Ofsted has published the findings of its latest monitoring visit of Children’s Services at Liverpool City Council.
The inspection, which took place in March 2025, focused on:
Response to children at risk from exploitation or going missing from home or care, including assessment and planning for those children.
Response to disabled children, including assessment and planning for those children.
Supervision of social workers.
It found that there has been a significant improvement in the response to disabled children since March 2023, which caseloads for social workers reduced by half and increased management capacity in the team.
They report that disabled children “now benefit from thorough assessments and plans which support them and their families effectively” with risks “promptly recognised and responded to”, and social workers devoting time to “sensitively communicating with children to understand their wishes and feelings”.
They also note that the immediate response to children who go missing from home or care has also improved, noting that social workers are “persistent in their efforts to talk to children when they return home, to explore why they went missing” and that this information is used to try and reduce the risk of children going missing again.
They also found that leaders are working at pace to address issues with children at risk not always being promptly identified and referred by partner agencies, with work under way on developing a more coordinated approach to enable earlier intervention and support for vulnerable children at risk of exploitation.
They concluded that timely action is usually taken to protect children at risk of exploitation and criminality, and work is under way to address the small number of strategy discussions that are delayed.
There is also praise for children and family assessments, which “have improved in quality”, with partner agencies contributing well to them and “children’s wishes and views are sensitively sought and considered by social workers, who take the time and effort to truly know and understand children’s needs”.]
They also found “some improvement” in the quality of child in need and children protection plans, although the understanding and analysis of risks is described as “variable”.
Other improvements noted include:
Case supervision is starting to improve in quality and is now more reflective and focuses on children’s experiences, with management training starting to have a positive impact.
Regular and detailed reporting to the improvement board and scrutiny committee is providing the necessary challenge to drive improvement plans forward.
The inspection also noted that staff told inspectors that there have been “significant improvements” over the last two years, with reduced caseloads and social workers feeling safer and better able to deliver quality social work.
Ofsted said: “They welcome improved communication from leaders about plans, and value the regular employee forum and the two-way communication it facilitates. Social workers say they feel happy, motivated and well supported in their work in Liverpool, describing themselves as ‘being part of a family’.”
Councillor Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This monitoring visit highlights the progress we have made over the last two years, and that we are addressing areas that need improvement.
“Our staff are absolutely committed to delivering the very best services for children and young people in Liverpool, and I would like to thank them for their hard work which is making a positive difference to the lives of the most vulnerable every single day.
“Improving Children’s Services is a journey that takes time, and our ambition is to get to a position where we are delivering an outstanding service, as well as becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City putting young people at the forefront of decision making. I firmly believe we are on track to achieve both.”
UConn Neag School of Education alumni Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA; Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA; Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA; and Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA; have each embarked on remarkable journeys as educators, spanning continents and cultures. From their foundations at UConn to classrooms across the world, their careers highlight the transformative power of teaching beyond borders.
“Time after time, our UConn participants have told me that studying and teaching abroad has been one of the most profound experiences of their lives,” says Doug Kaufman, the Neag School’s director of global education and an associate professor of curriculum and instruction. “I see it, too. Moving away from familiar and comfortable contexts has taught them how to recognize the diverse and powerful gifts that their students at home bring into the classroom.
“Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all.”
Stargardter’s passion for gifted education led her from Connecticut to Panama, Singapore, and Finland, shaping her global perspective. She says her experiences reinforce her belief in education as a universal force for change, transcending cultural and linguistic differences.
Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all. — Doug Kaufman, Neag School’s director of global education
Castro’s path to teaching went from Puerto Rico to Colombia, Costa Rica, and Taiwan, and he has embraced each opportunity with curiosity and openness. His teaching philosophy is rooted in adaptation and connection, ensuring meaningful relationships with students regardless of geography. As he prepares for fatherhood, he looks forward to the next chapter of his journey.
For Kew, London became home. A study abroad trip led to a life-changing move across the Atlantic, where she has spent over a decade teaching and raising a family. Balancing work and her personal life, she cherishes her role as an educator in a diverse, evolving community.
Emmenegger’s love for language and culture brought her from Connecticut to France, Portugal, and Switzerland. Teaching French and German in international schools, she exemplifies resilience and adaptability, proving that a commitment to education can create opportunities in unexpected places.
Together, their stories illustrate the boundless impact of teaching, and the unique paths educators take to inspire students worldwide.
Reconnecting with Family Roots
From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of Gabriel Castro’s ’14 (ED), ’15 MA journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Castro)
Education wasn’t Castro’s first choice — he entered UConn as a psychology major, uncertain of his career path. However, a mentorship role in a First-Year Experience course changed everything. Standing before a classroom, guiding new college students, he realized teaching was what he was meant to do.
After graduating from the Neag School, he took his first teaching position in Puerto Rico, reconnecting with his roots. His mother had spent much of her childhood moving between Puerto Rico and Connecticut, and teaching at a K-12 school immersed him in a close-knit community.
Three years in Puerto Rico deepened his love for international teaching and inspired him to explore the other half of his heritage. His father had emigrated from Colombia, and Castro wanted to experience the country firsthand. Moving to Colombia, he found a vibrant culture, rich with music festivals, soccer, and breathtaking landscapes. It was there he met his wife, Kismeth, a fellow international teacher from New York. He says their shared passion for education and adventure brought them together.
They had intended to take a sabbatical year traveling through South America, but the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped their plans. With borders closing, they found temporary teaching positions in Costa Rica. Castro stepped in as a last-minute math teacher, navigating virtual classes, hybrid schedules, and masked interactions. Despite the challenges, Costa Rica was a paradise.
My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well. — Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA
“With tourism at a standstill, nature thrived,” he says. “Sloths and monkeys roamed undisturbed, and sunsets painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson.”
As the world reopened, they faced their next big decision. Asia had always intrigued them, and Taiwan offered everything they wanted — an excellent school, a safe environment, and a strong culture of hiking, cycling, and running.
Moving to Taiwan was a leap of faith but quickly felt like home. While the language barrier existed outside the classroom, Castro found his ability to connect with students transcended words.
“My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well,” he says.
From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of his journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. His classroom now extends beyond four walls, spanning countries, cultures, and languages, and he is preparing for an exciting new personal chapter: fatherhood.
“I have an 11-month-old puppy, so I feel like I’ve been practicing in a way,” he says. “It’s a steep learning curve! But I’m excited to see how we can continue traveling with a baby and incorporating her into our adventures.”
Finding Love While Abroad
“It’s the children, really. Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special,” says Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Holland Kew)
Fourteen years into her teaching career — first in Connecticut and then in London — Kew still finds joy in watching her students grow.
“It’s the children, really,” she says. “Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special.”
Having spent 10 years at the same London school, she has become deeply embedded in the community. She gets to know families, watches siblings pass through her classroom, and shares their triumphs and struggles.
“Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others,” she says.
Her path to teaching began in high school when she worked at an after-school program at her former elementary school in Connecticut. Later, as a camp director at a nature center, she solidified her love for mentoring. Her mother had always dreamed of being a teacher but never pursued it.
Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others. — Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA
“Maybe in a way, I was fulfilling that dream for both of us,” Kew says.
A single decision changed her trajectory. Studying abroad in London while at the Neag School was supposed to be an adventure — an opportunity to explore a city she had loved since a family trip at 13. She hadn’t expected to meet her future husband just weeks into the program.
They met in a pub, a chance encounter that turned into a long-distance relationship. After navigating time zones and transatlantic flights, they decided to marry. With her husband’s career established in London and the UK actively recruiting teachers, it made sense for Kew to move.
Adjusting to teaching in England came with challenges. In Connecticut, Kew had more autonomy in her teaching, while curriculum and behavior management were standardized in London. Leadership opportunities came more readily, and she briefly considered administration but loved being in the classroom too much.
Balancing work and family was another challenge. With four children — two daughters, 6 and 4, and toddler twins — her hands are full.
“Honestly,” she says, “going to work feels like a break compared to being home!”
London has become home in ways she never expected. During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband considered moving to the U.S. to be closer to her family, but something always held them back. London has given her a life she cherishes, a career she loves, a community she belongs to, and — most importantly — a family she has built from the ground up.
