Murderer who absconded from prison arrested after week-long manhunt

A convicted murderer and a second prisoner who absconded from prison on New Year’s Day have been arrested, police have said.

Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, left HMP Leyhill, South Gloucestershire, between 5pm and 8pm on January 1.

Avon and Somerset Police said both Armstrong and Washbourne had been arrested on Wednesday.

Armstrong, who was convicted of murdering someone during a robbery in Warwickshire in 2009, was arrested by Warwickshire Police officers near Henley-in-Arden train station just before 12pm.

A member of the public had reported seeing Armstrong, who is now in police custody.

Washbourne, who has previous convictions for violence against a person and false imprisonment, was arrested in Bristol city centre at about 1.30am.

He was initially taken to hospital after officers found him with pre-existing injuries but is also now in police custody, a police spokesman said.

The spokesman added: “Armstrong has also been arrested on suspicion of robbery, in connection with an incident in a village near Leyhill, which happened at around 6.45pm on Wednesday December 31, the night before he absconded from HMP Leyhill.

“A man had forced his way into a home and threatened the occupants before stealing a mobile phone and a quantity of cash.

“Following this incident, we’ve carried out a number of inquiries, including interviews with the victims and house-to-house inquiries, which have led to Armstrong being arrested on suspicion of committing this offence.”

A third man, Aaron Thomas, was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police in Bristol on Saturday 3 January. The 39-year-old has since been charged with escaping lawful custody. He appeared before the magistrates on Monday 5 January and is set to next appear at Bristol Crown Court in February.

Farage says Reform candidate who told Lammy to ‘go home’ must apologise

Nigel Farage has told a Reform mayoral candidate who said David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean to apologise for his remarks.

The Reform UK leader has been under pressure to sack Chris Parry, Reform’s candidate for the Hampshire and the Solent mayoralty, after he made remarks about the “loyalties” of Mr Lammy and praised right-wing Conservative Enoch Powell.

The retired naval officer has since doubled down on what Labour has described as his “racist and grossly offensive” remarks, as senior Reform figures have been urged to condemn him.

Asked whether the social media posts made Mr Parry a good representative of Reform, Mr Farage said they were “over the top” and that he should apologise.

“He also criticised quite strongly many white politicians, called them unpatriotic and suggested they went to live in other countries,” Mr Farage told reporters.

“Look, some of his comments are a bit rich. I get that. He is intensely patriotic. He’s risen to the rank of rear admiral, he’s given enormous service to this country.

“But I do think his comments on Lammy were over the top, and he should apologise for them.”

Reform came under pressure to drop Mr Parry, after it emerged he had posted on X (Twitter) in February: “Lammy must go home to the Caribbean where [his] loyalty lies.”

Mr Lammy, who was born in and grew up in north London, has previously spoken about the appalling racism he had to endure as a child and teenager.

Despite being widely condemned after his initial comments, Mr Parry later doubled down, posting on X: “Well, home is where the heart is. That’s the point.”

He also suggested that the primary loyalty of at least eight other politicians is not to the UK, including Labour MP Naz Shah and Your Party co-leader Zarah Sultana.

In October, above a post of footage showing London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and the MP Dawn Butler attending a Jamaica-themed party at Labour’s annual conference, he wrote: “You really have to wonder where people’s primary loyalty lies.”

In an additional tweet, Mr Parry also described the dead right-wing former Tory politician Powell as “unfulfilled”.

In his infamous 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech, Powell used inflammatory language to criticise immigration to the UK and was sacked from the Conservative frontbench as a result.

Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, said the Reform leader had “failed to take any action on his mayoral candidate’s racist comments”.

She also criticised Mr Farage for not apologising to fellow school pupils who accused him of racism when they attended London private school Dulwich College in the 1970s.

She told The Independent last month: “How big does the mountain of racist and grossly offensive comments Chris Parry has made have to get before Nigel Farage throws him out of Reform? It’s disgraceful.

“Farage’s refusal to take action against racism in his party shows what a dark place he’s dragging politics to. He should finally drop Chris Parry as a candidate, kick him out of his party, and apologise for failing to take action sooner.”

