Tory pollster predicts local election wipeout for his own party

Conservative peer and pollster Lord Hayward has predicted a wipeout for his own party at the upcoming local elections, warning it will also be a difficult night for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour.

Voters in 23 local authorities across England will go to the polls on 1 May to choose their new councillors, with mayors also up for election across six regions. It will be the first big electoral test for the parties since last summer’s general election, and more than half of the council seats up for grabs are currently held by the Conservatives.

Lord Hayward said he expects the Tories to lose between 475 and 525 local authority seats, predicting that the party, which is defending nearly 1,000 seats, will only win between 375 and 425.

Speaking to ITV, he also painted a grim picture for Labour. While he does not expect the party to see a notable change in overall seat numbers, the pollster warned they will fail to take seats in the Midlands and North that he argues “they should have won”.

These areas will instead see heavy gains for Reform UK, the pollster predicted. In total, he expects Nigel Farage’s party to make significant gains, winning between 400 and 450 seats.

Lord Hayward said it will be a “bad night for both the Conservatives, in terms of heavy losses but from a very high water mark, and Labour, who really should make gains from such a low level but lose even where they retained seats in 2021” – pointing to Doncaster, Durham and Lancashire as examples.

The pollster also warned Labour is at risk of losing control in Doncaster to Reform if they have a particularly difficult night at the polls.

He said: “In Doncaster, [Labour] currently hold 41 of 55 seats. On an awful night they will lose control. If they do so, it will be to Reform.

“Equally, Labour may lose virtually all their seats on either Oxfordshire or Cambridgeshire councils in that overwhelmingly, their county representation comes from the two academic centres. Unlike Doncaster, Durham or Lancs, Labour’s losses will be to the Lib Dems and Greens and will be on the basis of aid and welfare issues.”

Sir Keir has faced mounting criticism for Labour’s decision to slash the aid budget to 0.3 per cent of GDP, alongside his decision to make sweeping cuts to welfare amounting to £4.8bn.

The dire outlook for the Conservatives comes just one day after Kemi Badenoch admitted that May’s local elections are “going to be very difficult” for her party, after what she admitted was a “history defeat” for the Tories in July.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Conservative leader said: “Two-thirds of the seats four years ago we won – there’s no way we are going to be able to do that again.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Tories were told to “come clean” on whether they want to do a deal with Reform UK, after shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick vowed to bring together a coalition to fight Labour.

In an audio recording obtained by Sky News, the shadow justice secretary said that he wants the fight against Labour to be united, saying that if Nigel Farage’s party become a “permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene” then “life becomes a lot harder” for the Tories.

Ms Badenoch has consistently ruled out a national deal with Reform, but earlier this month, she suggested that Conservative councillors could be free to go into coalition after the upcoming local elections – an idea that was later rebuffed by Mr Farage.

How runners balance carbs with protein for the ultimate workout

The London Marathon returns this Sunday 27 April, and whether you’re chasing a personal best, just aiming to cross the finish line, what you eat in the days leading up to the race can make all the difference. According to guidance from London Marathon Events, runners should focus on meals rich in carbohydrates while keeping fibre, fat and protein relatively low to avoid stomach discomfort and optimise glycogen stores.

We’ve rounded up 15 healthy recipes built around those recommendations (you can read them in full here). All have been chosen for their digestibility and energy potential and are dishes guaranteed to fuel your stride.

Refined white pasta is one of the best sources of quick, accessible carbohydrates. It’s low in fibre and fat, meaning it won’t cause digestive distress in the lead-up to the race. It also absorbs simple sauces beautifully, making it an easy and versatile base for a pre-race meal.

This dish combines slow-burning carbs from roasted sweet potato with starchy flour for a homemade gnocchi that’s light, soft and energy-rich. Borlotti beans offer additional protein and fibre, while Marmite contributes a B12 boost and salty, umami depth. It’s comforting, nourishing and a little bit unexpected – ideal marathon fuel.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Reduce the borlotti beans to lower fibre content, and skip the parmesan to reduce fat. Swap for a simple tomato or olive oil-based sauce, and serve with a slice of white bread or plain pasta on the side for an added carb boost.

Recipe by: Nima Safaei, London chef and restaurateur

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For the gnocchi:

500g sweet potatoes (about 2 medium), roasted and mashed

150g plain flour (plus extra for dusting)

1 egg yolk

1 tsp Marmite

Salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small red onion, diced

1 tsp rosemary or thyme (fresh or dried)

1 x 400g tin borlotti beans, drained and rinsed

200ml vegetable stock

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp Marmite (optional, for extra depth)

Salt, pepper and chilli flakes to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped

Parmesan

Olive oil drizzle

Method:

Packed with classic Mediterranean vegetables and tossed through white pasta, this dish offers a generous serving of carbohydrates with added flavour from mozzarella, parmesan and fresh herbs. It’s hearty without being heavy, and the vegetables are cooked until soft, making them easier on the gut.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Lighten the dairy by reducing or removing the mozzarella and parmesan, and swap in extra pasta or soft-cooked vegetables like courgette or aubergine to keep energy high and digestion light.

