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Hunt for man who has been repeatedly approaching a young woman in the street | UK News

Police are on the hunt for a man following a complaint he has been repeatedly approaching a young woman in the street, leaving her “shaken by the incidents”.

The man has accosted the 22-year-old at various times of the night and day while the woman has walked along Benvie Road in Dundee, near to Black Street and Cleghorn Street.

The man was said to have made attempts to speak to the woman on Tuesday 2 January, Tuesday 30 January, Friday 2 February and Sunday 4 February before leaving the area.

PC Andrew McIlvenny said: “The woman was not hurt any of the times she was approached by the man but has been left shaken by the incidents.”

The man is believed to be in his late-20s to early-30s and is around 5ft 6in tall. He is described as slim with a tanned complexion, short black hair and black stubble.

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Police Scotland said he was wearing a full white tracksuit with three blue stripes, and a gold signet ring on his left hand. He also had a Staffordshire bull terrier dog with him during some of the incidents.

PC McIlvenny added: “I would like to reassure the community that our officers are doing everything they can to find the person responsible.

“I would appeal to anyone who recognises the description of the man to get in touch.”

Downing Street insists legacy asylum claims cleared – despite 4,537 remaining to be decided | Politics News

Downing Street has insisted that the prime minister has achieved his target of clearing the legacy backlog of asylum claims, despite the government’s own data showing that 4,537 remain.

Rishi Sunak pledged in December 2022 that he would “abolish” the legacy backlog of asylum claims made before 28 June of that year, with the Home Office being given the target of the end of 2023.

On Monday, the department said the pledge had been “delivered”, having processed more than 112,000 asylum claims overall in 2023.

There were more than 92,000 asylum claims made before 28 June 2022 requiring a decision, but 4,537 remain, according to the government’s official data.

Analysis: Sunak's asylum backlog claim isn't true - according to the government's own statistics

Analysis: Sunak’s asylum backlog claim isn’t true – according to the government’s own statistics

It seems the government has shot itself in the foot by misleadingly focusing on a specific promise made by the PM which hasn’t quite been met.

Read here

Speaking to journalists this morning, the prime minister’s spokesperson said the legacy backlog of asylum claims has, in fact, been cleared as promised because all cases have been reviewed, and the remaining ones simply “require additional work”.

The spokesperson said: “We committed to clearing the backlog, that is what the government has done. We are being very transparent about what that entails.

“We have processed all of those cases and indeed gone further than the original commitment. We’re up to 112,000 decisions made overall.

“As a result of that process, there are a small minority of cases which are complex and which, because of our rigorous standards, require further work.

“But nonetheless, it is a significant piece of work by Home Office officials to process such huge numbers in a short period of time while retaining our rigorous safety standard.”

The government has said that the remaining 4,537 more complex cases typically involve “asylum seekers presenting as children – where age verification is taking place; those with serious medical issues; or those with suspected past convictions, where checks may reveal criminality that would bar asylum”.

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Home Secretary discusses government’s work to process asylum claims

However, the CEO of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, said it is “misleading for the government to claim that the legacy backlog has been cleared as there are thousands still waiting for a decision”.

And Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper labelled the claim that the backlog has been cleared “totally false”.

She told broadcasters: “They made a whole series of promises about clearing the asylum backlog and they haven’t delivered them.

“Instead, the asylum backlog is still nearly 100,000 cases, and we’ve still got thousands of people, record numbers of people in asylum hotels. So, the government’s just failing on all counts.”

The policy is central to government plans to stop small boat crossings
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Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson has rejected accusations that the government has made “misleading” claims

The prime minister’s spokesperson was also asked about an apparent suggestion from Home Secretary James Cleverly on LBC radio this morning that the government’s goal is to stop small boat crossings entirely in 2024.

Downing Street said they are “not going to set out a deadline”, but said the Rwanda bill – that is due to return to the Commons “this month” – is a “key part” of stopping small boat crossings.

