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-ministers-working-behind-the-scenes-with-rebels-to-water-down-shabana-mahmoods-migrant-crackdown-measures</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-ministers-working-behind-the-scenes-with-rebels-to-water-down-shabana-mahmoods-migrant-crackdown-measures</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Labour ministers have been working behind the scenes with rebels to water down Shabana Mahmood&#039;s measures to crack down on migration.The Home Secretary, who unveiled a series of measures to reduce net migration last year, is facing pressure on the Labour Left after pushing ahead with the plans to thwart the rise of Reform UK. Net migration fell to 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, down from a peak of 906,000 in the year ending June 2023. However, Labour MPs have grown increasingly uneasy with Ms Mahmood&#039;s push for tougher measures, including changes to indefinite leave to remain. 
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The Home Secretary&#039;s changes would see most migrants have to wait 10 years to qualify for indefinite leave to remain, rather than the existing five-year period. Sir Keir Starmer is now consulting on the proposed changes amid fears the Prime Minister will face a revolt from his backbenchers. The consultation could see amendments seeking to exclude migrants working in the public sector, as well as those who are on the verge of being settled.“I personally disagree with all of the changes to indefinite leave to remain, but I think that the majority of the cohort would accept that compromise,” a Labour MP told The Guardian.Labour rebels have already coordinated a campaign against the Home Secretary&#039;s crackdown.However, Ms Mahmood&#039;s critics were left frustrated by negative briefings against Tony Vaughan after the Folkestone &amp; Hythe MP penned a letter calling for loosening Ms Mahmood&#039;s measures.Despite Home Office sources denying being behind the attack, Attorney General Lord Hermer was reportedly incensed by the briefing.Mr Vaughan&#039;s letter, which was signed by 100 Labour MPs, argued: “You don’t win back public confidence in the asylum system by threatening to forcibly remove refugees who have lived here lawfully for 15 or 20 years.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSLabour council slammed for &#039;marginalising Jewish community&#039; after twinning with Palestinian cityKeir Starmer set to U-turn on manifesto pledge to ban foie gras in bid to secure EU trade dealLabour caught planning emergency alerts to warn Britons of &#039;danger to life&#039; during summer unrestEx-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is also playing a leading role in the campaign to thwart Ms Mahmood&#039;s crackdown. Speaking at an event for the Mainstream campaign group, Ms Rayner said: “We cannot talk about earning a settlement if we keep moving the goalposts.“Because moving the goalposts undermines our sense of fair play. It’s un-British.”Ms Rayner is being tipped to make a push for the Labour leadership if Sir Keir suffers an electoral drubbing in the 2026 Local Elections on May 7. However, the Home Office insisted it is not changing tack in the face of pressure from the Parliamentary Labour Party. A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government’s position has not changed. &quot;We will always welcome those that come to this country and contribute to our national life. But the privilege of living here forever should be earned, not automatic.“Between 2021 and 2024, this country experienced levels of migration it had historically seen over four decades. &quot;We must be honest about the scale and impact of hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrants getting settlement.“The Government will double the route to settlement from five to 10 years. &quot;As announced in November, we are consulting to apply this change to those in the UK today but have not received settled status. &quot;We are currently reviewing the 200,000 responses and will outline our response in due course.”

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        The GB News Editorial Charter


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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, ministers, working, behind, the, scenes, with, rebels, water, down, Shabana, Mahmoods, migrant, crackdown, measures</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump asks if Canada has &amp;apos;stopped&amp;apos; recognising King Charles</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-asks-if-canada-has-stopped-recognising-king-charles</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-asks-if-canada-has-stopped-recognising-king-charles</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump questioned an author over whether Canadians continue to &quot;recognise the King&quot; as their head of state, while also confirming he will not pursue an invasion of the country.This marks a turning point with the US President stepping back from his repeated threats to absorb Canada as America&#039;s &quot;51st state&quot;.Speaking to royal biographer Robert Hardman for his forthcoming book on Elizabeth II, the US President acknowledged that Canada&#039;s two centuries of nationhood made annexation unrealistic within his remaining term.&quot;I suppose the Canadians have got 200 years of history and all that &#039;Oh, Canada&#039; thing,&quot; President Trump said. &quot;You can&#039;t deal with that in three and a half years. I guess it&#039;s not going to happen!&quot;The remarks represent a notable retreat from his previous provocations towards Ottawa.Throughout the past year, President Trump had repeatedly taunted Justin Trudeau, Canada&#039;s former Prime Minister, with claims that Canadians would benefit from reduced taxes and superior military protection under American rule.He even shared an AI-generated image in January depicting Canada overlaid with the US flag during an Oval Office scene.When Mr Hardman urged the president to &quot;please leave Canada alone&quot;, noting it would &quot;undoubtedly make the King of Canada unhappy&quot;, President Trump paused before questioning whether Canadians still acknowledged the monarch as their head of state.According to Mr Hardman, whose interview with the US President was published in the Mail, Mr Trump asked: “Do they still recognise the King? Or have they stopped that?”When the royal author confirmed that Canadians recognise the King as their head of state, the US President quipped: &quot;But they have these terrible politicians. They&#039;re nice to my face and then they say bad things behind my back.&quot;The President described King Charles as a &quot;fantastic guy&quot;, expressing particular admiration for how the monarch has handled his cancer diagnosis.&quot;He&#039;s a great guy and he&#039;s grown so much in the last 10 years and especially over the last couple of years as King. His fight has shown that,&quot; President Trump remarked.The interview also touched on his memories of the late Queen, whom President Trump recalled attempting to coax into revealing her preferred presidents and prime ministers.&quot;So I realised: that&#039;s why she lasted 70 years without a complaint because she was so good at it,&quot; he reflected. &quot;And I know she liked me because we talked a lot.&quot;The King and Queen are scheduled to visit the United States later this month, with their itinerary including an address to a joint session of Congress and a state banquet hosted at the White House. The royal couple will spend time in both Washington and New York during the trip.President Trump has made two state visits to Britain himself, meeting both Elizabeth II and King Charles during those occasions.Diplomatic sources hope the forthcoming royal visit may help ease strained relations between London and Washington over the ongoing conflict in Iran, with President Trump having voiced strong criticism of Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s handling of the Gulf crisis.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:06:43 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, asks, Canada, has, stopped, recognising, King, Charles</media:keywords>
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<title>Civil servants accused of perpetuating &amp;apos;rotten culture of entitlement&amp;apos; after claiming thousands to travel to OWN office</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/civil-servants-accused-of-perpetuating-rotten-culture-of-entitlement-after-claiming-thousands-to-travel-to-own-office</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/civil-servants-accused-of-perpetuating-rotten-culture-of-entitlement-after-claiming-thousands-to-travel-to-own-office</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Senior civil servants are billing taxpayers thousands of pounds for journeys to their own departmental headquarters in London, newly published figures reveal.One Department for Transport employee submitted claims totalling £7,019.58 for just nine visits to the capital, averaging nearly £780 per trip when factoring in overnight accommodation and meals.A colleague at the Department of Health and Social Care racked up an even higher per-trip average of £927.09, claiming £7,270.98 across ten London visits.Another official made 31 separate journeys to Transport headquarters within a single three-month period, costing £3,485.50.
