The merseyside project

LFC Women will play their home games at the St Helens Stadium in Merseyside from the start of 2024-25. The club’s ambition is to also play a number of fixtures at Anfield.
The new home is a huge positive step forward in the progress of the women’s side, with a brand-new, high-performance Premier League-standard pitch being laid, enhanced and exclusive-use player facilities, and an improved matchday experience for supporters.
The stadium will continue to be home and property of St. Helens R.F.C., with its men’s and women’s rugby league teams also benefiting from the pitch upgrade. With the rugby league season running from February through to September, LFC Women will have sole occupancy of the stadium for almost half of the season.
The team will also enjoy having their own bespoke dressing room for the first time, and the red stadium will be revamped for home games to make it look and feel part of the LFC family, including the addition of the club crest and other significant branding.
St Helens Stadium was chosen as part of a wider review of stadium options with the Prenton Park agreement coming to an end this season. The decision was made in consultation with players, staff, fans via the club’s Supporters Board, and fan surveys. LFC Women will play their last home game at Prenton Park against Manchester United this Sunday (May 5).
The new 10-year lease at St Helens demonstrates the club’s long-term commitment to its women’s team and the club’s ongoing desire to provide the players and staff with the best facilities possible, fulfilling the ambitions for LFC Women and supporting its continued growth.
The club was keen to ensure the facilities provided for the women’s team on a matchday are the best possible for the players and also to provide a great experience for its growing supporter base.
This move enables the club to deliver an improved matchday experience, not only around the ground but inside with the covered concourses, so fans can expect to see an enhanced offering – from music, face painting, food and drinks through to kids’ kickabouts and lots more. There will also be an enhanced food and drinks offering for fans, as well as an opportunity to improve the retail provision for match-goers.
The move to St Helens Stadium follows the significant investment in the acquisition and redevelopment of the AXA Melwood Training Centre, making it one of the best women’s training facilities in the Barclays Women’s Super League. There is also continued investment in the squad, backroom and wider infrastructure of the women’s first team and Pro Game Academy.
Susan Black, LFC’s director of communications and Liverpool FC Women executive director, said: “This is another step forward for our women’s first team and we’re so excited to relocate to a new long-term home.
“Our players and incredible supporters were at the forefront of our decision-making process. We are confident St Helens will be a great matchday home and will look and feel part of the Liverpool family.
“We would like to place on record our great thanks to Mark Palios and the wider team at Tranmere Rovers for their great support over six seasons at Prenton Park on a matchday and of course at The Campus.
“As founding members of the Women’s Super League, we want to continue the work we’ve put in place and continue to progress in the league both on and off the pitch.
“Our next chapter for our women’s first team is about building solid foundation stones and today’s matchday venue announcement is another positive step forward on our journey.”
LFC Women manager Matt Beard said: “This is the exciting next chapter on our journey, and I’m absolutely delighted with this investment from the club.
“At the heart of this move are the two most important groups at the club: the players and the fans. The players will have a wonderful new pitch and facilities to enjoy, while the matchday experience for the supporters will be so much improved.
“We’ve built up a loyal following at Prenton Park and we look forward to welcoming them to St Helens along with hopefully opening up the women’s game to many new supporters as well.”
Eamonn McManus, chairman of St. Helens R.F.C., welcomed LFC Women to their home ground, stating: “We are delighted to welcome LFC Women and their supporters to our stadium for their home games starting next season.
“The arrangement will provide St. Helens R.F.C. with a new state-of-the-art pitch, as well as additional income streams for our club.
“Liverpool FC is a world-renowned football club and sporting institution, and LFC Women are a leading participant in the rapidly growing Women’s Super League. It is high-profile recognition that our stadium and its facilities meet the ever-increasing requirements of this prestigious competition.”
David Hutchinson, general manager of St. Helens R.F.C., said: “We are very proud to have secured this partnership with Liverpool FC Women at a time when women’s sport is at a pivotal stage in its growth and development.
“This comes at a time when participation, media exposure and commercial awareness for women’s football and rugby are at an all-time high. Hosting Liverpool FC Women will increase visitors to the stadium and offer up fantastic crossover opportunities for both our sports.
“We are very excited to get things under way and thank everyone involved for their hard work in achieving this.”
All season ticket holders have been informed of the new venue and will be contacted in the coming weeks about renewing for next season. For new enquiries on season tickets for 2024-25, please register your interest here.
LFC Foundation will also be expanding its reach and will look to launch projects specifically for the St Helens area to support girls in sport with more funding for community projects.
Credit: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-fc-women-set-new-home-stadium-2024-25

LFC Women will play their home games at the St Helens Stadium in Merseyside from the start of 2024-25. The club’s ambition is to also play a number of fixtures at Anfield.
The new home is a huge positive step forward in the progress of the women’s side, with a brand-new, high-performance Premier League-standard pitch being laid, enhanced and exclusive-use player facilities, and an improved matchday experience for supporters.
The stadium will continue to be home and property of St. Helens R.F.C., with its men’s and women’s rugby league teams also benefiting from the pitch upgrade. With the rugby league season running from February through to September, LFC Women will have sole occupancy of the stadium for almost half of the season.
The team will also enjoy having their own bespoke dressing room for the first time, and the red stadium will be revamped for home games to make it look and feel part of the LFC family, including the addition of the club crest and other significant branding.
St Helens Stadium was chosen as part of a wider review of stadium options with the Prenton Park agreement coming to an end this season. The decision was made in consultation with players, staff, fans via the club’s Supporters Board, and fan surveys. LFC Women will play their last home game at Prenton Park against Manchester United this Sunday (May 5).
The new 10-year lease at St Helens demonstrates the club’s long-term commitment to its women’s team and the club’s ongoing desire to provide the players and staff with the best facilities possible, fulfilling the ambitions for LFC Women and supporting its continued growth.
The club was keen to ensure the facilities provided for the women’s team on a matchday are the best possible for the players and also to provide a great experience for its growing supporter base.
This move enables the club to deliver an improved matchday experience, not only around the ground but inside with the covered concourses, so fans can expect to see an enhanced offering – from music, face painting, food and drinks through to kids’ kickabouts and lots more. There will also be an enhanced food and drinks offering for fans, as well as an opportunity to improve the retail provision for match-goers.
The move to St Helens Stadium follows the significant investment in the acquisition and redevelopment of the AXA Melwood Training Centre, making it one of the best women’s training facilities in the Barclays Women’s Super League. There is also continued investment in the squad, backroom and wider infrastructure of the women’s first team and Pro Game Academy.
Susan Black, LFC’s director of communications and Liverpool FC Women executive director, said: “This is another step forward for our women’s first team and we’re so excited to relocate to a new long-term home.
“Our players and incredible supporters were at the forefront of our decision-making process. We are confident St Helens will be a great matchday home and will look and feel part of the Liverpool family.
“We would like to place on record our great thanks to Mark Palios and the wider team at Tranmere Rovers for their great support over six seasons at Prenton Park on a matchday and of course at The Campus.
“As founding members of the Women’s Super League, we want to continue the work we’ve put in place and continue to progress in the league both on and off the pitch.
“Our next chapter for our women’s first team is about building solid foundation stones and today’s matchday venue announcement is another positive step forward on our journey.”
LFC Women manager Matt Beard said: “This is the exciting next chapter on our journey, and I’m absolutely delighted with this investment from the club.
“At the heart of this move are the two most important groups at the club: the players and the fans. The players will have a wonderful new pitch and facilities to enjoy, while the matchday experience for the supporters will be so much improved.
“We’ve built up a loyal following at Prenton Park and we look forward to welcoming them to St Helens along with hopefully opening up the women’s game to many new supporters as well.”
Eamonn McManus, chairman of St. Helens R.F.C., welcomed LFC Women to their home ground, stating: “We are delighted to welcome LFC Women and their supporters to our stadium for their home games starting next season.
“The arrangement will provide St. Helens R.F.C. with a new state-of-the-art pitch, as well as additional income streams for our club.
“Liverpool FC is a world-renowned football club and sporting institution, and LFC Women are a leading participant in the rapidly growing Women’s Super League. It is high-profile recognition that our stadium and its facilities meet the ever-increasing requirements of this prestigious competition.”
David Hutchinson, general manager of St. Helens R.F.C., said: “We are very proud to have secured this partnership with Liverpool FC Women at a time when women’s sport is at a pivotal stage in its growth and development.
“This comes at a time when participation, media exposure and commercial awareness for women’s football and rugby are at an all-time high. Hosting Liverpool FC Women will increase visitors to the stadium and offer up fantastic crossover opportunities for both our sports.
“We are very excited to get things under way and thank everyone involved for their hard work in achieving this.”
All season ticket holders have been informed of the new venue and will be contacted in the coming weeks about renewing for next season. For new enquiries on season tickets for 2024-25, please register your interest here.
LFC Foundation will also be expanding its reach and will look to launch projects specifically for the St Helens area to support girls in sport with more funding for community projects.
Credit: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-fc-women-set-new-home-stadium-2024-25

