Former MSP Liz Smith told the Eljamel Inquiry that some patients allegedly had the wrong parts of their bodies removed and were left unable to walk or care for themselves.

Patients of disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel were left with “horrific” disabilities following his operations, a former MSP has told an inquiry.

On its first day of evidential hearings, the Eljamel Inquiry was told some patients allegedly had the wrong parts of their bodies removed. Mr Eljamel was a consultant neurosurgeon at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee from 1995 until his suspension in December 2013.

A public inquiry is taking place after patients of Mr Eljamel raised concerns that he had harmed as many as 200 people. The first day of proceedings began in Edinburgh on Tuesday with an opening address from Jamie Dawson KC, the inquiry’s senior counsel.

This was followed by evidence from the former Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland Fife Liz Smith, who represented patients affected by Mr Eljamel’s practice. She said testimony from her constituents had “upset me greatly” and many had asked “why on Earth this was allowed to happen”.

Ms Smith said she had looked into why Mr Eljamel had been allowed to continue practising despite “deep-seated concerns” being raised about him at earlier stages. She said that as she spoke to patients and their families, she found the situation was more widespread than initially thought.

“I realised this was not an event on its own, there were other patients involved in what became a dreadful scandal,” Ms Smith told the inquiry. She also criticised the record-keeping around Mr Eljamel’s medical practice, saying: “It’s absolutely appalling about some of the things that were happening and the lack of accurate medical notes that they (patients) had a right to be able to see.”

Ms Smith continued: “There are allegations that the wrong body parts were removed, and the physical disabilities – well they’re with the patients for the rest of their lives as we know.

“Some of these disabilities are quite horrific. People have lost their mobility, people have lost their means of looking after themselves.”

Speaking ahead of her evidence session, Ms Smith said the hearings have been a “long time coming”. She told the Press Association: “Those patients, who are here just now, have had to suffer for such a long time, and they’re wanting answers.

“They want to know who’s responsible and why certain things happened, and why nobody has yet been held accountable.

“As a former parliamentarian, (my colleagues and I) have been asking questions about this scandal for a very long period of time and not perceiving the answers that patients absolutely deserve to have.”

Former patient Jules Rose, who led the campaign for a public inquiry, said it has been a “long, arduous and emotional journey” to reach this moment, as the inquiry finally got under way.

“I’m here with my fellow campaigners, some of whom have campaigned for 10 years to get this public inquiry, so that we can get to the bottom of why NHS Tayside allowed and enabled Eljamel to commit the harm on innocent patients for 18 years,” she said.

“He was committing harm with life-changing injuries on patients – why did NHS Tayside allow that? Why did they not intervene and stop this monstrous man? We want to get to the bottom of it. We want answers.

“What we’re expecting from this is we want to see real change and a real time change as and when the damning evidence is unfolded.”

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In his opening address on Tuesday, Mr Dawson said the inquiry had reached a “significant milestone”.

During the first phase, which will last four weeks, Mr Dawson said the inquiry will hear from a wide range of witnesses including representatives of NHS Tayside, the Scottish Government, the University of Dundee, and regulatory or professional bodies.

Phase two, which is due to begin in December, was expected to focus on evidence of former patients of Mr Eljamel and from independent clinical reviews (ICR).

However, Mr Dawson said some of the planned ICR evidence will now need to be pushed back as a result of delays. The inquiry heard more than 110 patients have had their clinical cases referred to an ICR by the inquiry.

However, the inquiry has so far only received one neurological assessment, despite the fact this was due to be heard as evidence in December.

“It is unrealistic to think that reviews will be advanced in sufficient numbers and to a level which would merit consideration at hearings as soon as December,” Mr Dawson said. “The result is a necessary change of plan for December and beyond, the main goals of which are to try to make what progress we can and to seek to maintain stability for patients.

“Accordingly, the intention is that the December hearings will involve patient and possibly patient representative evidence only.”

An additional solicitor has been funded to try and speed up this work. The inquiry, taking place before Lord Weir, continues.

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A drunk thug launched an ‘animalistic’ attack on a flight to Manchester – biting a crew member for ‘up to three minutes’ and kicking another.

