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Windrush Victims Voice Anger Over Government Plan to Pay Asylum Seekers to Leave the UK

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 08:20:00 +0000

Windrush Victims Voice Anger Over Government Plan to Pay Asylum Seekers to Leave the UK

Assistant Editor

"We have worked and paid taxes, yet we can't even get legal aid to challenege the Home Office and while 'failed asylum seekers' can access everything, including housing, legal aid and now money to leave the UK."

indrush victims have expressed anger and frustration at government proposals to offer asylum seekers payments of up to £40,000 to voluntarily leave the United Kingdom.

The plan, being considered as part of efforts to reduce pressure on the asylum system, would provide financial incentives for individuals whose claims have been rejected, to return to their home countries.

According to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, families will be offered £10,000 per member, capped at four per family, to leave the UK voluntarily. They will have seven days to reply, and if they do not take up the offer, the Home Office will attempt to forcibly remove them from the country.

NEW - EXCL: This week Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to offer some asylum seekers up to £40,000 to leave the UK — sparking anger from Windrush victims who have spent years fighting for compensation from the Home Office after being wrongly targeted by the Windrush… pic.twitter.com/GlK2gCCJTd
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) March 8, 2026

Immigration minister Mike Tapp seeks to justify 5 nil-compensation awards to the McIntosh family

But for victims and survivors of the Home Office Windrush Scandal—many of whom are still waiting for compensation after being wrongly treated as illegal immigrants, the proposal has reopened painful questions about fairness and priorities. Campaigners say the idea that large sums could be offered to resolve immigration cases quickly stands in stark contrast to the long and difficult process faced by Windrush victims seeking justice.

Bishop Desmond Jadoo - Chair of the Windrush National Organisation (WNO), presented Mike Tapp MP - Minister of State for Migration and Citizenship (right) with a Windrush borad game at the WNO's annual conference. Image credit: George Brown

Although the government later apologised for the WIndrush Scandal and created a compensation scheme, many victims and their families say the process has been slow, complex, and often deeply distressing.

Among those speaking out is Windrush victim and British Army veteran Hetticia McIntosh, who says the proposed policy highlights the continuing struggle many victims face.

“I came to Britain as a child in 1963 and built my life here believing I was British because the law said we were,” she said. “We worked, paid taxes, raised our families and contributed to this country in every way asked of us.”

McIntosh later served in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, but years later she and her husband (Vaun) were told they were no longer British Citizens and althought they had indefinate leave to reamin in the UK, they were never given paperwork to prove their status, which made their lives difficult.

Hetticia and Vaun continue to fight for fair compensation from the Home Office after more than 40 years of misery and distress.

“We lost opportunities and lived under years of uncertainty,” she said. “More than forty years of our lives have been overshadowed by stress, financial hardship and the emotional toll of being treated as if we did not belong. We've been ubale to access legal aid for our claims against the Home Office, while failed asylum seekers who have never contributed to the UK, can access taxy-payer funded services like housing and taxis and legal aid for their claims.” Heticia said, "we have never even been offered housing by the very Home Office, we've funded with our taxes."

Vaun and his children Stuart, Chantell and Spencer on their way to Church in St. Lucia circa 1985 after having left the UK being unable to work and acces vital services. Image: Hetticia McInstosh

Vaun who worked as paint chemist at Hucol and later Berger Paints in Stratford since 1973 after qualifying at Eastham College was only offered £1,400 compensation by the Home Office for loss of employment. Vaun was no longer able to work after employers asked him for proof identification to update their records UK in 1984.

Stuart, Spencer and Chantell McIntosh all of whom are Britich citizens by birth in the UK, lost access access to their country of birth and were forced to grow up elsewhere because of UK government discrimination against their parents. Image: Hetticia McInstosh

Hetticia told JamRadio life became increasingly difficult for her and her three children, forcing them to move to St. Lucia where her husband was born. She said watching new immigration proposals emerge while many Windrush victims remain in limbo is “deeply painful and disrespectful”.

“At a time when tens of thousands of pounds may be offered as payday to resolve failed asylum cases quickly, many Windrush victims—people who were already lawfully British, are still struggling for fair recognition and compensation,” she said.

Advocates for the Windrush community told JamRadio the issue is not simply financial but also about dignity and justice. Some victims have died while waiting for their cases to be resolved, while others say they continue to face delays and disputes over the harm they experienced.

“Windrush victims were not migrants seeking entry; we were part of the United Kingdom, we had British passports” McIntosh said. “Many of us arrived as children, grew up here, worked, paid taxes here and built families here and were later treated as outsiders. Eight year after the governemt apologised, we are still having to fight them for fairness.”

