Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Farage Scores First Defection from Governing Labour Party.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Mason Humberstone, a Labour councillor, has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, marking the first such defection from Britain’s governing Labour Party to Farage’s populists.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mason Humberstone, Nigel Farage, Reform UK, and Labour.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The defection was announced on September 17, involving the Old Town ward in Stevenage, a Labour-run council area.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It isn’t ordinary, hardworking people in Stevenage and across our country who’ve left Labour—Labour has left us. The party I joined is lost, without vision, mired in scandal, and too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve.” – Mason Humberstone

🎯IMPACT: The defection raises concerns for Labour about its appeal to working-class but socially conservative voters, as Reform continues to gain traction with defections from both Labour and the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party.

IN FULL

Mason Humberstone, a Labour Party councillor elected in May 2023 to represent the Old Town ward in Stevenage, England, has become the first Labour politician in England to defect to Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party. His departure marks a significant moment for Farage’s party, which has seen a growing number of defections from both the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party and independent politicians in recent months.

Announcing his decision, Humberstone criticised Labour, which has governed Britain under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer since mid-2024, saying, “It isn’t ordinary, hardworking people in Stevenage and across our country who’ve left Labour, Labour has left us. The party I joined is lost, without vision, mired in scandal, and too often speaking for a metropolitan elite rather than the people they’re meant to serve.”

Reform leader Nigel Farage welcomed the defection, calling it further evidence that his party is attracting support from across the political spectrum. “We are winning the support of young people from across the political landscape,” he said.

Humberstone’s move follows a string of high-profile defections to Reform in recent months. Earlier this month, Danny Kruger, the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for East Wiltshire, quit the Tory party to join Reform, declaring, “The Conservatives are over.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

President Trump’s Historic Second State Visit to Britain Is Underway.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed to Britain for a historic second state visit, beginning with a royal greeting at Windsor Castle.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Catherine, and other members of the Royal Family.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 17, 2025, at Windsor Castle and its surrounding estate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He’s been a friend of mine for a long time, and everybody respects him, and they love him.” – Donald Trump on King Charles III.

🎯IMPACT: The visit highlighted the “special relationship” between the United States and its mother country, the United Kingdom, marked by unprecedented ceremonial displays and significant bilateral agreements.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in the United Kingdom today for their second state visit, kicking off with a warm royal welcome at Windsor Castle. The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the couple as they touched down by helicopter in the castle’s Walled Garden. A lip reader caught Trump telling Princess Catherine, also known as Kate, “You’re beautiful,” as they exchanged pleasantries.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined the Trumps outside Victoria House, setting the stage for a grand carriage procession through the castle grounds. The event featured the Band of the Household Cavalry, a Guard of Honour for inspection, and a 41-gun salute fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, echoed by a simultaneous salute at the Tower of London.

King Charles and Trump shared a carriage, with Queen Camilla and Melania Trump following closely behind. The procession included an impressive 1,300 British military personnel from the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force, making it the largest ceremonial welcome for a state visit in recent history.

Later, the Trumps were invited to view a special exhibit of U.S.-related items from the Royal Collection. The day’s itinerary also included a private moment at St. George’s Chapel, where the couple planned to lay a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. The evening will wrap up with a state banquet in St. George’s Hall, where both King Charles and Trump are set to give speeches.

The visit highlights the deep bond between America and Britain, strengthened by new agreements like a £31 billion (~$42.3 billion) “tech prosperity deal” focused on boosting Britain’s AI and nuclear power sectors. Trump called the visit a “great honor” and celebrated the enduring friendship between the two nations.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

U.S., UK to Forge Nuclear Power Deals During Trump State Visit.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is set to sign major nuclear energy agreements with the United Kingdom during his state visit, including building new nuclear plants to power artificial intelligence (AI) and reduce reliance on Russian nuclear material.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and corporate partners including X-energy, Centrica, Holtec, EDF, and Tritax.

📍WHEN & WHERE: During President Trump’s upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom, including meetings at Windsor Castle and Chequers.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today’s commercial deals set up a framework to unleash commercial access in both the U.S. and UK, enhancing global energy security, strengthening U.S. energy dominance, and securing nuclear supply chains across the Atlantic.” – Chris Wright.

