‘I’ll use private sector to help clear NHS backlog’, says Streeting
Wes Streeting has said he will consider leaning more heavily on the private sector as he bids to clear NHS waiting lists.
The health secretary said he will not be “bound by outdated ideological battles” when tackling the crisis in the service, where 7.39 million people are currently waiting to be seen by doctors.
He said it would be “foolish to turn away” from the private healthcare sector, but cautioned that “we must see it for what it is”.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Streeting said: “Some ask if using private capacity contradicts NHS principles. Nonsense. What contradicts NHS principles is letting people suffer unnecessarily when capacity exists to treat them.
“The treatment remains free at the point of use – that’s what matters. The independent healthcare sector won’t affect this principle, and so it would be foolish to turn it away when we so desperately need it in certain specialities. But at the same time, we must see it for what it is.”
The health secretary, who previously received treatment for kidney cancer, added: “Cancer taught me that time is precious. When you’re waiting for treatment, every day matters. That’s why I won’t waste a single day, or a single available appointment slot, in our mission to give patients the care they deserve.”
His comments are likely to spark uproar from MPs on the left of the Labour Party, who fiercely opposed expanding the role of the private sector under Jeremy Corbyn. The former Labour leader has previously accused Sir Keir Starmer of “betraying” the health service for relying more on private care.
The government has said partnerships with the private sector under Labour so far have delivered more than 500,000 treatments, with waiting lists having fallen to a two-year low of 7.39 million in April.
Darren Grewcock, a security guard, had hip replacement surgery at the Meriden Hospital through a full NHS referral after an injury left him unable to work.
He said: “The X-rays revealed that I had bone-on-bone osteoarthritis on my left hip. I was referred for surgery and given a list of places you can go – which included options in the independent sector.
“Within three days of booking, I had an appointment booked with the consultant. I couldn’t believe how quickly he got back to me and the process started. My recovery has been a huge success. I am fitter, stronger, and more mobile than I was at 50.”
The charity, Patients Association, welcomed the greater role of the private sector in the NHS. Chief executive Rachel Power said: “As the NHS continues to tackle the backlog, communication and choice must remain central to how care is delivered because patients don’t just need treatment, they need to feel informed and empowered.”
Prince William’s children share Father’s Day tribute
Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, have wished their father, the Prince of Wales, a happy Father’s Day in a social media post that declared: “We love you!”
Two new photographs of Prince William and his three children were released on Sunday to mark the occasion.
The first picture shows the prince and his children posing for a family picture in a garden, while in the second picture, William and the youngsters are shown wrestling playfully in the grass, with the two boys holding their father down and Charlotte laughing.
In their post, the three children wrote: “Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you!”
The message was signed “G, C & L” followed by a sparkly heart emoji.
Kensington Palace said the photographs were taken by professional photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk earlier this year.
The King and Queen have also wished fathers around the world a happy Father’s Day by posting photographs of their own fathers on the royal family’s Instagram account.
“To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today,” the official account said.
The post shared a photograph of the late Prince Philip playing with a young Charles and the Princess Royal on a swing.
A picture of Camilla and her father Major Bruce Shand was also shared, showing the pair posing for a photograph on Camilla and Charles’s wedding day on April 9 2005.
The three children joined their grandfather, the King, the Queen, and their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to watch a flypast of military aircraft from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
Louis, wearing a red tie and dark suit that matched his brother’s, began enthusiastically waving at the crowd, drawing big cheers from those standing in the Mall to watch the Red Arrows fly overhead. He briefly stopped to turn around and address his father, then continued to wave and grin until George gently nudged him to stop by touching his arm.
But the youngest prince could not resist giving the crowd one last wave as his family retreated into Buckingham Palace after the flypast ended.
The children had ridden to Horse Guards Parade with their mother and sister in a carriage earlier in the day to watch the troops celebrating the King’s official birthday.
Women keep giving Arnold Schwarzenegger their numbers – for his son
Arnold Schwarzenegger says women no longer approach him with their phone numbers, because they are more interested in his actor son.
