How Jeremy Corbyn’s new party plans to take on Starmer’s Labour
It may have been a rather turbulent launch, but the potential for Jeremy Corbyn’s new party to shake up the UK’s fractured political landscape has certainly not gone unnoticed in Westminster.
The MP for Islington North has promised to “build a democratic movement that can take on the rich and powerful” in the form of a “new kind of political party”.
But as the as-yet-unnamed party looks to the future – and the next general election – it could well contain more familiar faces than you might expect.
The former Labour leader’s new party hopes to tempt a number of his former comrades-in-arms to join as it attempts to seize on Labour’s struggles in the polls and position itself in part as the party on the left of British politics that can take on Nigel Farage’s Reform, according to insiders.
The pitch to current Labour MPs will, among other things, suggest that they can stick with Sir Keir Starmer and a stumbling Labour party – and lose their seat – or join Corbyn’s new group and save it.
While insiders would not be drawn on specific targets, a number of sitting MPs and constituencies are thought to have already been identified. Among those rumoured to be under consideration are MPs in the Socialist Campaign Group, which includes former shadow minister Ian Lavery and Ian Byrne, and those disillusioned by the recent row over Labour’s welfare cuts.
More than 120 Labour MPs, including MPs like Kim Johnson from Liverpool, a pocket of the country where the new Corbyn party has in recent days thought to have attracted strong support, backed a bid to block the government’s planned welfare changes, before ministers eventually backed down.
Meanwhile senior ministers, including health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, saw their majorities slashed last year in the face of challenges from pro-Gaza candidates, and could be targeted by Corbyn’s new party as it seeks a major scalp at its first general election.
There is potential for a party that offers disaffected voters disillusioned with Starmer and Labour something new. A recent Find Out Now poll suggested that the new party would be equal third to Labour in support, on 15 per cent each, with Reform on 34 per cent and the Tories on 17 per cent.
Luke Tryl, from the pollsters More in Common, said the prospect of a new Corbyn-led party polled very well and “took 10 per cent of the vote, taking votes from Labour and the Greens”.
Leading pollster Sir John Curtice told The Independent that “Labour are vulnerable to the left”, adding that the Greens “were taking votes off them in that direction” at the last election.
But he added a note of caution, saying: “At the moment, I’m waiting to see whether Corbyn manages to get his act together and manages to create a political party that has some thoughts and organisation behind it.”
While far from enough to win an election, the early polling does suggest the group could cause real problems for Labour. And, despite the belief inside the party that they are the ones who can beat Reform in many seats, another ex-Labour leader, Neil Kinnock, has attacked the group, saying the only people they will help are Mr Farage and the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
The public has certainly taken notice too – a call out on social media has seen 600,000 people register as supporters, according to Mr Corbyn, with heavy concentrations in areas insiders believe to be very open to the new party’s message.
The party is planning to hold a founding conference later this year, but before that, there will be a series of meetings in different parts of the country, after places like Liverpool and other northern cities saw a huge number of people sign up.
But with popularity comes danger.
Insiders are worried about the possibility of ‘entryism’ into the new group – including from the right. Ironically, this is what Corbyn supporters were accused of, albeit from the other side of the political spectrum, when he became Labour leader in 2015 after Ed Miliband allowed the public to take part for a £3 fee.
The group is aware that it cannot be hijacked by left-wing activist groups either, such as the Socialist Workers, as that could limit its potential to appeal to a wider group of voters keen for something new and different in their politics.
And while the party wants to convert as many people as possible into full members, there is a wariness over pitching the cost of membership too low and potentially encouraging right-wingers keen to sabotage the party by disrupting its internal democracy, including potentially trying to build momentum behind a stupid name.
The party created a flurry of headlines and jokes when it was unveiled after Mr Corbyn sent supporters to a website called Your Party, only for Zarah Sultana, a potential co-leader, to take to social media to insist that was not the new outfit’s name.
That, along with many other things, will be decided at the conference – part of Mr Corbyn’s long-standing commitment to internal democracy in political parties. Some within the party, including Ms Sultana, are pushing for the party to be called ‘The Left’. Others back the idea of “the People’s Party”, although that is also the name of a conservative political party in Spain and in 2011, David Cameron famously took the Tories out of a European centre-right alliance called the ‘European People’s Party’.
