News
Chris Kamara makes impassioned plea to government to stop people dying in poverty
He is set to take a petition to Parliament and campaign for people to get the added support they need.
Sports commentator and broadcaster Chris Kamara has called upon the government to do more when it comes to poverty and pensions in the UK.
Giving an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning, the former Sky Sports analyst and presenter sat down to discuss the prevailing issue of poverty across Britain and how the current access to state pensions and DLA (disability living allowance) is simply not good enough.
Following the death of his mother, who was cared for by Marie Curie nurses in her final days, the 65-year-old has now teamed up with the charity to bring a petition with already more than 165,000 signatures to Downing Street today (23 February), which will allow for working-age people to claim their state pension if they are dying.
“People shouldn’t be allowed to die in poverty – 90,000 people die in poverty [every year], so that’s 10 an hour, the capacity of Wembley Stadium when you take it as a whole. So that’s got to stop.”
As Kamara explained, “Once you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness you’ve not got long left, you have to stop your job, your circumstances change, you’re devastated, so social security money isn’t enough, so access [to] the state pension [is needed].
Explaining the context behind the petition, he added: “I’m going to Downing Street with two ladies whose circumstances have completely changed, they’ve been diagnosed with terminal illness and their partners have had to give up work to look after them.
“They just haven’t got any money. Their life has changed completely out of all proportion.”
Kammy went on to state that people who are terminally ill are simply “not getting enough money to help them get by so they have their pension they worked hard [for]. If you worked hard for 35/45 years of your life, you’ve got three or four years until you’re 66. Why not access your pension that you’re never [going to] get?”
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Despite a DWP spokesperson insisting that “those nearing the end of their lives can get fast-track access to a range of benefits without needing a face-to-face assessment or waiting period”, Kamara and charities like Marie Curie believe the pension system needs wholesale changes.
However, according to a January study by Loughborough University, it is estimated that such legislation would cost the government around £114.4 million per year, hence why many feel the petition and fresh campaigning are needed to get it across the line.
Having been forced into retirement last year following his apraxia diagnosis — a condition that affects his movement and speech — Kammy has become fully aware of the struggles of growing old with an illness present.
Released with the help of ITV‘s Ben Shephard, who also interviewed him on GMB, the iconic footballing voice released a documentary charting how he’s learned to live with his condition, entitled, Chris Kamara: Lost for Words.
You can watch it on ITVX and be sure to sign Marie Curie’s crucial petition to help make sure nobody dies living in poverty HERE.
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Featured Image — Good Morning Britain/Pixabay/Chris Kamara (via Instagram)
News
Police appeal for information after pedestrian killed on Mancunian Way followed earlier welfare concern reports
Emily Sergeant
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a pedestrian was killed on Mancunian Way during the early hours.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that the shocking incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Friday 31 October when it was reported that a Volkswagen Passat had collided with a man in his 20s.
Sadly, the collision was fatal and the pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 40s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following the incident, subsequent police enquiries have established that a call was made to the force shortly after midnight which reported concern for a man walking on the carriageway, and GMP says it believes the man in that report was the man who was involved in the fatal collision.
Officers were sent out as ‘high priority’ to carry out an extensive search of the surrounding area after the report was made, but it was said that they couldn’t locate him.
Due to this earlier report, GMP has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into its response to the search.
The victim’s family is aware, have been updated, and they are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward, and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV footage, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the incident.
“This is a tragic incident for all involved and we express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who has lost his life, and whom we are doing our utmost to support at this time,” commented Sergeant Andrew Page.
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Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of the 31/10/25, or by using the ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the GMP website – www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Geograph
News
Stockport paedophile who abused teen girls in early 2000s handed five extra years in prison
Emily Sergeant
A prolific paedophile who ‘groomed, exploited, and coerced’ teenage girls in the early 2000s has had his sentenced extended.
It was reported on back in June that Christopher Oates, from Stockport, was brought to justice after he subjected vulnerable girls to what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) referred to as a ‘campaign’ of violence and sexual abuse 20 years ago.
Oates was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old, and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13-17 years to prostitution.
He was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.
But now, following a successful appeal by GMP, working with the survivors and the Crown Prosecution Service, to take the ‘unduly lenient’ sentence to the Court of Appeal, Oates has now been handed an extra five years in prison.
His sentencing increase comes after the 45-year-old groomed one of the survivors from when she was just 14 years old, by providing her with a false sense of security, paying her compliments, and pretending to be her boyfriend, all before he proceeded to ply her with drugs, gifts, and affection, and using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.
When the teenage victim began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged her down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: ‘You do as I say, you’re mine now,’ commanding her to go to her ‘spot’.
It was this incident that prompted the teenager to confide in her mother and support services, and from here, found the strength to move forward with her life, while still courageously supporting the police investigation.
From this investigation, detectives were then able to identify a second teenage victim, a 17-year-old, who Oates also coerced into sex work.
Speaking on Oates’ sentencing increase, DI Eleanor Humphreys, who was a senior investigating officer for this case, said: “We join both victims in expressing our relief and delight that the Court of Appeal has reviewed Oates’ lenient sentence and increased it by five years.
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“Oates will now rightly serve consecutive sentences for both victims, meaning that his time behind bars reflects the totality of his offending against both women – whose lives he has so badly impacted.
“We will not relent in ensuring child sex offenders are brought to justice and face the full consequences for their horrific crimes.”
Featured Image – GMP
Danny Jones -
23rd February 2023 
