The Latest Breaking News from United Kingdom

Asylum is not illegal migration – why the UK government shouldn’t conflate the two

The UK government’s latest proposals on asylum rest on an incorrect premise. In announcing them, home secretary Shabana Mahmood argued that “illegal migration is tearing our country apart”. But asylum-seeking is not illegal migration.

The Conversation · Nov 20, 2025

Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits

In medieval England, peasants on some estates were entitled to a range of sick, annual and bereavement leave that could rival those of many workers in the UK today.

The Conversation · Nov 20, 2025

One small change Rachel Reeves could make to close tax loopholes and raise revenue

Whatever decisions Rachel Reeves makes in her second budget as UK chancellor, it is clear that she needs to find lots of money. Some argue that the best and fairest way of doing this is to raise the taxes of the country’s wealthiest people.

The Conversation · Nov 20, 2025

Industry can’t wait any longer for a fix to its energy crisis. Ministers should get a move on

Make UK’s call for the government to recognise that the energy crisis for industry is happening now is spot-on

The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2025

Labour’s asylum plans strike at the heart of Britain’s commitment to fairness and justice

Letters: Readers respond to news articles and analysis on Shabana Mahmood’s proposals to change the asylum system

The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2025

'Too little, too late:' Former UK government slammed for its initial COVID-19 response

A public inquiry has criticized the U_K_'s initial COVID-19 response in early 2020 as “too little, too late.”

The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2025

Could Russia attack the UK and what would happen if it did?

NATO calls for Europe to be prepared in case of further Russian aggression - but what does this mean for the UK?

Evening Standard · Nov 20, 2025

Divided Stormont led to ‘chaotic’ Covid response, public inquiry finds

The report published on Thursday focuses on the core political and administrative decision-making across the UK in response to the pandemic.

The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2025

Johnson and Cummings oversaw ‘toxic and chaotic’ Downing Street – Covid inquiry

Baroness Heather Hallett’s report on the response to Covid-19 criticised Boris Johnson’s excessive optimism in the face of the looming pandemic.

The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2025

Ukraine and Europe’s weakness exposed as US and Russia again negotiate behind Kyiv’s back

Renewed talk of no-longer-secret negotiations between the Kremlin and the White House over a plan to end the war in Ukraine that heavily favours Russia adds to a broader sense of doom in Kyiv and among its western partners.

The Conversation · Nov 20, 2025