Merseyside Police detectives from the specialist County Lines unit, Project Medusa, have made significant progress in an ongoing investigation …
https://tscnewschannel.com/2024/04/26/detectives-charge-two-men-in-ongoing-county-lines-investigation/

We are on the other end of two massive weekends in the Premier League, and we're in a better position than when we started them. Yeah, we may not be in the lead, but we have gained two precious points on City while staying at the same distance as Liverpool. This is gonna be a title run-in for the ages.
EDIT: I should also add, this currently only accounts for the schedules as they stand now. So no assumptions that any team will progress in Europe (even if Liverpool probably will).
Probably gonna wait another few weeks before posting again. We don't need these every three days.
​
The MAGIC NUMBER is how many points we need to take or the opponent must drop to ensure we finish with at least 1 more point than their max. (Opposing Max Points + 1) - Our Current Points. DNCD = "Do Not Control Destiny", meaning we need their results to go our way even if we win all our games.
This chart is accurate as of 01 APRIL 2024, and we currently sit on 65 points, with 27 points left to play for.
"Earliest possible assurance" assumes we take all points and they drop all points between now and then. Some matches need to be rescheduled, they have not been included, as none are projected to factor into "earliest possible" calculations. Some of these "Earliest possible" calculations are mutually exclusive with others because two teams play each other, so someone gets points.
My "Most Likely Date..." is not at all based on any hard evidence, and is purely me considering how the matches between teams involved are likely to go, which is always a matter of opinion in the end. No hard percentages or anything. Feel free to debate.
​

TEAM	MAX POINTS	ARSENAL'S MAGIC NUMBER	EARLIEST POSSIBLE ASSURANCE	MOST LIKELY DATE OF ASSURANCE
Liverpool	94	30 (DNCD)	APRIL 25	MAY 19 - Their injury list is fucking mountainous (NINE PLAYERS!), and even though they're getting some players back over the next few weeks, their month is crammed to high hell and they have to travel from Bergamo to London, then back to Merseyside for a derby, then back to London in the span of two weeks to close the month, THEN they have Spurs at Anfield, and THEN they're away to Villa. Dare I say it, their gauntlet is going to be even worse than ours.
Manchester City	91	27	APRIL 25	MAY 19 - Now comes the part of the season where we have to win every game to stay ahead of them. Strap in, it's gonna be a long month and a half.
Aston Villa	83	19	APRIL 20	APRIL 29 - The matches have shaken out such that there's a really good chance that when we play them down the line, a win guarantees finishing ahead of them.
Tottenham	83	19	APRIL 20	APRIL 27 - Same as Villa, I think the match we guarantee finishing ahead of them is the match we play against them.
Manchester United	75	11	APRIL 7	APRIL 14 - There's no way to tell how this will go. One week they look like world-beaters, the next they look like a relegation battling team. I cannot be sure they will win the games they should, but I'm going to assume they will.
Newcastle	70	6	APRIL 3	APRIL 13 - Tough to call, they've been uninspiring lately, but they have matches they should win. Probably no later than mid-April at the latest.
Chelsea	70	6	APRIL 4	APRIL 23 - Tough to judge because our game against them has been postponed, and one week they can hold City to a draw while the next they can't score in an open goal. I think whenever our match against them gets scheduled, we'll put it to bed.
Brighton	69	5	APRIL 3	APRIL 6 - We play them after Luton. This should be done by the end of the week.
Wolves	68	4	APRIL 3	APRIL 13 - Away to Villa, West Ham at home, and us in the next five.
West Ham	68	4	APRIL 3	APRIL 6 - Spurs, then Wolves away. It's joever.
Bournemouth	65	1	APRIL 2	APRIL 3 - They would have to win out and we would have to lose every single game. It's not happening.

The Devilcorp.org UK Sales Office Tracking Map has been updated with Companies House’s March 2024 dataset, revealing the following Credico/Appco sales office developments occurring between December 2023 and March 2024.

