Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Reform UK is calling for restrictions on voting rights for people who cannot speak English, while Kemi Badenoch has vowed to deport all illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Green Party gains in Dover highlight how a divided right-wing vote could benefit the Greens.

For years, experts have warned about the impact social media can have on young minds. Now, Big Tech is facing the consequences. Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement over lawsuits involving Facebook and Instagram, leading to new limits on screen time for millions of teens.Ian Collins is joined by tech journalist Guy Cocker to discuss the issue, followed by child safeguarding consultant and former detective Jonathan Taylor, who spent 15 years investigating child abuse cases, to further assess the dangers of children being exposed to social media.Later, Ian is joined by Ryan Shorthouse, Founder and Chair of Bright Blue, to discuss a leading think tank's suggestion that Andy Burnham should start charging pensioners National Insurance, arguing that it is the fairest way to protect working people from further tax hikes.

Is Britain covering up the true scale of migrant crime? Victims are demanding answers as claims emerge of a migrant crime wave being hidden from the public. We examine the latest allegations and the growing political pressure to publish more data on crimes committed by foreign nationals.Orla Minihane, from Restore Britain and a member of Pink Ladies, discusses the campaign for greater transparency around migrant crime and the impact of immigration on communities. Laila Cunningham, Reform UK’s Mayoral Candidate for London, joins us at 13:40 to discuss the issue and the findings from the latest undercover investigation into the Channel crossings.We also look at the Talk undercover documentary, following the extraordinary investigation in which a journalist posed as a migrant and crossed the Channel in a dinghy, uncovering claims that French police were giving people smugglers lifts back towards migrant camps.Maurice Cousins, Campaign Director at Net Zero Watch, examines the growing cost of Britain’s pursuit of net zero. With claims that the drive has failed to reduce household energy bills and warnings that households could face hundreds of pounds in additional costs, is net zero making energy more expensive for ordinary families?Finally, Nuriyah Khan, broadcaster and podcast host, discusses Labour’s decision to open the door to a potential ban on cousin marriage. What is driving the debate, and could legislation restricting cousin marriage have wider consequences for British society?Migrant crime, immigration, small boats, Channel crossings, undercover investigation, Reform UK, London, net zero, energy bills, climate policy, cousin marriage, Labour and British politics.

Talk International Editor Isabel Oakeshott reveals the extraordinary undercover operation arranged by Talk which saw a journalist trick his way onto a migrant dinghy preparing to cross the Channel from France to Britain. The Telegraph has today published its write-up of the exclusive.What did the investigation uncover about the smugglers, the migrants attempting the crossing and the dangerous journeys being made across the Channel? And what does it tell us about the scale and reality of Britain’s small boats crisis?We also speak to David Shipley, investigative journalist and former prisoner, following claims that Muslim gangs are forcing white prisoners to convert to Islam. What is happening inside Britain’s prisons, how organised are these gangs, and are prison authorities doing enough to tackle intimidation, religious extremism and gang culture?Talk International exclusive, Isabel Oakeshott, migrant dinghy, small boats, Channel crossings, illegal immigration, asylum seekers, France, Britain, people smugglers, migrant crisis, prisons, Muslim gangs, forced conversion, Islam, extremism and prisoner safety.

Is Britain wasting £500,000 a day on illegal migrants? The Government is facing fury over the reported cost of detaining migrants and moving them around the country, as Shabana Mahmood comes under pressure to push ahead with tougher migration reforms despite opposition from Labour MPs. Is the asylum system becoming an unsustainable burden on taxpayers?Matthew Syed, columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times, examines the staggering cost of the UK’s migration system, the political battle surrounding Mahmood’s reforms and whether Labour MPs opposing tougher immigration measures are out of step with the public.Sir Peter Fahy, former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and former National Lead of Prevent, reacts to calls from the Greens for police to lose access to Tasers and pepper spray. Would removing these powers make policing safer or put officers and the public at greater risk?Finally, Nick Wallis, broadcaster and journalist, discusses claims that another Tavistock-style scandal is developing in Wales, examining concerns surrounding gender medicine, hormones and surgery and asking whether lessons have been learned from previous controversies.Illegal immigration, asylum seekers, £500,000 a day, Shabana Mahmood, migration reform, Labour, Reform UK, policing, Tasers, pepper spray, Green Party, Tavistock, gender medicine, Wales and British politics.

David Bull sits in for Ian Collins. Britain’s soaring welfare bill is pushing national debt towards the £3 trillion mark, while the political right remains divided over whether Reform UK should work with the Conservatives or Restore. We examine whether Britain’s spending and welfare system can continue on its current trajectory.Steve N Allen, comedian and broadcaster, looks at Reform UK’s refusal to make deals with Restore or the Conservatives, the latest immigration chaos in Europe, and the growing pressure on Britain’s public finances. We also examine the extraordinary case of Infected Blood victims being told to return compensation.Annunziata Rees-Mogg, Head of Communications at Popular Conservatism, reacts to claims from Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson that racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain. Is the country genuinely becoming more prejudiced, or has the language around discrimination become increasingly politicised?We also discuss the welfare bill and national debt, the latest clashes between French police and migrants attempting to launch Channel boats, and the continuing divisions between Reform UK, Restore and the Conservatives.Reform UK, Suella Braverman, Nigel Farage, Restore, Conservatives, welfare, national debt, £3 trillion debt, immigration, migrants, Channel crossings, France, racism, sexism, Infected Blood compensation and British politics.

