Hereford appeal over racially-aggravated attack on boy, 14
A 14-year-old boy has been kicked and hit by a group of young people in Hereford, in what police have described as a racially-aggravated attack.The teenager was attacked in a park area off Westfaling Street by a group who also used racial slurs to verbally abuse him.Police said the group behind the attack, which happened at about 20:50 BST on 17 May, was thought to include 10 to 15 boys of a similar age to the boy.Officers, who are appealing for witnesses, said one of the group was believed to be wearing a pink jacket and blue jeans. Police said the boy who was attacked was not injured.
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The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Government expected to unveil welfare concessions after talks with Labour rebels
Labour rebels are understood to have been offered concessions by the Government on its controversial welfare reforms, with an announcement expected shortly. Number 10 had been locked in crisis talks with backbenchers after some 126 MPs within the party signed an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks. On Thursday night, sources said a deal was being thrashed out between leading rebels and the Government as it seeks to head off the prospect of Sir Keir Starmer's first Commons defeat in a crunch vote next week. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has its second reading on Tuesday, the first opportunity for MPs to support or reject it. If the legislation clears its first hurdle, it will then face a few hours' examination by all MPs the following week – rather than days or weeks in front of a committee tasked with looking at the Bill. The Government's original package restricted eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limited the sickness-related element of universal credit. Existing claimants were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition by aiming to soften the impact of the changes. However, concessions offered by the Government to save the Bill from defeat are understood to include a commitment that those currently receiving Pip will continue to get the allowance. This would protect some 370,000 existing claimants who were expected to lose out following reassessment. Ministers had hoped the reforms would get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year, but fresh changes such as these would leave Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to find more money elsewhere. Rebels had also been calling for the Government to row back on a freeze in the health element of universal credit, which was expected to lead to a £450 real decline in support for some 2.2 million existing claimants. The Government had earlier said it was listening to suggestions to improve the legislation amid concerns about the swift timetable of the Bill. The so-called 'reasoned amendment' led by Treasury select committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier had argued that disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed. Speaking in the Commons earlier, Sir Keir told MPs he wanted the reforms to demonstrate 'Labour values of fairness' and that discussions about the changes would continue over the coming days. He said there was 'consensus across the House on the urgent need for reform' of the 'broken' welfare system. 'I know colleagues across the House are eager to start fixing that, and so am I, and that all colleagues want to get this right, and so do I,' he said. 'We want to see reform implemented with Labour values of fairness. 'That conversation will continue in the coming days, so we can begin making change together on Tuesday.' There was mixed reaction among charities to the prospect of concessions. Learning disability charity Mencap said the news would be a 'huge relief to thousands of people living in fear of what the future holds'. 'It is the right thing to do and sends a clear message – cutting disability benefits is not a fair way to mend the black hole in the public purse,' director of strategy Jackie O'Sullivan said. But the MS Society urged rebels to hold firm and block the Bill, insisting any Government offer to water down the reforms would amount to 'kicking the can down the road and delaying an inevitable disaster'. Head of campaigns at the charity, Charlotte Gill, said: 'We urge MPs not to be swayed by these last ditch attempts to force through a harmful Bill with supposed concessions. 'The only way to avoid a catastrophe today and in the future is to stop the cuts altogether by halting the Bill in its tracks.' The Tories described concessions as 'the latest in a growing list of screeching U-turns' from the Government. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'Under pressure from his own MPs Starmer has made another completely unfunded spending commitment. 'Labour's welfare chaos will cost hardworking taxpayers. 'We can't afford Labour.'
