Government launches water ombudsman to boost consumer protection

Customers will be given stronger protections against water firms under government plans to restore trust in the beleaguered industry.

Steve Reed is setting up a new water ombudsman with legal powers to resolve disputes, rather than the current voluntary system that is thought to lack teeth.

The environment secretary is embarking on “the biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation” amid growing anger at poor service, spiralling bills and the pollution of Britain’s waterways.

He pledged on Sunday to cut pollution in Britain’s rivers in half by the end of the decade, eliminating it completely by 2035.

And on Monday he will outline the latest changes, which will expand the role of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), bringing the sector into line with other utilities by creating a legally binding consumer watchdog.

The ombudsman will also provide a single point of contact for consumers with complaints, instead of leaving them uncertain about where to go.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the new watchdog would help “re-establish partnership” between water companies and consumers.

In May, a survey by the CCW found trust in water companies had reached a new low, with less than two-thirds of people saying they provided value for money.

Only 53 per cent said they thought what water companies charged was fair, even before the impact of a 26 per cent increase in bills that came into effect in April.

The new ombudsman is part of Mr Reed’s wider plans for a “root and branch reform” of the water industry, set to be unveiled alongside a major review of the sector on Monday.

Following publication of the review, he is expected to say: “The water industry is broken. Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage.

“Water pipes have been left to crumble into disrepair. Soaring water bills are straining family finances.

“Today’s final report from Sir Jon Cunliffe’s Independent Water Commission offers solutions to fix our broken regulatory system so the failures of the past can never happen again.”

The key recommendation is expected to involve scrapping Ofwat and creating a new regulator, which could incorporate the work of the CCW.

Mr Reed on Sunday promised to make the UK’s rivers the cleanest since records began with a £104bn investment to rebuild the country’s crumbling sewage pipes.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Reed said Labour would unleash a “water revolution” in response to Sir Jon’s review.

He said leaky pipes and crumbling infrastructure has cost taxpayers tens of billions of pounds, promising the party would look to eliminate sewage pollution in rivers completely by 2035.

And, amid speculation Ofwat is to be scrapped, he said the water regulator “has failed everyone”.

Mr Reed said: “I’m making an absolute commitment, and I’m committed to delivering it.

“My intention, assuming I’m lucky enough to still be in the same job in five years’ time, I would love to sit here with you then and point to places like Windermere and see how much cleaner they are than today.”

Asked whether he would put his job on the line, he said: “Politicians come and say we’re going to do things. Of course our job should be on the line if we don’t.”

UK could see half a month’s rainfall in under 24 hours

Parts of the UK could be battered with half a month’s worth of rainfall in less than a day, the Met Office warned.

The forecaster said Northern Ireland could experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall on Sunday evening into Monday.

It comes as new amber-level rain warnings were put in place for the eastern counties of Northern Ireland, as well as several counties south of the border.

The warning applies for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 11pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday. But as there remains some uncertainty regarding the extent of the heaviest rain, a wider yellow weather warning for rain remains in place in Northern Ireland from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Monday.

The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Forecasters also warn there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads, while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: “It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours.”

The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a month’s rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day.

Chief meteorologist Andy Page added: “This high intensity rainfall can lead to flooding, with impacts on properties, transport networks and power outages.

“The heavy rain comes at the start of a new working week, so expect disruption to the Monday morning commute and check the flood risk in your area to protect your property.”

A yellow-level thunderstorm warning was in place for the western half of Northern Ireland between midday and 8pm on Sunday.

Across much of Wales and south-west England, the Met Office warned of a “danger to life” as thunderstorms were forecast in the regions on Sunday.

On Monday, the thunderstorm warning moves to much of Scotland and England. It is in place between 3am and 9pm.

Rain continues to affect Scotland and Northern Ireland overnight, while further heavy showers spread into the South, but drier with clear spells across Wales and central England. Feeling fresher in the South, but remaining rather muggy for northern areas.

Another cloudy, damp start, particularly for the South East and across Northern Ireland. Brighter elsewhere, though showers soon return: heavy, thundery, and with a risk of hail by the afternoon.

Sunny spells and scattered showers remain the theme this week as low pressure continues to bring unsettled conditions. Less showers, more sunshine by Thursday, with temperatures around the seasonal average.

