By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

Hundreds of Afghans who have been relocated to Britain under a multibillion-pound scheme to protect them from the Taliban have returned to Afghanistan for holidays and other trips, an Afghan source has revealed.

The source, himself a former interpreter who served with British forces in Afghanistan before also starting a new life in the UK, said the excursions were evidence that the threat some of his countrymen say they face because of past links with the British has been exaggerated.

"The only threat is unemployment," the man told Paste BN, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions for speaking out.

The source has direct knowledge of how the previous Conservative government processed applications for resettlement to the UK in the chaos that followed the Taliban's return to power four years ago.

He alleged that the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) - which is under intense parliamentary scrutiny following revelations in July about a major data breach - had been open to exploitation by Afghans simply seeking a better life in Britain.

Peter Mandelson should be banned from returning to the House of Lords, as he would "damage" the upper chamber's reputation, Harriet Harman has warned.

It follows Lord Mandelson being sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US, over revelations about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The prime minister fired the Labour peer last week after "new information" came to light, which, he said, meant Mandelson's relationship with the Epstein was "materially different" to what was known when he was appointed.

But Sir Keir has faced criticism for his handling of the scandal, with Lord Mandelson's sacking coming less than 24 hours after he defended him in the Commons.

Now, Baroness Harman - also a Labour peer - has warned Lord Mandelson should not be allowed to sit in the Lords when he returns to the UK, despite him being a peer since 2008.

He is currently on a leave of absence from the chamber, but can apply to be readmitted in three months.

Speaking to a special episode of the Electoral Dysfunction x Trump100 podcast, the former deputy Labour leader said: "I think there should be a process, but actually, I don't think he enhances the reputation of the House of Lords."

Listen to the full episode at the top of the page.

By Serena Barker-Singh, political correspondent

The UK is to recognise the state of Palestine, potentially as soon as this weekend - with the prime minister insisting it was always part of the plan.

It was a Labour manifesto commitment, but the party's position has evolved in government.

Some of the party's early positions cast a long shadow over its year in power, sometimes obscuring what action the government has taken.

So here's what actually happened.

Keir Starmer's reputation among those most passionate about Gaza largely rested on one LBC interview he did shortly after the 7 October attacks, while still in opposition, where he seemed to suggest Israel had the right to withhold power and water from Gaza.

But it wasn't just one interview that caused the collapse in what many have called the "Muslim vote".

The party changed from supporting a "humanitarian pause" to an "immediate ceasefire" four months into the war.

Some, even within the shadow front bench at the time, said this had come too late.

By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter

Two of the most important Labour-affiliated unions are set to nominate their choice for who should replace Angela Rayner as the party's deputy leader.

Unison and GMB will pick their candidate on 25 September - two days ahead of the deadline for nominations for Labour affiliates and local party branches.

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is seen as the government's choice of candidate in the race, which has effectively turned into a de facto confidence vote on Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.

She is up against Lucy Powell, who was sacked as Commons leader in the recent reshuffle and has become the candidate for MPs who are unhappy with the party's direction after a difficult first year in government.

Ms Phillipson has already secured the backing of the two unions - Community and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

There are question marks over who Unison, GMB and Unite will back in the race, triggered by Ms Rayner quitting as deputy leader, deputy prime minister and housing secretary over underpaid stamp duty on a second home.

Donald Trump has told Sir Keir Starmer he should use the military to stop migrants crossing the Channel.

The US president made the suggestion while stood alongside the prime minister for a typically wide-ranging news conference on Thursday afternoon, bringing his state visit to Britain to an end.

Speaking at Chequers, Sir Keir's country retreat, Mr Trump warned illegal migration is "going to destroy [...] countries from within" and said "it doesn't matter if you call out the military" to deal with small boats.

He talked up his own record of stopping people crossing the US-Mexico border.

Sir Keir instead pointed to his government's migrant return deal with France, with the first deportation of a man who arrived via small boat taking place on Thursday morning.

Further flights are scheduled to take place this week and next, starting Friday, while exchange arrivals to Britain via the legal route agreed with the French are due in the coming days.

An Eritrean man who arrived in the UK via small boat last month is to be deported back to France today.

It's the second deportation of the week under the government's "one in, one out" deal with the French.

The agreement seeks to remove migrants who cross the Channel and have an asylum claim rejected, in exchange for people who successfully apply in France and have links to Britain.

This morning's removal - due to take place via a 6.15am flight - comes after the government won a legal challenge.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accused migrants who try to block their deportation of making a "mockery" of the UK's modern slavery laws.

The Eritrean man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly forced to flee his homeland in 2019 due to forced conscription, and passed through Ethiopia, South Sudan, Libya and France, before entering the UK.

Lawyers acting for him argued he had a "number of different medical needs" and has been a "victim of trafficking".

Welcome back to the Politics Hub.

Donald Trump has left the UK, and with MPs on recess for party conference season things are likely to be a little less frenetic today.

One thing we are expecting today is a second person being deported to France under the government's one in, one out agreement.

An Eritrean man was set to depart aboard a flight to France just after 6am.

The first illegal migrant was flown back to the continent yesterday.

In an announcement yesterday, the Home Office said we could expect the first person coming the other way to arrive in the UK in "the coming days".

Speaking to us this morning on behalf of the government is Business Secretary Peter Kyle.

He will undoubtedly be keen to discuss all the business deals agreed with the US over the past few days.

We're pausing our live coverage of politics for today.

But don't worry, you can continue to follow the latest developments from Donald Trump's state visit in our dedicated live blog below.

By Lisa Holland, Communities correspondent

When you consider the last government's attempts to send asylum seekers to Rwanda never got off the ground – quite literally with a plane ready on the runway – then the first person returned to France under the 'one in one out' scheme is a small victory for Sir Keir Starmer.

However, it comes after three tortured days of hugely expensive legal wrangling between wily immigration lawyers and charities supporting migrants versus the Home Office.

Clearly the return of one person does not signal the take off of a scheme which the government can truly claim will spell the end of small boat crossings.

Because frankly the past few days – not withstanding that this involves people's lives – have been like an embarrassing game of 'whack a mole' to find the right people to return to France – people who the UK courts would likely not side with.

The million dollar question is whether this scheme can be scaled up – and whether it will seriously act as any kind of deterrent. And it's too soon to answer that.