Focused on All Things French
Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons help her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence. (Photo courtesy of Yurah Robidas Emmenegger)
Emmenegger, who taught for 15 years in Connecticut and now teaches in France, first became interested in education while teaching piano and tutoring in high school. With a mother who was also a teacher, it felt natural.
“It just made sense that I would become a teacher,” she says.
Growing up in Bristol and Plainville, Emmenegger developed a love for French through her mother, who had lived in Switzerland and Portugal.
“She sang to us in French as kids,” Emmenegger says. “In high school, I jumped at the chance to study it.”
A summer program in France in 2007 and the Neag School’s study abroad program in London during her master’s year of the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s teacher education program deepened her passion for language and curriculum planning.
My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey. While I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be. — Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA
After graduating, she taught French in Ellington, for three years but longed to live in France. She joined the French government’s teaching assistant program and was placed in Monté, where she lived with international assistants and did a weekly language exchange with another teacher. She spoke in English for half an hour for the language exchange to help the other teacher improve his English communication skills. Then, the other half specifically worked on improving her grammar.
Since she couldn’t teach French in France, Emmenegger explored other opportunities. Her mother’s past in Portugal led her there for Christmas, where she fell in love with the country and found a teaching job. But her journey took an unexpected turn — she met her future husband in Switzerland. When the world shut down in 2020, they spent months apart. Determined to be together, they married in May 2021, and, by July, she had moved to Switzerland.
Finding a teaching job there was challenging. She took a role at a private school, but it wasn’t the right fit.
She joined the International School of Basel (ISB), but no French positions were available. Expanding her search, she took a six-month role at a Swiss public school, but left after half a year.
ISB welcomed her back with an unexpected offer: teaching beginner German. Having learned German just two years earlier through Duolingo and night classes, she thought the interview offer was a joke. But ISB encouraged her. She took the leap and found herself in a supportive, engaging environment. ISB promised her priority for the next French opening, but no one wanted to leave — a testament to the school’s quality.
Despite career uncertainties, Emmenegger and her husband were building a life together. He was teaching while finishing his studies, and they navigated the challenges of being an international couple.
“You have to be open to moving,” she says. “Each time I relocated, I rebuilt my support system, making me appreciate my deep connections back home even more.”
She says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons helped her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence.
For those who love studying abroad, Emmenegger encourages taking the next step and teaching internationally, as she has no regrets.
“My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey,” she says. “And while I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.”
From UConn to Global Classrooms
Jessica Stargardter’s ’16 (ED), ’17 MA teaching journey included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Stargardter)
Stargardter’s journey as an educator has been extraordinary, spanning continents and shaping her perspective on the transformative power of teaching. After graduating from the Neag School, she began her career in Connecticut, teaching in Greenwich Public Schools before moving to Norwalk. There, she discovered her passion for gifted and talented education, an interest sparked during her time at UConn, where she worked at the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development.
“I started filing papers at first, but then I received a grant to conduct research,” she says, which ignited a lifelong commitment to student potential.
Stargardter’s dedication led her to teach abroad at the International School of Panama.
“It was my first experience in a traditional classroom after working across grade levels,” she says. “I felt like a first-year teacher again, but it taught me so much about myself and the world.”
She later moved to Singapore, where she found a more manageable cultural transition.
“I was in a classroom with students from all over the world, each bringing something unique,” she says. “It was challenging but incredibly rewarding.”
Teaching is more than just a profession. It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach. — Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA
Teaching abroad reinforced her belief in education’s universal impact, transcending borders and backgrounds. Reflecting on what initially drew her to teaching, Stargardter credits her third-grade teacher, Mr. Simeone.
“He gamified everything,” she says. “Learning was fun and engaging. I remember thinking I wanted to do the same for my students.”
Her teaching journey also included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. Initially considering a career in academia, she realized how much she missed teaching, leading her back to the classroom and eventually to her move to Panama.
Stargardter’s foundation for success was built at the Neag School, where extensive classroom experiences prepared her for any teaching environment.
“Neag gave me the tools to step into my first classroom ready to succeed,” she says, crediting the program’s diverse placements for shaping her adaptable teaching philosophy.
During her master’s year, Stargardter interned in London through one of the Neag School’s study abroad programs, working at a school for adolescents with mental health challenges. She says this experience reshaped her understanding of education, teaching her that learning extends beyond traditional classrooms.
Her journey abroad has reinforced her belief in cross-cultural education’s power to broaden perspectives.
“Teaching is more than just a profession,” she says. “It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach.”
To learn more about the Neag School’s teacher education programs, visit teachered.education.uconn.edu.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Sellafield’s ’locked vault’ gives up its nuclear secrets
One of the most challenging puzzles in the UK’s nuclear clean-up programme is being solved.
Operators in the control room of Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo
Waste is now being routinely retrieved from one of the world’s oldest nuclear waste stores for the first time in its history.
Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo has effectively been a locked vault since the 1970s. That was when waste stopped being tipped into its 6 compartments.
After decades of work to figure out how to take waste from a building designed never to be emptied, retrievals teams are now doing exactly that.
So far, enough waste to fill 18 storage boxes has been cleared.
And some of the items recovered are not what you’d expect in an intermediate level nuclear waste store.
Among them is a 1960s Electrolux vacuum cleaner.
It’s believed the household hoover was used to suck up dust in the facility during its operational life in the 1950s and 60s.
Because the dust was radioactive, when the vacuum was no longer needed, the only place to dispose of it was in the silo itself.
The 1960s Electrolux vacuum cleaner discovered in Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Store
It’s a fantastic achievement to get to the point where we’re routinely retrieving waste from the building.
The scale of the challenge was immense. Remember, this was a facility that was not designed to be emptied.
The vacuum cleaner is a great example of how challenging it is to clear this silo. We don’t know for sure what’s in there. They didn’t keep accurate records in those days.
Anything taken into the building by the workforce of the day was likely to be contaminated because of the environment they were working in.
There was no alternative disposal route for contaminated material, so everything just went into the silo.
Ironically, a modern-day vacuum cleaner is also playing a part in the waste removal job, sucking up dust created when waste is dropped into storage boxes. It will eventually be consigned as waste itself, joining its 1960s predecessor.
Removing waste from old buildings like the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo is Sellafield’s most important job today.
Alongside it, there’s another silo and 2 ponds that need to be emptied. The ponds store used nuclear fuel underwater and were also not designed to be emptied.
Each one of these buildings needs its own unique decommissioning plan. All of them will take decades to complete.
You can read more about the plan for the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo here.
Roddy added:
For the first time in our history, we’re routinely retrieving waste from all 4 of our legacy ponds and silos.
That’s an incredibly important milestone in our journey to clean up the site.
But there’s a lot of work yet to do and these four facilities will continue to challenge for many years to come.
Our focus now is to safely accelerate the pace of retrievals and ultimately eliminate the risk these historic buildings pose.
This application followed the execution of a drugs warrant at the property by West Midlands Police on Friday 14 February when a firearm and ammunition were recovered alongside a quantity of suspected class A controlled drugs and other weapons involving a considerable number of additional officers and resources from across the area.
The Police were met with a hostile and violent response and a critical incident was declared. A number of people were arrested and remain on police bail pending further investigation.
Given the impact on the local community and clear evidence of serious criminality conducted at the property, Wolverhampton Homes Anti-Social Behaviour Team worked closely with West Midlands Police and applied for a Closure Order to close the premises immediately under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent further criminality and potential disorder taking place.
A Closure Order forbids any persons, including all residents of the property to enter the property for an initial period of 3 months and can be extended on application to the Court. Any breach of the order is an offence which, on conviction, can result in a fine or imprisonment.
The City Council’s Homeless Team is supporting the displaced residents to secure alternative accommodation.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet member for Digital and Community said: “Such criminality and disorder is incredibly harmful to communities and will not be tolerated. The council, police and Wolverhampton Homes will not hesitate to take robust action in these circumstances to protect the local community.
“Tackling ASB is one of the key priorities for the Safter Wolverhampton Partnership – giving confidence to residents that we are willing to take action and empowering them to report issues that are impacting individuals, communities and businesses.”
Inspector Chris Turner, who covers policing across the local area, said: “We are committed to reducing anti-social and criminal behaviour across the neighbourhood and we understand the distress and disruption such issues can cause people living locally.
“We always urge people to get in touch if they have concerns or information about criminal activity, as we will always seek to act on the information we receive.”
