Latest news with #Amy
Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
How Liz Kendall can stop this national sickness
The welfare trap has become so vast and bewildering — an incomprehensible maze of acronyms and despair — that it's easy to lose sight of those trapped inside it. Keir Starmer, like others before him, ended up losing his way in the institutional fog. The Treasury needed savings so welfare cuts were ordered to provide them. But no one seemed to ask the most basic question: what about the people? How would MPs explain the cuts to them, and others? And in what possible way would this be politically deliverable? Take Amy, a single mother in Keighley I met last year while filming a documentary. During childbirth, her pelvis fractured. Multiple surgeries have left her walking (with a stick) but in constant pain. Incapacity benefit lets her care for her eight-year-old son and provide something rare in her part of town: a stable home. Still only 30, Amy is bright and eager to train. She once wanted to be a barrister. But she has never worked and has no idea how to start, nor has anyone offered serious help. Starmer's welfare reform would cut payments significantly from next April: the promised 'employment support' looks paltry and unlikely to reach Amy. This is a Treasury raid, disguised as welfare reform. Official forecasts admit that the sickness benefit surge will continue apace: 3.3 million at the last count, 4.1 million within five years. So the obvious mission — reverse the rise — will not be accomplished. Labour rebels were right to reject this combination of penny-pinching, ineptitude and lack of ambition. People like Amy are the hardest cases: the longer you're on welfare, the harder it is to get off. So the first, easiest, most urgent task should be to reduce the rise in sickness benefit claimants. The old, shocking statistic was that 2,000 were being signed off every working day under the Tories. The figures were updated this week: under Labour it's now closer to 3,000 a day. Lives are being squandered on a scale that's hard to fathom and harder to forgive. Once on sickness benefits, claimants are unlikely to work again. This is especially tragic given how many under-35s are claiming: up 60 per cent in five years. It would be callous, if those in charge realised what was going on. Which, even now, they largely don't. Jeremy Hunt, a former chancellor, is a case in point. He recently claimed to be responsible for the sickness benefit surge because, as health secretary, he gave mental health the same status as physical health. But his mea culpa was wrong. A steady fall in sickness benefit claimants, which started under Blair, was suddenly and viciously reversed not following Hunt's 2014 Care Act but in 2019. Why? The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has gone into this in detail. The answer lies in bureaucratic mistakes that were never spotted and lie uncorrected even now. During lockdown, in-person interviews for sickness benefits were replaced with cheaper phone interviews. The new system had a big, unexpected side effect. Assessors told me the prospect of a sit-down interview deters those who are, actually, not too sick to work. Large numbers of them dropped their claims at the last minute. But a phone call? Far less daunting, especially if it's a scripted process that can be easily gamed — and whose questions (and accepted answers) are now all online. Something dull and technical — a reduction in the pre-interview dropout rate — is responsible for a half a million extra sickness benefit awards since 2019. But that figure accounts for only half of the overall surge of one million extra awards in that time. Another factor is the rise in approval rates, now at 80 per cent, double the 2010 level. Why so high? Assessors are incentivised to get through as many claims as they can, and are paid an £80 bonus for every one over a certain minimum. The only way of speeding up is to assess someone as too sick to work. Do so and you can 'curtail' — end the interview — and move on to the next claim. You can be hauled up for rejections (in case the claimant appeals) but approvals are almost never checked. One assessor, a former NHS nurse, told me how appalled he was that the interviews are not recorded. This, he said, leaves the system wide open to abuse. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, could fix this now. Tell all applicants their interview will be in-person. Switch to a phone call last minute if needs be, but restore that deterrent effect. Record and spot-check all claims, not just rejected ones. Publish all sickness benefit data, daily. How many applied, and were approved? How many bonuses were paid? Such transparency could be transformative. A Covid-style live-data dashboard would focus minds more than any ministerial edict. Last autumn I met Gavin, a taxi driver on the south coast who told the DWP he did not need his sickness benefits any more. No, he was told: you must wait to be reassessed. Three years later, he was still waiting. What he didn't know was that reassessments were stopped in lockdown — and were never properly restarted. Once, 350 a day were moved back into work this way. Now, it's just 50 a day. Reassessments would not threaten people such as Amy, whose case is all too verifiable. No vote is needed in parliament. Kendall has been increasing them, but by nowhere like enough. She does not need new laws, just grip. And to rediscover a sense of urgency, a willingness to take on activists. This is about duty both to the taxpayer and to those stuck in the system. Not long ago, Britain led the world on welfare reform and it was Labour that started the process. The problem isn't a workshy population but a broken system, one that forgets its purpose, loses sight of the individual and now traps more than it helps. The real sickness is political: a kind of fatalism that says welfare is too big to fix, that no one can grip it and that any remedy must wait for some distant white paper. Reassessments, deterrents, scrutiny, transparency — none of these are radical ideas. They worked before and can be made to work again. This isn't about whether Starmer can pass legislation but whether he can govern. Whether he sees the likes of Amy not as costs to be reduced but as citizens to be helped. This was, once, the founding purpose of his party. If a prime minister forgets that purpose, then no majority, however large, will save him when the reckoning comes.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Magic The Gathering announces Sonic The Hedgehog crossover: New cards, classic reprints and more
Magic: The Gathering has announced a new Secret Lair product featuring a crossover with Sonic the Hedgehog . The latest crossover will add new, mechanically unique cards and classic reprints. The " Secret Lair x Sonic " drops, announced on Magic: The Gathering's website, will include mechanically unique cards for Sonic, Tails, Amy, and other characters from the franchise. A second Sonic-themed Secret Lair will offer reprinted versions of existing Magic: The Gathering cards reimagined as iconic items from the Sonic universe. A third Secret Lair features reprints of Instant and Sorcery cards with art depicting Sonic characters. These Secret Lairs will go on sale online on July 14 at 9 am PST. (9.30 pm IST). Non-foil versions of the "Secret Lair x Sonic: Friends & Foes" drop will also be available in stores that are part of the Wizards Play Network (WPN) starting August 21. Magic The Gathering's three Sonic-themed Secret Lair drops: All the details Magic: The Gathering is collaborating with Sonic the Hedgehog through three Secret Lair drops, each available in Rainbow foil and non-foil editions. The first set, Secret Lair x Sonic: Friends & Foes, features seven mechanically unique cards. These include one legendary creature card each for Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, and Dr. Eggman. The seventh card is Super State, a colourless enchantment designed to enhance any creature it's attached to. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo The second set, Secret Lair x Sonic: Turbo Gear, consists of artefact card reprints redesigned to fit the Sonic universe. Examples include: Knuckles Gloves – The Reaver Cleaver Air Shoes – Swiftfoot Boots Egg Hammer – Myr Battlesphere Piko Piko Hammer – Hammer of Nazahan Power Sneakers – Lightning Greaves Tornado, Sonic's Biplane – Weatherlight Egg Pawn – Myr Token The third drop, Secret Lair x Sonic: Chasing Adventure, includes reprints of six Magic cards with original Sonic-themed artwork. It also adds a new Treasure token illustrated with a golden ring from the Sonic franchise. Pricing: Friends & Foes: $39.99 (non-foil), $49.99 (Rainbow foil) Turbo Gear and Chasing Adventure: $29.99 (non-foil), $39.99 (Rainbow foil) Google Search AI Mode launched in India: Does it really make your search smarter? AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘90s are back' shoppers cry as they race to bag ‘unreal' summer top in Primark – it's only £10 & comes in three colours
FASHION fans are going wild for an "unreal" summer top in Primark - and it's super purse-friendly. So if you want to give your wardrobe an upgrade in time for warmer days, then you've come to the right place and won't want to miss this. 3 Shoppers are loving Primark's new bow summer top Credit: PRIMARK 3 It's only £10 and comes in three colours Credit: PRIMARK 3 Fashion fans say it's giving 90s vibes Credit: PRIMARK The Bow Detail Peplum Top is priced at just £10 and comes in sizes XS to XL. It comes in three colours - lemon, baby pink or white - and features pretty bow details and a keyhole front. And fashion fans have insisted the peplum silhouette is giving 90s vibes. Describing the new arrivals on the website, the Primark team say: "When sunshine calls, this top answers with all the right details. Read more in Fabulous "Designed in a soft shade, it's sleeveless for easy layering. The fitted bodice