MP’s father “died in my arms” as hospital had no beds
An MP has spoken out about how his own father “died in my arms” when he was sent home, as there were not enough beds available. Toby Perkins bravely spoke out about it during a Commons debate on the NHS, which the Red Cross have labelled a humanitarian crisis. PM May fought back at the claim during yesterday’s PMQs, but this was met with widespread derision from all sides of the political divide. Jeremy Corbyn used all of his six...
UK parents see Mandarin Chinese as most important non-European language for their children’s futures
By Mark Herbert, Head of Schools Programmes at the British Council Mandarin Chinese, the world’s most popular first language, is the top non-European language that UK parents would like their children to study, a new survey has revealed. Amongst more than 1,000 UK adults with children aged under 18, over half said they believed that learning Mandarin Chinese would boost their children’s career prospects and open their minds to an ‘exciting and dynamic’ culture. And while Mandarin Chinese was still...
Facebook reveals “activist” mates are actually ski w*ankers
James Tovey, 36, has felt betrayed after he looked through his Facebook feed in January and realised his activist mates are actually ski wankers. He said: “I spent an entire night talking about saving the NHS, and creating a more egalitarian society with one guy, I met at a party. I added him of Facebook and I’ve just seen he is at his families ski lodge in Tignes with “the boys,”what a prick. “There was also a girl I met...
Academy boss pockets £25,000 a month
The head of a chain of academy schools earned the equivalent of a whopping £25,000 a month for running the trust, it has emerged. Mike Ramsay, 61, pocketed a total of £127,000 for just five months' work as interim chief executive of the academy trust, which runs 21 schools. Mr Ramsay's firm, Hi Tech Group Ltd, were also paid to provide IT services to the trust. Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) defended the sky-high rates, saying it was in line with...
University to launch Centre for Brexit Studies
Birmingham City University is to launch a Centre for Brexit Studies this month, created to further enhance understanding of the consequences of the UK withdrawing from the European Union. The Centre for Brexit Studies (CBS) will promote engagement of both ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ standpoints, whilst providing collaborative opportunities with businesses, professional organisations and civil society. Accessible to the general public, the Centre will host conferences, workshops and seminars to share knowledge in relation to sectors expected to be impacted by...
Only pubs can save pubs
The Plough pub in Sheffield isn't any ordinary pub. It is a pub that is believed to be the birthplace of modern football, where the rules of the beautiful game were first drafted over many pints during the 1870s spitting distance from Sandygate, the oldest football ground in the world. Last April the pub shut due a lack of business and its owner Enterprise Inn granted supermarket giant Sainsbury's a 15-year lease. Another historic pub was stood teetering on the brink of being...
Heavy workloads and job insecurity increases risk of heart disease and strokes
Heavy workloads and job insecurity are just two of the stress triggers which could increase your risk of heart disease and strokes. Scientists who analysed a series of high tech brain scans found heightened activity in the amygdala, a region of the brain involved in stress, is associated with a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. The study, published in The Lancet, provides new insights into the possible mechanism by which stress can lead to cardiovascular disease in humans. While...
When grassroots charities fail, we are the greatest losers
Everyone has a view on charities. Whether you see them as saviours, sinners or something in-between, it is most likely that your opinions have been shaped by a mix of big budget fundraising campaigns and shock-factor press coverage. However, in reality most of the stories we’re exposed to involve just a handful of the biggest players, whilst the vast majority (over 80 per cent) of the UK voluntary sector is made up of small charities focused on providing essential support and...
Hotel review: The George Townhouse, Shipston-on-Stour
The January blues don’t have to be endured. Plan well, and it’s an option that can be smartly avoided with a quick trip – even if it’s not a case of chasing the sun around the world, a mini staycation can be a restorative break from the norm. So just a week after the mass return to work, I went on a wee overnighter to the countryside, in an attempt to to rebalance myself after a tough week (well, a...