St George’s flags create ‘no go zones’ for NHS staff, trust staff warn

St George’s flags are creating “no go zones” for NHS staff, with some facing frequent abuse, health leaders have warned.

Several NHS trust chief executives and leaders have said that staff feel intimidated by the presence of the flags across the country, including when they are visiting people in their own homes to give them treatment.

It comes as a poll of senior managers found 45 per cent were extremely concerned about discrimination towards NHS staff from patients and the public, while a further 33 per cent were moderately concerned.

One trust leader spoke anonymously as they said there were particular issues with nurses entering people’s homes alone when they work in the community. When St George’s flags went up, staff members of minority ethnicities felt “deliberately intimidated”.

“You’re going in on your own, you’re locking the door behind you,” he said. “I have been into homes with people who have been convicted of sex offences, and we go in and provide care to them.

“It can be a really precarious situation, and they (the nurses) handle that absolutely brilliantly”, he added. “We saw during the time when the flags went up – our staff, who are a large minority of black and Asian staff, feeling deliberately intimidated.

“It felt like the flags were up creating no go zones. That’s what it felt like to them.”

The trust leader added he thought that this was “designed to feel” intimidating and exclusionary for the staff, who had seen “individual instances of aggression.”

Another NHS trust leader said one member of their staff, who is white and has mixed race children, had asked some people putting up flags to move so she could park her car.

“The individuals filmed what was happening, and then followed her, and she continued to receive abuse over a series of several days, not because she objected to the flags, but because she disturbed them,” they said.

They added this was one of many stories of staff facing abuse as a result of the flag-raising operation.

Daniel Elkes, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, said that the NHS relied on overseas recruitment and couldn’t deliver without a diverse workforce.

“We have a really diverse workforce, and without that, you can’t deliver the NHS,” he said. “We are trying to recruit from the very places where we provide healthcare so the intake into the NHS is representative of British people from more diverse backgrounds.”

A large number of St George’s Flags were raised across the UK over the summer as part of a controversial movement called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’, backed by far-right figures. In the midst of the movement, a Chinese takeaway in York was covered in racist graffiti and St George’s crosses.

It comes as NHS Providers said the resident doctor strike, scheduled to start next Friday, could wipe out a “once-in-a-generation” chance to fix the NHS. Industrial action, which will last five days, could badly affect NHS recovery, it said.

The NHS Providers’ annual survey of health leaders and managers found that while a growing proportion report high or very high quality care for patients, concerns remain over industrial action, finances and winter pressures.

Regarding strikes, one NHS leader said: “When people take industrial action, you have to then spend a huge amount of time covering their shifts, which means that you don’t have the staffing that you would have had had they not been on industrial action – and your focus is all about how to keep the most people safe.

“You’re not as focused on treating everybody as well as you could… There is a risk that people will die who wouldn’t otherwise have come to harm.”

Ghislaine Maxwell to seek commutation from Trump after several pardons

Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, is reportedly planning to seek a commutation of her federal prison sentence, which is set to end in 2037.

A document obtained by the House Judiciary Committee Democrats, and viewed by Politico, revealed the 63-year-old’s plan, which, if approved by President Donald Trump, could see her 20-year sentence reduced.

In a letter to her lawyer, Maxwell wrote that she would send application details through the prison warden.

“I am struggling to keep it all together as it is big and there are so many attachments,” she wrote in a message with the subject line: “RE: Commutation Application,” per Politico.

She added, “More coming to replace others… hopefully it will all make sense.”

The Supreme Court last month denied an appeal from Maxwell, who was handed the lengthy sentence after she was found guilty in 2021 of recruiting and grooming young women and girls for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Given the rejection, a pardon from Trump could be Maxwell’s only escape. The president has not ruled out pardoning Maxwell; however, he said he had not given it much thought when he was asked about it in July.

A letter to Trump from Judiciary Democrats alleges that Maxwell has been receiving preferential and lenient treatment at the minimum-security Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas, to which she was transferred in August.

