Author: News Desk

Thursday’s front pages lead on domestic politics, with a number of publications reporting on the shock exit of James Cleverly from the Conservative Party leadership race. Cleverly had been a clear favourite for much of the contest – which is now down to Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
Elsewhere, an estimate by the IFS that taxes will need to rise by up to £25bn in the budget if Labour is to meet its pledge to protect public spending.

Damning report of sexual violence survivors subjected to rape myths in court Victim-survivors in England and Wales cross-examined about alcohol consumption and what they were wearing, charity Victim Support finds. Three-quarters of survivors of sexual violence are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, according to research. The court process One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening. Suggesting the CPS and society at large has a problem with rape victims. One-third faced accusations that pursuing justice was…

Team GB superstar opens up about Olympic ‘mistake’ which reduced her to tears Team GB superstar Dina Asher-Smith has opened up about her ‘mistake’ at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris which saw her break down in tears. Asher-Smith, who was aiming to land a medal in the women’s 100m event, dramatically failed to qualify for the final after finishing fifth in the semi-finals. The 28-year-old, a Diamond League champion over 100m in 2019, was reduced to tears when she spoke to the BBC about the race, admitting she was ‘very upset’. Now some time has passed, Asher-Smith has lifted…

Man Utd star sent home from international duty in third injury worry this week | Football Amad Diallo has become the latest Manchester United star to withdraw from international duty this week. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have already been excused by Argentina and England respectively with Amad also returning to Manchester ahead of schedule. The 22-year-old returned to the Ivory Coast set-up after an 18-month absence in August with the Africa Cup of Nations champions in qualifying action against Sierra Lerone on Friday and again on Tuesday. But the Ivorian Football Federation have confirmed Amad has left the…

Riccardo Calafiori sends warning to Arsenal star ahead of international reunion | Football Riccardo Calafiori has jokingly warned his Arsenal teammate Leandro Trossard to ‘watch out’ when Italy face Belgium on Thursday. Calafiori arrived in north London from Bologna this summer in a deal worth £42m after an impressive spell in Serie A. And while an injury on international duty last month delayed his first start for the Gunners, the full-back has since made himself undroppable after an impressive debut against Manchester City last month. The 22-year-old has been a key part of Mikel Arteta’s side’s four-game winning run but the Italian now turns his…

Ex-Met police officer ‘intimidated’ neighbours by spraying them with hose in dog poo row A former Met Police officer washed her dog’s faeces and urine into her neighbour’s garden before spraying them with a hosepipe when they complained, a hearing has been told. Mel Chinn was found guilty of gross misconduct by a police disciplinary panel after the shocking allegations against her were revealed. The former detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, who has left the force since the accusations were made, first became embroiled in a row with her neighbours in 2019 over a planning dispute involving a ground-floor…

Victoria Taylor: Police search river in hunt for missing mother after finding possessions nearby Police say there is a “significant possibility” that missing mother Victoria Taylor entered a river before her disappearance late last month. Ms Taylor, 34, went missing from Malton home in North Yorkshire on Monday 30 September. Police have now revealed that some of her personal possessions were found near the River Derwent. Police recovered CCTV footage showing Ms Taylor leaving her home at 9am, and purchasing several items at a BP garage in Norton at 11.35am. She was seen at Malton Bus Station shortly afterwards. Chief…

Blind man left with ‘no dignity’ after two-year delay in getting guide dog while stuck on housing waiting list A blind man has described being “broken” while facing a two-year delay in getting a guide dog because he was stuck on a social housing waiting list. When Ray Clements began to lose his sight three years ago, the shared house he was living in quickly became untenable as he could not trip hazards. The 51-year-old began sleeping on his brother’s sofa in Liverpool for what he thought would be a short period as he awaited suitable social housing. However, almost…

Drink-driver runs red lights and ploughs into cars over taxi fare home A drink-driver ran multiple red lights and crashed into parked cars as he drove home from a nightclub in Nottingham in February, newly-released footage shows. Declan Muers, 27, of Brewsters Road, Mapperley, Nottingham, failed to stop for police as he sped through the city centre while over the limit. Muers was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years, on Monday (7 October) after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police constable and drink-driving. Nottinghamshire Police said: “He should have got a…

Starmer bids to end Tory ‘scorched earth’ industrial relations policy with workers’ rights reset Union chiefs have hailed workers’ rights reforms unveiled by Keir Starmer’s government today for “changing the balance of power” in favour of employees and away from employers. The long-awaited package to unpick Tory anti-union legislation has been unveiled less than 24 hours after the Renters’ Rights Bill passed its second reading in the Commons. Experts also hailed that legislation as handing power to tenants and away from landlords as Labour pushed through a revolution to protect the rights of millions of people in the UK. The…