Tag: News Story

STORY

Shkelzen Gashi, the former owner of Smart Tyres Services Ltd in North London, has been disqualified from serving as a company director for a decade after overstating his business’s turnover to obtain the maximum £50,000 Bounce Back Loan during the Covid-19 pandemic.​

Gashi, 53, claimed his tyre fitting business had a turnover of £250,000 when applying for the government-backed loan in 2020. However, an investigation by the Insolvency Service revealed that Smart Tyres Services Ltd’s actual turnover for 2019 was £134,401. This misrepresentation enabled Gashi to secure £16,400 more than his company was entitled to under the scheme.

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme was designed to support small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic, allowing them to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, capped at 25% of their annual turnover. The loans were intended to be used for the economic benefit of the business.​

Smart Tyres Services Ltd ceased trading in August 2022, leaving liabilities exceeding £100,000. Gashi has since repaid £8,000 of the loan. Despite being given multiple opportunities to explain his actions, Gashi failed to provide satisfactory answers to investigators.​

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, stated:​

“Shkelzen Gashi blatantly overstated the turnover of his company, ensuring it received significantly more in Covid support than it was entitled to. This was taxpayers’ money, and Gashi will now no longer be able to be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the next decade as a result of his dishonest conduct.”

The disqualification, effective from 17 April 2025, prohibits Gashi from being involved in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without court permission until April 2035.​

A tyre shop continues to operate from the same Harringay Road address where Smart Tyres Services Ltd was based; however, Gashi is not associated with the current business.

STORY

Bardsey Tree Services Ltd and its director, Andrew Richard Ward, have been fined for illegally burning waste on rural land near Wetherby, West Yorkshire. The Environment Agency prosecuted the company and Ward after multiple warnings were ignored. At York Magistrates’ Court on 10 April, both parties pleaded guilty to two offences of burning waste between August 2023 and August 2024. The company was fined £2,500, ordered to pay £3,000 in costs, and a £1,000 victim surcharge. Ward received a personal fine of £960, with £1,274.50 in costs and a £384 surcharge.​

The offences occurred on land leased by the company off Compton Lane. In August 2023, Environment Agency officers observed a fire burning mixed waste, including wood, soil, rubble, and metal. Despite being instructed to cease activities and clear the site, the company registered a waste exemption two months later, permitting the burning of certain green waste under specific conditions.​ However, in July 2024, officers witnessed another fire emitting thick grey smoke, containing plastics, treated wood, metal, and aerosol canisters—materials not covered by the exemption. Further warnings were issued, but the illegal burning persisted.​

Ian Foster, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, stated:

“Burning waste on land can have a significant impact on the environment and local communities. Our officers made it clear to the defendants multiple times that the activity on site was illegal, but this was ignored. I hope this sends out a message to others about just how important it is to follow regulations to protect the environment and ensure businesses aren’t in breach of the law.”

STORY

The UK government has announced the appointment of Mr. Christian Rogg as the next British High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana. He will succeed Ms. Harriet Thompson, who is set to take up another role within the Diplomatic Service. Mr. Rogg is expected to assume his new position in July 2025.​

Mr. Rogg brings extensive experience to the role, having served in various capacities within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and its predecessor, the Department for International Development (DFID). His previous postings include roles in Accra, Hanoi, Abuja, Kinshasa, and Addis Ababa, focusing on development and governance. Most recently, he has been serving as the FCDO’s Director for Development and Open Societies.

Ms. Harriet Thompson has been serving as the British High Commissioner to Ghana since June 2021. During her tenure, she has also held the positions of Non-Resident Ambassador to Benin and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Togo. Her diplomatic career includes significant roles in Nigeria and contributions to UK government policies on trade, energy, and climate change.

STORY

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has charged United Insurance Brokers Limited (UIBL) with failing to prevent bribery related to contracts in Ecuador.​

Between October 2013 and March 2016, UIBL is alleged to have failed to prevent its associates from bribing Ecuadorian state officials to secure contracts with public sector insurers, including those covering water and electricity services. The company reportedly received $6.2 million in commissions for these services, with $3.2 million allegedly paid to intermediaries who then bribed officials to obtain the contracts.

