Latest news with #BritishHomeOffice
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
UK to deport foreigners soon after conviction as Starmer takes hardline stance on immigration
The UK government announced plans to deport convicted foreign nationals from England and Wales immediately after sentencing. The move comes as the Starmer administration seeks to present a tough stance on border security. read more UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government announced plans to deport convicted foreign nationals from England and Wales immediately after sentencing. The move comes as the Starmer administration seeks to present a tough stance on border security. It is pertinent to note that the move is based on legislation introduced in June, which, from September, allows the government to deport a prisoner once they have served 30 per cent of their sentence, down from 50 per cent that is in place. However, the threshold will not be removed entirely, the Home Office said in a statement on Sunday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the threshold now removed entirely, the move would enable the authorities to start the deportation process of the convict as soon as the sentencing is concluded. Supporting the legislation, labour ministers argued that the move would also reduce prison overcrowding, cut costs and prevent reoffending in the UK. Starmer projects a hardline on immigration It is important to note that the policy will be presented in the parliament in due course. The proposed law is expected to be applied to both the current inmates and those who will be sentenced in the future, the British Home Office said in a statment. In recent months, Starmer has sought to project a hardline stance on immigration, especially regarding crimes committed by foreigners. Many believe that Starmer is getting more inclined towards dealing with the issue as he seeks to fend off the electoral threat posed by Nigel Farage's populist party, Reform UK. Meanwhile, Farage has already pledged to deport more than 10,000 foreign criminals if his party comes to power, as well as hugely expand the UK's prison capacity by building new facilities and renting jail space overseas from countries such as El Salvador. Some exceptions The measures announced would not apply to offenders who are serving life sentences, including those convicted of murder or terrorism-related offences. Hence, individuals who are deemed to pose a threat to national security or British interests would continue to remain in the UK. Foreign nationals account for about 12 per cent of the prison population in England and Wales. Interestingly, Albanians represent the largest foreign nationality group in British prisons. The average annual cost of a prison place is £54,000, according to official figures. According to UK government data, 5,200 foreign national offenders were deported since July 2024, a 14 per cent rise on the previous 12 months. Apart from this, the UK Ministry of Justice has also spent £ 5 million deploying specialist staff to almost 80 prisons in a bid to accelerate deportations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UK struggles with a major prison overcrowding crisis, with prisons across Britain at about 97.5 per cent capacity. The Labour government has sought to tackle the crisis by releasing some prisoners early if they have committed less serious offences. However, the move has been criticised by the politicians on the right.
Euronews
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Daily number of migrants reaching UK on small boats hits 2025 high
Nearly 1,200 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats from France on Saturday — the highest daily total so far this year, according to UK government figures. The Home Office reported that 1,194 people arrived in 18 vessels during favourable weather conditions, bringing the provisional number of arrivals to 14,811, a 42% increase compared to the same period last year. The rise has increased political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government, which took office nearly a year ago amid growing public dissatisfaction with the previous Conservative administration. Despite promising to do so, the last government failed to reduce the number of Channel crossings. Since assuming power, Labour scrapped the Conservatives' controversial Rwanda deportation scheme, instead pledging to tackle the small boats issue by dismantling the people smuggling networks fuelling illegal migration. Starmer's government has prioritised international intelligence cooperation and tightened immigration rules. Despite joint efforts by both the British and French governments, the English Channel remains a prominent route for people fleeing war or poverty. Many migrants choose the UK due to linguistic ties, existing family connections or perceptions of easier asylum procedures and employment access. Footage taken on Saturday showed French police watching as migrants launched boats from Gravelines, situated between Calais and Dunkirk, before escorting them out to sea. French authorities confirmed they rescued 184 individuals. Defence Secretary John Healey told British media the scenes were 'pretty shocking,' and described the inability of French officers to intervene in shallow waters as a 'really big problem". 'They're not doing it, but, but for the first time for years…we've got the level of cooperation needed," he added. According to the British Home Office, 36,816 individuals crossed the Channel in small boats during 2024, marking a 25% rise on the previous year. The peak year remains 2022, when 45,774 people arrived via the route.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record number of Americans applying for UK citizenship
