Latest news with #Questions
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Rapist cop Wayne Couzens 'had secret NHS back op possibly costing £17,000'
Cowardly rapist and murderer Wayne Couzens, who killed Sarah Everard in 2021, was reportedly whisked off for a pricey back operation on the taxpayer's dime Grim killer cop Wayne Couzens was given an expensive operation on the taxpayers' dime, according to reports. The brutal murderer, 52, is said to have been taken away from the notorious HMP Frankland in County Durham to an NHS hospital for a lumbar procedure costing an estimated £17,000. The operation on his back, also known as a 'spinal tap', can cost up tp £7,000 - with the process of getting Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, in and out of the prison possibly costing £10,000, according to The Sun. Couzens reportedly spent a number of days in a hospital before he was taken back to Frankland, around three miles away. A source told The Sun that Couzens' operation was not an emergency and was carried out to make him 'comfortable', adding that people were "angry" at how the cold-blooded killer was treated and the cost. The source said Couzens is 'constantly moaning in jail', and that he complained about back pain. It was the source that estimated that a security operation to get the killer from the jail to hospital would have cost the cited £10,000 sum. When approached by the Mirror, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it does not comment on individual prisoners. The source also said Couzens was taken in a bullet proof 'Category A' van, which requires the supervision of four prison officers and a custody manager. Former prison governor Vanessa Frake said such a security operation would have needed significant planning, with staff considering the risks to healthcare staff as well as other patients and the public. Labour's North Durham MP Luke Akehurst said: 'I would be disgusted if it turns out that this vile rapist and murderer was able to jump the queue in front of decent law-abiding people to get his treatment. The cost of the security surrounding his time in hospital is an appalling waste of public money.' Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped and murdered by off-duty police officer Couzens in 2021, who then burned her body. Concerns over Couzens' treatment operation come as Sarah's family and others who suffered a loved one being murdered called on Sir Keir Starmer to create a new criminal offence against desecrating a body. Sarah's family was joined by the family of Michael O'Leary, a 55-year-old father of three who was shot dead by his friend Andrew Jones in 2020, after Jones found out the victim was having an affair with his wife. Jones then burned Mr O'Leary's body on a funeral pyre made of wood pallets, and tried to make it look like he killed himself. Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies raised the issue in Prime Minister's Questions this month, asking Mr Starmer to meet with the families and hear their plea. The MP for Caerfyrddin said: "My constituent Mr Michael O'Leary was brutally murdered five years ago and his body was desecrated. I've made a number of requests to discuss his and other victims' cases with ministers and to explore introducing legislation making the desecration of a body a criminal offence." Responding, Mr Starmer: 'Can I thank her for raising this horrific case and the other similar cases and my thoughts, and I'm sure the thoughts of the whole House, are with Michael's family and all those affected by such vile crimes. I think we all need to listen to what they have to say…I'm sure the justice minister will be in touch at the first opportunity to take this forward
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Step-change needed' to end violence against women
Achieving zero-tolerance of violence against women requires a "step-change from Government", Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Ms McDonald said the Women's Aid report "makes for grim reading". She said that all the statistics around domestic violence are going in the wrong direction. Ms McDonald told the Dáil that 44% of victims found gardaí unhelpful. "Support services remain underfunded and overstretched ... and Government is also failing to meet its obligations in respect of refuge spaces," she said. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he will bring forward an amendment to ensure that counselling notes can only be used in a trial, if there is a risk that not using them would lead to an unfair trial. He said it should not be the first instinct to find another place to live for a woman who is subject to domestic abuse. "The response should be, how can be get the abuser out of the home?" The minister insisted that every member of the Dáil is taking this issue seriously and he commended the work done in this area by his predecessor Helen McEntee. He expressed concern that a percentage of women were not satisfied with their initial engagement with gardaí but he said a majority were satisfied. "I'm sure it can be improved, but the gardaí do an excellent job," he said. 'Epidemic of violence against women' - Labour Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the report from Women's Aid has revealed there is "an epidemic of violence against women" in Ireland. She said it was concerning that so many of those questioned, who had contacted gardaí about domestic abuse, found them to be unhelpful. She said that while Ireland has a suite of laws against gender-based violence, they are ineffective if the first line of defence - gardaí - are not implementing the law. She told the Dáil: "This isn't zero tolerance but reflects a dismissive attitude." She added: "Gardaí clearly require more training" to ensure consistency in their response. In reply, the minister said that a majority of those questioned in the Women's Aid report had registered a "positive experience." He said that ensuring a consistency in garda reponse was important, and would be developed. The minister told the Dáil that a priority needed to be placed on warning boys and young men against using violence against women and girls. He said, in addition, the dangers of porn also needed to be highlighted to men and boys, particularly given the fact that it always portrays women in a "submissive and malleable manner." 'Online influencers poisoning young men' - Social Democrats Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said the findings in the Women's Aid report were "deeply disturbing" but "not surprising". He said online influencers were poisoning young men with misogyny and the State was doing almost nothing to stop it. The Dublin Central TD said online algorithms were supercharging violence against women and he called on the Government to act and regulate systems. Minister O'Callaghan said in response that there is a big responsibility on social media companies to not allow platforms to become platforms of misogyny or violence against women. He said the issue could not be resolved domestically and the Digital Services Act was there to regulate companies at an EU level. But he added that there was a divergence between the US and the EU on the extent of regulation required. And he said the Government was clear that regulation was needed to stop the spread of the problem.
