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More than 600 child protection investigations a day are now carried out by social care services – a record high, the latest figures show.

There were 225,400 investigations to assess if there was a risk of significant harm to a child in England in the year to 31 March 2023, latest figures from the Department of Education show.

That amounts to an average of 617 every day, the highest amount since data started to be collected in 2019, when there were 66 fewer a day.

The number is also higher than the previous year, with 217,800 in 2022 – 596 a day. Numbers went down during the 2020-2021 COVID years.

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Local authorities are responsible for carrying out assessments if there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm, to determine if steps are necessary to safeguard a child’s welfare.

Councils get a budget from central government for child social care but many have to spend more, taking money away from other key areas, as they have to legally provide the service.

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The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents all English and Welsh councils, is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use the upcoming budget to ensure councils are fully funded and resourced to tackle the rising demand for support from vulnerable children.

LGA analysis shows inflation and wage pressures, coupled with cost and demand pressures, mean English councils face a £2.3bn funding gap in 2025/26, rising to £3.9bn in 2026/27.

This means a £6.2bn shortfall across the two years.

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The group said councils have faced spiralling costs and pressures in children’s social care, pushing budgets up by 11% in the last year alone.

Key drivers behind the increase in children needing support include mental health and domestic abuse.

The LGA said the rise in investigations has also been fuelled by schools making more referalls to children’s social services, with an 8% increase in five years.

Separate data from the County Councils Network, which represents county and unitary councils, said the rising cost of adult and child social care, and school transport will cause a £54bn black hole in English council funding across the next five years.

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Labour voices shout to be heard

Arooj Shah, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “It is deeply saddening when any child experiences suffering, and it is absolutely right that councils act where there are concerns.

“However, these disturbingly high figures show the huge pressures councils are under to intervene and provide that vital care and support.

“As a society we must do what we can collectively to ensure every child is safe from harm.

“This is why we are calling on the chancellor in the autumn budget to provide an emergency cash injection for children’s social care to help councils continue to provide this lifeline of support for vulnerable children.”

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Tulip Siddiq: Labour MP accuses Bangladesh’s leader of ‘orchestrated campaign’ to damage her reputation

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Tulip Siddiq: Labour MP accuses Bangladesh's leader of 'orchestrated campaign' to damage her reputation

Former minister Tulip Siddiq has accused the leader of Bangladesh of conducting an “orchestrated campaign” to damage her reputation and “interfere with UK politics”, according to a new legal letter seen by Sky News.

The Labour MP also said comments made by Professor Muhammad Yunus in a Sky News interview have prejudiced her right to a fair investigation, meaning the ongoing corruption inquiries into her should be dropped.

In March, the chief adviser – who is effectively the country’s interim leader – told Sky News that Ms Siddiq “has so many (sic) wealth left behind here” and “should be made responsible”.

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Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has opened several investigations into Ms Siddiq alleging corruption in connection with the government of her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as the country’s prime minister last year.

In the new correspondence sent today to Professor Yunus and the ACC, lawyers for the former minister write: “The time has now come for the chief adviser and the ACC to abandon their wholly misconceived and unlawful campaign to smear Ms Siddiq’s reputation and interfere with her public service.”

Sky News has approached the chief adviser and the ACC for comment.

The Bangladeshi authorities have previously said they have evidence to back up their claims of corruption and will pursue action through the country’s courts.

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The Tulip Siddiq accusations explained

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Ms Siddiq said: “I will not be allowing them to drag me into their world of dirty politics and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing the job that I was elected to do with an overwhelming majority, which is representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate.

“So they need to stop this political vendetta, this smear campaign, and this malicious persecution right from the beginning.”

The MP had requested a meeting with the Bangladeshi leader during an official visit to the UK earlier this month to “clear up” any misunderstandings.

But this was turned down by the chief adviser, who said he did not want to “interrupt a legal procedure”.

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In the new legal letter, lawyers for Ms Siddiq say the interim leader had already unfairly influenced the inquiries through previous comments.

“The copious briefings to the media, the failure to respond to our letters, the failure to even ask to meet with and question Ms Siddiq during their recent visit to the United Kingdom are impossible to justify and completely inconsistent with a fair, lawful and serious investigation,” reads the letter.

The correspondence also sets a deadline of 30 June 2025 for the Bangladeshi authorities to reply by, stating that “in the absence of a full and proper response… Ms Siddiq will consider this matter closed”.

A former Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor Muhammad Yunus became interim leader of Bangladesh last August after weeks of deadly protests forced Sheikh Hasina from power.

He has pledged to root out corruption and recover alleged stolen wealth before holding votes to elect a permanent administration.