Is Britain finally getting tough on illegal immigration? The Government is facing renewed pressure over asylum policy after a controversial migrant information booklet was reported to contain guidance explaining what rape is and telling asylum seekers not to commit sexual offences. We examine the wider row over immigration, deportation and whether the UK’s asylum system is failing victims.Peter Barnes, political strategist, joins us to assess the biggest immigration stories of the day, including reports that a migrant convicted of raping a sleeping woman has been allowed to remain in Britain because of human rights protections. We also examine Shabana Mahmood’s plans to spread asylum accommodation more evenly around Britain and proposals for a Rwanda-style system to remove failed asylum seekers. Can the Government actually regain control of the asylum system?Fraser Myers, Deputy Editor of Spiked Online, looks at the latest turmoil surrounding the Government and Labour, following claims from former No.10 chief of staff Sue Gray that working under Keir Starmer was “unbearable”. We also examine Angela Rayner’s argument that civil servants can be more productive working from home, and what this says about the modern Labour Government.We also have the latest from Reform UK, including its apprenticeships press conference and fresh revelations about the feuding at the heart of the party. Can Reform maintain discipline as it attempts to build itself into Britain’s next governing party?Finally, we examine reports that Muslim charity schools are being investigated over alleged links to Hamas, raising further questions about extremism, safeguarding and the role of charities and schools in Britain.Illegal immigration, asylum seekers, Shabana Mahmood, Rwanda, deportations, ECHR, Reform UK, apprenticeships, Nigel Farage, Labour, Sue Gray, Angela Rayner, civil servants, Hamas, extremism and British politics.

David Bull sits in for Ian Collins: Children are increasingly being exposed to extremist content online, with warnings that young people are becoming “intoxicated with extremism” through social media. At the same time, Meta is facing a landmark trial over allegations surrounding social media addiction in children, while Instagram and Facebook could be forced to change the way they operate. Is social media becoming too dangerous for children, and should much tougher restrictions be introduced?Andrew Gilligan, Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange, examines the impact of social media on children, whether the platforms have become too powerful, and what responsibility should fall on companies such as Meta.Dr Charlotte Littlewood, Senior Researcher at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy and former Counter Extremism Coordinator, looks specifically at the radicalisation of children online. How are extremist movements using social media to reach young people, and are parents, schools and technology companies doing enough to stop it?We also examine the latest developments surrounding Instagram and Facebook, including the landmark legal challenge facing Meta and the possibility of major changes to how children access social media.Finally, Kevin Foster, former Immigration Minister and former Conservative MP for Torbay, discusses the continuing small boats crisis. A migrant dinghy has been towed to safety by French police, while reports suggest migrants are sleeping under bridges in Dover amid fears of makeshift “Calais Jungle”-style camps. Is Britain losing control of illegal immigration?Social media, children, extremism, radicalisation, Meta, Instagram, Facebook, online safety, immigration, small boats, asylum seekers, Dover, Channel crossings and illegal immigration. Is social media destroying childhood?

David Bull sits in for Ian Collins: Reform UK has unveiled plans for £50 billion a year in welfare cuts, including proposals to stop foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit. Robert Jenrick is also set to set out the party’s plans to overhaul the benefits system. Are Reform proposing necessary welfare reform, or are their cuts too harsh?Lord Daniel Hannan, Independent Peer and Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, examines Reform’s welfare proposals, the scale of Britain’s benefits bill and whether reducing welfare spending can be done while protecting people who genuinely need support. We also discuss claims that a significant proportion of disability benefit claimants would accept support to return to work in exchange for financial assistance.Vanessa Frake, Justice Adviser to Reform UK and former prison governor, looks at the state of Britain’s prisons. With the new HMP Millsike super-prison reportedly operating with hundreds of empty cells, while concerns grow over sentencing changes allowing some serious offenders to avoid prison, is the Government failing to use the prison capacity it has?We also examine cases involving paedophiles avoiding prison under Labour’s sentencing changes, including the case of a convicted paedophile who allegedly changed his name 20 times to conceal his criminal history. Are sentencing and offender identification systems failing to protect the public?Finally, Sarah Pochin MP, Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby, gives her reaction to Reform’s £50 billion welfare plans and explains why the party believes Britain’s benefits system needs such a radical overhaul.Reform UK, welfare cuts, £50 billion, Universal Credit, benefits, foreign nationals, disability benefits, Daniel Hannan, prisons, HMP Millsike, sentencing, paedophiles, Sarah Pochin and Vanessa Frake. Are Reform’s welfare reforms cruel or kind?