Sabtu, 05 Agustus 2023

Brighton Pride: Train strikes to disrupt event as ASLEF announce industrial action - Sky News

There will be no trains going to or from Brighton station today as a train strike disrupts the UK's most popular Pride event.

The train driver's union ASLEF notified train operators of their ban on overtime work including 5 August, meaning Thameslink services will not make it to the south coast.

Instead, its Brighton trains are to terminate at Three Bridges in the town of Crawley, some 23 miles from where the Pride festival is taking place.

The strikes come amid Storm Antoni which is to hit the seaside town with strong winds and heavy rains for most of the day as a yellow weather warning was announced by the Met Office.

Thameslink, part of the largest UK railway franchise GTR, announced the news with a "heavy heart" saying Pride goers should seek alternative means to attend the event but appreciated how "extremely difficult" this would be.

The train operator added its "ultimate aim [was] to keep people safe on this occasion" in a statement.

'Truly devastating news'

More on Brighton

Responding to the travel disruption, managing director of Pride Paul Kemp made it clear he was opposed to GTR's decision for a complete Saturday shutdown.

Conveying disappointment, Mr Kemp said in a statement: "This will come as a huge shock for not only Pride and the LGBTQ+ community but all the businesses preparing to welcome guests to our city from across the UK and world.

"Many Pride visitors have already booked and paid for Saturday night accommodation locally, they will now have to change plans or find an alternative way to get into the city.

"It's truly devastating news for everyone."

Read more:
'Danger to life' warning as 'atrocious' Storm Antoni arrives
What is the National Eisteddfod - one of Europe's largest music and poetry festivals?

Trains will run to and from Brighton on Sunday as Pride festivities continue tomorrow.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2JyaWdodG9uLXByaWRlLXRyYWluLXN0cmlrZXMtdG8tZGlzcnVwdC1ldmVudC1hcy1hc2xlZi1hbm5vdW5jZS1pbmR1c3RyaWFsLWFjdGlvbi0xMjkzMzk3MdIBeWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9icmlnaHRvbi1wcmlkZS10cmFpbi1zdHJpa2VzLXRvLWRpc3J1cHQtZXZlbnQtYXMtYXNsZWYtYW5ub3VuY2UtaW5kdXN0cmlhbC1hY3Rpb24tMTI5MzM5NzE?oc=5

2023-08-05 07:27:28Z
2258130690

Storm Antoni live updates: Met Office issues danger to life warnings - The Independent

UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

The Met Office has upgraded weather warnings to amber as gusts of up to 70mph are racing towards the UK today.

The first named storm of the year, Storm Antoni could pose a “danger to life”, with travel chaos and flooding of homes and businesses possible.

The amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

The Met Office warned “flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life”.

Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east.

“Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30 more widely.”

1691217580

Amber warning issued as Storm Antoni races towards UK

The Met Office has issued two amber weather warnings for wind for areas of south west England and Wales.

The warning is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Gusts of 40-50 mph are expected widely even inland, with a few spots peaking around 60 mph, while exposed coastal areas and hills could see gusts around 70 mph, the Met Office said.

Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 07:39
1691225088

UK weather: When will the rain stop?

Downpours, thunderstorms and high winds and low temperatures are continuing to be forecast for parts of England and Wales this week before the wet weather will potentially let up.

Last year, the UK saw record breaking temperatures of more than 40C recorded, wildfires destroying houses and train tracks melting.

However, last month was the UK’s sixth wettest July on record.

Here are some answers on what is causing the rain and whether there is a chance that the weather will improve:

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 09:44
1691223413

Storm Antoni: Met Office upgrades weather warning as England set to be battered by intense winds

The Met Office has upgraded two weather warnings for wind to amber as “unseasonably” strong gusts upto 70mph hurtle towards parts of the UK.

An amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Strong northwesterly winds are likely to peak during the middle of the day in southwest Wales, and through the afternoon in southwest England, before easing during the evening.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 09:16
1691222179

How strong will the winds be as amber warning issued?

The amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm today for Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Torbay in south west England.

In Wales, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea will be hit by the strong winds.

Here, the Met Office shows how strong the gales will be in miles per hour (mph).

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 08:56
1691220410

What to expect for yellow wind warning? Met Office explains

From falling branches to tall vehicles, the Met Office explains all the dangers expected when a yellow wind warning is in place.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 08:26
1691219147

Strong winds and heavy rain to push through on Saturday morning

Heavy rain for Northern Ireland first thing on Saturday will then push across Wales and England, the Met Office has said.

