Craig Wright was a takeaway addict before a warning from his fertility doctor changed everything.

A man who weighed almost 36 stone has shed over a fifth of his body weight so he can become a dad. Craig Wright, 33, was told by fertility doctors that losing weight would help help him and his partner become parents.

The admin assistant, from Fife, said his weight has been a “rollercoaster” his whole life before he weighed in at his heaviest in May 2024 – 35 stone 11 pounds (228kg).

Describing his life as “living in a prison” at the time, Craig said he couldn’t take his dog for a walk, struggled with basic tasks like fitting into chairs, and was so “terrified” of judgment that he would collect his prescriptions after dark to avoid being seen.

When his wife, Samantha, 30, signed up for Slimming World in January 2024, Craig was inspired to join four months later and said seeing the scales at his first group meeting was “brutal”.

Craig told PA Real Life: “I stood on the scales and I just looked straight ahead.

“The consultant wrote down the number and I saw it, and I was taken aback because I knew I was big but I didn’t think I was that big.

“It put the fear of God in me, as I was just not expecting it to be that much.

“I knew I needed to do something, otherwise I was not going to live my life to the fullest, have a baby, or see my dog grow old.

“All those things just hit me all at once and I got a bit emotional.

“Seeing it was just awful.”

Craig said he has always struggled with his weight because he ate when he was sad and was sad when he ate.

He said he was “constantly getting bullied” at school so he would go home and eat, and it was a “vicious cycle”.

On top of that, Craig said he saw the way his father, James, ate as a delivery driver, including buying “takeaways consistently throughout the week” and having “massive portions”.

“Back then, I thought that was a normal thing to do,” Craig said. “But looking back now, I know that was horrendous.”

As a result of James’s diet, he suffered three heart attacks before the age of 53, with the latter being fatal.

Craig was 14 at the time of his father’s death and said: “My dad was fantastic and I loved him to bits.

“But the fact that he passed away so early in my life is probably another factor of why I ate like I did.

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“I was just trying to process those feelings with food.”

In the years since, Craig said this continued, especially when he started working at McDonald’s from the age of 18 for six years where he “took advantage of free food”.

Craig said his diet worsened when he started working on the night shift: “My sleep schedule was all over the place and I was having takeaways up to five times a week, on top of all the McDonald’s I was eating.

“It was not a healthy routine at all.”

At his heaviest – wearing clothes up to 8XL – Craig said he would have four pieces of white toast for breakfast lathered in butter, half a packet of bacon, six eggs and a full can of beans, while lunch could be a Domino’s pizza and dinner could be a takeaway Indian or kebab.

He added: “At night, it was lots of snacks – chocolate, crisps, ice cream – just gorging myself.”

Craig was averaging around 7,000 calories a day.

As for exercise, Craig said: “I’d take our dog Kobi for a walk and I’d get out to the gate, but I could only walk to the end of the road, which is maybe 30 steps.

“Then I had to stop because I was out of breath.”

Over the years, Craig said he tried to lose weight by changing his diet or using programmes like Weight Watchers, and going to the gym, but it “never worked” or he eventually lost motivation.

He said: “The easiest way to explain it would be a rollercoaster, just ups and downs with it constantly.

“I feel like I’ve tried every diet known to man and it’s just been abysmal.”

Craig met his partner Samantha in 2017 via a dating app and they married in 2021. They have been trying for a baby ever since marrying but Craig said, about two years in, they wondered: “Why isn’t it working?”

So, six months ago, the couple went to a fertility doctor who put everything into perspective.

Craig said: “The doctor mentioned a lot about weight loss and you have to be as fit as possible to have the best chance at having a baby.”

A month later, Samantha joined Slimming World. She did a 5K charity fundraiser in May 2024 that Craig attended and this was the motivation he needed to join the same weight loss programme.

Within days, he stepped on the scales and was “taken aback” to find out he was 35 stone 11 pounds.

As part of the programme, Craig and Samantha closely monitor their diets and exercise.

Craig said he slowly began building up his fitness: “I started walking from one end of the hall to the other and we’ve got some steps outside as well so I walked up and down those.

“From there, I tried to walk as much as possible, including taking Kobi out and just trying to work past the feeling I was going to pass out.

“It was six months into it – where I managed to do my first 5k walk – that I felt most proud.

“Now I feel like I can do 5k in my sleep!”

Today, Craig has lost eight stone and gone from wearing an 8XL to a 4XL.

