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The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E has soared to a record high.

The latest NHS England data shows the figure shot up from 50,775 in December to 71,517 in January. This is the highest number since monthly records began in August 2010.

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission stood at 161,141 last month, up from 137,763 in December and the second highest figure on record.

Some 72.5 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 73.8 per cent in December.

One in four people (137,763) in December waited for more than four hours between admission and staff finding them a bed, while one in 10 (50,775) waited more than 12 hours. That’s almost 50,000 more patients than the NHS target.

The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for 78 per cent of patients attending A&E to be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.

This is a breaking news story, more follows…

The 44-year-old professional dancer was found dead in a hotel room

Robin Windsor had lost his “glow” after being dropped from Strictly Come Dancing, actress Lisa Riley told an inquest on Wednesday, February 11.

The 44-year-old professional dancer was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in February 2024. Giving evidence at West London Coroner’s Court, Riley reflected on the changes she saw in her former dance partner in the years after he left the BBC show.

Riley was paired with Windsor during the penultimate series he competed in, in 2012. She described how quickly they formed a close bond once they began working together.

“To say we hit it off was an understatement,” a written witness statement from Riley read to West London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

“We were literally joined at the hip. I had only just lost my mum in the July. I, myself, was in a very difficult place. Robin was my rock,” it said.

Windsor joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 as a Latin and ballroom professional. Over four series, until 2013, he partnered actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Lisa Riley, as well as Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden.

A back injury prevented him from performing in 2014. He was subsequently dropped from the main line-up in 2015, although he later returned for a Christmas special alongside TV presenter Alison Hammond.

“It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into depression,” Riley said. His glow had gone.”

Riley told the court that she and Windsor developed a deep friendship built on openness and honesty, and that they stayed in touch after their time on the programme.

“He literally told me everything,” she said.

“I trusted him and he trusted me. There were many, many happy times to begin with and together we did have so much fun.”

She said Windsor had spoken to her about struggles with self-doubt, including feelings of “never feeling good enough” and experiencing “imposter syndrome”.

“Robin was and always has been very influenced by other men. It became a standing joke that he fell in love after three days.”

According to Riley, Windsor had concerns about his body image, which led him to take steroids. She said this, alongside alcohol, negatively affected his wellbeing. She also described financial pressures, telling the court he had accumulated significant debts and would spend heavily on designer goods.

“Money problems also played a part of his darker days. He was drowning in debts which led to weekends I wouldn’t hear from him.”

Riley said the last time she contacted Windsor was around Christmas 2023 after noticing what she described as a troubling post on Facebook. She sent him a text message to check in.

Jurors heard Riley said: “I of course text him straight away and he replied saying he was ‘fine, just usual ups and downs of life’.”

The inquest is ongoing.

Manchester City’s £20million recruit gave another defensive masterclass in the win over Fulham and might well prove to be one of the best January signings in Premier League history.

Marc Guehi can play. He can see a pass, he can execute a pass. He is not big on the Cruyff turn but he can beat a man. He is confident on the ball. He can be an attacking presence, having eight Premier League goals and seven assists to his name. Guehi can do a lot.

Over four-and-a-half seasons at Crystal Palace, his game developed to such an extent that every marquee club in Europe coveted his services. But there is one thing Guehi loves doing, one thing that identifies him as an elite footballer in the way that goalscoring defines Erling Haaland: defending.

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After the routine win over Fulham, Guehi had his usual moment of solitude and prayer before joining the team’s appreciation of the support. In return, Guehi was given acclaim that was noticeably vociferous.

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That was because, in a way, Guehi’s performance – particularly in the second half – was every bit as watchable as, say, Nico O’Reilly’s dynamism, Bernardo Silva’s orchestration, Antoine Semenyo’s savviness.

Manchester City supporters are well accustomed to acknowledging the sort of thrilling move that ended with O’Reilly sublimely clipping in the second of the night. They are well accustomed to acknowledging Silva’s intelligence and indefatigability. They are well accustomed to acknowledging smooth attacking machinery.

