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Labour has called on Rishi Sunak to consider removing the whip from Liz Truss after her appearance in the US sparked controversy.

Anneliese Dodds, the chair of the Labour Party, accused the former prime minister of “propagating conspiracy theories” and “associating with individuals who have actually praised the far right in our country”.

“That’s deeply disturbing, and we’ve not seen any action being taken,” Ms Dodds told Sky News.

Ms Dodds was referring to a series of controversial appearances made by Ms Truss in recent weeks, including a speech in Washington where she accused US president Joe Biden of being “asleep at the wheel” and stating that he needed to be “kicked out” of the White House.

Ms Truss had used a talk at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) in the US to claim her efforts to slash taxes were “sabotaged” by the “administrative state and the deep state”.

Politics latest: Lee Anderson’s comments that sparked Islamophobia row condemned by PM

The former prime minister – who only lasted 49 days in office after her mini-budget spooked the economic markets – has also been criticised for taking part in an interview with Donald Trump’s controversial former strategist Steve Bannon and remained silent as he praised former leader of the far-right English Defence League Tommy Robinson as a “hero”.

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‘Liz should really know better’

Former Conservative chancellor Sir Sajid Javid was among those to criticise Ms Truss for failing to challenge Mr Bannon, writing on X: “I’d hope every MP would confront such a statement head on. Liz should really know better.”

Ms Truss also claimed in her speech that Conservatives are “now operating in what is a hostile environment” and that “left-wing elites” will be “aided and abetted by our enemies in China, Iran and Russia”.

The senior Tory complained about how her attempts to rule the UK were foiled by “the left” and that the West has been run by the left “for too long” – despite the fact the Conservatives have been in government since 2010.

Ms Truss claimed the left “did not accept” that they had lost at the election and “weaponised” institutions like the judicial system.

Farage partnership

In an interview with Mr Bannon after her speech, she also said she was willing to work with Nigel Farage, the former UKIP and Reform leader, to change the Conservative Party.

Labour’s criticism of Ms Truss comes at the same time that the Conservatives are engulfed in a row over Lee Anderson, the outspoken MP for Ashfield and former deputy party chair who has already had the whip removed after he claimed “Islamists” had control over London mayor Sadiq Khan and the capital city.

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Lee Anderson’s comments were ‘racist’

The MP, who was a Labour councillor before defecting to the Tories, 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.”

The comments have sparked a backlash from across the political divide. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned what he called an “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst”, while Conservative peer Baroness Warsi said “anti-Muslim racism” was now used “as an electoral campaign tool”.

The incidents involving Ms Truss and Mr Anderson prompted Labour to write to the prime minister demanding he take action against the pair.

Read more:

Sunak: Anderson’s comments against Khan ‘weren’t acceptable, they were wrong’
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Lee Anderson row blunts Rishi Sunak’s moral authority on racism

Referring to Ms Truss, shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth wrote: “For a senior politician to engage in spreading such blatant conspiracy theories is incredibly damaging to our democracy, our institutions and social cohesion.

“For a former prime minister to make such remarks, while on an international visit to a country with whom the UK shares a special relationship which upholds liberal values is an unforgivable lowering of the office of prime minister which lessens the United Kingdom’s standing in the world and needs to be acted upon.

“It’s time to show some leadership and take on the extremists in your party. Liz Truss and Lee Anderson must no longer sit as Conservative MPs. Their words cannot go unchecked or unchallenged.”

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Hainault samurai sword incident: Man charged with murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14, in sword attack appears in court

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Hainault samurai sword incident: Man charged with murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14, in sword attack appears in court

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was killed during a sword attack in London.

Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, east London, was also charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article, the police announced on Wednesday.

Four people were injured, including two Metropolitan Police officers, in Hainault in northeast London on Tuesday.

Monzo, 36, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today and was remanded in custody this morning.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, he spoke only to confirm his name in the dock.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldpsring remanded him in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday if a hearing is not available on Friday.

Daniel Anjorin was a pupil at Bancroft’s private school in Woodford Green – the same school attended by Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar.

