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In a year of very serious political shifts, there were still a load of very unserious WTF moments to gawk at.

In no particular order, here are some of the standouts.

‘They’re eating the dogs’

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‘They’re eating pets in Springfield’

A completely unverified rumour on social media about Haitian immigrants eating dogs in Springfield, Ohio, made it all the way to Donald Trump, who shocked the world when he took a moment during his presidential debate against Kamala Harris to exclaim: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs.”

He went on: “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats… They’re eating… they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.

“And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

Ms Harris, who could be seen laughing and saying “this is unbelievable”, responded when it was her turn: “Talk about extreme.”

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The rumours were also stoked by the incoming vice president JD Vance, who said people have “had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country”.

Later, he told CNN: “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Soggy Sunak

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Watch Sunak’s suit slowly get wetter

The nation watched in disbelief as Rishi Sunak stood outside Number 10 to announce a general election in May.

Not because of the announcement itself – but rather because the then prime minister braved the pouring rain without an umbrella.

Mr Sunak’s shoulders could be seen getting soggier and soggier during his eight-minute speech, leaving many wondering whether it was a tactic akin to Tony Blair showing his dedication to the country through sweaty blue shirts, or if it was simply an oversight.

Mr Sunak later explained his logic to locals in his constituency of Richmond, North Yorkshire, saying: “That’s our tradition, the prime minister, in the big moments, they call the election and they go out there.

“I thought, come rain or shine, it’s the right thing to do.

“But no pneumonia yet… my suit on the other hand… I’m not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London.”

He said the public kept handing him umbrellas in the days following the speech.

Sunak not being in any way relatable

Rishi Sunak probably thought he looked pretty cool when he slipped on his box-fresh pair of Adidas Sambas in April, pairing them with suit trousers and a white shirt.

But the public and the media totally burst his bubble after he was pictured wearing them at Downing Street.

He was accused of “ruining” an “eternally cool sneaker” by GQ, while other magazines rushed to offer lists of alternative trainers after Mr Sunak “killed” the Samba’s credibility.

It got so bad that he issued “a fulsome apology to the Samba community” via LBC Radio.

@rishisunakmp
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@rishisunakmp

It’s not the worst thing a prime minister has had to apologise for in recent years – it’s perhaps the weirdest, though.

A couple of months later Mr Sunak, who was the wealthiest prime minister in the country’s history, tried to relate to the public’s cost of living struggles.

In an interview with ITV, Mr Sunak, the son of a doctor and pharmacist, explained that he went without “lots of things” as a child because his parents prioritised funding his and his siblings’ education.

Pressed for a specific example of something he missed out on, he said: “There’ll be all sorts of things that I would’ve wanted as a kid that I couldn’t have. Famously, Sky TV, so that was something that we never had growing up actually.”

Biden and Trump’s weird golf conversation

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Biden and Trump squabble about golf handicaps

Few would have expected golf to be a major talking point in Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s long-awaited presidential debate.

But in one of its many bizarre moments, Mr Trump started bragging about his recent golfing accomplishments in an attempt to demonstrate his mental and physical competence.

He claimed he’d just won “two club championships, not even senior. Two regular club championships.”

“To do that,” he went on, “you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way. And I do it.”

Nodding towards Mr Biden, Mr Trump added: “He doesn’t do it. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards. He challenged me to a golf match… he can’t hit a ball 50 yards.”

Mr Biden, four years Mr Trump’s senior, had been laughing throughout his competitor’s claims, giving the impression he may simply shrug them off and move onto more pressing matters.

“Look, I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him,” he said instead.

“I got my handicap when I was vice president down to a six.”

It was then Mr Trump’s turn to laugh.

“And by the way,” Mr Biden continued, “I told you before I’m happy to play golf with you if you can carry your own bag… think you can do it?”

“That’s the biggest lie, that he was six handicap,” Mr Trump responded, prompting Biden to revise the number to “an eight handicap”.