Whatever it is called, the party’s performance at the next election could be helped or hindered by how many Labour MPs Mr Corbyn manages to persuade to join him and Ms Sultana.
Fresh hosepipe ban warning as fourth heatwave set to grip UK
Tens of thousands of people have been warned to restrict their water use and only turn on the taps when essential, just days before the UK is set to be gripped by its fourth heatwave.
South East Water (SEW) has told customers in Sussex that water reservoirs in the area are “falling quicker and earlier than usual”.
People in the area have been asked to only use water for essential use, such as for drinking, washing and cooking.
SEW already has a hosepipe ban in place in Sussex and Kent, but has warned it is monitoring water supplies in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to see if further restrictions are needed.
More than 8.5 million UK households are currently under hosepipe bans, with Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water also bringing in restrictions following a spell of warm weather in July.
The latest warning comes as a yellow heat health alert has been issued for large parts of the UK next week, with temperatures set to soar past 30C in some areas.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) heat warning, cautioning “significant impacts” across health and social care services, is in place from 12pm on Monday until 6pm on Wednesday. The alert covers Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, the East of England, the South East and the South West.
Temperatures are set to hit 27C in parts of southern England over the weekend, and then rise to over 30C in parts of central, southern and eastern England on Monday and Tuesday.
Ahead of the latest heatwave, a spokesperson for South East Water warned: “Our surface water reservoirs, Ardingly and Arlington, are an important source of water and are falling quicker and earlier than usual.
“Most of the water in them is taken from the nearby rivers, whose flow is much lower than normal because of multiple heatwaves.
“The reservoirs have not been this low at this time of year since the drought of 2022 and, with more warm weather due very soon, we’re asking people to protect resources and keep water use around the home to essential purposes only – namely drinking, washing and cooking.”
Steven Keates at the Met Office said: “We’re confident that temperatures will increase markedly by the start of next week, reaching the low 30s Celsius in parts of England on Monday and perhaps the mid 30s in a few places on Tuesday.
“However, the length of this warm spell is still uncertain, and it is possible that high temperatures could persist further into next week, particularly in the South”.
The fourth heatwave this year follows one in June and two in July. Authorities register a heatwave when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
This threshold varies depending on the area, from 25C in Scotland to 28C in London.
Why I am marching for freedom of speech
Today, I will be in Parliament Square to demand that the UK government uphold our right to freedom of speech, and to denounce the genocide that the Israeli government is perpetrating in Gaza against the Palestinian people.
As a human rights defender, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has denounced genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing throughout the world, I cannot remain silent, witnessing the genocide and the abhorrent starvation of the Palestinian people.
I will be holding a sign that will read: “The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.’”
Volker Türk, UN human rights chief, stated that “[the proscription of Palestine Action] appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UK’s obligations under international human rights law.”
Since 5 July, when the order proscribing the Palestine Action protest group under terrorism legislation came into force, hundreds of people have been arrested for holding up peaceful signs motivated by their consternation and horror at the genocide in Gaza.
I was shocked to see 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt on television being arrested on the day that Palestine Action was proscribed. Reverend Parfitt was attending a demonstration in Parliament Square, sitting in a camp chair around fellow protesters holding a placard stating her support of the outlawed protest group.
While being carried away by police, Reverend Parfitt described the ban as “total nonsense”, and went on to add that it symbolised a “loss of civil liberties in this country”.
Some have had their homes raided by the police. No one arrested seemed to pose any threat to the public.
Türk has also said that the UK’s counter-terrorism legislation “misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries, to encompass further conduct that is already criminal under the law”.
He added: “The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effects on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people.”
Yesterday, Amnesty International wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, stating that arresting protesters would violate international law:
“The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters solely for expressing the statement ‘I Oppose Genocide – I Support Palestine Action’ is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Further arrests [carried out on the 9 August demonstration] would violate international human rights law. As such, we urge you to instruct your officers to comply with the UK’s international obligations and act with restraint in their response to any such protests that occur, by not arresting protesters who are merely carrying placards that state they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.”
The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights recently wrote a paper, supported by numerous legal advocacy groups, that states: “Evidence suggests active and sustained cooperation between the UK and Israeli armies. Concerns surround reports that the UK military has carried out over 500 surveillance flights around Gaza since December 2023, sharing intelligence with Israel – including during the ceasefire.”
