Lucy White

But in our exclusive interview, Starmer wasn’t quite so enthusiastic about the prospect of getting US tariffs on UK steel down to zero (as previously agreed) during Trump’s state visit next week: t.co/AQvy7mf6uo

PM Keir Starmer told me from Chequers today that signing the India trade deal - along with deals with the US & EU - has put the UK “back on the world stage”. So far, feedback from groups who were concerned abt the deal is relatively upbeat t.co/jl5UD8NYen

Outstanding reporting. I've seen the Zimbabwe side of this. The cognitive dissonance of the UK immigration system in a way is how much it relies on the exploitation of desperate, skilled people in many emerging markets.

This is great reporting... and honestly, every single time I try to work out how something confusing works in London (and probably therefore the UK) then to misquote Super Hans, "the secret ingredient is fraud".

Then there’s the fact that most victims aren’t in the UK. For police, I suspect (putting it bluntly) that their priority is to address cases where victims are in the country.

The victims are often low-income, in unstable work and aren’t the easiest to get hold of if police etc need to chase more facts. And in some cases victims are told by the scammer that they’ll be arrested too, which puts them off.

Her case in particular was horrific. Honestly I think there’s a few reasons. I don’t think they realise how bad a problem it is, because so many people still aren’t reporting. Then I think in some cases, the victims aren’t great at explaining what’s happened, so police don’t chase it up.

Such an interesting piece - and she's right, if the flipside of a 'tough on immigration' policy is being tough on fraudsters who exploit wouldbe migrants, then there should be HO/police resources behind it

Yup. And the CQC were the ones the government was relying on to oversee care firms’ recruitment practices - even though they’re not set up in any way to cope with that.

The white paper will stop new overseas recruitment so yes, the opportunity for fresh scams should be minimised. & it aims to help workers who are here, being exploited, to find a better employer, though not yet clear how. But it does nothing for those who’ve been scammed and never made it to the UK.

The way the skilled worker visa and sponsorship system was run by the Home Office immediately post-Brexit was absolutely appalling. The UK government enabled industrial-scale exploitation of migrants.

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

What would I like to see? An effort led by the Home Office/National Crime Agency to investigate these cases, trace the money involved and return it to victims. A recognition that the UK has let down thousands of would-be migrants who just wanted to work. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

To be clear: There are so many problems. A migration system which was badly thought-out, involved vulnerable people and was essentially unregulated. An underfunded social care sector which incentivises exploitation. Overworked police who don’t have time/resources to investigate.

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

Scammers, meanwhile, are driving Range Rovers, buying property, investing. They’ve made their money, and feel confident they won’t get caught. Mr Brown has vowed to keep tracking them down, but there’s only so much he can do. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

They have no idea how widespread it is. Starmer’s ban should help reduce future scams. But what of people who’ve already fallen victim? Who’s going after the criminals? Desperation is causing some to take matters into their own hands, with threats and violence. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

This week, Starmer banned recruitment of overseas care workers. The govt recognised the system used to bring them into the country was rife with abuse, as workers here who made it to the UK were exploited. But the scamming issue appears to have passed the govt by. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

That leaves vigilantes such as Mr Brown to pick up the pieces. But following the money is hard - in some cases we’ve found it flowing to opportunistic employers trying to fill their pockets. In others, it appears to be going to organised criminals. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Those businesses have flogged fake or non-existent work documents to migrants in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana & elsewhere, who sold all they owned to buy them. Families have been left in ruin. Some have attempted suicide. Police in the UK are doing little to catch the criminals.

If you have family or friends who use carers, I’d urge you to give it a read. Our story explains how UK businesses have been scamming the low-income migrant workers we’re relying on to care for our elderly, and who are desperate for a shot at improving their life in the UK.

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK Farmers Plan Legal Challenge Over Canceled Subsidy Program British farmers are planning to mount a legal challenge against the government for its unexpected decision to shutter a grant program for farms, in the latest sign of growing tensions between the ruli...

UK farmers' attitudes towards Labour have tanked in recent months, to say the least. Now we hear some are planning to challenge through judicial review the government's decision to suddenly shutter the SFI subsidy scheme. Story here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Gustafsson adds that the UK is a “safe haven” which has avoided the rise of populism and instability seen elsewhere. Growing popularity of Reform UK in polling might suggest otherwise…

Poppy Gustafsson becomes the latest UK minister to insist the govt won’t have to choose between deepening relations with allies such as the US and EU, saying there’s a “clear opportunity” now to “recalibrate” relationship with EU. Speaking at British Chambers of Commerce trade conference.

Finally the Home Office are cracking down on rogue employers in the UK care sector - but is it enough? Over the last few months I’ve heard evidence from many migrant care workers about how they’ve been exploited/abused by employers. More coming soon… t.co/SbKCzGkulS

Northern Ireland Sizes Up Exposure to Trump Trade War With EU Donald Trump’s trade war is threatening to open fresh Brexit wounds in Northern Ireland.

The prospect of a US-EU trade war is causing worries in Northern Ireland. Some fear it cd reopen Brexit wounds, as EU tariff retaliation would likely mean tariffs on US imports to NI - but not GB. Story with @oliviafletcher.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Interestingly on Trump/trade, Farage (probably the UK politician closest to the new US administration) seems convinced Trump would be open to sector-specific trade deals with the UK in booze, motorbikes, financial services etc. But not if Starmer tries to deepen ties with EU, he warns.

Trump Ally Nigel Farage Changes Tone on UK Migration in Bid for Power Nigel Farage said Reform UK isn’t anti-immigration and advocated a mixture of tax and spending cuts as he sought to put a more moderate face on his insurgent party in a bid to take it from the politic...

Nigel Farage was the special guest on our UK Politics pod today. He’s aiming to present Reform UK as a mature, serious politician contender - denies he’s anti-immigration and says he’s “non sectarian, non racist”. My writeup here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Is Britain’s Labour Party Facing a Liz Truss Moment? A rout in UK bonds has evoked memories of the market crisis during Liz Truss’s calamitous premiership and raised questions over Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ budget plans.

Great explainer from @tomreesjournalist.bsky.social on why recent UK market turmoil isn’t quite another Liz Truss moment - but is still causing headaches for Chancellor Rachel Reeves www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Private Equity Is Making Big Money From UK’s Most Vulnerable As critics debate the cost of private capital’s inroads into many corners of the economy and public services, children’s homes have become a flashpoint.

Important story from Abhinav Ramnarayan and @sabahmeddings.bsky.social on concerns around private equity’s grip on child social care, and the profits being made www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Our weekend story with top team @joemayes.bsky.social @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @lucygjwhite.bsky.social