Finally Mr Trump who, need we remind you, brought up his golfing prowess in the presidential debate, said: “Let’s not act like children.”

Rees-Mogg stands awkwardly next to the bean man

Rees-Mogg listens to the results alongside the bean candidate, whose slogan was reportedly "Make brunch great again". Pic: PA
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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg listens to the results alongside the bean candidate, whose slogan was reportedly ‘Make brunch great again’. Pic: PA

Arch Brexiteer Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg had a challenging election night, becoming one of the most high-profile Tory backbenchers to lose their seat to a Labour candidate.

To add insult to injury, he learned the news while standing next to a fellow North East Somerset and Hanham candidate wearing a baked bean balaclava, who was running for The Monster Raving Loony Party.

At least he didn’t lose to him.

‘BOOORINNGG’

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He called the hecklers ‘boring’ nine times (yes – we counted)

Nigel Farage is a divisive figure, but a meme born from his exchange with hecklers after the election has proved a hit with all sorts of people who are still using it to react to posts online.

The Reform UK leader repeatedly yelled “boring” at a protester who interrupted his speech after he won his Clacton seat.

It came after one heckler had already been kicked out.

“That’s alright. There’s still plenty of beer left in the pub, mate,” he told the first one.

“Have a lovely day. Bye bye! Lots of love,” he added as security escorted him away.

Trump brings everyone on stage

Trump and his sizeable posse on stage. Pic: AP
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Trump and his sizeable posse on stage. Pic: AP

Donald Trump giving a second victory speech might have been surreal enough – but seeing a sea of people on stage with him in Florida made it feel a bit like a fever dream.

All five of his children were there with their partners, along with wife Melania and two of his grandchildren, as was future vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha.

Then there were a load of key members of Mr Trump’s team and political allies, including billionaire backer Elon Musk. Fairly normal so far… but it got stranger.

Further down the line there was MMA boss Dana White and pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau.

The former even took to the mic at one point to declare Mr Trump was “the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever met in my life”.

DeChambeau was a bit more shy, with the president-elect awkwardly calling him up mid-victory speech.

Raygun’s breakdancing breaks the internet

Rachael Gunn.
Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Round Robin - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
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Raygun – real name Rachael Gunn – performing at the Olympics. Pic: Reuters

Breakdancing’s Olympic debut made headlines for all the wrong reasons after Australian competitor Raygun’s unconventional moves failed to land her a single point with the judges.

The dancer was mocked relentlessly on social media after completing what has widely been described as “a kangaroo dance”, at one point raising one leg while standing and leaning back with her arms bent toward her ears.

The 37-year-old actually apologised to the breaking community after going viral for the routines, saying she didn’t mean to bring it any backlash.

Rachael Gunn.
Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
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Pics: Reuters

Rachael Gunn.
Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

But she defended her work – insisting she did take the competition “very seriously” – and hit out at the “devastating” abuse she had suffered since.

In November she revealed she had quit competing altogether because of all the criticism.

But love it or hate it, her routine will go down in Olympic history.

Snoop Dogg’s outfits at the Olympics

Snoop Dogg watching the Dressage Team Grand Prix Special at the Chateau de Versailles on the eighth day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. Picture date: Saturday August 3, 2024. Mike Egerton/PA Wire
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Snoop Dogg looked the part while watching the Dressage Team Grand Prix Special. Pic: PA

Speaking of Olympic history…

Iconic rapper Snoop Dogg was a special correspondent for Sky’s partner network NBC throughout the summer games, and didn’t exactly shy away from the spotlight.

The American star subverted expectations by ditching his typical baggy rapper fits and lengthy chains for some Olympic-themed outfits.

Most notably, he turned up for the equestrian in full dressage attire.

03 August 2024, France, Versailles: Olympics, Paris 2024, equestrian sport, dressage, team, final, US rapper Snoop Dogg rides a golf cart.  Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

He also donned tops featuring some of his country’s most talented athletes, such as beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng and tennis ace Coco Gauff.

