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Prince William wanted Andrew banished from royals ‘before rot set in’, new book claims

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Prince William wanted Andrew banished from royals ‘before rot set in’, new book claims

Prince William demanded that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be forced out of the royal family “before the rot set in”, following his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, a new biography has claimed. 

After further details of Andrew’s relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Prince of Wales was said to have viewed the then-prince as a serious threat to the royal family’s survival.

The revelations are in an upcoming book about the Prince and Princess of Wales, written by the Mirror’s royal editor, Russell Myers.

A palace source in the book said: “The Prince of Wales was adamant the whole episode would never go away and, despite how others may have felt, there was absolutely no upside in Andrew being protected.” 

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(BBC Newsnight)

William had urged action from Charles and Queen Elizabeth, who were in favour of protecting him, which provoked a furious reaction from his father, who “put him in his place”, the book claims.

The new biography alleges Charles was “engaged in a full-scale fire fight”, and William feared the Epstein scandal would pose a threat to the royal family’s survival.  

A palace source in the book, said: “His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn’t be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere.

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“Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family.”

In a now infamous interview with BBC Newsnight in 2019, Andrew was asked about sexual abuse allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

William and Kate said they were “deeply concerned” over the ongoing revelations surrounding Andrew

William and Kate said they were “deeply concerned” over the ongoing revelations surrounding Andrew (PA Wire)

He claimed he had “no recollection” of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and said it was not possible he could have had sex with her in March 2001, as he was at a Pizza Express in Woking with his daughter.

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Andrew also failed to apologise for his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales publicly addressed the Epstein scandal for the first time this week, saying they have been “deeply concerned” over the ongoing revelations surrounding Andrew. 

Another source in the book said: “Once you understand the fact that everything that happens in the here and now, affects everything in the future, William’s future, it is very easy to put yourself in his shoes. 

“He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in. William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”

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Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of abusing her in 2001

Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of abusing her in 2001 (US Department of Justice)

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King had “profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.”

US Congress members have urged the King to “answer what he knew” about his brother’s ties to Epstein and compel him to testify in the US.

Andrew suffered a fall from grace following the release of Epstein files in October, which saw him stripped of all his titles, including the Duke of York.

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In the latest tranche of documents released, Andrew is alleged to have shared confidential reports with Epstein that he had access to in his role as a UK trade envoy.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace and Andrew’s representatives.

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Couple from York urge people to join the organ register

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Couple from York urge people to join the organ register

Richard Caulkin, 44, and his wife Wendy, 46, both received lifesaving organ transplants before they met at the British Transplant games in 2013.

Last month was their 10th wedding anniversary – a milestone they celebrated at home after receiving the news that Wendy’s kidneys were failing.


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The condition is a side effect of the immunosuppressant medication she takes to protect her transplanted heart, which she received in 2011.

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She is now about to begin dialysis and urgently needs a kidney transplant.

Speaking about this, Wendy, who has been a cardiac nurse for York Hospital for the last two years, said: “I don’t have a living kidney donor, so I have to go on the waiting list for a deceased donor, which relies on others registering their decision to donate and discussing it with their families.”  

“I’ve been through one transplant, but this one’s different because now I’ve had a taste of life and I’ve been living it to the fullest.” – Wendy (Image: Supplied)

This Valentine’s Day marks 15 years since Wendy was initially assessed and added to the urgent transplant list.

It came eight years after Wendy, then just 23, was diagnosed with post-partum cardiomyopathy after giving birth to her son Joshua.

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Speaking to The Press in October 2025, Wendy said: “I had all the symptoms of heart failure; I couldn’t eat properly and grew steadily weaker.”

In and out of the hospital every few months, Wendy’s condition further deteriorated after she went into cardiac arrest during surgery.

She explained: “I suffered memory loss and doctors told my family that I would be unlikely to walk out of hospital again.

“I defied these odds and continued to remain positive – I was a single mum trying to juggle this disease as best I could.”

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The pair, who met at the World Transplant Games, have travelled the world together (Image: Supplied)

Richard received a double-lung transplant in 2009.

Having been born with cystic fibrosis, and despite having good health in childhood, his health deteriorated in 2005 while at university.

