Reform councillor suspended over WhatsApp group that had post calling for ‘mass Islam genocide’

A Reform UK councillor has been suspended from Nigel Farage’s party over a WhatsApp group where a member allegedly called for a “mass Islam genocide”.

Tom Pickup, one of Reform’s lead councillors in Lancashire, is now facing an investigation.

The group, thought to have been set up by a right-wing activist, saw one member message that Sir Keir Starmer “needs a f***ing bullet”, to which another replied: “He’s a DICKtator.”

Mr Pickup responded by calling the prime minister a “dicktaker”, according to The Guardian.

In other messages, he reportedly called a government minister a “Ukrainian boy penetrator” and said he agreed with “mass deportations”.

Mr Pickup posted: “Everyone in Reform is a lot more hardline on immigration than is typically stated publicly, to get a majority government we have to be tactical.”

Reform UK told The Independent that Mr Pickup had been suspended on Wednesday pending an investigation.

Mr Pickup told The Guardian: “Ninety-nine per cent of what occurs in groups, I don’t see. Based on my involvement in it and what I have seen, I’ve been my usual jokey self and it’s been twisted out of context.”

He said he had been unaware of the more extreme posts, which included one person allegedly urging others to stockpile weapons to attack “migrants” and calling for a “mass Islam genocide”.

Mr Pickup added that his comment about Sir Keir was “jokey” and in “poor judgement”, and said he had left the group.

Asked whether he supported calls for a “mass Islam genocide”, Mr Pickup said: “Of course not. I’ve done a lot of community engagement work with the Islamic community. It’s something that I would have condemned and probably reported but I don’t know if they [the messages] are genuine. I’ve not seen them.”

He would not comment further to The Independent but referred us to his comments in The Guardian.

A Labour councillor at Lancashire County Council called for him to resign, and said she had reported him to the authority’s standards watchdog.

Samara Barnes added: “We are at a time when we’re living in a tinderbox and if people are suggesting we should be having an Islam genocide, this is domestic terrorism.

“We’ve seen what can happen when people become radicalised, people become emboldened to do really nasty things. This is beyond an apology or some training. This is more serious, and Reform UK needs to really take a stand.”

Harry Dunn’s mother ‘honoured’ to receive MBE from Prince William

Charlotte Charles, the mother of teenager Harry Dunn, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, stating her son would be “super proud”.

Ms Charles, 50, received the honour from the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

She was recognised for her work campaigning for road safety, following her son’s death in 2019.

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed by a US citizen who was able to leave the UK under diplomatic immunity laws.

Ms Charles said her son would be “proud” of her achievement.

When asked about receiving the award, Ms Charles said: “It feels surreal.

“I feel honoured and humbled to receive an MBE in Harry’s name.”

Speaking about how her son may have reacted, she said: “I think Harry would probably be giggling, to be honest.

“But he would be super proud.”

Ms Charles added that William said “some very kind words” to her: “He acknowledged it’s been a long road, and that I have had a lot of hurdles put in my way that I have managed to jump over.

“Incredible. I’ll treasure it forever.”

Six years ago, Harry was killed when a Volvo driven by then US state department employee Anne Sacoolas hit him while on the wrong side of the road outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf following the crash, and she was able to leave the country 19 days later.

The death of the teenage motorcyclist led to a Transatlantic diplomatic row. Ms Charles, alongside Harry’s father Tim Dunn, campaigned for justice for years.

Speaking about her activism, Ms Charles said: “The campaign gave me an avenue for my anger, my grief and my frustrations.

“You don’t even stop to think about where your life is going to end up,” she added, referring to her MBE.

Ms Charles said: “I will continue to work really hard and support any other family that continues to reach out for support and direction, and I will do everything I can to carry on Harry’s legacy.”

She was named in the King’s birthday honours list earlier this year.

Campaigning from Ms Charles and her family prompted road safety improvements around US Air Force bases, and led the UK and the US to amend the “anomaly” that allowed Sacoolas to leave the country.