Only yesterday, further evidence emerged of the RAF’s ongoing support for Israel: “Britain continues to run near daily surveillance flights over Gaza with the help of a US contractor at a time of growing questions about how the intelligence obtained is used and shared with the Israeli military.
“Specialist flight trackers estimate that RAF Shadow aircraft have run more than 600 flights over the Palestinian territory from the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus in an attempt to locate the remaining hostages held by Hamas since December 2023.”
Palestine Action is being punished for exposing the crimes of the British government and taking action to uphold international law. We cannot turn a blind eye to the horrific crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. I will be joining the demonstration in Parliament Square to oppose genocide and defend human rights and freedom of speech.
Bianca Jagger is the founder and president of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, a Council of Europe goodwill ambassador, and a member of the executive director’s leadership council of Amnesty International USA
Wembley Stadium investigates claim fans were smuggled into Oasis shows
An investigation has been launched into reports that up to 200 people were able to sneak into Oasis’s concerts at Wembley Stadium without tickets.
The Britpop legends played the London venue five times between 25 July to 3 August as part of their ongoing 2025 reunion tour, with a further two shows scheduled for September.
Tickets sold out in hours when they went on sale last year, after brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher announced that they were reuniting for the first time since their infamous split in 2009.
Unprecedented demand was met with a surge in ticket prices and a row over Ticketmaster’s so-called “dynamic pricing”, which the company denied using.
It has now been reported that some people paid £350 each to be smuggled into Wembley through a disabled entrance across the five gigs, allegedly using copies of the same ticket to get through security.
The Sun reports that those people were handed wristbands by members of security that gave them access to the VIP area in front of the stage.
One fan claimed: “We were given our tickets, which were all the same, and a woman drew a shape on our hands. We were told to go to the disabled door at entrance M, even though our tickets said entrance F.
“We showed our stamped hands to the person on the door, they scanned the tickets, even though we all had the same one, and let us in.”
Another member of staff apparently then handed them a “golden circle” wristband and “that was it. There were zero security searches. We just walked straight in.”
Sky News reports that six people were arrested for suspected unauthorised entry during the shows, while 24 were ejected from the venue on the same grounds.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said in a statement: “Entering Wembley Stadium without a ticket is a serious offence and we are investigating these allegations.
“If they are substantiated, we will refer our evidence to the police.”
The Independent has contacted Wembley Stadium and Oasis’s representatives for comment.
Oasis are currently in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they will play two further shows tonight (Saturday 9 August) and Tuesday (11 August), after their first gig at Murrayfield Stadium on Friday.
They will then perform at Dublin’s Croke Park before heading to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later this year.
On Friday night, Liam Gallagher hit out at City of Edinburgh council over a report that predicted fans would be “rowdy” and “intoxicated” during their shows at Murrayfield.
Speaking in front of around 70,000 fans, Liam branded the council a “bunch of snakes” and said his band were “still waiting for our apology”.
Meanwhile, The Independent reported this week of “outrageous” price hikes for hotels and accommodation as the band’s shows clash with Edinburgh Fringe festival.
The Independent found prices approaching £4,000 for accommodation. With 92 per cent of hotels and lodgings sold out on sites including Booking.com, Expedia listed one 12-bedroom house at £8,009 – the cost falling by almost half a month later. Meanwhile, one luxury hotel was charging £3,599 for a suite, with more affordable options no longer available.
Fiorentina lead Man United after Sesko unveiled to Old Trafford
Manchester United take on Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the Premier League season with Ruben Amorim afforded one last chance to embed his style on the players before the new campaign.
The Red Devils have spent heavily this summer to bring in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and possibly Benjamin Sesko, who will form their new look forward line. Bruno Fernandes has previously slated his teammates for a “lazy” performance during a 2-2 draw with Everton in the United States and the captain will want a better outing today.
United’s first match of the season is against Arsenal at Old Trafford and today’s match could reveal how suited the squad is for such a difficult start.
Fiorentina are hoping to finally get a win against an English side having already lost to Leicester City and drawn with Nottingham Forest during their pre-season. Can they cause an upset this afternoon?
