Peter Mandelson gets passport back after being released from bail

Lord Peter Mandelson has been released from his bail conditions but remains under investigation, the Metropolitan Police have said.

Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month after police received a tip-off from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle that he was a flight risk.

Lawyers for the former peer said on Friday that he has now had his bail conditions removed and his passport returned.

The Metropolitan Police also confirmed Lord Mandelson’s bail conditions have now been dropped, saying he has instead been released under investigation.

A Met spokesperson said: “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released under investigation.

“The investigation remains ongoing.”

Lord Mandelson’s lawyers at Mishcon de Reya said on Friday: “In light of speculation following his arrest last week, we wish to clarify that the Metropolitan Police have removed all of Peter Mandelson’s bail conditions and returned his passport.

“Our client did not and does not pose a flight risk and will continue to cooperate with the police investigation. He will not be making any further comment at this stage.”

Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US last year, and then resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords earlier this month when fresh emails surfaced in the latest tranche of the so-called Epstein files in the US.

He was arrested in late February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following claims he had leaked sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein.

The police made the arrest despite an earlier agreement that Lord Mandelson would speak to police voluntarily. It followed what the former cabinet minister’s lawyers claimed was a “baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country”.

The Met Police apologised to Sir Lindsay after officers told Lord Mandelson’s lawyers he had tipped them off about claims he planned to flee to the British Virgin Islands, prompting his arrest.

In the recently released batch of Epstein files, Lord Mandelson appeared to confirm a yet-to-be-announced €500bn bailout of the Euro. The documents show Epstein emailed Lord Mandelson “sources tell me 500 b euro bailout, almost complete”.

In the wake of the criticism over Lord Mandelson’s appointment, the government has seen several advisers to the PM quit, including chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, communications director Tim Allan and cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald.

Son of Labour’s former deputy PM John Prescott joins the Greens

The son of former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott has joined the Green Party.

David Prescott, who also tried to become a Labour MP, is thought to have become a member of Zack Polanski’s party last October, a year after his father died.

A post on Facebook shows him alongside Green activists in Gorton and Denton, the constituency where the party won a key Commons by-election last week.

Alongside the photo, Mr Polanski wrote: “On the day we hit 200,000 members of the Green Party – really delighted to welcome David Prescott.”

His father, John Prescott, served as deputy prime minister for a decade and was a key part of Tony Blair’s government.

Karl Turner, who succeeded Mr Prescott as the Labour MP for Hull East in the 2010 general election, said the defection was “hugely disappointing” but “no surprise”.

“David was born into the Labour Party and, like myself, he was from a rock-solid socialist and trade union family,” he told Sky News.

“Again, like myself, David was politically active from a very young age. David was always his own man, not his old man.”

However, he added: “I suspect John Prescott would be furious if he was around today.

“But his anger would be aimed at the Labour Party for allowing progressive voters to leave Labour and go to what they see as a left-wing, more progressive alternative to the party he worked all of his adult life to elect into government, to change the lives of the many, not the few, for the better.”

A humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton saw Labour finish third behind Nigel Farage’s Reform and the victorious Greens.

The prime minister has vowed to “keep on fighting” and refused to be drawn on speculation about his future after his party failed to hold a constituency considered one of Labour’s safest.

But furious backbenchers have cast doubt over his ability to lead the country and steer the party to success in the polls, telling The Independent that it is now “just a question of when, not if” he stands down.

Sir Keir’s woes deepened earlier this week when a new poll showed the Greens had overtaken Labour to become the second most popular party.

In the wake of the sensational by-election win, Mr Polanski’s party saw its support jump by four points to 21 per cent, while Labour and the Tories were tied on 16 per cent – both down two points, the lowest Labour score on record.

Out in front was Reform UK, on 23 per cent – down one point, while the Liberal Democrats remained unchanged on 14 per cent, according to the poll conducted by YouGov for Sky News on Sunday and Monday.

David Prescott stood to be a Labour MP in Gainsborough in the 2015 general election, but lost to the Conservatives’ Edward Leigh.

In 2017, while serving as a key member of Jeremy Corbyn’s team, he was temporarily suspended from the role after the party received allegations against him. He denied the claims. Labour later said no formal complaint was made.

Trump kicks out Tucker Carlson from club Maga after Iran war criticism

President Donald Trump has thrown Tucker Carlson out of club MAGA after the conservative podcaster criticized the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran.

