Labour’s going to fix our shambolic rail network? Good luck with that!

Getting Britain Moving: Read the full document on how Labour will fix Britain’s railways.” With a desperation shared by millions of train travellers keen to understand what the probable next government plans to do with the financial and operational shambles that is UK rail, I clicked on the “download” link. Up popped a smiling picture of Sir Keir Starmer and the message “Let’s get Britain’s future back”.

Over repeated attempts, I kept being taken back to the Labour Party’s home page.

The nation needs no better metaphor for the endless doom loop on which Britain’s diminishing railway and its hapless passengers appear destined to ride.

Brighton v Man City LIVE: Result and reaction after Foden nets twice

Manchester City kept their hunt for an unprecedented fourth successive title on track with a completely dominant 4-0 win at Brighton.

After securing their place in the FA Cup final, with a 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s team continued their title challenge in emphatic fashion.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring after just 16 minutes with a stunning header, before Phil Foden netted his 50th Premier League goal just after the half hour mark.

The England international added his second shortly afterwards and Julian Alvarez wrapped up the scoring with a well-timed fourth.

While Brighton might feel aggrieved that they did not have two penalties. There was one shout as Gross was pulled back inside the box, and a second for a clumsy foul by Gvardiol on Joao Pedro, but VAR did not extensively review the deicisons, or send the referee to the monitor.

City are still the favourites to lift the trophy as they still have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s side and only trail by one point.

After securing European football for the first time in the club’s history last year, the Seagulls are still in with a chance of repeating that feat, although their chances took a significant dent with the heavy defeat.

Follow all the action below plus get the latest odds and Brighton vs Man City predictions here.

Asylum seeker guilty of murdering pensioner ‘in revenge for Gaza’

A Moroccan asylum seeker who said he was inspired by “revenge” for the Israel-Hamas conflict has been convicted of murdering a pensioner out walking in the street.

Ahmed Alid, 45, stabbed Terence Carney, 70, six times in Hartlepool town centre early on October 15 – eight days after Hamas attacked Israel.

Minutes earlier, at around 5am, he had broken into the bedroom of his housemate, Christian convert and former body builder Javed Nouri, and hacked at him while he slept.

Alid shouted “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” – during the terrifying attack at the Home Office-approved asylum seekers’ accommodation in Wharton Terrace, as Mr Nouri, 31, fought for his life.

Following the struggle, audio of which was captured by another asylum seeker’s 999 call, the smaller man fled into the street, still armed with one knife.

Doorbell camera footage showed Mr Carney, who was out walking in the town centre, cry out “No, no” as he was stabbed by the stranger.

This was not a frenzied attack, the prosecution at Teesside Crown Court said, but a deliberate attempt to target Mr Carney’s body repeatedly before he walked off, leaving his victim for dead.

Jurors saw footage of armed police arresting Alid, who still had his bloodstained knife in his waistband, in a nearby street.

In a holding cell at Middlesbrough police station, Alid launched into a speech in Arabic saying that “Allah willing, Gaza would return to be an Arab country” and how he would have continued his “raid” if his hands had not been injured.

Alid, who strongly disapproved of Mr Nouri’s conversion to Christianity, said God was “displeased” with those who went astray.

Housemates noticed Alid had watched a lot of coverage of the Hamas attacks on Israel and began carrying a knife.

Mr Nouri told detectives how Alid had laughed when he saw Hamas kill its victims.

The concerned housemate complained to housing bosses, the Home Office and to Cleveland Police, and a manager did warn Alid to behave or risk being thrown out.

During his police interview the day after the murder, Alid told police he launched his attacks because “Israel had killed innocent children”.

Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, told the court: “In other words, he said he had committed the attempted murder of Javed Nouri and the murder of Mr Carney in revenge for what he believed to be the killing of children by Israel.”

Mr Sandiford added: “He swore by Allah that, if he had had a machine gun, and more weapons, he would have killed more victims.”

Alid admitted Mr Carney was “innocent”, justifying the attack by saying that Britain had created the “Zionist entity” of Israel and should make them leave, adding: “They killed children and I killed an old man.”

Alid began to get agitated with his interpreter during questioning by two female detectives, with colleagues monitoring the interview from elsewhere in the building.

The defendant, a terror suspect, got into a struggle with the two women, one of whom pressed a panic button to summon help, but the alarm did not work.

The situation was so frightening, Alid’s own solicitor rang 999 from inside the police station to ask for help, before officers were able to force entry into the room and subdue him.

