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Feb 28 2024

Mobile phone customers face ‘lose-lose’ situation as bills go up | Business News

Mobile phone customers face either a “huge” mid-contract price rise or a “crippling” exit fee from April, according to a watchdog.

Which? says Virgin Media and O2 are expected to hike prices by up to 8.8% in April – the highest increase in percentage terms among major providers.

The alternative is a potentially “exorbitant” exit fee, with its analysis suggesting their customers could face a combined cost of up to £692.37 if 12 months were remaining on their contracts.

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Which? calculations suggest an in-contract Virgin Media customer could see their annual broadband bill increase by £39.14 – or be charged an exit fee of £403.91 if they were to leave their contract a year early.

Since the companies merged, Virgin Mobile customers have been migrated to O2 and the providers have begun offering bundled deals.

Media regulator Ofcom is currently reviewing inflation-linked, mid-contract price rises but is yet to publish its final decision on its proposals to ban the practice.

Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha described a “lose-lose” choice for Virgin Media and O2 customers as “few would have anticipated such steep price rises when they signed up”.

She added: “Ofcom has clearly stated that the practice of inflation-linked mid contract price rise terms can cause substantial consumer harm.

“Telecoms firms must do the right thing and immediately scrap these rises, rather than cynically taking the opportunity to cash in one last time at the expense of their customers before new rules take effect.”

Ofcom’s latest figures show Virgin Media is the most complained-about broadband, landline and pay TV provider and received just one star for customer service in Which?’s annual broadband provider rankings.

Meanwhile, the average O2 SIM-only mobile customer faces a £26.44 annual price hike, the highest increase of any network by percentage but slightly less than Vodafone, which has higher prices overall on average.

Virgin Media O2 said customers faced increases of “up to” 8.8%, because the additional 3.9% increase on top of RPI (Retail Price Index) would not be added to the bills of “millions” of customers, and it only applied price increases to customers’ airtime plans, not their device plans.

The average effective mobile price increase would be 5%, not 8.8%, it said.

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A Virgin Media O2 spokesman said 2023 was a “record year for traffic” on their networks and that the firms are “investing heavily” to ensure they continue to “provide fast and reliable connectivity”.

The amount received from price increases is “greatly outweighed” by the £5m they invest “every single day” to upgrade networks and services, he added.

The spokesman added: “Which?’s own analysis shows that we continue to offer excellent value, with cable customers paying an average of just 10p more per day, and mobile customers facing an effective average increase of just 5p a day, for services they’re using almost constantly.

“This is further backed up by recent independent analysis which found that the cost of telecoms services has fallen by a fifth since 2017, while at the same time speeds and usage have increased significantly.”

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Feb 28 2024

Mother accused of murdering her three-year-old son says she caned him because Bible allows it, court hears | UK News

A mother accused of murdering her three-year-old son has claimed she used a bamboo cane to beat him because the Bible told her she could “chastise her child”, a court has heard.

Christina Robinson, 30, called the emergency services to her home in Bracken Court, Durham, in November 2022 and claimed Dwelaniyah had gone limp while eating a cheese bun.

But Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the boy had suffered a serious, fatal head injury after being shaken violently by his mother.

The prosecution said the child’s legs were heavily bandaged, hiding burns which covered up to 20% of his body and would have caused excruciating pain for several weeks prior to his death, having been forcibly and deliberately scalded in the bath.

Jurors were shown paramedics’ body-worn footage as they tried to save the boy at the house, where Robinson said the youngster had hurt himself in the shower but she had not thought he needed hospital treatment.

Neighbours heard whimpering at night but did not know the source of the sound, the prosecution said.

Dwelaniyah, whose heart had stopped beating, was taken to hospital but could not be saved.

Bruises on his body showed he had been hit by a cylindrical object and tests on a bamboo cane found in the house showed traces of his blood and skin, the court heard.

Mr Wright told jurors: “The defendant admits that she hit him with a weapon but says that she was allowed to do so because the Bible tells her that she should chastise her child.”

A post-mortem revealed he had been the victim of a series of assaults and had sustained several non-accidental injuries, the jury was told.

