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A lack of support for women going through the menopause in the workplace is driving female workers out of their jobs and prompting the UK economy to “haemorrhage talent”, MPs warned in a damning new report.The research, carried out by the Women and Equalities Committee in the Commons, suggested employers’ dearth of provision for menopausal women will have repercussions on the gender pay and pension gaps, as well as the amount of women taking up senior leadership roles.MPs called for a menopause ambassador to be appointed in an attempt to stop the high numbers of #women leaving the workplace.The report also urged the government to overhaul the Equality Act so menopause is established as a protected characteristic, as well as including a responsibility for workplaces to deliver “reasonable adjustments” for workers grappling with menopause.RecommendedThe majority of the 3.4 million women between 50 and 64 in the UK will be experiencing symptoms of the menopause – ranging from heart palpitations to hot flushes, vaginal pain, anxiety and depression.Caroline Nokes, chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, said: “Menopause is inevitable. The steady haemorrhage of talented women from our workforce, however, is not. Stigma, shame and dismissive cultures can, and must, be dismantled.“It is imperative that we build workplaces – and a society – which not only supports those going through the menopause but encourages some of the most experienced and skilled workers in our economy to thrive.“The omission of menopause as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act is no longer tenable, given that 51 per cent of the population will experience menopause.”The Conservative MP warned “menopausal women have been mocked and maligned for too long” as she called for the government to grab “the opportunity to enact change”.Recommended“Too many women are dismissed when coming forward with symptoms and too many women are unable to access the care and medication they need,” Ms Nokes said.A recent survey by the Fawcett Society, a gender equality charity, and Channel 4, discovered one in 10 women in the UK have left their jobs due to suffering menopausal symptoms. Researchers polled 4,000 women aged between 45 and 55.The latest report by MPs also warned women are up against major obstacles when seeking to get their first diagnosis when going through menopause or perimenopause. MPs suggested women have an “unacceptable” postcode lottery to contend with as they demanded there is a specialist menopause service in all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG).MPs called for ministers to eradicate dual prescription charges for progesterone and oestrogen as part of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – arguing it should be substituted with only one fee.Polling of over 2,000 women commissioned by the committee of cross-party MPs, found 67 per cent warned of “a loss of confidence” as a direct consequence of suffering from menopausal symptoms, while seven in 10 cited “increased stress”.However, only around one in ten of those polled requested any changes to the way they were working from their employer.Carolyn Harris, a Labour MP who chairs the parliamentary group which specialises in menopause, told The Independent: “This report is both timely and important.“The committee has produced an excellent report reflective of the current situation faced by many women today. The balancing act of coping with symptoms and working can be overwhelming.“This report accurately points out that keeping women in work need not be a challenge. Common sense and respect for women would solve many of the problems that menopausal women currently are experiencing.” More

Sir Keir Starmer was confronted by an angry voter in Liverpool over writing an article for The Sun newspaper in October 2021.The Labour Party leader had previously promised not to give interviews to the paper during his leadership campaign at a hustings in the city in January 2020.The publication is widely boycotted in Liverpool due to its coverage of the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.As a result, Sir Keir was met with a furious woman after giving a speech in the city on Monday, where he laid out the priorities for the next Labour government.“I don’t know how you’ve got the guts to come to this city, after you’ve been interviewed and doing columns for The Sun newspaper, after the way we as a city were abused and the Hillsborough victims were abused by that paper,” said Audrey White.Recommended“Secondly, you lied to us about uniting the party. I’m still a Labour Party member and you’ve expelled and witch hunted in the most vicious way I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. And I’ve been a member of the Labour Party for a long, long time.“You have absolutely said you had ten pledges, you were going to carry on the Corbyn legacy, and ever since you’ve done nothing but distance yourself from the ideas which tens of thousands of people joined the Labour Party to support.“All you’ve done is feed into the Tory idealogy of not supporting strikes, of carrying on with the privatisation of our health service.”The incident comes after the Labour leader delivered his speech laying out the priorities for the next Labour government, where he said his focus as a new prime minister would be on “growth, growth, growth”.His plans for the party seemed to take a step back from the pledge he made while running for leadership to support “common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water”.However, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the policy would not be compatible with new “fiscal rules” the Party would adopt to restrain public spending. In response, Sir Keir told reporters in Liverpool: “I take a pragmatic approach rather than an ideological one, I agree with what Rachel Reeves said this morning.Recommended“Having come through the pandemic, it’s very important we have very, very clear priorities and that’s why we’ve set out fiscal rules already as an opposition.”He added: “My mission is growth and underpinning that mission is a partnership arrangement with business, where the mission is set by an incoming Labour government and we empower business to work with us in delivering on that mission.” More