December

15/12/23
SPARK INNOVATIONS WORLDWIDE LTD (Credico) relocated from THE LITEHOUSE BUSINESS CENTRE, CROCUS STREET, NOTTINGHAM, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, NG2 3EJ to 345 OLD STREET, LONDON, EC1V 9LL
18/12/23
NORVISION MARKETING LTD (Appco) relocated from 63B THE GREENWAY, UXBRIDGE, UB8 2PL to 100 DRAYTON GARDENS, WEST DRAYTON, UB7 7LH

January

5/1/23
PENTAGON HQ LTD (Credico) relocated from 4TH FLOOR, 61 TITHEBARN STREET, LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE, L2 2SB to 1 NORTH PARADE, PARSONAGE GARDENS, MANCHESTER, GREATER MANCHESTER, M3 2NH
12/1/24
JMK ASSETS LIMITED (Credico) relocated from 1ST & 2ND FLOORS REAR OFFICE, 59 HIGH STREET, MAIDSTONE, KENT, ME14 1SY to KINGFISHER HOUSE HURSTWOOD GRANGE, HURSTWOOD LANE, HAYWARDS HEATH, WEST SUSSEX, RH17 7QX
16/1/24
ACCELERATE ORGANISATION LTD (Appco) was dissolved
AM PARTNERS GROUP LIMITED (Credico) relocated from KINGFISHER HOUSE HURSTWOOD GRANGE, HURSTWOOD LANE, HAYWARDS HEATH, WEST SUSSEX, RH17 7QX to SUITE 212-213 BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, 52 UPPER STREET, LONDON, N1 0QH
AUDEAMUS PARTNERS LIMITED (Credico) relocated from SUITE 238 BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, 52 UPPER STREET, ANGEL, LONDON, N1 0QH to SUITE 212-213 BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, 52 UPPER STREET, LONDON, N1 0QH
17/1/24
CHANNEL PARTNERS GROUP LTD (Credico) relocated from 20 VITTORIA STREET, BIRMINGHAM, B1 3PE to 52 UPPER STREET, LONDON, N1 0QH

February

11/2/24
ECHO PROMOTIONS LIMITED (Credico) re-branded, formerly LINK COLLECTIVE LTD
13/2/24
P.G. GLOBAL OUTSOURCING GROUP LIMITED (Credico) was dissolved

March

05/03/2024
JAURA MARKETING AGENCY LIMITED (Appco) was dissolved
Check out our UK Sales Office Tracking Map: https://batchgeo.com/map/ae7238d1e8ee8a3404dc88304179ba05
Read more about our UK Sales Office Tracking Map and further open-source community projects: https://www.devilcorp.org/community-projects/uk-sales-office-tracking-map
See our UK Sales Office Tracking Map’s dataset in our Google Sheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dIKP5e-wIgEj4zyu5tari2EpfB_TEeZIlANW_psu2gE/edit?usp=sharing

​
In 1624, the English poet John Donne wrote his seminal work, “No Man is an Island”. Unusually for the time, it advocated for a joining in common human benefit and attributes, rather than the puerile nationalism one would have come to expect from the period. My personal favourite line in the poem goes as follows, “Any man’s death diminishes me; because I am involved in mankind”. I bring this up, not to remind anyone of secondary school English lessons, but to express my personal discontent and worry that these ideals are being forgotten, and that some of those who you are being asked to support forget that they, too, are involved in mankind.
As we see renewed tensions in the Middle East, regressive laws across much of the world, and increases in hate crimes domestically, so too do we see calls from dogmatic reactionaries and revolutionaries to isolate ourselves, to make it more difficult for people from other nations to come and work here, and we see rhetoric whose only purpose is to divide, and sow discontent. To put it simply, this is not sustainable or what is needed. The Liberal Democrats fundamentally believe in the ideals and principles of liberal internationalism. This belief in the United Kingdom having not just a moral but established duty to serve its part in the international community as a leader. In our strive to try and better our country and our global allies, we wish to propose a more modern version of the Commonwealth. Should you elect us into office, we would bring forward a formal treaty which would strengthen our connections across the world, from Africa to Australia to Canada, reinvigorating a truly global Britain. Such a policy would, I believe, mean that we can better understand and help to guide the world, to make a closer fraternity of those 54 nations that make up our Commonwealth. The likes of the Conservative Party and Solidarity offer nothing but division and stoking tensions, we on the other hand, offer a hand in friendship, desperately needed in these times.
Furthermore, I am a keen believer in international aid as an ultimate good. As it stands, ignorance and incompetence has allowed international aid to be thrown about in disorganised and unaccountable manners, allowing corruption, exploitation and abuse to occur. Undermining an effective foreign aid regime. Why should we, as an equal nation of an interconnected world, sit by and watch as others suffer, when we know we can help to alleviate it? Is our comfort more important than others’ lives? It is in this vein I am proud to support the Liberal policies of reforming international aid, and the manners in which this country handles it. Our plan to ensure the public has the information to where their money is going will ensure accountability at every stage, and I hope go some way to showing how much good this aid can do for people, be it in the form of medical supplies or food to those who need it. The Liberal Democrats will do what the other parties failed to do and refuse to do. We will work to publish and keep accurate account of our foreign aid flows, whilst further rebuilding the system to ensure human development and aid is invested into poverty alleviation. Through our persistent vocal nature on this matter, you can already see the Liberal Democrat’s genuine commitment to helping all those who need it, domestically and overseas. This coming term, it is time to turn that into concrete action.
I spoke in my last speech about the need to adequately protect ourselves against Houthi attacks, which have affected both ourselves here in the United Kingdom, and our allies abroad. We are the key leading spirit and voice for freedom of trade. As the other parties embrace their protectionist tendencies and seek to undo over 80 years of economic growth and market interconnection, it is now more than ever that we need liberalism back in office. When trade is under attack at home and abroad, we cannot stand idly by. This is why the Liberal Democrats pledge to stand up to these threats, and the greater threat of maritime piracy. It is time we acted, and we just have not seen any such action thus far. We want to change that, and continue our proud tradition of standing up for what’s right and being the bulwark against economic conflict. However, In order to do this effectively, we must make sure our military stays up to date. That’s why we are going to work tirelessly to ensure that the armed forces are fit for purpose, finally delivering the long-promised defence review that the ‘dithering, delaying and refusing’ of the other parties has led on. From this, we commit to finalising production for the Astute class submarines, whilst working to introduce brand new SSN-R nuclear submarines within the next ten years. A liberal vision is one that sees the United Kingdom taking a more active role in global defence and integrating the new innovative advancements to keep our military up to date and effective. We have to keep up with the world, and we have to keep competitive, we recognise that and will work tirelessly towards that end.
On the matter of Europe, it is no secret that I am a deep lover of the European Project, and seemingly I am not alone in that love. More and more in Parliament, and no doubt in the country as well, are supportive of closer relations with the European Union, as shown by the passage of the Volt UK Motion to rejoin the institution. It goes without saying that the Liberal Democrats wish to see the United Kingdom rejoin the European Union, however we equally recognise how such rushed and immediate swings to do so may cause more problems than the ones we aim to address. This is why we will implement our plan to bring relations closer in a moderated and phased process. Promising to begin this by exploring Britain’s potential membership into the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) first. This would begin the means of opening the door back to the market and trade opportunities that our country has been deprived of for now a decade. Whilst further reinvigorating our levels of international cooperation and asserting the United Kingdom’s place as the leader in the global financial sector for Europe. Our future without a doubt is in Europe, it is time we grasped this undeniable truth with both hands.
It’s time we took a global look at things, and acted accordingly. We do not have the luxury of watching on and avoiding the consequences, we have the duty of acting when we see injustice, and when we hear the cry of those in need. In our manifesto, we lay out action that needs to be done, that the three parties have neglected to do. Our nation must be a global one; our defence systems must be updated and reviewed; and our government must be a Liberal one. This election, it is time to throw out the tiresome status quo and empower the change we wish to see. Vote Liberal Democrats, vote realbassist for Merseyside.

