Reform to unveil controversial plan to fine firms and jail bosses who employ illegal workers – UK politics live

Published 6 August 2026 · europe

Reform say employers would be held responsible even if they were unaware of the worker’s immigration status Health secretary Yvette Cooper has urged the Conservatives

Reform say employers would be held responsible even if they were unaware of the worker’s immigration status Health secretary Yvette Cooper has urged the Conservatives to “think again” after Kemi Badenoch appointed a former antisemite as a party adviser. It came after Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who had been selected by the Tories to contest a council election next year, withdrew his candidacy. I have to say I’m a bit shocked by this decision. I don’t understand it at all. And I’ve listened to Luciana Berger talk about the way she had felt with this man who was targeting her, even talking about giving Nazi salutes. I mean, just really disturbing.

This is obviously somebody who should not be in in public life. I think that every party has to take this very seriously. Under a Reform government, Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for employing illegal migrants. Bosses of companies employing illegal migrants will be sent to prison, and their companies fined 10% of their global revenues. Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector. Jewish leaders have turned down a meeting with a former antisemitic internet troll as Kemi Badenoch defended his selection as a Conservative council candidate.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) have declined an offer from the Conservatives to meet Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has been selected to fight the Crewkerne South ward in Somerset next May. But they said they would meet with the Conservatives to “discuss their decision-making process” and urge them to drop Mr Bonehill-Paine as a candidate. Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment of Labour peer Baroness Luciana Berger, who is Jewish. Ministers continued to defend the release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers as part of the government’s early prisoner release scheme, despite a potential legal challenge from the Police Federation.

Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the “unimaginable pain” of the deceased officer’s family but said “difficult decisions” must be made because law and order could “collapse” without a functioning prison system. The government is not “actively” considering an inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s UK activities, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson has confirmed. They said that while the department was “reviewing what is possible” and would “look at all options to support victims”, a public inquiry was “not being actively considered”. Continue reading...