EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Labour leader gave a commitment to meeting the 2030 anti-poverty targets.

Anas Sarwar has promised to lift over 100,000 Scots kids out of poverty if he becomes First Minister.

He said a Scottish Labour Government would hit legally binding targets to slash poverty levels by 2030.

The Glasgow MSP also insisted he can still win the Holyrood election despite being over twenty points behind the SNP in the opinion polls.

With just over three weeks to go, Sarwar is facing the biggest challenge of his political career in turning around a massive SNP lead.

But with around four in ten Scots still not sure how they will vote on May 7th, he believes it is all to play for.

In an interview with the Daily Record podcast Planet Holyrood, Sarwar said the Nationalists can be toppled.

“The people who decide this election are the people that vote in this election. Opinion polls are a snapshot of a sub-section of the population.

“People should vote for what they want to happen on May 7th and after 20 years of SNP government, I’m arguing we need change and give me five years to do things differently here in Scotland.”

READ MORE: Teachers and nurses would receive income tax cut under Scottish Labour election plan

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Paul Hutcheon

He also spoke of his commitment to hitting the tough statutory target set by Holyrood on combating child poverty.

Around 21% of kids are currently in poverty and the Government has a target of this figure falling to below 10% in four years.

Another 110,000 children need to be taken out of poverty for the target to be met and Sarwar has promised to do it.

“Our ambition is to meet our child poverty reduction target in the next Parliament. That would lift around 100,000 kids out of poverty. “

He added: “I am confident, but it’s hard work. It’s ambitious, but that’s what you should expect from your government in Scotland. And so I believe we can achieve that.”

He said his anti-poverty strategy is less about topping up benefits and more about tackling “structural” issues that stop people from working.

Sarwar said he will boost tax-free childcare for parents, introduce breakfast clubs in all primary schools, create 9,000 apprenticeships and give young people the skills they need.

He also said he will reduce school meal debt, help tenants save on rent and tackle the scandal of child homelessness.

Sarwar said of hitting the target: “I think for too long the SNP argument has been that the one route to lift kids out of poverty in this country is purely through welfare, or by setting up another public sector quango. That’s not what I fundamentally believe.

“I think the best route of lifting children out of poverty and giving our young people a chance is by giving them the adequate skills, giving them access to a well paid job.

“It is a programme that lifts people out of poverty.”

He added: “If you’re giving me the choice, do you give a young person a welfare payment, or do you give them a skill and a job? I will always choose [to] give them a skill and a job because that’s how you defeat structural property and lift families out of poverty and have social mobility.”

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Sarwar’s wider approach is to back deliverable policies and go further, such as on cutting income tax, if the economy grows.

But the Scottish Labour leader has faced claims his manifesto is too cautious and does not present a bold alternative to the SNP.

He said: “It is an honest manifesto about our ambitions and of course we want to go even beyond our ambitions if we meet our growth targets. But I’ve deliberately taken an approach in this election campaign and in this manifesto. People have heard big promises from politicians that they haven’t delivered.

“I’m going to give the kids the teachers, the classroom assistants, the apprenticeships, the skills, the jobs they need, so we can confront the big challenges facing our country. So this is a manifesto that is about fixing the mess, getting the basics right in this country, but also building institutions that will last in the longer term.”

Sarwar knows he has a mountain to climb if he is to win, not only eating into the SNP’s lead but also winning back votes from the right wing Reform.

He said: “Reform have accepted they can’t win this election. You heard that from Nigel Farage directly yesterday. They never could win the election, but at least they’re now accepting they can’t win this election.

“All Reform can be is noise in this election and trying to divide us. So they don’t offer change, they can only stop change.

“The SNP can’t offer change because they’ve had 20 years. If they had a good idea, they would have implemented it by now.”

He added: “Am I pretending to you that I can deliver utopia in five years? No, I’m not. But can I promise you that you’ll have a First Minister that shares your ambition and your aspiration, that you will have a government that works as hard as you do, and that we will leave this country a better place than we found it? Absolutely.”

A possession order was granted by Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court for 34A Cecil Street after extensive attempts were made to provide support to the tenant, the local authority said.

Through its Community Safety Partnership work, the council worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and local partners to enforce the order, with the aim of protecting the wellbeing and safety of neighbouring residents.

The council received numerous reports of anti‑social behaviour connected to the tenant at the property. The behaviour included intimidation, nuisance incidents and an assault on a neighbouring resident. Residents also reported feeling distressed and unsafe as a result.