Drivers warned not to drink at all as limit set to be slashed in England and Wales

Pubgoers who want to drive shouldn’t drink any alcohol at all, the government has said, after announcing plans to tighten the drink-drive limit in England and Wales as part of a new road safety strategy.

The strategy – which is the first of its kind in more than a decade – aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65 per cent by 2035, and by 70 per cent for children under 16.

The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, which is the highest in Europe alongside Malta.

Under the strategy, this may be reduced to 22 micrograms in England and Wales, bringing those nations into line with Scotland, which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014.

The strategy also proposes to require some convicted drink-drivers to have alcolocks fitted to their vehicles, and new powers to suspend driving licences for people suspected of drink or drug-driving offences.

While the blood alcohol limit has not been cut to zero, transport minister Lilian Greenwood urged pub-goers to leave their cars at home or have an alcohol-free beverage.

Asked whether people should just not drink at all if they want to drive, Ms Greenwood told Sky News: “That’s probably the best advice. If you’re going to drive, don’t have a drink. If you want to have a drink, leave your car at home.”

She added: “I’ve sat down with numerous families over the last 18 months, and they’re asking us to take action. Last year, 260 people were killed as a result of drink driving. That’s unacceptable.”

But she insisted that plans to tighten the drink-drive limit do not aim to stop people having a “great night out”.

“We don’t want to stop people from going to the pub and having a great night out. What we’re just saying is don’t take your car,” Ms Greenwood told Times Radio.

“So that might mean that you know, some places you’ll be able to take a bus or a taxi.

“In other places, you’re going out with a group of mates, one of you agrees to be the designated driver.

“I know from working with the pub trade, how many great low alcohol drinks there are out there now, most of our favourite brands produced in a low alcohol version, so people have lots of opportunities to do something, to choose a different drink when you want to go out and you know, and enjoy yourself in the pub.”

She also said there was evidence from Scotland cutting its drink drive limit that it did not have a “significant impact” on the pub trade.

Other planned measures to be consulted on include introducing mandatory sight tests once drivers reach 70, a minimum learning period for new drivers, and a crackdown on uninsured drivers and illegal number plates.

This is understood to include cosmetic enhancements to plates that don’t meet industry standards.

Learners could also have to wait six months between their theory test and practical driving test as part of the plans. It is understood the government believe this could lower the backlog, as drivers are better prepared to pass first time.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said 22 European countries have made “more progress than the UK” in reducing road crash deaths.

The number of people killed on Britain’s roads has generally declined since the 1970s, but the decrease has slowed since 2010.

There were 7,763 road deaths in 1972, 1,850 in 2010 and 1,602 in 2024.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities.

“For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point. We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.

“The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”

The DfT said some drink-drive offenders may be required to have alcolocks installed in their vehicles as a condition of being allowed to drive again – devices which prevent a vehicle from being started or driven unless the motorist passes a breath test.

They are already used in several countries – such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the US – in return for shorter driving bans.

Officials hope introducing sight tests for drivers aged 70 and above will help protect all road users.

Drivers are currently not subjected to mandatory tests once they obtain their licence, no matter how old they become, although they are required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive.

AA president Edmund King described the strategy as a “radical reframing of road safety”, while RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said it “can’t come soon enough” as he particularly welcomed the long-awaited reintroduction of casualty reduction targets and the possible use of alcolocks.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at charity IAM RoadSmart, said the measures are “robust policies to make our roads safer” following a “lost decade” in reducing deaths and serious injuries from crashes.

Karen Tyrell, chief executive of charity Drinkaware, said the proportion of drink-driving collisions which cause fatalities has nearly doubled since 2015, so it is “vital that this change is coupled with strong enforcement”.

Badenoch had Starmer on the ropes – so why no knock-out blow?

No one would ever accuse Keir Starmer of dominating the House of Commons. He comes to the chamber cheerfully enough, pauses to chat to the speaker, acknowledges his colleagues politely… But by the time he gets to the despatch box, he is in a defensive crouch, head down, reading from his notes.

