Latest news with #TheresaMay
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Wes Streeting urged to ditch 'absurd' bid to electrify all UK ambulances within 15 years
Health Secretary Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' Net Zero plan to electrify all UK ambulances within 15 years. The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to abandon all its diesel ambulances and install almost 5,000 charging points at hospitals and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered vehicles. Health chiefs have refused to reveal how much the new ambulances will cost, but official figures seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal it will cost £100million just to upgrade the grid and electrical infrastructure required for charging points. The MoS can also reveal there are currently just two electric-powered ambulances picking up passengers in England – compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances. There are 160 other electric emergency vehicles for paramedics, including two cars, 16 response vans and three motorbikes. The latest electric ambulances have a range of up to 200 miles, but paramedic crews in rural areas often travel further in a shift. Latest figures show the average response time in England for the most life-threatening 'category-one' ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds – compared with an NHS target of seven minutes. Last night Nick Timothy MP, former chief of staff to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: 'Ambulance services have been struggling to meet their response targets. With these challenges it is absurd to distract NHS workers from their jobs with unrealistic Net Zero targets. 'Time, planning and expense are going into buying electric vehicles and building chargers – many of which will never be installed – instead of improving response times. 'Even more concerning is the challenge of upgrading the grid in time to meet the extra demand. 'This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of technology with shocking results for patients and taxpayers.' England's first electric ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be delivered this year to be used in urban areas such as Birmingham. West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'Seventy per cent of our area is mainly rural and this continues to be the biggest factor in our move to electric – having the range to operate in areas where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.' East of England Ambulance Service has been trialling three electric ambulances since 2023, but has not used them to transport passengers. Another eight will be delivered to the service this year. The Department of Health said: 'New electric ambulances will save the NHS £59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.' The NHS said: 'It is right we seek sustainable alternatives when they improve patient care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact response times, [and] are cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel costs.'
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- The Guardian
West Mercia police accused of ‘shaming' alleged victim of child sexual abuse
A police force that admits negligently breaching the anonymity of an alleged victim of child sexual abuse has been accused of 'victim shaming' after citing her subsequent public campaigning as reason for reduced compensation. The identity of Heidi Clutterbuck, 53, was revealed in error to a witness by a West Mercia police detective in 2015 as the officer carried out an investigation into her claims of being abused by her late brother. After years of legal wrangling at a cost to Clutterbuck of £193,000, the force formally admitted liability in court documents filed earlier this month, but police lawyers are arguing her decision to then go public about her experiences diminishes her claim for damages. West Mercia police cite in support of their defence Clutterbuck's decision to give evidence at the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse established by Theresa May and to speak to media, including to the BBC. The force claims: 'In or about July 2017, the claimant participated in a victim and survivor seminar held as part of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), in the course of which the claimant disclosed her status as a survivor of child sexual abuse and shared her experiences of reporting the offence to the police. 'The claimant's comments/account appear alongside her name in transcripts of the seminars on the IICSA website; the claimant has also shared her experiences and commentary on the issue on Twitter (since 2016), via a Facebook blog, on a BBC programme etc. 'The claimant's decision to share her experiences (not long after the disclosure which is the subject of this claim, in much greater detail than in the disclosure and with the world at large rather than a single family member), while entirely within her rights and representing a valuable contribution to the public discourse, is nonetheless a highly material event which overtakes and supersedes the defendant's breach of duty.' Clutterbuck, a mother of five who lives in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, said she had been horrified to discover the officer's error in revealing her identity after receiving a message on Facebook late at night, but that she would not have gone on to make the legal claim if an immediate apology had been offered. She said: 'I was so scared, and I was so scared [for] my young children, and it just was awful. It was a Saturday night, so there's nothing I could do. Spent the whole night up crying. I was at the police station at first light … They were just really dismissive, and it just that's when everything changed. I became the enemy of them. Well, you know, that's my perception of it. 'I spent three and a half years going through the complaint system, being told at every step of the way, this is not a breach, this is not a breach, this is not a breach.' Clutterbuck got legal representation in 2018 and her claim was made in 2021 but the formal admission of liability by West Mercia police was only recently made in an amended defence filed at court. She said her decision to speak about her abuse after the officer had revealed her identity was made in an attempt to get control of her situation. She said: 'To my mind, the only solution to that type of thing happening is to actually take control and say, I give up anonymity, and I am going to speak on this topic, and I am going to not have the shame that you give me. Still in the papers that have gone to the high court, they criticise me and use it as a way of downgrading their damage. 'This is why victims don't challenge the police, because they have the public purse. It is appalling that they're using public money to fight these cases where actually: you've admitted liability.' Clutterbuck added: 'Nobody else really has the right to know I'm a victim of sexual abuse unless I choose to tell them. And the very notion that the people that you trust and that actually are protecting you are the ones that breach that trust and place you in that position is appalling.' Maria Mulla, a barrister who is working with victims of the late owner of Harrods Mohamed Al Fayed, is representing Clutterbuck. She said: 'The decision to disclose or not is a colossal one for survivors of sexual abuse and in particular child sexual abuse. 'West Mercia police stole Heidi's lifetime right to absolute anonymity, a right that is enshrined in legislation. Once this had been stolen from her Heidi had no choice but to be brave and take back control by advocating for others.' West Mercia police declined a request for comment.