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Mahmood Strips Saint Lucia of Visa-Free Access — While 250,000 Ukrainian Asylum Seekers Sit in British Homes

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:29:00 +0000

Mahmood Strips Saint Lucia of Visa-Free Access — While 250,000 Ukrainian Asylum Seekers Sit in British Homes

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has stripped Saint Lucia of its visa-free travel arrangement with the United Kingdom, in a decision that has ignited fury across the Caribbean — and forced an uncomfortable question that the government appears unwilling to answer: how can a country that opened its doors to over a quarter of a million Ukrainians overnight justify slamming them on the islands whose people built the National Health Service?

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood imposes visa restriction of four new countires including the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia.#Visa #StLucia #SLU pic.twitter.com/mjxTOxjX4O
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) March 5, 2026

The UK government says the decision was taken after an increase in asylum claims made by visitors arriving from Saint Lucia and concerns about the potential misuse of the country’s citizenship-by-investment programme. Officials argue that tightening visa requirements is necessary to prevent abuse of the asylum system and maintain control over border policies.

The move has drawn attention because of the United Kingdom’s contrasting approach to the war in Ukraine. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Britain has issued more than 250,000 visas to Ukrainians through humanitarian programmes such as the Homes for Ukraine scheme, allowing many to travel quickly to the UK with sponsorship from British households. The programme was widely praised as a rapid and compassionate response to a major refugee crisis.

The UK's High Commissioner to the Eastern Caribbean Simon Mustard announces the UK's decision to impose Visa restriction on St. Lucians, citing abuse of the asylum system. pic.twitter.com/7NmpWq6QwZ
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) March 5, 2026

For some observers in the Caribbean, the comparison highlights a tension in British migration policy. Saint Lucia, a former British colony with a population of roughly 180,000, has deep historical ties with the UK dating back centuries. Many Caribbean migrants from across the region helped rebuild Britain after the Second World War and played a significant role in developing institutions such as the National Health Service.

Ship Away - Windrush board game - by Patricia Jones

The visa decision does not affect humanitarian protection schemes like those created for Ukrainians, but it has nevertheless prompted debate about how Britain balances border enforcement with its historical relationships. Officials in Saint Lucia have said they are engaging diplomatically with the UK to better understand the decision and its implications for travel, tourism and family connections between the two countries.

Photo: Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News

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Employment Tribunal Begins in Legal Challenge Against Metanoia Institute

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:50:00 +0000

Employment Tribunal Begins in Legal Challenge Against Metanoia Institute

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

An Employment Tribunal has begun hearing a high-profile legal case against the West London-based Metanoia Institute, with five former members of staff alleging victimisation and constructive dismissal over whistleblowing at the institution.

The case, which opened at the London Central Employment Tribunal last week, is expected to last 19 days. The claimants — Dr Eiman Hussein, Dr Maya Mukamel, Dr Malgorzata Milewicz, Dr Jane Hunt and Cathy Lasher — argue that they raised serious concerns internally about what they describe as racial trauma, discriminatory treatment and oppressive practices affecting staff and students, particularly those of colour.

They contend that after speaking up, they experienced detrimental treatment that ultimately led to their departures from the Institute. The tribunal will now examine the circumstances surrounding those claims.

Metanoia Institute is a leading psychotherapy and counselling training provider based in West London, with around 1,500 students enrolled across undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes. Many of its graduates go on to work within NHS services and other public sector mental health settings.

The case is being supported by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU), the trade union representing counsellors, psychotherapists and trainees across the UK. In a statement, the union said the proceedings send a “clear message” that training institutions must provide safe, inclusive and accountable environments for staff and students.

The union has also indicated that it continues to receive communications from current and former members of the Institute raising similar concerns — something it says highlights the wider importance of the case for the profession.

Support organisations including the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) and Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK have expressed solidarity with the claimants. A crowdfunding campaign to assist with legal costs has raised more than £32,000 to date.

The outcome of the tribunal could have implications beyond one institution. Questions around workplace culture, whistleblowing protections and racial equity in professional training are increasingly under scrutiny across higher education and the mental health sector.

The hearing is scheduled to continue until 19 March 2026.

Metanoia Institute has not yet publicly responded to the claims in detail. The tribunal will determine the facts of the case.

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What's Plaguing Donald Trump as New Images Reveal Scabbing Skin Rash

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:58:00 +0000

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

Photographs of President Donald Trump taken during a White House event this week have triggered a fresh wave of public scrutiny, after close‑up images revealed a pronounced red rash with visible scabbing along the right side of his neck. The images, captured during a Medal of Honor ceremony, spread rapidly across social platforms and were soon amplified by major entertainment and news outlets, including People, which highlighted the “flaky” and “scabbed” appearance of the affected area.