The 77-year-old Terminator star’s son Patrick, 31, shot to prominence this year after his role in the latest series of HBO’s biting wealth satire The White Lotus.
Patrick played Saxon Ratliff, the arrogant, protein-shake-chugging son of a North Carolina couple played by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey.
Arnold said that, before The White Lotus season three, his son – who has previously appeared in The Staircase and American Sports Story – would mostly just be asked about his famous father in interviews.
“He came many times to me and said, ‘I just did an interview with this magazine and two thirds of the questions were about you,’” Arnold told The Sunday Times. “But I was just in New York and a journalist comes up and says, ‘What’s it like being the father of Patrick Schwarzenegger?’”
Delighted, he added: “All of a sudden, everything has changed around. I walk into the gym now and it used to be the girls would come up and give me their contact. And then after White Lotus comes out, the girl comes up and says, ‘Here’s my contact, give it to Patrick.’
“So it’s wonderful. If I go to my grave and know that my son has outdone me, I’m in heaven.”
Patrick is one of four children Arnold shares with his ex-wife Maria Shriver, alongside Katherine, 35, Christina, 33 and Christopher, 27.
Arnold has another son, Joseph, 27, who he shares with longtime housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena.
Patrick can next be seen in indie drama Billy Knight, alongside Al Pacino.
Arnold, meanwhile, is starring in season two of action series FUBAR on Netflix, out now.
Patrick recently admitted that he and his siblings “hated” when their father gave up his movie career to become the Governor of California, a position he held from 2003 to 2011.
During a conversation between father and son for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Arnold recalled missing out on several film roles because of his decision to run for political office.
Arnold said he soon realised they preferred his time in Hollywood, adding: “It was the funniest thing. You coming to me and saying, ‘Dad, we had so much fun going to the set and watching you blow things up. And now …’”
‘No Kings’ protests live: Thousands rally across US to protest Trump
“No Kings” demonstrations marched in hundreds of cities on Saturday to protest what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda, including recent immigration raids that have rattled communities across the country.
“The corruption has gone too far,” protest organizers wrote on their website. “No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”
Millions of people were estimated to have joined the protests in over 2,000 communities, which took place the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., for the Army’s 250th anniversary which coincided with the president’s birthday.
There was little of the kind of mass arrests and civil disobedience seen in Los Angeles over the last week, though there have been sporadic threats.
Vehicles struck protesters in San Francisco and Virginia, and a threat against lawmakers in Texas prompted the evacuation of the state capitol building, while a shooting in Salt Lake City near a march critically injured one person.
In Los Angeles, police dispersed a large crowd using flash bang grenades, tear gas and officers on horseback.
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz asked the public to refrain from attending demonstrations across the state as police searched for the suspect in the Saturday morning shooting of a pair of state lawmakers and their spouses.
A White House official dismissed the “No Kings” protests as a “complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance.”
A shooting in Salt Lake City during a ‘No Kings’ demonstration has left one person critically injured
The victim remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Salt Lake City Police Department.
A person of interest is in custody.Roughly 10,000 people were marching between Pioneer Park and a federal building on Saturday when shots were fired near 200 South State Street.
Photographs from the scene appear to show a victim lying in the street with several people administering aid.
Another person was pictured in handcuffs surrounded by police.
The protest was among the largest in Utah as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities and small towns across the country.
ICYMI: Millions chant ‘No Kings,’ as Trump watches birthday military parade
Anger with Trump leads thousands to march for ‘No Kings’ as cops descend on marches
LAPD chief describes what prompted police to move on crowd
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell says police began using riot weapons and marching on protesters late Saturday afternoon after activists began attacking officers.
“The day started out very peaceful,” McDonnell told a local NBC affiliate. “We had a lot of people out here, about 30,000. It went very well, up until the point where officers started being attacked.”
McDonnell said those attacks triggered a dispersal order, and those who refused to leave were subject to arrest.
Officers later began being hit with “rocks, bottles, and missiles,” the chief added, saying seven were left with low-level injuries.
