Latest news with #MSsociety
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
TV magician Wayne Dobson dies, aged 68
Former TV magician Wayne Dobson has died at the age of Leicester-born entertainer became a well-known face through appearances on British television variety shows in the late 1980s before landing his own ITV series, which ran from 1991 to was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 31 but continued to perform live until 2003.A representative said he died on Monday following "several months of debilitating illness". Dobson's wisecracking style of magic saw him rise to prominence through the was hired as a support act for Engelbert Humperdinck's Las Vegas residency in 1988, before receiving his multiple sclerosis diagnosis a short time this setback, a well-received appearance at the The Royal Variety Command Performance in 1989 saw him given a regular spot on Joe Longthorne's TV show before ITV commissioned his series Wayne Dobson - A Kind of Linda Lusardi as his regular assistant, the show ran until his multiple sclerosis symptoms continued to worsen in the years that followed, Dobson continued to one point he became part of Joe Pasquale's live he became unable to perform live any longer, he started a business selling his routines, illusions and creations to magicians around the continued to make regular appearances at conventions until two years the 2010s he became a supporter of the MS a statement, the charity said: "Diagnosed with MS in 1988, Wayne was a passionate supporter of MS research and used his magic to inspire others."He once said he wished he could make MS disappear. We won't stop until that's a reality."
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer caves to Labour rebellion with concessions on welfare reforms
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government has made a significant £1.5bn U-turn on planned welfare reforms, following a Rebellion from backbench MPs. The concessions ensure that existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants and current Universal Credit recipients will have their incomes protected. New eligibility requirements for PIP will only apply to new claims from November 2026, aiming to alleviate uncertainty for current beneficiaries. The U-turn creates a £1.5bn shortfall in Labour 's spending plans, which economists warn will need to be covered by tax increases or cuts elsewhere. Reactions to the U-turn are mixed, with some charities welcoming the protections for vulnerable people, while others, including the MS Society and the Tories, criticized the move.