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The prosecutor said: “The defendant now asserts that beating a child with a cane so that she drew blood was consistent with her being an adherent of the teachings of the Bible.”

Robinson denies murdering Dwelaniyah and child cruelty.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday.

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Feb 27 2024

Rishi Sunak struggling to maintain voter coalition that delivered 2019 victory, according to Sky News voter panel | Politics News

Rishi Sunak is failing to hold together the voting coalition that delivered Boris Johnson a decisive victory in the 2019 general election, according to The Voters Panel on Sky News – launched today.

A profound unhappiness with the state of the country and exhaustion at years of Tory chaos means 2019 Tory voters will flock to at least four rival parties or stay at home at the next election.

Some describe themselves as swing voters, while others say they have backed the Tories all their lives, and this is the group Conservative headquarters and campaign chief Isaac Levido believes is key to the next election.

We found just over a fifth of Tory voters will switch directly to Labour and there is a grasp of what Labour stands for among participants in The Voters Panel, the Sky News-YouGov digital community group launched today reveals.

However, the depth of despair in the governing party means the relationship between the party and many voters has shattered and they are looking for a new home.

For the next two weeks, including through the budget next Wednesday, Sky News will be regularly interrogating The Voters Panel – an online group of at least 33 people from all corners of Great Britain.

Of the 33 submitting answers so far, nine say they will likely stick with the Conservatives, seven will go to Labour, five to Reform, two to the Lib Dems and one to Green.

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Eight say they aren’t sure, although three of these rule out voting Conservative. This echoes the latest polls.

The last YouGov voting poll suggested of those who voted Tory in 2019, 33% would stick with the party, 20% would switch to Reform, 13% to Labour, 3% to Lib Dem and 1% would go to the Green Party.

Some 29% say they don’t know or would not vote. This suggests that The Voters Panel looks very reflective of the national picture and will be used in the coming days to dig much deeper into voters’ views.

The headlines, drawn from dozens of videos and written exercises by the panel of 2019 Tory voters since Friday, include:

• A despair at the state of public services. Katrin, who will vote anyone but Tory next time, says schools are “struggling”, the NHS is “underfunded” and needs a cash injection and the economy is “failing”.

Helen, who is unsure where to take her vote now, says: “I am quite worried about the state of the country at the moment. It’s not just me that I need to think about, I’ve also got two young children.”

Michael, who will stick with the Tories, says: “The government doesn’t seem willing to back down to the doctors to give them a decent pay rise.”

• Concern about the cost of living isn’t matched by demands for tax cuts. Several of The Voters Panel have brought up the cost of living, and the pressures this brings, although there is an appreciation this is in part the consequence of COVID and the war in Ukraine – both out of the government’s control. However, this does not translate into spontaneous demands for tax cuts, beyond a tiny number of people already sticking with the Tories.

• There is a desire to punish the Tories. The anger felt towards the political chaos of recent years does not appear to have softened and was brought up spontaneously by a majority of panellists. Snezzana says the party she voted for in the last election is “destroying the country and the economy” and she will switch to Labour.

Paul, who will switch to the Greens, won’t back the Tories again after the “chaos since Boris was in charge”. Jyoti will not vote Tory again “because Brexit and COVID were all disasters” and while more recently unlikely to back Labour, could go to either end of the political spectrum and back Reform or Lib Dem.

• There is uncertainty about Sir Keir Starmer and Labour. Emma, who doesn’t know how to vote next time, says: “Starmer is someone that sits on the fence quite a lot.” Tom – who says he will vote Labour – says Sir Keir has moved Labour to the centre but “is not a 100% sure on what their manifesto will contain”, adding: “Is he a capable leader? I don’t know, we’ll find out.”

• Sir Keir is “indecisive” and “unbelievable”. Mr Sunak “rich” “unelected and “untrustworthy”. The words used to describe the leaders of the two main parties are largely unforgiving by our participants. Mr Sunak is also weak, disconnected; though seen as competent and intelligent. Sir Keir is known to be a lawyer but “hypocrite” looms large.