Some bystanders to the police rush described being unaware of what triggered officers to begin using stepped-up tactics against the downtown crowd.
Fox News commentators claim protests and parade separate who supports the ‘real America’
What the “No Kings” protests will mean in the grander scheme of history isn’t immediately known, but for the folks at Fox News, the nationwide demonstrations revealed a picture of two Americas.
“I think you’re seeing really a split screen of America,” Fox News contributor Miranda Devine said during a Saturday broadcast. “On the one side you have destruction, small mindedness, mean spiritedness — just negativity, and on the other side, you have the real America, patriotism, positivity, growing onward and upward, better and better.”
Commentator Tomi Lahren had a similar take on the day’s events.
“I am just so taken aback by the contrast in scenes in America today. On the one hand, the military parade shows socially normal, seemingly clean and well-mannered American patriots celebrating their country,” she wrote on X. “And on the other side, you have green haired, soy fed, bitter, disgruntled, vampire looking leftists, who take joy in bashing a Trump piñata with their children. Pick your America.”
A day of protest and peril in Minnesota
It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for the state of Minnesota.
‘Political’ shooting kills MN lawmaker; another hurt, suspect named
As thousands were preparing to head out to “No Kings” marches, residents learned a gunman shot two state lawmakers and their spouses.
A manhunt is ongoing for suspect Vance Boelter, 57, who reportedly left a manifesto that names prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including several Democratic lawmakers who are outspokenly pro-choice.
Despite calls from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for residents to avoid the Saturday protests, tens of thousands of people were on hand at the Minnesota Capitol for the demonstration anyway.
As ‘No Kings’ protests raged, Trump discloses his princely earnings on merch
President Donald Trump made over $10 million in the last year selling watches, sneakers, bibles and guitars, but his stake in a cryptocurrency platform was the most profitable of all.
Trump’s financial disclosure report, released Friday by the Office of Government Ethics, lays bare the vast wealth of the president and his family.
The president has made $57,355,532 from his stake in World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency platform. His $TRUMP meme coin was not part of the disclosure report because it only launched in January, but is estimated to have earned $320 million in fees.
The president has also made millions in license fees, the 234-long disclosure report shows. By comparison, former President Joe Biden’s 2024 filing was 11 pages.
Rhian Lubin reports.
Trump’s made over $50 million from stake in crypto firm
Over 5 million appear at ‘No Kings’ protests: organizers
With demonstrations coming to an end around the country, organizers of the “No Kings” protests are estimating that more than 5 million people in 2,100 towns and cities across the country took part in the events.
“Thank you for making it clear that we won’t be ruled by fear,” Indivisible, one of the co-organizers of the protests, wrote in a statement on Bluesky.
Austin police struggle to clear protesters from downtown roadways
Austin, Texas, police are trying to clear protesters from the middle of the street in the downtown area.
“If you are participating in the gathering, please stay on the sidewalks and out of the roadways,” the Austin Police Department wrote on X. “For your own safety, please stay cautious and be aware of your surroundings.”
They’ve been asking the public to leave the roads for over an hour now.
Curfew takes effect in Los Angeles
A curfew is once again in place for large parts of Los Angeles, as unrest from anti-immigration raid protests in the city has dovetailed with Saturday’s “No Kings” protests.
Police have spent much of the last few hours trying to remove a shrinking contingent of demonstrators from the area near a federal building downtown, where a dispersal order was issued and officers used riot weapons on a large crowd of activists.
Where arrests have taken place during ‘No Kings’ protests
With demonstrations across the country winding down, it appears mass arrests were not a common feature of the “No Kings” protests, though some were taken into custody in smaller-scale incidents.
In Salt Lake City, a person of interest was arrested in a shooting near a march thought to have injured one person.
Bystanders heard police yell, “Gunman!” and “Man with rifle” during the Saturday evening incident.
In Nashville, counter-protester Elijah Millar, was reportedly charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly spitting at people and brandishing a firearm.
In Texas, a state trooper arrested a person accused of threatening Democratic lawmakers planning to attend a protest at the state capitol building, a threat which prompted an evacuation of the grounds.
