Children waiting two years for critical gender care as numbers trapped on waiting lists soar
Children aged under five are among a soaring number of young people waiting for gender care treatment as the NHS grapples to clear a backlog of patients.
The number of children waiting for treatment in England and Wales has risen by 12 per cent in a year, with 6,225 children now on the national waiting list, up from 5,560 a year earlier.
A total of 157 of those are aged under 10, with up to 10 aged under five. Average waiting times have also grown to more than two years for a child to get a first appointment at a specialist clinic.
One expert warned children need help “before they reach crisis point”, with numbers showing that “demand is outpacing supply”.
Responding to the latest figures, the NHS medical director for specialised services, Professor James Palmer, said he understands it “can be really difficult” for children and their families waiting to be seen.
TransActual, a charity supporting trans people, said the waiting list figures were “unacceptably high”.
Two new gender care services led by London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool opened in April 2024 following the closure in March 2024 of the UK’s dedicated gender identity clinic, run by the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
A third service has since opened in Bristol while another is planned for the East of England “later this spring”, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The aim is for there to eventually be up to eight specialist children’s gender clinics covering the seven NHS regions in England.
Last year, health secretary Wes Streeting branded waiting times “unacceptable”, acknowledging the “enormous distress” they can cause.
Waiting times for a first appointment have also risen, to an average of 116 weeks at the end of March from an average of 100 weeks at the end of May last year, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association.
There is no minimum age requirement for gender care and the NHS previously said it wanted to ensure parents of very young children are given support where necessary, with some aged under five seeking help.
Dr Roman Raczka, president of the British Psychological Society, said: “It is essential that children, young people and their families can access the professional care and support they need, before they reach crisis point.
“Demand is currently outpacing supply. This contributes to a range of broader challenges which face children and young people’s services that require further investment.”
Chay Brown, operations director for TransActual UK: “Trans and gender questioning children and young people are having to wait years to access support from the NHS.
“The majority of people leaving the waiting list at that time will have aged out. Sadly, some will have died whilst waiting – waiting times for NHS gender services have been cited in several prevention of future deaths reports.”
Following last year’s Cass Review, which concluded children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on medical interventions in gender care, NHS England announced a new plan which requires new referrals to the clinics to have been seen by a GP and mental health specialist or paediatrician first.
Some 250 patients transferred from the Gender Identity Development Service have been seen by new services, and it is understood that each of the new clinics is designed to see 25 patients a month.
Guidance expected to be published later this month will see the health service move away from a “medical model” in favour of a “holistic” approach to children’s gender care, as per recommendations from the Cass Review.
According to leaked plans reported last month, children who have gender dysphoria will now be tested for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Prof Palmer said: “We know it can be really difficult for children and young people and their families who are waiting to be seen by our new holistic gender services, and that’s why it has been so important that we put a new system in place to ensure that, while they’re waiting, they can access mental health support if they need it.
“The NHS is now almost halfway through its planned expansion of regional services, and we are seeing significantly fewer referrals as children are first assessed by paediatric or mental health experts and provided with care in NHS services that are more appropriate to their needs.”
Puberty blockers are not prescribed on the NHS to children for the treatment of gender dysphoria, after a ban last year was made permanent in December.
Plans remain in place to set up a clinical trial into their use this year, although no patients have yet been recruited and ethical and regulatory approval is being sought.
A DHSC spokesperson said: “We are working with NHS England to reform children’s gender services in line with the recommendations from the Cass review, to provide children with timely, holistic support.
“We’ve opened three new children and young people’s gender services, with a fourth anticipated to open later this spring. These new services will increase clinical capacity and reduce waiting times, so patients can be seen sooner and closer to home.”
Over half of Britons fear swimming in UK waters will make them sick
Less than one in five adults believe they will be able to swim safely in UK waters by 2030 without risking their health, as over half of Britons worry that sewage pollution will lead to illness.
A recent poll of 2,000 people conducted by Surfers Against Sewage revealed that only 21 per cent trusted the government to ensure water suppliers reduce sewage spills, with more than half a million discharges into our seas, lakes and rivers in 2024.
