Nurses strike to go ahead in Wales - BBC

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The nurses strike planned for Wales will go ahead after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Welsh government failed to come to a pay agreement.

Nurses in all but one health board in Wales will be striking on Thursday and 20 December.

The RCN said Health Minister Eluned Morgan had failed to put forward an increase to the current pay award.

The Welsh government said it could not make an increased pay offer without extra funding from the UK government.

Nurses in England and Northern Ireland will also be striking.

Helen Whyley, director of RCN Wales, said: "Strikes are inevitable in Wales because the Welsh government is making it so.

"This is the second time in as many weeks that the Welsh government have brought RCN Wales to a meeting where they clearly have no intention of coming to a resolution on our dispute."

She said the trade union was open for a "meaningful discussion" on pay for nursing, but this must be a significant increase.

"Low pay is fanning the flames of a workforce crisis, and the rising number of registered nurse vacancies is already putting patients at risk," she said.

"The pressure means nurses are caught between their responsibilities to their patients, their families, and their own health."

The RCN said nurses were "significantly" worse off than 10 years ago and the pay award on offer would leave them £1,000 worse off in real terms.

She added: "The Welsh government's prolonging of this unnecessary crisis is reckless, self-defeating, and in no one's interest."

In July, the lowest-paid nurses in Wales were offered a £1,400 flat pay increase, but, unions repeatedly argued this was not enough.

The strikes are expected to cause mass disruption, with thousands of routine operations and non-emergency appointments cancelled.

Some services are exempt from strike action, and will run as normal including chemotherapy, dialysis, intensive care and high dependency units, neonatal intensive care, paediatric intensive care, and accident and emergency departments.

The Welsh government said: "The minister for health and social services met again with NHS unions today.

"However, without additional funding from the UK government we are not able to make an increased pay offer without risking a reduction in services.

"Whilst we were unable to avert the forthcoming industrial action, all partners have agreed to keep talking and to continue to work together on key issues."

The UK government said: "The Welsh government is well-funded to deliver on its devolved responsibilities - we are providing a record £18bn per year settlement, which is still increasing in real terms over the 2021 Spending Review period."

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2022-12-12 19:56:23Z
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More snow forecast to blanket UK sparking travel disruption - ITV News

Heavy snowfall, ice and fog has caused widespread travel chaos, as ITV News correspondents from across the UK report

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Heavy snowfall caused widespread travel disruption across London and the south east of England, on Monday, as forecasters warned of similar conditions to come for parts of the UK.

Commuters faced travel chaos as large parts of the UK were hit by ice, fog and snow.

As much as 10cm fell across areas in the south east of England overnight, blanketing parts of London, Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Braemar in Aberdeenshire recorded a low of -15.7C overnight, the Met Office said - the coldest night of the year so far.

Snow blanketing the ground in Crowborough, East Sussex. Credit: PA

The Met Office issued yellow severe weather alerts as freezing temperatures overnight combined with wintry showers created icy conditions on the roads and rail.

Snow forced airports to close their runways, caused train cancellations and left motorists stranded.

The warnings came as three children died after falling into a lake in Solihull, in the West Midlands, on Sunday afternoon.

Drivers on the M25 were stranded for several hours due to the UK’s busiest motorway being closed in both directions between Junction 23 for South Mimms and Junction 25 for Waltham Cross, both in Hertfordshire.

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'It's a bit of a scary situation at the moment' - Daniel Duffield, a 22-year-old off-duty paramedic, was stuck on the M25 for more than two-and-a-half hours on Monday morning while attempting to travel home to Birmingham from London

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Meanwhile, there were delays of up to 90 minutes on neighbouring stretches of the motorway.

Motorists were warned to expect long delays on the M11, M2, A21, A27 and A249, the National Highways said.

AA president Edmund King said the number of breakdown callouts was around 25% higher than normal.

Road users in the south-east were being asked by National Highways not to travel unless it was essential.

Several rail lines were closed on Monday morning, with Southeastern issuing a "do not travel" alert to passengers.

There was also major disruption to services run by Greater Anglia, South Western Railway and Southern.

On London Underground services minor and severe delays were experienced, with all but the Waterloo & City line, Elizabeth line, and DLR affected.