Four years later, his lung function was at five per cent.

‘I was on borrowed time’

He lived tethered to oxygen and CPAP machines, enduring nine “false alarm” transplant calls and a three-year wait for new lungs.

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He explained: “The transplant came just in time.

“My surgeon later said that with the state of my old lungs they would probably have packed up altogether after a couple more weeks, so I was on borrowed time. 

“Being wheeled down to theatre I remember thinking about my donor and their family.

“I woke from surgery not having to fight for every breath for the first time in years.” 

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“We never expected to be in the position of needing to wait for a new transplant again” – Richard (Image: Supplied)

Reflecting on his wife’s current battle, Richard said: “To see how much she’s declined in the last year is quite scary.

“As well as the restriction on what we can do because of Wendy’s health, it’s also the uncertainty in terms of what’s going to happen longer term.

 “When you’ve got plans for the future you want to get on with life, but everything’s on pause again.”

‘We keep holding on to hope, because without hope there is nothing’

Wendy said that having to rely on somebody else to live had hit her hard.

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She explained: “I’ve been through one transplant, but this one’s different because now I’ve had a taste of life and I’ve been living it to the fullest.

“We are trying to look at things positively and remain positive throughout it all.

“We keep holding on to hope, because without hope there is nothing.”

As they endure the agonising wait for a kidney for Wendy, the couple are raising awareness of the importance of organ donation.

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Wendy has worked as a cardiac nurse for York Hospital for two years (Image: Supplied)

Wendy said: “There are more people needing an organ than there are donors and the statistics show you’re more likely to need a transplant than you are to actually become an organ donor.

“’Thank you’ is insufficient for the decade of life together our donors have granted us so far. We carry you in every breath Richard takes and every beat of my heart.

“If you haven’t yet, please register as an organ donor this Valentine’s Day—and just as importantly, talk to your family about your wishes. That one choice has the potential to create a future you’ll never see — but one that means everything to someone else”.

The UK transplant waiting list has reached record levels, with more than 8,200 people currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

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To confirm your support for organ donation, please visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.

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Dog owners warned over bacteria risks in pet food

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Cambridgeshire Live

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a new alert warning that raw pet food products can harbour harmful bacteria

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a fresh online warning alerting pet owners that certain products could contain ‘harmful bacteria’. Owners are being advised to maintain proper hygiene practices and exercise caution when handling these items to prevent a range of unpleasant symptoms.

The Government body posted on X with information relevant to Britain’s estimated 13 million dog owners: “The Food Standards Agency [FSA] (@foodgov) is reminding people to take care when handling raw pet food, following a survey that found some products can contain harmful bacteria that could make pets and their owners ill.”

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The post also featured guidance from Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director specialising in Gastronintestinal Infections, Food Safety and One Health at UKHSA, who stated: “Raw pet food products can carry harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.”

She added: “To reduce the risk of illness, pet owners should wash their hands thoroughly after handling raw pet food, clean and disinfect bowls, utensils and surfaces, store raw pet food separately from food for people and ensure good hygienic practices for handling of pet faeces.”

Raw pet food generally comprises unprocessed or uncooked meat, offal, and raw bones, encompassing both wet and dried products such as chews. This meat is usually sourced from animal by-products initially designated for human consumption but subsequently reclassified as suitable only for pet food, reports the Mirror.

The FSA conducted a comprehensive survey of 380 raw dog and cat food products purchased from shops and online retailers between March 2023 and February 2024. The findings were then examined by the UKHSA to gain deeper insight into the bacterial hazards these products may present.

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The analysis revealed that 35% harboured dangerous bacteria, including Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli – pathogens known to cause human illness. Additionally, 29% fell short of meeting UK legal safety requirements.

These dangers stem primarily from raw food’s increased susceptibility to bacterial contamination that would typically be destroyed through cooking. Specialists have even warned that handling pet food or contact with pets themselves could facilitate the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Stephen Wyllie, Veterinary Head of One Health at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), commented: “APHA is a world leader on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in animals, carrying out vital research to reduce the spread of AMR.”

