Markus Andrews

Belgium will move toward recognizing a Palestinian state, the country’s foreign minister said Tuesday, joining a growing list of countries preparing to take the step as Israel steps up its offensive in Gaza.Maxime Prévot said Belgium’s plans to recognize a Palestinian state will be announced at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 9. However, the acknowledgment is predicated on two conditions — the return of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the removal of Hamas from political power in the coastal exclave. The conditions make it unlikely the recognition will be formalized anytime soon.The announcement marks the latest sign of international support for a Palestinian state, and would add Belgium to a list of more than 140 countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, including more than a dozen in Europe.Prévot on Tuesday also announced plans to ban goods coming from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and designate Hamas leaders, violent settlers, and two far-right Israeli ministers as persona non grata. “This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground,” Prévot said on social platform X. Prévot said the European Union should increase more pressure on Israel by suspending ties with the country, including its trade pact known as the Association Agreement.Israel’s war in Gaza has stressed ties within the bloc’s 27 nations, ignited protests across the continent, and frayed political coalitions including in Belgium and its neighbor the Netherlands. But despite growing political tension, Israel’s deep ties with European military, business and academic institutions remain largely intact.Belgium’s announcement sparked fury from Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who, along with finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, is a likely target of the new sanctions.“The self-righteous European countries that are being manipulated by Hamas — at the end they’ll discover terrorism on their own flesh,” Ben Gvir said in a statement to The Associated Press.France and the United Kingdom have both announced plans to recognize Palestine, putting added diplomatic pressure on Israel.Australia, Canada and the European countries moving toward statehood recognition have predicated the step on the Palestinian Authority making reforms. But the body is deeply unpopular among Palestinians and is seen as corrupt and incapable of governing effectively. Israel has opposed granting it a larger role in postwar Gaza.The Palestinians seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank, annexed east Jerusalem and Gaza, territories Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s government and most of its political class have long opposed Palestinian statehood and now say it would reward militants after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.—-Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed to this report. More

Yvette Cooper has denounced calls by Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch for tougher action on migrants, accusing them of “standing on the shoreline and shouting at the sea”. The home secretary denied her attempts to curb small boat crossings by migrants had failed and said the problem would only be solved by “hard graft not grand pledges”. Ms Cooper said: “You can just stand on the shoreline shouting at the sea – and that is what the opposition parties have been doing.Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the first returns under a deal with France are expected this month More

Yvette Cooper has failed to guarantee that the number of small boat crossings will come down by this time next year, amid growing public anger of the government’s handling of the issue. Public discontent with the government’s handling of the small boats crisis and the housing of asylum seekers in hotels has led to a wave of protests over the summer, as well as criticism from Labour’s political opponents after the number of people crossing the Channel reached a record high this year. Asked whether the numbers of people making the dangerous crossing will still be going up in a year’s time, the home secretary refused to make “grand promises” – claiming that is what the previous government did and failed to deliver on them. Yvette Cooper has failed to guarantee that the number of small boat crossings will come down by this time next year More

Leading female politicians, campaigners and cultural figures have signed an open letter criticising attempts from the right to link sexual violence in Britain to the arrival of asylum seekers. The letter – signed by musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and Anoushka Shankar, as well as Labour, Green and independent MPs including Kim Johnson, Ellie Chowns, Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana – says they “reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls”. “They are not defenders of women – they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division,” reads the letter, coordinated by Stand Up to Racism and titled ‘Women Against the Far Right’.Nigel Farage has repeatedly tried to link illegal immigration with levels of violence against women and girls More

Yvette Cooper has announced plans to suspend all new applications under the refugee family reunion route as part of a series of measures to clear the asylum backlog and clamp down on the number of people crossing the Channel. The changes mean that refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else while a new, tougher framework for family reunions is drawn up. Refugees will now have to apply through the standard family scheme, which applies to British citizens. This requires them to demonstrate a minimum joint income of £29,000 per year before their foreign partner can join them in the UK.Giving a statement in the Commons on Monday, the first day back after a summer recess that was marred by growing public anger over migration, the home secretary said that a new independent body will be created to speed up asylum appeals, as well as announcing that the first returns of those who come to the UK on small boats will begin later this month under its deal with France. Yvette Cooper announced a wide-ranging plan to cut the asylum backlog More

If Labour MPs were hoping that the summer break had calmed things down for the party and seen an end to the infighting and manoeuvring, then they will have arrived back disappointed.The whirlwind of stories around deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and her property purchase, the speculation of dire consequences for the economy under Rachel Reeves’ guidance, and the mini -reshuffle as the new term began are all connected in a giant soap opera behind the scenes.Essentially, the common thread is Keir Starmer’s own future as Labour leader and prime minister and the fact that there are many now plotting his downfall while others are plotting to take out his biggest threat, Ms Rayner.The Prime Minister has had a mini reshuffle (Isabel Infantes/PA) More