The White House physician issued a brief explanation, attributing the redness to a topical preventive skin treatment expected to cause irritation for several weeks. No further medical details were provided, and the administration has not released any additional documentation or clarification. The limited statement has done little to slow speculation, with the images becoming the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate over presidential transparency.

The reaction follows a familiar pattern in the modern political environment, where isolated frames and compressed video clips routinely become national talking points. Trump’s appearance has been a recurring subject of online commentary throughout his presidency, with earlier footage of his hand — showing temporary discoloration — generating similar viral attention. In each case, the absence of detailed official updates has created space for partisan interpretation, memes, and competing narratives.

Presidential health disclosures in the United States remain discretionary, not mandated. That gap between public expectation and institutional practice has repeatedly turned minor visual anomalies into political storylines. In an era defined by high‑resolution imagery and constant circulation, the body of a president becomes a site of public contest: scrutinised, dissected, and repurposed by supporters and critics alike.

The latest images underscore how quickly a single moment can dominate the national conversation, especially when official channels offer only minimal context. Whether the episode fades or fuels further demands for transparency will depend less on the rash itself and more on how the White House chooses to manage the information vacuum around it.

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EastEnders AI Storyline Sparks Debate Over Loneliness and the Rise of “Digital Companions”

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:17:00 +0000

EastEnders AI Storyline Sparks Debate Over Loneliness and the Rise of “Digital Companions”

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

EastEnders has launched one of its most unsettling storylines to date, as long‑standing character Patrick Trueman becomes emotionally dependent on an AI recreation of his murdered son Anthony. The plot is already prompting wider questions about whether artificial intelligence is becoming a substitute for human connection and what that means for a society facing rising loneliness.

East Enders Ai Expose: ????

Partick Truman becomes deeply obsessed with an Ai greif companion and ignoring his freiends and family who become increasingly worried about his mental health and wellbeing. pic.twitter.com/CfqG3IX0WU
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) March 2, 2026

Still traumatised by Anthony’s death on Christmas Day, Patrick is introduced to a grief‑support AI app that can mimic Anthony’s voice, speech patterns and personality. What begins as a tool for comfort quickly becomes a psychological trap, with Patrick withdrawing from family and treating the AI as if it were truly his son.

The BBC says the storyline is part of its “AI Unpacked” season, exploring how new technologies are reshaping everyday life and in this case, how they can exploit emotional vulnerability.

While the plot is dramatic, the underlying issue is not fictional. AI “companions”, grief‑bots and digital recreations of the dead are already being marketed to people experiencing loneliness, bereavement or social isolation.

Researchers warn that these tools can create:

Emotional dependency, where users replace human relationships with AI simulations
Distorted grieving, delaying acceptance of loss
Identity confusion, especially for older or vulnerable people
Commercial exploitation, as companies monetise emotional attachment

The storyline mirrors concerns raised by psychologists about “synthetic intimacy” the illusion of connection without the reciprocity, boundaries or reality of human relationships.

East Enders Ai Expose:
Patrick snaps at Kim for hiding his phone, insisting he needs a digital detox from his new found Ai greif companion. pic.twitter.com/HVHXuFeFb9
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) March 2, 2026

In the show, Patrick’s family watch in alarm as he slips deeper into denial, replaying old arguments with the AI and seeking comfort from a digital version of a son he can no longer reach. Viewers have described the scenes as “Black Mirror in Walford”, praising the show for tackling a modern issue that many families recognise.

Loneliness charities say the storyline reflects a growing crisis. The UK now records some of the highest levels of chronic loneliness in Europe, with older men among the most affected. AI tools, they warn, may offer short‑term relief but risk deepening isolation in the long run.

The EastEnders plot arrives at a moment when AI companionship apps are exploding in popularity, from grief simulators to romantic chatbots. Some are marketed as mental‑health tools despite offering no clinical oversight.

The Patrick storyline raises uncomfortable but necessary questions:

Should AI be allowed to imitate the dead?
Who protects vulnerable people from emotional manipulation by technology?
What happens when AI becomes more comforting than real relationships?
And how do we support those who turn to machines because they feel they have no one else?

EastEnders has a long history of using its platform to explore social issues, from HIV to domestic abuse. By tackling AI and loneliness, the show is stepping into one of the defining debates of the decade: what happens when technology becomes the closest thing some people have to companionship.

The storyline continues this week as Patrick’s reliance on “AI Anthony” deepens, leaving his family and viewers to wonder how far the technology will pull him from reality.

You can see the full episode on the BBC iPlayer.

