Streeting defends asylum policy, but says he’s not ‘comfortable’ with forced removal of children – UK politics live

Labour MP Clive Lewis has announced that he is willing to step down from his position to allow Mayor Andy Burnham the opportunity to challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party. This move highlights the ongoing dynamics within the Labour Party as it prepares for potential leadership changes.

The UK government has officially announced a ban on the resale of tickets for profit, a move described by a minister as a 'no-brainer.' This decision follows discussions among ticket touts in London, where they expressed concerns about Labour's plan to eliminate their business model. A seasoned ticket trader even sought financial support to lobby against the party's election manifesto pledge.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticized the Labour government for proposing an increase in income tax rates, only to reverse the decision shortly after. This move has raised concerns about the government's fiscal strategy and credibility.

The public accounts committee (PAC) has reported that the NHS has not met its targets for reducing waiting times as outlined in its recovery plan, despite significant financial investments. The PAC's findings suggest that Labour's efforts to 'fix the NHS' may be faltering, with key objectives for improving access to planned care and diagnostic tests missed. As of July, 192,000 individuals were waiting over a year for care, contradicting promises to eliminate such delays by March 2025.

As the UK government enforces stricter asylum policies, families of asylum seekers are facing significant emotional distress. One mother, identified as Kim, shares her painful experience of being separated from her son, who is growing up without her presence. Kim, a 35-year-old asylum seeker in Yorkshire, expresses her anguish as her son frequently asks when he will see her again. The uncertainty surrounding their reunion highlights the broader implications of the Labour government's crackdown on the asylum system, leaving many families in distress.

Dozens of hereditary peers, including the Duke of Wellington and other aristocrats, have faced criticism for opposing Labour's proposals aimed at enhancing workers' rights. The House of Lords voted in favor of several Conservative-backed amendments to the employment rights bill for the third consecutive time, raising concerns among senior trade union and Labour figures who argue that the Lords appear 'undemocratic' and disconnected from the interests of working people.

On November 18, tensions between the US and Venezuela intensified as Donald Trump did not dismiss the possibility of military intervention. The media is divided on whether war or diplomacy is the preferable approach. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government introduced a significant overhaul of asylum policies, receiving approval from a right-wing publication. Additionally, the Cambridge Dictionary announced 'parasocial' as its word of the year, highlighting its relevance in contemporary discussions.

Labour's Shabana Mahmood is proposing radical new limits on asylum seekers' ability to gain settled status, following a trend of increasingly strict immigration policies in the UK. This comes after Nigel Farage's Reform UK suggested ending indefinite leave to remain, and the Conservatives discussed deporting individuals previously considered legally settled. The shift in policy reflects a broader movement towards more hardline stances on immigration, raising concerns about the implications for asylum seekers in the UK.