An average day off will see Craig eat a plain bagel with four eggs for breakfast before taking Kobi out for two walks a day and joining a strength or boxing class in the evening.

Craig is down to 28 stone and said he is “getting out as much as possible”.

He said: “For me, it’s literally just a case of eating less and moving more.

“I no longer feel like I’m just in the gutter 24/7… and I’m definitely a lot more positive than before.”

Craig said he and Samantha have been told by doctors that they are “doing all the right things”, and they hope to be able to have a baby soon.

On why preventative health is so important, Craig added: “The longer you leave something, the worse it gets.

“So if you catch something early and you do something about it, you’re moving in the right direction.”

New research (surveying 5,000 Brits) reveals whilst 74% of us know we need to be proactive about our health, most wait until a “breaking point” to act. To combat this, Holland & Barrett is launching 300,000 free in-store Wellness Check-Ins per month. Find out more here: https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/info/our-services/

NCP, the UK’s oldest and largest private car park operator, has entered administration putting 340 car parks and around 700 jobs at risk of closure. The firm, owned by Japanese company Park24 since 2017, has a creditors’ meeting scheduled for 20 May.

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Car park giant NCP has tumbled into administration, placing 340 car parks in jeopardy of shutting down. The firm is on the verge of going under, with a creditors’ meeting set for Wednesday, May 20.

NCP runs more than 300 car parks throughout the UK, some under lease and others under direct management.

The company has a workforce of roughly 700 people. PricewaterhouseCoopers are handling the administration proceedings, according to the Gazette. NCP was bought by Japanese company Park24 in 2017, having previously been offloaded by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund, reports the Mirror.

Park24 oversees more than 19,000 locations across eight nations. NCP is Britain’s oldest and largest private car park operator, with its origins deeply rooted in the reshaping of post-war city environments.

The groundwork for the modern enterprise was established in 1948, having initially been incorporated in 1931 by Colonel Frederick Lucas. It started with the transformation of a single bomb-damaged site in Holborn, London, for £200, before Sir Ronald Hobson and Sir Donald Gosling bought NCP from Lucas’s widow and embraced the “National” branding to signal their vision for countrywide growth in 1959.

The business grew swiftly during the 1960s and 1970s, establishing itself as a leading player in the construction of concrete multi-storey car parks that became synonymous with British urban centres. The most recent update verifies that the outstanding pre-administration expenses outlined in Appendix C of the Administrators’ proposals dated 1 May 2026 have been authorised for settlement as administration costs.

The documentation identifies Zelf Hussain, Rachael Maria Wilkinson and Mark James Tobias Banfield as the designated administrators.

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JD revealed that its pre-tax profit declined by 6.4% year-on-year

JD Sports Fashion has reported a decline in sales in the UK amid weaker consumer demand and store closures, while profits dropped amid uncertainty over the impact of the Iran war. It comes after the chain closed 24 branches in the UK.

The fashion retail giant, which has about 4,811 stores around the world, blamed a “tough consumer backdrop” in the UK for organic sales falling by 2.5% for the year to the end of January, compared with the prior year. It closed 24 stores, on a net basis, in the country over the past year with a focus on “fewer, bigger, better” shops.

Total organic sales for the global business, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, increased by 2.1% year-on-year to £12.66 billion. JD revealed that its pre-tax profit declined by 6.4% year-on-year, at constant currencies, to £852 million.

JD Sports Fashion has reported a decline in sales in the UK amid weaker consumer demand and store closures, while profits dropped amid uncertainty over the impact of the Iran war. It comes after the chain closed 24 branches in the UK.

The fashion retail giant, which has about 4,811 stores around the world, blamed a “tough consumer backdrop” in the UK for organic sales falling by 2.5% for the year to the end of January, compared with the prior year. It closed 24 stores, on a net basis, in the country over the past year with a focus on “fewer, bigger, better” shops.

Total organic sales for the global business, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, increased by 2.1% year-on-year to £12.66 billion. JD revealed that its pre-tax profit declined by 6.4% year-on-year, at constant currencies, to £852 million.

The company has cautioned that the war in the Middle East could push up prices and weaken consumer demand if it leads to higher costs, as the retail giant reported a drop in its annual earnings. JD said it had no “direct exposure” to the Middle East, and had only a handful of franchised stores in the region, and there had been no real impact on the business so far.

But the company said: “Over time, the potential future impacts of heightened uncertainty may contribute to direct cost pressures, including energy and fuel costs across our store and logistics networks, respectively, as well as potential indirect impacts on pricing and consumer demand should input cost inflation emerge.”

