
UK Politics
- UK to deny citizenship to small boat refugeeswww.bbc.co.uk UK to reject 'dangerous journey' refugees citizenship
The Home Office change has been condemned by the Refugee Council and some Labour backbench MPs.
> New guidance states that anyone who enters the UK illegally having made a dangerous journey, which could be via boat, but also by means such as hiding in a vehicle, will normally be refused citizenship, regardless of the time that has passed. > > In a statement, the Home Office said the strengthened measures made it clear that anyone who entered the UK illegally would face having a British citizenship application refused. > > But, the change has been condemned by the Refugee Council and some Labour MPs - including Stella Creasy who said the change "meant refugees would forever remain second class citizens". > > Changes, first disclosed by the Free Movement blog, were introduced to guidance for visa and immigration staff on Monday. > > Described as a "clarification" to case worker guidance when assessing if a claimant is of "good character', it says: "Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place." > > Another new entry to the same guidance says: "A person who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has previously arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship. > > "A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance." > > Previously, refugees who had arrived by irregular routes would need to wait ten years before being considered.
- www.declassifieduk.org Israeli General given special immunity for secret trip to Britain
After Declassified exposed an Israeli army delegation in London, the UK government confirms the officers were given diplomatic immunity from arrest for war crimes.
Israeli General Oded Basyuk and his delegation were given special diplomatic immunity to visit Britain last month, the UK government has confirmed. Basyuk is the head of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Operations Directorate, which is responsible for preparing the Israeli military for war.
The UK government has now revealed it “gave consent for special mission status for the visit to the UK on 21-22 January of Major General Oded Bassiuk… and delegation” to attend meetings with officials with the MoD, Foreign Office, and Cabinet Office.
The information was provided in response to a parliamentary question from Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth.
- Reform UK sets out plan to tax renewable energywww.bbc.co.uk Reform UK sets out plan to tax renewable energy - BBC News
Deputy leader Richard Tice argues net-zero policies are to blame for higher energy bills in the UK.
- www.theguardian.com Judge who granted Palestinian family asylum made wrong call, says Keir Starmer
Family fleeing Gaza were allowed to join brother in UK after applying through scheme meant for Ukrainian refugees
> Carole, Peter and Sergei are closing on the core of the Russian Westminster plot as they untangle the secrets around the parliamentary Russia Report. With Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative Attorney General and chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, which produced the groundbreaking report, and two of the Committee’s key witnesses, Edward Lucas and Christopher Steele, they discover almost everything we need to know to answer some of the big questions about the significance of the Russia covert interference operation in the British democratic processes. And about the lengths to which the powers that be, for their own political reasons, went to cover this whole thing up from the watchful eye of the British electorate. > >In this episode you also hear the voices of journalist and author, Catherine Belton, writer and historian, Anne Applebaum and former Intelligence and Security Committee members Stewart Hosie and Kevan Jones. > >Sergei and the Westminster Spy Ring will be taking a short break and will return soon to conclude this season. > >A Project Citizen production > >To find out more about the story and issues it raises visit www.the-citizens.com > >Presented by: Carole Cadwalladr and Peter Jukes