Victims of sexual violence distressed by MPs’ ‘pugnacious’ questioning

Victims of rape and sexual violence have told parliamentarians they felt anxious and distressed during a Westminster evidence session, with one stating that witnessing “pugnacious” questioning had resulted in her “breaking down, sobbing and struggling to breathe”.The victims’ commissioner has made a formal complaint to the chair of an influential group of MPs after a highly charged evidence session carried out by the public bill committee for the courts and tribunals bill about controversial changes to jury trials.Claire Waxman told MPs she could not “in good conscience, encourage victim-survivors to participate in evidence sessions conducted in a manner that may expose them to retraumatisation or emotional harm”. The letter, sent by the victims’ commissioner office chief executive, Susannah Hancock, said that the committee chair, John Hayes, failed to “prevent the tone from escalating” with exchanges becoming “unnecessarily adversarial”.Other victims’ organisations, including Rape Crisis and Women’s Aid, have also raised concerns after an evidence hearing that included robust questioning and some terse exchanges

Bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco clears UK parliament

A bill banning anyone born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the UK has completed its progress through parliament in a move that ministers hope will create a “smoke-free generation”.Under the tobacco and vapes bill anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to be legally sold tobacco across the UK, in an effort to save lives and reduce the burden on the NHS.The bill will become legislation when it receives royal assent next week. Its long journey through both houses of parliament began when it was introduced on 5 November 2024 and ended on Tuesday, when the House of Lords approved amendments made by MPs in House of Commons.Ministers hope it will end the sale of tobacco products altogether over time and break the cycle of addiction and the disadvantages associated with tobacco

Man admits rape and religiously aggravated assault after court confrontation

A man who racially abused a Sikh woman as he raped her has pleaded guilty to the assault after being confronted in court by a member of the public.John Ashby pleaded guilty to rape, religiously aggravated assault, intentional strangulation, and robbery of the woman at her home in Walsall.Ashby initially pleaded not guilty but unexpectedly changed his pleas after he was sworn at by a member of the public in Birmingham crown court.The 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, asked to see his barrister and changed his pleas about an hour after being sworn at and told to “sort your shit out” by a member of public who approached the dock.The victim, who is in her 20s, was due to give evidence on Tuesday

Feeling flush with Izal mementoes | Brief letters

Wiping your bum on Izal (Letters, 20 April)? I made a Radio 4 musical feature on Izal back in 2010 (Now Wash Your Hands) and included the fact that, during the war, you could wipe yourself on a picture of Hitler. I’m also the proud owner of a 1930s roll printed with William Heath Robinson drawings, including one picturing the cleaning of a broody hen coop with Izal disinfectant. Sally GoldsmithSheffield Regarding Doug Maughan’s letter (16 April) arguing that Peter Mandelson should be excused for urinating in the street due to being an older gentleman, there are many women who experience urinary incontinence. Would Mr Maughan be happy for us all to tooty down in the street when we are caught short? I doubt it. Melanie Jones Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire Re your report (Luxury to high street jeans: can you tell the difference?, 17 April), my Next jeans cost £1, my Levi 501s cost £3, £6 and £12, and my Polo Ralph Laurens (my favourite) cost £12

Gut microbiome can reveal risk of Parkinson’s, scientists say

Changes to microbes that live in the gut can identify people at greater risk of Parkinson’s disease long before symptoms develop, according to work that also raises hopes for new therapies.Researchers discovered signature changes in the gut microbiome that are more pronounced in people with a genetic risk for Parkinson’s and even more stark in those diagnosed with the disease.The signature could help doctors spot patients at risk of Parkinson’s years before they display clear symptoms and suggests that healthier diets and treatments that reshape the microbiome might prevent or delay the disease.Prof Anthony Schapira, the head of clinical and movement neurosciences at University College London and lead investigator on the study, said it was the first time a microbial signature in Parkinson’s patients had been seen in people with a genetic susceptibility but had yet to develop symptoms. The signature appears to become stronger as the disease progresses

Trustpilot hosts reviews of illegal casinos, raising concern among MPs

Trustpilot, the reviews website that offers to “find a company you can trust”, is hosting ratings of illegal casinos, raising concerns in Westminster about the potential risks posed to consumers.Unlicensed casino operators linked to financial harm, addiction and even suicide have flooded the UK market in recent years, often targeting people who are trying to limit their gambling by “self-excluding” from licensed operators.Despite this, Trustpilot hosts reviews of some of the largest unlicensed sites, exposed in a recent investigation into the illegal Santeda casino network by the Guardian and Investigate Europe, as if they were legitimate businesses.Analysis by the Guardian found reviews for brands including Santeda’s MyStake, Velobet and Goldenbet, which do not have a licence from the Gambling Commission.Offering gambling services without a licence from the regulator is a criminal offence