Guardian UK Politics
Asylum seekers removed from Essex hotel targeted by far right as Home Office ends contract
The Home Office has ended its contract with the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, relocating the asylum seekers housed there after the site became a focal point for far-right protests last summer. The unrest was triggered by the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman by an asylum seeker residing at the hotel. The closure marks the end of one of the most visible flashpoints in last year's wave of anti-immigration demonstrations that spread across England.
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Revealed: DWP still allowing unpaid carers to run up debts despite being told about overpayments
The Department for Work and Pensions continued paying carer's allowance to a bereaved man for six months after he repeatedly requested the payments stop following his husband's death, accumulating a potential debt of over £1,300. Chris Farrell, 65, made multiple attempts to halt the benefit but was ignored by the agency. The case raises fresh concerns about the DWP's failure to act on claimants' own notifications, leaving vulnerable people liable for overpayment debts through no fault of their own.
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Starmer admits he must ‘turn things around’ as US adds to pressure over defence spending
Keir Starmer has publicly acknowledged he needs to "turn things around" following the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey amid a bitter internal row over military spending. The fallout has triggered a war of words between Downing Street, the Treasury, and Healey allies, with the MoD reportedly seeking £18bn in additional funding. Washington's intervention adds external pressure to what is fast becoming one of the most serious crises of Starmer's premiership.
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Head of Commons media committee denies writing article accusing BBC of bias
Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, is denying authorship of a scathing article published under her name on ConservativeHome that accused the BBC of bias. The denial comes amid an already turbulent period for the corporation, which saw director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness resign following separate bias allegations last November. The article remains live on the site, deepening questions about accountability at a moment when the BBC is under intense political scrutiny.
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Molly Russell's dad says PM rushing social media restrictions 'deplorable'
Ian Russell has condemned the government's accelerated timeline for social media restrictions as cynical and politically motivated, arguing the urgency appears driven by optics rather than genuine child safety concerns. His daughter Molly died in 2017 after being exposed to harmful content on platforms including Instagram and Pinterest. For a grieving father who has spent years campaigning for meaningful reform, watching that cause become political currency is a bitter development.
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