flows into a gentle peplum hem with a V-split at the front, adding shape without the fuss. "A keyhole cut out down the centre is finished with bow details for a sweet twist." The top can be dressed up or dressed down for a variety of occasions, making it a versatile addition to your wardrobe. While it will look perfect paired with jeans and trainers for a casual look, it can also be dressed up with a satin midi skirt and sandals for summer days. Most read in Fabulous After spotting it in her local store, fashion fan Amy gushed on Her video quickly racked up more than two million views, 200,000 likes and 370 comments with shoppers desperate to get their hands on it. Shoppers run to Primark for new summer tracksuit hailed 'perfect airport outfit' "A Primark trip is needed asap", one cried. A second wrote: "90s are back only difference this would've been cotton." A third claimed: "Exact same as the Zara [one]." "Zara dupeeeee", echoed a fourth. A fifth added: "These are gorgeous. I love the pink and yellow." Meanwhile, a sixth said: "Oh my gosh I want every colour!!" Elsewhere in store, shoppers have found a winning summer dress that's floaty and great quality - and there's a mini-me version too. Amanda, the self-proclaimed "confidence queen' and size 14 fashionista, who regularly shares high-street fashion content online, has praised the Primark frock that's super floaty and cool. She modelled the sleeveless V-neck Thrilled with the white trapeze frock, which features an elegant tiered shape, the content creator beamed: 'This one might just win me over girls, because there's a mini-me. 'The quality of this feels absolutely fantastic. It's lovely and floaty and oversized.' The mini dress is available not only in white, but green too and is priced at £20. Why Primark is great for looking expensive on a budget By Clemmie Fieldsend, Fabulous Fashion Editor AS someone who's no stranger to grabbing a last-minute outfit from Primark for a night out, it's about time that celebrities started catching on too. For as long as I've been heading out, Primark has been my go-to for those 'I have nothing to wear' moments, rushing in at the last minute to find something perfect. And I'm definitely not alone - on any Friday or Saturday night, you'll find plenty of shoppers doing the same thing, right before closing time. But no matter what, Primark always delivers. Now, Rita Ora is leading the charge, showing that you can snag a designer-worthy look without spending a fortune at high-end stores. While Rita's not rushing in last minute for a red carpet outfit, she's proving you can achieve the same high-impact style for much less. Looking stunning in her tailored suit alongside her mum Vera, Rita fit right in among the other A-listers dripping in Prada, Dior, and Victoria Beckham - if anything, she looked even better than some of the guests at The Fashion Awards. With Myleene Klass and Roxy Horner already jumping on the Primark bandwagon, I'm sure more stars will be following suit soon enough.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘90s are back' shoppers cry as they race to bag ‘unreal' summer top in Primark – it's only £10 & comes in three colours
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FASHION fans are going wild for an "unreal" summer top in Primark - and it's super purse-friendly. So if you want to give your wardrobe an upgrade in time for warmer days, then you've come to the right place and won't want to miss this. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shoppers are loving Primark's new bow summer top Credit: PRIMARK 3 It's only £10 and comes in three colours Credit: PRIMARK 3 Fashion fans say it's giving 90s vibes Credit: PRIMARK The Bow Detail Peplum Top is priced at just £10 and comes in sizes XS to XL. It comes in three colours - lemon, baby pink or white - and features pretty bow details and a keyhole front. And fashion fans have insisted the peplum silhouette is giving 90s vibes. Describing the new arrivals on the website, the Primark team say: "When sunshine calls, this top answers with all the right details. "Designed in a soft shade, it's sleeveless for easy layering. The fitted bodice flows into a gentle peplum hem with a V-split at the front, adding shape without the fuss. "A keyhole cut out down the centre is finished with bow details for a sweet twist." The top can be dressed up or dressed down for a variety of occasions, making it a versatile addition to your wardrobe. While it will look perfect paired with jeans and trainers for a casual look, it can also be dressed up with a satin midi skirt and sandals for summer days. After spotting it in her local store, fashion fan Amy gushed on TikTok: "Run to Primark for these gorgeous bow tops. Only £10." Her video quickly racked up more than two million views, 200,000 likes and 370 comments with shoppers desperate to get their hands on it. Shoppers run to Primark for new summer tracksuit hailed 'perfect airport outfit' "A Primark trip is needed asap", one