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The expenses stem from the Government&#039;s Plan for Growth initiative, which relocated 23,000 Whitehall positions outside the capital, meaning senior staff must now travel back for important meetings.The spending has drawn fierce criticism from opposition figures, who branded it a betrayal of ordinary workers.Alex Burghart MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: &quot;This is exactly the kind of absurdity that erodes public trust in Government.&quot;Reform UK&#039;s Danny Kruger, who heads the party&#039;s preparations for government department, delivered a scathing attack on the figures. The MP for East Wiltshire said: &quot;This is a slap in the face to every hard-working taxpayer forced to commute at their own expense just to pay for privileged civil servants with gold-plated pensions.&quot;This is the rotten culture of entitlement and wasteful spending that has been allowed to fester unchecked in our Civil Service.&quot;Critics argue the arrangement undermines the entire rationale for relocating staff away from expensive London premises.The TaxPayers&#039; Alliance has demanded ministers outlaw such claims entirely, with chief executive John O&#039;Connell insisting officials should use video conferencing instead.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSWhitehall whistleblower reveals four ways to fix &#039;broken Britain&#039; and the real reason it won&#039;t happen under Keir StarmerKeir Starmer&#039;s close ally blows lid on &#039;weird obsession&#039; at very heart of WhitehallRachel Reeves cracks down on Whitehall overspending by blocking access to emergency funds&quot;Ministers should put a stop to all expense claims for travel, accommodation and any other costs incurred by staff for coming to the office,&quot; he said.Published data reveals the Ministry of Justice topped departmental spending at £42,498.98 between October and December 2025.The Cabinet Office followed with £16,841.81, while Health and Social Care claimed £12,736.80 during the same quarter.Across all departments, officials submitted bills totalling £139,719.97 for travel, food and overnight stays in just three months.Should this pattern continue throughout the year, the annual expenses bill would exceed £550,000.A government spokesman defended the practice, emphasising that standard commuting costs cannot be claimed by officials.They told The Telegraph: “Officials cannot claim travel expenses for commuting to their office, only for official travel to other locations. &quot;The cost of official travel is tiny to the £94m we are saving by closing 11 London office buildings.&quot;The spokesman continued: “A third of senior civil servants are now based in government offices outside of London, in the communities they serve. &quot;These expenses reflect routine travel for them to deliver their roles and responsibilities.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Civil, servants, accused, perpetuating, rotten, culture, entitlement, after, claiming, thousands, travel, OWN, office</media:keywords>
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<title>Ex&#45;Attorney General points to Keir Starmer&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;reset opportunity&amp;apos; with Donald Trump as special relationship fizzles out</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/ex-attorney-general-points-to-keir-starmers-reset-opportunity-with-donald-trump-as-special-relationship-fizzles-out</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/ex-attorney-general-points-to-keir-starmers-reset-opportunity-with-donald-trump-as-special-relationship-fizzles-out</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A former Attorney General has eyed up a &quot;reset opportunity&quot; for Keir Starmer and Donald Trump after the infamous special relationship began to fizzle out over the Iran war.The British Prime Minister and US Commander-in-Chief have been at odds with one another ever since Sir Keir refused to give access to RAF bases to US forces to launch attacks on Tehran at the end of February.While the PM eventually caved to the President&#039;s plea, Mr Trump has appeared to refuse to let go of his disillusionment with Britain, unleashing personal jibes during a series of damning press conferences last month.But, last week, it was confirmed King Charles - Britain&#039;s strongest, most powerful soft power figure - would make a state visit to the US in just a few weeks&#039; time.