Body bags at softplay

Soft play centre removes Halloween decorations
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A soft play centre’s Halloween decorations gave too much of a scare

“Shocked” parents complained when Rugrats and Halfpints in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, decided to hang realistic-looking body bags for Halloween.

Pictures showed how they resembled human bodies covered in black plastic – some wrapped with tape marked “Caution” and “Danger” – hanging upside down from poles adjoining one of the soft play structures.

Soft play centre apologises

One parent who took their child there told Sky News: “When I saw them I did a double take – surely that can’t be what I think it is? I just didn’t want to have to explain to my kid what they were.

“I spoke to some other parents after who were as shocked as I was that it was deemed appropriate. It’s a great soft play, but that did shock me a bit!”

A spokesperson for the play area told Sky News they had not meant to “cause distress”.

‘Let’s go to the Oasis reunion! Wait – how much?’

2024 marked the year long-time fans of the Gallagher brothers finally got their reunion announcement.

“This is it, this is happening,” read a tweet from the official band account.

There was a five-day wait between the announcement and the ticket sale for the UK and Ireland gigs, and by the time they went up, almost everyone you know was in the Ticketmaster queue.

A person in a queue to access the Ticketmaster website on their phone, with the StubHub website in the background, detailing information about Oasis concert tickets for sale, in London. Oasis fans across the UK and Ireland who missed out on pre-sale tickets will be attempting to secure their place at the band's reunion concerts during Saturday's general sale. Issue date: Saturday August 31, 2024.
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Some say there are still people waiting in the Oasis ticket queue. Pic: PA

Fans waited for hours in the virtual line to find that standard tickets, originally worth £148, were being sold at a dynamic pricing level of £355.

The band said they didn’t know dynamic pricing was going to be used, while Ticketmaster stated “all ticket prices are set by the tour”.

Liam Gallagher essentially told fans to stop crying their hearts out, responding to one complainant on X saying: “SHUTUP.”

The system was scrapped for Oasis’ US shows, for which tickets came out later on.

Don’t look back in anger, hey?

Drunk driver smashes into PM’s country home

Matthew Wootten, 44, did exactly that on 25 June, while Rishi Sunak was PM, deliberately steering his white Volkswagen Scirocco into the Victory Gate of Chequers in Buckinghamshire.

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The moment caught on CCTV

Wootten, who seriously injured himself and caused £38,000 worth of damage, was nearly three times over the alcohol limit and was subsequently jailed for two years and eight months and disqualified from driving for 40 months.

Liz Truss plagued by lettuce – again

The UK’s shortest-serving prime minister cut a relaxed figure as she took questions from an audience in Beccles, Suffolk, as part of her book tour.

Little did she know, a banner featuring a lettuce and the words “I crashed the economy” was being unfurled behind her.

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Truss stormed off stage after seeing the banner

The vegetable pictured was a reference to a lettuce the Daily Star live-streamed, to see if it wilted before her premiership in 2022 ended (the lettuce was ultimately victorious).

The banner was the work of left-wing campaign group Led By Donkeys, who Ms Truss later accused of trying to “supress free speech”.

When she realised the banner was behind her, the former prime minister said “that’s not funny”, gathered up her notes, took her microphone off and walked off the stage.

Much of the nation – and even a few people there – seemingly did think it was funny.

Banana sells for millions – then the buyer eats it

When news broke in November that a banana duct-taped to a wall had sold for $6.2m (£4.9m) at an auction in New York, it raised a few eyebrows.

It raised even more when the buyer, cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, decided to eat the banana.

FILE - Artist Maurizio Cattelan's piece of art "Comedian" hangs on display during an auction preview at Sotheby's in New York, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)
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Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian debuted at an art festival in 2019. Pic: AP

Chinese-born crypto founder Justin Sun eats a banana artwork. Pic: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty
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Justin Sun eats banana artwork. Pic: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty

But don’t worry – it wasn’t the banana itself that was worth millions.