In the letter, the committee notes having received information that suggests that “Maxwell’s meals have been customized and prepared by federal prison camp staff,” according to Politico.

Maxwell was also given special time to play with a service dog in training, per the report.

A section of the letter, viewed by CBS News, states that the committee has reportedly received information that the prison staff “has heaped favorable concierge-style treatment on Ms. Maxwell.”

The letter also claimed that when Maxwell wanted to meet with visitors, the warden would arrange for the meetings to be held in a special, cordoned-off area.

She was transferred to the prison, known for its relatively relaxed environment, after meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July. During that meeting, Maxwell claimed she had never seen Trump in an inappropriate setting.

She also said she had “never ever [seen] any man doing something inappropriate with a woman of any age,” despite evidence pointing to her role in Epstein’s sex-trafficking schemes. Epstein, a wealthy financier, died in an apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019.

In the letter to Trump, the committee urged the president not to grant Maxwell any form of clemency.

“You should not grant any form of clemency to this convicted and unrepentant sex offender,” Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Trump. “Your Administration should not be providing her with room service, with puppies to play with, with federal law enforcement officials waiting on her every need, or with any special treatment or institutional privilege at all.”

Raskin also asked Trump in the letter if he had previously discussed commutation with his staff, and whether he had ordered that Maxwell receive special treatment behind bars.

Maxwell recently said she’s “much happier” at the cushy Texas prison camp, to which she was transferred after meeting with Trump officials.

“I feel like I have dropped through Alice in Wonderland’s looking glass,” she wrote in an email obtained by NBC News. “I am much much happier here and more importantly safe.”

The prison camp is dubbed “Club Fed” for its comparatively relaxed conditions. It boasts dormitory-style cells, no barbed wire, and opportunities to take classes outside of work. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah are also housed there.

Beatrice makes first charity visit since Andrew’s loss of prince title

Princess Beatrice has stepped out in London to support a charity dedicated to ending premature births, putting the ongoing scandal surrounding her father, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, behind her.

The royal visited the Borne research laboratories at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Monday afternoon.

The location holds particular significance for Beatrice, as she gave birth to her youngest child, Athena, several weeks prematurely there in January.

This engagement marks the princess’s first public charity appearance in the UK since her father was stripped of his prince title and dukedom following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Her visit follows reports that Beatrice hosted an afternoon tea event in the Middle East last week during an investment summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking about Borne, which funds research into preventing premature births, Beatrice described their work as “incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter”.

Athena was born at the start of the year, weighing 4lb 5oz, with Beatrice previously writing that she was “so tiny it took more than a few weeks for the tears of relief to dry”.

Beatrice was joined at the event by Good Morning Britain’s weather presenter Laura Tobin, whose own daughter Charlotte arrived three months early in 2017, weighing just 2lb 8oz.

The pair met scientists and clinicians leading Borne’s research, including projects investigating the causes of preterm labour, the role of inflammation in pregnancy, and the development of new treatments to help prevent babies from being born too early.

In a statement released to coincide with the visit, Beatrice, who became patron of Borne shortly after Athena was born, said: “The work that Borne is undertaking is something that is incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter.

“Today’s visit was not only insightful but has given me so much hope for pregnant mothers in the UK that this topic is being taken incredibly seriously.

“As a patron of Borne, I am so grateful for the scientists and clinicians who took the time today to show me the advances they are making to reduce the risks to expectant mums and babies.”

Tobin, a Borne ambassador, described the tour as a “deeply personal” experience.

“As a parent who’s experienced the uncertainty of premature birth and how worrying it can be, today’s visit was deeply personal,” she said.

“The research happening here gives me real hope for the future, that one day fewer families will have to face what ours did.

“The dedication of everyone at Borne to finding answers and preventing prematurity is truly inspiring.”

The visit forms part of Borne’s “every week counts” campaign to mark World Prematurity Day next Monday.

Beatrice and Borne founder Professor Mark Johnson are set to host an event at Battersea Power Station in London to mark the occasion, bringing together supporters, researchers, and families involved with the charity.