Recipe by: Rachel Roddy

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Olive or vegetable oil, for frying

1 large aubergine, diced into 1cm cubes

1 red pepper, diced into 1cm cubes

2 courgettes, diced into 1cm cubes

Salt

2 large ripe tomatoes

1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed

600g mezze maniche, penne, fusilli or rigatoni

100g parmesan, grated

200g mozzarella, diced

A big sprig of fresh basil leaves, ripped

Method:

This quick and budget-friendly gnocchi uses roasted root veg (squash, carrot, parsnip) mashed with plain flour to form soft, chewy dumplings. It’s naturally high in carbohydrates and gentle on the stomach. Topped with peanuts, sage and parmesan, it’s a well-rounded, energy-dense meal.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Omit peanuts and reduce parmesan to lower fat content. Add a side of white bread or plain pasta for extra carbs, and stick with roasted or boiled vegetables over raw.

Recipe by: Miguel Barclay

Serves: 1

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

¼ butternut squash, cut into chunks

1 large carrot, cut into chunks

1 large parsnip, cut into chunks

3-4 tbsp of plain flour (plus extra for dusting)

25g of plain unsalted peanuts

1 tbsp of grated parmesan

Handful of sage leaves

3 tsp of olive oil

Salt and pepper

Method:

Oats are an excellent source of carbohydrates and provide steady energy release. When cooked with milk or water, they’re low in fibre and fat and very easy to digest – making them one of the best pre-race breakfasts available.

This fragrant porridge is made with oats, milk and warming spices, then topped with gently poached rhubarb and sweet cherry preserves. It delivers slow-release energy with minimal fat, while the fruity topping adds a touch of natural sugar to keep your glycogen stores topped up.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Consider stirring in a tsp of honey or jam for added simple carbs, and use low-fat milk for balance.

Recipe by:Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For the porridge:

200g oats

500ml whole milk

1 star anise

Pinch of ground cinnamon

Pinch of ground nutmeg

For the rhubarb:

300g forced rhubarb

120g caster sugar

1 sprig of rosemary

Juice of a ¼ lemon

To serve:

4 tbsp maple granola

4 tbsp sweet preserves

4 tsp finely chopped pistachios

Method:

This recipe combines oats with hemp seeds, nuts, cacao and spices to deliver a nutrient-rich, filling breakfast. While it’s designed to support recovery and long-term health, it can be tweaked for marathon fuelling.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Focus on oats and milk only; reduce seeds, nuts and yoghurt. Consider adding a mashed banana or a spoonful of fruit compote for flavour and quick-release carbs.

Recipe by: Dr Rupy Aujla

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

30g shelled hemp seeds

20g jumbo rolled oats

20g cacao powder

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground turmeric

15g flaked almonds

15g walnuts, crumbled

10g desiccated coconut

100ml whole milk or plant-based alternative

2 prunes, roughly chopped

To serve:

80g mixed berries

20g pumpkin seeds or nut butter of choice

1 tbsp thick natural yoghurt

Method:

Protein boost: Add more cacao powder; pumpkin seeds or nut butter. You can also use an unflavoured protein powder.

Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates and are naturally lower in fibre when peeled. They provide a slow, steady release of energy and are rich in potassium – helpful for maintaining electrolyte balance.

Thinly sliced and roasted sweet potatoes replace corn chips in this hearty traybake, topped with veggie mince, refried beans, cheese and yoghurt. While originally designed as a high-protein meal, it’s easily adapted for carb loading.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Reduce or omit beans and cheese, and use a small amount of yoghurt. Add a slice of white toast or a plain tortilla to increase carb count.

Recipe by: Joe Wicks

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

4 medium sweet potatoes (around 600g), peeled and sliced into 5mm thick coins

1 tbsp light olive oil

1 tsp salt

60g cheddar cheese, grated

4 tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve

For the spiced mince:

1 tbsp oil

1 red onion, diced

100g veggie mince (or minced beef)

½ tsp ground cumin

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp smoked paprika

Pinch of chilli powder

130g frozen sliced bell pepper (or the same amount of fresh, sliced)

For the refried beans:

400g tin of black beans, drained but liquid reserved

Pinch of salt

1 tsp ground cumin

For the salsa:

200g cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped

Big handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped

Juice of 1 lime

Pinch of salt

Method:

This warming curry is built on a base of sweet potato and rice, with added creaminess from coconut milk and peanut butter. It’s fibre-rich thanks to the cauliflower and spinach, and high in flavour.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Serve with white basmati rice instead of wholegrain. Reduce peanut butter to limit fat and omit spinach if needed to reduce fibre. Include a banana or white bread roll on the side to round out the carbs.

Recipe by: Phil Vickery

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

4 tbsp any oil

250g frozen chopped onions

1 tbsp dried garlic granules

½ tsp dried chilli flakes

2 tbsp frozen chopped ginger

400g can coconut milk

2 heaped tbsp peanut butter

10g vegetable stock cube, crumbled

500g frozen cubed sweet potato

500g frozen cauliflower florets

1-2 tbsp cornflour

300g (about 6 × 50g balls) frozen spinach

1-2 tsp sugar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 × 250g packets microwaveable basmati rice, warmed, to serve

Method:

Salmon is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are useful for muscle recovery and reducing inflammation. It’s better suited to meals 24-48 hours before the race rather than the night before, as it contains more fat and protein than ideal for pre-race day.