Britons could be asked by the government to switch off their lights and turn down their thermostats in a bid to avoid blackouts over the winter months, reports suggest.It comes as nations in the European Union have been asked to slash their gas usage by 15 per cent from August onwards over fears of winter energy shortages after Russia reduced its supplies to the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.France, Germany and Austria are among several countries urging people to minimise their energy usage by using similar proposals to those now reportedly under consideration by the British government.Plans seen by The Sunday Telegraph reveal the government could ask the public to cut back on long showers, lighting and heating via radio, television, posters and leaflets.The document also lays out a potential deal which would see the National Grid pay its industrial users to switch off to avoid power cuts elsewhere.RecommendedThe National Grid has also asked its electricity suppliers to pay their customers to switch their energy usage to periods of peak supply this winter. But British Gas and Shell told the newspaper that they had no such plans in place as yet.The Telegraph reports that ministers are “reluctant” to ask households to reduce their energy usage, and hope the sky-high costs will naturally rein in demand.It comes ahead of the release of the National Grid winter outlook report next week. As of 1 April, households that are currently on a standard variable tariff saw their bills rise sharply by 54 per cent to as much as £1,971. For around 4 million customers on prepayment meters, there was an increase of £708 from £1,309 to £2,017.And it could rise again steeply in October with the cap expected the to surge again. According to estimates from Cornwall Insights, annual energy bills could soar to £3,244, rising to £3,363 from January.The Office for National Statistics said last month that more than nine in 10 people had seen their living costs rise in the previous few weeks, with the number of people cutting back on food rising sharply to 41 per cent from 8 per cent in September. More

The government has confirmed it has continued to use P&O Ferries despite condemning the firm over the law-breaking sacking of nearly 800 staff without notice.It comes after the government terminated its “one-of-a-kind” agreement with the operator in response to the firm’s “unacceptable” treatment of its former employees.It followed a review by the Department for Transport into government contracts with the operator in the wake of the mass sackings.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has since confirmed it used P&O for an army exercise taking place in Germany after the RMT transport union said it saw evidence the MoD had occupied slots on the operator’s Dover-Calais service.Previously, the same exercise was completed using military air transport, but due to the ongoing support to Ukraine, the MoD said that was not possible. RecommendedThe department also said that it was the first part of the exercise which required the use of ferries.A government spokesperson said: “We do not have any contracts with P&O. The Ministry of Defence occasionally require specific logistics operations to support national and international security arrangements.“P&O Ferries are the provider of last resort in such situations, on an exceptional basis only.”RMT general secretary Mick Lynch slammed the MoD’s use of the P&O services as a “new low, even by this zombie government’s sinkhole standards”.Mr Lynch also called on the government to issue a statement barring public contracts with P&O Ferries and its parent company DP World.P&O was widely condemned after it replaced 786 crew members with cheaper agency workers on 17 March.Politicians and trade unions said the decision put the safety of ships at risk. More

Senior Conservatives across the north of England are growing increasingly concerned that the government’s flagship levelling up policy will be dropped by whoever becomes the party’s new leader.Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Jake Berry, chair of the party’s Northern Research Group in parliament, have both separately warned that the huge red wall gains made at the last election will be lost without an ongoing strategy for the region.They have separately written to all candidates demanding commitments on investment and greater powers for the area.But almost a week on from Boris Johnson’s resignation, none of the eight remaining runners and riders to replace him have yet offered any concrete pledges – or even views – on the outgoing PM’s flagship policy.The fear is that “levelling up” has become a politically toxic term because of its association with Mr Johnson and that the entire initiative may be dropped as a result.RecommendedNow, Conservatives in the north fear that such action could lead to defeat at the next election with swathes of the traditionally Labour seats that voted blue in 2019 turning red once again.“I don’t particularly care if the term ‘levelling up’ is kept or not because I’m not convinced it caught on with the public anyway,” says Dr Anthony Mullen, the leader of the Tories on Sunderland City Council. “But if nothing comes in to replicate what it was trying to do – improve investment and civic pride in these great northern cities and towns – then people will see that as a promise broken and a job half done, and they will vote accordingly.”In Bury – where the Conservative constituency of Bury North is the most marginal in the country – Russell Bernstein, leader of the Tory group on the borough council, said that the party should be shouting about what levelling up had achieved.“We’ve had in excess of £100m spent or promised here,” he reckoned.But he added that if the policy was discontinued mid-term, the backlash from voters would be severe. “If we ride back now, it’s not going to go down well because this is something voters bought into and believe in,” he said.Asked if he feared it was likely, he said not with his preferred candidate Tom Tugendhat.But with others? “I’m less convinced all the candidates have that same commitment,” he replied without expanding on who he meant.The growing disquiet comes after Mr Houchen – a much-admired figure among northern Tories – went public to reveal his own worries.“It is absolutely a huge concern to me at the moment that we’re not hearing anything from the contenders because I genuinely believe that the thing that got Boris Johnson his massive majority was obviously Brexit and his pitch to the country but also levelling up,” he told Channel Four news. Recommended“Certainly to first-time Conservative voters, and people who voted Labour for generations, it is a hugely important thing.”Meanwhile, Mr Berry – who is MP for Rossendale and Darwen – has written to each candidate suggesting that to win support from northern MPs, they must “commit” to a series of pledges including a new funding formula and a dedicated minister for the region. More