Today, he was more defensive than usual, because he knew what Kemi Badenoch was going to ask.

She was going to want to know why he wasn’t going to give all MPs a chance to question him about the agreement he signed in Paris yesterday, pledging to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping operation if there is a ceasefire.

The prime minister tried to pre-empt the assault by setting out his argument in his preamble. This introduction is becoming increasingly controversial with the MPs opposite, who have noticed that Starmer often uses it to try to score points before he is asked any questions.

Today was a particularly provoking example. He made a decent joke about Reform, whose leader Nigel Farage was boycotting Prime Minister’s Questions, wishing his MPs a happy Christmas, “because today is the day they celebrate Christmas in Russia”.

Then he listed the government’s achievements – “breakfast clubs” as we “turn the corner” – and next said he was in Paris yesterday. He described the deal, and said “we will set out the details at the earliest opportunity”. But not today.

All MPs got today was a promise that, “were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the House for a vote”.

Far from taking the sting out of the issue, all this did was wind up the Conservative benches in full-throated support of their leader. Badenoch, brimming with the confidence of someone who is rising in the opinion polls, said it was “frankly astonishing” that Starmer was not making a statement.

Starmer repeated what he had said in the preamble and pointed out that he was answering questions now, despite the Tories trying to shout him down. But he sounded irritated about being held to account, and Badenoch said: “He’s scared of us being able to ask questions.” She said if he could skip PMQs, “he would do”, which seemed to strike a chord with the glum faces on the Labour front bench.

Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves, on either side of the prime minister, looked as if they were wondering whether to resign. The front bench generally looked as if they were as hostile to Starmer as anybody on the other side.

By the time he came to answer Badenoch’s third question, in which she noted that Starmer had not yet had a phone call with Donald Trump, the prime minister seemed to be all over the place.

Perhaps his mind was occupied with another military operation. He had presumably given the go-ahead just before PMQs to British ships and aircraft assisting the US in seizing the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, which was announced a few hours later.

Whatever the reason, Starmer had no explanation for the delay in allowing MPs a full debate on the important question of sending armed forces abroad. It is, in fact, a recent convention that the Commons should vote on military deployments – one first accepted by Tony Blair in a vote on the principle of air strikes against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq in 1998.

Since then, Labour’s soft-left has elevated the convention to the status of sacred constitutional right. Gordon Brown, when he was trying to posture to the left of Blair, proposed to enshrine it in law – although he never got round to it. Starmer himself venerated the principle, standing for the Labour leadership on a pledge to bring in a “Prevention of Military Intervention Act”.

But now he did not seem to think that MPs should even get to ask questions about military deployments, and certainly not to vote on them until they happen. (The remarkable thing about Blair’s 1998 vote was that he held it on the principle of airstrikes many months before the order was finally given.)

Badenoch failed to press home her advantage. She could have simply repeated the question and pointed out that Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, agreed with her that Starmer should be making a statement.

Instead, she diverted into related subjects. She asked when the target for defence spending of 3 per cent of national income would be met. By now, the prime minister had recovered his balance somewhat and counterattacked by quoting Ben Wallace, the Tory former defence secretary, who accused the Tory government of leaving the armed forces “hollowed out”.

But Labour MPs looked thoroughly demoralised by the failure of their leader to answer what they thought was a reasonable question about why they shouldn’t have a debate and a vote on a potentially significant step in foreign policy.

Snow-hit UK village experiencing ‘worst winter in 25 years’

A village in Aberdeenshire has seen 30cm (just under 1ft) of snow in “one of the worst winters in 25 years”, according to locals.

Doug Griffin, 58, has lived in Insch, Aberdeenshire, for 25 years, and said the weather conditions – which have caused the village to be cut off – are “remarkable” and “exceptional”.

He said that while residents are used to snow, the drifts on Wednesday were currently 30cm (just under 12in) deep, and had been higher on Tuesday before they thawed.

Mr Griffin, a father-of-two who works from home for the North Sea Transition Authority, said that on Tuesday the drifts had been around 50cm deep.

