Birmingham bin strike could last until December after union vote
Bin worker strikes in Birmingham could last until December, after they voted to continue industrial action in a dispute over pay and jobs, according to union Unite.On-and-off strike action began on 6 January with 12 walkouts planned across four months, and the union began an indefinite all-out strike on 11 March.
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Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trans lobby groups 'lied for years' that anyone self identifying as a different gender could access women's' toilets, equality chief says
Transgender people were misled about their rights to female only spaces by lobby groups, according to a senior member of an equality watchdog has said. In April a Supreme Court ruling confirmed the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Akua Reindorf, a barrister who is one of eight commissioners at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said trans people had been deceived about their rights were. Speaking in a personal capacity during a debate about the recent ruling, she said there must be a 'period of correction' to acknowledge women's right to women-only spaces. The decision made it legal for trans people to be banned from women-only sports teams, and from using bathrooms and changing rooms for the gender they lived as. These terms were later supported by interim non-statutory advice given by the EHRC last April. When an audience member at the debate raised fears about the recent Supreme Court ruling and how it could strip away trans peoples rights, barrister and panellist, Naomi Cunningham said: 'It can't be helped, I'm afraid.' In agreement with her fellow panellist, Ms Reindorf said she believed trans lobbyists were at faults for the misunderstanding. 'Unfortunately, young people and trans people have been lied to over many years about what their rights are,' she said. 'It's like Naomi said – I just can't say it in a more diplomatic way than that. They have been lied to, and there has to be a period of correction, because other people have rights' She claimed it boiled down to the law prior to the Supreme Court ruling being misunderstood due to groups contending trans people who self-identified should be treated as their preferred gender. However, this was only the case for the those who had obtained a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The barrister said the amalgamation of different rights made the Equality Act nonviable from a personal capacity. 'The catalyst for many to catch up, belatedly, with the fact that the law never permitted self-ID in the first place,' she said. As such, the feeling of a loss of right of trans people was due to an overwhelming product of 'misinformation' perpetrated by 'lobby group and activists'. Author JK Rowling backed the barrister's recent comments, saying lobby groups lied 'about what the law said'.' However, the head of gender justice at Amnesty International UK, Chiara Capraro, hit back Ms Reindorf's comments. She said: 'The EHRC has the duty to uphold the rights of everyone, including all with protected characteristics. We are concerned that it is failing to do so and is unhelpfully pitting the rights of women and trans people against each other.' A spokesman for the EHRC told The Guardian: 'Akua Reindorf KC spoke at this event in a personal capacity. This was made clear at the event and in the video recording published online. 'As Britain's equality regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission upholds and enforces the Equality Act 2010 to ensure everyone is treated fairly, consistent with the Act. 'Our board come from all walks of life and bring with them a breadth of skills and experience. This helps us take impartial decisions, which are always based on evidence and the law.'
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Five members of same family jailed for 17 years over £136,000 fake armed robbery plot at Post Office
Five members of the same family have been jailed for their involvement in a plot to conceal over £130,000 stolen from a Post Office in a staged armed robbery. Taxi driver Rajvinder Kahlon, 43, pretended to be an armed robber as part of the plot at the branch in Hounslow, west London. Kahlon, of Great West Road, Hounslow, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday after being convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to steal from the Post Office, and conspiracy to money launder. Metropolitan Police officers had responded to reports on April 1 last year of an armed robbery at the Post Office within a convenience store in Brabazon Road, Hounslow. Two women working at the branch, sub-postmistress Sunaver Dhillon, 68, and Ramandeep Dhillon, 40, both of Lyne Road, Virginia Water, lied to officers that they had been threatened by a man with a pistol who stole £50,000, as well as the branch's CCTV system. The court heard that money from a safe and a CCTV hard disc had already been removed by Kahlon's cousin Sukhvir Dhillon, the husband of Ramandeep Dhillon and son of Sunaver Dhillon, before the staged robbery. Police analysis of Kahlon's phone showed he was in regular contact with Sukhvir Dhillon, 38, the court heard. Her Honour Judge Lindsey Rose said of the family's fake robbery: 'It meant many resources were deployed to the Post Office when they could have been deployed elsewhere where they may have saved others, all because of your greed and conniving in pretending this was an armed robbery.' Kahlon was initially arrested and appeared at Isleworth Crown Court charged with the armed robbery of Ramandeep Dhillon and Sunaver Dhillon before the inside job was revealed. Kahlon indicated at a pre-trial review that he was willing to plead guilty to the bogus charge before the prosecution requested he was not arraigned. Sentencing Kahlon, Judge Rose said: 'You were the fall guy for this, the robber who failed at his role. 