The banana, duct tape and the wall made up a conceptual art piece, called Comedian, which became a viral sensation after Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan debuted it at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.

So what Mr Sun actually did was purchase a certificate of authenticity and the authority to duct-tape any banana to a wall and call it Comedian, meaning he can replace the banana with another one.

No harm, no foul… now the $6.2m is totally worth it.

Sir Keir calls for the ‘return of the sausages’

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PM calls for ‘return of the sausages’ in Gaza

Sir Keir Starmer was speaking about the need for a ceasefire in Gaza while delivering his first Labour conference speech as prime minister, when he made an unfortunate error.

He appeared to accidentally call for “the return of the sausages” before quickly correcting himself to say “the return of the hostages”.

Kendrick and Drake diss tracks

 Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Pic AP
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Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Pic: AP

A rapid exchange of insults between Kendrick Lamar and Drake – two of the biggest names in modern rap – will no doubt go down in the genre’s history.

The beef had been bubbling behind the scenes for some time, but Canadian rapper Drake took it public in April with the diss track Push Ups, in which he mocked Lamar’s collaborations with the singer Taylor Swift and the pop group Maroon 5.

Soon after Drake followed with a second track, Taylor Made Freestyle, in which he called Lamar a coward for failing to respond to his track.

It wasn’t surprising that Lamar shot back – but the contents of his lyrics were shocking.

His first response, Euphoria, started fairly tamely compared to what would happen later.

“I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress,” he sings.

But his next one, Meet the Grahams, dug deeper, listing a bunch of ways Drake was supposedly letting his family members down.

That was bad, but yet another follow-up from Lamar – Not Like Us – made some serious allegations.

Not Like Us was the number one song in the US for two weeks and reached sixth in the UK charts, and has since been nominated for four Grammys.

And while the diss tracks have long dried up, Drake has filed legal petitions over Lamar’s last one.

‘David Cameron can kiss my ass’

Eccentric Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene didn’t hold back when Sky News asked for her thoughts on David Cameron in February.

The former prime minister, who was foreign secretary at the time, had urged Congress to approve more aid funding for Ukraine.

Ms Taylor Greene did not appreciate it.

“David Cameron needs to worry about his own country and, frankly, he can kiss my ass,” she said.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s message to Lord Cameron


In a post on X later on Wednesday, she said his remarks would not “bully me into funding the war in Ukraine”.

In April, much to Ms Greene’s dismay, the $60.8bn funding package was approved by the House.

“This is the sellout of America today,” she said afterwards.

‘I will f*** you up for ever’

Lord Cameron just couldn’t catch a break this year.

Writing in his memoir, which came out in October, Boris Johnson claimed he was having a conversation with Lord Cameron ahead of the 2016 Brexit vote and told him he was considering voting leave.

Johnson wrote: “‘If you do that,’ he said – and these were his exact words – ‘I will f*** you up forever’.”

When Sky News asked Lord Cameron about the quote, he said that was “not my recollection”.

“The recollection I have is that we had a proper discussion – an argument – heated at times,” he said, going on to explain where their views differed.

He did concede that the argument, or as he then put it, “robust conversation” – was “all quite a long time ago” and laughed it off.

This roundup shows what an absolute whirlwind 2024 really was. Take a look at how it compared to 2023’s maddest moments.

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UK

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell tells Nigel Farage ‘kneejerk’ migrant deportation plan won’t solve problem

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Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell tells Nigel Farage 'kneejerk' migrant deportation plan won't solve problem

The Archbishop of York has told Sky News the UK should resist Reform’s “kneejerk” plan for the mass deportation of migrants, telling Nigel Farage he is not offering any “long-term solution”.

Stephen Cottrell said in an interview with Trevor Phillips he has “every sympathy” with people who are concerned about asylum seekers coming to the country illegally.

