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A fresh onslaught has been unleashed at Westminster against the Government’s plans to tackle the small boats crisis, with peers inflicting 11 defeats. The string of changes being demanded by the House of Lords to the Illegal Migration Bill include strict time limits on the detention of children and pregnant women, protections for victims of modern slavery and safeguards for the care of unaccompanied youngsters. Other revisions backed by the

Rishi Sunak must appoint a Middle East peace envoy to show that the UK is serious about ending the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, ministers have heard. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the Prime Minister to appoint a peace envoy, stressing the need to de-escalate violence in the region. Israel deployed thousands of troops into the occupied the West Bank on Monday,

Harriet Dart became the first British casualty at Wimbledon after she lost in three sets to Frenchwoman Diane Parry. The British number four had an impressive build-up to her home grand slam, reaching the quarter-finals in Nottingham and Birmingham, but fell 6-7 (4) 6-0 6-4 to Parry. Dart, who reached the third round here in 2019, was up against it from the start in tricky conditions on Court 12, where the wind

The boss of Silverstone has warned Just Stop Oil campaigners that they will be putting lives at risk if they protest at the British Grand Prix. The climate activists have already targeted the Lord’s Ashes Test, the Premiership rugby final and the World Snooker Championship so far this year. Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of Sunday’s race, Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said: “The fundamental difference here is

Roy Hodgson has targeted a top-half Premier League finish after being appointed Crystal Palace manager for the 2023-24 season. Hodgson, who will celebrate his 76th birthday on August 9, returned to Selhurst Park in March following the departure of Patrick Vieira. Palace were involved in a relegation battle at the time, but the former England manager guided the Eagles to an 11th place finish. “I am immensely pleased and proud

Partygate investigator Sue Gray broke civil service rules “as a result of the undeclared contact” between her and the Labour Party, according to a Whitehall investigation. The former senior civil servant is due to take up the role as Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after being cleared to start the job in September by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), the anti-corruption watchdog. But in a separate Cabinet Office

JD Sports is to launch dozens of stores in the Middle East in the sportswear retailer’s first franchise deal as part of its ambitious growth plans. The Bury-based retailer told investors on Monday it will expand into the region through a new partnership with Dubai-based company GMG. It plans to open around 50 stores under the JD brand over the next five years, focusing on locations in the United Arab

Joe Biden will meet the King and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he visits the UK later this month. A visit to the UK had long been expected and comes after Mr Sunak visited Washington last month for talks with the US president. Downing Street said that the visit reflected the “strong relationship” between the UK and US, after the White House confirmed the trip. “President Biden is scheduled to