Director of education support companies jailed after spending £200,000 in Covid loans ‘as he saw fit’
Bounce Back Loan fraudster convicted after Insolvency Service investigations
Ricky Harrison fraudulently obtained four Covid Bounce Back Loans, including three for dormant companies
Money from the loans was used by Harrison for his own personal benefit and he attempted to avoid having to make any repayments by applying to have all four of his companies struck-off the Companies House register
Harrison has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following Insolvency Service investigations into his conduct
A director who secured maximum-value Covid loans for three dormant companies and overstated his turnover to secure a fourth during the pandemic has been jailed.
Ricky Harrison received a total of £200,000 in Bounce Back Loans during 2020, when he was entitled to just £16,000 at most. He also spent the money for personal purposes, not for business use as was required.
Three of his companies, Hackney Works Ltd, Tower Hamlets Works Ltd and Ricky Harrison Holdings Ltd, were not trading at the time he made his fraudulent applications to the bank.
The 41-year-old also exaggerated his turnover by more than £150,000 for a fourth company, Newham Works Ltd.
Harrison, of Beacon Court, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 25 April.
He was also disqualified as a director for 10 years.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Ricky Harrison’s actions were deeply cynical. He exploited an opportunity to help himself to taxpayers’ money during what was a national emergency.
Harrison did not co-operate with Insolvency Service investigations, failing to attend a pre-arranged interview and instead producing a typed statement where he implausibly claimed he was entitled to all the loans and was at liberty to spend the funds as he saw fit.
The reality is that Harrison was not entitled to the vast majority of the money he received and was required to spend the funds for the economic benefit of his business.
This was public money and we will continue to prosecute those who made such obvious false representations to secure Covid support.
Harrison’s four companies were incorporated within a three-week period in December 2018 and January 2019.
Hackney Works, Tower Hamlets Works, and Newham Works were all described on Companies House as providing “educational support services”. Ricky Harrison Holdings was described as a holding company.
Only Newham Works appeared to have any trading income in 2019.
Harrison himself admitted to an accountant that Hackney Works and Tower Hamlets Works were dormant and that there was no need to prepare any accounts for them.
Analysis of the accounts of Ricky Harrison Holdings revealed no evidence that the company had begun trading in its own right.
Despite this, Harrison falsely declared the companies had an annual turnover of £245,000, £232,000, and £315,000 respectively when he made the applications for three £50,000 Bounce Back Loans across a two-day period in May 2020.
At the same time, Harrison made a fraudulent application for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for Newham Works. He declared on the application form that the company’s turnover was £215,000 when it was actually only £64,000.
Harrison transferred some of the money he received to his other companies, including Newham Works, and paid a percentage into his own personal account.
A total of £85,000 also appeared to be used for the purchase of a vehicle in June 2020.
Harrison told the bank he would repay the funds, as was required under the terms of the scheme.
However, in July 2020, just weeks after securing the loans, Harrison applied to have Hackney Works and Tower Hamlets Works struck-off the Companies House register.
Harrison subsequently attempted to strike-off Ricky Harrison Holdings and Newham Works in 2021 but was unsuccessful.
No loan repayments were made by Harrison aside from a single payment of £833.
Further information
Ricky Harrison is of Beacon Court, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire. His date of birth is 4 April 1984
Stoke-on-Trent will have “an unrelenting focus on increasing preventative activity” if a new health and wellbeing strategy is approved.
The draft document of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-28 promises a permanent shift towards investment in activities that help people to stay well and prevent avoidable health problems.
The strategy is aimed at tackling a number of key challenges in the city such as improving healthy life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and supporting the safe reduction of the number of children in care.
In addition, it will also look to improve the poor levels of physical and mental health that have social and economic impacts on residents, as they prevent people living full lives or accessing jobs and training.
The strategy’s targets include ensuring children reach and sustain a healthy weight, reducing repeat hospital admissions among young people for long-term conditions like asthma and diabetes and reducing premature deaths among the under 75s, whilst supporting older people to live actively and independently.
Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This strategy promises significant investment when tackling the key health challenges facing Stoke-on-Trent and will be important in our efforts to build a healthier city and reduce health inequalities.
“It is important residents’ experience is at the centre of helping to shape future care and support and that they know how to access services that will improve their health.
“By supporting independent living and prevention, this strategy won’t just offer the best health outcomes but also give people the greatest opportunity to thrive economically too.”
The Strategy will go to the council’s ruling cabinet this month. If approved, it will go to full council for final sign off.
Palestinian Authority and UK strengthen ties to continue work towards long-term peace
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary host Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, demonstrating the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy will today host Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in London, marking the first official Palestinian Authority Prime Ministerial visit to the UK since 2021.
The invitation reflects the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people at a critical juncture in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister Mustafa will sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding enshrining their commitment to advancing Palestinian statehood as part of a two-state solution. It will also stress that the Palestinian Authority is the only legitimate governing entity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and underlines the importance of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under its authority. The MoU will also underscore the commitment of the Palestinian Authority to deliver its reform agenda as a matter of priority.
Alongside this, the UK will announce a package of support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expected to include £101 million directed at humanitarian relief, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
The UK and PA will also agree on a coordinated approach to Gaza’s future, building on Arab and Palestinian-led initiatives. The UK will make clear that Hamas must immediately release the hostages and relinquish control of Gaza.
The strengthening of the UK-Palestinian partnership represents a key component of the UK government’s Plan for Change, as it works to support long-term peace and security in the Middle East. By working even more closely with the Palestinian Authority, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to the two-state solution as the best option for a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
This visit marks a significant step in strengthening our relationship with the Palestinian Authority – a key partner for peace in the Middle East – at a critical moment.
The UK is clear that there can be no role for Hamas in the future of Gaza and we are committed to working with the Palestinian Authority as the only legitimate governing entity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We will not give up on the two-state solution, with a Palestinian state and Israel living side-by-side in peace, dignity and security. I reaffirm the UK’s commitment to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to that process, at a time that has the greatest impact.
During the visit Prime Minister Mustafa will outline the Palestinian Authority’s reform programme which focuses on strengthening financial sustainability, enhancing governance transparency, and improving service delivery to Palestinian citizens.
Background
this is the first official Palestinian Authority Prime Ministerial visit to the UK since former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh visited Glasgow in 2021 for COP26
Memorandum of Understanding: the MoU establishes a new framework for UK-Palestinian cooperation which will reiterate both parties’ commitment to the two-state solution, and pursue further cooperation in areas including economic development, trade and security
this comes as Lord Collins is also due to attend the UN Security Council Middle East Peace Process meeting on Tuesday where he will re-affirm the UK position on progressing towards a long-term peace in the region
the funding announcement is single-year (financial year 2025 to 2026) and future funding is subject to the ongoing Spending Review
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Education Secretary appoints new chair of Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has appointed Sir David Holmes as the new Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
The independent panel of experts provides national leadership and learning on child protection and safeguarding. Established in July 2018 to review serious child safeguarding incidents, when children have died or suffered serious harm due to abuse or neglect, the panel aims to improve the safeguarding system by identifying national learning from these tragedies.
David Holmes has 19 years’ experience in the development and provision of high-quality services for children and families as a CEO in the voluntary sector, currently as CEO of Family Action – a frontline charity which supports families through change, challenge or crisis. Prior to that he served as a Deputy Director of Children’s Services in local government, a senior civil servant in the Department of Health and Department for Education, and as a practising solicitor. He will serve a 4-year term from 23 June 2025.
This appointment builds on the announcement that the panel will form the foundation from which to build the Child Protection Authority (CPA) in England. The CPA will be established to make the child protection system clearer and more unified, and ensure ongoing improvement for child and youth victims of abuse and neglect through effective, evidence-based support for practitioners.
Under Sir David’s leadership, work to expand the role of the panel by increasing its analytical capacity and to provide high-quality material for practitioners will begin immediately. Later this year, the government will develop a roadmap to establishing the CPA and launch a consultation on the development of the new CPA.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
Sir David Holmes’ track record in working on the ground with children and families, supporting them through the toughest times, makes him well-placed to help us build a system where background does not determine destiny.
I am grateful to Annie Hudson for her stewardship of the panel, bringing forth ambitious recommendations that are now informing our work to improve child protection across England and deliver our Plan for Change.
