From chicken to potatoes, Britain's never grown less of its own food
The idea that Britain could run out of food and need rationing seems alarmist, and more appropriate, perhaps, for VE Day. But some experts say Britain's food system is starting to look precarious and the days when you could walk into a supermarket and expect to find pretty much any fruit, vegetable, meat or dairy item on any day of the year will soon be at an end. 'The party's over — that's gone. We're in a new era now,' said Tim Lang, professor emeritus of food policy at City, University of London and the man who coined
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The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
We're prepared if protests turn violent, police say ahead of string of anti-migrant demonstrations
Police chiefs have warned they are ready to 'mobilise significant and specialist resources' if unrest breaks out at a string of anti-migrant protests planned at hotels housing asylum seekers. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) is working with forces across the country and monitoring intelligence in preparation for a fresh wave of protests on Friday, with demonstrations planned at up to 14 hotels across the country. It comes as the Metropolitan Police is also expected to come under pressure on Saturday when a National March for Palestine is planned in the capital. A separate pro-Palestine Action rally could result in mass arrests with 500 people expected to hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' in defiance of anti-terror laws. Anti-migrant protesters are expected to return to The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Friday, where violence erupted last month after an Ethiopian refugee was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Demonstrators are also set to return to the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, where a group wearing face masks and carrying smoke bombs made a 'concerted effort' to break in last weekend. Other anti-migrant demonstrations are planned at hotels in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leeds and Norwich, among others, in what is being billed as UK-wide protests to 'abolish the asylum system'. Organisers have said the events will be 'locally led peaceful protests ' with no masks and no alcohol in posters shared widely on social media. Ahead of the widespread action, Chief Constable BJ Harrington, chair of the NPCC Operations Coordination Committee, said: 'We have robust and well-tested proactive plans in place, with the ability to mobilise significant and specialist resources, if necessary. "Public order response officers will be supported by investigation teams who will gather evidence and ensure those responsible for any acts of criminality, should they occur, are identified and held to account. 'Policing is not anti-protest, we are anti-crime and we will continue to work with local communities to ensure that they are safe and serious disruption is prevented.' The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has warned that another summer of unrest places forces and officers under strain. 'Public order duties often mean long shifts, cancelled leave, missed family time and real risk,' a spokesman added. 'That takes its toll. This isn't just about numbers; it's about resilience, wellbeing, and a system under strain.' It comes ahead of the possibility of yet more mass arrests in London on Saturday, after the Met vowed to continue its crackdown on those showing support for Palestine Action. Campaign group Defend Our Juries has said more than 500 people are ready to be arrested by holding placards supporting the banned direct-action group in Parliament Square. They have warned their demonstrations will continue until a legal challenge over its proscription as a terror group is heard at the High Court in November. At least 221 people have been arrested across the country under terror laws for supporting Palestine Action since it was banned in July, with ten people charged so far. Despite plans for a large-scale demonstration with the 'intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system', a spokesperson for the Met said they are prepared for 'any eventuality' and anyone showing support for the group should expect to be arrested. Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing, said that they have 'robust plans' in place to respond to activity in support of Palestine Action. 'At this time, it remains illegal to be a member of or encourage support for the group Palestine Action,' she added. 'This legislation is specific to that group and does not interfere with the right to protest in support of the Palestinian cause. 'Operational plans are in place to ensure this right can be preserved over the coming days with protests expected in several major cities, including London.' Despite pressures on prison capacity, a Ministry of Justice spokesman insisted the system is prepared to 'act quickly' if more cells are needed. Officials will not hesitate to use contingency measures if they are faced with a sudden influx to the prison estate, The Independent understands. This could include activating Operation Early Dawn, which allows defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds become available. 'The swift and coordinated response to last year's unrest shows the criminal justice system is prepared to act quickly if needed to maintain stability and keep the public safe,' the spokesperson added.
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fact check: Bank has held rates four out of nine times since Labour took power
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Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Report: Britain forced to hire an US plane to spy on Gaza
Britain has been forced to hire an American plane to conduct spying missions over Gaza due to a shortage of RAF aircraft, it has been revealed. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) is said to be paying a contractor based in Nevada to look for hostages in the Palestinian territory. But RAF sources told the newspaper that none of its Shadow R1 aircraft are stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, around 230 miles north of Gaza. They are said to be assigned to other missions or undergoing maintenance, sparking concerns about the UK's sovereign intelligence-gathering capabilities. Questions have also been asked about the privatization of UK intelligence-gathering in Gaza, at a time when Britain is taking a tougher stance towards Israel. The American aircraft, a Hawker Beechcrat B300 registered as N6147U, has previously been used by the US military in Iraq. It is contractor-owned and contractor-operated, which means British military pilots do not fly it. The MoD did not comment on the reported lease of the aircraft from a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation - one of the world's largest military contractors. But it said it conducts surveillance flights for the sole purpose of locating hostages, with the UK in control of what information is passed to c. Only information relating to hostage rescue is passed to the relevant authorities, the MoD added, without expanding further in order to protect operational security. Sir Keir Starmer recently announced Britain will recognize a Palestinian state within weeks unless Israel allows more aid into Gaza and agrees to a ceasefire. The Prime Minister hit out at 'appalling scenes' of starvation in Gaza amid Israel's blockade of the territory. Earlier this year, the UK Government sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers over 'repeated incitements of violence' against Palestinians in the West Bank. Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire, the party's defense spokeswoman, said the MoD's use of a private US firm for surveillance flights 'raises alarm bells'. She added: 'The shortage of RAF aircraft for this purpose is alarming. 'There are serious questions to answer about whether this is a direct result of failures of the UK Government to properly invest in these capabilities. 'More broadly, it's right that the UK is supporting efforts to locate the hostages. 'But the Government must outline what steps it has taken to ensure Israel can't use UK-sourced intelligence for its military operations in Gaza.
