More than 8,000 vaccines have been delivered after meningitis cases linked to the Kent outbreak reached 34.

The UK Health and Security Agency said the total number of confirmed and suspected cases had increased to 34, up from 29 previously, in an update on Saturday.

Hundreds of students at the University of Kent joined queues to be vaccinated for the third day, after two people died from the disease. By 5.55pm, at total of 8,002 vaccines had been administered and 12,157 antibiotics handed out, NHS Kent and Medway said.

Health chiefs have suggested the peak of the outbreak, described as “unprecedented” because of the large number of cases linked to a “superspreader” event at a Canterbury nightclub, has passed, but said cases may continue to rise in the coming days.

However they warned “sporadic household cases” of meningitis B could spread outside the epicentre of the outbreak in Kent.

On Friday, Dr Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council’s public health director, said it was most likely that it would be contained in Kent with a few additional cases outside of the county, “which can be easily contained”.

Officials said secondary cases could involve people who were not infected at the nightclub, but caught the illness from someone who was there.

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More than 8,000 menB vaccines administered

More than 8,000 meningitis B vaccines have been handed out since the outbreak in Kent while the number of cases is up to 34 from 29.

Hundreds of students and other eligible people queued to receive vaccines and antibiotics on Saturday, and more are expected to be waiting outside the clinics when they reopen on Sunday morning.

NHS Kent and Medway, which is in charge of the rollout, said it moved staff to focus on sites with the longest wait times during the week.

A spokesperson said: “Our teams have been working overtime this weekend and into the evenings during the week to deliver antibiotic and vaccine clinics as fast as possible.”

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According to the trust, 8,002 vaccines had been administered and 12,157 antibiotics handed out in Kent by 5.55pm on Saturday.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 08:26

Wes Streeting pays tribute to healthcare workers battling to contain outbreak

Health secretary Wes Streeting has paid tribute to the “Herculean efforts” of healthcare teams battling to contain the meningitis outbreak.

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Writing in the Sunday Mirror a week after the outbreak began, he expressed his condolences to the family of two students who died and said his thoughts remain with all those in hospital battling the “terrible disease”.

He added: “It has been an incredibly difficult week for those affected and for those working on the response to this outbreak.

“As we look ahead to another challenging week, I wanted to pay tribute to the Herculean efforts of everyone who has worked tirelessly to care for those affected and keep people safe. To the UKHSA and other public health officials working to contain the outbreak.

“To the NHS team who stood up a vaccination programme within one day of it being announced and distributed thousands of doses of antibiotics, and to those caring for young patients in hospital.

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“To the school, college and university staff keeping students and parents informed, helping young people through this, and keeping their education going.

“And to the thousands of students, pupils, and other members of the public who have so readily and responsibly come forward for antibiotics and vaccination.

“I am incredibly grateful to you all. Thank you. We urge people in Kent and across the country to keep following the advice, living your lives and looking after one another.”

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 08:13

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In brief: Everything you need to know about the meningitis outbreak

• The number of meningitis cases in Kent rose to 34 on Saturday, including 23 confirmed cases and 11 still under investigation, up from a previous total of 29
• Two students have died in the outbreak, including 18-year-old Juliette Kenny and another student from the University of Kent
• Hundreds of students and other eligible individuals queued for a third consecutive day at the University of Kent campus clinic for meningitis vaccinations
• As of Saturday lunchtime, health authorities had administered more than 11,000 doses of antibiotic and more than 7,000 vaccines to help control the outbreak
• Public health officials are urging vigilance for symptoms and reassuring the public that the risk to the wider population remains low, despite warnings of potential small, sporadic clusters appearing elsewhere

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 07:10

Latest: Cases rise as more than 7,000 vaccines administered

The number of cases linked to the meningitis outbreak in Kent increased to 34 on Saturday, as hundreds of students queued for a third day to get vaccinated.

Some 23 cases have been confirmed alongside a further 11 cases that “remain under investigation”, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. Eighteen of the 23 confirmed cases are meningitis B and all required hospitalisation.

Meanwhile more than 7,000 vaccines had been administered by Saturday afternoon as health officials worked to contain the outbreak.

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 06:10

Experts considering expanding menB vaccine availability

Experts are said to be considering expanding the eligibility for the routine meningitis B vaccine following a call for Wes Streeting.