Mr Cleverly did not make the suggestion that boats would be stopped this year elsewhere, and a source close to him said: “Tackling illegal migration is by virtue of what it is, a product of criminal people smuggling gangs, should always be a mission to zero, and as quickly as possible.

“We’ll do what it takes, using a whole range of tactics to get to zero to break the business model of these ruthless smugglers who don’t care if people live or die, just as long as they pay.”

It comes after Mr Sunak admitted to parliament’s liaison committee just before Christmas there is no “firm date” to stop small boat crossings entirely.

Up until today, there had been fears for months that the prime minister’s target would not be achieved, and in an appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee in December, the prime minister was unable to say when the remaining overall backlog of asylum claims would be cleared.

In February last year, the Home Office said thousands of asylum seekers would be sent questionnaires which could be used to speed up a decision on their claims, and about 12,000 people from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Libya and Yemen, who had applied for asylum in the UK and were waiting for a decision, were understood to be eligible under the policy.

In June, the National Audit Office (NAO) said efforts to clear the backlog needed to significantly increase to clear the backlog and questioned whether the plans were sustainable.

Read more:
Sunak says there is no ‘firm date’ to ‘stop the boats’
The election year dawns – and small boats are a key battle line
New restrictions on overseas students bringing family to UK come into force

The spending watchdog also estimated £3.6bn was spent on asylum support in 2022-23, which amounted to almost double the previous year.

More caseworkers had been tasked with processing applications, which the Home Office has previously said was “tripling productivity to ensure more illegal migrants are returned to their country of origin, quicker”.

But the department’s top civil servant, Sir Matthew Rycroft, revealed in a letter to MPs that just 1,182 migrants who had crossed the Channel had been returned to their home country since 2020, out of a total of more than 111,800 who arrived in that time period.

The majority of those returned were from Albania, with whom the UK has a returns agreement.

Ex-Mirror journalist says he was asked to give Coronation Street star flowers containing listening device | UK News

A former Mirror Group journalist has told Sky News that he was asked to give a Coronation Street actress a bunch of flowers bugged with a listening device during a visit to a spa.

Dean Piper, a showbiz reporter at The Mirror in the early 2000s, said he was asked to carry out the task while working for the paper’s sister title, The Sunday People.

However, he said he refused and later decided to leave the paper.

Last week, in a privacy case brought by Prince Harry, a High Court judge found another practice – phone hacking – was carried out by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) from 1996 to 2011.

The judge said hacking was “widespread and habitual” from 1998.

He also found there was “some unlawful activity” – involving the use of private investigators – in 1995.

Britain's Prince Harry walks outside the High Court, in London, Britain March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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Prince Harry, pictured outside the High Court in May

Speaking to the UK Tonight with Sarah Jane Mee about his experience working at MGN, Mr Piper said: “The worst thing I was ever asked – and it was probably ultimately what made me walk from my job at The People – involved Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw.

“She was having a lot of issues in those days, but she was very big news. She was on the front cover all the time.

“I was called over at one point and said that I was going to go to a spa and have a spa break, and I thought: ‘Brilliant’.

“They said you are going to have a bunch of flowers, and we’re going to put a bug in it, and we’re going to deliver it to Tracy Shaw, and we have booked the room right next door to her, and you’re just going to stay up all night and write down everything that’s gone on.”

Mr Piper said he “point-blank refused” the request.

“There were enough whipper-snappers that want to further their career that probably would have taken the flowers, but that wasn’t morally right, and it’s kind of illegal,” he said.

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Prince Harry: The mission continues

‘It was a Voldemort scenario’

Mr Piper was speaking after Prince Harry’s victory in a phone hacking against his former employers.

The judge ruled in the case that phone hacking “remained an important tool in the climate of journalism” at all three MGN papers – the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – from 2006 to 2011.

The judge also ruled that directors at MGN – Paul Vickers and Sly Bailey – knew about phone hacking but did not inform the rest of the board.

Mr Piper said he was aware that people were phone hacking during his time working there, but insisted “not everybody was phone hacking”.