• Some, but not many, key messages from the parties, are getting through. David, who is switching to Labour, is one of the few to acknowledge Sir Keir “from a not-as-well-off background. He’s had family problems”.

Paul, who is sticking with the Tories, mimicked Mr Sunak’s slogan by saying “My worry is now…. the Labour Party will get in and we’ll be back to square one” and says “we need to stick with them, see this plan through”.

• Not everybody thinks it’s ‘time for a change’. After 14 years, a minority think that it is not time for a change. All three who suggest this are sticking with the Tories.

• Cut-through moments matter. Widely shared moments on social media are shaping perceptions. Paul, who will vote for the Greens, referenced the bet between Mr Sunak and Piers Morgan as evidence of Mr Sunak’s wealth, suggesting it means he is “obviously rich and I think that puts him a bit out of touch with people. The recent interview where he bet the interviewer a thousand pounds, was a bit not nice to see. Makes him out of touch, especially when people are going paycheck to paycheck”.

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The results of this community group – with so few directly switching Tory to Labour – may lead some Tory supporters to conclude that the next election is not lost, arguing Labour has not sealed the deal with the electorate. There are some glimmers of hope for the Tories. However, direct Tory-to-Labour switching may not be the decisive factor in the result.

The 1997 Labour landslide was driven, in part, by Tories staying at home rather than a surge of enthusiasm for Tony Blair.

In 1992, John Major got more votes than any leader at any election ever and a big drop in turnout – from 77.7% to 71.3% in 1997 – was a big part of Blair’s 179 majority. Jeremy Corbyn lost almost 3 million votes between 2017 and 2019, and that was instrumental in the Tory majority of 80.

This community group still suggests less than a third of Conservative voters would stick with the Tories in an upcoming election. This remains an existential challenge for the prime minister.

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Feb 27 2024

Murder investigation under way after man shot dead while walking dog in Aberfeldy | UK News

A murder investigation is under way after a man was shot dead while walking his dog.

Brian Low, 65, was gunned down in the Pitilie area on the outskirts of Aberfeldy at around 8.30am on Saturday 17 February, Police Scotland said.

Emergency services attended, but Mr Low, of Aberfeldy, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are treating the death as murder following a post-mortem examination.

The force said Mr Low’s family are being supported by specialist officers and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Macdougall, of the major investigation team, said: “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family at this very difficult time and we are doing all we can to get them answers.

“We have been carrying out extensive enquiries since Brian’s death and detectives are working alongside uniformed officers to establish the full circumstances.”

Mr Low was walking his black Labrador along a remote track when he was shot.

DCI Macdougall is urging anyone with information about the incident, including photographs, CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward.

He added: “Please do not assume that the police already know the information you have.”

An online portal has been set up for members of the public to submit information in regards to the case.

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Local Area Commander Greg Burns added: “I understand this is an extremely concerning incident for this small, rural community.

“I want to take this opportunity to reassure people that we are working round the clock to find out what happened to Brian.

“We will have additional high-visibility patrols in the area and you will see significant police activity over the coming days.

“Anyone with any concerns can approach these officers at any time.”

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Feb 27 2024

Food and fashion push retail inflation towards ‘two-year low’ | Business News

The annual rate of shop price inflation has eased to its lowest level for almost two years, according to an industry reading that credits food and fashion prices.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Nielsen Shop Price Index showed the pace of price increases slowed to 2.5% over the 12 months to February from 2.9% the previous month.

It was the lowest reading since March 2022, the BRC said.

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It was driven by a significant contribution from food, with prices 5% up on a year ago compared with the 6.1% figure registered at the end of January.

The report pointed to price drops for meat, fish and fruit helping fresh food inflation down to 3.4% from an annual rate of 4.9% just four weeks ago.

The BRC credited easing input costs for energy and fertiliser and “fierce” competition for cash-strapped shoppers among retailers.

A separate report by Kantar Worldpanel, which logs supermarket price and sales data, also pointed to an easing in grocery price inflation but it believed food shoppers would be spared a big acceleration in prices ahead.