It was the jacket worn by Andy Burnham when he gave his now famous impromptu speech accusing the government of “playing poker with people’s lives” over coronavirus restrictions. On Wednesday, that navy blue coat became a museum piece.The item – sported by the Greater Manchester mayor while he told reporters that his region was being placed into a new Covid-19 lockdown against its will – is to go on display at the People’s History Museum in the city.The centre requested it after Mr Burnham’s October 2020 speech went viral and led to a new title being bestowed on the Labour stalwart: King of the North.“As a museum, we knew that it was important to collect the political story of Covid for future generations,” said Sam Jenkins, collections manager at the centre. “We got a copy of the speech from that day but we also felt that the jacket was a great visual representation of the changing situation that autumn and of the split between Westminster and the regions.“It struck a note with people because it is a very working class jacket and it feels authentic [on Mr Burnham], and it was very much in stark contrast to the suits being worn in those Westminster briefings.”RecommendedThe garment joins other items of political fashion at the museum, which is dedicated to democracy and radicalism. They include Michael Foot’s so-called donkey jacket – a Tweed item worn to a 1981 Remembrance Day – and the leather jacket worn by veteran campaigner Harry Elliot Lesley Smith.“Clothes are important,” said Jenkins. “In the years to come – 2050, 2100 – they will give a sense of the age.”The coat worn by Mr Burnham was bought in the 2012 Boxing Day sales from House of Fraser in Manchester, he has said.He only wore it on the day of the speech after his wife Marie told him not to put on a favoured North Face cagoule because he had been wearing it so often.Yet quibblers might argue that, while the garment has come to symbolise a moment of Greater Manchester history, it was probably not even the best coat in camera shot that day. That perhaps belonged to then Oldham Council leader Sean Fielding, stood solemnly in the background sporting a knee-length number. There is, as yet, said Jenkins, no plans to request that for the museum. More

The UK could see its first-ever national heatwave emergency this weekend amid fears of record-breaking temperatures, with officials braced to take unprecedented action if it is deemed necessary.Forecasters at the Met Office are predicting that the mercury will exceed 35C on Sunday – but have warned that some meteorological models are producing maximum temperatures in excess of 40C.Ministers held a Cobra meeting yesterday as a weather warning was issued and the Cabinet Office is coordinating a cross-government response between a host of departments and agencies.According to the official Heatwave Plan for England, the decision on whether to declare a state of emergency would be taken following a cross-government assessment of weather conditions, coordinated by the Cabinet Office.Southern parts of the country have already been placed on the second-highest level of alert this week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a measure which requires health and social services to take action to protect vulnerable people.RecommendedHowever, a UKHSA official was reported as saying that “if it gets above 40C then it is likely to be a level 4 heatwave for the first time”, meaning a state of national emergency will be declared, adding: “I don’t see how it couldn’t be in those temperatures.”Approached by The Independent, the agency insisted it did not recognise the quote cited by the Daily Telegraph, and emphasised that national emergency status is dependent on whether a heatwave is so severe or prolonged that its effects are felt beyond the health and social care system – such as causing power or water shortages – rather than a specific temperature being reached.The UKHSA’s head of extreme events and health protection, Dr Agostinho Sousa, said: “Heat-health alerts have now been issued to the majority of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout the duration of this week.“Most of us can enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but it is important to keep yourself hydrated and to find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11am and 3pm. If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, make sure they are aware of how they can keep themselves protected from the warm weather.”Heatwaves are the deadliest extreme weather event in the UK, and according to the Met Office there an average of 2,000 heat-related deaths each year.But scientists have warned that such events will only become more frequent and severe as a result of climate breakdown, and earlier this year the Met Office raised the threshold for weather to be considered a heatwave in parts of the UK to reflect the country’s warming climate.The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was 38.7C, reached at Cambridge Botanic Garden in July 2019.RecommendedMet Office forecaster Simon Partridge told the Press Association news agency that Sunday holds a 30 per cent chance of seeing that record broken.His colleague Rebekah Sherwin added: “Weather forecast models are run hundreds of times to determine the most likely weather outcome. For late next weekend and early next week, some runs of these models are allowing exceptionally high temperatures to develop, which is something we’ll be monitoring closely and adding details in the coming days.“Some models have been producing maximum temperatures in excess of 40C in parts of the UK over the coming weekend and beyond. At longer time scales temperature forecasts become less reliable, so whilst these figures can’t be ruled out, they are still only a low probability.”Weather extreme enough to trigger a national emergency has the possibility to cause illness and death among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups, government guidance states.Disruption to road and rail travel, issues at power stations, higher concentrations of air pollutants, classroom closures and crop failures are among the other risks anticipated during a heatwave severe enough to merit a national emergency, according to the government’s official heatwave plan. More