Hey fellow Rotarians,
I'm currently on the lookout for Rotary/Rotaract clubs around Merseyside.
If you're a member of a club or know of any active ones in the vicinity, could you please share some details? I'm interested in getting involved.
Additionally, any personal experiences or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I'm eager to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to meaningful community projects.
Thanks a bunch in advance for your help! Looking forward to hearing your insights and recommendations <3 .

One thing I would have posted to DS about if I was still on there is why are the BBC able to push forward with a project like BBC Radio Cymru 2 whilst at the same time having recently cut back quite severely on programmes on BBC local radio in England, for example in the North West of England we have lost all late evening programming, the Allan Beswick phone-in which went out on Radio Manchester & Lancashire (and on one night Radio Merseyside), Linda McDermott and her long standing Radio Merseyside show from 10pm-1am and a retro show at the weekend, amongst many other examples. Given the BBC are publicly funded is there any redress against them for this?

In the heart of Liverpool, the hallowed grounds of Anfield are set to host a Premier League spectacle that has fans and punters alike buzzing with anticipation. On January 31st, 2024, at 20:15 UTC, Liverpool will lock horns with Chelsea in a match that promises to be as unpredictable as the British weather. With the Reds favored to win, the Blues are not to be underestimated, as they look to defy the odds and silence the Kop.
As the current date stands at January 16, 2024, the betting landscape has already taken shape. Liverpool, the darlings of the bookmakers, opened with a money line of +118, while Chelsea were the underdogs at +250. The draw was listed at +225, and the over-under for total goals scored was set at 2.5. Fast forward to the present, and the highest odds on Liverpool have shortened to 1.57 by BC.Game, with Chelsea's odds ballooning to 5.20 by the same bookie. The question on everyone's lips is whether the Blues can pull off a stunning upset, or if Liverpool will continue their dominance at home.
The Reds' form has been as solid as a Scouser's accent, with a 58.6% chance of winning according to Dimers.com's predictive analytics model. Chelsea, on the other hand, have been given a 20.8% chance of victory, with the draw sitting at 20.6%. The OveUnder total of 2.5 goals has a 64% chance of going over, suggesting that we might be in for a goal fest.
Liverpool's season has been a rollercoaster, with the team sitting in 5th place on 67 points, while Chelsea have had a season to forget, languishing in 12th place with a mere 44 points. However, as any football aficionado knows, form goes out the window when these two titans clash.
The weather, often a character in its own right in English football, is expected to be as chilly as the reception Chelsea will receive at Anfield. London's January forecast suggests temperatures hovering around the 3°C to 7°C mark, with a chance of rain and even snow. While the match is in Liverpool, similar conditions can be expected, potentially adding an extra layer of drama to the proceedings.
Statistically, Chelsea's season has been a mixed bag under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino. With a record of 9-4-8, they've scored 35 goals and conceded 31, giving them a goal difference of +4. Liverpool, with their home advantage and a vociferous crowd behind them, will look to capitalize on any chinks in the Chelsea armor.
The head-to-head record between the two sides is as close as a Merseyside derby, with Liverpool having 14 wins, Chelsea 10, and 13 draws. The last time they met, they played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, a result neither side will want to repeat.
So, who will emerge victorious in this clash of the titans? While Liverpool are the clear favorites, Chelsea's underdog status cannot be ignored. In the world of football, underdogs have a knack for upsetting the apple cart, and with a win percentage of 20.8%, it's not beyond the realms of possibility.
However, based on the odds, the weather, and the statistics, my gut tells me that Liverpool will edge this one. The Reds have been imperious at Anfield, and with the crowd behind them, they should have enough to see off a Chelsea side that has been as inconsistent as a Wi-Fi signal in the countryside.
In conclusion, while Chelsea will fight tooth and nail, Liverpool's quality and home advantage should see them through. Expect goals, drama, and a Liverpool win, as the Premier League continues to deliver the unexpected.
​
References:
https://tips.gg/match/liverpool-vs-chelsea-31-01-2024-08-00/odds/
https://www.dimers.com/news/liverpool-vs-chelsea-prediction-odds-premier-league-picks-1312024-48633
https://www.thepunterspage.com/kickform/fc-chelsea-vs-fc-liverpool/
https://www.cbssports.com/soccenews/chelsea-vs-liverpool-prediction-odds-line-expert-reveals-carabao-cup-final-picks-best-bets-for-feb-27/
https://oddspedia.com/us/soccechelsea-liverpool-50632
https://www.bettingodds.com/football/liverpool-chelsea
https://www.nbcsports.com/soccenews/chelsea-vs-liverpool-prediction-odds-history-projected-lineups-form
https://world-weather.info/forecast/united_kingdom/london/january-2024/
https://www.meteoprog.com/weatheLondon/month/january/
https://www.weather25.com/europe/united-kingdom/london?page=month&month=January
https://weatherspark.com/h/m/45062/2024/1/Historical-Weather-in-January-2024-in-London-United-Kingdom
https://www.timeanddate.com/weatheuk/london/historic?month=1&year=2024
https://en.climate-data.org/europe/united-kingdom/england/london-1/t/january-1/
https://weatherspark.com/h/m/45062/2024/1/Historical-Weather-in-January-2024-in-London-United-Kingdom
https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/forecasts/the-uk-weather-outlook-for-january-2023-new-year-new-weather-patterns-to-come.html
https://tribuna.com/en/match/chelsea-vs-liverpool/stat/
https://fbref.com/en/squads/cff3d9bb/2023-2024/c9/Chelsea-Stats-Premier-League
https://www.fotmob.com/matches/chelsea-vs-liverpool/2f3vr7
https://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2023-2024/live-chelsea-liverpool_mtc1438989/live-stats.shtml
https://footystats.org/england/liverpool-fc-vs-chelsea-fc-h2h-stats
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/31/england/premier-league/liverpool-fc/chelsea-football-club/4082234/
https://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2023-2024/liverpool-chelsea_mtc1439145/live.shtml
https://www.premierleague.com/match/66544
https://www.skysports.com/chelsea-fixtures/2023-24
https://www.premierleague.com/match/66365
https://www.premierleague.com/match/66544
https://seat-compare.com/football/premier-league/liverpool-v-chelsea-2024-01-31-tickets/89284

