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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 21:17 16 Oct 2026
There’s always more that can be done, but to be fair she’s making more progress than many of her predecessors. This has been an issue for years and it’s going to take a fair while to sort it out. Changes to the legislation is a great start as is investing in staff to process outstanding claims, previously things were allowed to drift as staff numbers were cut due to “austerity.”
If people actually took the time to check things out from a range of different sources and research things themselves, they may have a more informed perspective. What Mahmood is doing isn’t rocket science, most of the things Mahmood is doing could have been done years ago - but they weren’t. She appears to be grasping the nettle where others have failed.
FWIW I’d also like to see her take a similar approach to dealing with Pakistan (as she has with the DRC, Eritrea etc) re their failure to take back the Rochdale offenders, however I suspect that’s a lot more complicated because of cooperation and intelligence sharing between the countries with regards to other issues in that area. |
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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 21:03 16 Oct 2026
You got a link to this news program because there’s no evidence or record of UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood saying that "immigrants have more rights than British people" on the news or any other programme come to that. What seems to be taking place is that this story line is being pedalled on the ever reliable internet when there is no substance to it, people are reading it and taking it as gospel without checking to see if it’s correct.
So far, Shabana Mahmood has introduced an overhaul of the UK's immigration and asylum framework, with measures focusing on tightening settlement criteria, restricting loopholes, and using visa leverage to enforce returns.
Key legislative and policy actions introduced by Mahmood to deter migration and manage the system include:
1. Significantly Extending Settlement Waiting Periods
Mahmood introduced structural changes to permanent settlement rights to lower net long-term migration numbers:
Work and Student Migrants: The government proposed doubling the qualifying period required for most migrant workers to earn Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), shifting the timeframe from 5 years to 10 years.
Asylum Seekers: Under the major Immigration and Asylum Bill, refugees granted asylum are shifted to temporary status. They face up to a 20-year wait before they can apply to settle permanently, during which time their refugee status will be regularly reviewed, and they may be told to return home if their country is deemed safe. That is very contentious and she’s getting pushback from quite a few MP’s.
Closing Legal Loopholes and Human Rights Abuse: In October, Mahmood tabled targeted amendments to the Immigration and Asylum Bill explicitly designed to stop migrants and foreign criminals from avoiding deportation. The proposed changes include
Closeing Article 8 (Right to Privacy and Family Life) loopholes used by individuals misrepresenting their family circumstances to stay in the UK.
Cracking down on individuals lodging last-minute asylum claims as a delaying tactic.
Introduce a means-tested scheme where asylum seekers are ordered to pay approximately £10,000 each for their state-funded living costs or face a denial of settled status.
She’s also pursued diplomatic penalties and developed a strategy of targeting nations that refuse to take back citizens who have no legal right to remain in the UK:
Eritrea: In October 2026, she threatened a complete visa ban on Eritreans after the nation refused to accept returns. Additionally, Eritrean diplomats were barred from travelling more than 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside of London without Foreign Office permission.
Egypt: She signed a migration agreement that reduces the processing time to return unapproved Egyptian nationals by roughly 90% (dropping from 30 weeks down to 3 weeks).
Other Nations: Following similar visa-restriction threats, countries like Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) enhanced their returns cooperation, allowing the UK to run active deportation flights.
According to Home Office figures released in late 2026, arrivals via small boats dropped by 40% compared to the same period in the prior year, while total returns and deportations rose by 8% to exceed 40,600 over a 12-month period.
On the 30th of June the Government introduced an updated draft code of practice on preventing illegal working. The legislation went live at the start of this month and increases the scope of the term employment so that people illegally working in the gig economy, food delivery workers etc are now covered by the legislation and employers have to do checks etc and can be prosecuted when they don’t. The changes will mean firms that fail to conduct right to work checks will face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker. In serious cases, employers may face a criminal conviction, carrying a prison sentence of up to five years and an unlimited fine.
I’m not saying the immigration and small boat problem is resolved, but having regard to the above, I think it’s fair to say Mahmood has done a lot more than most, if not all of her recent predecessors. |
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Reply | Welsh Labour M4 Relief Road
at 23:35 15 Oct 2026
It’s common sense that we need a new road. It’s a pity Skates didn’t hold this view when he was in Drakeford’s government 7 years ago because he could have challenged Drakers about it and fought for one. It’s also a pity he didn’t hold the same view 7 months when he said he thought the opportunity had gone!!
Seems like all 3 opposition parties are now campaigning for a new road - are they campaigning because they believe we need one, if they get in power will they deliver one or are they making mischief for Plaid Cymru knowing there’s no money in the tin!
FWIW, I think Ken Skates should get on the dog and bone and get Burnham to trouser up the cash for the road and atone for the cluster @@@@ decisions made by our previous Labour government. |
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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 23:21 15 Oct 2026
Given the short time she’s been in post she’s done a fair bit, how many Home Secretary's have done more than she has in such a short time? |
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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 21:30 15 Oct 2026
There’s a lot more in need of doing, but to be fair to Mahmood she’s done a lot more than any of her predecessors to deal with the issue. |
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Reply | Public sector pensions unaffordable ?
at 18:37 10 Oct 2026
But it’s not 3/4 of a million quid, when Res’s father retired 32 years ago the pension would have been around £10.5 to £11k per annum, inflation has done the rest. When Res’s father worked, part of his remuneration package would have been his pension and we can’t change that now retrospectively. A number of recent governments have changed the terms of pensions schemes and many public sector pensions are far less attractive.
