Reform has been hit by scandal in Wales, with one candidate standing down last month after a photo emerged of him appearing to do a Nazi salute

One of Nigel Farage’s Reform candidates peddled a Covid conspiracy theory – and even branded the late Queen a “fraud” who should be overthrown.

Farage once opened up about being “slightly depressed” at Queen Elizabeth II’s death, praising her as “the most respected person in the world”. But in stark contrast, Reform’s local elections candidate Emma Clatworthy laid into her, alleging “she’s not our Queen” – citing her German descent. Clatworthy, standing in south Wales, referenced a “cult” leader who apparently claimed the Queen swore to “trade off” her subjects.

She also falsely claimed people cannot catch a virus and to advance her argument referenced the Rothchilds – a Jewish banking family often used in anti-semitic comments. Reform has been hit by scandal in Wales, with one candidate standing down last month after a photo emerged of him appearing to do a Nazi salute.

In Telegram posts uncovered by Hope Not Hate (HNH), Clatworthy, 43, wrote: “The government are actors, there [sic] only to distract us, give us a false sense of security and false sense of control over our lives thinking that they are there for us.

“We don’t need a government so large they’re like blood sucking ticks, taking all our money and doing nothing for us only for the corporations. They need to go, the whole system needs to be taken down and rebuilt, by us the people. The Monarch needs to go she’s not our Queen never has been she’s a fraud, they’re all German decent [sic]”.

In the February 2021 post, she referenced Mark Christopher, the leader of a “cult” who was later jailed over a kidnap bid. He and three others in the “anti-establishment cult” were found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2024 over the incident the year before in which they stormed a court and tried to kidnap a coroner. Clatworthy wrote: “… if you look at the clips Mark K Christopher (Federal Post Master Judge, London) does he shows us how we’ve been duped by our own language and he breaks the Queens speach [sic] down and shows you how she’s not swearing to represent us the people, she’s swearing to trade off us….” She added: “We need to learn the correct processes to over throw the monarch…”

In another comment on the same day during the Covid pandemic, she wrote: “The problem we have is people have been brainwashed and programmed since they started school… people are even rushing to get a vaccine that can kill them just to go back to the ‘norm’.” Her comments were made in a Telegram group called “LAWFUL/LEGAL Q&A” which carries a picture showing the words: “The Great RE-OPENING”.

In a message on another Telegram group, Clatworthy wrote in August 2021: “You can’t catch a virus its the biggest lie big pharma ever spun. A virus is dead cells excreted at the end of your immune system doing what it’s designed to do. It’s not alive that’s why they can’t give you antibiotics or anything for the flu. Flu shots don’t prevent flu they give you the flu. ..this has been happening over and over and over again, it’s all big pharma lies and business.”

One user questioned her, saying: “So all the Virologists, Scientists, Doctor’s and medical experts are all WRONG. !!! REALLY!!!??” To which Clatworthy replied: “Yes, not all of them, most of them are telling the truth go and look it up. Dr Sam Bailey is a great source of info. They’ve written books on it also. Virologists didn’t exist initially it was a combined organisation, changed by Rothschilds, Rockefeller when they took over med school and sciences. Go and look it up before you did it, have we not learned any lessons yet. It’s germ theory vs terrain theory”.

This is an apparent reference to Samantha Bailey, who it later emerged had her medical registration cancelled in New Zealand and was ordered to pay over $148,000 [£64,000] after posting Covid misinformation. The NHS website says: “COVID-19 spreads very easily through close contact with people who have the virus.”

HNH’s Director of Research Joe Mulhall said: “Emma Clatworthy has a history of voicing dangerous conspiracy theories online. The fact Reform UK has selected Clatworthy as a Senedd candidate is disappointing but not surprising.”

On Facebook, Clatworthy says she has trained in “integrative health and functional medicine”. In a post this week she explained: “I am now developing my work in clinical practice and community health education, focused on prevention, resilience, and helping people understand their health before they reach crisis point.” Late last month, she posted: “Today, I’m proud to announce that I have been selected as a Senedd Candidate for Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan”.

Clatworthy told the Mirror: “The comments you reference are from several years ago, during a period where I was exploring a wide range of ideas and discussions online. Like many people, I was trying to make sense of complex issues at the time. I made a conscious decision to step away from those spaces. As a candidate, my priority is to serve people fairly, thoughtfully, and with a focus on real-world outcomes that improve lives.”

Reform declined to comment.