If the UK would be Panem I think these would be the districts
my opinion with reasoning
capitol: london (obviously)
district 1 (luxury): east&west sussex, surrey - wealthiest district, luxurious
district 2 (masonry): kent, hampshire, essex, berkshire, buckinghamshire, oxfordshire, hertfordshire, bedfordshire, cambridgeshire, wiltshire - now i know these aren’t “masonry” counties but district 2 is known for recruiting and training peacekeepers and being wealthy too. so thinking of cambridge and oxford university i put them in 2, also wiltshire has stonehenge
district 3 (technology): bristol, gloucestershire - as it includes bristol i feel like that’s a quite technologically advanced city, cheltenham and gloucester are nice too, d3 is known for not having many winners in the hunger games due to lack of strength and being technological, sounds about right.
district 4 (fishing): suffolk, dorset, isle of wight - sorry for the exclave of suffolk but these counties border the sea, probs fish a lot
district 5 (power): gwynedd, anglesey, conwy, denbighshire, flintshire, powys, ceredigion, pembrokeshire, carmarthenshire - largest hydropower station in gwynedd, anglesey has a tidal power project, the other counties have a fair bit of wind turbines and hydropower stations
district 6 (transportation): derbyshire, cheshire, - derby is where trains are manufactured, bentley has production in crewe and vauxhall has a motor plant in ellesmere port
district 7 (lumber): dumfries & galloway, lancashire, cumbria - even though the uk doesn’t have much of a lumber industry, these are national park counties with the largest forests in the uk
district 8 (textiles): greater manchester, merseyside, west yorkshire, lancashire - manchester known for its textiles, liverpool was the commercial centre that facilitated it, bradford and leeds also had a big textiles production
district 9 (grain): norfolk, lincolnshire - flattest counties in the uk, known for farming and being rural
district 10 (livestock): cornwall, devon, somerset, dorset - also farmers
district 11 (agriculture): east yorkshire, north yorkshire, shropshire, worcestershire, herefordshire, scottish borders, east lothian, midlothian, fife, angus, aberdeenshire, moray, monmouthshire, wrexham, staffordshire, warwickshire, rutland, leicestershire, northamptonshire - just counties that have a lot of agriculture, not many big cities, and which i couldn’t fit into another district
district 12 (mining): rhondda cynon taf, caerphilly, blaenau gwent, torfaen, merthyr tyfdil, neath port talbot, swansea, bridgend, vale of glamorgan, cardiff, newport, south yorkshire, county durham, northumberland, nottinghamshire, west midlands, Edinburgh, west lothian, falkirk, north lanarkshire, clackmannanshire, east/west dunbartonshire, inverclyde, renfrewshire, glasgow, north/south/east ayrshire, stirling - unwealthy areas where mining was popular in south wales, central belt of scotland, the midlands and up north.
district 13 (separate from the rest of the districts and have weaponry): argyll & bute, highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney Islands, Perth & Kinross, County Fermanagh, County down, country antrim, county tyrone, county armagh, county londonderry - sort of won the war against the capital, don’t have to send tributes to the hunger games, have weapons stored underground, so i picked these as britains nukes are stored in northern scotland, plus it has vast wilderness and northern ireland had the troubles

my opinion with reasoning
capitol: london (obviously)
district 1 (luxury): east&west sussex, surrey - wealthiest district, luxurious
district 2 (masonry): kent, hampshire, essex, berkshire, buckinghamshire, oxfordshire, hertfordshire, bedfordshire, cambridgeshire, wiltshire - now i know these aren’t “masonry” counties but district 2 is known for recruiting and training peacekeepers and being wealthy too. so thinking of cambridge and oxford university i put them in 2, also wiltshire has stonehenge
district 3 (technology): bristol, gloucestershire - as it includes bristol i feel like that’s a quite technologically advanced city, cheltenham and gloucester are nice too, d3 is known for not having many winners in the hunger games due to lack of strength and being technological, sounds about right.
district 4 (fishing): suffolk, dorset, isle of wight - sorry for the exclave of suffolk but these counties border the sea, probs fish a lot
district 5 (power): gwynedd, anglesey, conwy, denbighshire, flintshire, powys, ceredigion, pembrokeshire, carmarthenshire - largest hydropower station in gwynedd, anglesey has a tidal power project, the other counties have a fair bit of wind turbines and hydropower stations
district 6 (transportation): derbyshire, cheshire, - derby is where trains are manufactured, bentley has production in crewe and vauxhall has a motor plant in ellesmere port
district 7 (lumber): dumfries & galloway, lancashire, cumbria - even though the uk doesn’t have much of a lumber industry, these are national park counties with the largest forests in the uk
district 8 (textiles): greater manchester, merseyside, west yorkshire, lancashire - manchester known for its textiles, liverpool was the commercial centre that facilitated it, bradford and leeds also had a big textiles production
district 9 (grain): norfolk, lincolnshire - flattest counties in the uk, known for farming and being rural
district 10 (livestock): cornwall, devon, somerset, dorset - also farmers
district 11 (agriculture): east yorkshire, north yorkshire, shropshire, worcestershire, herefordshire, scottish borders, east lothian, midlothian, fife, angus, aberdeenshire, moray, monmouthshire, wrexham, staffordshire, warwickshire, rutland, leicestershire, northamptonshire - just counties that have a lot of agriculture, not many big cities, and which i couldn’t fit into another district
district 12 (mining): rhondda cynon taf, caerphilly, blaenau gwent, torfaen, merthyr tyfdil, neath port talbot, swansea, bridgend, vale of glamorgan, cardiff, newport, south yorkshire, county durham, northumberland, nottinghamshire, west midlands, Edinburgh, west lothian, falkirk, north lanarkshire, clackmannanshire, east/west dunbartonshire, inverclyde, renfrewshire, glasgow, north/south/east ayrshire, stirling - unwealthy areas where mining was popular in south wales, central belt of scotland, the midlands and up north.
district 13 (separate from the rest of the districts and have weaponry): argyll & bute, highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney Islands, Perth & Kinross, County Fermanagh, County down, country antrim, county tyrone, county armagh, county londonderry - sort of won the war against the capital, don’t have to send tributes to the hunger games, have weapons stored underground, so i picked these as britains nukes are stored in northern scotland, plus it has vast wilderness and northern ireland had the troubles

