WASHINGTON (AP) — For Democrats demoralized at being shut out of power in Washington, the past several months have offered reason for optimism.

A party often beset by ideological division has largely been unified in opposition to President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration tactics, particularly after two U.S. citizens were killed in Minneapolis. Heading into a midterm election year in which they are just a few seats shy of reclaiming the U.S. House majority, Democrats have also kept the White House on defense with criticism of Trump’s economic policies and ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

But the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran could test the durability of that cohesion. Initially, Democrats balanced condemnation of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed over the weekend, with calls for Congress to quickly pass a war powers resolution that would restrain Trump’s attack options.

“We need a strong, clear, vocal united opposition party to fight back and put a check on his power,” Daniel Biss, the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, who is competing in a Democratic congressional primary this month, said in an interview.

But some divisions are surfacing as a handful of Democrats, especially those who are strongly aligned with Israel, express reservations about the war powers measure. Reps. Greg Landsman of Ohio won’t back an Iran resolution. Before the strike, Rep. Josh Gottheimer also said he would vote no.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who backed a war powers vote tied to Venezuela in January, also has broken with Democrats over the Iranian measure and rejected arguments that the attack was illegal, spurring frustration among some party leaders.

“John Fetterman knows better,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday on CNN as he pressed for an Iran vote this week.

Republicans are also facing internal dissent, with prominent supporters of Trump’s “America First” movement openly questioning how the strikes square with his longtime condemnation of military adventurism.

Trump, who did little to prepare Americans for the prospect of such a dramatic conflict, said Monday the operation could last four to five weeks. He hasn’t articulated a clear exit strategy and warns that American casualties could mount, which will pose a severe test of voter patience for the conflict.

The war could also lead to rising gas prices and economic volatility that may only bolster Democratic arguments that the president is out of touch with the financial realities facing many Americans.

But the dynamic nonetheless poses challenges for Democrats, who have faced a searing internal debate over the party’s relationship with Israel in the wake of the war in Gaza. Then-President Joe Biden’s loyalty to Israel during the heat of the 2024 campaign was starkly at odds with younger generations outraged by the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. By the time Kamala Harris rose to the top of the ticket that year, she struggled to win over some younger voters who are critical to Democratic success.

When asked whether he was concerned those divisions could resurface, Paco Fabian, the political director for the progressive advocacy group Our Revolution, said “definitely” and acknowledged that Democrats “aren’t monolithic.” But he also suggested a shift was underway, noting the results of a New Jersey special election last month.

During that campaign, the affiliated super PAC of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs committee sought to thwart the moderate candidate, Tom Malinowski, after he questioned unconditional aid to the Israeli government. Those efforts appeared to backfire with the more progressive contender, Analilia Mejia, winning the primary.

“A lot of folks are waking up to that influence,” Fabian said. “Given what’s going on right now, I don’t think the moment is doing AIPAC and Israel any favors.”

Sympathy toward Israel appears to be shifting. Three years ago, 54% of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis, compared with 31% for the Palestinians, according to Gallup polling released last month. Now, their support is about evenly balanced, with 41% saying their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, and only 36% saying the same about the Israelis.

Americans’ initial reactions to airstrikes also appeared more negative than positive, early polling suggested. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults disapproved of the U.S. decision to take military action in Iran, according to a CNN poll conducted via text message over the weekend. A separate snap poll from The Washington Post conducted via text message on Sunday suggested that about half of those polled opposed the strikes, while 39% were in support. Roughly 1 in 10 were unsure.

Democrats and independents drove much of the disapproval in those early polls, while Republicans were much more supportive.

The CNN poll found majorities of Americans thought Trump should be required to get congressional approval for any further military action in Iran. About 8 in 10 Democrats and roughly 7 in 10 independents said that, compared to about 3 in 10 Republicans.

The initial political impact of the attacks in Iran could emerge as soon as Tuesday during the first primary elections of this year’s midterm campaign.

