A Tube strike is causing chaos across London with extremely limited services on the London Underground today.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Unite are involved in a long-running dispute over jobs and pensions which has led to previous disruption due to industrial action.
Passengers are urged to check before travelling on Thursday with problems expected to continue into Friday morning due to the walkout.
A very reduced service is running on the Central, Northern and District lines with no service on all other lines.
The Elizabeth line is running but may not be calling at some stations it share’s with the tube.
Transport for London (TfL) said London Overground and DLR services may also be subject to last minute changes on Thursday, with London Trams running a reduced timetable and buses expected to be much busier than normal.
Union members will mount picket lines outside Tube stations across the capital, with a group of around a dozen seen holding an RMT banner outside King’s Cross St Pancras as early as 7AM.
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Nearby, commuters were seen being turned away from packed buses.
The RMT claims it offered to suspend the strike during talks but accused TfL of rejecting its proposals.
Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said no proposals to change pensions or conditions had been made.
TfL’s recent funding agreement with the government required it to develop options around pensions, but the organisation said if changes are to be made, there would be consultations before any decisions are made.
The RMT alleges it asked TfL to pause any job cuts and pension changes to give both sides time to negotiate a deal.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “TfL have missed a golden opportunity to make progress in these negotiations and avoid strike action.
“Our members are resolute in their determination to see a just settlement to this dispute, and they will continue their industrial campaign for as long as it takes.”
More than 1,000 Unite members will be on strike.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “TfL is needlessly attacking our members’ pay and pensions, which Unite simply can’t accept. The workers have the full support of their union in fighting these attacks. TfL must stop behaving like a race-to-the-bottom employer and put forward an offer that is acceptable to our members.”
Britain is in the grip of a mental health crisis that is causing workers to drop out of the labour market and fuelling staff shortages.
The number of people neither working nor seeking work has ballooned since the pandemic to almost nine million.
Figures analysed by Sky News show that this is being driven by long-term sickness and, in particular, mental health conditions.
Levels of economic inactivity among the long-term sick jumped by 537,500 between the year to June 2019 and the year to June 2022.
Some 454,300 can be attributed to mental health conditions, such as depression, stress and anxiety orders. The figures relate to those aged 16 and over.
Plummeting participation rates pose challenges for businesses. Although the number of job vacancies is falling after a post-lockdown jobs boom, they remain near record levels.
This means employers have fewer workers to choose from when filling roles and limits the economy’s potential to grow.
The figures also suggest that employers could better support the workers they do have. The number of employed people with long-term mental health conditions jumped by 816,400 over the same period.
Image: Those off work due to mental health conditions jumped by 454,300
A recent report by the professional services firm Deloitte found that the annual costs to UK employers of poor mental health have increased by 25% since the start of the pandemic. This can be measured in levels of absenteeism, productivity and turnover.
Policymakers are alert to the problem.
Rise in economic inactivity will ‘hold UK growth back’
Jonathan Haskel, a member of the Bank of England’s rate-setting committee, warned last month: “In most countries in the developed world, the economic inactivity rate, that is the proportion of people neither working nor actively searching for jobs… increased during the pandemic, but then fell back.
“But the UK is different….This rise in economic inactivity will hold UK growth back.”
Growth will be key for the government as it seeks to fill a gaping hole in public finances. If more people are out of work it means smaller tax receipts for the Treasury and higher levels of spending on unemployment benefits.
Image: The number of employed people with long-term mental health conditions rose by 816,400
Britain’s disability benefits bill has already reached £14.7 billion. Four-fifths of the rise in the number of disability benefits recipients over the past two decades has been driven by psychiatric conditions, such as mental health problems and learning disabilities.
Uptick in disability benefits ‘driven by mental health conditions’
Tom Waters, an economist at the Institute of Fiscal Studies, said: “If those trends continue, that’s going to continue to put pressure on that expense, particularly at a time when the government is struggling to fill the deficit.