The government will not attempt another flight to Rwanda until September at the earliest, as it awaits a decisive court hearing and the result of the Conservative leadership contest.The next prime minister will be announced on 5 September, the same date that the High Court will review whether the policy is legal.A hearing, originally set for next Tuesday, was delayed at the request of the charities bringing the legal challenge, to give them extra time to prepare their case.A Home Office source told The Independent no asylum seekers would be put on flights until September at the earliest because of the court case, denying reports that the delay was linked to the leadership election.All leadership candidates running so far have committed to continuing the Rwanda policy, despite concerns over its legality and effectiveness after the Home Office’s chief civil servant refused to approve the plans.RecommendedThey were forced through by Priti Patel, using a rare ministerial direction, following a letter from Matthew Rycroft warning: “Evidence of a deterrent effect is highly uncertain and cannot be quantified with sufficient certainty to provide me with the necessary level of assurance over value for money.”The government refused to answer a Freedom of Information request on costs lodged by The Independent, on the basis it needed a “safe space” to negotiate bilateral agreements.A plane intended to take the first group of asylum seekers to Kigali was grounded in June, after several passengers were granted last-minute injunctions by the European Court of Human Rights.Care4Calais, which is one of three charities to tell the High Court the policy is unlawful, said it was working with more than 20 people who have been detained and issued with legal notices claiming they will be removed to Rwanda.Founder Clare Moseley added: “Many of those from [the flight] last time remain detained, exhausted and alone, and terrified for what the future might bring. “These people have suffered some of the very worst things that can happen on this planet. They have appalling physical and mental scars, and now face the threat of further extreme trauma.”Detention Action, which is also part of the legal challenge, welcomed the news that a temporary pause had been put on flights.How did the ECHR stop the first Rwanda deportation flight?The charity had urged the Home Office not to “defy the courts” by sending people to Rwanda in the knowledge that they may have to be brought back if it loses the case.Whatever the High Court’s judgment in the judicial review, the losing side is expected to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeal, and then potentially the Supreme Court and ECHR (ECHR) – continuing the case for months or possibly years.The PCS union, which represents Border Force staff and is also part of the legal action, is calling for the government to halt all flights to Rwanda until the result of the case is known.General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We’re pleased the court has listened to our representations and granted the adjournment. This is a serious matter that has potentially grave consequences for all concerned. It, therefore, requires the most careful scrutiny.”Ms Patel and other ministers have argued that the policy is necessary to reduce the number of small boat crossings over the English Channel.Asylum seekers are being selected for removal to Rwanda after being declared “inadmissible” on the basis that they travelled through safe third countries.The definition is based on the UK’s immigration rules, which were redrawn by the government last year, and has been criticised by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which said there is no requirement under the 1951 Refugee Convention to seek protection in the “first safe country”.The UK was cut out of an EU-wide agreement to transfer asylum seekers to countries deemed responsible for them during Brexit, and has not replaced the deal, creating a huge backlog of asylum seekers who have been declared “inadmissible” but cannot be sent to European countries as they were before.Home Office decision-making has also slowed down, leaving a record number of asylum seekers waiting for decisions on their claims.More than 13,300 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, more than double the total by the same point in 2021.Last week, dozens of arrests were made in the biggest international police operation of its kind targeting a people-smuggling gang thought to have been responsible for around 10 per cent of all migrant crossings last year.The National Crime Agency said the arrests, and seizure of inflatable boats and equipment had damaged smugglers’ capabilities and would put a “dent” in crossing numbers.But an official warned that crossings would continue because of demand from migrants who have no safe or legal route to reach the UK from northern France.RecommendedA Home Office spokesperson said: “Our world-leading partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system. We have been clear from the start that we expected legal challenges however we are determined to deliver this new partnership. “This is vital to prevent loss of life in the Channel and break the business model of people smugglers. No court has actually ruled that this partnership is unlawful and we are ready to defend the partnership in the courts.” More