Latest news with #AzharAli
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ketamine crisis causing A&E influx
Parts of Lancashire are in the grip of a "ketamine crisis" with the drug causing a surge in visits to A&E amongst those using it, councillors have been warned. County Councillor Daniel Matchett, who works as a mental health nurse, said he had witnessed a "massive influx of ketamine users" in A&E. It comes after a £10.6m grant was given to Lancashire County Council to prevent drug and alcohol-related deaths and help those with addiction issues. Machett said young people were "becoming dependant" on ketamine, a powerful horse tranquiliser and anaesthetic. Ketamine is a licensed drug and can be prescribed medically. However, when misused, it can cause serious and sometimes permanent damage to the bladder, along with other health problems. The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people Matchett told Lancashire County Council's cabinet meeting: "It's prevalent in festivals and everyday life – young people [are] becoming dependent on ketamine and it's a very sad thing to see." He agreed to meet with Progressive Lancashire opposition group leader Azhar Ali and other representatives from East Lancashire to discuss the issue, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. "[There is a] ketamine crisis in places like Burnley…and there is a real need to learn from people who have gone through that experience," Lancashire County Councillor Ali said. The funding from the £10.6m grant aims to cut crime associated with drugs and save the lives of users. It will also be used to help those dependent on alcohol, the council said. In Lancashire, the lion's share of the cash – £8.1m – will go to the Change Grow Live charity to deliver improvements in both drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation, including individual placements. Five other organisations, Red Rose Recovery, The Well Communities, Lancashire Women, Active Lancashire and The Foxton, will receive grants of between £79,000 and £443,000 for their specialist work. Meanwhile, in-patient detox placements will be given £430,000 as part of a consortium with neighbouring local authorities. The council said the overall grant would be used to: Increase "peer support" to encourage uptake of the harm reduction services on offer in the county Enhance the out-of-hours support available to recovering addicts, including at weekends Support those in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system by providing "improved care pathways" to drug treatment services Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Council gets £10m boost for drug and alcohol support Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people Hooked on ketamine - Gen Z's drug of choice Lancashire County Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Lancashire in grip of 'ketamine crisis' amid A&E influx
Parts of Lancashire are in the grip of a "ketamine crisis" with the drug causing a surge in visits to A&E amongst those using it, councillors have been Councillor Daniel Matchett, who works as a mental health nurse, said he had witnessed a "massive influx of ketamine users" in A& comes after a £10.6m grant was given to Lancashire County Council to prevent drug and alcohol-related deaths and help those with addiction said young people were "becoming dependant" on ketamine, a powerful horse tranquiliser and anaesthetic. Ketamine is a licensed drug and can be prescribed medically. However, when misused, it can cause serious and sometimes permanent damage to the bladder, along with other health problems. The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young peopleMatchett told Lancashire County Council's cabinet meeting: "It's prevalent in festivals and everyday life – young people [are] becoming dependent on ketamine and it's a very sad thing to see."He agreed to meet with Progressive Lancashire opposition group leader Azhar Ali and other representatives from East Lancashire to discuss the issue, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said."[There is a] ketamine crisis in places like Burnley…and there is a real need to learn from people who have gone through that experience," Lancashire County Councillor Ali said. Who will get funding? The funding from the £10.6m grant aims to cut crime associated with drugs and save the lives of users. It will also be used to help those dependent on alcohol, the council Lancashire, the lion's share of the cash – £8.1m – will go to the Change Grow Live charity to deliver improvements in both drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation, including individual other organisations, Red Rose Recovery, The Well Communities, Lancashire Women, Active Lancashire and The Foxton, will receive grants of between £79,000 and £443,000 for their specialist in-patient detox placements will be given £430,000 as part of a consortium with neighbouring local council said the overall grant would be used to:Increase "peer support" to encourage uptake of the harm reduction services on offer in the countyEnhance the out-of-hours support available to recovering addicts, including at weekendsSupport those in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system by providing "improved care pathways" to drug treatment services Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Spectator
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Suspended Labour candidate wins in Lancashire
Some real characters being elected today. Remember Azhar Ali? He was dropped as Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election last year after he was recorded claiming that Israel 'allowed' the 7 October massacre, and making dark insinuations about 'Jewish quarters' of the media… Well, Mr Ali (these days an independent) has just been re-elected by the clement people of Lancashire in the ward of Nelson East. He was voted in, too, with a very healthy majority of 874. Result! And then there's Maheen Kamran. She's an 18-year-old aspiring medical student who has just been elected by the good men and women of Burnley Central East with a majority of 268 votes. Who is she? Well, Kamran ran on the interesting platform of wanting the end of 'free mixing' in public spaces… 'Muslim women,' she explained to PoliticsHome, 'aren't really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health.
Telegraph
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour candidate kicked out of party in anti-Semitism row fighting for council seat
A Labour candidate who was kicked out of the party over anti-Semitic rhetoric is fighting to hold onto his council seat. Azhar Ali was dropped by Labour in last year's Rochdale by-election after he was found to have spread a conspiracy theory about the Oct 7 attacks on Israel. But now he is standing as an independent in the Nelson east division of Lancashire county council, which he has represented since 2013. The May 1 contest is said to be a 'litmus test' for anti-Israel sentiment in the area. Mr Ali was formerly the Labour leader of the council and holds an Order of the British Empire medal for services to his community. During the February 2024 Rochdale by-election, Labour pulled its support for Mr Ali after he argued that Israel had 'allowed' the Oct 7 atrocities to happen in order to justify a war in Gaza. 'Deeply offensive and ignorant' He swiftly apologised for the 'deeply offensive, ignorant and false' comments and Labour continued to support his candidacy. But when a subsequent tape showed Mr Ali making insinuations about 'certain Jewish quarters' in the media, he was unceremoniously dropped by Sir Keir Starmer. However, he was still listed as Labour's candidate on the Rochdale ballot paper because it was too late to replace him. He lost the by-election to George Galloway. Mr Ali continued to campaign to win the seat despite the party pulling all resources and support. He came fourth in the election, winning just 7.7 per cent of votes cast. On winning the seat, Mr Galloway said: 'Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza.' The election raised concerns in Labour about falling support in some of Britain's Muslim communities after the party refused to back an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war. At the general election, Labour took back the Rochdale seat from Mr Galloway. Mohammed Iqbal, who was dropped by Labour during the Rochdale by-election for continuing to campaign for Mr Ali, is also standing to retain his Lancashire council seat. 'Appalling conspiracy theory' Lord Walney, the government's outgoing advisor on political violence and disruption, told The Telegraph: 'Azhar Ali's journey from apparent ally of Labour moderates to anti-Labour independent highlights both why it is so important to challenge lingering pockets of anti-Semitism in the party – and the repercussions they can face when they do the right thing. 'In one sense, this election will be a litmus test of the local anti-Israel sentiment that tolerated his appalling conspiracy theory. 'But whatever the result, Labour must remain determined to face down this intolerance and also be mindful of the wider electoral cost across the country if they were seen to bend to it.' Mr Ali first apologised after the Mail on Sunday published a recording of him at a public meeting. On the tape, Mr Ali is heard saying of the Oct 7 massacre: 'The Egyptians are saying that they warned Israel 10 days earlier… Americans warned them a day before [that]… there's something happening. They deliberately took the security off, they allowed… that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want.' In a follow-up story, the Daily Mail reported that Mr Ali blamed 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for 'giving crap' to Andy McDonald, an MP suspended by Labour after he used the controversial phrase 'between the river and the sea' in a speech.