Alid denied murder, attempted murder and assaulting the two officers, claiming he did carry out the stabbings but without intention to kill or cause serious harm.

After the trial, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “The horrific attacks in Hartlepool were unprovoked and deeply disturbing.

“I have no doubt that the swift response of the attending officers prevented further harm or loss of life that morning.

“We’re grateful for their bravery in the face of a dangerous and unpredictable suspect.

“I’d also like to thank the people of Hartlepool for their calm and measured response to that day’s events and for the resilience they showed in the weeks that followed.”

Cleveland Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said the stabbings “shook the local community to its core”.

She said: “Alid’s actions not only left a family devastated, but also caused significant fear and distress amongst residents in Hartlepool and beyond.”

A jury unanimously found Alid guilty of murdering Mr Carney, attempting to murder Mr Nouri and assaulting the two detectives.

The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, said she would sentence Alid on May 17.

Alid, who had the verdicts delivered to him through a translator, showed no emotion when they were announced.

Injured Household Cavalry horses offered home by UK’s oldest equine charity

The UK’s oldest equine charity has offered to rehome the runaway Household Cavalry horses should they be unable to return to military duty, The Independent can reveal.

Five people were injured after seven service horses — one of which was covered in blood — ran riot through central London on Wednesday, smashing into cars, buses and bringing parts of the capital to a standstill.

“There were five horses. They have all been recovered. Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition,” the defence minister James Cartlidge told Sky News this morning.

Now The Horses Trust has volunteered to rescue the injured pair, who are thought to have been “spooked by builders” while having their morning exercise, with the charity adding that they have “many retired military horses” residing at their sanctuary already.

Jessica Tallman, Director of Fundraising and Communications, told The Independent: “If the decision was made for them not to return to work, we would always welcome them into the care of our charity.

“The Horse Trust are experts in research and the care of service horses, and we have many retired military horses residing at our sanctuary.”

The Independent has put this offer to the Household Cavalry directly.

The revelation comes after Redwings Horse Sanctuary explained why the situation, which required two of the horses to be operated on, may have escalated so quickly.

“The incident that spooked those horses must have been fairly dramatic for them to have taken off like that,” Nic De Brauwere, Head of Behaviour, at the charity told The Independent.

“When horses are in flight or fight mode, they will continue to run away from what they think could be a dangerous situation until they feel calm enough to relax.

“I imagine that they probably felt disorientated when they started to calm down and they didn’t have a solution as to how to find their way back home until they were caught.

“They probably would have known how to get back to the barracks and walked to that place if they were along their normal route. Horses are pretty good at recognising where they are,

“But in the heat of the moment, they quite possibly went off on a route they’d never been down before.”

While a petition has now been created to retire the horses to a sanctuary following the incident, De Brauwere said that it is too early to say whether or not that will be necessary.

He admitted: “I can understand that people would think maybe the horses would want to put their feet up and retire as they may be traumatised from it, but it’s really too early to tell.

“I have no doubt that they will be in the best of hands.

“If they [recover physically and] can’t cope going back into a formal environment gradually, that’s when I think the decision can be made [that] they need to stop working.”

“Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course,” the British army said in a statement on Twitter (X).

“We want to thank everyone who has shown such kindness and concern towards our soldiers and horses. We will provide more updates soon.”

An RSPCA spokesperson told The Independent: “We wish all the horses and people injured in this sad and shocking episode a very speedy recovery – particularly those which have undergone surgery.

“It’s heartening to see the deep levels of care and concern people have expressed for these horses and their riders.”

E2E Female 100 List for 2024 Revealed

For more information and to see the full E2E Female 100 2024 list click here.

E2E, in association with The Independent, proudly unveils the E2E Female 100 list, a definitive index recognising the exceptional achievements of the 100 fastest-growing female-led or founded businesses in the United Kingdom, based on their remarkable growth rates over the past three years.

The data underpinning this prestigious recognition is gathered by Experian and Go Live Data, ensuring a meticulous selection process that acknowledges businesses solely for their tangible contributions to the commercial landscape.

Spanning a myriad of sectors, these league tables serve as a testament to the remarkable endeavours spearheaded by women across the UK.

A celebratory gala dinner is scheduled for the autumn of 2024, hosted by Shalini Khemka CBE.