An avid swimmer, Kate Jones has become unwell on several occasions after swimming off the coast of Pembrokeshire, with her husband recently sick after a morning surf shortly after sewage had been dumped.
“I’ve been caught a couple of times and am incredibly passionate about this issue. Sometimes on my day off I meet people for a swim and there’s been several occasions where there has been brown scum along the shoreline, pretty much every time it rains.
“I’ve had it twice where I’ve become unwell after swallowing a gobful of water. My husband went out surfing last week when there was a sewage overflow at the local school, and he ended up off work for three days. I was also sick last week with my daughter.”
In Wales, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water was responsible for 118,276 sewage discharges, an average of more than one sewage spill every five minutes.
As a result, she and a group of other volunteers are participating in SAS annual Paddle Out on Saturday 17 May at Broad Haven Beach, which sees thousands of people take to the UK’s beaches to protest against the ongoing sewage crisis.
It is held at the beginning of the UK’s official bathing season, which runs until September, and encourages people to make use of designated protected blue spaces. However, during this period in 2024, there were 8,704 sewage discharges in England during the bathing season, an average of more than 60 a day.
Stuart Davies, an organiser of the Brighton Pier Paddle-Out Protest said: “We are paddling out because we seem to be in the same place each year. We see record levels of sewage pollution in our blue spaces, especially here on the south coast.
“Many a time, I have been personally affected. I can’t go sea swimming. I can’t go surfing. I also volunteer for the Wave Project which provides surf therapy for young people.
That’s been cancelled a few times, and we couldn’t go in the water. It makes me extremely angry. We are paddling out in protest of the scandal and to call for total reform of the water industry.”
It was revealed last month that sewage was discharged over half a million times into UK waters in 2024, for around 4.7 million hours.
Instead of achieving a 40 per cent reduction, English water companies failed on their Environment Agency targets to reduce sewage pollution incidents, which increased by 30 per cent.
SAS received 1,853 sickness reports through its service app in 2024, with 331 people having to see a doctor and 79 per cent reporting that medical professionals had attributed their illness to sewage pollution.
Hundreds were diagnosed with gastroenteritis, chest infections and serious bacterial infections, with some having to be hospitalised.
Giles Bristow, CEO at Surfers Against Sewage said: “Another year, another summer of swimming and surfing in sewage while our shameless water companies laugh all the way to the bank. The public has simply had enough and will be paddling out in their thousands to send a clear message to government and the polluters: end this sewage scandal now!
“Our failing water industry has been trumpeting billions in investment to clean up their act, but we know that these fat cat bosses can’t be trusted to keep their promises.
“The proof is in the missed targets, shocking statistics and devastating stories of sickness we continue to see year after year. We’ve had enough of their lies, greed and incompetence and know that this nightmare will not end until the whole water system is radically reformed.
“The thousands paddling out across the UK are letting the water companies, government and Independent Water Commission know, loud and clear, that we will not accept another year of risking our health to swim in the sea.
“People should be free to use the water without fear of getting sick, and that’s why we developed the Safer Seas & Rivers Service, a free app that provides real-time pollution alerts, giving peace of mind for those worried about sewage pollution.”
To join a Paddle Out protest, the largest events are taking place in Brighton, Bournemouth, Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, as well as Broad Haven Beach in Wales, Dunbar in Scotland and Portrush in Northern Ireland. Further info and locations map are available here.
Details of Starmer’s Brexit reset deal revealed including youth mobility scheme
Keir Starmer is set to agree a youth mobility scheme in alignment with the European Union despite his controversial clampdown on migration, a senior government source has confirmed with The Independent.
The prime minister’s announcement this week to “significantly” reduce legal migration was apparently designed to “allow room” for the potential scheme as part of his post-Brexit reset of relations with the bloc, The Independent has been told.
The speech on Monday sparked alarm with claims it echoed Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech in 1968 that whipped up a frenzy of anti-immigration hatred across the UK.