The Trump administration is trying hard to sell Operation Epic Fury to the American people, in part by posting promo-style videos of the strikes on social media, but Carlson and others aren’t buying it.

Carlson called Trump’s decision to attack Iran “absolutely disgusting and evil” in a statement to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl when the strikes began over the weekend.

The goal of Operation Epic Fury is to “eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten Americans,” Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the U.S. Central Command, said Thursday. Trump has claimed that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program and was planning to attack U.S. forces before the strikes.

Carlson said on his podcast Monday, “This is Israel’s war. This is not the United States’ war. This war’s not being waged on behalf of American national security objectives — to make the United States safer or richer. This war isn’t even about weapons of mass destruction, nukes.”

Amid Carlson’s Iran war criticism, Trump lashed out at the former Fox News host, telling Karl Thursday, “Tucker has lost his way.”

“I knew that a long time ago, and he’s not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America First, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that,” Trump said.

The Independent has reached out to Carlson’s representatives for comment.

Following the president’s comments, Carlson told Status’s Oliver Darcy, “There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included.” He added, “But I’ll always love him no matter what he says about me.”

Right-wing activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer came to the president’s defense and bashed Carlson Thursday, writing on X, “Tucker is actively running interference for the Iranian regime and he’s deliberately trying to fracture the America First MAGA base from within.

“Tucker is a massive liability to the President, and his sick betrayal of our country must be completely EXPOSED AND CONDEMNED!”

The term “America First,” on which Trump ran his 2024 presidential campaign, has widely been believed to mean putting the interests of the American people ahead of foreign issues. It has typically been associated with the opposition to new wars.

But now, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has defined it as America being the “greatest, most unquestioned, unmatched power in the world.”

“The president has made clear that he believes America’s awesome military might should be used to protect and defend America’s interests,” Miller told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Wednesday. “‘America First’ means America will be the greatest, most unquestioned, unmatched power in the world, and it means we will defend American lives.”

Trump said in his 2024 election victory speech, “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.” Polling indicates that Americans are not happy with the president’s decision to attack Iran.

A Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted for NBC News found 54 percent of American voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the situation, and when asked specifically whether the U.S. should have taken military action against Iran, 52 percent said it should not have.

In a CNN poll published on Monday, 6 in 10 respondents said that the president lacked “a clear plan for handling the situation” while a slightly higher amount, 62 percent, said that he should get congressional approval before launching further strikes.

Cooper said Thursday the U.S. has sunk or destroyed more than 30 Iranian Navy ships and “relentlessly destroyed Iran’s air defenses.”

The commander said the U.S. military is also working to “systemically dismantle Iran’s missile production capability for the future.”

It’s unclear when Operation Epic Fury will end, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying Thursday, “We have only just begun to fight.”

Man who murdered woman and children in house fire given life sentence

A woman whose sister, nieces and nephew were killed when her abusive former partner torched their house in a jealous rage said she was “haunted” by being the target of the attack as he was handed a whole life prison order.

Sharaz Ali was jailed after setting fire to the home of Bryonie Gawith and her three small children in the early hours of August 21 2024.

A court heard he went there to “take revenge” on his ex-girlfriend Antonia Gawith, who was staying with her sister after ending their abusive seven-year relationship.

While Antonia managed to escape the fire, Bryonie, 29, and her three children – Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months – were trapped upstairs and could not be saved.

On Friday Ali, 40, was given a whole life order for murdering Bryonie and the children, and attempting to murder Antonia.

Calum Sunderland, 26, who went with Ali to the house and kicked the door in for him, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for manslaughter.

Antonia tearfully told the hearing that Bryonie’s children were “my babies, my joy” and that “knowing they died because someone wanted to kill me is a torment I can never put into words”.

Sitting in the dock in a wheelchair Ali looked down and the dock officer sitting between him and Sunderland appeared to start crying as Antonia read her victim personal statement to Doncaster Crown Court.

She said: “What haunts me the most is the attack was meant for me. I was the target, petrol was poured on me and my life was meant to end that night.”

Antonia went on to say: “I can’t escape the thought that I was spared when they were taken. How can I move on when they never had the chance to.”

Sobs could be heard from family in the public gallery as Antonia said Bryonie “had warmth that could fill a room and a heart so big she would give the world away if she could”.