Strong winds are expected to batter south west England and Wales.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 August 2023 08:05
1691214313

Wet and windy weather expected to loom over parts of the UK today

The Met Office has said heavy rain and strong winds are expected to bring disruption as Storm Antoni hits parts of the UK today.

An amber warning with the potential for damaging gusts of wind has been issued for some southwestern areas of both England and Wales between 11am and 7pm.

That followed a yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” to southern parts of the UK between 8am and 8pm.

There is also a yellow warning until 11am for unseasonably wet and windy conditions which may lead to some disruption in Northern Ireland.

Arpan Rai5 August 2023 06:45
1691212638

Yellow warning issued for Northern Ireland

A yellow rain warning has come into effect for parts of Northern Ireland, the Met Office said today.

There’s a chance of possible flooding of homes and businesses, and surface water on roads.

Arpan Rai5 August 2023 06:17
1691211418

Weather warning issued for England, Wales: ‘Fatal risk of injury'

A second warning issued across southwest England and much of Wales will be in place for 12 hours until 8pm.

The warning cautions that strong winds could potentially cause damage to buildings, with flying debris posing a potentially fatal risk of injury.

Road, rail, air and ferry services could be affected by the winds, with longer journey times and cancellations possible along with road and bridge closures, the Met Office said, warning that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”.

Power cuts may also occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage, forecasters said.

Arpan Rai5 August 2023 05:56
1691210409

Weather warnings in force today due to Storm Antoni

The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwater may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel, with the potential to put lives at risk as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said.

<p>Two weather warnings are in force on Saturday</p>

Two weather warnings are in force on Saturday

Arpan Rai5 August 2023 05:40

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3dlYXRoZXIvc3Rvcm0tYW50b25pLXVrLXdlYXRoZXItbWV0LW9mZmljZS11cGRhdGVzLWIyMzg3NzE4Lmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5

2023-08-05 08:31:55Z
2314510677

Jumat, 04 Agustus 2023

Jacob Crouch death: Live updates as 'tormentor' stepfather handed 28 years in prison - Derbyshire Live

'A culture of cruelty'

On the first day of the trial, in early June, the jury was told how Jacob was “assaulted on a regular basis” Barton and Crouch who went on to murder him. Prosecutor Mary Prior said the couple “encouraged and applauded each other” as they “worked together” to cause Jacob Crouch’s “suffering and death” with the youngster sustaining at least 39 rib fractures in a minimum of four separate assaults.

She said Jacob endured a “culture of cruelty” and died from a “vicious assault” which saw him “kicked or stamped on with such severe force that it fractured a rib and caused a tear in his stomach and bowel”. He later contracted peritonitis – an infection of the lining of the abdominal organs – and died “in his cot, alone” on December 30 2020, with 19 visible bruises at the time of death.

Mrs Prior said: “Our case is that these two parents created an environment in which they encouraged and applauded each other in their control and punishments of this little baby. Neither of them, in this very small house where no one could be alone, could have committed these offences without the knowledge and assistance of the other.

“Neither sought medical help for Jacob at any stage for the pain and suffering caused when his bones were broken or in the few days that followed.” She said: “Neither saw anything, heard anything or said anything in a very small house where both of them played a full part in the care of this baby.

“Neither got Jacob out of what must have been a life with episodes of significant pain and suffering. Jacob was not given the care that as a baby he needed and deserved.”

As well as the visible bruises on his face and chest, Mrs Prior said that there were 15 “separate incidents of bruising” and post-mortem examinations found multiple internal bruises and bleeds, including evidence of “severe and significant blunt force trauma” to his abdomen – an injury akin to those caused by high-speed traffic collisions.

Barton met Crouch while four months pregnant with Jacob, with the pair becoming “very close, very quickly” and Crouch calling Jacob “our little boy” only a month after first contacting Barton.

Jacob was born healthy on February 17 2020, with Crouch named as his father on the birth certificate, but Mrs Prior said that he was “assaulted causing bruising on a regular basis for at least six months” from the age of just four months, and was referred to as “the devil” in one text message.

On June 2, Barton texted Crouch to say “If only you could talk to Jacob and tell him to stop his bloody moaning.”

The jury saw images of bruising to Jacob’s chest, sustained as early as July 2020, which were “consistent with forceful compression of the ribs”, Mrs Prior said. In September, Crouch said in texts that Jacob was “pushing us to our limits”.

After Barton also sent texts complaining about her son, Crouch responded saying: “You need to be more regimental with him. If he starts to cry because he has hurt himself then that’s fine, comfort him. If he starts crying for no reason then smack his hand and straight to bed until settled.

