Latest news with #ToryMP
Daily Mail
02-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Brits shouldn't be signed off work for anxiety and depression, says former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt
Former health secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt fears society is 'over medicalising' the impact of normal traumatic events – and warned against signing people off work with anxiety and depression. The Tory grandee, who held the role between 2012 and 2018, spoke out as the Government has faced stiff opposition from its own MPs against welfare reforms. People with mental health conditions are believed to account for around half of the rise in working age adults claiming disability benefits in England and Wales since the pandemic, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The number of working-age adults in England and Wales paid disability benefits rose by nearly 1million people to 2.9million between 2019 and 2024, with 7.5 per cent of 16- to 64-year-olds claiming. In a report in March, the Institute for Fiscal Studies calculated that about 500,000 of the rise is from mental health claimants. Sir Jeremy said that 'in some ways it's rather positive' that people talk openly about mental health issues. But he said: 'I do worry we are sometimes over-medicalising it. Everyone has trauma – bereavements, sometimes losing their jobs. That is not the same as mental illness. 'I think it's immoral we are signing off 3,000 people a day saying they don't have to look for work. The Tory MP, most recently Chancellor under Rishi Sunak (pictured) and who narrowly held onto his seat by 819 votes at last year's General Election, said: Everyone has trauma – bereavements, sometimes losing their jobs. That is not the same as mental illness' 'The majority of those have anxiety and depression and the one thing they need is social contact. If you sign them out of the world of work, their anxiety is going to get worse rather than better.' Sir Jeremy, speaking at the Buxton Literary Festival, Derbyshire, said the focus should be on supporting people with anxiety or depression so they can continue to work and lead their lives. The Tory MP, most recently Chancellor under Rishi Sunak and who narrowly held onto his seat by 819 votes at last year's General Election, added: 'What we should be doing is increasing mental health provision on the NHS. 'For that individual, it's far better but it's also better for Rachel Reeves when she's trying to make the numbers add up for her budget.' During the talk, Sir Jeremy backed current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, saying his beleaguered party should not undergo another leadership change to improve its fortunes. He said: 'I don't think anyone else would have done much better. We've had four leaders in four years. If changing leader was the answer, we'd be doing much better in the polls than we are doing. 'We had the worst defeat in our history a year ago and it's going to take time for the country to give us a hearing again.' He urged Ms Badenoch to 'move on from contrition' to 'offering solutions' to Britain's problems. Sir Jeremy said: 'There's a football pitch-sized hole in politics for a party offering solutions. Labour is ducking decisions; Reform is not credible. 'I hope she [Kemi] turns things around but I recognise there's still a lot to do.' The MP, who represents Godalming and Ash, Surrey, ruled himself out of a return to frontline politics any time soon. He said: 'I made it clear to Kemi that I didn't wish to serve [in a front bench post in opposition] but if she wanted to bring me back before an election and if it would help, I would be around.' Jokingly, Sir Jeremy revealed being photographed more often with his pet labrador Poppy may have improved his poll ratings. The pet was pictured with the MP, his wife Lucia and their three children as they left 11 Downing Street for the final time following last July's election defeat. He said: 'Someone tweeted 'God, he's got a labrador, can I change the way I voted?'. That's the British public!'