Inquiry to uncover truth of violent clashes at Orgeave miners’ strike

A public inquiry to uncover the truth of what happened during violent clashes between police and striking miners in Orgreave is set to begin in the autumn, the government has announced.

The statutory inquiry, promised in Labour’s election manifesto, will get to the bottom of one of the “most controversial episodes in policing history”.

It comes more than 40 years after 120 people were injured during skirmishes between police and miners in the Battle of Orgreave at a coking plant in South Yorkshire on 18 June 1984.

In total, 95 picketers were arrested and initially charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited.

Announcing the inquiry, home secretary Yvette Cooper admitted events at Orgreave had “cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas”.

She added: “The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened.”

The inquiry, which will have the powers to compel people to provide evidence, will be chaired by the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield.

It follows years of campaigning from the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign (OTJC), which welcomed the news, saying: “We have waited a long time for this day.”

Campaigners said they are determined to find out who was responsible for “organising and ordering the deployment of multiple police forces, including mounted police armed with truncheons, shields and dogs, against striking miners”.

They also want to find out why “other evidence had been destroyed or embargoed until 2066 and 2071”, after it emerged Northumbria Police had destroyed two boxes of documents relating to the strike in April last year.

OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, said: “We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films.”

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary, Chris Kitchen, said the inquiry was “hugely welcome”.

Mr Kitchen added: “The events at Orgreave, and throughout the strike, destroyed the trust between the police and mining communities even now, 41 years later.

“It is vital that this trust is won back and the NUM believe this inquiry will go some way to rebuilding that trust.”

Kevin Horne, a miner arrested at Orgreave, said: “It is now over 41 years since a paramilitary style police operation was planned at Orgreave and it is important to remember that some of the miners attacked and arrested there are now dead and many others are old and ill.

“We need a quick and thorough inquiry with a tight timescale so that surviving miners can at last obtain the truth and justice they have been waiting for.”

South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, described the events at Orgreave as one of the most controversial in policing history.

“The violent clashes, the arrest of 95 miners, the collapse of the subsequent trial after revelations about police conduct, and the absence of any investigation or accountability scarred those involved, and people across our entire community,” he said, adding that the inquiry is a “landmark moment for justice and accountability”.

“It’s a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust,” he continued.

“We owe it to the miners, their families, and our communities to ensure that the events of Orgreave are finally understood.”

The Home Office said formal consultation between the home secretary and the Rt Rev Wilcox on the inquiry’s terms of reference has begun.

The Rt Rev Wilcox, who is working with the government to identify experts to support him on an independent panel, said he did not “underestimate the weight of expectation or the significance of the task”.

He added: “I expect the panel to begin its work in the autumn, and we will endeavour to deliver an inquiry which is thorough and fair, and which will uncover what happened at Orgreave as swiftly as possible.”

Four remain in hospital after Somerset school bus crash

Four people are still in hospital after a school bus crashed in Somerset on Thursday, police said in an update.

A 10-year-old boy died after the bus left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope.

Between 60 and 70 people were on board the bus, which was heading back to Minehead Middle School after a day trip for year 5 classes to Exmoor Zoo.

Two children were taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children by air ambulance following the incident, while four other children and three adults were taken to hospital in Somerset.

On Sunday, Avon and Somerset police said two children remained in hospital in Bristol and two adults were still in hospital in Somerset.

Minehead Middle School, which caters for pupils aged between nine and 14, and is five days away from the end of term, remained closed on Friday.

A stream of people went to the school to pay respects the day after the crash, leaving dozens of floral tributes, balloons and messages at the gates.

Many were visibly upset and could be seen hugging and supporting each other.

Speaking outside the school gates, the Rev Philip Butcher, the vicar of Minehead, said the community was in shock.

“It was absolutely numbing, there are no words to describe what happened yesterday,” he said.

“It’s an absolute tragedy, and one that’s still very much unfolding. We’re just standing firm with the school, with the families at this time, just to be with them in this time as a point of support.”

Fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, which have raised tens of thousands of pounds so far.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement after the crash, saying: “There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected.”