Some 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK every year – one in every 13 births – with 15 million babies arriving early around the world, the charity said.

Complications from prematurity remain the leading cause of neonatal death and lifelong disability, but less than 2 per cent of medical research funding is dedicated to pregnancy and childbirth, it added.

Beatrice’s father Andrew is set to move from Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park sometime in the new year to the King’s private Sandringham estate after he was banished from the royal family.

The King took action by stripping his younger brother of his birthright to be a prince and his dukedom over his “serious lapses of judgment”.

The former prince has for many years been dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein. Andrew strenuously denies the accusations.

It also emerged in recent weeks that he had emailed Epstein in 2011 saying “we’re in this together”, three months after he claimed he had broken all contact with the paedophile financier.

Andrew’s conduct could be debated by MPs for the first time this week, with the Liberal Democrats intending to raise his Royal Lodge rental arrangements, including details about the size of any payout for leaving the property, after the Commons returns from recess on Tuesday.

Members of the US Congress have also written to him requesting he sit for a “transcribed interview” in connection with his friendship with Epstein, and asking him to respond by November 20.

Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie remain princesses despite their father’s banishment from the royal family and his new status as a commoner.

Reform council led by ‘captain chaos’ accused of risking public safety

The leader of Reform UK’s “flagship” council has been branded “captain chaos” by a union boss after councillor suspensions have created a “threat to public safety”.

Reform UK took control of Kent County Council (KCC) in May winning 57 of the 81 seats, but they now sit with 48 councillors after a string of suspensions and removals.

The chair and vice-chair of the Kent and Medway Fire Authority were two of the affected councillors, which has left the authority in “disarray”, according to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, called for the KCC administration to “get a grip” of the structures which appear to have broken down.

“This situation is a shambles and a threat to public safety. Without sound governance, fire and rescue services will not be able to do their jobs properly,” Mr Wright said. “The public has a right to expect that its emergency services are accountable to them and their elected representatives. At the moment, the structures for that have broken down in Kent.

“It’s time for the council administration to get a grip.”

Kent’s Fire and Rescue chief executive cannot sanction large spending without the Fire Authority, which is currently missing key members. Former chairman of the Fire Authority Brian Black, along with Robert Ford, Paul Thomas and Oliver Bradshaw, have all been kicked out of Reform UK. Isabella Kemp, who was vice-chair, was suspended last week ahead of a full council meeting.

The FBU says that local union representatives have written to the KCC leader Linden Kemkaran asking for a meeting but have not received a response. With a budget of more than £2.5 billion, Ms Kemkaran has said KCC is a “shop window” for what Reform UK could do if it ran the country.

Joe Weir, an FBU executive council member for the South East, said: “Kent firefighters work round the clock to keep the public safe. The least they deserve is political leadership that functions.

“Since Reform took over the council in May, we have seen a deeply worrying lack of care and diligence. The FBU has written to Linden Kemkaran, or ‘captain chaos’ as she is becoming known, to ask for a meeting, but nothing has been forthcoming.

“The FBU will continue to defend the safety and welfare of firefighters, as well as the safety of the public.”

In a speech in the council chamber last Thursday, Ms Kemkaran drew parallels between the recent suspensions and her son’s army training.

“Some had quit because they couldn’t hack it, others have been thrown out for bad behaviour, because they weren’t good enough or they weren’t team players – not up to the challenge or were simply unable or unwilling to accept discipline,” she said.

The co-Labour group leaders at KCC, Alistair Brady and Vince Maple have said it is clear that “the Reform UK chaos” is “spreading beyond KCC”.

“This undoubtedly poses more questions to be answered about the Reform UK political leadership of KCC who would have selected these councillors before sacking them,” they said.

Mark Hood, leader of the Green group at KCC, who is one of the members of the Fire Authority, has said the FBU are “absolutely right” to sound the alarm.

“Luckily we have some experienced figures still in place but this underlines why Reform are unfit to control the services that the people of Kent rely on,” said Mr Hood.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.