Kevin Healey told staff his dad was ‘very powerful’ and that staff should ‘be afraid of him’. His barrister said he is not a ‘bullyboy’ after he found himself in the dock following the shocking incident on January 13 this year.

The 26-year-old, from Northern Ireland, was on a 12 hour flight from Shanghai, China, to Manchester having previously being in Australia.

Cardiff are facing another difficult injury at the minute, with Barry-Murphy confirming Isaak Davies is unlikely to feature tonight.

Davies felt his hamstring during training on Friday and is expected to miss the visit of the Potters, further reducing Barry-Murphy’s attacking options.

“I imagine he won’t be available on Tuesday,” the Cardiff head coach said.

There is also no imminent boost expected elsewhere, with Barry-Murphy indicating the club’s other injured players are unlikely to return until around the international break.

Captain Calum Chambers remains unavailable, while Dylan Lawlor and Will Fish are also still sidelined.

“The rest of the guys are back around the international break, I think, so I don’t imagine anything will change between now and Tuesday,” Barry-Murphy said.

Chambers’ situation is slightly more complicated, however, with the Cardiff boss unable to put a firm timescale on his return.

“Calum Chambers is in the same bracket as Dylan and Will Fish. He won’t be available for Tuesday, and his timescale is slightly more complicated because of his injury,” he added.

The situation leaves Cardiff particularly stretched with Stoke arriving just three days after the Portsmouth defeat and with only four players having been added to the squad during the summer transfer window.

Barry-Murphy was asked whether he feels his players have enough to cope with another game at such short notice.

“We have no choice,” he replied.

“The players who are here will have our full support to help them try to produce a performance to win.”

Months after effectively banning cockerels from council-owned allotments, the council is being asked to allow show birds to stay with permission.

Cabinet members will consider the proposal on September 16.

The move follows a campaign by allotment holders and poultry enthusiasts who warned the ban could put birds already on sites across the county at risk.

Among those speaking out was 14-year-old Tom Barker Amos, from Bishop Auckland, who launched a petition calling on the council to rethink the ban.

Tom previously told The Northern Echo that his pet cockerel Brian was an “integral part” of his life and that keeping poultry had helped his mental health.

He warned that owners could struggle to rehome birds displaced by the ban, leaving some at risk of being euthanised.

The teenager’s petition drew hundreds of signatures, while campaigners said there was little evidence cockerels caused widespread nuisance and called for tenants to be consulted before restrictions were imposed.

The council had revised its allotment tenancy agreement earlier this year following a public consultation, removing previous exemptions that allowed show cockerels to be kept on allotments with permission.

Councillor Dawn Bellingham, the council’s cabinet member for communities and resilience, said it had listened to concerns raised since the ban was approved.

She said: “Since then, we have had representations from tenancy holders, fellow councillors and organisations highlighting their concerns around the welfare of current birds.

“As a result, we have reconsidered our approach.”

Under the proposal, show cockerels could return to council-owned allotments with the authority’s permission.

But the council said protecting the birds and the wellbeing of neighbours would remain priorities.

If a cockerel causes a statutory nuisance, a ban would apply across the affected allotment site, overriding any policy allowing the birds to be kept.

The Bayeux tapestry is many things: a public statement, a massive work of collaborative art, a staple of the teaching of British history. The 70-metre-embroidered cloth depicts the events of the Norman conquest, culminating in the 1066 Battle of Hastings and the death of Harold II.

Since its creation in the 11th century, the Bayeux tapestry has loomed large in English history and shaped the way we think about the events of 1066. However, the tapestry is other things too.

First, it is not actually a tapestry, but an embroidery. The images on the cloth are not woven into it, but worked in crewel threads (worsted wool yarn – crewel is the old Welsh word for wool) on top of a piece of linen.

We should use the correct terminology if we are going to place this piece into its rightful place in the history of women’s creative labour and especially embroidery. Embroidery may be typically considered a solo pursuit of little political importance but this is not the case, as the Bayeux creation clearly shows.

As someone who researches comics, war and violence, I see the Bayeux embroidery as a prime example of the importance of visual narratives for political myth-making and nation-building.

