Starmer to host first UK-EU summit since Brexit
Tommy Meskill, London Correspondent, explains what can be expected from a summit between the European Union leaders and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.
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Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Windsor deal an opaque mess, says Democratic Unionist Party leader
The rules governing the operation of the Windsor Framework are 'ineffective, opaque and overly bureaucratic' and give Northern Ireland's politicians little opportunity to influence decisions, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson has said. Speaking to the House of Lords Northern Ireland scrutiny committee in Westminster, the DUP leader was scathing of the agreement reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom in February 2023. It amended the previously agreed Northern Ireland Protocol and governs post-Brexit trading rules, though unionists complain bitterly that many British companies will no longer sell products to Northern Ireland customers because of the extra rules. Speaking of an announcement expected on Thursday about the availability of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, Mr Robinson said the current strategy being followed by the British government made little sense. READ MORE British prime minister Keir Starmer has already made clear he will keep rules governing food and animal security in line with European Union rules, which should mean no extra curbs on the drugs available to Northern farmers. 'We know what the direction of travel will be, even if we do not like it,' said Mr Robinson, yet London's actions will ensure that some drugs will not be sold in Northern Ireland for a year, or more, even though they meet all safety standards. Telling peers that he does not 'have a lot of faith' in the Windsor deal, Mr Robinson said it frustrates 'the ability for ordinary, routine and at times complex and serious engagement to either satisfy, resolve or ameliorate' some of its harmful effects. It could not ever be effective until the imposition of European Union rules 'without the consent of any elected unionist in Northern Ireland, without the consent of party colleagues in Westminster' was resolved, he went on. The House of Lords committee, chaired by the cross-bench peer Lord Carlile, has been holding a series of hearings to investigate in detail the operation of the framework agreement. Meanwhile, an independent report on the operation of the Windsor deal from the former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy, which was started following a Stormont Assembly vote in January, is set to finish shortly, the meeting heard. Lord Murphy has been tasked with examining the effect it has had on social, economic and political life in Northern Ireland, and on the United Kingdom's internal market, and to make recommendations. While paying a personal tribute to the former Labour secretary of state, the DUP leader, however, questioned his independence, saying he is required to advance only ideas that have cross-community backing in Stormont. However, the SDLP's Stormont leader of the Opposition, Matt O'Toole, questioned the value of some of the measures that were taken to coax the DUP back into Stormont government last year. One of them, the East-West Council, designed to improve connections between different parts of the UK, could not be put at the same rank as the institutions created under the Belfast Agreement, he said.
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I fought Taliban and ended up homeless – now my hometown is prioritising Afghan refugees over me… the system is broken
VETERAN George Ford spilled blood fighting to give the people of Afghanistan their freedom. The hero Para had to use a wheelchair after being shot on a tour of the brutal Helmand province aged 21. Advertisement 4 Veteran George Ford has spent the past two years sofa surfing and living with his mum Credit: Rachel Elkin 4 A migrant family seen leaving a 4-star hotel in Bracknell Credit: David Dyson When he got back to the UK, he dreamed of living a simple life in his home town of Bracknell, Berks, but like many traumatised ex-military he fell into addiction and lost his rented home when his long-term relationship broke up. He has spent the past two years sofa surfing and living with his mum after the local authority failed to find him a home — despite welcoming 300 Afghans who, ironically, George had tried to liberate. The families are being George, 35, said: 'I don't have a problem with them helping Afghans. They deserve help and respect. Advertisement 'But surely the Government should also be helping those who served the country first? 'I don't understand how some of the families have made it into the UK at all because I've seen a few outside the hotel and some of them don't even speak English, so I'm not sure how they helped our missions. 'A lot of them are fighting-age males and it's alarming because nobody has seen the women or children meant to be with them. 'I just want some stability in life after everything I've been through.