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John Flowers Ltd is facing an investigation after allegations that active swift nests were disturbed or destroyed during roofing work on council-owned homes in Jarrow. South Tyneside Council suspended further work at properties in Lulworth Avenue after concerns were raised by conservationists.

The Northern Swifts Group said it had been alerted after at least one nest was found badly damaged. A dehydrated swift chick recovered from the nest was taken to a local wildlife rescue centre, where it was reported to be stabilising.

Conservationists also reported seeing nest debris in a skip used by contractors, although the skip was removed before representatives could carry out further checks. They fear more than one nest may have been affected because swifts usually breed in colonies.

South Tyneside Council said the roofing work had been carried out by a council-appointed contractor and confirmed that John Flowers Ltd was the company involved. The council has requested a full report from the contractor and launched what it described as an immediate investigation.

The authority said ecological surveys were carried out before roofing work began and that contractors received guidance on what action to take if nests were found. It said further work had been stopped while additional ecological surveys and assessments were completed.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built. Swifts are especially vulnerable because they return to the same nesting sites and depend heavily on gaps and cavities in older buildings.

The Northern Swifts Group said the incident demonstrated the need for clearer instructions and stronger oversight when contractors work on buildings used by nesting birds. Campaigners have repeatedly warned that renovation and demolition work can permanently remove breeding sites.

STORY

Former Conservative minister, MP and Reform UK campaigner Ann Widdecombe has died at the age of 78, her management has announced. Widdecombe remained active in political campaigning and broadcasting until shortly before her death, more than 16 years after she left the House of Commons.

Cloud9 Management said it was announcing her death with great sadness and offered condolences to her family and friends. Her representatives asked that the family’s wish for privacy should be respected.

Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987 until boundary changes created the Maidstone and The Weald constituency in 1997. She continued to represent the area until standing down from Parliament at the 2010 general election.

During John Major’s Government, she held ministerial posts in the Department of Social Security and the Home Office, including responsibility for prisons. She later served in the shadow cabinet as shadow health secretary and shadow home secretary.

Widdecombe became known for her uncompromising political style and strongly held socially conservative views, which were closely connected to her Christian faith. Her career also included a prominent dispute with former Conservative leader Michael Howard, whom she famously said had “something of the night” about him.

A committed Eurosceptic, Widdecombe left the Conservatives and joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party in 2019. She was elected as a member of the European Parliament for South West England and served until the United Kingdom left the institution in 2020, later continuing her political work with Reform UK.

STORY

Councils have been told to strengthen the identification and support of young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training. The Education Secretary has written to local authorities setting out expectations for earlier intervention and better use of information held by schools, colleges and public services.

The Government wants councils to identify vulnerable young people before they leave compulsory education and to coordinate suitable education, training or employment support. Particular concern has been raised about those with special educational needs, care experience or persistent absence from school.

Local authorities have warned that effective intervention depends on sufficient youth services, careers support and specialist provision. Ministers said reducing the number of young people outside education and work was essential both for individual life chances and for the wider economy.

STORY

The Council of the European Union has agreed restrictions on visa arrangements for Guinea, citing insufficient cooperation over the readmission of people who have no legal right to remain in EU member states. The decision forms part of the EU’s use of visa policy to encourage cooperation on migration returns.

The measures can make parts of the visa process more restrictive, including documentary requirements, processing periods and access to fee waivers. The Council said the approach was designed to create incentives for governments to improve identification and return arrangements.

The use of visa restrictions remains controversial because it can affect ordinary travellers as well as state authorities. The EU said the measures would be reviewed in light of Guinea’s future cooperation and could be changed if sufficient progress was made.

STORY

The European Commission has proposed a new sanctions framework allowing the European Union to impose asset freezes and travel bans on people and organisations involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The proposal is intended to give the EU an additional tool against organised criminal networks operating across borders.

The measures would require unanimous approval from member states before taking effect. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the objective was to disrupt smuggling operations, protect vulnerable people and increase the financial and legal consequences for those profiting from irregular migration.

The proposal comes amid continuing disagreement within the EU over asylum, returns and border management. Human rights organisations have warned that enforcement measures must distinguish clearly between criminal exploitation and humanitarian assistance provided to migrants and asylum seekers.

STORY

A Government call for evidence on a new mental health strategy has closed after eight weeks of submissions from patients, families, professionals and voluntary organisations. The strategy is intended to examine prevention, access to treatment and the way mental health support is delivered across public services.

Ministers said the work would include the needs of autistic people and people with ADHD, who face a higher risk of mental ill health. A separate cross-government autism strategy is also planned, with further consideration being given to whether its scope should include ADHD.

The Department of Health and Social Care will now review the evidence before publishing detailed proposals. Organisations representing patients and staff are likely to focus on workforce shortages, waiting times, crisis care and the availability of early support in schools and communities.