“When we look over the last couple of decades, there’s been a really big uptick in (the number of people) on disability benefits. That’s been almost entirely driven by mental health conditions. So we’re looking at something on the order of about a million people now claiming disability benefits for mental health. That makes up almost half of everyone who gets disability benefits. If we look back to the early 2000s, it was only about a quarter or so.”
At 3.5%, Britain’s unemployment rate is at a record low, but it belies worrying long-term trends that have been made worse by the pandemic.
A mental health epidemic is driving an increase in economic inactivity among the long-term sick. These people are not looking for work so they do not show up in the unemployment figures but the longer they remain out of work, the harder it will be for them to return.
A smaller workforce means there are fewer people to produce the goods and services that help the economy to grow.
It also increases competition for workers, bidding up wages at a time when inflation is running rampant.
The Bank of England has already asked workers to show “restraint” when asking for pay rises but, with competition rife, employers may have no choice but to fork out for workers.
Three-year-old Akeem Tamungang was straight in with the questions.
“What’s your name?” he asked the Princess of Wales.
“Catherine,” she answered.
And then he had his eyes on her poppy.
Explaining that it was to “remember all the soldiers who died in the war”, she then gave it to him, carefully giving his mum the pin for safe-keeping.
Little Akeem may have stolen the show during what was an impromptu stop to say hello, but there was a sense that the princess herself also wanted to be heard.
The trip to Colham Manor children’s centre in Hillingdon was her first engagement as patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, to see how services come together in one place to help pregnant women and new mums.
The centre is on the site of the primary school and is the perfect place for parents to come for help without feeling ashamed by the stigma that still exists for some mums asking for mental health support.
Usually we would only get the chance to listen to very short snippets of Kate’s meetings. This time we stayed in virtually from start to finish.
The collapse of local community spirit came across as one area that appears to be troubling her.
‘People are so isolated’
Praising the work of the centre, she said: “You hear time and time again about the stigma associated with reaching out for help.
“…so much of the adversity comes from the lack of connection, whether that’s relationships or your physical connections with people within your community and you’re providing both here, so I think more places like this would be so valuable.”
In a later conversation she added: “People are so isolated and disconnected [so] to be able to come together and feel that they are part of something, the sense of family comes up all the time – feeling like they belong, feeling like they can have trusted people that can listen to them.”
Read more: Princess of Wales: ‘I tried knitting once and I was terrible at it’ William and Kate ‘not shying away’ from cost of living crisis
She continued: “It’s so needed in communities across the board, whether that’s talking to the vulnerable, homelessness, or addiction – they need the same as what mums need and if we can try and join the dots within community provision right from the start, ultimately you’re helping that next generation.”
The princess knew we were listening, and showed she knows her stuff on the issue of early years support.
I’m just not sure her knowledge is always recognised or acknowledged by a wider audience.
But it felt like our new Princess of Wales, who we know isn’t always that fond of public speaking, is becoming increasingly confident in what she wants to say and trying to make sure we hear it.
As she was about to leave, one woman thanked her and Prince William for the work they’re doing on mental health.
Kate replied: “It’s something we’re on a journey with.”
Now, as we’re told she wants to “create her own path” as Princess of Wales, it’s up to her team to get more of us to concentrate on the substance of what she has to say.
Even if sweet moments with little Akeem will always be hard to beat.
Rishi Sunak has said it is “absolutely right” that Sir Gavin Williamson resigned and admitted he has “regret” over appointing him as a cabinet minister in light of the allegations he is facing.
The prime minister insisted he “did not know about any of the specific concerns” relating to Sir Gavin’s alleged “unacceptable” behaviour in his former positions.
His comments came after Sir Keir Starmer probed the prime minister on the allegation that Sir Gavin told a civil servant to slit their throat.
Nurses told there isn’t ‘any point’ in them going on strike – Politics latest
“How does the prime minister think the victim of that bullying felt when he expressed great sadness at his resignation?” the Labour leader asked.
Mr Sunak replied: “Unequivocally, the behaviour complained of was unacceptable and it is absolutely right, it is absolutely right, that the right honourable gentleman has resigned.