“I’m able to talk about it because I’ve got a completely clear conscience about the fact that I was never involved in it. But there were people at the paper that did phone hacking,” he said.

“There were certain people on each desk – they were usually away from the main throng of the editorial team – we knew what they did, and we knew that their exclusives were coming from the phones.”

Mr Piper compared the topic of hacking to the main villain in the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort, who is referred to by most characters as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named because of the culture of fear surrounding him.

The ex-reporter said: “It was a ‘Voldemort’ scenario – as far as you didn’t openly talk about it. But everybody knew what was going on.”

Morgan ‘brilliant boss’ but hacking excuse ‘ridiculous’

The judge, Mr Justice Fancourt, said in his ruling that he found it “convincing” that Piers Morgan knew about phone hacking when he was in charge of the Daily Mirror – from 1995 to 2004.

After the judgment, Mr Morgan made a statement outside his London home, in which he said he had “never hacked a phone or told anyone else to hack a phone”.

Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan speaks to the media
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Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan speaks to the media following the ruling

“There is just one article relating to the prince published in The Daily Mirror during my entire nine-year tenure as editor that he [the High Court judge] thinks may have involved some unlawful information gathering,” Mr Morgan said.

“To be clear, I had then and still have zero knowledge of how that particular story was gathered.”

Mr Piper praised Piers Morgan as a “brilliant boss” who was “very supportive”.

But asked about the judgment and Mr Morgan’s defence, Mr Piper said: “I mean, look, if you’re a national newspaper editor, and you’ve got all of this power, and you’re deciding what the narrative is for the Daily Mirror the first thing you’re going to say is, where did that story come from?

“So I find that quite amusing and kind of ridiculous because that’s the first port of call as an editor and as a journalist, you want to know where the story came from.”

Read more:
What were the articles at the centre of the case?
Key findings in the judgment

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Morgan: “I have never hacked a phone”

Mr Piper added: “But there is an open conversation that I feel is important about the way that those newspapers did work in those days.

“And it wasn’t good what they were doing, and it would be nice if people started to get to the point where they accepted some responsibility for what they put people through.”

He continued: “You only have to look at the front pages in those days to realise how many stories were coming from that [phone hacking]. It wasn’t just the odd one, it was endless amounts.”

A spokesperson for Mirror Group said following last week’s judgment: “We welcome the judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago.

“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation.”

Boris Johnson’s Downing Street decorator addresses ‘missed opportunity’ | Politics News

The designer who refurbished Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat has spoken out about the “missed opportunity” to promote British craftwork after being caught up in ‘Partygate’ and the scandal around how the work was funded.

Lulu Lytle, founder of design and manufacturing firm Soane Britain, has also said in an interview that the reported £840-per-roll cost of gold leaf wallpaper is not accurate, insisting it was nowhere near that expensive – and nor was it made of gold leaf.

She has said the now infamous wallpaper for the flat above Number 11 Downing Street housing then-prime minister Boris Johnson and his then fiance Carrie Symonds cost £120 per roll – the industry standard – and it was yellow, not gold.

Ms Lytle – who became known as “Carrie’s interior designer” – said she had never met Mr Johnson or his fiance before she received a cold call from Ms Symonds one day asking her to oversee the refurbishment of the Downing Street residence, commissioned in early 2020 and funded by the official grant of £30,000 given to all prime ministers to revamp their living space.

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“Carrie had seen some fabrics of ours that had been commissioned for the state bedrooms at Chequers and liked them very much,” Ms Lytle told the Wall Street Journal of the prime minister’s official country residence in Buckinghamshire.

“She asked me to help with their Downing Street flat, not only because she liked the Soane aesthetic, but because our supply chains are so transparently English.”

Lulu Lytle, pictured in May 2019
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Decorator Lulu Lytle

When the bill for the requested work overshot the official grant, Ms Lytle said she was assured a trust would make up the gap, as had been the case for Chequers.

“I was totally reassured it was being set up, but it was taking time,” she said, but a year later it emerged in press reports that not only had the refurbishment cost over six times the official allowance but it had also been funded by Tory party donor Lord David Brownlow.

