Related: Keir Starmer says Tories ‘always clobber working people’ during PMQs
Rishi Sunak is considering a crackdown on foreign students bringing dependents and studying “low-quality” degrees after net migration to the UK climbed to a record half a million.
Around 504,000 more people are estimated to have moved to the UK than left in the 12 months to June 2022, up sharply from 173,000 in the year to June 2021.
Downing Street indicated that plans to bring overall numbers down could include putting up barriers for international students’ loved ones and restricting admissions to top universities.
This would be in line with proposals being explored by home secretary Suella Braverman, who has previously complained about foreign students “bringing in family members who can piggyback onto their student visa” and “propping up, frankly, substandard courses in inadequate institutions”.
The PM’s official spokesman insisted Mr Sunak was “fully committed” to bringing overall immigration levels down, adding that they were looking at “the issue of student dependents and low-quality degrees.”
This comes after more than 20 Conservative MPs are believed to have signed a letter to Mr Sunak demanding action to bring overall migration numbers down.
Nearly half of people ‘concerned about how their family will afford Christmas’
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of people would rather go without a Christmas present this year if the gift-giver is worried about money, a survey has found.
Just over a fifth (21 per cent) said they would encourage people to buy a cheaper gift, research by credit provider Vanquis said.
More than seven in 10 (72 per cent) women surveyed said they would rather go without a Christmas present this year if they know the person giving it to them is worried about money, as would six in 10 (60 per cent) men.
Read more about how the cost of living crisis is expected to impact the festive season in this report:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 06:40
Cleverly pledges more ambulances for Ukraine during visit to country
James Cleverly has announced a package of “hands-on” support to help Ukraine through the winter while on a visit to the war-torn nation.
The foreign fecretary was due to meet president Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit, which comes days after prime minister Rishi Sunak travelled to Kyiv.
Mr Cleverly announced the practical support as Ukraine’s power grid and other critical infrastructure has been pounded by Russian strikes, causing blackouts and leaving millions without heat, power or water as temperatures plummet.
Read the details in this report:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 06:30
Hunt fails to deny he was source for ‘UK seeking Swiss-style deal’ claim
But Mr Hunt failed, repeatedly, to deny he or an aide in the Treasury briefed journalists ahead of last weekend’s story which has reignited the Conservative wars over Europe.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 06:15
Ban on Chinese security cameras in ‘sensitive’ government sites
Government departments have been ordered to stop installing surveillance cameras made by Chinese firms on “sensitive sites” due to security concerns.
The order applies to “visual surveillance systems” made by firms subject to China’s national security law, which requires companies to cooperate with Beijing’s security services.
Whitehall ministries have been told existing equipment should not be connected to departmental core networks and consideration should be given to removing it entirely.
Namita Singh25 November 2022 06:00
Johnson and Truss join Tory rebellion against onshore wind ban
The former prime ministers signed an amendment to the government’s Levelling Up Bill tabled by Simon Clarke, who served as a minister in both their governments, to allow onshore wind development.
Mr Clarke said he was “delighted” to gain their backing.
Namita Singh25 November 2022 05:45
Raab insists he always ‘behaved professionally’ amid bullying claims
Dominic Raab has insisted he “behaved professionally at all times” despite facing growing claims of bullying.
The deputy prime minister told Sky News on Thursday that he looks forward to dealing with the allegations “fully and transparently”.
It comes after the BBC reported that civil servants who worked for Mr Raab are preparing to file formal bullying complaints.
Namita Singh25 November 2022 05:30
Johnson almost served as foreign secretary under Liz Truss, new book claims
Written by The Financial Times’ Whitehall editor Sebastian Payne, the book claims that Ms Truss met Mr Johnson on two occasions over the course of the leadership contest in the summer, and while he remained in No 10 as caretaker PM.
The two ex-prime ministers also spoke on the phone in the final week of July to discuss whether a potential job swap should Ms Truss, who was serving as foreign secretary at the time, be victorious in the contest.
My colleague Emily Atkinson has more:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 05:15
Watchdog apologises for telling MPs they can throw Christmas parties paid for by taxpayer
The watchdog responsible for MPs’ expenses has apologised for telling MPs they could charge taxpayers for Christmas parties, which resulted in some politicians receiving “abuse”.
MPs also complained that the watchdog had given the impression they had been “clamouring” to put food, refreshments and decorations for an office party on expenses.
Namita Singh25 November 2022 05:00
‘Recklessly irresponsible’ Brexit rush to axe EU laws is putting safety standards at risk, warn watchdogs
Standards on food safety, animal welfare and consumer rights are all under threat from the government’s “recklessly irresponsible” bid to axe EU laws in a matter of months, safety watchdogs have warned.
Civil servants are rushing to rewrite reams of existing regulations because the former so-called Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg wants to cleanse the country of rules that originated in Brussels by the end of 2023.
Trading standards officers have now said they are concerned that ministers’ plans could see dangerous products end up on British shelves, new diseases taking hold on farms, and scammers given new opportunities to rip people off.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 04:45
PM faces Tory backlash over record immigration figures
Rishi Sunak faces backlash from Conservative MPs after new figures showed net migration to the UK soaring to a record high, with 504,000 more people arriving in the country than departing over the past year.
“Unprecedented” global events including the lifting of Covid lockdowns, war in Ukraine and the Chinese security clampdown in Hong Kong sent immigration figures soaring.
At 1.1 million, the total number of arrivals in the 12 months to June was the highest since statistics were first gathered in 1964 and far outweighed the 560,000 departures, despite the fact that for the first time since 1991 more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.
More in this joint report from Andrew Woodcock and Holly Bancroft:
Namita Singh25 November 2022 04:30
Kaynak: briturkish.com