Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the fall in net migration "is important and welcome” but admits the government needs to go “significantly further”.
The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, down 49.9% from 860,000 a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said.
Report by Blairm.
Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended Labour's record on returning asylum seekers and criticised Reform UK for ''continuously attacking'' the police. It comes as the Chief Constable of Essex Police has denied that officers drove counter-protesters to a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers after claims made by Nigel Farage. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The government has announced a public inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave - one of the worst days of violence during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike. Campaigners have long fought for an investigation into South Yorkshire Police’s actions during and after the clashes at the Orgreave Coking Plant in June 1984. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says concerns “have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened.” Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Speaking in the House of Commons, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper insisted the UK-France return deal would “fundamentally undermine” the smugglers organising the crossings.
Under the pilot scheme, for each small boat migrant sent back across the English Channel, an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.
Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper hails the new “one in, one out” agreement with France on illegal migrant Channel crossings, following “six-seven years of small-boats chaos”. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group is about protecting national security, rather than preventing the "lawful right to protest". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison at a summer camp, which led to eight children being taken to hospital as a precaution. Leicestershire Police have put up a cordon in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, where children became unwell at a summer camp. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
There has been widespread disruption at UK airports after an air traffic control glitch. Aviation analytics company Cirium said 84 departures and 71 arrivals were cancelled up to 10pm on Wednesday. National Air Traffic Services (Nats) say the glitch was caused by a radar-related issue and that "there is no evidence that this was cyber related." Heathrow and Gatwick airports say they’ve now resumed normal operations. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The business secretary has unveiled plans to crack down on late payments to ease the burden on small businesses. Jonathan Reynolds said the small business commissioner is to be given powers to fine large companies which continue to pay their suppliers late. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Keir Starmer has announced plans to stabilise business rates and allow easier access to loans in a bid to support small businesses. In a speech delivered in Wiltshire on Thursday, the prime minister said 38 businesses are forced to shut every day due to late payments, costing the economy "£11bn per year". Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The government are cracking down on late payments by cutting red tape for small businesses. Discussing the plans, Business Minister Gareth Thomas said: "We are determined to crack down on late payments. It costs £11bn to the UK economy every year. Potentially very significant fines if companies continue to make payments later in the day."
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says the fall in immigration numbers are down to “decisions taken by the last Conservative government” but are still “not enough” and “need to go down..