Read more:
What was Boris Johnson’s flat refurb like?
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The scandal erupted at the same time as it emerged parties had been taking place in Downing Street – and Ms Lytle herself was even investigated for allegedly attending Mr Johnson’s birthday party in Downing Street, for which the ex-PM was later fined.

However, after speaking to investigating officers, she was not fined, having been in Downing Street for work.

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Boris Johnson said that he was ‘very, very surprised; to receive a fine after the events of ‘Partygate’

As for Mr Johnson, although he was referred to the Electoral Commission over the saga of the redecoration and the Tory party was fined, his ethics advisor, Lord Christopher Geidt, concluded that he did not break the ministerial code, and he settled the bill for the work privately.

Nonetheless, she recounted the ordeal as having a very difficult impact on herself, her family, and her business.

She says that what upset her the most was the “missed opportunity” to highlight British craftwork.

“Downing Street could, and in my opinion should, be the most fantastic showcase for British makers – I hoped and believed it would provide a springboard for conversations about UK manufacturing, or honest and transparent supply chains,” she said.

“It was such a missed opportunity,” she added.

Ms Lytle is now launching a flagship outlet on New York’s Upper East Side, expanding properly into the US for the first time.

Akshata Murty gives update on Larry the Cat in rare interview about life at Downing Street | Politics News

Larry the cat, or Nova the dog? A hidden power struggle has been raging behind the scenes at Number 10 – and one has come out on top.

That is according to Rishi Sunak’s wife, who has given an insight into life at Downing Street in a rare interview.

Speaking to the Sky Kids FYI show, Akshata Murty said while she felt “honoured” to live in the famous residence, Nova, the family’s pet Labrador, is having “mixed emotions”.

Speaking from Number 10, Ms Murty said: “Nova has mixed emotions about (living here) because she sometimes doesn’t get on with Larry the Cat.

“And they’ve had some heated exchanges and Larry’s come out on top.

“So she might have some mixed opinions on living here.

“But, you know, our family is so grateful to be here.”

Larry (also known as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office), has resided in Number 10 for 12 years, remaining the one constant within an ever-changing government.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pets his dog Nova, next to his wife Akshata Murty, as they meet volunteers from the Royal British Legion outside Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls.
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Nova the dog is having ‘mixed emotions’ living in Downing Street with Larry the Cat

He has served as a trusted companion to five prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and now Mr Sunak, who came into office a year ago – bringing Nova along with him.

Ms Murty, the daughter of an Indian billionaire, said “not much has changed” since then.

FYI: Weekly News Show is from Sky Kids and the full interview can be seen on Sky News across the weekend

Asked what it’s like to be the wife of a prime minister, she said: “You know, I’ve had a busy life before. I’ve a busy life now.

“I think what’s been incredible is the range of opportunities that I’ve been exposed to… meeting really interesting people.”

Larry the cat sits on the red carpet at the entrance of 10 Downing Street, London, ahead of the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Picture date: Monday July 10, 2023.
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Larry the cat is the famous feline resident of Number 10

Ms Murty has created an initiative – “Lessons at 10” – which invites children from across the UK to the prime minister’s residence to learn about the building’s history and the role of government.

She said: “Through the Lessons at 10 programme, meeting lots of young people every Friday, I really enjoy that and so for me, I look at it (being the prime minister’s wife) as a very special time in my life to help support my husband in the job he’s doing while opening up the doors to young people. “

Read more:
‘Pattern of behaviour’ emerging about Sunak’s wife – Starmer

Ms Murty, a computer scientist and engineer who was the first woman to work for India’s largest carmaker, has also worked for her father’s tech empire Infosys, which she has a stake in, and has founded multiple businesses.

She and Mr Sunak married in 2009 after they met at Stanford University and have two young daughters.

While she has largely remained out of sight of the cameras since her husband’s rise to power, her wealth has come under scrutiny.