He continued: “Today’s report is a reminder that raw pet food can carry harmful bacteria that pose a risk to animal health. Pet owners should handle raw pet food in the same way as they would raw meat to avoid food-borne infections and increased risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading between pets.”

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The FSA is collaborating with local authorities to ensure feed businesses understand their responsibilities regarding pet food safety, whilst reinforcing guidance for pet owners on the proper handling of raw pet food. Pet owners concerned about potential hazards to their animals are advised to seek veterinary advice to identify appropriate feeding alternatives.

Rick Mumford, Interim Chief Scientific Adviser for the FSA, commented: “We know that many pet owners choose raw pet food. This survey shows that these products can pose risks to human and animal health.”

He continued: “Good hygiene practices and safe handling can help reduce the risks to you and your family. Follow the same hygiene principles you would when preparing food for the humans in your life; washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, cleaning all surfaces, and storing and defrosting pet food and treats away from human food.”

Mr Mumford added: “Detailed information on the safe handling of raw pet food can be found on the FSA’s dedicated raw pet food guidance page.”

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North Yorkshire Council backs 4.99 per cent council tax rise

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North Yorkshire Council backs 4.99 per cent council tax rise

Members of the authority voted in favour of a 4.99 per cent increase at a full council meeting at County Hall in Northallerton today while agreeing the budget for 2026/27.

Deputy leader Gareth Dadd, executive member for finance and resources, told colleagues nobody in the council chamber wanted to make the above-inflation rise.

But he added: : “We’re not living in a world of unicorns and rainbows. We’re living in the real world and you can only play with the cards you’re dealt.”

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The Conservative-led administration faced criticism from opposition councillors over the increase and details within the budget.

Councillor Kevin Foster, leader of the Green Party and Independents, said his group would not support the budget because of a “double-whammy” of a high council tax rise and a 4.8 per cent increase in council house rents.

He added: “At a time when many of our tenants are already struggling with the cost of living, rising food prices, energy bills and everyday essentials, a rent increase of this scale sends the wrong message.

“These are not abstract figures in a report; this is real money being taken from people who often have the least capacity to absorb extra costs.”

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Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Walker said the budget included a £1.1m upgrade to council-owned Filey Brigg Caravan and Camping Site but a £500,000 cut to disabled children’s services and £50,000 removed from public health community involvement.

He also noted that the council was stopping providing Christmas trees and hanging baskets in the former Harrogate and Scarborough districts, and discontinuing free newspapers in libraries.

He added: “We were promised that local government reorganisation would deliver efficiencies, but today’s budget proves the opposite —
record‑high council tax, shrinking services, heritage stripped back, children’s services under pressure, voluntary groups cut, toilets in chaos, libraries losing access, and high streets paying more to park.

“I cannot support a budget that prioritises caravans over children, glamping sites over community spirit, and higher taxes for diminishing returns.”

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In response, Cllr Dadd said it was “pretty insulting to suggest that us around this table and on this side of the chamber have turned our back on vulnerable people and people in need”.

He added: “Everything we’ve done over the last four or five years, and in fact before that, as a county councillor, has been prioritising those at what the layman would call bottom of the pile, those in need, those vulnerable people.

“There’s nothing in it for us politically, as you will know, but we’ve done it because it’s the right thing to do, and as long as I’m here we’ll continue to do it.

“We have a council tax reduction scheme that reflects that, we have a household support fund that reflects that and, dare I say it, the home-to-school transport changes reflected that as well. I’m very proud to stand here and propose this budget.”

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Senior councillors have blamed the government’s recent fair funding settlement — dubbed by Cllr Dadd as the “unfair settlement” — for the need to increase council tax by the maximum allowed without triggering a referendum.

The council tax rise equates to an increase of £96.78 per year for an average Band D property to a total bill of £2,036.32.

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Man to appear in court charged with murder of 33-year-old in South Belfast

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Belfast Live

A 32-year-old man will appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Saturday

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in South Belfast on Wednesday.

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A 32-year-old man will appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, February 14, charged with the murder of a 33-year-old following an incident on Cromwell Road on Wednesday, February 11.

The 32-year-old had been arrested following the incident with police launching a murder investigation earlier today.

