2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Extra 14k prison places will be created in next seven years, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to say
AN extra 14,000 prison places will be created in the next seven years, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will say today.
Four jails will be built as planning rules are eased together with 6,400 cells developed on existing sites in a £2.3billion spending blitz.
Last week the go-ahead was given for a 1,700-space prisonnext to HMP Garth in Lancs.
It came after thousands of lags were released earlier this year to free up cells and cut the prison population, which stands at 86,089.
Ms Mahmood said jails were near collapse due to Tory failings and Labour’s plan would keep streets safe by ensuring “no government runs out of prison places again”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the plans did not amount to new cash for jails.
He urged Labour to maximise court capacity and deport foreign criminals rather than rushing to release prisoners.
The Law Society of England and Wales said sustained investment was the only long-term solution for the criminal justice system after “decades of neglect”.
An extra 14,000 prison places will be created in the next seven years, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will say[/caption]
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Millions of women forced to ‘suck it up’ and suffer due to sexist NHS that ‘dismisses symptoms and pain’
THE NHS is sexist and women and girls suffer due to medics’ lack of education about female health, a report by MPs found.
Millions cannot get help for heavy periods or conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.
MPs said pain experienced during periods has been ‘normalised’ (stock image)[/caption]
GP surgeries in particular have a “clear lack of awareness and understanding,” the report said.
Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee said many have to “suck it up” because their symptoms have been normalised.
It concluded that female patients face stigma, misunderstanding and “medical misogyny” in the health service.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found last month that waiting lists for gynaecology clinics in England have more than doubled since 2020 to 755,000.
It cannot be right that there is such a lack of awareness despite the prevalence of these conditions
Sarah OwenMP and chair of Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee
The equalities committee said doctors and nurses need more training to help women.
Chair and Labour MP, Sarah Owen, said: “Misogyny in medicine is leaving women in pain and their conditions undiagnosed.
“Women are finding their symptoms dismissed, are waiting years for life changing treatment and in too many cases are being put through trauma-inducing procedures.
“Up to one in three women live with heavy menstrual bleeding, one in ten have a condition such as endometriosis or adenomyosis.
“It cannot be right that such a lack of understanding and awareness persists despite the prevalence of these conditions.
“This report must act as a wake-up call and the NHS must urgently implement a training programme.”
Girls must be taught about periods at school
The report called for greater efforts to shorten diagnosis times and waiting lists, update medical training and encourage doctors to specialise in women’s health.
MPs also found that girls do not learn enough about periods and reproductive health at school and education should be improved.
Dame Lesley Regan was appointed Women’s Health Ambassador to the government in 2022, when an official Women’s Health Strategy was published.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “We are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out women’s health hubs across the country.
“They are giving thousands more women access to specialist support in the community and helping to upskill healthcare professionals with a full range of staff working in one place.
“The NHS is also developing a network of women’s health champions made up of senior leaders in every local care system to drive forward improvements in women’s health.”
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on 1% Club fans shock as all EIGHT final contestants get last question wrong – but did you get it right?
1% Club fans were left shocked after all EIGHT final contestants walked away empty handed after failing to answer the last question correctly.
Eight men were the last players standing out of 100 in Tuesday night’s show after successfully making it to the 1% question.
But the final players were left stumped by the 1% question[/caption]
But after being asked the big-money earner by The 1% Club‘s host Lee Mack, they all got it wrong and missed out on a share of the £97,000 prize pot.
The question, which in theory only one per cent of the UK population will be able to answer, was based on a graphic.
Lee asked: “What word is represented by this picture?”
The graphic showed the number eight in the middle of an ice cube.
The final constants had just 30 seconds to figure it out before locking in their answers.
Lee then announced: “Your time is up. Let’s see who got it right.”
After a tense pause, the entire studio was illuminated in red – indicating that no one answered correctly.
“I’m afraid you all got it wrong,” Lee told the disappointed players.
The TV funnyman then revealed the answer: Incubate (in-cube-eight).
There was a loud groan from the audience as they realised none of the eight players had joined the 1% Club.
Only one contestant walked away with any money – a chap called Jonathan, who was awarded £1,000 for not using his ‘pass’ card to skip any earlier questions.
“Commiserations,” Lee told the group. “You didn’t make it into the 1% Club but you can at least walk away knowing you did better than everyone else tonight.”
Fans at home who had been playing along shared their surprise at the final eight’s fall.
One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Not one person got it..!”
Another added: “The wheels on the brain bus well & truly fell off.”
And a third said: “Oh what a pity. None of them got it right, meaning that everyone leaves with absolutely nothing…apart from Jonathan, who keeps his £1k.”
Other fans shared their own guesses, including ‘infinite’, ‘eight squared’ and ‘eight cubed’.