In North Carolina, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam was already going into her bid to unseat two-term Rep. Valerie Foushee with backing from Our Revolution and other top progressives. After receiving support from groups tied to AIPAC during her 2022 campaign, Foushee’s campaign rejected such contributions this cycle. Over the weekend, she said she doesn’t support “Trump’s illegal war with Iran” and would back the war powers resolution.

Still, Allam, who would be the first Muslim elected to Congress from North Carolina, was quick to release a video ahead of Tuesday’s vote criticizing Trump for “starting another endless war” and promising to never accept support from “the pro-Israel lobby.”

Ahead of the March 17 primary in Illinois, AIPAC-aligned groups have also criticized Biss, the Evanston mayor who is aiming to become the Democratic candidate to succeed the retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. In the interview, Biss spoke of the “backlash I’m hearing people have against AIPAC, their MAGA-aligned money and their Trump-aligned policy agenda.”

Asked about such predictions, Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, said “the key distinction will be between those who recognize that Iran is a murderous regime that tortures women for leaving their hair uncovered, hangs gay people, and executes peaceful democratic protestors, and those who will turn a blind eye to the regime’s atrocities.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran add yet more question marks around a U.S. economy already buffeted by on-and-off tariffs, weak hiring, and lingering inflationary pressures.

The war has already raised oil prices and could lift prices at the pump as early as this week, but the ultimate impact on the economy and inflation will depend on the length and severity of the conflict, economists say. Should it wind down in a week or two, its economic effects would be minor and short-lived.

Yet a longer war that pushed oil past $100 a barrel for an extended period would worsen inflation, at least temporarily, while slowing growth and intensifying Americans’ unhappiness with the cost of essentials. After nearly five years of rising prices, concerns around affordability have undercut President Donald Trump’s support in polls and bolstered Democrats in recent elections.

For now, the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 6.3% Monday to settle at $71.23. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 6.7% to $77.74 per barrel. An increase at that level, even if sustained, would barely lift inflation, economists said.

“While cost-conscious Americans who are dealing with an affordability crisis will not take this increase lightly, such an increase will not materially affect economic growth,” Joe Brusuelas, an economist at RSM, a consulting firm, said.

Stock prices rebounded to show a small gain Monday after initially falling sharply, a sign of optimism that the war will be short-lived.

But a longer-lasting conflict, particularly one that closed down the Strait of Hormuz at the edge of the Persian Gulf, through which roughly 25% of the world’s oil passes, could push oil past that $100 a barrel mark. Gas prices in the U.S. could then reach $3.50 a gallon, up from just under $3 on average nationwide on Monday.

Such price jumps would accelerate inflation in the U.S. and slow growth, economists said.

“Markets are right now really under-pricing the tail risk of a sustained engagement and an operation that does not wrap up quickly, restore travel through the Strait of Hormuz and get everything back to de-escalation and normal in a timely manner,” said Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the Groundwork Collaborative and an economic adviser to the Biden White House.

Here are some ways the war could affect the economy.

Inflation has lingered even as gas prices have fallen

While some measures of inflation have cooled in recent months, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure has been stuck at about 3% for roughly a year. That is above the central bank’s 2% target, and has occurred even as gas prices fell steadily in 2025.

Should gas prices rise significantly, air fares could also rise as airlines face bigger fuel costs. Shipping would also become more expensive, which could add to grocery prices.

Natural gas prices also jumped Monday, as roughly 20% of the world’s gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz and a liquid natural gas plant was shut down in Qatar. That could raise heating prices in the U.S. Natural gas has already gotten 10% more expensive in the past year, thanks in part to spiking energy usage by data centers powering AI.

Still, economists noted that the U.S. economy is not as oil-dependent as it has been in the past, with most Americans now working in services, rather than manufacturing.