As we move towards creating a new Child Protection Authority, I look forward to working with Sir David Holmes in a shared ambition to protect and defend the most vulnerable children in our society.
Incoming chair of the panel, Sir David Holmes, said:
I am honoured to have been chosen to undertake this role. No child should suffer harm, abuse or neglect and the panel’s role in working with the whole safeguarding system to review practice, identify learning and encourage and enable improvement is crucial.
I look forward to working with everyone to improve the safeguarding of children and I will do everything I possibly can to make a positive difference in this role.
Outgoing chair of the panel, Annie Hudson, said:
I feel immensely privileged to have served as Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel for the past 5 years.
The panel has worked hard to ensure that, as a nation and as safeguarding professionals, we learn from tragic incidents where children have died or been seriously harmed because of abuse and neglect.
There is much important work to do over the coming period to improve how agencies work together to help and protect children. With his wealth of experience, I know that Sir David Holmes is very well placed to lead the panel in taking forward plans to create a stronger, evidence-based system that puts children’s needs at the heart of all we do.
Media enquiries – Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Amina Makele, Head of Media and Communications 07889 133 791
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Alex Ely has been appointed as Chair of the Museum of the Home
The Secretary of State has appointed Alex Ely as the Chair of the Museum of the Home for a term of four years, which commenced on 23 March 2025.
Alex Ely
Alex is Founder Director of Mæ, an architecture and urban design studio based in London. Alex is a RIBA Chartered Architect and a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, he graduated from the Royal College of Art. Under his leadership, Mæ has gained international recognition for its innovative and socially responsive design approach, delivering acclaimed projects across masterplanning, housing, healthcare, and cultural buildings.
Alex oversees Mæ’s design direction, and has won numerous accolades including the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023. He is a leading voice in the built environment, and has shaped national housing policy having advised the Government and the Mayor of London on urban and planning policy promoting an agenda of design excellence. He has taught at a number of UK Schools of Architecture, written several books, and exhibited internationally.
Alex Ely quote:
“I am delighted to be appointed by the Secretary of State as Chair of the Museum of the Home. The Museum plays a crucial role in the advancement of education and promoting debate about the importance of home in and for societies. As one of our foremost cultural institutions I look forward to helping advance its mission and build on its purpose to reveal and rethink the ways we live, in order to live better together.”
Remuneration and Governance Code
The Chair of the Museum of the Home is not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.
The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Alex has not declared any significant political activity.
No Mow May, Plantlife’s annual campaign, is back, urging everyone to pack away their lawnmowers, let wildflowers grow freely, and help nature thrive.
Whether you’re in a town, or the countryside, it’s easy to take part.
No lawn is too small — every wild patch can provide vital food for bees and butterflies, connecting us with nature and giving the environment a strong start to summer.
This year, the Isle of Wight Council is once again supporting this national campaign in several locations across the Island, where it is safe to do so.
The initiative promotes local biodiversity and aligns with the principles of the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, particularly the principle of “Protect and Sustain Nature.”
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment, and planning, said: “This past year has given us a much greater understanding of our unique Island wildlife thanks to the incredible work put into our draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
“Throughout the development of this piece of work, we have mapped our biodiversity and Islanders have been coming forward identifying species we rarely see or knew were still here.
“Just last month one such rare find came to light with botanist Paul Stanley identifying one of the UK’s rarest plants – Himantoglossum hircinum, or Lizard Orchid.
“The findings of the LNRS show how important it is to restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
“We encourage people to join the No Mow May movement, in doing so supporting our Island Biosphere Reserve and aligning with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of ‘life on land’.”
For safety reasons, the council will continue to mow roadside verges throughout May and maintain outdoor spaces that serve sport and recreation activities.
However, several council-managed areas will be allowed to return to their natural state during the month.
Among the sites participating in No Mow May 2025 are:
Big Mead, Shanklin – Tree line on the side of the main road.
Seaclose, Newport – On top plateau where new trees have been planted, the area behind will be left uncut.
Fishbourne Roundabout.
Havenstreet Recreation Ground – Over a quarter of the main grass area.
While the council supports No Mow May, it also recognises that permanent reinstatement of wildflower meadows or verges on private land would benefit biodiversity longer term.
Belfast Stands Against Racism rally at Belfast City Hall, 12:30pm today
PSNI recorded 1,777 racist incidents and 1,150 racist attacks last year
‘We demand more than token gestures and empty strategies. When the Racial Equality Strategy expires at the end of this year, we demand better to follow.’ – Patrick Corrigan
Speaking at the Belfast Stands Against Racism rally today (Sunday 27 April), Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:
“We stand here today because words without action are not enough.
“The Northern Ireland Executive’s racial equality strategy has failed. That’s not me saying it. That’s what the recent independent review – commissioned by the Executive – found.
“The strategy has lacked resources, targets, and effective action plans. Promises made years ago remain broken. Meanwhile racism has grown. Last year race hate crime here hit an all-time high.
“Years of complacency left bigoted thugs, including the masked men who wrap themselves in a false flag of patriotism, emboldened to carry out an ever-greater number of attacks.
“We demand more than token gestures and empty strategies. When the Racial Equality Strategy expires at the end of this year, we demand better to follow.
“Belfast deserves better. Northern Ireland deserves better. Every person living here, regardless of race or background, has a right to feel safe, respected, and heard.”
Last year saw racist hate crimes hit new all-time highs in Northern Ireland
The PSNI recorded 1,777 racist incidents and 1,150 racist attacks in 2024,reaching the highest ever recorded levels during the summer period.
Islanders are being reminded that they have just over a week left to share their views on the handling and review of complaints about public services, before the public consultation closes on 6 May.
The consultation launched on Monday 10 March to inform a project being led by Deputy Moz Scott, Assistant Minister for Sustainable Economic Development and External Relations.
Deputy Scott has been tasked by the Chief Minister to develop proposals to improve the resolution of complaints against providers of public services, with the aim of improving services for the public.
The project includes appraisal of the potential value to the public of introducing a Public Services Ombudsman to replace the existing Jersey Complaints Panel.
Members of the public and local organisations have been invited to share their experiences of complaints against public services, whether or not they have formally complained against any, along with any experiences they may have of the Jersey Complaints Panel and other complaints review bodies.
Views are also being sought on preferences regarding the way complaints against public services should be handled and reviewed.
So far, over 160 responses have been received.
Deputy Scott said: “Any service provided to the community directly by government, or by external organisations funded or owned by government, can be regarded as a public service. Providers of public services include regulatory bodies, certain charities and utility providers and arms’ length organisations.
“I hope that anyone with experience or a view on the subject will participate in the survey, including users, public service providers, reviewing bodies and the legal community.
“Responses so far have covered a breadth of public services and areas of concern. I think it’s important to reassure the public that the policy officers who are managing the survey are based in a different area of government from the departments that deliver public services.
“I urge anyone who has had reason to complain about a public service to complete the survey form by the deadline, if they have not already done so, so that their personal experiences can be taken into account in the formulation of the proposals.”
When the consultation closes, a consultation report will be prepared and published that will inform the proposals.
Islanders can participate in the survey online, or collect a survey form from their Parish Hall, local library branch or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Written submissions, comments or questions can be sent by email or post using the details below:
Communities across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear have access to plans to respond to flooding, wildfires and other major incidents thanks to a new Community Risk Register.
The Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is a partnership made up of blue light services, local authorities, hospitals, health organisations and other public and private bodies across the North East.
Each region has its own LRF with the partnerships ensuring a co-ordinated and effective response to any incident or event that impacts on communities.
Much of the work takes place behind closed doors, with tests and exercises taking place among agencies to prepare their staff for any incident that may take place in our towns, cities and countryside.
That could be a mass power outages, storms, wildfire or a pandemic, among other high impact events or major incidents that could take place at any time.
The register includes details of those incidents identified as being of greater risk but also includes information on how communities themselves may prepare for them.
Chair of the Northumbria LRF, Chief Fire Officer Peter Heath of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS), said the pandemic and recent extreme weather events demonstrate the value in communities being prepared.
He said: “All the agencies represented in the LRF want to reassure our communities that we prepare for all eventualities and as a region our plans are well tested and co-ordinated.
“Whatever the incident, we will be there to prioritise risk to life and ensure those in need receive the appropriate response from the appropriate agency.