It is understood the mobility scheme could be similar to the one available between the UK and Australia, allowing people aged between 18 and 30 to travel and work freely between countries for two years. It is still not clear though when the scheme might begin.
The much-discussed Brexit reset deal is also set to bring about much closer cooperation on European defence, with the UK set to play a much more advanced role. The source revealed the PM’s next target will be a trade deal with the Gulf states in a bid to unlock billions in funding for economic growth in the UK.
The senior government figure warned that the deal will anger “the two extremities” of the Brexit debate but that it “will be superb” when it is unveiled at a summit on Monday.
After signing a massive free trade agreement with India and two days later a US deal with Donald Trump, Sir Keir’s strategy is coming together.
“I hope Keir gets credit as it’s him that’s driven this strategy,” The Independent was told.
But the careful balance he has had to strike to “have his cake and eat it” was to hold back on some of the demands from Trump to allow the UK to align with the EU.
“Essentially why the US deal didn’t go further so we could keep the alignment of the EU deal,” the senior source confirmed.
They added that the reason “the door is open for further US deals” was to allow the flexibility of exploring further options once the post-Brexit deal is set.
But the revelation appears to confirm the slip made by Rachel Reeves in the US when she told the BBC that the EU was a priority over the US.
“We will do a lot to get more and smoother trade, probably including a youth mobility scheme. Both extremities will be unhappy but most will see it as a good deal.
“The Brexiteers will cry betrayal and the Remainers will demand rejoin but it’ll be superb.
“The deal will be good and when that sits alongside India and the US it’ll be great.”
The government’s own research on the India deal claimed it would increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, £15.7 billion of which is expected to be from rising exports from UK businesses into India.
Speaking last week to The Independent, Sir Keir made it clear that his vision of the UK as a trading hub between the major economies is now central to his plans to deliver economic growth.
He has been buoyed with his successes last week not least in reversing the Barack Obama warning the UK would be “back of the queue” for the US if it voted for Brexit. His efforts to build a close relationship with Trump in fact put the UK at the front of the queue for international trade deals.
In his interview with The Independent, Sir Keir promised that the EU deal “will be ambitious” to go alongside “the big wins” of the agreements with India and the US.
He said: “It’s central to what we want to do, which is to grow the economy, create wealth, make sure people feel better off.
“When you’re protecting jobs, creating more opportunities, that is a really good way of creating wealth. That’s been the number one mission of government from the get go, but also in the environment that we’re now in”
While Ms Reeves has been under fire over tax rises and welfare cuts, he argued that the tough decisions they had taken have made the UK an attractive one for other countries to do deals with and businesses to invest in.
He said: “The fact that we’ve now had four interest rate cuts in a row, that we’ve stabilised the economy, we’ve got clear fiscal rules mean other countries now see the UK as a place that they want to do trade with, and it’s a really important component, because countries have choices about who they trade with.”
Tackle small boats by letting migrants apply for UK asylum from France, think tank says
Britain could reduce the number of people making perilous journeys across the Channel by allowing migrants to apply for asylum from management centres in France, a think tank has proposed.
New centres set up outside Calais could allow people to apply for UK asylum or to be reunited with family in Britain. The number of asylum seekers granted sanctuary to the UK would be on a rolling monthly cap, a new report from the Future Governance Forum (FGF) think tank has said, and in return France would take back the equivalent number of migrants who have arrived on UK shores in small boats.
The proposals mirror policies enacted by the Biden administration in the US, which allowed people on the Southern border to access pre-arrival processing. Offices were set up in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador to allow migrants to apply to resettle in the US through legal pathways, including by pursuing refugee status.
The programme aimed to decrease the number of people making the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border.
The UK is already in discussions with France on a scheme to return migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats. In return, UK government officials have reportedly floated the idea of accepting migrants seeking reunion with family members already in Britain.
The French interior ministry said in April that the pilot scheme would be based on a “one-for-one principle”. This would mean that “for each legal admission under family reunification, there would be a corresponding readmission of undocumented migrants who managed to cross [the Channel]”.