This dish features roasted vegetables and quinoa with herby salmon on top. It’s nutritionally balanced, but quinoa and vegetables contribute a modest carb content compared to white pasta or rice.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Reduce salmon portion slightly and increase the serving of quinoa. Add a side of white rice or couscous for more low-fibre carbs. Keep the dressing light and avoid raw herbs if your stomach is sensitive.

Recipe by: Mindful Chef

Ingredients:

10g flaked almonds

120g cherry tomatoes

½ lemon

1 red onion

1 yellow pepper

2 tbsp oil

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp harissa paste

2 x 150g salmon fillet (skin on)

80g quinoa

Medium handful of flat-leaf parsley

Medium handful of fresh mint

Method:

This New Orleans-inspired recipe brings together Cajun-spiced salmon with a generous serving of rice, beans and vegetables for a dish that delivers big flavour and sustained energy. The rice forms a strong carbohydrate base, while the salmon supports recovery.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Swap brown and wild rice for white, reduce beans slightly and serve with plain white bread or mashed potatoes to increase carb density without adding fibre.

Recipe by: Tom Kerridge

Serves: 4

4 skinless salmon fillets (120g each)​250g (1 small head) broccoli

1-cal sunflower oil spraySea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Cajun seasoning:

1 heaped tsp ground cumin1 tsp garlic granules½ tsp hot smoked paprika½ tsp cayenne pepper½ tsp dried oregano½ tsp dried thyme

For the dirty rice:

1 tsp olive oil1 onion, finely diced2 garlic cloves, sliced1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and finely diced1 tbsp tomato puree1 tsp dried oregano½ tsp dried thyme200ml fresh chicken stock400g tin black eye beans500g cooked brown and wild rice (freshly cooked and drained or 2 pouches)

4 spring onions, finely sliced

To serve:

1 lime, cut into wedges

Method:

Spinach is rich in iron, which is essential for energy metabolism and oxygen transport. When cooked, it’s much lower in fibre than raw, making it a good addition to carb-based meals in moderation.

This layered bake brings together floury potatoes, cooked spinach, and a cheesy, creamy sauce. It’s warming, indulgent and ideal when eaten in small portions alongside a lean protein.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Halve the cheese and creme fraiche to reduce fat. Increase the amount of potato and pair with a slice of white bread or a small portion of white rice to build glycogen stores.

Recipe by: Discover Great Veg

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

1.5kg floury potatoes, peeled and finely sliced

1½ tbsp butter

3 garlic cloves, sliced

3 tbsp plain flour

400ml milk

300ml vegetable stock

1 tbsp white miso

2 tbsp fresh thyme

200ml reduced fat creme fraiche

Pinch of nutmeg

260g bag of spinach

70g reduced-fat cheddar cheese, grated

Method:

Cooking tip: You can swap the spinach for cavolo nero. Great on its own or with some protein on the side (fish, chicken, etc).

This dhal blends lentils, rice, sweetcorn and spinach into a bowl full of flavour and long-lasting energy. While the lentils and brown rice provide a hearty base, they can be adjusted for easier digestion.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Swap brown rice for white and reduce lentils slightly. Serve with pitta or naan (opt for white flour versions) to add digestible carbs without upping fibre.

Recipe by: Lizzie King

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 tbsp rapeseed oil

1 onion, finely sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

½​ tsp turmeric

1 tsp ground coriander

180g brown basmati rice (or use white rice and halve the cooking time

1 litre vegetable or chicken stock 

180g dried red lentils

225g frozen spinach

150g frozen sweetcorn kernels

225g frozen spinach

To serve:

Coconut yoghurt

Lime wedges

Coriander leaves

Method:

Grapefruit is hydrating and rich in vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps fight inflammation. Its sharpness also refreshes the palate, especially when appetite is reduced during taper week.

This salad features delicate flakes of salmon with tart grapefruit segments and a mustardy vinaigrette. It’s light and fresh – a good option for a mid-week lunch when you want something easy on the stomach.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Reduce salmon slightly and bulk out with boiled white potatoes, white rice or crusty white bread. Keep vinaigrette light and avoid pairing with other acidic ingredients.

Recipe by: Mark Hix

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

450-550g good-quality salmon fillet skinned and boned

1 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tbsp chopped chervil

1 tbsp chopped chives

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

120g small salad leaves

For the dressing:

2 tbsp juice from the grapefruit

1 tsp Dijon mustard

4 tbsp rapeseed oil

Method:

Bright and bitter, this salad uses crisp fennel and tangy grapefruit for a simple, refreshing side. While raw veg is nutritious, it can be harder to digest close to the race.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Steam the fennel lightly to lower fibre and pair with a starchy side like couscous, plain rice or a white bread roll for more usable carbs.

