News

When Virgin Care did not win the healthcare contracts they wanted they sued the cash-strapped NHS for £328,000. And yet despite that, they have been awarded another NHS contract. For £104 million. Currently over 68,000 people have signed a petition to demand Richard Branson’s Virgin Care hands back over £328,000 after taking legal action against six Surrey clinical commissioning groups, Surrey County Council and NHS England. At the same time Lancashire County Council award £104m NHS contract to Virgin Care,...

The Northern Powerhouse seems to have failed to close the gap between the wealth of the north and the south. George Osborne’s vision of revitalising the great northern cities appears to have been hot air. EY have indicated that the gap between the two areas will continue to grow until 2020 as the economy fails to rebalance. London and the south-east will bring in 2.2 per cent and 2 per cent growth respectively, while the rest of the UK will...

The rate of inflation rose to 3.1 per cent in November as the squeeze on households continues. With average weekly wages growing at just 2.2 per cent Brits are starting to feel the pinch in the run up to Christmas. Inflation rose at the highest rate in nearly six years last month, according to ONS figures, with airfares and computer games contributing to the increase. Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, will now have to write a letter...

After a weekend of highly publicised squabbles among the soft and hard Brexit supporting elements of the Tory party, Theresa May reported to parliament on the first stage of Brexit negotiations, which she insisted was "good news" for both people who want to remain in the EU and those who voted to leave. Jeremy Corbyn, referring to the Tory splits and Brexit Secretary's conflicting statements on dire issues such as the future of Northern Ireland, the Brexit bill and revealing...

A simple device fitted on to household radiators could be used to prevent devastating fires spreading through high rise blocks such as Grenfell Tower in London. The inventor behind the device, that taps into the water in radiators to douse fires, has unveiled the simple object he believes can help save lives. Chemical engineer Dave Atkinson said the device he invented could help give people vital extra moments in a catastrophic fire. The device fits on to any radiator and...

Coca-Cola has been found to have financed and promoted 24 bogus studies on childhood obesity. According to a paper published in the Journal of Public Health Policy the soft drinks brand failed to disclose Coke's influence in its research papers on obesity. Studies from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), funded with a $6.4 million grant from Coca-Cola, found that physical inactivity is a key predictor for childhood obesity, with most causes tied to things other than soda consumption....

A man caught up in the New York blast has told how commuters stampeded “over each other” in a frenzied escape bid. Shaken Michael Avila says “50 or 60” people were caught in a crush trying to flee the scene at rush hour today. At around 7.30am police were called to reports of an incident at Port Authority bus terminal near Times Square in Manhattan. Police sources claim the explosion was caused by a man who detonated a pipe bomb...

A terror suspect is in custody and four people injured- but none critically- after an explosion rocked one of New York’s busiest transport hub. The explosion in the passage way connecting Times Square and Port Authority subway stations was captured on CCTV. https://twitter.com/NYCityAlerts/status/940209031532220418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F12%2F11%2Fnyregion%2Fexplosion-times-square.html And the New York Times are reporting that the bomber had been wearing the explosive device which went off after police officers had partially stripped him. The explosion terrified Monday morning commuters at around 7.30am local time,...

The Scottish Labour Party is making gains on the SNP in a shift that could unlock a Westminster majority for Jeremy Corbyn. According to a political poll for Sunday Post Labour has gained three points on the SNP, with the Conservatives also losing ground. The latest voting intention in Scotland reveals that SNP are on 38 per cent with Labour now on 29 per cent. Based on Martin Baxter’s Electoral Calculus seat predictor that would mean a gain of six seats...