“In recent years we have seen Storm Arwen cause widespread disruption in our rural communities, wildfires lead to widespread destruction of nature reserves and a global pandemic that changed life as we know it.
“The LRF was at the heart of our regional response but these are incidents that impacted on all communities and each incident has taught us a lesson in it’s own right.
“One main theme is the preparedness of our communities, and how often residents will mobilise themselves to ensure the most vulnerable among us are supported. That community cohesion is what makes our region so great.
“Through the Community Risk Register residents can better prepare themselves for some of those high risk incidents.
“As a partnership, we will be communicating advice and guidance on those risks identified in the register throughout the year so keep your eyes out and help us keep our communities safe.”
You can find the Northumbria Community Risk Register on the Northumberland County Council website here: nland.uk/CRR
Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Kyrgyzstan
Statement by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at Kyrgyzstan’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Let me welcome the Minister and his delegation, and salute his government’s efforts to implement the recommendations from its last review. Not least, we commend its efforts on gender equality and welcome their constructive role on this Council.
Let me also urge his Government to uphold its obligations under the ICCPR and the commitments accepted at its last review.
We recommend that the Kyrgyz Republic:
Ensure the treatment of NGOS is in line with international human rights obligations, and that it removes regulations for NGOS to provide information not stipulated by the ‘Law on Non-Commercial Organisations’.
Maintain the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture as an independent and separate National Preventative Mechanism and provide adequate resources to the Centre to continue to effectively carry out its mandate.
Adhere to the principles enshrined in the Kyrgyz Constitution by amending the Code of Offences to decriminalise defamation and insult, and instead use civil litigation in line with international human rights obligations.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Change of British High Commissioner to Malta: Victoria Busby
Mrs Victoria Busby OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta.
Mrs Victoria Busby OBE
Mrs Victoria Busby OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta in succession to Ms Katherine Ward LVO OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Busby will take up her appointment during September 2025.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Victoria Alice Markland Busby
Year
Role
2020 to present
FCDO, Director of Protocol and Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps
2019 to 2020
Cabinet Office, Chief Operating Officer, COP26
2012 to 2019
No10, Deputy Director, Events and Visits
2010 to 2012
DCMS, Head of Communication, Government Olympic Executive
2009 to 2010
Home Office, Senior Communications Manager, Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
2008 to 2009
Ministry of Defence, Senior PR Manager
2006 to 2008
Department for Work and Pensions, Marketing Manager
2006
Joined Civil Service
2005 to 2006
Head London (communications consultancy), Account Manager
A private hire driver who pleaded guilty yesterday (Thursday 24 April 2025) to picking up passengers on the street, has been ordered to pay a total £3,326 by York Magistrates
Zaid Saleem, of Girlington Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, aged 58, holds a private hire driver licence with Wolverhampton and Leeds Council, and drives for an operator called ‘Drive Private Hire’. He, like all private hire drivers, can only pick up fares pre-booked through the operator.
In May 2024, Mr Saleem accepted a passenger who was not pre-booked which was outside the terms of his insurance and in breach of the terms of his private hire licence. This puts passengers and other road users at risk as when a private hire driver takes passengers on journeys that are not pre-booked they are not insured. Furthermore, drivers who flout the law have a competitive advantage over those who comply. This is something the council receives complaints about.
On 25 May 2024, City of York Council Licensing Officers took part in one of a number of enforcement operations which take place regularly. This one was to detect private hire drivers who unlawfully take un-booked passengers, and it took place at York Racecourse and in the city centre.
That day, officers approached Mr Saleem in his private hire vehicle on Clock Tower Way near York Racecourse. They agreed that he would drive them to York railway station for a fare of £10 which breached his licence.
On 24 April 2025 at York Magistrates Court, Mr Saleem pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawfully plying for hire. The magistrate sentenced him to pay a fine of £90, a surcharge of £36 and costs of £3,200.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said:
If an unlicensed driver picks up a customer without a prior and formal booking they are not insured for the journey and are acting illegally.
“It is also important that those drivers who pay for the entitlement and license to pick up fares are protected from being undercut by those who do not.
“We will continue to investigate legitimate complaints and take appropriate legal action. Please report any taxi offences via licensing @york.gov.uk.”
Leeds and Wolverhampton Councils have been informed of the outcome to the case, so that they can review Mr Saleem’s taxi driver license status as a ‘fit and proper’ person.
An NCA trainee provides an insight into their training within the National Crime Agency (NCA)
The National Crime Agency (NCA) plays a key role in the fight against serious and organised crime in the UK. As a trainee within NCA Legal you will get the opportunity to work on a wide range of issues, from seizing assets to advising on live operations.
As a trainee you will normally undertake four seats across the two years, with exposure to a huge breadth of work. The order of the seats is subject to change depending on NCA Legal priorities, but will be designed to ensure you get the maximum out of each.
Within our Civil Litigation Team, you will have the opportunity to work on a range of matters which could include judicial reviews, civil claims, inquests and public inquiries, and to work with colleagues across the Agency. Often these are high profile cases and inquiries. During my seat I spent time in the Court of Appeal, working with senior KCs and was given an opportunity to work on my own caseload supervised by a senior lawyer. Whilst this early responsibility may seem daunting, NCA Legal fosters a culture of collaboration and encouragement that quickly builds your confidence.
Within our Financial Disruptions Litigation Team, you will work on a collection of high-profile asset recovery cases. These are usually fast-paced, and offer a great opportunity for trainees to work closely with senior lawyers and counsel at an early stage. Cases often involve forfeiture of high-value assets such as property, bank accounts and recently crypto assets, and provide trainees with an opportunity to work alongside international partners.
Trainees have a number of options for their third seat, including a chance to be seconded outside the Agency. Past trainees have worked in the Home Office to gain policy experience, advising ministers on the passage of bills through Parliament. Other trainees, like myself, have used their third seat to gain experience in a different team within NCA Legal. These include our Commercial and Employment Team, who advise on employment matters including tribunals, and advise the Agency in relation to its commercial dealings, including compliance with new public procurement legislation. Another is our Disruptive Actions Litigation Team, who advise on disruptions to criminal activity including civil orders and sanctions.
Finally, trainees will complete a seat in our Data and Operational Advisory Team, who provide legal advice to teams across the Agency. This means that the caseload in this seat can be incredibly broad, allowing you to advise on ongoing operations, international liaison, extradition and data sharing. In this seat you will come to understand the incredible range of work the NCA undertakes, and how your role in NCA Legal is pivotal to achieving the Agency’s objectives to protect the public from serious and organised crime.
Training at the NCA is a totally unique experience. It offers you the opportunity to develop a wide breadth of legal knowledge and experience, in novel and often high-profile matters – and importantly, within a training culture that ensures you will be supported, challenged and valued.
A ballot on the proposal to alter Liverpool’s Accommodation BID Levy to a £2 per night charge per occupied bedroom/apartment has now concluded with the result that the proposal is approved.
As such the charge will come into effect from 1st June 2025 on hotels or serviced accommodation which are subject to the levy (those businesses with a rateable value of £45,000 or above).
The change was supported by 26 votes to 18 against on a 53% turnout.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Culture and Visitor Economy, said: “The “Yes” vote for an extension of the BID to create a visitor charge is a great vote of confidence in the growth of our successful visitor economy. I want to thank all the businesses that participated in the ballot.
“Their positive support delivers a huge boost to Liverpool’s tourism sector and our major events programme, supporting jobs and investment to benefit local people, and showing how Liverpool continues to offer a warm welcome to visitors from around the world.
“This a positive step and lays solid foundations in our endeavour to formalise the establishment of a sustainable Tourism Tax, akin to what is being looked at in Glasgow and has already been introduced in other major European cities, which would be used to further strengthen our tourism offer.”
Righton Blackburns are a leading UK stockholder and distributor of high-quality metals and plastics. The new site is part of the company’s expansion from Fareham, supported by Solent Freeport incentives.
The letting of this final speculative unit, follows successful lettings to Inchcape and Percussion Play. Righton Blackburns have secured the space to accommodate growth and enhance operational efficiency.