The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) reportedly launched a review following the outbreak in Kent and are thinking about a wider review of eligibility for menB vaccinations, The Guardian reported.

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The JCVI has previously said a catch-up campaign for young people who were born before 2015, when the jab was introduced for babies, would not be cost effective.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 05:10

Towie star Jordan Brook battling viral meningitis

‘The Only Way is Essex’ star’s case is not connected to the outbreak of meningitis in Kent, where cases have now risen to 34.

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 04:10

WATCH: Michael Rosen opens up about son’s meningitis death

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 03:10

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Recap: Scientists say meningitis strain is not new variant

The Independent’s health reporter Rebecca Whittaker reports:

Scientists say the meningitis strain is not a new variant and may not have mutated into an “invasive strain”.

Professor Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said: “The initial sequence data confirms that it is a single menB strain causing the current cluster of meningitis cases.

“The MenB ST-41/44 clonal complex has been previously identified in the UK and is not a new variant. This suggests that the strain has not mutated into a more invasive strain, but scrutiny of the full genome sequences and further studies will be required to confirm this.

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“The current Bexsero MenB vaccine based on the cell surface antigens of MenB strains should provide protection against the MenB ST-41/44 variant.”

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 02:10

Meningitis: Symptoms to look out for

Some key symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, according to the NHS, include:

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• High temperature
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Muscle and joint pain
• Pale, mottled or blotchy skin
• Spots or a rash
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• Fits (seizures)

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 01:10

WATCH: Hundreds queue for a vaccine following deadly menB outbreak

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 00:10

Swiss-born Lehmann, 26, has spoken in the past about how she hopes to use her social media platform to build the profile of women’s football and bring the game to a new audience.

For comparison, England’s Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo have 1.5m and 1.1m Instagram followers respectively, while ex-US star Alex Morgan has 9m.

Her posts alternate between lifestyle content and her football, catering for a broad and diverse following, but making her a target for those who seek to criticise.

“Sometimes, it’s frustrating,” she tells BBC Sport. “People don’t see the work that I put in. They think I just train and then go home to make TikToks – it’s not true.

“I’m very professional. I always give everything on the pitch and I want to be the best. If I’ve not done my best when I check my data after training, I will do extra rounds to try to improve.

“People can think what they want but everything I do is focused on being the best player I can be.”

Lehmann first moved to the Women’s Super League in 2018, joining West Ham after scoring twice in the 2018 European Under-19 Championship.

Across six years in England, she made 108 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists during spells in east London, Everton and Aston Villa.

After a difficult time in Italy with Juventus and then Como, Lehmann says returning to a country she thinks of as “home” was an obvious decision.

“I signed a long-term deal in Como but after a month I realised I didn’t like it and wanted to return to England,” she explains.

“I love it here, the football is better and England feels like home to me.”

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff dropped the first set but recovered to beat Alycia Parks 3-6 6-0 6-1 in the third round, while Amanda Anisimova was a 6-4 6-2 winner against Yuliia Starodubtseva and Victoria Mboko earned 6-1 7-5 victory over Anastasia Zakharova.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka, however, said she was trying to balance the tennis schedule with being a mother after she was beaten 7-5 6-4 by Australia’s Talia Gibson in their second round match.

“I feel like this also is a dilemma for me,” said Japan’s Osaka, who returned to the WTA Tour in January 2024 after a 15-month absence around the birth of her daughter in July 2023.

“For me, my daughter is very important, and I want to be a mom. I want to be the best mom I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to become a really good player, and it’s very difficult.

“Because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can, but if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I’d rather not do it.”

In the men’s draw, world number two Jannik Sinner comfortably beat Damir Dzumhur 6-3 6-3, while Alexander Zverev beat wildcard Martin Damm 6-2 6-4.

Zverev will play Marin Cilic, who was a 2-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7) winner against Brandon Nakashima, in the third round.

Home favourite Ben Shelton did not progress as he suffered a surprise defeat by Alexander Shevchenko, who claimed a 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win against the world number nine.

