Senior officer dismissed from the Army after drunken misconduct during overseas trip.

Major General James Roddis, a respected Army officer with almost 30 years of service, has had his career destroyed after being found guilty of indecent behaviour while intoxicated in a karaoke bar during an overseas trip in April. The 53-year-old was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation along with 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also directed to pay £2,500 in compensation to the victim.

The incident occurred on the final night of a military delegation’s overseas visit, when Roddis, who had been drinking heavily, touched a woman’s hair and attempted to kiss her while in the karaoke bar. Some of the incident was filmed, showing the woman trying to signal to him to stop. Shortly after, he kissed her on the lips for about two seconds. The court martial heard that the woman immediately expressed her discomfort and later reported the incident to her husband.

This was not the first time Roddis had faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour. In 2023, he received a sanction and forfeited his seniority as a major general after complaints were made by two female civil servants about his misconduct during a similar overseas trip. Despite his distinguished military career, which included multiple awards and commendations, these previous incidents significantly contributed to the severity of his punishment.

In his defence, Roddis’s barrister, Jane Bickerstaff KC, explained that he had been struggling with alcohol dependency and used drinking as a means of coping with stress. However, she acknowledged the severe consequences of his actions.

An Army spokesman condemned Roddis’s behaviour, stressing that it “fell well below” the high standards expected of military personnel and that such behaviour would not be tolerated within the armed forces. The Army has pledged to take action to prevent future misconduct of this nature.

Transport officials push for redesign to ensure level boarding for all services after concerns raised about accessibility.

Transport officials are re-evaluating the design of the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common in west London to ensure it meets full accessibility standards. Andy Lord, the commissioner for Transport for London (TfL), emphasized that failing to make the station fully accessible would be a major setback. He is currently in discussions with the Government to address the concerns.

The new station, located between Acton and Paddington, is set to serve as a temporary terminus for the HS2 line to Birmingham, until the permanent Euston station is completed. In the interim, passengers will be encouraged to use the Elizabeth line, which will also serve the station, in addition to national rail services operated by Great Western Railway (GWR).

While HS2 platforms will provide level boarding, the Elizabeth line platforms are currently not designed with level access for all passengers. This creates a significant issue for passengers with mobility difficulties, such as those in wheelchairs, who will be forced to use ramps to board trains. This would hinder an interchange into central London, making it impossible for some passengers to transfer between services without assistance from station staff.

The problem arises due to the different platform heights needed to accommodate GWR trains and some freight services alongside the Elizabeth line trains. The matter was brought to light by Caroline Pidgeon, a Liberal Democrat who recently joined the House of Lords, who described it as a “scandal” that a new railway station would lack complete accessibility for all passengers.

The issue gained more attention this week after Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic gold medallist, shared her experience of having to “crawl off” an LNER train at London King’s Cross due to inadequate accessibility. Lib Dem assembly member Hina Bokhari raised this incident at a London Assembly meeting, linking it to the ongoing discussions about Old Oak Common.

Mr Lord described the experience of Baroness Grey-Thompson as “absolutely horrendous” and reassured the public that discussions were ongoing with the Department for Transport. He confirmed that the design of the Great Western station at Old Oak Common, including the Elizabeth line platform, was under review to ensure level access for all passengers. Although a final design has not been confirmed, Mr Lord stressed that the goal is to avoid opening a station that does not meet accessibility standards. He stated, “It would be an absolute failing on everybody’s part,” and reaffirmed that TfL was pushing hard to ensure the Government addresses this critical issue.

Convicted child killer plans to challenge her convictions for the murders of seven babies.

Lucy Letby, the former nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, is planning to launch a fresh appeal against her convictions with a new legal team. Her barrister, Mark McDonald, confirmed the plans, as reported by the BBC. Letby was convicted for her crimes at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. After two trials, she was handed 15 whole-life sentences, making her one of only four women in UK history to be told she will never be released from prison.

In May, Letby’s previous appeal against her convictions was rejected by the Court of Appeal. However, her new legal team intends to apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have her case sent back to the Court of Appeal. McDonald expressed his belief in her innocence, stating, “I knew almost from the start, following this trial, that there is a strong case that she is innocent.”

McDonald further argued, “The fact is juries get it wrong. And yes, so do the Court of Appeal, history teaches us that.” Letby’s legal team aims to present a new case to challenge the convictions, which has sparked considerable debate and public attention.

Additionally, a public inquiry into the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital, following Letby’s multiple convictions, is set to begin on September 10 in Liverpool.

Reforms to offer more detailed assessments for parents and schools by 2025.

Ofsted is set to overhaul its school inspection system, replacing the traditional single-phrase headline judgments with a more detailed “report card” system by September 2025. This change follows concerns raised after the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose school was downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate” after a safeguarding issue, sparking public debate about the fairness of the grading system.

The traditional one-word judgments, such as “outstanding,” “good,” “requires improvement,” and “inadequate,” will be scrapped. Instead, parents will receive a more comprehensive breakdown of various aspects of the school’s performance, including education quality, behaviour, attitudes, and leadership.

New Report Card to Replace Single-Grade Judgments
Starting in 2025, Ofsted will provide a detailed “report card” for each school, offering more transparency and in-depth information for parents. The new approach will allow schools to be assessed on multiple factors, focusing on areas such as inclusion, safeguarding, attendance, and support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This shift aims to give a fuller picture of a school’s strengths and areas for improvement.

While some parents may miss the clarity of a simple grade, Ofsted believes the new system will provide more relevant and meaningful insights into how schools operate and meet the needs of their students.