Dunsbury Park is a 100-acre business and manufacturing park adjacent to the A3(M), already home to major occupiers including Fat Face, DPD, and Breeze Motor Group. The park continues to attract investment, with recent developments including a 120,000 sq ft high-tec facility for Bio-Pure. There is still ongoing demand for pre-let opportunities ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 sq ft marketed by LSH.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, who own Dunsbury Park, said: “It’s great to see the growing business community at Dunsbury Park continuing to flourish.
“The products that Righton Blackburn supply are essential to the local supply chain for Portsmouth’s aerospace and defence industries, so it’s encouraging to see them expand their operations locally to take advantage of the Freeport incentives on offer.”
Dan Rawlings, Director at Lambert Smith Hampton, added: “We are delighted to have reached full occupancy at Unit 500, bringing in a well-established business that will support local jobs and economic growth utilising the freeport benefits. The high-quality, Grade A, sustainable design delivered by Portsmouth City Council enabled us to secure two lettings during construction and quickly complete the final deal.”
Lambert Smith Hampton acted on behalf of the landlord, Portsmouth City Council, in this transaction alongside joint agents at Colliers.
Reappointment of a Non-Judicial Member of the Sentencing Council
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Richard Wright KC as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council.
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Richard Wright KC as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council with special expertise in criminal defence.
The reappointment is for 3 years from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028.
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales was set up in April 2010 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, while maintaining the independence of the judiciary.
The primary role of the council is to issue guidelines on sentencing, which the courts must follow unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so. The council consists of judicial and non-judicial members with specialist knowledge of particular aspects of the criminal justice system.
The appointment of non-judicial members of the Sentencing Council is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and recruitment processes comply with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Biography
Richard Wright was called to the Bar in 1998 and took silk in 2013. He has practised from 6 Park Square in Leeds since, 1998, where he has been Head of Chambers since 2013.
Specialising in murder and manslaughter cases, Richard has prosecuted and defended in some of the highest profile cases across the North of England.
Since 2020 he has been Leader of the North Eastern Circuit; leading the professions’ response to the Covid-19 emergency and, in 2022, he was invited to join the legal team of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
Richard Wright was appointed Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in 2006, Recorder of the Crown Court in 2012 and Deputy High Court Judge in January 2023. He has been a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council since 1 August 2022 with experience of criminal defence.
Millions of people and businesses protected against debanking
Protections will support small businesses to grow, putting more money into people’s pockets through the Plan for Change.
New rules will require banks to give customers 90 days’ notice before closing accounts and provide a clear explanation.
Changes will prevent banks closing accounts without a clear reason, while giving people and businesses the time and information needed to challenge decisions.
Millions of people and small business owners will be better protected against their bank account being closed, as the government goes further and faster to drive growth and delivers security for working people through the Plan for Change.
Banks and other payment service providers will be required to give customers at least 90 days’ notice before closing their account or terminating a payment service – an increase from the two months currently required – under new rules expected to come into force for relevant new contracts from April 2026.
Banks will also need to provide a clear explanation to customers in writing, so people can challenge decisions, such as through the Financial Ombudsman Service.
The new rules will give customers more time to challenge decisions they disagree with and find a new bank if their account is closed. This will support small businesses which have complained about their account being closed without reason at short notice – leaving them no time to complain or find a replacement bank.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, said:
Delivering economic security for working people is at the heart of our Plan for Change and strengthening protections against debanking will protect people’s and businesses’ access to banking services.
Under the new rules, customers will receive more notice of account closures, be entitled to an explanation as to why their account has been closed and have more opportunity to challenge such decisions.
The nine largest personal current account providers in the UK are already legally required to offer basic personal bank accounts to people who legally reside in the UK who do not have or are not eligible for an account. The new rules will help to ensure continued access to basic banking services for the most vulnerable.
The legislation will support existing protections, including those which prohibit a bank from discriminating against a UK consumer based on political opinions or beliefs when accessing a payment account.
By ensuring a more predictable access to banking and other payment services, the government is reinforcing its commitment to the millions of individuals and businesses across the UK who rely on these vital services.
More information
The new legislation being brought forward subject to Parliamentary approval would apply to all payment service providers who decide to terminate payment service contracts without a definite expiry date, including bank account closures. They will apply to contracts agreed from and including 28th April 2026, when the legislation is expected to come into force.
The measures will be subject to certain exceptions, for example, to enable payment service providers to comply with their obligations under financial crime law.
The new rules will also apply to the termination of basic personal bank accounts from and including 28th April 2026.
Buckinghamshire events director sentenced for Covid fraud
Bounce Back Loan fraudster convicted following Insolvency Service investigations
William Blenkarn claimed he did not know he was not entitled to a second Bounce Back Loan for MJB Events Limited
Blenkarn obtained double the amount of Covid support his company was entitled to as a result of his fraudulent declaration
Money from the loan was then transferred to a new company Blenkarn had set up just weeks into the pandemic
The owner of two Buckinghamshire-based events companies has been handed a suspended sentence after receiving £100,000 in Covid support funds when he was only entitled to half that figure.
William Blenkarn secured two Bounce Back Loans worth £50,000 each for his MJB Events Limited company, breaking the rules of the scheme which specifically stated that businesses could only have a single loan.
The 48-year-old then transferred £41,000 from the company’s bank account to his second business – MJB Entertainment Group Ltd – which had only been set up weeks before his fraudulent application.
Blenkarn, formerly of London End, Beaconsfield, but now living in Spain, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday 24 April.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
William Blenkarn’s company received double the amount of public money it deserved due to his false declaration when applying for a second Bounce Back Loan.
This was taxpayers’ money and Blenkarn made matters worse by moving a significant proportion of the loan over to his new company which had only been trading for a few months.
MJB Events was incorporated in January 2016 and was described as an events company. MJB Entertainment Group was set up in early April 2020.
Blenkarn told the Insolvency Service that MJB Entertainment Group was created to manage and book artists but developed into organising a range of charity events.
The company also described itself as providing additional services such as marquee design and wedding planning.
Blenkarn applied to two different banks for £50,000 Bounce Back Loans – the maximum allowed under the scheme – on behalf of MJB Events in May 2020.
For his second application, Blenkarn ticked the online declaration to certify that this was the only application made on behalf of the business.
Despite this, Blenkarn claimed he did not know that he could only apply for one loan for each company.
Two payments of £25,000 and £16,000 were then made to MJB Entertainment Group from the bank account belonging to MJB Events in July 2020.
These transactions left the MJB Events account overdrawn by around £25,000 at the time liquidators were appointed in June 2021, depriving creditors of the funds.
Blenkarn also breached his duties as a director by failing to deliver accounting records for MJB Events to the liquidator as he was required to do by law.
The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Further information
William Blenkarn is formerly of London End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. His date of birth is 23 July 1976
Two million spring and summer plants are being potted by a state-of-the-art robot at The Arium, in preparation for being planted across the city.
The Leeds City Council-run garden centre and plant nursery is the largest local authority nursery in the country. Most of the plants they sell are grown in the massive 19,000 square metre glasshouses on the premises, and the site provides flowers and plants to be displayed across Leeds.
How they manage to get millions of plants ready to bring springtime to the city is thanks to the state-of-the-art potting robot that has been in place since 2017. Working wirelessly, the robot lifts young plants from their seed tray and pots them into their final tray in one action.
The plants will soon be in bloom across Leeds in the city’s parks, roundabouts and flowerbeds.
Several hundreds of thousands of plants are also sold to the public at the nursery every year, which is home to a café with a view over the growing space, and a large play area. The play area, very popular with younger visitors, hosts a showstopper castle with a double tower, bridge and multiple levels.
Leeds City Council has been running a plant nursery since 1956, initially at the Red Hall Nursery in Whinmoor. As the nursery’s national reputation grew it helped Leeds become one of the most floral cities in the UK, but this also meant the site reached growing capacity. In October 2017, the site relocated to its new home on the outskirts of Thorner and rebranded as The Arium. They can now keep up with demand from local residents, the city’s own flower displays, as well as grow plants for other local authorities, universities and hospitals.
The glasshouse growing areas are not open to the public, however the site offers guided tours during the last two weeks of April and first week in May, and for two weeks in September. They also host workshops where visitors can learn skills such as designing a hanging basket and making a Christmas wreath.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “Leeds is quite unique in having the local authority run a brilliant plant nursery and garden centre, and we are very proud of it. The glasshouses are an impressive sight to behold and I’d recommend booking in for a tour if you get a chance.
