Baby formula crisis: Mum says she feels ‘attacked’ over ‘jaw-dropping’ prices

Published

10 months ago

November 13, 2023

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The magic formula – a disappearing act.

Simon thought he was watching a report about a foreign country, where baby formula was being rationed by charities.

They didn’t have enough to give out to every family who needed it.

When he realised that the Sky News report he was watching last month was actually from Swindon, it stunned him and he decided to do something.

He immediately set up a crowdfund to “provide baby formula to desperate UK parents“.

“The money started coming in very, very, very quickly because people, like me, they were seeing the video report,” Simon told us.

“People thinking the same as me. How on earth can this be happening in this country?”

Within a few hours his online fundraising appeal was up and running, donations flooding in.

It quickly surpassed his initial target of £10,000 and within just a week or so it hit £50,000.

The fact that so many parents in the UK are struggling to feed their babies resonates. People wanted to help.

Simon is a dad-of-four from Essex who has a track record of online fundraising – he does it to help but to also rile the online trolls who happily take keyboard pot-shots at people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Now just a few weeks later, he’s buying up as much formula as he can get his hands on and distributing tubs locally with the help of Zoey Smith, who can draw on years of experience in the charity sector to get the formula to the right places.

As the forklift loaded the last pallet of boxes onto the van, Zoey mapped out the morning ahead.

“People have been crying out for it and just been asking ‘where can I get some milk from because I am really struggling’.”

“I think the government needs to do whatever they can do to stop the cost of living crisis, prices going up and particularly look at things like this, the baby milk.”

Simon has also partnered with infant nutrition charity FEED which are administering the bulk of the fund and inviting UK organisations that help families to apply for £250 microgrants for formula milk.

“It feels good, but you’ve got to look at the long-term picture,” Simon explained.

“You know, I can’t just sit here and raise 50 grand every time another foodbank pops up on Sky News saying, ‘Oh, we can’t give our families formula’.

“It needs proper long-term thinking in terms of the price of formula.”

That’s the problem at the heart of this crisis, some families just can’t afford it.

Mums like 22-year-old Martina, who we met as the delivery van stopped at a foodbank in Southend where she lives.

‘My jaw literally drops’ over formula milk prices

Like so many other parents she now dreads the weekly trip to the supermarket because the prices keep rising.

“My jaw drops, my jaw literally drops,” she tells us – her son is just two months old and fast asleep in the pram.

“It is expensive…very, very expensive. And I do think they’re taking the mick out of it to be honest because it’s ridiculous, especially for people that are struggling.

“It is exploiting us young parents. It does feel like you get attacked, if that makes sense?”

She looks down at her son who is having his nap, oblivious to it all.

“They can’t say anything and someone’s got to speak for them ain’t they? I do wish it wasn’t like that,” Martina says as she loses herself in thought for a moment.

“Something needs to change because every child needs to be fed,” she added.

Each drop off through the morning follows a theme. Organisations that help young families have hardly any first infant formula left and are so grateful that their stocks have been boosted.

The shelves at the Storehouse foodbank in Southend are pretty bare inside – donations have slowed down and the number of families seeking help keeps growing.

‘We’ve completely run out’

Veronica runs the baby essentials section and told us this week was the “first time in many, many months that we’ve completely run out”.

She added: “But this will make just such a huge difference because people come in, they need to feed their babies, of course they do, and we haven’t been able to give it to them. So this will make a huge difference.

“The trouble with the prices of the nappies, the wipes, the milk. It’s just colossal.”

She then puts the tubs of formula away into the lockable store cupboard.

It’s a precious commodity.

We also stopped at the Megacentre in Rayleigh, where Scott Williamson helps run their operation including the foodbank.

He told us of the calls he’d had from families seeking help that morning.

“A lady just called half an hour ago, she has a newborn baby and she doesn’t have nappies and she doesn’t have milk. We will deliver it to her in her home later on.

“We are able to respond because of the generosity of the community, people like these great guys.”

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At every stop, there’s warm and heartfelt gratitude towards Zoey and Simon as they drop off the baby formula.

That kindness of strangers is now making a positive difference for some families but Simon, and everyone supporting his initiative, realise it’s nowhere near enough.

UK

Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges it twice failed to prosecute Mohamed al Fayed over sex abuse claims

Published

3 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges it twice failed to prosecute Mohamed al Fayed over sex abuse claims

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has acknowledged it had twice failed to bring charges against Mohamed al Fayed for sexual abuse.