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Secret U.S.—Cuban Meeting Held in Saint Kitts During CARICOM Summit

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:34:00 +0000

Secret U.S.— Cuba Talks Held in St. Kitts with Castro’s Grandson Amid CARICOM Summit

Euen Herbert-Small

Assistant Editor

BASSETERRE, St Kitts — Senior aides to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a private meeting in St Kitts with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the influential grandson and security chief of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, according to reporting from the Miami Herald and Times Caribbean Online.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Senator - Isalean Felicitee Ciara Phillip shakes hands with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, on his arrival in St. Kitts and Nevis (Wednesday 25 Feb. 2026)

The meeting took place inside the Coral Building, a secure facility near the St Kitts Marriott where Caribbean leaders were gathered for the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit. Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo,” arrived on a Cuban state aircraft under diplomatic clearance on 25 February. Rubio landed the same day for his official engagements with CARICOM leaders.

???????? US Secretary of State Rubio calls Cuba's overseas medical program "a version of human trafficking," saying doctors are barely paid and their freedom of movement is restricted. He made the remarks to press after attending the #CARICOM50 summit in St. Kitts. ???????? #Cuba #Caribbean pic.twitter.com/Q3qmdB4675
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) February 26, 2026

While Rubio addressed the summit on regional security and migration pressures, his team reportedly conducted a separate back‑channel conversation with the Cuban delegation. The Miami Herald describes the exchanges as exploratory discussions about Cuba’s political future. Times Caribbean Online frames them as part of a wider “regime‑change storm,” noting that the talks bypassed President Miguel Díaz‑Canel’s civilian government and instead engaged the military‑linked Castro family network that Washington views as the island’s real centre of power.

A senior U.S. official quoted in the reporting said the discussions were “about the future” rather than formal negotiations. The official added that Washington remains committed to its maximum‑pressure posture while being open to dialogue with actors willing to pursue significant reforms.

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew, who studied medicine in Cuba for seven years, urged constructive engagement between Washington and Havana. As CARICOM Chair, he warned that Cuba’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis, worsened by long‑standing U.S. restrictions on oil shipments to the island, is already creating instability across the region.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered one of the most consequential interventions at the CARICOM 50th Summit yesterday. In a clear, steady message, he underscored the urgent need for regional maturity and collective action as Cuba faces deepening economic and humanitarian… pic.twitter.com/Zu2sitftRc
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) February 25, 2026

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness supported that position. He told leaders there is now “greater space for pragmatic engagement” than in previous years. Both leaders highlighted the risks of further deterioration in Cuba, including migration surges, economic shocks, and security pressures throughout the Caribbean.

CARICOM officials have privately expressed concern that the U.S. oil embargo has accelerated Cuba’s economic collapse, driving shortages of fuel, food, and medical supplies. Several governments fear that unmanaged deterioration could push more Cubans into irregular migration routes that pass directly through the Caribbean.

Diplomats familiar with the summit say the presence of both Rubio and Rodríguez Castro in Basseterre created an unusual moment in regional diplomacy. While the official agenda focused on security cooperation and climate resilience, the parallel U.S.–Cuba contact underscored how deeply Cuba’s crisis now shapes the strategic calculations of Caribbean states.

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Black Civic Groups Warn Government Over Retrospective Judge‑Only Trials

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

UK’s Largest Black Civic Groups Warn of “Grave Threat” as Government Moves to Strip Jury Trials Retrospectively

Euen Herbert-Small

Assistant Editor

Published: February 27, 2026

wo of the UK’s largest Black civic organisations have issued a stark warning that the Government’s plan to retroactively impose judge‑only trials represents a “grave threat” to fairness and public trust in the justice system.

Operation Black Vote (OBV) and Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC UK) say the proposal would allow cases already in the system — cases that began under the long‑standing guarantee of a jury, to be diverted mid‑process into judge‑only hearings, overturning the expectations on which defendants and victims entered proceedings.

In a joint statement, the groups said the move risks destabilising the basic constitutional protections that underpin criminal justice, particularly for Black and racialised communities who already face disproportionate charging, remand and sentencing outcomes. They warn that changing the ground rules after proceedings have begun “pulls the rug from under” those who rely on the system to act predictably and fairly.

OBV Chair David Weaver said the retrospective removal of juries “strikes at one of the last democratic safeguards against state power”, arguing that the shift signals that core protections are now conditional. BARAC UK co‑founder Zita Holbourne said judge‑only trials risk deepening discrimination because they remove the community balance that juries provide. “Judges operate within institutional cultures shaped by police and prosecution narratives,” she said. “Juries bring lived experience and independence.”

The warning lands against the backdrop of a constitutional principle stretching back eight centuries: the right to trial by one’s peers, enshrined in the Magna Carta, a protection long understood as a barrier against arbitrary state power. OBV and BARAC argue that any attempt to disapply that safeguard retrospectively is not merely a procedural shift but a direct challenge to the foundations of English justice.

