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Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Convicted murderer snapped volunteering for Labor Party with Queensland MP Wendy Bourne in lead up to federal election
Queensland MP Wendy Bourne has been pictured next to a convicted murderer sporting a Labor Party T-shirt as the pair campaigned together for the party in April, a now-deleted post on social media has revealed. John William Holznagel was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his estranged wife and her boyfriend in 1979, but he only ended up serving around 13 years of the sentence imposed. The Sunday Mail revealed that Mr Holznagel is now a preacher in the southeast Queensland town of Rosewood, west of Ipswich. He has also helped campaign for the Labor Party in the town in the lead up to this year's federal election. The revelation comes after the convicted murderer was spotted with the Queensland member for Ipswich West in a picture posted to social media on April 19, which has since been deleted from the website. In the photo, Mr Holznagel appears to be volunteering for the political party as he wears a Labor Party T-shirt displaying Ms Bourne's name on the front. The pair had been spreading the word about the Albanese government's 'record cost of living relief' and 'record spending on locals roads' in Rosewood that day, according to the caption of the post. Labor have said Ms Bourne was unaware of the convicted murder's background when the photo was taken, The Courier Mail has reported. has approached Ms Bourne for comment. Mr Holznagel was aged 24 when he killed his estranged wife Christine Joan Holznagel, 20, and her boyfriend John Steven Kingston, 22, more than 40 years ago in suburban Brisbane. The apparent blunder by the Queensland MP to be in a picture with Mr Holznagel joins a number of controversies that have surrounded 2025 federal election campaign volunteers. Minister for Housing Clare O'Neil became entangled in a controversy after it was revealed that ten individuals associated with Hubei Association, a group accused of having ties to the Chinese Communist Party, were being recruited to staff her polling booths on election day. Teal MP Monique Ryan was also embroiled in the situation as a video emerged of a volunteer for her campaign saying that Hubei Assocation president Ji Jianmin "required us Chinese diaspora to support her". Labor MP Andrew Charlton was also filmed questioning Liberal Party volunteers about their religion in his Parramatta electorate, in footage which showed him approaching a person and asking "Are you a member of the exclusive Brethren? Are you?". Sky News host Chris Kenny at the time the footage surfaced suggested Mr Charlton's questioning of volunteers was "odd". "What business is it of Charlton's to ask people about their religion. Why is it relevant?" Kenny asked.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Prostitution-linked crimes on Scotland's streets rise for first time in a decade
The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. Crimes related to prostitution on Scotland's streets have increased for the first time in a decade. Near Glasgow's Barras Market, Barrowlands Ballroom and the quiet streets behind Tennent's Brewery, women stand alone looking for punters who will pay cash for sex. These are the same streets where Emma Caldwell would stand 20 years ago and also previously the areas frequented by her killer Iain Packer. Punters in cars pull up and give the nod before cash exchanges hands and a sex act is carried out nearby for as little as £20. However, despite crimes associated with prostitution having fallen steadily by 81 per cent since 2014, the period of 2023-24 saw a 16 per cent increase, with 72 crimes recorded up from 62 crimes in 2022-23. The Glasgow City area also saw the highest recorded crimes with 44 per cent in 2023-24 according to the latest Scottish government figures. It comes as Packer was finally brought to justice last year – 19 years after killing Emma. The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. We spoke to one mum, now 42, who began selling sex at just 15, and has worked as a sex worker in the city for 25 years. She said: 'I knew Emma, I was around Duke Street where she was working back then. 'I've been out here since about 1998 when I first tried heroin at 15. 'I don't want to be here but I have to be as I'm addicted to crack and cocaine. There are still guys out looking every night of the week but they want you for as little as £20. 'Emma's name still brings me to tears 20 years later. She didn't deserve what happened to her, she deserved so much better. 'She was a beautiful soul and in some way, we are all like Emma. We are out here because we have to be, not because we want to be. I remember Packer. "I will have been with him at some point as he was always about then. " Packer is where he should be but all these years on, the girls are still here, the streets are still not safe but there is money to be made. "When I was on heroin I would have sold my soul for a tenner. 'The only thing that could save me is jail. 'I'd rather be in prison than here.' A second woman, who says she knew Emma from the early 2000s, said: 'We all remember Emma. But we are still here doing this because we need to. There's still business or we wouldn't be here.' A third woman said she had only recently begun selling sex on the streets. She added: 'I'm just new to this, but I'm here because I need the money.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said:'There is no place for the commercial sexual exploitation of any individual in Scotland. 'We are taking action to support women to sustainably exit from prostitution. This includes our joint work with Police Scotland to implement their new national approach to prostitution, Operation Begonia, where officers signpost women to local support and at the same time, challenge and deter men's demand for prostitution.' Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, lead on Prostitution, Police Scotland, said: ' Prostitution brings a significant threat of risk and harm to people and communities. 'People involved in prostitution, most of whom are women, are particularly vulnerable to violence. ' Drug or alcohol related issues, or poverty, can drive people into prostitution, particularly on street. 'Our approach, as demonstrated in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, focuses on safety and welfare, engaging with people and signposting them to support available from our partners, and hopefully reducing the risk of violence. 'This is about building trust and confidence in policing. It's about safer communities and supported victims. And it's about tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