🎯IMPACT: The agreements aim to enhance global energy security, strengthen the U.S. energy sector, and secure nuclear supply chains while fostering economic growth and job creation in both nations.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will sign a series of nuclear energy agreements with the United Kingdom during his state visit this week, aimed at strengthening transatlantic energy ties and reducing reliance on Russian nuclear fuel. The agreements, which include plans to build new nuclear reactors and power data infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) systems, will be finalized during Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Under the terms of the deals, American company X-energy will partner with Centrica to build 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool. In a separate agreement, Holtec will join forces with EDF and Tritax to develop small nuclear-powered data centers in Nottinghamshire. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the partnerships a major milestone, stating, “Today’s commercial deals set up a framework to unleash commercial access in both the U.S. and UK, enhancing global energy security, strengthening U.S. energy dominance, and securing nuclear supply chains across the Atlantic.”

A senior U.S. official emphasized that eliminating dependency on Russian nuclear fuel by 2028 is a top priority, warning that continued reliance could create long-term vulnerabilities. Britain has already banned Russian natural gas imports but continues to use some Russian-supplied nuclear fuel. Prime Minister Starmer described the deals as part of a “golden age of nuclear” that would create thousands of jobs and lower long-term energy costs.

Trump’s state visit, hosted by King Charles III, is his second official state visit to the United Kingdom, an exceedingly rare diplomatic honor. Events will include a state banquet at Windsor Castle and a wreath-laying ceremony at St. George’s Chapel. The visit underscores the enduring relationship between the two countries and comes as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence.

Trump and Starmer are scheduled to meet at the Chequers estate on Thursday to discuss broader economic cooperation and global security issues, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Vice President J.D. Vance has also played a prominent role in the British-American relationship, pressuring the British government to drop proposed surveillance powers that would have compromised the data privacy of U.S. citizens. Vance has also directly criticized British free speech restrictions to Prime Minister Starmer, signaling that civil liberties remain a sticking point between the allies even as economic and energy ties deepen.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

Top Drug Firms Pause UK Investment Over NHS Mismanagement.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The United Kingdom faces a potential loss in pharmaceutical investment as the socialized National Health Service (NHS) reduces spending on drugs while squandering funds on waste and

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co. Inc., Oxford professor Sir John Bell, and various pharmaceutical CEOs.

📍WHEN & WHERE:

💬KEY QUOTE: “They’re not going to do any more investing in the UK.” – Sir John Bell

🎯IMPACT: Potential relocation of pharmaceutical operations and economic implications for the UK.

IN FULL

The United Kingdom is at risk of losing critical pharmaceutical investment due to the socialized National Health Service (NHS) reducing spending on drugs, accompanied by widespread mismanagement and wasteful resource allocation. The warning follows U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co. Inc., known as MSD in Britain, scrapping its planned £1 billion (~$1.36 billion) London research center and sparking concerns about the future of the country’s life sciences sector.

Oxford professor Sir John Bell, a noted figure in Britain’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, told the British media that NHS spending on pharmaceuticals has plummeted from 15 percent of its healthcare budget a decade ago to just nine percent today. “The rest of the world, the OECD, are sitting between 14 percent and 20 percent,” Bell said, referring to the intergovernmental Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, comprised of 38 relatively high-income countries, including the U.S. Bell revealed that after speaking with several pharmaceutical company CEOs, “they’re all in the same space. And that is: they’re not going to do any more investing in the UK.”

Merck’s withdrawal, which will result in the loss of 125 science jobs, was attributed to Britain’s lack of progress in life sciences investment and “overall undervaluation of innovative medicines and vaccines by successive UK governments.” In addition to Merck, AstraZeneca has paused its plans to invest 200 million pounds (~$271.2 million) into a British research facility in Cambridge, having already abandoned a project earmarked for Liverpool in January.

Notably, the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care waste vast sums of money yearly, much greater than the loss of investment from Merck and AstraZeneca. For instance, an “extraordinary” £15 billion was wasted on unused and unusable COVID supplies, including personal protective equipment and vaccines, and an estimated £10 billion (~$16.6 billion) was wasted on a new IT system that was so badly botched it had to be abandoned. Such high-profile failures come on top of endemic waste year-on-year, estimated at around £10 billion, much of it squandered on recruitment agencies, consultants, and inflated contracts.

