Gossip: Lewis-Skelly set to sign new deal
Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, is expected to sign a new contract at Arsenal this summer, with the Gunners keen to ward off rumoured interest in the England defender from Real Madrid. (Mail), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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Times
16 minutes ago
- Times
Plea to Starmer over ‘devastating' cost of employment rights bill
Businesses keeping Britain's hospitals, train stations, airports, offices, warehouses and factories clean, maintained and secure have warned the prime minister of the 'devastating impact' of the government's employment rights bill. In an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner and the business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the 128 companies — including the sector leaders OCS Group, Churchill Group and Mitie — urged the government to rethink its plans. The letter highlighted what its authors believe will be the 'serious unintended consequences' from the large-scale changes to employment law proposed by the legislation, which is passing through parliament. The reforms include making protection from unfair dismissal a right from the first day of employment, increased union representation and more generous sick pay, which has to be paid for by businesses. • Workers' bill 'won't work unless tribunal backlog is cleared' 'We are deeply concerned that some of the bill's provisions … could harm both good employers and the very employees that the bill seeks to protect,' the authors of the letter say. The additional costs or risks of hiring the wrong person for a role would 'force some employers to reduce staff headcount or reduce their hours, turn down new contracts, or even exit the market altogether,' they added. Dominic Ponniah, chief executive of the office and commercial cleaning company Cleanology and a co-author of the letter, said concerns had been building about the negative impact of the legislation for some months, but they had come to a head once facilities management firms had seen the impact on their operating costs of April's rise in employers' national insurance to 15 per cent. 'Suddenly people are feeling that on their bottom lines and we need to make our voice heard,' he said. The 128 signatories of the letter also include Josie Marshall-Deane, regional director of OCS Group, whose services include passenger screening, surveillance and emergency response at airports, and Charlotte Parr, executive director of Churchill Group, which is majority-owned by 10,000 of its employees and works to maintain social housing for housing associations, among other services. The facilities management industry overall employs 1.4 million people and generates £60 billion for the economy, making it many times more important for economic growth than other more favoured industries such as fashion and farming, the authors note. It is dominated by thousands of small and medium-sized companies, typically operating on tight profit margins. They said the changes to employment law 'risk penalising the good companies while doing little to deter the bad players'. The companies make clear their support for the government's efforts to tackle exploitative labour practices and establish fair treatment of agency workers. The government is phasing in the introduction of the new rights, which it has calculated could add £5 billion in costs to the economy each year. Smaller companies will be hit disproportionately, it acknowledges. It has said most of the new rules would not take effect until next year. A Government spokesperson said: 'Insecurity and poor health at work aren't just bad for workers, they also impact productivity and drive down competitiveness in businesses and the wider economy. 'That's why through our transformative plan for change, this government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation, and our measures already have strong support amongst business and the public. 'We've consulted extensively with business on our proposals, and we will engage on the implementation of legislation to ensure it works for employers and puts money back into the pockets of working people.'
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Emmerdale icon 'set for shock return to the Dales after years away in explosive new storyline'
Champagne corks will be popping at The Woolpack as Emmerdale 's beloved barmaid Bernice Blackstock is reportedly making a comeback. According to The Sun, actress Samantha Giles, 53, is set to return to the ITV soap after two years off-screen. However, fans will reportedly have to savour every moment of her scenes, as her return is expected to be brief. Samantha's character Bernice is said to be back in the Dales for Gabby and Vinny's wedding, with filming due to start in a couple of weeks. A source told the publication: 'Everything is being kept very hush-hush but of course, Bernice's return is a big deal as one of the soap's most loved characters. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'And Samantha being back among the cast is a real win too, as everyone loves working with her.' MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment. Samantha first joined Emmerdale in November 1998 and stayed until April 2002. She returned for two further stints, once in 2004 and again in 2023. She left the show two years ago to pursue other opportunities, including a theatre production of The Syndicate. During an interview at the time, Samatha was asked if she would ever return to Emmerdale. She replied: 'I don't feel I'd want to go back to Emmerdale at the moment. I'm enjoying doing other things, and the show changes. 'I haven't had a chance to see what's going on with the show, so I don't know whether Bernice would fit into it at the moment. She added: 'Who knows? They might not want the character to come back.' A source told the publication: 'Everything is being kept very hush-hush but of course, Bernice's return is a big deal as one of the soap's most loved characters' (pictured 2023) Samantha's character Bernice is said to be back in the Dales for Gabby and Vinny's wedding, with filming due to start in a couple of weeks (Rosie Bentham and Bradley Johnson pictured in April) In 2023, Samantha called time on playing barmaid Bernice Blackstock after 25 years. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Bernice Blackstock has been in and out of Emmerdale village more than they change the barrels at The Woolpack. 'She's always welcomed back with open arms by ITV and fans alike, but it's now becoming a bit of a running joke. 'It wouldn't pay to bet on whether Samantha will one day be back, but for now, she will leave the soap later this year.' During her stint on the show, Samantha's character was involved in a whole host of dramatic storylines, and she was awarded Best Soap Actress at the 2000 TV Quick Awards. She originally exited the show in 2002 before joining the cast of Hollyoaks in 2008 as Valerie Holden, a role she played for two years. Samantha then returned to the dales in 2012 for a seven-year stretch before leaving again to pen her children's book Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jamie Laing gives sweet message of support to best pal Sam Thompson during his 260-mile endurance challenge - after Made In Chelsea star's own gruelling charity marathon