Thomas Tuchel named his penultimate squad before picking the players that will represent England at the World Cup, with the Three Lions boss hinting that youngsters could be involved

Wolverhampton Wanderers star Mateus Mane has been selected in Portugal’s latest under-21 squad after deliberating over his international future. The 18-year-old, who burst into prominence in 2026, is eligible for both the nation of his birth and the country he moved to as a youngster.

Mane, born in Barreiro, Portugal, has represented England at youth levels and there was interest from Lee Carsley in promoting him to the 21s.

However, Portugal were also keen to grab the forward after a string of impressive performances for struggling Wolves. Senior manager Roberto Martinez is understood to have played a role and has been in contact with Wolves technical director Matt Jackson, whom he played with at Wigan.

And that extra push appears to have been decisive with Mane included for the Selecao in their upcoming matches.

READ MORE: How 7th in Premier League table can qualify for Champions League as UEFA confirm ruleREAD MORE: England release new 2026 World Cup kits as Nike opt for bold away strip

Mane made his debut for Wolves in the Premier League last May, before making his first start under Rob Edwards in the defeat to Liverpool in December.

Since then, he has become a regular for Edwards, scoring against Everton and West Ham and playing a role in the club’s considerable uptick in form.

There is already speculation over his club future, but for now, it appears an international decision may have been made. Edwards has spoken glowingly about the youngster, predicting a huge future for the player signed from Rochdale as a 16-year-old.

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He said: “He can go a long, long way. It’s been a really good start for him but that is all it is.

“He’s getting a lot of headlines and there’s a lot of noise about him, there’s not many 18-year-olds in the Premier League doing what he’s doing at the moment, especially in a team that’s been struggling this season.

“He’s made a real impact for us and he has a really, really bright future ahead of him.”

Meanwhile, Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel has recently hinted that he is ready to give players a chance, regardless of their age, with the clamour for Arsenal’s wonderkid Max Dowman, 16, to be included in his upcoming World Cup squad.

“With these young guys, of course we know all these players. We see them as you do as well,” Tuchel said, when asked about Dowman. “The thing with young players to keep the momentum maybe going, keep their excitement.

“They have a level of fearlessness with them. There is no need to call him up now and increase the pressure and increase all the noise that comes with it but we have all options.”

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The Top Gear star took to the social media platform following the success of his farming choir on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (BGT).

The Hawkstone Choir is made up entirely of real British farmers and was created as a promotional and campaigning project linked to Clarkson’s Hawkstone beer and cider band.

Ahead of their performance, one of the farmers said, “Jeremy Clarkson did a thing, and that thing is the Hawkstone Farmers Choir.

“Jeremy brought us together to sing, and it’s really been amazing for us all.”

Hawkstone Choir performed Elbow’s One Day Like This, earning them a golden buzzer from judge Amanda Holden.

Explaining why she pressed the buzzer, Holden said, “I felt so much power.

“I love the whole community, I love how you’ve all got together.

“You work so hard every single day, you absolutely smashed it, and I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do in the semi-finals.”

Jeremy Clarkson holds back tears in emotional Instagram post

Following the choir’s success on BGT, Clarkson shared an emotional video on his Instagram page.

Reacting to the golden buzzer moment, Clarkson said, “I watched Britain’s Got Talent tonight for the first time because the Hawkstone Choir were on and they were just fantastic.

“These guys are all farmers, and they work incredibly hard for really incredibly small rewards, and to see them all on that stage with all that love in the room made my heart sing – I actually welled up.”

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Holding back tears, Clarkson added, “It shows that people quite like farmers.

“They were very, very good, well done all of you.

“I’m a very happy man tonight.”

Before posting the touching video, Clarkson shared a clip of the choir’s BGT performances, writing: “They did it!!!! They actually did it. Fantastic. I’m overwhelmed. Well done, all of you. You were brilliant.”

It will be fitting to gain a little exercise in what we hope will be warm sunshine amid the daffodils in a village that once called itself the “Montpelier of the North” such was its healthy position.

An Echo photographer tried out a new wide angle lens in Haughton in 1965

Indeed, so wholesome was it that in 1845, the artist William Bewick, his health shot to pieces by hanging around in the draughty Sistine Chapel, was advised to settle in Haughton by his doctors.

Bewick had been commissioned to paint a copy of Michelangelo’s famous ceiling for the Royal Academy. He had scaffolding 60ft high erected inside the Vatican chapel, and from the top of it, began his work.

