Farage is likely to win in Clacton but can his credibility survive? | Peter Walker pred 2 urama in 19 minutami While the Reform leader casts himself as the victim questions about his finances are unlikely to disappearFarage quits as an MP amid scrutiny of his financesFor Nigel Farage, a year that was progressing quite nicely started to go wrong when the Guardian revealed he had received an undeclared gift of £5m from a crypto billionaire. Just 10 weeks later, he has been pushed into perhaps one of the biggest gambles of his political career.That gamble is seemingly not with his role as an MP. Farage took more than 45% of the vote in Clacton in 2024, and the heavily Reform-friendly constituency was always likely to elect him again, even before the bulk of the other parties announced they would stand aside in a byelection they have dismissed as a stunt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Disability benefits in England and Wales not fit for purpose, Timms review to find pred 2 urama in 19 minutami Exclusive: Landmark review by disability minister will call for ‘dehumanising’ assessment system to be redrawnWhat is the Timms review into Pip and what is it likely to conclude?Disability benefits in England and Wales are “not fit for purpose” and the entire assessment system must be redrawn as part of a radical welfare overhaul, the government’s landmark review of personal independence payments will say.The Guardian understands the review will conclude that the points-based system of assessment is in effect worthless because of the rising number of new conditions – particularly relating to mental health – that can fluctuate considerably in severity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Almost no progress made on UK regional household income divide in 30 years, report finds pred 2 urama in 19 minutami Despite promises of successive governments, gap between richest and poorest areas consistent since 1997Britain’s deep regional income divide has barely changed in 30 years despite the promises of successive governments to narrow the gap, according to a report showing the challenge for Andy Burnham.As the prime minister-in-waiting prepares for government, the Resolution Foundation said almost no progress had been made since 1997 to tackle stark divisions in household income, before housing costs are taken into account, between the richest and poorest parts of the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asylum seeker in UK as part of ‘one in, one out’ scheme says it is unfair on those deported pred 2 urama in 19 minutami Man flown from France as part of legal entry programme decries effect on others ‘who may have a similar case’An asylum seeker brought to the UK by the Home Office has said it feels unjust that he was allowed into the country only because someone else was deported.The individual benefited from the “one in” part of the controversial “one in, one out” scheme, where one asylum seeker who reached the UK on a small boat is forcibly returned to France in exchange for another being brought legally to Britain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two in five Britons think Muslims cannot integrate in UK, poll finds pred 3 urami in 19 minutami Government’s former extremism adviser sounds alarm as idea that diversity is harmful becomes ‘mainstream view’Two in five Britons believe Muslims cannot integrate into British society and more than half believe the country’s national identity is disappearing due to “diversity”, a report authored by a former government adviser on extremism has found.Sara Khan, who stood down in 2024 as the UK’s first counter-extremism commissioner, said such views contrasted sharply with accompanying findings that showed 85% of Muslims “favour integration”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US charges Indian criminal gang leader with organising murder of Canadian Sikh activist pred 4 urami in 6 minutami Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in prison in India, is accused of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023US authorities have announced charges against the leader of an Indian criminal group in connection with the political assassination of a prominent Sikh activist in Canada – a high-profile killing that strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India at the time.Lawrence Bishnoi – the imprisoned head of an Indian criminal gang - and his childhood friend Satinderjeet Singh, are accused of orchestrating the assassination of a well-known Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside a temple where he served as president in 2023. Bishnoi is in custody, but Singh has not been apprehended. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Investigations into former anti-corruption chief Paul Brereton nixed over cost concerns pred 4 urami in 32 minutami National Anti-Corruption Commission inspector, Gail Furness, says systemic issues behind two complaints have been addressedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo investigations into complaints made against the former national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, will discontinue after its watchdog said it could not “justify such expenditure”.In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) inspector, Gail Furness, said she would end the ongoing investigations due to Brereton’s resignation and her belief that the “systemic issues which had been identified have been satisfactorily addressed”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Karmelo Anthony seeks new trial after 35-year sentence in killing of Austin Metcalf pred 5 urami in 21 minutami Defense attorneys say prosecutors coerced Anthony, 19, into waiving his right to testify, and cite additional reasonsKarmelo Anthony’s legal team is seeking a new trial and the recusal of a state judge a month after a Texas jury convicted the 19-year-old of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, 17, at a track meet in 2025.In a Tuesday motion, Anthony’s defense attorneys argued that their client’s conviction should be overturned because prosecutors coerced him into waiving his right to testify, among other reasons. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