(e) International
DownieLive , Riding the MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSPORT NETWORK...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssTr7bFLp0032.8 MINS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqMxA-8glWw 69.4 mins
What is bus deregulation in the UK?
https://qr.ae/pKeVxD
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-19/europe-s-best-and-worst-railway-stations-of-2023
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2023/12/22/weekly-roundup-22-december-2023/
https://www.londonreconnections.com/2023/friday-reads-22-december-2023/
https://www.timeout.com/news/this-french-city-has-just-made-transport-completely-free-122223
https://www.cwmbranlife.co.uk/public-transport-should-be-free-for-all-under-25s-senedd-committee-hears/
https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/154402/scotlands-third-delivery-plan-aims-transform-public-transport/
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/public-transport-workers-stage-fourth-day-of-strike-action-amid-warnings-of-more-walkouts-in-new-yeaa1648111301.html
https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-articles/150208/statewide-microtransit-improving-transit-access/
https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/how-to-design-the-station-of-the-future/
https://www.railjournal.com/passengemain-line/mexican-president-opens-first-section-of-mayan-train/
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-launches-coast-to-coast-passenger-cargo-railway-2023-12-22/
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/cities-need-unified-public-transport-networks-2819818
https://www.novinite.com/articles/223120/Public+Transport+In+Bulgaria%3A+Free+Rides+for+Children+Under+14+Starting+February+2024
https://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/are-we-there-yet-barriers-to-transport-for-disabled-people-in-2023/
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2023-12-18/public-transport-concerns/84347
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1638338242-tel-aviv-light-rail-hard-now-easy-later
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8469394/vic-commuters-hit-with-second-fare-hike-in-six-months/
https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/12/20/a-morocco-spain-rail-link-in-time-for-the-football-world-cup-2030/
England outside London has lost about half of its bus service (both urban and rural) since 2008
https://x.com/humantransit/status/1737508034044362888?s=20
https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/cork-td-slams-bus-eireann-28316366
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/public-transport-hits-rough-road-with-users-down-and-projects-in-slow-motion-20231219-p5esg1.html
Liverpool UK : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-67750117
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Indonesia-s-new-train-offers-chance-to-improve-views-of-China
Vietnam HSR: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/ministry-to-start-building-of-two-priority-sections-of-north-south-high-speed-railway-before-2030-4689740.html
https://extra.ie/2023/12/17/news/irish-news/dart-commuters-delay
Traveling on Sweden's CLASSIC long distance trains from the 1980s, are they still good?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81yJbpjQ6Ww 10.7 Mins
San Francisco's Brand New 2 BILLION DOLLAR Subway!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zpRyg7zF10 8 mins

Government's amendments to Data Protection and Digital Information Bill that allow DWP to order banks to run automated surveillance of benefit recipients are 'wholly inappropriate'
Civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch says proposals do away with long-standing democratic principle that state surveillance should follow suspicion rather than vice versa and set an 'incredibly dangerous precedent'.
The government's amendments to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill that allow DWP to order banks to run automated surveillance of benefit recipients are 'wholly inapproriate', Big Brother Watch (BBW) has said.
The Bill had its report stage and third reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the government last week tabled further amendments that included measures (amendment 207 on page 98) to allow the DWP to carry out regular checks on benefit claimants' bank accounts -

'... to spot increases in their savings which push them over the benefit eligibility threshold, or when people spend more time overseas than the benefit rules allow for.'

However, tweeting its concern about the lateness of the amendment, BBW has produced a briefing for MPs to highlight the impact of the proposed changes which include allowing the DWP to access the personal data of welfare recipients by requiring the third party served with a notice – such as a bank or building society - to conduct mass monitoring without suspicion of fraudulent activity.
While acknowledging that 'everyone wants fraudulent uses of public money to be dealt with', BBW highlights that, under current rules, the DWP is already able to request bank account holders’ bank transaction details on a case-by-case basis if there is reasonable grounds to suspect fraud, and it says it is -

'... wholly inappropriate for the UK Government to order private banks, building societies and other financial services to conduct mass, algorithmic, suspicionless surveillance and reporting of their account holders on behalf of the state in pursuit of its policy aims. The government should not intrude on the privacy of anyone’s bank account in this country without very good reason, whether a person is receiving benefits or not.'

Pointing out that people who are disabled, sick, carers, looking for work, or indeed linked to any of those people should not be treated like criminals by default, BBW continues -

'Such proposals do away with the long-standing democratic principle in Britain that state surveillance should follow suspicion rather than vice versa. It would be dangerous for everyone if the government reverses this presumption of innocence. This level of financial intrusion and monitoring affecting millions of people is highly likely to result in serious mistakes and sets an incredibly dangerous precedent.'

For more information, see Big Brother Watch Briefing on the Data Protection and Digital Information 2.0 Bill for House of Commons Report Stage from bigbrotherwatch.org.uk, and for details of the Bill and to follow its passage through Parliament, see Data Protection and Digital Information Bill from parliament.uk
Note: On 27th November the government published supporting documents for the Data Protection and Information Bill including a DWP impact assessment on third party data gathering which confirms that the measures to allow the DWP to carry out checks on benefit claimants' bank accounts are expected to generate around £500 million per year in savings for the period from 2025/2026 onwards.
​
​
​
The DWP set out its plans for the managed migration of people to universal credit through to the end of March 2024
Department says by the end of 2023/2024 it will have met its target to have issued migration notices to all claimants in receipt of tax credits only.
In a meeting with stakeholders on 28th November, the DWP confirmed that it will start sending out migration notices to claimants in receipt of tax credits only in the following areas -

• from January 2024: Northumberland and Tyne & Wear; Leicester and Northamptonshire; and Devon and (the remaining part of) Cornwall;
• from February 2024: Northern Scotland; Northeast Scotland; South Yorkshire; Merseyside; North and Mid Wales; Mercia; Birmingham and Solihull; Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; West London; and Surrey and Sussex; and
• from March 2024: Black Country.

The Department adds that, following this, it will have met its target to have issued migration notices to all claimants in receipt of tax credits only.
NB - other areas already subject to managed migration include -

• from May 2022 to February 2023: the discovery areas: Bolton and Medway; Truro and Falmouth; the London Borough of Harrow; Northumberland and the wider Cornwall area;
• from April/May 2023: Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire; East London; and Cheshire;
• from June 2023: Greater Manchester; and North-east Yorkshire and Humber;
• from July 2023: Durham and Tees Valley; Kent; North London and East Anglia;
• from August 2023: West Scotland; West Yorkshire; Staffordshire and Derbyshire; and South London;
• from September 2023: East Scotland; Cumbria and Lancashire; South West Wales; Essex; Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland; and Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight;
• from October 2023: South East Wales and Central Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• from November 2023: South West Scotland; and
• from December 2023: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

For more information about action that needs to be taken once a migration notice is received, see the DWP guidance Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter.
​
​
​
The Public Accounts Committee has warned of the risk that the DWP's Health Transformation Programme will not deliver its promised benefits for claimants
Department 'must expand its focus to genuinely put claimants right at the heart of this work', says Committee's Deputy Chair.
In a new report, Revising health assessments for disability benefits, the Committee highlights that-

'The Department set up the Health Transformation Programme (the Programme) in July 2018 to transform the functional health assessment and PIP application processes. It aims to do this by digitising the process, enabling online applications, improving case management, and triaging claims. As a result, the Programme aims to make the health assessment process simpler, more user-friendly, easier to navigate and more joined up for claimants, while delivering better value for money for the taxpayer.'

The Committee adds that -

'The Department expects the programme to cost £1 billion, of which it has spent £168 million up to March 2023. It expects the programme to achieve benefits equivalent to £2.6 billion by improving the speed and accuracy of its decisions, giving claimants better support, and improving claimants’ trust in the decisions the Department makes. It believes this will reduce its own costs and deliver £1.3 billion of wider societal benefits, mostly through increasing claimant engagement with employment support which can then lead to higher employment of those with disabilities.'