Renewable energy pioneer Peter Musgrove was also honoured by the Prince of Wales on Wednesday, after being made a CBE in the King’s birthday honours.

The engineer and co-founder of RenewableUK said he was “delighted” to have received the honour at Wednesday’s ceremony.

When asked about his interaction with William, the 87-year-old said: “It went very well.”

Questioned on what his CBE means, he said: “It reinforces the message that we’ve got to take action, and there are things we can do.”

He added: “It’s very unfortunate what’s happening. Climate change is a real threat.”

He also said he will continue to evolve his work, and wishes to increase public interest in wind power and renewable energy: “It’s an exciting time.”

Also due to attend the investiture ceremony was Sir Matthew Vaughn, the filmmaker behind Layer Cake, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and the Kingsman films, who was awarded a knighthood for his services to the creative industries in former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.

He was unable to attend Windsor Castle on Wednesday, so his investiture will be rearranged for a later date.

Rapist ex-Met Police officer found guilty of sexually abusing girl

The predatory former police officer David Carrick has been found guilty of molesting a 12-year-old girl and raping a former partner.

Carrick, 50, held his hand over the mouth of the girl to “prevent her screaming” as he indecently assaulted her in the late 1980s, a trial at the Old Bailey heard.

More than 20 years later, the former Met Police officer repeatedly raped a woman and subjected her to “degrading and humiliating” abuse during the course of a toxic relationship.

A serial sex offender, Carrick pleaded guilty in 2022 and 2023 to 71 sexual offences, including 48 rapes, against 12 women over 17 years and is already serving a minimum of 31 years. Following these convictions, the girl and the woman came forward to accuse Carrick of further offences.

On Wednesday, he was convicted of a further two charges of rape, one of sexual assault and coercive and controlling behaviour towards the woman between 2014 and 2019.

Carrick, wearing a suit and tie, shook his head repeatedly in the dock as the verdicts were read out. He appeared to sigh after he heard of being found guilty of raping a former partner.

The 12-year-old girl was in year 7 at school when Carrick started abusing her over an 18-month period in the late 1980s, it is alleged.

She described Carrick as “very controlling” and “nasty”. In a pre-recorded video interview played to the court, she said she “lived in fear” after the sexual assaults began.

She said the incidents left her in shock, adding: “I didn’t understand it. I was quite naive at 12.”

During the trial, jurors had heard how the girl told her mother what was going on and that Carrick had confessed in a letter which was recovered from his medical records and signed “Dave”.

In it, Carrick wrote that the girl was “not crazy” and that it was “true” but that he had stopped about four months ago.

He wrote: “I know how [the girl] must feel. That’s why I stopped and promised I would never go near her again and I have kept that promise and I always will.”

In a police interview, the now-grown up victim described the young Carrick as “very sly” and “manipulative”.

After she told her mother about the abuse, the matter was “brushed under the carpet like it was nothing”, she said.

Giving evidence in court, she told jurors: “When I heard he was a Metropolitan Police officer, the words I have always used were: ‘God help anyone with him with a warrant card’.”

The second victim met Carrick through a dating website and was aware from the start he was a police officer.

She said he was “charming, witty, sarcastic” and acted like “everyone’s best friend”. But during their relationship, he became controlling and raped her on multiple occasions.

She told jurors that she had been left traumatised and that Carrick had “ruined” her life and tainted her views on sex and relationships.

When interviewed in Full Sutton prison in Yorkshire, Carrick claimed that sex with the woman was consensual and accused her of being motivated by the MeToo movement.

Despite his written confession, he dismissed the historic child abuse allegations, claiming the girl was a liar.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors Carrick must have felt “invincible” as a police officer for two decades until everything came “crashing around his ears” in 2022.

He said Carrick had set himself up as “Mr Nice Guy” but his silence in the dock was “deafening”.

Following the verdicts, senior Crown prosecutor Shilpa Shah said compelling evidence from both victims and a written confession made a “very strong case”.

The evidence showed Carrick was a child abuser from an early age and that his sexual offending “escalated” in adulthood over decades.