Why Syrian president’s White House visit is so significant

Nothing says you’re off the State Department’s terrorism list like a viral video of you shooting hoops with a gaggle of American military commanders.

That is just the latest bizarre episode in the extraordinary narrative arc of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who went from being an ex-al-Qaeda militant with a $10 million bounty on his head to being dubbed by Donald Trump, the Middle East’s new “young, attractive tough guy”.

After his success on the unnamed basketball court, President al-Sharaa was in Washington DC today to meet his newest and most powerful fan. He also became the first Syrian president to visit the White House since the country gained independence in 1946.

The agenda of today’s closed doors meetings is by no means easy, covering some of the most fraught fault lines in the simmering region.

Sharaa was the former head of the Islamist militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham which, although once aligned with al-Qaeda, severed ties in 2017. He stormed to power in December last year, leading rebel forces that toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

He has since become the interim president of Syria, a country struggling to rebuild and heal its deep, internationally-exploited sectarian rifts after a 13-year civil war and more than half a century of brutal Assad family rule.

President al-Sharaa has seen some significant wins: in the last week alone he has been removed from the US, UK and United Nations sanctions blacklists.

No doubt he will want reassurances during his Washington visit today about the permanent and unconditional repeal of remaining sanctions that, although partially suspended, continue to have a chilling effect on badly-needed international investment in his war-ravaged country.

Top of the agenda for Trump will be his desire for some kind of security pact between Syria, his newest regional ally, and Israel, his closest.

President al-Sharaa will, I imagine, be more interested in guarantees from the American president that he can rein in neighbouring Israel, which has been stirring the pot by repeatedly bombing Syria since Assad was ousted and directly intervening in sectarian clashes in the south.

Israel, whose troops have invaded and even reportedly built military bases on Syrian territory, claims it is trying to protect Syria’s Druze population, an ethno-religious minority with roots in Shia Islam whose adherents live in Syria, Lebanon and, crucially, Israel.

And so citing pressure from its own Druze population, Israel has taken a violent stand, raining missiles down on Syrian government forces in the south and central Damascus, pounding the country’s defence ministry and presidential palace.

Al-Sharaa will want an end to Israel’s bombings and incursions.

Trump, for his part, will want to push ahead with a possible security pact between Syria and Israel – likely through the framework of the Abraham Accords, the diplomatic trade and normalisation deals between Israel and several countries, including the UAE.

Alongside this are negotiations on Syria joining a US-led coalition to fight the so-called Islamic State (Isis), which possibly might be announced during the visit.

Just hours before the landmark talks, word emerged of two separate Isis plots to assassinate President al-Sharaa that had been foiled over the past few months, Syrian security official sources told Reuters.

Over the weekend, the Syrian interior ministry also launched a nationwide campaign targeting Isis cells across the country, according to government media.

This also comes on heels of a Reuters report that the US is planning to establish a military presence at a Damascus airbase firmly within the president’s administration’s territory.

All of this would mark a significant shift for Syria, where the US’s closest allies, and partners in the anti-Isis war, have so far been the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Based in the autonomous Kurdish-dominated region in the northeast of Syria, the SDF has fought side by side with American troops in the fierce battles that destroyed Isis’s “caliphate”.

SDF commanders have repeatedly told me they remain wary of the Damascus administration. There are myriad reasons: al-Sharaa’s former al-Qaeda ties, the integration of foreign Islamist fighters into the Syrian army, concerns about Kurdish autonomy, and al-Sharaa’s forces’ Turkish support and alliance with the Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups, which have been engaged in their own war against Kurdish positions since 2019.

Last month, the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces agreed in principle to a plan to merge the SDF into the national army as a first step.

But there is still a lot of distrust and still unresolved issues, including who will run the Isis detention facilities currently managed by the SDF and the northeast Syrian administration .

A new firmed-up alliance between President al-Sharaa and Trump will pile pressure on the SDF to comply.