But he criticised the plan announced by Reform on Tuesday to deport 600,000 people, which would be enabled by striking deals with the Taliban and Iran, saying it will not “solve the problem”.

Mr Cottrell is currently acting head of the Church of England while a new Archbishop of Canterbury is chosen.

Pic: Jacob King/PA Wire
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Pic: Jacob King/PA Wire

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell in 2020.
File pic: PA
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The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell in 2020.
File pic: PA

Phillips asked him: “What’s your response to the people who are saying the policy should be ‘you land here, unlawfully, you get locked up and you get deported straight away. No ifs, no buts’?”

Mr Cottrell said he would tell them “you haven’t solved the problem”, adding: “You’ve just put it somewhere else and you’ve done nothing to address the issue of what brings people to this country.

More on Migrant Crisis

“And so if you think that’s the answer, you will discover in due course that all you have done is made the problem worse.

“Don’t misunderstand me, I have every sympathy with those who find this difficult, every sympathy – as I do with those living in poverty.

“But… we should actively resist the kind of isolationist, short term kneejerk ‘send them home’.”

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What do public make of Reform’s plans?

Nigel Farage at the launch of Reform UK's plan to deport asylum seekers. Pic: PA
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Nigel Farage at the launch of Reform UK’s plan to deport asylum seekers. Pic: PA

Asked if that was his message to the Reform leader, he said: “Well, it is. I mean, Mr Farage is saying the things he’s saying, but he is not offering any long-term solution to the big issues which are convulsing our world, which lead to this. And, I see no other way.”

You can watch the full interview on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News from 8.30am

Mr Farage, the MP for Clacton, was asked at a news conference this week what he would say if Christian leaders opposed his plan.

“Whoever the Christian leaders are at any given point in time, I think over the last decades, quite a few of them have been rather out of touch, perhaps with their own flock,” he said.

“We believe that what we’re offering is right and proper, and we believe for a political party that was founded around the slogan of family, community, country that we are doing right by all of those things, with these plans we put forward today.”

Sky News has approached Mr Farage for comment.

Farage won’t be greeting this as good news of the gospel – nor will govt ministers

When Tony Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell told journalists that “We don’t do God”, many took it as a statement of ideology.

In fact it was the caution of a canny operator who knows that the most dangerous opponent in politics is a religious leader licensed to challenge your very morality.

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, currently the effective head of the worldwide Anglican communion, could not have been clearer in his denunciation of what he calls the Reform party’s “isolationist, short term, kneejerk ‘send them home'” approach to asylum and immigration.

I sense that having ruled himself out of the race for next Archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend Cottrell feels free to preach a liberal doctrine.

Unusually, in our interview he pinpoints a political leader as, in effect, failing to demonstrate Christian charity.

Nigel Farage, who describes himself as a practising Christian, won’t be greeting this as the good news of the gospel.

But government ministers will also be feeling nervous.

Battered for allowing record numbers of cross- Channel migrants, and facing legal battles on asylum hotels that may go all the way to the Supreme Court, Labour has tried to head off the Reform challenge with tougher language on border control.

The last thing the prime minister needs right now is to make an enemy of the Almighty – or at least of his representatives on Earth.

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‘Our daughter was unlawfully killed – but loophole means she won’t get justice’

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'Our daughter was unlawfully killed - but loophole means she won't get justice'

In the hospital which was supposed to help her, the last moments of 14-year-old Ruth Szymankiewicz’s life were recorded on CCTV.

The teenager, who should have been under constant supervision on the children’s psychiatric ward, was left alone by her support worker at Taplow Manor Hospital in Berkshire. Fifteen minutes later, she had fatally self-harmed.

The worker assigned to her had only one-and-a-half days’ training and had faked his identity using false documents.

CCTV footage showed Ruth Szymankiewicz left alone
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CCTV footage showed Ruth Szymankiewicz left alone

Earlier this month, a jury at the inquest into Ruth’s death concluded she was unlawfully killed. Despite this, there have been no criminal prosecutions.