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Moment ex-wife of Tory MP breaks down in tears as she recalls moment he 'nearly strangled her to death' in their living room in horrifying campaign of 'rape and abuse'
A former Conservative MP has revealed the moment she thought she was going to die while being strangled by her politician husband who abused her for ten years. Kate Kniveton suffered a horrifying campaign of violence from Andrew Griffiths before battling a court ruling that he should still have direct contact with their child. She told a new ITV documentary last night that her husband, also a former Tory MP who was the small business minister, would 'erupt' and attack her 'with no warning'. Ms Kniverton added that he sexually assaulted in her sleep, screamed at their baby and used his power and position to silence her during a legal battle after their split. Breaking down in tears as she recalled one attack in their living room, the former Burton MP told how they had been sitting on the sofa watching TV at the time. Speaking during 'Breaking the Silence: Kate's Story', Ms Kniverton said: 'He just went for me and he actually ended up kneeling over me with his hands round my neck on the sofa. And I can remember at that point, I didn't think he was going to let go. 'He was strong, I was no match. And I can remember all I could think about at that point was my parents, because I didn't think he was going to stop. 'He's out there, he's in the newspapers every day, he's working hard, helping people. Every time I'd said I'm going to go to the police, 'They won't believe you Kate, who's going to believe you?' You'd think, actually he's right, who is going to believe me?' Andrew Griffiths and Kate Kniveton at the Houses of Parliament after marrying in 2013 Ms Kniverton claimed her husband also told her: 'I'm the MP here. I've got a great relationship with the police - they all think I'm the blue-eyed boy.' During the documentary, she also shed light on the workings of the family courts, where an estimated 30,000 cases each year involve domestic abuse allegations. Ms Kniverton said: 'People don't think that it can happen to middle class, professional people. Domestic abuse has no boundaries. It can affect absolutely anybody.' A family court ruling in 2021 found that Mr Griffiths had – on the balance of probabilities – pressurised Ms Kniveton into engaging in sexual activity as well as raping her multiple times and used 'coercive and controlling behaviour' against her. The ruling on child contact was overturned the following year by a High Court judge, after Ms Kniveton's lawyer argued the previous judge was 'wrong to order direct contact'. She also said the previous judge failed to 'consider the short, medium, and long-term harm of contact on the mother and the child', and failed to consider Mr Griffiths' 'capacity to appreciate the effect of past domestic abuse'. In early 2024, Mr Griffiths made a bid for weekly supervised contact with their child, who he previously saw once per week via videolink for 30 minutes. But a High Court judge ruled he could have no direct contact with his child in the 'reasonably short term', saying it would be in the child's best interests to only have contact with their father through letters for that period of time. The judge said Mr Griffiths - who was the Burton MP from 2010 until Ms Kniverton took over the seat in 2019 - had accepted most of the findings made against him, except the finding that he had raped Ms Kniveton. When asked to respond to the new programme, Mr Griffiths told ITV Exposure: 'I have always denied the allegations made. The family court has a much lower burden of proof and has always been private and confidential. 'The family court has failed our child. Publication of salacious allegations can only harm the children. Every child has the right to have both parents in their lives. 'I will never stop fighting to be a father to my child, and to demonstrate to them just how much I love them.' Most domestic abuse victims who go to a family court in an attempt to protect their children cannot reveal any details of what happens during a hearing, with the threat of a two-year prison sentence for contempt. But in Ms Kniveton's case, journalists Louise Tickle and Brian Farmer fought all the way up to the Court of Appeal for more than a year to publish details of the case, and succeeded in being able to name Andrew Griffiths in the public interest. This means Ms Kniveton's case is unusual in that she is able to tell her story. But she said: 'I am traumatised, not just by the ten years of abuse I experienced, but by the following five years in which he continued to use the legal system to abuse me.' And her family court barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman added: 'It's very common when there are convictions of domestic abuse related offences for (a parent) to be allowed regular unsupervised contact with a child… children have been killed on the family court's watch. And some of those judges are still sitting.' The programme followed Ms Kniveton as she met with other high-achieving women whose outward success masked abuse at home – looking at how abusers use tactics such as love-bombing and coercive control to isolate, manipulate and trap their partners. One GP called Seema told her: 'People often ask, how did you get yourself into that situation? You know, you're a doctor, you should be able to recognise it. 'But it's incredibly difficult when it's happening to you because it's so insidious, it's so erosive. It starts off small and then it escalates. And, I think, before you know it, you're really in the thick of it.' Another survivor, Laura, who is a high-ranking police officer, said that she felt unable to confide in anyone at work, adding: 'Explaining all that to another police officer - It's embarrassing.' Ms Kniverton met a woman called Amy who said she had spent a decade fighting to protect her children from her dangerous ex-partner – whom was allowed to see the children unsupervised despite being violent towards them. She also spoke with Jess Phillips MP, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, to look at what reforms could better protect survivors and their children. Ms Philllips said: 'So much of what happens in the domestic abuse space is so hidden from the public's view. 'I think if people knew half of what you and I have seen, there'd be pitchforks… there is absolutely loads to do — it's so ingrained, whether it's in the court system or how councils commission local refuge and support services.' A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Any case involving the death of a child is a tragedy, and our sincere condolences go out to the families [affected]. 'We will see where improvements can be made to the Family Court system to help prevent these awful crimes.' The department also said work is ongoing to ensure the family courts are safe for children and families, highlighting a pilot project called Pathfinder which aims to improve outcomes in private law cases.