That said with the depths of the problems ravaging the region, with an agenda this complex, however productive, the meeting won’t be a slam-dunk. But it is a significant start.

From cuisine and culture to history and nature, find the ideal cruise

If you want to see the world from a fresh perspective, then taking to the water is a great way to do it. Not only can travelling by ship  take you to far flung corners of the globe, it can also show you a different side of your favourite destinations and provide some unique experiences, from spotting rare wildlife and glancing remote landscapes to seeing iconic sights from a whole new viewpoint. From epic adventures exploring Antarctica or uninhabited archipelagos in the South Pacific, to itineraries taking the cultural capitals of Europe or sampling the cuisine of South East Asia, there’s a trip for everyone, whatever your passion or wherever you’d like to go.

Combining a cruise with carefully curated time on land gives you the best of both worlds. Audley cruise offerings are tailor made, with the land and water elements of your trip meticulously planned to create a bespoke itinerary that’s as relaxing or as adventure packed as you wish. Audley’s cruise experts will listen to what your dream trip looks like and help you pick the best route, ship and experiences to bring it to life. They work with a range of cruise partners, hand picking vessels for their facilities, service, onboard activities and the experiences they offer in port, so you’ll enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

Each Audley trip is tailor-made to the traveller – but if you need some inspiration, here’s a taste of the adventures you can experience.

A cruise can offer immersive cultural experiences, from learning about a country’s centuries old traditions to touring cities with world-class galleries and museums. One of the benefits of a cruise is that you can explore multiple stops, giving you plenty of time to take in each destination and tailor the trip to your specific interests.

“For example, a 24 day cruise around Japan visits 10 different ports,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline. “In the city of Sakaiminato, you can explore the artistry of Japan with a guided visit that takes in both the Adachi Museum of Art and the Yushien Garden. The museum provides a deep dive into Japan’s contemporary art before you head to a nearby island to explore the exuberant peony beds at Yushien. The garden is most spectacular in the spring, but carefully timed plantings mean you’ll always see many of the 250 types of peonies in gloriously full bloom.”

Or how about exploring the art cities of Italy in the largest five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in the world – a romantic call-back to the golden age of sailing? You’ll enjoy personal tours of the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, explore Florence’s Renaissance heritage and discover hidden haunts in Venice.

Audley can make sure your time at sea is just as enriching, with ships that include a variety of experiences and activities to choose from – from expert talks and lectures on subjects like art history, archaeology and local wildlife to art classes like watercolour painting to glassblowing.

With cruises covering all seven continents, and many featuring unique culinary experiences, there’s plenty of trips to tickle the tastebuds of foodies. Wine lovers will enjoy a river cruise of Portugal’s Douro region that takes in port houses in the vibrant city of Porto and stops at vineyards along the picturesque Douro Valley. You’ll enjoy a traditional home cooked meal at a quinta (country house), visit Mateus Palace and Gardens — home of the famous rosé wine – and finish the trip in Madrid, sampling the local tapas.

On a Bali to Bangkok trip you can check out the Indonesian street-food scene, trying delicacies such as Java’s rawon (a black beef soup) and Bangkok’s drunken noodles. In Singapore, watch locals haggle for seafood and spices in the markets and try a Singapore Sling in the very place they were invented: Raffles’ Long Bar.

Wherever you’re heading, the options are just as tasty on board the ship. “The larger and medium-sized cruises we’ve chosen to work with always offer a variety of dining options,” explains  Audley cruise specialist Franki. “With usually at least one buffet-style restaurant, and also usually at least a couple of specialty restaurants, such as trattorias or steakhouses. Audley hand-picks the best vessels with some also offering cooking demonstrations and wine tasting.

From experiencing the world’s wildest and most remote landscapes to spotting rare species, travelling by water offers one-of-a-kind adventures for nature lovers. “No other type of voyage gets you as close to unpeopled landscapes or feeds your curiosity about the world’s wildlife and habitats as expedition cruises,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline, “Wherever you are, expedition leaders will help root you in your destination, pointing out intriguing features and what to look for.”

