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Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times
How would Reform fix ‘lawless Britain'?
Every week is now crime week for Reform UK. As MPs have retreated to their constituencies over the summer to tend to grassroots campaigning, Nigel Farage is filling the void with a run of announcements on his new favourite theme: crime and the rising levels of antisocial behaviour. His pitch, bleakly entitled 'Britain is lawless', seeks to capitalise on general unease about rising criminality and a sense that offences are not being pursued or prosecuted with sufficient vigour. Mr Farage ramped up his rhetoric yesterday by calling for the ethnicity of suspects charged with rape and sexual assaults to be made public. Citing the wave of protests at hotels housing asylum seekers, he said there was 'rising public anger' over the issue. He also spoke of a 'cover-up', citing the controversy over Warwickshire police's decision not to release the immigration status of two men arrested for the alleged rape of a girl in Nuneaton. Reform's leader said the illegal asylum problem was no longer only about fairness for taxpayers but the 'safety of women and children'. Mr Farage has a point on data. It is troubling that there has been a five-fold increase in convictions in which ethnicity has not been recorded. Police may feel squeamish about publishing such data but failing to do so will encourage the belief, happily promoted by the far right, that there is something to hide. Neil O'Brien, the Conservative MP, has warned that this culture of secrecy also makes it harder to join the dots in tackling crime. Equal candour is needed in disclosing how many criminals have been born abroad and how many have entered illegally. Voters are entitled to know. As part of its push on crime Reform has appointed Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor, as the party's new adviser on criminal justice. Ms Frake promoted 'super-max' prisons, inspired by institutions in America for prisoners who are considered incapable of rehabilitation. She claimed these tougher institutions would 'restore law and order' and end the 'sorry tale' that is Britain's crumbling penal system. Yet, as is often the case within Reform, Ms Frake has found herself immediately at odds with the party's leadership. She believes, wrongly, there should be no blanket ban on trans women in female prisons, preferring for prisoners to be assessed individually. This fracas highlights a continuing problem within Reform. While it — or rather, Mr Farage — is adept at tapping into the public mood, fully thought-through solutions are lacking. In his understanding of public sentiment outside the Westminster bubble, Mr Farage has sensibly heeded the advice of Jonathan Swift: 'It is the folly of too many to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house for the voice of the kingdom.' Mr Farage was one of the first to sound the alarm over small boats and on the mark when it came to the excesses of net zero. The same is true of his focus on tackling the likes of shoplifting and muggings. Crime is fertile territory for Reform. Both Conservative and Labour administrations have failed to concentrate sufficiently on combating crime, ignoring the public's deep disquiet about the issue. The problem is Mr Farage's persistent failure to equip rhetoric with costings. His plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers, send prisoners overseas and construct five new prisons are as yet unfunded but likely to cost some £17.4 billion. Mr Farage says Britain cannot afford not to act. Many will agree, but he needs to submit the invoice.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Twelve 'harmed' in Durham NHS hospital's breast cancer error
A serious failure in breast cancer care at a hospital trust has led to 12 patients being harmed and triggered investigations into 60 more cases, a health board has County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust previously apologised for distress caused to patients and their families after it said some women received "more extensive surgery than was clinically necessary at the time".Following the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) review, 12 patients have been contacted to discuss failings of care which has led them to harm. Dr Neil O'Brien, Chief Medical Officer for the region, said "immediate mitigations" were put in place as soon as alerts were raised. "As soon as we knew, as soon as alerts were raised we put in immediate mitigations to keep people safe. "We are committed to going back and looking at every single woman who may well have been affected by this and ensuring that any treatment inefficiencies are corrected," he told the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) annual meeting. The 12 patients met a threshold of "duty of candour" which is where failings of care have led to harm, the RCS report revealed cancers that were missed, mastectomies that may not have been necessary, incidents of chemotherapy not being offered and surgery undertaken to remove lymph nodes when not clinically necessary. More than 200 cases have been been identified so far, but the trust said it could include thousands of cases dating back to 2019, mainly at the University Hospital of North Durham - with a number of patient deaths also being investigated.A national clinical investigation team has been set up with experts from across the country, with the issue also being investigated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and NHS England. Health bosses said it was a "significant failure of patient care" while the trust said it was taking every concern raised "extremely seriously".Sir Liam Donaldson, chair of the North East and North Cumbria ICB, said at a board meeting: "I think we shouldn't be in any doubt that this is a very serious failure in standards of care in a crucial area of service that has survival, life and death matters involved, so it does need to be looked at extremely carefully."A further 95 patients have also come forward after a helpline was set up, the trust said. 'Sorry for distress' The trust, which also operates Darlington Memorial Hospital, has contacted and apologised to the patients it has previously said it had appointed two new consultant breast surgeons, invested in modern equipment and strengthened both its multidisciplinary team processes and clinical governance arrangements, following the review.A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: "We recognise this may be a worrying time for many of our patients and their families and we would like to reassure our communities that we are taking the review and every concern raised extremely seriously."The trust also said some of the actions put in place to support the review had impacted service capacity and as a result, some patients were being offered the option to have their appointment at a neighbouring trust. "We are sorry for any distress or inconvenience this is causing," it added."We are working very closely with local GPs and neighbouring NHS trusts, whose mutual support is both essential and very gratefully received during this time."The helpline set up can be reached on 0191 333 2126 and patients can also email: Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Times