Several parts of the network were suspended, including: the Northern line between High Barnet and Finchley Central.

A Southeastern train makes its way through Ashford in Kent. Credit: PA

Airports were similarly impacted with both Gatwick and Stansted having to close their runways to clear snow on Sunday.

More than 100 flights were cancelled at Stansted Airport and the runway closed for around six and a half hours as crews battled snow, freezing fog and iced-up planes.

The Essex base said it was the "heaviest snowfall in a short period of time" it had seen for 12 years, with 9cm falling in around three hours.

Passengers were warned to expect disruption at several airports across the country and advised to check flight status with their airline and local travel conditions before setting out.

EasyJet said it was "doing everything possible" to ease the disruption for passengers.

Britain’s electricity system operator, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), has put two coal-fired power stations on emergency standby as the plummeting temperatures put a strain on the country's energy supply.

It said the two "winter contingency coal units" will be available if needed on Monday as temperatures, adding the public "should continue to use energy as normal".

A man takes an early morning run through the snow in Richmond Park in south west London Credit: PA

Is more snow forecast?

Parts of the UK will continue to be beset by snow and ice on Tuesday, with the potential for the country to experience the coldest night of the year for a second day running.

The Met Office has issued a yellow snow and ice warning covering northern Scotland and north east England from midnight on Tuesday until noon on Thursday.

A separate snow and ice warning covers the Shetland Islands until midnight tonight.

There is also an ice warning covering much of the South East, including London and Brighton from 9am on Monday until 11am on Tuesday.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said there will be heavy snow in some places again on Tuesday.

"Coming into force at midnight tonight all the way through to lunchtime on Thursday, [there is a] large snow and ice warning covering the North East of England, the whole sort of northern portion of Scotland, as well as the Highlands and islands," he said.

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2022-12-12 14:52:40Z
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UK economy will get worse before it gets better, warns chancellor - BBC

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By Dearbail Jordan & Charlotte McDonald

Business reporters, BBC News

The UK economy will get worse before it gets better, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said after figures revealed it shrank further between August and October.

The economy contracted by 0.3% during the three months as soaring prices hit businesses and households and the UK is forecast to be heading into recession.

He said: "These figures confirm that this is a very challenging economic situation here and across the world.

"And it will get worse before it gets better."

Over the three months, economic activity in the UK slowed across all the main sectors including production, construction and services.

A country is in recession when its economy shrinks for two three-month periods in a row.

In his Autumn Statement last month, Mr Hunt said the UK was already in recession. This is expected to be officially confirmed at the beginning of next year when economic figures for October to December are released.

When a country is in recession, it is a sign that its economy is doing badly. During a downturn, companies typically make less money and the number of people unemployed rises. Graduates and school leavers also find it harder to get their first job.

It also means that the government receives less money in tax to spend on public services such as health and education.

• What is a recession and how could it affect me?

The Bank of England recently said the UK is facing its longest downturn since records began, expecting it to continue next year and into the first half of 2024.

The independent forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility, said recently that it expected the recession to last just over a year.

There was a brief respite in October alone when the economy grew by 0.5% compared with the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, this rebound came after output was affected in September by the additional bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, which meant that some businesses closed or had shorter opening hours.

Martin Beck, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club, said that although the current quarter had started positively with October's rise, there is "a good chance" the economy will contract.

"The near-term outlook remains gloomy, as consumers continue to struggle under the weight of high inflation and with much of the impact of this year's interest rate rises still to be realised," he said.

Last month, the Bank of England raised interest rates from 2.25% to 3% - the biggest jump since 1989. The Bank is expected to announce a further increase on Thursday by half a percentage point to 3.5%.

Donald Nairn, owner of Edinburgh-based retailer Toys Galore, said rising interest rates were one of the reasons his customers were being more cautious about their spending.

"Most people are struggling because they've seen all their costs go up - interest [rates], fuel, food - and yet their wages just haven't kept up so everything's squeezed."

He said that while people will still buy toys for a birthday or Christmas present, they may not make the trip into town to buy it or it will be smaller.

"If you'd asked me in 2019 what the next few years would be like I could not have possibly imagined in my wildest dreams it would have been as challenging as it has been," he added.

Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Monday's figures "underline the failure of this Tory government to grow our economy, leaving us lagging behind on the global stage".

Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said that some companies had said that strike action had affected their business.

"We speak to about 40,000 businesses every fortnight and one in eight of them tell us they were affected by industrial action in October," Mr Morgan told the BBC's Today programme.

"They told us the most common impacts were they were not able to get the necessary goods or services and were unable to operate fully."

The UK is facing more strikes over pay and working conditions this month and into the New Year. Around 40,000 train and rail workers will walk out on Tuesday as part of a series of strikes.

Royal Mail workers will also continue industrial action this week, with strikes planned for Wednesday and Thursday.

"Businesses are telling us the rail strikes hit hospitality pretty hard in particular," Mr Morgan said.

He added that industrial action at ports such as Felixstowe had "hit logistics and shipping companies".

Employment figures from the ONS, which are due out on Tuesday, will give details of the number of days lost due to strikes in October.

At first glance, growth of 0.5% between September and October looks as if it defies all predictions of ongoing slump.

Growth of that scale in a month is actually quite a bounce-back. But then you realise it's only for artificial reasons rather than a mini-recovery. Car sales and other consumer facing services did bounce back sharply month-on-month, but that's only because in the previous month the Queen's funeral meant we all had an extra day off.

Other figures point clearly to recession. The weakness of consumer-facing services - everything from shops to restaurants to sport and leisure - which are still 8.9% below their pre-pandemic levels. And the sharp reduction in electricity and gas use in October, down 4% against the year before.

But it's the three-month figures that are more reliable and show us the real picture. With activity down 0.3%, the UK economy, in common with much of the rest of the world, is forecast to see the economy continue to shrink through to the end of next year.

What we don't yet know is how long it might continue beyond that - or how deep the contraction will be.

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2022-12-12 11:12:40Z
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UK weather: Warning of ice danger as cold spell continues - BBC

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By Andre Rhoden-Paul and James Fitzgerald

BBC News

People have been warned to stay away from open water amid the UK's cold spell - after four children fell in an icy lake near Birmingham.

West Midlands officials urged others not to step onto ice "regardless of how thick or safe" it appeared to be.

The cold weather has also disrupted travel, with rail delays and all flights from London Stansted Airport temporarily suspended on Sunday night.

A Met Office yellow warning remains in some areas until Monday morning.

That warning applies in Scotland - where temperatures could drop as low as -15C (5F) overnight, the lowest of the year - as well as in London and south-west England.

Speaking about the forecast for Monday, BBC weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas said "after that very cold start, temperatures will struggle to get above freezing in places".

She said the cold spell was set to continue over the next few days, with further disruption possible owing to ice, snow showers, freezing fog and hard frosts.

• How long will the cold snap last?
• I'm freezing - can I get a cold weather payment?
• What's the best way to de-ice my car?

Four children who fell into a lake at Babbs Mill Park, Kingshurst, were taken to hospital in a critical condition after being rescued on Sunday afternoon.

Following the incident, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service area commander Richard Stanton advised the public to stay away from open water.

"We know that the weather forecast for the next few days is expected to be bitterly cold, please, adults and children alike, stay away from open water, under no circumstances venture onto ice regardless how thick or safe you think this ice may be," he said.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which has issued a cold weather alert until Friday, is encouraging people to stay warm and look out for those most at risk during the cold weather.

Reuters

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On Sunday night, London Stansted Airport closed its runways to clear snow. There have also been delays at Heathrow and Gatwick.

London Stansted later said the runway had reopened and has been operational since 03:00.

Yellow warnings, meaning conditions will make it difficult to travel, are in place until Monday morning for northern and south-western Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-eastern England, the Midlands, south west, London and south-east England.

National Highways urged only essential travel on roads in the south-east of England on Sunday night. Kent was particularly hit hard, with snow severely affecting the M2 and parts of the M20, it said.

The AA has told motorists to adjust their driving to the freezing conditions on Monday morning.

Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: "There will be ice forming, particularly near to the where there is rain and sleet, and freezing temperatures which could cause some travel disruption to start Monday with that valid until 9am."

