Transgender Woman Found Dead at Male Prison in Leeds
The government is to review its policy on transgender prisoners following the death of a woman at Armley Prison in Leeds. Vicky Thompson was found on Friday after telling her friends that she would kill herself if she was sent to a male prison. An investigation into her death has been launched but her death is not being treated as suspicious. This follows an incident in Bristol where trans woman Tara Hudson was moved to a women’s’ prison following successful petitioning. With 80 transgender prisoners in the UK, there have been calls for urgent reforms in the House of Commons.
Jonny Chard
Junior Doctors Spark NHS’ First ‘All-Out’ Strike
Junior doctors have voted to go on the first all-out strike in the history of the NHS. Almost 40,000 medics were balloted, amid protests to their contracts proposed by Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. The terms would see an 11 per cent rise in basic pay but a reduction in premiums for hours at unsociable times. 98 per cent of medics who voted were prepared to strike and 99.4 per cent were prepared to take industrial action short of a strike. The results mean that the NHS now faces three days of industrial action in December unless talks are resumed.
Jonny Chard
David Cameron Responds to Terror Attacks
David Cameron has declared that he will make the case for extending airstrikes against IS into Syria to Members of Parliament in light of the recent attacks in Paris. This follows recent talks with french President Francois Hollande about France’s response to the attacks. Jeremy Corbyn was hesitant about the prospect of future airstrikes, telling a regional party conference that governments “must not keep making the same mistakes”. He did however stress that the next 5 years were crucial, and reinforced that “Britain does need strong military and security forces to keep us safe” and “take a lead in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions”.
Katie Lowes
Terrorist Attack on Hotel in Mali
A military commander has confirmed that a recent terrorist attack on a hotel in the capital of Mali has left 21 people dead, including two gunman who conducted the attack. Alongside 14 foreign nationals, two local armed guards and three employees died. The gunmen stormed the hotel last Friday, taking 170 people hostage. This siege ended when Mali troops, supported by French and U.S. Special Forces, conducted a seven-hour operation. A terrorist organisation affiliated with al-Qaeda operating in the West African country claimed responsibility for the attack.
Becky Ward
(Image: AP Photo/Harouna Traore)