News

Rail and postal workers postpone strike action in ‘mark of respect’ for Queen

Proposed railway works could also be postponed to ensure people can travel to pay their respects.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 9th September 2022

A number of large strike demonstrations have been postponed by rail and postal workers following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8 September.

In a mark of respect for the late monarch, unions representing rail workers and Royal Mail postal staff said that they had made the decision to cancel immediate strike action  “out of respect for her service to the country and her family.”

Postal workers had previously planned to hold strike action on Friday 9 September, with members voting by 98.7% to pursue further action, on a 72.2% turnout.

RMT rail workers had also planned walkouts on 15 and 17 September, but this has now been suspended.

Speaking on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, RMT’s Mick Lynch, who has been a vocal presence for RMT this summer, said: “RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth.

“The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended.

“We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country.”

Aslef, the train drivers’ union, has also postponed strike action that had originally been planned for 15 September.

The cancellations of planned strikes mean that railway services will run as normal, bosses said.

A spokesperson from the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said it welcomed the decision by the RMT to call off next week’s strike action at a time of “national mourning”.

“The whole railway family is united in sending our condolences to the Royal Family,” the spokesperson said.

The RMT Union will reschedule the strikes, it is believed, although it has not yet decided when they would take place. However, it has been confirmed that two weeks’ notice will be given in advance of any strike action.

Proposed railway works could also be postponed to ensure people can travel to pay their respects.

Feature image – Geograph / Geograph

News

Review | Dua Lipa had Anfield levitating on her first night in Liverpool

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

British-Albanian performer and prolific pop star Dua Lipa is halfway through her first-ever international stadium tour, and it’s nothing shy of a spectacle – night one in Liverpool living, breathing, levitating proof.

To say I wasn’t singing more than half of this setlist verbatim would be a lie; the setlist for Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour is stacked with hits upon mega hits.

Her commanding single ‘Training Season’ kicks things off and besides getting the whole stadium hyped up, it sets the tone for the night ahead, one Dua has full control of, and also features a firework or two.

Within 15 minutes of stepping onto the stage, the unofficial anthem of Anfield’s resident football club and recently re-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool FC, was played.

Dua Lipa performing 'Physical' at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool.
Dua Lipa performing ‘Physical’ at Anfield Stadium.
Smiles all round at the 'Radical Optimism' tour in Liverpool.
Smiles all round at the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour in Liverpool.
Credit: Audio North

In fact, ‘One Kiss’ was met with an unmatched electric energy that she ended up playing it again later on, because why the hell not? 

This isn’t just a song: it’s a beast. When you’re playing a song that’s spent eight weeks at No.1, has 2.5 billion streams and at an arena with a legacy like Anfield‘s, there was simply no way these fans were going to be tame. 

Similarly, partway through the second act, Lipa had the audience wrapped around her fingers once more as she played the dance-inducing smash ‘Levitating’. In that moment, we were all her “sugarboos.”

Already seven songs in, Lipa managed to cram another one in with a helping hand from local legend and The Zutons frontman, Dave McCabe, who joined the star to duet another classic, ‘Valerie’.

This was a proper crowd-pleasing moment. To be honest, they all were.

As we strut our stuff into the third act, we’re met with another dancefloor filler, ‘Physical’, fans were ready and waiting to chant “let’s get physical” with the superstar. 

The fourth act, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. Ms. Lipa took some time to show her love to some of the album’s deeper cuts; I greatly appreciated being able to belt out “How looong?” as she played ‘Falling Forever.’

She finished this segment with the song that started it all, one she’s never forgotten to play since bursting onto the music scene back in 2015: ‘Be The One.’

Dua Lipa and Dave McCabe (The Zutons) performing 'Valerie'.
Dua Lipa and Dave McCabe (The Zutons) performing ‘Valerie’.
The superstar taking pictures with fans at Anfield Stadium.
The superstar taking pictures with fans at Anfield.
Liverpool is in for a treat if the second Dua Lipa show is even half as good as night one at Anfield.