The 1% Club has returned to ITV this week for a special four-episode run, airing each night from Monday (December 9) to Thursday (December 12).
Two 1% Club Christmas specials will also air this month, while Lee is also due to front another episode in support of Soccer Aid.
The 1% Club first hit screens in 2022 and has fast become one of TV’s most popular game shows.
In September, it won Best Quiz Game Show at the National Television Awards for the third year in a row.
It faced stiff competition but still beat The Wheel, Beat The Chasers, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win.
None of the eight finalists could work out what the graphic represented[/caption]
The number 8 in the ice cube symbolised the world ‘incubate’[/caption]
Only one player – Jonathan – won any money and it was not using his free pass earlier in the show[/caption]
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CULLIGRAN (3.07 Hereford, nap)
Stormed to victory over course and distance last time, hitting the front a fair way out and not seeing a rival. She likes this decent ground and hasn’t been off the podium since going handicapping. This is no tougher than last time so another big run is on the cards.
WILD NATURE (5.10 Kempton, nb)
Enjoyed moving back up to this mile when going close here 21 days ago. This son of Kingman was bit unlucky not to win after meeting traffic turning for home. William Buick gets back on board today and can steer him to victory.
BOYS OF WEXFORD (12.35 Hereford, treble)
Tip is best going right-handed so did well to strike at Fontwell last time. He had plenty in hand crossing the line over a similar trip so a 5lb rise in the weights holds no fears.
DUKE OF OXFORD (7.40 Kempton, Lucky 15)
Got the job done nicely here last time and won this race 12 months ago. His C&D record now reads 1121 and he’ll be hard to beat again.
Templegate’s tips
HEXHAM
12.20 Forest Blaze Did well to finish third over too short a trip last time out.
12.50 Fromheretoeternity Consistent and can go well again over ideal C&D.
1.20 Not A Light Been off a long time but this looks a pretty soft race.
1.50 Joecooker Solid third at Carlisle last time and capable of better.
2.20 Reagrove Lord Overdue a win but on fair weight and won’t be far away.
2.50 High Moon Good third last time and drop in trip can do the trick.
3.20 Fearless Action Just nabbed on the line at Carlisle last time out.
HEREFORD
12.35 Boys Of Wexford (treble) Lots in hand when winning from 5lb lower at Fontwell.
1.05 Sayva Has won two of past three and has more to offer.
1.35 Secret Des Dieux Won at Fakenham last time with plenty left in the tank.
2.05 Gris Majeur Can figure upped in distance returning to hurdling.
2.35 Lime Drop Game win at Uttoxeter latest and can cope with 5lb rise.
3.07 Culligran (nap) Lots in hand when scoring over course and distance latest.
3.37 Just Golden Expensive buy who can make a winning start for Skeltons.
KEMPTON
4.10 Sweet Couture Two decent runs and bit unlucky at Lingfield latest.
4.40 McKenna Finished well on debut and has a lot more to come.
5.10 Wild Nature (nb) Good second here last time and should get off the mark.
5.40 Jenubiyah Bred to be a star and can make a winning debut.
6.10 Exactly Right Cost £420,000 and yard can get them ready at home.
6.40 Ultramarine Goes well here and no luck in running at Chelmsford latest.
7.10 Champagne Prince Has an excellent record on the all-weather.
7.40 Duke Of Oxford Won this last year and excellent victory last time out.
8.10 Time Patrol Went close at Lingfield latest and right in the hunt again.
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Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Warning for tens of thousands on benefits forced to repay £251.7million due to ‘cliff edge’ rules
DEBT accrued by households claiming Carer’s Allowance has reached a staggering £251.7million.
The mounting pile of money owed has soared by £151.7million from £100million just six years ago, according to new figures from The National Audit Office (NAO).
Households who claim Carer’s Allowance can receive up to £81.90 per week from the government.
To qualify, you must care for someone for at least 35 hours a week. You don’t need to be related to them or live with them.
But there is a cut-off point for how much you can earn while claiming the benefit, which is currently set at £151 a week.
If you earn over this amount, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will look to claw the moeny back.
This is different to other benefits like Universal Credit, which has a tapered approach to earnings so that those who do work don’t lose all of their money at once.
However, in some cases, the DWP doesn’t flag if people have breached the earnings limit until several years later.
This means those people have overpaid massive sums which need to be paid back.
If you don’t engage with this repayment process, you can be taken to county court – increasing the costs further.
The NAO said these rules create a “cliff edge” with claimants either entitled to all of the money or none of it.
Figures by the NAO found the number of people with outstanding debt due to an overpayment has risen every year since 2018, and is up by almost three quarters from 80,169 people to 136,730 in 2023/24.
It was also found that 54 cases were referred for prosecution in 2023/24, down from 246 in 2018/19.