The Criminal Bar Association’s Chair, Riel Karmy‑Jones KC, echoed the concerns, warning that many defendants and victims will feel “betrayed” and that confidence in the justice system will be further eroded at a moment when trust is already fragile.

The right to jury trial, a pillar of commonal law principles which streaches right across the Commonwealth has come under increasing threat in recent years. In 2024 The Parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis introduced The Judge Alone Act 2024 to remove jury trials in favour of judge alone tirals. The Attorney General framed the move as, necessary in a nation of under 60,00 people — jury selection has become challenging and biased.

OBV and BARAC say the retrospective element is not a technical adjustment but a direct threat to procedural fairness, disproportionately affecting communities already over‑represented at every stage of the criminal justice pipeline. They are calling on the Government to abandon any retrospective application of judge‑only trials and to engage directly with those most affected by criminal justice reform.

An online petition seeking to curb the government's ambtions to abolish jury trials has ammased nearly 70,000 signatures.

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EPSTEIN FILES: CLAIMS TWO WOMEN WERE “STRANGLED AND BURIED” AT ZORRO RANCH

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

EPSTEIN FILES: CLAIMS TWO WOMEN WERE “STRANGLED AND BURIED” AT ZORRO RANCH

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

A bombshell allegation buried deep inside the New Mexico Attorney General’s Epstein files has ignited a storm of speculation, after a letter claimed that two foreign women were “strangled during sex” and secretly buried near Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Zorro Ranch. The claim, tucked among thousands of pages of interviews, tips and correspondence, was never substantiated, but it was also never publicly ruled out.

The document, part of a years‑long investigation that ended without a single homicide charge, describes the alleged killings in chilling detail. Yet despite the gravity of the accusation, investigators have not yet conducted any extensive searches, or released any forensic findings. The ranch, long rumoured to be one of Epstein’s most tightly controlled properties, remains untouched by any confirmed criminal inquiry into possible deaths on the grounds.

What makes the allegation even more incendiary is the vacuum around it. The Attorney General’s office gathered the letter, logged it, and moved on. No excavation. No follow‑up disclosures. No public explanation of why such a serious claim was left hanging in the air. The result is a perfect storm: a sensational allegation, an opaque investigation, and a property already steeped in accusations of abuse.

Online, the claim has exploded into a frenzy, with some outlets presenting the letter as a “new revelation” and others implying that investigators uncovered graves.

Zorro Ranch remains one of the most secretive chapters of the Epstein saga, a sprawling desert compound where powerful people came and went, and where the public still has no clear picture of what did or didn’t happen. The newly surfaced letter doesn’t prove a crime occurred. But it does raise a question that investigators have never fully answered: why was such a serious allegation allowed to fade into the background without a definitive conclusion?

Until law enforcement provides clarity, the mystery surrounding Zorro Ranch and the disturbing claims hidden in the state’s own files, will only deepen.

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Former Prince Andrew Released Under Investigation After Police Questioning

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:16:00 +0000

Former Prince Andrew Released Under Investigation After Police Questioning

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

Former Prince Andrew has been released under investigation after being questioned by Thames Valley Police in connection with an inquiry into alleged misconduct in public office linked to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Police confirmed that Andrew was arrested earlier in the day and later left the station following an extended interview. In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “The arrested man has now been released under investigation.”
This status means he is not on police bail, faces no bail conditions, and has no fixed return date, while detectives continue their inquiries.

Former Prince Andrew appears alongside convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.

The questioning marks the most serious escalation yet in the long‑running scrutiny of Andrew’s relationship with Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in US custody in 2019. Andrew has faced sustained public pressure since his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, in which he attempted to explain his ties to Epstein — an appearance widely criticised and followed by his withdrawal from public duties.

In recent months, UK authorities have been examining whether Andrew may have breached his duties while serving as a trade envoy, including allegations that he shared sensitive information or misused his position during the period of his association with Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing.

The arrest and subsequent release under investigation place him at the centre of an active criminal inquiry, an unprecedented position for a senior member of the royal family.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment further.

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Freemasons Lose High Court Challenge Against Met Police Disclosure Rules

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:10:00 +0000

Freemasons Lose High Court Challenge Against Met Police Disclosure Rules

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

The Freemasons have failed in their attempt to overturn the Metropolitan Police’s new “declarable associations” policy, after the High Court ruled the challenge had no reasonable prospect of success.

The policy requires officers and staff to declare whether they are Freemasons, alongside other memberships that could raise concerns about impartiality. Two serving Met officers and several Masonic bodies argued the rule was discriminatory and based on outdated stereotypes.

But the judge rejected the claim, saying the Met had a legitimate aim in boosting transparency and maintaining public confidence. A request to suspend the policy while the case continued was also refused, meaning the disclosure rules remain fully in force.

