Mirror's Daily Digest - heat health warning to longest ever cold case conviction
Welcome to the Mirror's Daily Digest, where we'll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Royal, Politics teams and more. This Tuesday, we're bringing you inside the newsroom with coverage on the country's longest ever cold case conviction through to the amber health alert.
Our Politics team has been following the latest on Keir Starmer's major rebellion threat, with a key vote on welfare reforms later today. Meanwhile, we've also covered the arrest of three ex-members of the senior leadership team at a hospital where Lucy Letby worked in connection with alleged manslaughter.
Ryland Headley, 92, to die in jail for 1967 rape and murder of Louisa Dunne, 75
Our News team has been closely following the country's longest ever cold case conviction, in which a 92-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison - with a minimum term of 20 years - for the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967.
Ryland Headley claimed he was innocent but was caught after his DNA was found back in the 60s and re-tested with modern forensic techniques. He was found guilty after a trial at Bristol Crown Court of killing 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in her own home.
The twice-widowed woman was found dead by a neighbour in her home in the Easton area of Bristol on June 28, 1967. She was fully dressed, but had her knickers round her ankles and a nylon type stocking lying across her neck. She had been strangled.
DWP chief Liz Kendall beams outside No10 despite brewing welfare rebellion
Meanwhile, our Politics team has been working around the clock to provide live updates as Keir Starmer faces rebellion over the controversial welfare cuts. This evening, MPs are due to vote on reforms - first set out in March - with the government bracing for a huge revolt from angry Labour MPs.
Ministers hope major concessions will be enough to win over Labour rebels. Welfare chief Liz Kendall was this morning seen smiling as she put on a positive face ahead of this afternoon's debate. She yesterday defended the massive DWP shake-up after a bruising week for the government over controversial disability cuts.
While some Labour MPs have said they will back the government after last week's concessions, which will protect current claimants, some 50-60 of them are still said to be considering voting against the government. It would be the biggest revolt of Mr Starmer's premiership so far.
Common prescription drugs that can be fatal when taken in scorching 35C heat
In other news, an amber health alert has been issued in parts of the UK for the second time in two weeks amid the sweltering heatwave. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues the alert during periods of extreme heat, which could impact people's health and wellbeing and therefore put strain on public services like the NHS. The amber warning means the entire population could be at risk from the extreme heat, with travel likely to be disrupted, and more ambulances needed.
Experts have warned that five million Brits could be at a further increased health risk due to a common prescription medication: antidepressants. One of the common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is sweating more than normal - and in a heatwave this can present a danger, experts have claimed.
Three former bosses at Lucy Letby hospital arrested
This morning, our News team reported that three ex-members of the senior leadership team at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked have been arrested in connection with alleged manslaughter. The three were in leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016, but have not been named. They were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
It comes after Letby, 35, was found guilty of murdering seven children as well as attempting to murder seven more between June 2015 and June 2016. She had been working at the neonatal unit at the hospital at the time.
Finally, former Minister of State for Home Affairs Norman Baker has slammed Buckingham Palace 'pretending to be prudent' as 'utter hogwash'. It comes as the Royal Family's accounts for 2024 to 2025 have been revealed, showing the Firm spent a total of £2.7million last year on travel by private jet, helicopters and rail.
In an opinion piece for the Mirror, Norman wrote: 'Buckingham Palace pretends the royals are being prudent with public money. What utter hogwash. They even have the cheek to suggest that Charles is being generous because he only takes 12% of the income of the Crown Estate.
'Reality check: the Crown Estate has in effect been a public body since 1760, and until 2011, 100% of its profits went to the Treasury to pay for schools, hospitals, defence and, yes, disability benefits. This 12% is a new royal tax on the public purse.'
He added: 'The shocking truth is that the royals really don't care how much public money they spend. Last year they incredibly ran up a bill for the taxpayer of almost £1.2m on charter flights just within Great Britain to places as difficult to reach as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.'
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