Britain said on Thursday it had signed a security pact with Iraq to target people smuggling gangs and strengthen border co-operation, the latest in its efforts to crack down on illegal migration.

She met ministers from the federal government in Baghdad and regional leaders in Kurdistan in the north where many smuggling gangs are based. The agreement will involve greater intelligence sharing and more joint law enforcement operations,

Former Conservative MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns has joined Reform UK and will stand as the party's candidate to be Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in May 2025. Dame Andrea, who lost her seat in the July general election, said she had "fought to the bitter end" but the Conservative Party was now "beyond salvage".

Arch Brexiteer and Boris Johnson supporter was criticised when she was education minister after she appeared to raise her middle finger at protesters outside Downing Street

Dame Andrea Jenkyns has hailed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after announcing she is jumping the "sinking ship" of the Conservative Party. Becoming the party's 100,000th member, Jenkyns took to the stage at Reform's press conference in London to declare the news,