Distribution of newspapers has also been affected. News UK, who own the Times and the Sun, apologised to customers who might not be able to get the usual copy of their newspaper.

How are you being affected by the cold weather? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

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• DREAD DEADLINES?: Tips from an expert on how to beat procrastination
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2022-12-12 06:59:34Z
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UK weather: Snow, ice and freezing fog set to cause Monday morning rush-hour disruption - Sky News

Widespread travel disruption is expected across the UK this morning as yellow warnings for ice, fog and snow remain in place.

The Met Office issued the alerts as temperatures were expected to stay well below freezing overnight and create icy conditions.

The warnings are in place until later this morning for northern and southwestern Scotland, Northern Ireland, northeastern England, the Midlands and South West, as well as London and the South East.

Weather latest - Disruption expected on road, rail, and air travel

Image: Met Office warnings cover large parts of the country

There is also a snow and ice warning for the far north of Scotland and the coast of northern England, which continues through to midday on Thursday.

Gatwick and Stansted were both forced to close their runways to clear snow, and passengers are being advised to check their flight before leaving for the airport.

National Highways is warning of "hazardous conditions" on the roads in the South East and east of England on Monday morning.

More on Uk Weather

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There are "severe delays" reported on the M25, which is closed between junction 23 and 25 in Hertfordshire due to "heavy snowfall".

Other roads affected in the region include the M11, M2, A21, A27 and A249.

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The Met Office said Kent and Sussex were likely to be worst affected, with areas most exposed - such as the North and South Downs - likely to see more significant accumulations of snow.

Check the forecast in your area

Image: Whitley Bay, Northumberland

Image: St Nicholas' Park, Warwick

National Highways operations manager for Kent, Gina Oxley, said on Sunday that heavy snow was expected to continue in the area until later this morning.

"We have been out gritting throughout the afternoon and we're continuing to treat routes so we can reach the worst-affected areas and support our customers with their journeys," she said.

Image: Little Venice, London

Image: Enough snow fell in Warwick to build a (small) snowman

On the trains, a number of operators warned services could be badly affected on Monday.

Southeastern tweeted that people should not travel, with some routes suspended until later and others disrupted.

Thameslink said materials needed for weekend engineering work had frozen, meaning it would take longer to complete and affect some services.

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0:30

Cold snap grips UK

Greater Anglia said passengers should not travel until after 8am if possible, as did c2c, saying that safety checks needed to be carried out.

Great Northern said Services were subject "to late notice delay or cancellation".

National Rail warned disruption to the southeast network was likely to continue after severe delays on Sunday night.

"To allow Network Rail to check that the rails are clear of snow and ice, which can prevent trains from drawing power from the electric rail, the first trains in each direction on all routes will be cancelled," it said.

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1:02

Ministers take selfies in snowy Downing Street

News UK, publisher of The Sun and The Times, said the weather had affected its printers in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, meaning possible delivery delays in many parts of the country.

Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said that although cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected to last through the week, cloud cover could prevent a return of some of the more extreme temperatures experienced in recent days.

There is a possibility of slightly milder conditions arriving next weekend but it is too early to be certain, she said.

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Solihull: Search continues after people pulled from icy lake - BBC

A search and rescue operation is under way after police said a number of people were pulled from a lake near Solihull in freezing temperatures in a critical condition.

West Midlands Fire Service said reports suggested people had been playing on the ice at Babbs Mill Park, and fell through.

It said people had received medical support before being taken to hospital.

Emergency service workers have gathered on Fordbridge Road in Kingshurst.

The fire service said it was leading the rescue operation, and that further details would be released when appropriate.

Concerned members of the community gathered near the scene in what is residential area, as emergency services carried out work at the lake.

A drone was also spotted flying over the water, a BBC Midlands Today reporter at the scene said.

It was likely that the emergency service presence would remain there for a number of hours, they added.

Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands.

Temperatures of 0C (32F) are currently being reported in the area and are expected to plummet to -3C (26.6F) during the night.

The incident came as police in Cumbria said they were dealing with an "incident" at Siddick Pond in Workington.

Do you live in the area? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

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If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

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2022-12-11 17:56:31Z
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