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The 47th US President - and monarchist - has never made his love and admiration for the British Royal Family a secret, regularly mentioning his mother was British-born.However, the timing of the visit has raised eyebrows over what the trip means for the tumultuous nature of the US-UK relationship as it operates today.Sir Michael Ellis has suggested the much-awaited trip will be a key turning point in the relationship and could offer the PM to &quot;reset&quot; the pair&#039;s friendship.&quot;Fortunately, the King is a consummate diplomat,&quot; Sir Michael told GB News. &quot;And it&#039;s true that UK-US relations are not at their best point at the moment.&quot;I think Trump does take Starmer&#039;s actions quite personally. He does tend to act on personal relations, but hence his excellent relations with the King reflects.&quot;Because the King is such a good diplomat, this is actually an opportunity to reset things between our two countries and there is historical precedent for that.&quot;&quot;In fact, the Royal Family have in the past done an awful lot in difficult times on the diplomatic scene to improve things.&quot;I&#039;m thinking, particularly after the Suez Crisis, there were quite strained relations between our two countries.LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP:Donald Trump &#039;underestimated Iran capability&#039;, expert warns - &#039;There&#039;ll be much more fire and fury!&#039;More than 2 in 5 Britons think UK &#039;too close&#039; to US and should distance itself from Donald TrumpDonald Trump officials warn halting $400m White House expansion is threat to national security&quot;But the Queen went to a visit in 1957. She saw at the time President there, and it was Dwight Eisenhower, and reset things quite well after what had been quite strained issues.&quot;On another occasion in 1939, President Roosevelt was &quot;not keen&quot; on the appeasement of Neville Chamberlain, during a time when relations had &quot;got a bit frosty&quot;.However, when the late Queen Mother went with King George VI at that time, that really helped things along, Sir Michael insisted.When probed on whether the King could encourage the President to &quot;put him in line&quot; instead of &quot;smoothing things over&quot;, the Attorney General shook his head.&quot;No, I don&#039;t think he&#039;ll do that. You can see how good a diplomat he is bringing ourselves right back to the current political situation,&quot; he said.&quot;Zelensky is a great fan of the King and so is Donald Trump. We all know that Zelensky and Trump don&#039;t get on, and yet both sides have great respect for the King. That&#039;s an example too.&quot;We also know that Gulf leaders and leaders in the Middle East have an absolute respect for the King, and they adore him and what he stands for.&quot;So I think he&#039;s shown that he&#039;s able to transcend the momentary politics, the petty politics, the rivalries and so on.&quot;And sometimes the rudeness of direct, day-to-day current affairs transcends that and says this is an opportunity to reset things, to actually show that the relationship goes beyond the current Prime Minister and the current President and transcends the arc of history.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ex-Attorney, General, points, Keir, Starmers, reset, opportunity, with, Donald, Trump, special, relationship, fizzles, out</media:keywords>
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<title>Rachel Reeves accused of &amp;apos;cultural vandalism&amp;apos; over VAT raid on churches</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-accused-of-cultural-vandalism-over-vat-raid-on-churches</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/rachel-reeves-accused-of-cultural-vandalism-over-vat-raid-on-churches</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of &quot;cultural vandalism&quot; following the Government&#039;s decision to abolish VAT relief for church repairs.Since April, listed places of worship have been required to pay the full 20 per cent VAT rate on all upkeep.The change follows the Government&#039;s decision to terminate the listed places of worship grant scheme, which had operated for a quarter of a century.Under the previous arrangement, churches and other listed religious buildings could claim grants of up to £25,000 to offset VAT expenses incurred during restoration projects.
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Ministers have introduced a £92million replacement renewal fund spanning four years for places of worship, though it applies solely to sites in England.Crucially, the new fund does not cover VAT costs, meaning every listed religious building undertaking repairs must now absorb the full tax burden.The National Churches Trust estimates that 21,000 historic places of worship, predominantly churches, will be left without financial assistance as a result of the policy shift.Sir Philip Rutnam, who chairs the organisation, argued that the time has arrived to eliminate VAT charges on repairs to historic religious buildings altogether.&quot;Their care depends on local volunteers who are demoralised by seeing 20 per cent of the funds they raise go to the Treasury as VAT,&quot; Sir Philip said.He warned that one in 20 churches already report uncertainty about whether they will survive the next five years, adding that the additional 20 per cent tax obligation &quot;is likely to accelerate closures&quot;.Railing against the changes, Robert Jenrick branded the Chancellor a &quot;cultural vandal&quot;.His remarks came as Reform UK committed to immediately restoring the tax exemption and making it permanent should they win power.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Hundreds of balaclava-clad youths descend on Milton Keynes in echo of Clapham chaosShoplifting crime wave to hit shops as &#039;tax the rich&#039; activists plan &#039;blatant and despicable&#039; theftsWaitrose worker of 17 years sacked after stopping shoplifter from stealing Easter eggsMr Jenrick described the situation as particularly &quot;tragic&quot; given that parish churches are falling into disrepair.He contrasted this to the Church of England’s plans to distribute £100million in &quot;reparations&quot; connected to historical involvement in slavery.&quot;Parish churches are one of the pillars of our architectural heritage,&quot; Mr Jenrick wrote in The Telegraph. &quot;They provide a golden thread, running through the history of our communities, connecting the past to the present.