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Plans for NHS staff to restrain those in mental health crisis ‘dangerous', medics say
Plans for NHS staff to restrain and detain people experiencing a mental health crisis, instead of the police doing so, are 'dangerous', doctors, nurses and psychiatrists have warned. The former prime minister Theresa May has proposed legislation in England and Wales that would change the long-established practice for dealing with people who may pose a risk to themselves or others because their mental health has deteriorated sharply. But a coalition of eight medical groups, ambulance bosses and social work leaders said the switch would put mental health staff at risk and damage their relationship with vulnerable patients. The row has echoes of the controversy stirred by the Metropolitan police's decision in 2023 to stop responding to 999 calls involving mental ill health unless they involved a threat to life. The force said the change meant officers were attending crimes such as robberies faster, but mental health groups said they feared it could result in deaths. May and two ex-health ministers, Syed Kamall and Frederick Curzon, have tabled amendments to the mental health bill going through parliament which, if passed, would lead to mental health nurses, psychiatrists or other doctors being called out to restrain and detain someone under the Mental Health Act. Those professionals would each become an 'authorised person' who is allowed to detain someone under the act. May took an active interest in mental health issues during her time as home secretary and in Downing Street. She helped ensure those detained under the act were no longer held in police cells and were instead taken to 'places of safety', usually at NHS facilities. But in a joint statement on Monday the eight groups said the risks posed by someone in a mental health crisis meant police officers must continue to always attend. The groups include the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association. At present, only police officers are permitted under the Mental Health Act to detain someone in a mental health crisis, for example because they are having a psychotic episode. The groups said: 'Removing police involvement entirely has hugely dangerous implications, as entering someone's home without permission is fraught with huge risks and is only currently done with the assistance of police intelligence. Without this, professionals may be entering homes without police help and therefore lacking crucial intelligence that could ensure their safety.' They added: 'While we recognise the immense pressures faced by police services, we also acknowledge that mental health crises in the community are becoming increasingly acute and almost never occur without some level of risk. 'The expertise, skills and equipment of the police remain essential for safely reaching individuals in crisis, especially where they may be in immediate danger to themselves, pose a risk to others or face a threat from others.' Dr Lade Smith, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 'Detaining, and if necessary restraining, someone is essentially arresting them and to do this safely requires specialist skills and legal powers. 'Expecting clinicians whose role is to provide therapeutic care to arrest people in the street or burst into their homes if they notice someone suffering a mental health crisis is simply inappropriate and indicates a lack of understanding of what health professionals do.' Chief constables are backing the change. They want to see responsibility for dealing with mental health crises become split between their officers and NHS staff. A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesperson said: 'We support the proposed amendments to the mental health bill, which will enable authorised medical professionals to effectively deal with some mental health incidents. This will ensure vulnerable people receive the most appropriate care without feeling criminalised because of their mental health issues.' They added: 'We will always attend incidents where there is a risk of serious harm to the individual or attending professionals, or where criminality is involved.' The groups opposed to the plan also include the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, the College of Paramedics, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the British Association of Social Workers and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. The Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan, the party's former shadow cabinet minister for mental health who is also an A&E doctor, voiced unease about the plan. She said: 'I am concerned that these amendments aim to turn practitioners into enforcers and could expose healthcare staff to increased danger. It runs the risk of eroding trust in dedicated and hard-working mental health staff by delegating police powers to them.' Ministers are also against the change. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Extending police powers to other professionals would represent a major shift in the roles, responsibilities and practice for health and care staff and would place additional resource on an already stretched NHS at a time where we are trying to rebuild a health service fit for the future. 'It also raises questions around whether it is right for the health and social care professionals to have powers to use reasonable force, which could have implications for patient, public and staff safety, as well as potentially damaging the relationships clinicians have with patients.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Grenfell: Uncovered OTT Release Date - When and where to watch documentary revisiting 2017 horror