And other factors may help keep oil price increases relatively limited. Rory Johnston, founder of Commodity Context, an oil analytics firm, pointed out that oil inventories were quite high before the conflict, which helped keep prices in check. That’s in sharp contrast to the winter of 2022, he said, when post-COVID supply chain problems had already pushed up oil costs even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused a much bigger spike.

Monday’s increase “is a very minor spike relative to” what happened after Russia’s invasion, Johnston said.

Businesses may pull back amid uncertainty

If the Iran war drags on for months, it could also torpedo business confidence, which could lead companies to invest and hire less, said Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide Financial.

“When there is an injection of new uncertainty into the business environment … that’s a hit to confidence,” she said.

The result could be similar to the impact of Trump’s tariffs, which did not raise prices as much as many economists feared, but did appear to weigh on job gains. Hiring in 2025 was the weakest, outside of a recession, since 2002.

Consumers sour further on economy

Even without a big inflation spike, a major risk for Trump is that Americans sour on his economic leadership.

According to surveys, Americans already have a gloomy outlook on the economy, largely because of the lingering effects of the price spikes of the past five years. Trump’s attempts to portray the U.S. as in a “golden age” have had little impact on those attitudes.

A protracted conflict in Iran that raised gas prices would likely make it worse, Jacquez said.

“People generally don’t think that President Trump is focused on the things that they are focused on,” Jacquez added, “and what they want him to be focused on is the price of groceries. What they think he’s focused on are things like tariffs and foreign policy.”

Flights from Dubai airports had been suspended due to the conflict in the Middle East with passengers stranded

The conflict between Iran and the US and its allies has caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

About half a million passengers per day use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are vital hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.

A handful of flights, including to Manchester, will bring British nationals stranded in the Middle East back to the UK on Tuesday but the majority of departures from the region remain cancelled.

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Emirates plans to operate two flights to Heathrow and one each to Gatwick and Manchester. Other flights departing on Tuesday morning were scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt, Jeddah and Paris. At least some of these flights will be operated by the airline’s A380 jets, which can each carry up to 615 passengers depending on how they are configured.

And this morning, Dubai International Airport said a limited number of flights will resume at the airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

Posting on X, Dubai International Airport has posted advice for travellers.

These include not travelling to the airport if your airline has not confirmed your flight. The airport also warned that schedules to flights will continue to change, so checking your airline’s website or app, is advised.

The airport said priority is currently being given to departing flights, with movements gradually increasing based on capacity and airspace availability.

Dubai International Airport also warned that flights could change possibly suspended, depending on events associated with the conflict in Iran.

The airport added: “Please monitor airline communications for real-time updates before heading to the airport.”

Emirates usually operates 146 weekly flights to the UK, which is the equivalent of about 21 per day.

Etihad Airways has scheduled one UK flight on Tuesday, from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow. This is with a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, which has 336 passenger seats.

Qatar Airways – which usually serves Heathrow and Gatwick from Qatar – said on Tuesday morning that its operations remain suspended because of the closure of Qatari airspace.

And British Airways cancelled its timetabled flights to Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha and Dubai on Tuesday.

The airline told passengers: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East.

“Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”

Passengers with bookings on certain routes up to March 15 are being allowed to amend the date to fly on or before March 29.

Virgin Atlantic axed a flight from Dubai to Heathrow. It is likely to take several days to clear the backlog of passengers.

And UK-based aviation consultant John Strickland said it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

He told the Press Association: “It’s a bit uncertain (when that will happen) because of course it will depend on how long the airspace restrictions remain in place.

“But factoring in the high volumes of normal daily traffic and the high capacity of aircraft such as the A380 and the Boeing 777, plus the fact that other flights covering similar routes operate at high occupancy, then it will certainly be quite a period of time which would likely run into weeks.”

You can find out more on the Dubai Airports website here.

Elizabeth Holman dressed as a navvy to work on the railways in the 1850s, and is one of the earliest known women to do the job – now she is among those being honoured at King’s Cross and York stations

A woman who disguised herself as a man to secure work on the railway is among a group of heroines being celebrated this International Women’s Day.