However, the Committee goes on to warn that there is a risk that the Department will deliver a new service without the important improvements to claimants' experience -

'The Department intends to make a lot of changes to the process of making a claim before it launches the new health assessment service in 2029. In advance of this, it plans to build its own case management IT system and develop the new service. It then needs to use a ‘test-and-learn approach’ to trial changes and identify what works to improve the claimant experience. The Department needs to have identified exactly what its new health assessment service will look like by 2027 to either invite the private sector to bid for new contracts or prepare to bring the service in-house. The Department recognises that if its test-and-learn activity reveals the proposed changes do not deliver the intended transformation in claimant experience, it can still issue the contracts for 2029 based on the current service. Given the extent of changes it wants to trial before 2027, we believe the greatest risk to the programme is that the Department focuses exclusively on the delivery of a new digitalised service, without achieving the important transformational change in the experience of claimants on which the wider benefits of the programme rely.'

As a result the Committee recommends that -

'The Department should publish a revised business case, no later than spring 2024, with details on how its desired transformation of the health assessments for disability benefits will result in the promised benefits for claimants and how it will track and assess progress towards this.'

The Committees also notes that, while the Department published an evaluation strategy in May 2023 which sets out its nine key performance indicators for the Programme -

'These are focused on the process of running the service, such as the average cost of the service or the capacity and demand for health assessments, rather than tracking the experience of claimants. The Department has not set out what performance measures it will use to ensure that the Programme delivers the benefits promised for claimants, such as increased trust in services and decisions made. The Department does not yet have the data it needs to undertake testing and to judge if the new Health Assessment Service is successful, but intends that the outline business case for the Programme, expected in 2024, will set out how it will fill these data gaps.'

The Committee goes on to recommend that the Department should publish outcome indicators that include the benefits of the Programme for claimants, which it, Parliament and the public can use to -

• evaluate its testing of the new service;
• assess whether it is on track to achieve the benefits it intends for claimants; and
• monitor claimants’ experience of the Health Assessment Service and Functional Assessment Service.

The Committee's findings also include that, while the government is more likely to improve the service if it works with disabled people and their representative bodies, the DWP has not done enough to communicate and engage with the public and claimants about what they can expect from the revised service. The Committee adds that -

'While some charities and stakeholder groups welcome the Department’s proposed changes, the Department has not promoted the Programme widely to the public. The DWP does not currently intend to consider a national campaign to improve awareness until it reaches the stage of scaling up the programme, which will not happen for a couple of years'

As a result, the Committee recommends that the Department should set out how it will -

• fully involve claimants in the design and implementation of the changes it plans to the disability benefits system; and
• raise awareness nationally of the changes it is making to the health and disability benefits system and what this will look like in practice for claimants.

Public Accounts Committee Deputy Chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said today -

'These reforms are at a critical juncture now that they are soon to be at the test stage, a point at which our Committee has seen other major government projects come off the rails. The DWP must expand its focus to genuinely put claimants right at the heart of this work if it is to achieve the wider benefits of this programme, and we hope the recommendations in our report serve as a helpful guide in this regard.'

For more information, see Efforts to transform experience of disability benefit claimants face risks from parliament.uk
​
​
​
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to the Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride expressing her 'deep concern' about the UK Government's proposed changes to the work capability assessment (WCA)
In addition, Ms Somerville says that the proposed extension of the sanctions regime will have a very significant impact on some of the most vulnerable people, and that the government needs to act on benefits rates to ensure that everyone can afford the basics needed for survival.
In its response to its September 2023 consultation on the WCA published last week, the government confirmed the reforms it intends to take forward to reflect the 'huge changes' taking place in the world of work. In addition, last week saw confirmation of the government's 'Back to Work' plan, which aims to 'support people who are able to work, to get back into work', and a series of other changes to social security benefits announced in the Autumn Statement.
However, in her letter to Mr Stride, Ms Somerville says that she is deeply concerned about the changes to the WCA ‘getting about’ activities and descriptors for limited capability for work, and the 'mobilising' and 'substantial risk' criteria for limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA), saying that -

'In taking this decision you acknowledge, but have chosen to disregard, the substantial evidence submitted to the consultation demonstrating that jobs that can be carried out wholly or mostly from home remain a relatively small proportion of vacancies and are unlikely to be the types of jobs available to those who may be returning to the job market after a number of years.'

NB - Ms Somerville added however that she recognises and welcomes the protection that will be extended to those who are currently assessed as LCWRA, by taking away the threat of reassessment and giving them the reassurance that they can try work without losing their health elements.
Also expressing concern in relation to the government's 'Back to Work' plan, Ms Somerville highlights that the proposed extension of the sanctions regime will have a very significant additional impact on some of the most vulnerable people, and she points to the different approach the Scottish Government has taken to devolved employability support -

'... our services remain voluntary, and we want the support we provide to be seen as an opportunity, not a threat, with fairness, dignity and respect at its heart.'

In addition, while welcoming the fact that social security benefits are to be uprated next year in line with September's CPI inflation figure, and that the pensions triple lock is to be maintained, Ms Somerville says it is 'hugely disappointing' that the UK Government has failed to increase the benefit cap, and therefore calls for it to -

'... respond to the overwhelming evidence and introduce an Essentials Guarantee to ensure that everyone can afford the basics needed for survival.'

For more information, see Autumn Statement benefit changes ‘deeply concerning’ from gov.scot
​
​
​
The government has published the proposed benefit and state pension rates for 2024/2025
The publication of the new rates follows the written ministerial statement from Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride on 22 November 2023 in which he confirmed that he had concluded his annual statutory review of benefit and state pension rates, and that -

'I am pleased to announce that the basic and new state pensions will be increased by 8.5 per cent, in line with the increase in average weekly earnings in the year to May-July 2023. This delivers on our 'triple lock' commitment to increase these rates in line with the highest of growth in prices, growth in earnings or 2.5 per cent.'

Mr Stride also confirmed that the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit will increase by 8.5 per cent, as will the weekly earnings limit in carer’s allowance.
In addition, Mr Stride confirmed that the other state pension and benefit rates covered by his review will be increased by 6.7 per cent in line with the consumer prices index for the year to September 2023, and that -

'This includes universal credit and other benefits for people below state pension age; benefits to help with additional needs arising from disability, such as attendance allowance, disability living allowance and personal independence payment; statutory payments including statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay; and additional state pension. The pension credit savings credit maximum amount will also increase by 6.7 per cent.'