She was embroiled in a row about her non-dom tax status when Mr Sunak was chancellor – something Labour has sought to weaponise.

Brent murder investigation: Teenager stabbed to death in street after party | UK News

A teenager has been stabbed to death after a birthday party in London.

The 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in the street during a fight in front of party-goers in Granville Road, Brent, north-west London.

The teenager died at the scene of the incident, which took place around 11.30pm on Friday.

Another male, also believed to be 17, was taken to hospital, as was a woman in her early 20s, who suffered a hand injury.

No arrests have been made, and a murder investigation has been launched.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers of the Metropolitan Police said: “We believe that there was a fight following a birthday party, which would have been attended by a number of people.

“I would urge anyone who was there, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please come forward. It is vital that we establish what happened.”

Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of the North West Command Unit, said: “I know that the community will be shocked by this incident in which a young man has lost his life.

“We shall be working with our colleagues from Specialist Crime to ensure that this investigation proceeds as quickly and thoroughly as possible.”

Lilia Valutyte: Deividas Skebas who killed nine-year-old girl in the street given indefinite hospital order | UK News

A man who killed a nine-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart as she played in the street has been given an indefinite hospital order.

Deividas Skebas was unanimously found to have physically committed the act of killing Lilia Valutyte, despite a court deciding he was unfit to plead or face a conventional trial due to his mental health.

Lilia suffered a single stab wound to the chest in Boston, Lincolnshire, on the afternoon of last 28 July.

Deividas Skebas outside Lincoln Crown Court in August
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Deividas Skebas outside Lincoln Crown Court in August


She was playing with a hula hoop at the time.

Jurors took around 15 minutes to find Skebas, 23, was the girl’s attacker after a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court.

The court heard Skebas, from Lithuania, came to the UK for a second time from his home country on 20 July last year and six days later was seen buying a Sabatier paring knife from Wilko in Boston town centre.

A forensic officer near the scene of the killing
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A forensic officer near the scene of the killing

CCTV footage captured him walking around Boston before running towards Lilia at about 6.15pm as she played with a hula hoop outside the shop where her mother worked in Fountain Lane.

He pulled a knife from behind his back before stabbing the girl and running past an off-duty police officer, who was about to follow but stopped after hearing screams.

Lilia was pronounced dead at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital at 7.11pm.

 Lilia Valutyte. Pic: Lincolnshire Police
Image:
Lilia Valutyte. Pic: Lincolnshire Police

In an interview with police, Skebas said: “I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her”.

The judge, Mrs Justice McGowan, is expected to sentence Skebas to a hospital order – the only sentence available – later.

Read More:
Man accused of girl’s murder unfit to stand trial
Lilia Valutyte: Funeral held for nine-year-old

She told the jury: “It’s been an unusually short case and you have dealt with issues that if this were a normal trial would have taken a couple of weeks.

“You have dealt with some very unpleasant material and I’m afraid that that is what juries do.”

If his mental health improves, Skebas, who is charged with murder, could face a conventional trial.

In a trial of the facts, a defendant cannot be criminally convicted but the jury must be satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that they physically carried out the act, while not considering intent or state of mind.

Dogs line the street for Paul O’Grady’s funeral procession | UK News

Dogs and their owners lined the streets for the funeral procession of Paul O’Grady – TV star, LGBTQ campaigner and animal lover.  

A private funeral for O’Grady, who died on 28 March, will follow the procession through the village of Aldington in Kent.

Dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will form a guard of honour for the service, recognising his extensive work as an ambassador for the charity.

Some dogs could be seen wearing jackets identifying them as being from the home, with the phrase “rescue is best”, as mourners gathered on Thursday.

O’Grady rehomed five dogs from Battersea while he filmed Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs and more than £270,000 has been raised for the charity since his death.

Dogs at the Walnut Tree Pub in Aldington, Kent, as they wait for Paul O'Grady's funeral cortege to travel through the village of Aldington, Kent, ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.
Well wishers arrive at the Walnut Tree Pub in Aldington, Kent, as they wait for Paul O'Grady's funeral cortege to travel through the village of Aldington, Kent, ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.