Speaking to Sky News and The Independent in their first TV interview, Ruth’s father, Mark, said: “She went somewhere that was supposed to be helping her, and it made her worse. The isolation and lack of access to her family had a massively negative impact.”

Ruth Szymankiewicz's parents spoke to Sky News about her death
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Ruth Szymankiewicz’s parents spoke to Sky News about her death

Her mother, Kate, added: “The children get lost. Ruth got lost. She was lost in the middle of all this chaos.”

Ruth’s parents have said the hospital’s strict visiting regime meant they were unable to see their daughter as often as they had wanted. Her father never saw her room.

“Her access to us was denied,” Mark said. “We were willing and able to give that support. It completely derailed her.”

The family believe that if Ruth had been allowed regular contact with them, she would still be alive.

Ruth's parents Kate and Mark
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Ruth’s parents Kate and Mark

History of failings

The failures at Taplow Manor were well-documented. Investigations by Sky News and The Independent uncovered disturbing evidence about the treatment of young people.

There were numerous critical reports, including three from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulator in the year leading up to Ruth’s death, each one highlighting unsafe practices.

Despite this, the NHS continued to send vulnerable children there.

Ruth Szymankiewicz died in February 2022. Pic: Family handout via PA
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Ruth Szymankiewicz died in February 2022. Pic: Family handout via PA

At Ruth’s inquest, an NHS clinician in charge of commissioning her care admitted they knew about the issues at the hospital.

The inquest heard there were no other psychiatric intensive care units close enough to send her to.

Steph Smith was a former patient at Taplow Manor – then known as The Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead – in 2017, who later went on to work at the unit as a healthcare assistant between September 2021 and February 2022.

She described the ward as “chaotic, scary and intense”.

Steph Smith was a former patient at Taplow Manor
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Steph Smith was a former patient at Taplow Manor

“There was a huge culture of covering things up,” she said.

“Observations weren’t done. People just signed the paperwork at the end of the shift. On paper, it looked fine, but in reality, children were left at risk.

“It was only a matter of time. It breaks my heart that it took a 14-year-old girl dying for the hospital to close. It should have been shut years ago.”

Staff warned managers

Nurse Ellesha Branaghan worked as a clinical team leader on Ruth’s ward. She and colleagues warned managers about shortages on the rota.

“We would often tell them the staffing levels weren’t safe but we just kept getting told these are the numbers,” she said.

She said a lack of staffing often meant patients could not go on leave, or even visit the hospital gardens.

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Teenager’s death in psychiatric care ruled unlawful killing

There were occasions, she said, when patient observation levels were decreased because there were not enough staff on shift.

“Sometimes we would have four or five incidents at the same time,” she added. “We didn’t have the staff to respond, so that becomes unsafe.”

The staffing levels became “so severe” that even patients wrote to senior managers to express concerns.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “All providers must operate to the highest standards and the NHS worked with young people and families to move patients from Taplow Manor to other clinically appropriate services.”

The ‘loophole’

Taplow Manor was finally closed in 2023. The CQC had visited the hospital just 11 days before Ruth’s death.

High-level feedback was given following this, highlighting concerns with the environment, care plans not being followed and staffing levels.

After further inspections in March 2022, the watchdog issued a warning notice about failings in patient observations.

But once a warning notice is issued, that particular issue cannot be the subject of a criminal prosecution – something Ruth’s parents describe as a “loophole”.

Pic: Family handout
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Pic: Family handout

Mark said the CQC opened an investigation into his daughter’s death and looked at a “number of different routes to potentially prosecute the Active Care Group”.

Active Care Group acquired the Huntercombe Group, which ran Taplow Manor, in December 2021.

Mark said the regulator was not “allowed or able to prosecute, even though the same failing happened with catastrophic consequences”.

‘No justice for Ruth’

The CQC said it did carry out a full criminal investigation but the evidence “did not meet the threshold”.

It added that there was no suggestion the outcome would have been different if there had been no warning notice.