Needlework as historical record

The Bayeux tapestry was, according to historian George Wingfield Digby, “designed to tell a story to a largely non-literate public; it is like a strip cartoon, racy, emphatic, colourful, with a good deal of blood and thunder and some ribaldry”. It is certainly racy – there are 93 visible penises, most of them belonging to horses.

There are many other works from across the world that tell similar stories in this way. For example, Trajan’s column in Rome, completed in 113 CE, is a 30-metre-tall marble column, topped with a statue of St Peter. It features a 190m spiralling frieze that tells the story of the Roman-Dacian Wars (101-102 CE and 105-106 CE). An impressive monument to military prowess, it demands no deep understanding of Latin and the story it tells cuts across the territories of Rome and her trading partners.

We see this in the modern world too: IKEA flat pack instructions, NHS guidance for people taking medication and aeroplane safety leaflets all work in the same way. Pictures – therefore comics – are used to convey universal information.

But how does this connect to women’s creative practice and embroidery? In my previous research, I looked at the way in which needlework and comics come together. Currently I’m researching comics reading methods in narrative needlework.

How can thinking about comics as a reading method open up useful ways to engage with needlework texts? Using needlework as a way to construct one’s own story and create a tangible record of events – especially in times of trauma – has a long and storied history.

Consider the creation of arpilleras in Chile during the military dictatorship under General Pinochet (1973-1990) – burlap pieces created out of scraps of cloth that memorialise the “disappeared”. Or the Hmong story cloths, colourful embroideries made during the Laotian civil war (also known as the “secret war”, 1959-1975), now seen as important cultural and historical artefacts, especially in Hmong diaspora communities.

Though these two examples are not as widely known or recognisable as the Bayeux tapestry, they have a similar purpose. They pictorialise particular episodes in a history of significant events, choosing what we remember, while excluding other parts of the story.

What is particularly interesting is that these modern works, though separated by time and geography, are giving voice to those who do not have access to mainstream channels. These works are created out of defiance and a need to creative a narrative for their story and to remember those who have been lost.

While the Bayeux tapestry was created as a narrative of victory, it was still created by women who would have had very little voice in their own communities and whose labour sits in the background of the work itself. The work of the women who embroidered the greatness of William I could be seen as the creative precursor of that of the women who embroidered their murdered loved ones in Chile and Laos.

The women who stitched the Bayeux tapestry in the late 11th century knew that pictures were a marvellous vehicle for narrative and this remains true today. Though they did not have creative control over the story, we see the touches of their creativity and humour throughout the piece itself.

Centuries later, their crafting sisters in Chile and Laos took up their needles to tell stories that only they could, becoming fully the creators of pictorial memories, making visual the violences that still mark our history.

Comics is not just superheroes and spandex; it can be public art, telling public stories. And if we widen the definition just a little bit, there are many more stories waiting to be discovered.

Lucas David Littlefair, from Hesleden, died after the Volkswagen Passat he was driving collided with a Citroen C3 on the B1281 Hesleden Road near Blackhall Colliery on August 2. 

The 19-year-old, who has been described as a “treasured” son, brother, grandson, and boyfriend, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

An inquest opened into his death at Crook Coroners’ Court today (September 8) heard how the crash took place near to the entrance to Hardwick Hall.

A post mortem carried out at the Newcastle Freeman Hospital by Dr Tuomo Polvikowski gave the former tree surgeon’s cause of death as multiple skull and vertebral fractures with a catastrophic brain injury and a traffic accident.

Following his death, Lucas’ family released an emotional tribute to him, saying: “Lucas, you have been cruelly snatched from us much too soon, a great hole has been left in your place and life can never be the same again without you.

“Rest in peace, Lucas – the only thing that can keep us going is knowing we will meet again. Lucas was loved more than he can ever know. 

“We will never forget him or ever stop loving him, and will miss him dearly.

“Lucas had a passion for motorbikes and when he wasn’t at work he was always spending time with friends, family and his girlfriend. 

“He brought so much happiness to all our lives and we have so many memories as a family that we will never forget.”