Multiple steps were taken before court action was pursued, including warnings, an anti‑social behaviour injunction, a notice of seeking possession and referrals for support. Despite these interventions, the behaviour continued.

In a statement, Wigan Council said: “We have a duty to protect residents from persistent anti-social behaviour.

“This possession order was only taken after extensive attempts to offer support and secure positive change.”

A region in Scotland has been revealed as the cheapest in the UK.

The areas in Scotland where home buyers get the most and least for their money have been revealed by property experts. An iconic city was revealed to be the most expensive destination in the country for prospective buyers, while a beautiful coastal region was named the cheapest.

On Wednesday, April 15, Zoopla carried out analysis to reveal where purchasers can get the most bang for their buck in different locations across the UK. The property website examined how much the equivalent of a sheet of A4 paper in floorspace would cost in each area.

According to Zoopa, Argyll and Bute is the region of Scotland where prospective buyers can get the most for their money. The experts revealed that the average cost of an A4-sized piece of floorspace in the area is just £74, which also makes it the most affordable destination in Britain.

Argyll and Bute is situated on the west coast of Scotland, and covers the second-largest administrative area of any Scottish council. It is home to 23 inhabited islands, and is renowned for its spectacular scenery and beaches and its wildlife spotting opportunities—with golden eagles and red deer calling the region home.

The largest settlement in Argyll and Bute is the town of Helensburgh, which is home to a population of around 13,000 people. This is followed by Oban and Dunoon, with the former renowned for its acclaimed seafood restaurants and easy access to many of Scotland’s beautiful islands.

On the other hand, Edinburgh was named by the experts at Zoopla as the area of Scotland where you get the least for your money when purchasing a home. The average cost of an A4-sized piece of floorspace in the capital is £204, according to the research – £130 higher than in Argyll and Bute.

Edinburgh is a popular place to live due to its history, culture, attractions, and beautiful architecture. The city also hosts the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe each August, which is the largest and most renowned performing arts festival in the world and features tens of thousands of performances.

In England, the sum of £200 would get home buyers in Westminster the equivalent of just a quarter of a sheet of A4 paper in floor space. Meanwhile, in Burnley in Lancashire, this amount would stretch to more than two full sheets typically according to the analysis by Zoopla.

Elsewhere, home buyers in major cities such as Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Cardiff could buy a full sheet of A4-sized floor space for £200. Meanwhile, in Yorkshire, an A4-sized floor space in York will set buyers back around £209 typically.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to throw out the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders who were sentenced to prison terms for leading members of the far-right extremist groups in attacking the U.S. Capitol to keep President Donald Trump in office over five years ago.

Trump commuted the prison sentences of several Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders last January in a sweeping act of clemency for all 1,500-plus defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

The request by the Justice Department would go a step further and erase all the convictions for the extremist group leaders, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who didn’t receive pardons last January.

The move to abandon the convictions represented a stunning reversal from the Biden administration, which hailed the guilty verdicts as a crucial victory in its bid to hold accountable those responsible for what prosecutors described as an attack on the heart of American democracy. It’s part of the Trump administration’s continued efforts to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack and downplay the violence carried out by the mob of Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured.

In court filings, prosecutors asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to vacate the convictions so that the government can permanently dismiss the indictments.

“The government’s motion to vacate in this case is consistent with its practice of moving the Supreme Court to vacate convictions in cases where the government has decided in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of a criminal case is in the interests of justice — motions that the Supreme Court routinely grants,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Juries in Washington, D.C., convicted the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders of orchestrating violent plots to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden.

The department’s dismissal request also includes the convictions of Oath Keepers members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins and Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola.

Other extremist group members, including former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, received pardons from Trump on the first day of his second term in the White House.

Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he and several lieutenants were convicted in one of the most consequential cases arising from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.

LK Bennett, founded back in the 90s, entered administration in January, with John Noon and Mark Firmin of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP appointed joint administrators.

Immediately following their appointment, the LK Bennett brand and related intellectual property were sold to US firm Gordon Brothers, which also owns Laura Ashley and Poundland.

However, LK Bennett’s nine stand-alone and 13 concession stores were not included in the deal, leaving them at risk of closing.

Its website explains: “The LK Bennett stores were not included in the transaction and continue to trade under the Administration.”

