logo
Groans as Lee Anderson suggests Jeremy Corbyn should be deported with Channel migrants

Groans as Lee Anderson suggests Jeremy Corbyn should be deported with Channel migrants

Independent13-05-2025

Lee Anderson 's call for Jeremy Corbyn to be deported alongside migrants who cross the Channel to reach the UK prompted groans in the House of Commons on Monday (12 May).
The Reform UK MP's comments came during a debate about the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Mr Anderson asked Dame Angela Eagle: "Does she agree with me that these young men crossing the Channel should be immediately detained and deported along with the member for Islington?"
Mr Anderson was condemned for his comments, with the Home Office minister replying: "I'm quite shocked that the honorable gentleman thinks that that's an appropriate thing to say in this place."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Net migration will halve again to 200,000 next year due to worsening job market, Home Office advisor predicts
Net migration will halve again to 200,000 next year due to worsening job market, Home Office advisor predicts

The Independent

time38 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Net migration will halve again to 200,000 next year due to worsening job market, Home Office advisor predicts

Net migration to the UK could halve again to 200,000 in the next year due to the weakening jobs market, according to the government's independent advisor. Last month, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the largest fall in net migration on record. Around 431,000 more people arrived in the UK than left over the 12 months to December 2024, compared to 860,000 a year earlier. The fall was driven by a decline in non-EU workers and students coming to the UK, and Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), said on Tuesday that he expected this drop to continue. He said that he expected net migration to drop to 200,000 'in the next year or so', and then settle back around 300,000 in the following years. Professor Bell continued: 'Work visas have fallen very heavily, which is part of the reason why net migration has fallen so much. We won't see a big bounce back in visas for work. Most forecasts don't predict strong growth in the labour market for the next year or two'. Data from the ONS released on Tuesday showed the number of available jobs fell by 63,000 between March and May this year, while the unemployment rate ticked higher. Unemployment in the UK rose in April to the highest level in almost four years. Liz McKeown, the ONS director of economic statistics, said that 'our vacancies survey suggests some firms may be holding back from recruiting new workers or replacing people when they move on'. Recent changes in Labour's immigration white paper will also make it harder for foreign workers to come to the UK. The skills threshold for work visas will be returned to degree level, reducing the number of lower-skilled visas issued. Professor Bell warned that the hospitality and retail sectors would be worst hit by the changes. The number of people coming to the UK on health and care worker visas has also been plummeting, sparking fears that care homes, which rely on overseas workers, could be forced to close. The fall in social care visas was sparked after former Home Secretary James Cleverly introduced a ban on care workers bringing family members to the UK last year. Despite concerns over a shortage of workers in key sectors because of the change, Labour is continuing to face pressure from Nigel Farage's Reform party to bring down net migration figures even further. Sir Keir Starmer last month said the UK risks becoming an 'island of strangers' without controls on immigration as he unveiled plans to tighten English language requirements, deport more foreign criminals, tell employers they must train UK staff and require skilled workers entering Britain to have a degree. Under Reform's plans, work visas for areas with skill shortages would be capped.

Tories raise almost six times more in donations than Labour
Tories raise almost six times more in donations than Labour

Telegraph

time38 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Tories raise almost six times more in donations than Labour