An Edwardian postcard looking east along Haughton green

However, Pope Leo XII didn’t like the smell of the paint, and insisted that all the windows in the chapel should be kept open while Bewick was at work.

As it was winter, the unfortunate artist suffered immensely, and once he had finished his commission, his doctors in London suggested he should retire to the “Montpelier of the North” for the sake of his health.

Next Saturday’s walk will go past Bewick’s home and studio on the green.

The walk, arranged by Cllr Chris McEwan and led by Chris Lloyd, who compiles Memories, with local historian Carol Atkinson, will begin at the church – the oldest in Darlington – and end in the Wave Café in the church hall – which is next to the oldest domestic building in Darlington.

A 1905 postcard showing Haughton church

The Grey Horse, Haughton, with licensee Jane Robinson in the centre of her door frame. Here the first football team in Darlington met in 1879

We’ll kick up a stink over the Cheese Affair, start a discussion over Fatty Man’s Squeeze, look at where the first football team in the town had their headquarters, and wonder whether the Highland Laddie pub really is named after a Scottish soldier who was injured in a skirmish with English soldiers during the 1740s Jacobite Rebellion but taken in and cared for by kindly villagers.

The Highland Laddie used to be on one of the most dangerous corners in Durham. Work to remove it began in 1939 but was stopped by the war. A newly built Highland Laddie was eventually opened in 1948

Then we’ll head down Mill Lane to the site of river-powered mill that was one of three mills in the district – the others were at Ketton and in Darlington town centre – that were mentioned in the Boldon Book of 1183.

The Skerne used to meander badly here but a dead straight mill race was built to provide it with greater power and it grew into a large complex straddling the waterway.

Haughton Church reached over a bridge over the meandering Skerne

It ground corn and malt until the late 18th Century when it was taken over by John Kendrew. He had used a mill in the town centre to produce the best spectacle lenses until his methods were stolen by unscrupulous Birmingham businessmen. Then assisted by the Backhouse family, he pioneered the use of steam power to spin flax. He protected his invention with a patent but, despite a lengthy court case in 1787, his idea was stolen by John Marshall of Leeds, forcing him to retire to Haughton.

The mill here was ideally located as flax was being imported into Stockton from the Baltic states and Russia.

Mr Kendrew died in 1800, and the Parker family took over the mill. Their employees were noted marching behind their banners on Tuesday, June 12, 1832, through the town centre with 3,000 other labourers, and with 12,000 spectators, celebrating the passing of the Great Reform Act. The millworkers then returned to the mill where they were “sumptuously regaled with plum pudding and roast beef”.

Once the mill had a stone inscribed “JM 1782 KS” on its gable end, but now nothing of it remains, although as we walk along the Skerne we’ll be able to note how its course has been changed over the centuries as we also talk about the lost Red Hall mansion.

The Red Hall mansion fell derelict from 1966 and was used as a riding stables before it was demolished in 1984

The walk will finish at the church hall where hopefully we’ll be sumptuously regaled with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

A lovely 1949 picture looking east along Haughton Green taken from The Northern Echo archive. The electricity cables running the length of the road powered the trolley buses which reached the end of their run at the roundabout

• The walk is free will set off from the church at 10am, but the vicar is kindly opening the doors from 9.30am so people can gather and have a look around. We aim to be back for 11.30am. All are welcome. Cllr McEwan has been put in charge of the weather. Bring a brolly, just in case.

A string of high-profile Brits living in the emirate have been accused of sanitising reality while tensions escalate across the Middle East

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Dubai-based British influencers are coming under fire for continuing to flood social media with glossy, picture-perfect posts as missile strikes and conflict continues to unfold around them.

A string of high-profile Brits living in the United Arab Emirates, including former Love Islander Arabella Chi, have been accused of sanitising reality by sharing sun-soaked snaps of their gym routines and luxe lives while tensions escalate across the Middle East.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, triggering a sharp escalation in the region. Iran retaliated, forcing the closure of airspace across the Gulf — including the UAE — leaving more than 100,000 Britons stranded in Dubai as missiles and debris fell from the sky.

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Falling wreckage sparked a fire at Fairmont The Palm, injuring four people, while blasts also damaged Dubai International Airport and ignited another fire at Jebel Ali Port.