For Ruth’s parents, this is unacceptable.

“Why did our daughter have to die before anyone paid attention?” Kate asked. “They knew all this before she died.”

The inquest ruling of unlawful killing has brought no comfort to Ruth’s family.

“There can be no justice for Ruth,” her father said. “She’s dead, she’s gone. We’re left with the fallout.”

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‘Gaping hole in our family will never be filled’

A CQC spokesperson said the regulator began a criminal investigation in November 2022 but “found that there was not sufficient evidence to charge”.

“We know that this was disappointing for Ruth’s family, and we met with them to explain how we came to this decision,” the spokesperson added.

“We have a range of enforcement powers available to us and criminal action is only an option when the evidence demonstrates without any doubt that there have been organisational failings that can be proven to the required legal threshold.”

Following Ruth’s death, the CQC continued to visit the unit. A report published just six months later raised more concerns over observations, saying “there had been 22 incidents involving poor practice with observing young people”.

It went on: “The incidents ranged from staff falling asleep, not following young people when they left the room and completing other tasks whilst they were meant to be observing someone.”

It was rated inadequate in December 2022, before its closure.

Ex-patients voice concerns

Ruth’s case echoes concerns raised by other former patients.

Amber Rehman, who was admitted to Huntercombe Hospital in 2019, said: “Ruth’s story – I’ve heard so many similar stories. It could happen to anyone. It could still be happening out there.”

Amber’s mother, Nikki, said: “It was absolutely preventable. No one made changes.”

Amber Rehman
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Amber Rehman

Amber’s family made a formal complaint about the care she received.

An independent review was commissioned by the hospital, which found issues with observations – including missing observation records – and an over-reliance on physical intervention and medication.

The review – which was published exactly a year before Ruth harmed herself – recommended an audit of the observation records, and said the way the hospital communicated and engaged with families should be looked at.

Pic: Family handout
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Pic: Family handout

Sky News has seen two other independent reports commissioned by the hospital before Ruth died, raising similar concerns – including engagement and communication with the patient’s family.

Fifty former patients came forward to our investigation in 2022 to share their experience of this hospital and a number of other units run by the same provider.

Many have told us how they still struggle with trauma from what they faced while under its care – some have formal diagnosis of PTSD due to it.

Sky News understands that 58 former patients are now taking legal action against around 30 psychiatrists who worked at various Huntercombe hospitals over two decades.

Sky News investigations into Huntercombe Group units:
‘Blood on the walls’: Shocking truth of life on mental health unit
Thirty ex-patients reached out to Sky News after initial probe

‘Inadequate staffing’ at hospital ‘put young people at risk’

A statement from Active Care Group said: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ruth’s family, friends, and all those affected by her passing. We deeply regret the tragic event that occurred, and we are truly sorry for the distress this has caused

“We directed significant investment in staff training, recruitment, and the hospital estate, spending more than £3m on the physical environment alone over an 18-month period.

“Despite these efforts, by early 2023, it became clear that achieving the high standards of care that reflect our core values would not be possible within an acceptable timescale.

“In recent years, we have made significant improvements to the quality and safety in all of our services.

“We are regrettably unable to comment on historical allegations relating to care provided under previous ownership or management.”

Elli Investments Group, owners of The Huntercombe Group until 2021, previously told us: “We regret that these hospitals and specialist care services, which were owned and independently managed by The Huntercombe Group, failed to meet the expected standards for high-quality care.”

Pictures of Ruth at the family home
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Pictures of Ruth at the family home

‘Our lives are darker without her’

Ruth’s parents, who are both doctors working in the NHS, are calling on the government to close what they see as the “legal loophole” in the powers the CQC has to prosecute.

They also want to strengthen safeguards for children in mental health units by ensuring parents have visitation rights to their children.

“Ruth died under the care of the state,” her mother, Kate, said.