Awkward moment Nick Robinson reminds Chris Philp he opened Bell Hotel to asylum seekersSir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage’s Reform Party of engaging in a “politics of grievance” as home secretary Yvette Cooper addresses Parliament on plans to reform the immigration system and border security. Speaking to the BBC ahead of the opening of Parliament, Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of “simply putting forward unworkable, fanciful ideas that just aren’t going to work”. Sir Keir’s government has come under fierce criticism for its handling of immigration, particularly around the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. It comes as the home secretary outlines reforms to the immigration system to MPs as they return to Westminster for the first time since July.She will say the government’s overhaul of the “broken” asylum system will contribute to ending the use of asylum hotels, an issue which has led to widespread protests over the summer. The BBC has reported that she plans to tighten rules for migrants granted asylum to bring their families to the UK, including tougher English language standards and access to sufficient funds. Cooper: Asylum hotels must be closed in an orderly manner Yvette Cooper has reiterated the need to close all asylum hotels “in a controlled and orderly manner”. “We need to close all asylum hotels and we need to do so for good. But it must be done in a controlled and orderly manner,” she said. Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:53Cooper says family reunion visas are ‘not sustainable’ Home secretary Yvette Cooper has said that refugee family reunion visas are “not sustainable” under the current model. “Reforms are needed,” she said, suggesting they would include longer periods of residence in the UK until families can seek refuge. Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:51Cooper begins Parliament address Home secretary Yvette Cooper has begun her address to Parliament. Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:44Keir Starmer accidentally calls Angela Rayner an ‘incredible prime minister’Keir Starmer accidentally calls Angela Rayner ‘prime minister’Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:40What is the refugee family reunification route?Yvette Cooper is about to announce changes to the family reunification route for refugees, but what is this?The safe legal route to the UK is set up for people who have refugee status in Britain. Refugees, who have had their asylum claims assessed and deemed successful, can apply for family members to join them in the UK. This is often husbands who have made difficult journeys to the UK who then apply to bring their wives and children to sanctuary.In order to qualify, the applicant and their partner must be in a lasting relationship. This qualifies as in a marriage, civil partnership, or in a relationship for at least two years.The couple will need to prove that they communicate regularly, support each other financially, and care for any children they have together. When applying for a child, the child must be under the age of 18.Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs Correspondent 1 September 2025 15:32Home secretary to address Parliament shortly Yvette Cooper is shortly about to address Parliament about reforms to the immigration system and border security. We will bring you lines from that as they come. Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:31Family reunion was the ‘last safe available route for women and children’, charity saysResponding to Yvette Cooper’s upcoming announcement on changes to the refugee family reunion route, Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: “We are forever hearing cries that refugees seeking protection should do so through official channels, but here we have the government restricting the last available safe route for women and children.”Shutting off the hope of family reunification will only force more women and children to take dangerous journeys to seek sanctuary, including risking their lives by crossing the Channel.“This is an ill-conceived approach from a Government that won’t stand up to the rhetoric of Reform, nor the far-right hate we are witnessing on our streets, but is instead mimicking it and making things substantially worse for refugees, communities and themselves.”Tom Watling1 September 2025 15:28Starmer backs Rayner despite tax claims Angela Rayner is a “great story of British success”, the Prime Minister said, adding it was a “mistake” for people to brief against her or talk her down.Sir Keir Starmer told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Angela is Deputy Prime Minister of this country, that’s an incredible achievement.“And Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister.”His comments come after recent reports that Ms Rayner saved £40,000 in stamp duty when buying a flat in Hove, East Sussex, after telling tax authorities it was her main home. A spokesperson for Ms Rayner previously said she paid all her taxes. Sir Keir added: “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again.“It’s a mistake, by the way. Angela is an incredible prime minister… Deputy Prime Minister, but what a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.“I’m proud of that. I think we should be proud as a country that Angela Rayner is our Deputy Prime Minister, and that, by the way, will give I don’t know how many working-class children, particularly girls, a real sense of aspiration.”Sir Keir Starmer has defended his deputy amid criticism of her tax affairs. (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer has launched a defence of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner following criticism of her tax affairs, saying she is a “great story of British success”.The prime minister said Ms Rayner has “had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again”, warning: “It’s a big mistake by the way”, amid headlines about her purchase of a flat in Hove.Describing her appointment as deputy prime minister as “an incredible achievement”, Sir Keir told BBC 5Live: “Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our deputy prime minister.”Sir Keir Starmer has defended his deputy amid criticism of her tax affairs. (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More