The ruling could pave the way for other police forces to adopt similar transparency measures.

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Matt Goodwin, Reform UK’s Gorton and Denton Candidate, at Centre of Russian‑Linked Funding Storm

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:10:00 +0000

JamRadio News Desk

Dedicated to clear, reliable reporting — from national and world headlines to local stories that matter.

Matt Goodwin, Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by‑election, is facing questions over his links to a Hungarian organisation partly financed through profits from Russian oil, following an investigation by the Good Law Project.

Goodwin, a political scientist and GB News presenter, has been associated with Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) since at least 2024. The Budapest‑based institution, which has close ties to Viktor Orbán’s government, confirmed he has “participated” as a visiting fellow, teaching and delivering public lectures. It declined to say whether he remains on the payroll or how much he has been paid.

According to documents obtained by Hungarian investigative outlet Direkt36, visiting fellows at MCC can receive between €5,000 and €10,000 per month, alongside benefits including housing, office space and health insurance. The Good Law Project reports that MCC’s substantial endowment, more than €1bn, is partly derived from a 10% stake in MOL Group, an energy company that refines oil sourced largely from Russia.

The investigation also highlights MCC’s growing presence in the UK. The organisation has spent more than £500,000 amplifying right‑wing voices, and has developed links with figures connected to the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation. Goodwin spoke at a Scruton‑themed symposium at the Hungarian Embassy in London in October 2025, alongside British political and cultural commentators and Hungarian government officials.

Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, said the findings underscored the need for scrutiny of foreign influence in UK politics. He argued that the investigation showed Reform UK and Goodwin were “enriching themselves on foreign far‑right money” and participating in what he described as an “extremist anti‑British project”.

Reform UK strongly rejected the allegations when approached by JamRadio. A spokesperson said the claims were “false” and amounted to “a desperate attempt to derail a democratic by-election”.

The party said:

“Matt was for a brief period a Visiting Fellow at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) alongside countless other academics and researchers from around the globe, however, at no point was he paid €10,000 a month nor is the MCC funded by money from Russia.

It is standard for academics to hold fellowship positions at other institutions around the world. As a respected academic known for his award winning research, Matt has given hundreds, if not thousands, of paid talks to organisations around the world including in the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan and more.

It should be noted Matt was also a Senior Fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House for a decade, where he undertook paid work, and he is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Buckingham."

Reform did not answer questions about whether Goodwin is currently receiving payments from MCC.

The revelations come as Reform seeks to expand its electoral footprint, with Goodwin presenting himself as a candidate focused on “putting Britain first”. The Good Law Project argues the financial and political networks surrounding MCC raise concerns about transparency and foreign influence. Reform UK maintains the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated.

The row also comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer faces renewed scrutiny following a recent U‑turn over the upcoming local elections.

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Breaking News: Film Icon Robert Duvall Has Died

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:46:00 +0000

By TracyAnn Dunkley

Celebrity & Entertainment Reporter

Robert Duvall, one of the most revered actors in American cinema, has passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. Best known for his unforgettable performances in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Tender Mercies, The Apostle, and To Kill a Mockingbird, Duvall built a seven‑decade career defined by emotional truth, quiet intensity, and an unwavering commitment to craft. His portrayal of complex, deeply human characters earned him an Academy Award, a BAFTA, multiple Golden Globes, and the respect of peers across the industry.

According to statements shared by his wife, Luciana Duvall, the actor passed away peacefully at home in Middleburg, Virginia, surrounded by love and comfort. While no cause of death has been publicly disclosed, his family’s words reflect a man who remained devoted to storytelling until the very end. They described him as not only an Academy Award‑winning actor and director, but also a beloved husband and cherished friend whose passion for characters, good food, and lively conversation defined his life beyond the screen.

Duvall’s impact on film history is immeasurable. From his chillingly understated role as Tom Hagen in The Godfather to his iconic “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” presence in Apocalypse Now, he helped shape some of the most influential films ever made.

His Oscar‑winning performance in Tender Mercies remains a masterclass in restraint and emotional depth. With a career spanning from 1952 to 2025, he leaves behind a body of work that continues to inspire actors, directors, and audiences worldwide. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy—etched into the very fabric of cinematic history—will endure.

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Home Office Minister Rejects Windrush Public Inquiry as Questions Over Transparency Intensify

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:20:00 +0000

“Govt's refusal to grant a full public inquiry to Windrush victims, deeply disrespectful”

Euen Herbert-Small

Assistant Editor

Published: February 15, 2026

L abour continues to resist calls for a full statutory public inquiry into the government's mistreatment of Windrush victims, despite repeated demands from survivors, campaigners, and legal experts. In an exclusive interview with JamRadio, the Home Office minister for immigration and citizenship, Mike Tapp, revealed the widening gap between ministerial rhetoric and meaningful accountability.