Follow all the action from Old Trafford with our live blog below:
Off the beaten track: discover ten British hidden gem destinations
While big cities and buzzy coastal destinations have their place, sometimes it’s nice to explore somewhere a little more under the radar, and Britain has lots of travel treasures to discover. From overlooked cities with a burgeoning cultural scene, vibrant market towns and revitalised seaside resorts, there’s somewhere to satisfy every type of traveller. The best part? You can reach many of these hidden gems easily by rail.
Travelling by train is a convenient, fun and greener way to arrive at your destination. Railcard offers a third off rail travel around Britain. With nine Railcards to choose from, saving customers an average of £172 a year, it pays for itself in no time. Find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. What’s more, Railcard have created a handy online calculator to determine what you could save – simply enter your journey details and the relevant Railcard and it will calculate the discount you can get.
Read on for some fresh travel inspiration and get ready for a season of discovery…
A working fishing port on Cornwall’s south coast, Looe is one of the most idyllic destinations in the UK and famous for its day-caught fish. If it looks familiar, it might be because it was used as a filming location for BBC drama Beyond Paradise. The scenic Looe Valley train line has been bringing visitors to this part of the world since Victorian times. Formerly two independent towns, East and West Looe, they are now joined across the river by a bridge. East Looe beach is a picture-perfect location where you can enjoy swimming, crabbing along the harbour walls, and explore the uniquely shaped Banjo pier. A boat trip takes you to Looe Island, a wildlife sanctuary where you can see grey seals sunbathing on the rocks. Back on dry land, the town’s narrow winding streets are perfect for a gentle meander.
Nearest station: Looe, about a 10 minute walk to town
This trendy Somerset town is known for its strong community spirit, award winning markets and independent shops and restaurants – plus stunning surrounding countryside – making it the perfect place for a relaxing weekend. The Cheese and Grain is a cultural hub for the town, attracting both classic bands and buzzy new acts (The Foo Fighters and Paul McCartney have played Glastonbury warm-up gigs here), as well as hosting a weekly flea market. Talking of markets, Frome has plenty, including an award-winning farmer’s market on the second Saturday of each month, and the legendary Frome Independent on the first Sunday of every month, which showcases the best craftspeople, designers, food producers and vintage traders in the South West. Hungry? There’s loads of tempting options, from trendy street food destination The Station, neighbourhood restaurants like Little Walcot and Bistro Lotte and buzzy tapas bar The High Pavement.
Nearest station: Frome, about a 10 minute walk to the town centre
Fast becoming Kent’s buzziest seaside destination, a vibrant Old Town, a great culinary scene and a glorious sandy beach are just a few of the things that make Folkestone great for a weekend break. The Leas, a mile-long stretch of clifftop promenade, is as perfect a place for a stroll now as it was in Victorian times. Meanwhile the town’s harbour arm is enjoying a new lease of life as the place to go for delicious street food, independent galleries and quirky shops. Food-wise, there’s everything from destination restaurant Rocksalt (try and snag a spot on the terrace) to acclaimed seafood stall Chummys. The town has the largest outdoor urban collection of contemporary art in the UK, so look out for pieces like Cornelia Parker’s ‘The Folkestone Mermaid’ on Sunny Sands beach and Anthony Gormley’s eerie statue under the harbour arm. If you’re in town between July and October the streets will come alive with artwork thanks to the triennale festival.
Nearest station: Folkestone Central, about a 10 minute walk to the town centre
This vibrant Devon market town is picture-perfect, with a riverside location, colourful houses and a castle looming over the town. The steep climb up to Totnes Castle is worth it for the views of the town below – as well as over the dramatic Dartmoor countryside. The River Dart runs through the town, and is a great spot for kayaking, paddleboarding or just a gentle riverside stroll. Take a 30 minute walk to Dartington Estate, to see its stunning Grade II* listed gardens, deer park and cinema in a 14th century barn. Totnes itself has a thriving arts scene with plenty of small galleries, as well as independent and eco-friendly (Totnes prides itself on being one of Britain’s greenest towns) shops and cafes. And if the train ride down gave you a taste for locomotives, the South Devon Railway offers steam train rides through the gorgeous Devon countryside.
