Streeting makes last-ditch bid to call off doctors strike as NHS creaks under rising flu cases – latest

Wes Streeting has made a last-ditch attempt to stop junior doctors’ planned strikes next week by offering paramedics a new deal.

The health minister has proposed expanding specialist training opportunities for doctors but has refused to budge, especially on pay.

He urged doctors to accept the deal, saying the junior doctors’ strike over Christmas would carry a “very different degree of risk” to previous strikes and that he “couldn’t think of another union in this country that would behave in this way”.

However, BMA vice president Dr. Shivam Sharma was skeptical of the proposal, saying he found it “difficult for members to accept it” and described it as a “mixed bag”.

Members will have until December 15 to vote on the revised terms.

Justice Minister David Lammy is reportedly considering expunging childhood criminal records.

Designed to help simplify the criminal records check system, the move aims to prevent minor crimes by young people from disrupting the job prospects of adults. Daily Telegraph reports that youth violations are still disclosed to middle-age employers.

“We will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offending,” Mr Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, told the newspaper.

Rachel Reeves admitted briefings and leaks ahead of the tax hike budget were “extremely damaging” but insisted she did not authorize them.

While the Chancellor faced criticism from MPs over his Budget, the fallout from the chaos that preceded last month’s financial crash was still casting a shadow over his future.

Officials confirmed that a leak investigation was ongoing, noting that people have been fired for unauthorized briefings in the past.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports

A girl born between 2022 and 2024 can be expected to live an average of 83.0 years, while a baby boy born between 2022 and 2024 is likely to live 79.1 years.

Both figures represent an improvement compared to the previous three-year period 2019-2021, when life expectancy fell to 82.7 years for women and 78.7 years for men due to the impact of the epidemic.

The name of a British soldier killed in the line of duty in Ukraine has been revealed by the Ministry of Defence.

Senior Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment, died in a “tragic accident” on Tuesday morning while observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive capability.

Addressing Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Lance Corporal Hooley was injured in a tragic accident away from the front lines while observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defense capability.

“His life was full of courage and determination. He served our country with honor and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy, including as part of a small number of British staff in Ukraine.”

Anti-immigrant activists are increasingly organizing trips to northern France to harass immigrants and charity workers. Holly Bancroft examines this disturbing new trend

The poll shows that the SNP is leading voters ahead of the Holyrood election, with support for Reform UK rising and support for Scottish Labor falling.

A new Ipsos Mori poll ahead of next May’s election gives the SNP a constituency vote share of 35 per cent.

This is lower than the 47.7 per cent the party achieved in the last Holyrood election in 2021.

The poll shows Reform UK’s vote share increasing; 18 per cent of Scots plan to cast their votes in the constituency to support Nigel Farage’s party, up four points since June.

According to the poll, Scottish Labour’s electoral vote share has fallen to 16 per cent; This rate has decreased by seven points since June.

Looking at voting intentions for the regional list, the SNP is ahead with 28 per cent, Labor ahead with 18 per cent, followed by Reform and the Scottish Greens with 17 per cent.

Lord Malcolm Offord, who switched from Conservatives to Reform at the weekend, said: “This poll proves that all the momentum is on the side of Reform in Scotland. Labor has reversed and the SNP has remained neutral. Voters want a new narrative to take forward a successful Scotland.”

“Scotland needs reform and Reformation is coming to Scotland.”

The justice secretary must warn European leaders that unless they reform the human rights court, Nigel Farage and his allies will destroy it, he writes John Rentoul