She described being told that Bryonie and Denisty had died at the scene and Oscar and Aubree were pronounced dead at the hospital, saying: “I could only sit there broken as pieces of my heart were ripped away.”

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, said Ali’s lan was to “wipe out a family” and the three children were “acceptable collateral damage” for Ali because he was “so full of hatred for Bryonie”, who he blamed for the break-up, and determined that, if he could not be with Antonia, no-one else could.

He said Bryonie “acted with immense courage” by staying in the house with her children when she saw Ali pouring petrol around.

“Although she must have known what Mr Ali was going to do, there was no way she was going to run out of the house and desert her children,” Mr Justice Hilliard said.

“She remained at the top of the stairs to protect them.

“Bryonie acted with immense courage. I hope that will be how her family will remember her last moments.

“She was determined to protect her children if she possibly could. She begged Mr Ali to stop but he completely ignored her.”

The judge said “substantial pre-meditation,” went into the murders, adding: “I’m sure, on all the evidence, that (Ali) had determined to burn down the house and anyone in it, including the children, if Antonia did not change her mind. She did not do so.”

He said he was sure Sunderland “knew the house was occupied” and agreed to an “extraordinarily dangerous” scheme, adding: “He played with fire and four people died as a result.”

Prosecutor David Brooke KC said there were features of the case which would “justify the consideration of a whole life order,” including the level of pre-meditation shown by Ali when he travelled a “considerable distance” to the house, stopping to buy petrol on the way.

He said the murders were “particularly cruel” and the fact that Ali poured petrol on Antonia showed “an intention to kill through means that would have been excruciatingly painful”.

Mr Brooke said the jury had been “shielded” from the suffering of the children, as what sounded like a child’s scream on the 999 call had been muted when it was played during the trial.

He told the court Ali had inflicted mental suffering on Bryonie, who “begged him to stop”, and at least one of the children.

“We say it’s plain that at least one child did wake, sadly,” Mr Brooke said.

“Although the pathologist’s view is that the children would have succumbed pretty quickly, nevertheless the screams of children which were muted for the jury could be heard.”

Ahead of the sentencing hearing Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, who led the investigation, said Ali knew the children were in the house and “knew they had no way of escape”.

Drug dealer Ali was rescued from the fire by police officers but suffered serious injuries and was initially not expected to survive.

He was put on trial last year after coming out of a coma and recovering enough to be charged.

Jurors were told that Ali suffered burns to 70% of his body, two fingers on each of his hands had been amputated, and that he still uses oxygen and has difficulty speaking.

Mohammed Nawaz KC, representing Ali, said that although his injuries were self-inflicted, they meant that prison “would be extremely harshly felt” by him.

He said Ali had “continually expressed, to his legal team, remorse for the loss of life he caused”.

Nicholas Worsley KC, representing Sunderland, said he had initially believed he was going to torch a car and that the house was empty.

Antonia told police that Bryonie had given her the “confidence and support” to leave her violent and controlling relationship with Ali weeks before the fire, and that Ali had blamed her sister for the break-up.

On the night of the fatal blaze, Ali and convicted arsonist Sunderland, who sometimes sold drugs for Ali, were driven to the house on Westbury Road, Bradford, by Mohammed Shabir, who was due to go on trial with them but died of a heart attack while on remand.

Jurors heard they stopped on the way to fill a seven-litre canister with petrol, and Ali sent Antonia a series of aggressive messages accusing her of being with someone else.

When the men arrived, Antonia, who had finished her shift at Tesco at 12.30am, was with Bryonie in the main bedroom upstairs.

Doorbell footage captured Ali telling Sunderland, who was carrying the petrol and a lighter, to “kick the door in”, which he did before running back to the car.

Antonia said she went downstairs after hearing a noise and saw an “angry” Ali run into the house and begin pouring petrol on her while shouting.

She described trying to wrestle the canister and lighter from him, before running outside in an attempt to lure him out of the house.

As she realised he had not followed her, Antonia went back towards the house and saw Bryonie, who had woken up, kick Ali down the stairs.

Antonia said Ali then hit the lighter, igniting the petrol and setting himself and the house on fire.

In a video interview played to jurors, Antonia sobbed as she told police how she “couldn’t save” her sister, nieces and nephew.