Dua, let us tell you something, you’ll always be the one.

The encore felt like the epitome of all things Dua Lipa. It’s like when you hear that one ABBA megamix that has you shouting, “Oh, I know this one… and I know this one too!”

And rightly so, with a back-to-back, four-song medley spanning from ‘New Rules’ and ‘Dance the Night’, to ‘Don’t Start Now’ and ‘Houdini’. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

Special mention to ‘New Rules’, which was unexpectedly mixed with Bicep’s breadwinning hit ‘Glue’ – just like we saw at last year’s Glastonbury Festival – resulting in a crossover us losing our minds.

After this medley, night one of the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour was over, but we and the fans were certainly left feeling radically optimistic.

Come on, how can you not be when the timeless classic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ by Whitney Houston is soundtracking your concert exit?

I have one last question for anyone who hasn’t splashed the cash for one of her shows yet… if you’re not watching Dua Lipa live, then ‘Whatcha Doing’?

Lipa had the crowd well and truly in her fingertips.
Lipa had the crowd well and truly in her fingertips.
Dua gave quite the performance at Anfield Stadium.
Dua gave quite the performance in Merseyside.
An increasing master of not just pop songs but stagecraft too. (Credit: Audio North)

Read more:

Meanwhile, back here in Manchester, another global pop music sensation is heading to Co-op Live for her second night.

Who’s ready?

Tate McRae at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for ‘Miss Possessive’ tour
Dua Lipa has done Anfield and Tate McRae is doing Co-op Live – AGAIN.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Manc Group

News

Man who calls himself ‘Kardashian of Cheshire’ pleads guilty to £200k handbag fraud scam

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Jack Watkin mugshot

A man who refers to himself as Cheshire’s very-own Kardashian has pleaded guilty to fraud and theft.

Cheshire Police explained how Jack Watkin, formerly of Wilmslow Road, in the affluent Cheshire suburb of Alderley Edge, funded his fantasy Instagram influencer lifestyle by defrauding businesses and individuals to a total value of more than £200,000.

The 26-year-old appeared at Chester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 24 June), where he pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by false representation.

The court heard how Watkin used the lure of well-known designer handbag brand, Hermes, as a ruse to trick people into giving him the money he needed to afford his extravagant lifestyle, as these sought-after handbags can’t be purchased over the counter, and instead, shoppers must be specially invited to buy one.

This therefore makes Hermes bags a lucrative investment, as the resale value of them can be much higher than the original price.

Jack Watkin has pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud / Credit: Cheshire Police

The victims were told by Watkin that he had the contacts that could give them access to the handbags and that they could split the profits made on resale, so they proceeded to hand over their money in good faith.

But when no bag or sign of any money from the investment opportunity showed itself, they would begin to ask for their money back… and it was at this point they encountered his excuses.

A police investigation was launched after one victim contacted the Metropolitan Police back in 2022 when she became suspicious of Watkin’s continued excuses, and the case was subsequently referred to Cheshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit.

Their enquiries unearthed a string of victims and a ‘breathtaking’ amount of luxury goods and hotel bills, all of which Watkin afforded by ‘swindling’ his six victims.

During the investigation, detectives also found indecent images on his mobile phone, which he has already been found guilty of at a previous hearing.

“Watkin deluded himself that he was a successful rich kid influencer,” explained Detective Constable Gareth Yates, of Cheshire Constabulary ECU.

“But in reality, he was stealing money from wealthy individuals under the guise of ‘business opportunities’ to fund his expensive habit of fast cars, luxury goods, and designer footwear and clothing.

“It was never going to end well, and his downfall was inevitable.

Read more:

“Eventually his lies caught up with him and he is now facing the consequences of his deceit, and his perversions.”

Watkin has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced for the fraud and indecent images offences on Wednesday 3 September at Chester Crown Court.

Featured Image – Cheshire Police

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