Latest news with #NorthAyrshire
Sky News
6 hours ago
- Sky News
Man arrested in connection with the death of mother over 30 years ago
A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a mother more than 30 years ago. Shona Stevens, 31, was found with severe injuries on a path in woods near her home in Irvine, North Ayrshire, on 10 November 1994, according to police. She later died in hospital. A 67-year-old man has been arrested in relation to her death, Police Scotland said on Friday. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gillies, senior investigating officer on the case, said: "I would like to thank the members of the local community who assisted us in our enquiries. "I am grateful for their information and input which contributed to our investigation." Stevens, a mother of one, was last seen walking alone on a road close to her home after visiting shops at around 1.10pm on 10 November thirty one years ago. She was then found injured in a wooded area ten minutes later. Stevens died of her injuries in hospital three days later. Ahead of the 30th anniversary of Stevens' death, police and her family issued a renewed appeal for information, following an initial appeal in 2021.
Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Telegraph
Man arrested over 1994 murder of woman
A man has been arrested over the murder of a woman more than 30 years ago. Shona Stevens, 31, died in hospital after she was discovered badly injured on a path in woods near her home in Irvine, North Ayrshire, on Nov 10, 1994. On Friday, Police Scotland announced that a 67-year-old man had been arrested in connection with her death. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gillies, senior investigating officer on the case, said: 'I would like to thank the members of the local community who assisted us in our inquiries. 'I am grateful for their information and input which contributed to our investigation.' In November last year, before the 30th anniversary of Ms Stevens's death, police and her family issued a fresh appeal for information. Mhairi Smith, the victim's mother, said: 'There is not a day that goes by that she is not in our thoughts and our hearts.' It followed a previous appeal, which had been made in 2021. Ms Stevens was found injured at around 1.20pm on November 10, 1994 and she died in hospital on November 13. She was last seen walking alone on Towerlands Road at around 1.10pm on November 10.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man spotted walking sheep on lead through station
Rail staff and passengers were surprised to see a man walking a sheep on a lead through a train station. ScotRail shared a picture of the man leading the animal along a platform at Paisley Gilmour Street station in Renfrewshire this week. It is not clear where they were going, though the next train due to arrive at the platform was one heading to Largs in North Ayrshire. In a social media post, ScotRail said: 'Well, ewe don't see that every day at Paisley Gilmour Street!' The photo shows the sheep looking docile as it walks along attached to a red lead while a man sitting on a bench looks on in apparent amusement. A ScotRail spokesperson said: 'Monday evening brought one of the more ewe-nique sights on Scotland's Railway. 'We're used to livestock on the line causing disruption, but thankfully this visitor at Paisley Gilmour Street was on a lead and well baa-haved.' Social media users joked about the incident, with one posting: 'I hope they've got a ticket or they'll be RAMifications…,' while another said: 'Seen it at Baaarhead.' Others said they had seen the sheep being led along on a lead in Ayr and Prestwick in South Ayrshire in recent days.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Man spotted walking sheep on lead through station
Rail staff and passengers were surprised to see a man walking a sheep on a lead through a train station. ScotRail shared a picture of the man leading the animal along a platform at Paisley Gilmour Street station in Renfrewshire this week. It is not clear where they were going, though the next train due to arrive at the platform was one heading to Largs in North Ayrshire. In a social media post, ScotRail said: 'Well, ewe don't see that every day at Paisley Gilmour Street!' The photo shows the sheep looking docile as it walks along attached to a red lead while a man sitting on a bench looks on in apparent amusement. A ScotRail spokesperson said: 'Monday evening brought one of the more ewe-nique sights on Scotland's Railway. 'We're used to livestock on the line causing disruption, but thankfully this visitor at Paisley Gilmour Street was on a lead and well baa-haved.' Social media users joked about the incident, with one posting: 'I hope they've got a ticket or they'll be RAMifications…,' while another said: 'Seen it at Baaarhead.' Others said they had seen the sheep being led along on a lead in Ayr and Prestwick in South Ayrshire in recent days.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ministers in talks over welfare concessions as Labour rebellion grows
Ministers are discussing the prospect of further concessions to win over a growing list of Labour MPs poised to rebel against planned welfare reforms ahead of a crunch vote next week. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks between backbenchers and Government were 'ongoing' on Thursday night as Downing Street seeks to head off what would be Sir Keir Starmer's first Commons defeat. It came as six more Labour MPs added their names to an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks, arguing disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed. The new signatories include the Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee chairman Toby Perkins, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell, Newcastle upon Tyne MP Mary Glindon and Tamworth MP Sarah Edwards. North Ayrshire and Arran MP Irene Campbell and Colchester MP Pam Cox, both of whom won their seats in the party's 2024 landslide election victory, have also added their names. The new names takes the total number of Labour backbenchers supporting the so-called 'reasoned amendment,' tabled by Treasury Select Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hiller, to 126. The Prime Minister has insisted the reforms are set for a Commons vote on Tuesday as planned, but ministers are locked in talks with backbenchers about the possibility of making changes to soften the impact of the Bill as a major revolt looms. Asked what concessions could be offered to convince rebels to back the Government, Ms Rayner sought to reassure backbenchers that they would not be expected to betray the party's traditional values. 'I'm not going to get into that on your show tonight,' she said in an interview on ITV's Peston programme. 'Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable.' She acknowledged that 'a lot of people are very scared about these changes' but added: 'I haven't changed my Labour values and we're not expecting our benches to do anything that isn't in check with them. 'What we want to do is support people, and that is the crucial bit around these reforms of what Labour are trying to achieve, and we're discussing that with our MPs.' The plans restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit. The Government hopes the changes will get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition by aiming to soften the impact of the changes. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to the 'reasoned amendment' calling for a change of course shows how entrenched the opposition remains. One backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told the PA news agency: 'A lot of people have been saying they're upset about this for months. To leave it until a few days before the vote, it's not a very good way of running the country. 'It's not very grown up.' They said that minor concessions would not be enough, warning: 'I don't think you can tinker with this. They need to go back to the drawing board.' According to the Government's impact assessment, the welfare reforms as a whole could push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty. Asked whether she thought there were hundreds of thousands of people claiming disability benefits who were not disabled, Ms Rayner said: 'No, what we're saying though is that the welfare system has to be able to have longevity.' Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir defended his leadership against accusations he had misjudged the mood in his party, insisting he is 'comfortable with reading the room'. At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Prime Minister said: 'Is it tough going? Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes, of course, there always are, there always have been, there always will be. 'But the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about.' Later on Wednesday, armed forces minister Luke Pollard echoed the Deputy Prime Minister, telling Sky News's Politics Hub show that 'of course' the Government was in talks about possibly making changes. 'Of course we are, and I think there's a concern that's very valid and real for lots of my colleagues. They're not doing this to cause trouble or be argumentative,' he said. 'They're doing it because they have a genuine, heartfelt concern about some of the impacts. ' He said some of the reforms would be supported across the party but 'where there is concerns… those discussions will continue until the vote and beyond.' Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Pollard said the Government had 'between now and Tuesday to listen to those concerns' and 'to address them' before making the case for reform in the Commons debate next week. Asked whether the Government would listen to calls for it to change course over planned cuts to Pip, he said: 'I think that's for many colleagues where the real concern is.' Other senior Labour figures outside Parliament, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, have publicly expressed their opposition to the plans. Meanwhile, the Tories seem unlikely to lend the Government their support, with leader Kemi Badenoch setting out conditions for doing so including a commitment to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget and further cut the benefits bill.