Recipe by: Julia Platt Leonard

Serves: 4

1 pink grapefruit

150g radicchio

150g fennel (about half of a large head)

Olive oil

1 tsp honey

Salt and pepper

Micro herbs to garnish (optional) 

Method:

Beetroot is a well-studied natural nitrate source, known to enhance endurance and oxygen delivery by improving nitric oxide availability. It’s best eaten 24-48 hours before the race for peak effect.

This vibrant pasta dish blends cooked beetroot into a silky sauce and tosses it with bucatini. The pasta provides quick energy, while beetroot brings a subtle performance boost.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Reduce or omit feta and breadcrumbs. Add a slice of white bread or a banana on the side for additional digestible carbs.

Recipe by: Max La Manna

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

380g bucatini, spaghetti or linguine

40g feta, crumbled, to serve

Beetroot sauce

1 large beetroot, including the stems and leaves

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or crushed

1 tbsp chopped parsley stems

1 tbsp chopped fresh basil stems, plus basil leaves to garnish

4 tbsp nutritional yeast

Juice of ½ lemon

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

70ml oat milk

For the crispy garlic breadcrumbs:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, grated or thinly sliced

50g breadcrumbs (homemade from a stale loaf, or shop-bought)

Method:

Tips: Use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs if you prefer. Store any leftover pasta and garlic breadcrumbs separately.

A bright dip made with chickpeas, beetroot and tahini. Chickpeas are fibre-rich, so this is best used in small amounts as a snack.

Marathon-friendly adjustment: Serve with low-fibre options like white pitta, toast or crackers. Keep chickpea content modest and avoid serving with raw veg crudités.

Recipe by: Julia Platt Leonard

Ingredients:

1 tin of chickpeas (240g), drained and liquid reserved

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

1 lemon, juiced

2 tbsp tahini

50g cooked beetroot (about one small-medium beetroot), chopped roughly

1 tbsp olive oil plus additional for drizzling

Salt

Nigella seeds to garnish (optional)

Method:

For more detailed guidance on what to eat and when, visit the official London Marathon nutrition page.

Flight crew let passenger die while others disembarked, says family

A 62-year-old man in the throes of a life-threatening medical emergency died after an American Airlines flight crew failed to call for help until after the plane landed, taxied to the gate and all other passengers had disembarked – by which time it was too late to save him, his family alleges.

John William Cannon suffered a fatal heart attack in the back of an ambulance as EMTs rushed him to Mercy Medical Center in Durango, Colorado, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Cannon’s son, who is now also the administrator of his estate.

The Kentucky resident was in town to attend his best friend’s daughter’s wedding, attorney Joseph LoRusso, who is representing the Cannons in court, told The Independent.

LoRusso, himself a commercial airline-rated pilot, described the apparent lack of urgency in summoning assistance for the elder Cannon as “unbelievably frustrating.”

“How long does it take to deboard an airplane? 20, 30 minutes? That’s critical time,” LoRusso said on Wednesday.

Cabin crews are trained in CPR, and all commercial airliners have been required since 2004 to carry defibrillators onboard, LoRusso went on.

“Nobody’s expecting a flight attendant to be a doctor, but you have to at least attempt a recovery,” he said.

If things had played out differently, Cannon would “probably” be alive today, according to co-counsel Jessica McBryant.

“The emotional side of this is not just in losing a family member, but in how it went down,” McBryant told The Independent. “How alone and scared he must have been.”

In an email, an American Airlines spokesperson said simply, “We are reviewing the complaint.”

April 28, 2023, began like any other day for Cannon, who, at about 12:30 p.m., caught American Airlines flight 1444 from Louisville, Kentucky, to Dallas-Fort Worth, where he would get a connection to Durango, according to his son’s complaint, which was filed initially in Denver County District Court and removed to Denver federal court Tuesday. While deplaning, Cannon fainted and collapsed on the jetway, the complaint states.

It says American employees helped Cannon back to his feet, then, just over two minutes later, sent him off so he wouldn’t miss his connecting flight.

During the flight to Durango, Cannon “entered a stage of medical crisis which resulted in him becoming unresponsive,” the complaint continues.

“Despite Mr. Cannon’s escalating medical crisis, the… flight crew delayed requesting medical assistance until after the aircraft had landed, taxied to the gate, and all other passengers had deplaned,” it goes on.

One of the crew members told emergency dispatchers that Cannon was “in and out of consciousness with labored breathing,” according to the complaint. Firefighters were first on the scene, and gave Cannon oxygen while waiting for medics to arrive, the complaint states. It says they then removed Cannon from the aircraft and loaded him into an ambulance, where he soon went into ventricular fibrillation arrest, the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“The ambulance crew performed approximately ten minutes of chest compressions, administered two doses of epinephrine, and delivered multiple Automated External Defibrillator (AED) shocks,” the complaint states.

However, it says, their efforts were ultimately for naught. Cannon was pronounced dead at 1:29 am the following morning.

Cannon’s best friend was waiting for him at the gate when the flight landed and disgorged everyone aboard, except for Cannon, according to LoRusso.