Scotsman
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Swinney: Excluding disruptive pupils risks pushing them into organised crime
The First Minister defending guidance saying the measure should be a 'last resort' Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Excluding disruptive pupils from school risks pushing them into the hands of organised crime, John Swinney has warned. The First Minister said such measures had 'consequences' as he defended new guidance saying it should only be a 'last resort'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said a stricter approach is necessary to restore discipline in schools. John Swinney during First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament | PA He accused Mr Swinney of 'virtually' stopping exclusions, causing discipline to collapse and turning teachers into social workers. 'We believe in exclusions for violence because they protect staff and pupils, and because they work,' he said. Mr Findlay ridiculed new guidance for schools on how to deal with violent and aggressive behaviour from pupils as 'tedious, hand-wringing nonsense'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Teaching unions and opposition parties have been urging the Scottish Government to do more to tackle violence and poor behaviour in schools. In March, a survey by the NASUWT union found 83 per cent of teachers believed pupil violence and aggression had increased in the last year. Speaking during First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, Mr Swinney said it was 'palpably false' to claim he had stopped exclusions. He said there were 11,676 exclusions in Scottish schools in 2022/23, the last year for which figures are available. 'The guidance is crystal clear that exclusions are part of the approach that can be taken, but I'm making it clear today that exclusions can have negative consequences for young people,' he said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Swinney said excluded pupils are no longer in the safe environment of school, adding: 'They are therefore likely to be out on the streets, and therefore potentially able to become involved in some of the criminal activity that Mr Findlay himself has put to me within the last fortnight at First Minister's Questions as being a risk to which young people are exposed.' Mr Findlay said there are different types of exclusion 'rather than just putting children on to the streets'. He criticised the new guidance for suggesting teachers have 'a conversation to jointly problem solve with the child' and proposing they produce laminated bullet points advocating alternative behaviours. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We need a tougher approach, not laminated cards and inclusive chats,' Mr Findlay said. 'If pupils are violent or serially disruptive, exclude them.' Mr Swinney said the guidance seeks to address violence and deescalate situations in schools. He accused Mr Findlay of demonising young people and peddling 'simplistic nonsense'. Speaking to journalists after FMQs, Mr Swinney said: 'I think there are consequences of exclusions, so therefore those who call for there to be more exclusions have to also address the consequences. 'And the point I was making to Russell Findlay was the consequences of his call for more exclusions could be to contradict the call he made to me a fortnight ago, which was to avoid children becoming caught up in organised crime.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth previously said the new guidance had been developed with input from headteachers, unions and child psychologists.