She said: “I would describe David Carrick as a manipulative, controlling and abusive man who created a facade for the rest of the world so that no-one would realise what he was doing behind closed doors.

“He was aggressive, abusive, violent, and yet he appeared to be charming and charismatic. He didn’t count on his victims coming forward and exposing him as they have and I’d like to thank them for doing so.”

She added: “This is one of the most horrific, harrowing cases that I’ve had to deal with. Having to listen to the accounts of the victims, of the degrading and humiliating abuse that they had to suffer, was really quite difficult to do.

“It has been very shocking and that’s why I’d like to thank the victims for coming forward and having the courage to describe what they had to go through so that we were able to secure the convictions that we have today.”

Detective Superintendent Iain Moor, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said the future could have been very different if Carrick’s confession was handed to police in 1990.

On the guilty verdicts, he said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to get justice for the victims.

“This was all about them and ensuring that they had a voice and that they were able to tell their story and be believed. Hopefully it will help them with their recovery.”

Mr Moor said the Carrick case and the murder of Sarah Everard by another serving Met officer Wayne Couzens had been “hugely damaging” to the force.

“Hopefully, people are starting to feel more confident to come forward and report matters to the police. I think there’s still more work to do,” the senior officer said.

Mr Moor urged any other victims of Carrick’s abuse to come forward.

US wants Germany to take over as Nato commander, Trump envoy says

The United States wants Germany to take over the command of Nato forces in Europe, Donald Trump’s envoy to the alliance has said.

Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to Nato, said he is looking forward to Germany stepping up to take over the position of supreme allied commander Europe (Saceur).

He told the Berlin Security Conference: “I look forward to the day when Germany comes to the United States and says that we’re ready to take over the supreme allied commander position. I think we’re a long way away from that, but I look forward to those discussions.”

His comments were a shock to the panellists, with Germany’s representative to Nato and the EU responding that he “see[s] it a little bit differently”.

Lt Gen Wolfgang Wien told the panel that his country was willing to take on more responsibilities within the international organisation, but sees the Saceur as US territory.

The Saceur is one of Nato’s two strategic commanders and is at the head of Allied Command Operations.

Traditionally, the position is held by a US commander. The current Saceur is General Alexus G Grynkewich, who took up his functions on 4 July 2025.

In a post on X about the conference, Mr Whitaker said his message is that the allies “must deliver on Hague Summit obligations”.

He listed these as “invest in defence, boost industrial cooperation, build resilience, protect cohesion – our greatest strategic advantage”.

The European Union rolled out a new defence package on Wednesday to allow tanks and troops to deploy more rapidly across the many borders of the 27-nation bloc in the event of a conflict, as concern mounts that Russia is already probing its defences.

Europe’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said that spending on defence now might avert war.

“Weakness invites them to make their move,” she said, speaking of Russia. She said if the EU “increases its defensive capabilities and readiness, then Russia will not attack because we are not weak”.

The new military mobility proposal by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, would invest €17.65bn ($20.4bn) into 500 locations that have been identified as choke points, such as bridges, ports and tunnels currently unable to handle heavy traffic and vehicles.

The defence package underscored a change in geopolitics spurred on by Donald Trump, who has called into question 80 years of cooperation based on the understanding that the US would help protect European nations following World War Two.

Almost half of Brits would end friendship over Israel-Palestine views

The Israel-Palestine conflict continues to divide the nation as almost half of Britons say they would consider ending a friendship over the issue.

Researchers from the think tank More in Common UK said polling suggested people with strong views have become more entrenched in the two years since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza.

Of around 2,000 adults in Great Britain polled last month, around four in 10 (43 per cent) of those who sympathise with Palestine said they would consider ending a friendship with someone who posted on social media in support of Israel. A similar proportion (46 per cent) of those who sympathise with Israel said they would consider doing the same over a pro-Palestine post.

Overwhelmingly, results indicated most Britons don’t approach the conflict through the lens of “sides” at all, as many feel the issue is complex and that there are good and bad people on both sides.