During the interview, the minister repeatedly insisted that the government had “taken clear action to understand the lessons,” pointing to the appointment of the Windrush Commissioner and the re‑establishment of the Windrush Unit. But when asked directly if victims of the Windrush scandal deserve the same level of scrutiny afforded to victims of the Post Office and Infected Blood Scandals, the minister offered no meaningful commitment, and no justification for the difference in treatment between the scandals, all at the hands of government.

Bishop Desmond Jadoo - Chair of Windrush National Organisation (WNO), presents Home Office minister Mike Tapp MP with a Windrush borad game at the WNO's annual conference. Image credit: George Brown

Instead, the minister leaned heavily on the existence of so‑called “independent reviews and recommendations,” despite the fact that these reviews are not statutory inquiries, do not compel evidence, and do not provide the transparency or legal weight that victims have been demanding for years.

Watch Minister Mike Tapp answer questions over full public inquiry to victims of the Home Office Windrush Scandal

NEW - JAMRADIO - (EXCLUSIVE)
The Home Office Minister can’t answer a simple question: Why do Post Office and Infected Blood victims get full public inquiries, but Windrush victims don’t?

The Home Office caused this scandal. People died. Families were torn apart. Yet they still… pic.twitter.com/r2aCzKLdaV
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) February 15, 2026

These revelations come after the minister had previously admitted, the ‘independent’ Office of the Windrush Commissioner is staffed by Home Office officials, challenging the notion of its independence.

When pressed further on a public inquiry, the minister could be seen struggling to read the prompted answers on his screen, before pivoting to symbolic gestures, including an art exhibition held inside the Home Office, as evidence of “ownership” for the historical injustice. But for many affected families, these gestures ring hollow when the department responsible for harming them continues to control the narrative, the process, the limits of scrutiny and reparatory justice.

The government’s position stands in stark contrast to its approach to other state‑led scandals. Both the Post Office Horizon scandal and the Infected Blood Scandal received full statutory inquiries with legal powers, public hearings, compelled evidence and independent chairs. Windrush victims, by comparison, are being offered internal oversight mechanisms run by the very department that caused their suffering.

Ship Away - Windrush board game - by Patricia Jones

The Home Office is effectively overseeing its own misconduct, setting its own boundaries, and determining the scope of its own examination. For a scandal that destroyed lives, livelihoods, and families, and in some cases contributed to deaths — this approach is not only inadequate, it is profoundly disrespectful.

Anthony Brown, a lawyer at WD Legal in Manchester who also faced deportation from the UK in the 1980s despite arriving here as a child from Jamaica in the 1960s, said: "The Home Office caused the harm to African Caribbean communities, according to recommendation 1 of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. How come the Home Office get a Windrush Unit to fix the Home Office but the community harmed by them doesn't get an organisation it can use to repair the harm?"

Another survivor of the Home Office Scandal said: "Minister's refusal to grant a full statutory public inquiry is deeply disrespectful and reveals how the Home Office does not want any scrutiny of their awful behaviour."

The minister repeatedly emphasised the importance of “listening to the communities affected.” Yet the community’s clearest, most consistent demand of a full public inquiry is precisely the one thing government refuses to grant them.

Ship Away - Windrush board game - by Patricia Jones

The interview clip ended with the minister’s team attempting to move the conversation on, a symbolic moment that captured the government’s attitude towards justice for the victims: acknowledge the scandal, express regret, but avoid the one action that would bring full transparency to how thousands of victims were mistreated by the Home Office.

In 2023 the Home Office fought vigorously to suppress an independent report into the historical roots of the Windrush scandal . The government’s attempt to suppress the report was also upheld by the Information Commissioner’s Office on the grounds that disclosure might “undermine trust” and affect the government's ability to shape future immigration policy.

As the Public Accountability Bill (Hillsborough Law) winds its way throught Parliament; the question remains unanswered: Why do Windrush victims not deserve the same level of truth‑seeking and accountability as victims of other government‑led scandals?

Until the government can answer that, its claims of “ownership” and “justice” will continue to ring hollow.

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If Britain Didn’t Colonise the World, The World Would Not Be in Britain

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000

If Britain Didn’t Colonise the World, The World Would Not Be in Britain

By Euen Herbert-Small

Assistant Editor

B illionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent claim that Britain is being “colonised” is a spectacular inversion of history. It completely ignores the centuries in which Britain projected itself across the globe through piracy, conquest, extraction, violence, and law — shaping the very migration patterns he now complains about. As David Lammy famously said during the Windrush scandal: “We are here because you were there.” Lammy's remarks captures perfectly, what Ratcliffe’s argument refuses to confront: Britain’s global footprint created the modern, multicultural Britain he now derides.

