Rabu, 27 April 2022

Annual MOT could be scrapped amid cost of living crisis - Sky News

Annual MOT checks could be scrapped under government plans to ease the cost of living for households across the country, Sky News understands.

On Tuesday, Boris Johnson held a cabinet meeting in which he asked his top team to come with "innovative" ideas to help ease the pressure on household finances which do not require government spending.

Sky News understands that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps mooted the idea of moving from an annual vehicle check to a check every two years.

Politics Hub: Boris Johnson to face Keir Starmer at PMQs later today

The proposed change could save motorists up to £55 annually.

But it is understood that not all cabinet ministers at the meeting supported the idea, with at least one objecting on the grounds that inefficient cars burn more fuel.

Some industry experts, including motoring body the AA, have also warned such a move could lead to higher repair bills for drivers who do not catch problems early enough.

More on Boris Johnson

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps walks outside Downing Street, in London, Britain, April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Image: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to be the minister who mooted the idea of scrapping annual MOTs

Annual MOT could be made bi-annual

Millions of people in Britain are facing an increase in energy bills, council tax and the effects of a National Insurance tax rise - as well as inflation hitting a 30-year-high of 7% earlier this month.

After the PM's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Number 10 announced that Mr Johnson will chair a committee with the aim of tackling the cost of living crisis "in the next couple of weeks".

The membership of the Domestic and Economic Strategy Committee, which is not new, includes the prime minister, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay.

Read more:
The four simple changes you can make to save £400 on your energy bills
Five million households now in 'fuel stress' as energy price cap rises to almost £2k

The prime minister's official spokesperson confirmed ministers talked through "a number of ideas" to ease the pressure on household finances which will "feed in to a more formal process".

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Sky's business correspondent Helen-Ann Smith looks at how prices of every day items have been impacted by rising inflation

Govt will have 'more to say' on childcare

A future announcement on childcare aimed at easing the financial burden faced by many families was also hinted by Number 10.

Asked about the childcare measures, the PM's official spokesperson added: "I think all I can say is that this is an area where the government recognises there is more to do.

"There is live policy work taking place and I'm sure we'll have more to say in the future."

A possible move could be increasing the number of individuals a childminder can look after at once to bring down costs for parents and carers.

At present, childminders can look after a maximum of six individuals under eight years old at a time.

Speaking on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News "there is a whole range of things" that ministers are looking at to ease the financial burden increased living costs are putting on households.

"We're going to continue unflinchingly to look at what more we can do - and the reason being is we understand the pressure that families up and down the country are facing," he said.

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'No golden bullet' to solving cost of living crisis

On Tuesday morning, Armed Forces minister James Heappey told Sky News there is "no doubt" that any interventions by the government will be "expensive", but added that "cumulatively" a range of measures could "start to make a difference".

He also warned that there is "no golden bullet" to solve the cost of living crisis.

Meanwhile, Labour has reiterated its call for an "emergency budget" to tackle the rising costs households are facing.

Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer said it should include a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to allow energy bills to be cut "at the very least".

The Labour leader added that he would like to see "rate relief for businesses" and money fraudulently claimed through coronavirus business support schemes "clawed back".

"The argument the government is trying to put forward that there is nothing we can do is absolute nonsense," he added.

According to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week, almost nine out of 10 adults say they have seen a rise in their cost of living - compared to 62% in November last year.

On Monday, supermarket groups Asda and Morrisons announced efforts to help struggling shoppers during the cost of living crisis.

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2022-04-27 07:56:33Z
1399983741

Bermondsey stabbings: Family members pay tribute after four 'lovely' relatives killed in London house - Sky News

Candles spelling out the word 'family' have been left on the pavement near where four relatives were stabbed to death in a house in southeast London.

Denton Burke, 58, and his partner Dolet Hill, 64, were both killed at their home in Delaford Road, Bermondsey, in the early hours of Monday.

Ms Hill's daughter, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, also known as Rachquel, who lived in Kennington, and Ms Ofori-Akuffo's daughter, Samantha Drummonds, 27, who lived in Forest Hill, also died at the property.

As the community in Bermondsey comes to terms with the loss of the four people, details about who the victims are and what they loved are beginning to emerge.

Mr Burke was a "bubbly" man who "loved to cook" - his speciality being his jerk chicken and rice.

His sister, Julieth Hutchinson, says she was last with him on 12 March, celebrating Ms Hill's birthday.

She is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her brother but says she wants to remember "his beautiful smile" and laughter.

More on London

Chyloe Daley, 26, Mr Burke's niece, says the four deaths have "affected all of us quite badly".