28-07-2025
- Business
- Times
More than 600,000 graduates are claiming benefits
More than 600,000 graduates are claiming benefits, according to newly released official figures. In response to a parliamentary question from the Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, the UK Statistics Authority revealed that between March to May this year 639,000 people with a level six qualification — equivalent to a degree with honours — or above were claiming universal credit, making up 12 per cent of those being paid the benefit. The figures came from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey, which also found that 88 per cent of graduates were in employment last year compared with 68 per cent of non-graduates. There was an economic inactivity rate of almost 10 per cent among graduates and an unemployment rate of 3 per cent. The median real-terms salary for graduates aged under 65 was £26,500, the study found — an increase of £500 compared with the previous year. Graduates were more likely to be in work according to the survey, which was released last month. The unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent for non-graduates. The inactivity rate — a person outside the labour force who has not been seeking work — stood at almost 30 per cent for non-graduates. These figures include the long-term sick, students and people who have taken early retirement. The Conservative Party said that graduates were suffering because of Labour's policies. Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'Today's graduates face the triple jeopardy of low-value degrees, a labour market crippled by Labour's job taxes and competition with AI for entry-level roles. 'The government needs to grip this challenge. Their failure to reform welfare and economic mismanagement threatens the future of a new generation. Meanwhile, the taxpayer is footing the bill for unpaid student loans and graduates on benefits.' The annual survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency revealed that Medicine and dentistry graduates earned nearly £10,000 more than the average university leaver after 15 months, at £37,900. The lowest salaries were paid to graduates from media, journalism and communication subjects, at almost £25,000. The number of graduates on universal credit will fuel concern over so-called 'Mickey Mouse' degrees with high dropout rates and poor job prospects. Before Labour took office, Rishi Sunak promised a crackdown on courses that were 'ripping young people off' by offering degree places that did not increase their long-term earnings potential. He said that one in eight university places would be scrapped. At the time, Labour criticised Sunak's remarks, accusing his government of 'trashing' the sector. Since taking office Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has increased tuition fees to £9,535 — the first increase in eight years — and increased maintenance loans. A government spokesman said: 'We remain committed to our principles to reform the welfare system — those who can work should work, and if you need help into work the government should support you.'
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ministers urged to keep care plans for children with special needs
Ministers are facing calls to not cut education plans for children and young people with special needs and disabilities (Send).Campaigners say education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are "precious legal protections", warning that thousands of children could lose access to education if the plans are government has said it inherited the current system "left on its knees". Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described it as a "complex and sensitive area" when asked if she could rule out scrapping Neil O'Brien, the shadow education minister, has criticised the government for "broken promises and U-turns". An EHCP is a legally binding document which ensures a child or young person with special or educational needs gets the right support from a local details of the proposed changes are due in October, but ministers have not ruled out scrapping the education plans, insisting no decisions have been a letter to the Guardian newspaper, campaigners have said that without the documents in mainstream schools, "many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether"."Whatever the Send system's problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people. Families cannot afford to lose these precious legal protections," they to the letter include the heads of charities, professors, Send parents including actor Sally Phillips, and campaigners including broadcaster Chris to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Ms Phillipson saidL"What I can say very clearly is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children."I've been spending a lot of time listening to parents, to disability rights groups, to campaigners and to others and to colleagues across Parliament as well, because it's important to get this right," she added, but said it is "tough".Mr O'Brien, the shadow minister, said the government had "no credibility left"."This is a government defined by broken promises and u-turns. They said they would employ more teachers and they have fewer. They said they would not raise tax on working people but did," Mr O'Brien from the Department for Education released in June showed that the number of EHCPs has total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January 2025, up 10.8% on the same point last number of new plans which started during 2024 also grew by 15.8% on the previous year, to 97, for children to be assessed for EHCPs rose by 11.8% to 154,489 in 2023.A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We have been clear that there are no plans to abolish Send tribunals, or to remove funding or support from children, families and schools."The spokesperson added that it would be "totally inaccurate to suggest that children, families and schools might experience any loss of funding or support".
