Politics

Passengers could be banned from causing a “nuisance” by playing loud music on public transport under proposals to change the law set out by the Tories. The Conservatives said there should be “swift justice for those who make people’s lives a misery” by playing music loudly on buses and trains, and that they would introduce…

Curbing the power of judges in asylum cases to tackle the migrant hotel crisis is a typical Keir Starmer response to a problem. The former director of public prosecutions would appear to see overhauling court procedures and the legal process as the answer to any tricky situation. Yes, the proposed fast-track asylum appeals process is…

Criminals face being banned from pubs, sports grounds and concerts under new government plans to give judges powers to pass tougher community sentences. The new measures, which would apply to people in England and Wales, “should remind all offenders that, under this government, crime does not pay”, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. Offenders’ freedom could…

Criminals serving a community sentence face being banned from pubs, concerts and sports grounds under new government plans to give judges powers to pass tougher community sentences. The new measures, which would apply to people in England and Wales, “should remind all offenders that, under this government, crime does not pay,” Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood…

A weekend of protests and counter-protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers began last night, with dozens expected today. Saturday is set to see more demonstrations across major towns and cities in England, organised under the Abolish Asylum System slogan, with at least 33 planned over the bank holiday weekend. The protests are expected in Bristol,…

Has the government just walked into a giant political elephant trap by attempting to reverse the Epping hotel ruling? Already on the back foot after a judge ordered the Bell Hotel to be emptied of asylum seekers, the Home Office is now being attacked for trying to appeal that decision. “The government isn’t listening to…

The foreign secretary has been issued a formal warning by the Environment Agency after reporting himself for fishing with the US vice-president without a licence. David Lammy reported himself to the agency after an “administrative oversight” meant he failed to get a rod licence while hosting JD Vance at his grace-and-favour retreat in Chevening, Kent,…

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈 Can Britain afford both welfare and warfare? Beth Rigby takes us inside the row that could define Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership. From that huge Commons rebellion over welfare cuts to the looming pressure on defence spending, how can the government look after…

The UK government won’t find much in the latest dump of migration data to back up its claim that it is restoring order to a broken asylum system. In a competitive field, perhaps the most damaging stat is the rising number of small boat crossings – up 38% on 12 months previously and close to…

The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has risen by 8% since Labour came to power, the latest government figures show. The Home Office data revealed there were 32,059 asylum seekers in hotels at the end of June – up from 29,585 in June 2024. However, the proportion of all asylum seekers staying in…