Empire was not a cultural exchange, it was dominion and brutal domination. From the 17th century onward, Britain expanded its sphere of influence through slavery, forced labour, piracy, and the systematic extraction of wealth from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Americas. Millions of Africans were transported into chattel slavery to fuel Britain’s economy. Caribbean plantations were built on kidnapping and coercion, British privateers and priates plundered with state approval. And across the empire, Britain drained resources while entrenching poverty in the places it freicely ruled. These were not accidents of history. They were deliberate state projects, with the blessing of Parliament and the Monarchy.

Ratcliffe’s framing collapses further in the face of Britain’s record in Asia. India was brought under British control through war, annexation and the crushing of resistance. Famines under colonial rule killed millions across the Indian subcontinent, while Britain extracted wealth on a scale economists describe as one of the largest transfers in human history. In China, Britain fought the Opium Wars to force open Chinese markets to British narcotics. The result was not only humiliation and destabilisation for China — it also led directly to Britain seizing Hong Kong.

That legacy is still with us today. When the UK introduced the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route, it did so explicitly because of Britain’s historical role in Hong Kong and its promise to the people of that region in the early 1980s, before Britain handed back territory to China in 1997. Modern migration from Hong Kong is not random. It is a direct consequence of Britain’s imperial actions in the 19th century. Across the Commonwealth, from the Caribbean to Africa to the Pacific, British rule was imposed through brute force, not through consent.

British soilders rounded up Kenyans into concentration camps in the 1950s

The story is the same in Africa. In the 1950s, Kenyans who demanded independence were met with mass detention, horrific torture and collective punishment. The Mau Mau uprising was not a fringe rebellion; it was a population demanding the right to govern itself. Britain responded with forced labour camps, systematic abuse, executions and the rounding up of entire communities. Decades later, survivors won compensation after a UK high court case exposed the brutality of the colonial regime. This is the historical record not a matter of opinion.

Kenyan nationals who were brutally tortured by British soldiers took their case to the high court in cenrtal London.

When Caribbean citizens arrived in post‑war Britain to rebuild the country, they did so as subjects of the empire, they had British passports. Their presence was not just the tail-end of “colonisation”. It was the fulfilment of Britain’s own legal and moral obligations, they were citizens of the UK State. The Windrush scandal, where lawful residents were detained, deported or denied rights, showed how quickly Britain forgets the responsibilities created by its imperial past. Lammy’s words still echo because they are true: “We are here because you were there.”

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe sells himself as a patriot while being tax‑resident in Monaco, a move widely reported as allowing him to significantly reduce his UK tax obligations to the tune of more than £4 billion. That is his legal right, but it raises a simple question: who gets to define patriotism, those who contribute to Britain, or those who relocate from Britan to avoid doing so?

Ship Away - Windrush board game - by Patricia Jones

Migration into Britain did not appear out of thin air. It is inseparable from colonialism, or to quote David Lammy “inextricable” from centuries of aggressive British expansion, the movement of people within the empire, the economic and political structures Britain built overseas, the promises Britain made to its subjects, and the legacies of conflict, extraction and imposed rule. To claim Britain is now being “colonised” is to erase the empire Britain created and the responsibilities that flow from it.

If Britain had not gone out into the world, the world would not be here. That is not ideology. It is history and remains a deeply rooted fact.

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Hollywood Pays Tribute as James Van Der Beek Dies at 48 After Cancer Battle

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:51:00 +0000

By TracyAnn Dunkley

Celebrity & Entertainment Reporter

James Van Der Beek, the American actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the iconic teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement shared on social media, revealing that he passed peacefully following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek had publicly disclosed his diagnosis in late 2024, having undergone treatment privately for over a year. Born in Connecticut in 1977, he rose to fame in the late 1990s and became a defining face of a generation of television.

Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry and beyond. Fans and colleagues alike have praised Van Der Beek’s courage, grace, and enduring impact on screen. His portrayal of Dawson Leery helped shape the landscape of teen television, paving the way for future dramas and earning him a devoted following.

Outside of Dawson’s Creek, he starred in Varsity Blues, CSI: Cyber, and the cult sitcom Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, where he played a fictionalised version of himself with self-aware charm. He leaves behind his wife and six children, who have asked for privacy as they grieve.

Kimberly’s tribute described James as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, and spoke of his deep appreciation for life, humanity, and the sacredness of time. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she wrote. “There is much to share regarding his wishes and love for humanity. Those days will come.” The entertainment world mourns the loss of a talented actor and compassionate soul whose legacy will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

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