surprised his close pal Sam Thompson with a motivational facetime call as he prepares for day four of his 260-mile endurance challenge. The I'm A Celeb star, 34, who is taking part in a Soccer Aid Challenge and has raised over £604,000 so far, received a sweet message of support from his former Made In Chelsea co-star. After suffering in his own gruelling charity marathon, Jamie, 36, knew exactly how Sam was feeling as he approached the half way mark. The BBC Radio 1 presenter had the whole nation behind him as he ran 30 miles for five consecutive days across the country in March, raising an incredible £2.3m. 'It's day three baby, it's the worst. It's the worst', Jamie laughed. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sam screamed: 'I can't move man! My Leg!' Jamie said: 'Listen, I've been there. I know how hard it is and your body is screaming for you to give up. Every single moment, you just keep going. 'One foot in front of the other, you don't stop.' Sam teared up: 'Seeing your face just then has literally just made my day. I remember watching you doing your runs and being like your an inspiration man. 'The fact that you're just giving me your energy and your time man, I'm so grateful.' Jamie said: 'You're doing the best thing ever, you're doing it for the best cause. Let's keep going, I adore you, I love you, everyone's behind you, you're the greatest.' 'You got this Sam!', Jamie's wife Sophie Habboo cheered in the background. To complete the challenge, Sam is expected to run a marathon for five days and cycle in between, ensuring the ball arrives on June 6, just in time for kickoff on Sunday, June 15. Day three saw him set off from Villa Park, Birmingham and pass through Walsall, Cannock, Stafford and Stone on his way to Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent. Pete Wicks hilariously parodied Sam's ex Zara McDermott 's famous 'you can!' moment from Made In Chelsea as he supported him on his challenge on Wednesday. Sam was surprised by Pete during the latest segment where he held up a sign and shouted to his pal. The 'you can!' refers to a now iconic Made In Chelsea scene where Zara begs for Sam back after cheating on him during her time on Celebrity X Factor in 2019. Zara and Sam then split for good earlier this year - with the former Love Island now moving on with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. In a video shared on Pete and Sam's Staying Relevant podcast TikTok page Pete is seen screaming 'you can!' at Sam - sending him into fits of giggles on his bike. The sign read: 'You can do it... YOU CAAAN!' as Pete shouted it in the same tone that Zara had as she insisted that Sam could forgive her for her infidelities all those years ago. Earlier in the day Sam broke down in tears as pal Pete surprised him to mark half way of his 'intensely painful' challenge. Sam, who sustained a 'significant' injured his calf earlier in the week, threw his arms around his friend, 37, before telling MailOnline the reunion 'made his day'. As Pete strolled up, Sam became overwhelmed to see the friendly face amid day three of him cycling and running another whopping 49 miles. The TV star has been given the task to travel a mammoth 260-mile journey on both bike and foot to deliver the match ball to its new home in Old Trafford, with the hope of raising much-needed funds for Unicef. He told MailOnline: 'Seeing Pete half way made my day. The pain is so intense but this has put a smile on my face'. Before adding: 'Please donate if you can, I'm so grateful for all the support'. Before setting off on Monday, Pete shared a gushing tribute to his pal on Instagram writing: 'Tomorrow this man embarks on a mental and physical challenge for an amazing cause @Unicef.' 'Mate I couldn't be prouder of you as a friend, a brother and as a man. You are gonna push yourself to the limit and I can't wait to watch you complete this f**king mammoth task. 'I know how much work you've put in and I know you're doing it for the right reasons'. Before setting off on Monday, Pete shared a gushing tribute to his pal on Instagram writing: 'Tomorrow this man embarks on a mental and physical challenge for an amazing cause' He continued: 'Just so you know, you're doing it with every single one of your friends and family right behind you. I hope the nation follows your journey and helps you along the way in donations and support. You are an inspiration to me and many others and I admire the man you've become this year more than any other year I've known you. Good luck brother, you've got this' Still battling forwards with an injured calf and given the green light by the medical team, the reality star was determined to complete the challenge. He said: 'This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I now have to accept that I've done damage to my calf and running is very difficult'. 'But I can and will carry on, not matter what, on two feet and two pedals, I'm still going to get there and get across the finish line on Friday. It's just going to be longer, harder but my reason for doing it still hasn't changed. I really hope people are digging deep for UNICEF, seeing what I'm trying to do and are getting behind this challenge.' Speaking about Sam's injury, on the road physio, Gary Lewin said: 'Sam has got a significant injury to his calf. We tried to take the weight off of it yesterday by giving him a bike day and in the afternoon he said it felt better, so we tried a bit of walking'. 'He can't put much weight on it. My advice today is we're going to start out with a walk today and then cycle and see how we get on. He's in safe hands and medical advice is he can continue'.