Water sports park shut as police search for missing woman

A water sports park has been shut as police search for a missing woman last seen in a petrol station in Cheshire.

Cheshire Police are appealing for help from the public to find Rachel Booth, 38, who was reported missing on Saturday 19 July after last being seen in the Barnton area of Northwich.

She was last sighted at around 3.50am on Saturday at the Sandiway Garage on the A556.

She is described as 5’ 9” tall, of a slim build, with blonde hair, and is believed to be wearing black leggings and a black top.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police told the Northwhich Guardian that officers were conducting enquiries in the village of Oakmere as part of their enquiries.

A nearby water-sports park, Wildshore Delamere, said it was closed until further notice due to “ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area”.

A notice on their website read: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

“The incident is unrelated to Wild Shore – however we wish to help as much as possible.

“If your booking is affected by this closure, please contact our customer services team or head online to your account. We’ll be happy to arrange a refund or reschedule your session for a later date. Thank you for your understanding.”

Inspector James Wilson said: “We are currently conducting a number of enquiries to trace Rachel and we are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.

“Anyone who has seen Rachel since she was reported missing is asked to contact us. The same goes for anyone who has any information on her whereabouts.

“We would also like to appeal directly to Rachel to get in touch to let us know you are OK.

You can report information to Cheshire Police via 101 or through www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us quoting IML-2136439.

When my friends were facing cancer, a community of people stepped up

When I was younger, I used to worry incessantly about my parents getting cancer. I’d lay awake at night, ruminating on what would happen to my brother and I if they did. Who would support us? Thankfully, both are still cancer-free, well into their seventies.

However, now that I’m a parent myself, I worry about my children. Many people believe that cancer only really happens to people in old age, but that’s just not true. One beloved friend’s daughter died of leukaemia in 2020, aged just five; an unthinkable horror that changed the lives of everyone who knew her and her family.

And with Macmillan Cancer Support reporting that almost 3.5 million people in the UK are living with cancer, I also worry about my friends – parents themselves, their lives touched by cancer. One friend sat me down in our favourite local café, our toddlers playing at our feet, to break the news that she was about to undergo a double mastectomy. We cried together.

Another friend, Sarah, a single parent to two teenage girls, was diagnosed with breast cancer the day before we heard that King Charles had cancer, and a month before the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, announced her own diagnosis in March last year. It seemed like cancer was everywhere.

As a result, Sarah put 2024 on hold – she missed her daughter’s last sports day and last concert at primary school and had to find a whole new way of co-ordinating family life.

“I’m lucky in some ways that my children are teenagers, so they are able to look after themselves to some degree – but I’m also a single parent, so there are some things that they can’t do, or struggle with, due to their age,” she tells me.

“I have even set up multiple alarms on our Alexa reminding them to put their packed lunches in their bags or leave for school, just in case I can’t get up.”

Sarah says she thought she knew quite a lot about cancer prior to her diagnosis, but now admits she “really didn’t”. She explains: “There are so many terms and procedures to understand – stages and grades, not to mention over 100 different chemotherapy drugs.”

Sarah tells me about the exhausting cumulative effect of chemotherapy, which she endured every three weeks during her cancer treatment: “After the very first lot, I slept for a few hours and felt much better pretty quickly. For my last rounds, I slept for 48 hours solid and even days later, I needed to have a nap in the middle of the day and was in bed by 8pm.”

Sarah’s now finished chemotherapy and, a year on from her diagnosis, is turning 50. She’s throwing a huge party to celebrate not only the birthday milestone, but getting over this “annus horriblis” – a year she couldn’t have gotten through without the people around her.

“People can do so much for us when we are unwell – and I am forever grateful,” she says. “I’ve been really overwhelmed by the support that my friends have given me; from ferrying around my children to and from after-school events and sleepovers when things get bad, to my 75-year-old neighbour mowing the lawn. One friend popped round with a huge pot of pasta sauce and I even had a gift box from a recruiter at work.”

What talking to my strong, resilient friends about their cancer journeys has made me realise most, is the power of community: for when we receive the worst news imaginable, what we need is people around us to see us through. A community of other women: friends, school mums, neighbours.

They had people willing to make them food, pick up their children, go shopping for them or to just sit with them and listen. They had support when they decided to raise money for cancer support charities, when they did fundraisers such as hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning.