JD said that, as a result of the uncertainty, it was providing a wider range of profit guidance for the next financial year than it was previously planning. It was now forecasting a pre-tax profit of between £750 million and £850 million.

This would mark a decline from the £852 million pre-tax profit that the company made for the year to the end of January 2026, which was down 6.4% compared with the previous year. Total organic sales for the group, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, increased by 2.1% year on year to £12.66 billion.

But in the UK, it blamed a “tough consumer backdrop” for organic sales declining by 2.5%, and sales on a like-for-like basis dropping by 3.9%. JD closed 24 stores, on a net basis, in the country over the past year as it pressed ahead with a focus on “fewer, bigger, better” shops.

Since the end of the financial year, JD said cold and wet weather had dampened sales and that trading in April was “volatile” with a strong Easter performance followed by fewer visitors to shops. Regis Schultz, JD’s chief executive, said: “We delivered a resilient performance, achieving organic sales growth of 2.1% despite tough market conditions.

“Our deep understanding of our customers and lifestyle trends give us a clear view of how they want to shop and spend, allowing us to consistently deliver the right products, in the right places and at the right prices. Whilst we continue to expect muted market growth in FY27 (2027 financial year), we remain confident in JD Group’s medium‑term trajectory, underpinned by our strong brand partnerships and agile, multi‑brand model.”

JD Sports began in 1981 when founders John Wardle and David Makin opened their first shop in Bury, Greater Manchester. The name “JD” is an acronym of their first initials.

The business focused on the emerging trend of sports fashion, bridging the gap between athletic performance and street style. The niche proved successful enough that by 1983, they were expanding into Manchester’s Arndale Centre, and by the end of the decade, they had established a high-profile presence on London’s Oxford Street.

In 1996, JD Sports Fashion plc listed on the London Stock Exchange with a portfolio of 56 stores. This influx of capital fueled a decade of aggressive domestic consolidation. Notable moves included the 2002 acquisition of nearly 200 stores from the First Sport chain and the 2005 purchase of 70 stores from their rival, Allsports.

During this same year, the founders stepped back from the business, selling a majority stake to the Pentland Group, the global brand management company behind names like Speedo and Berghaus. The 2010s saw the brand transform from a British high-street staple into a global powerhouse.

JD made its first foray into the European market in 2009 by acquiring the French retailer Chausport, followed by a move into Spain via the Sprinter group in 2011. They also diversified their portfolio by moving into the outdoor leisure market, acquiring well-known brands like Blacks and Millets in 2012 and Go Outdoors in 2016.

By the late 2010s, the company turned its attention toward North America and the Asia-Pacific region. They entered Malaysia in 2016 and made a massive splash in the United States in 2018 by acquiring Finish Line, which gave them an immediate foothold in 44 American states.

Through the early 2020s, the group continued to expand through high-value acquisitions like Shoe Palace, DTLR, and most recently Hibbett in 2024, cementing their status as a “King of Trainers” with thousands of stores across 30 different territories.

The Andes strain of hantavirus behind the outbreak on a cruise ship is susceptible to “super-spreader” events, according to research backed by the US military.

Three people have died on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius and three others are sick with suspected hantavirus infection.

More than 140 people are stuck in quarantine and cannot disembark the ship because the rodent-borne virus is thought to be caused by a strain which can spread between humans.

The US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases – historically known as the centre of the US biological weapons programme – now focuses on biosecurity and, in 2020, backed groundbreaking research that showed the Andes strain of hantavirus can spread rapidly between people.

The researchers, based at Fort Detrick, Maryland, also found that symptomatic individuals were capable of causing “super-spreader” events given the right social circumstances, such as those found on cruise ships.

“After a single introduction [of Andes hantavirus] from a rodent reservoir into the human population, transmission was driven by three symptomatic persons who attended crowded social events,” the researchers found in a 2018-2019 outbreak in Chubut Province, Argentina, which resulted in 34 confirmed infections and 11 deaths.

“Our findings traced the first person-to-person transmission event to a birthday party with approximately 100 guests,” said the researchers, whose work was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The “index patient” was found to have infected five others during “90 minutes” at the party. The second person infected was found to be the “likely source” for six further cases and, after his death, his wife infected an additional 10 people at his wake.

“It appears that inhalation of droplets or aerosolised virions may have been the routes of infection,” added the researchers.

Despite medical experts acknowledging that human-to-human spread of hantavirus is rare, these findings do not bode well for those on the cruise ship as it makes its way from Cape Verde to the Canary Islands, where it is to be evacuated.