Denton Burke and his partner Dolet Hill live together on Delaford Road in Southwark. Pic: Met Police
Image: (L-R) Dolet Hill and Denton Burke lived together in Bermondsey. Pic: Met Police
Tanysha (aka Rachquel) Ofori-Akuffo, 45, is Ms Hill's daughter, has also been named. Pic: Met Police
Image: Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, also known as Rachquel, is Ms Hill's daughter. Pic: Met Police
Samantha
Image: Samantha Drummonds, 27, daughter of Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, was also found dead

"It's the brutality of it all that hurts the most," added Ms Daley, who says he was a "great husband, father and uncle".

We heard more too about Ms Hill.

She worked as a housekeeping assistant for Guy's and St Thomas's hospital in their pharmacy department for 21 years before retiring in 2018.

Neighbours, friends and family left tributes to the people killed
Image: Tributes have been left for the four people who were killed

In a statement, they described her as a "well-respected colleague" who helped others in the workplace as an "active UNISON representative".

They added that: "Our thoughts are with Dolet's family, friends and all who worked with her."

These tributes are echoed on the streets surrounding the three-bed terraced house where the four people lost their lives.

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Neighbours shocked after stabbings

Neighbours said the family were "lovely" and were shocked something so awful, happened so close.

A 28-year-old man from Lewisham, who is suspected of carrying out the fatal attack, is in hospital in a stable condition.

He was tasered by Metropolitan Police officers before his arrest.

Read more:
All victims identified and suspect under arrest in hospital
'Parents are scared for their children's lives' says neighbour

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2022-04-26 21:33:57Z
1387191011

Selasa, 26 April 2022

P&O ferry European Causeway has power restored after drifting in Irish Sea due to 'mechanical issue' - Sky News

Power has been restored to a P&O ferry after three lifeboats were launched following a "mechanical issue" in the Irish Sea.

It was adrift five miles off Larne in Northern Ireland for more than an hour on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Marine Traffic site.

P&O tweeted that tugs had been deployed to tow it back to port.

However, shortly after, the coastguard said: "The European Causeway has restored power and is now heading into Larne under its own power following an earlier mechanical failure."

It said the cruise ship Queen Victoria and local coastguard and lifeboat teams were standing by - but that there was no danger to passengers.

Three lifeboats were sent to the scene between 2pm and 3pm, the RNLI said.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been inspecting the firm's ships following safety concerns prompted by P&O's controversial mass redundancy.

More on P&o

The ship that developed problems, the European Causeway, was only released from detention on 8 April.

It was banned from sailing after an initial inspection on 25 March found 31 safety failings.

The ship was eventually allowed to operate again on the Larne-Cairnryan route following a second examination.

P&O's European Causeway ferry docked at Larne Port in Northern Ireland last week
Image: The European Causeway pictured docked at Larne in March

'Deeply concerning' for crew and passengers

P&O said an independent investigation would examine the cause of Tuesday's power cut.

The company called it a "temporary mechanical issue" and said tugs remained on stand by as it continued towards the Northern Irish coast.

"There are no reported injuries onboard and all the relevant authorities have been informed. Once in dock a full independent investigation will be undertaken," it added.

The RMT union called the incident "deeply concerning, not least for the agency crew and passengers on board".

P&O caused an outcry after suddenly replacing almost 800 workers with cheaper agency staff on 17 March - a decision it later admitted was illegal.

The government's business misconduct watchdog has launched criminal and civil probes into the company.

All of P&O's ferries must pass an inspection before being allowed to sail again.

Dover-based ships the Pride of Kent and Spirit of Britain also did not pass initial inspections.

However, it's understood freight services to Calais are set to resume by Wednesday, with passenger services running again early next week.

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2022-04-26 15:10:47Z
1402085886

Boris Johnson to chair committee with aim of tackling cost of living crisis in 'next couple of weeks', Downing Street confirms - Sky News

Boris Johnson will chair a committee with the aim of tackling the cost of living crisis "in the next couple of weeks", Downing Street has said.

The membership of the Domestic and Economic Strategy Committee, which is not new, includes the prime minister, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay.

The prime minister's official spokesperson confirmed ministers talked through "a number of ideas" to ease the pressure on household finances on Tuesday morning after the PM chaired a Cabinet meeting to discuss "innovative" ways to combat the crisis that do not solely rely on increased government spending.

Politics Hub: PM urged to come up with new ideas to ease cost of living crisis

The spokesperson confirmed that ideas these will "feed into a more formal process".

A future announcement on childcare aimed at easing the financial burden faced by many families was also hinted by Number 10.

Asked about the childcare measures, the PM's official spokesperson added: "I think all I can say is that this is an area where the government recognises there is more to do.

"It is live policy work taking place and I'm sure we'll have more to say in the future."

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Boris Johnson suggests there is more to be done to help people struggling with the cost of living.

'No golden bullet' to solving cost of living crisis

It comes after a minister earlier warned that there is "no golden bullet" to solve the cost of living crisis.

Many people in Britain are facing an increase in energy bills, council tax and the effects of a National Insurance tax rise - as well as inflation hitting a 30-year-high of 7% earlier this month.

Armed Forces minister James Heappey told Sky News there is "no doubt" that any interventions by the government will be "expensive", but added that "cumulatively" a range of measures could "start to make a difference".

"There's no doubt about these interventions are expensive - £22bn of government intervention to assist with families with their cost of living is already huge," he said.

"There'll be other levers that government can pull and, you know, not one of them will be a golden bullet.

"But cumulatively, if you can provide people with lots of small savings across their cost of living, then cumulatively that does start to make a difference.

"So I wouldn't sniff at the removal of a tariff on a particular food type, because if that sits alongside a reduction in fuel duty at the pumps, which has happened, that sits alongside a raising of the personal allowance, an increase in the national living wage, cumulatively you can start to see and assisting people with their energy bills.

"You can start to see how that starts to ease the pressure on the families who are struggling the most."

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How has inflation impacted everyday items?

Emergency budget needed, Labour says

Labour has reiterated its call for an "emergency budget, not a Cabinet meeting" to tackle the rising costs households are facing.

Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer said it should include a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to allow energy bills to be cut "at the very least".

The Labour leader added that he would like to see "rate relief for businesses" and money fraudulently claimed through coronavirus business support schemes "clawed back".

"The argument the government is trying to put forward that there is nothing we can do is absolute nonsense," he added.

Number 10 has said the government is renewing efforts to raise awareness of the "strong package" of financial help already on offer and warned that "private companies must play their part" in helping to bring down costs.

Ahead of Cabinet, Mr Johnson said: "We will continue to do all we can to support people without letting government spending and debt spiral, whilst continuing to help Brits to find good jobs and earn more, no matter where they live."

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Cost of Living Q&A

PM calls for creative ideas

But the Lib Dems have accused the government of being "completely out of ideas".

"What the British people need now is proper leadership - that means an emergency budget, a cut to VAT and a windfall tax on the super profits of the oil and gas companies," the party's leader Sir Ed Davey said.

Read more:
The four simple changes you can make to save £400 on your energy bills
Five million households now in 'fuel stress' as energy price cap rises to almost £2k

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Supermarkets cut prices

According to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week, almost nine out of 10 adults say they have seen a rise in their cost of living - compared to 62% in November last year.

On Monday, supermarket groups Asda and Morrisons announced efforts to help struggling shoppers during the cost of living crisis.

Asda, Britain's third-largest supermarket after Tesco and Sainsbury's, said it will invest more than £73m to keep the prices of more than 100 essential items low until the end of the year.

The items include some fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, and frozen food.

Morrisons, the country's fourth-largest supermarket, said it has reduced prices on more than 500 products, including cereal, cooking sauces, chicken and sausages as well as flour, bread and ham.

Asda said prices on affected items would come down by an average of 12%, while Morrisons said its reductions would average 13%.

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2022-04-26 12:00:00Z
1399983741

'No golden bullet' to solving cost of living crisis minister warns, as PM urged to find solutions to ease pressure on household finances - Sky News

There is "no golden bullet" to solve the cost of living crisis, a minister has warned, as Boris Johnson prepares to ask his Cabinet ministers to help him find solutions to ease the pressure on household finances.

Armed Forces minister James Heappey told Sky News there is "no doubt" that any interventions by the government will be "expensive", but added that "cumulatively" a range of measures could "start to make a difference".

It comes as the prime minister prepares to meet with his top colleagues to discuss "innovative" ways to tackle the cost of living crisis that do not solely rely on increased government spending.

Politics Hub: PM urged to come up with new ideas to ease cost of living crisis

Many people in Britain are facing an increase in energy bills, council tax and the effects of a National Insurance tax rise - as well as inflation hitting a 30-year-high of 7% earlier this month.

"There's no doubt about these interventions are expensive - £22bn of government intervention to assist with families with their cost of living is already huge," he said.

"There'll be other levers that government can pull and, you know, not one of them will be a golden bullet.

More on Conservatives

"But cumulatively, if you can provide people with lots of small savings across their cost of living, then cumulatively that does start to make a difference.