Daniel Anjorin.
Pic: Met Police
Image:
Daniel Anjorin. Pic: Met Police


Floral tribute at floral tributes in Hainault, north east London, where a 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday . Pic: PA
Image:
Floral tributes in Hainault, northeast London, where 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday. Pic: PA

Staff and pupils at the school said that Daniel’s sudden death had left them in “profound shock and sorrow”.

Daniel’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard-working” – and that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.

They added: “No family should have to go through what we are experiencing.

“Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”

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Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

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UK weather: Trains delayed and care home hit by lightning after overnight thunderstorms

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UK weather: Trains delayed and care home hit by lightning after overnight thunderstorms

A night of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms has caused travel delays and damaged a care home in West Sussex.

Thunderstorms hit southeast England overnight – with a Met Office warning in place until 10am.

In southwest England and Wales a similar storm warning was in place until 8am Thursday morning.

However, the wet weather may be sandwiched between two of the hottest days of 2024 so far.

Two Met Office weather warnings for thunderstorms on 1 and 2 May 2024. Pic: Met Office
Image:
The Met Office thunderstorm warnings. Pic: Met Office

Overnight, two buildings in Sussex were damaged by lightning strikes, according to West Sussex Fire & Rescue.

A care home in Elmer, West Sussex, was struck, causing damage to its roof, and a university building in Chichester sustained damage to its roof and power system.

The service confirmed that no one was injured and occupants were relocated while the damage was assessed.

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Pic: @WestSussexFire
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Pic: @WestSussexFire

Lightning dances above Worthing
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Lightning above Worthing

There were travel delays on South Western Railway trains after the stormy weather, causing delays between Axminster and Honiton expected to last until at least 11am on Thursday.

This has affected trains running into London Waterloo, from as far as Exeter St David’s.

The Met Office warned the storms overnight may trigger travel disruption leading into Thursday’s rush hour, causing “difficult driving conditions and some road closures”.

There is also a chance of possible cancellations to public transport, as well as power cuts.

Temperatures could reach 24C

Marco Petagna, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said that some places could see the warmest weather of the year on Thursday, with temperatures reaching as high as 24C.

This comes after Wednesday saw temperatures peak at their highest of the year so far as well, at 22.1C.

However, even as it becomes warmer, more thunderstorms could come on Thursday afternoon.

“After a night of storms, the rain will ease in the south of England for a while,” Mr Petagna said.

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“We could see the skies brightening up in a few places and it will be another warm day.

“Parts of the southeast could even get to 24C and beat Wednesday’s temperatures.

“But as the skies brighten and temperatures increase, this could spark a few more thundery showers in the afternoon, so it is likely to still be a bit unsettled and the forecast will be changeable over the next few days.”

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Looking ahead to the Bank Holiday weekend, Mr Petagna said the forecast was a “very mixed picture”.

Most of the UK is likely to experience some rain, but temperatures will remain fairly warm in the mid to late teens.

Wednesday was the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures peaking at 22.1C in Santon Downham, in Suffolk, and reaching 21.9C in Aultbea, in the northwest Highlands.

However, other parts of the UK saw temperatures over 10C lower in some coastal areas – in Inverbervie, northeast Scotland, temperatures only peaked at 9.9C.

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Grieving parents who lost their son during birth demand nationwide guidance after hospital failings

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Grieving parents who lost their son during birth demand nationwide guidance after hospital failings

“When Finn was born, I turned to Ruth and said, just wait. He’ll cry, he’ll cry… But he never did,” says Martin, wiping tears from his eyes.

Warning: This article contains distressing content.

His wife, Ruth, had just given birth to their first son. But after a traumatic delivery, Finn was born pale and limp, needing urgent resuscitation.

Ruth was also injured, suffering a birthing tear so severe it required surgery.

As the room at the London-based birthing centre flooded with doctors ready to whisk their son away, Martin asked his wife: “What do you want me to do? Stay with you, or go with Finn?”