STV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Sarwar: 'Senior SNP figures say Swinney has two weeks to save his job'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has claimed that John Swinney has just 'two weeks to come up with a new idea and save his job'. Swinney got into a back and forth argument with Sarwar at First Minister's Questions on Thursday over job losses at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, which has two Scottish sites in Falkirk and Larbert. The Labour leader said he was 'deeply concerned' by the announcement, which has put up to 400 Scottish jobs at risk, but he said the news was 'not inevitable'. 'Under the SNP, the Scottish Government is procuring more buses from China than they are from Scotland,' Sarwar said. The First Minister argued that the Scottish Government had provided the company with £58m through the zero emissions bus challenge fund and its predecessor. He added that Alexander Dennis had also benefited from £30.3m in research and development support from Scottish Enterprise. The debate ended with Sarwar accusing Swinney's own MSPs of 'openly rebelling against him'. 'Let them groan in public now, but senior [SNP] figures are saying [John Swinney] has two weeks to come up with a new idea to save his job,' Sarwar said. 'But if he hasn't come up with a good idea to improve Scotland in 18 years, what chance does he have now?' Sarwar's comments on the Chamber floor come after The Herald reported plots were emerging to challenge Swinney's leadership following the Hamilton by-election loss to Labour. It was reported that in the wake of the Labour victory, some 25 members of the SNP met to discuss the possibility of a leadership challenge unless Swinney brings forward a new strategy on independence. However, on Wednesday, finance secretary Shona Robison said: 'I have not heard that at all, so I don't know where that is coming from.' Asked if the First Minister's position was safe, she told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: 'Yes, absolutely.' She added that 'the First Minister has absolutely stabilised the position within the party and government'. Likewise, the newly appointed Scottish housing secretary Mairi McAllan said she had 'absolute confidence' in Swinney's leadership as she went in to Bute House to accept her new position on Wednesday. Swinney did not respond to Sarwar's comments about his leadership at FMQs. Pivoting the debate back to job losses at Alexander Dennis, the First Minister said his Government will do 'everything we can' to support jobs at the bus manufacturers. He quoted a joint letter from the UK and Scottish governments, which pledged to 'work closely with Alexander Dennis at this challenging time'. He added: 'That's us indicating that we're keen to do everything we can to find a way through the Subsidy Control Act provisions, so the Government can continue to operate within the law, which we must do, but also, we can support manufacturing in Scotland, which is my priority.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Journal
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Taoiseach accused of making 'sacrificial lambs' of renters with new regulations
THE GOVERNMENT HAS been accused of making 'sacrificial lambs' of renters, as new regulations will extend Rent Pressure Zones, but landlords won't be subject to the 2% cap on rent increases for new tenancies. The reforms will also put a six-year-minimum on tenancies for the first time, to be rolled out from 1 March 2026, which will ban no-fault evictions for larger landlords. However, after the six years is up, landlords can reset the rent at market rate, avoiding the 2% cap on rent increases. Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil today, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the proposals as 'a shambles'. 'Your plan is to push up rents even further. It's only a question of when the renters will be hit. 'This isn't about protecting renters at all. This is about making renters carry the can for your failure in housing. 'You will allow record rents to be hiked up in the pitiful hope that big investors will save the day – the same casino behaviour that created this mess in the first place.' She said there was 'a very real danger' that the plan will 'tighten' rental supply in the coming months, as landlords could delay putting properties back on the market to charge a higher rent from March next year. Yesterday, McDonald and other opposition TDs said the reforms would 'jack up' rents either in the coming months or in six years' time, facilitated by government policy. 'This clearly meant people staying in an existing property, signing a new tenancy agreement, along with people moving into a property for the first time. And then, you were caught out,' she said. Advertisement 'So throughout the afternoon, you scrambled around denying that this was the case and then sometime in the evening, somebody slipped off and bizarrely changed the press release on the department website with a new wording, a wording that changes nothing.' Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O'Callaghan said the government has made 'sacrificial lambs' of renters and is 'gambling with their futures'. He also asked the Taoiseach whether they had 'ditched' the rent reset every six years based on comments given to the Dáil. 'You've told it all just a few minutes ago that new tenancies after March 2026 will be capped at CPI (Consumer Price Index), no mention of a reset every six years. No mention of that. Is the reset gone every six years? 'Do you accept now they are going to lead to huge rent increases for most renters, and these measures will increase hardship, poverty, evictions and homelessness for renters?' The Taoiseach responded: 'No, I don't.' 'The bottom line is, I repeat again, all existing tenants will not have their rents increase beyond 2% and no attempts by you to sow confusion will change that reality,' he said. A row ensued in the Dáil when Martin accused the Social Democrats of not believing there is 'a role for the market' in housing supply, to which Social Democrat TDs objected. Martin also accused the opposition of hyperbole. Here are the main points of the new rental regulations: Landlords will be allowed to hike rents in instances where tenants leave homes voluntarily, but not if they are evicted. No fault evictions have been banned for landlords who own four or more properties. Smaller landlords (up to three properties) can still evict tenants in certain circumstances, such as financial hardship or a desire for an immediate family member to move into the property. New tenancies created from 1 March 2026 onwards will be set at market value and offered a six-year minimum rolling tenancy. At the end of the six-year tenancy, the rent can be reset and 'put back to the market', meaning the first series of rent resets will take place in 2032. Large landlords, defined as having four or more tenancies, will be banned from carrying out no-fault evictions for tenancies beginning from 1 March 2026. It will remain prohibited to set a rent above the market rate. Landlords can still sell at any time if they use the tenant-in-situ scheme. With reporting by PA Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