Its strategic insight director, Tom Steel, said: “Though there’s been lots of discussion about the impact the Red Sea shipping crisis might have on the cost of goods, supermarkets have been pulling out all the stops to keep prices down and help people manage their budgets.

“This month, Morrison’s became the latest retailer to launch a price match scheme with Aldi and Lidl, after Asda made the move in January.

“More generally, we saw promotions accelerate this month after a post-Christmas slowdown. Consumers’ spending on offers increased by 4% in February, worth £586m more than the same month in 2023.”

The BRC pointed out rising costs for things like furniture and electrical goods but extended offers on fashion, to entice spending by customers, during February.

It saw risks ahead to slowing price growth from a series of issues including disruption to shipping in the Red Sea to minimum wage and business rates hikes planned for April.

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Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, said: “Easing supply chain pressures have begun to feed through to food prices, but significant uncertainties remain as geopolitical tensions rise.

“Prices of non-food goods will be more susceptible to shipping costs, which have risen due to the re-routing of imports around the Cape of Good Hope.

“Domestically, retailers face a major rise to their business rates bills in April, determined by last September’s sky-high inflation rate.

“April’s rates rise should be based on April’s inflation, and the chancellor should use the… budget to make this correction, supporting business investment and helping to drive down prices for consumers.”

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Feb 27 2024

Dramatic bodycam video: Two rescued after suspected arson attack in Birmingham | UK News

Two people have been rescued after being trapped inside a burning building, following a suspected arson attack.

West Midlands Police said firearms officers spotted the fire at Villa Road, Lozells in Birmingham just before midnight on Sunday.

The police officers alerted the fire brigade and then entered the building next door before leading the occupants out to safety.

Footage showed them using a battering ram to break down the door to make the rescue.

They also checked another property located above the fire but found no one was inside.

Police said their officers were checked by paramedics at the scene, with one going to hospital for further checks for smoke inhalation.

They added that their investigators were treating the incident as arson.

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DS David Newson, from Birmingham CID, said: “This fire had the potential to have really serious consequences. Thankfully, the quick-thinking response of officers in the face of danger to themselves got the two residents to safety.

“We are working with our colleagues at WMFS Fire Investigation Team and would like to hear from local people as we try to build a picture of what has happened.

“Villa Road is a main route and we’d ask anyone who was driving along it between 11pm and midnight time, to take a look at any dashcam they may have, as it could hold vital evidence for our investigation.”

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Feb 26 2024

Andy Murray: British tennis star hints he could retire this year | UK News

British tennis star Andy Murray has hinted he could retire this year.

Speaking in Dubai after his 500th win on hardcourt, the 36-year-old said: “I still love competing, I still love the game. It gets harder and harder the older you get to compete with the young guys.

“It’s not easy, I probably don’t have too long left but I’ll do the best that I can these last few months.”

He made the remarks during an interview on court after beating Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Dubai Open – only his second win of the year.

Hinting again that his career could be coming to an end, Murray said: “Obviously hardcourt has been a great surface for me over the years and 500 is a lot of matches so I’m very proud of that.

“There aren’t many players that have done that, so [it is] great to get to 500 before I’m done.”

Only four players – Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal – have recorded more hardcourt wins.

Earlier in February, the former world number one lost a second round match against 18-year-old Jakub Mensik, and appeared to shout “This game is not for me anymore”.

Downplaying that remark, he said on Monday that “people read a lot into what I say on the court sometimes and it’s not always rational”.

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Murray also vowed he would not quit last month after he dropped out of the first round at both the Brisbane International and Australian Open.

Writing on X after questions were asked about if he would retire, Murray said: “Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour.

“I’m in a terrible moment right now I’ll give you that. Most people would quit and give up in my situation right now. But I’m not most people and my mind works differently.

“I won’t quit. I will keep fighting and working to produce the performances I know I’m capable of.”

It is not the first time the two-time Wimbledon winner has hinted at calling it a day. He previously announced plans to retire in 2019 after undergoing hip surgery the year before.

Murray underwent a second operation the same year but later returned to the court. He said in December 2022 that he was one “big injury” away from retirement.