Sky News
14-07-2025
- Sky News
Former Tory MP handed community order for harassing ex-wife
A former Tory MP has been handed a community order after admitting harassing her ex-wife. Katie Wallis, 41, was known as Jamie before she became the UK's first openly transgender MP in 2022. She represented the seat of Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2022. Wallis was sentenced today for harassing ex-wife Rebecca Wallis, now known as Rebeca Lovell. Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the ex-MP sent messages to her former partner accusing Ms Lovell of being "mean", demanding to know about a new partner, alleging her former wife was "cock-hunting" and calling Ms Lovell a c***" and a "f****** bitch". The court also heard that Wallis had demanded £350,000 from Ms Lovell using an unknown phone number In a different message, Wallis referred to her ex-wife and Ms Lovell's father as "prejudiced f******" and hoped they "never have a happy moment again". In total, the former MP sent four messages and left one voice note. The couple split in 2020 and finalised their divorce in 2024. A victim impact statement from Ms Lovell said: "This is the hardest thing I have written, for so long I have had to fight against the tide of Jamie's behaviour, publicly and privately." She added: "The woman I used to be is destroyed. I will never understand what I have done to deserve the hurt I have endured." Ms Lovell went on to say the past six months had been "utterly devastating", adding that she feared Wallis arriving at her home and had consequently installed CCTV. Wallis, wearing a black dress, looked down as the statement was read to the court. Narita Bahra KC, appearing for the defence, said Wallis uses female pronouns, referring to Jamie as her "deadname". As of last month, the former MP said her name was still legally Jamie, but she used the name Katie. Wallis's lawyer criticised the police and prosecutors for not dealing with the matter outside of court - adding that it was "unequivocal" her client had been suffering from mental health difficulties during the offending, partly brought on by her transitioning. Ms Bahra said Wallis was suffering from PTSD, a depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder. District Judge Rhys Williams handed Wallis a 12-month community order and a fine worth £1,264. Wallis admitted leaving the messages at a hearing in June, having previously denied the charges. The former MP asked Ms Lovell for help in the final message, and claimed she was experiencing head pain. Wallis was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after being found by police, and was later arrested and then charged. Her plea changed when allegations of having driven by Ms Lovell's home were removed from the charge. Wallis was previously convicted of driving offences in 2022 after crashing a car into a telegraph pole before fleeing the scene.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trial date set for suspended Tory MP accused of Groucho club sex assaults
A suspended Tory MP accused of sexually assaulting two women at London's Groucho club will face trial next year. Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, allegedly cupped the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Soho private members' club on an evening in August 2023. A complaint was made to the club and a report made to police, and Spencer, 37, was interviewed by officers earlier this year. Spencer, who denies two counts of sexual assault, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday wearing a dark suit, blue tie and black-rimmed glasses. Prosecutor Polly Dyer told a previous hearing that the first woman 'felt Mr Spencer put his arms under her arms' before he 'cupped her breasts over the clothing', having interacted with him earlier in the evening while he 'seemed to be intoxicated'. Of the second woman, the prosecutor said 'he moved behind her and also cupped her breasts with his hands over clothing'. Ms Dyer added that neither woman consented to the alleged touching. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he 'categorically denies the charges' against him, adding: 'He has co-operated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.' Spencer's trial date was set for July 13 2026. Judge Tony Baumgartner said his home address would continue to be withheld from the court while he considers the application. The politician, who lives in Suffolk, was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. He previously worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think thank and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education. He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the 'most important thing to the people across my constituency' was 'restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system'.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trial date set for suspended Tory MP accused of Groucho club sex assaults
A suspended Tory MP accused of sexually assaulting two women at London's Groucho club will face trial next year. Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, allegedly cupped the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Soho private members' club on an evening in August 2023. A complaint was made to the club and a report made to police, and Spencer, 37, was interviewed by officers earlier this year. Spencer, who denies two counts of sexual assault, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday wearing a dark suit, blue tie and black-rimmed glasses. Prosecutor Polly Dyer told a previous hearing that the first woman 'felt Mr Spencer put his arms under her arms' before he 'cupped her breasts over the clothing', having interacted with him earlier in the evening while he 'seemed to be intoxicated'. Of the second woman, the prosecutor said 'he moved behind her and also cupped her breasts with his hands over clothing'. Ms Dyer added that neither woman consented to the alleged touching. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he 'categorically denies the charges' against him, adding: 'He has co-operated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.' Spencer's trial date was set for July 13 2026. Judge Tony Baumgartner said his home address would continue to be withheld from the court while he considers the application. The politician, who lives in Suffolk, was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. He previously worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think thank and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education. He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the 'most important thing to the people across my constituency' was 'restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system'.