Millions of pounds a year are also spent on internal staff organizations engaged in woke activism, such as promoting International Pronouns Day, so-called “Pride crafting,” and an event focused on “Embracing your Afro/Curly hair.”

Image by Maggie Jones.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

Farage’s Reform Party Scores Major Parliamentary Defection.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Conservative (Tory) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Danny Kruger has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, becoming the first sitting Tory MP to do so since the last election.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Danny Kruger, Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced during a press conference; Kruger represents the East Wiltshire constituency (electoral district) in the House of Commons.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Conservatives are over.” – Danny Kruger

🎯IMPACT: Kruger’s move signals further fractures within the Conservative Party as Farage’s party supplants it on the British right.

IN FULL

Conservative (Tory) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Danny Kruger has become the first sitting Tory MP to defect to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party since the 2024 election. Kruger, who has represented the East Wiltshire constituency (electoral district) in the House of Commons since 2019, was previously a political secretary to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and a member of current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s shadow work and pensions team.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform leader Nigel Farage, Kruger declared, “The Conservatives are over.” The centuries-old right-establishment party governed from 2010 to mid-2024, earning its biggest parliamentary majority since Margaret Thatcher in 2019—only to see a dramatic collapse in support in the 2024 general election amid record-breaking mass migration.

Speaking to Farage in 2023, before the Conservatives had been ousted, President Donald J. Trump told Farage they “really weren’t staying conservative… they were literally going far left,” adding: “It never made sense.”

Kruger said that he had been “honored” to join Reform’s efforts to prepare for government and expressed his hope that Farage would become Prime Minister. He said of his former party, “The rule of our time in office was failure. Bigger government, social decline, lower wages, higher taxes, and less of what ordinary people actually wanted.” He described the Conservative Party as “divided” with a “toxic brand.”

Kruger is the second Conservative MP to join Reform, following Lee Anderson, who had the Conservative whip withdrawn from him ahead of the 2024 election for saying that Islamists had “got control of [London Mayor Sadiq] Khan and they’ve got control of London, and they’ve got control of [Labour Party leader Sir Keir] Starmer as well.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

Ally of UK PM Refuses to Expel Oxford Union Prez Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk Assassination.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: University College, Oxford, has decided not to expel George Abaraonye, the incoming president of the Oxford Union, despite his celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: George Abaraonye, the Oxford Union, and Valerie Amos, the Master of University College, Oxford, a member of the House of Lords for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 12, at University College, Oxford.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Though Mr Abaraonye’s comments are abhorrent, they do not contravene the College’s policies on free speech, or any other relevant policy.” – Valerie Amos

🎯IMPACT: No disciplinary action will be taken against Abaraonye, maintaining his position at the Oxford Union.

IN FULL

University College, Oxford, has decided not to expel George Abaraonye, the incoming president of the Oxford Union, despite his celebration of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Valerie Amos, Master of University College and a member of the House of Lords representing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, confirmed in a statement that while his remarks were “abhorrent,” they did not breach the College’s free speech policies, and therefore no disciplinary action will be taken.

Notably, Britain does not have American-style free speech rights, and people can be prosecuted and even imprisoned for sending “grossly offensive” messages, such as George Floyd memes, in private chats.

Leaked group‑chat messages show Abaraonye sending messages such as “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f**king go” alongside a prayer‑hands emoji, shortly after news spread of Kirk being shot at a Utah Valley University event.

Kirk and Abaraonye had engaged in debate just months prior at an Oxford Union event in May, where they discussed issues including “toxic masculinity.”

Abaraonye has since issued a public apology, saying his reaction was impulsive, that the comments were made before Kirk was confirmed deceased, and that he deleted them once he learned of his passing. However, he still defended himself by pointing to what he saw as the harm caused by some of Kirk’s rhetoric.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

Incoming Oxford Union Prez Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Murder—Months After Kirk Debated Him.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: George Abarayone, president-elect of the prestigious Oxford Union at Oxford University in England, celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, according to leaked group chat messages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Charlie Kirk, George Abarayone, the Oxford Union, and Oxford University.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kirk debated Abarayone at the Oxford Union in June; he was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10.

