Starmer facing mounting pressure over immigration as MP says far right ’emboldened’
Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over the small boats crisis after protests outside asylum hotels continued over the bank holiday weekend.
A poll suggested that voters believe the prime minister is failing to grip the problem, despite his government setting out measures to speed up removals.
It comes as Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer warned that “the far right feels emboldened and validated” by other political parties.
So far this year a record 28,076 people have made the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats, 46% more than in the same period in 2024.
Like many other European countries, immigration has increasingly become a flashpoint in recent years as the UK deals with an influx of people fleeing war-torn and poorer countries seeking a better life.
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Asylum hotel protests swell in Norwich
Official figures released earlier this month showed a total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
There were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels by the end of the same month.
Protests and counterprotests at sites housing asylum seekers continued over the weekend and the government is braced for further legal fights over the use of hotels.
Police separate protesters in Liverpool
Read more:
Fast-track asylum appeals process to be introduced
A YouGov poll for The Times found that 71% per cent of voters believe Sir Keir is handling the asylum hotel issue badly, including 56% of Labour supporters.
The survey of 2,153 people carried out on August 20-21 found 37% of voters viewed immigration and asylum as the most important issue facing the country, ahead of 25% who said the economy and 7% who said the health service.
Ms Denyer, who is MP for Bristol Central, condemned threats of violence in the charged atmosphere around immigration.
“The far right feels emboldened and validated by other political parties dancing to their tune.
“The abuse I’ve been sent has got noticeably worse in the last few months, escalating in some cases to violent threats, which are reported to the police.
“It doesn’t matter how much you disagree with someone, threats of violence are never, ever OK. And they won’t silence me.”
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Asylum hotels: Is the government caught in a trap?
Is it time for gunboats to help stop the people smugglers?
Curbing the power of judges in asylum cases to tackle the migrant hotel crisis is a typical Keir Starmer response to a problem.
The former director of public prosecutions would appear to see overhauling court procedures and the legal process as the answer to any tricky situation.
Yes, the proposed fast-track asylum appeals process is fine as far as it goes. But for a government confronted with a massive migrant crisis, opponents claim it’s mere tinkering.
And welcome and worthy as it is, it isn’t going to “smash the gangs”, stop the boats or act as a powerful deterrent to the people smugglers plying their trade in the Channel.
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to his health secretary after allies of the prime minister accused him of plotting a coup.
Sky News understands Sir Keir spoke briefly to Wes Streeting on Wednesday evening, though did not share details about the briefing campaign.
Politics Hub: Follow latest updates
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions earlier in the day, he denied authorising the attacks on Mr Streeting, who was accused of planning a leadership challenge after the budget later this month.
Mr Streeting said the allegations are “not true”, telling Sky News’ Mornings With Ridge And Frost that whoever was behind the briefings had been “watching too much Celebrity Traitors”.
He insisted he was loyal to the prime minister, who has been under mounting pressure as he and the Labour Party flounder behind Reform in the polls.
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Health secretary insists he’s ‘a faithful’
Downing Street went on the attack on Tuesday night to ward off any potential challenge to Sir Keir after the budget, which could see the government announce manifesto-breaking tax rises.
Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves have refused to rule out raising income tax, national insurance, or VAT.
One senior figure told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby while a post-budget challenge is unlikely, it could come if next May’s elections – including in London and Wales – go badly for Labour.
Labour face a challenge from Reform on the right and parties like the Greens and Plaid Cymru on the left.
Read more: How No 10 plunged itself into crisis
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Starmer backs Streeting at PMQs
Also under pressure is the prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after Mr Streeting hit out at a “toxic culture” inside Number 10.
Sir Keir failed to say he had “full confidence” in him at PMQs in response to questions from Kemi Badenoch, but the prime minister’s political spokesperson later insisted to journalists that he does retain his backing.
Sky News understands Mr McSweeney was not discussed when Sir Keir and Mr Streeting spoke last night.
Labour chairwoman Anna Turley said the prime minister will investigate the source of the claims against the health secretary, telling ITV: “This is not what he wants to see and he’s determined to drive it out.”
US President Donald Trump has signed off on a funding bill passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, officially bringing an end to the record 43-day government shutdown.
The funding bill went through the Senate on Monday and passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, with Trump signing the bill just hours later to get the government back up and running.
Healthcare funding was one of the sticking points that halted the bill, with Democrats pushing to increase support, while Republicans sought to address the issue after the bill had passed.
After signing the bill, President Trump indicated that he may be willing to work with the Democrats to iron out these issues.
“I’m always willing to work with anyone, including the other party,” Trump said, adding:
“We’ll work on something having to do with health care. We can do a lot better.”
The latest shutdown, which has become an almost annual affair, was the longest on record at 43 days.
The bill itself enables funding to support government operations until Jan. 30, and gives more time for Democrats and Republicans to strike a deal for broader funding plans across 2026.
What does it mean for crypto
The reopening of the government will see staff return to crypto-related agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Crypto ETF issuers have been waiting for the SEC to approve a host of potential spot-crypto exchange-traded fund applications. Meanwhile, the CFTC has already pushed forward with plans for a Nov. 19 confirmation hearing of Mike Selig, Trump’s top pick to head the agency.
Related: SEC chair pledges no ‘lax enforcement’ on crypto under market structure
The Treasury should now also be positioned to sift through public feedback on the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act, which was compiled between early October and the start of November.
Despite this, the crypto markets have responded flatly to the end of the government shutdown, with Bitcoin price action being minimal.
In past instances, the resumption of the US government has led to major rallies.
Magazine: If the crypto bull run is ending… it’s time to buy a Ferrari: Crypto Kid
The longest US government shutdown on record is finally set to conclude, with the House of Representatives voting through a contested funding bill on Wednesday.
The bill is now headed to US President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it Wednesday night.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers staunchly debated the bill in the House of Representatives, ahead of a final vote that ultimately ended in favor of the bill, with 222 votes in favor and 209 against.
According to a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, US President Donald Trump has already indicated that he will sign the bill, which would officially end the shutdown. The BBC reports that Trump plans to sign the bill at 9:45 pm local time during a private dinner with business leaders.
“The Administration urges every Member of Congress to support this responsible, good faith product to finally put an end to the longest shutdown in history,” the statement read.
Related: SEC chair pledges no ‘lax enforcement’ on crypto under market structure
The funding bill would cover most of the government’s expenses through to the end of January next year.
The bill saw neither side of the political aisle willing to budge. Democrats were pushing to halt the bill, demanding more funding for healthcare and the cost-of-living crisis. Republicans were not willing to address these concerns in the bill, instead calling for the government to reopen and promising to address these issues afterward.
The government shutdown has halted the progress of crypto bills and also left a significant number of spot-crypto exchange-traded fund applications sitting on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s desk.
Meanwhile, other bills — such as the comprehensive market structure bill — that have made some progress even during the shutdown, will now be able to gain more traction.
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