&quot;Mr Jenrick highlighted what he called &quot;careless mismanagement&quot; of the nation&#039;s heritage.He noted the perverse situation where demolishing a listed church incurs no cost, whilst maintaining one attracts a 20 per cent levy.Sir Philip welcomed Reform UK&#039;s pledge to restore VAT relief, stating it would help keep churches operational and in active use.Earlier this year, GB News uncovered that the devastating stealth tax could &quot;accelerate&quot; the rate at which British churches crumble into disrepair.A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesman told GB News at the time: &quot;Listed places of worship are important to faith communities and provide a range of hugely valuable services to the wider public.&quot;Many of them are also architecturally and historically significant.&quot;In recognition of this, last year the Government extended the Listed places of worship grant scheme until March 31, 2026.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rachel, Reeves, accused, cultural, vandalism, over, VAT, raid, churches</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump threatens to unleash &amp;apos;Hell&amp;apos; blitz in expletive&#45;filled warning to Iran &#45; &amp;apos;Open the f***in’ Strait!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-to-unleash-hell-blitz-in-expletive-filled-warning-to-iran-open-the-fin-strait</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-threatens-to-unleash-hell-blitz-in-expletive-filled-warning-to-iran-open-the-fin-strait</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran&#039;s power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened in an expletive-filled social media post. On his Truth Social page, President Trump said: &quot;Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!&quot;He continued: &quot;Open the f***in&#039;  Strait, you crazy b******, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!&quot;The President finished his Easter Sunday post with: &quot;Praise be to Allah.&quot;
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In an interview with Fox News, the President said a deal with Iran is possible by Monday, and that Tehran officials were negotiating.He added that current negotiators on the Iranian side have been granted limited amnesty.However, the President said he ideally will take Iranian oil if Tehran is unwilling to make an agreement. The war in Iran continues to spread chaos across the region and roil financial markets, raising the pressure on President Trump to find a quick resolution to the conflict.Last week, a deadly US air strike on a major suspension bridge near Tehran, which the UN’s humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher said constituted a breach of international law.Former British diplomat Mr Fletcher told the BBC: &quot;You don’t hit civilian infrastructure. That includes hospitals. You don’t hit schools, you don’t hit energy sources, you don’t hit bridges. Those are war crimes.&quot;The war has entered its sixth week with little sign of progress in diplomatic efforts for a resolution.Efforts brokered by Pakistan to bring the two sides to an agreement have so far been fruitless, with Iran&#039;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi saying Tehran demanded a permanent halt to the US and Israeli campaign.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM IRAN:Donald Trump &#039;underestimated Iranian capability&#039;, foreign policy expert warns - &#039;There&#039;ll be much more fire and fury!&#039;Missing American pilot RESCUED after ‘heavy firefight’ with Iranian forcesTwo demonstrators arrested outside RAF base during peace protest against Iran warOn Sunday, in response to Israeli attacks on petrochemical sites in Iran, Iran hit petrochemicals plants in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, where damage was reported after falling debris from an air defence interception ignited three fires at a plant operated by the Borouge group.The strikes followed similar attacks on oil facilities, a major aluminium plant and petrochemical sites in recent days and the Revolutionary Guards warned that more would follow if civilian targets in Iran were hit.Meanwhile, US special forces rescued a downed airman in Iran in a complex operation that averted a potential crisis for the White House. The airman, the weapons officer of an F-15 jet shot down on Friday, was wounded but &quot;will be just fine&quot;, President Trump said in a message on X posted by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The pilot of the aircraft was rescued on Friday.The loss of the F-15 last week, as well as an A-10 ground-attack aircraft, which came down in a separate incident, underlined the risks still facing US and Israeli aircrew despite President Trump&#039;s assertions that Iran&#039;s air defences have been largely destroyed.A Washington official told reporters US forces had to destroy at least one of the aircraft used in the rescue mission because it had malfunctioned.However, many details of what occurred in the operation remained unclear.

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, threatens, unleash, Hell, blitz, expletive-filled, warning, Iran, Open, the, fin’, Strait</media:keywords>
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<title>Carol Vorderman accused of &amp;apos;unhealthy&amp;apos; Nigel Farage obsession as Alex Armstrong leads fury to &amp;apos;hostile&amp;apos; Easter message</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/carol-vorderman-accused-of-unhealthy-nigel-farage-obsession-as-alex-armstrong-leads-fury-to-hostile-easter-message</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/carol-vorderman-accused-of-unhealthy-nigel-farage-obsession-as-alex-armstrong-leads-fury-to-hostile-easter-message</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Carol Vorderman prompted some rather bemused and irked reactions on Easter Sunday after sharing a social media clip taking aim at Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage.The 65-year-old is no stranger to voicing her less-than-favourable opinions of the Reform UK leader, and took to Instagram this weekend to celebrate a slight dip for the party in a recent poll. The poll in question from Lord Ashcroft Polling showed the Greens tying with Reform UK and Conservatives at the top, with each party boasting a 21 percent share.Labour were in fourth with 17 percent of the vote, while the Liberal Democrats finished in fifth with nine percent. 