But what was being acknowledged after the final whistle against Fulham was the nuts and bolts provided by Guehi. The clearances, five of them. The ground duels won, four of them. The tackles won, two of them. The recoveries, four of them. The game-leading 97 passes.

What was being acknowledged was the simple stuff. In a game that had been won by a three-goal margin, these are outstanding numbers.

Talking of numbers, Guehi has actually accumulated eight yellow cards this season, high for him. But he has invaluable discipline in his game. Arne Slot was straw-clutching when suggesting Guehi should have been sent off at Anfield but had he seen a straight red card for his offence against Mohamed Salah, it would have been the first of his career.

And Guehi is a great reader of the game, his anticipation of an attacker’s movements exemplary and, equally importantly, he can second-guess a teammate’s intentions. It was not flawless – Fulham had one or two very presentable chances – but Guehi’s partnership with Ruben Dias had a look of reliability that has not always been familiar to City eyes.

He has made four appearances for City since his £20million move – a move that has instantly put him into the top ten of January transfer window signings – but it is already clear he will be that rarity under this manager: an automatic starter. The defensive Haaland.

When Guehi signed, Guardiola said: “After two or three days, play good or bad, I don’t care. But he is a great signing for the next five, six, seven, eight years.” On the evidence so far, the City boss is spot-on.

The HER VOICE: Leadership for Life programme blends visibility of female role models from businesswomen and alumnae to current pupils with assemblies that applaud female achievement and lessons that build a sense of self. Inspiring and purposeful experiences are woven naturally through school life, with events such as the inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event, a cornerstone of the school calendar. Bringing together over 50 girls from across the area, the one day event hosts five interactive, practical and reflective workshops to inspire a lifetime of leadership. In September 2025, the event successfully encouraged pupils to articulate their ideas and recognise the value of their perspectives as they explored communication, confidence, ethical decision-making and teamwork. 

International Women’s Day is also a key moment within the programme. Celebrated through a full day of workshops led by accomplished women from a wide range of fields, the event invites girls to think broadly about ambition, resilience and the many paths leadership can take. It reinforces the message that there is no single definition of success, while encouraging curiosity and open dialogue. In the week leading up to the event, departments across the school come together to explore themes such as the women’s rights movement, female empowerment and finding one’s voice, ensuring learning is both meaningful and connected.

Leadership at Queen Mary’s is also modelled through connection. Built on the belief that girls must “see it to be it”, the school’s monthly Twilight Talks bring leading businesswomen into school to share their stories with pupils and parents alike. These evenings are warm and conversational, offering honest insights into careers, challenges and choices, followed by thoughtful Q&A sessions. Girls learn that leadership journeys are rarely linear, and that perseverance, adaptability and self-belief matter just as much as talent.

Beyond these events, leadership is nurtured daily through opportunities to take responsibility, support others and contribute meaningfully to a close-knit community. In a school where everyone is known, girls feel safe to try, to fail and to try again. This sense of belonging underpins Queen Mary’s motto, “her best day, every day,” and reflects the school’s belief that happy girls grow into confident leaders.

The inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event is a cornerstone of the school calendar (Image: QUEEN MARYS SCHOOL)

Queen Mary’s is proud of its small, family-feel environment, where ambition is encouraged without pressure and individuality is celebrated. Nestled within the 40-acre Baldersby Park estate between Ripon and Thirsk, academic excellence sits alongside emotional intelligence, creativity and wellbeing. Pupils benefit from small class sizes and improved academic outcomes of, on average, one grade per subject. The school’s rich co-curricular programme includes over 60 clubs, with debating, STEM, coding, horse riding, hockey, music, and dance among the most popular.

To discover how every girl at Queen Mary’s is supported to make each day her best day, families are warmly invited to attend Open Events on 6th March and 25th April, book a private visit, or speak with the friendly admissions team on 01845 575000 or admissions@queenmarys.org. To learn more, visit queenmarys.org/leadership.