Americans are seeking to move to the United Kingdom in record numbers, according to new data from the British Home Office. More than 6,600 U.S. citizens applied for citizenship in the U.K. over the year ending in March — a 30 percent increase over the previous 12 months. Significant spikes were reported around the time of President Trump's election in November and his return to the White House in January. The 1,931 American applicants who sought British citizenship in the first three months of 2025 marked the most in any quarter over the country's two decades of record-keeping; the final quarter of 2024 was the second highest at 1,723. American applications for U.K. citizenship similarly jumped after Trump's first election in 2016. The U.K. Home Office didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment, but the news comes as British officials have stressed their desire to lower their country's net migration numbers. Countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa had the most natives seeking U.K. citizenship in the 12 months through March, the new data shows. 'Throughout our history, Britain has been strengthened by people coming here to start new businesses, study at universities, contribute to our cultural and sporting excellence and do some of the toughest jobs in our country,' British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, a member of the Labour Party, told Parliament in an address earlier this month. 'However, to be successful, effective and fair, our immigration must be properly controlled and managed.' The White House didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on the immigration figures. Trump and his allies have been laser-focused on cracking down on migrants coming to the U.S., with some controversial exceptions, such as dozens of white Afrikaners from South Africa who were given refugee status. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Record number of Americans applying for UK citizenship
Americans are seeking to move to the United Kingdom in record numbers, according to new data from the British Home Office. More than 6,600 U.S. citizens applied for citizenship in the U.K. over the year ending in March — a 30 percent increase over the previous 12 months. Significant spikes were reported around the time of President Trump's election in November and his return to the White House in January. The 1,931 American applicants who sought British citizenship in the first three months of 2025 marked the most in any quarter over the country's two decades of record-keeping; the final quarter of 2024 was the second highest at 1,723. American applications for U.K. citizenship similarly jumped after Trump's first election in 2016. The U.K. Home Office didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment, but the news comes as British officials have stressed their desire to lower their country's net migration numbers. Countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa had the most natives seeking U.K. citizenship in the 12 months through March, the new data shows. 'Throughout our history, Britain has been strengthened by people coming here to start new businesses, study at universities, contribute to our cultural and sporting excellence and do some of the toughest jobs in our country,' British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, a member of the Labour Party, told Parliament in an address earlier this month. 'However, to be successful, effective and fair, our immigration must be properly controlled and managed.' The White House didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on the immigration figures. Trump and his allies have been laser-focused on cracking down on migrants coming to the U.S., with some controversial exceptions, such as dozens of white Afrikaners from South Africa who were given refugee status.
Sky News AU
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘It's basically a royal household': Prince Harry reportedly setting up rival court to mimic Kensington Palace
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly hired new staff amid plans to convert their California mansion into a mini Kensington Palace. The Sussexes originally snapped up their 16-bedroom estate in the idyllic California community for about AUD $21 million in June 2020 around the time they inked a $100 million deal with Netflix. Located on California's Central Coast, the wealthy enclave is tucked between the ocean and scenic Santa Ynez mountains in Santa Barbara County. The lavish home boasts 16 bathrooms, nine bedrooms, a games room, a home theatre, spa facilities, an elevator, a gym, a swimming pool and a tennis court. The home was considered a major upgrade on their former royal residence Frogmore Cottage, which the Sussexes vacated after less than year despite embarking on a multi-million dollar renovation. According to royal insider Charlotte Griffiths, Harry has "nowhere to go" after alienating old friends and has opted to recreate his own royal court inside their California mansion. 'He's set up around himself, the exact thing he's been railing against all these years, which is a really concrete structure' she told GB News on Monday. 'It's basically a royal household.' Speculation the Sussexes were plotting to set up a rival court went into overdrive last year after a report claiming Harry's uncle Earl Spencer offered his nephew use of Althorp as a new base. Set over 13,000 acres in Northamptonshire, Althorp contains 28 listed buildings and structures in addition to the main house and rivals some official royal residences in size and opulence. However, Ms Griffiths claimed Harry has decided to double down on basing himself in California amid his ongoing legal battle with the British Home Office over personal security. 'He's realised there's nowhere to go but up,' she said. 'The point of this new household is a shield around them, to protect them.' According to Ms Griffiths, the new faux-royal household includes separate chiefs of staff for both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 'Meghan has been given her own chief of staff, and Harry also has his own separate chief of staff,' she said. Harry's staff reportedly scour the British media for negative press, while Meghan's team are under instruction to strictly censor any negative publicity from reaching the Duchess.
