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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · 5d

Main points are that Greens will tax the wealthiest 1%, and use that money to invest in infrastructure and bring the cost of living down. Unlikely to hit the mark with many economists already warning that the flight of the rich will cause tax revenues to plummet…

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · 5d

At the first Green Party conference with Zack Polanski as leader. He’s getting rapturous applause from the packed main hall of Bournemouth’s conference centre. Speech is light on policy, but big on jibes at Nigel Farage and Labour - which he brands as full of “Reform-baiting policy-making”

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · 8d

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · Jul 24

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

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-24/starmer-downplays-prospect-of-steel-tariff-deal-with-trump-in-uk?srnd=homepage-uk

t.co

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · Jul 24

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

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-24/uk-is-back-on-world-stage-starmer-says-after-sealing-india-deal?srnd=homepage-uk

t.co

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Reposted by Lucy White

Joseph Cotterill @jsphctrl.ft.com · May 16

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.

Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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 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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Lucy White

Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · May 16

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".

Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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 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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Reposted by Lucy White

Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · May 16

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

Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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...

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

Reposted by Lucy White

Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · May 16

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.

Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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 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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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...

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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...

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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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.

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · May 16

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 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.

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · Apr 17

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...

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...

www.bloomberg.com

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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · Mar 20

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…

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