Crowds gathered in the village, where O’Grady lived for more than 20 years, from mid-morning on Thursday.

Many brought their dogs. One pup in a pram had a photo of O’Grady with a dog with the message “Thank you”.

Well wishers at the Walnut Tree Pub in Aldington, Kent, as they wait for Paul O'Grady's funeral cortege to travel through the village of Aldington, Kent, ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.
Fleur Boyd (left) with her mother Astrid Allen from Margate with their dog Zeus outside the Walnut Tree Pub in Aldington, Kent, as they wait for Paul O'Grady's funeral cortege to travel through the village of Aldington, Kent, ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.
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Fleur Boyd (left) with her mother Astrid Allen travelled from Margate with their dog Zeus to pay their respects

Others wore T-shirts featuring pictures of dogs.

Pupils from Aldington Primary School displayed a collage of dog drawings they had done inside a large heart.

Pupils and teachers from Aldington Primary School pay their respects to Paul O'Grady with picture collages of their drawing of dogs along the route of his funeral in the village of Aldington, Kent ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.
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Pupils and teachers from Aldington Primary School display their drawings of dogs in O’Grady’s honour
Well wishers arrive at the Walnut Tree Pub in Aldington, Kent, as they wait for Paul O'Grady's funeral cortege to travel through the village of Aldington, Kent, ahead of his funeral at St Rumwold's Church. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023.

A bake sale was being organised outside the Walnut Tree pub with proceeds going to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

O’Grady, who rose to fame as his drag alter ego Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” at his home on 28 March at the age of 67.

High street banks given 24 hours to rescue Silicon Valley Bank UK | Business News

Britain’s biggest high street banks have been given a 24-hour deadline to rescue Silicon Valley Bank UK (SVB UK) from collapse as the Bank of England prepares to place it into an insolvency process.

Sky News has learnt that major UK lenders including Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group are among the parties to have been approached by the board of SVB UK over the weekend to see if an emergency takeover deal can be struck.

City sources said that a number of parties, including The Bank of London, were interested in finalising a deal.

A number of the biggest high street banks are expected to examine the prospects for a deal, although the chances of one of them intervening appeared remote.

An executive at one large UK bank said they had been given access to a data room over the weekend.

Rothschild, the investment bank, has been asked to handle the quickfire process with the permission of the Bank of England, according to one source.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said “there is no systemic risk to our financial system” – but added “there is a serious risk to our technology and life sciences sectors”.

More on Silicon Valley Bank

“We are working at pace on a solution we will bring forward very soon plans to make sure people are able to meet their cashflow requirements, pay their staff.”

“But obviously what we want to do is to find a longer-term solution that minimises or even avoids completely losses to some of our most promising companies.”

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‘Serious risk to tech sector’ after Silicon Valley Bank collapse

The Treasury said in a statement on Sunday: “The UK has a world leading tech sector, with a dynamic start-up and scale-up ecosystem.

“The government recognises that, given the importance of Silicon Valley Bank to its customers, its failure could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem.

“The government is treating this issue as a high priority, with discussions between the governor of the Bank of England, the prime minister and the chancellor taking place over the weekend.”

Silicon Valley Bank's headquarters are based in California
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Silicon Valley Bank’s headquarters are based in California

Read more:
UK tech firms at ‘serious risk’ from SVB failure, warns chancellor
Bank of London weighs rescue bid for UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank
Biggest failure since 2008 financial crisis as US regulators close bank and seize assets

The implosion of SVB’s US-listed parent company, which has been taken into government control, represents one of the biggest global banking collapses since the financial crisis of 2008.

UK depositors stand to receive up to £85,000 as part of the resolution of the British arm of SVB, sparking fears about the fate of substantial amounts of funding in the start-up community.

On Saturday, dozens of early-stage companies wrote to Mr Hunt, to warn of “an existential threat to the UK tech sector”.

In a letter seen by Sky News, founders including those from Adzuna, Curve and Thriva called on Mr Hunt to intervene.