Follow Finn, she told him. As the plastic cot containing his newborn son was wheeled out of the room, a sense of helplessness swept over him. “There was nothing I could do for either of them,” he says, his voice breaking.

While we talk, both Ruth and Martin break down in tears, taking turns to comfort each other, but when I ask if they want to take a break, they refuse. They are clear that what matters now is sharing Finn’s story.

Ruth and Martin
Image:
Ruth and Martin

“He was our first,” says Ruth, adding that she had no idea what to expect from the birth in June 2021. “Everyone was still coming out of COVID times.”

Despite this, she said the pregnancy “was smooth sailing”.

“It was when we turned up for the actual birth that things went horribly wrong.”

Ruth gave birth to Finn at the Oasis Birth Centre, a midwife-led unit within the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, Bromley. It is mainly used for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, with access to birthing pools, massages and aromatherapy.

If extra care is needed during labour, patients are transferred to a delivery suite which the hospital trust’s website says is “just seconds away”.

The website adds that it intends to give parents the “control and support” they need and a place where they can “feel at home”.

Martin
Image:
Martin says he and Ruth were left alone with little guidance

But that wasn’t Ruth’s experience.

From the moment she entered the building, she says: “I wasn’t being listened to.”

Despite her labour progressing quickly and feeling the “overwhelming” urge to push, Ruth says, the midwives largely left her and Martin alone in the birthing pool with no real guidance.

“I remember on a couple of occasions saying to Martin, ‘Why are they not with us? Why are they not telling us what to do?'” she adds.

During this period, midwives failed to identify that Finn was in foetal distress.

Tragically, he suffered a severe brain injury as a result of complications during labour. He was starved of oxygen, a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Read more from Sky News:
Women ‘failed at every stage’ of maternity care
Mother left with injuries after giving birth breaks ‘silence’

Ruth and Martin would later learn that midwives failed to check Finn’s heart rate in line with national guidelines. There should have been at least 24 readings, but only eight were recorded.

One of his biggest regrets, says Martin, is that during the birth he told Ruth: “They are the professionals. We need to trust them.”

Ruth, Martin and Remy
Image:
Ruth, Martin and their second child Remy

The brain damage Finn experienced during birth was so severe, consultants eventually recommended turning off the support that was keeping him alive.

Instead of leaving hospital with their beautiful baby boy, Ruth and Martin, in a deep state of shock, left with a memory box containing mementoes including a lock of Finn’s hair.

“No one expects that,” she adds tearfully.

“Finn had a blessing done by a vicar,” Martin recalls. “Then later that day, we turned his ventilator off and held him while he died.”

Ruth and Martin are now also parents to their second son, Remy, who has brought joy back into their lives. They are taking care to ensure the 17-month-old knows all about his big brother.

Martin and Remy
Image:
Martin says Remy has brought joy back into their lives

“We have Finn’s pictures around the house. Martin handmade the cot for Finn. It’s got his name engraved in it, and Remy uses it now,” Ruth says. “And we had Finn’s handprint made into a stamp so we can include him in birthdays and Christmas cards.”

The inquest into Finn’s death concluded on 25 April, Ruth’s birthday.

Coroner Dr Julian Morris found there was a lack of clear leadership at the birthing centre, and a failure to follow established guidelines in place. He committed to writing to all birth centres across London to give recommendations.

“If other birthing centres operate like that three years later, the likelihood is that more children will die as a result of poor care, understaffing, and a lack of leadership and management,” says Martin.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the Kennedy family and said it “fully accepts” the coroner’s findings.

Ruth is now expecting her third child
Image:
Ruth is now expecting her third child

Tracey Carter, director of midwifery for King’s College, said: “In recent years, we have made positive changes to maternity services at the trust, including a review of midwifery staffing, enhanced training for midwives and ensuring more senior supervision in the department at all times.”

But Martin thinks the same guidance needs to be given to birthing centres across the country, to help avoid future tragedies.

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For now, their focus is on their family, and getting justice for Finn.

“You have to carry on,” Martin says. “You have to pick yourself up and make sure you try and get justice for your children.”

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