The National
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Fears 'rigged' Scottish Labour voting system boxes out left-wing MSPs
Anonyvoter, a controversial computer voting programme involved in a Met police fraud probe, is used by the party alongside traditional in-person and postal voting. But The Sunday Mail reports there are concerns it is being rigged following a selection for the Dundee West constituency. Earlier this month, Scottish Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba – who is considered more left-wing – lost out to Michael Marra, who is often seen as party leader Anas Sarwar's right-hand man and potential successor. READ MORE: High street in Scottish Highland town closed due to alleyway fire Villalba won the vote in the room but lost out after online votes through Anonyvoter were taken into account. It comes amid concerns over the past few years that Labour leadership have actively been purging the party of its left-wing members and politicians. The Sunday Mail reports that several members have contacted the party with concerns. One said: 'I emailed our local branch secretary last month as I was concerned about the fact we were having to use Anonyvoter but I didn't get any reply. 'I know someone else who also contacted the party's leadership team directly and was told that there had been no problem with Anonyvoter in Scotland and it was being used here. End of discussion. 'People are very sceptical of the system and don't understand why we are still using it when there were such problems before.' Mercedes Villalba Another member added: 'I'm worried that what we saw for the Westminster selections is now going to happen for the Holyrood ones. It seems to be already happening - just look at the situation in Dundee.' A former Labour staffer, meanwhile, told the newspaper: 'I can say that in standard parliamentary selections, ballot counting is carried out by staff but with clear oversight from CLP officials to ensure transparency and trust in the process. 'With Anonyvoter, that critical layer of local oversight is simply missing. We've already seen serious concerns raised about its accuracy and flaws, most notably in Croydon where the situation escalated to the point of police involvement.' Anonyvoter has previously insisted that its software was unrelated to the incident in Croydon and said Labour's database was to blame A Scottish Labour spokesman said: 'We have full confidence in the integrity of both selection processes and the use of Anonyvoter. 'Labour candidates are selected by the votes of local members who select the person they believe should represent them. 'All selections are carried out in line with rules and procedures agreed and overseen by Scottish Labour's Executive Committee.'
Fashion United
20-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Marks & Spencers faces class action lawsuit over cyber attack
British department store chain Marks & Spencer is facing a multimillion pound lawsuit following its cyber attack. The complaint specifically pertains to Scottish customers whose personal data was stolen during the incident. Marks & Spencer confirmed that consumer data had been stolen in the cyber attack last week. However, it noted that there was no evidence of usable card details, payment information or customer passports among the data that was stolen. Now, however, law firm Thompsons Solicitors has set about on a class action claim against the retailer after being inundated by Scottish Marks & Spencer consumers 'who have been caught up in this online heist'. Speaking to The Sunday Mail, senior partner of the firm, Patrick McGuire, said: 'We have a situation here where one of the most famous retailers in the UK have allowed criminals to pillage the personal details of hundreds of thousands of Scottish customers.' McGuire added that he believed this is the 'biggest data theft case' the firm has been involved in, with the team already seeing an influx of enquiries from customers whose details have been stolen. Marks & Spencer was faced with the cyber incident late April, when, following reports from consumers of issues with its website, it said it was enacting 'proactive management' of the ordeal. The retailer has since seen over 1.2 billion pounds shed off its market value, while CEO Stuart Machin is also said to be facing a 1.1 million pound pay reduction in its wake. The attack was the first of what became many cyber incidents in the preceding weeks, with luxury department store Harrods and French brand Dior among the later targets. FashionUnited has contacted Marks & Spencer with a request to comment.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tory council leader steps down over 'jobs for pals' recording
The leader of South Ayrshire Council has temporarily stepped down over a secret recording in which he appears to suggest he can help award contracts to "pals". The Sunday Mail reported that it was given a 2023 tape of Martin Dowey, in which he calls council officers "useless" and boasts that "all the top ones I can sack". The Conservative councillor also appears to promise help to secure multi-million pound demolition jobs - including work at Ayr's fire-damaged Station Hotel. Cllr Dowey, 56, said he had "acted properly at all times" and requested a full investigation to "clear this up". He said: "As a former police officer, I respect the law and follow the rules at all times. "I reported this situation to the authorities when it occurred, and the company in question has not received any money from the council." Cllr Dowey was a police officer in Ayrshire for 25 years before being elected in 2017. He was a previously general election candidate for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock and is married to Scottish Tory MSP Sharon Dowey. He added: "I have decided to step aside temporarily as leader to prevent this becoming a distraction from important local issues. "I would welcome a further detailed investigation to fully clear this up." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are in receipt of correspondence, and it is currently being assessed."