“For the record, I did not know about any of the specific concerns relating to his conduct as secretary of state or chief whip, which date back some years.
“I believe that people in public life should treat others with consideration and respect, and those are the principles that this government will stand by.”
Sir Keir later referred to Sir Gavin as “a sad middle manager getting off on intimidating those beneath him” and a “cartoon bully with a pet spider”.
Calling the prime minister “so weak” for not removing Sir Gavin from his post, the Labour leader continued: “What message does he think it sends when rather than take on the bullies, he lines up alongside and thanks them for their loyalty?” Sir Keir said.
Mr Sunak replied: “I obviously regret appointing someone who has had to resign in these circumstances but I think what the British people would like to know is that when situations like this arise that they will be dealt with properly.
“And that’s why it is absolutely right that he resigned and it’s why it is absolutely right that there is an investigation to look into these matters properly. I said my government will be characterised by integrity, professionalism, and accountability and it will.”
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1:08
‘Do you regret appointing Gavin Williamson?’
Sir Gavin’s departure on Tuesday evening came shortly after an ex-civil servant – who claimed the MP told them to “slit your throat” – made a formal complaint.
A Number 10 source told Sky News it was Sir Gavin’s decision to resign following further allegations being made against him.
He is understood to have spoken to the PM in the early evening to offer his resignation.
In his resignation letter, the former cabinet minister vowed to clear his name of wrongdoing – and said he “refutes the characterisation of these claims”.
“I recognise these are becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing,” Sir Gavin wrote to Mr Sunak.
Accepting the resignation “with great sadness”, Mr Sunak told Sir Gavin: “I would like to thank you for your personal support and loyalty.”
Read more: Gavin Williamson quits after formal complaint over ‘slit your throat’ remark
Sir Gavin – who had already been sacked by Theresa May and Boris Johnson – has also been accused of sending expletive-laden messages to former chief whip Wendy Morton where he complained about being refused an invitation to the Queen’s funeral.
He was also the subject of claims he bullied a former official at the Ministry of Defence and engaged in “unethical and immoral” behaviour while he was chief whip.
Late last night, Sir Gavin said he would not be taking severance pay, tweeting: “This is taxpayers’ money and it should go instead toward the government’s priorities like reducing the NHS’s waiting lists.”
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2:53
Williamson vows to clear his name
Senior Tory MPs have alleged to Sky News that Sir Gavin “has been bullying for most of his career” and that his behaviour has “always been well known”.
One senior Tory MP, who was in cabinet with Sir Gavin, told Sky News: “He’s a bully, no two ways about it, it’s well known, it’s always been well known.
“His only talent is bullying. It was a mistake for Rishi to give him a job.”
The senior MP also claimed Sir Gavin, who was chief whip under Mrs May, “modelled his whipping style” on US drama House of Cards.
Another senior Tory MP was even more disparaging of Sir Gavin, calling him “an absolute little sh***” who “should never have been allowed in government”.
The MP called his appointment to Mr Sunak’s cabinet “beyond the pale”, adding: “I’d be surprised if the Cabinet Office didn’t warn the PM there would be a dim view taken if he was given a job.
“I have no idea on earth why anyone would employ him, he’s been bullying for most of his career.
“The spider in the box, the idea he’s got something over somebody… it astonished us all when he got into cabinet.”
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0:23
Williamson ‘did right thing’ in resigning
The MP went on: “Thoroughly incompetent, thoroughly pathetic. He’s a nasty piece of work, who adds no value whatsoever. Rishi thinks he owes him, he doesn’t. If Gavin Williamson is the answer I don’t know what the hell the question is.”
Sky News has approached Sir Gavin for comment.
The PM’s press secretary said it would be a question for the Forfeiture Committee whether Sir Gavin should be stripped of his knighthood.
Sir Gavin’s third stint in the cabinet was by far his shortest, having made his return to the government only two weeks ago, when Mr Sunak appointed him as a minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said Sir Gavin Williamson was right to resign from the cabinet over bullying claims.