The fire service was called to a main road in Cambridge with reports of a roof fire

A fire broke out at a property in Cambridge on Wednesday night (February 11). Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Elizabeth Way in Chesterton, Cambridge, at around 10:30pm with reports of a roof fire.

Firefighters from Cambridge and Cottenham attended and crews arrived to find a fire in the roof of a house. The fire ultimately affected three properties.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called just after 10:30pm to reports of a roof fire on Elizabeth Way in Chesterton, Cambridge. Crews from Cambridge and Cottenham attended along with the aerial appliance and command unit.

“Firefighters arrived to find a fire in the roof of a house, which affected three properties. They used hose reels to extinguish the fire and a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

“A fire investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire.”

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.41pm yesterday (11 February) with reports of a fire at a property in Elizabeth Way, Cambridge. Officers attended and the road was closed while fire crews tackled the blaze.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.”

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The 38-year-old accused social workers of giving her ‘ultimatums’ before she went on the run with convicted rapist boyfriend Mark Gordon, leading to their newborn baby’s tragic death

An heiress whose baby died in the freezing cold while she was on the run from police has blamed social workers for the tragedy in a bizarre rant.

In new comments to a safeguarding panel, Constance Marten, 38, accused social workers of “using the powers of the state coercively” to take her four children into care and forcing her to go on the run with her fifth baby, Victoria.

Victoria died in January 2023 after Marten and her convicted rapist boyfriend, 51-year-old Mark Gordon, took her to live in a tent in the South Downs to evade social services when she was just a few days old. The child’s body was found in a disused allotment shed in Brighton two months later.

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Both of baby Victoria’s parents were jailed for 14 years in September of gross negligence manslaughter, child cruelty, perverting the course of justice, and concealing the birth of a child.

In his sentencing remarks at the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Lucraft told the pair: “Neither of you gave much if any thought to the care or welfare of your baby: your focus was on yourselves.”

A national review of child safeguarding measures was launched in the wake of Victoria’s death – and Marten told the panel that social services offered her “ultimatums, rather than true assistance” in the run-up to her and Gordon’s disappearance.

She added that she believed “people can be supported and can change, which should result in children being returned and supported”.

In its report, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel called for “urgent action” to protect vulnerable unborn babies and infants from dangers at home from similar tragedies.

Their report, published today, calls on government to act urgently to strengthen national guidance, improve information‑sharing between agencies, and ensure that professionals have the time, skills and support needed to protect unborn babies and infants from harm.

One of the recommendations includes tightening registration requirements in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, meaning registered sex offenders could face prison time if they do not inform the authorities of new relationships or pregnancies.

The Home Office is said to be carefully considering the review’s findings.

Panel chair Sir David Holmes said: “Few tragedies are greater than the death of a baby, and baby Victoria’s is all the more devastating because her parents caused it.

“Baby Victoria lived in a family where there had been several concealed pregnancies, repeated child removals, domestic abuse, lack of engagement with services, serious offending and frequent moves. These are risks we see time and again in serious safeguarding incidents, and they are examined in depth in our review.

“While baby Victoria’s death was rare, her status as a vulnerable unborn baby and then a vulnerable infant is not. Last year, more than 5,000 unborn babies and infants under one were on child protection plans. Their parents are struggling, often disengaged from services, and many receive little support.

“A key lesson from baby Victoria’s story is clear: to protect vulnerable babies better, we must support their parents too. That may be hard to hear and hard to understand, but it is essential if we are to stop cycles of harm from repeating. Safeguarding professionals need the time, skills and resources to understand why families disengage and to address the underlying issues – whatever they may be – domestic abuse, substance use, mental health, trauma after previous child removals or anything else.

“That is why we are calling for improved national guidance for safeguarding vulnerable unborn babies and infants, and better support for parents whose children are removed. These changes will help reduce future harm.