The Conservatives raised almost six times more than Labour in private donations in the first quarter of this year, in another sign that businesses are fleeing Sir Keir Starmer's party. The latest data reported to the Electoral Commission showed the Tories raised £2.8 million from individuals and companies in the first three months of the year, while Labour raised £530,000. Reform UK reported donations of almost £1.5 million, including £250,000 from the mother of one of Nigel Farage's aides and more than £600,000 from a company run by Richard Tice. The data showed that political donations to the Conservatives were increasing while Labour was relying heavily on public money and contributions from trade unions. David Ross, a co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, returned to the Tories as a donor for the first time since Boris Johnson was leader, and will be appointed as a senior party treasurer later this year. Writing for The Telegraph, Mr Ross said the Conservatives must 'honestly admit we failed' to deliver political leadership while in government, urging Kemi Badenoch's party to 'fill that void' from opposition. He said: 'Being leader of the opposition is one of the most difficult jobs in Britain, even more so after an election result like 2024 and the challenges now faced from both the Left and the Right. 'But Kemi Badenoch has a vision for a revitalised Conservative Party that will take time, trust and transparency.' Mr Ross, who was worth £800 million at the peak of his business career in 2008, was a close ally of Mr Johnson. He stopped donating after he stepped down in 2022, but has returned with a pledge to donate £20,000 a month to the Tories. The first £40,000 of donations was reported in the Electoral Commission figures. The figures show that Labour received individual donations from only five people in the first three months of the year, including one bequest of £350,000 and £35,000 from Lord Alli, the controversial peer. Labour's donations total was dwarfed by the £1.3 million it received from unions. The party has struggled to bring in big business support since the general election campaign, when it significantly out-raised the Conservatives and hosted a series of high profile events for leaders in the City. But recent policy decisions, including increasing National Insurance contributions for employers, are thought to have driven tycoons away. It is usual for major political parties to raise less money in the year after an election campaign, and a Labour source said that the party had raised more money in the first quarter of this year than at the same point in the electoral cycle after the 2019 election. Despite a pledge to bring in seven-figure donations, Reform reported £1.45 million in contributions, including a substantial donation from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell, an aide to Mr Farage. Mr Tice, the party's deputy leader, donated £613,000 through his company Tisun Investments. The figures show that Lord Bamford, the millionaire owner of JCB, donated £25,000 to the Conservatives through his company, despite offering some public support for Mr Farage. In April, JCB hosted Mr Farage for two party events, and the Conservative peer funded an £8,000 helicopter trip for the Reform leader last year. He has said the Conservatives should do a deal with Reform before the next election. Mohamed Amersi and Bassim Haidar, two former Conservative donors, each gave Reform £25,000 to attend a fundraiser held in January, the figures show. They did not include any donations to Reform from Nick Candy, the party's treasurer, despite claims reported in the Financial Times last week that he had given £313,000. Badenoch has vision to revitalised Tories – and Britain I owe much of who I am today to my grandfather – a man of Grimsby who, despite his entire trawler fleet being requisitioned in the Second World War, had the tenacity and unwavering ambition to completely rebuild his business over the next 25 years, writes David Ross. Through this dedication, he transformed Ross Foods, a small family firm on Humberside, into one of the UK's largest commercial fishing enterprises. I also learnt first hand from the brave and fiercely patriotic people of Grimsby of the value of a hard day's work, and what they expected in terms of being treated fairly in return. It was through these examples that I first understood the importance of personal responsibility and the role of strong, principled leadership – values that drew me to conservatism from an early age. I was, of course, fortunate to be growing up through the golden age of conservatism under the leadership of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who remain two of the most influential post-war politicians. Too often, people forget the potential we have here at home when we foster an environment of ambition and opportunity, fuelled by optimism. So if you care about the future of this country, you must care about the current state of our political leadership. Challenges from Left and Right We are in a new political era – one that requires leaders who can address problems and propose solutions based on real-life experiences. One that needs policy-making focused on anticipating the needs of the future, not a knee-jerk response to challenges presented by others. Exposed to stoic leadership early on, I learnt that it's easy to start something but harder to see it through. Being leader of the opposition is one of the most difficult jobs in Britain, even more so after an election result like 2024, and the challenges now faced from both the Left and the Right. But Kemi Badenoch has a vision for a revitalised Conservative Party that will take time, trust and transparency. We are being governed by a party whose promises nobody believes. That's why Kemi's approach is the right one. She has made clear she will only announce policies that are costed, clear or will save money. Our country can turn itself around – but not with empty promises. At times of international uncertainty, technological change and increasing apathy, the Conservative Party needs to articulate more clearly than ever the values we believe in. As Kemi has said, we need to communicate that it's always been Conservatives committed to the values of enterprise, sound money, and renewal. Time for conservatives to come together I will do everything I can to help execute this renewal when I take up my role as a senior Conservative Party treasurer in the autumn. It's time for conservatives to come together. We are the only country on the planet with policies encouraging wealth creators to leave and benefit takers to arrive. We should be supporting hard-working teachers in our academy schools, helping young people trying to buy their first home, and ensuring business people aren't being leant on to pick up the tab. My work over the past 40 years across business, the arts, and education all comes from one place – because I love this country and continue to believe in public service. That is why rather than leave the country, as many of my friends are doing, I am committed to doubling down and trying to help our country face up to the many challenges we currently face. As the founder of the David Ross Educational Trust, I despair that this Labour Government is dragging education backwards. Once upon a time, education policy was something that had cross-party consensus. Reforms initially spearheaded by Lord Adonis and Tony Blair, built upon by successive Conservative governments, are now being challenged for reasons of political dogma rather than educational outcomes. It's pointless, time-consuming, and bad for children. It's not what a responsible Government is here to do – no wonder parents are losing faith in our political leaders. Instead of focusing on actually delivering for our children, our energy is going into fighting unnecessary changes decided without consideration by Labour while in opposition. Their insistence on taking away hard-won freedoms from academy schools, coupled with charging VAT on independent schools, is squeezing the state sector to breaking point. Now is not the time for excuses Labour's tax raid on family businesses is rightly causing uproar – it's a travesty. Family-owned businesses, many of which have been in the same hands for generations, are the backbone of our economy and society. They often have deep roots in the local community, like my family's business in Grimsby. But rather than support those firms, Labour are deciding to put them at a disadvantage compared to foreign owned firms – where is the logic in that? Nothing belies the Government's wrong-headedness more than its desire to make it harder for business people to pass on their business to the next generation. The need for strong political leadership has never been clearer. This is something we must honestly admit we failed to do at times while in government. But there is now a vacuum in British politics, and it's time for the official opposition to step in and fill that void. Now is not the time for excuses – we need to take responsibility, and that why's Kemi's mission to renew the Conservative Party is so crucial. I can no longer sit on the sidelines, so I am committing to supporting those trying to give the British people the principled leadership they deserve.

