British Future

I am writing (for next week) about what happens after the settlement consultation closes tomorrow.

- does govt make significant reforms/changes, or minor amendments?

- Does govt push ahead quickly, with changes this April? Or slow down? Stagger elements?

- will MPs get a voice/vote or not?

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British South Asian Bridgers Project - British Future Supporting those working to bridge divides between UK South Asian communities; researching attitudes and tensions among British South Asians.

The project will also conduct new, in-depth research to better understand attitudes, tensions and strengths within Britain’s South Asian population.
Find out more about the British South Asian Bridgers Project at: www.britishfuture.org/british-sout...

Beyond cricket: Bridging south Asian divides in a polarised Britain British South Asian Bridger’s Project focuses upon bridging divides and fostering greater togetherness amongst the UK’s most populous minority community

With India and Pakistan set to play each other on Sunday in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup – a fixture that has previously sparked conflicts between South Asian communities here in the UK – our Avaes Mohammad writes about the project in @easterneye.bsky.social
www.easterneye.biz/british-sout...

A new 'British South Asian Bridgers Project' is bringing together and supporting the ‘bridging’ voices who are working to build inter-community connection, and defuse tensions, among the UK’s largest ethnic minority group. [1/5]

Changes at Number Ten, but Starmer’s future remains uncertain Most of the Westminster commentariat predict that Starmer will prove to be a caretaker prime minister on borrowed time

Starmer's future remains uncertain – but "it may be a few months yet before we find out who governs Britain for the remaining three years of this parliament," writes @sundersays.bsky.social for @easterneye.bsky.social www.easterneye.biz/keir-starmer...

UK expands Hong Kong visa scheme in wake of Jimmy Lai’s prison sentence Exclusive: Home Office ruling means thousands more Hongkongers will be eligible to come to the UK over next five years

'UK expands Hong Kong visa scheme in wake of Jimmy Lai’s prison sentence,' reports @theguardian.com. Adult children of BN(O)s who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China will now be eligible to apply, independently of their parents. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity

300,000 children in the UK would face "prolonged insecurity" as a result of the government's proposed changes to settlement rules, finds new @ippr.org analysis
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

PM’s welcome words on cohesion must be followed with national action - British Future The PM has set out a vision for social cohesion. We now need to see a long-term plan to turn the vision into reality, writes Sunder Katwala.

"It is welcome, if overdue, that the PM has set out a positive vision for cohesion... What needs to follow is a clear plan to turn these words into sustained action," writes our @sundersays.bsky.social www.britishfuture.org/pms-welcome-...

Starmer vows to defend ‘decent Britain’ as he faces fury over Mandelson appointment Starmer’s support for ‘rules that protect those in need’ overshadowed by concerns he knew about Mandelson’s Esptein links

"Starmer vows to defend ‘decent and tolerant Britain’ as he faces Labour fury over Mandelson appointment," writes @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

The PM will give a speech today about community renewal, tolerance and social cohesion, linked to the new Pride in Place programme. Thread from our @sundersays.bsky.social here with more details: bsky.app/profile/sund...

ILR ‘earned settlement’ changes to proceed, says immigration minister, but transitional arrangements under review Minister tells MPs the Government is “proceeding with the seriousness and care that the public and Parliament rightly expect” and will listen to consultation views

Government response to pressure over settlement reforms. Might indicate some openness on those already in the UK, particularly those "halfway" to settlement, where current proposals could turn 1-2 year wait into 12+ years
www.ein.org.uk/news/ilr-ear...

What the BBC’s diversity review reveals about modern Britain Representation - how much a group is present - can be captured in data, but portrayal - how groups are depicted - is qualitative and subjective

An insightful thematic review of how to portray modern Britain to ourselves shows how the BBC could rise above the crossfire of culture wars & tokenistic tick-box diversity when trad elites check their privileges more than they share power. My Eastern Eye column
www.easterneye.biz/bbc-diversit...

No, the public is not irredeemably ignorant But there is a disconnect between economists’ metrics and people’s perceptions

"No, the public is not irredeemably ignorant," writes @sarahoconnorft.ft.com – citing data from our @britishfuture.bsky.social immigration attitudes tracker on misperceptions about immigration
www.ft.com/content/320c...
@financialtimes.com

Devon group helping plans to widen scheme helping refugees in UK A North Devon group has been helping refugee families settle and integrate into UK life.