“Next thing he knows, EMS pulls up and they’re pulling John off,” he told The Independent. “It was business as usual until they could get all the passengers away, and then, all of a sudden, it became an emergency… It seems like it’s become a persistent issue, where these flight crews are ‘event averse.’ Like, if you downplay things and attempt to sweep them under the rug, that’s the go-to play these days.”

LoRusso said American should never have allowed Cannon to get on his connecting flight in Dallas, given his condition. To that end, the lawsuit charges the airline with, among other things, negligently failing to deny boarding to an individual in medical crisis.

“It’s important for crews to realize that if someone’s in a medical crisis, they’re well within their rights to say, ‘We’re not going to board you,” LoRusso said. “If somebody has labored breathing, in what world would you put him in an airliner, in a cabin pressurized up to 8,000, 9,000 feet? That’s crazy.”

Additionally, the suit calls American out for failing to give reasonable first aid onboard the aircraft, failing to take reasonable steps to turn… Cannon over to a physician in a timely manner, failing to pay appropriate attention to [Cannon’s] medical condition, and failing to prioritize… Cannon in the deboarding process once he exhibited signs of extreme physical distress onboard the aircraft.

Last year, relatives of a 14-year-old boy who went into cardiac arrest and died aboard an American flight from Honduras to New York City sued the airline, saying the plane’s defibrillator was faulty. The case was later dismissed over a jurisdictional issue.

Cannon’s family is seeking unspecified damages for mental anguish, suffering, bereavement, loss of companionship, attorneys’ fees and funeral expenses.

“The ultimate goal of any lawsuit is to make things safer in the future,” McBryant told The Independent. “While this case is about John Cannon and his family, we want American Airlines to… hold people accountable for what happened so it doesn’t happen again.”

Surge in swimmers hospitalised from polluted UK waters

A UK woman was forced to spend five days in hospital with severe gastroenteritis after swimming in the sea as hospitalisations from water-borne diseases increased by 60 per cent since 2010.

East Lothian-based carer Shelley Sim had enjoyed a swim near her home east of Edinburgh to celebrate a friend’s birthday last year when she woke up with stomach pains and fatigue.

After speaking to her GP, she was told to urgently attend hospital and underwent several weeks of appointments which led to a final diagnosis of cryptosporidium – a disease contracted by swimming in contaminated water.

Diseases such as dysentery and Weil’s disease have led to swimmers becoming critically unwell after swimming in open water, with hospitalisations increasing from 2,085 people in 2010-11 to 3,286 in 2022-23.

Following her experience, Ms Sim said: “I’m no longer swimming every day, and I’m more cautious about getting into the water. The sea is where I go for my mental health, to get away from stress of being a carer.

The swimmer said that while she used to just check the tide, she was now forced to check sewage outfalls, especially after heavy rain, to avoid a repeat of the nightmare experience.

“It impacted my son’s mental health. He has OCD, ADHD and autism and I’m his carer. My illness caused a lot of anxieties and stress,” she said.

A recent survey conducted by Surfers Against Sewage and the organisation 38 Degrees found that out of 28,458 participants, 78 per cent were angry with the state of the UK’s waterways, and less than five per cent trusted their water company to end sewage pollution.

Cases of Weil’s disease, which can cause kidney failure and liver damage, had risen in 2023 with 122 people diagnosed, double the number in 2010. The disease is spread through water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, while cases of typhoid had also increased.

Miriam, a surfer from Cornwall, suffered two episodes of sickness in 2024 after contracting a stomach bug twice while out surfing.

“Sickness from the water affected me mentally, as I found myself feeling anxious in the weeks after the sickness episode about entering the water, a place where I usually spend a lot of time,” she said.

“I spend most of my weekends surfing. It just made me angry, as the water is somewhere I go to relax and unwind, and this shouldn’t be somewhere where I feel nervous about getting ill. Physically, the illness wiped me out. Picking up a stomach bug meant I lost a lot of weight, and I felt pretty weak and fatigued. I had to take six days off work.

“I think sewage pollution has massively impacted the surfing community. I know a lot of mates who have been sick from the water. It’s just not a nice thought knowing that a hobby you love so much can also put you at risk of becoming unwell. It doesn’t sit comfortably.”

As part of their evidence submitted to the Independent Water Commission on Wednesday, Surfers Against Sewage conducted a second survey among their supporters, where 98 per cent of 3,000 participants said they had lost trust in the system.

Meanwhile, over a quarter reported becoming unwell after entering a river, lake or sea over the last two years, and over 80 per cent agreed that the actions of their water company have negatively impacted their local community.

Speaking to The Independent, Surfers Against Sewage CEO Giles Bristow, said: “It shows just how frustrated and overwhelmingly angry the British public are and how much radical transformation is required.

“The public are furious. We were all cooped up in our bedrooms during the Covid-19 pandemic and after the lockdown was lifted, people wanted to go out and enjoy our rivers and lakes and to reconnect with nature. However, people have seen that the natural environment is changing before their eyes.”

This evidence has now been submitted to Sir Jon Cunliffe, the former deputy Bank of England governor who is chairing over the Independent Water Commission, which is set to release its interim report in May.

Meanwhile, Surfers Against Sewage are organising a Paddle Out protest on 17 May in seaside communities across the UK, to raise awareness of water pollution.

