Michael Knowles

Home Affairs Editor - Migration, asylum, terrorism, national security, crime, justice & prisons for @Daily_Express.

Views my own. Golfer in my spare time.

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

Exclusive: Asylum seekers are being told “men and women are equal” in the UK amid mounting fears over integration and cultural values.

The Home Office has issued new guidance to arrivals telling them “this means women can work, study, travel and make their own choices”.

They also detail what rape is under UK law in a new booklet: "Consent is needed in every situation. This means even if you are married or in a relationship with someone, they must consent to sex every time.

"If you have sex with someone without their consent, this is called rape. Rape is a serious crime in the UK. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim."

[Emily Ferguson @emilyinpalace]

She said in a statement: “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.

“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.

“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.

“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.

“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

Is the Ambassador to the US referring to the President of the US, here?

President Trump said late last year: “Look at the crime you have in London. My mother loved London, she loved that city.

“Today you have people being stabbed in the ass or worse. Your mayor is a disaster, he’s a nasty person.”

Very curious comments.

[Christian Turner @CTurnerFCDO]

Even as distorted narratives and bad-faith actors try to depict British cities as unsafe, the statistics show the opposite.

Crime, excluding fraud, in the UK down 78% in the last 30 years👇

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

@jjanisiobi Ha. No... But god I hate the smell.

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

A thought on Andy Burnham's pledge to fine people playing music out loud on the train...

It won't work. There's four lads smoking cannabis on my train and inhaling balloons. That's literally illegal and it isn't enforced.

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

Wonder if Downing Street got on the phone before this tweet?

Begs the question, if Ms Fahnbulleh supports the Gov’s migration reforms, why didn’t she just say “yes” yesterday. The question was asked 16 times.

[Miatta Fahnbulleh @Miatsf]

Today I made what was meant to be a light-hearted self-deprecating remark. I didn’t get it right and it hasn’t come off as I intended.

I fully support our Home Secretary and the government’s position on migration reform.

As I said earlier this week, it’s absolutely right that people should have to make a contribution to this country in order to earn citizenship.

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

Exclusive: Women and girls are facing an epidemic of violence, sex attacks, stalking and harassment after years of "lenient sentences" for thugs and perverts. A record number of rapes, sexual assaults, domestic abuse-related offences, stalking and harassment were reported by victims last year.

And experts fear this may only be the “tip of the iceberg”, with hundreds of thousands of crimes going unreported every year. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated 12.8% of women, roughly 3.2 million females, were a victim of domestic abuse, a sexual attack or stalking.

@Rachel_SUTDA told @Daily_Express: “How many more victims must suffer before we see the change that is so desperately needed?”

@joymorrissey said: "Women need more police on our streets, rapists behind bars and a justice system that puts victims before criminals. Instead, we have a Government that seems more concerned with managing prison overcrowding than ensuring the safety of women."

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

When President Trump says we need to find a compromise – we live with this. A ceasefire and sitting down at the negotiating table – it is a huge compromise.

Nobody can step into the shoes of all these people whose children were tortured. And you can't force people to forgive. How can you force them when their child was tortured? How do you forgive? It's impossible. I desperately want justice. I just really want. I know so many people had their hearts ripped out, and there won't be a new heart.

That's why we say a ceasefire is the only step, because people’s hatred isn't going anywhere. It takes time and justice. And that's why it's a huge compromise. I've tried many times to tell the President of the United States: understand us. This is a huge compromise just to hold the lines where we are. Trump can bring Putin to the negotiating table very easily. The way President Trump talks about me, he needs to adopt that kind of rhetoric about Putin.

From The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett. (3/3)

[Robbie Fowler @StaffordScouse]

I think Michael Carrick definitely needs more time to turn Manchester United Football Club around.

[James Heale @JAHeale]

Exc: Home Office spent £22k on 'don't rape women' guide for asylum seekers

Neil Shastri-Hurst calls it a "ludicrous" use of "taxpayers' money on a publication that should never have been required in the first place"

https://t.co/9qTaNplxWq

[GB News @GBNEWS]

'We should absolutely be worried that it could happen again.'

GB News’ Aaron Brown examines the risks and safety concerns as websites across Europe are taken offline amid a global cyber flaw disrupting systems.

📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

NEW: The list of core participants in the grooming gang inquiry has been published.

It includes:

Sir Keir Starmer.
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
The Home Secretary.
The Health Secretary.

Most importantly, dozens of survivors will give evidence.

[GB News @GBNEWS]

Keir Starmer listed as 'core participant' in grooming gangs inquiry - @CDP1882
https://t.co/MJceouNP6K

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

Get in. Congratulations @StephSpyro

[Steph Spyro @StephSpyro]

Thrilled to be named one of the UK’s top 30 journalists under 30 for my environmental reporting 🥰 Much appreciated @PressAwardsuk!

I’m in brilliant company! See full list here: https://t.co/5aeetPQe5u

[PiddingtonRoarsNews @PiddingtonNews]

@andyburnham the women of your party walked out on our #safety debate.

It left our entire community feeling deeply distressed by the politics of Westminster.

We invite you, Prime Minister, to take the lead and visit #Piddington to meet us…

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

This row is getting more and more public.

[John McDonnell @johnmcdonnellMP]

The work visa issue is causing totally unnecessary division in the Labour Party at a time when the new leader is settling himself into the job. Listening to numerous workers employed on work visas in the care sector has been essential in gaining an understanding of what they face and the effect on our public services of the proposed rule changes. All Unison wanted was to ensure the Home Secretary had the opportunity to appreciate fully the concerns of the people who will be affected by her proposals. I urge her to think again on this decision not to meet. https://t.co/HCY6VKmtMw

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

👀

[Arj Singh @singharj]

💥exc: Major row over Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms

Talks between Home Sec and key union break down after Mahmood blocks Unison boss from bringing migrant care worker to meeting

Deepens Labour rift over indefinite leave to remain

https://t.co/ydtnyh1Nbj

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

New: Almost 4,000 migrants are loitering in camps waiting to cross the Channel, it has emerged. Duncan Capps, the border security commander, said the number of asylum seekers in northern France is roughly double the typical size of the cohorts in two tent cities.

But prices for those hoping to reach Britain have fallen to as low as £840. It is believed to be one of the lowest prices on record.

[Michael Knowles @Express_Knowles]

@larisamlbrown @londonpressclub @thetimes Congratulations!

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 BREAKING: Two men previously bailed over the RAF Fairford plot have been rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service

One is a British-Iranian man aged 25 and the other is a British man aged 24

[Emma @MrsEmmaWebber]

To clarify. It’s actually even worse.
The horror of what our families face is this: my son’s killer, Valdo Calocane, was given a Section 37/41 hospital order. This is medical care, not a penal sentence.
By January 2027—the 3-year mark—he can legally apply to a tribunal to come out if deemed well enough. Worse, until our recent fight to close the loophole, these criminal patients actively pocketed up to £800/month in state benefits from their hospital beds.
A hospital order is not prison. We face a life sentence ensuring this monster is never released. #JusticeForBarnaby #NottinghamAttacks 💚💛