Category: News Story

STORY

In a speech delivered at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference in Newport, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock laid out a forceful agenda aimed at restoring general practice and tackling stark inequalities in health.

Kinnock described general practice as the “front door to the NHS,” noting how poor health in deprived communities manifests as missed school days, reduced work capacity, and entrenched generational disadvantage. He said closing the health gap, such as the ten-year life expectancy difference between children born in Blackpool and Hampshire, must become a national priority.

To address this, Kinnock announced a review of the Carr-Hill funding formula through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, designed to better direct resources toward overburdened practices, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boosting general practice capacity, highlighting an additional £1.1 billion investment in primary care and above-inflation pay increases over the past year. There are now more than 50,000 GPs nationally, with nearly 40,000 fully qualified which he claimed was the highest on record.

Kinnock also pledged to reduce bureaucratic burdens and red tape, signalling forthcoming legislation that would enhance the professional status of GPs and place them on a more equal footing with other medical specialties.

“We will not accept a situation where GPs can’t get a job and patients can’t see a GP,” Kinnock told conference delegates, earning applause. He pointed to rising patient satisfaction, up from 61 % to 75 % in some areas, as evidence that reforms are beginning to have an impact.

Another central theme of his speech was the government’s vision for the new Neighbourhood Health Service. He stressed that GPs would remain at the heart of this model, with patients already benefiting from reforms that have diverted more than half a million referrals to community services such as physiotherapy and sexual health instead of hospital waiting lists. The minister acknowledged, however, that challenges remain. He praised GPs for their resilience and reaffirmed that their expertise and experience would not be taken for granted.

STORY

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has launched a strong condemnation of a charity run organised by the East London Mosque and the London Muslim Centre in Victoria Park, accusing the event of violating basic principles of equality. The controversy erupted after it emerged that participation was restricted to men, boys of all ages and girls under 12, explicitly excluding women and older girls.

On LBC radio, Reed described the exclusion as “absolutely unacceptable,” saying he was “horrified” by reports that women were barred from taking part in an event held in a public space. He called for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to investigate whether the run breached the law, warning that such discriminatory practices must not be tolerated.

The East London Mosque refused to apologise in a statement to the press, but stated:

“The Muslim Charity Run is one of many initiatives that promote health, wellbeing and charitable giving across our community.”

STORY

In a forceful address at the OSCE on 9 October 2025, the UK’s Ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe challenged the global community to recognise what he called the far-reaching stakes of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ambassador Neil Holland argued that the conflict is not just a tragedy for the region, but a test of the rules-based international order. He insisted that Russia’s narrative, one of inevitable victory, is false, outlining heavy losses and stalled territorial gains as evidence of that. According to his account, since November 2022, Russia has captured only 1 % more Ukrainian territory and sustained catastrophic losses in personnel and equipment.

He also highlighted Russia’s domestic challenges as further proof that the war is unsustainable: spiralling budget deficits, rising taxation, and cuts in social spending. Turning to the humanitarian front, Holland condemned Russia’s targeting of civilians, pointing to recent attacks on a maternity hospital and gas infrastructure. He cast these not as isolated incidents, but part of a pattern.

STORY

The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre are currently under fire after announcing a “Brothers Running Session” event explicitly for male participants, prompting accusations of division and discrimination.

The event, advertised on the mosque’s social media channels and website, stated its aim was to “promote fitness and brotherhood” within the community, offering a structured running session and guidance. However, the explicit “male only” stipulation immediately drew criticism from various quarters, including women’s rights advocates and equality campaigners.

Several individuals have confirmed making reports to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), citing concerns that the event may contravene the Equality Act 2010. The Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics, including sex, in the provision of services and public functions.

The BBC contacted the organisers for a statement, but the mosque had yet to respond at the time of writing.

Stephen Harwood-Stamper has been found guilty of cutting down an Ulez camera just hours after it was installed. The former engineer was dismissed from his job, but wrote to the court apologising for his actions.

Harwood-Stamper was ordered to pay £2,467 to Transport for London and was also given a community order which included 80 hours of unpaid work.

The police had confirmed in late 2024:

“Stephen Richard Harwood-Stamper (04.08.1962) of Church Road, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, is charged with criminal damage, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, and using a false plate whilst driving, contrary to section 44 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. He is due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 27 November.”