Meanwhile, police arrested a California man, Edward Miranda, for allegedly posting an online threat to commit a shooting at a Palm Springs rally.
Two drivers were detained, in San Francisco and Culpeper, Virginia, respectively, for allegedly driving their vehicles into demonstrators.
Another person was arrested for disorderly conduct in Cleveland, while a woman in Portland, Maine, was arrested for allegedly throwing a water bottle at a police officer, and another demonstrator there was brought in for allegedly blowing an air horn too close to a police officer’s ear.
At a demonstration in Ocala, Florida, a man allegedly wearing a Proud Boys uniform was reportedly arrested for battery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
In Madison, Wisconsin, meanwhile, three were arrested for vandalism.
More arrests may be coming in Los Angeles, where police clashed with a large crowd after issuing a dispersal order near a federal office downtown.
Police accused the demonstrators of attacking officers and holding an unlawful assembly, while reporters and protesters have said the gathering remained peaceful before police began using riot control weapons.
Win a Wilderness Festival luxury package for two
Music fans can win a luxury package for two to this year’s Wilderness Festival, all courtesy of Audi.
Wilderness returns this year to the picturesque nature reserve at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, and will be headlined by rock band Supergrass, Nineties rave duo Orbital, and Brit Award-winning, Grammy-nominated indie-rock duo Wet Leg.
Completing the headliner lineup are Basement Jaxx, who are making their return to live shows for the first time in over a decade, as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, Remedy.
The winner will receive a pair of complimentary festival tickets and boutique accommodation in a luxury cabin for two. They will also be treated to an Audi Kitchen experience and, for the ultimate luxury, your own private chauffeur to take you and your guest to the festival and return journey.
Enter the prize draw here.
Wilderness Festival is known for its eclectic music lineup, which this year includes performances from pop singer Lapsley, singer-songwriter Bess Atwell, Scottish musician Jacob Alon and DJ Craig Charles.
At The Sanctuary and Spa, guests will discover an oasis of calm, whether that means taking part in disco yoga or a workshop to explore your sensuality. Highlights include boating, massage treatments, sauna rituals, hot tubs, a wild sauna, Wim Hof method ice baths and wild swimming.
Gourmet food offerings can be found at Ben Quinn’s long table banquet in the woods, a once-in-a-lifetime experience set in the woods and lit by chandeliers. There, Quinn and his team will serve up a feast of flavour cooked right in front of you five courses of carefully curated, responsibly sourced, local and seasonal ingredients.
Elsewhere, attendees can join a number of talks, comedy sets and conversations, from Food Stories with Jay Rayner to a live recording of Jamie Laing’s podcast, Great Company.
Comedian, writer and NHS doctor Matthew Hutchinson will share a sharp and moving look at life on the frontline of British healthcare, while cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith will uncover a bold and fascinating alternative history of female friendship.
The prize draw will open for entries at 3pm (BST) on 7 May 2025 and close at 3pm BST on 17 June 2025. Only one entry per person is permitted for the Prize Draw. Terms and conditions apply.
NHS patients ‘to be denied breakthrough Alzheimer’s drugs’
Breakthrough drugs that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease will reportedly be refused for use on the NHS this week in a blow to thousands of patients.
The two drugs, Lecanemab and donanemab, slow down the decline in Alzheimer’s patients’ ability to carry out daily activities.
The drugs’ success in halting the progression of Alzheimer’s was heralded as a “new era” by campaigners and researchers.
However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is expected to refuse to recommend them on the NHS, according to The Sunday Times.
The regulator has already issued two decisions, one in October last year and another in March, saying they would not recommend the drugs for use on the NHS. A final decision will be published on Thursday.
Both drugs already have UK drug licences, making them available privately. It is estimated that around 70,000 adults in England would have been eligible for treatment if the drugs had been approved.
The regulator will reportedly turn down both drugs on the grounds of cost-effectiveness, with one insider telling The Sunday Times: “It is the end of the road for these drugs on the NHS”.
