Nearly 14,000 people in Britain have applied for payments from the government for alleged harm caused by Covid vaccines, new figures show.

Freedom of Information requests made by The Telegraph show that payments have already been awarded for conditions including stroke, heart attack, dangerous blood clots, inflammation of the spinal cord, excessive swelling of the vaccinated limb and facial paralysis.

Around 97 per cent of claims awarded relate to the AstraZeneca jab, with just a handful of payments made for damage from Pfizer or Moderna.

Since the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) was founded in 1979 it has had around 16,000 applications, but the Covid jab has made up the vast majority of claims.

Seb Sanders, the British champion flat race jockey, has been fighting on behalf of his wife, Leona, who was left hospital-bound after three Covid jabs, but their claim was rejected.

Mrs Sanders, 52, who suffered from the rare autoimmune disorder granulomatosis – which causes inflammation of the blood vessels – was told the jab would not interfere with her condition and, if anything, would be ineffective, because of her impaired immune system.

She had her first AstraZeneca jab in February 2021, followed by a booster in April.

“It was only a day or two after that she collapsed in the bathroom, her left leg had given way, but we weren’t blaming the injection because nobody had warned us, so we never put two and two together,” said Mr Sanders, who is now a pundit for Sky Sports Racing.

Rapid deterioration after third jab

However Mrs Sanders’ condition rapidly deteriorated after a third vaccine – this time Pfizer – in December, when paralysis started to move upwards from her feet.

She was admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where a scan revealed transverse myelitis, a swelling on the spinal cord, which is a known side-effect of the vaccine.

The condition left her unable to walk for seven months and in spite of a brief remission in the summer of 2022,  her condition has continued to deteriorate, exacerbated by picking up Covid and developing sepsis while in hospital.

“The collapses all came just days after she had the vaccine,” said Mr Sanders. “But the medical assessor rejected the claim.

“The medical notes said she had a history of back pain and multiple falls, but Leona never complained about back pain or had falls before the jab. She was very active, always with the horses. She never sat down.

“It’s flawed me. I don’t like being made to feel like I am a liar.”

Mr Sanders, a father of one, from Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, added: “Before this I would have been sceptical too about vaccines causing harm. But I go to the supermarket now, and I see all the people walking around normally, and that’s when it really hits home. It’s just not right or fair.

“I’m bringing Leona home, but the prognosis for recovery is slim. We’ll take it day-by-day, but all of this needs looking into properly. The collapses all came just days after she had the vaccine.”

Despite warnings and the growing number of clotting cases, the UK government continued to recommend the AstraZeneca jab, even though vaccination had already been halted in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden and Latvia by March 2021.

Thousands of people have been turned down by medical assessors who say there is no concrete proof that the vaccine caused harm, while hundreds of others have been refused payment because they are “not disabled enough”.

Those who are successful receive a one-off payment of £120,000, but so far, the government has made payments in just 175 cases, fewer than two per cent of people who have applied.

More than 5,500 claims have been rejected, while a further 519 were dismissed before a medical assessment. Despite nearly 1,000 people asking for their cases to be reconsidered, just 12 have been told their decision has been reversed and they will receive a payment.

Nearly 350 claims were rejected because, although assessors accepted the vaccine had caused harm, they ruled it had not “caused severe disablement”. Under the rules, applicants must be 60 per cent disabled to qualify.

The government insists that the VDPS payment is not a compensation scheme, and the money can be used to help claimants chase damages in court.

However, many argue that the VDPS payment is enough to take on big pharmaceutical companies or compensate for the loss of loved ones.

Many millions of people have had the vaccine without suffering complications and modelling has suggested that vaccines may have saved 1.5 million lives in Europe, and that the death toll could have reached four million without the jabs.

Last year, AstraZeneca officially admitted that in some cases the vaccine can cause VITT and in May it began the worldwide withdrawal of the jab, claiming that it was no longer the most effective now that newer vaccines had been adapted to target Covid-19 variants.

However AstraZeneca was granted legal indemnity early in the pandemic, so even if a civil case was successful, UK taxpayers would have to pay compensation.

The number of claims has reached such levels that administrative staff processing claims was increased from four to 80 last year. More than 700 people have been waiting over a year for a decision.

A spokesman for the NHS Business Services Authority, which runs the VDPS, said: “The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is responsible for the policy and legislation that governs the VDPS, including the criteria around severity of disablement

“Since taking over the management of the scheme in 2021, the NHSBSA’s dedicated VDPS team works hard to do all we can to support claimants and to actively make improvements to the claim process. We continually review our processes to further develop the way in which we manage claims, and to provide a better service for claimants.”