The former Harrods owner, who died last year at the age of 94, was described as a “monster” earlier this week by lawyers representing alleged sexual abuse victims.

Women say he raped and sexually assaulted them while they worked at the luxury department store, and accused him of “cherry-picking” women to be brought to his executive suite.

As the legal team said they have heard more than 150 inquiries into Fayed’s alleged crimes, a CPS spokesperson has now said evidence against the Egyptian businessman was provided to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police twice.

In 2008, Fayed was accused of indecent assault against a 15-year-old girl, which he denied. The CPS did not prosecute the case when it was presented in 2009 over conflicting evidence.

He was then alleged to have raped a woman in 2013, which was reinvestigated by police in 2015 but did not lead to any charges.

While the CPS did review both files, the spokesperson said: “To bring a prosecution the CPS must be confident there is a realistic prospect of conviction – in each instance, our prosecutors looked carefully at the evidence and concluded this wasn’t the case.”

It marks the first time the service acknowledged the 2015 investigation. The CPS also provided the Met Police with early investigative advice for Fayed in 2018, 2021 and 2023.

Full evidence was never received for these instances and the police took no further action.

It comes after the victims’ legal team confirmed on Saturday they had received “over 150 new inquiries” after a BBC documentary on Fayed aired.

It also follows the former head of royal protection saying he warned the Royal Family about Fayed’s reputation before Princess Diana took Prince Harry and Prince William on holiday with the businessman’s son.

Dai Davies told Sky News people were aware of the Egyptian businessman’s reputation as far back as the 1990s, and said: “This was a man who I would be concerned [about] if a relative of mine was going on holiday with him, let alone the future king and his brother and their mother, Princess Diana.”

He added he was “horrified” before the late princess went on holiday with Fayed and his wife to their residence in St Tropez in July 1997.

“I was aware that he had tried very hard to ingratiate himself with the Royal Family,” he said, “and obviously knowing, as I did, the reputation he was alleged [to have] then, I was concerned, and I took the opportunity to inform the Royal Family.”

Buckingham Palace told Sky News it had no comment on the allegations.

Fulham FC, which was owned by Fayed between 1997 and 2013, also said it is “deeply troubled” by the dozens of “disturbing” sexual abuse allegations against the businessman.

Harrods said in a statement on Thursday it was “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse and apologised to Fayed’s alleged victims.

The department store has also set up a page on its website inviting former employees to come forward if they have allegations.

UK

Anthony Joshua defeated by Daniel Dubois in IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium

Published

7 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Anthony Joshua defeated by Daniel Dubois in IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium

Anthony Joshua missed out on the chance to become a three-time heavyweight world champion after he was stopped by British rival Daniel Dubois in the fifth round.

Dubois, 27, knocked down Joshua towards the end of the opening round with an overhand right to the 34-year-old’s chin.

The IBF heavyweight champion then dropped Joshua at the end of round three and twice in the fourth.

A right hook ended the fight with a knockout for Dubois’ first defence of the title.

The fighters went toe to toe at London’s Wembley Stadium in front of a record 96,000 fans.

‘We came up short’

Minutes after retaining the IBF championship, Dubois shouted to the crowd “are you not entertained?” before saying: “I’m a gladiator, you know?

“I’m just a warrior to the bitter end. I’m just ready to go. I want to go to the top level of this game and reach my potential. God bless you all.”

Joshua said the loss would not stop him from rebuilding despite admitting “we came up short”.

“You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent,” he said.

“I’m always saying to myself I’m a fighter for life… We keep rolling the dice. I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”

Dubois’ victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division

Jacquie Beltrao

Sports presenter

Daniel Dubois will feel like he has fulfilled his destiny here at Wembley. His father has trained him to be a champion boxer since he was tiny.

He held the IBF belt, but he has gone in there tonight and defended it in spectacular fashion – he is now in every conversation going forward.

What now for AJ? Can he face rebuilding? And will he even want to?

The Wembley ring walk is notoriously long, and Dubois looked nervous – but so did Joshua, who has done this many times before in front of a full house.

Perhaps he was thinking of what was at stake – the chance to be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.

But 27-year-old Dubois holds the belt and was keen to prove he was a worthy champion quickly.

Many wondered if Dubois would freeze on the biggest stage: Question asked and answered emphatically.

It was a crushing defeat for Joshua – most were not expecting such a one-sided victory.