He said that a snow plough had cleared the entrance to the local Co-Op, which he photographed on Tuesday evening with piles of snow reaching almost to the roof.

Mr Griffin said: “It has been a long time since we have had anything like this, it is very different here.

“We moved up to the north-east 25 years ago, the first winter was quite bad, 2010 was quite bad, but this might be the worst.

“I was going round to the Co-Op to get some stuff, and it took my breath away.

“They ploughed the road, I think they had cleared some of the car park.

“I think there’s about 30cm of snow lying everywhere at the moment.

“It is slightly wetter today, and I think some of the snow in Aberdeen has gone.

“At my front door, the depth is about 30cm. We are snowed in, we have not been able to get out of the village for a few days.”

He said that a snow plough had cleared the road on Monday, but that delivery lorries struggled to reach the village due to being around two miles from the A96, and compared the situation at the local supermarket to the food shortages during the pandemic.

Mr Griffin said: “The snow is not going away, it is going to be well below freezing. It looks like it may be milder next week.

“There has been nothing like this since 2010, it is quite remarkable. It makes it really difficult to do anything.

“There were people getting frustrated last night because the shop hadn’t stocked up.

“We are not used to it. We do get snow, but it is nothing like this, it is exceptional.

“People are helping each other out, my wife has been to see our elderly neighbours.

“I think it’s a bit like Covid – a lot of the shelves are completely empty.

“Lorries can’t get to the Co-Op as they can’t get to the road.

“Insch is about two miles from the A96 – when they turn into places like this, they can’t get in.

“It has not been the start of the year we would have wanted.”

Inside the living traditions of the Pyrenees of Catalonia

The Catalan Pyrenees is rightly celebrated as one of Europe’s great year-round adventure playgrounds. The region is packed with the kind of sensational ski resorts that make it one of the continent’s great winter destinations, and when the snow melts it transforms into a green, lake-dotted hikers’ idyll. What’s less well-known is that beyond the famous trails and peaks, the hills of Catalonia contain towns and villages alive with tradition, where the people enthusiastically maintain vibrant cultural practices some of which stretch for hundreds of years.

Take, for example, the Patum of Berga, a tradition that’s been celebrated annually during the feast of Corpus Christi for more than six centuries. Originally staged to teach people about the Holy Scriptures, the Patum has evolved over time into an intense and riotous carnival, which always lives up to its former name: Bullícia del Santíssim Sagrament (frenzy of the Blessed Sacrament). These days, locals crowd the streets to watch processions and performances featuring drummers and Guites (figures with a dragon’s head, giraffe’s neck, mule’s body, and horse’s tail), angels and mace-wielding demons, giants dancing to traditional Catalan melodies, and simulated battles in which the heroes always triumph. Because of the annual differences in the Easter cycle, it doesn’t have a fixed date but always takes place between the end of May and the end of June (in 2026, the main festival runs June 3rd-7th).

Similarly raucous is the fiery summer Fallas festival in the high Pyrenees, which celebrates the summer solstice. The festivities take places in 17 villages, each of which has a slightly different tradition but all of which involve young people lighting two-metre-long flaming torches on high points in the mountains. They then walk towards their villages, dancing and drawing patterns with the lighted torches, guided by a local leader, until they reach a bonfire in the central square, which they light with the torch and traditional dances are performed.

Fire is a consistent theme across many of the longstanding traditions of the Catalan Pyrenees. Over in the village of Les in the Val d’Aran, Falles are quite different. The Crema de Eth Haro, which takes place on the eve of Saint John’s Day at the end of June, involves the burning of a tall fir tree trunk that was planted the year before. While the trunk burns, young people spin balls of fire called halhes (made of cherry bark and wire), the sparks of which are thought to bring the fire to every corner of the village.