Going back to Res’s dad, many of his colleagues will have already passed on, and some wouldn’t even have drawn 1 payment from their pension scheme, it’s a matter of luck. As someone else said earlier all the pension stuff is worked out by actuaries. |
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Reply | Wales v Norway : Match Thread
at 21:45 2 Oct 2026
Went to the game last night and I thoroughly enjoyed, didn’t have high hopes in the way up but the result surpassed my expectations.
Thought Wales played really well and it could have been more than the 2 goals with a little bit more luck. Norway were a big physical side and our pace and movement caused them problems. On the negative side, I though that there were a couple of times when our players could have taken a shot and tested their keeper instead of passing around or passing it backwards. There were also shades of last March against Bosnia towards the end when they had us under pressure and were pressing for a goal, but we held out and bagged the 3 points. It needs addressing. Thought the team played well, a couple of individual errors but on the whole 3 deserved points.
There was a good crowd there considering it was a Thursday night and the first of 2 games in 4 days, that’s a an expensive commitment for fans from West, Mid and North Wales. [Post edited 3 Oct 0:42]
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Reply | Burnham on Fuel Prices
at 21:30 2 Oct 2026
Petrol is cheaper than it was at its peak in 2022, but diesel has surpassed its previous high point and is now at a record high.
After the initial surge in the Spring and early summer of 2022, the price of fuel started dropping and was on a consistent downward trend until February and March this year when, it went started climbing significantly. It’s gone up ever since and the cause is the tension / war in the middle east. |
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Reply | Jailed for throwing a plastic bottle and swearing
at 20:37 29 Sep 2026
The government (Attorney General) are actually appealing the sentence because they believe it’s too lenient, a judge has made the decision to allow the offender’s legal team to appeal in the grounds is too harsh. |
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Reply | RAF Fairford
at 08:16 29 Sep 2026
Trump’s been talking about a diesel ban for over a week and it’s not just to the uk. The price of diesel in the US has gone through the roof and is at unprecedented levels and with the mid term elections taking place in less than 2 months the Republicans are struggling in the polls.
A number of US politicians are promoting the concept of an export ban to reduce diesel prices at home, but the oil companies are resisting and pushing back. The North Sea will take a while to come on stream, but it’s something that has to be progressed. The UK now only has 4 operational refineries and we only produce 45% of our diesel requirements so we are vulnerable. The price of used diesel powered cars is falling while used 3 - 5 year old EV’s are going up in price. |
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Reply | RAF Fairford
at 21:49 28 Sep 2026
What makes you think there’s any substance to the claims and comments these individuals on X have made? I highly doubt that they are privy to inside information.
I’m pretty sure that if there was evidence to suggest they were going to bomb a US air base they wouldn’t be on bail, the police and security services would have 14 days to deal with the suspects and they’d investigate everything, no bail, do not pass go and straight to jail if they had anything. The police could hold the prisoners incommunicado, deny them legal advice for 48 hours etc etc.
The police are taking a bit of a hammering on the decision to bail the subjects and I highly doubt they are putting themselves on offer and through this for no reason - I suspect if they’d had grounds to detain these people they would, - I think they’ve had no choice other than to release these people because they’ve done nothing related to terrorism. If it’s not a terrorist offence, a murder etc then the police may only have 24 hours to deal with the suspects. Anything else doesn’t make sense.
I believe the police have received a report from the public, they’ve attended, aren’t happy with the facts and have taken positive action which is what they should always do. The investigation then kicks in while the suspects are in custody.
The police don’t always get it right and lots of people have been arrested in the past and then been NFA’d or dealt with for a lower level offence when the investigation is completed. Let’s see what happens. [Post edited 28 Sep 23:28]
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Reply | RAF Fairford
at 17:33 28 Sep 2026
Maybe they were poaching rabbits - who knows.
The police would have had 2 days to deal with these suspects before going to a Magistrates Court for a warrant of further detention, under existing legislation, terrorism suspects can be detained for up to 14 days.
Why would they release people they genuinely suspected of terrorist offences after 36 hours when they have 14 days to progress the enquiry and deal with them ? Releasing the suspects doesn’t make sense unless the authorities are satisfied they aren’t involved in a terrorist incident.
Edit - Releasing the suspects on bail now will enable the police /security services to potentially NFA (No Further Action) the investigation at some point in the future with minimum press coverage etc and less embarrassment. IMHO the police were 100% right to take positive action and make the arrests, if things aren’t as they first appear so be it. [Post edited 28 Sep 18:08]
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Reply | RAF Fairford
at 16:37 28 Sep 2026
Based on the fact they’re being released so early it would suggest that the police have eliminated the possibility of it being a terrorist related incident and it’s possible that the men have done nothing wrong.
