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Professor Brian Cox has joined his former D:Ream bandmates on stage at Glastonbury to perform the track that became a defining political anthem of the 1990s – and seemingly again this year after its re-emergence ahead of the general election.

The TV physicist received rapturous applause from the crowd at the festival’s Glade Stage as he was brought on by frontman Peter Cunnah, providing his musical expertise on keyboards once again for sleeper hit Things Can Only Get Better.

Following its release in 1993, the song topped the charts after a remix the following year. But it was in 1997 that it really took off once again, as the official anthem of Tony Blair’s landslide victory for Labour.

Brian Cox joined his former D:Ream bandmate Peter Cunnah to perform Things Can Only Get Better on stage at Glastonbury
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Cox played keyboard once again for their final song, Things Can Only Get Better, at the Glade Stage

Earlier this year, as a rain-soaked Rishi Sunak called the general election now taking place next week, the song was unmissable as it was blared out close to No 10.

Just ahead of their performance, Cox joined Cunnah and fellow D:Ream bandmate and co-founder Al Mackenzie to speak to Sky News about the reunion.

The TV scientist said he cleared his diary as soon as he heard they would play Glastonbury for the first time.

It’s a long time ago, but I’ve tremendously happy memories of the early ’90s,” Cox said, adding that Things Can Only Get Better is a “joyous song about change”.

“It is a song of hope and joy, and where it comes from is to entertain people, make people happy, regardless of their political persuasions,” said Cunnah. “It’s time to forget that and just enjoy yourselves, you know?”

However, there’s no escaping its association with politics. While D:Ream had other hits with singles including Shoot Me With Your Love and U R The Best Thing, thanks to Blair’s adoption it is Things Can Only Get Better that remains their most famous hit.

Labour leader Tony Blair waves as he arrives at No.10 Downing Street.
Pic Reuters
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Things Can Only Get Better was adopted by Labour’s Tony Blair ahead of his landslide victory in the 1997 election

“It was a remarkable moment,” said Cox. “I remember it so vividly, 1997, because we did Top Of The Pops and it’d gone back into the charts on election day. Because Top Of The Pops was going to be broadcast after the polls had closed, we were allowed to do it.”

So how do they feel about it being brought back ahead of another general election almost 30 years later, with Labour ahead of the Conservatives in the polls.

Speaking about Mr Sunak’s speech, Cunnah said: “The first time I saw it on TV, I did laugh. And then, I didn’t say the exact words, but it was, ‘oh god, not again’.

“The next thing I know, the phone’s ringing off the hook and we’re getting offers – we had an offer to get on a van and sing Things Can Only Get Better at the bottom of Downing Street from some advertising company, and we made that go away by asking for a hundred grand. It’s just funny. And apparently a whole load of new kids have found us on TikTok, so that’s no bad thing.”

Read more on Glastonbury:
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Russell Crowe: Forget the other job – we’re monster musicians
Meet this year’s viral star (who’s nothing to do with the music)

Cunnah and Mackenzie were actually in the studio working on a new D:Ream album when the speech aired.

“People were phoning us, ‘you need to put the TV on’,” said Mackenzie.

Among those getting in touch was Cox. “I text them straight away. Something like, ‘oh no, not again’.”

So how do they feel about the song coming to prominence politically once more?

“I’m very pleased that twice it’s come to prominence and the Tories are going to be taken out of power, so I’m very happy,” said Mackenzie.

“I blow hot and cold on it,” said Cunnah. “I’m kind of gutted that our song’s tied to those moments in time, because I was just getting to the point where I thought, after 30 years, we’d lost the association and the song was just breathing life as itself again… but you just have to kind of get on with your life.”

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Post Office scandal: Daughter has had ‘panic attacks’ since mum was accused of stealing

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Post Office scandal: Daughter has had 'panic attacks' since mum was accused of stealing

The daughter of a Post Office victim has told Sky News she suffered “dark thoughts of suicide” in the years after her mother was accused of stealing.

Kate Burrows was 14 years old when her mother, Elaine Hood, was prosecuted and subsequently convicted in 2003.

The first public inquiry report on the Post Office – examining redress and the “human impact” of the scandal – is due to be published today.

“I’ve suffered with panic attacks from about 14, 15 years old, and I still have them to this day,” Kate said.

“I’ve been in and out of therapy for what feels like most of my adult life and it absolutely categorically goes back to [what happened].”

