James Watson CEng, FIET

🚨 NEW: 70% of Brits say they would prefer to do an in-person job interview after Andy Burnham called for an end to virtual interviews

Successive governments failed to stop the boats because they were trying to fix the symptoms, not the cause. If people know they can stay and claim benefits, they’ll keep coming. If they know they’ll be removed, they won’t come. We must change the incentives. That’s why the Conservative Borders Plan leaves the ECHR, giving us the power to ban asylum claims from illegal entrants, and remove new arrivals within a week. That’s why we will make it harder for non-citizens to claim welfare and housing benefits. And that’s why we will restrict ILR and citizenship. This is common sense. And this how we will take back control of our borders for good.

A major incident has been declared in Suffolk as firefighters battle a large blaze at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a wildfire on Wednesday evening, and a number of homes and caravans in the coastal area were evacuated. The fire has spread to the southwest and to the east, and the public has been urged to avoid the area if possible and keep windows and doors closed. But the fire service said there was currently no risk to the Sizewell B nuclear power station two miles away. Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency estimates there were nearly 3,000 heat-associated deaths during hot weather in May and June this year, almost double the figure reported for the summer of 2025.

Another reminder that how well you are paid has absolutely nothing to do with how hard your job is, or miners would be living in mansions. How much you are paid is based on how easy the job is to fill and how easy it would be to replace you.

Utter farcical Hackney Council meeting continues. Dressed to impress Green councillor and chair of constitutional committee Alistair Binnie Lubbock starts speaking on wrong item

8yrs since the greatest Royal Navy article of all time!