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun Speaking about the situation, Reform MP Fury as hotel firm housing asylum seekers in 'all-inclusive resorts' paid £700M a year of YOUR money 'The Armed Forces Covenant is meant to honour our veterans, not be ignored in favour of unvetted arrivals who can't even speak English. Our heroes deserve better.' George's plight comes nine months after PM Keir Starmer vowed British war heroes living on the streets will be guaranteed a house, declaring 'homes will be there for heroes'. Bracknell council agreed to take part in the scheme to house hundreds of Afghans in The Bracknell Hotel, with free food, employment advice, benefits and private healthcare, after they were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Advertisement They are not classed as illegal immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees because they either helped the UK mission, with many working as translators, or fled the country because they had been deemed at risk from the Taliban. But the move has provoked fury among local residents and veterans who claim they are left living in run-down, cramped homes. Local independent councillor John Edwards asked families about their experiences on Facebook — and was stunned when a Labour colleague threatened to report him to police. 4 Afghan families are being put up in a four-star hotels Credit: David Dyson Advertisement 4 George was shot on a tour of the brutal Helmand province aged 21 Credit: Getty He said that he was not surprised that George had met Afghans who could not speak English and questioned how thorough the vetting had been on the new arrivals. The councillor added: 'I did a Freedom of Information request and no information about the vetting process was ever shared with the council and it didn't ask questions. 'The process may well have been sound, but the authority has done nothing to check if it was robust enough to keep residents safe.' Advertisement George joined the military aged 17 and was on his second tour of Afghanistan on Remembrance Day in 2010 when his platoon was ambushed and came under fire from the Taliban. He said: 'We were patrolling and went into a village under cover of darkness, hunting a Taliban commander, but were ambushed. Platoon ambushed 'I was in the open and was running across to get myself into cover when I felt this high-velocity round hit my leg. 'At first I thought I'd stepped on an IED because, when I landed, I couldn't see anything. Advertisement 'My section commander saved my life by dragging me to safety and placing a tourniquet on my leg. 'An American helicopter flew in to pick me up and I had to be revived twice on the way to Camp Bastion.' George was medically discharged and underwent 13 operations, some 14 hours long, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. When he returned home to Bracknell, he suffered from severe PTSD and started self-medicating with drugs. Advertisement Brutally honest about his spiral, he said: 'I was too embarrassed to reach out for help and started doing drugs. It took me to hell and I ended up losing everything I had. 'I lost all the internal riches of life because I'd been through a lot of trauma and just wasn't addressing it. 'I was in a wheelchair for a year, then on crutches. It was really hard on my body, but I lost my way. 'I've since realised my mistakes and have found God. I am a different person and just want to move on and make a fresh start.' Advertisement One veteran who served in Afghanistan told me he and his two young daughters live in a one-bedroom flat. George Ford George split from his long-term girlfriend, who he rented a property with, in 2023 and has been living with friends and his mum ever since. Bracknell Forest Council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant designed to help soldiers, but says that 'it does not guarantee immediate entitlement to housing'. George said: 'I'm a proud guy, but they are making me feel like I've got a begging bowl out. 'I can't afford to rent property around here because a tiny bedsit costs about £1,400 a month and I need a two-bedroom house based on medical grounds, so my family can come and help me if they need to. Advertisement 'I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm just asking to be treated as if I served my Queen and country. 'I don't have any issue with Afghans being given help — so long as veterans are given the same consideration. 'When I approached the council, I realised how little support there is for other veterans and I even offered to work with them to put measures in place, but I was turned down.' George's mum Michelle, 57, has watched her son struggle physically and mentally since his return from Afghanistan. Advertisement 'Heartbreaking stories' She said: 'When he first got home, he had a machine in his stomach which cleaned his blood and he struggled massively to get upstairs. The council offered him a flat in a high rise at the time, but it was in a terrible area with drug addicts and needles everywhere. He deserved more than that. 'We love each other, but George is a 35-year-old man and he doesn't want to be at home with his mum.' Cllr Edwards believes veterans should be entitled to the same support packages as the Afghans. Advertisement He said: 'I was on a briefing call to explain what was happening with the Afghans. 'They've been given a four-star hotel, all their food catered for, all their bills paid. 'They get private-delivered healthcare — it's not Bupa, but it's outside the NHS and avoids waiting times — and there's wraparound care and support, yet veterans who served our country are not being given the same package. 'I put out a post on a community Facebook group asking what support local residents and veterans received and some of the stories I got back were heartbreaking. Advertisement 'One veteran who served in Afghanistan told me he and his two young daughters live in a one-bedroom flat. I've always maintained that these people should be treated with dignity and respect, but this isn't about them — it's about policy. George Ford 'Then a local Labour councillor said she had reported me to the police and MoD. 