Three-quarters of Britons did not feel comfortable talking about the Israel-Palestine conflict on social media, while around three in 10 people said they feel either somewhat or very uncomfortable talking about the issue with friends.

Around 67 per cent of people said they either fully or somewhat agreed that some protests about Palestine and Israel are so disruptive that they should not be allowed.

The researchers said: “Public patience for protest is wearing thin – two-thirds of Britons now believe some protests are too disruptive to be allowed, with sustained demonstrations over Gaza contributing to broader backlash against activist movements.”

Polling showed that sympathy for Israel has waned over the last two years, down to 14 per cent when compared with 16 per cent in November 2023. Meanwhile, those saying they sympathised more with Palestine rose to more than a quarter (26 per cent), up from under a fifth (18 per cent) two years previously.

Non-partisanship remained a key proportion, as 27 per cent said they didn’t take a side, 18 per cent said they sympathised with both Israel and Palestine, while the rest said they remained unsure.

Of those who do have strong views, many have become “more negative about those with opposing views” in the past few years, researchers said.

In the days following the Manchester synagogue attack in October, polling suggested a rise in tensions between religious groups in Britain and a rise in Islamist extremism topped the list when it came to respondents’ worries about different impacts of the Middle East conflict on the UK.

Around 44 per cent of people in the latest polling said they felt the UK is an unsafe place for Jewish people, while 37 per cent said it is unsafe for Muslims.

Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz were killed in the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur last month. The assailant, Jihad al-Shamie, was shot by armed police.

Luke Tryl, director of More in Common UK, warned that “divisions over the conflict have seriously strained trust in Britain’s media organisations, institutions and politicians”.

He added: “As people with strong views on the conflict have switched off from mainstream media, there is a risk that they move to their own sources of information online, making it much harder for them to have conversations based on shared facts.

“People also assume that those on the other side of the debate are motivated by bad faith, such as that people support Israel because they are anti-Muslim or Palestine because they are antisemitic.

“Caught up in all this is the majority of Britons, who are shocked and appalled by the conflict but do not take a side either way, and particularly Britain’s Jewish communities and Muslim communities who are bearing the brunt of rising hate.

“The government, civil society and those most engaged in the conflict need to do more to find ways out of the growing cycle of polarisation that risks inflicting lasting scars on social cohesion in the UK.”

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

Judge blasts ‘self-absorbed’ son who lost £2.6m court fight with his mum

A financier who sued his mum for £2.6m, claiming he was wrongfully “disinherited”, has been left with a £1m court bill.

Andrew Grijns carved himself a successful career in the London finance world while being “allowed” to live in his rich American parents’ £3.85m Chelsea townhouse for more than 20 years.

But following the death of his father, Leendert Grijns, in 2019, he and his mum, Janice Grijns, 80, fell out badly, with Mr Grijns accusing her “of vilifying and bullying him and turning against him”, whilst she accused him of “wanting her dead so that he could have the property”.

She went on to tell him to “get out of my house as soon as possible” and “that he could not live there hating and maligning her”, sparking a court clash between the pair, with each claiming rights to the house and branding the other a “trespasser”.

Mr Grijns sued his mum and even launched a bid to get her committed to prison, claiming that he had been “promised” he would be handed two thirds of the value of the four-storey house in Bury Walk, Chelsea – around £2.6m – and arguing that he had lived there to his own detriment for decades rather than moving on and buying his own property.

He claimed he had “shaped his life around … promises made to him by his parents as to the future of the property” and done so “despite the fact that the decor and arrangements of the property were old-fashioned and not, it would seem, to his taste … and despite the fact, as he says, that he would have preferred to buy a place of his own,” a court heard.

But a judge at the High Court has now thrown out his claim to his mum’s millions, dismissing his argument that he was “disadvantaged” by living in his parents’ property for most of his adult life.

Master Timothy Bowles said: “The reality … is that Andrew has had the opportunity to live in a substantial property in a desirable part of London at very modest cost for the best part of a quarter of a century.

“Andrew … is a person who is entirely self-absorbed and whose paramount concern is entirely for himself.