Human-to-human transmission could explain why a British doctor fell ill after treating patients on the ship, and may account for the images of medical workers in full bio-protection gear on board the stricken vessel.

Martin Anstee, a British expedition guide, was evacuated from the MV Hondius

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A British man evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship has spoken out about his experiences on the stricken liner. Martin Anstee, who was removed from the MV Hondius, has revealed to Sky News he was “doing okay” but remains uncertain about the length of his hospital stay.

The 56 year old said: “I’m doing okay. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done.

“I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for. I’m in isolation at the moment.”

Mr Anstee served as an expedition guide aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel. He was airlifted out this morning alongside two other individuals, reports the Mirror.

Two further people who travelled back to the UK independently from the cruise have also been instructed to self-isolate, according to the UK Health Security Agency, which stressed that “the risk to general public remains very low”.

The World Health Organisation has reported that confirmed hantavirus cases have now reached five. The findings, verified through laboratory testing, include two passengers airlifted today.

Previously, there were three confirmed cases and five suspected ones, with three fatalities recorded. The total case count of eight is believed to remain unchanged, with laboratory results confirming hantavirus presence in cases that were previously under suspicion.

Nevertheless, Spanish health minister Monica Garcia has stated that all passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius show no symptoms. The vessel will now proceed to the Canary Islands where travellers will undergo screening for infection indicators before being sent home if they’re found to be in good health.

In a statement published online, Spanish health officials confirmed that the ship is anticipated to dock within 72 to 96 hours.

Authorities explained that passengers will disembark in a “controlled” manner with “direct transfer from the port to the airport and subsequent return to their countries of origin, avoiding at all times transit through spaces open to the general population”.

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The Applejacks Orchard is a beautiful holiday cabin. One stayer said: ‘I specifically booked this because it looked very different and quirky and seeing it in the flesh did not disappoint’

Booking a holiday stay is a simple way to find unique escapes across the UK, from countryside cottages to quirky glamping retreats. Wales offers some beautiful properties which are easy to secure a stay in through booking sites like Sykes Cottages.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Holywell near the scenic River Dee, Applejacks Orchard offers a charming, studio-style, glamping cabin designed for couples seeking a peaceful North Wales getaway. Despite its glamping label, the cabin is beautifully finished, with a modern and beautiful presented interior.

Inside, guests are welcomed into a bright, open-plan space featuring a comfortable double bed, a compact but well-equipped kitchen, and a cosy sitting area complete with a corner sofa, TV, and electric fireplace. It also includes a sleek bathroom, with a freestanding bath which offers a touch of luxury to the glamping cabin.

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Outside, Applejacks Orchard continues to impress with an enclosed garden where visitors can enjoy a private hot tub, outdoor sauna, and even a cold plunge for a spa-like experience. There’s also a patio area with furniture, a log burner, and cooking facilities including a gas BBQ and pizza oven. Off-road parking and dog-friendly accommodation make it a convenient and flexible choice for stayers.

The location of Applejacks Orchard is only a short walk to a local shop and nearby pub. Nature lovers can explore nearby attractions such as Greenfield Valley Heritage Park and Pen Y Maes Woods, or venture further to the coast at Talacre.

Applejacks Orchard was recognised as a Silver winner in the 2024 Sykes Gem Awards for Best Glamping Property. It is a standout holiday property offering comfort, privacy, and a touch of indulgence in a peaceful North Wales setting.

One stayer in Applejacks Orchard said: “Wow what an amazing, beautiful and different accommodation Applejacks is. I specifically booked this for me, my wife and the dogs because it looked very different and quirky and seeing it in the flesh did not disappoint.”

Another said: “What an amazing quirky cottage, we loved every minute of our stay. The owners have decorated it beautifully it was so snug & comfy, they also left us some lovely treats which were so nice. It’s a perfect getaway from every day life & just switch off & not too far from amenities. Thank you for a wonderful stay”

A third visitor said: “What an absolutely beautiful place to stay, would definitely come back!”

A fourth said: “It feels like you’re staying somewhere magical, a perfect place to celebrate mam’s birthday. Looks sold me immediately as all other glamping pods were the same- brown, small and not as many facilities, even better that the area is fenced off for privacy and on site parking.” Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here

Another glamping experience to consider is the Orient Express, which is a shepherds hut located near Brecon. It is a dog-friendly glamping hut available to book at holidaycottages.co.uk

Alternatively, the Orchard Cottage in the Isle of Anglesey is a luxury cottage alternative for four guests, available on Luxury Cottages.

