FOUR Indian nationals accused of posing as Afghans to claim asylum in the UK have denied entering the country without valid clearance.
Gurbakhsh Singh, 72, his wife Ardet Kaur, 68, their son Guljeet Singh, 44, and his wife Kawaljeet Kaur, 37, are alleged to have entered the UK without passports or entry clearance after twice failing to obtain visas as Indian citizens before arriving in London on December 23, 2023, The Telegraph reported.
They were detained at Heathrow Airport and charged with seeking leave to enter the UK by deceptive means, allegedly claiming to be Afghan nationals.
At an earlier hearing, Kawaljeet Kaur denied two charges of entering the UK without valid clearance and a passport. The other three family members denied the same charges at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, assisted by an interpreter.
All four remain on unconditional bail. Their seven-day trial is scheduled to begin on February 2 next year. Judge Antony Dunne rejected a request for reporting restrictions.
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.