Newslinks for Wednesday 28th January 2026 | Conservative Home

Fake jobs for sale to cheat system on migrant visas

“A Times investigation reveals a “mushrooming economy” of middlemen charging illegal fees for visa sponsorship, and hundreds of fake jobs being offered by criminal networks. Secret filming shows unregulated agents offering to arrange visa sponsorship for migrants for jobs that do not exist. The deals enable people to obtain visas by presenting sponsorship certificates issued by the real Home Office-approved companies that claim they are being hired in genuine jobs. Roles eligible under the skilled worker route include management, office, IT, finance and marketing jobs, which typically must pay more than £41,700, as well as “shortage” roles that can pay as little as £25,000 — including nursing assistants, bricklayers and graphic designers. On paper, the “worker” may earn good money and be highly skilled at their job. In reality they do not work for their sponsor and may have no relevant qualifications. Some will instead work cash-in-hand in the UK’s black economy. The sponsorship costs up to £20,000 and is risky. Those who are caught face entry bans or deportation. But the prize is a chance to stay in Britain long term. Under the existing rules, workers can apply for permanent residency after five years — and the fake paper trail can help prove “legitimate” continuous employment.” – The Times

• Migration mayhem as agents sell fake jobs so people can stay in the UK illegally – Daily Express
• Migrants ‘buying fraudulent job offers to secure skilled worker visas’ in UK – The Independent
• More migrants arrive than leave under ‘one in, one out’ deal – Daily Telegraph
• Keir Starmer humiliated as just 11 migrants deported to France each week – ‘total farce’ – Daily Express
• Rwanda takes legal action against UK over axed migrant deal – BBC News

Comment:

• Government must tackle sale of bogus papers to migrants – The Times View

Reeves puts nail in coffin of high street with half measures for pubs

“Labour’s botched business rates U-turn was branded ‘too little, too late’ last night, amid warnings of a high street meltdown. Rachel Reeves is facing a growing backlash after temporary help on business rates was restricted to pubs, leaving thousands of small shops, restaurants and hotels facing crippling tax rises in April. The Chancellor dodged the humiliation of explaining her latest climbdown by sending junior minister Dan Tomlinson to the Commons instead. The organiser of a campaign to ban Labour MPs from more than 1,500 pubs last night said it would stay in place until the whole hospitality sector was offered help. Ms Reeves bowed to pressure to ease the business rates raid on pubs following a mutiny by Labour MPs. She said on Tuesday that ‘pubs are different’ as she unveiled a £300million package of temporary support. But no immediate help was offered to thousands of other firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors who also face huge rates rises. This month’s U-turn on pubs was the 12th of Labour’s 18 months in power, many of which can be traced back to misjudgments by Ms Reeves. Hairdressers, florists and even pharmacies warned they could be driven to the ‘brink of collapse’. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said Ms Reeves’ ‘temporary sticking plaster’ will ‘only delay the pain for a few, while thousands of businesses despair as their bills skyrocket’. Sir Mel said high streets across the country were facing a ‘tragedy’, with industry analysis suggesting six hospitality venues a day could close this year unless further help is provided. ‘The Government have proved today that either they do not understand the damage that they are doing or they do not care,’ he said. ‘Today’s announcement is far too little, far too late.’” – Daily Mail

• Boost for pubs as they’re given financial lifeline after business rates U-turn – but hotels & restaurants STILL snubbed – The Sun
• Rachel Reeves caves as she throws lifeline to struggling pubs after fury – Daily Express
• £300m tax relief for pubs ‘a sticking plaster’ – CityAM
• Labour MPs warn Reeves’s business rates U-turn for pubs doesn’t go far enough – The Independent

Comment:

• U-turn on pubs has not solved the government’s mess on business rates – Nils Pratley, The Guardian
• Pubs are good for mental health. Labour must do more to save them – Melanie McDonagh, Daily Telegraph
• Rachel Reeves has left pubs high and dry as Labour’s cost crisis hits struggling boozers – The Sun Says

Starmer led ‘witch-hunt’ against Iraq veterans

“Sir Keir Starmer led a legal case that opened the door to hundreds of British soldiers being pursued for alleged war crimes, The Telegraph can disclose. The now Prime Minister worked free of charge alongside his close ally, Lord Hermer, now the Attorney General, and the now disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner on a human rights claim in 2007 that reshaped the law governing troops in war zones. Court documents unearthed by The Telegraph reveal Sir Keir was a lead barrister on the case, which ultimately led the Ministry of Defence to order fresh inquiries into deaths in Iraq. It triggered years of criminal investigations into soldiers who had been wrongly accused, at enormous cost to the taxpayer. Johnny Mercer, the former veterans minister, accused Sir Keir of “unleashing the witch hunt against British troops”.” – Daily Telegraph

• Keir Starmer accused of unleashing witch hunt against Iraq veterans: ‘He insisted on doing it for free!’ – GBNews
• Keir Starmer worked for FREE in legal ‘witch hunt’ against British veterans – Daily Express

Comment:

• Starmer’s not fit to tie bootlaces of veterans he hounded – Johnny Mercer, Daily Telegraph
• Starmer’s no friend of the military. No wonder veterans are flocking to Reform – Richard Littlejohn, Daily Mail
• The British Army is learning the bloody lessons of Ukraine. But it needs money, not lies – Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Daily Telegraph

News in brief:

• GDP per capita is the fairest way to decide pay rises for MPs – John O’Connell, The Spectator
• Embracing China would be disastrous for British security – Thomas Nurcombe, UnHerd
• The centre cannot hold seats – James Johnson, The Critic
• In defence of Ruth Davidson, Andy Street and the Tory ‘wets’ – Alys Denby, CityAM
• Why Britain’s lost generation can’t get ahead – Lawrence Newport, CapX