Nearest station: Totnes, about a 10 minute walk to the town centre
Bradford is the 2025 City of Culture, meaning there’s lots of exciting things happening this year, including the reopening of the National Science and Media Museum, with its multiple exhibition spaces and cinema screens. Loading Bay is a pop-up arts venue in a disused storage depot that will host music, comedy, art exhibitions and immersive theatre shows throughout 2025. And in July a brand new shopping and cultural destination, Darley Street Market, opened in the city.
Bradford is also a great base to explore some of West Yorkshire’s other highlights, including Victorian model village (and UNESCO World Heritage site) Saltaire, which is less than 15 minutes away by train. Salts Mill, the huge textile factory around which the village was designed, is now a fantastic complex of galleries, shops and restaurants – and home to a large collection of David Hockey’s work. Meanwhile at Keighley, a 20 minute journey from Bradford, you can catch a performance of The Railway Children (15 July – 7 Sept) on the same tracks where the classic film was shot.
Nearest Station: Bradford Forster Square or Bradford Interchange, in the city centre
If not under the radar then certainly underrated, this charming Welsh seaside town has loads to offer visitors, blending natural beauty with a rich history and a vibrant creative energy. Surrounded by the stunning Cambrian mountain range, the town has not one but two glorious beaches, linked by a mile-long promenade. At the northern end of this you’ll find the famous cliff top railway, which takes you up to a summit with spectacular views of Cardigan Bay. Perched on a hill in an impressive building, The National Library of Wales also has great vistas – and exhibitions dedicated to Welsh history and literature. Aberystwyth Arts Centre is the largest of its kind in Wales, presenting a programme of music, visual art, dance, film and more. Aber – as locals call it – also has a burgeoning food scene, with highlights including Arabic Flavour, whose menu is inspired by Lebanon and Greece cuisine, and popular tapas and wine bar Ultracomida.
Nearest station: Aberystwyth, about a five minute walk to the town centre
This underrated city is undergoing something of a cultural renaissance. In 2021 it was the City of Culture and there’s plenty of that to soak up. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum has displays dedicated to visual arts, archaeology, social history and natural history – and a dinosaur in residence, Dippy, on loan from The Natural History Museum. Coventry Music Museum celebrates the city’s musical heritage, including the legendary 2-Tone scene, while Coventry Transport Museum (get 2FOR1 entry with National Rail Days Out Guide) has the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles in the world. Meanwhile, the former industrial space FarGo village is a must-visit hub of indie shops, restaurants, street food and cultural events. Finally, no visit is complete without seeing Coventry Cathedral. The original medieval building was largely destroyed in 1940 by The Blitz, and its preserved ruins now sit alongside the new cathedral – a marvel of contemporary architecture designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962. The modern building has a stunning 26-metre high stained glass window made up of 198 glass panels — no wonder it was once voted the nation’s favourite 20th century building.
Nearest station: Coventry, about a 10 minute walk to the city centre
Home to cobbled streets, an impressive cathedral and a beautiful castle, Lincoln combines a rich history with a vibrant cultural scene and stunning surrounding scenery, all in a compact and easy-to-navigate city. The nearly 1,000 year old Lincoln Cathedral was once the tallest building in the world, and while it might no longer hold that accolade it’s still an awe inspiring work of architecture. From there it’s only a short walk to the castle, built by William The Conqueror, which holds one of only four remaining copies of the Magna Carta. Steep Hill is, as the name suggests, a famous street with a sharp incline – but its array of shops and cafes make it worth the effort. It’s also where you’ll find beloved pie shop Hobbsons, where the only issue is deciding which flavour to pick. If you need to walk off your lunch, Lincoln Arboretum, nestled in the heart of the city, is a delightful place for a stroll.
Nearest station: Lincoln Central, about a 15 minute walk to the Cathedral
Often overlooked in favour of its better-known Scottish cousins, there are plenty of things to see and do in this historic city. Stirling Castle (get 25% off entry with National Rail Days Out Guide), the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, is one of the most historically important in Scotland, while Bannockburn (get 2FOR1 entry with National Rail), two miles south of the city, is the site of one of the country’s most famous battles, won by Robert The Bruce. Then there’s the Wallace Monument, which towers over the city, commemorating the life of local hero William Wallace. It’s a short bus ride or hour’s walk from the station, plus a 246-step winding staircase to reach the top – but the views are well worth the effort. The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Gallery has a large collection of rare and interesting artifacts – including the world’s oldest football (made from a pig’s bladder). In Stirling’s cobbled Old Town you’ll find plenty of cosy pubs, cool cafes and quirky shops to explore, and for a family-friendly attraction, Blair Drummond Safari Park is a half hour bus ride from the city centre.
