Watch: Reporter is helped to pose as gay for asylum claim

Watch: Reporter is helped to pose as gay for asylum claim

Immigration consultants are assisting individuals in circumventing the UK’s asylum process, according to a BBC investigation. A reporter, acting as a former student seeking to stay in the UK, encountered one such adviser, Tanisa Khan, who offered to supply fabricated evidence supporting a false claim of being gay. This evidence included letters, photos, and medical reports, all designed to bolster the asylum application.

The BBC’s findings reveal how migrants nearing the end of their visa periods are coached to create misleading narratives, such as fearing persecution if returned to Pakistan or Bangladesh. In response, the Home Office stated:

“Anyone found trying to exploit the system will face the full force of the law, including removal from the UK.”

Political Updates

Meanwhile, a US court ruled that Meta and Google intentionally engineered addictive social media platforms, prompting questions about whether the UK will tighten its rules. In a separate development, Labour’s dominance in Greater Manchester was challenged, with the party slipping to third place after securing over 50% of the vote in 2024. Hannah Spencer, the Labour leader, emphasized in her speech that she “no different from every single person in this constituency.”

The Met Police arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen described joining Reform UK as akin to switching from Middlesbrough to Newcastle United. The Green Party’s leader reiterated support for legalizing and regulating drugs, while the UK’s role in Afghanistan from 2001 was highlighted as part of NATO’s collective security agreement following 9/11.

In an exclusive BBC interview, the former shadow justice secretary praised Reform UK as the sole party capable of fixing Britain’s system. Keir Starmer dismissed the “caretaker PM” label during PMQs, while Greater Manchester’s mayor avoided answering questions about a potential leadership challenge. The prime minister warned of continued Middle East conflict, calling it a “fork in the road” in his Liverpool conference address.

Kemi Badenoch announced her leadership role at the Conservative Party’s Manchester conference, while shadow chancellor Mel Stride addressed an empty hall during his speech. Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticized Nigel Farage’s rising influence in his first conference speech. BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg questioned the prime minister about tax plans ahead of Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget.