Queue for Queen's lying-in-state reaches capacity and entry is paused - BBC

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The queue to see the Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall is at capacity and has been paused for new joiners, the government has said.

But there was confusion as some people said security staff had let them join the line since entry had been stopped.

The line is now about five miles (8km) long, stretching to Southwark Park in south-east London.

Thousands have paid their respects to the Queen, who is lying in state at Westminster until 06:30 BST on Monday.

After the queue grew overnight, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said at 09:50 that entry to Southwark Park, where the queue officially ends, would be paused for "at least six hours".

At one stage electronic signs along the route warned those in line that they would be queuing for at least 14 hours.

Regular updates on the queue are being published on Twitter, with a live queue tracker also available on YouTube.

A separate queue for people with accessibility needs is also at capacity, the department said.

BBC correspondent Frank Gardner said a police inspector has told people waiting to join that queue there would be no wristbands granting entry until at least noon on Saturday.

At Southwark Park, some of those initially turned away said they had travelled hundreds of miles and were on their second attempts to access the queue.

In a moment of confusion, stewards at the park appeared to allow about 100 people into the park after the pause was announced.

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Jane Sebutinde said she was on her way when she heard the queue would be paused. "Currently with my health I can't queue for 14 hours, I thought it would be four hours," she said.

For many of those currently in the main queue, latest estimates suggest they will not enter Westminster Hall until after midnight.

The Met Office advised those in the queue to be prepared for "cool evenings" with overnight temperatures expected to be as low as 8C (46F).

Among those waiting to pay their respects to Her Majesty was former England footballer David Beckham, who was seen queuing in Victoria Tower Gardens.

He told the BBC he had been queuing for about 12 hours, having joined at about 02:00, and had been sharing food with those around him.

"We all want to be here together, we all want to experience something where we celebrate the amazing life of our Queen and I think something like this today is meant to be shared together," he said.

"So the fact we've been here, we're eating Pringles, sherbet lemons, sandwiches, having coffee, donuts as well."

When asked how he was managing, the ex-England captain said his knees were okay but "it's the back and the feet" that were feeling the effects of 12 hours of queuing.

One woman who was queuing behind him spoke of her shock at seeing the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star waiting alongside members of the public.

"Big respect to him, he's stood with us and he's paid his respects how he wants to and I think that's amazing."

Later, Beckham appeared solemn as he entered Westminster Hall to pay his respects. He had to wait for the changing of the guard to take place before he filed past the Queen's coffin and bowed.

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The queue follows the south bank of the River Thames from the Palace of Westminster, through Lambeth, Southwark, and into Bermondsey.

Ambulance teams have treated 435 members of the public along the route of the queue over the past two days, London Ambulance Service said, with 42 of those requiring hospital treatment.

The majority of incidents were faints and collapses resulting in head injuries, the service said.

A man has appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court after two women were allegedly sexually assaulted in the queue to attend the Queen's lying-in-state.

Meanwhile, a row has broken out over who is allowed to skip the queue to pay their respects to the late Queen after it emerged MPs and Lords had special access.

The announcement of the queue's pause came shortly after it was confirmed Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren would hold a 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday evening.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex will observe the vigil alongside six of their cousins. The royal brothers will both wear military attire for the occasion, after a request from their father, King Charles.

The King and his siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, will hold a similar vigil on Friday evening.

King Charles is in Wales for his first official visit as monarch.

The former Prince of Wales and Camilla, the new Queen Consort, attended a prayer and reflection service for the Queen at Cardiff's Llandaff Cathedral and met members of the public at Cardiff Castle.

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What next? A day-by-day guide from now to the funeral

What's a state funeral? Will shops close? And other questions

How titles and the line of succession have changed

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2022-09-16 15:54:11Z
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Queen dies: A queue for the queue - mourners waiting to see coffin now placed in holding pen - Sky News

Mourners are continuing to arrive at the closed queue to see the Queen lying in state - and have been placed in a holding pen.

The official queue to Westminster Hall was closed after hitting capacity at 9.50am, with officials saying it would not be reopened for at least six hours.

Despite this, mourners continued to show up at Southwark Park, where they were placed in a holding pen. The entrance to Southwark Park has also now been closed

Before being closed, the queue had reached 4.9 miles long and the wait time was estimated at 14 hours.

Margaret Wallwork, 76, from Newcastle, arrived in London this morning and was placed in the holding pen.

She says she will wait as long as it takes to pay her respects to the Queen.

"She's been the Queen for as long as I can remember. She's been my Queen and she has served this country very well and she's a lovely lady," she says.

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"I just want to come down and pay my respects - she's our matriarch.

"She's someone that I really admire."

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Image: Margaret Wallwork, from Newcastle, says she will wait as long as it takes to pay her respects to the Queen

Despite an estimated waiting time of 14 hours, Ms Wallwork said: "We're hoping it isn't because we're booked on a train for 8.30pm today back to Newcastle.

"Failing that we'll get on the train later tonight if we have to.

"I'm this far down it would be a shame to go back. I'm going to wait."

Paul Banks, 72, from London, said he will waiting in the holding pen for as long as it takes as "this will only happen once in my lifetime."

"It's very well organised in that there are plenty of stopping points and toilets so it's all organised," he said. "Should anyone feel faint there will be someone there to pick them up."

He added: "I only live about five miles away but most of the journey has been walking to join the queue.

"It's an extremely long queue at the moment."

Also in the holding pen was Annie Slater, 40, from Peterborough.

She said: "I came here today because I wanted to pay my respects to the Queen.

"Her strength is inspirational to me and having a woman to run our monarchy was incredible and I feel quite passionate about that.

"When I heard she had passed away it was like it was a family member.

"When someone in your family dies you go through grief on your own whereas the grief that we're going through now we are experiencing with the nation.

"It's a shared grief which I don't think we'll see again."

On the wait before her, she said: "The Queen did 96 years so I can do 14 hours."

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2022-09-16 11:48:45Z
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Sterling hits 37-year low against dollar as recession fears mount - Financial Times

Sterling slid to its lowest level since 1985 against the dollar on Friday after a round of weaker than expected data on UK retail sales amplified concerns that the country was headed for a prolonged recession.

The pound dropped 0.8 per cent in morning trading in London to $1.137, the first time it has breached the $1.14 mark in almost four decades, according to Refinitiv data. The move reflected broad strength in the dollar as well as particular concern about the state of Britain’s economy.

Sterling was off about 0.4 per cent against the euro at €1.142, its weakest level since early 2021.

Retail sales fell sharply in August as UK consumers struggled with soaring prices and high energy costs, according to data published on Friday by the Office for National Statistics. The quantity of goods bought in the UK fell 1.6 per cent between July and August, reversing a small expansion in the previous month.

This was a larger drop than the 0.5 per cent contraction forecast by economists polled by Reuters and the largest fall since July 2021, when Covid-19 restrictions on hospitality were lifted.

Olivia Cross, economist at Capital Economics, said the figures suggested “that the downward momentum is gathering speed” and supported her view that “the economy is already in recession”.

The ONS said that “rising prices and cost of living” were affecting sales volumes, which have continued a downward trend since the summer of 2021, following the reopening of the economy after pandemic lockdowns.

The figures highlighted how high inflation has hit consumers and the wider economy. The government’s £150bn energy support package announced this month is expected to limit the blow from the recent surge in gas prices, but it did not dispel the risk of a recession.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said the fact that sterling fell against both the dollar and euro on Friday showed “this is not a dollar move . . . but in fact it is traders selling the pound amid negative sentiment towards the UK’s economic outlook and investment case”.

Bank of England data also show that the effective sterling exchange rate, a measure that is weighted to take into account its competitiveness against major trading partners, has declined 6.5 per cent since the start of the year. The gauge is still above the historic lows it reached in 2020 and 2016.

The BoE is expected to raise interest rates for the seventh consecutive time at its meeting next week as it deals with an inflation rate nearly five times its 2 per cent target.

However, the weak retail sales figures could steer the BoE towards a 0.5 percentage point rate rise when policymakers meet next week, rather than a 0.75 percentage point increase some had expected, said Gabriella Dickens, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

The US Federal Reserve is broadly expected to raise rates by at least 0.75 percentage points next week and a smaller BoE rate rise could further dent the allure of holding the pound.

In a sign of the struggles for the UK economy, the quantity of goods bought by consumers was almost down to pre-pandemic levels from a peak of nearly 10 per cent above in April 2021.

All main sectors fell over the month, but non-food stores were the biggest driver. This is because of large sales drops in department stores, down 2.7 per cent, household goods stores, down 1.1 per cent and clothing stores, down 0.6 per cent.

Notable declines in sports equipment, furniture and lighting gave “an indication of the types of items consumers push to the bottom of their priority list in difficult times”, said Sophie Lund-Yates, analyst at the financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown.

Online sales also fell sharply, by 2.6 per cent, with food being the third biggest component of the monthly decline.

While food sales were particularly affected by the reopening of the hospitality sector, the ONS reported that “in recent months, retailers have highlighted that they are seeing a decline in volumes sold because of increased food prices and cost of living impacts”.

Fuel sales also dropped 1.7 per cent, and were 9 per cent below their pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the impact of soaring prices at the pump on car trips despite some easing in August prices compared with the previous month.

Lynda Petherick, retail lead at the consultancy Accenture, said that “with a difficult winter to come, it will come as a worry to retailers that shoppers have already reined in their spending despite the hot summer”.

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2022-09-16 10:11:40Z
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Two police officers taken to hospital after being stabbed near Leicester Square in central London - Sky News

Two male police officers are being treated in hospital after they were stabbed by a man with a knife near Leicester Square in central London.

The Metropolitan Police said a Taser was used during the incident at around 6am and a man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker.

The condition of the two officers is not known and their families are aware of the incident, which is not being treated as terror-related.

The man arrested was taken to a hospital for treatment where he remains at this time.

Footage from the scene shows police officers guarding an area of Whitcomb Street which has been taped off.

Image: A man has been arrested in connection to the incident

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said the service was called to reports of an incident in Great Windmill Street, near Shaftsbury Avenue at 6.01am.

They added that three ambulances, a medic in a response car and London's air ambulance were dispatched to scene and that three people were treated and taken to hospital.

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Image: The scene of the stabbings near Leicester Square

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has condemned the attack and called for anyone with information about the incident to contact the police.

He described it as "utterly appalling", adding that the officers "were doing their duty and assisting the public at this momentous time for our country".

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Sadiq Khan on police stabbings

"My thoughts and prayers are with them, their loved ones and police colleagues following this disgraceful attack.

"Attacks against the police will not be tolerated and any perpetrators will be caught and prosecuted," he said.

The mayor added that he has spoken with the commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and remains in close contact.

Police said inquiries into the "circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing".

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2022-09-16 08:03:45Z
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Bankers’ bonus cap could be scrapped | News - The Times

Scrapping the cap on bankers’ bonuses would send a “confused” message during the cost of living crisis, a senior economist has said.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the new chancellor, is said to be considering the move as part of a “Big Bang 2.0” post-Brexit deregulation of the City of London.

The cap was introduced under EU law in 2014, but some close to Kwarteng believe it limits London’s competitiveness against its financial rivals such as New York and Hong Kong.

Andrew Sentance, who was a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee during the financial crisis, warned against the government pursuing the measure while Britons are struggling with the cost of living.

“I think it sends a rather confused signal when people are being squeezed

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2022-09-15 10:00:00Z
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Disgruntled leaders reject VIP buses for queen’s funeral and demand the Biden treatment - POLITICO Europe

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LONDON — Britain is facing a diplomatic backlash over VIP travel arrangements for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, with multiple world leaders now requesting special permission to skip the proposed ‘park and ride’ scheme and arrive in their official vehicles.

Countries of varying sizes are pushing back against a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) requirement that most foreign heads of state attending the funeral on Monday park their vehicles at a site in west London, and travel to the event at Westminster Abbey on shared coaches provided by the U.K. government.

Diplomats from five countries, including some within the G7 group of most industrialized nations, told POLITICO they want exceptions for their leaders, citing old age or security reasons.

They have been emboldened by remarks from the prime minister’s official spokesman Monday, who told reporters that in some cases the ‘no car’ edict would in fact be “guidance” only, and that “arrangements for leaders, including how they travel, will vary depending on individual circumstances.”

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The travel protocol, sent to overseas embassies at the weekend and obtained by POLITICO, would not apply to leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden, a U.K. government source later confirmed to the Times. Biden is expected to arrive at the funeral in his armored limousine, often referred to as ‘The Beast.’ Other leaders with specific security requirements, such as President Isaac Herzog of Israel, could also be allowed to bring their own transport, the same U.K. source said.

But overseas diplomats based in London are unimpressed with the two-tier system, and are now clamoring to ensure their own heads of state get the same treatment as Biden and avoid what — for some — is the perceived indignity of arriving on a bus with ‘lesser’ nations.

“I am trying to have ours exempted from the bus,” one U.K.-based ambassador admitted, “but not having much luck so far.”

Diplomats say the FCDO has not explained the criteria by which certain leaders will be allowed to skip the shared bus journey from London’s West End. Envoys are approaching the department directly to request exceptions, but few, if any, have received a formal response.

“Our president is happy to go by bus if told so, but he’s over 80, so if there’s a way to avoid it, we will try,” another senior diplomat said.

“Considerable anxiety” also exists among leaders about the possible identity of their fellow passengers upon the shared VIP coaches, a third diplomat warned. The FCDO held a briefing Tuesday with representatives from all countries planning to send leaders to the funeral, but was unable to explain how the coach seating plans will be decided.

Another ambassador said the FCDO briefing was welcome but had raised “more questions than answers,” adding: “FCDO told us not to have many expectations, not to be too ambitious, and expect different problems. The logistical challenge is huge … They’re trying to convince us to take the buses, saying it’s much easier to manage everything.”

Some foreign diplomats are at least familiar with shared coach arrangements from previous mass events organized by the U.K., including the U.N. COP26 climate summit in Glasgow last year, and the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral.

But a third ambassador, representing a European country whose leader does not object to taking the bus, said some heads of state not used to shared coach travel will see the plan as a challenge to their “masculinity” — and that persuading them to accept the FCDO’s arrangements will be no easy task.

“If you don’t know your head of state well, or whether they’d accept these things, it can be very difficult for the ambassadors,” the envoy said. “And it’s very difficult for the FCDO — because where do you draw the line?”

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2022-09-14 20:11:31Z
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Reward of £50,000 offered in search for Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer - Sky News

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of £50,000 "for information" in the search for the culprit that killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Founder and chairman of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft, has made the donation for the reward to be made in the hunt for the nine-year-old's killer.

It will be offered through the charity for anyone that has vital information that would lead to the conviction of those responsible for the schoolgirl's death.

This follows an extensive land search conducted by Merseyside Police at the West Derby Golf Club in hopes of finding the gun used in the incident.

Olivia was fatally shot inside her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on Monday 22 August.

Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, suffered an injured wrist from the same bullet that killed her daughter, who was standing behind her when the gunman tried to force his way into their home.

The gunman had been in pursuit of convicted burglar Joseph Nee at their property, firing two shots intended for the burglar at around 10pm.

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Lord Ashcroft said on Twitter: "We need to catch the cowards responsible for the death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

"I am offering £50,000 for information, given via @CrimestoppersUK, that leads to them being jailed."

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Merseyside Police have arrested nine men as part of their investigation into her death but all have since been bailed.

Speaking on Monday, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: "We have made nine arrests and we are building up an evidential picture, but we still need more information and we need to find the guns.

"I would appeal to anyone who has information which could help us with our investigation to come forward.

"This offender and those protecting him are a blight on the community and the impact they have on the decent people of the community is toxic."

Olivia's funeral is set to be held at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool on Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC on Twitter or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of 22nd August.

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2022-09-14 10:14:32Z
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