The cost of being a sanctuary city: Can Glasgow afford to welcome migrants any more?
Welcome to the ITV News digest bringing you the best of our original journalism, insight and analysis from across the UK, and the world.
Hello, I’m Peter Smith, the ITV News Scotland correspondent and in our bureau we have been investigating a housing crisis in Glasgow that the council says is being caused by an influx of new refugees to the city.
Glasgow has for decades prided itself on being Scotland’s ‘sanctuary city’ - a welcome home to all.
That’s what made the leader of the city council’s words so surprising.
In her interview with ITV News, Susan Aitken told us her city may no longer be able to afford to say refugees are welcome.
The cost of Glasgow’s compassion has “significantly created” a £66m black hole in her budget, she said, and it is down to what she called a “perfect storm.”
In the last year or so, Glasgow has become, by quite some distance, host to the biggest population of asylum seekers in Britain.
But since Glasgow does not use ‘asylum hotels’ (in what’s meant to be a show of compassion), they’re put into shared housing across this city where a housing crisis was already declared two years ago.
At the same time, unprecedented numbers of refugees - people who have been given a legal right to live and work in the UK - are now travelling to Glasgow, often from other cities in England.
Why? Well, word apparently got out: Scotland has particularly liberal homeless legislation where anyone in need of accommodation is legally entitled to it, no matter their circumstances or where they’ve come from.
That is not the case in other parts of the UK.
This anomaly has now made Glasgow a magnet for refugees. But with the influx of so many in such a short period of time, more than half the homeless accommodation in this city is now given to people with refugee status.
Meanwhile, the waiting list for housing in the city grows and frustration is turning into resentment.
We filmed a band of locals tying Saltires on lampposts - Scotland’s answer to the ‘Raise The Colours’ campaign seen in England: part display of national pride; part anti-immigration message to the politicians.
Locals told us the flags are intrinsically connected to them feeling overlooked for housing in the city.
Glasgow’s liberal and progressive approach to welcoming refugees was meant to be about protecting the vulnerable. But that system is buckling, and conscience is now coming into conflict with capacity.
“Pomp, patriotism and political posturing”: What China's military parade tells the world
As China Correspondent Debi Edward watched China’s military parade from a vantage point on Tiananmen Square, she said you could almost feel the awesome power of the troops from the flawless beat of their march and then came the weaponry.
Tanks, missiles, drones and jets flying overhead, it was an intense seventy-minute showcase of strength.
”Every goosestep, every turn of the head, and every patriotic roar of their voices was timed to perfection.”
While other countries might take a solemn approach to remembering the World War, Xi Jinping has introduced a militaristic means of observing the sacrifices of Chinese veterans.
But what should this show of strength, and public alliance with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un tell the world watching on? You can watch Debi, along with International Affairs Analyst Rageh Omaar discuss this with Dan Hewitt on out latest What You Need To Know.
'Failed even in death': Mother speaks out after loss of Afghan veteran son
This week saw the latest part of ITV News’ ongoing investigation into blast-related Traumatic Brain Injury, which may affect thousands of veterans.
Geraint Vincent spoke to one mother, Dawn Turner, who, in the hours following her son Robert's death, found the strength to take to social media and post a cry from the heart: "He was a veteran. He served his country and he was failed. Failed while he lived and he is still being failed now in death."
"He was in physical pain. And he used to say to me, 'You're not listening, nobody's listening to me, it's not mental, it's physical.
"It's only after the event that I found out about traumatic brain injury and everything fits in: the fatigue, the mood swings, the change in personality, it's just blatantly obvious now."
You can read more about our investigation and Dawn’s fight for answers here.
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Fake Labubu dolls described as 'most dangerous counterfeit toys ever seized'
A surge in fake Labubu dolls has led to more than 2,600 seizures of counterfeits by police and Trading Standards teams across Wales in the past two months.
The authentic dolls have become a world-wide sensation, with some being sold for as much as £300.
Following a surge of more than 230% in its share price, Chinese company Pop Mart is now reportedly more valuable than the makers of Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Transformers combined.
But, this has led to an increase in fake products, which have now been described as "the most dangerous counterfeit toys ever seized" by Trading Standards teams in Wales.
Residents’ shock at 'cruise ship built next to our homes'
Families in Wigan say they feel 'shocked and upset', after the council approved the construction of four gigantic warehouses behind their housing estate.
The residents of the Henford Estate in Tyldesley are campaigning against the continued construction of the business park, with some describing the site as 'a cruise ship built next to our homes'.
Paula Boardman lives with her husband and two kids on the estate, and her home is one of the many backing on to the imposing warehouses.
She said: "I'm just in shock as initially I thought they were going to be low level buildings, but as they've just gone up and up.”
Resident John Peters described how he has lost sleep over the development, adding: "It's the worst summer I've had in the 45 years on this estate, just seeing the thing grow.
Watch ITV Granada’s report here
What’s coming up…
Saturday September 6: Final day of Reform Party conference in Birmingham
Monday September 8: First phase of Southport Inquiry starts to hear evidence
Tuesday September 9: BBC Director General and BBC Chair face questions from MPs on Gaza documentary, Glastonbury coverage and Gregg Wallace investigation
Wednesday September 10: Defence Secretary hosts E5 nations in London – France, Germany, Italy and Poland – to discuss latest developments in providing military aid to Ukraine. Visit and press conference.
Wednesday September 10: Strike by horseracing industry against the Treasury’s proposal to introduce a single remote gambling tax, which would increase the 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing and aligning it with online gambling which is taxed 21%.
And finally…..a trip to the only horse milk producer in the UK
Frank Shellard says milk produced by horses has more health benefits. He should know.
Frank’s a farmer who’s diversified into producing mare’s milk. He's even received a visit by the Kazakh ambassador to try his produce.
He told the team at ITV West about the challenge of convincing customers to use what he describes as a healthy alternative, saying they view horses as a domesticated pet.
"British people are hard to change.”
Convinced? Watch the report on Frank’s work here.