Author of the report from the progressive think tank FGF, Beth Gardiner-Smith, said: “Setting up new ‘asylum management centres’ in France would enable the government to restore control to the UK’s asylum system and cut the growing number of people attempting to come to the UK via dangerous Channel crossings in small boats.
“Asylum management centres, working alongside a future readmissions agreement, would provide the realistic deterrent and incentive needed to prevent people getting into boats.”
The report said that refugees are likely to delay crossing the Channel if they could get a decision on an asylum claim while in France. They argue: “Full asylum processing allows the UK to admit only those with a valid asylum claim, thus removing the challenge of returning those who arrive without a valid claim, many of whom cannot be returned because we have no returns agreement or the country of origin is unsafe”.
Publication of the report comes ahead of a UK-EU reset summit on Monday, where ministers are hoping to sign a joint pact on security.
The European Council has said that migration and youth mobility will also be on the agenda.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said that the UK government have recently persuaded France to change their rules to allow police to stop migrants boarding boats from the water.
Ms Cooper said that smugglers have been picking up migrants from the water rather than the beach, as French police currently don’t intervene once migrants are in the water.
The home secretary said that French ministers have now approved a change to the rules, which will be put into effect “over the next few months”.
Gary Lineker apologises after sharing Zionism post featuring rat image
Gary Lineker has apologised after sharing an Instagram video on Zionism with his 1.2 million followers that featured an emoji of a rat.
The Match of the Day presenter posted the story clip from the group Palestine Lobby, which, titled “Zionism explained in less than 2 min”, contained a circled illustration of the animal.
The use of the term rat in association with Jewish people has been widely recognised as antisemitic, with it being used as an insult to describe the race by Nazi Germany.
The former England football captain deleted the post from his profile as soon as he saw the image, Lineker’s agent said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lineker issued a statement in which he “apologised unreservedly” for the post.
He said: “On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.
“Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Despite deleting the post, the 64-year-old, who is the BBC’s top earner, has drawn criticism from Jewish and campaign groups that combat antisemitism. There are also growing calls for Lineker to leave the corporation.
Lineker is stepping down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of the current football season, but will present FA Cup coverage and the 2026 World Cup for the BBC.
On X (Twitter), the Campaign Against Antisemitism shared a screengrab of Lineker’s post, and wrote: “Nothing to see here. Just Gary Lineker’s Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.”
In another post, the group, with 67,000 followers, wrote: “Having looked the other way until now, at this point, it is clear that Gary Lineker’s continued association with the BBC is untenable. He must go.”
It added that a complaint will be submitted to the BBC.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the BBC should ask Lineker, who was paid £1.35m in 2023/24, to leave.
A spokesperson told Mail Online: “The BBC has allowed the situation with Gary Lineker to continue for far too long. He has caused great offence with this video – particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists.”
The Independent has approached the BBC for comment.
This is not the first time Lineker has faced criticism over his views posted on social media.
In March 2023, he was suspended from the BBC after comparing the language used to launch a then-government asylum seeker policy to 1930s Germany, describing the scheme as “immeasurably cruel”.
Earlier this year, Lineker signed an open letter to the BBC, calling on it to reinstate a documentary called Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. The programme was pulled after it emerged that a boy featured in it was the son of a Hamas official.
In April, Lineker said he did not regret his comments on government policy in March 2023. He told the BBC’s Amol Rajan he had the right to be able to share his opinion on issues, including Gaza.
As a football player, Lineker played for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. He scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for England, and was one of the stars of the 1986 World Cup in Argentina.
He has been Match of the Day host since 1999, the longest-serving anchor for the flagship show.
His company, Goalhanger Podcasts, founded in 2019, has released popular podcasts such as The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is Entertainment, and The Rest Is Football, which he co-hosts with MOTD colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Celebration villa breaks: find your perfect luxury getaway
If you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, a villa holiday is hard to beat. Imagine clinking glasses on a rooftop terrace at sunset or gathering loved ones around a candlelit garden table for a leisurely dinner under the night sky.
