Category: News Story

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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The UK Government has announced it will fund an additional 1,250 Crown Court sitting days this year, bringing the total to 111,250 days, the highest level on record, in a bid to reduce the backlog of criminal cases and deliver swifter justice for victims.

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the backlog inherited by the current administration exceeds 78,000 cases, meaning many victims wait three to four years for their trial. He described the new investment as the biggest on record under the government’s Plan for Change, while admitting that long-term reform will also be required.

Lammy said in a statement:

“The Crown Court backlog we inherited stands at over 78,000 and behind each case is a real person, waiting years for justice. That is why we are acting with the biggest investment on record as part of our Plan for Change. An additional 1,250 sitting days will be allocated to the Crown Court this financial year, allowing it to hear many extra cases. We know there is more to do, and generational reform that cannot wait, but this investment will help ease the torment and bring swifter justice to many more victims.”

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Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, has launched an attack on Robert Jenrick, her rival in the Conservative Party leadership contest last year. The move, which comes as a surprise given party hopes of showing a united front at this week’s party conference, reopens the divide between the two politicians.

Badenoch claimed that Jenrick was simply presenting views which were mostly hers which had been “repackaged” and she added:

“I don’t mind that he says what he thinks. The advantage of having a leadership contest is that you’ve kind of already said what you think. Repeating it, which is what Rob tends to do, is not new information.”

Badenoch will give two speeches at this week’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester in an attempt to gain the initiative from Reform who is out-polling the party.

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In a judgement delivered in London’s High Court, PPE Medpro has been ordered to repay £122 million to the UK government after it was found to have supplied surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic that failed to meet required sterility and safety standards. Mrs Justice Sara Cockerill ruled that the gowns breached the contract with the Department of Health and Social Care, declaring that the company had not followed validated sterilisation processes or kept sufficient documentation to prove compliance. The decision represents a heavy blow to a company embroiled in controversy and deceit.

The company is linked to the disgraced and discredited Baroness Michelle Mone who admitted to being a liar in an attempt to hide her financial benefit from the business. Despite public anger about her behaviour, she has refused to stand down from the House of Lords.

Barrowman, the partner of Mone, launched an attack on the judicial process following the judgement. A spokesperson for Barrowman said that the medical equipment was of the required standard and that the decision was “an establishment win”. The company has been ordered to repay the Government £122 million by 15 October 2025.

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has firmly rejected speculation that the government is considering introducing VAT on private healthcare services, declaring that “it’s not happening” when questioned at the Labour Party conference. His confirmation came amidst mounting rumours that the government might look for new revenue streams ahead of the upcoming budget. Streeting is making a speech at conference today with an expected emphasis of the contribution made by foreign NHS staff.

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Keir Starmer has expressed public support for the new US-led peace initiative for Gaza, calling the proposal “profoundly welcome” and urging all parties, especially Hamas, to “agree to the plan and end the misery.” In an official statement from 10 Downing Street, Starmer announced that the UK will back efforts to end hostilities, free hostages, and facilitate urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.

Starmer’s remarks were timed soon after the US unveiled a 20-point plan reportedly focused on disarming Hamas, forming a transitional governing structure for Gaza, and orchestrating a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces. He said that achieving a sustainable peace will require “collective effort” from the international community, not just diplomatic pledges.

Reactions across the world have been mixed. While leaders in Europe and parts of the Middle East have cautiously endorsed the proposal, many in Gaza and among the Palestinian leadership remain sceptical, pointing to previous peace efforts that foundered on demands for disarmament. There is a fear that the plan may unfairly penalise Palestinians and sideline Hamas entirely without a realistic path forward. practice is wide.