Sir Gavin’s departure on Tuesday evening came shortly after an ex-civil servant – who claimed the MP told them to “slit your throat” – made a formal complaint.
A Number 10 source told Sky News it was Sir Gavin’s decision to resign following further allegations being laid at his door.
He is understood to have spoken to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the early evening to offer his resignation.
Sunak to face grilling over Williamson appointment – Politics latest
In his resignation letter, the former cabinet minister vowed to clear his name of wrongdoing – and said he “refutes the characterisation of these claims”.
“I recognise these are becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing,” Sir Gavin wrote to Mr Sunak.
Sir Gavin – who had already been sacked by Theresa May and Boris Johnson – has also been accused of sending expletive-laden messages to former chief whip Wendy Morton where he complained about being refused an invitation to the Queen’s funeral.
He was also the subject of claims he bullied a former official at the Ministry of Defence and engaged in “unethical and immoral” behaviour while he was chief whip.
Probed on whether Sir Gavin was right to resign, Ms Keegan told Sky News: “Yes, I think it is.
“He said it was a distraction and it is a distraction because we’ve got really sort of serious things that we need to navigate – navigating these economic times is going to be quite tricky.”
She added: “I think Gavin did the right thing by resigning.”
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2:53
Williamson vows to clear his name
Discussing the allegations Sir Gavin is facing, Ms Keegan noted that “it is inappropriate to use anybody’s mental health against them”.
She added that Sir Gavin had “apologised” for the “unacceptable” messages sent to a colleague.
Late last night, Sir Gavin said he would not be taking severance pay, tweeting: “This is taxpayers’ money and it should go instead toward the government’s priorities like reducing the NHS’s waiting lists.”
Mr Sunak’s will face PMQs this afternoon, hours after his ally Sir Gavin quit over the bullying claims.
Accepting the resignation “with great sadness”, Mr Sunak told Sir Gavin: “I would like to thank you for your personal support and loyalty.”
Read more: Gavin Williamson quits after formal complaint over ‘slit your throat’ remark Sunak believes Williamson’s account of events on the allegations he faces
The prime minister’s judgement is being questioned after it emerged that he appointed Sir Gavin to a senior role despite being aware of an investigation related to his behaviour.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said yesterday’s events show “yet another Tory government has descended into chaos”.
“This is yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s poor judgement and weak leadership. It is clear that he is trapped by the grubby backroom deals he made to dodge a vote, and is incapable of putting country before party,” she said.
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5:03
New Williamson bullying complaint
While Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This should be the third and final time Gavin Williamson is forced out of the cabinet.”
She continued: “Rishi Sunak has serious questions to answer about why he appointed Gavin Williamson, then stood by him instead of sacking him. His promise to lead a government of integrity has now been left in tatters.”
Senior Tory MPs have alleged to Sky News that Sir Gavin “has been bullying for most of his career” and that his behaviour has “always been well known”.
One senior Tory MP, who was in cabinet with Sir Gavin, told Sky News: “He’s a bully no two ways about it, it’s well known, it’s always been well known.
“His only talent is bullying. It was a mistake for Rishi to give him a job. More people will be happy if he goes than if he stays.”
The senior MP also claimed Sir Gavin, who was chief whip under Mrs May “modelled his whipping style” on US drama House of Cards.
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10:00
Williamson language is ‘appalling’
Another senior Tory MP was even more disparaging of Sir Gavin, calling him “an absolute little sh***” who “should never have been allowed in government”.
The MP called his appointment to Mr Sunak’s cabinet “beyond the pale” adding: “I’d be surprised if the Cabinet Office didn’t warn the PM there would be a dim view taken if he was given a job.
“I have no idea on earth why anyone would employ him, he’s been bullying for most of his career.
“The spider in the box, the idea he’s got something over somebody… it astonished us all when he got into cabinet.”
The MP went on: “Thoroughly incompetent, thoroughly pathetic. He’s a nasty piece of work, who adds no value whatsoever. Rishi thinks he owes him, he doesn’t. If Gavin Williamson is the answer I don’t know what the hell the question is.”
Sky News has approached Sir Gavin for comment.