Grenfell: Uncovered OTT Release Date - Netflix is set to release this powerful new documentary on June 20, 2025. This feature-length film explores the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire that occurred in London in 2017, aiming to shed light on the circumstances that led to one of the UK's most devastating residential fires. What is Grenfell: Uncovered all about? Produced by Rogan Productions, the documentary offers a comprehensive look at the disaster, featuring interviews with survivors, bereaved families, firefighters, and experts. It examines the decisions and systemic failures that contributed to the fire, highlighting issues such as the use of combustible cladding and inadequate safety measures. Grenfell: Uncovered also includes perspectives from public figures like former Prime Minister Theresa May, who faced criticism for her response to the tragedy. The Grenfell Tower fire occurred on June 14, 2017, in North Kensington, West London. An electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor ignited the blaze, which rapidly spread due to the building's flammable exterior cladding. The fire resulted in 72 deaths and over 70 injuries, marking it as the deadliest structural fire in the UK since World War II. The incident prompted widespread scrutiny of building regulations and fire safety standards across the country. Grenfell: Uncovered aims to provide a platform for survivors, bereaved families and firefighters to share their stories and seek justice. What more real-life tale can you watch on Netflix? While you wait for Grenfell: Uncovered, Netflix offers a wide variety of documentaries, including true crime, nature, sports, culture, and more. Some popular documentary series include Tiger King, Making a Murderer, The Last Dance, and American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden. They also have documentaries on nature, such as My Octopus Teacher and Our Planet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
We have sacrificed our noble sovereignty on the altar of the EU Empire
The sovereignty of our Parliament is our democracy. It is fundamental to our freedoms – for which people fought and died as we commemorated in the VE celebrations. This is why I fought with real Conservative colleagues on the back benches over many decades. One of the most futile comments ever made was 'Brexit means Brexit'. Brexit was the restoration of self-government in a real democracy, fundamentally different from law-making in the EU. Leaving the EU was a constitutional and democratic revolution (with unfinished business within grasp), and is comparable to the historic Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Committed Remainers within Parliament, smarting at their defeat in the 2016 referendum, and those within the hidden recesses of the Establishment and civil service, obstructed the legislative requirements of Brexit and opened the door to the current situation. This obstruction included the Chequers debacle necessitating the removal of Theresa May, then the parliamentary paralysis against Boris Johnson when the Remainers temporarily seized control of the business of the House of Commons until his victorious 2019 Brexit general election. Then followed resistance to the full repeal of EU law and the failure to clearly legislate 'to stop the boats' by not overriding the ECHR, which would have made the Bill 'ironclad'. Rishi Sunak recently admitted he got this wrong. The overarching sovereignty of Parliament was endorsed, unopposed, by the clear wording of Section 38 of the European Withdrawal Act 2020, 'notwithstanding' any European laws or jurisdiction, then reinforced by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 introduced by Jacob Rees-Mogg and strongly supported through my European Scrutiny Committee. This sovereignty was reaffirmed recently by the Supreme Court in the Rwanda Judgement (paragraph 144) on the 'principle of legality', in line with the fundamental principles of our unwritten constitution that where a clear and unambiguous statute is passed by our Parliament, it is the duty of our courts to give effect to that statute. By stark contrast, in the EU, the laws are made by the Council of Ministers behind closed doors by a majority vote of all the member states and without a written transcript as in our daily Hansard. Indeed, under the European Communities Act 1972, we foolishly subjugated ourselves to the supremacy of EU laws and the European Court of Justice. Not once did we ever reject or amend one word of EU law. Listen and watch recordings of what Starmer said in his past repudiations of Brexit. Furthermore, the joint summit statement on May 19 is simply staggering in its duplicity. It refers to 'reaffirming our shared values' and 'our commitment to their full, timely and faithful implementation' whilst re-subjugating us to undemocratic European jurisdiction despite their 'cover' of arbitration. To achieve this in secret, the European Scrutiny Committee – created in 1973 and successively chaired by Labour and Conservative chairmen, and which held the Government, Conservative and Labour, to account on all European lawmaking – was abolished in June 2024 by Starmer in one line, without debate. This deceitful 'reset' undermines British fishermen. One of the worst aspects of the European Union fishing arrangements during our membership, and hopelessly conceded by Ted Heath, was the dumping of fish to comply with quotas. Now it is the fishermen themselves who have been dumped. On food and agriculture, Britain has agreed to 'dynamic alignment', which is simply legal submission. The farmers and food and drinks organisations have made it clear that the proposals must not be at any price and must respect our autonomy, knowing that these will give the European Commission massive legal traction, undermining our economic independence in legislating in bioscience, new agricultural technology, gene-editing, cultivated proteins, and AI itself. The new energy emissions trading scheme will increase energy costs. The e-gates proposals will make little difference, and the youth mobility scheme raises dangers for further immigration. How could any government in their right mind possibly want to engage in these undemocratic arrangements? The European Union is a political shambles, an economic subsidy-driven disaster zone resembling a Ponzi scheme. On defence and security, with Russian aggression in Ukraine, we are now paying the price for longstanding under-investment in our defence. Some form of defence alliance within the framework of Nato remains essential, but not the dangerously byzantine control-and-command proposals of Pesco. Aping Harold Wilson's economic playbook in the 1975 EU referendum, these arrangements are a sell-out. To add insult to injury, not only are we to pay for all this, but Ursula von der Leyen pretended that the Government should enter these arrangements because, as she and Starmer have cynically said, Britain is a 'sovereign country'. This is classic, devious Monnet-style tactics endorsed by a Eurofanatic cohort. This is an unconstitutional deal undermining our newly regained sovereignty, which is the bastion of our democracy, our Parliament and our freedoms. Bill Cash was Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee between 2010 and 2024 and Shadow Attorney General between 2001 and 2003 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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