Elizabeth Holman, one of the earliest known women to work on the British railway, defied the social restrictions of the 1850s by dressing as a navvy to undertake dangerous and physically demanding railway construction work. She is now being recognised in two new Hollywood-style Walk of Fame installations for International Women’s Day on March 8.

Elizabeth will be memorialised alongside Gladys Garlick, one of the first female train guards who served during WW2 air raids, and Betty Chalmers, who joined LNER in 1937 at the age of 16 and worked in an underground shelter for two years. The trailblazers are among the women honoured in LNER’s Hollywood walk of fame style installations unveiled at London King’s Cross and York train station ahead of International Women’s Day.

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READ MORE: Major change to train tickets coming in weeks – check if you’re affectedREAD MORE: World’s longest train is over a mile long and has passengers in 100 carriages

The installations highlight the incredible contribution of females within the rail industry, both past and present. Modern-day railway revolutionaries are also being recognised, including train driver Helen Donagher, whose quick thinking on duty saved a passenger’s life, and Rezwana Rahman, the first LNER female driver to wear a hijab.

Despite the rich history of female contribution to the railway industry, research commissioned by LNER reveals a significant perception gap. If parents asked their children to draw a train driver, three quarters of UK children would draw a man, new research has found.

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It also revealed that 97 per cent of Brits have no idea more than 35,000 women currently work in the UK railway industry. Despite three in ten women who were surveyed saying they would consider a career in rail, 67 per cent said they were unaware of opportunities available for women within the industry.

Lesley Cook, daughter of Gladys Garlick, said: “Seeing my mother’s legacy live on for her unwavering dedication to British rail is such a special moment for our family. The railway is part of our roots, with my mum as a female guard which she was so passionate about and took a huge amount of pride in, and my father being a train driver.

“It’s truly incredible to see a light shone on her story and all the other women who are receiving the recognition they deserve with this installation.”

LNER has long been a leading example for gender diversity and equality in the transport industry, and it shows no signs of slowing down, Paula Bullock, the train operator’s People Director said. Its latest data report reveals it has a 44 per cent female workforce, compared to the industry benchmark of 16 per cent.

Paula added: “Gender equity in the transport industry – particularly within rail – is something we’re deeply passionate about and firmly committed to improving at LNER. By unveiling this installation, we’re not just shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women, past and present, we’re also recognising there is still work to be done.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Eastern Region Managing Director, added: “It’s inspiring to see so many remarkable women from across the rail industry celebrated through this campaign. Their stories span generations – from the pioneers who opened doors for others, to the women who played vital roles during the Second World War, to the talented colleagues shaping the railway of today and tomorrow. Each of them shows what’s possible and why representation matters.”

The stars will be in place at London King’s Cross until after International Women’s Day on March 8, when they will then move into the Family Lounge, and in York railway station. People can scan the QR code on the installation which takes them to LNER.co.uk to read more about the incredible stories of these women.

More than five years after the murder of Sarah Everard by former police officer Wayne Couzens, the disgraced killer remains locked inside a high-security jail alongside notorious inmates.

He was once seen as a trusted member of society, but that trust was shattered when he abused his authority and coerced Sarah Everard into his vehicle — and she was never seen alive again.

On the evening of March 3, 2021, former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens exploited his position to detain the young woman, handcuffing her under the guise of his official powers.

The crime shocked the nation and sparked widespread protests after 33-year-old Sarah was sexually assaulted and murdered. Prior to joining the police, Couzens had already faced allegations of a sexual offence involving a child.

After abducting Sarah in south London, Couzens drove her to Kent, where he killed her and later burned her remains before dumping them in woodland. His actions deprived her grieving family of the chance to see her one last time.

The case brought the issue of violence against women into sharp focus. Yet more than five years on, many believe progress has been limited. A report published last year warned that too many offenders are avoiding justice because of serious failures in how crimes are recorded.