READ MORE: Murder investigation launched after man dies in South BelfastREAD MORE: Police given more time to question man over Belfast sudden death

Officer were called to the Cromwell Road area on Wednesday, following reports of a concern for safety, with a 33-year-old man later being taken to hospital where he died.

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A PSNI spokesperson said: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team investigating the murder of a man in south Belfast on Wednesday 11th February have charged a man to court.

“The 32-year-old is charged with murder. “He is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow, Saturday 14th February. “As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

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Why did former teen superstar James Van Der Beek need help to pay his medical bills?

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Why did former teen superstar James Van Der Beek need help to pay his medical bills?

On top of the costly treatments, Van Der Beek was not making the same cash that he’d seen in the prime of his career decades ago. He had said he was paid “almost nothing” for Dawson’s Creek and his contract didn’t include residuals – payments writers, actors and directors receive when their work is re-aired on television. Actors on other still-popular shows from that same period, like Friends, are said to make about $20m annually from such payments.

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Where is the cheapest place in County Durham to fill up your car?

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Where is the cheapest place in County Durham to fill up your car?

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Gisele Pelicot suffers fresh health horror caused by rapes

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Daily Record

A total of 51 men were convicted of aggravated rape, attempted rape or sexual assault against Gisele.

Gisele Pelicot is refusing to let the horrors inflicted on her by her twisted husband shape the rest of her life – but her journey to peace has not been easy.

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The 73-year-old quickly became a beacon of bravery for survivors of sexual assault across the world when she waived her right to anonymity in a mass rape trial that caused shockwaves. A total of 51 men were convicted of aggravated rape, attempted rape or sexual assault against Gisele.

Her evil husband, Dominique Pelicot, admitted that he had repeatedly drugged and raped her over a decade-long period, inviting vile men he met on the internet to come and assault his unconscious wife. Gisele had no idea what was happening to her throughout the duration of the evil crimes. It was only when Pelicot was arrested for upskirting in a local supermarket and his electronic devices were seized that his horrific actions were uncovered by the police.

Gisèle has now penned a powerful autobiography – titled A Hymn to Life – and is speaking out in the aftermath of the trial that saw her become a feminist hero. As reported by the Mirror, she has revealed in a new interview that the heinous crimes are still impacting her health.

The grandmother got some upsetting news from her doctors just before Christmas. Gisele has contacted HPV as a result of her husband and his co-defendant’s sexual violence. She told the Daily Mail that at her most recent smear test, it was found that she had developed abnormal cells. After a biopsy was taken, Gisele had to have a section of her cervix removed entirely.

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Her memoir also reveals how the abuse damaged her health in other ways. In one particularly grim moment, she describes a crown coming loose in her teeth, only to find out later that this injury had been caused by oral rape.

Over the years, Gisele suffered from confusing gynaecological symptoms, including an “inflamed cervix” that saw her repeatedly prescribed with pessaries, but no doctor could ever find the route cause. The memory lapses, caused by her husband drugging her, also caused concern with her doctors, with one thinking she may have had a stroke. Another believed she was developing Alzheimer’s and a third put her symptoms down to anxiety.

The crimes of Dominique and the 50 men who were convicted alongside him have “annihilated” the Pelicot family according to Gisele’s eldest son, David, 51. He and his mother are currently not speaking – with Gisele telling the Mail that relations with two of her children have become incredibly complicated since their father’s trial, that saw him sentenced to 20 years in prison.

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“I think he needs time. He’s the eldest,” Gisèle said. “I think that, on top of everything else, they’re men. As men, they have questions. Also, they have their father’s DNA. It’s complicated. I’m giving [David] time to come back to me, if he wants to. I don’t want to be intrusive. I want to give him time to heal.”

Gisele’s daughter, Caroline, 47, was also a victim of Dominique’s crimes – but it is still not known to what extent. She was pictured unconscious in the material recovered by the police on his devices, wearing underwear she did not recognise. Her father was convicted for the photographs but denied abusing his daughter in court.

She has no idea what else may have happened to her, with Gisele telling the Mail “What Caroline is going through is extremely painful. There are these doubts that condemn her to a perpetual hell, and to be condemned to that is appalling.”