Steven Gidwaney appeared in the drama as Simo and returned to the ITV show for a second short stint last month.

He had previously appeared throughout the latter half of 2025.

Simo was one of many people that Ray and Celia were using as illegal workers on their farm as part of the modern slavery plot.

He lived in the attic with the other workers, which included fellow resident, Bear Wolf.

Steven reappeared last month and played a major part in this week’s trial against Bear, Paddy and Dylan.

Originally agreeing to back up the trio, he went against his word and suggested that, as Bear had special privileges, he was in on the horror that Ray and Celia subjected the workers to.

Taking to social media, he revealed he had left the show and paid tribute to his co-stars, including Dominic Brunt who plays Paddy.

He wrote: “Well what can I say…AGAIN! To be asked to be part of this storyline and to play Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke was a HUGE honour. To be invited back was a MASSIVE privilege!

“Firstly, thank you to Jordan Hale Audere Talent Management for getting me this wonderful opportunity in the first place! MASSIVE thank you to Faye Styring, Ezra Tren Humphries and the Emmerdale storyline team for bringing Simo back!

“HUGE thank you to Simon Ferguson and Matt Hilton, the 2 fabulous directors I had the pleasure of working with. I worked with Matt on my first ever TV job so it was really nice to work with him again!

“BIG thanks to Joshua Richards, Dominic Brunt, Fred Kettle and Andrew Scarborough. I’m so happy I got the share the screen with all of you, a true pleasure!”

She’s only been in it a week and she’s already a scene stealing diva x #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/P3oUUpsyfB

— TellyAddict (@TVAddict2K26) April 28, 2026

He then went on to tease that fans may not have seen the last of “Simo” as he hinted at a potential return in the future.

He added: “ That’s Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke over and out, for now, who knows, maybe we’ll see him again…”

Steven’s co-stars were quick to praise him for his performance as part of the hard-hitting storyline.

Michelle Hardwick, known for her role as hospital receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in the ITV drama series The Royal, wrote: “So lovely to meet/work with you.”

Will you be sad to see him go? Let us know in the comments

Content creator Brock decided to try bakery Greggs for the first time after discovering it is a ‘British institution’ and was left impressed by one menu item in particular

An American who tried Greggs for the first time says one item is “better than the US” and even ranked it more highly than the sausage roll. Content creator Brock decided to visit the bakery chain after hearing it was a “UK institution”.

Once inside, he found there was quite the selection of pastries and baked goods, opting for a bacon and sausage bap, a sausage roll, a steak bake, a jam doughnut, and a mint mocha. He concluded that all of the treats “smell good” and noted how busy the store was.

He concluded he had tried “better” coffees than his limited-edition mocha but also admitted he had sampled “worse,” giving it a 6.5 out of 10. In a video on his Globetrotting Brock YouTube channel, he said: “It’s good enough where I’d get it again because it’s cheap enough.

“The price was £2.80 and I got it as a meal deal with the sausage and bacon breakfast roll.”

Brock went on to try the sausage and bacon roll with brown sauce, which cost £4.15 with the drink, immediately highlighting the thickness of the bread. He explained the sandwich “wasn’t bad” for the price but preferred a sandwich from an American bakery, scoring the roll a five out of 10.

The blogger described the steak bake crust as “extremely buttery and flakey,” likening the pasty to a “big sausage roll”. He concluded: “I really like it, even though the steak is a tiny bit chewy, the crust is just so flaky and the gravy inside is nice and warm, not too salty, pretty good overall.”

He gave the steak bake an eight out of 10. Tucking into the chain’s iconic sausage roll, Brock described the pastry as “a bit drier” than the steak bake but concluded it was “still really flaky”.

He said: “The sausage inside is a lot softer than any other sausage rolls I have tried anywhere, that’s including New Zealand and Australia. It’s really surprising to me, I didn’t think the pork would be this soft.

“It does have a pretty mild flavour, it’s just pork, it doesn’t taste like it’s had any seasoning in here. But it’s still not bad, like everything else here, especially for the price.”

Brock gave the sausage roll a seven out of 10. He added: “I like it, the flavour is a little mild but beside that, the price and the softness of the pork is really nice.”

Brock finished his meal with a jam doughnut. After biting into the treat, he said: “That’s some really good jam in there. It’s covered in sugar and it’s leaving a mess all over me but it’s not bad.

“It’s more like a bread consistency in there but it’s still really soft. And the jam is really sweet.