The serious two-car crash took place when the two vehicles collided and left one of the vehicles overturned. 

Three passengers who were in the VW, two boys aged 17 and a 17-year-old girl, were taken to hospital as a precaution before being discharged. 

The driver of the Citroen, a 22-year-old woman, was also taken to hospital and discharged.

Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield adjourned the inquest for a mention hearing on November 17 at the coroners’ court, sitting at The Miners Hall in Durham.

Officers were called to Wensleydale Square just after 11am on Sunday, September 6, after reports that a man had been attacked.

The man, in his thirties, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police believe the attack happened on the Woodhouse Estate about an hour before they were called.

Residents have described how a quiet Bishop Auckland street was “flooded” with police after a man was found with suspected stab wounds. (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

One resident said he’d never seen anything like it on the street.

Mr Ogden, who has lived on the street since October 1965, said: “I saw around seven police cars on Sunday morning. I just saw it from my box window upstairs but didn’t pay much attention.

“I haven’t heard much about what actually happened.”

He added: “The area has gone downhill, like everywhere has over the years, you keep your doors locked now just in case, it never used to be like that. I think all us old ones are dying off and new people are coming in.”

Another resident said: “I was cooking dinner for the family when I heard the commotion and saw the police. The street was flooded with them.”

She added: “I’ve been here since the houses were built, from about 1965, and it’s usually a quiet, nice area.”

A woman whose daughter found the injured man said: “It’s usually a quiet area. I’ve never known anything like that to happen on the street.”

Durham Police confirmed an investigation had been launched. after a man was assaulted in Bishop Auckland.

A spokesperson added: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information that could assist their investigation.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident at a private address off Weardale Drive in Bishop Auckland at 10.56am on September 6, 2026.

“We dispatched a clinical team leader and an ambulance crew, who took one patient to hospital.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting crime reference number CRI00705491.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

The singer is heading back to his roots and playing some of the key venues and towns he played on the road to success – including a stop off at the Perth Concert Hall.

Callum Beattie has dropped a festive treat for fans – a surprise Scottish tour that will take in Perth and close out the biggest year of his career.

The Edinburgh-born singer is getting back to his roots taking in some of the key venues and towns he played on the road to success.

In the last 12 months Callum has headlined the OVO Hydro, Edinburgh Castle, Belladrum and Queens Park – but he and manager Dave Rogers wanted to go back to small intimate shows one more time.

Callum said: “This is really a thank you to the fans because we owe everything to them.

“They have made dreams come true for my manager Dave and I time and time again – the Hydro, the Castle, Bella, the album success. It’s been the biggest and best year we could ever have dreamed of.

“It’s been incredible playing these huge shows but it feels really special for all of us to go back to some of the places around Scotland that helped us get to this level.

“More intimate shows bring a different buzz and intensity so it just feels like the perfect way to show our love and appreciation for fans all over the country.”

The tour takes in Edinburgh Playhouse on November 26, Oban Corran Halls on November 27, Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre on November 28, Troon Concert Hall on December 3, Dunoon Queen’s Hall on December 4 Strathpeffer Pavilion on December 5, Aberdeen Music Hall on December 11 and then Perth Concert Hall December 12.

And it finishes up with three shows at Glasgow Barrowland on December 18 and 19 – including a matinee on December 19.

As well as venues he may never play again, the tour also includes two shows – Edinburgh and the first Glasgow night – where fans will get to choose the entire set list from his full back catalogue.

Callum said: “This is a mad idea Dave came up with and roped me into – and he is insisting that everything is up for grabs including a couple I really don’t like performing.

“I suppose that is what makes this fun and a bit special – I’m just the human jukebox for the night and it’s all about what the fans want me to play.

“I won’t say what the songs I don’t want to play are, or they’ll definitely be chosen.

“But I really like the idea now I’ve got my head around it. It’ll be fun and also gives us a real insight into what fans feel about the usual set lists too.”

Supporting at all shows are Pistol Daisys, a band who have become intimately linked with Team Callum.

He said: “These guys are phenomenal – really special. They’ve been a big part of this last year, Lorna and Lewis play with us as part of our band at the big shows.