'You were even willing to enter a guilty plea that would have seen you serve a sentence of years' imprisonment for a crime you didn't commit.' The judge said Kahlon was 'hoping to be paid handsomely by Sukhvir Dhillon' for keeping quiet, adding that the family's lies were 'maintained over the investigation and prosecution of Mr Kahlon'. Detectives from the Met's Flying Squad identified Kahlon from CCTV, tracking him to a nearby car which was registered to him. Kahlon's DNA was also found on a metal fence that he cut himself on as he fled the scene. Elroy Claxton, mitigating for Kahlon, said his client became involved in the plot because of 'an overpowering of his mind by brotherly love'. He added that Kahlon was 'remorseful' and denied ever having a firearm in his possession or transferring money over borders. An audit by the Post Office found that the actual amount of money missing from the store was around £136,000 - none of the money was ever recovered. The court heard that some of the stolen money may have been sent to India and Canada while they travelled to those countries. Sentencing the family, the judge said: 'You carefully planned a false robbery at a time when you knew the maximum amount of money would be at the Post Office. 'You lied and lied again to try to get away with this.' Judge Rose said the Dhillon family's expenditure and lifestyle far exceeded their income. The judge told them: 'You enjoyed multiple expensive cars, holidays and houses - including a very large house in Virginia Water that enjoyed an expensive renovation.' Sukhvir Dhillon, of Lyne Road, Virginia Water, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for his part in the conspiracy after being found guilty of the same charges as Kahlon at Isleworth Crown Court on March 27. Sentencing Sukhvir Dhillon, Judge Rose said: 'You were the person that was the lead of this offence, you planned what would happen, organised it and put everyone in place.' Sunaver Dhillon, mother of Sukhvir Dhillon, was sentenced to three years and one months' imprisonment for her part in the conspiracy after being found guilty of the same charges as Kahlon. Sentencing her, Judge Rose said: 'You went to work to give an air of authenticity to this crime, making sure the safe was open and using your role as sub-postmistress to make sure the maximum amount could be taken.' Ramandeep Dhillon, the wife of Sukhvir Dhillon, was sentenced to two years and five months' imprisonment for the same charges. Sentencing her, Judge Rose said: 'You were no doubt brought in for your acting abilities, happy to play your part in acting scared and upset by this fake robbery. You even lied about there being a gun.' Another family member, Mandeep Gill, 45, was sentenced to two years and four months' imprisonment, after being found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to money launder. Gill was not brought into the conspiracy until after the false police report was made, with prosecutor Richard Reynolds adding that her role was 'lesser than the others'. Mr Reynolds said the conspiracy was a 'particularly cynical plan' in light of the Post Office Horizon controversy, adding that it came at a time when 'public awareness and concern around the Horizon scandal was at its absolute peak'. A Post Office spokesperson said: 'We want to publicly thank the Metropolitan Police for its very thorough investigation into this staged armed robbery which was solved using CCTV footage, DNA evidence and other data to identify those involved with this crime.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Shoppers are running to B&M to buy 1960s retro lamp that's 50p instead of £20
SHOPPERS are running to B&M to buy a retro 1960s lamp scanning for 50p instead of £20. Eagle-eyed customers could not believe their luck when they found a black lava lamp scanning for just a few pence in the bargain store. 1 The funky lamp comes with a special coloured wax mixture inside that moves around, creating a mesmerising effect. B&M's take on the retro light also comes with a bluetooth speaker, which lets shoppers play music through their smart device. The deal was shared on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains Facebook group, with many savvy shoppers praising the find. One customer said they "wanted two," while another said their local store never has deals this good. The lamp appeared to be scanning for £20 on shelves, but found the £19.50 reduction by using the B&M Scanner App. The tool allows customers to discover discounted items before the staff have even reduced them. Often, products will be marked down in the system, but the staff haven't had the chance to change display prices. It is free to download on the app store on to your mobile device. One shopper recently bagged you can bagged £20 furniture at B&M for just £1 by using the device. Another customers saved over £225 thanks to the B&M scanner app. B&M shopper rushes to buy energy-saving gadget scanning for £1 instead of £35 If you are keen to shop the lava lamp, you will need to head to one of B&M's 770 stores across the UK because the retailer does not offer home delivery. With that in mind it may be worth ringing up your local branch ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You can find your nearest B&M by visiting And that is not the bargain spotted at stores in recent weeks. Parents have been rushing to B&M to take advantage of its £1 toy sale. Savvy shoppers have managed to pick up everything from Sports Racer cars, Monster High bags, a toddler DJ set and a DIY jewellery kit in stores. HOW TO SAVE AT B&M The best time to get cut-price products is 10am on a Wednesday, according to one ex B&M manager. This is when staff slash items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new products. Deals expert Tom Church said to keep an eye out for red sticker products as well. These are added to special buy products that have been reduced in price. It's worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too. Two worth joining are B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More, and Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