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According to The London Economic, the poll is based on data from over 5,000 respondents. Reform dropped by one percent, while the Greens saw a two percent uptick.Providing a possible reason for the change in voting intentions, Lord Ashcroft Polling said: &quot;The Greens are enjoying something of a moment.&quot;However the numbers are calculated, there is no denying the remarkable progress they have made under Zack Polanski. I found big majorities in favour of a wealth tax, higher taxes on energy companies and a £15 an hour minimum wage.&quot;Like other pollsters, I have found Reform UK’s overall lead narrowing since the start of the year. &quot;That’s not to say their bubble has burst, simply that their seemingly inexorable rise has abated, at least for now. Global events might be part of the reason.&quot;Spotting the chance to use the data to attack Mr Farage, Ms Vorderman took to Instagram on Sunday afternoon.&quot;Happy Easter, you beautiful people. The Easter Bunny has arrived with some good news because Nigel Farage, the lying charlatan whom we know and loathe, is going down, down, down in the latest polls,&quot; Ms Vorderman said.She continued: &quot;One of the polls out this morning put Reform right down at 21 percent. In fact, when you look at the detail, the Green Party is nudging slightly ahead of Reform, but the great irony of this poll is that it has been undertaken by a famous right-winger, Michael Ashcroft, who’s written many books with Isabel Oakeshott.&quot;LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRicky Gervais partner Jane Fallon shares furious message as fake obituary emerges amid cancer battleBBC Pilgrimage star takes dig at modern-day media&#039;s coverage of Islam: &#039;Normal, nice people!&#039;Scott Mills axe mocked on Have I Got News For You as BBC host makes controversial remarkImagine this being your Easter Sunday message to your followers.Carol Vorderman seemingly has a very unhealthy obsession with Nigel Farage… pic.twitter.com/x1TTRVfgSQ— Alex Armstrong (@Alexarmstrong) April 5, 2026 Spotting the chance to hit out another Reform UK member, Ms Vorderman&#039;s message went on: &quot;If you don’t know who she is, she’s the blonde girlfriend of Richard Tice, Farage’s deputy, and she’s the one who scarpered off to Dubai saying, ‘Oh, oh, the VAT on private school is too much for me.’&quot;A second poll out today, which has been conducted by More in Common up in Scotland, shows Reform diving there too. They’re now well below Labour in the polls. SNP way out ahead and now Reform are in third place.&quot;Ms Vorderman then began to sarcastically flutter her eyelids as she signed off: &quot;Such a tough week for Nigel. Happy Easter, bunnies. Reform are on their way out.&quot;Inevitably, many of Ms Vorderman&#039;s followers rushed to the initial Instagram post to pat her on the back for unleashing another tirade against Reform UK.&quot;Thanks Carol. Huge love!!&quot; Green Party leader Zack Polanski replied, while ITV&#039;s resident GP Dr Amir Khan weighed in: &quot;Love you!!&quot;&quot;Happy Easter, spreader of joyful news xx,&quot; Jeremy Vine regular and political commentator Jemma Forte typed, while one of Ms Vorderman&#039;s followers praised: &quot;Great news to start the day. Happy Easter Carol to you and yours.&quot; (sic)However, before long, the video was circulated on X to the wider voting public, and it&#039;s safe to say that not everyone was as appreciative as Ms Vorderman&#039;s Instagram followers.The People&#039;s Channel&#039;s very own Alex Armstrong was among the critics who found the timing of the social media clip questionable, to say the least. &quot;Imagine this being your Easter Sunday message to your followers,&quot; Alex penned on X. &quot;Carol Vorderman seemingly has a very unhealthy obsession with Nigel Farage…&quot;He wasn&#039;t alone, as fellow journalist Charlotte Gill penned: &quot;Carol Vorderman releases a rather hostile Easter message.&quot;She’s working with a group called &#039;Reform Are Not Your Friends&#039;. I am keeping an eye on these groups as I’m sure they come back to the same EU networks/lobby groups. Greens are perceived as pro EU.&quot;Meanwhile, another X user weighed in: &quot;Dear God she’s obsessed and desperate for attention. I really don’t think she’s even vaguely on Nigel’s radar and worries! From the woman who recently plugged a Labour government she has zero credibility.&quot;And a second pointed out: &quot;Why would anybody take the political views of Vorderman seriously?.. she enthusiastically supported Starmer!&quot;&quot;Sick to death of Vorderman spouting her political views without having the courage to run for office herself,&quot; a third X user fumed. (sic)Ms Vorderman, who heavily backed Labour at the last general election, is now actively encouraging tactical voting among her fanbase to prevent Reform UK victories up and down the country.

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Carol, Vorderman, accused, unhealthy, Nigel, Farage, obsession, Alex, Armstrong, leads, fury, hostile, Easter, message</media:keywords>
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<title>Donald Trump &amp;apos;underestimated Iranian capability&amp;apos;, foreign policy expert warns &#45; &amp;apos;There&amp;apos;ll be much more fire and fury!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-underestimated-iranian-capability-foreign-policy-expert-warns-therell-be-much-more-fire-and-fury</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/donald-trump-underestimated-iranian-capability-foreign-policy-expert-warns-therell-be-much-more-fire-and-fury</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Donald Trump was accused of &quot;underestimating Iran&#039;s military capability&quot; after the US President hailed the rescue mission of a US fighter pilot from Iran.The airman was rescued by US special forces after the jet carrying crew members was targeted during a &quot;heavy firefight&quot;, officials confirmed.The rescue mission proved successful just as tensions in the Iran war continue to escalate, with Mr Trump threatening fresh strikes on the country&#039;s energy infrastructure as his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears its end. But Iran has warned Tehran could turn the Middle East into a &quot;swamp&quot; after the 47th President threatened to ramp up assaults on the region. 