For more information, see Benefit and state pension rates for 2024/2025 from gov.uk
​
​
​
A ‘full and fearless’ second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting has been promised at a Pre-Inquest Review (PIR) hearing completed last week
Following Jodey’s death soon after her employment and support allowance (ESA) was terminated because she had not attended a work capability assessment, the first inquest into her death held in May 2017 lasted only 37 minutes, and her mother Joy Dove did not have any legal representation. In addition, the coroner refused Joy’s request to consider the DWP’s potential role in Jodey’s decision to take her own life.
The subsequent investigation in 2019 by the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) found that the DWP’s ESA decision was seriously flawed and violated its own safeguarding regulations. Joy then commenced legal action seeking to bring a full investigation into her daughter’s death. This eventually resulted in the Court of Appeal ruling in March 2023 that a further inquest was needed in the interests of justice.
Reporting the outcome of a PIR hearing last week, that determined the boundaries and focus of the second inquest, Leigh Day Solicitors confirms that -

'Senior Coroner Clare Bailey stated that the PIR is a ‘very important part of the investigation’ and expressed that her focus is to do what is right for Jodey, and to determine what steps need to be taken in order to have a ‘full and fearless’ inquest.'

In addition, Leigh Day confirms that the Coroner decided that relevant material from the ICE report into Jodey's death will be read out at the inquest and that interested persons should submit their questions to a medical expert appointed to provide a further report and to receive Jodey’s GP records for review
The second inquest is due to take place in Spring 2024.
For more information, see Coroner promises ‘full and fearless’ second inquest into death of Jodey Whiting from leighday.co.uk
​
​
​
The DWP has confirmed that almost £500 million in underpaid benefit has been paid out as a result of its administrative exercise to correct state pension payments
Progress report on LEAP exercise shows that more than 80,000 underpayments have been identified so far.
Following the Department becoming aware, in 2020, of a number of individuals who had not had their state pension increased automatically when it should have occurred, it has been undertaking a Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise to identify those affected, and to repay any underpayments.
Reporting on progress to date in State Pension underpayments: progress on cases reviewed to 31 October 2023, the DWP sets out the number of underpayments identified and the arrears paid.
Note - while the LEAP exercise was originally due to complete by the end of 2023, DWP Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield confirmed in January 2023 that it is now expected to take another year due to the Department having identified an additional 300,000 individuals who may have been underpaid.
State Pension underpayments: progress on cases reviewed to 31 October 2023 is available from gov.uk
​
​
​
DWP Minister Jo Churchill has confirmed that almost three-quarters of universal credit work coach appointments are held face-to-face
DWP Minister also confirms that the majority of the remainder are telephone appointments, with less than 5 per cent held by video.
Responding to a written question in the House of Commons 29th November about the channels used by work coaches, Ms Churchill provided a breakdown of the figures for the period 14 October and 14 November 2023 - see: Ms Churchill's written answer available on parliament.uk
​
​
​
The government has confirmed that the interest rate used to calculate support for mortgage interest (SMI) payments is to increase to 3.16 per cent
Coming into effect from 11 December 2023, the new interest rate - which is based on the Bank of England average and changes when the average differs by 0.5 percentage points or more - represents an increase of 0.51 per cent since its previous rise in May 2023.
Note - as SMI is a loan, the money has to be repaid with interest which is currently set at 3.28 per cent. While the interest added to the loan can go up or down, the rate does not change more than twice a year.
For more information, see Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) from gov.uk
​
​
The government has confirmed that an increase to the universal credit minimum income floor for self-employed lead carers of children aged 3-12 will be introduced from January 2024
While the Autumn Statement delivered on 22 November 2023 originally said that the minimum income floor would be increased by up to a maximum of £1,250 a month for lead carers of children aged 3-12 from April 2024, a correction slip issued by the government states, in relation to Table 51 on page 83, that -

'The title of line 33 previously read: 33. Universal Credit: increase the Minimum Income Floor by up to a max. of £1,250 a month for lead carers from April 2024 This has been corrected so the title now reads: 33. Universal Credit: increase the maximum level of the Minimum Income Floor for lead carers from January 2024.'

NB - at paragraph 5.34 of the Statement, the government says that the increase in the minimum income floor will -

'... align it with the new work-related activity requirements for employed lead carers, which were announced at Spring Budget 2023.'

The Autumn Statement correction slip is available from gov.uk
​
​
​
DWP Minister Viscount Younger has said that the DWP believes that claimants that lose passported health benefits under plans to close the benefit claims of sanctioned claimants are likely to be claiming prescriptions for 'only minor health conditions'
However, responding to peers' concerns about the new sanctions policy, DWP Minister says that claimants who have more severe health conditions and vulnerabilities will be excluded from the new policy.
Further to concerns in the media that benefit claimants whose universal credit claims are closed after six months of 'disengagement' from Jobcentre Plus - under plans to incentivise compliance with work-related requirements announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride and confirmed in the Autumn Statement 2023 - will lose passported benefits including free prescriptions and health benefits, peers debated the impacts of the new measures in the House of Lords yesterday.
During the debate, Lord Bishop of London Sarah Mullaly said -

'If prescriptions that were once free are no longer so, a person whose universal credit has just been stopped may not be able to afford their prescriptions. This is a serious concern… it is those who are unable to engage with Jobcentre Plus who are most likely to be subject to poor conditions that determine their health, or ill health.'

The Lord Bishop added that -

'To use, or to threaten to use, health measures in any way as a punitive consequence for disengagement is, I believe, a misuse of power and could have a significant impact on the lives of people who need to be helped, not punished.'

In response to these concerns and those raised by other peers about the claim closure process more generally, Viscount Younger said that despite the range of measures in place for claimants to avoid or bring sanctions to an early end for failures to comply with mandatory work-related requirements - such as by showing 'good reason’ or seeking discretionary easements from work coaches -

'There is a rapidly growing group of disengaged claimants … on nil awards, who have had a failure without good reason and have failed to re-engage for more than six months.'

When pressed by Baroness Sherlock to provide the supporting data for this assertion, Viscount Younger said -

'I will need to check whether I can give it to the noble Baroness, as it is not in the public domain. It is substantial... '

In addition, responding to peers' particular concerns about the loss of free prescriptions under the claim closure proposals, Viscount Younger said -

'By excluding the claimants who have more severe health conditions and vulnerabilities from sanctions, we believe that the claim closure group would likely be claiming prescriptions for only minor health conditions.'

The House of Lords debate Benefits claimants: Free Prescriptions is available from Hansard.
​
​
DWP Minister Mims Davies has confirmed that no decision has yet been made in relation to whether there will be a Household Support Fund in 2024/2025
Despite the Chancellor appearing to say that there will be a Fund next year, parliamentary written answer advises that it is 'under review in the usual way'.
During the Autumn Statement debate, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Stephen Timms asked the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt directly if there will be a Household Support Fund next year, to which Mr Hunt replied, 'Yes, there will.'
However, with conflicting reports suggesting this might not be the case, Mr Timms then tabled a written question asking what the value of the Fund will be in 2024/2025, to which Ms Davies yesterday replied -

'The current Household Support Fund runs from April 2023 until the end of March 2024. No further decisions have been taken on the Household Support Fund, and the government continues to keep all its existing programmes under review in the usual way.'

Ms Davies' written answer is available from parliament.uk
​