There’s also plenty of expert knowledge you can tap into onboard, as Audley cruise specialist Jon explains. “Many of our polar expedition cruises are accompanied by leading researchers who can enlighten you on the icy formations and distinctive wildlife you sail past. Some ships also feature onboard helicopters, offering you the chance to follow the flight paths of Arctic birds and get a rare glimpse of this pristine landscape from the air.”

In the Galapagos Islands, for example, Audley’s Luxury Ecuador and Galapagos tour includes a seven night expedition around the islands where you’ll come face to face with countless incredible species from iguanas, penguins and albatross to sea lions, sea turtles and sharks. The trip also includes a stay in a luxury lodge in the Ecuadorian cloudforest, surrounded by 400 types of wildlife.

A cruise is also the ideal way to discover the landscapes of Alaska. You’ll sail down through fjords, past glaciers and waterfalls – with the option to kayak to the places your cruise ship can’t reach. You might spot otters, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and even orca whales in the water or, on shore, moose, mountain goats and wolves. At the end of the cruise, there’s a stay in Great Bear Rainforest on Berry Island, a haven for bears, whales, marine mammals and birds.

With knowledgeable local experts on hand across the globe, Audley cruises allow you to delve into the history of a destination. A cruise of Croatia’s cities and coasts offers all the spectacular scenery you’d expect – but also give you the chance to walk Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-protected walled city with an expert guide, explore the medieval streets of Šibenik and visit a working 13th century monastery on the island of Visovak.

If you like your history to be ancient, try a luxury river cruise along the Nile, with an exclusive private tour of the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur, and visits to other significant sites including ancient tombs in the Luxor Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Horus, all with an expert local guide ensuring you get the most out of the experience.

With Audley, experiences on land are carefully planned to fit seamlessly with your cruise. “As your trip takes shape, I’ll take care of every aspect of your voyage.” says Audley cruise specialist Steph. “If I need to, I’ll call on the expertise of our most experienced destination-specific specialists to help you make the most of your time – wherever you’d like to go.”

Fellow Audley cruise specialist Jon adds: “Some trips span vast geographical routes, jumping between a myriad of countries that are often challenging to link in one trip. That involves a lot of moving parts, but your specialist will take care of all the logistics so you can focus on getting the most out of your time on land and water.”

With all the organising in hand, you’ll have plenty of time to soak everything in before you set sail again to continue your dream journey.

Audley offer bespoke land-and-sea cruises that you can tailor to your personal travel passions. To find out more and start planning your trip, visit Audley

Court makes bombshell ruling in case of Madeleine McCann prime suspect

The main suspect in the 2007 disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann is allowed to leave Germany, a court has ruled.

That overturns one of the conditions under which the German national was released after serving his sentence in an unconnected case.

The man, identified by media as Christian Brückner, was released in mid-September after serving his sentence for raping an elderly American woman in Portugal.

At the time, a court in Hildesheim imposed conditions that applied for five years, including that he wear an electronic ankle monitor, report regularly to probation services, and remain resident in Germany.

On Monday, a higher state court in Celle said that it upheld most of the conditions imposed in the 28 October ruling, but overturned the stipulation that the man must reside in Germany.

It said that earlier ruling interfered with European Union citizens’ freedom of movement within the 27-nation bloc.

It added that it would, in principle, be possible to issue a temporary ban on the man leaving Germany, for example to “arrange technical matters”, or to ban him from going to specific regions, but that the lower court in Hildesheim would have to decide exactly what arrangements to make.

In June 2020, German prosecutors said the man was being investigated on suspicion of murder in connection with McCann’s disappearance from an apartment complex in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. They said that they assumed the girl was dead.

Police have since carried out more searches in Portugal, where the man spent many years. But the suspect, who has denied any involvement in the three-year-old’s disappearance, has not been charged in the case.

The investigation was not affected by his release.

Friedrich Fülscher, the man’s lawyer, has said charges would have been filed against his client long ago if there had been sufficient evidence.

