Keir Starmer's EU deal a ‘horror show for Scottish fishermen'
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) claimed that other benefits secured by Britain, in areas such as defence, exports and travel, had been achieved entirely 'on the backs' of the fishing sector and coastal communities.
The new pact means existing access to UK waters for boats from EU countries, which had been due to expire next year, will instead continue for a further 12 years in what was seen as a major concession that will benefit French, Dutch and Danish fishermen.
The terms of the initial Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson's government, which saw the UK regain 25
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The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Record number of police officers sacked amid drop in force numbers
A record number of police officers were sacked from forces in England and Wales in the past year, new figures show. Latest Home Office data reveals 426 officers were dismissed or had their contracts terminated in the 12 months to March. This is up 17% year on year from the previous record of 365 and more than double the number fired at the start of the decade, when 164 officers were dismissed in 2019/20. The latest 12-month period also saw 4,806 officers voluntarily leaving policing: the second-highest number since records began in 2006 and down slightly from the peak of 5,151 in 2023/24. The figures come as ministers have sought to tighten rules on standards to improve confidence in policing, while they have also faced warnings from forces that funding falls short to keep its existing workforce. A total of 146,442 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers were in post at the end of March 2025, down almost 1% from 147,745 at the same point last year, which was the highest in modern times. Of the 43 police forces, the Metropolitan Police saw the largest drop of 1,022 FTE officers, down 3% from 34,315 to 33,293. Last month, plans for an average 2.3% rise in police spending per year faced backlash from police leaders, who warned a projected £1.2 billion shortfall will continue to grow and leave forces facing further cuts. Acting national chairwoman of the Police Federation, Tiff Lynch, had said: 'We will lose 10,000 experienced officers a year to resignation by the end of this spending review period, driven out by poor pay and unacceptable working conditions.' Chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council Gavin Stephens added that the amount 'falls far short' of what is needed to fund Government plans and to maintain the existing workforce. Ministers have committed to recruiting 13,000 more neighbourhood policing officers by 2029, with 3,000 extra recruits to be in post by spring next year. Meanwhile, the figures show there was a 17% decrease in the number of new recruits joining police forces, 7,874 excluding transfers, compared to 9,492 the year before. This follows a 42% decrease in the year 2022/23, when 16,355 joined policing. Reacting to the figures, the Conservatives said the falling police numbers were a 'devastating blow' to neighbourhoods dealing with rising crime and anti-social behaviour. The figures cover the last three months of the former Conservative government, and the first nine months of Labour in power. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Labour has let down policing and has let down the public. 'We need police to catch criminals, respond to 999 calls, investigate crime and patrol our streets. 'Labour has massively increased our taxes, squandered the money, and now they're reducing police numbers. The public are less safe as a result of Labour's incompetence.' A Home Office spokesperson said the Government is determined to re-build neighbourhood policing, and there will be an extra 3,000 officers and PCSOs in communities by March 2026 following a £200 million investment. The spokesperson added: 'Officer numbers have been stable since last July despite falling between March and June 2024, however, the promising increase in neighbourhood policing shows that we are finally seeing more officers on our streets'.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to expect from Modi's visit to UK
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the UK to formally sign a free trade agreement amid global trade tensions sparked by Donald Trump 's tariffs. The long-awaited signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, agreed in May after three years of negotiations and described variously as 'landmark' and 'historic', is the centrepiece of the visit. Mr Modi's two-day state visit, starting Wednesday, is his fourth to the UK and comes at a pivotal moment for both nations. For India, it offers a chance to diversify trade and diplomatic partnerships. For the UK, still grappling with post-Brexit trade issues, the deal represents a rare economic breakthrough. Mr Modi's trade minister, Piyush Goyal, is accompanying him for the formal signing, an Indian commerce ministry official said. 