Lecanemab removes build-ups of the protein beta-amyloid from the brain. Trials showed that lecanemab can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by 27 per cent over 18 months if given to someone early on in the course of their decline.
Donanemab, marketed as Kisunla in the UK, teaches the body’s immune cells to recognise and remove the amyloid protein, which builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The protein build-ups are thought to be toxic to brain cells, leading to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s society has said.
Lecanemab can, however, cause swelling and bleeding in the brain. In trials for Donanemab, a third of recipients experienced abnormalities in their brain scans caused by brain swelling and bleeding, NICE said.
The drugs reportedly cost around £20,000 to £25,000, with the NHS being offered a lower price. Privately, the treatment costs between £60,000-80,000 per year, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
In a previous review by NICE in October 2024, director of medicines evaluation Helen Knight said: “Donanemab could slow down cognitive decline by 4-7 months, but this is just not enough benefit to justify the additional cost to the NHS. The cost-effectiveness estimate for donanemab is five to six times above what NICE normally considers an acceptable use of NHS resources”.
While the regulator said the decision would be disappointing for some, “there are other treatments being developed”.
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the decision to turn down the drugs would be “deeply disappointing”.
She added: “These treatments are not perfect, and we recognise the challenges they pose around cost, delivery and safety. But scientific progress is incremental, and these drugs represent a vital foundation to build on.”
The regulator NICE is due to publish the final draft guidance about the two drugs on Thursday. This leaves space for the decision to be challenged and sent to a review panel before the final guidance is published.
Trump military parade recap: President celebrates 79th birthday
President Donald Trump spent his 79th birthday attending a military parade dedicated to celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C.
First walking out to a mix of “Hail to the Chief” and “Happy Birthday,” the president took his seat in the viewing gallery alongside First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other officials.
Saturday’s parade was a rare moment for the U.S. – putting the strength of the military on full view with tanks, aircrafts, and soldiers walking through the nation’s capital for all to see. The last time American troops were on this kind of display was after the Gulf War in 1991.
Thousands of parade attendees gathered around the capital, which was under tight security, to witness the historic moment. At the same time, protesters around the country gathered in major cities to oppose Trump’s controversial use of his executive power.
The president concluded the parade by addressing the crowd of attendees and military personnel, boasting about the strength of the U.S. Army and the nation as a whole.
After, Trump took his seat and watched a massive fireworks display over the Tidal Basin.
Parade kicks off
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of the military parade occurring in Washington D.C. to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary – also coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday
President arrives to watch festivities on his birthday
President Donald Trump has arrived at the military parade to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are watching from the stands on a dark and cloudy evening in Washington, D.C.
The president waved to the crowd and pumped his fist as people chanted “USA! USA!”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is standing beside the president as more than 6,000 troops are marching near the National Mall.
Watch live: Trump holds Army’s 250th anniversary parade on his birthday
Military aircrafts fly by Washington monument
Military airplanes and helicopters began circling the Washington Monument at the start of the military parade, despite some impending bad weather.
Golden Knights Parachute Team touches down at parade
Vice President JD Vance and family attend military parade
Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, brought their children to the military parade in Washington, D.C. on a rainy Saturday.
‘Barracuda’ plays while tanks role in
While U.S. Army tanks rolled into the military parade, Heart’s famous song “Barracuda” played,
Nancy Wilson, an original member of Heart, has said the song is about “a real sleazeball” and is “even more relevant” now “in the salacious billionaire culture with the grab-them-by-the-p***y” mentality.”
Read more here:
Parade shows off Army uniforms through history
Part of Saturday’s parade is showing off the U.S. Army’s uniforms and transportation throughout history.
Down the parade route, soldiers walked to showcase different uniforms from the Revolutionary War era through modern day.
Anti-Trump protests continue while parade goes on
Protesters in opposition to President Donald Trump’s extensive use of executive authority are continuing to voice opposition in Washington D.C., while the president watches the military parade.
Police are containing the protesters outside the parade’s security perimeter.
Outside of D.C., anti-Trump protesters have gathered in major cities across the country for “No Kings Day” to protest the administration.