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After the four-month trial of Dominique and his co-defendants ended, Caroline accused her mother of “abandoning” her, but Gisele explains that she was “exhausted” by the end of the legal proceedings, and that she hopes her daughter gets the answers she deserves from her father.

“You have to understand that such a tragedy doesn’t necessarily bring a family together. It’s a cataclysm that sweeps everything away. Everyone needs to be able to rebuild themselves in their own way,” she explained.

In a sit-down with British Vogue, Gisèle said that she believed Caroline to be severely traumatised from seeing the videos and photos of her mother’s abuse. “My wish is that Caroline’s suffering diminishes with time,” she said. “For her sake and for her family’s, especially her son. Being positive, for me, means fighting against suffering and anger. It doesn’t mean forgetting or forgiving, nor minimising or denying harm and violence. It means fighting so they don’t win, so they don’t destroy all generations.”

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Tax refund alert as HMRC tells Brits to check if they’re owed money

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Wales Online

Around one million people missed out on payments last year, according to HMRC

People are being urged to check whether they qualify for any tax rebates. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that roughly one million people each year fail to claim back tax they have overpaid.

In a post shared on social media platform X, HMRC urged the public to use its app to verify their status. It said: “Your tax refund could still be waiting.

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“Last year, almost one million people didn’t claim back the money they’re owed. Download the HMRC app to check.”

The GOV.UK website explains that HMRC should inform you if you have overpaid tax. If by the conclusion of the tax year (5 April) you have paid either too much or insufficient tax, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will issue either:

  • A tax calculation letter (also known as a P800)
  • A Simple Assessment letter
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This correspondence should outline the procedure for receiving a refund or paying any tax owed. You’ll only receive a letter if:

  • You are employed
  • You receive a pension

However, if you’re registered for Self Assessment, your bill will be adjusted automatically if you’ve underpaid or overpaid tax. You will not receive a tax calculation letter or a Simple Assessment letter.

These letters are usually dispatched between June and March of the subsequent tax year.

Why you might have overpaid

You might be owed a refund because you:

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  • Were put on the wrong tax code, for example because HMRC had the wrong information about your income
  • Finished one job, started a new one and were paid by both in the same month
  • Started receiving a pension at work
  • Received Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker’s Allowance

If you think you have paid too much tax and HMRC have not sent you a tax calculation letter, you should claim a refund. You can do this online here, on the app, or by calling 0300 200 3300.

The HMRC app

The HMRC app can be used not only to check if you’re owed any tax but you can use it to:

  • Get an estimate of the tax you need to pay
  • Make a Self Assessment payment
  • Make a Simple Assessment payment
  • Set a reminder to make a Self Assessment payment
  • Access your Help to Save account
  • Use our tax calculator to work out your take home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions
  • Track forms and letters you have sent to HMRCX
  • Ask HMRC’s digital assistant for help and information
  • Update your name
  • Update your address
  • Save your National Insurance number to your digital wallet
  • Check for gaps in your National Insurance contributions and the benefits of paying them
  • Check if you can make a payment for gaps in your National Insurance contributions
  • Choose to be contacted by HMRC electronically, instead of by letter

To access the app open the app and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password to sign in for the first time. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one via the app.

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Tommy Robinson flees UK after far-right activist given police warning over terror threat

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Daily Record

Following in the footsteps of the immigrants he has long demonised, Robinson said he has now fled his home country “for my safety and the safety of my family”.

Tommy Robinson has been forced to flee the UK after he was informed by police of calls in an Islamic State publication for people to “commit violence” against him.

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The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted a clip of a phone call from cops to his X account in which an officer told him he had been identified in a magazine called Yalghar, which is reportedly published by ISKP, Islamic State Khorasan Province. As reported by the Mirror, the clip captures the police officer saying officials had received intelligence calling for people “to commit violence against yourself”.

Following in the footsteps of the immigrants he has long demonised, Robinson said he has now fled his home country, “for my safety and the safety of my family”, he said in a statement.