It takes a village to raise a child – and that village will be with you every step of the way when you need them most.

Find out how you can help raise vital funds by hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning. Sign up now on the Macmillan website

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland.

140 flights cancelled and Moscow airports closed after drone attacks

At least 140 flights have been cancelled and Moscow’s major airports were closed after Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia.

The four major airports serving the capital were disrupted and more than 130 flights also had to be redirected, according to Russia’s Association of Tour Operators.

More than 230 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital, according to the Russian defence ministry.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has offered Vladimir Putin fresh peace talks after weeks of relentless Russian missile attacks.

Mr Zelensky offered Moscow another round of ceasefire negotiations for next week, saying he wanted to speed up ending the conflict.

On Sunday, a Kremlin spokesperson said Vladimir Putin is ready to move toward a peace settlement, but added that Moscow‘s main objective is to achieve its goals.

It comes after weeks of relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine, including over 300 drones and 30 missiles launched on Friday night.

“Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire,” Mr Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation. “The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions.”

What is behind Tesco and Sainsbury’s fresh criticism of Reeves?

Rachel Reeves is facing a fresh rebellion, but this time, the opposition is coming from Britain’s biggest supermarkets, not the Labour back benches.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have joined forces with pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses to warn the chancellor against a planned £1.7bn tax raid on the industry.

The Independent looks at what the businesses are worried about, and whether their warnings are likely to be heeded.

The grocery giants’ intervention focuses on the chancellor’s plans to overhaul the business rates system.

Changes outlined by Ms Reeves in her Budget last October will lead to higher payments for department stores, big supermarkets and other businesses with larger sites.

At the time, the chancellor said she was creating a “fairer business rates system” by permanently lowering payments for high street retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

To fund lower rates for businesses worth less than £500,000, Ms Reeves outlined plans for those worth more than £500,000 to pay a higher rate. The government is also scrapping a relief enjoyed by the companies, granting them 40 per cent off their business rates bills up to £110,000, which currently costs the Treasury £1.7bn a year.

“This measure will provide certainty and support for the high street,” the government said at the time.

Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy told The Telegraph that the changes will threaten “investments in customers, colleagues and communities”.

“Increasing the burden on large shops would hinder rather than help our town centres. Many of these shops are anchor stores in their local communities,” the retail chief added.

And Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts said big retailers, already struggling with higher national insurance contributions and the minimum wage hike, would “pull away from our high streets”.

He told the paper: “The changes being proposed will further increase the negative impact of business rates and won’t stimulate the growth or investment into our high streets and jobs that we all want to see.”

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) estimates that around 4,000 large retailers will be hit by the changes. It argues that these “anchor stores” drive footfall and help sustain surrounding businesses and communities.

The BRC wants the government to exclude shops from the higher rate payment, the level of which is set to be unveiled in the autumn Budget and take effect from next April.

Funding the exemption of shops would require smaller retail, leisure and hospitality firms to pay slightly more.

It is rare for the likes of Sainsbury’s and Tesco to publicly speak out against government policy, and the intervention is a sign of the growing frustration among retail and hospitality bosses at Ms Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer.

The industry has already been hit with national insurance hikes, a minimum wage increase and is bracing for the imposition of Angela Rayner’s employment rights shake-up.

Pub bosses have warned they are already seeing record closures and the business rates reforms will cause more to shut down.

Labour came to power with a promise to govern as a party of business, and the Treasury will certainly take note of the retailers’ calls.

However, with the chancellor already under pressure to raise as much cash as possible in her next Budget, any move that critics could paint as a bung to big business will prove politically difficult.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “We are a pro-business government that is creating a fairer business rates system to protect the high street, support investment, and level the playing field. To deliver our manifesto pledge and provide certainty and support to the high street we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties from next year.

“Unlike the current relief for these properties, there will be no cash cap on the new lower tax rates, supporting some of Britain’s most loved high street chains to continue to create jobs and grow the economy. The tough but necessary decisions we’ve taken on tax mean we could protect working people’s payslips from higher taxes, invest record amounts into the NHS, defence and other public services while keeping bus fares at £3 and expanding free school meals.”