Lady Elish Angiolini, who led the inquiry launched after Sarah’s murder, found that many sexual predators are still slipping through the system and that preventive measures often amount to little more than promises.

Now 53, Couzens is serving a whole-life sentence at HMP Frankland in County Durham — a high-security prison sometimes nicknamed “Monster Mansion.” The Mirror says reports about life inside the prison frequently attract public anger and scrutiny.

Recently, fellow inmate Ian Huntley was attacked at the prison and left seriously injured. It was the third assault on him during his 24 years behind bars. Before the incident, Huntley had reportedly become increasingly paranoid that other prisoners were trying to poison him. After the attack, which took place shortly after 9 a.m. on a Thursday, he was found lying in a pool of blood. Authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the suspected attacker, though triple killer Anthony Russell has been named in reports.

Huntley, who worked as a cleaner on A Wing, had reportedly stopped eating prison meals because he believed other inmates were targeting him. Instead, he relied on food and sweets from the prison shop, which caused him to gain weight. He is serving life sentences for the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who disappeared after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002.

Former inmate Ricky Killeen, who previously served five years at Frankland for a machete attack, said Couzens will likely spend the rest of his life constantly on guard — particularly because he was once a police officer. According to Killeen, former officers can become prime targets in high-security prisons, where violence can be severe.

Inside such prisons, inmates have reportedly used makeshift weapons fashioned from everyday objects, including broken electronics and shattered ceramic fixtures. In one particularly brutal attack, a prisoner suffered severe burns after boiling liquid mixed with melted butter was thrown at him — a form of assault known among inmates as “swilling,” intended to cause maximum injury.

Because of the notoriety of his crime and his former role in law enforcement, Couzens is considered at high risk from other prisoners. Sources have suggested that his profile makes it impossible for him to live on a standard wing. Instead, he is expected to remain segregated or housed in a small unit for vulnerable prisoners, separated from the general population.

Clinical psychologist Dr Tracy King said managing high-profile offenders has always been difficult, and the strain on the prison system makes it even more challenging. In cases like Couzens or Huntley, she explained, the individuals are more than just inmates — their crimes carry strong public emotion, increasing the risk of hostility from other prisoners and requiring stricter supervision and separation. Staffing shortages, she noted, can make maintaining that level of oversight harder.

King also said Couzens’ former role as a police officer adds another layer of complexity. When someone who once represented authority commits such a crime, it can feel like a deep betrayal to the public and even to those working within similar institutions. For prison staff, this can create a difficult balance between their duty to protect prisoners and the emotional weight of managing someone whose actions shocked the country. Social media and rapid digital communication, she added, can intensify public scrutiny and pressure on those overseeing such cases.

In 2022, it emerged that Couzens had been allowed to buy an Xbox 360 after good behaviour but complained when he learned that violent, adult-rated games would not be permitted. According to reports at the time, he had hoped to play shooting games such as Call of Duty and Gears of War but was limited to less violent titles instead.

That same year, reports also suggested Couzens had struck up a disturbing friendship with David Fuller, a convicted murderer and serial necrophile known as the “Morgue Monster.” The two were said to have bonded while housed on the same wing at Frankland and reportedly discussed shared connections to Kent. Fuller had been convicted of murdering Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in Tunbridge Wells in 1987 and was later linked to further crimes through advances in DNA technology.

In April 2024, reports claimed Couzens filed a complaint after prison officials blocked a birthday gift sent by his mother. The parcel, which reportedly contained a book and clothing, was refused under rules that prevent inmates from receiving packages sent directly from home. In his grievance to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, he allegedly argued that the restrictions had not been clearly explained and even requested compensation for the cost of the items.

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Dr King said such complaints are not unusual among prisoners. When someone loses their freedom, she explained, relatively small details — such as access to entertainment or receiving parcels — can become disproportionately important because they are among the few aspects of their environment they can try to control. In some cases, personality traits such as entitlement and limited empathy can mean a person focuses on their own frustrations rather than the harm they caused.