The officer from Bedfordshire Police can be heard telling Robinson in the call: “So we have received intelligence that an Isis publication has stated… are encouraging others to commit violence against yourself.” The force, which covers Robinson’s hometown Luton, confirmed the phone call was legitimate and happened on Thursday.

Robinson asked in the footage if he could get a copy of the publication, but was told it is likely proscribed material, which people in the UK are banned from possessing under terrorism laws.

The officer goes on to tell Robinson in the call that he is not authorised to carry weapons or “take pre-emptive action” against other people. The officer continued: “Just remind, you know, because of this information, it doesn’t authorise you to carry weapons, anything like that, take any pre-emptive action against others, if you’re aware of any action…”

Alongside the video, the 43-year-old wrote a statement on X today proclaiming himself a “priority target for ISIS ” and saying he had left the country “to work things out” for his own and his family’s safety.

He wrote: “I have now left the country, I need time to work things out for my safety and the safety of my family. I will probably have to relocate them. I will update you when I can.” A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police confirmed the call’s legitimacy in a statement, revealing an individual’s name “appeared in prohibited material”.

She said: “Yesterday, officers contacted a man from Bedfordshire after being made aware that his name appeared in prohibited material produced by a proscribed organisation.

“He was provided with safeguarding advice and support in line with our standard processes.” The professional agitator also took the opportunity to beg for money from his followers, asking for people to “help me and my family” in a post in the replies, which was immediately flooded with calls for Robinson to find safety in Israel.

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A lawsuit seeks to stop Trump’s overhaul of a 100-year-old public golf course in Washington

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A lawsuit seeks to stop Trump's overhaul of a 100-year-old public golf course in Washington

Two golfers in Washington, D.C., sued the federal government on Friday to try to prevent the Trump administration from overhauling a more than 100-year-old public golf course, accusing the administration of violating environmental laws and polluting a park that is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The suit is the latest in a series of legal battles challenging President Donald Trump‘s extraordinary efforts to put his mark on public spaces in the nation’s capitol, including shuttering the Kennedy Center.

At the end of last year, a group of preservationists filed a similar lawsuit seeking to prevent the administration from demolishing the East Wing of the White House in order to build a ballroom — a project slated to cost $400.

Trump, who is an avid golfer himself, also plans on renovating a military golf course just outside of Washington that has been used by past presidents going back decades.

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The complaint filed against the Department of the Interior on Friday says that the Trump administration’s reconstruction of East Potomac Park — which includes the East Potomac Golf Course — would violate the congressional act that created the park in 1897. The roughly 130-year-old act established the park for the “recreation and the pleasure of the people.”

The golf course, which has since been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in part for its efforts to racially integrate in the 1940s. Municipal golf courses make up only 18% of courses in America.

“East Potomac Golf Links is a testament to what’s possible with public land and why public spaces matter,” said Washington resident and plaintiff Dave Roberts. “It deserves better than becoming a dumping ground for waste and yet another private playground for the privileged and powerful.”

The lawsuit came after the Trump administration in December ended a lease agreement the nonprofit National Links Trust held for East Potomac and two other golf courses in Washington. The Interior Department said it did so because the nonprofit hadn’t implemented required capital improvements and failed to meet the terms of the lease.

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The Interior Department press office said in an email Friday that it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

However, it said it would “ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable and accessible for people visiting the greatest capital city in the world which is in line with President Trump’s agenda.”

The White House also didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment on Friday evening.

Construction on the East Potomac course has already begun, according to the lawsuit. In October, the National Parks Service began dumping debris from the demolition of the East Wing of the White House onto the golf course, the complaint said, raising concerns that the materials could contain contaminants that could pollute the air.

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As a result, the plaintiffs argued, the administration of also violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider the harmful environmental impacts of the project.

The National Links Trust said in December they were “devastated” by the decision to terminate the lease and defended their management of the courses.

They said $8.5 million had gone toward capital improvements at the courses and that rounds played and revenue had more than doubled in their tenure managing the courses. They also added that the termination of the lease jeopardized hundreds of local jobs.

The nonprofit has agreed to keep managing the courses for the time being, but long-term renovations will stop.

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The first 18 holes of the East Potomac Park Golf Course were built from 1918 to 1923.

___ Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed to this report.

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