News
Unions warn Britain is in for a winter of ‘large-scale strike action’ and public sector struggles
As if you needed even more annoying news to tank your morning, union bosses across the UK are warning of ‘large-scale strike action’ this winter as pressure continues to pile on the government.
Following analysis by the Independent, it is estimated that nearly two million people across public sectors and other crucial industries could be participating in coordinated strike action in the coming months.
Nurses, doctors, rail workers, teachers, telecoms, postal staff and refuse workers are just some of the services that are set to strike or ballot for industrial action in the next couple of months and into the New Year.
Ahead of the Trade Union Congress conference this Thursday, general secretary Frances O’Grady said the government only has itself to blame if the UK’s key services grind to a halt this winter, suggesting that “rather than getting around the table, [they are] picking a fight with unions and working people.”
Not long after these comments, newly appointed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced even more U-turning from the Tories by confirming that they would be amending nearly all the tax cuts promised by his predecessor — including crucial ones for the poorest households like the energy price guarantee.
The trade union federation responded by saying that all his speech assured the nation of was “more uncertainty for businesses and families”.
Elsewhere, as per a report by the Financial Times, Christina McAnea – the head of Unison, the UK’s largest trade union – it will be balloting at least 406,000 members in the NHS across England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 27 October 27, adding that a ballot of Scottish members is already underway.
Should the dozens of strikes go ahead as planned, it is predicted that it will be the single biggest movement of industrial action since the early 1980s under Margaret Thatcher when the coal miners called for a nationwide strike.
McAnea fears the NHS could be the worst hit, insisting that the health sector is already “haemorrhaging staff” and cannot recruit any new candidates in this current climate.
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It’s going to be a long old winter.
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Featured Image — @RMTunion/@Remmi_LDN_NHS (via Twitter)
News
Former care home worker who defrauded elderly woman out of £300k arrested after fleeing to Spain
Emily Sergeant
A fraudster former care home worker who’s been on the run for almost a year has finally been arrested in Spain.
Pamela Gwinnett has been arrested in Tenerife, where she fled to in 2025, and will be returned to the UK to face justice for her crimes.
The arrest comes after a meticulous investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) where Gwinnett was found guilty of defrauding an elderly woman, named Joan Green from Chorley in Lancashire, out of almost £300,000 while she was employed as a caregiver at a nursing home.
Gwinnett fled the UK for Tenerife in 2025 in an effort to evade authorities, GMP said.
She was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison in her absence back in October 2025 for a number of offences, including fraud by abuse of position and theft , and at a subsequent Proceeds of Crime hearing, an order for £300,000 was granted… but up until this week, Gwinnett has been on the run and police have been trying to track her down.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) worked alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spanish authorities to locate Gwinnett and begin the process of her return to the UK where she will serve her sentence.
Speaking in reaction to Gwinnett’s arrest this week, PC Georgia Loughton, who was the GMP officer in charge of the investigation, said: “I am pleased that Pamela Gwinnett will be returned to the UK where she will serve her sentence.
“Gwinnett knowingly defrauded a vulnerable woman out of almost £300,000, cutting off all contact with her family and controlling every aspect of her life.
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“She was trusted by Joan, and she used this position of trust to her own financial gain. Joan was isolated from her family and denied from seeing her grandchildren and their children.
“Sadly, Joan passed away in 2022, however we hope that the return of Gwinnett to the UK to serve her sentence gives Joan’s family a sense of justice as they look to move on with their lives.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Micah Richards reveals dad ‘unexpectedly’ died shortly before going on air for England v Argentina last night
Emily Sergeant
Micah Richards has revealed that his dad died shortly before he went on air for the World Cup semi final last night.
The former right back – who most-notably played for Manchester City for a decade from 2005-2015, and for the England national team from 2006-2012 – was one of the BBC’s pundits providing on-air analysis last night as England faced Argentina in a highly anticipated semi final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night.
The two teams faced off in Atlanta, and while goals came from both sides, it was ultimately Argentina that reigned supreme – securing a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
But while much of the country is grieving the fact that football won’t be ‘coming home’ (well, for another two years at least), Richards is grieving on a deeper level.
He took to Instagram after the loss last night to share with his 1.4m followers that shortly before he went on air, his father Lincoln passed away ‘unexpectedly’ – calling him the ‘proudest parent possible’ in a touching tribute.
“He has left us all too soon,” Richards began in his tribute.
“Hwas my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
“I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else.
“I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.”
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Richards closed out his tribute by saying that he was thinking of his siblings and wider family as they all remember Lincoln.
“[He was] my hero and inspiration.”
Featured Image – BBC (via YouTube)
Danny Jones -
17th October 2022 