“The Arium is a way for people to invest back in their city when they shop for their homes and gardens and that is very special.”
With the May 3 federal election less than a week away, voters have only just received Labor’s costings and are yet to hear from the Coalition.
At the 2022 election, the costings were not released for nearly two months after polling day.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley last week told Sky News the Coalition costings will be “released in the lead up to election day and will be able to be fully interrogated”.
This is now too late for the voters who have already cast their ballots. We have seen a record number of pre-poll votes this election, with more than 2.3 million as of Saturday. This means a sizeable percentage of the electorate has voted without knowing what their votes will cost.
Voting without all the facts
Whichever side wins, taxpayers eventually pay to implement policies. So knowing at least in broad terms the costs of the policies would be helpful.
The Coalition has probably had many of its policies costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office. This process is thorough and impartial.
Importantly, the Parliamentary Budget Office costs policies over ten years. This allows the full costs of policies to be understood better. Some policies such as large infrastructure take many years before the full impact on the budget is felt.
Labor has already published the costs of many of its policies in the March 25 federal budget. This only covered the forward estimates, three years into the future, but is reliable for most policies. But we still need the costings for policies announced post-budget.
The true picture?
Even when we see the costings from both of the main parties, we can have no confidence their lists are accurate and complete. Parties may omit costings that might attract criticism.
They may also present costings prepared by consultants rather than the Parliamentary Budget Office. You may recall controversy late last year over private modelling of the Coalition’s plans for nuclear power.
Unfortunately we have to wait until after the election for a comprehensive and independent set of costings.
The Parliamentary Budget Office does not publish its full list of costings (in the election commitments report) until well after the election. This is either 30 days from the end of the caretaker period or seven days before the new parliament first sits, whichever comes later.
The election commitments report has some accountability value in relation to the party that forms government but does not help inform voters. It is a mystery why anyone would be interested in the costs of policies of the losing side. But they still must be published, according to electoral law.
The report must include the major parties, although minor parties and independents can also be included in the report if they wish.
Are there other approaches?
By contrast, in New South Wales the state Parliamentary Budget Office publishes a complete set of costings five days before the election. Policies announced after this date miss out but these rarely affect the budget bottom line.
Although, as occurs federally, many voters cast their ballots in advance, at least NSW’s approach gives most voters a chance to see the costs. This encourages the major parties to compete to produce a fiscally responsible total.
The NSW approach is self-policing. Each major party studies the statements and if the other side omits something – large or small – they rapidly and loudly complain. Parties therefore try to make their policy lists as accurate as possible.
Federally, the budget office takes on the time-consuming job of tracking down all the policy announcements to cost and include in its post-election report.
The differences arise from the different legislation that applies to each PBO.
NSW has arguably an easier job because it costs policies only for the premier and leader of the opposition. The federal budget office costs for all members of parliament.
The federal system requires policies submitted during the caretaker period, and their costings, must be published “as soon as practicable”. But major parties are highly unlikely to submit a policy only to have it and its costing released at a time not of its choosing.
The requirement is likely motivated by transparency, but clashes with political reality. In NSW costings remain confidential until the leader advises the budget office the policy has been announced. This gives parties a way to have policies costed with a low risk of their premature release.
DIY assessments
Federally, there are other ways to estimate the costs of policies. The budget office has a Build your Own Budget Tool, and a tool for modelling alternative
income tax proposals (SMART), both available online.
These provide a fair approximation and are often used by journalists trying to get behind political announcements.
The OECD lists 35 independent fiscal bodies in 29 OECD countries responsible for assessing election costings. Some are tiny, with just a few analysts. Some are
huge and influential, like the US Congressional Budget Office. Few have the same focus on costing election policies that applies in Australia.
Costs are a big deal here. Both parties have run advertisements attacking the other side on the question of whether their policies are affordable.
On major policies such as the Coalition plans for nuclear power there are massive differences between cost estimates put forward by each side. Such differences could be resolved by an independent and impartial costing. This is why Australian voters deserve to see such costings as soon as possible.
Stephen Bartos was NSW Parliamentary Budget Officer for the past three NSW general elections. He is now a professor at the University of Canberra.
Millions of families to benefit from lower school uniform costs
Government to cut school uniform costs for around 4.2 million children, saving families an estimated £73 million per year.
Parents of over four million children are set to benefit from lower school uniform costs, new government analysis has found.
As the government’s landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proceeds in the House of Lords this week, analysis shows new laws will wipe over £70 million off the cost of uniform for families across the country.
It comes as a new survey shows a third of parents are still worried about uniform costs, with one in five schools said to have actually increased the number of branded items required over the past year.
While currently schools are required to ‘limit’ the number of branded items they require, today’s survey shows almost half are not doing so.
Parents are having to pay £442 on average to kit a child out for secondary school, and £343 for primary school, putting unnecessary financial pressure on families.
To cut those costs for families and break down barriers as part of the government’s Plan for Change, new proposed laws will limit the number of branded, typically more expensive, items schools can require to three – excluding ties.
Lowering uniform costs is just one of the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will strengthen safeguards for vulnerable children, put more money back in parents’ pockets including through free breakfast clubs, and bring every school up to the standard of the best.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:
Looking smart at school shouldn’t cost the earth, and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.
Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year, and make sure family finances have no bearing on children’s time at school.
This bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our Plan for Change.
The new uniform laws will save parents £50 a year in their back-to-school shop, which alongside the measure to introduce free breakfast clubs in all schools, will put £500 back into the pockets of parents.
Today’s analysis shows parents of an estimated 4.2 million pupils across 8,000 schools will have more flexibility to choose where they purchase their school uniform with the introduction of the cap.
Uniform can create a sense of identity and pride for pupils but it can also be a source of anxiety and in some cases even impacts school attendance.
Lynn Perry MBE, CEO of Barnardo’s, said:
Barnardo’s welcomes the cap to the number of branded uniform items required by schools. It cannot be right that children are going to school wearing ill-fitted clothes or shoes due to the high cost of uniforms – but, as high prices continue to impact families, it’s yet another essential item that parents are struggling to afford.
We look forward to seeing even bolder action in the upcoming child poverty strategy to tackle the number of children growing up in poverty.
Existing statutory guidance on school uniform means all schools must consider and aim to minimise the cost on parents – but the new cap on branded items will take this even further.
This government is determined to deliver on its Plan for Change to break the link between background and success – because a child’s background should not be what shapes their future.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Mid Ulster TUV submitted the complaint below to the Local Government Ombudsman over the weekend:
Dear Commissioner,
I write to lodge a formal complaint regarding the conduct of Councillor Eugene McConnell, Chairman of Mid Ulster District Council.
I contend that Councillor McConnell breached multiple requirements of the Code of Conduct for Councillors through (i) his attendance at an Easter Republican event commemorating notorious IRA terrorist Jim Lynagh, and (ii) his subsequent use of the chair at a council meeting to suppress legitimate debate and criticism of his conduct.
1. Attendance at an event honouring Jim Lynagh
On Easter Sunday, Councillor McConnell attended an event in Carrickmore, during which he was photographed standing beside a banner commemorating Jim Lynagh. Photographic evidence is available at the following link: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/dup-anger-as-sinn-fein-council-chair-joins-party-leader-in-honouring-notorious-ira-man-jim-lynagh/a1626780166.html. A copy can be supplied if required.
Jim Lynagh was a senior IRA terrorist linked to: • The murders of Sir Norman Stronge (Stormont Speaker) and his son James Stronge; • The murders of RUC Reservist William James Clements and Constable George Gilliland; • The attempted bombing and armed assault on Loughgall RUC station, during which he was killed.
Given this record, Councillor McConnell’s attendance at, and active participation in, a commemoration of Lynagh was wholly incompatible with his duty to act in the public interest, promote good community relations, and uphold respect for all sections of the community.
2. Conduct in the Council Chamber
When the matter of his attendance was raised in the Council Chamber, Councillor McConnell used his position as Chairman to shut down discussion. I contend that by doing so he: • Acted in a situation of direct conflict of interest; • Failed to exercise objectivity or accountability; • Abused the authority of his role to suppress legitimate criticism.