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Feb 26 2024

Scarlet Blake who had ‘obsession with death’ jailed for life for murdering man | UK News

A woman who filmed herself killing a cat before putting the animal in a blender has been jailed for life for murdering a man four months later.

Scarlet Blake, 25, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty of murder last week.

Warning: This story contains descriptions that readers may find distressing

Blake live-streamed the dissection of a family pet after watching a Netflix documentary called Don’t F*** With Cats, in which Luka Magnotta kills kittens before filming a murder.

Prosecutors said Blake, who is transgender, had a “fixation with violence” and found Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, while searching the streets of Oxford looking for someone to kill in the early hours of 25 July 2021.

Sentencing Mr Justice Chamberlain KC said Blake “had an obsession with harm and death”.

“The decision to kill was entirely yours,” he said, telling Blake, “you were completely indifferent to this suffering.”

Blake will serve a minimum term of 24 years in jail.

The body of the BMW factory worker, a Spanish national who was walking home alone after a night out with work colleagues, was found in the River Cherwell at Parson’s Pleasure around 24 hours later.

Her trial heard a murder investigation was launched two years later when Blake’s former partner Ashlynn Bell, who lives in the US, told detectives Blake had confessed to killing Mr Martin Carreno using a homemade garrote.

Blake pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage over killing the cat but denied murdering Mr Martin Carreno by inflicting blows to his head before trying to strangle him and then putting him in the river.

Four months before his death, she used food and a crate to capture a cat and take it to her home, where she killed it.

In the video, in which Blake dissects the animal, removing the fur and skin, she says: “Here we go my little friend. Oh boy, you smell like shit. I can’t wait to put through the blender.”

Prosecutors said it showed she had a “disturbing interest in what it would be like to harm a living creature”.

“It was an interest that went beyond mere fantasy,” Alison Morgan KC told jurors, who were also shown videos of Blake and a partner engaging in consensual strangulation with ligatures.

“She described herself to others as being someone who derived sexual gratification from the thought of violence and the thought of death,” said the prosecutor.

CCTV footage showed Mr Martin Carreno trying to find his way home, while Blake walked the streets, wearing a facemask and distinctive combat-style jacket with hood over her head, while carrying a rucksack.

“He died because he encountered the defendant on that night,” said Ms Morgan.

“He died because he met a person who had a fixation with violence and with knowing what it would feel like to kill someone.”

Blake, who was born in China and came to the UK aged nine, blamed Ms Bell for making her kill the cat.

She said Mr Martin Carreno was still alive when she left him at the riverbank, and that she had made up details of killing him to please her ex-partner after seeing his death in the news.

Mr Martin Carreno’s family paid tribute to “an extraordinary being full of passion and kindness” who was one of three triplet brothers.

“Today, his absence leaves a deep wound in our hearts,” they said in a statement. “His life was stolen, cutting short his projects and dreams.”

Mr Martin Carreno’s mother said her son “aspired to build a better world” and was an “incredibly good person”.

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Feb 26 2024

Lee Anderson’s comments against Sadiq Khan ‘weren’t acceptable, they were wrong’, says Rishi Sunak | Politics News

Rishi Sunak has broken his silence to condemn Lee Anderson’s attack on Sadiq Khan as not acceptable and “wrong”.

Mr Anderson, the MP for Ashfield and former deputy party chair, was suspended at the weekend after he refused to apologise for claiming “Islamists” had got “control” over London and that Mr Khan had “given our capital city away to his mates”.

Speaking on BBC Radio York, the prime minister denied that the party has “Islamophobic tendencies” and said: “I think it’s incumbent on all of us, especially those elected to parliament, not to inflame our debates in a way that’s harmful to others.”

Asked about Mr Anderson specifically, Mr Sunak said: “Lee’s comments weren’t acceptable, they were wrong. That’s why he’s had the whip suspended.”

He added: “Words matter, especially in the current environment where tensions are running high. I think it’s incumbent on all of us to choose them carefully.”

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Mr Sunak’s statement to local radio was the first time he has directly addressed the comments made by Mr Anderson, who told GB News last week: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”

His comments sparked condemnation from across the political divide, including from Tory peer Baroness Warsi who said she was “really disturbed by where the Conservative Party has gone” and that “anti-Muslim racism is being used as an electoral campaign tool”.

