Sam Francis

London

Reporter at BBC

Journalist for BBC. Personal account. Views are strictly unprofessional

Articles

Improve military homes by creating new body, say Tories

1 week ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

Improve military homes by creating new body, say ToriesSam FrancisGetty ImagesMPs warn that soldiers may leave the military if housing standards don't improveMilitary homes should be run by a housing association to tackle the "poor" state of accommodation and stem an exodus of troops, the Conservatives have said. Two-thirds of homes for military families need extensive refurbishment, with much service accommodation suffering damp, mould and rat infestations, a report found last year.
Small boats situation getting deteriorating, says No 10

1 week ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

Small boats situation getting worse, says No 10Sam FrancisGetty ImagesDowning Street has said the small boats situation in the English Channel is "deteriorating" ahead of a key UK-France summit next month on border security. Meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to "work closely" to tackle crossings, a No 10 spokesperson said.
Peers criticise £9.6m House of Lords front door

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

Peers criticise £9.6m House of Lords front doorSam FrancisBBCPeers have criticised the new front door to the House of Lords, after ministers revealed it cost £9.6m and still does not work properly. The Peers' Entrance began a multi-year security upgrade in 2023, but is still not fully accessible for disabled peers, and requires a permanent member of staff on site "to press the button to open the door," peers said.
UK will end use of asylum hotels by 2029, Reeves says

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

UK will end use of asylum hotels by 2029, Reeves saysSam FrancisJack FenwickPA MediaThe government has set out plans to end the use of hotels to hold asylum seekers by 2029, a move Rachel Reeves says will save £1bn a year. Unveiling her Spending Review on Wednesday, the chancellor pledged £200m to "cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeal cases and return people who have no right to be here".
David Bull named new chairman of Reform UK

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

TV presenter David Bull named new Reform chairmanSam FrancisGetty ImagesTalkTV host David Bull has been named as Reform UK's new chairman, replacing Zia Yusuf who quit last week after clashing with colleagues over calls for a burka ban. A long-time ally of party leader Nigel Farage, 56-year-old Bull has held several roles in Reform and its predecessor the Brexit Party, but is best known for his work as a broadcaster.
Green Party expels ex-health spokesperson after LGBTQ+ comment row

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

Greens expel ex-spokesperson after LGBTQ+ comment rowSam FrancisPallavi DevulapalliThe Green Party of England and Wales has expelled its former health spokesperson eight months after an investigation was launched into her comments on LGBTQ+ hate crimes. Documents seen by the BBC show the Greens expelled Dr Pallavi Devulapalli for breaking party rules by attending a party event while under investigation for calling reports of rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes "mischievous".
Growing number of MPs changing their mind on assisted dying

3 weeks ago | bbc.co.uk | Harry Farley |Sam Francis

The bill is a private members' bill, sponsored by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. MPs have been given a free vote on it, meaning they can decide based on their conscience rather than having to follow a party line. They have spent the past few months examining it in detail, with more than 500 amendments tabled. Some of these changes will be voted on by MPs next Friday - and a final Commons vote will take place in the summer, before it heads to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Sam Francis

Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister saysGetty ImagesThe government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to "war-fighting readiness" in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has said.
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says

3 weeks ago | bbc.co.uk | Sam Francis |Jonathan Beale

The SDR, carried out by former Labour Defence Sectary Lord Robertson, found the UK's armed forces are "not currently equipped" to fight opponents like Russia or China, with inadequate stockpiles of weapons, poor recruitment and crumbling morale. The report warned the UK is already experiencing daily attacks on its critical national infrastructure, testing the economy's vulnerabilities and "and challenging its social cohesion".
UK to sign Chagos deal with Mauritius

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Chris Mason |Sam Francis

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Diego Garcia is the location of a UK-US military airstripSir Keir Starmer is due to sign a deal handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on Thursday. Under the terms of the deal Mauritius would gain sovereignty of the islands from the UK, but allow the US and UK to continue operating a strategically important military base on one of the islands for an initial period of 99 years in exchange for a multi-billion pound payment.