cried. A second wrote: "90s are back only difference this would've been cotton." A third claimed: "Exact same as the Zara [one]." "Zara dupeeeee", echoed a fourth. A fifth added: "These are gorgeous. I love the pink and yellow." Meanwhile, a sixth said: "Oh my gosh I want every colour!!" Elsewhere in store, shoppers have found a winning summer dress that's floaty and great quality - and there's a mini-me version too. Amanda, the self-proclaimed "confidence queen' and size 14 fashionista, who regularly shares high-street fashion content online, has praised the Primark frock that's super floaty and cool. She modelled the sleeveless V-neck Trapeze Mini Dress, that's ideal for holidays. Thrilled with the white trapeze frock, which features an elegant tiered shape, the content creator beamed: 'This one might just win me over girls, because there's a mini-me. 'The quality of this feels absolutely fantastic. It's lovely and floaty and oversized.' The mini dress is available not only in white, but green too and is priced at £20.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘90s are back' shoppers cry as they race to bag ‘unreal' summer top in Primark – it's only £10 & comes in three colours
FASHION fans are going wild for an "unreal" summer top in Primark - and it's super purse-friendly. So if you want to give your wardrobe an upgrade in time for warmer days, then you've come to the right place and won't want to miss this. The Bow Detail Peplum Top is priced at just £10 and comes in sizes XS to XL. It comes in three colours - lemon, baby pink or white - and features pretty bow details and a keyhole front. And fashion fans have insisted the peplum silhouette is giving 90s vibes. Describing the new arrivals on the website, the Primark team say: "When sunshine calls, this top answers with all the right details. "Designed in a soft shade, it's sleeveless for easy layering. The fitted bodice flows into a gentle peplum hem with a V-split at the front, adding shape without the fuss. "A keyhole cut out down the centre is finished with bow details for a sweet twist." The top can be dressed up or dressed down for a variety of occasions, making it a versatile addition to your wardrobe. While it will look perfect paired with jeans and trainers for a casual look, it can also be dressed up with a satin midi skirt and sandals for summer days. After spotting it in her local store, fashion fan Amy gushed on TikTok: "Run to Primark for these gorgeous bow tops. Only £10." Her video quickly racked up more than two million views, 200,000 likes and 370 comments with shoppers desperate to get their hands on it. Shoppers run to Primark for new summer tracksuit hailed 'perfect airport outfit' "A Primark trip is needed asap", one cried. A second wrote: "90s are back only difference this would've been cotton." A third claimed: "Exact same as the Zara [one]." "Zara dupeeeee", echoed a fourth. A fifth added: "These are gorgeous. I love the pink and yellow." Meanwhile, a sixth said: "Oh my gosh I want every colour!!" Elsewhere in store, shoppers have found a winning summer dress that's floaty and great quality - and there's a mini-me version too. Amanda, the self-proclaimed "confidence queen' and size 14 fashionista, who regularly shares high-street fashion content online, has praised the Primark frock that's super floaty and cool. She modelled the sleeveless V-neck Trapeze Mini Dress, that's ideal for holidays. Thrilled with the white trapeze frock, which features an elegant tiered shape, the content creator beamed: 'This one might just win me over girls, because there's a mini-me. 'The quality of this feels absolutely fantastic. It's lovely and floaty and oversized.' The mini dress is available not only in white, but green too and is priced at £20. Why Primark is great for looking expensive on a budget By Clemmie Fieldsend, Fabulous Fashion Editor AS someone who's no stranger to grabbing a last-minute outfit from Primark for a night out, it's about time that celebrities started catching on too. For as long as I've been heading out, Primark has been my go-to for those 'I have nothing to wear' moments, rushing in at the last minute to find something perfect. And I'm definitely not alone - on any Friday or Saturday night, you'll find plenty of shoppers doing the same thing, right before closing time. But no matter what, Primark always delivers. Now, Rita Ora is leading the charge, showing that you can snag a designer-worthy look without spending a fortune at high-end stores. While Rita's not rushing in last minute for a red carpet outfit, she's proving you can achieve the same high-impact style for much less. Looking stunning in her tailored suit alongside her mum Vera, Rita fit right in among the other A-listers dripping in Prada, Dior, and Victoria Beckham - if anything, she looked even better than some of the guests at The Fashion Awards. With Myleene Klass and Roxy Horner already jumping on the Primark bandwagon, I'm sure more stars will be following suit soon enough.