These special occasions deserve much more than booking out a busy hotel, and nothing beats having your own sun-drenched sanctuary where you have the space and privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re heading to Marrakech in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, to the rolling hills of Tuscany, or a tropical oasis further afield, Villas are the perfect home-away-from-home for celebrating something, or someone, special.
CV Villas’ luxurious ABOVE collection offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments – think breathtaking settings, total privacy, and the kind of comfort and space that makes everyone feel at home. All come with stunning interiors, sweeping views as far as the eye can see, and enviable locations in some of the world’s most sought-after spots. Each villa is hand-picked by dedicated CV Villa specialists, who are experts in helping people craft their dream getaway. Many come with their own infinity pools, breathtaking views and large alfresco dining areas, perfect for spending quality time together during life’s most important moments. Villas aren’t just places to stay, they’re a big part of the celebration itself.
From the moment you book your stay to your arrival back home, the CV Villas Concierge team is there to make everything as seamless and stress-free as possible. They are dedicated to looking after you and your party before and throughout your holiday so that you can focus on the things that really matter, like spending quality time together and celebrating without having to worry about the minor details. The team tailors each trip to exactly what you’re after, whether you’re looking to book a private boat day or need to organise a surprise celebration dinner, nothing is too much trouble. Many of the five-star villas even come with their own butlers and chefs so that you can be waited on hand and foot during your special getaway.
ABOVE villas are the epitome of luxury and come with designer interiors, infinity pools boasting panoramic ocean views, and terraces made for golden hour cocktails – properties with serious star quality. What’s more, they’re located all around the world, from the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Greece to the palm-fringed beaches of far-flung Sri Lanka and beyond.
Sampling delicious local food is a big part of a holiday, but catering for a large group can often mean juggling different requests and palates. Luckily for you, many of these luxury villas come with their very own in-villa chefs – perfect for when you’d rather toast the moment with a glass of fizz than spend time flapping around in the kitchen. Instead, let your chef whip up multi-course meals morning till night, using the freshest local produce, all based on your personal tastes and dietary requirements, before tucking into it alfresco under the undisturbed starry night sky.
The little luxuries make a big difference to a bucket-list trip: daily housekeeping to keep things spic and span, spa treatments for when you need a little R&R, wine tastings for the adults, yoga sessions with epic views, and even round-the-clock babysitting. All of this can be arranged to make your stay feel even more indulgent.
Maison Emilion, France
This rustic French villa is practically made for wine lovers, aptly located amidst the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux. This six-bedroom hilltop hangout boasts views of the working vineyards from every angle, including from the heated pool and surrounding sunbeds. Wander into the nearby village of Saint-Émilion, then enjoy the included wine-tasting experience before settling into the garden for dinner with nothing but the glow of flickering candlelight and the moonlit sky.
Oleander, Corfu
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than Oleander in Corfu, a five-bedroom villa overlooking Avlaki Bay and the picturesque town of Kassiopi. It’s located high above the Ionian Sea and is the ideal villa for memorable summer celebrations. Soak up the sunshine from the infinity pool while enjoying views of Albania’s craggy Ceraunian Mountains, or hang out on the wrap-around terraces and communal outside dining areas. During peak season at Oleander, chef service is also included, so you can enjoy meals with your loved ones without even having to leave the villa.
Spirit of Son Fuster, Mallorca
Spirit of Son Fuster in Mallorca is hard to beat for large groups and multigenerational stays. This five-star bolthole is set in a stunning natural landscape at the foot of the Alaro twin mountains, right near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, and is as secluded as it gets. This gorgeous 14th-century manor house sleeps twenty people across ten bedrooms and even has its own on-site spa and hammam where everyone can enjoy treatments in the dedicated treatment rooms. There’s even a private cinema room for movie nights and a well-stocked wine cellar filled with local vintage wines.