“I like the jam doughnut, it might be one of the better jam doughnuts I’ve ever had. This is a really good jam doughnut, better than in the US.”

He scored the doughnut an 8.5 out of 10. He concluded: “Honestly, Greggs actually surprised me. It’s better than I thought it was going to be and the price is really decent.”

While the whole series is already streaming on ITVX, each episode will now go out at 10:45 pm every night from tomorrow until it’s done.

In response to the news, viewers took to the social media platform X to vent their thoughts.

Not a lot of it was positive.

I had great hopes for this series, but sadly it didn’t deliver. Episode 1 was enough for me.

— Chris (@chrismclnn) May 6, 2026

One viewer said: “Like I feel bad for all involved but they took away cbb for this so I’m glad it failed”.

Another commented: “Just like Genius game…they expected people to be drawn in because of a big name.

“When are they going to stop throwing money at presenters and come up with something we’d all enjoy.”

Someone else replied to the post: “They cast some very unlikeable people so there’s no feel good factor.

“I agree they should have waited a couple of eps before booting people out and bringing in new people”.

One person did actually seem to be disapointed with the news, saying: “Our house really enjoyed it, it was nice seeing families competing and all different age ranges.

“It’s a shame, I think if they released it properly it could have been a hit.”

Before much of the reaction returned to being negative: “I think it suffered from when it decided to kick out ppl from the 1st episode.

“It should have been given time to breathe and for us to care about the ppl in the neighbourhood”.

Newsquest has reached out to ITV for comment.

What is The Neighbourhood?

Hosted by Graham Norton, The Neighbourhood sees families and households compete in a street-sized reality game, battling it out for the chance to take home a life-changing cash prize.

ITV said: “It marries high-stakes competition, epic challenges and relatable domestic drama, to offer a different flavour of reality.

“This is a game the households will live as well as play.

“They’ll be with each other 24/7, sleeping and eating in their houses, socialising between them – and then voting each other out.

“The challenges they face in public will change the dynamics behind closed doors.

“And to win, they’ll need to defeat their neighbours, while still staying popular on the street.

Will you be sad if The Neighbourhood is eventually cancelled? Let us know in the comments

The DWP said the measure aims to free up health professionals to carry out more face-to-face assessments and deliver more Work Capability Assessment (WCA) reassessments

The UK Government unveiled proposals to extend the duration of awards for individuals making fresh claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) this year, in a bid to help clear the backlog of Work Capability Assessments (WCA). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stated the initiative seeks to enable health professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and complete additional WCA reassessments.

Currently, the interval between PIP award reviews can be as brief as nine months, and the majority of recipients do not experience any alteration to their award at review. This is set to be extended for most PIP claimants aged 25 and above to a minimum of three years for fresh claims, increasing to five years at their subsequent review should they continue to qualify.

These operational modifications are distinct from the Timms Review, which will examine the function of PIP, eligibility for the daily living and mobility components, assessment process and the criteria in supporting disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence.

The new measure was implemented in April alongside amendments to Universal Credit that reduce the disparity between what individuals receive for unemployment compared to long-term sickness. The changes will see the UK Government honour a pledge made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper to increase face-to-face assessments, following their reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contracts agreed by the previous government had required 80 per cent of assessments to be conducted remotely — by telephone, video call, or paper-based means.

The proportion of face-to-face assessments is set to rise significantly, with PIP assessments increasing from six per cent in 2024 (57,000) to 30 per cent of all assessments, and the WCA from 13 per cent in 2024 (74,000) to 30 per cent, reports the Daily Record.

The UK Government stated it is delivering these changes and “reforming the broken welfare system it inherited” by extending the intervals between assessments to verify whether a claimant’s condition still qualifies them for PIP, freeing up healthcare professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and carry out additional WCA reassessments.

It added: “Reassessments play an important role in taking account of how changes in health conditions and disabilities affect people over time.”

Collectively, the measures are anticipated to save the UK taxpayer £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31, and are accompanied by employment support initiatives targeting sick or disabled individuals, including Connect to Work and the redeployment of 1,000 work coaches.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden recently said: “We’re committed to reforming the welfare system we inherited, which for too long has written off millions as too sick to work.

“That is why we are ramping up the number of assessments we do face-to-face and taking action to tackle the inherited backlog of people waiting for a Work Capability Assessment.

“These reforms will allow us to save £1.9 billion, creating a welfare state that supports those who need it while helping people into work and delivering fairness to the taxpayer.”