“We cannot prevent every act of extreme parental harm – but we can reduce the risks in families and help people to move forward. That must be baby Victoria’s legacy.”

Having survived what looked a lot like a coup attempt, Prime Minister Keir Starmer now needs to decide how to move forward. One of the biggest problems in the immediate term is what to do with his health secretary, Wes Streeting.

Streeting has long been named as a contender to replace Starmer – and has made no secret of his personal ambitions. Like every other cabinet minister, he made a statement in support of Starmer after the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly called for his resignation. However, Streeting’s has been singled out for its tepid tone.

Now Starmer has a man who openly wants his job in his top team at a moment when he is trying to steady the ship. Might the PM find some inspiration about what to do from the private sector?

There is an old joke in the corporate world which states that when you take over as a new chief executive, your first task is to search the business high and low to find your natural successor – and then destroy them.

That is one (bleak) view of the rat race, or what is sometimes called “tournament theory”, the acknowledgement that within organisations there will always be a battle to get to the top. A more far-sighted approach to succession planning would look different. It would involve making sure that a range of senior people are developing their skills and experience, ready to take on the top job when it becomes vacant, as it inevitably will do some day. Ideally a company’s succession plan should contain a list with more than just one name on it.

In Westminster, however, discussions over the future leadership of the country are rather less dignified and rather more frenzied. Politics and business are different. This is a tournament all right, but the rules are less than clear. And they are subject to sudden change. Leadership in the political world is a far cry from what we call leadership in businesses and organisations.

Starmer, it seems, has survived a perilous moment. Still, as they say in Scotland, his coat is hanging on a shoogly nail.

Starmer looks around his top team, the cabinet, and sees several potential rivals staring back at him. Streeting denies that he is plotting to challenge Starmer, but few in Westminster believe him. A bad result in the byelection in Gorton and Denton this month or a collapse in support for Labour in the May local elections and Scottish parliamentary and Welsh Senedd elections, could prove the trigger for Streeting to act.

How should a leader look on the threat of a close colleague who is also a rival? Few are as generous or imaginative as Abraham Lincoln, who famously brought defeated candidates for the US presidency into his cabinet, as described by the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin in her book “Team of Rivals”.

Tony Blair survived as prime minister for ten years with his closest rival, Gordon Brown, at his side the whole time. Blair used to say, with apparent nonchalance, that it was not an “ignoble ambition” for Brown to want to succeed him. Blair seemed to hope, however, that another candidate might emerge to prevent Brown from getting the top job.

A confident and effective leader need not worry about having capable potential successors in their top team. On the contrary. Leadership is not a solo endeavour. A good leader will want to delegate tasks to talented people and draw on their advice. This is what is sometimes called “distributed leadership”.

À lire aussi :
How much longer can Keir Starmer survive?

Starmer has already revealed his insecurity by making sure that Andy Burnham, the mayor of greater Manchester, could not stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection. And hardened Westminster watchers will tell you that the prime minister could not have afforded to have Burnham back in parliament, preparing his own leadership challenge.

But Starmer could instead have been inspired by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Why not welcome Burnham back to Westminster, after winning a byelection that would have slowed his opponents’ momentum (in this case the Greens and Reform)?

And why not salute Streeting for his energy and dash? And Angela Rayner for her talents too while he is about it? Confident leaders want to have the best people around them. For a government that is seen to be struggling it would arguably make sense to put the best players on the pitch, and encourage them to perform. Leadership should not be a selfish ego trip. It is about them, not you.

Starmer has had a “clear the air” chat with Streeting and has, at least, not sacked him, yet. Starmer’s allies concede that the prime minister is not currently in a strong enough position to move against him in any case. Perhaps the cabinet will now pull together and prove they can get along.

Such thoughts will be dismissed as naïve and unrealistic by the inhabitants of London SW1. And, in that context, perhaps they are. But if so it tells you a lot about how far the practice of modern politics has departed from what many would regard as healthy and benign leadership.

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