There were 75 dministrative penalties, which are an alternative to prosecution, down from 774 in 2018/19.
And there were 30,129 civil penalties, up by around 50% from 20,023 in 2018/19.
The NAO said DWP can write off debt if it determines that there is no realistic possibility of recovering it or where a claimant has been dead for more than two years.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK said the report is “yet further evidence of a broken system that is failing unpaid carers”,
And described the rise in the number of people with outstanding debts as “a serious failure which has left thousands of carers experiencing emotional distress and financial hardship for years”.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS A REVIEW
The issue of carer’s allowance overpayment is already the subject of a Government-ordered review, due to report to ministers by the summer of next year.
The terms of the review were revealed earlier this week with the DWP set to uncover why this has happened and what changes can be made.
Stephen Timms minister for social security and disability, said: Carers wishing to pursue more financial independence should be encouraged to do so and not be unknowingly punished.
“We need to get to the bottom of what has been going on.”
The Carers Allowance earnings threshold will be increased from £151 to £196 come April 2025.
This is the biggest life since the limit was introduced in 1976.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU BREACH THE EARNINGS LIMIT?
If you breach the earnings limit, you should try and proactively report it to the DWP as it is classed as a change in circumstances.
You can report any change in circumstances online via the Government’s website.
But you’ll need your National Insurance (NI) number to hand, details of the person you’re caring for and details of the change.
If you have been overpaid Carer’s Allowance, you will have to pay it back in full or in instalments via the DWP Debt Management platform.
This is also on the Government’s website.
If you don’t do this, the DWP can take deductions from your work salary, or even pass your case on to a debt collector.
If you don’t engage with the debt collector, it may then take your case to the county courts.
You can dispute an overpayment if you don’t agree with it, but you’ll need evidence as to why you claim to not have overpaid.
You can do this via what’s known as a “mandatory reconsideration”, which you can submit to the DWP online, via phone or by letter.
The specific contact details you’ll need to send any correspondence to will be on the decision letter you receive from the DWP.
Once the DWP has received your mandatory reconsideration, you will receive a “mandatory reconsideration notice” informing you whether it has changed its decision.
If you disagree with that outcome, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.
A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Freezing fog hits in -6C chill with SNOW to fall just before Christmas as Britain reels from Storm Darragh’s carnage
BRITS brace themselves for more Baltic weather as a -6C freezing fog hits the north with snow set to fall just before Christmas.
The UK is preparing itself for more weather warning as the temperature drops[/caption]
Freezing fog and snow is set to hit parts of Scotland with temperatures getting to -6C[/caption]
Across parts of Scotland a freezing fog will arrive, covering Glasgow, starting today until 11am tomorrow.
The warning stated: “Areas of freezing fog will continue to make travel conditions rather difficult overnight and Wednesday morning.”
Temperatures will reach down to -6C in some areas with light wind also cautioned.
This means that public services might be delayed or even cancelled, with slower journey times in general.
Cyclists are more at risk on the roads with the chill exacerbating any icy patches along the tarmac.
Slippery roads might also affect cars, motorbikes and any other road vehicle.
The yellow warning issues to Glasgow has a medium likelihood and a low impact – meaning if you’re in the area you are likely to be affected by fog, but it might not be too extreme.
It covers central Glasgow as well as some areas further out including Lanark, Alexandria, Cumbernauld, and parts of Stirling.
These parts could get frosty and even face some snow over the long nights with “widespread frost under prolonged cloud break” according to the Met Office.
Nowhere else in the UK has been issued any weather warning following Storm Darragh but flood warnings remain in place.
Brits have also been warned it will “be breezy” in other areas of the UK but by Wednesday it should clear up for most.
This comes as the wreckage of storm Darragh continues to shock the country, with two deaths from falling trees on Saturday.
The fourth named storm of the season brought strong winds to many parts of the country over the weekend with millions warned to stay indoors.
Thousands were left without power and flights, trains, and buses were cancelled for safety reasons.
Entertainment fixtures, like football, were also cancelled for both travel and safety reasons.
As what will happen over Christmas, the Met Office has said on Wednesday 25 December there will be unsettled conditions.
The forecaster warned of frosts and fog, with strong gusts winds and drizzle moving up from the southeast.
On Christmas week, the Met Office revealed some Brits can expect the white stuff to fall.
The forecaster’s long range weather forecast from December 22 to January 5 reads: “Some sleet and snow is also likely at times, especially on high ground in the north.”
Unfortunately most are more likely to get a wet Christmas than a white one.
Staying safe in fog
According to the Met Office
Driving safely in fog
Foggy conditions can make it difficult to see the road ahead, be prepared for this by following these simple steps:
Make sure you know where your fog light switch is before you set off.