💬KEY QUOTE: “CHARLIE KIRK GOT SHOT LET’S FUCKING GO” – George Abarayone.

🎯IMPACT: Abarayone’s outburst is just one high-profile example of the open celebration from many leftists over Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

IN FULL

The incoming president of the Oxford Union at Oxford University, England, known for its robust debates on a variety of issues featuring prominent speakers from academia, media, politics, and more, appeared to celebrate the shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in the aftermath of his assassination at Utah Valley University.

Leaked group chat discussions allegedly reveal that George Abarayone, president-elect of the Oxford Union, was jubilant about Charlie Kirk being shot, exclaiming, “CHARLIE KIRK GOT SHOT LET’S F**KING GO” with a prayer emoji.

The X (formerly Twitter) account Facts UK was the first to leak the alleged chat messages, subsequently leaking others that showed Abarayone deleted his initial comment. However, quotes of the comment were preserved.

Another user in the chat named Borys commented, “Lmfao, he’s pro guns,” to which Abaraonye replied, “It really writes itself, doesn’t it?” Notably, Abarayone had debated Kirk at the Oxford Union just months prior.

Many leftists have celebrated the assassination of Kirk or downplayed his death, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who refused to engage in a moment of silence for Kirk on September 11.

So far, no suspect has been apprehended for Kirk’s assassination, but images of a person of interest have been released, and law enforcement sources say recovered ammunition linked to the suspected murder weapon was engraved with messages indicating support for Antifa and transgenderism.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

UK PM Smears Trump World Health Advisor Ahead of State Visit.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer smeared Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a speaker at this year’s annual conference for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, who is close to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Action group, ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to Britain.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Starmer, Dr. Aseem Malhotra, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Malhorta responded to Starmer’s comments about him on X (formerly Twitter) on September 10, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I did NOT state that ‘vaccines are linked to cancer’.” – Dr. Aseem Malhotra

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the ongoing debate and concerns over the use of mRNA technology in vaccines and public trust in vaccination, and potentially frays relations between the British government and the Trump administration.

IN FULL

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire for smearing Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist close to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Action group, ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said Dr. Malhorta had made “shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer,” adding, “These dangerous conspiracies cost lives.”

Malhotra, targeted after speaking at the annual conference of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, which has overtaken Starmer’s Labour Party in the polls, publicly refuted Starmer’s statements on X (formerly Twitter). “I did NOT state that ‘vaccines are linked to cancer’,” he said, emphasizing that he was merely “presenting information about the possible link [between] the covid mRNA vaccine and cancer from U.S. HHS data and quoting oncologist Professor Angus Dalgleish [who said] ‘it’s highly likely that the covid vaccines have been a significant factor in cancer of members of the royal family.'”

King Charles III, 76, and his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, announced they had been diagnosed with cancer in February and March 2024, respectively.

Dr. Malhotra warned, “Conflating legitimate safety concerns of a novel mRNA technology with all vaccines is preposterous and dangerous,” highlighting research showing that smears like Starmer’s are “fuelling the concerning reduced uptake of vital traditional vaccines.”

Notably, Starmer’s targeting of Malhotra could fray tensions between his government and the Trump administration, considering his ties to Secretary Kennedy. President Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom from September 17 to September 19.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

UK Judge Wishes 9/11 and 7/7 Terrorist ‘All the Best’ Ahead of His Release.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A High Court judge in England wished Haroon Aswat, a convicted terrorist linked to the 9/11 attacks on the United States and the 7/7 attacks on the United Kingdom, “all the best” ahead of his release.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Haroon Aswat, Judge Sir Robert Jay, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: April 1, 2025, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I have to wish you all the best and say to you that the way forward is to keep on your medication, listen to the advice you are going to get, and keep out of the sort of things you were doing.” – Sir Robert Jay.

🎯IMPACT: Concerns have been raised over Aswat threatening public safety, with calls for judicial accountability and scrutiny of monitoring loopholes for psychiatric patients.