Dubois will now most likely take on the winner of Fury v Usyk 2 for all the belts. But the manner of his victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division.

Hearn: AJ will want rematch

Promoter Eddie Hearn then said “it was the first round” where Joshua lost, “after that he was fighting on heart and desire”.

Hearn added: “When you are in there with a massive puncher this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up.

“Daniel deserves credit, he’s a real world champion. Congratulations to him… I’m sure [Joshua will] exercise that rematch clause, it’s a given, it’s a dangerous fight because he’s growing in confidence all the time but he’ll believe he can beat him.”

British champion Dubois, who before tonight had never fought at Wembley, was elevated to the IBF title holder after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.

Joshua outweighed Dubois by four pounds, despite a career-heaviest weight for his rival, ahead of the fight.

Among those watching was Tyson Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion, who took a ringside seat.

Liam plays Oasis hits

Fury is set to fight Usyk for the other three titles in a rematch on 21 December.

Ahead of the fight, Liam Gallagher played some of Oasis’ biggest hits to the sold-out crowd.

The 52-year-old frontman walked on to a massive cheer and said “yes Wembley vibes in the air,” before launching into Rock ‘N’ Roll Star, Supersonic and Cigarettes & Alcohol.

He and Noel Gallagher will play Wembley for their first of seven reunion shows at the stadium on 25 July – 307 days away.

Other famous faces ringside were Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, former boxer Ricky Hatton, Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Love Island presenter Maya Jama.

UK

Mohamed al Fayed: Former royal security head says he warned Royal Family before Diana went on holiday with businessman

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2024

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Mohamed al Fayed: Former royal security head says he warned Royal Family before Diana went on holiday with businessman

The former head of royal protection says he warned the Royal Family about Mohamed al Fayed’s reputation before Princess Diana took her sons on holiday with him.

The former Harrods owner, who died last year at the age of 94, was described as a “monster” earlier this week by lawyers representing 37 alleged sexual abuse victims.

The women say he raped and sexually assaulted them while they worked at the luxury department store, prowling the shop floor and “cherry-picking” women to be brought to his executive suite.

Now, Mr Davies says people were aware of the Egyptian businessman’s reputation as far back as the 1990s, and that he raised concerns about him to the Royal Family.

“This was a man who I would be concerned [about] if a relative of mine was going on holiday with him, let alone the future king and his brother and their mother, Princess Diana,” Dai Davies told Sky News.

In July 1997, a month before she died, Princess Diana went on holiday with Fayed and his wife to their residence in St Tropez.

She took the two young princes with her – a holiday Prince Harry described as “heaven” in his 2023 memoir Spare.

“I was horrified because I was aware of some of the allegations even then that were going around,” said Mr Davies.

“I was aware that he had tried very hard to ingratiate himself with the Royal Family and obviously knowing, as I did, the reputation he was alleged [to have] then, I was concerned, and I took the opportunity to inform the Royal Family.”

Mr Davies says he was told: “Her Majesty is aware.”

“The rest is history,” he said.

Buckingham Palace told Sky News it had no comment on the allegations.

Fulham ‘deeply disturbed’ by allegations

Fulham FC, a football club that was owned by Fayed between 1997 and 2013, has said it is “deeply troubled” by the dozens of “disturbing” sexual abuse allegations against the businessman.

The Premier League club also said it is “in the process of establishing whether anyone at the club is or has been affected” by this alleged behaviour.

However, Gaute Haugenes, who managed the club’s women’s team between 2001 and 2003, told the BBC extra precautions were taken to protect female players from Fayed.

“We were aware he liked young, blonde girls. So we just made sure that situations couldn’t occur. We protected the players.”

‘The door was locked behind me’

A former Harrods employee told Sky News she was summoned to Fayed’s apartment when she began working for the department store at 19 years old.

She was told the meeting was a “job review” before “the door was locked behind me”.

“I saw his bedroom door partially open – there were sex toys on view,” she said.

“I felt petrified. I perched myself at the very end of the sofa and then… my boss, the person I worked for, pushed himself onto me.”

Harrods said in a statement on Thursday it was “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse and apologised to Fayed’s alleged victims.

The department store has also set up a page on its website inviting former employees to come forward if they have allegations.

The legal team involved in a civil claim against Harrods for allegedly failing to provide a safe system of work for its employees said they aimed to seek justice for the victims of a “vast web of abuse”.