The region is also home to some rich culinary traditions with long histories. Take, for example, the Carnaval de Solsona, a quirky, nine-day celebration where giant puppets parade through the streets, pranks unfold in the squares, and the whole town gathers for communal meals. Alongside the playful chaos, locals come together to share hearty winter dishes and regional specialities made from Solsonès produce, from rich stews to pork-based favourites. It’s a festival that blends satire, pageantry and food, bringing generations together around long tables in the main square to celebrate community, seasonality and the enduring flavours of the region.

For those looking for a rich sense of lived history, the Pyrenees of Catalonia are not just about festivals and food, the buildings are magnificent too. For an astonishing insight into life in the 12th and 13th Centuries, head to the beautifully preserved Romanesque churches in the Vall de Boí, near the border with Aragon. In all of Europe, Catalonia has perhaps the greatest collection of Romanesque murals; some of them in the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, others in situ in these nine stunning churches. Don’t miss Sant Climent de Taüll, which was consecrated back in 1123; its atmospheric interior and beautiful tower are a portal to distant time through video mapping.

Plan your sustainable trip to the Pyrenees of Catalonia at visitpirineus.com/en

ICE agent fatally shoots protester during Minneapolis deportation raid

A woman was fatally shot during a standoff with federal immigration law enforcement in southeast Minneapolis Wednesday, sparking outrage from local leaders and leading to a protest.

Around 10:30 a.m. local time, reports emerged that an unidentified person had been shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent after blocking law enforcement with her vehicle

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed a shooting had taken place on X, saying he was aware of a “shooting involving an ICE agent at 34th Street & Portland.”

Exact details of the incident are unclear at the time, but a witness to the shooting told Minnesota Public Radio, she saw an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shoot a woman several times through her car windshield.

Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley said an “observer” was shot by federal agents and transported to the hospital but did not provide further details. It is unclear what the extent of the person’s injuries is.

The Independent has asked the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

The incident occurred days after Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem announced the deployment of an additional 2,000 federal agents to the city to assist in operations after the state was inundated with accusations of widespread fraud.

Frey said, “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” and demanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave “immediately.”

On social media, residents and local reporters said at least 30 federal immigration enforcement agents were on the scene in a neighborhood where the incident occurred and protesters had gathered.

At one point, federal agents were seen deploying chemical irritants on the protesters in the vicinity who had begun throwing snowballs at agents’ vehicles, according to reports.

This is a breaking news story, more follows…

Man who sold chemicals to assist suicide jailed for 14 years

A man who assisted suicide by selling a substance online for £100 to vulnerable people has been jailed for 14 years after what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in the UK.

Miles Cross, 33, set up a business selling a chemical via an internet discussion forum and interacted under a pseudonym, Mold Crown Court heard.

Cross joined the site in July 2024 and posted a QR code, which allowed people to buy the chemical directly from him and pay via his bank account – and directed them to an online discussion forum.

He received payments of £100 from four people and sent them the substance, through the post.

Two people took their own lives as a result.

When police searched Cross’s home in Wrexham, north Wales, in January 2025, officers discovered amounts of the chemical and other paraphernalia.

Police analysis of his seized devices also linked him to the forum, social media profiles, and the bank account.

In November last year, Cross pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide of another by providing a chemical compound,

In one case, Cross was accused of providing chemicals on August 22, 2023 to Shubhreet Singh.

Ms Singh, 26, died in West Yorkshire last year. A second suicide in the Thames Valley Police area, was also linked to Cross.

The three other counts, alleged to have happened in August and September 2023, relate to people whose names cannot be published because of reporting restrictions.

One victim, in a personal impact statement, said: “At the time I made the decision to purchase this substance, I felt vulnerable, overwhelmed and struggled silently.

“This experience caused me significant emotional pain. I’m no longer in that state of mind but I’ve had to work hard to heal and move forward in a healthier direction.

“The fact that this was so easy makes me think, had I not come to my senses, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“Because this person made it so easily available makes me think they preyed on vulnerable people like me.

“Although he does not know me and may not fully understand the impact of his actions the substance he advertised, sold and sent me could have ended my life and seriously impacted on my family.

“I hope my words can be used to support others and to ensure safety for those who may be in similar situations.”

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branchIf you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you