Representatives of UIBL have been ordered to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court next month. The SFO’s Director, Nick Ephgrave QPM, emphasized the agency’s commitment to holding companies accountable for failing to prevent bribery.

The case remains open as the SFO continues its investigation.

STORY

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that, under the Equality Act 2010, the legal definition of the word woman refers strictly to biological sex, in a judgement expected to have far-reaching implications for the interpretation of equality law and the provision of single-sex spaces.

The unanimous verdict came in response to a legal challenge brought by campaign group For Women Scotland, which contested the Scottish Government’s attempt to include transgender women in female quotas on public boards. The court ruled that such inclusion went beyond the scope of the Equality Act, which defines sex as either male or female — terms now confirmed to be based on biological characteristics, not gender identity. The justices emphasised that while the Act offers clear protections against discrimination for transgender individuals, those protections do not equate to a legal redefinition of sex. The ruling means that even if a transgender woman has obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate, she is not to be treated as female for the purposes of laws that relate specifically to sex-based rights or representation.

Delivering the judgement, the court stated: “The protected characteristic of sex is not altered by the acquisition of a Gender Recognition Certificate for the purposes of legal provisions that rely on biological sex distinctions.” The Scottish Government, which had previously lost two earlier rounds of the case, said it accepted the ruling but expressed disappointment. “We remain committed to advancing equality and inclusivity for all communities, including trans people, within the limits of the law,” a spokesperson said.

The judgement has divided public opinion. Women’s rights campaigners welcomed it as a vital clarification that protects single-sex services and spaces such as refuges, hospital wards, and women’s shortlists.

“This is a landmark victory for women’s rights,” said Susan Smith of For Women Scotland. “It reaffirms that biological sex matters in law and that attempts to redefine it through the back door cannot stand.”

However, transgender rights groups have criticised the decision, calling it a step backward for trans inclusion and equality. “This judgement risks further marginalising trans people and denies the lived realities of many,” said a spokesperson for the charity Stonewall.

Legal experts say the ruling is likely to have wide consequences, particularly in the public sector, where policies relying on self-identification may now have to be reconsidered. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it would issue updated guidance following the ruling to help public bodies and organisations interpret the law correctly. The ruling does not affect the ability of individuals to change their legal gender under the Gender Recognition Act, but it clarifies that such changes do not override statutory definitions of sex in equality law

STORY

The United Kingdom has urged all parties involved in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, expressing deep concern over the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in the region. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador James Kariuki, the UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, highlighted the lack of progress in implementing Resolution 2773, which was unanimously adopted nearly two months ago. He acknowledged the withdrawal of M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces from Walikale as a positive development but emphasised that significant challenges remain.

“We reiterate this Council’s call for the M23 to cease hostilities and withdraw from all controlled areas, and for the Rwandan Defence Forces to cease support for the M23 and withdraw from Congolese territory,” said Kariuki.

The UK welcomed the appointment of President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo as the African Union’s mediator for the peace process in eastern DRC. Kariuki expressed hope that this would enhance coordination between regional and international efforts to achieve lasting peace. He also urged all parties to engage with the mediator’s efforts and to implement the East African Community-Southern African Development Community (EAC-SADC) roadmap for sustainable peace and security.​

Addressing the humanitarian situation, Kariuki noted that over one million people have been displaced since the beginning of the year due to the conflict. He called on all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights law and to allow safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance by lake, road, and through the reopening of key airports, including Goma and Kavumu. The UK also supports enhanced coordination among the UN and donors to ensure aid reaches those most in need.

STORY

Toby Carvery has come under scrutiny after the removal of an ancient oak tree near one of its restaurants. The tree, believed to be more than 200 years old, was felled during maintenance work carried out by contractors acting on behalf of the company. The incident has drawn criticism from local residents and conservation groups, who claim the tree was a well-known feature in the area and may have had protected status. There is currently no confirmation as to whether the correct permissions were in place before the work was carried out.