He broke into his ex-partner’s home and used black paint to write obscene words and abusive messages on the walls

A man targeted a home, a church, and a charity shop in a series of burglaries across Cambridge. John Brady, 57, broke into the home of his former partner in Mortlock Avenue on April 11 last year.

During the break‑in, he used black paint to write obscene words and abusive messages on the walls. Brady, who also lives in Mortlock Avenue, went on to target Wesley Methodist Church on December 23, stealing a purse containing £30 and Christmas food.

He continued his crime spree in February, committing three further burglaries at St Andrew’s College, Each charity shop on Milton Road, and Cutting Edge Podiatry on Barnwell Road. During the offences, he stole items including an iPad, £75 from a purse, and a cashbox.

Brady was identified following enquiries and from CCTV images. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday (April 13) after pleading guilty to five counts of burglary.

Detective Constable Henry Marshall, who investigated, said: “Brady carried out a series of opportunist burglaries which caused distress to individuals and harm to community organisations. I hope this sentence provides reassurance to residents and businesses that we will pursue offenders and bring them before the courts.”

ITV crews were spotted outside of Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, to film scenes for Coronation Street inside the old court Building.

Le Mans Crescent (Image: Dan Dougherty)

This is the second day in a row the film crew have been spotted filming Coronation Street in Le Mans Crescent, often used as a shooting location for court scenes.

In July 2021 and 2022, the trial following the murder of Seb Franklin was shot in the old Bolton Magistrates Court on Le Mans Crescent.

And earlier this month, crews were in town to film scenes for upcoming ITV courtroom Drama Saviour, which stars Anjli Mohindra (The Suspect, Bodyguard), Shaun Parkes (Human Traffic, The Suspect), and Aiden Gillen, who played Littlefinger in Game of Thrones.

Le Mans Crescent (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Fans were alerted to the presence of the Coronation Street crew yesterday when they saw a Newton and Ridley truck drive into the area, this being the name of the show’s fictional brewery.

Although it is currently unknown which scenes were being filmed, there are several possibilities based on recent storylines.

It may have something to do with the upcoming wedding between Carla Connor (Alison King) and Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), as a flash-forward episode in February revealed there will be a murder on the big day.

Emile Cairess has been ruled out of this year’s London Marathon – where he was expected to challenge Sir Mo Farah’s British record – with a calf injury.

The 28-year-old finished third in 2024 but, after placing fourth at the marathon in the Paris Olympics, was also forced to miss last year’s race in London because of an ankle tendon issue.

Cairess was troubled by the calf problem earlier this year and it has continued to hamper his training.

“I am gutted to be withdrawing from the 2026 London Marathon,” he said.

“After missing the 2025 race, I was so excited at the prospect of returning this year, but out of respect to both the race and the distance, I only want to be on the start line if I’m in the best possible condition.

“Unfortunately, the calf issue I sustained earlier in my training block means I am not currently where I need to be.

“I’ve done my best to be on the start line but, unfortunately, I have to make the tough decision to withdraw. I wish everyone taking part the very best of luck and hope to be back at the London Marathon next year.”

Speaking in January, Cairess, who has a marathon best of two hours six minutes and 46 seconds, said he has felt in shape to beat Farah’s mark of 2:05:11 for the past two years.

On Tuesday, world champion Peres Jepchirchir withdrew from the women’s race after her build-up was affected by a stress fracture.

This year’s London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 26 April.

Renewable energy company Statkraft has released further details of its proposed Mylen Leah Solar Farm, a scheme expected to generate around 500MW of electricity – enough to power the equivalent of 180,000 homes.

If approved, the development would be located between the villages of Seaton Ross, Melbourne, Laytham, Ellerton, East Cottingwith and Foggathorpe, on land on and around the former airfield at Melbourne.

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The solar farm would be connected to the national grid at Thornton Substation via an underground cable.

Developers say the scheme would play a key role in strengthening the UK’s energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, particularly at a time of global instability and rising energy costs.

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Matt Simpson, senior solar project manager at Statkraft, said the company was keen to engage with the community as plans progress.

He added: “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to share further details about Mylen Leah Solar Farm and look forward to speaking to local people as we finalise our proposals.

“In addition to delivering greater energy security and helping stabilise electricity bills, Mylen Leah Solar Farm would also offer tangible benefits, including opportunities for businesses in the area to register as local suppliers.

“Statkraft is also committed to delivering a community benefit fund for investment in local projects and initiatives, which would be open for applications once the project becomes operational.”