Sir Gavin’s third stint in the cabinet was by far his shortest, having made his return to the government only two weeks ago, when Mr Sunak appointed him as a minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office.
Matt Hancock has said viewers will see him “warts and all” while he is on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The former health secretary said he hoped to show “the real me” in a short teaser clip at the end of Tuesday night’s episode.
In the video, the MP was officially confirmed as a contestant alongside comedian Seann Walsh.
“This experience will be an adventure,” Mr Hancock said.
He added: “When I’m in camp, people will just see the real me. Survival in the jungle is a good metaphor for the world I work in.
“People will see me warts and all, see the human side of the guy behind the podium. I don’t think I’ve got any fears or phobias but I’m about to find out.”
His appearance was confirmed on social media after the show with a post on the I’m a Celeb official Instagram page.
The former cabinet minister, 44, has been widely mocked for his decision to appear on the reality TV show and has had the Conservative Party whip removed as a result.
Addressing these concerns, he said that he felt it was “actually really important” to show the public that politicians are “real people”.
Unlike the rest of the camp, Mr Hancock has been given access to his phone and laptop during his isolation so he can continue working and stay connected with constituents.
Walsh, his fellow campmate, told views that he was “in no way prepared” to enter the jungle and expressed alarm that there would be no tea or coffee in the camp.
Alluding to his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, during which he found himself at the centre of a media storm after he was photographed kissing Katya Jones, his dance partner, Walsh said he “went on a dance show” and “didn’t go down too well on that”.
“I get the hunch I’ll be doing a trial or two,” he added.
One of the favourite’s to win the show, Love Island’s Olivia Attwood, was forced to retire from the jungle on medical grounds after one day.
Other celebrities taking part in this year’s series are: Culture Club star Boy George, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, Lioness Jill Scott, Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, rugby star Mike Tindall, comedian Babatunde Aleshe and journalist and broadcaster Charlene White.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
A former senior civil servant who claimed Sir Gavin Williamson told them to “slit your throat” has made a formal complaint against him, telling Sky News’ Beth Rigby his “words and actions had an extreme impact on my mental health”.
The allegations were made last night in The Guardian and included claims that Sir Gavin, who was the defence secretary at the time, told the official on another occasion to “jump out of the window“.
The Ministry of Defence official claimed his behaviour amounted to a sustained campaign of bullying.
The official, who later left government, said Sir Gavin “deliberately demeaned and intimidated” them on a regular basis.
They reported the incidents informally to the head of human resources, but decided against making a formal complaint at the time.
Sir Gavin, who ran the department between November 2017 until May 2019, said: “I strongly reject this allegation and have enjoyed good working relationships with the many brilliant officials I have worked with across government.
“No specific allegations have ever been brought to my attention.”
Tonight the Cabinet Office minister faced fresh accusations from Anne Milton, the Tory former deputy chief whip, who told Channel 4 News that he “loved salacious gossip and would use it as leverage against MPs if the need arose” when running the whip’s office.
Ms Milton also claimed he used an MP’s financial situation as a source of leverage, telling the programme: “I do remember him asking me to give the MP in question the cheque.
“And he waved it under my nose and said, ‘Make sure when you give him this cheque, he knows I now own him’.”
She added: “I don’t think it was a joke. It was the seriousness with which he said it. And I think that the bottom line is, if instances accord with your overall experience with somebody, then you believe them.”
Sky News has approached Sir Gavin for a response to Ms Milton’s allegations.
Earlier, Downing Street described the allegations from the former civil servant as “serious” and said it would consider “proper processes” before commenting further.
The civil servant has now told our political editor Beth Rigby that they will formally complain to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), parliament’s independent watchdog.
In a statement, they said: “This was an incredibly difficult period for me. Gavin Williamson’s words and actions had an extreme impact on my mental health.
“Government ministers have a code of conduct that they are required to follow. Any form of abuse is unacceptable.”
The former civil servant said they had decided to come forward “after feeling stronger given the passage of time”.