In the weeks that followed, the UK Foreign Office faced its biggest consular crisis since Covid, with around 138,000 Brits registering in the region — 112,000 of them in the UAE.

Despite the chaos, influencers continued posting — though some briefly broke ranks. Several shared then deleted clips admitting fear, with Petra Ecclestone and Kate Ferdinand posted their concerns online before removing them.

Others took a very different tone. Content creator Mitchell Armstrong mocked those fleeing the city in a video posted on February 28, saying: “What does everyone mean there’s bombs and explosions going off in Dubai?

“As long as I’ve still got my sauna and I’ve still got my G-Wagon and I still live in my $2.1 million mansion on the Palm, I don’t really care . . . I can’t really hear anything over the sound of success.”

“All the rich guys, all the guys making money, printing bread either profited off the war or made more money because we are more locked in,” he added. “People running around like headless chickens, like the world is ending, and now four days in a row, we have had nothing in Dubai.

“No bombs, no crackles, no nothing, no missile interceptions.”

Meanwhile, influencer Soudi Al Nadak painted a calmer picture for her 1.3million TikTok followers, insisting: “As you can see, it is very quiet and peaceful in Dubai at the moment, but for those people who want to leave, let them leave. I just think they are very ungrateful.” On March 4, she added she felt safe because “we know who protects us” — prompting one follower to hit back: “How much have you been paid to keep on posting government propaganda?”

Chi, however, has done a full 180 degree backflip, sharing a continuous stream of pristine content — often just minutes away from where incidents have unfolded.

On March 3, three days after flames tore through the iconic Burj Al Arab, she posted a romantic dinner at Asia Asia, captioned: “A forever kind of love.” Days later, she shared beach snaps with her 10-month-old daughter Gigi — captioned “Sandy toes” — showing a serene, sun-drenched shoreline despite the conflict unfolding nearby. Followers quickly noticed something was off. One wrote: “Stay safe, that beach looks so quiet”, while another asked: “Did everyone leave Dubai?”

On March 9, drones struck near the airport and debris hit a waterfront tower, sparking a blaze and forcing evacuations — but Chi’s feed instead promoted a luxury jewellery collaboration. On March 13, debris hit a building in the Dubai International Financial Centre, sending smoke across the city. Still, she posted from Jumeirah Beach, posing in a bikini with her daughter.

The snaps pose a grim contrast when compared this, shared by Chi at the beginning of the conflict:

The UAE has some of the strictest social media laws in the world, with authorities warning against “publishing or circulating rumours and information from unknown sources” after the conflict began.

Influencers must hold government-issued licences to post paid content, tying their income to compliance. Content deemed to incite panic or harm the country’s reputation can result in heavy fines, prison sentences or deportation.

The K-pop group’s emotional comeback was livestreamed around the world

BTS star Jin confessed he had “so many worries” about their first concert in four years, which is streaming on Netflix.

The K-pop sensations returned to the stage for BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang, with the seven-member group taking over Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

The group – RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – performed their fifth studio album Arirang, the day after its release, as well as some of their biggest crowd favourites, including Dynamite. K-pop enthusiasts were delighted to see the boys reunite after they announced in 2022 that they would be taking a break whilst they completed mandatory military service in their home country.

During the hour-long show, Kim Seok-jin, who performs under the name Jin, expressed in Korean: “Thank you so much for coming here. I had so many worries before about standing here today but seeing you all again, I’m so emotional and happy.” Addressing BTS’s fanbase, known as Army, he said: “Thank you, Army.”

READ MORE: BTS The Return first look as band promises they are ‘where we’re meant to be’READ MORE: What time is the BTS comeback concert on Netflix UK?

In a trailer for the concert, rapper RM, real name Kim Nam-joon, states: “We promised our fans that we would be back.” The band gathered at the historic Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul, which was illuminated with purple, red and blue and filled with tens of thousands of ecstatic fans, reports the Mirror.

Park Ji-min, known to fans as Jimin, also spoke to the crowd during the concert, stating: “We are finally here and seeing you again. The fact that I am speaking here… I am so moved.

“All seven of us standing on stage together makes me so happy. Thank you all so much. You have filled Gwanghwamun Square today.” Throughout the performance, the group expressed their gratitude to their fans for waiting for their return, describing their reunion on stage as a “dream”.