A statutory public consultation on the plans will run from Thursday (April 16) to Thursday (May 28), during which local residents, businesses and community groups will be able to view the proposals and provide feedback.

A series of in-person and online events is planned, including the following:

• Holme-on-Spalding Village Hall – Thursday (April 30) from 1pm till 8pm;
• Melbourne Village Hall – Wednesday (May 6) from 1pm till 8pm;
• Bubwith Sports and Leisure Centre – Thursday (May 7) from 12pm till 6.30pm.

Statkraft said: “All comments received during the statutory consultation will be carefully reviewed and analysed to identify key themes and issues, and to inform the further development of the proposals.

“An application for a Development Consent Order will then be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in late 2026.”

More information about the project can be found here.

“So I think we can be pretty confident, quietly confident, that that will be alright. I think if the changes are around strengthening advice to duty bearers, that’s a positive, because businesses and service providers will be looking for examples that they can use day-to-day.”

Joann Carver, 73, claims she was refused baptism at a Cambridgeshire church

A woman has alleged her church refused to baptise her due to her being transgender. Joann Carver, 73, became a member of her local church in April 2022, and requested baptism in June 2024.

However, despite completing a pre-baptism ‘alpha’ course, Joann claims she was informed in June 2025 that she could not be baptised at the Lighthouse Church in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

A week afterwards, Joann’s partner, Hannah Davis, 57, alleges a pastor told her Joann could receive baptism if she ‘wore trousers and grew a beard’.

A spokesperson for the church told the Metro ‘we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation’.

Joann and Hannah have subsequently joined the community at Renew Inclusive Church in Cambridge, where Joann was baptised on 26 October 2025.

Joann, from Ely, Cambs, an actor who has appeared in The Bill, Holby City and Doctors, said: “Lighthouse Church have made me feel inhuman, and ashamed to be me. That was one of the lowest points of my life: I went home in floods of tears. I felt like I’d had a sledgehammer hurled at my head.”

Joann said she recognised from an early age that she was female: she didn’t enjoy boys’ games and wished to wear girls’ clothing. She came out in spring 2017, and changed her name by deed poll from John in October.

Twelve months later, she began hormone therapy and underwent gender-affirming surgery in February 2022.

Joann and Hannah, a member of the Lighthouse Church for 21 years, met on the Pink Cupid app in December 2021. Joann, who shared her account via Sell Us Your Story, said: “I was agnostic before my operation. Hannah prayed for me throughout the procedure, and when I woke, I felt no pain, so I knew her prayers had been answered, and that’s how I found God.”

Joann was invited to attend the pre-baptism course and said she felt ‘really hurt’ when the other five participants received baptism at its conclusion.

She volunteered for baptism in June 2025, when the church called for volunteers, and the head pastor requested a private conversation, she said. Joann alleged the pastor told her she was living in sin as a woman with Hannah.

A church spokesperson said: “As a Christian community we affirm the historic and biblical teaching that sex is biological and a good gift from God,” the Metro reported.

The pastor said he hadn’t witnessed sufficient change in Joann, she said. A week later, Hannah enquired what change would be necessary, and the pastor responded that Joann would need to wear trousers and grow a beard, Joann alleges.

She said: “I had a tough life believing I was mad, and it was such a relief to come out. The Lighthouse Church do such a lot of great work.

“I just hoped they’d extend some of their generosity to me, but they’ve left me feeling really, really hurt. I’ve barely been able to leave the house since they told Hannah I’d have to wear trousers and grow a beard.

“For over two years, they made me feel welcome, and within a week made me feel like dirt.”

Joann and Hannah departed from the Lighthouse Church and became members of the Renew Inclusive Church. Joann was baptised at Saffron Walden Baptist Church on October 26.

“It feels fabulous: I’m still buzzing from it”, she said.

The Lighthouse Church has been contacted for comment.

In a previous statement to The Metro, a Lighthouse Church spokesperson said: “In accordance with our calling as Christians and belief in biblical truth, Lighthouse Church welcomes all people and is committed to treating everyone with love, dignity, and respect as humans made in the image of god.

“We are aware of the concerns raised, but we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation as described. Our leaders acted in good faith and with sincere pastoral intent throughout.”

It’s a risky business bringing a brand new clan en-masse to a soap. Family is the foundation to the genre, but we fans have pretty high standards when it comes to appreciating newcomers.

So to have a whole bunch of unknowns at once can feel unsettling and, while they spend time getting embraced into the community (or like the Battersbys, totally shunned), our opinions are already formed and it’s often a difficult task to win us round.