‘Girl math’ has to go: The Revolut CEO who has never applied for a job

Imagine your journey into your current job. Did you have to go through multiple interviews? Perhaps even apply for dozens of roles before you snared the right one?

If so, you might benefit from a different approach – at least, according to the experiences of one very successful figure in the finance world.

Yana Shkrebenkova is the chief executive at Revolut Trading UK, the investment product arm of the company you’ll know from app stores, adverts and quite possibly your own accounts.

At Exeter University by aged 16 before undertaking a degree there, Ms Shkrebenkova had worked with or alongside Deutchse Bank, Accenture, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs before Revolut. The sum total of job applications made during her career sits at zero.

“I took advice from all my lecturers to build your network very seriously – my first job found me rather than I found the job. People I studied with referred me to Deutsche Bank,” she explained to The Independent.

“None of my jobs I’ve applied for. It’s all about network. You build it not just at work but through people you work with and all the referrals happened through people who worked with me or for me.”

Deutsche was only the beginning of the theme; working alongside employees from Accenture led to another job offer while industry upheaval beset colleagues and the wider firm alike. Then, along came a new name on the banking scene.

“Revolut came up. Somehow it found me, I was approached for the role and I’m not going to lie – when I saw CEO on the job spec I was surprised, but the recruiter was convinced, the interviewers were convinced and, by the end of the process, so was I,” she explains. The CEO title is one of two parts to the day job: Yana is also head of wealth and trading at the company, bringing the features most users actually interact with.

It’s a long way from her original tasks of reading company reports or helping large firms with digital transformation, but speaking with her, it doesn’t take long to realise that new horizons are there to be embraced, not avoided.

“I’m the most curious person you’ll probably ever meet and it drove me to new challenges. Even when I had no clue what it was I took it on,” she says. “I just jump into some opportunity and learn. Looking into something new, diving into something new…I love it.”

That’s not to say working in finance has been routine or easy all the time.

Ms Shkrebenkova isn’t afraid to acknowledge that part of it has been down to her gender and her success – an in industry where change has come slowly.

Being the only female on the team was a regular theme early in her career, while she also pointed out that once senior positions came her way she began to “realise what those articles were about” – assumptions and comments were both made, where previously male colleagues had been helpful. “I had to deal with a lot of that. I had to put pressure on myself to be better and better and not care what anyone said.

“But change is coming. I see increasing amounts of women in these rooms, at startups and venture events there are a lot more women being founders, CEOs and investors – this is great,” she points out.

Women working within is only one side of the story though in finance terms. The other is in what women do with their money.

In case you haven’t heard, data shows they earn better returns than men with their investments.

Revolut’s data on the subject led Ms Shkrebenkova to partner with Female Invest; ripping up the social media “girl math” tag, the idea was not just to embrace the numbers but to empower more to begin their journey of wealth-building.

“Girl math is understood differently by different people. A lot of people in the UK use it as a joke when things go wrong so no, I do not like that connotation,” she said.

“For me from Russia, I had to ask the copy guys what was wrong – I thought girl math was good thing. So it was really refreshing to see women doing well in investments…but it’s not a new thing. But it was very exciting to see that in real data and I wanted to see what could we do to empower more women.

“What i see in new investors there’s a lack of fear, a lack of knowledge in terms of the jargon in the industry for decades destracting people and putting boundaries in. I wanted to reduce those boundaires and I guess if you use the products, we’re trying to make it easier and put as much information to allow people to learn and make decisions.

“That message empowers them, saying you’re doing really well as a cohort.”

Reducing language barriers, giving examples and increasing accessibility to investing isn’t just a women-specific thing; if the UK government are serious about developing a culture of investing then education has to be far better for everyone, and start far earlier.

For companies like Revolut, the challenge has to be about how to contribute to that discussion and education without appearing – or better yet, without being – self serving over the matter. After all, they are an investment platform, among other things.

Ms Shkrebenkova gives the example that some people already invest without knowing it, due to their pensions, and speaks of “learning on the job” in investing: seeing when a company is in the news, what affects share prices and more.

As for her own investment ethos? Naturally, it follows that curiosity approach which dictates other areas of her professional career: what she sees, learns, takes interest in and understands of its place in the world.

And, like investing, her career is a journey, with a chief exec role just another successful step – with more to take clearly still ahead.

“Not many people ask what’s next because CEO feels like the end,” she ends our time talking by pointing out. “But I’m early in my career, I could potentially go into academia and do research. I could teach students because the energy and questions they give are a really rewarding part of this job.”

What smart investors need to know about changing status symbols

“It’s not a bag, it’s a Birkin.”

In 2001, Sex and the City introduced us to the Hermès Birkin, with character Samantha Jones being told there was a five year waiting list for would-be buyers. The fashion set’s favourite accessory went mainstream.

The Birkin continues to sell well over 20 years later, both new and second hand. Resale values have reportedly risen faster than gold. The Birkin has helped Hermès to outperform in what has been a torrid time for luxury brands.

But how long can that appeal sustain?