“You need to be harder on him with this and not let this take over us. This will only get worse if not addressed now. Whether we like it or not if this continues our frustration and emotions will build and we will change towards one another.”

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRlcmJ5dGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvbG9jYWwtbmV3cy9qYWNvYi1jcm91Y2gtbXVyZGVyLWxpdmUtc2VudGVuY2luZy04NjUzMjk40gEA?oc=5

2023-08-04 13:21:00Z
CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRlcmJ5dGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvbG9jYWwtbmV3cy9qYWNvYi1jcm91Y2gtbXVyZGVyLWxpdmUtc2VudGVuY2luZy04NjUzMjk40gEA

Defra 'cuts ties' with Greenpeace after protest at Sunak's home – live - The Independent

Greenpeace protesters descend from Sunak’s roof following protest

Rishi Sunak’s environment secretary Therese Coffey has ordered her department to suspend its engagement with Greenpeace, after activists staged an anti-oil protest at the PM’s constituency home.

The largely symbolic display of anger came as former home secretary Priti Patel and ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith raised concerns about Mr Sunak’s security arrangements, following the demonstration on the roof his constituency manor house.

The campaigners draped his home with an oil-black fabric at the prime minister’s North Yorkshire home to protest against the government’s plans to allow licences to be granted for further development of North Sea oil and gas.

North Yorkshire Police said the activists scaled the roof of his home at about 8am on Thursday, while Mr Sunak, his wife and children were on holiday in California, and stayed up until around 1.15pm, when they were arrested, before being released pending further enquiries.

Protester Alex Wilson said: “We’re all here because Rishi Sunak has opened the door to a new drilling frenzy in the North Sea while large parts of our world are literally on fire.”

1691156133

Former police chief ‘astonished’ protesters were able to protest at Sunak’s home

Peter Walker, who stepped down as North Yorkshire Police’s deputy chief constable in 2003, said he was “absolutely astonished” that protesters gained access to Rishi Sunak’s house, as he called for an investigation.

He told LBC: “It is clearly in my view a major breach of security.”

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 14:35
1691154453

Watch: Tory minister appears to concede Labour will win next general election

Tory minister talks about what Labour will do 'when' they will be in power
Andy Gregory4 August 2023 14:07
1691152767

Opinion | Politics is about to get truly ugly as Sunak pollutes climate change debate

Rishi Sunak has “announced a plan to max out on North Sea oil and gas – granting hundreds of new licences for exploration and production while winking at the political editors that this was part of an aggressive new ‘divide and rule’ strategy in the wake of the Uxbridge by-election, writes Alan Rusbridger.

Brace yourself to be drowned by a year of headlines about migrants, trans rights and crime. They are classic “wedge issues”, the unlovely Australian political tactic devised to bludgeon ugly election wins.

But climate change? Isn’t Sunak bigger than to make this most critical of causes the latest front in the culture wars? Apparently not.

Read his thoughts in full here:

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 13:39
1691150701

Greenpeace has received ‘both kinds of opinions’ over protest at Sunak’s home

Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace, said the group has received “both kinds of opinions” online since its protest at Rishi Sunak’s constituency home.

She told Sky News: “Protests are disruptive by nature, for the amount of comments that we have received online saying we don’t agree with you, an equal amount of people are saying ‘this was brilliant, you made your point, it was peaceful, it didn’t disrupt normal people’s everyday lives, you took it to the home of the decision maker’.

“So there’s both kinds of opinions, also, it’s important to remember that this is just one tactic that organisation like Greenpeace use, I often describe Greenpeace as a Swiss army knife.”

She added: “I think the point that we want to make is Rishi Sunak needs to be held accountable for this decision and we need to hold politicians accountable when they make terrible decisions like these.”

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 13:05
1691148522

Exclusive: Chris Packham accuses Sunak of playing ‘political football’ with green policies

Chris Packham has accused Rishi Sunak of using the environment as a “political football” as he issues a stark warning to the government’s “astonishing and disappointing” oil and sea agenda.

The wildlife presenter and naturalist has given the major political parties an ultimatum to stop sanctioning future licensing of oil and gas or risk losing votes in a new campaign he launches today.

My colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain has his exclusive remarks here:

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 12:28
1691146747

Watch: Hunt recognises 'worry for families' as he reacts to Bank of England rate rise

Hunt recognises 'worry for families' as he reacts to Bank of England rate rise
Andy Gregory4 August 2023 11:59
1691145464

Calls to review Rishi Sunak’s security arrangements after climate protesters scale his home

Questions have been raised about the prime minister's security arrangements after Greenpeace activists scaled his home in protest at new fossil fuels drilling, our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said on Friday that it would not be “responsible” for her to comment on Rishi Sunak’s security arrangements, as police said there was “no threat to the wider public” from the demonstration.

But former home secretary Priti Patel urged her successor Suella Braverman to launch an immediate review into the PM’s security arrangements.

“This raises some very serious questions around how the home of a sitting prime minister has been accessed in this way, to the extent that political campaigners and activists have been able to trespass on his property and physically gain access,” she told the Daily Mail newspaper.

And former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he believed security “doesn’t seem to know how to protect the house of the Prime Minister”, adding: “There has to be an inquiry into what the hell was going on.”

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 11:37
1691144133

Protest was ‘carefully and meticulously’ planned, says Greenpeace

Greenpeace has said it planned its protest “carefully and meticulously” and would not have done it if Rishi Sunak was there.

“It was an empty home, the fact that he wasn’t there was actually national news, everybody knows that he wasn’t there,” said Ms Hamid.

“We made sure, in fact we wouldn’t have done it if he was there because our intention was to draw attention to the fact that what he’s doing on climate is actually a big disaster, rather than to talk about his family or where he lives, so that was the entire point.

“Security is a big part of whatever we do, we planned it carefully and meticulously, we knew he wasn’t going to be there.

“We knocked on the door to make sure that there was nobody there, initially there was no response, then we got a response, we told them who we were. So this was quite a peaceful, calm thing to make a very important point.”

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 11:15
1691142153

Tory minister appears to concede Labour will win next election

A Conservative government minister has appeared to concede that Labour will win the next election during an appearance on TV news.

Maria Caulfield was accused of a “poor choice of words” after seemingly painting a Labour victory at the next election as an inevitability.

Speaking on Sky News the health minister said people would be afraid of what Labour would do “when they get into government”.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 10:42
1691140473

Sadiq Khan’s Ulez support has ‘not touched the sides’, claims minister

Sadiq Khan’s announcement of financial support to ease the impact of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) has “not touched the sides”, a health minister has said.

Maria Caulfield told Sky News: “I don’t think it touched the sides of people’s concerns. I think he’s reacting to why Labour didn’t win the Uxbridge by-election. £2,000 is nothing if you’re having to replace your car.”

Andy Gregory4 August 2023 10:14

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWsvcG9saXRpY3MvcmlzaGktc3VuYWstaG91c2UtZ3JlZW5wZWFjZS1uZXdzLWIyMzg3NTkwLmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5

2023-08-04 13:35:33Z
CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWsvcG9saXRpY3MvcmlzaGktc3VuYWstaG91c2UtZ3JlZW5wZWFjZS1uZXdzLWIyMzg3NTkwLmh0bWzSAQA

Police hunt for thief who stole 14 beehives in Welsh town - Sky News

Police in a remote Welsh town are on the hunt for a thief who stole 14 beehives.

Witnesses have been urged to come forward after the hives disappeared from Blackwood Lane near Llangollen, North Wales, over the weekend.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Officers investigate 'unusual' crime

In a video update on Twitter, PCSO Iwan Owen, of the North Wales Rural Crime team, said: "Bit of an unusual one for you today - we've had reports that 14 beehives with incumbent bees have been stolen from this location sometime between 8am Saturday morning and possibly about midnight on Monday.

"This is an appeal for anyone who's seen anything suspicious in that time - and to the beekeeping community.

"They are likely to have been taken late at night after the bees have presumably returned to the hive."

He added that 14 hives have gone so its "likely" to be a vehicle similar to a long wheelbase Ford Transit or a trailer.

Read more:
Princess of Wales pictured wearing keeper's suit to tend beehive
Beekeepers warned after American Foulbrood disease detected

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Can bees be bad?

PCSO Owen said if people are aware of "somebody who has a sudden influx of beehives (or) someone who's starting to sell new hives" to get in touch with the force.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L3BvbGljZS1odW50LWZvci10aGllZi13aG8tc3RvbGUtMTQtYmVlaGl2ZXMtaW4td2Vsc2gtdG93bi0xMjkzMzI5M9IBYWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9wb2xpY2UtaHVudC1mb3ItdGhpZWYtd2hvLXN0b2xlLTE0LWJlZWhpdmVzLWluLXdlbHNoLXRvd24tMTI5MzMyOTM?oc=5

2023-08-04 06:08:27Z
2311618983

Greenpeace activists released on bail after scaling roof of Rishi Sunak's North Yorkshire home - Sky News

Greenpeace activists who scaled Rishi Sunak's North Yorkshire home in protest against the government's decision to expand North Sea oil drilling have been released on police bail.