A spokesman for AstraZeneca said: “Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems.

“Patient safety is our highest priority. From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.

“We are incredibly proud of the role Oxford-AstraZeneca played in ending the global pandemic. According to independent estimates, over six million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were supplied globally. Our efforts have been recognised by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic.” 

A Pfizer spokesman said: “Patient safety is paramount and we take any reports of adverse events very seriously. Adverse event reports do not imply causality, and in the context of vaccination such events may be unrelated to administration of the vaccine. Hundreds of millions of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been administered globally and the benefit-risk profile of the vaccine remains positive for all authorised indications and age groups.

“As with every medicine and vaccine, including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer has robust processes to meet its regulatory responsibilities to closely monitor, report and analyse all adverse events, and collect relevant information to assess any new potential safety risks that may be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

“In addition to our pharmacovigilance efforts and compliance with regulatory requirements related to quality and safety, we also work with regulatory authorities around the world as they independently monitor the safety profile of our vaccine.”

A government spokesman said: “The 60 per cent disablement threshold is aligned to the definition of ‘severe disablement’ consistent, with the Department for Work and Pensions Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

“In the case that an individual’s application is turned down on the basis of disability threshold, there is the option for claimants to appeal the decision.”

More than 100 firefighters were sent to tackle a blaze at London’s Somerset House after a fire broke out in its west wing.

No artefacts were harmed in the fire, after smoke was seen streaming from the roof of the former stately home on the Strand in central London.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been deployed to a fire at Somerset House.

“Crews are tackling flames located in part of the building’s roof. Two of the brigade’s 32m ladders have been sent to the scene to support firefighting operations.

“The entire site at Somerset House is now closed to the public whilst we tackle the fire. Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews respond. The cause of the fire is not yet known.”

Fire wardens in high-vis jackets escorted people away from the venue carrying signs that said “fire assembly point”.

At least five London Fire Brigade vehicles were stationed outside the Somerset House arches on the Strand.

More fire engines could be seen inside the courtyard where thick smoke was visible.

Somerset House is now an arts venue and on Saturday was due to be hosting a day of breakdancing.

The large Renaissance building on the Thames, near Waterloo Bridge, which originally belonged to the Duke of Somerset in 1547, is now home to 100 art, business and social enterprises.

A woman, who would not give her name but said she works in Somerset House, walked out of the cordon and said: “It’s fine, it’s localised in one area.”

Fear for ‘irreplaceable’ artworks

Alan Robinson, 71, a Catholic priest who works nearby and lives in Covent Garden, said he was worried about the “irreplaceable” art collection in the Courtauld Gallery.

He told the PA news agency: “The Courtauld Gallery is in there, I have no idea what the value of the collection is, but it’s millions [of pounds] – irreplaceable stuff.”

A large poster of Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear was displayed on the railings, which is listed as a part of the Courtauld collection on the gallery’s website.

The Courtauld closed its galleries after the fire, but said its collection is “unaffected”.

Prof Mark Hallett, Marit Rausing director of The Courtauld, said: “The Courtauld, including our galleries and collection of artworks, is unaffected by the fire.

“As a precaution, we have closed the galleries for the rest of the day.”

Somerset House confirmed “all staff and public are safe” and added all of its priceless artworks, including a Van Gogh painting, have not been damaged.

Michelle Birkby, 50, a writer who lives in London, said: “I was walking along the South Bank, and could smell smoke, looked up and saw smoke coming out of the top of Somerset House.

“At first I assumed it was a barbecue in the courtyard, or some sort of event, but then I heard the fire engines, realised the smoke was billowing out of control and that Somerset House was on fire.

“It’s a place I visit quite often and I know it’s beautiful and I really hope they can stop the fire before it does too much damage.”

Videos of the fire – which showed smoke billowing from the top of the building – were on social media on Saturday afternoon.

James Sabin, 27, who photographed of the blaze, said: “I saw that there were loads of fire trucks and police cars at Somerset House.

“I looked out of the window and saw plumes of smoke. It looked like it was quickly spreading – there was a very strong smell of smoke in the air.

“It’s still going on. There are lots of people responding.

“Lots of people are standing around, trying to see what’s going on.”

Somerset House said on social media that it was now closed owing to the fire “which has broken out in one small part of the building”.

“All staff and public are safe the site is closed,” it said on X. “The London Fire Brigade arrived swiftly and we’re working very closely with them to control the spread of the fire.”

Trust director: ‘Everybody is safe’

The director of Somerset House Trust said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building and there are “no artworks in that area”.

Jonathan Reekie, 59, has been director of the trust for 10 years. He said: “What I can confirm is that a fire was spotted at about midday in one corner of west wing, the site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade called, who arrived very quickly indeed.