Why we’re entering a new era of super tests for male cancers

In 2024, Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy shocked the world when he revealed his diagnosis of stage four prostate cancer. At just 48 years old – and despite being one of the fittest men in the world – he was given only a few years to live after the disease was found to have progressed and spread throughout his body. Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, and 12,000 men die of it every year. That’s 33 men every day.

Caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable. So why are so many men still dying from it? Detection is the first hurdle: before being given his terminal stage four diagnosis, Hoy had noticed a pain in his shoulder and ribs that he mistakenly attributed to gym workouts. A scan revealed a tumour, and several hospital appointments and scans later showed that it had spread to his bones. “I’d had zero symptoms, nothing to point me towards that that might be an issue,” he told the BBC. “We were given the news that this was incurable.”

Currently, there is a lack of a reliable, accurate screening test for prostate cancer. The traditional PSA blood test, which looks for elevated levels of prostate-specific antigens, flags up a huge number of slow-growing cancers that are unlikely to cause harm, while missing some of the most aggressive types.

Prostate cancer is incredibly common, but also incredibly diverse in how it affects people. Half of men who reach 80 have cancer in their prostate. But in nearly all cases, says Alastair Lamb, a leading researcher into prostate cancer, those cancers would continue to remain asymptomatic and pose no threat to health. He says, “Maybe only 3 per cent of men will die from their prostate cancer. That’s very serious, and it’s still a lot of men, but it’s not 50 per cent.” The problem, he says, is that we “diagnose far too much prostate cancer” but fail to identify the 3 per cent of aggressive cancers that will, as in Hoy’s case, then spread and become deadly.

But what’s the problem if we, say, screen every man over 40 and, if they have cancer in their prostate, offer them treatment just in case? The issue is that current treatments – surgery, hormone therapy and radiotherapy – all carry risks. Surgery alone can have side effects including lifelong incontinence and sexual dysfunction. A price worth paying to save your life, maybe, but not if the cancer was never going to spread.

Men with high PSA scores often undergo stressful, invasive, and costly follow-ups, yet 80 per cent turn out not to have cancer at all. Lamb, also a, clinician scientist at the Barts Cancer Institute, says, “People think all we need to do is create a test, find every case of the disease and treat the disease. But this emphatically does not work in prostate cancer.”

This is why researchers are desperate to find a better test than is currently on offer, and this month the news came that one might be on the way. It comes in the form of a simple at-home spit test aimed at identifying men with a high genetic risk of developing prostate cancer.

Early studies suggest it could detect over 12,000 tumours at an earlier stage. The test was created by a group of international scientists based at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London. Simply by looking at a small sample of saliva, it can identify more than 160 genetic variants linked to prostate cancer and then use AI to calculate an individual’s risk of the disease.

In trials, the saliva test picked up more cancers than the current PSA, identified more aggressive cancers and returned fewer false positives. Of high-risk men sent for an MRI and biopsy, 40 per cent were subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to just 25 per cent of those flagged by a high PSA level. Remarkably, it even identified cancers missed on MRI scans.

Professor Ros Eeles from the Institute of Cancer Research describes the test as “relatively simple” and “inexpensive”, saying it could help “turn the tide on prostate cancer.” And by catching cancer earlier and slashing the number of men sent for ultimately negative tests, it could also, she says, “save the NHS a significant amount of money.” The estimated savings? A staggering £500m a year.

The test isn’t ready for an NHS rollout yet. Initial trials only included European men, despite men of African heritage being twice as likely to develop prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die of it. This is likely due to genetic differences. However, the test has since been updated to include genetic variants affecting African and Asian men, and further trials are underway. Men with high scores are now being monitored to see if they develop the disease – similar to the way women with the BRCA gene (brought into the spotlight by Angelina Jolie) are eligible for more frequent breast screenings.

Meanwhile, the charity Prostate Cancer UK is launching a £42m research programme involving hundreds of thousands of men. The TRANSFORM trial will pit different tests against each other – including genetic tests – to identify the most effective way to screen men for prostate cancer. The study will take at least three years to produce initial data.

Lamb’s own research, funded by Cancer Research UK, doesn’t look at our DNA, but at the genetic makeup of prostate cancer tumours themselves, trying to distinguish between cancers that could be deadly and those that will remain harmless. This work, he hopes, will eventually lead to tests which can spot these aggressive cancer cells via MRI or, because tumour cells leak into the bloodstream, through a simple blood test.

Meanwhile, biotech entrepreneur and scientist professor Sir Chris Evans has announced the development of two other tests, one for prostate cancer and another for testicular cancer. As founder and chief scientific officer of EDX Medical, a company specialising in cancer diagnostics and prevention, Evans has created what he calls a “highly accurate super test” for prostate cancer. He claims that, with the help of sophisticated AI algorithms, his blood test can detect the presence of cancerous cells, identify early and late-stage cancer, determine whether it’s slow-growing or aggressive, assess genetic and hereditary risk and guide treatment.

“The increased accuracy over PSA testing should reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs,” says Evans. “The requirement for highly invasive digital rectal exams will also be dramatically reduced.”