She described trying frantically to get in through the back door, which was jammed shut, while screaming for help.

This year’s UK Eurovision entry is a big heterosexual racket

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Britain’s entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is a terrible racket. It is SO MERCILESSLY LOUD, to an extent that can only truly be conveyed by WRITING IN CAPITAL LETTERS AT ALL TIMES. But I’ll try not to. The work of a synthesiser-wielding EDM scientist named LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (sorry), “Eins, Zwei, Drei” chucks together horny moans, plinky-plonky synths, thick stabs of bass, and a man who just won’t stop shouting. You’re desperate to give him the information he wants, but you just don’t have it. It’s giving “Parklife” gone wrong. It’s giving Guantanamo Bay.

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, a man in his late thirties named Sam Battle, whose bio is so sparse we don’t even know what UK city he’s from, attracted minor fame on the internet a few years ago for making instruments out of found objects – he once wired a Furby into a synthesiser (KOOKY!). With his mad professor hair, owlish features and penchant for big noises, LOOK MUM is all a bit “Blue Peter does Berghain”, and very, very English in a way that’s both horrendously embarrassing and oddly charming. He therefore makes sense for Eurovision, which has long existed on a separate plane of taste and respectability.

Sonically speaking, “Eins, Zwei, Drei” has the feel of the distant past, like a Kaiser Chiefs album track or something by The Ting Tings, or that moment in time when lairy football fans would chant “What’s that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? Is it a monster?” while down the pub. Which is all to say that this is a very heterosexual Eurovision entry, devoid of camp or glitz or whatever Olly Alexander was doing a few years ago.

The track finds LOOK MUM bemoaning the nine-to-five life (“the office cubicle has trapped me again”), before concluding that the only way to rectify such malaise is by (checks notes) counting to three in German. “Eins, zwei, drei / Darlin’, I need something salty / Eins, zwei, drei / with a slice of pepperoni,” he yells. Is this all a bit of cynical Euro-baiting? Perhaps! Are the lyrics about being sick of eating jam roly-polys, pining for a European holiday and swapping “counterfeit” pounds for some Euros really evidence that LOOK MUM has smuggled communist-socialist, anti-Brexit propaganda into the primetime BBC One schedules? If only!

I’m unsure if this is the right track to win us Eurovision. But our continued presence at the contest has long felt akin to sending a Valentine’s card to a person who hates us, so chances are it doesn’t matter anyway. What is welcome is that LOOK MUM has delivered a bit of a moment, even if that moment will give you a headache. Our recent entries have consistently been different kinds of beige, whether they’re being sung by an am-dram trio with the worst band name in history (remember Remember Monday?), or that man who looked like white Jesus. “Eins, Zwei, Drei” may have made me feel like I never want to listen to music again, but at least it made me feel something.

Why Gran Hotel Taoro is Tenerife’s must-book luxury stay for 2026

Tenerife’s iconic Gran Hotel Taoro holds a special place in Spanish history. As the first luxury hotel in Spain, opening its doors in 1890, it was a glamorous haven for high society, welcoming everyone from King Alfonso XIII and the Duke of Kent to author Agatha Christie.

Now, after a complete renovation, the landmark hotel has been reborn as an elegant 21st-century destination that’s ready to welcome you for the ultimate five-star break.

The hotel’s carefully preserved neo-classical architecture exudes old-world elegance, while colonial-inspired interiors in earthy tones and modern five-star comforts promise a stay that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Set on a lush hilltop in northern Tenerife and overlooking the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz, the hotel’s 199 rooms and suites make the most of its enviable location, featuring breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Teide – the highest point in Spain – the Atlantic Ocean, and the palm-dotted greenery of its terraces and surrounding botanical parks.

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable culinary journey throughout your stay, with exceptional restaurants celebrating local and international flavours.

At fusion restaurant OKA, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ricardo Sanz, Japanese fine dining is given a mouthwatering Mediterranean twist.

Two-Michelin-starred chef Erlantz Gorostiza is the mastermind behind two more restaurants: Spanish gourmet bistro Amalur, with a menu inspired by the four elements; and fine dining restaurant Lava, whose exclusive setting includes a Chef’s Counter for six guests.

Breakfast at Atlantico Buffet is the perfect way to start the day as you savour delicious dishes alongside terrace views. For leisurely poolside lunches, La Carola is the place to be, serving Mediterranean flavours and crisp Canarian wines with a generous side of Tenerife sunshine.