Masseria Giardini, Puglia
Masseria Giardini in Puglia is the height of luxury and the perfect home-away-from-home for families and large groups. It was built in 1750 and is surrounded by leafy olive groves and landscaped gardens curated by Chelsea Flower Show winners Urquhart & Hunt. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Canale Di Pirro Valley from this ten-bedroom farmhouse and spend days lazing around in the heated pool. This villa is an architectural masterpiece, with signature stone domed roofs and hand-carved stone baths in five of the ten bedrooms.
For more travel information and inspiration and to book your perfect villa getaway, visit CV Villas
Cassie testifies Diddy raped her and settled civil suit for $20m
An emotionally packed day of testimony from Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, ended with shocking revelations – how she claimed the abuse from the music mogul lasted for years, how she tried to harm herself and how the superstar raped her when they broke up in 2018.
“I can’t carry this anymore. I can’t carry the shame, the guilt, the way I was guided to treat people like they were disposable,” Ventura told a New York federal courtroom Wednesday. “What’s right is right. What’s wrong is wrong. I’m here to do the right thing.”
She spoke feet away from Diddy – whose real name is Sean Combs – who was once her partner but now is a defendant facing decades behind bars in what prosecutors described as a years-long sex trafficking and racketeering scheme to fulfill his desires. Diddy has been held in federal custody since September 2024. Investigators have said he used abuse, coercion and his “freak offs” to control women.
Ventura has spent more than two days on the witness stand and is expected to resume her testimony Thursday. Towards the end Wednesday, she made several revelations about his relationship with Diddy. She also testified that he paid her a $20 million settlement to end her civil suit against him.
It was part of a day of testimony that included several shocking moments including:
“I was spinning out,” Ventura said while crying. “I didn’t want to be alive anymore at that point.”
Ventura, wearing a long gray dress that hugged her baby bump, offered immediate responses in a soft, raspy voice. She appeared to try to stay calm by taking frequent sips of water, flipping her hair over her shoulders, and rubbing her pregnant belly. Except for taking a deep breath after seeing the stills from the “freak off” videos, her responses were often brief and reserved.
She gave a detailed history of the relationship that culminated with the 2018 break up. It was then that Combs raped her, Ventura said.
At the time, Ventura was dating her now-husband, Alex Fine. She met Combs for dinner and went back to her house. There, Combs forced himself onto Ventura and raped her, despite Ventura saying “no” the entire time. She described how his eyes went lifeless and ignored her tears during the alleged attack.
Ventura said the incident made her question the value of her life.
“I didn’t want to be alive anymore at that point,” Ventura said. “I couldn’t take the pain that I was in anymore, and so I just tried to walk out the front door into traffic and my husband would not let me.”
Ventura’s alleged sexual assault was just part of the picture she painted for the jury about the years-long abuse she and others allegedly suffered.
She described an incident where Combs dragged his former personal assistant, known as Mia, out of her hotel bed when she refused to give him her phone. Another time, Combs dangled one of Ventura’s friends over the balcony of a 17-story apartment.
Ventura said Combs became angry when she began dating rapper Scott Mescudi, known as Kid Cudi, and he threatened to hurt Mescudi as well as Ventura as a result. Ventura said Combs threatened to “blow up” Mescudi’s car. Eventually, Mescudi’s car did catch fire, though it’s unclear what or who caused it.
Ventura eventually broke up with Mescudi out of fear, she said.
At the beginning of the day, Ventura told jurors that Combs gave her a black eye, “fat lip” and bruises all over her body after he assaulted her in the InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
Jurors were shown hotel surveillance footage of Combs throwing her to the ground, kicking her and dragging her by her hair the day of the assault. Some of that infamous footage was released by CNN last year.
Jurors also saw a selfie that Ventura took of herself after sustaining the busted lip.
Ventura said Combs punched her in the face, giving her a black eye, while the two were engaging in a “freak off.” As a result, Ventura stormed out of the hotel room and intended to go home, but Combs ran after her, wearing only a towel and assaulted her.
The abuse forced her into rehab and trauma therapy in 2023, she claimed. She added that she was prompted to seek treatment after “I couldn’t take the pain that I was in anymore. So I tried walking out the front door into traffic and my husband would not let me.”