It has been reported that the group’s leader, RM, sustained an injury prior to the performance, and he was observed limiting his movement and sitting on a chair at times during the show.

Free tickets for the concert were distributed to fans via a global lottery held on the South Korean fan-community website Weverse, with general public reservations also available through NOL Ticket.

The concert precedes the release of a new Netflix documentary about the group titled BTS: The Return, which will be released on 21 March. It will document the build-up to BTS’s comeback, which was initially announced when the band sent handwritten letters to members of their fanbase worldwide.

BTS – an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan, or Beyond the Scene – have achieved four top 10 singles and two number one albums in the UK. They are most recognised in the UK for songs such as Butter, Dynamite and Life Goes On – as well as collaborations with western artists like Charli XCX, Coldplay and Halsey.

BTS were the first K-pop act to secure a Grammy nomination and have received five nods but have never won. They are the best-selling music act in South Korean history, having sold over 40 million albums, and the first non-English speaking group to sell out Wembley Stadium.

BTS The Comeback is streaming on Netflix.

It will take place on March 24.

A standards hearing will decide whether councillor David Sedgwick broke Stockport council’s code of conduct over his involvement in the ‘Trigger Me Timbers (TMT) WhatsApp scandal. Councillor Sedgwick, who represents the Heatons North ward, was part of the group made up of Labour councillors and ex-MP Andrew Gwynne. Reports emerged in early 2025 of allegedly offensive messages made towards residents and other politicians.

A wave of suspensions from the Labour Party followed when the allegedly offensive comments from the group came out. Mr Gwynne was sacked as a government minister. The former MP for Gorton and Denton later stood down on health grounds, sparking the recent by-election won by the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer.

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Councillor Sedgwick now sits as an independent in the Stockport council chamber and has been investigated by the town hall over his role in the scandal.

A 60-page report has been published by Stockport council’s monitoring officer Vicki Bates after 11 complaints were made against Councillor Sedgwick.

The monitoring officer found that, on the balance of probabilities, David Sedgwick ‘failed to comply’ with some sections of the council’s code of conduct.

Stockport council’s report stressed that the monitoring officer ‘does not have the ability or authority to make a decision on whether there has been a breach of the Code’.

This will be a decision for the standards sub-committee meeting on March 24 at Stockport town hall.

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David Sedgwick was found by the Stockport council report to have made ‘many hateful and highly inappropriate’ comments in the TMT WhatsApp group.

When approached for comment, David Sedgwick said he has written a full response to the report’s findings.

He added: “In all honesty, I don’t think there’s more to say. The report I think is fair and balanced and the response I’ve put in I think reflects that. I won’t be at the hearing as I have a meeting in London on Tuesday and Wednesday but I have submitted an introduction.”

He is referred to in the report as ‘Cllr S’.

The report sets out the council’s findings: ‘For the Code to be engaged the comments have to be made in relation to Cllr S’s capacity as a councillor.

‘There are many comments that are made by many members of the TMT WhatsApp group that would fall under the above descriptions but if they are not made by Cllr S in his capacity as a councillor then they do not fall to be considered as part of this investigation.

‘However, there are still many hateful and highly inappropriate comments in the TMT WhatsApp transcript made by Cllr S in his capacity as a councillor, which are in breach of the Code.’

One conversation published in the report focused on comments made by Councillor Sedgwick during an online council meeting in October 2020.

According to the report, David Sedgwick described another councillor as ‘absolutely crackers’ and said ‘I reckon he’s one for Operation Yew Tree’.

Operation Yewtree was led by the Metropolitan Police in 2012 to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile and others.

In the same conversation, David Sedgwick was asked who might be watching the online meeting, and he shared the name of a resident and Stockport Labour club name – which were redacted in the report – and then added a message saying ‘assorted weirdos’, according to the council investigation.

The report highlighted other conversations and allegations of offensive messages.

It went on to say: ‘There are two references to a local MP being called “Special Needs [redated name]” but those comments are not clearly linked to Cllr S acting in his capacity as a councillor.

‘There is continual bullying of this MP throughout the transcript in terms of his appearance by various members of the group. However, as this relates to Parliament and the Labour Party rather than in Cllr S’s capacity as a councillor, this is not a breach of the Code.’

