Newslinks for Thursday 18th September 2025

Charity backed by Home Office seeks to thwart ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal

“A Home Office-backed charity is providing migrants with a step-by-step guide that could help them thwart Sir Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” migrant deal with France. Current government website guidelines state that “welfare services” must provide migrants held in removal centres with a “notebook” produced by Bail for Immigration Detainees (BiD), a charity that provides legal advice to people in detention. The Telegraph can reveal that BiD, which has received more than £400,000 in Comic Relief donations and which benefits from charitable tax relief, has produced a detailed method that could help migrants to beat the Prime Minister’s flagship policy. The guide includes “template” letters migrants can use and suggestions for how to use legal and human rights arguments to fight deportation.” – Daily Telegraph

• Mahmood: Migrants who fight deportation make a mockery of our laws – Daily Telegraph
• Home Secretary demands slavery law review after deportation chaos – The Times
• Leftie lawyers blasted by Mahmood – Daily Mail
• Mahmood orders review of modern slavery law – Daily Express

Comment

Royals give Trump a spectacular welcome for ‘ultimate’ state visit before Starmer meeting

“Explaining the value of monarchy, Clement Attlee once said: “We do want a little light, colour and symbolism in our national life.” Quite what he would have made of the technicolour spectacle laid on for Donald Trump’s unprecedented second state visit is anyone’s guess. When Trump’s three helicopters arrived in the walled garden by Victoria House on the Windsor estate, the Prince and Princess of Wales led the charge to greet their guests. The lawn had never been used as a landing site before and the King couldn’t resist a peek out of the window.” – The Times

• Starmer faces embarrassment at press conference with Trump – Daily Mail
• PM faces tense Trump talks – The Sun
• Trump: UK and US are ‘two notes of the same chord’ – The Times
• History lesson from the King as Trump says ‘what an honour’ – Daily Telegraph
• President soaks up glory of second state visit – FT
• Britain pushes boat out for Trump state visit – Daily Mail
• Trump visit brings £750m Palantir deal for military AI technology – The Times
• The special bond – The Sun
• Lammy keeps £25m grace and favour home despite reshuffle – Daily Telegraph

Comment

>Today:

PM to recognise Palestine this weekend

“Sir Keir Starmer will this weekend formally recognise Palestine as a state once Donald Trump concludes his state visit. The Prime Minister is reported to have delayed the announcement until after the state visit amid concern it could dominate their joint press conference at Chequers on Thursday. Washington is firmly opposed to recognition and the president has previously warned such a move would reward Hamas. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, has said that though the US preferred an end to the war “sometimes when you’re dealing with a group of savages like Hamas, that’s not possible”. The announcement comes before a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York next week where Britain, France, Australia and Canada are among nations anticipated to extend recognition.” – Daily Telegraph

• UK will recognise Palestine state after end of Trump state visit – The Times
• Britain to formally recognise Palestine once trump leaves – Daily Mail
• SNP MP deletes post after accidentally slating Swinney for dining with Trump – The Courier

Comment

Burnham allies talk up Rayner return

“Allies of Andy Burnham believe Angela Rayner could make a political comeback if he replaces Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader. MPs think that the former deputy prime minister could provide the Manchester mayor with support from inside the parliamentary Labour party ahead of his comeback to the Commons. Ms Rayner has been silent since she resigned following an investigation by The Telegraph into her tax affairs. However, a friend said she was “not daft” and “knows how to make her career survive” despite the scandal. “I do know that in the last year, there have been conversations between them,” said one MP. “People suggest that Andy and her could run together, and she could be the deputy.” – Daily Telegraph

Inside the furious Tory row that broke out at state visit reception

“It had been intended as a meeting of minds: senior figures from the Tories and Reform UK dining together as the guests of team Trump. Instead, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, along with former Cabinet ministers and the broadcaster Andrew Neil, astonished the company with an open spat over the Conservatives’ record in government and the future of politics on the Right. One witness described “real anger” in the room as the Tory heavyweights argued over immigration, welfare reform and defence spending, while Reform supporters privately observed that the row showed why the Conservatives no longer functioned as a party. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, tried to smooth things over, being of the view that the Conservatives and Reform should work together.” – Daily Telegraph

>Today:

Other pollical news and comment

• Tory leader launches LBC phone-in – The Times
• Ex-Labour councillor charged over honeytrap scandal – FT
• Scottish Parliament scraps legal verdict of ‘not proven’ – Guardian
• Khan’s TfL ‘suppressed anti-LTN report’ – Daily Telegraph
• Khan must stop hiding the truth — LTNs don’t work – Jawad Iqbal, The Times
• Out-of-work benefits are up nearly 80pc. BBC says it’s a ‘small amount’ – Daily Telegraph
• Holidaymakers face higher prices because of hated ‘Taxi Tax’, industry warns – The Sun
• Dropped China spying case raises red flags – Juliet Samuel, The Times
• Time for Lib Dems to raise their game on the big stage – Edward Lucas, The Times
• Nationwide chair attended breakfast with Reform – FT
• Costa café turned into hospital ward – The Sun
• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign mutual defense pact – FT

News in Brief