It’s official: Boozing in my twenties set me up for career success

Battered. Leathered. Twatted. Pissed. Sloshed. Bladdered. Plastered. Mullered. Wrecked. Hammered. Smashed.

The sheer number of words for “drunk” in the British lexicon gives some indication of what a national pastime binge-drinking is.

Or, should I say, used to be. As a millennial who came of age in the Noughties, I’m fully equipped with the booze-fuelled war stories that so many of my cohort boast with a befuddled mixture of pride and shame now we’re all grown up. But times change, and the status quo changes with them. The new normal for young people is a world away from my early days of hedonism: going to the gym is the new going to the pub, and the sober curious movement has seen plenty of people swap sambuca for CBD.

Witnessing this cultural shift, I always presumed that my messy generation were the ones who had got it wrong. After all, other than an alarmingly large cache of drunken night out anecdotes, hideous Facebook photos and possible liver damage, what did any of us have to show for those wasted years of being, well, wasted? As it turns out, potentially our entire careers and future successes.

As strange as it may sound, a sociology professor from Norway believes that boozing when we’re young has tangible, real-world benefits. Willy Pedersen of the University of Oslo has published research that links engaging in communal binging to better career outcomes for young adults.

After tracking the drinking habits of more than 3,000 Norwegians for 18 years, from the age of 13 to 31, Pedersen and his team found a curiously strong correlation between those who’d had heavy drinking sessions in their teenage years and twenties and those who’d gone on to achieve higher levels of education and income than people who’d abstained or drank very little.

Writing in his book The Beauty and Pain of Drugs, Pedersen argues that alcohol acts as a social lubricant, helping young people network and smoothing early career paths. “It’s obviously not the fact that you drink alcohol, that it sort of comes into your body and does something with your brain,” he said. “The most likely explanation is that all alcohol is a kind of marker of sociality and that habit comes with some types of benefits.” He added: “The statistical findings are quite strong, so clearly significant.”

I don’t want to sound too smug, but as a reformed binge drinker who grew up on a diet of swigging White Lightning in parks and brightly coloured alcopops at house parties – which at least made the vomit a more interesting colour on the return journey – it is undeniably gratifying to have some vindication.

Underage clubbing with fake IDs while still at school gave way to legal nights out at university – three, four, sometimes five nights a week spent in sticky-floored clubs with names like “Liquid” and “Riva”, downing worryingly cheap vodka Red Bulls and pints of snakebite. That was after the ubiquitous “pre-lash” in halls, of course – getting drunk before you went out being the prudent choice when sticking within a limited student budget. Ginger wine, vermouth, Advocaat, Vodkat (a spirit that couldn’t legally be called vodka for reasons best not dwelt on): if it was on the bottom shelf of the supermarket alcohol aisle, chances are we’d drink it.

Though as a society we’re now much more aware of the health harms caused by alcohol, I don’t regret that ridiculous time of life. Alcohol was the cheat code for a confidence you were yet to cultivate, a way to try it on for size and practice moving through the world with ease. It was the magic potion that lowered inhibitions enough to talk to people you fancied, dance like no one was watching and, crucially, make a bit of a fool of yourself.

That was the real benefit of boozy nights out, the unexpected element that paved the way for future life as an adult: you learned to let go, lose control and look stupid sometimes. And you learned you wouldn’t die if you did. This was resilience-building in its purest sense.

Of course, in a modern world of perfectly curated social media feeds, constant documentation and instant online judgement, drunken mistakes on a night out are a far riskier business than they were 20 years ago. But it also means that it’s hard not to worry that young people have lost that early proving ground in which to experiment and mess things up.

Yes, the next gen might well tut and roll their eyes at the endless roster of tedious tales spouted by their grizzled elders with a misty-eyed nostalgia: adorning statues with stolen traffic cones in amusing configurations; “sharking” your crushes on dancefloors and doing ungodly things with chilli sauce in a kebab shop at 3am.

But it turns out this unholy rite of passage could just be the secret of our success.