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
How much private school fees will rise in September after Labour's VAT raid
Private school fees will rise by more than 17pc in the upcoming academic year thanks to a 'triple whammy' of Labour tax increases, Telegraph analysis shows. The average Year 13 day fees will jump from £21,035 to £24,600 between September 2024 and September 2025, analysis of 228 independent school fees reveals. The majority of the increase is due to Labour's 20pc VAT raid introduced in January when fees rose by around 14pc. However, schools were further stung by an increase in National Insurance and the loss of business rates relief in April, which has forced them to increase fees by another 3.1pc. Across all year groups, fees will rise on average by 17.6pc in September – by far the largest year-on-year increase on record, with early evidence suggesting parents are already pulling their children out of private education. The analysis, which was conducted as part of The Telegraph's value for money private school tool, has cast fresh doubt on the Treasury's claim the policy will raise £1.7bn with this forecast assuming school fees would only rise by 10pc and the exodus into state schools would be minimal. Neil O'Brien, shadow education minister, told The Telegraph: 'So many independent schools in this country are on the brink thanks to Labour's education tax. 'As more face the strain, inevitably more will close, forcing pupils into a state sector that in many places does not have the capacity to absorb them – something that is already happening well beyond the Government's own predictions.' Data from the Department for Education's School Census revealed that across 1,218 traditional private schools, student roll numbers declined by 2.7pc in January 2025 when compared with the previous year. Across all independent schools, the number of students fell by 11,000, four times more than the Government predicted in its policy impact statement. Schools with the most affordable fees saw larger declines, vindicating those who warned that 'scrimpers and savers' would be the most impacted by the tax. Simon Nathan, head of policy at the Independent Schools Council, a trade body, said: 'Many schools took the step of reducing their fees, excluding VAT, in January to try to cushion the impact on parents. 'But schools' options were limited: they were hit with a triple tax whammy of the loss of business rates relief, the rise in National Insurance employer contributions and the requirement to place 20pc VAT on fees. 'The majority of any school's budget would be spent on staff costs, which cannot be reduced quickly nor easily. It seems clear that the Government underestimated the impact their decision to tax education would have on schools, families and children.' Despite this, a government source suggested the blame for fee rises lay with private schools. They said it was a 'commercial decision', and they could have chosen to cut back on 'non-essential expenditure' or 'reduce their surpluses or reserves'. Last week, Moorlands School, a 127-year-old prep school in Leeds, became the latest school to announce its closure as a result of Labour's VAT raid. The prep school's closure follows Bishop Challoner School in Kent, which was forced to shut its doors after losing more than a third of its pupils since last summer's general election. It comes as headteachers warned they had been left with no choice but to lower entry requirements in a desperate bid to attract pupils. One headmaster said: 'Schools where pupils traditionally had to work hard [to gain a place], where it's usually very challenging to secure places, it is less challenging this year.' The Telegraph has been monitoring fees since the 2022-23 academic year from around 1,200 private schools across Britain. The past two years in particular have seen private schools grapple with inflationary pressures, staff pay rises and, now, Labour's tax on education. While a number of schools are yet to publicly reveal their 2025-26 fees, many of Britain's most high-profile institutions have already passed on the VAT raid to parents. Between September 2024 and January 2025, Eton College increased its annual fees from £52,749 to £63,298 a year, implementing the full 20pc raid. Harrow increased its fees by 15pc to £61,584, whilst Charterhouse implemented a 12.4pc increase to £45,018. Dulwich College has announced its fees for 2025-26, increasing their boarding fees from £51,708 in September 2024 to £60,060 in September 2025. Winchester College has seen its annual fees increase by £51,855 to £60,000 per year. However, while the most prestigious private schools have raised fees significantly, there are early indications that student numbers have seen less of an impact than at more affordable schools. The Department for Education's census showed that for Year Eight pupils at the cheapest 25pc of private schools, pupil numbers fell by 4pc in the year to January, compared to a 2.4pc decrease at the most expensive schools. For Year 13 day pupils, the fall in pupils was 3.6pc for the cheapest schools compared to 1.8pc at the dearest. A government spokesman said: 'Before the Government ended private schools' tax breaks, these institutions had, on average, increased their fees by 75pc in real-terms since 2000. 'Ending private schools' tax breaks will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94pc of children in state schools to achieve and thrive. 'It will be a commercial decision for individual private schools as to how they manage their finances, in the same way as any other private business.'