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Joining GB News this afternoon, US foreign policy analyst, Dr Jack Clayton, has claimed Mr Trump has &quot;underestimated&quot; Iranian forces, after it was able to shoot down the fighter jet on Friday.&quot;Yes, there&#039;s been a very successful extraction operation, and I know the Iranians will have been trying to get to this missing airman first, but the Americans have managed it,&quot; host Tom Harwood started.&quot;But frankly, it raises the question, how does an F-15, state-of-the-art fighter jet, get shot down in the first place?&quot;&quot;Absolutely,&quot; Dr Clayton responded, adding the loss in the first place &quot;brings into question America&#039;s superiority in the air&quot;.He added: &quot;And I wouldn&#039;t say that Iran&#039;s capabilities themselves are especially sophisticated...&quot;This is really something, I&#039;m afraid, once again, that people like Trump and certainly Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has perhaps underestimated in terms of Iran&#039;s capabilities.&quot;The GB News presenter went on to argue the Defence Secretary and the Commander-in-Chief could have felt &quot;buoyed&quot; by their successful mission in Venezuela earlier this year - a shocking yet successful US military operation that lasted mere minutes.&quot;This has been much, much stickier in Iran,&quot; Tom weighed in. &quot;What does that mean for the next 24 hours in this conflict?DONALD TRUMP LATEST:Donald Trump officials warn halting $400m White House expansion is threat to national securityMore than 2 in 5 Britons think UK &#039;too close&#039; to US and should distance itself from Donald TrumpDonald Trump&#039;s latest attack on defence alliance backed: &#039;Nato would be paper without us!&#039;&quot;Donald Trump is saying that there&#039;s going to be a lot more fire and fury. Will Iran, I suppose, buttress itself up and react harshly or acquiesce?&quot;Dr Clayton said he was &quot;sure&quot; there would be strong retaliation from Tehran, although Mr Trump continues to be burdened with a &quot;broader strategic problem&quot; over the Strait of Hormuz.The key waterway has been a cause of great consternation across the globe, with Iran&#039;s blockade of the maritime passage sending energy costs soaring.As a result, the analyst set out two options to reopen the Strait.&quot;If it&#039;s going to be a military one, we are really talking about the possibility of an occupation, and we&#039;re talking about ground troops then, or it&#039;s going to have to be something negotiated,&quot; he explained.&quot;And Trump at times has been saying that he&#039;s not going to really even do that,&quot; the expert added as an aside.&quot;He&#039;s at times left it to Nato allies who we know who he&#039;s been very critical of recently. And so it does leave a lot of uncertainty.&quot;Instead, the analyst suspects Mr Trump deliberately deploys some &quot;strategic ambiguity&quot; - using unpredictability as a tactic in the war.&quot;It is worth pointing out as well, that he likes to rhetorically and even at times militarily, escalate things on a weekend,&quot; Dr Clayton noted.&quot;He&#039;s always really rather concerned about the markets, but that&#039;s something as well that the Iranians are probably picked up on as well.&quot;And I think they&#039;ve probably factored that in into thinking that Trump has maybe a little bit of a glass jaw when it comes to concerns about the markets and what he&#039;d actually do.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, underestimated, Iranian, capability, foreign, policy, expert, warns, Therell, much, more, fire, and, fury</media:keywords>
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<title>Labour&amp;apos;s &amp;apos;disastrous&amp;apos; tourist tax risks ruining holidays for working&#45;class families, Butlins&amp;apos; boss warns</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-disastrous-tourist-tax-risks-ruining-holidays-for-working-class-families-butlins-boss-warns</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labours-disastrous-tourist-tax-risks-ruining-holidays-for-working-class-families-butlins-boss-warns</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Butlins&#039; boss Jon Hendry Pickup has issued a stark warning that Labour&#039;s proposed levy on overnight stays risks making holidays unaffordable for ordinary British families.The holiday resort&#039;s chief executive described the Labour Government&#039;s planned tourist tax as potentially &quot;disastrous&quot; for both households and hospitality operators.The proposed £2 per person per night surcharge would effectively double what a family of four pays for a budget break at the seaside resort chain, according to the chief executive.He said: &quot;A couple of weeks ago, you&#039;d be paying £49 for a family of four, so if you put £2 per person, that suddenly becomes out of reach of a bunch of people in the UK.&quot;The plans remain under consultation and could come into force within the next few years. Mr Pickup pointed to Chancellor Rachel Reeves&#039; Spring Statement declaration that she entered politics to ensure &quot;being able to pay for a holiday was never too much to ask&quot;.In the Butlin&#039;s boss&#039;s opinion, the proposed levy would achieve precisely the opposite outcome: &quot;I remember that statement very well, but you see what&#039;s happening. It&#039;s a holiday tax. It could be disastrous for Butlin&#039;s and businesses like us.&quot;While the tourist tax is primarily intended to curb the proliferation of Airbnb properties, Mr Pickup contends the policy has been poorly conceived.The three-year Butlin&#039;s veteran accused ministers of contradicting their own cost of living pledges by imposing charges on domestic travellers.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSSavings alert: Tomorrow &#039;last chance&#039; for ISA holders as tax-free allowance to be slashedHistoric British bakery shuts after 109 years of trading amid Rachel Reeves&#039;s business tax raidsCoventry Building Society issues &#039;wake-up call&#039; warning ahead of savings tax deadlineHoliday parks like Butlin&#039;s, which operates three resorts, have been left out of emergency support measures the Chancellor introduced for pubs and music venues following sustained pressure from the industry.This exclusion persists despite such parks providing a combination of accommodation, drinking establishments, and live entertainment.Mr Pickup told The Telegraph that hospitality firms had been ensnared by a tax mechanism &quot;seemingly designed to target distribution warehouses for multinational e-commerce giants like Amazon&quot;.Business rates are expected to rise sharply this month following a sudden increase in commercial property valuations. Changes to employer National Insurance contributions have significantly curtailed opportunities for young workers at the holiday park operator.Labour&#039;s Budget raised the rate from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent while simultaneously lowering the threshold from £9,100 to £5,000, making it far costlier to employ entry-level staff.Mr Pickup cited that Butlin&#039;s traditionally recruited teenagers from age 16, often providing their first work experience through roles such as lifeguarding.On the tourist tax, a Government spokesperson previously said: &quot;Tourists travel from near and far to visit England’s brilliant cities and regions.&quot;We’re giving mayors powers to make sure this benefits their communities, and help them drive economic growth to put more money in people’s pockets.&quot;

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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labours, disastrous, tourist, tax, risks, ruining, holidays, for, working-class, families, Butlins, boss, warns</media:keywords>
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<title>Watch Tom Harwood challenge top Labour peer over North Sea drilling dividing Cabinet &#45; &amp;apos;Makes a TINY difference?!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-tom-harwood-challenge-top-labour-peer-over-north-sea-drilling-dividing-cabinet-makes-a-tiny-difference</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/watch-tom-harwood-challenge-top-labour-peer-over-north-sea-drilling-dividing-cabinet-makes-a-tiny-difference</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Watch the moment Tom Harwood challenged a top Labour peer over support for drilling in the North Sea driving a wedge through Sir Keir Starmer&#039;s Cabinet.Joining GB News this morning, Dianne Hayter insisted the differences that arose between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were merely &quot;tiny&quot;. Discussing the ever-fracturing party&#039;s view on whether Britain should drill in the North Sea, Tom started: &quot;Although strangely, for the first time in a very long time, we don&#039;t really know the Prime Minister&#039;s own mind on this.&quot;Last week, Ms Reeves handed out support to two new drilling sites in the North Sea, but her view appears to be at odds with her colleague. 
