August 2023

Fines for employers and landlords who allow unauthorised migrants to work for them or live in their properties are to be significantly increased under plans to deter Channel crossings. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick argued that “unscrupulous” bosses who allow undocumented working assist the people smugglers selling passage in small boats. Officials expect the hikes in […]

The Government has said the number of and A* and A grades awarded in England should fall back to pre-pandemic levels as exams return to normal. However, an education expert predicts they are unlikely to fall back to 2019 levels because teachers developed a “taste for awarding top grades” in some subjects during the pandemic

A commitment to tackle so-called “tech abuse” must be made by Government, MPs have said as they warned devices including smart home security systems are being used to coerce and control victims of domestic abuse. Work to address the problem should be made a priority, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee said, stating that the

Employment remains lower in the UK than before the pandemic, new analysis shows as Labour accused the Conservatives of “failing” to get people back to work. The research on official figures up to May showed the employment rate is lower now than it was in nine out of the 12 regions and nations pre-pandemic. But

Scots have been “abandoned” during the economic and NHS crises, Scottish Labour has said, as polling reveals a majority do not trust Scottish ministers to relieve pressures. A public attitudes survey published by the Scottish Government showed that 55% do not trust ministers to work in “Scotland’s best interests” when it comes to the cost

A trio of record-breaking rowing brothers have teamed up with their whisky writer father to launch a charity to raise money for clean water projects in faraway countries. The MacLean Foundation has been founded by Edinburgh brothers Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan MacLean, along with their father Charles, and will raise cash through collaboration with the

A £1.6 million fund in Scotland aimed at providing cash grants for essentials in light of the cost-of-living crisis has opened for applications. The Cash First Fund will provide up to £200,000 to community organisations that will be tasked with handing out cash for food and other necessities in the hopes of reducing the demand

Rob Rinder has described feeling “super nervous” at meeting Monica Galetti ahead of co-hosting the new series of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby. The former barrister, 45, replaced Giles Coren on the fifth season of the hit BBC programme, alongside original presenter Galetti, going behind the scenes to explore the day-to-day running of extraordinary

Wrongly convicted people will no longer face having living costs covering their time in prison docked from compensation payments after ministers issued fresh guidance. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC made the reform with immediate effect on Sunday after the outrage sparked by the miscarriage of justice case centring on Andrew Malkinson. Mr Malkinson, who spent

Social media firms will team up with the National Crime Agency to crack down on people smugglers’ posts encouraging asylum seekers to cross the Channel, ministers have said. Rishi Sunak said the new partnership between law enforcement and tech giants including Facebook, TikTok and Twitter, will tackle attempts to “lure” asylum seekers into paying to