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Shamima Begum’s appeal over the removal of her UK citizenship for joining Islamic State begins in a London court today.

She ran away from her London home as a 15-year-old with two other girls in 2015, ending up in Syria and marrying one of the terror group’s fighters.

Ms Begum was found pregnant in a Syrian detention in 2019 and her citizenship was revoked for national security reasons.

She’s set to base her appeal on claims that she was a victim of child trafficking because she was allegedly smuggled into Syria by a Canadian spy.

The claims were made in a book that said a double agent got them into the country and that his role was covered up by police and the UK government.

Her appeal will be heard by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and is expected to last five days.

Ms Begum has denied involvement in any terror activities when she was living in Islamic State’s former heartland.

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The UK Supreme Court last year denied her permission to return to the UK to challenge the stripping of her citizenship in person.

She remains imprisoned in a camp in northern Syria.

In 2019, she told Sky News she was “just a housewife for the entire four years” she was with IS and claimed she “never did anything dangerous” or encouraged others to join.

Last year, in another Sky interview, she said she wanted to go on trial in the UK and invited British officials to question her in prison.

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‘I didn’t hate Britain, I hated my life’ – Begum

However, a succession of Conservative home secretaries have insisted she is a potential danger and should not be allowed back in the UK.

Her lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, previously said in a statement that “one of the main arguments will be that when former home secretary Sajid Javid stripped Shamima Begum of her citizenship leaving her in Syria, he did not consider that she was a victim of trafficking”.

“The UK has international obligations as to how we view a trafficked person and what culpability we prescribed to them for their actions,” Mr Akunjee added.

The other girls who left for Syria with Ms Begum, Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, are believed to be dead.

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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson steps down as DUP’s leader after being charged with historical sexual offences

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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson steps down as DUP's leader after being charged with historical sexual offences

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect after he was charged with historical sexual offences.

In a statement, the DUP said: “The party chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect.

“In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.

“The party officers have this morning unanimously appointed Mr Gavin Robinson MP as the interim party leader.”

Donaldson has led the party since 2021, but has been the MP for Lagan Valley since 1997.

Prior to joining the DUP, he was part of the Ulster Unionist Party’s delegation to negotiate the Good Friday Peace agreement.

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It comes after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said a man had been charged with non-recent sex offences.

A PSNI spokesman said: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences.

“A 57-year-old woman was also arrested and charged at the time for aiding and abetting additional offences.”

An inauspicious end to a decades-long career


David Blevins - Senior Ireland correspondent

David Blevins

Senior Ireland correspondent

@skydavidblevins

The DUP has weathered many storms, but this is a political earthquake for the party.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s departure under a cloud will have ramifications in both the short-term and long-term.

It will rock the newly established power-sharing government, of which the DUP forms one half.

And maintaining its seats at Westminster in the upcoming general election will be a mountain for the party to climb.

The DUP is well known for its conservative views on social issues like same-sex marriage.

Any whiff of impropriety, never mind alleged offence, leaves it open to allegations of hypocrisy.

In 2010, DUP leader Peter Robinson stepped down briefly as first minister when his wife confessed to an extra-marital affair.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has not only resigned but had his party membership suspended, pending the outcome of the judicial process.

It’s an inauspicious end to the political career of Northern Ireland’s longest-serving member of parliament.

Both are due to appear before Newry Magistrates’ Court on 24 April.

Donaldson came to national prominence for his part in the confidence and supply agreement which propped up Theresa May’s government with DUP support following the 2017 election.

But the DUP ended up voting against Mrs May’s deal – and ultimately her government collapsed.

He became leader of the party in Westminster in 2019, and took overall control in 2021.

Mr Robinson, who has taken over the reins of the party on an interim basis, became the DUP deputy leader in June 2023.

Gavin Robinson MP. Pic: PA
Image:
Gavin Robinson MP. Pic: PA

He joined the Commons in 2015, having previously been lord mayor of Belfast, and a councillor for the city.

Conservative MP and former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said Mr Robinson’s selection was a “very positive decision”.

He added that Mr Robinson had “played a key role in a tough negotiation to restore powersharing & along with other DUP colleagues will chart a positive course for the future”.

