The Labour government has been kicking foreign criminals out of the UK faster than the Tories ever managed, according to new figures. Since the election, over 2,925 foreign offenders have been deported—up 21% compared to the same time last year. The Home Office isn’t mincing its words either. A spokesman said: “Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that we will do everything possible… to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets.”
But behind the tough talk, it’s not all smooth sailing. Deportations are still hitting roadblocks thanks to legal appeals. One Albanian cannabis grower managed to dodge removal after serving three years inside—judges decided kicking him out would be unfair to his daughter, who needed a male role model.
Meanwhile, Jamaican drug dealer Shawn Rickford McLeod also challenged his deportation because he’s got a wife and three kids here. A judge agreed it would breach his right to a family life, but the Home Office is fighting that ruling and it’s going back to court.
While that drama unfolds, Keir Starmer’s government is also taking heat from another front—this time, over his handling of the long-promised Hillsborough Law. The Prime Minister had set up a meeting with families of the disaster victims to discuss new legislation aimed at stopping future cover-ups by public officials. But just two days after arranging it, Downing Street pulled the plug—without even telling those involved until the Mirror got in touch.
The whole thing’s left families and campaigners fuming. One described it as feeling like “an out-of-control clown car.” There’s real anger over the new version of the bill, which campaigners say has been watered down. The original promise was a robust duty of candour for public servants, backed by criminal penalties. But the draft they were handed turned that into a voluntary code, with serious consequences only in very specific scenarios.
Even legal aid—which was supposed to help grieving families take on big institutions—has been limited. And despite past promises to deliver the law by April 15, on the 36th anniversary of the disaster, there’s now uncertainty it’ll even get through.
It’s caused major backlash within Labour itself. One source said the whole thing nearly led to disaster in key seats and accused Starmer of taking his eye off the ball.
After a call between the PM and a leading campaigner, the government says it’s back to listening and trying to get things right. They hope to return to the original draft and push it through in time. The Ministry of Justice says it’s still committed to delivering justice for Hillsborough families, and the campaign group Hillsborough Law Now says it’s staying in talks to get the bill back on track.