Nearest station: Stirling, in the city centre
Nestled in the scenic Shropshire Hills is this beautiful market town known for its history, food scene, and stunning landscapes. Boasting fascinating medieval architecture, vibrant markets, and surrounding forests, Ludlow offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Ludlow Castle, which dates back to the 11th century, is one of the best examples of medieval ruins in England and has incredible vistas over the Shropshire countryside. You can also enjoy fine views from the tower of Saint Laurence’s Church, once you’ve climbed the 201 steps to the top. To get away from the crowds, a four-mile circular walk will take you to peaceful Mortimer Forest and back. Meanwhile Ludlow itself is full of antique, interior, craft and gift shops, as well as delis, cafes and artisan food shops. The town square hosts a market four days a week, with a farmer’s market on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The famous Ludlow Farmshop, two miles outside the centre, is a haven for foodies, with a kitchen restaurant, pub and distillery also on site.
Nearest station: Ludlow, about a five minute walk to the town centre
Enjoy great value British adventures by train
From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there’s no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there’s never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation.
With Railcard, whether you’re travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With nine different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. What’s more, you can enjoy 2FOR1 and other offers with National Rail’s Days Out Guide when you travel by train. So make this your year to get out, experience and explore everything on your doorstep and enjoy truly great value getaways.
‘A failed surgery has left me unable to eat solid food for years’
A man who has spent years unable to eat solid food following an unsuccessful operation on his ribs more than a decade ago hopes a new surgery will help him regain a “sense of normality”.
Rob Lindsell, 37, went under the knife in July 2010 for a condition called pectus excavatum, which causes the breastbone to press inwards and create a dip between the ribs.
Mr Lindsell, a coffee shop owner from Bournemouth, said the condition restricted his everyday life, affecting his heart and lungs, causing breathlessness and chest pain.
But the operation that was meant to help him live more comfortably, instead left him unable to eat big meals and eventually struggle to keep any solid food down.
“I am having a lot of issues whereby food just isn’t staying down; I have insane acid reflux. I wake up in the night and literally choke on my stomach acid,” he told the Independent.
However, Mr Lindsell claims the NHS is unable to offer him the surgery he needs, leaving him with no other option but to launch a fundraiser to help pay the private medical costs.
“Every day is a struggle, both physically and emotionally. I just want a chance to live with some sense of normality again,” he said.
“It’s exhausting. I can’t go out for meals with friends or family. I can’t gain weight. I can’t date or build the kind of life I thought I would have by now.”
About one in 1,000 children will have pectus excavatum, according to charity Asthma and Lung UK. Like Mr Lindsell, about one in 10 people with the condition also have scoliosis – curvature of the spine.
Although some people will not experience any symptoms, it can cause chest pain, breathlessness, extreme tiredness, dizziness and a fast heart rate.
In Mr Lindsell’s case, he required surgery, and when he was aged 22, he was given the Nuss Procedure. It involves placing one or more stainless steel bars into the chest to alter the position of the breastbone. These bars are left on for two or three years before being permanently removed.
Mr Lindsell said that because he has scoliosis, he faced complications and now believes the surgery was not suitable for his condition.
“It’s an ‘S shaped’ scoliosis, so it causes my body to twist tightly, and with that, the procedure on the left-hand side stayed exactly where it should. But on the right, my chest falls backwards and to the side, so it actually fits underneath my armpit and then presents itself as a bit of a hunch on my back,” he explained.
Since the surgery 15 years ago, Mr Lindsell said he has struggled to eat big meals, and over the last couple of years, it’s got progressively worse, forcing him to survive on a liquid diet.
“I can no longer eat properly. I silently aspirate liquids and choke easily. I’ve lost nearly two stone in 6 months,” he said.
“I survive off six of Huel meal replacements a day, and then when I’m not having to move about a lot at home, I will try and eat something soft or something that melts like a soup or puree,” he added.