Kate and Rebecca with their mother, Elaine
Image:
Kate and Rebecca with their mother, Elaine

Kate, along with others, helped set up the charity Lost Chances, supporting the children of Post Office victims. She hopes the inquiry will recognise their suffering.

“It’s important that our voices are heard,” she said. “Not only within the report, but in law actually.

More on Post Office Scandal

“And then maybe that would be a deterrent for any future cover-ups, that it’s not just the one person it’s the whole family [affected].”

Her sister, Rebecca Richards, who was 18 when their mother was accused, described how an eating disorder “escalated” after what happened.

“When my mum was going through everything, my only control of that situation was what food I put in my body,” she said.

Elaine Hood with her husband
Image:
Elaine with her husband

She also said that seeing her mother at court when she was convicted, would “stay with me forever”.

“The two investigators were sat in front of my dad and I, sniggering and saying ‘we’ve got this one’.

“To watch my mum in the docks handcuffed to a guard… not knowing if she was going to be coming home… that is the most standout memory for me.”

The sisters are hoping the inquiry findings will push Fujitsu into fulfilling a promise they made nearly a year ago – to try and help the children of victims.

Rebecca Richards and Kate Burrows
Image:
The siblings were teenagers when their mum was unfairly prosecuted

Last summer, Kate met with the European boss of the company, Paul Patterson, who said he would look at ways they could support Lost Chances.

Despite appearing at the inquiry in November last year and saying he would not “stay silent” on the issue, Kate said there has been little movement in terms of support.

“It’s very much a line of ‘we’re going to wait until the end of the inquiry report to decide’,” she said.

“But Mr Patterson met us in person, looked us in the eye, and we shared the most deeply personal stories and he said we will do something… they need to make a difference.”

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2024: Paula Vennells breaks down in tears

Fujitsu, who developed the faulty Horizon software, has said it is in discussions with the government regarding a contribution to compensation.

The inquiry will delve in detail into redress schemes, of which four exist, three controlled by the government and one by the Post Office.

Victims of the scandal say they are hoping Sir Wyn Williams, chair of the inquiry, will recommend that the government and the Post Office are removed from the redress schemes as thousands still wait for full and fair redress.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said they were “grateful” for the inquiry’s work, describing “the immeasurable suffering” victims endured and saying the government has “quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters”, with more than £1bn having now been paid to thousands of claimants.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

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Drones are sending ‘overwhelming amounts’ of drugs into prisons – and could help inmates escape, report warns

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Drones are sending 'overwhelming amounts' of drugs into prisons - and could help inmates escape, report warns

Sophisticated drones sending “overwhelming amounts” of drugs and weapons into prisons represent a threat to national security, according to an annual inspection report by the prisons watchdog.

HMP chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has warned criminal gangs are targeting jails and making huge profits selling contraband to a “vulnerable and bored” prison population.

The watchdog boss reiterated his concerns about drones making regular deliveries to two Category A jails, HMP Long Lartin and HMP Manchester, which hold “the most dangerous men in the country”, including terrorists.

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Ex-convict: Prison is ‘birthing bigger criminals’

Mr Taylor said “the police and prison service have in effect ceded the airspace” above these two high-security prisons, which he said was compromising the “safety of staff, prisoners, and ultimately that of the public”.

“The possibility now whereby we’re seeing packages of up to 10kg brought in by serious organised crime means that in some prisons there is now a menu of drugs available,” he said. “Anything from steroids to cannabis, to things like spice and cocaine.”

“Drone technology is moving fast… there is a level of risk that’s posed by drones that I think is different from what we’ve seen in the past,” warned the chief inspector – who also said there’s a “theoretical risk” that a prisoner could escape by being carried out of a jail by a drone.

He urged the prison service to “get a grip” of the issue, stating: “We’d like to see the government, security services, coming together, using technology, using intelligence, so that this risk doesn’t materialise.”

The report highlights disrepair at prisons around the country
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The report highlights disrepair at prisons around the country

The report makes clear that physical security – such as netting, windows and CCTV – is “inadequate” in some jails, including Manchester, with “inexperienced staff” being “manipulated”.

Mr Taylor said there are “basic” measures which could help prevent the use of drones, such as mowing the lawn, “so we don’t get packages disguised as things like astro turf”.

Responding to the report, the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) said: “The ready access to drugs is deeply worrying and is undermining efforts to create places of rehabilitation.”