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘I don't know if I'm going to feel normal again' Child Q says over strip search
A black woman who was strip-searched by two Metropolitan Police officers after being wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis when she was a schoolgirl said she does not know if she is 'going to feel normal again'. The woman, known as Child Q, was 15 years old and on her period when she was searched at school by officers in Hackney, east London on in December 3 2020 On Thursday, a disciplinary panel found Pc Kristina Linge and Pc Rafal Szmydynski had committed gross misconduct during the 'disproportionate' and 'humiliating' incident, and the officers were dismissed from the force without notice. The 'traumatic' search involved the removal of Child Q's clothing, including her underwear, her bending over and having to expose intimate parts of her body, the police disciplinary panel heard. In a family statement released by Bhatt Murphy Solicitors after the hearing, Child Q said: 'Someone walked into the school, where I was supposed to feel safe, took me away from the people who were supposed to protect me and stripped me naked, while on my period. 'I can't go a single day without wanting to scream, shout, cry or just give up. 'I don't know if I'm going to feel normal again. But I do know this can't happen to anyone, ever again.' Child Q's mother said the Metropolitan Police has a 'huge amount' of work to do if they are to win back the confidence of black Londoners. In the statement, she said: 'Professionals wrongly treated my daughter as an adult and as a criminal, and she is a changed person as a result. 'Was it because of her skin? Her hair? Why her? 'After waiting more than four years I have come every day to the gross misconduct hearing for answers, and although I am relieved that two of the officers have been fired, I believe that the Metropolitan Police still has a huge amount of work to do if they are to win back the confidence of black Londoners.' The tribunal heard authorisation was not sought for the intimate search, which left Child Q feeling 'demeaned' and 'physically violated'. An appropriate adult was not present, a key safeguard of a child's rights, and the girl's mother was not told of the situation. A third officer – Pc Victoria Wray – was given a final written warning after her involvement on the day was found to amount to misconduct. She was a 24-year-old probationary officer at the time and arrived at the scene after the key decisions had been made. Panel chairman Commander Jason Prins said: 'There has been enormous harm to Child Q and significant harm to the community in trusting the police.' Earlier he had described the incident as 'a disastrous and negative interaction' between police and a black teenager, but said race had not been the reason why Child Q was treated so badly. The search was 'disproportionate, inappropriate and unnecessary', and it was 'humiliating' for the child and made her feel 'degraded'. Commander Prins said 'this is a case where officers adopted a simplistic approach' to a sensitive matter and they did not follow the training they were given. Authorisation was not sought and the situation 'cried out for advice and input', he added. Child Q did not give evidence at the four-week hearing 'because of the psychological effects that this strip search has had on her', the panel heard. Outrage over Child Q's treatment led to protests outside Stoke Newington police station in north London, after a safeguarding review found she had arrived at school for a mock exam and was taken to the medical room to be strip-searched while teachers remained outside. After the misconduct panel finding, Amanda Rowe, director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which brought the case, said of the officers: 'Their decision to strip-search a 15-year-old at school on suspicion of a small amount of cannabis was completely disproportionate. 'They failed to follow the policies that exist to ensure that children in these situations have appropriate protective measures in place.' Teachers had already searched Child Q's blazer, shoes and school bag, and no drugs were found. The school's safeguarding deputy had called police, amid fears Child Q could have been carrying drugs for someone, being exploited or groomed in the community, which meant it was a safeguarding issue for her and other school pupils. Pc Szmydynski took a 'leading role' in the actions that day, including calling for a second female officer to attend, in line with a more intimate search taking place. Pc Linge told Child Q she would be arrested if she did not consent to being searched. Pc Szmydynski was 39 and had more than 13 years policing experience at the time of the search, after becoming a police community support officer in 2007 and a constable in November 2014. Pc Linge was 41 and had joined the force in August 2018. Child Q told Pcs Linge and Wray, who searched her, that she was menstruating, but the search continued, during which her sanitary pad was exposed. When no drugs were found after the strip search, Child Q's hair was also scoured. With no adult present, the teenager was alone and had no help during her conversations with police, or when the decision was made to perform a strip search. No consideration was given as to whether the search could have been moved to Child Q's home, a police station or if it needed to happen at all, according to Commander Prins. It was suggested the police felt the safeguarding deputy, who had accepted in her evidence to feeling 'Child Q was stoned', was acting as the appropriate adult. But Commander Prins added: 'Child Q's mother was a strong choice to be an appropriate adult and, equally, a member of staff who had not been involved in the incident.' The hearing was also told that Metropolitan Police officers get no further updates on stop and search after initial training, and the training on conducting searches in schools was described as 'insufficient'. After the hearing, Metropolitan Police Commander Kevin Southworth told the PA news agency: 'I think we should start by offering our sincerest and deepest apologies again to Child Q for what happened that day and also to her family, her friends, the community, and everyone affected by this terrible incident. 'We understand the distress it must've caused within the community and on Child Q herself and hopefully we can reassure people that we've transformed our approach to stop and search since this time in order to make sure that something like this never happens again.' He had also said: 'While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organisational failings. 'Training to our officers around strip-search and the type of search carried out on Child Q was inadequate, and our oversight of the power was also severely lacking. 'This left officers, often young in service or junior in rank, making difficult decisions in complex situations with little information, support, or clear resources to help their decision-making.'