“Everybody is safe and for now we want to let the London Fire Brigade get on and do their brilliant work. The west wing is mainly offices and back-of-house facilities, there are no artworks in that area.”

Mr Reekie said he was not inside the building when the fire broke out.

A fire alarm was still sounding as he spoke on the edge of the cordon outside the Somerset House arches at about 2.30pm.

Passers-by were sat on chairs nearby eating their lunches and watching the scene.

The trust is a registered charity and the Charity Commission website says it was established in 1997 “to enhance the education of the public by the provision of a centre for the arts and to maintain the buildings for the benefit of the local and international community as an example of English national heritage”.

It added: “At its heart lies a creative community of innovative businesses and social enterprises which contribute to the vibrancy and energy of the site.”

BBC Proms ticket holders have been told they will be barred from bringing “protest flags” to the Last Night.

At the patriotic finale of the season, the Royal Albert Hall is typically filled with audience members carrying the Union Jack, or the more controversial flag of the EU.

The venue has this year told concert goers that “flags related to protest” and “hatred” are not allowed at the event on Sept 14, and may be confiscated by staff.

The explicit statement of policy marks a departure from previous years, when the potentially obstructive size of flags was the principal issue raised ahead of each Last Night concert.

The clear statement that certain flags are unacceptable comes following years of discontent over the EU flags often brought into the event, and during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinian flags have become a fixture of frequent political marches through London and other UK cities since the conflict began.

The Albert Hall has said that its policy has not changed, but new wording has been introduced to make its rules clear.

These rules state in an online guide to attending the Proms: “Flags are permitted at the Proms and are traditionally part of the Last Night celebrations provided they do not interfere with the smooth running of the concert.

It adds that “some flags will not be allowed in the auditorium, including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, hatred”.  It also sets out size limits for the size of flags.

An additional PDF document has been provided online clearly setting out “restricted items”. This states that “flags related to protest may be confiscated”.

The Albert Hall has not provided any guidance advice on which flags specifically would contravene the rules on “protest” and “hatred”.

Prior to the 2024 season, online advice for attending the Last Night had the same preamble about flags being part of the experience, so long as they did not interfere with the show.  It also warned concert-goers about the size of their flags and flag poles.

In 2022, following reports that bags would be searched for flags, Albert Hall representatives explicitly set out the venue’s flag policy, repeating the stipulation that flags must not exceed a certain size or interfere with the smooth running of the concert. No mention was made at this time of protest, hatred, or proscription.

The Hall’s explicit statement of flag restrictions comes following months of pro-Palestine protests across the country.

In the aftermath of the Oct 7 attacks in Israel, the Premier League banned Israeli and Palestinian flags from grounds across the country.

It also follows the 2023 Last Night, which saw the standing section of the auditorium filled with a sea of EU flags.

This followed the efforts of a Remainder group called Thank EU For The Music, who organised the spectacle and handed out thousands of EU flags outside the Hall. They called the event an “incomparable festival of joyful music-making”.

This year Last Night, which traditionally includes renditions of Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia and Jerusalem, will be conducted by Sakari Oramo, the Finnish conductor .

He is the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble that has in a recent tradition performed at both the Last Night and First Night of the Proms.

A prison where convicted murderers are given knives to prepare their own meals and call staff by their first names has been rated the best in the country.

Staff at HMP Oakwood, Britain’s biggest jail, do not carry batons and instead try to resolve conflicts by talking to prisoners rather than using force, Sean Oliver, the prison director, said after the rating was revealed following a snap inspection.

It represents a dramatic transformation for the G4S-run jail near Wolverhampton, which was dubbed “Jokewood’ shortly after it opened in 2012.

Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, said the prison was “bucking trends in challenging times”, with low rates of violence and self-harm among the 2,100 men held there.

Around 1,700 inmates at HMP Oakwood are assessed as posing a ‘high risk of harm’.

Mr Oliver, 59, who has been in charge since 2021, said that treating every offender at the jail with respect was key to establishing good relationships and maintaining order.

He insists that inmates call him Sean rather than “Governor” – the traditional way prison managers are greeted.

He told The Telegraph: “Walking past the prisoner and going ‘good morning’ to everyone is what we do.

“I always say to staff it’s very difficult for a prisoner to assault you if you’re being helpful. Find out what the problem is, try to resolve the problem and most of the anger will go away.

“You’ve got to embrace trust. There also have to be consequences, if there’s a breach of that trust.”