'There has to be equality and parity here. The differences in the way people are treated is what is causing division, not the fact Afghan people are being helped. 'I've always maintained that these people should be treated with dignity and respect, but this isn't about them — it's about policy. Advertisement 'The council says the scheme is being funded by the Government, but it's all taxpayers' money regardless. It's unfair.' A Bracknell Forest Council spokesman said: 'Mr Ford is currently on the housing register as eligible for a one-bedroom property. His eligibility is based on the medical and care evidence that he provided to us. 'Our records show that Mr Ford has applied for several properties outside of his eligibility criteria, but has not applied for any one-bedroom properties. 'Our new housing policy prioritises veterans, and Mr Ford will continue to be supported to apply for properties on our online portal based on his eligibility. Advertisement 'The council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which means that our Armed Forces community is treated equally and fairly. However, it does not guarantee immediate entitlement to housing.' Read more on the Irish Sun But George said: 'The council has ignored everything I've been saying and the medical paperwork. They've not been helpful in any way. 'They are ignoring the basis of the Armed Forces Covenant, which states they should provide housing. It's total neglect.'
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Bodies pulled from under rubble after Vladimir Putin bombs Kyiv killing 28 as EU chief says ‘fight or learn Russian'
TWELVE more bodies have been pulled from the rubble after the deadliest Russian strike on Kyiv this year. Vladimir Putin's overnight blitz on the Ukrainian capital yesterday killed 28 people and injured 134 - as an EU chief warned Europeans to "start learning Russian" unless they step up support for Ukraine. 5 28 people have been confirmed dead after Tuesday's overnight blitz 5 A resident reacts after a Russian missile hit a multi-storey apartment Credit: AP 5 Rescuers work in Zaporizhzhia to put out a fire caused by the attack Credit: Shutterstock Editorial On the night of Monday to Tuesday, Buildings and critical infrastructure facilities were damaged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it 'one of the most terrible strikes on Kyiv'. Zelensky said on Tuesday: 'In Kyiv, people are currently trying to get out of the rubble of an ordinary residential building. It is not clear how many there are. Read more world news "The Russians destroyed an entire entrance.' Earlier reports confirmed 15 people dead, including a 62-year-old American citizen. One missile struck a nine-storey apartment block in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district - demolishing a whole section of the building. Six bodies were pulled from the debris on Wednesday afternoon. Most read in The US Sun The updated death toll has risen to 28, as of the latest update on Wednesday afternoon, but people are still missing, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Spokesperson Svitlana Vodolaha said: "We don't have exact information. The city authorities said some people haven't been in contact. We know that 35 apartments have been destroyed. The search operation is still ongoing." 5 Vladimir Putin's assault blasted 27 locations in the capital Credit: Reuters Russia bombards Kyiv with deadliest strike in months with 14 killed as NATO warplanes scrambled on the border Overnight attacks also struck the Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv regions. Blasts at the Black Sea port of Odesa killed 2 people and injured 17. Ukraine marked a day of mourning on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the European Commission announced on Tuesday its plans to stop all Russian fossil fuel imports by the end of 2027. Regardless of developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, fuel imports - including gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) - will be phrased out. But Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, says the EU is not doing enough to stop the war - which has raged for over three years. Speaking in the European Parliament, she warned of Russia's "direct threat to the European Union". "Last year, Russia spent more on defence than the European Union combined," Kallas said, as "This year, Russia is spending more on defence than its own healthcare, education and social policy combined. This is a long-term plan for a long-term aggression," she said. Kallas urged European officials: "We have to do more more for Ukraine, for our own security too. "To quote my friend NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: if we don't help Ukraine further, we should all start learning Russian. 'The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield today, the stronger they will be around the negotiation table when Russia finally is ready to talk.' It comes as Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv was bombarded overnight with 48 kamikaze drones, missiles and guided bombs, just over a week ago. The assault killed three people and injured 21. 5 A resident holds his dog at the site of an apartment damaged after a Russian strike Credit: Reuters