Full list of LK Bennett stores at risk of closing

The full list of LK Bennett stores at risk of closing is:

Stand-alone stores

• Lower Guildhall Mall (Bluewater)
• Canary Wharf (London)
• Eastgate Square Shopping Centre (Chester)
• Duke of York Square (London)
• Harrogate
• Knightsbridge (London)
• New Bond Street (London)
• Richmond
• White City Westfield (London)

Concession stores

• Arnotts (Dublin)
• The Bentall Centre (Kingston upon Thames)
• Brown Thomas (Dublin)
• De Gruchy (Jersey)
• Hoopers (Tunbridge Wells)
• Hoopers (Wilmslow)
• Jarrold (Norwich)
• John Lewis (Edinburgh)
• John Lewis (High Wycombe)
• John Lewis – Oxford Street (London)
• John Lewis (Manchester)
• John Lewis (Oxford)
• John Lewis (Cheadle)

LK Bennett shuts down its website

Online sales via the LK Bennett website have continued since the administration announcement earlier this year until now.

The website has now been shut down with a message reading: “Website and phone order now closed- Shop in store for a limited time.”

Online orders already placed by customers will still be processed as normal, according to the website.

Customers can still access the website (at the time of writing), but only for information on topics like returns, size guides, and store locations.

Online shopping via the LK Bennett website is no longer available. (Image: LK Bennett)

The closure of the LK Bennett website follows a sale on all online items, with up to 80% off some products.

LK Bennett launches closing-down sale in all UK stores

LK Bennett has also launched a closing-down sale in all stores across the UK with up to 75% off, with “everything reduced”.

RECOMMENDED READING:

A LK Bennett spokesperson said to Newsquest sister site, London Now: “There are some truly exceptional offers available across all categories.

“Everything has been reduced, including new season pieces.

“We anticipate strong demand and expect key styles to sell through quickly; we would like to thank our loyal customers for their support over the years and invite them to shop early to avoid disappointment.”​​​

Did you manage to grab yourself a bargain on the LK Bennett website before it closed? Let us know in the comments below.

Emily Coates plays teenager Katie in Channel 5’s new drama Missed Call

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The actual age of the actress portraying Katie in Channel 5‘s Missed Call has emerged and it’s certain to astonish viewers.

The fresh drama launched this week and centres on Joanna Scanlan as Sarah Gleason, a mother whose daughter Katie (Emily Coates) participates in a school exchange to the South of France.

Yet after Sarah fails to answer a late-night telephone call from Katie, her worry escalates when her daughter stops all contact.

While the school, supervising teacher and host family insist Katie is out with friends, Sarah’s maternal instincts suggest something more sinister, driving her to take matters into her own hands and travel to Saint-Michel in search of the truth.

The compelling drama returned to television on Tuesday (April 14) and tension mounted when Sarah presented police with a WhatsApp message Katie allegedly sent before it was mysteriously erased, reports the Mirror.

Sarah then dedicated herself to uncovering what really happened, even visiting the location where Katie attended a gathering.

Regarding Katie actress Emily Coates, she’s well-versed in screen work. The performer has featured in productions including fantasy series Cursed and The Great. Emily also portrayed Rosa in the 2023 live-action version of The Little Mermaid.

However, it’s Emily’s true age that might surprise audiences. The accomplished performer is in fact 31, despite portraying a teenager in Channel 5’s Missed Call.

The series synopsis states: “When British teenager Katie Gleason vanishes during a school exchange in southern France, her mother Sarah rushes to Saint-Michel seeking answers.

Met with evasive police and hostility from Katie’s powerful host family, the Morvans, Sarah launches her own investigation alongside local detective Lieutenant Virginie Taylor, exposing buried secrets, abuse, corruption, and trafficking within the tight-knit town.

“As bodies surface and suspicions reach influential figures – including Virginie’s father – alliances fracture. Betrayed and unravelling, Sarah learns that Katie may still be alive. Time is running out for them both and justice.”

Missed Call airs on Channel 5 at 9pm

The First Minister said: “Where we have the powers in Scotland, we will act – building on the support we already have in place to support people with the cost of living including abolishing peak rail fares, extending childcare provision and ensuring most people in Scotland pay less income tax than south of the border. ”

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has launched the contest to shine a light on the wild species living across parks, gardens, and its nature reserves.

Open to amateur photographers of all ages, the competition will feature at least 12 winning images in the trust’s 2027 calendar, with one selected for the front cover.

Tom Harman, chief executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust (TVWT), said: “We know there are some brilliant wildlife moments happening across the Tees Valley every day – in our parks, along our streets, by the river and coast.

“This competition is about celebrating that and encouraging people to take a closer look at the nature around them.

“You don’t need to travel far to find something special.”