Four people were arrested after they climbed on the grade II-listed manor house in Kirby Sigston and draped oil-black fabric over the property while Mr Sunak and his family are on holiday.

A fifth activist was later arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in connection with the stunt.

In an update this morning, North Yorkshire Police said: "All five suspects who were arrested following the protest in Kirby Sigston on 3 August, have been released on conditional police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.

"The investigation remains ongoing."

The protest has led to fresh concerns around MPs' security, with a former police chief calling for an "investigation into how this has been allowed to happen".

Peter Walker, who stepped down as North Yorkshire Police's deputy chief constable in 2003, said he was "absolutely astonished" the protesters gained access to the prime minister's house.

He told LBC radio: "It is clearly in my view a major breach of security."

The protesters spent more than three hours on the roof of Mr Sunak's home on Thursday before descending at around midday.

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak&#39;s house in Richmond, North Yorkshire after covering it in black fabric in protest at his backing for expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling. Picture date: Thursday August 3, 2023.

Below, two activists unfurled a banner with the words "Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?" across the grass in front of the property.

Greenpeace was acting in protest against the prime minister's "backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling" - where it will grant 100 new licences off the coast of Scotland.

The group said the move will be a "disaster" for the environment and hinder efforts to reach net zero - a crucial climate target which relies on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions.

Pic: Greenpeace
Image: Pic: Greenpeace

Protester Alex Wilson, who was on the roof, released a video message from the scene of the protest, saying: "We're all here because Rishi Sunak has opened the door to a new drilling frenzy in the North Sea while large parts of our world are literally on fire.

"This will be a disaster for the climate."

On the ground, Greenpeace campaigner Philip Evans defended the decision to target the PM's home, saying they had made sure Mr Sunak's family were on holiday.

He said the group had knocked on the door when they arrived and said "this is a peaceful protest" but there was no answer.

Mr Evans added: "Rishi Sunak's government has been the worst government we've had on climate."

Greenpeace activists have climbed to the roof of RIshi Sunak&#39;s home. Pic: Greenpeace
Image: Pic: Greenpeace

Sunak is a 'climate arsonist', Greenpeace campaigner says

Greenpeace has said it is also carrying out its protest because Mr Sunak has indicated he will approve drilling at Rosebank - the UK's largest undeveloped oil field.

The group says the move "flies in the face of multiple warnings from the government's own climate advisers, the International Energy Agency and the UN secretary general that any new fossil fuel projects risk tipping the world into the danger zone above 1.5C of warming".

Pic: Greenpeace
Image: Pic: Greenpeace

Mr Evans said: "We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist.

"Sunak is even willing to peddle the old myth about new oil and gas helping ordinary people struggling with energy bills when he knows full well it's not true.

"More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak's own windfall tax."

Greenpeace activists are led away by police after they climbed on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak&#39;s house in Richmond, North Yorkshire and covered it in black fabric in protest at his backing for expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling. Picture date: Thursday August 3, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Sunak. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Greenpeace activists are led away by police after they climbed on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak&#39;s house in Richmond, North Yorkshire and covered it in black fabric in protest at his backing for expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling. Picture date: Thursday August 3, 2023.

'Plonkers'

But Labour, who oppose the oil and gas license expansion, said "targeting someone's home in that way is disgraceful and unacceptable".

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who is standing in for Mr Sunak during his holiday, said more oil and gas is needed as part of our "energy mix" as he hit out the "stupid stunt".

Speaking about the protest while on a visit to Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool he said: "I think what most people would say is 'can you stop the stupid stunts', actually what they want to see from government is action.

"That's what you're seeing here today, the world's largest offshore wind farm being built right here, creating jobs.

"But at the same time we're going to need in the coming decades oil and gas as part of our energy mix.

"The question is do we produce it here, where we get more tax, we create more jobs, or do we do what the Labour and others say which is say 'no more investment in our North Sea oil and gas'?"

Read more:
Moment Greenpeace protesters interrupt Liz Truss conference speech
More private jets took off from UK than any other European country in 2022, study finds

Alicia Kearns, the senior Tory who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, called the protest "unacceptable".

She said: "Politicians live in the public eye and rightly receive intense scrutiny, but their family homes should not be under assault.