However, a cabinet minister this morning appeared to leave the door open to Mr Anderson regaining the Tory whip, which allows him to sit as a Conservative MP in the Commons.

Asked what Mr Anderson needed to say to be welcomed back, Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Kay Burley on Sky News that he should “reflect on what he said” and “retract those comments and apologise”.

“I’m not going to tell the chief whip how to do his job, that’s for him,” he said.

“He’s contributed a lot in the past. I’d like to see him be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future.”

“I’d like to see him be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future.”

While a number of senior Tories have criticised Mr Anderson for his comments, Mr Harper was the second cabinet minister to refuse to say whether the remarks were “racist”.

Yesterday Mr Dowden backed the decision to suspend the Ashfield MP but refused to say whether he was racist.

And this morning, Mr Harper also repeatedly declined to say whether Mr Anderson’s remarks were racist but said they were “untrue” and “wrong”.

“Well it was wrong, and I’m not going to get into arguing about the rights and wrongs of what he said.

“Wrong is a very strong word in my book.”

Mr Harper also rejected the assertion made by Baroness Warsi yesterday that there is a hierarchy of racism within the party and that anti-Muslim racism is being used as an electoral campaign tool.

“I don’t agree with that,” he said. “And the fact that we took such robust action so quickly against what Lee Anderson said, I think, rather shows exactly why she’s wrong.”

Mr Harper’s words come as WhatsApp messages leaked to Sky News reveal that some Tory MPs regard Mr Anderson’s suspension as a mistake.

The WhatsApp forum is called the “109 group” of Tory MPs elected in 2019.

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Julie Marson, the MP for Hertford and Stortford, shared a news story showing Nigel Farage calling on “cancelled” Mr Anderson to join the rivals Reform party and “destroy” the Tories.

Jill Mortimer, the Conservative MP for Hartlepool, shared messages from constituents saying they would not vote Tory again and that “Lee Anderson’s suspension is the final nail in the party’s coffin”.

On Sunday evening Mr Anderson tweeted a picture of a pint of beer from a London pub with the caption: “So I have just arrived in London and due to all the positive comments earlier I’ve decided to have another pint to get me ready for a long week.”

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Feb 26 2024

Three female MPs given bodyguards as safety fears grow | Politics News

Three female MPs have been given bodyguards and chauffeur-driven cars amid growing concern about politicians’ safety.

It comes after a risk assessment by an organisation that helps protect the Royal Family and the prime minister.

RAVEC (the Royal and VIP Executive Committee) conducted the review after a recent increase in the threat level faced by MPs.

There are fears politicians could be targeted by extremists because of the Israel-Hamas war.

Private security staff and other measures, such as panic alarms, are in place at constituency surgeries and homes of other MPs believed to be at risk.

The three female MPs given bodyguard protection include both Tory and Labour members.

As part of Operation Bridger – a programme to protect MPs – police now email every week to get an itinerary of their whereabouts and any public events.

The initiative began after the murders of Labour’s Jo Cox in 2016, and Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told Sky News this month she no longer goes out socially because of threats and abuse.

Ms Rayner and a colleague recently had to be escorted from a fundraiser that was interrupted by protesters angry at Labour’s stance on Gaza.

One MP – who’s had death threats themselves – told Sky News: “We are all getting this – it’s become normal for most controversial votes now.”

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In 2022, Tory MP Mike Freer said he would start wearing a stab vest and carrying a panic alarm when meeting the public.

Operation Bridger was also triggered this month at the home of Bournemouth MP Tobias Ellwood.

Mr Elwood told Sky News that between 60 and 80 people gathered outside – some with signs claiming he is “complicit in genocide” – while his children were indoors.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat and policing minister Chris Philp have urged police to use “robust” measures to tackle protesters who “intimidate and harass” MPs.

“The intimidation of democratically elected representatives is unacceptable,” their letter said.

“It’s important that our elected representatives are able to feel safe in their homes, free from fear and harassment.”

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