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Tulip Siddiq questioned over Bangladesh corruption

Last month, Professor Yunus banned the Awami League – the political party still led by Sheikh Hasina – from standing in the coming elections.

That led to criticism from those still loyal to the former prime minister, with protests also sparking in the country over jobs, pay and planned reforms.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Tulip Siddiq had lived in several London properties that had links back to the Awami League.

She referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus who said he had “not identified evidence of improprieties” but added it was “regrettable” Ms Siddiq had not been more alert to the “potential reputational risks” of the ties to her aunt.

Ms Siddiq said continuing in her role would be “a distraction” for the government but insisted she had done nothing wrong.

Sheikh Hasina is currently standing trial in absentia in Dhaka over alleged killings during last summer’s civil unrest.

Asked by Sky News if she had any regrets about links to the Awami league, Ms Siddiq said: “The main thing I would say to you, I’m very proud to be the MP for Hampstead and Highgate. I was born in London, I grew up in London. I went to school here and now I’m an MP here.”

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Sheikh Hasina pictured in 2023.
Pic: AP/ Yomiuri Shimbun
Image:
Sheikh Hasina pictured in 2023. Pic: AP/Yomiuri Shimbun

In March, Sky News revealed that UK investigators could assist with probes into alleged grand corruption during Hasina’s time in power.

Staff from the National Crime Agency visited Bangladesh in October and November as part of initial work to support the interim government in the country.

Last month, the NCA confirmed it had secured a “freezing order” against a property in north London linked to Ms Siddiq’s family.

She denies all the allegations – and sources close to the MP say the authorities have been sending correspondence to an address in Dhaka that has no connection with her.

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National investigation into NHS maternity services launched after families ‘gaslit’

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National investigation into NHS maternity services launched after families 'gaslit'

A “rapid” national investigation into NHS maternity services has been launched by the government.

The announcement comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting met families who have lost babies and amid the ongoing investigations at some NHS trusts into maternity care failings.

The investigation in England is intended to provide truth to families suffering harm, as well as driving urgent improvements to care and safety, as part of efforts to ensure “no parent or baby is ever let down again”.

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The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) welcomed the government’s announcement and said maternity services were “at, or even beyond, breaking point”.

Last week, the NHS regulator said maternity and neonatal services at two Leeds hospitals had been rated inadequate over safety issues.

Mr Streeting, who was speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) conference in London, apologised on behalf of the NHS for what families had been through and said it was “clear something is going wrong”.

He added: “For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives.

“What they have experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened.

“Their bravery in speaking out has made it clear: we must act – and we must act now.”

Mr Streeting said families have had to “fight for truth and justice” and had described being “ignored, gaslit, lied to, manipulated and damaged further by the inability for a trust to simply be honest with them that something has gone wrong”.

The investigation will consist of two parts.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting speaking during the RCOG World Congress 2025.
Pic: PA
Image:
Wes Streeting speaking during the RCOG conference. Pic: PA

The first will investigate up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units, including Sussex, in the coming weeks to give affected families answers as quickly as possible, according to the Department of Health.

The second will be a “system-wide” look at maternity and neonatal care, uniting lessons from past inquiries to create one clear set of actions designed to improve NHS care.

A National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be chaired by Mr Streeting and made up of experts and bereaved families.

The investigation will begin this summer and report back by December.

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Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: “This rapid national investigation must mark a line in the sand for maternity care – setting out one set of clear actions for NHS leaders to ensure high quality care for all.”

Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the RCOG, said: “The maternity workforce is on its knees, with many now leaving the profession.”

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RCM chief executive Gill Walton said: “Everyone involved in maternity services – the midwifery community, obstetricians, anaesthetists, sonographers and, of course, the women and families in their care – knows that maternity services are at, or even beyond, breaking point.

“This renewed focus and commitment by the health secretary to deliver change is welcome, and we will do everything we can to support him in doing so.”

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Annabel Rook death: Man charged with murder of woman found stabbed after gas explosion

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Annabel Rook death: Man charged with murder of woman found stabbed after gas explosion

A man has been charged with the murder of a 46-year-old woman found stabbed following a gas explosion at a house in London.

Clifton George, 44, will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He has also been charged with arson with intent to endanger life, the Metropolitan Police said.

Charity worker Annabel Rook was found fatally injured at a property in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, northeast London, just before 5am on Tuesday.

In a statement following her death, Ms Rook’s family said they were “struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy”.

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“We have lost our beautiful daughter, sister, friend and mother. Annabel was a truly wonderful woman,” the tribute read.

“She touched the hearts of so many.

“She gave her life to helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged whether it was in refugee camps in Africa or setting up MamaSuze in London, to enhance the lives of survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence.”

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