"So I wouldn't sniff at the removal of a tariff on a particular food type, because if that sits alongside a reduction in fuel duty at the pumps, which has happened, that sits alongside a raising of the personal allowance, an increase in the national living wage, cumulatively you can start to see and assisting people with their energy bills.

"You can start to see how that starts to ease the pressure on the families who are struggling the most."

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How has inflation impacted everyday items?

Emergency budget needed, Labour says

Labour has reiterated its call for an "emergency budget" to tackle the rising costs households are facing, warning that "soaring" prices are putting the squeeze on working families.

It says this emergency budget should include a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to allow energy bills to be cut.

Number 10 has said the government is renewing efforts to raise awareness of the "strong package" of financial help already on offer and warned that "private companies must play their part" in helping to bring down costs.

Ahead of Cabinet, Mr Johnson said: "With household bills and living costs rising in the face of global challenges, easing the burden on the British people and growing our economy must be a team effort across Cabinet.

"We have a strong package of financial support on offer, worth £22 billion, and it's up to all of us to make sure that help is reaching the hardest-hit and hard-working families across the country.

"We will continue to do all we can to support people without letting government spending and debt spiral, whilst continuing to help Brits to find good jobs and earn more, no matter where they live."

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Cost of Living Q&A

PM calls for creative ideas

But the Lib Dems have accused the government of being "completely out of ideas".

"What the British people need now is proper leadership - that means an emergency budget, a cut to VAT and a windfall tax on the super profits of the oil and gas companies," the party's leader Sir Ed Davey said.

Mr Johnson is believed to have asked his Cabinet to attend the meeting on Tuesday morning with their proposals for helping ease the pressure on household pressures.

Read more:
The four simple changes you can make to save £400 on your energy bills

Five million households now in 'fuel stress' as energy price cap rises to almost £2k

Mr Heappey told Sky News he could not say whether any plan of action to reduce living costs had been agreed to, but stressed that the government is taking the matter "seriously".

"The cost of living is getting to such a point now where even people on good wages are struggling to make ends meet and they are looking to the government to help them with solutions," he told Sky News.

"Now, what they will decide in Cabinet this morning is for them, and it's certainly not for me to try and trail, but already for this year alone, the government has put £22bn of targeted funding in to support those who are struggling most with the cost of living.

"And the fact that Cabinet is meeting today to discuss more shows you just how seriously this is taken by the prime minister, the chancellor and the rest, their colleagues in Cabinet."

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Supermarkets cut prices

According to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week, almost nine out of 10 adults say they have seen a rise in their cost of living - compared to 62% in November last year.

On Monday, supermarket groups Asda and Morrisons announced efforts to help struggling shoppers during the cost of living crisis.

Asda, Britain's third-largest supermarket after Tesco and Sainsbury's, said it will invest more than £73m to keep the prices of more than 100 essential items low until the end of the year.

The items include some fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, and frozen food.

Morrisons, the country's fourth-largest supermarket, said it has reduced prices on more than 500 products, including cereal, cooking sauces, chicken and sausages as well as flour, bread and ham.

Asda said prices on affected items would come down by an average of 12%, while Morrisons said its reductions would average 13%.

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2022-04-26 07:04:55Z
1399983741

Minggu, 24 April 2022

Manchester double stabbing: Murder charge after man killed and another injured in Ancoats area - Sky News

A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder after a double stabbing in Manchester.

Police said Neri Morse, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident in Pollard Street, in the Ancoats area at around 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Another man, in his 20s, was taken to hospital and treated for leg injuries.

Rushaun Brown, of Higher Ardwick, has now been charged with murder, section 18 assault and possession of a bladed article and is due to appear in court.

A second 23-year-old man remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Wes Knights, of Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, said: "We have made swift progress in the investigation into Neri's death, including making two arrests and bringing a murder charge.

"But the investigation is still very much active as the team continues to pursue all lines of enquiry and we will be speaking to all of those involved in this incident.

More on Manchester

"We would implore any witnesses, including those on the street and in vehicles in the area at the time of the incident, to come forward with any information.

"No matter how insignificant you may think that information might be, it could be crucial in a complex investigation such as this and my team of detectives will explore all information provided.

"There are a number of simple ways to contact police and provide information, including the uploading of CCTV and other media to our dedicated major incident public portal."

Brown is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

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2022-04-24 11:09:21Z
1393860366

Jamie Wallis MP says he wants to begin gender transition process 'as quickly as possible' as he descibes rape and blackmail ordeal - Sky News

A Tory MP who announced last month that he is trans has said he hopes to begin the process of transitioning "as quickly as possible" and hailed the "incredible amount of support" since he came out.