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Knives out for 'the real deputy PM' as Sue Gray seeks revenge on the man who helped oust her, reveals ANDREW PIERCE
At a glitzy fundraising gala for one of Labour 's rising stars on Monday night, the mood was buoyant. The party faithful cheered speakers including Lord Mandelson, now ambassador to Washington, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones. Unusually, another figure who prefers to lurk in the shadows was spotted at the event, where tickets cost up to £200. Standing quietly to the side in the Ev Turkish restaurant in Southwark was Morgan McSweeney, 48, the No 10 chief of staff. Labour insiders tell me that McSweeney is the real Deputy Prime Minister, wielding far more clout than the hapless Angela Rayner, who carries that title 'in name only'. Perhaps McSweeney's attendance was unsurprising. After all, the purpose of the event was to raise money for his wife: Imogen Walker, the Labour member for Hamilton and Clyde Valley. She became an MP only at last year's election, but is already rising fast. She is parliamentary private secretary to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, so McSweeney has eyes and ears in the heart of the Treasury as well as at No 10. Today, as Labour's civil war escalates over the Government's plan to cut billions from the ballooning disability benefits bill, McSweeney's unshakeable grip on the party machine – and his reputation as one of the canniest operators in Westminster – appears to be collapsing. Yesterday, reports emerged that unnamed Labour MPs have been demanding 'regime change' in No 10 – and the ousting of Starmer's team of 'over-excitable boys'. One authoritative source tells me: 'What they mean by 'regime change' is 'sack McSweeney'. We haven't even got to the Government's first anniversary next week but the No 10 kitchen cabinet already has bunker mentality. Morgan has been semi-detached from the benefits row, which is hugely damaging.' This very point was underlined by Starmer on Wednesday at the Nato summit in Holland. The PM waved away the benefits row – which could yet see a sensational defeat for his government despite its vast majority of 165 – as 'noises off'. This airy dismissal saw the number of rebels swell to almost 130, among them, crucially, 14 select committee chairmen: senior MPs immune to the usual threats and blandishments from party whips. The opponents need only 83 MPs to scupper the Bill and inflict a humiliating defeat on Starmer next week. A second source tells me: 'Keir seems more exercised by managing relations with Donald Trump than he is with his own backbenchers.' Once again, insiders point to the hand of McSweeney. In February, he was photographed sitting near Starmer in the White House when the PM met Trump. My source adds: 'McSweeney thinks 'Starmer the international statesman' plays well with voters. But what voters actually see is: Keir's never here.' Yesterday, research from the BBC showed that Starmer has voted in the Commons on fewer occasions in his first year as PM than all his recent predecessors (excluding Liz Truss's brief tenure): just seven times, barely half the record managed by runner-up Tony Blair. Boris Johnson came top with 57. As the welfare blame-game swirls, I can reveal that two sides are forming in the Downing Street bunker. In one corner is McSweeney, who I'm told is 'obsessed' with the threat posed by Reform after Nigel Farage's stunning recent successes in the local elections and the Runcorn by-election. In the other corner is Liz Lloyd, a Downing Street veteran and Starmer's 'director of policy delivery'. While Morgan worries about Reform, Lloyd wants more emphasis on economic growth and schools policy. Morgan sees cutting sickness benefits as playing well with Reform voters – but Labour MPs are unconvinced the policy is worth it. 'Team Morgan is in denial and in chaos,' says one furious party figure. 