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0:26
Williamson and his spider had ‘mystique’ about them
The new complaint comes hours after it was confirmed former chief whip Wendy Morton had referred another allegation made against Sir Gavin – that he sent “abusive” messages to her – to the ICGS.
The Cabinet Office minister is already subject to an internal Conservative Party investigation over the series of threatening messages reportedly send to Ms Morton, complaining he had been excluded from the Queen’s funeral.
Sir Gavin served as Theresa May’s chief whip from 2016 and then as defence secretary from November 2017 until May 2019, but was fired over a row around a leak from government.
He was hired back by Boris Johnson as education secretary two months later, but was again ousted in September 2021 after much criticism of his handling of the brief during the pandemic.
Mr Sunak brought him back into government two weeks ago to serve as a Cabinet Office minister who also attends cabinet.
Veteran British actor Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in several Carry On films and the Harry Potter series, has died aged 98.
The star died “peacefully in his sleep” on Monday, his agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed.
Phillips made his first film appearances as a boy in the 1930s and went on to have an illustrious career on stage and screen, particularly in the Carry On films – which included Carry On Teacher, Carry On Columbus, Carry On Constable and Carry On Nurse.
He became well known for his suggestive catchphrases such as “Ding Dong!”, “Well, hello”, and “I Say!”.
Image: Leslie Phillips with Joan Sims in Carry on Teacher. Pic: Studiocanal/Shutterstock
During a long and varied career in entertainment that spanned several decades, the actor worked with a huge range of stars, from Steven Spielberg and Laurence Olivier to Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie.
Although he was known for his plummy accent and exaggerated portrayals of the English upper-class, Phillips was born in Tottenham and grew up speaking estuary English – taking elocution lessons and losing it later in life as it was seen as an impediment in the acting industry at the time.
He released his autobiography, Hello, in 2005, detailing how he discovered acting after growing up “in a poverty-stricken childhood in north London” and the death of his father when he was just 10 years old.
Phillips appeared in TV series such as Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Monarch Of The Glen and Holby City, films including Empire Of The Sun, Scandal, and Out Of Africa, and plays including Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.
In 2007, the actor starred in Hanif Kureshi’s film Venus alongside Peter O’Toole, a performance for which he was nominated for a BAFTA for best supporting actor.
And in recent years, his voice had become instantly recognisable to younger generations as that of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films.
Image: Leslie Phillips was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in Venus, starring alongside Peter O’Toole. Pic: Miramax Films
Image: With Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider. Pic: Paramount
He was made an OBE in the 1998 Birthday Honours and was promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Born Leslie Samuel Phillips on 20 April 1924, the actor learned his craft at the respected Italia Conti Stage School before serving as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry between 1942 and 1945, when he was invalided out.
Afterwards, he was soon back in the limelight and the Carry On Films came in the ’50s and ’60s – cementing his reputation for playing smooth and roguish but incompetent members of high society.
Films such as Brothers In Law, The Smallest Show On Earth and The Man Who Liked Funerals followed and he also became well known for his appearances in the Doctor series, as well as comedies in which he was paired with Scottish comedian and impressionist Stanley Baxter – including Very Important Person, Crooks Anonymous, The Fast Lady and Father Came Too.
Like most of his contemporaries, he pursued a stint in Hollywood, but said he preferred Britain.
“I could have stayed,” he said once, “but I am a Londoner through and through. I want to go everywhere, but I will always want to live in London. So I came back.”
Stars pay tribute
Following the news of his death, stars who worked with him and met him were among those paying tribute.
Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar shared a clip of Phillips appearing on his show The Kumars At No 42. In the footage, Phillips recalled how he once found himself stuck on the London Underground surrounded by members of the public demanding he do his catchphrases.
“A truly warm, funny and gentle man #RIPLesliePhillips,” Bhaskar wrote.
Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley said working with Phillips “was a joy”.
Phillips’ first marriage, to Penelope Bartley in 1948, was dissolved in 1965. They had two sons and two daughters.
He married his second wife Angela Scoular in 1982 and the couple remained together until her death in April 2011.