BBC News reports on plans to widen community sponsorship schemes supporting refugees in the UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

An energising day in Westminster yesterday with many @churchillfship.bsky.social Fellows on how to understand & shape debates about migration+cohesion in volatile times: thanks @bekelewoyecha.bsky.social @jacquibroadhead.bsky.social @emilyagraham.bsky.social + Rosie Carter for insights + inspiration

What lessons can be drawn from the Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme for the UK’s support for new migrants? - UK in a changing Europe As the Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme approaches its fifth anniversary, Heather Rolfe looks at the lessons that can be learned from the scheme in how the UK can support new migrants.

As the Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme approaches its fifth anniversary, our @heather-rolfe.bsky.social looks at the lessons to be learned from the scheme in how the UK can support new migrants. New blog for @ukandeu.bsky.social:
ukandeu.ac.uk/lessons-from...

Sadiq Khan speaks up for settlement and integration The London mayor emphasised a more confident case for controlled immigration and the economic and social contribution that it can make.

Our @sundersays.bsky.social welcomes London Mayor Sadiq Khan making "a more confident case for controlled immigration – and the economic and social contribution that it can make,' in his @easterneye.bsky.social column
www.easterneye.biz/sadiq-khan-l...
@london.gov.uk

EU Commission to open proceedings against Grok on Monday, reports Handelsblatt The EU Commission will open proceedings against Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok under the Digital Services Act on Monday, Germany's Handelsblatt reported on Monday, citing three high-ranking EU officials.

EU Commission to open proceedings against Grok on Monday, reports Handelsblatt reut.rs/4bC7dlx

London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticises government immigration reforms - LabourList London Mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at the government’s proposed length of settled status for immigrants, saying…

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Labour's approach to immigration should focus on "compassion, control and contribution". In a speech to @thefabians.bsky.social conference, he criticised govt proposals to restrict settlement & citizenship, saying it would harm integration
labourlist.org/2026/01/lond...

In Britain’s new year of anxiety, cohesion is no longer optional A stronger, shared vision would help, despite some anxiety about how far national leaders and institutions have the public standing to narrate it

How do efforts to build community cohesion respond to today's febrile geopolitical and national context? This week's @sundersays.bsky.social column for @easterneye.bsky.social
www.easterneye.biz/trump-greenl...

Windrush 26 — Near Neighbours

The Windrush Day 2026 Grant Scheme is open - applications close 10 Feb. Details: www.near-neighbours.org.uk/windrush26-h...

New 2026 thread to retest in real time if X reporting system *mostly* ignores/protects unlawful racist abuse reported to it

Criteria: direct racist abuse @ people that would be unlawful on the bus + is unlawful online + that broad consensus (9/10 people across parties) would agree should be stopped

Lovely story about a Bradford sewing group bringing women from different backgrounds together and combating loneliness and isolation.

Why Britain must make social media lawful again The controversy has illuminated again how US billionaire businessman Musk takes a “pick and mix” approach as to which laws he thinks should apply to him and his companies.

“It is not ‘censorship’ to insist every website operating in our country does so within the law.” Our @sundersays.bsky.social argues in @easterneye.bsky.social that govt must reject Elon Musk’s ‘pick and mix” approach to the law and Make Social Media Lawful Again.
www.easterneye.biz/technology-g...

'Ofcom launches investigation into X over Grok sexualised imagery'

We've launched an investigation into X over Grok sexualised imagery.

We've opened a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act, to determine whether it has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from content that is illegal in the UK.

🔗 www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...

UK regulator launches probe into Elon Musk's X over Grok deepfake images We'll be bringing you the latest updates on this Breaking Politics News story

Breaking: Ofcom launches probe into Elon Musk's X over Grok deepfake images

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Our 2025 report 'How we can actually stop the boats' proposes a similar approach. Read it here: www.britishfuture.org/publication/...

This European country cut illegal boat crossings by half - what the UK could learn Spain's approach to reducing illegal maritime crossings has had impressive results, with numbers down dramatically last year

Spain has reduced small boat crossings by 46% by combining diplomatic deals with source countries, expanded legal routes and enforcement. Could the UK learn from them? @theipaper.com reports: inews.co.uk/news/world/e...

BBC Radio 4 - Materials of State, The Union Jack David Cannadine explores the history of the Union Jack.

Our @sundersays.bsky.social spoke to David Cannadine about the Union Jack for BBC Radio 4's 'Materials of State' series.
Listen back here:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...