It is understood the Donaldson remains an MP.

A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: “We are aware of the announcement by the police, but will not be commenting on individual cases.”

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Millions to hit the roads for Easter getaways as Port of Dover boss says firm ‘back on top’ of backlogs

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Millions to hit the roads for Easter getaways as Port of Dover boss says firm 'back on top' of backlogs

The Easter getaway has started, with 2.6 million car journeys expected on the nation’s roads today.

Good Friday is likely to be the busiest day for travel during the Easter break, with the number of car journeys higher than the two million expected on Easter Monday and the 2.3 million forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

Some 20,000 cars are expected to travel through the Port of Dover between Thursday and Easter Monday and the port’s chief executive Doug Bannister said Storm Nelson had already presented challenges.

“We suffered a bit of a backlog overnight because of the weather impacting on sailings,” he told Sky News on Friday morning, “but we’ve got back on top of it”.

He said tourist vehicles were taking around two hours to get through the port’s border controls, but this was likely to improve as crowds thinned out from mid-afternoon.

Waves crash over a lighthouse on the harbour wall in Dover, Kent. Forecasters say an area of rain, sleet and hill snow is moving north across the UK as holidaymakers prepare to embark on Easter getaways. Picture date: Thursday March 28, 2024.
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Dover. File pic: PA

Ferry firm Stena Line said bookings on Irish Sea routes are up 26% on Easter weekend 2023.

Travel trade organisation Abta said airports are reporting “strong numbers”, with 175,000 due to leave from Stansted, 105,000 from Luton, 160,000 from Manchester, 79,000 from Birmingham, and 89,000 from Edinburgh between Friday and Monday.

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Turkey, Dubai and the Canary Islands are the most popular destinations abroad and trips to Dublin are also in demand.

Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said expected passenger numbers there were up 7% on the same time last year.

Glasgow predicts more than 90,000 passengers over the four days while Birmingham Airport said it expects a 27.2% increase in departures compared to last year’s Easter period.

Bristol predicts 30,000 holiday trips on Easter Sunday alone, and Liverpool Airport expects around 60,000 passengers over the four days – around 7% higher than last year.

There were no reports of major delays at airports or on rail, although some rail lines – such as the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes – are closed for engineering or construction work.

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On the roads, the M5 southbound between Bristol and Taunton, and the M3 between the M25 and the south coast were expected to be the most congested.

Weather-wise, the weekend is likely to be unsettled, with a mix of sunshine and blustery scattered showers on Friday, with a risk of thunderstorms in the southeast, the Met Office said.

Deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said: “The weather is expected to gradually improve following the widely unsettled spell of the past few days, with a fairly typical mix of spring-like weather across the UK.

“There will be some sunshine, and it will feel increasingly warm for most as the winds become lighter.

“However, the west and especially southwest is likely to see passing showers too, which could be quite heavy and frequent at times.

“Eastern coastal districts are also likely to feel increasingly cold as an onshore breeze develops, threatening persistent low cloud in some areas too.”

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Man arrested after death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey is released under investigation

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Man arrested after death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey is released under investigation

A man arrested in connection with the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey has been released under investigation.

The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Gilbey’s death on Thursday.

The 40-year-old star reportedly died following an accident at work on Wednesday.

Essex Police said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the death of a man in Campfield Road, Shoebury, on Wednesday 27 March, a man aged in his 40s from the Witham area was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

“He has now been released under investigation.

“This is a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive and our enquiries are ongoing.”

Police previously said they were called to an incident in Shoebury at around 10am on Wednesday after “a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury”.

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Gilbey was best known for appearing on the Channel 4 show alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who died in 2021 aged 71.

George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock
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Reality star Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock

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The family first appeared on the second series of Gogglebox in 2013 but were dropped the following year when the reality star signed up for the 14th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, reaching the final.

Gilbey appeared on the Channel 5 version of the show alongside other famous faces including The Hills star Stephanie Pratt and American actor Gary Busey, who won the series.

The family later returned to Gogglebox and a spokesperson for the award-winning programme said: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and stepdad Pete.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda and George’s family and friends at this very sad time. The family has asked for privacy.”

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