Secure your holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with British Airways Holidays and enjoy a great-value holiday with quality and peace of mind. You’ll benefit from ATOL protection from the moment you book, a 24-hour helpline and a generous checked baggage allowance. Book your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments* – so all that’s left to focus on is enjoying your holiday in style.

If you upgrade to Club Europe, you’ll enjoy a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, and priority check-in and boarding. Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

Spend your days at the Gran Hotel Taoro relaxing by three heated pools, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and providing a postcard-perfect setting for some downtime.

If you want to up the relaxation factor further, head to the serene sanctuary of the Sandara Wellness Center, which offers a range of exclusive treatments in partnership with luxury French brand Anne Semonin.

Guests who want to explore the history, culture and natural wonders of the local area – including Puerto de la Cruz, the oldest tourist destination in the Canaries – can take advantage of the hotel’s new X-Plora programme, offering a range of tailor-made experiences both within and beyond the hotel grounds through the dedicated concierge team.

More than a luxury retreat, Gran Hotel Taoro is a grand hotel reborn: a destination where heritage, culture and five-star service come together in one of Tenerife’s most treasured and authentic settings. Book with British Airways Holidays to experience this Spanish icon’s remarkable return in 2026.

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your Tenerife holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. **Subject to availability

• Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.*

• All holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.

• ATOL protection from the moment you book your holiday package giving you financial reassurance.

• Quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

• Upgrade to Club Europe (Business Class) for a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, delicious food and drink options and dedicated check-in and priority boarding.

• Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

‘My husband spent two days on a trolley in overrun A&E – weeks later he was dead’

When Tom Frith walked into an “overrun” A&E department, he was suffering from flu-like symptoms and confusion, was unsteady on his feet and was struggling with his speech.

His wife Julia said he was rushed through triage, but the only bed available was in a corridor – where he stayed, with his condition worsening, for almost two days.

His family was told he couldn’t have a vital MRI scan because it was the weekend. A week later, he was finally diagnosed with the deadly brain infection encephalitis; however, by then, the damage had been done. Tom died, aged 66, on 27 July 2025, having suffered brain damage from swelling and a stroke caused by the condition.

His story comes amid repeated concerns from leading doctors over the crisis facing A&Es as under-pressure emergency departments run out of beds to treat patients.

The most recent NHS data for England, published in February, showed 192,168 people (13 per cent) waited 12 hours to be seen, treated or discharged, from the time they arrived at A&E, in January – a record high since this data was first published in February 2023.

A year before he died, Tom had retired but lived an active life, spending his days on motorbiking holidays with his wife and tending his vegetable patch.

All that changed on Saturday, 14 June, when he was so unwell he went to Leighton Hospital A&E, run by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for help.

Julia, from Knutsford, told The Independent her husband had “every symptom of encephalitis” – which affects around 6,000 people in the UK each year, and includes flu-like symptoms, loss of consciousness, headaches, memory problems, and behavioural changes.

“He was delirious, he had flu-like symptoms, he had a massive temperature. He was confused; he didn’t know who he was. He couldn’t swallow the [paracetamol] tablets.”

Julia said the emergency department was “overrun” when they visited, and claimed she was told by staff that they were expecting 40 people in A&E that day, but had 120.

She said: “There wasn’t a section of that [A&E] that didn’t have a patient in it. There wasn’t a section of those majors or triage that didn’t have a body in it, either on a chair, a bed, or on the floor. The poor staff, they were, overrun.”

Julia said her husband was placed in a corridor, where she watched him “deteriorate”. Tom was eventually seen by a doctor, some eight hours later, but was not given a hospital bed until Monday morning.

“There was an 86-year-old who had been there for 33 hours. It was just appalling. I was searching private hospitals to see if I could get him taken out.

Julia recalled: “I left the hospital for an hour on the Sunday afternoon… and when I came back, my husband was stood by his bed, he’d ripped off his identity band, and he was wearing his jeans and he had wet himself, and I turned to a nurse who was passing and I said, ‘What is this? This is not care’.

“I cleaned him up, got him sorted, and got him another wristband. Took him back to his bed in the corridor, and there was someone in his bed; they’d put someone in his bed. He was there for another 18 hours.”