It was also in 2023 that Ventura filed her lawsuit against Diddy. The lawsuit described similar claims to those she described on the witness stand. It ended with an undisclosed settlement a day after being filed. That was until Wednesday, when Ventura revealed she was paid $20 million in the case.
“Sean and his companies,” Ventura, 38, said when asked who paid.
A year later, Combs was facing federal arrest and now the criminal trial over the allegations.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Fear Brexit left UK consumers more exposed to cancer-causing food
Fears have been raised that Brexit has left British consumers more exposed to food that can give them cancer because the UK has failed to keep up with EU standards since leaving the bloc.
Hopes are high that if Keir Starmer agrees to align the UK to EU rules and regulations in his Brexit reset deal to be unveiled on Monday, then the exposure to carcinogenic nitrites in bacon and ham can be removed.
But the concerns are reflected in a new J.L Partners poll that not only revealed more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Brits fear the UK is falling behind European food standards but the worries are shared by even 55 per cent of pro-Brexit 2024 Reform voters.
Stricter EU rules limiting the amount of nitrites permitted in bacon and ham come into force in October – but the UK is currently permitting higher levels of the carcinogenic chemicals in its processed meat.
The issue has been taken up by a group of the world’s leading scientists, who have joined representatives from seven political parties, including a former UK health minister, to call for carcinogenic nitrites to be removed from processed meats.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified processed meats as a Group One carcinogen – the same classification as tobacco – and attributed an estimated 34,000 global colorectal cancer deaths a year to diets high in processed meats.
The Coalition Against Nitrites, a new non-profit organisation, launched this week with the backing of three former WHO scientists, a Harvard professor, and the UK’s top food safety expert.
Experts backing the campaign include Professor Paolo Vineis from Imperial College London, Professor Denis Corpet from Toulouse University and Professor Robert Turesky from the University of Minnesota.
Other scientific supporters include Professor Walter Willett of Harvard University, who is widely regarded as the world’s most influential nutritionist, and Professor Chris Elliott, who founded the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast and led the UK Government’s investigation into the 2013 horse meat scandal.
Political supporters of the campaign include Conservative ex-health minister Lord Bethell, Labour’s former shadow health minister Sharon Hodgson MP, DUP health spokesman Jim Shannon MP, former Green Party leader Baroness Bennett, former Deputy Mayor of London Baroness Jones, and the former leader of the SDLP, Baroness Ritchie.
Professor Chris Elliott said: “The UK’s departure from the EU has meant we have slipped behind European food standards. The addition of nitrites to processed meats is a major example of what has happened.
“While the EU has sought to protect its consumers with better food safety rules, the UK has dithered, leaving British consumers at greater risk. It is essential the UK keeps pace with the EU’s improving food safety rules for the sake of public health.”
Professor Walter Willet from the Harvard School of Public Health, added: “It is time for governments globally to step in and ban the use of these chemicals – or for food producers to make the right decision for human health and remove these dangerous chemicals themselves from their products.”
The UK Food Standards Agency has previously claimed that nitrites are “essential” to protect against botulism.
It states: “Nitrites and nitrates (E 249 – E 252) are used in certain cheeses and processed meats such as bacon, ham, corned beef and other cured meats to help keep it looking red and to aid the development of the ‘cured’ flavour. However, their main role is to reduce the growth of harmful microorganisms in particular clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that can be life threatening.”
However, the EU has recently tightened regulations on the use of nitrites as food additives in processed meats, lowering the levels at which they are legally permitted to be added. Food businesses have been granted a two-year period to adapt to these new limits, with the regulations becoming fully applicable from October 2025.
The French government has already acknowledged the health risks associated with nitrites in processed meats and has initiated measures to reduce their usage. In March 2023, it unveiled an action plan aiming for an immediate reduction of nitrite additives in deli meats by approximately 20 per cent.
Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, a former shadow health minister, said: “Knowing what we know today about the health risks of added nitrites, it’s time for a serious conversation about the safety of our food.”