Stockport council’s report stated that David Sedgwick called the monitoring offer in February 2025 to self-refer himself in relation to the allegations published about him in the press about the scandal.

It added: ‘Evidence has been provided in the complaints / complaint forms to support, on the balance of probabilities (more than 50 per cent chance of establishing) the alleged breaches of the following seven sections of the Code.’

David Sedgwick submitted a response to Stockport council’s investigation.

He explained that he has ‘served as an elected member for many years’ and had ‘been a member of the Labour Party for more than twenty-one years’ without being referred to the standards committee until now.

He said that he has approached the process with ‘seriousness, respect for the Members’ Code of Conduct, and a clear understanding of my responsibilities as a councillor.’

Councillor Sedgwick said the ‘overwhelming majority of the approximately 50,000 messages exchanged in the group related to lawful political discussion, council business, campaigning activity, and informal social interaction.’

He continued: ‘I acknowledge that certain comments made within the group, when viewed in isolation and without context, fall below the standards expected in public office if they were to be expressed in a public forum.

‘I express genuine contrition for those instances and accept responsibility where my judgement fell short or when I did not challenge others.’

He concluded his statement: ‘This response asks that the matters under investigation be assessed in the round: taking account of context, proportionality, my long-standing and otherwise unblemished record of public service, the exceptional circumstances of the period in question, and the limited proportion of messages now under scrutiny relative to the total body of communications.

‘I remain committed to the highest standards of conduct, to accountability, and to continuing to serve my community with integrity.’

Rojina Shams Nateri, Pharmacist at Roseway Labs, has issued an alert to anyone who drinks coffee before 9am. There’s something vital they need to know about their morning routine

Many people wake up in great need of a morning coffee, but little you may know there are times you’re better off not drinking it. You could actually be causing more harm than good to your body, as the time you drink it could be having a big impact on your health.

Rojina Shams Nateri, Pharmacist at Roseway Labs, explained that having a coffee first, without water, worsens your dehydration from the night and works against your biology. Cortisol is the body’s wake-up hormone and peaks around 30 to 60 minutes after waking up and Rojina said that, by flooding your system with caffeine before this hormone has been able to do its job, you disrupt your body’s natural regulation.

She explains that caffeine can cause havoc with hormones, too. In fact, there’s actually a perfect time you can drink it if you want to enjoy it in the best way possible.

Sharing expert advice, Rojina said: “It’s much better tolerated 60 to 90 minutes after waking, as it allows adrenal function to balance out, meaning the caffeine in your coffee is used more strategically and effectively.”

However, she also warned it’s not just coffee that’s the problem. She additionally noted several so-called “healthy” trends should also be avoided.

For example, a high-sugar, low-protein breakfast can play havoc with your blood sugar and sustained energy, according to the expert. Cold showers also trigger adrenaline that can be draining in the long term, especially in winter when the body is already working hard to stay warm.

Fasted workouts can reduce glucose and glycogen levels, adding to the body’s stress and making you feel more tired rather than alert. Checking emails first thing triggers an early dopamine spike, leading to mental fatigue.

The best way to wake up

For better and more consistent energy, Rojina recommends a slow-paced morning. She said: “Start with water before caffeine to restore hydration. Limit screen exposure in the first hour and try to get natural morning light in with a walk, for example, to support your circadian rhythm.”

She also advises getting proper tests before taking supplements. She added: “B12, iron and magnesium are great but they should always be guided by blood test results to ensure a true clinical benefit.

“Magnesium is often better suited to evening use rather than for immediate energy.”

Drinking coffee before 9am could be why you’re exhausted by 3pm. Many people are causing blood sugar spikes and draining their nervous system without realising.

By waiting before you have your caffeine hit, this time will allow your body’s natural cortisol (stress hormone) levels to peak and taper off, avoiding excessive jitters and letting caffeine provide a more effective, natural energy boost.

Not to mention, drinking coffee on an empty stomach immediately upon waking can increase stomach acidity, which may cause acid reflux. There are a few reasons why it’s better to wait.

So, in short, hydrate first, eat protein and wait 60 to 90 minutes for that morning cuppa. You’ll feel the difference by the afternoon.