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Mr Miliband, as part of the party&#039;s Net Zero drive, has warned against overreliance on fossil fuels, but has recently fallen under increasing pressure to cave to pressure from rising fuel costs amid the Iran war.Meanwhile, Ms Reeves said Labour would back oil and gas &quot;for decades to come&quot; and said the Iran conflict showed that &quot;we have got to take control&quot; of British energy supplies.As a result, Tom insisted the divide over the Iran war, as well as its fallout on working Britons, was rather revealing of Sir Keir&#039;s leadership strength.The presenter said: &quot;When it came to the Iran war, much reporting at the start of the war was that the Prime Minister wanted to go one way, and actually it was his Cabinet that pushed him in the other.&quot;I can&#039;t think of a Prime Minister in modern history who&#039;s been more sort of willing to delegate to his Cabinet. Is that a strength or a weakness?&quot;You shouldn&#039;t believe everything you read in the papers!&quot; Baroness Hayter quickly responded.The peer went on to mention Jim Callaghan, who served as Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979, working in No10 during a time when &quot;we had fewer leaks&quot; due to less exposure to the media&#039;s scrutiny.She added: &quot;We didn&#039;t have these lovely programmes like yours. And so a lot of these things would happen, but we didn&#039;t know about them.LABOUR LATEST:Labour slammed as &#039;inhumane&#039; for refusing to extend inheritance tax deadline for grieving familiesGrooming gang survivor hits out at Labour peer accused of mocking inquiry: ‘It’s disgusting’Michael Gove admits searching for ‘gorgeous’ Shabana Mahmood images as ex-minister reveals ‘crush’&quot;So I think some of the things we said... This is very different. It&#039;s actually because people are talking more - the media, quite rightly, and it&#039;s not a criticism, is looking at tiny differences between ministers.&quot;But her claim the ministers&#039; divide over their views was a mere &quot;tiny difference&quot; perturbed Tom, who interrupted his guest.&quot;More than a tiny difference, Baroness Hayter!&quot; he laughed.&quot;Whether we drill more or end new drilling in the North Sea! We&#039;re talking about the potential for tens of billions of pounds of tax revenue.&quot;&quot;I doubt that it&#039;s that much, but it would be very nice,&quot; the Baroness responded. &quot;You may have got an extra nought nought on there, but these big decisions are what Governments take. &quot;And they take big decisions about what we do in war. They take big decisions about, you know, futures, pensions, about all sorts of issues. &quot;Governments have always taken very big decisions, and it&#039;s very good that those debates go on. As I say, we see more about them now than we did in I was around in Jim Callaghan&#039;s day. &quot;I remember when he became Prime Minister and a lot of this stuff was done behind closed doors. It&#039;s better that we&#039;re discussing it. &quot;I think it&#039;s very good that you and others are on the airwaves exposing the challenges that any Government has to face up to and the decisions that has to take.&quot;Our Standards:
        The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:33 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Labour starts dishing out billions in handouts TODAY as two&#45;child benefit cap formally ends</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-starts-dishing-out-billions-in-handouts-today-as-two-child-benefit-cap-formally-ends</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-starts-dishing-out-billions-in-handouts-today-as-two-child-benefit-cap-formally-ends</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The two-child benefit cap officially comes to an end today, with the Government claiming the move will lift approximately 450,000 children out of poverty.The policy change carries a price tag of £3.5billion annually for taxpayers - though Sir Keir Starmer is branding it one of his &quot;proudest moments&quot; as PM.Rachel Reeves confirmed the cap&#039;s abolition at her &quot;nightmare before Christmas&quot; November Budget after caving in to pressure from Labour backbenchers.Under the previous rules introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, parents could only claim universal credit or child tax credit for their first two children.Eligible families may now receive around £300 monthly for each additional child, with the benefit worth £3,647 per child per year.And the largest households could qualify for over £10,000 in extra payments each year - all accounted for by the taxpayer.Meanwhile, Tory analysis has found a household of two unemployed adults and three children would receive a 20 per cent tax-funded pay rise of £6,400 a year.But Sir Keir Starmer said the move was evidence his Government &quot;stands with ordinary Britons&quot; during turbulent times.&quot;No matter the global uncertainty, my Government will always be on the side of the British people in bearing down on the cost of living,&quot; the Prime Minister said.&quot;I will never lose sight of how restless people are for change, and I am proud that today we are lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty, boosting support for pensioners, and delivering the biggest upgrade to workers&#039; rights in a generation.&quot;Writing in The Guardian, Sir Keir described the changes as &quot;one of the proudest moments of this Labour Government&quot;.He acknowledged families were worried about the Iran conflict and its impact on living costs, adding that ministers were working with international partners to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has led the charge against the multi-billion-pound pay package.TWO-CHILD BENEFIT FURY - READ MORE:Labour’s two-child benefit cap lift blasted as ‘perverse’ as data shows UK-born parents ‘get the wrong deal’We need an honest discussion about which communities gain from lifting the two-child benefit cap - Colin Brazier&#039;Benefits Queen&#039; breaks silence on Rachel Reeves&#039;s Budget with brutal 21-word demand&quot;While working people struggle with rising fuel costs and food prices, Keir Starmer is giving another handout to those on benefits,&quot; she said.&quot;The Conservatives believe in fairness and that those on welfare should have to make the same choices about their family as those who aren&#039;t. &quot;That&#039;s why we would reinstate the two-child cap and use the savings to bolster our Armed Forces.