Government Action on Poor Ofsted Reports
Despite the removal of single-phrase judgments, the Government will still intervene when a school is found to be inadequate in any key areas, such as safeguarding. Schools that receive significant concerns in their reports could face forced academisation or changes in leadership. The Government has also committed to continuing its policy of intervening in schools with repeated “requires improvement” ratings, offering support through partnerships with high-performing schools.

Broader Reforms to Improve Inspection Process
In addition to the new report card system, Ofsted will implement several other reforms, including pausing the publication of inspection reports when safeguarding issues are identified in high-performing schools. This pause will give schools more time to address these concerns before a report is made public, preventing unnecessary damage to their reputation.

Furthermore, the watchdog will introduce annual reviews on safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling practices, ensuring these critical areas are continuously monitored. Ofsted also plans to announce inspections on Mondays, with visits taking place over the next two days, to reduce uncertainty and stress for schools.

Plans for Other Education Sectors
The changes will not only apply to schools but also to early years settings and further education institutions. Ofsted aims to eliminate single-phrase headline judgments in these sectors by 2025, aligning with the new inspection approach for schools. The new frameworks will focus on improving pupil outcomes and maintaining high standards across all education settings.

These reforms mark a significant shift in the way Ofsted assesses and reports on schools, aiming to provide a clearer, more detailed, and fairer system for parents, educators, and students alike.

Ticket prices nearly double after fans waited hours in online queues, with resale prices reaching thousands.

Oasis fans have voiced their outrage at Ticketmaster after ticket prices for the band’s upcoming gigs surged hours after they went on sale. Fans who waited in long online queues to secure tickets for the Oasis Live ’25 shows were left furious when the price of standing tickets nearly doubled, jumping from around £148 to £355 on the ticketing site.

The price hike was linked to what Ticketmaster described as “in-demand standing tickets,” with the platform explaining that these prices were set according to market value. The statement on the website read: “The event organiser has priced these tickets according to their market value. Availability and pricing are subject to change.” However, many fans found the increase deeply frustrating, calling it “sickening” and “scandalous.”

Darragh Moriarty, a 30-year-old from Dublin, shared his frustration after he reached the front of the queue, only to find standing tickets priced at €415, compared to the €180 paid by his friends. He recalled that his group of six had to “raffle” the tickets, joking that they had to treat it like a “Hunger Games” scenario. Moriarty expressed anger at what he felt was a manipulative pricing system, stating: “It’s stomach-churning to see preying on people’s desperation and getting absolutely gouged like that.”

Ticketmaster clarified to the PA news agency that it does not set ticket prices, adding that they are determined by event promoters, not the platform itself. However, on resale websites, fans have reported extortionate prices. For example, tickets for the London concerts were listed on Viagogo for as high as £14,104, with standing tickets for Cardiff concerts ranging from £537 to £1,095.

Oasis has warned fans not to buy tickets from secondary ticketing websites, urging them to purchase only from official channels like Ticketmaster and Twickets, where tickets can only be resold at face value. The band issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “Please note, Oasis Live ‘25 tickets can only be resold at face value via @Ticketmaster and @Twickets! Tickets appearing on other secondary ticketing sites are either counterfeit or will be cancelled by the promoters.”

Despite these warnings, many fans are still being priced out, with secondary market prices continuing to soar. Original prices for standing tickets ranged from £148.50 for the Manchester shows to £506.25 for exclusive packages at London’s Wembley Stadium, but the inflated resale prices are leaving many fans frustrated and disillusioned.

Calls for an inquiry into the ‘in-demand’ pricing structure after standing tickets for Dublin gigs soared to €415.50.

The sharp rise in ticket prices for Oasis’ upcoming gigs at Dublin’s Croke Park has sparked calls for a consumer watchdog investigation. Fans who had been eagerly waiting in long online queues for tickets were left shocked when standing tickets, initially advertised at €86.50 plus booking fees, surged to €415.50 by the time they were able to make their purchase.

Irish MEP Regina Doherty has urged the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to investigate the pricing system behind the sell-out concerts, scheduled for August next year. She described the price increase as “not transparent” and “unfair to consumers.”

“When ticket prices were first advertised, standing tickets were listed at €86.50 plus booking fees,” Doherty said. “However, when many people eventually made it through the online queue, they found the same tickets priced at €415.50. This is extortionate, especially when it is clear that every ticket for these gigs was always going to be in high demand.”

Doherty called for a thorough examination of the “in-demand” pricing structure, highlighting concerns that it could be exploiting consumers. She pointed to the EU’s Digital Services Act, which is designed to protect consumers from unfair practices on large digital platforms.

Ticketmaster explained that the prices for “platinum” and “in-demand” tickets were determined by market value, meaning they could fluctuate during the sales window. However, Ticketmaster clarified that it does not set the prices, as they are determined by the event promoters. The promoter for the Irish concerts, MCD, has been approached for comment on the matter.

The issue arose during a highly anticipated sales window for tickets, which opened at 8am on Saturday, an hour earlier than for the UK gigs. The online queue quickly grew to over 500,000 people, with many fans experiencing technical difficulties, such as being logged out of their accounts, ejected from the queue, or presented with error messages as the website struggled to manage the overwhelming demand.

Additionally, residents around Croke Park were disappointed after a set number of tickets were reserved for people living nearby. Despite submitting forms for special access codes, demand for the local tickets exceeded supply, and those who were unsuccessful were notified by email on Saturday.