He leaves behind his third wife, Zara Carr, whom he married in 2013.
The King and Queen Consort will visit Yorkshire today for engagements that explore the UK’s history and relationship with the Commonwealth.
It is of immense significance to me personally and to the wider discussion on racial equity that His Majesty, as part of his visit, will be viewing a number of The World Reimagined globes on display in Leeds City Centre.
The World Reimagined is a national arts and education project that explores the history and impact of the transatlantic trade in the enslavement of Africans.
The aim is to transform how we understand this period and allow us to better understand our combined history.
Artists were commissioned to depict their interpretations of the trade.
Their unique designs have been applied to a large globe sculpture shape devised by our founder, Turner Prize-nominated artist Yinka Shonibare CBE.
The trails are the centre of a broader education and engagement programme, with more than 200 schools, 100 community organisations, 58 corporate partners and various sporting and cultural institutions across the country.
The hope is the project will inspire and instil pride in what it means to be black and British and help us all better understand what it means to be British.
I am one of the trustees and sit on the board that brought this nascent idea, born out of a fleeting conversation, to life.
Imagine what all of us could do to make racial justice a reality if we deeply understood our shared history and truly acknowledged one another.
This ethos is the seed from which The World Reimagined has grown.
As we spoke with more and more people across the UK, we were inspired by the desire and readiness of people from all walks of life to have this conversation about our shared history for our shared future.
Together, we knew it doesn’t diminish who we are as a society, but in its courage enhances our collective identity and what it means to be British.
That’s what we’ve seen in the extraordinary and enormous community that has brought The World Reimagined to life.
We’ve seen artists transform their experience, insight and talent into stunning sculptures that have been invitations to learning for the public.
We’ve seen teachers step forward into their roles as racial justice leaders in their school communities, historians share their expertise, and community activists combine compassion and persistence to keep the conversation going.
Shortly after the killing of George Floyd in the US on the 25 May 2020, I hosted a special global debate programme for Sky News called Race and Revolution: Is Change Going to Come? in which I was joined by historians, activists, business and cultural leaders and a virtual studio audience to discuss what should happen next in the fight to eradicate racism and create equality.
A seat at the table is what was demanded, an acknowledgement of equal humanity and most encouragingly a sense that this tragedy had provided a tipping point that would lead to positive change.
Image: Sky held a special debate programme following George Floyd’s death in 2020
Image: George Floyd with his daughter Gianna
I do believe the killing of one man on a street in Minneapolis led to a global demand for change.
The Black Lives Matter movement has come to the fore, statues have been toppled – rightly or wrongly depending on your viewpoint, institutions have offered to make amends, to learn and to do better.
I feel optimistic it was more than just a moment.
Sky’s commitment
I’m proud to say the then chief executive of Sky, Jeremy Darroch, promised that the company would be a more diverse and inclusive organisation, especially at senior levels
The aim was to listen and take advice from black and minority ethnic colleagues, so the wider organisation could make the changes that really matter. The changes that bring us closer to true equality.
Everyone at Sky was encouraged to take responsibility to educate themselves and understand the issues, so the right conversations happened, however uncomfortable they may be.
A promise was made to work with colleagues and charities to make a difference in communities.
Sky is making a significant financial contribution towards the fight for racial equality, supporting causes affecting black and minority ethnic communities.
It’s hoped the investment will ensure the company plays its part in building a more tolerant and inclusive society, working on issues of racial injustice and with communities affected by it.
Sky has engaged in having a challenging and robust discussion, about race, racism and achieving true equality. The company committed to an additional £10m a year until 2023 to support and embed the various changes.
It was this commitment by Sky and the ground-shifting events of George Floyd’s killing that emboldened me to ask the company to support The World Reimagined. They accepted the invitation and became the Official Presenting Partner.
King’s ‘personal sorrow’ over slave trade
Today we see the King interacting with the project in Leeds.
We have been encouraged by His Majesty’s acknowledgement the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans must be publicly addressed and taught in schools with the same prominence as the Holocaust.