To find the cause, Mr Lindsell went to hospital for an endoscopy, a medical procedure where a camera is inserted down the throat, and medics discovered his stomach was pushed out of place by a 10cm hernia – when part of an organ protrudes through the muscle wall and causes a lump or swelling.
He said that where one side of his rib cage has collapsed following the surgery, the deformity has caused pressure inside his body that led to the hernia, which has then caused chronic acid reflux and constant regurgitation of food.
However, he claims doctors have told him the hernia is “liveable” and said he does not need surgery, despite the fact that he is struggling to eat and losing weight.
“I’ve been refused surgical help and told to see a dietitian as though this is something I can manage through willpower and a meal plan,” he said.
“I told the doctor that since I last saw him in April, I’ve lost another half a stone, and he sat there and said, ‘you actually look a lot better than the last time I saw you’. But I’m visibly much skinnier.”
Mr Lindsell plans to make a formal complaint against the NHS, but in the meantime, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for private medical costs. He set out to get a second opinion and for surgery to remove the hernia.
So far, the money raised has helped him get another X-ray, which revealed his spine has become more curved and his oesophagus is being crushed in multiple places, exacerbating the symptoms of the hernia.
“The hernia is causing a lot of issues, but it seems the majority of my issues lie with the new shape of my spine. It is the worst-case scenario for me because it is not an easy fix,” Mr Lindsell explained.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Dorset said: “For confidentiality reasons, we are unable to comment on individual patients, however, we would always encourage those who would like to discuss their care or treatment options to get in touch with our Patient Advice and Liaison Team.”
Nicola Sturgeon says police investigation ‘was like mental torture’
Nicola Sturgeon has opened up about her arrest, describing how the police investigation was like “mental torture” and she thought about disappearing into the North Sea.
In an excerpt of her new memoir, Frankly, published by The Times, the former first minister of Scotland spoke about some of the hardest moments of her life, as well as conflicted feelings over motherhood and sexuality.
Being arrested and questioned by the police following the arrest of her ex-husband and the Scottish National Party (SNP) treasurer was the “worst day of my life”, she wrote.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive officer of the SNP, was arrested in 2023 and later charged with embezzlement, after his and Ms Sturgeon’s home was searched by police looking into what happened to £660,000 of donations to the party.
Police also investigated Colin Beattie and Ms Sturgeon but they were later exonerated.
The arrests, Ms Sturgeon said, made her feel like she “had fallen into the plot of a dystopian novel”.
She said she barely slept during the period leading up to her arrest and would wake with her stomach in knots.
She described June 11, the date she was arrested and questioned, as the “worst day of my life” but added she was partly relieved that her wait was over.
Following her questioning, she went to visit a friend in the north east of Scotland for a week to escape the media glare.
She wrote: “I spent hours, looking out across the North Sea. At first, I wanted to somehow disappear into its vastness.
“Slowly but surely, though, the sea calmed me.”
But alongside her darker moments was one of her proudest achievements, she said – passing her driving test at the age of 53.
Ms Sturgeon told how she carried a sense of “dread and anxiety” for a year, during which nothing happened, until April 2024, when Mr Murrell was re-arrested and charged.
But the probe into Ms Sturgeon continued and she admitted she was frightened about the investigation even though she knew she had “done nothing wrong”.
And she said: “I retain both faith in and respect for our country’s criminal justice system. However, none of that changes this fact: being the subject of a high-profile criminal investigation for almost two years, especially having committed no crime, was like a form of mental torture.”
She wrote of an “overwhelming” sense of relief and release upon being told she would face no further action on March 20, 2025.
Ms Sturgeon also opens up about her miscarriage in 2010, saying she went to work in January while she was in “constant agony”, including a memorial event for the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster.
And she addressed rumours of her “torrid lesbian affair” around 2020 with Catherine Colonna, who was French ambassador to the UK at the time, and false rumours perpetuated about her issuing a super-injunction to silence the press.
She concludes: “However, while the fact I was being lied about got under my skin, the nature of the insult itself was water off a duck’s back.
“Long-term relationships with men have accounted for more than 30 years of my life, but I have never considered sexuality, my own included, to be binary. Moreover, sexual relationships should be private matters.”
Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon will be published on Thursday.