The test has been patented and is in further trials, with its launch planned for later this year or in early 2026. Although it comes too late for his diagnosis, Hoy says of EDX’s prostate test: “I now know there is a need for better and more accurate prostate cancer screening tests – and I wholeheartedly welcome this initiative.”

But before this are Evans’s plans to release a blood test for testicular cancer, which is claimed to be 99 per cent accurate. Though relatively rare, testicular cancer affects around 2,400 men annually in the UK. It is one of the most curable cancers, with a survival rate of 95 per cent. But it can be devastating due to its impact on younger men. It is most common in men aged 15 to 45 – such as Coronation Street actor Jack James Ryan, who was diagnosed at 19 – and in some cases can affect fertility.

“There’s still such a huge stigma around testicular cancer, especially the process of getting physically checked,” Ryan says. “A simple blood test would remove the awkwardness and discomfort.”

Evans says the test is 99 per cent accurate, adding: “Accuracy is what matters. So people can get on with treatment or simply chill if all is well.” He says that many men delay seeing a doctor about male cancers out of embarrassment, even when they experience symptoms of prostate or testicular cancer.

“Men don’t want to self-examine, and even if they notice a lump, they might dismiss it as a sports injury. They’ll ignore symptoms like bloating, blood in the urine or stool, or unexplained weight loss, regarding them as a weakness or a failure. They feel embarrassed to talk about them, especially with a female GP. And the idea of the ‘finger up the bum’ test scares the life out of them.”

EDX’s new testicular cancer test will launch within weeks. The downside? It will only be available through private clinics. And while pricing hasn’t been finalised, Evans says it will cost “in the hundreds of pounds”. He says, “I believe the cure for cancer will come from testing to find the disease early, plus treatment with precision drugs, which are designed to attack the thing you’ve got with minimal side-effects. In the future, I can see people going back to work after two weeks of treatment, with no chemo, no hair loss, no toxicity, no radiology burns and no scars. But to achieve that, we need to find the right cancers very early. I believe new tests will help to make that happen.”

Rachel Reeves has been dealt a tough hand – she must hold her nerve

The government borrowed £15bn more than expected in the year to March, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics released on Wednesday morning. This is nothing short of disastrous for Rachel Reeves, who is in Washington DC trying to roll back US tariffs which threaten to make the outlook even worse.

Inevitably, the chancellor is besieged by know-alls offering advice. She should tear up her fiscal rules, the Blue Labour group of MPs suggested this week. Maurice Glasman, the guru of the working-class faction, went further and proposed the abolition of the Treasury – complaining that Ms Reeves had become merely a “drone” for the overmighty finance department.

She should cut public spending, especially on welfare, say the Conservatives, even though they did not succeed in doing so themselves when they were in government. All the opposition parties complain about the “jobs tax” – the big increase in employers’ national insurance contributions, implying that it should be reduced, but they all run a mile from actually proposing an unfunded tax cut. The ghost of Liz Truss haunts this debate, and is likely to do so, justifiably, for many years to come.

Ms Reeves will ignore these suggestions, and she is right to do so. Those who are urging her to rewrite her fiscal rules are in effect calling for her to borrow more. But if higher-than-expected borrowing is the problem, it is hard to see how borrowing even more is the solution. The country is already borrowing an unprecedented amount and, while no one can be sure where the breaking point lies, that is not something a responsible government should try to find out.

Those who argue for deeper cuts in public spending are more realistic, but they have to face up to the fact that so many essential public services have been badly underfunded for a decade and a half now. Unless the state withdraws from some functions altogether – as it has just withdrawn, in effect, from providing foreign aid – there are no significant savings to be made.

The idea that cutting waste and inefficiency will yield vast sums is a mirage and always has been – as Elon Musk’s Doge, or Department of Government Efficiency, will no doubt confirm in the United States. It is always worth trying harder, if not going as far as some of Mr Musk’s counterproductive efforts, but efficiency savings are never going to shrink the state.

That leaves Ms Reeves with the unattractive but only viable option of raising taxes further. She is not going to make this argument, so we will make it for her: for all that she has raised taxes in this government’s first nine months, the overall tax burden in the United Kingdom is still markedly lower than in most of the main European economies.

In her interviews in Washington, she continues to insist that the government remains bound by its manifesto promises not to raise the main taxes on “working people”. But there is still some scope for further tax increases.

At the Budget in the autumn, Ms Reeves should have the courage of her Labour convictions and say that, in a changing world, with the global economy in a worse position than last year, she has to ask those with the broadest shoulders – who already bear the greatest burden – to carry a little bit more.

If there was ever a time to impose a windfall tax on big tech companies and banks, now would be that time. Raising income tax would be efficient and effective and would include higher earners.

Ms Reeves is doing broadly the right things. She is trying this week to secure a trade deal with the US that would lift the clamp of tariffs on growth. She has done what she can to relax the constraints on growth of the planning system. And there is hope of a deal with the European Union next month that could ease trade with the UK. That is a prize that should be seized urgently.

None of these is a magic wand, but there are no such things in the world of economics. All Ms Reeves can do, beyond those pro-growth measures, is to try to keep the public finances stable and sustainable in turbulent times. She must hold her nerve.