'They're making things worse, not better. It's one thing to shake up welfare to try to get millions of economically inactive people back into work – but this is targeting the sick and disabled. Keir has a tin ear because he's been listening to Morgan for too long.' Only yesterday, a YouGov poll, the most extensive since the general election, showed Labour on course to plunge from 411 MPs to 178 at the next election – with Reform roaring ahead to become the largest party on 271 seats. Starmer's personal rating is at a record low of minus 46 per cent. McSweeney cites such polls as vindication for his emphasis on fighting Reform – but his enemies say that Starmer, as a self-professed socialist, is never going to convince voters he's 'Farage-lite', and that Labour's best approach is instead to tack to the Left to see off the threat of the Greens and Lib Dems. Friends of McSweeney have told me there are rumours that the briefing against him is coming from Louise Haigh – sacked as Transport Secretary by Starmer last year and still smarting. McSweeney fired her in November after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade earlier. Haigh is close to Baroness (Sue) Gray, who was ousted by McSweeney as chief of staff in October after just three months in the job. Gray, the former 'neutral' civil servant who helped defenestrate Boris Johnson during the 'Partygate' farrago – and who went on to sign up as a paid senior Labour official – was blamed for the ugly PR debacle over free suits and spectacles greedily accepted by Starmer and other senior Labour figures from donor Lord Alli. Many Labour MPs have convinced themselves that purple-haired Haigh was hard done by – and that 'macho' McSweeney went too far. Gray is said to be bitter on a personal level, too – and loathes McSweeney for orchestrating her early political demise. 'This is Lou and Sue's revenge on Morgan,' one senior female Labour adviser tells me. 'Sue will be wryly observing the unfolding chaos in the Downing Street machine, which she used to run, from her new perch in the Lords.' Labour ultra-grandee Tony Blair, too, is said to be privately critical of McSweeney's approach. The buck, however, ultimately stops not with McSweeney, but with Starmer. The PM's critics say he lacks any serious political convictions or instincts, having entered Parliament in 2015 after decades as a human rights lawyer, and having run for the party leadership on a far-Left Corbynista ticket before tacking to the centre ground to woo Middle England at the election, before finally governing on an unoriginal Old Labour tax-and-spend playbook. Starmer likes to think of McSweeney as his political barometer – yet the equipment seems increasingly faulty. According to party lore, Irishman McSweeney – who came to Britain aged 17 – was on a placement to Labour's Millbank HQ a few days before the 2001 general election when a receptionist dropped a vase on her foot and had to be signed off work. McSweeney, the story goes, was asked to step in and man the desk – and has never looked back. (Interestingly, Lord Mandelson, who was a fixture at Labour HQ during the campaign, has no recollection of the 24-year-old manning the reception desk – and to this day, several members of Blair's Cabinet are bewildered by McSweeney's rise.) Regardless, he eventually made his name running Labour Together: a think-tank set up to engineer the end of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership during the 2010s. After Corbyn led his party to its worst election defeat since 1935 in 2019, McSweeney moved effortlessly to Starmer's side, with the new leader appointing him as his chief of staff. At Monday night's fundraiser, thousands of pounds were raised for Imogen Walker's constituency work. Yet it may all be for little: yesterday's doom-laden poll predicts she will lose her Commons seat at the next election. If the rumbles of discontent over the No 10 operation grow louder still, it may be that McSweeney is out of a job even sooner than his wife – and you can be sure that Blair's former adviser Liz Lloyd will happily take his place.