Despite suspecting he had suffered a stroke, Julia was told her husband could not have an MRI to determine if that was the case because it was the weekend, and there were no beds at a nearby hospital, which has a specialist neurology service.

Tragically, Tom’s condition worsened, and he was eventually admitted to critical care and put into an induced coma on a ventilator. It was not until the Friday after he was first admitted to A&E that the hospital started vital medication to treat encephalitis.

“They confirmed on Saturday that it was encephalitis, but the damage was done. He was having outward seizures for two weeks,” Julia said.

After several weeks of treatment, Julia said she was advised that Tom’s condition was highly unlikely to improve. He was put on palliative care and died a few days later on 27 July 2025. Julia is now taking legal action against the trust.

Leigh Day solicitor Zoe Donohue, who represents Julia, said: “The ordeal that Tom went through in the lead up to his death was a terrible one. In instructing me, Julia is hoping to determine whether more could have been done to help Tom, and if a quicker diagnosis could have given him a stronger chance of survival.

“Julia is also hoping to raise awareness of encephalitis, ensuring that more is widely known about the symptoms and how to detect the condition early on, to help others avoid the awful set of circumstances she has experienced.”

Dr Clare Hammell, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Frith’s family and loved ones, and we are very sorry for the distress they have experienced.

“As a legal claim has now been issued, it would not be appropriate for the trust to comment on the specific circumstances of Mr Frith’s care or the allegations that have been raised.”

However, the trust said it takes any concerns about patient safety extremely seriously and is cooperating with the legal process.

“We continually review learning from incidents, complaints, and claims to help us improve care, including ongoing education and training for staff to support the recognition and management of rare but serious conditions.”

Axel Springer to buy Telegraph in £575m deal

Media firm Axel Springer has agreed to buy the Telegraph Media Group in a £575 million deal, the companies have announced.

The media company, which also owns Politico and Business Insider, is understood to have agreed the all-cash deal for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.

Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) had previously agreed a £500 million deal to buy The Telegraph last year.

However, Abu Dhabi-backed consortium RedBird IMI said it now plans to sell the business to the Germany-based owner.

RedBird IMI is having to sell the business after its own takeover move was blocked by the UK government over foreign ownership concerns.

Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Dopfner said: “More than 20 years ago, we tried to acquire The Telegraph and did not succeed. Now our dream comes true.

“To be the owner of this institution of quality British journalism is a privilege and a duty.

“We want to grow The Telegraph, while preserving its distinctive character and legacy, to help it become the most read and intellectually inspiring centre-right media outlet in the English-speaking world.

“The Telegraph stands for freedom, personal responsibility, democratic values and a belief in open societies and market economies.”

The deal ends three years of uncertainty over the future ownership of the daily news brand. It marks a major expansion for Axel Springer, whose owners have been making efforts to expand both in Europe and the US in recent years.

The company first made a bid to buy the Telegraph in 2004, but was beaten by a £665 million offer by the Barclay brothers. Mr Dopfner, who has been CEO since 2002, had previously cast doubt on attempting to secure the paper again, citing an interest in digital-only media.

Axel Springer also owns Bild, Europe’s largest newspaper, and daily newspaper Die Welt. It is based in German capital Berlin.

In 2015, the firm also looked to acquire the Financial Times, but was unsuccessful against a £844 million bid from leading Japanese media group, Nikkei.

The Daily Telegraph was first put up for sale in 2023 after the Barclay family lost control of the title over more than £1bn of unpaid debts to Lloyds Bank.

Later that year, Redbird IMI agreed a deal to take over The Telegraph while allowing the Barclay family to repay its debt. The firm is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

This prompted backlash from politicians, who referred the deal to Ofcom to investigate potential breaches of media standards arising from the ownership.

In 2024, new laws were introduced by the UK government to prevent foreign governments from owning British newspapers. This effectively halted the RedBird takeover, and the company put the brand up for sale again in April 2024.

The following year, RedBird Capital Partners – an American investment firm and one half of the joint venture with IMI – agreed in principle to buy The Telegraph for around £500 million.

This deal would have seen IMI, funded by the UAE state, take a minority stake capped at 15 per cent, under plans proposed by then-culture secretary Lisa Nandy to loosen the media ownership laws.

However, the agreement collapsed in November after Redbird dropped their bid to buy the paper. This would pave the way for new owners to take over.