“Andrew has, with some regularity, insulted and, to use the vernacular, ‘bad-mouthed’ his mother. He has accused her of vilifying and bullying him and of being evil, destructive and wicked. He has accused her … of senility and dementia.

“The true and stark position … was that Andrew chose to remain and make his life at the property, not because of any assurances made – there were none – but because it suited him.”

After dismissing his £2.6m claim, he went on to order Mr Grijns to leave the house, adding that he now faces a massive court bill for the row, likely to be more than £1m, with estimated costs on his mum’s side alone reaching around £750,000.

He will also have to pay his own legal costs, plus £85,000 a year to mark the time he stayed in the house after he was told to leave in August 2023, as well as account for rent he received for letting part of it out.

London’s High Court heard that Mr Grijns parents, realtor turned academic Janice and banker Leendert, bought the four-bedroomed, Georgian terraced house, with a separate basement granny flat, in 1994, with Mr Grijns moving in by 1999.

“Mr Grijns’ banking career led him to spend a considerable time in London, and that was the context, or a part of it, for the purchase of the property,” said the judge.

“The property was purchased in 1994, in part to provide a base for Mr Grijns when working in London and in part as a holiday home, from which they, perhaps specifically Janice, could enjoy London’s theatres, opera and restaurants, and from which Janice could explore and purchase antiques.”

Andrew and his parents had previously had a close and loving relationship, but after his dad died in 2019 and Mr Grijns went through a divorce, before becoming locked in a legal dispute with a former friend, things became strained between him and his mum, by then the sole owner of the Chelsea property.

He had previously requested that he receive a larger share of the London property than his three brothers due to problems he thought might arise with US tax officials if he inherited American assets on his mother’s death.

To that end, in 2015 she had written an email explaining her intention to leave him two-thirds of the value of the London house, with the remaining third to be split between his brothers, to which Mr Grijns replied, describing himself as “lucky and grateful”.

But in 2020, he and his mum fell out badly. Heated emails were exchanged in June 2020, with Mr Grijns making a “series of complaints against his mother, accusing her of vilifying and bullying him and turning against him”, said the judge.

“Janice emailed Andrew, accusing him of wanting her dead, so that he could have the property and telling him to ‘get out of my house as soon as possible’; that he could not live there hating and maligning her.”

The falling out worsened, with Mr Grijns later attempting to get his mum committed to prison over her attempts to regain possession of her house in August 2023. But the judge has now dismissed Mr Grijns’ claim.

Giving his ruling, he said: “Andrew’s primary claim had been that, by way of the application of the doctrine of proprietary estoppel, he was entitled to a substantial beneficial interest, two-thirds, in the property.”

His case is that from 2004, when he would have been in his late 20s, he has elected to shape his life around implicit, but not explicit, promises made to him by his parents as to the future of the property.”

He has, on that basis, he says, improved the property and, most materially, eschewed other opportunities to make his own life in his own home, such that his mother, having resiled from these alleged promises, he is now disadvantaged.

“He has done all this, as he sets out in his trial witness statement, despite the fact that the property was far too large for his needs, despite the fact that the decor and arrangements of the property were old-fashioned and not, it would seem, to his taste, despite the fact that the property was expensive to maintain and keep in repair and despite the fact, as he says, that he would have preferred to buy a place of his own.

“I have to say that I find this scenario wholly implausible and, candidly, utterly unrealistic. It particularly does not ring true in respect of someone like Andrew.

“Andrew, as the documentary trail clearly shows and as emerged, with great clarity, from his evidence at trial, is a person who is entirely self-absorbed and whose paramount concern is entirely for himself.

“Andrew, when cross-examined, did not find it in him to acknowledge the considerable advantages that he had been given by his parents in being allowed to make his home at the property over very many years.

“That is, I think, an indication of the extent of his self-absorption.

“The reality, though, is that Andrew has had the opportunity to live in a substantial property in a desirable part of London at very modest cost for the best part of a quarter of a century. That opportunity has also enabled Andrew, throughout most of the period under consideration in this case, to pursue his well-paid career in the finance industry.