Last June, it was reported that Couzens was taken to an NHS hospital for a lumbar procedure, a spinal operation estimated to cost around £7,000. Transporting him under heavy security reportedly added roughly £10,000 more. The move drew criticism from Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham, who questioned whether the murderer had effectively jumped the queue ahead of other patients waiting for treatment.

According to reports, Couzens spent three days in hospital before returning to the prison’s healthcare unit. Sources said the operation was not considered an emergency but was carried out to relieve his back pain. Due to the risk posed to him rather than by him, the transfer involved a bulletproof Category A prison van, multiple officers and armed police guarding him at the hospital.

In August 2023, it also emerged that the house Couzens had shared with his wife and children in Deal, Kent, had been put back on the market after failing to sell earlier in the year. The three-bedroom property was relisted with a reduced asking price after initially attracting no buyers.

Marking the fifth anniversary of Sarah Everard’s murder on March 3, Gemma Sherrington, chief executive of Refuge, said the case continues to highlight serious concerns about trust in policing among women and girls. She said that while there have been promises of reform and some policy changes, more meaningful action is still needed to prevent similar crimes.

Sherrington noted that the inquiry into the case found several key recommendations had not yet been fully implemented, including proposals to prevent individuals with prior sexual offence records from serving as police officers. Refuge has long argued for major improvements in vetting and accountability within policing, warning that stronger safeguards are needed to ensure positions of authority cannot be abused in the future.

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Farmer’s proposed super-simulator would be driven by these complex models. “We would put people, firms, banks and governments inside a computer and find ways of representing interactions within the market”, he continues. “For example, how households will buy goods from certain firms. We’ll then simulate all this stuff and make it as realistic as possible with the available data. Then we’ll run the model day by day, month by month, quarter by quarter.”

The high street bakery chain well known for its sausage rolls and steak bakes also reported a slowdown in sales growth over the start of the new year.

Nevertheless, the retail business, which employs more than 33,000 people, stressed that it has been “resilient” in the face of a “challenging market”.

Over the past year, Greggs has come under pressure from cautious shoppers impacted by the rising cost-of-living, higher tax and labour costs, and the growing use of weight-loss treatments.

However, boss Roisin Currie indicated that some of these challenges could ease over the current year.

She said: “Looking into 2026, easing inflationary pressures should provide some support to consumer spending and demand for convenient food-on-the-go continues to underpin the market.”

On Tuesday, Greggs reported that statutory pre-tax profits fell by 17.9% to £167.4 million for the year to December 27, compared with a year earlier.

It said the drop in profits was partly linked to the tough market backdrop and a “spell of particularly hot weather” which knocked high street footfall.

It also told shareholders that total sales grew by 6.8% to £2.15 billion over the year, with like-for-like growth also buoyed by its continued store opening programme.

Greggs said it had 121 net store openings in 2025, expanding its shop estate to 2,739 locations by the end of the year.

It is targeting around 120 further openings this year as it highlighted ambitions to grow to “significantly more than 3,000 UK shops over longer term”.

Sales growth was also supported by the expansion of its delivery business and an increase in evening trade.

More recently, like-for-like sales across its managed shops grew by 1.6% over the first nine weeks of 2026, with total sales up 6.3% on the back of store openings.

Ms Everard, 33, who grew up in York, was raped and killed by then serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens. Couzens tricked her into thinking she could be arrested for breaking Covid lockdown rules as she walked home from a friend’s house in south London on March 3, 2021.

Ms Everard was a student at Fulford School before moving to London where she worked as a marketing executive.

In a statement issued by the force, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Ms Everard “should still be here”.

“What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing,” Sir Mark said.

He said the fact that Ms Everard was killed by a serving police officer was “as devastating today as it was in 2021”. “It was an unthinkable abuse of power and a total violation of the values that the Met, and policing stands for.