Under existing legislation police can initially hold a terrorism suspect for up to 48 hours before needing a warrant of further detention from a judicial authority, the initial 2 day period can be extended up to a maximum of 14 days so given those time lines, I suspect if the police and security services were satisfied that there were lines of enquiry to be pursued in relation to a terrorist incident the police etc would use up the detention clock and keep them in custody. [Post edited 28 Sep 23:23]
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Reply | Jailed for throwing a plastic bottle and swearing
at 09:30 27 Sep 2026
But he didn’t just throw a plastic bottle, he was at the front of the demonstration, shouting abuse at the police, threw the bottle and aggressively tried to break through the police lines. It’s all on video.
He pleaded Guilty to the offence of Violent Disorder which is complete when 3 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using or threatening unlawful violence is guilty of violent disorder.
Should Del Somerville be inside - absolutely.
Should the guy accused of rape and the sexual offences be inside- absolutely. I don’t know why he wasn’t remanded, but based on the information in the public domain it seems wrong and completely unacceptable that he’s not on remand. It’s also outrageous that his trial isn’t going to be until next August - but that’s not down to the judge, that’s an issue attributable to the previous government’s closure of 40% of the country’s courts. [Post edited 27 Sep 9:35]
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Reply | New car
at 09:12 27 Sep 2026
They are very good cars, I looked at Hyundai but for what I wanted to pay I could only get an older higher price model.
It may also be worth looking at the Kia Niro as it shares a lot of the same underpinnings as the Kona, but it comes with a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty whereas the Kona has a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. As both of these cars use older ev technology they don’t have the ICCU issues which can affect other models. |
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Reply | New car
at 09:03 27 Sep 2026
Good point.
If you’re looking to preserve the manufacturer warranty it’s a much safer option to use the dealer. Going down the independent garage service route can provide manufacturers with enough wiggle room to escape from their warranty commitment. The cost of routine servicing at a dealer, while expensive is a lot lower than the outlay to buy the car.
There’s quite a few horror stories around about manufacturers denying warranty claims which is why I discounted anything without the full MG dealer service history. |
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Reply | New car
at 01:21 26 Sep 2026
After having DPF problems with my diesel car, I bit the bullet and decided to get rid of it for an EV. I looked at leasing, but as my annual mileage was on high side it was coming back quite expensive. I didn’t want to go down the route of brand new as I didn’t fancy taking a huge hit on depreciation so I opted to look for a used model. I wanted something with a range of at least 200 miles, had a bit of go in it and could comfortably carry 4 adults.
After a lot of research, looking at best buys, depreciation rates, reviews, reading forums and data asking to people etc my head was spinning with lots of information. Some cars with higher depreciation rates can be a good used buy, but there may be reasons why they drop so quickly, e.g poor range, reliability etc etc.
I test drove a couple of different cars and ended up buying a low milage MG4 with 4/5 years manufacturers warranty left. The Tesla I drove was very impressive, rapid isn’t the word ! but it was approaching the end of its warranty and that made me a little nervous.
So far, I’ve been impressed with the MG4, it’s comfortable, nippy, has a good range and is much cheaper than my diesel to run. A full charge which will allegedly give me 250miles works out at £4.50 on an Octopus EV tariff (8p per KWH) - OHL said he had a 5p per KWH rate which is a bargain. If you have solar it’s even better. Be careful with your choice of EV charger because there can be compatibility issues between the charger and EV supplier and not all EV chargers can interface with solar. I’m on Octopus and I have the Hypervolt Home Pro 3 which is solar compatible.
My advice to you would be work out your requirements, do you need a big boot, spacious cabin, how many passengers or pets will you carry, what’s the likely range requirement etc, how much do you want to pay? Have a butchers on Autotrader to see what you fancy and can get for your budget. There’s plenty of garages in Swansea and further afield, have a look at what they’ve got and do a few test drives to find something you like and compare the price with what you can get on Autotrader. |
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Reply | Jailed for throwing a plastic bottle and swearing
at 22:50 25 Sep 2026
Indeed.
Thomas is no angel. He has come to police attention for his involvement in protests on a number of occasions in recent years.
In 2019, Thomas was arrested while taking part in a counter-rally to an anti-Trump protest outside Buckingham Palace.
After the Southport stabbing, Thomas is reported to have told his social media followers "Every city needs to go up".
In April 2026, Thomas is reported promoted protests in Epsom after it had been falsely claimed online that a woman had been gang-rape.
In June 2026, Thomas travelled to Belfast during the 2026 Northern Ireland riots.
In August 2026, Thomas pleaded guilty at Margate Magistrates' Court to one charge and not guilty to another five charges, relating to attempts he allegedly made to film asylum seekers who had been rescued from small boats in the English Channel as they were landed at the Port of Dover. He’s due back in Court in October in relation to the 5 outstanding offences.
In July 2016, Thomas pleaded guilty to attempting to kidnap a man at knifepoint. Thomas, along with two others, burst into the man's house armed with knives, shouting "You're coming with us". The group falsely alleged that the man had stolen £10,000 worth of drugs from them.
Given all the above, I think it’s pretty clear why the police and Court remanded him in Custody. |
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