Before becoming King, he spoke of his “personal sorrow” at the UK’s historical links with the trade during his visit to Rwanda earlier this year and vowed to campaign for greater public awareness of slavery, the lack of which dogged the Royal Family’s recent overseas tours.
Image: The King spoke of his ‘personal sorrow’ at UK links with slavery during a visit to Rwanda earlier this year
The King seems genuinely interested in trying to understand our past and how it informs the present and future.
He described the enslavement of Africans as an “appalling atrocity”, saying “it forever stains our history” when he spoke at an event to mark Barbados becoming a republic.
At The World Reimagined, we believe in a patriotism that says we as a country are strong and courageous enough to own our shared past and present honestly, so that we can create a better future – together.
That is the invitation these incredible works of art have extended to the public in recent months.
We have been so inspired by the students, families, communities and companies that have stepped into this conversation.
It is meaningful to see the King’s determination to join the recognition this is a conversation everybody needs to be a part of and in which everyone has a role to play.
All 103 artist-commissioned globes will be on display for two days in Trafalgar Square in London on 19 and 20 November.
The fingerprints of man facing extradition to the US are identical those of the wanted fugitive Nicholas Rossi, a court has heard.
The court in Edinburgh is trying to determine the identity of the man, who claims he is 35-year-old Arthur Knight, but who officials in the US say is Nicholas Rossi – who is wanted for raping a 21-year-old in Utah.
Lisa Davidson, a Tenprint Identification Officer, was called to give evidence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
An Interpol red notice document for Rossi’s arrest was shown at the hearing, featuring multiple headshots of Rossi, and his fingerprints.
A document with the fingerprints of the man claiming to be Mr Knight, taken at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh this year, was also shown to the court.
Ms Davidson, who has worked in fingerprint identification for 22 years, was asked by advocate depute Paul Harvey what her conclusion was when she compared the fingerprints on the two documents.
She replied: “I found that they were identical. The fingerprints were identical. All 10 prints were identical.”
Ms Davidson was then asked to compare the man’s fingerprints with those of the wanted man Rossi’s on an extradition request, also shown before the court.
She said the quality of the fingerprints on the extradition request was bad, but said she was able to confirm the left forefinger and thumb were the same as the man’s.
Tattoos are ‘a match’
The court heard the man was arrested on 13 October last year while being cared for at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow after developing respiratory problems from contracting COVID-19.
Charge nurse Ruth Keating, 58, who was on duty at the time, gave evidence to the hearing, telling the court she cared for a patient called Arthur Knight.
She was presented with the same Interpol red notice document featuring images of Rossi, but was asked by Mr Harvey to focus on photos of his arms, which featured tattoos.
Read more: Is this man a fugitive rape suspect who faked own death – or victim of mistaken identity?
Addressing one photo showing a tattoo of a red cross above an angel wing, Ms Keating said: “That looks like the tattoo I saw on Arthur Knight.”
When Mr Harvey asked her if she could identify Arthur Knight in the court room, Ms Keating pointed to the man.
Dr Robert Hart, 36, an intensive care consultant who treated the man, also recognised the photos shown to him by police as patient Arthur Knight.
He said the tattoos he saw on the patient were a “match” to those shown in the wanted man’s photos.
He told the court the tattoos were “discoloured”, and “the skin around the tattoos was fairly warped”.
Mr Harvey put it to Dr Hart if he had seen similar skin on patients who had tattoos removed, to which he replied: “I am no expert in that.”
Earlier, the man arrived at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in a wheelchair chained to custody officers.
Asked at the beginning of the hearing if he was Nicholas Rossi or Arthur Knight, he replied: “Arthur Knight.”
The man’s lawyer, Mungo Bovey KC, proceeded to tell the court of multiple issues concerning legal proceedings regarding his client and requested the case be adjourned.
He also told the court there were legal concerns over the way the warrant for his arrest was issued and claimed his client did not receive the provisional arrest certificate (PAC) after his arrest in December.
But Sheriff Norman McFadyen rejected the request for adjournment and proceeded with the identification hearing.