“On the day I heard what he had done, I felt devastated for the immense harm his actions caused to the trust that underpins our relationship with the communities we serve.

“What he did shook policing to its core. It made decent, dedicated officers and staff across the country furious that one of our own could commit such a monstrous crime.

“We will always be deeply sorry: for the unimaginable harm done to Sarah, for the trauma endured by her family – who have shown extraordinary dignity in the face of unbearable grief – and for the profound damage inflicted on the trust Londoners should be able to place in their police service.”

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Couzens was given a whole-life jail term at the end of his Old Bailey trial in September 2021, and the powerful victim impact statement made by Ms Everard’s mother led to the unmasking of another predator hiding in the ranks of the Met.

One of the victims of David Carrick was moved to come forward and make a report to the police, which eventually led to his conviction as a serial rapist.

The cases led to two damning reviews – one a report by Baroness Louise Casey in March 2023 that found the Met was institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic.

Then an inquiry by Dame Elish Angiolini in February 2024 concluded that the Met and two other police forces could and should have stopped Couzens being a police officer.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)

Sir Mark spearheaded efforts to clean up the Met, with 1,500 officers and staff having been sacked, resigned or retired in the past three years.

But in September last year he warned “toxic or corrupt networks or cliques” that might be resistant to change remained in the force.

It followed undercover reporting at Charing Cross police station by Panorama that led to accusations of excessive use of force and offensive discriminatory comments.

We must continue to repair ‘damage inflicted on the trust of women and girls in policing’, says Met commissioner

Sir Mark said Ms Everard’s death “brought into sharp focus the need for a national reset in how policing, and society more widely, prioritises tackling violence against women and girls, as starkly illustrated by the Angiolini Review”.

“With the painful reality that far too many remain victim‑survivors and still do not feel safe, this anniversary is more than symbolic,” he added. “It is a reminder of our duty to the millions of women and girls who move through London every day with a right to feel protected, not fearful; respected, not dismissed; believed, not doubted.

“We know we have not always lived up to that responsibility and must continue to repair the damage inflicted on the trust of women and girls in policing.

“I don’t just see this as an operational priority – it is also a moral one, and one I am fiercely committed to.”

Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: “Five years on from Sarah Everard’s tragic murder, my thoughts today are with her family and all those who loved her.

“I will do everything I can to ensure women and girls can live free from fear and harm – something Sarah was so cruelly denied.”

Alan Cumming has apologised for the ‘trauma triggering s***show’ sparked by the Baftas.

Last Sunday night, the annual British film awards ceremony was overshadowed by an incident in which Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson experienced a series of tics, one of which included yelling out a racial slur at Sinners stars’ Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo whilst they were on stage presenting an award.

Despite a two-hour delay of the broadcast, the BBC still aired the moment in its coverage, before taking the awards down from iPlayer following significant backlash.

Addressing the outbursts during the event, host Alan said that Davidson had ‘no control’ over the outbursts. He explained: ‘You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people, as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.’

However, a week on he’s now shared a lengthy statement on social media addressing what unfolded.

‘It’s now a week since I hosted the BAFTAs,’ the 61-year-old Scottish actor began.

‘What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma triggering s***show.

‘I’m so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt at hearing that word echoed round the world. I’m so sorry the Tourettes community has been reminded of the lack of understanding and tolerance that abounds regarding their condition.’

‘The only possible good that could come of this is a reminder that words matter, that rushing to judgment about things of which we are not fully cognisant is folly, that all trauma must be recognised and honoured.’

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Concluding his statement, Alan alluded to mistakes made by Bafta and the BBC.

‘We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech,’ he wrote, before offering his congratulations to ‘all the artists whose work was overshadowed by the night’s events’.

Soon after the event, Delroy said he and Jordan ‘did what we had to do’ while presenting, but he wished ‘someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward’.

The day after the awards, John issued an apology saying he was ‘deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.’