“The true reason as to why Andrew remained at the property, made his life there and, to the extent that he did, carried out improvements to the property, has nothing to do with promises or assurances, but everything to do with his own wishes and convenience. Put shortly, it suited him to stay.

“It is easy to see why Andrew remained at the property and how he was enabled to live what, in vernacular terms, might be described as the ‘good life’.

“Andrew was prepared to ‘construct’ a case and assert assurances by his mother that were never made, in the hope, not realised, that a settlement would be achieved and the claim would not be fully investigated at a trial.

“It further seems to me that, over and above the pressure implicit in the pursuit of unfounded litigation against an elderly woman, Andrew chose to add to the pressures imposed upon his mother both by raising and pleading issues as to her capacity and then, late in the day, by issuing contempt proceedings against her.”

The judge dismissed Andrew’s claim, declared him to have been a “trespasser” in the house since 1 August 2023, and ordered that he pay his mum £85,000 per year from that date until he gets out, as well as accounting for rent he received letting part of the property since May 2023.

How income tax could increase anyway despite Reeves U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out freezing income tax thresholds at next week’s Budget, which could result in people paying more tax by “stealth”.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir declined to answer a number of questions from opposition leader Kemi Badenoch on the issue of threshold freezes.

His refusal to answer came after chancellor Rachel Reeves had been expected to breach Labour’s manifesto promises and increase income tax as part of her plans to plug the gap in the public finances. The chancellor is instead widely expected to raise other taxes on 26 November.

Additionally, frozen tax thresholds could be used to raise more money for the Treasury, in effect rising taxes by stealth. Even if income tax rates are not increased, people could end up paying more tax as a result of the freezes.

The tax-free personal allowance was frozen at £12,570 until 2028 by the previous Conservative government. Freezing tax thresholds can create what economists call “fiscal drag” – more people are pulled into higher tax brackets as average earnings increase, but the thresholds stay the same.

Here we tell you all you need to know about income tax and the thresholds.

Income tax is a tax paid on your income, though not all types of income can be taxed. How much income tax you pay is based on how much you earn above your personal allowance and how much of your income falls within each tax band.

The standard personal allowance has been £12,570 since 2021. This means that you do not pay tax on the first £12,570 of your earnings in a financial year. The rate of tax then increases depending on how much you earn.

However, the personal allowance goes down by £1 for every £2 that your adjusted net income is above £100,000. This means your allowance is zero if your income is £125,140 or above.

These bands mean that 20 per cent tax is paid on earnings between £12,571 and £50,270. Earnings between £50,271 and £125,140 are subject to a higher rate of 40 per cent tax.

People who earn in excess of £100,000 start losing the £12,570 personal allowance. This goes down by £1 for every £2 earned above £100,000. The personal allowance does not exist for those earning above £125,140. There is also an additional rate of 45 per cent income tax on all earnings above that.

These rates apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but different rates apply in Scotland.

Since 2021, the income tax personal allowance has been frozen at £12,570. This is the amount that can be paid before income tax deductions begin. The measure has been criticised as a way for the Treasury to boost revenue from income tax without increasing its rates.

Rather than increasing with inflation or average earnings as in previous years, this allowance, and all rates, will remain frozen until at least 2028, unless Ms Reeves chooses to change this.

The basic rate of 20 per cent is then paid on any earnings between £12,571 and £50,270, the higher rate of 40 per cent on earnings between £50,271 and £125,140, and the additional rate of 45 per cent on earnings over £125,141.

The effect of this is what economists call “fiscal drag”, where more people are pulled into higher tax brackets as average earnings increase, but the thresholds stay the same.

The respected Institute for Fiscal Studies says these freezes will reduce household incomes by an average of £1,250 by 2025-26. Analysts also point out that the measure will take more from workers’ pockets than any of the recent drops in national insurance and income in recent years.

Adding two years to the freeze would raise £7.5bn, and mean £140 extra tax paid by basic-rate employees each year from April 2028.

However, one million-plus earners whose income is above £125,140 – and so already pay the top rate of income tax – would not be affected.