A family needs to be crafter with stories in mind, relationships planned out, defined personalities and, most importantly, a clear bond and chemistry between the actors.

Sometimes it can be cliche – dodgy dad, feisty mum, hearthrob son, troubled teen daughter – it generally fits a formula a lot of the time.

My hopes were quite high for the Keanes in Hollyoaks, I just didn’t expect them to make the instant impact that they did.

I had my doubts about making them central to a massive stunt in their very first episode. Are we meant to really invest in the fates of characters we don’t even know? While we’re panicking four our beloved Frankie and Vicki, what reason do we have to be on edge about whoever the heck these van folk are.

Within moments, I was glad to eat my words with a side helping of relief. It turns out that it was an inspired decision to explode them onto our screens in such a spectacular way rather than having them in the background for a few months before their first big story.

Involved in a car crash (Charlie, what on EARTH were you doing, mate?) saw Caleb lobbed through the windscreen with him having taken off his seatbelt momentarily to retrieve his phone.

It was a terrifying moment and any parent’s worst nightmare. Given the relatability of fearing for the safety of your children, our hearts were instantly with Jonah and Beth – as well as in our throats.

The performances as frantic parents fearing the worst were solid, with Rebecca Ryan in particular stealing the show in such an impeccable way that she has already proven what a huge coup she is for Hollyoaks.

In scenes that followed, the parents discovered Caleb may never walk again and the anguish was palpable.

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Finding out that Charlie (honestly, what WERE you doing? Seriously!?) was responsible for the accident, the scene of the week showed Beth’s horror and fury leave us on a cliffhanger for the next episodes.

She’s instantly a lioness for her family, full of heart and fire, and I can’t wait to see her – and the Keanes – tackle their life-changing ordeal.

Giving a topical story to a new family is a masterclass in how to make us instantly care. The way that it was done, it threw the Keanes into direct conflict with established characters, and set them up for emotive scenes that show them navigate their terrifying future.

I’m invested, truly.

Not only that, but linking Beth to the icon that is Jack Osborne – she is his daughter – further embeds her into one of the biggest clans.

A well established mistake in soap is a family being isolated and in their own bubble for ages, not really blending them with many characters and seeing them either stand out like a sore thumb or forced into random encounters that lack authenticity.

Now we have a major story for Jack – never a bad thing – and some truly intriguing interactions, bonds and showdowns to come.

The Keanes have landed with a bang – and they’ve already made their mark. Long may they continue to do so!

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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Air New Zealand is launching an innovative way for economy passengers to sleep on long-haul flights with bunk beds on board.

The airline will open bookings next month for its “Skynest” seats, which will allow economy class passengers to lie flat on flights.

These will debut on select ultra-long-haul flights between New York and Auckland, on sale 18 May with travel from November.

Beds on planes are nothing new – almost every airline that operates long-haul journeys provides upper-class passengers a seat which can be adjusted into a bed.

While bunk beds existed in various forms on flights in the early days of air travel, Air New Zealand will be launching a more modern approach that is not limited to upper-class travellers.

The six lie-flat pods in a bunk-style layout will be introduced on the airlline’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that will take flight in November.

The pods will provide a private space with full-length mattresses, bedding, ambient lighting, a privacy curtain and charging ports.

Unlike upper classes, these pods will only be available in four-hour sessions, allowing for a mid-flight nap rather than a sleep that spans the entire journey.

Customers who book economy or premium economy seats will be given the option of adding on a four-hour session.

Initially, two rounds of sessions will be offered on each flight, priced from $495 NZD (£215) per session.

Water will be the only drink allowed in the nests, and snacks are not permitted.

Alongside a bedding change between each session, passengers will also receive a “nestcessities” kit including an eye mask, earplugs, socks and Aotea skincare.

Skynests are only available for passengers aged 15 and over, and people will need to be able to get in and out of the bunk by themselves, which may involve bending, kneeling, crawling or climbing.

Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said that “by giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra long-haul flights, it helps make travel to and from New Zealand more manageable”.

He added: “For a country as remote as New Zealand, the journey matters. Tourism is a $46 billion NZD industry, but growth depends on travellers’ willingness to spend long hours in the air to get here.

“Skynest is designed to help make that easier. It reflects the practical innovation New Zealand is known for, and shows how thoughtful design can improve the travel experience.”

Read more: Police investigate ‘sudden death’ of woman on 17-hour Qantas flight