Speaking on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Jamie Wallis, MP for Bridgend, also described his experiences of rape and blackmail.

Mr Wallis acknowledged the transition process will be "challenging and difficult" with "lots of hurdles", saying: "It's not going to be done overnight, it's going to take many, many years."

But he added: "I think now that I am out and people do know, I'm free to start that and actually go on that journey at a pace that I find comfortable."

'Maybe there was some sort of horrible mistake'

Asked why it is he feels that he is a woman, Mr Wallis said: "I have gender dysphoria... that is the medical diagnosis that is required for a legal change of gender but it is also the condition that describes that lack of reconciliation between what you look like and what your body says and how you feel on the inside."

JAMIE WALLIS/ PIC: UK Parliament
Image: Jamie Wallis is MP for Bridgend. Pic: UK Parliament

Mr Wallis, who said he currently still prefers the pronouns he and him, revealed he has felt this way for a "very long time".

More on Transgender

"I was eight years old when I was trying to work out what this was... because there wasn't the ready access to the internet and there wasn't anyone else in my community at home that felt like this or that I knew about," he said.

"So I had absolutely no idea what it was and I remember being eight and trying to work out whether this was something that affected just me or whether there were other people that might feel like this.

"I came to the wrong conclusion. At the time I thought that it was just me and maybe there was some sort of horrible mistake or something had gone very wrong."

'It's foolish to live for other people'

Mr Wallis said he spent a lot of time trying to hide who he was and "sort of run away from it", not letting people know how he felt.

"I just remember being really frightened, scared," he said.

He described the important moment when he realised he was not alone and that other people experienced similar things to him.

He said he reached a point in his life when he decided it was "foolish to live for other people".

"About a year ago, maybe about six or eight months ago, I woke up one day and I realised actually I am no longer ashamed of this.

"This is who I am, this is what I want and actually I have waited a long time to feel that way."

Mr Wallis said his emotional statement on Twitter last month, in which he revealed he was transgender, was "probably inevitable" after that realisation.

Following his announcement, Mr Wallis was widely praised for his bravery by MPs from across the political spectrum, including Boris Johnson who said his message "would have taken an immense amount of courage".

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'A part of me died': MP tells of rape ordeal

'A part of me died'

In his interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge, Mr Wallis was asked about what he had said in the statement about his experience of rape.

He continued: "I met someone that I liked and things started off quite well.

"Then I was not okay with not being what I consider to be responsible and safe practice in the bedroom, so I withdrew consent and then there was… then he just decided that he was going to do it anyway and I was powerless to stop him and in that moment a part of me died and I have been trying to get it back ever since."

Asked if he had managed to get that part of himself back, he replied: "No."

"I tried to forget about it for a few weeks and it almost worked, almost worked but then you start getting nightmares, flashbacks, it starts occupying every one of your thoughts and you find yourself just staring off into the distance because you're thinking about it again and that's when I chose to get some help.

"Like I said in my statement, I'm not okay, I'm not the person I was before that happened but I am at least in a place where I can get on with my life whilst I am dealing with it."

Mr Wallis spoke about how many people had contacted him after his statement in March to report similar experiences.

He said: "I think what is truly frightening actually is after I said what I said, there has been a shocking number of people getting in touch with me to say that something similar has happened to them and that has changed my whole thinking and has made me become very concerned about the potential for this to be a much more pervasive issue than I think a lot of people currently think it is."

Jamie Wallis spoke to Sky's Sophy Ridge
Image: Jamie Wallis spoke to Sky's Sophy Ridge

Outpouring of support following blackmail ordeal

Also detailed in his March statement on Twitter was his experience being blackmailed over his gender identity.

He said: "I was in a very dark place, someone had got this information and had evidence of it and they blackmailed me - but the police were fantastic.

"Not only did they take it seriously but they got a successful outcome, so the CPS, the police, were really good."

Since putting out the statement, Mr Wallis said he has received an "incredible amount of support".

Asked what advice he would give to a young person grappling with their gender identity, he said: "I waited and a lot of young people right now I think are dealing with gender issues and my advice to them would be, you've got a long life.

"I wouldn't wait as long as I've waited, I'm 37 - maybe you can move a little bit quicker than that - but actually there's absolutely nothing wrong with just taking some time and discovering yourself and don't feel rushed to pick up a label or view it in any way.

"But when you know who you are and you are ready and you want to tell the world and assert that, there are people like myself here that are waiting and we're welcoming, we're friendly and we're here to help and support."

Watch MP Jamie Wallis's full interview on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme on Sky News from 8.30am this morning.

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2022-04-24 04:53:13Z
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