&quot;Her Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride, branded the move &quot;Rachel Reeves&#039;s benefits payday - paid for by working families&quot;.Mrs Badenoch has pledged to restore the cap if the Conservatives win the next election, while Reform UK has pledged to only remove the cap for families where both parents are British-born and employed full time.Nigel Farage&#039;s party estimates this approach would benefit around 3,700 households, compared to the 470,000 families set to be paid under Labour.The cap&#039;s removal coincides with several other Government measures designed to ease cost-of-living pressures.State pension payments are also increasing, with Labour stating new claimants will benefit by up to £575 annually.Workers gain immediate rights to paternity leave from their first day of employment under reforms introduced through the Employment Rights Act.Statutory sick pay rules have also been overhauled as part of the same legislation.Housing benefit and personal independence payments are among other benefits receiving upratings today.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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<title>Labour branded &amp;apos;spineless&amp;apos; over &amp;apos;witch hunt&amp;apos; of Troubles veterans</title>
<link>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-branded-spineless-over-witch-hunt-of-troubles-veterans</link>
<guid>https://learncommonlaw.org/labour-branded-spineless-over-witch-hunt-of-troubles-veterans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Senior military figures have accused Labour of being &quot;spineless&quot; in its handling of legislation affecting Northern Ireland veterans.The group has claimed ministers lack &quot;moral backbone&quot; in pursuing what they describe as a &quot;grotesquely unfair&quot; approach.General Sir Peter Wall, who led the Army from 2010 to 2014, and General Sir Nick Parker, the final commander of operations in Northern Ireland, are spearheading efforts to secure greater protections for former troops.Sir Peter told The Telegraph: &quot;The stance at the top of Government is incompatible with the deployment of military force. At every level, it&#039;s grotesquely unfair. It betrays the service of these individuals to the Crown.&quot;
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The coalition of military leaders has drafted amendments requiring that fresh investigations can only proceed where &quot;compelling new evidence&quot; exists, with assessment by the Supreme Court.Their intervention follows Labour&#039;s decision to scrap Conservative immunity provisions, which critics argue exposes veterans to spurious legal claims.Special Air Service veterans are preparing an unprecedented rebellion against what they characterise as potential &quot;show trials&quot;, with the regimental association urging members to refuse giving evidence at future inquiries.The Special Air Service Regimental Association has warned it has assembled &quot;high-priced lawyers&quot; ready to challenge Labour&#039;s legislation should it pass without amendments.David White, a former SAS colonel, said the bill would &quot;open the floodgates&quot; to fresh legal action, adding: &quot;This is persecution of our soldiers, who are being endlessly dragged through the court with mischievous, vexatious claims. It&#039;s lawfare. &quot;It condemns veterans like me and colleagues to potential decades of further legal inquiry and investigation, none of which is focused on getting to the truth; it&#039;s purely built to embarrass the Government and seek vengeance on us.&quot;George Simm, formerly regimental sergeant major of 22 SAS, warned: &quot;This has gone too far. Special forces are just the canaries in the mine.&quot;Three former soldiers are scheduled to appear at Belfast magistrates&#039; court on April 20 facing charges related to shootings during the Troubles.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDougie Beattie challenges Northern Ireland&#039;s Agriculture Minister after branding him and GB News &#039;unserious&#039;Murdered MP&#039;s daughter slams Keir Starmer’s Troubles bill - &#039;What happened to reconciliation?&#039;Robert Jenrick reveals real reason hundreds of thousands of Britons WON&#039;T be able to vote for Reform UKOne veteran, identified as Soldier F, faces a murder charge over the death of Patrick McVeigh, aged 44, in May 1972. Two others, designated Soldiers B and D, are accused of attempted murder in a separate incident that same evening.Military chiefs have expressed concern that up to nine inquests could resume if the legislation proceeds unchanged, potentially dragging veterans now in their late seventies or eighties back through the courts.Among cases under judicial review is the 1991 killing of three IRA members in Coagh, County Tyrone, by an SAS team. Peter Ryan, Tony Doris and Lawrence McNally were ambushed while travelling to commit murder.Senior military figures fear republicans will exploit legal processes to &quot;rewrite&quot; the history of the IRA&#039;s campaign.Alex Burghart, the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, has called on ministers to abandon the legislation entirelyHe said: &quot;The Government needs to see sense and kill this bill. The last Conservative Government tried to draw a line under the Troubles and allow Northern Ireland to move on. Labour is erasing that line. &quot;This will mean ever more vexatious claims against veterans who served in the most difficult of circumstances. The Conservatives will fight this legislation to the last and continue to demand genuine protections for those who served.&quot;Sir Peter added: &quot;We’re not in any way trying to protect people who have done wrong things. We’re trying to protect people who have done the right things but are being hounded by vexatious comments and court cases.&quot;A Northern Ireland Office spokesman defended the government&#039;s position, stating that adherence to the rule of law remained fundamental to how the Armed Forces operate.The spokesman noted that the previous administration&#039;s immunity scheme had been &quot;widely rejected&quot; by many veterans and families of IRA terrorism victims, including relatives of soldiers killed on British soil.Ministers insisted the new approach would deliver &quot;robust protections&quot; for Operation Banner veterans, including safeguards against repeated investigations and requirements to travel to Northern Ireland to provide information.

Our Standards:
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:44:32 +0100</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lcl-staff</dc:creator>
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