In an interview with Variety, he also explained that he had an ‘expectation’ the BBC would blur out his comments, also questioning why he’d been sat close by a microphone too.

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‘I had an expectation that the BBC would physically control the sound at the awards on Sunday. I was so far from the stage. From the lack of response from the early presenters to my tics, and with no one turning around to look at me, I assumed, like everyone else, that I could not be heard on the stage,’ he said.

‘The only time I became aware that my tic had reached the stage was when Delroy and Michael B. Jordan appeared to look up from their role as presenters, and soon after that I decided to leave the auditorium.’

Reflecting on his tics being broadcast, he explained that StudioCanal and Bafta had confirmed that ‘any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast’. ‘I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette’s and worked harder to prevent anything that I said — which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage — from being included in the broadcast.

‘As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic.’

Last week Bafta also issued an ‘unreserved apology’ for the ‘very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many’.

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‘We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy,’ it said.

Meanwhile the BBC has also apologised, while its Executive Complaints Unit will now complete a ‘fast-tracked investigation’ into the incident.

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MORE: SNL condemned by Tourette’s charity for ‘mocking disability’ in controversial sketch

MORE: Bafta insider claims the BBC ‘knew what happened’ before N-word slur aired on TV

MORE: John Davidson became ‘poster boy for Tourettes’ as a teenager after this BBC documentary

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​A motion calling on North Yorkshire Council bosses to urgently reconsider their plan to permanently shut Whitby’s historic Cliff Lift in the interest of residents and visitors has been passed unanimously.

​At a packed meeting on Monday (March 2) dozens of residents gathered at Whitby Pavilion and told councillors that the landmark lift “is not a luxury, it’s a necessity”.

​​​The lift on Whitby’s North Terrace, which opened in 1931, has been out of service since 2022 due to corrosion and water ingress, with “worst-case” repair costs estimated at £5.5 million.

​The cost of the options to decommission the lift ranges from £199,000 to £538,000.

​Cllr David Chance, who used to work at the Cliff Lift in 1964, said: “It was always damp in the tunnel.

​“I think the £5 million figure has been plucked out of the air to justify inaction. I think that was the aim of Scarborough Borough Council to kick it down the road.

Scarborough And Whitby Area Committee 02.03.26. Courtesy Numminen/Ldrs

​“I’m absolutely convinced that it should be repaired.”

​Speaking at the meeting, a local resident said that the council’s replacement bus service – the future of which is uncertain – was not adequate for elderly people and those with disabilities and asked: “How is it right to deny many people with disabilities access to our beautiful Blue Flag beach?”

Chris Bourne, the council’s head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, said the council was not denying disabled people access to the beach and that slipways and ramps could also be used.

​Cllr Rich Maw said “we cannot row back on accessibility options”.

​He added: “NYC has accrued capital in reserves, and we should send a message to the executive that it has to commit to restoring the lift.”

Whitby Cliff Lift. Google Maps

​Councillors also highlighted the importance of maintaining the lift in a town where tourism is of major economic importance and which “benefits the rest of the county”.

​Cllr Janet Jefferson said: “We have to preserve our economy and employment.”

​Former chairman of the British Resorts Association, Cllr David Jeffels, said: “We need to look at the wider picture.

​“I think a case can be made for making the Cliff Lift a heritage feature, where everyone can go, not just disabled people and the elderly. In Scarborough, we lost the cliff lift on the North Bay, and it’s still sorely missed decades later.”

​A motion was passed recognising the importance of the historic heritage asset for Whitby and “requesting that the executive looks again at the Cliff Lift with a view to repairing and reopening it”.

​The motion added that there was a “lack of information to support robust decision-making” and an up-to-date survey with robust costings and a business plan should be completed to “ensure the valuable asset remains as a going concern for residents and visitors of Whitby”.

​North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee is set to make a decision on the Cliff Lift’s future at a meeting on March 17.