“So we had to have them with us, playing as themselves and joining our show too.

“They really have something unique and I want more fans to see that and get on board.

“Lewis works in the studio with us and does a lot with Dave so it felt really natural as the partnership grew to involve them in the live set-up – it’s been crazy good.”

Callum’s first fully independent album INDI came out in January and inspired a charity foundation he and Dave are working on.

INDI was his most successful record yet hitting no4 in the UK album charts, No1 in Scotland and huge streaming numbers, and brought massive ticket sales with festival, arena and even castle headlines.

But for the tightly-bonded pair and their band, it’s never about the business – it’s about the fans and the love of what they have created together.

Callum said: “It’s been the best gigging year of my life – the best year in music of my life. It’s been the best year overall.

“Truly bucket list stuff with these massive landmark moments at the most iconic venues. Incredible for a wee guy from Musselburgh.

“But there’s nothing like the intimacy of the smaller rooms. The energy is different and I am excited to share that with you all again.

“Business stuff says this tour doesn’t make sense but that’s not what it’s about – it’s for fun and the sheer love of our fans and what they have helped us achieve.

“I can’t think of a better way to end this amazing year than with the people who made it happen.”

Tickets are on sale on now at Ticketmaster and the venue box office.

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 13:55 BST, 8 September 2026 | Updated: 16:58 BST, 8 September 2026

The Maldives today demanded talks with Andy Burnham over the future of the Chagos Islands as it renewed a sovereignty claim to the vital archipelago.

Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives president, wrote to the Prime Minister to call for discussions over what is officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory.

He also expressed his concern about the UK Government‘s controversial attempt to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. 

Labour‘s so-called ‘surrender deal’ to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius is currently in limbo following the withdrawal of American support for the agreement.

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US President Donald Trump switched his position on the UK’s handover of the Chagos Islands amid a furious spat with former PM Keir Starmer over his Iran war. 

Parliament’s ratification of the agreement has since stalled, with Mr Trump continuing to attack the ‘terrible’ deal while suggesting Mr Burnham ‘will have a look’ at it.

The Maldives today demanded talks with Andy Burnham over the future of the Chagos Islands as it renewed a sovereignty claim to the vital archipelago

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Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives president, wrote to the Prime Minister to call for discussions over what is officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory

Under the terms of Labour’s deal with Mauritius, Britain would hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and then pay to lease back the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia 

A statement issued by Dr Muizzu’s office revealed he had invited Mr Burnham to hold talks over the Chagos Islands.

‘The President expressed the Maldives’ concerns regarding the UK’s decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius,’ the statement said.

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‘The President highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as the Maldives’ longstanding support for major marine conservation and scientific research expeditions in the region.

‘In this regard, he reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to maintaining a reliable and constructive partnership with the UK on matters relating to Chagos, while safeguarding the legitimate interests of the Maldivian state and its people.

‘President Dr Muizzu reiterated the importance of meaningful dialogue between the UK and the Maldives on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.

‘He further expressed hope that renewed engagement and partnership between the two countries would contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean, particularly at a time of increasing global uncertainty.’

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Under the terms of Labour’s deal with Mauritius, Britain would hand the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and then pay to lease back the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands, for 99 years.

It would see Britain pay an average of £101million a year to Mauritius over that period, totalling about £3.4billion according to the Government’s figures.

But critics have said the real cost would actually amount to £35billion and warned about handing control of the islands to Mauritius, which is seen as an ally of China.

Malé, the capital of the Maldives, is around 800 miles from Diego Garcia, while Mauritian capital Port Louis is around 1,300 miles.

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Since becoming PM in July, Mr Burnham has retained Jonathan Powell – the architect of the Chagos deal – as national security adviser.

It has prompted concerns that Mr Burnham will mount a new attempt to push the agreement through Parliament, despite the withdrawal of US support for the deal.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We continue to speak to our counterparts in the Maldives on a regular basis about a range of issues.

‘However, the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius, which is why the previous government launched negotiations with Mauritius on the issue in 2022, rather than with the Maldives.’

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