'This is a significant agreement," Vikram Misri, India's foreign secretary, told reporters on Tuesday, adding that legal vetting of the deal was near completion. Mr Modi is meeting his counterpart Keir Starmer for 'wide-ranging' talks on trade, defence, security and technological cooperation as well as climate. He is likely to meet King Charles as well. While the trade deal remains the focal point, the trip is also aimed at resetting bilateral ties, deepening strategic cooperation, and amplifying people-to-people links. The agreement, expected to boost a £42.6bn trading relationship, was finalised after 14 formal rounds of negotiations. Mr Goyal earlier called the deal 'a turning point in India's outward economic engagement and a win-win for both economies'. Mr Starmer hailed it as 'a bold step forward for Global Britain', projecting it to boost GDP by £4.8bn annually and potentially support over 30,000 new jobs. Under the deal, the UK agreed to eliminate or phase out tariffs on over 99 per cent of Indian exports, including textiles, auto parts, leather goods, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products. India in turn agreed to cut tariffs on 90 per cent of British goods. It agreed to significantly lower levies on British exports like Scotch whisky, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, luxury cosmetics, and certain high-tech goods. British cars, which currently attract tariffs of over 100 per cent in India, will see duties reduced to 10 per cent. The deal also offers tariff concessions on medical devices, pharmaceuticals, aircraft components, and electronic goods. In return, Indian manufacturers are expected to gain access to the UK market for electric and hybrid vehicles, the commerce ministry official said. 'The UK is an important market for Indian exporters," said Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, adding the pact would boost trade and provide access for Indian sectors like textiles, footwear, marine and engineering products. Beyond trade, Mr Modi and Mr Starmer are likely to discuss bolstering the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, originally launched in 2021. Mr Modi is also scheduled to meet leaders of the Indian diaspora, estimated at over 1.7m. The free trade deal had to undergo parliamentary scrutiny in the UK and a review by the Indian cabinet before it could come into force. The Indian cabinet approved the deal on Tuesday after a legal scrubbing of its text. The British parliament is yet to approve it. Sensitivities remain around issues that are either unresolved or that have been quietly sidestepped for now. India has firmly excluded agriculture from the scope of the deal, a politically and economically sensitive sector that sustains more than 40 per cent of the country's workforce. This longstanding red line reflects New Delhi's resistance to exposing its farmers to foreign competition and has complicated talks with other major partners, including the US. Among the more controversial provisions is India's commitment to gradually lower tariffs on certain British imports such as Scotch whisky and luxury vehicles. While these sectors are crucial for the UK, Indian manufacturers, particularly in the alcohol industry, have warned a flood of high-end imports could affect the market and harm homegrown brands. Mr Modi's trip to the UK is part of a two-nation tour. From the UK, he will visit the Maldives for his third trip to the island nation and first since Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, became president in November 2023.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
M&S ad banned for featuring ‘unhealthily thin' model
A Marks & Spencer advertisement has been banned by the UK's advertising watchdog after featuring a model who appeared to be "unhealthily thin". The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled it was "irresponsible" for the high street retailer to use the image, which appeared on its mobile app, to promote clothing. The ASA noted the model, dressed in slim-fit trousers and a white top, "appeared thin and she wore large pointed shoes which emphasised the slenderness of her legs". Furthermore, the ruling highlighted that camera angles distorted the model's head, making it appear out of proportion and "highlighted her small frame". 'Therefore, we considered that the pose of the model and the choice of clothing meant the ad gave the impression that the model was unhealthily thin,' the ASA said. M&S has apologised for any offence caused and removed the image from the app. 'Our womenswear sizing ranges from size 8 to 24 and we always want to reflect that in our advertising,' a company spokeswoman said. 'The product images on our website feature models of varying sizes so we can appeal to all our customers, however following the ASA guidance, we have removed this particular image from our website and apologise for any offence caused.' Three more images were reported to the ASA by consumers, but the watchdog said there was no breach and did not ban them. In February, an ad for the high street retailer Next was also banned by the ASA for using an 'unhealthily thin' model. The ad, a product listing for denim leggings on the Next website, was deemed 'irresponsible'. The ASA said the retailer had used specific styling and a particular camera angle and pose to highlight the slimness of the model's legs. Next said the ad was created with a 'strong sense of responsibility to both consumers and society'. It said the model, while slim, had a healthy and toned physique that aligned with the nature of its product.