Featured in the list and demonstrating extraordinary growth are Darina Garland, co-founder and co-CEO at Ooni, who has seen an 88% increase, Alison Doherty, CEO at Sarah Raven’s Kitchen & Garden Limited who has seen an 83% increase and Fateha Begum, co-founder and executive director at Dare International Ltd who has seen an 81% increase in growth.

The E2E Female 100 constitutes a pivotal component of The E2E 100, a visionary initiative encompassing six league tables, complemented by expansive receptions and a plethora of associated content.

This initiative stands as a resounding testament to the exceptional calibre of UK enterprises, showcasing their unwavering commitment to excellence, consistent growth, and groundbreaking business strategies that reverberate not only within their respective sectors but resonate nationwide, and in some instances, globally.

Highlighting talent from every corner of the UK, this list underscores the rich diversity of businesses founded by women and the monumental successes they have achieved despite navigating through the challenges of an uncertain economic landscape.

Speaking about the list, Shalini Khemka CBE, founder of E2E says: “The E2E Female 100 list is a testament to the remarkable achievements of women in business. It showcases their talent, dedication, and resilience in navigating the business world. We’re still in a period of transition where women have to be recognised as much as possible to create parity in our economy, both in terms of general recognition, pay recognition, and equal opportunities, and I believe this list serves as a pivotal step towards achieving that goal. By shining a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of women entrepreneurs, the E2E Female 100 list not only celebrates successes, but also advocates for the recognition and equal treatment of women in business.”

Andy Morley, Chief Revenue Officer from The Independent, said: “It brings us great pleasure to highlight this extraordinary assembly of women, each having demonstrated remarkable strides over the past three years in their respective fields. The collaboration between E2E and The Independent for the E2E Female 100 provides a platform to spotlight the exceptional female talent across the UK whilst inspiring future generations of female entrepreneurs, and shows E2E’s commitment to championing female leadership in business.

Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL said: “As a founding Board Member of E2E, I’ve witnessed its transformation under the stewardship of Shalini Khemka CBE, evolving into a pivotal ecosystem supporting founders, business leaders, and investors. The Female 100 is a testament to E2E’s commitment to spotlighting the fastest growing female-led enterprises across the UK— a remarkable initiative that not only celebrates the achievements of these dynamic women but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. E2E’s dedication to fostering diversity and empowering female leaders underscores its invaluable contribution to the entrepreneurial landscape, shaping a future where opportunity knows no bounds.”

The tracks are independently compiled by Go Live Data and Experian according to specific criteria and official data. Each track is supported by our partners Champions (UK) plc, Go Live Data, Virtuoso Legal and Experian.

To find out more about E2E, visit https://www.e2exchange.com

How did a Tory promise to end no-fault evictions become stalled?

Conservatives pledged in the 2019 manifesto to abolish Section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. No-fault eviction, as it is called, has been one of the biggest complaints of tenants, and the abolition of Section 21 notices has long been a central demand of tenant and homelessness campaign groups, such as Shelter.

Now, almost five years after the first promise was given, and almost a year since the Renters (Reform) Bill was tabled, the commitment seems no closer to being honoured. The bill is now going through its report stage and third reading in the Commons before returning to the House of Lords, but the key sections are expected to be watered down or subject to delay.

Michael Gove, the housing secretary, also seems to be wavering. In a television interview in February, he insisted Section 21 orders would be abolished by the next election. On the eve of the bill’s third reading, he seemed less certain, saying to the BBC: “Everything depends on the House of Lords. My determination is to ensure that we get this bill on the statute book. But it’s up to the Lords to decide the rate of progress that we can make … It will be a judgement of the Lords as to how this bill progresses.”

Labour’s ‘radical’ plan to overhaul rail isn’t as radical as it sounds

The Labour Party has promised “the biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation” by renationalising the network if it wins this year’s general election.

The policy is not quite as radical as it sounds. Wisely, a Keir Starmer government would not waste taxpayers’ money on old-style nationalisation. Instead, it would transfer the 10 remaining rail operators’ contracts still in private hands into “public control” when franchises expire by the end of a five-year parliament, avoiding the compensation needed in an immediate transition.

Under Sir Keir, Labour has rightly moved a long way from Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge at the 2019 election to put the railways, energy utilities, water industry, postal services and broadband infrastructure in public hands. It is increasingly clear that an incoming Starmer government would have a rotten economic inheritance with no money for such extravagant schemes. Although it would set up a publicly owned Great British Energy company to invest in clean energy like offshore wind, the deservedly criticised water industry would be reformed through tougher regulation rather than state ownership.