Streeting makes last-ditch effort to end doctors’ strike as NHS flu cases rise – latest

Political correspondent for The Independent milly cook Report:

Fellow BMA vice-president Dr Shivam Sharma has expressed skepticism about the proposal made to the BMA by Wes Streeting, saying he finds it “difficult to see members accepting it”, describing it as a “mixed bag”.

The Health Secretary’s new deal with the British Medical Association (BMA) proposes to tackle the bottleneck by giving UK medical graduates and doctors priority for specialist training.

Under the offer, a further 4,000 specialist training places will be created and their Royal College membership and examination fees will be reimbursed.

But Dr Sharma told Times Radio: “Ultimately, it is a vote on both pay and jobs. And to resolve a dispute, both things have to be set right, so members will have to decide, but I find it difficult to see members accepting this proposal.”

He added: “It is difficult because the total number of jobs … has not increased and we have fewer doctors, so this is not going to increase staffing levels within the NHS and when appointments are being cancelled, millions of appointments are being canceled on non-strike days.”

Wes Streeting has made a last-ditch effort to stop a planned strike by resident doctors next week by offering medics a new deal.

The Health Secretary has offered doctors an expansion in specialist training opportunities – but has notably ruled out slashing pay.

He urged doctors to compromise, saying that a strike by resident doctors over Christmas would carry “a very different level of risk” than previous walkouts and that he “can’t think of a single other trade union in this country that would behave in this way”.

But fellow BMA vice-president Dr Shivam Sharma has cast doubt on the proposal, saying he finds it “difficult to see members accepting it”, describing it as a “mixed bag”.

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

Secretary of Justice David Lammy Reportedly considering expunging childhood criminal records.

The move, designed to help simplify the criminal record check system, is intended to prevent minor juvenile offenses from affecting adult job prospects. daily telegraph Report that youth crimes are still disclosed to employers in middle age.

Mr Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, told the newspaper: “We will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records system to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences.”

Rachel Reeves Admitted that briefings and leaks occurred in the run-up to his tax hike Budget were “extremely damaging” – but he has insisted he did not authorize them.

chancellor faced grilling from MP about his budgetThe fallout from the chaos that preceded last month’s fiscal event is still casting a shadow over its future.

He confirmed that the leak was under investigation, adding that officials had fired people for unauthorized briefings in the past.

The Independent’s political editor david maddox reports

A baby girl born between 2022 and 2024 can expect to live to be 83.0 years old on average, while a baby boy born between 2022 and 2024 is likely to live to be 79.1 years old.

Both figures are improvements over the previous three-year period of 2019-2021, when life expectancy Due to the effect of , the age of women decreased to 82.7 years and that of men to 78.7 years. pandemic,

The Ministry of Defense has revealed the name of a British soldier killed while on duty in Ukraine.

Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment, died in a “tragic accident” on Tuesday morning as he watched Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability.

Paying tribute to the Prime Minister’s questions on Wednesday. sir keir starmer Said: “Lance Corporal Hooley was injured in a tragic accident far from the front line while watching Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability.

“His life was full of courage and determination. He served our country with respect and distinction around the world in the fight for freedom and democracy, including as part of the small number of British personnel in Ukraine.”

Anti-migrant activists are stepping up trips to northern France to harass migrants and charity workers. holly bancroft Investigates this disturbing new trend

The SNP is leading among voters ahead of the Holyrood election, according to a poll, while support for Reform UK is rising and support for Scottish Labor has fallen.

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

This is down from the 47.7 per cent the party achieved in the last Holyrood election in 2021.

The survey shows Reform UK’s vote share has increased, with 18 per cent of Scots planning to use their constituency vote to support Nigel Farage’s party – up four points from June.

The survey found that Scottish Labour’s share of the constituency vote had fallen to 16 per cent, down seven points since June.

On voting intentions for the regional list, the SNP leads on 28 per cent, with Labor on 18 per cent, followed by Reform and the Scottish Greens, both on 17 per cent.

Lord Malcolm Offord, who switched from Conservative to reform at the weekend, said: “This poll proves that all the momentum in Scotland is with reform. Labor is the opposite and the SNP is stuck in neutral. Voters want a new narrative to drive a successful Scotland.

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

The Justice Secretary should warn European leaders that if they don’t reform the Court of Human Rights, Nigel Farage and his allies will destroy it, writes John Rentoul