A spokesperson for Toby Carvery said the company is investigating the matter. “We are looking into the circumstances surrounding the removal of the tree and are in contact with the relevant authorities,” the statement read. “We understand the concerns raised and will take appropriate steps based on the findings.”

Local authorities are now reviewing whether planning or environmental regulations were breached. Wildlife experts have also been consulted to determine whether any protected species were impacted during the felling. No official sanctions have been issued at this stage, but discussions are ongoing regarding possible restitution, including replanting efforts or contributions to local environmental initiatives. The investigation remains ongoing.

STORY

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, has lost his appeal against an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court. The Court of Appeal in London upheld the sentence, which was imposed in October 2024 after Yaxley-Lennon admitted to breaching a High Court injunction by repeating false allegations against Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi, who had previously won a libel case against him.​ The contempt charges stemmed from Yaxley-Lennon’s comments in online interviews and a documentary titled “Silenced,” which was widely distributed, including a showing at Trafalgar Square. The Court of Appeal judges stated that the original sentencing judge applied the law appropriately and imposed a fitting punishment.​

Yaxley-Lennon’s legal team argued that his detention in segregation at Woodhill Prison was adversely affecting his mental health. However, the court dismissed these claims, noting that the segregation was necessary for his own protection and did not constitute solitary confinement, as he had opportunities to spend time out of his cell, work, and communicate with family and friends. The 42-year-old self-styled journalist has been a controversial figure in the UK, known for his far-right activism and previous convictions. Despite his claims of support from U.S. billionaire Elon Musk for his legal fees, Musk has not confirmed this. Yaxley-Lennon’s imprisonment has been a focal point for his supporters, who have organised rallies and spread disinformation in his defence.

STORY

The United Kingdom and France have jointly expressed deep concern over escalating gang violence in Haiti, particularly efforts aimed at destabilising the country’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC).​ In a statement released today, both governments condemned reports of criminal gangs coordinating to undermine Haiti’s fragile political transition. They reiterated their support for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is assisting the TPC and the Haitian National Police in combating gang activity and restoring stability.​

“We reiterate our collective support for CARICOM and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission in assisting the TPC and the Haitian National Police to tackle the gangs who continue to cause daily suffering to the Haitian people,” the statement read. “We are committed to maintaining pressure on those who seek to destabilise Haiti via the implementation of sanctions, and we call on authorities to fully implement the sanctions regime in Haiti.”

The joint statement underscores the UK and France’s commitment to supporting Haiti’s efforts to restore democratic institutions and the rule of law. Both nations have pledged to continue applying pressure on those who threaten the country’s stability and to support international initiatives aimed at bringing peace and security to the Haitian people.​ This declaration comes amid ongoing international efforts to address the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, which has been exacerbated by gang violence and political instability. The UK and France’s reaffirmed support highlights the importance of coordinated international action in assisting Haiti during this critical period.

STORY

The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has initiated an investigation into Ernst & Young (EY) concerning its audits of the Post Office’s financial statements from 2015 to 2018. The probe focuses on EY’s compliance with auditing standards, particularly in relation to the Horizon IT system, which has been central to a significant miscarriage of justice involving over 900 sub-postmasters. The Horizon system, developed by Fujitsu, was implemented by the Post Office in 1999 and erroneously indicated financial discrepancies, leading to wrongful prosecutions for theft and false accounting. Despite the Post Office not being classified as a public interest entity, the FRC has taken the unusual step of intervening due to the substantial public interest and the gravity of the scandal.​

The investigation follows a comprehensive public inquiry into the Horizon affair, which concluded its oral hearings recently. The inquiry has already cost over £50 million, and while the government has allocated £1.8 billion for compensation, many affected individuals are still awaiting restitution.​ EY has acknowledged the FRC’s investigation and has pledged full cooperation. The firm emphasised its commitment to upholding high auditing standards and supporting the ongoing efforts to address the consequences of the Horizon scandal.​