“We very much hope that secretaries of state for health and for mental health are listening to Ruth’s story, and that they can use this opportunity, particularly to make sure that children have unrestricted access to their families.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our deepest sympathies are with Ruth’s family and friends. This is a shocking case and it is clear care at Huntercombe Hospital fell far below the standards we expect.

“Where appropriate the CQC can bring prosecutions where a provider has failed to comply with a warning notice, and we are clear that those that harm patients through negligence or mismanagement should face the consequences.

“We are investing £75m this year to reduce inappropriate out of area placements, increasing family involvement in patient care through the Mental Health Bill, and driving up standards through the 10 Year Plan so everyone receives the level of care they deserve.”

Ruth’s parents are both struggling with the lack of accountability over their daughter’s death, especially the decision by the CQC not to prosecute.

“We don’t have faith the system will make sure changes happen,” Mark said.

“Governance has been completely ineffectual. Until there is real accountability, nothing will stop this happening again.”

Kate added: “Our lives are darker without her. Ruth was unique and wonderful. She kept us wholehearted in everything we did. Now she’s gone.”

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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Political leanings of two judges involved in Epping migrant hotel case – and who they sided with

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Political leanings of two judges involved in Epping migrant hotel case - and who they sided with

The Appeal Court judge who ruled in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the Epping migrant hotel case is a long-standing Labour supporter.

Lord Justice David Bean, 71, is a former treasurer of the Society of Labour Lawyers and chaired the left-leaning Fabian Society, which is affiliated to the Labour Party, in 1989 and 1990.

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He was also – with Sir Tony Blair’s barrister wife Cherie – a founder member in 2000 of the left-wing Matrix Chambers, whose members include the current attorney general, Lord Hermer.

The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, is at the centre of a legal battle. Pic: PA
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The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, is at the centre of a legal battle. Pic: PA

On its website, the Society of Labour Lawyers describes itself as “a thinktank and affiliated socialist society which provides legal and policy advice to the Labour Party”.

Founded in 1948 by a future Labour lord chancellor Gerald Gardiner, it declares: “Our objectives are to contribute legal expertise to the Labour Party and uphold the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and the rule of law in the UK and around the world.

“We advise Labour MPs and the House of Lords; develop and scrutinise policy and legislation; contribute to debate within the Labour movement by hosting events and discussions; and mentor future members of the legal profession.

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“We are open to Labour Party members who are also practising or retired lawyers, law students or graduates, academics, and members of the judiciary.”

The Fabian Society describes itself as “a democratically governed socialist society, a Labour affiliate and one of the party’s original founders”.

But Lord Justice Bean isn’t the only judge at the centre of the legal battle over The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, who has a political background and affiliation.

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Sir Stephen Eyre, the High Court judge who ruled in favour of Epping Forest Council earlier this month, was a Conservative parliamentary candidate four times.

His most high-profile bid to become an MP came in the 2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, won by current Labour MP and former minister Liam Byrne.

Sir Stephen Eyre. Pic: Judicial Appointments Commission/Ministry of Justice
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Sir Stephen Eyre. Pic: Judicial Appointments Commission/Ministry of Justice

Appointed a High Court judge by then Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab in 2021, Sir Stephen was a Tory candidate while working as a barrister.

His first attempt came in 1987, when he stood in Hodge Hill in that year’s general election, coming second behind Labour’s Terry Davis.

Then in 1992, the year of Sir John Major’s 21-seat election victory, he stood for the Northern Ireland Conservatives in the unionist stronghold of Strangford.

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Mr Eyre, as he then was, came fourth behind the official Unionists’ John Taylor, with current Democratic Unionist MP for Antrim East Sammy Wilson in second place.

In 2001, he stood in Stourbridge, where he again came second, this time to Labour’s Debra Shipley, when he cut her majority from nearly 6,000 to under 4,000.

And in the 2004 by-election, he came a distant third as Mr Byrne scraped in by just 460 votes ahead of the Liberal Democrats, who benefited from an Iraq war backlash.

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