“The majority of the most exciting and dynamic tech businesses bank with SVB and have no or limited diversity in where their deposits are held,” the draft letter said.

“This weekend the majority of us as tech founders are running numbers to see if we are potentially technically insolvent.

“The impact of this is far greater than our individual businesses.

“The Bank of England’s assessment that SVB going into administration would have limited impact on the UK economy displays a dangerous lack of understanding of the sector and the role it plays in the wider economy, both today and in the future.”

The founders warned Mr Hunt, who will deliver his Budget statement on Wednesday, that the collapse of SVB UK would “cripple the sector and set the ecosystem back 20 years”.

“Many businesses will be sent into involuntary liquidation overnight,” they wrote.

“Many other businesses, both in the tech sector and the wider economy – the customers and suppliers of these businesses – will be negatively impacted by these businesses going bankrupt.”

Interpath Advisory is being lined up to handle the insolvency process in the UK.

Downing Street urges parents to ‘look out’ for Strep A symptoms after rise in cases | UK News

Downing Street has urged parents to be on the “lookout” for symptoms caused by Strep A infection after the death of at least six children.

As an invasive form of the Strep A bacterial infection has spread across the UK in recent months, officials have said that they can “fully understand” the concern parents are feeling about the rise in cases.

Reassuring that the NHS is “well prepared” for such situations, Number 10 added that it was not aware of any current shortage of the antibiotic amoxicillin, which is used to treat bacterial infections.

Addressing the recent rise in cases, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “We are seeing a higher number of cases of Group A strep this year compared to usual.

“The bacteria we know causes a mild infection which is easily treated with antibiotics and in rare circumstances it can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness.

“It is still uncommon but it’s important parents are on the lookout for symptoms. But the NHS is well prepared to deal with situations like this, working with the UK Health Security Agency.”

The spokesperson went on to say that “well-established procedures” similar to ones implemented during the COVID pandemic to deal with, and prevent, any medication shortages are in place.

When asked how worried parents should be about the recent outbreak, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan added: “The first thing to say is it is extremely rare and there’s a very small number of cases.

“But of course, our heartfelt condolences go to the small number of parents who have lost a child through Strep A.

“The most important thing is to keep vigilant for the symptoms. So sore throat, fever, a rash. If you have any concerns, call 111. But we are monitoring the situation and working with the public authorities.

“If you have any concerns, pick up the phone and call 111.”

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What is Strep A?

Baroness Sal Brinton was due to ask the government today what assessment it has made of its guidance to doctors and to parents in light of the increase in Strep A, iGAS and scarlet fever cases, after the Lord Speaker granted her a Private Notice Question.

Read more:
What are the symptoms of Strep A?
Why the spate of deaths now?

Illnesses caused by the Strep A bacteria include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. Compared to the week of November 14 to 20 in previous years, cases of scarlet fever have jumped to 851, compared to an average of 186.

Symptoms of scarlet fever, according to the NHS, typically take two to five days to appear following infection and can include a pinkish or red “sandpapery” body rash, swollen neck glands, sore throat, headache, and fever.

Grieving mother of four-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, who died in an ambulance on the way to hospital in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said that her young son’s first symptoms included a red rash across his lower back.

Muhammad Ibrahim Ali and his mother
Image:
Muhammad Ibrahim Ali

Even after a full-course of antibiotics, his symptoms persisted and his mother began to give him Calpol. A week after his death, his post-mortem test results showed he had Strep A in his blood.

Infections of Strep A rarely develop into a more serious invasive infection known as iGAS, but they have increased this year, particularly in those under the age of 10.

Treatment with antibiotics can prevent serious illness and the spread of infection.

Microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke, from the University of Reading, said he wasn’t aware of any evidence of a new strain but suggested that a “drop in population-wide immunity,” as a result of children not mixing during the COVID pandemic “could increase transmission”.

He added that although cases didn’t appear to be linked, he believes “further cases over the coming weeks and months” are likely.