Making meals fosters ‘community spirit’

About half the prisoners at Oakwood are permitted to prepare their own meals, which inspectors said contributed to a “community spirit”. There are also opportunities for inmates to cook for and eat with relatives during visits. Family dogs are sometimes allowed to visit too.

The prisoners cook in kitchens equipped with a full range of utensils, including knives, but Mr Oliver, who was a chef before joining the prison service, said there had rarely been problems.

“The truth is [cooking] holds too much value to them to lose it. If they want to hit you with something, there’s many things they can find. Thankfully, they don’t hit us very often,” he explained.

The success of Oakwood, one of 14 jails operated by private companies, is in stark contrast to the overall performance of the prison system, in which 50 out of 119 establishments are said to be giving cause for “concern” or “serious concern”, according to the latest Ministry of Justice figures.

A chronic shortage of prison cells is at the root of the crisis, with only 700 spare places in men’s jails. 

With the prison population expected to surge over the coming months, the Government is introducing emergency measures in September and October to free up space. Around 5,500 prisoners will be released early, after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, rather than the standard 50 per cent.

Jail space has also been affected by this month’s riots and unrest across the country. More than 1,000 people have been arrested and more than 600 charged in connection to the disorder.

Another problem is the flow of illicit drugs.

Drugs have been found in parcels with fake Amazon labels and at the bottom of tins of food. Drones have even landed drugs packages disguised as grass on fields next to the jail, while mobile phones have been discovered hidden in electrical equipment.

“They’re ingenious,” said Mr Oliver, who has boosted the prison security team at Oakwood to stay one step ahead of the criminals.

The Church of England is increasingly dropping the word “church” in favour of “relevant and modern-sounding” descriptions such as “community”, a new study suggests.

The Anglican church appears to be increasingly avoiding the word “church” when discussing the creation of new worshipping communities and congregations, a report has found.

The Centre for Church Planting Theology and Research looked at the language used by 11 dioceses to describe new churches.

The creation of a new church group is traditionally referred to as a “church plant”. But the report found that while 900 new churches had been started by the dioceses in the past decade, none had used the phrase “church plant” as the primary way to describe the project.

The report’s author, Rev Dr Will Foulger, vicar of St Nicholas in Durham, found that six of the 11 dioceses used the language of “worship” in their main descriptor of new church projects, two used “congregation”, and seven used “community”.

Dr Giles Fraser, vicar of St Anne’s, Kew, told The Telegraph that this apparent reluctance to use the word “church” reflects “a misplaced desire to be relevant and modern-sounding”.

In an article on UnHerd, Dr Fraser said that it was as if, “the Church has given up on church. Not since Prince became Squiggle has there been such a daft revision.”

He warned that embracing these new forms of worship had been “ruinously expensive” for the Church, cautioning that the push for modernisation should not come at the expense of traditional parish churches.

The report found that 10 of the 11 dioceses studied “used the language of ‘culture change’ to describe the place of new things within the dioceses.”

Dr Foulger suggested that the Church of England might be moving away from using the word “church” as part of a cultural rejuvenation.

He said that the word “church” was not comprehensive enough “to describe what it is that these dioceses have been starting”, adding that the phrase “new things” might be more appropriate.

A spokesman for the Church of England told The Telegraph that one reason why the word “church” appears less often in description of “new worshipping communities” is that these forms of worship can exist outside of traditional bricks-and-mortar churches.

Examples of these new communities have cropped up across the country.

At St Barnabas in Ealing a “Shh free” mass is on offer to welcome families with young children, while the “silent disco worship” at All Hallows Bow in east London – a new congregation founded within an existing church – attracts young adults.

Outdoor worshipping

The Diocese of Worcester, meanwhile, has embraced outdoor worshipping, with members of the churches in the Teme Valley South replacing church services with countryside walks, stopping for Bible reading and prayer along the way.

“These communities often meet in existing church buildings, attracting additional worshippers alongside traditional congregations, but they are as much ‘church’ as any other form of worship,” a Church of England spokesman said.

He added that a church is defined in theological terms as “a community of people who, together, live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ”.

In his report, Dr Foulger acknowledged that this change in language by the Church is “forcing us to redefine what we think a church is in the Church of England”.

He also recognised that the debate had “left certain parts of the Church – for whom fidelity to ecclesial forms and practices is central – feeling outside of the planting conversation”.

Since 2014 the Church Commissioners have awarded £82.7 million to dioceses to be used for the purpose of starting new churches and religious communities.

This investment is set to continue. In 2021, the Church of England announced plans to establish more than 10,000 new worshipping communities over the next decade.

A spokesman for the Church of England defended its funding record in parish churches, stating that “significant investment has supported parish renewals, front-line ministry roles, and children’s and youth workers across various church traditions”.