Mr Taylor’s report found that overcrowding continues to be what he described as a “major issue”, with increasing levels of violence against staff and between prisoners, combined with a lack of purposeful activity.

Some 20% of adult men responding to prisoner surveys said they felt unsafe at the time of the inspection, increasing to 30% in the high security estate.

Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This report is a checklist for all the reasons the government must prioritise reducing prison numbers, urgently.

“Sentencing reform is essential, and sensible steps to reduce the prison population would save lives.”

Read more UK news:
The human impact of the Post Office scandal
Govt to ban ‘appalling’ NDAs that silence victims

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May: Male prison capacity running at 99%

The report comes after the government pledged to accept most of the recommendations proposed in the independent review of sentencing policy, with the aim of freeing up around 9,500 spaces.

Those measures won’t come into effect until spring 2026.

Prisons Minister Lord Timpson said Mr Taylor’s findings show “the scale of the crisis” the government “inherited”, with “prisons dangerously full, rife with drugs and violence”.

He said: “After just 500 prison places added in 14 years, we’re building 14,000 extra – with 2,400 already delivered – and reforming sentencing to ensure we never run out of space again.

“We’re also investing £40m to bolster security, alongside stepping up cooperation with police to combat drones and stop the contraband which fuels violence behind bars.”

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Post Office scandal: Daughter has had ‘panic attacks’ since mum was accused of stealing

Published

on

By

Post Office scandal: Daughter has had 'panic attacks' since mum was accused of stealing

The daughter of a Post Office victim has told Sky News she suffered “dark thoughts of suicide” in the years after her mother was accused of stealing.

Kate Burrows was 14 years old when her mother, Elaine Hood, was prosecuted and subsequently convicted in 2003.

The first public inquiry report on the Post Office – examining redress and the “human impact” of the scandal – is due to be published today.

“I’ve suffered with panic attacks from about 14, 15 years old, and I still have them to this day,” Kate said.

“I’ve been in and out of therapy for what feels like most of my adult life and it absolutely categorically goes back to [what happened].”

Kate and Rebecca with their mother, Elaine
Image:
Kate and Rebecca with their mother, Elaine

Kate, along with others, helped set up the charity Lost Chances, supporting the children of Post Office victims. She hopes the inquiry will recognise their suffering.

“It’s important that our voices are heard,” she said. “Not only within the report, but in law actually.

More on Post Office Scandal

“And then maybe that would be a deterrent for any future cover-ups, that it’s not just the one person it’s the whole family [affected].”

Her sister, Rebecca Richards, who was 18 when their mother was accused, described how an eating disorder “escalated” after what happened.

“When my mum was going through everything, my only control of that situation was what food I put in my body,” she said.

Elaine Hood with her husband
Image:
Elaine with her husband

She also said that seeing her mother at court when she was convicted, would “stay with me forever”.

“The two investigators were sat in front of my dad and I, sniggering and saying ‘we’ve got this one’.

“To watch my mum in the docks handcuffed to a guard… not knowing if she was going to be coming home… that is the most standout memory for me.”

The sisters are hoping the inquiry findings will push Fujitsu into fulfilling a promise they made nearly a year ago – to try and help the children of victims.

Rebecca Richards and Kate Burrows
Image:
The siblings were teenagers when their mum was unfairly prosecuted

Last summer, Kate met with the European boss of the company, Paul Patterson, who said he would look at ways they could support Lost Chances.

Despite appearing at the inquiry in November last year and saying he would not “stay silent” on the issue, Kate said there has been little movement in terms of support.

“It’s very much a line of ‘we’re going to wait until the end of the inquiry report to decide’,” she said.

“But Mr Patterson met us in person, looked us in the eye, and we shared the most deeply personal stories and he said we will do something… they need to make a difference.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

2024: Paula Vennells breaks down in tears

Fujitsu, who developed the faulty Horizon software, has said it is in discussions with the government regarding a contribution to compensation.

The inquiry will delve in detail into redress schemes, of which four exist, three controlled by the government and one by the Post Office.

Victims of the scandal say they are hoping Sir Wyn Williams, chair of the inquiry, will recommend that the government and the Post Office are removed from the redress schemes as thousands still wait for full and fair redress.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said they were “grateful” for the inquiry’s work, describing “the immeasurable suffering” victims endured and saying the government has “quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters”, with more than £1bn having now been paid to thousands of claimants.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

Continue Reading

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