Labour Party

Thousands harmed and 87 dead after NHS equipment failures in England

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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/09/thousands-harmed-and-87-dead-after-nhs-equipment-failures-in-england

Labour has pledged to double the number of scanners in English hospitals over the course of the parliament. Photograph: wilpunt/Getty Images

‘Shocking statistics’ prompt calls for government funding to replace broken and obsolete medical devices

Almost 100 people have died and 4,000 have been harmed after equipment malfunctions in the NHS in the past three years, prompting calls for more government funding to upgrade broken and obsolete medical devices.

A defibrillator advising paramedics not to administer a shock, an emergency alarm system on a neonatal ward failing, and the camera on an intubation device going dark were just three failures after which patients died.

They are included in figures released for the first time by NHS England that show patients were harmed after 3,915 equipment malfunction incidents – with 87 being followed by a death – since 2022.

Paul Whiteing, the chief executive of Action against Medical Accidents, said: “These are shocking statistics. Behind these numbers are real people who are needlessly harmed, the impact of which will be life-changing and traumatic.

“The scale of the harm and loss of life that has resulted from basic equipment failures and malfunctions shows in stark relief the scale of the tragedy that has resulted from years of underfunding in the NHS.”

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Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Modern, up-to-date equipment such as scanners, defibrillators and patient monitors are absolutely essential for hospitals to run safely and more productively. But due to more than a decade of being starved of capital investment, NHS staff have been left with no option but to extend the life of obsolete equipment, which, as this research shows, is putting patients at unnecessary risk and leading to tragic avoidable harm.

“While the additional investment the government has pledged has been a welcome start, without sufficient capital funding it will be hard for the NHS to maintain the standards patients rightly expect and to deliver the government’s ‘plan for change’ promise to cut waiting times.”

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Original article is at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/09/thousands-harmed-and-87-dead-after-nhs-equipment-failures-in-england

Continue ReadingThousands harmed and 87 dead after NHS equipment failures in England

Latest TUC poll shows that voters want to tax the rich

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/latest-tuc-poll-shows-voters-want-tax-rich

 A view of bank notes

VOTERS want the wealthiest to be taxed more to protect public services, according to a new TUC poll published today. 

The union body survey found that nearly two thirds of Britons agree with increasing taxes for higher brackets to avoid cuts to public services.

Looking to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spending Review this Wednesday, the TUC called for tax rises for the wealthy and businesses. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The spending review can be the next key step in the government’s plan to rebuild Britain and deliver industrial renewal. 

“Communities are still crying out for meaningful change after more than a decade of Tory austerity and neglect.  

“The global outlook is challenging, but leaving our decimated public services without sufficient investment would risk both future growth and public trust. 

“The message from voters is clear. They want the government to protect and rebuild our public services.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/latest-tuc-poll-shows-voters-want-tax-rich

Continue ReadingLatest TUC poll shows that voters want to tax the rich

Labour’s disability benefit cuts will force nearly half a million people to turn to food banks

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https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/disability-benefit-cuts-food-banks-trussell/

A volunteer at a food bank packaging supplies. Credit: IFAN Mary Turner The Welcome Centre

Food banks are already overwhelmed by demand for help. Disability benefit cuts will make it worse, the government has been warned

Hundreds of thousands of people living in disabled households will be at risk of needing to use a food bank if the government goes ahead with its plans for benefit cuts, new research has found.

Experts at Trussell and WPI economics have estimated that 440,000 people who are disabled or living with a disabled person would have to use a food bank by the end of the decade.
he decade.

As MPs prepare to vote on legislation to introduce the cuts, charities and disability campaigners are urging the government to rethink its plans.

Read more:

Labour’s proposals include tightening the eligibility criteria for the personal independence payment (PIP), with the government estimating that around 800,000 people would see their support reduced by 2028/2029.

It also plans to freeze the health element of universal credit for current claimants, slash it in half for new claimants and cut it entirely for people under the age of 22.

Helen Barnard, director of policy at Trussell, said: “This UK government was elected on a promise of change, and with a commitment to end the need for food banks. If the government goes ahead with these ill-considered and cruel cuts to social security, this promise will not be kept – and instead, they will risk leaving behind a legacy of rising poverty and hunger.

“Tackling fiscal challenges should not be done at the expense of people already facing hunger and hardship. These cuts will force 440,000 people in disabled households into severe hardship and leave them at risk of needing a food bank. We urge the government not to continue down this damaging path.”

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Article continues at https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/disability-benefit-cuts-food-banks-trussell/

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Continue ReadingLabour’s disability benefit cuts will force nearly half a million people to turn to food banks

Israel’s defence minister vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/israels-defence-minister-vows-prevent-aid-boat-carrying-greta-thunberg-reaching-gaza

 Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, June 1, 2025

ISRAEL’S far-right defence minister vowed today to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip.

The remarks by Israel Katz comes as the Israelis continue to carry out their attacks on Palestinians desperately seeking aid in Gaza.

Mr Katz said today that Israel wouldn’t allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.

“To the anti-semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza,” he said in a statement.

Ms Thunberg, a climate campaigner, is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.

The vessel was expected to reach Gaza’s territorial waters this evening.

After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade [is lifted] and the war end[s].

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/israels-defence-minister-vows-prevent-aid-boat-carrying-greta-thunberg-reaching-gaza

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel's Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don't do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel’s Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don’t do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.

Continue ReadingIsrael’s defence minister vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza

Thomas Tuchel responds to England fans labelling Keir Starmer a ‘****’ after supporters sang abusive chants about the Prime Minister during the Three Lions’ lacklustre 1-0 win over Andorra

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14790719/Thomas-Tuchel-responds-England-fans-Keir-Starmer-abusive-chants.html

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Around 7,000 Three Lions supporters made the trip to Barcelona to watch the dire World Cup qualifying victory, settled by Harry Kane‘s 50th-minute goal.

Some foul-mouthed individuals made their feelings toward Starmer clear during an uneventful first half and their songs were audible during ITV‘s live coverage.

To the tune of KC & The Sunshine Band’s hit Give It Up, they sang: ‘Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na now, Starmer is a ****, is a ****, Starmer is a ****.’

Supporters at RCDE Stadium also chanted: ‘Keir Starmer is a w****r, is a w****r.’

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14790719/Thomas-Tuchel-responds-England-fans-Keir-Starmer-abusive-chants.html

Keir Starmer justifies why he has to travel abroad so much
Keir Starmer justifies why he has to travel abroad so much
Continue ReadingThomas Tuchel responds to England fans labelling Keir Starmer a ‘****’ after supporters sang abusive chants about the Prime Minister during the Three Lions’ lacklustre 1-0 win over Andorra