Labour party announces £275m plan for training and apprenticeships in England

The UK’s Labour Party has unveiled a £275 million investment package for technical training and apprenticeships in England as a central element of its industrial strategy, according to a report in The Guardian. The plan, announced by Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, is intended to challenge the growing influence of Nigel Farage and Reform UK in England’s manufacturing regions. The proposed funding is earmarked for new technical excellence colleges, short courses in artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing, and major capital upgrades to training providers across England.

Justice experts are calling on the UK government to introduce new measures to finally end the system of indefinite Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, The Independent says in a report. These sentences were abolished in 2012, but the change was not applied retrospectively, leaving thousands of individuals imprisoned indefinitely beyond their original minimum tariff. The calls for reform highlight cases where individuals have been incarcerated for up to two decades for offenses that would typically receive much shorter sentences, as they can only be released if a parole board deems them no longer a public risk. This renewed push follows previous recommendations from the House of Commons Justice Committee for a resentencing exercise for all remaining IPP prisoners.

A British tourist is currently in intensive care at the Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion, Crete, after contracting Legionnaires’ disease, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The woman fell ill just days into her trip to the Greek island and is now receiving critical medical treatment.

A passenger on a South Western Railway service was confronted by ticket inspectors at Weybridge station in Surrey for using an invalid ticket, according to a report in Daily Mail. The individual was found to be travelling with a child’s ticket, which provides a half-price discount on adult fares for children aged five to fifteen. The use of a child’s ticket by an adult is legally considered fare evasion.

Homeowners who purchased properties for up to £735,000 on a new-build estate in Darlington, County Durham, report that the development remains an unfinished “building site” years after they moved in, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The development, which was marketed with the promise of “executive living,” has left residents with numerous unresolved issues, prompting complaints about the quality of construction and the failure to complete the estate as promised.

A French police officer was filmed puncturing a rubber dinghy with a knife on a beach to prevent a group of migrants from crossing the English Channel, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The incident comes as official figures show that 1,634 people arrived in the UK on small boats in the past week. Some migrants at the scene were quoted as saying they were “not afraid to die” in their attempt to reach the UK.

A suburb in Stockport, Greater Manchester, has been identified as having the highest rate of depression in England, topping a list of 34,000 districts surveyed, according to a report in Daily Mail. The data was compiled by the House of Commons Library, a politically impartial research service for MPs, and is based on figures that likely use indicators such as antidepressant prescriptions or referrals to mental health services to measure rates of diagnosed depression.

Postmaster Umang Patel is facing the potential closure of his family’s Post Office branch, the Independent said in a report. The threat to his business stems from a decision by Royal Mail to close a small, nearby delivery office, which Patel states could cost him his branch. This professional challenge for Patel follows the recent death of his father in an Air India plane crash.

A police officer in London instructed Christian preachers to stop their activities outside King’s Cross station, citing the volume and stating a personal belief that it was wrong, according to a report in the Daily Mail. A video of the confrontation shows the female officer telling the evangelists that their preaching was “so loud.” The officer is also heard telling the group, “I just think it’s wrong,” as a reason for the intervention.

A £250 million Dubai property project heavily promoted by Conservative peer Michelle Mone was never finished and now exists only as an empty shell in the desert, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The development had been hailed as one of the first major real estate projects to be sold using Bitcoin. This revelation about the failed venture comes as Baroness Mone, who is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords, faces separate scrutiny over her role in the PPE Medpro scandal.

Concerns have been raised in the UK over patient safety after two former classmates died following treatment at the same mental health hospital, Sky News said in a report. The two individuals, who had previously attended school together, died three years apart after both received care from the same facility. The incidents have prompted wider questions about other deaths and the standard of care provided by the hospital.

Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Whitehall in London on Friday, demanding an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to a report in Independent. The demonstrators also called for a halt to what they described as Israel’s bombing of Iran. The march took place in the UK’s central government district, a symbolic location for protests due to its proximity to key government ministries.

Jockey Doyle was knocked to the ground by his horse moments after winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, an event attended by King Charles III, as per a report in Daily Mail. The incident occurred after Doyle guided the French four-year-old to victory, which marked his second win of the day following a victory in the Chesham Stakes. The jockey’s post-race celebrations were abruptly interrupted when the horse knocked him over.