Clean-up under way in Ballymena as ‘appalling' disorder condemned
Clean-up under way in Ballymena as ‘appalling' disorder condemned

BreakingNews.ie

time40 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Clean-up under way in Ballymena as ‘appalling' disorder condemned

Clean-up efforts are underway in the streets of Ballymena after disorder broke out on Monday night. Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long said there can be 'no justification' for such 'appalling' scenes, and police have appealed for calm following the disruption in the Co Antrim town. Advertisement Along Clonavon Terrace, six houses had their windows smashed in, and two of those have been taped off after suffering significant fire damage. A Romanian mother of three, who lived in one of the targeted houses, told the PA news agency that she is scared to stay in the area, and her children were asking why they were being attacked. Local MP Jim Allister said tensions had been growing in the town over immigration, adding that the violence followed a peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. TUV leader Jim Allister said tensions had been building in Ballymena for some time (Liam McBurney/PA) Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. Advertisement Monday's violence occurred in the Clonavon Terrace area, with social media footage showing protesters burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street. Some masked individuals also threw missiles, including cans of paint and glass bottles, at PSNI vehicles. A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters, followed by officers on foot. Firefighters later responded to the burning debris on the road and inspected a nearby house, which had filled with smoke. Advertisement Other footage appeared to show some protesters targeting houses by smashing windows. Tensions which erupted into violence on the streets of Ballymena have been building for some time, North Antrim MP Jim Allister has said. TUV leader Mr Allister said: 'Within Ballymena, there has been rising concerns about the sheer scale of migration into the town and that would have been a factor in the wholly peaceful protest. 'All that to be distinguished from the wanton violence which then followed, with obviously a minority of that peaceful crowd wanting to take advantage of that to visit violence which wasn't wanted or warranted, hence the scenes that we saw. Advertisement 'It is very distressing to see scenes of violence on the streets of Ballymena.' Mr Allister said tensions have been building in the town 'for a considerable period of time'. He added: 'It is easier to start than to stop these things. There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years. 'That unchecked migration, which is beyond what the town can cope with, is a source of past and future tensions; that is the reality of it.' Advertisement 'Those who came onto the street last night in the main had a perfectly legitimate purpose and cause of being there.' Mr Allister said he had spoken to the family of the girl who was the victim of the alleged sexual assault, and they did not want to see violent scenes. He said: 'Sadly, the narrative has been diverted, and it has been diverted by those who wrongly and foolishly involved in violence and made the story something that what it otherwise should be. 'My message is the violence should stop. The concerns are there, I am certainly aware of them, I hear them, and there needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course.' Ms Long said: 'I am absolutely appalled by the disturbing scenes in Ballymena yesterday evening during which PSNI officers were injured, residents terrorised, and properties damaged. 'There is absolutely no place in our society for such disorder, and there can be no justification for it. 'I would appeal to those involved to seriously consider their actions and step back from this behaviour before someone is seriously injured or worse. 'Attacking homes and police officers serves no purpose other than to damage communities and raise tensions. Those involved will be pursued and held accountable for their actions. 'I have conveyed to the PSNI my best wishes to the injured officers for a speedy recovery. 'I am also calling on community and political leaders and all those with influence to condemn this violence and work with the police and community to quell any further disorder or violence.' In a statement on Monday night, the PSNI said a number of missiles had been thrown towards police, with damage reported to a number of properties. It said officers would remain in the area to monitor the situation. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said: 'We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. 'Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible.' The PSNI asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 or online via Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store