STORY

In a decisive move today, the Government announced that it will implement virtually all of the recommendations from Sir Wyn Williams’ Horizon Inquiry report, signalling a renewed commitment to deliver justice for postmasters impacted by the scandal.

Key reforms include the introduction of a new appeals process for those who have accepted fixed-sum offers under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), with provision for funded legal advice and even for individuals who previously settled. A senior lawyer has been appointed to oversee the redress scheme to ensure fairness and consistency. The closing date for new HSS applications has also been extended to 31 January 2026, offering more time for long-delayed claimants to come forward.

In a break from the inquiry’s advice, the Government has declined to accept the recommendation to abolish the HSS Dispute Resolution Process. Instead, claimants will retain the choice either to remain in the existing scheme or proceed via the new appeals route. To add clarity for claimants and their legal representatives, the Government will publish a clear definition of what constitutes “full and fair redress.”

Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, said in a statement:

“We must never lose sight of the wronged postmasters affected by the Horizon Scandal, which the Inquiry has highlighted so well. There is clearly more to do to bring justice to those affected. The recommendations we are accepting today will be a crucial step towards this.”

STORY

The Government has approved a new model of Taser for use by police forces in England and Wales, in what ministers describe as a major step forward in officer and public safety. The Taser 10, which has been tested and reviewed over the past year, can now be purchased by forces, although each one will need to carry out its own training and implementation before the devices are used on duty.

The Taser 10 offers a number of improvements over earlier versions, including the ability to fire up to ten individual probes which can be aimed more precisely, giving officers greater control in high-risk situations. It also includes a warning system that emits a sound before discharge, intended to deter suspects and reduce the need to fire. The device has an extended range of nearly fourteen metres, meaning officers can maintain a safer distance in dangerous encounters.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the new device would give officers a safer option when dealing with violent offenders and stressed that its use must remain proportionate and accountable. Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, the national lead for less lethal weapons, said the Taser already helps resolve volatile incidents without harm in most cases, and the improved model would strengthen that capability.

STORY

The Government has announced sweeping reforms to modernise wedding laws across England and Wales, aiming to give couples far greater freedom over how and where they get married. The proposals, described as the biggest overhaul of marriage law in over 180 years, are expected to boost the economy by £535 million over the next decade, support up to 12,000 jobs and bring in more than £100 million in additional tax revenue.

Under the plans, couples will be allowed to hold weddings in a much wider range of venues, from beaches and gardens to historic sites, provided the location meets certain standards of dignity and appropriateness. The reforms will also make the officiant, rather than the building, the focus of regulation, simplifying the process and reducing costs for couples. Religious ceremonies, including those for Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu couples, will be able to gain legal recognition more easily, while for the first time humanist and other non-religious organisations will be permitted to conduct legally binding marriages.

Ministers believe the changes will not only modernise outdated rules but also help revive the wedding industry after a challenging few years. Baroness Levitt KC, Minister for Family Law, said the reforms would give couples the chance to “have the wedding day of their dreams” while maintaining the solemnity and dignity of the occasion. Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, added that the plans would sweep away unnecessary restrictions and give couples the freedom to celebrate their commitment in a way that reflects their own values.

STORY

Disgraced Conservative peer Michelle Mone has launched a furious attack on party leader Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of using “reckless” and “false” language in calling for her resignation from the House of Lords, but her outburst has been met with scepticism, given her admission that she previously lied to journalists about her involvement in a controversial PPE deal.

In a lengthy social media post, Mone insisted she had “done NOTHING wrong” and claimed she was being made a “scapegoat” for wider government failures during the pandemic. Mone, who had already admitted to lying about the contract to journalists, accused the Conservative Party of “wasting £9.1 billion” on failed PPE contracts, alleging a political cover-up and vowing to “expose the lot of them.”

However, critics note that Mone’s credibility has been severely undermined by her own admission that she misled the press about her ties to PPE Medpro, a company awarded over £200 million in government contracts, now the subject of legal action by the Department of Health. Her attempt to portray herself as a victim has been widely dismissed, with many pointing out that Badenoch’s call for her resignation reflects a growing consensus that her position in the Lords is untenable and that Mone’s presence in the Upper Chamber undermines the democratic process.