3. Breaches of the Code of Conduct
I respectfully submit that Councillor McConnell’s conduct breached the following provisions of the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors: • 3.3 Public Duty: Failed to act in the interests of the community as a whole. • 3.3 Objectivity: Failed to exercise objective judgement, particularly when presiding over discussion relating to his own actions. • 3.3 Accountability: Avoided proper accountability for his conduct by preventing debate. • 3.3 Leadership: Damaged public trust and confidence in his office and in Mid Ulster District Council. • 3.3 Equality: Failed to show respect for all sections of the community, especially victims of IRA terrorism and those with different political views. • 3.3 Promoting Good Relations: His actions were not conducive to fostering respect, equality, and trust.
Further, I request that the Commissioner formally investigate breaches of the following Rules of General Conduct: 4.1(b), 4.2, 4.5, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, and 4.14.
4. Conclusion
In view of the seriousness of the issues raised, I respectfully request that this complaint be fully investigated and that appropriate action be taken if breaches of the Code are found.
Yours faithfully, Glenn Moore Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)
An antidepressant containing a form of the drug ketamine has been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it much cheaper for the estimated 30,000 Australians with treatment-resistant depression. This is when a patient has tried multiple forms of treatment for major depression – usually at least two antidepressant medications – without any improvement.
From May 1, a dose of Spravato (also known as esketamine hydrochloride) will cost $A31.60 and $7.70 for concession card holders.
However, unlike oral antidepressants, Spravato can’t be taken at home. Here’s how it works, and who it’s expected to help.
What is Spravato?
The chemical ketamine is used as an anaesthetic. In this formulation it combines both the right-handed (designated “R”) and left-handed (called “S”) forms of the molecule.
This means they are mirror images of each other, similar to how your left hand is a mirror image of your right hand. The left- and right-hand forms can have different effects in the body.
Spravato contains only the left-handed version, giving the drug its generic name esketamine.
Spravato works by increasing the levels of glutamate in the brain. Glutamate is a key chemical messenger molecule that excites brain nerve cells, lifting and improving mood. It also plays a role in learning and forming memories.
How is it taken?
Spravato cannot be taken at home.
A patient can self-administer, but it must be done at a registered treatment facility, such as a hospital, under the supervision of medical staff so they can look out for blood pressure changes and monitor potential side effects.
The drug is provided as a single-use nasal spray. This application means it’s absorbed directly through the nasal lining into the brain, so it starts to work within minutes.
Spravato must also be taken alongside an oral antidepressant. This will be a new one the patient hasn’t tried before. In clinical trials, it was usually an SNRI or SSRI medication.
When a patient first starts on Spravato, they are given the spray twice a week in the first month. It is then administered once a week for the second month, and then weekly or fortnightly after that.
Once there are signs the medicine is working, treatment is continued for at least six months.
You can use the spray yourself but it must be under medical supervision in a registered facility. Scarc/Shutterstock
How effective is it?
Spravato was approved for sale in Australia based on clinical trial data from more than 1,600 patients who were administered the drug for a period of four weeks. Each was given either Spravato, or a nasal placebo, and an oral antidepressant.
Patients were given a starting dose of either 28 or 56mg, which could be then increased up to 84mg by their doctor.
By the end of the four weeks, a greater percentage of patients who were given Spravato were found to have had a meaningful response to the treatment when compared with patients who received the placebo. Patients who were taking Spravato were also found to relapse at a lower rate. For those who did relapse, it took the Spravato patients longer to relapse when compared with patients who took the placebo.
It is expected Spravato will benefit a wide range of patients. The clinical trials demonstrated effectiveness for men and women, people aged 18 to 64, and those from a range of different ethnic backgrounds.
As with any medicine, Spravato may cause side effects, some of which can be serious. The most common include:
dissociation (feeling disconnected from yourself or what is around you)
dizziness
nausea and vomiting
drowsiness
headache
change in taste
vertigo.
Because Spravato can potentially increase blood pressure, medical staff will monitor a patient before and after it is administered.
Usually, blood pressure spikes around 40 minutes after taking the drug, so a reading is taken around this time. After taking Spravato, if their blood pressure has stayed low, or it’s dropping, the patient is given the all-clear to go home.
Due to the potential for this and other serious side effects, Spravato carries a black triangle warning. This means medical staff are encouraged to report any problem or side effect to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. A black triangle warning is generally used for new medicines or medicines that are being used in a new way.
Who will be eligible?
To be eligible for a prescription, a patient will need to have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. In practice, this means they will have unsuccessfully tried at least two other antidepressant drugs first.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration approved Spravato for use in Australia in 2021, meaning it was available but not subsidised. Since then, the sponsoring company, Janssen-Cilag (an Australian subsidiary of the multinational Johnson & Johnson), applied to have it added to the PBS four times.
In December 2024, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended a PBS listing.
The new PBS listing, capping the price of a single treatment at $31.60, is a significant price drop. In 2023, single doses of branded Spravato were reported to cost anywhere between $500 and $900.
However, patients may still have to pay hundreds of dollars for appointments at private clinics where Spravato can be administered. Public places are available but limited.
Spravato may be suitable for you if you’ve tried different antidepressants without success. If it is suitable for you, then your doctor can discuss the next steps.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Nial Wheate in the past has received funding from the ACT Cancer Council, Tenovus Scotland, Medical Research Scotland, Scottish Crucible, and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Nial is the chief scientific officer of Vaihea Skincare LLC, a director of SetDose Pty Ltd (a medical device company) and was previously a Standards Australia panel member for sunscreen agents. He is a member of the Haleon Australia Pty Ltd Pain Advisory Board. Nial regularly consults to industry on issues to do with medicine risk assessments, manufacturing, design and testing.
Shoohb Alassadi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
New community outreach van launched to engage with local communities
Monday, 28 April 2025 – 1:47 pm.
Tasmania Police has launched a new community outreach van to help engage with local communities.Speaking at the launch in George Town today, Commissioner Donna Adams said that the initiative was a direct response to recommendations from the Weiss Review, Tasmania Police Community Survey and Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings, and aimed to proactively bring services and information to communities who need them or have traditionally had little or no opportunity to engage with Tasmania Police.“These recent reviews have told us that our community expects better, more visible, and in-person engagement between Tasmania Police and community members,” Commissioner Adams said.“The reviews have also told us we need to continue to build trust with vulnerable community groups and Tasmanian sport and recreation organisations for the purpose of preventing, identifying and reporting grooming, and child sexual abuse.“Together with partnering organisations like Neighbourhood Watch, PCYC, and Crime Stoppers, Poli and the team are available to visit communities and community groups around the state to achieve these outcomes.”“Poli will provide visibility in the communities where they need police most.“At a time where there is a greater than ever demand for frontline policing services, you can expect that Poli will provide an additional avenue for members of the community to discuss issues important to the community and that our partner organisations may be able to assist in providing advice and assistance.“Together we can ease the pressure by adopting new community-focused solutions that ensure community safety and efficiency.”Commissioner Adams said that the Community Engagement team will take Poli to Deloraine and Agfest over the coming days before undertaking engagements in the south, the east coast and the north west coast in the next few weeks.“It’s a way of taking our people and some of our services and information directly into communities to engage with Tasmanians. It allows us to have a high-visibility police presence in vulnerable and priority communities and those that have limited opportunity to engage with Tasmania Police for key services,” she said.Funding was provided by the Tasmanian Government to support Tasmania Police in engaging and building trust with the community.Poli is being staffed by members of the Community Engagement Services team, along with local officers who will attend local events, including schools, community and sporting events, and be on hand to:• discuss local crime issues and provide crime prevention and general advice to residents and business owners• provide information and resources about personal, residential and business safety, as well as child safety and safeguarding• customise Poli’s visit to the community/community group’s needs.Poli is also available to support other key Tasmania Police initiatives such as firearm amnesties and recruitment, as well as providing information on how to identify grooming, and keeping children and young people safe from sexual abuse.Commissioner Adams said that a broader Tasmania Police Stakeholder Engagement Strategy was currently being developed, which would outline a coordinated approach to community engagement across the state and action plans to deliver key initiatives over the three-year life of the strategy.“By continuing to work together as an organisation, I am certain that this outreach initiative will prove to be a significant and positive change in how we provide targeted and focused police services to the Tasmanian community now and into the future.”For more information, check out www.police.tas.gov.au/poli