Entrants can submit up to three landscape-format photos taken with a phone or camera, provided they feature wild, native species in natural settings in the Tees Valley.

Images can be shared via Facebook, Instagram, or emailed to info@teeswildlife.org.

No AI-generated or heavily edited images will be accepted.

The competition closes on May 1.

Mr Harman said: “The competition is designed to be accessible to everyone, you can enter with a few clicks via social media or email and you don’t need a fancy camera.

“It’s all about images that reflect real moments in nature.”

Winning photographs will be featured on TVWT’s website and social media, and the calendar will be for sale from local business across the Tees Valley.

In addition to celebrating local wildlife, the competition aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing green spaces across the Tees Valley.

Entrants are reminded that only wild, native species are eligible, and images must capture animals or plants in their natural habitat.

Anyone interested in taking part can find full entry details at www.teeswildlife.org, or by emailing info@teeswildlife.org.

Images can also be submitted via the trust’s social media channels before the deadline.

The coastguard and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) were called to the beach at Red Bank Farm, Bolton-le-Sands, at around 5.15pm.

Teams worked quickly as the tide came in to free those who had become trapped.

Bay Search and Rescue, a recovery team working in the area, said the people got stuck in wet and very soft sand while out walking.

The rescue involved coastguard teams from Knott-End, Arnside and South Lakes, Morecambe, and Holyhead, North Wales.

Two people were rescued from quicksand in Bolton-le-Sands (Image: Bay Search and Rescue/Facebook)

In a social media post, Bay Search and Rescue said: “Holyhead CG requested BSARs Sherp and Quicksands Rescue equipment following a call when people managed to get stuck in some very soft sand while out walking.

“The first team on scene from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service did an outstanding job supported by Morecambe Coastguard Rescue Team and freed the casualties in quick sharp time and got them to safety.

“Superb responses from all teams asked to assist and a massive response from BSAR members with nearly a whole team turnout.

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“If you see someone in difficulty around the coast, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

A fire service spokesperson said: “Two fire engines from Morecambe and Bolton-le-Sands attended Shore Lane, Bolton-le-Sands.

“Two casualties were rescued from quicksand by fire service personnel using one sandboard and one spade. The casualties were escorted back to the shoreline.

“Crews were detained for 45 minutes.”

The Government is being called up to include comprehensive, cross-cutting anti-SLAPP measures in the King’s Speech in May

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Local news organisations across the UK are today taking part in a coordinated Day of Action against abusive legal threats known as SLAPPs, led by the News Media Association in partnership with the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition.

The day brings together publishers to highlight the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation to intimidate journalists and suppress reporting in the public interest, and to urge the Government to deliver robust anti-SLAPP legislation.

Publishers are marking the Day of Action through op-eds and letters to MPs, underlining the particular vulnerability of local and regional newsrooms to costly and time-consuming legal intimidation.

The News Media Association and the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition are calling on the Government to include comprehensive, cross-cutting anti-SLAPP measures in the King’s Speech in May.

Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association, said: “SLAPPs thrive in silence, using the threat of costly and intimidating legal action to shut down journalism in the public interest.

“This SLAPPs Day of Action is a timely opportunity to shine a light on the growing misuse of the legal system and its chilling effect on journalists and newsrooms, particularly at a local level.

“As the Government sets out its priorities in the King’s Speech, there is a clear and urgent need for comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislation to properly safeguard public interest journalism and uphold freedom of expression.”

David Higgerson, chief content officer at Reach plc, said: “SLAPPs are not about seeking justice – they are about silencing journalism. When legal threats are used as a weapon, they chill reporting and deprive the public of information they have a right to know.”

Toby Granville, editorial development director at Newsquest, said: “Local journalism plays a vital democratic role. SLAPPs exploit imbalances of power and risk deterring reporters from pursuing stories that matter to their communities.”

James Mitchinson, editor at The Yorkshire Post, said: “Journalists should not have to weigh the public interest against the threat of financial ruin. Strong, effective anti-SLAPP protections are essential if scrutiny journalism is to survive.”

Ian Carter, chief operating officer, Iliffe Media, said: “SLAPPs rely on intimidation and secrecy. This Day of Action is about calling out abusive legal tactics and making clear that journalists will not be intimidated out of doing their jobs.”

Jon Gripton, group editorial director, Tindle Newspapers, said: “Freedom of expression and accountable journalism are cornerstones of our democracy. Tackling SLAPPs is about protecting those principles and ensuring they endure.”