Keep a bigger distance between you and the car in front.
Be prepared for a sudden bank of fog or drifting, patchy fog.
Check your mirrors and slow down before entering fog.
Use fog lights when visibility drops below 100 metres, which is roughly the length of a football pitch.
Don’t use full beam as fog reflects the light back.
Once the fog has lifted switch off your fog lights.
How does fog affect flights and ferry crossings
Fog can affect schedules for flights and ferry crossings. People cope better with delays or cancellations when they follow some small and easy steps:
Check the weather for your departure location regularly.
Make sure you check your phone for messages from your airline or ferry company. You can also check their websites and social media platforms for additional updates.
Arrive on time at the airport or ferry terminal, even if delays are expected.
Pack your hand luggage with delays in mind. For example, some people may need to pack extra prescription medicine or baby food.
How to avoid transport delays
Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays on your journey by following this two-step checklist:
CHECK: check bus and train timetables and the road conditions
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Bob Dylan biopic is an immaculate portrayal of grumpy singer’s rise to fame – sadly the women are not rounded characters
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
(TBC) 140mins
★★★★☆
THERE are five words that can make an audience’s blood run cold when watching a beloved singer: “This is a new one.”
But not, it would seem, for Bob Dylan fans. They have long been used to the guitar-playing genius refusing to conform to popular demands and play, well, his biggest hits.
Timothee Chalamet strolls through New York streets in the movie[/caption]
Chalamet and Monica Barbaro duet as Dylan and Baez in A Complete Unknown[/caption]
The real Bob Dylan and Joan Baez pictured in 1965[/caption]
Now, the story behind this intriguing musical mystery has dared to be made, with a gentle insight into his now-famous unconventional style over the first four years of his career.
Opening in 1961, we meet a 19-year-old Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) with guitar in hand, traipsing through the filthy streets of New York having arrived from Minnesota.
Looking pale and weary, he makes his way to a hospital that is the home of political folk singer and songwriter of the then highly controversial This Land Is Your Land — Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy).
By his bedside is fellow folk singer, Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and Dylan performs one of his songs to them both.
The pair recognise his raw talent and he is soon taken in by Seeger and the folk singing community,
There, Dylan starts playing dingy open mics and church services, where he meets girlfriend Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) — real name Suze Rotolo, but changed for the film.
She is seen famously clutching Dylan’s arm on the cover of his album, The Freewheelin’.
Sylvie is sharp, political and part of the bohemian scene in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Bob instantly moves into her small apartment, bringing with him some photo albums showing his real name, Robert Zimmerman. The only reference to his life before the move.
At Sylvie’s, Bob wakes up at all hours of the night to scrawl songs on scraps of paper and generally behaves like a moody, bad boyfriend.
One of the reasons for this is his relationship with fellow singer and activist, Joan Baez (Top Gun: Maverick’s Monica Barbaro). The pair soon make beautiful music together, on stage and off.
But Dylan cannot be relied upon emotionally by either of the women. There is only room for one person in his life. And that is Bob Dylan.
Directed by Oscar nominated James Mangold (Walk The Line), it delicately examines the life of a man who is burdened by his own talent. He loathes fame, yet can’t help getting on stage and showing it off to the masses.
He’s a complicated beast and Chalamet does a stunning job of bringing life to a difficult role that he clearly knows will have superfans dissecting every word spoken.
His singing and playing is immaculate, with Dylan’s back catalogue of 40 songs performed with breathtaking imitation. Norton and Barbaro also both stand out.
The sets and style are deliciously detailed with an exquisite, sepia colour palette. You can feel the excitement of a new, vibrant music scene sweeping through the basement clubs of New York, while the rest of the US was under the fear of the Cold War looming.
The sets and style are deliciously detailed with an exquisite, sepia colour palette
JFK was assassinated, Martin Luther King delivered ‘I Have A Dream’ and all this caused creativity to seep from the pores of the young, talented political rebels.
The women, sadly, are not well-written, rounded characters.
I couldn’t fathom why Sylvie adored Bob with such faithful love when no warmth between them was ever shown.
He treated her badly from the beginning and she stands on the sidelines weeping. It feels unlikely for such a strong, ambitious woman.
The film culminates at the famous Newport Folk Festival performance where Bob, loved for his acoustic music, decides to play an entirely new set of songs with electric instruments. Much to the crowd’s dismay.
So after two and a half hours, do you know much more about the elusive rebel that is Bob Dylan? A little.
Yet it’s still enjoyable watching this elusive star remain a complete unknown.
In cinemas on January 17.
Edward Norton as Pete Seeger in the biopic[/caption]
Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) is based on Dylan’s girlfriend Suze Rotolo[/caption]
Suze with Bob on the cover of 1963 album The Freewheelin[/caption]