"Before long police will need to be stationed outside the home of every MP."

Government minister Alex Burghart called the activists "plonkers".

Conservative backbencher Brendan Clarke-Smith said: "MPs and their families have enough to worry about with their security without extremist groups and their spoilt activists pulling stunts like this at their homes to promote their unrealistic, extravagant demands and student union-level politics."

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigQFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9ncmVlbnBlYWNlLWFjdGl2aXN0cy1kcmFwZS1yaXNoaS1zdW5ha3MtMm0tbWFuc2lvbi1pbi1vaWwtYmxhY2stZmFicmljLWFmdGVyLWNsaW1iaW5nLW9uLXJvb2YtMTI5MzI4NTjSAYUBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2dyZWVucGVhY2UtYWN0aXZpc3RzLWRyYXBlLXJpc2hpLXN1bmFrcy0ybS1tYW5zaW9uLWluLW9pbC1ibGFjay1mYWJyaWMtYWZ0ZXItY2xpbWJpbmctb24tcm9vZi0xMjkzMjg1OA?oc=5

2023-08-04 07:18:45Z
2310287245

Let private and third sectors cut NHS waiting lists, says Steve Barclay - The Guardian

More private and third sector providers should be used by the NHS to help cut post-Covid waiting lists, Steve Barclay, the health secretary, will say after a review of capacity in the health service.

Barclay will draw on the work of his “elective recovery taskforce” – a group convened by ministers to look at how to bring down waiting times.

The group is chaired by Will Quince, a health minister, along with health policy advisers, NHS England officials, a patients group representative, and four private healthcare executives.

Announcing eight more private sector community diagnostic centres, Barclay said he believed the NHS must “use every available resource to deliver life-saving checks to ease pressure”.

“By making use of the available capacity in the independent sector, and enabling patients to access this diagnostic capacity free at the point of need, we can offer patients a wider choice of venues to receive treatment and in doing so diagnose major illnesses quicker and start treatments sooner.

“The elective recovery taskforce has identified additional diagnostic capacity that is available in the independent sector which we will now use more widely to enable patients to access the care they need quicker.”

There are about 114 NHS diagnostic centres, with those run by private providers due to increase from four to 12. Five of the new centres in the south-west from Cornwall to Bristol will be run by a company called InHealth, founded by a British entrepreneur, Ivan Bradbury.

Barclay’s view on the report was released 12 hours before the document itself was due to be published by the Department of Health and Social Care, which the government said would be a “plan to maximise independent sector capacity to treat NHS patients more quickly”.

The government said its recommended measures would include “better use of data to help the NHS identify potential opportunities for the independent sector to support patient care, and expanding training opportunities for staff”.

It also recommends increasing the use of the private and third sectors in training junior NHS staff.

Quince, who chaired the taskforce, said: “These actions will bolster capacity across the country and give patients more choice over where and when they are treated.”

Labour said 331,000 patients were missing out on treatment because of underuse of the private sector. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said: “The Conservatives are failing to make use of private sector capacity and patients are paying the price.

“If Labour had been in office since January last year, more than 330,000 people would have received the treatment they desperately need. Instead, patients face record waiting times while the Tories dither and delay.

“No one should be waiting in pain while hospital beds that could be used lie empty. The next Labour government will use spare capacity in the private sector to get patients seen faster.”

Stella Vig, the NHS England clinical director for elective care, said the NHS had already increased use of the independent sector by more than a third since April 2021.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said she welcomed the report as GPs would tell patients at the point of referral that they had a choice about where to be treated.

The Conservatives have previously been wary of being criticised for too much private provision in the NHS, with Labour in the past having attacked the party for wanting to privatise the service.

However, Labour has shifted position more recently to acknowledge that private provision is “one of the levers” in reducing the backlog.

The NHS spent about £12bn on commissioning services from the private sector in 2020/21, which is about 7% of the budget.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS9zb2NpZXR5LzIwMjMvYXVnLzA0L3ByaXZhdGUtdGhpcmQtc2VjdG9yLW5ocy13YWl0aW5nLWxpc3RzLXN0ZXZlLWJhcmNsYXnSAWRodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVndWFyZGlhbi5jb20vc29jaWV0eS8yMDIzL2F1Zy8wNC9wcml2YXRlLXRoaXJkLXNlY3Rvci1uaHMtd2FpdGluZy1saXN0cy1zdGV2ZS1iYXJjbGF5?oc=5

2023-08-04 04:27:00Z
2309096330