IN FULL

Haroon Aswat, a jihadist who has admitted to playing a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the 7/7 terrorist attacks on the United Kingdom, is about to be let loose among the British public. In a hearing at London’s Royal Courts of Justice in April, a transcript of which was only recently obtained by the press, High Court judge Sir Robert Jay shockingly wished Aswat “all the best.”

Aswat’s connection to the 7/7 bombings in 2005—which saw suicide bombers target three subway trains and a double-decker bus, killing over 50 and injuring close to 800—was uncovered via phone records, while his connection to 9/11 was discovered in documents belonging to the attack’s lead planner, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in a Pakistani safehouse. He also attempted to set up a jihadist training camp in Oregon, having previously attended one in Afghanistan, in collaboration with the notorious hook-handed jihadist Abu Hamza.

Extradited to the United States to face U.S. charges in 2014, after the European Court of Human Rights initially blocked the transfer, he entered a guilty plea, but was returned to the United Kingdom in 2022. He is currently detained at Bethlem Royal Hospital in South London, but is now poised for release, with court documents indicating that he intends to stay with relatives in Batley, West Yorkshire. He will not even be subjected to an ankle monitor because of a loophole related to convicts with psychiatric issues.

The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has voiced “grave concerns” over his impending freedom, with a senior detective noting he has “spoken positively of his time with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and expressed aspirations to reconnect with them.”

However, Judge Sir Robert Jay appears for more relaxed about the terrorist being at large in society again, saying at the April hearing, “I have to wish you all the best and say to you that the way forward is to keep on your medication, listen to the advice you are going to get, and keep out of the sort of things you were doing.”

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has called for the judge’s dismissal, arguing, “The public demands tougher justice than this by far. Aswat should be in a high-security jail until he dies and Mr Justice Jay should be sacked.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more

Britain Just Appointed a Far-Left Muslim to Oversee Migration.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Shabana Mahmood, a far-left Muslim, as Home Secretary, broadly responsible for border security, immigration, policing, and national security in the United Kingdom.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Keir Starmer, Shabana Mahmood, and Britain’s governing Labour Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 5, 2025, in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There’s been an explosion of Islamophobia since October 7—but there’s also a huge underreporting of the issue.” – Shabana Mahmood, in 2024

🎯IMPACT: Mahmood’s appointment raises concerns over worsening censorship and the ongoing immigration enforcement failures in Britain.

IN FULL

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Shabana Mahmood as Britain’s Home Secretary, broadly responsible for border security, immigration, policing, and national security. The Islamophobia-obsessed Labour Party politician, raised partly in Saudi Arabia, was previously the Justice Secretary, overseeing the mass early release of criminals and the imprisonment of many people who demonstrated against mass migration or criticized it online following a mass stabbing in Southport, England, by a migration-background teenager.

Mahmood’s appointment follows now-former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner exiting her role and being replaced by the Trump-hating David Lammy amid a tax scandal. Mahmood’s elevation has sparked public concern, given her poor record as Justice Secretary and apparent desire for even more draconian action against “Islamophobia,” at a time when Britons are already facing harsh restrictions on their speech.

As Justice Secretary, Mahmood implemented an early-release scheme for thousands of prisoners, ostensibly to ease overcrowding. Freed offenders were seen celebrating outside prisons, some popping champagne, and many quickly violated their release conditions, leading to their return to prison and causing distress to victims. Even then, Mahmood intervened to ensure such prisoners would be eligible for early release again after just 28 days, with Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove expressing “serious concerns” about the policy retraumatizing victims.

Notably, while prisons in Britain have become overcrowded, the government has always managed to find new spaces to house illegal immigrants when necessary. Moreover, much of the space freed up by the mass early release scheme was soon occupied by people who had criticized or protested against mass migration in the wake of the Southport killings.

As Home Secretary, it seems unlikely that Mahmood will move to redirect law enforcement resources away from policing opinions. In 2024, she alleged there had been “an explosion of Islamophobia since October 7″—but also, conveniently, “huge underreporting of the issue,” allowing her to justify aggressively pursuing the matter with or without statistical evidence.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more