A senior Tory MP has spoken of her anger that police kept her and other serving and former MPs in the dark for months after their names were found in a dossier at the home of the man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe.
The senior Tory MP was only briefed by police on Monday that her name appeared in the list, despite claims officers knew about it shortly after the arrest of Joshua Kerry in July.
More than 100 serving and former MPs from across several parties were named on the list. They are described as generally holding “socially conservative” views.
Which weight-loss drug ads are being banned
Two online pharmacies have been sanctioned by the advertising watchdog after they for oral weight-loss medicines.
Which pharmacies are being sanctioned?
The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruled that and wrongly used ads on social media and on their own websites to promote GLP-1 anti-obesity treatments.
4 min read
3 min read
What you need to know
- Medicines cannot be advertised in the UK until licensed for use by regulators. Even once authorised, prescription-only drugs cannot be advertised to the public.
- The ASA found that Simple Online Pharmacy broke these rules by inviting people to join a waiting list for GLP-1 slimming pills on 1 June. The first such medicine was not authorised in the UK until 11 June.
- Pharmacy Online also had its adverts banned after it promoted the oral version of Wegovy after it had been licensed as prescription-only. The ads included a website pop-up inviting people to “pre-order” the medication.
The licensing of GLP-1 pills, seen as easier to administer than weight-loss jabs, has boosted the £210m market for anti-obesity drugs obtained with private prescriptions.
However, it has also provided regulators with a headache as they seek to ensure use only occurs under proper medical supervision.
‘Treatments could put people at risk’
“These are powerful medicines, so it’s important that ads don’t encourage people to seek treatment in ways that could put them at risk”
Catherine Drewett, investigations manager at the ASA
Daniel Craig’s Bond suit from Skyfall up for auction
A suit worn by Daniel Craig in the 2012 film will go up for auction this month.
Bond suite for sale
A worn by Daniel Craig while playing James Bond in the 2012 film is among the lots being offered in a from the 007 franchise.
A collection of 400 items spanning every Bond film since 1962’s is being sold via an online auction open until 27 October. It also includes a complete set of 14 first edition 007 books written by Ian Fleming.
What you need to know
- The grey suit, complete with branded shirt and a tie and cufflinks, was worn by Craig in the opening sequence of as Bond chases a villain across Istanbul, Turkey.
- The outfit, part of Craig’s wardrobe for his fourth of five outings as Bond, has a pre-sale estimate of between £20,000 and £40,000.
- Also offered is a navy dress with a plunging neckline worn by Hollywood star Ana de Armas as secret agent Paloma in the most recent Bond film, .
The Bond memorabilia up for sale
A cinema poster for , the first Bond Film and starring Sean Connery, has an estimate pre-sale price of £8k to £16k.
A clapper board used for miniature special effects sequences in is offered with a pre-sale price tag of £4k to £8k.
With an estimate of £20k to £40k, another star lot is 14 first-edition, first impression 007 books written by Ian Fleming.
What you need to know about new air travel rules
As the October half-term looms, British holidaymakers taking to the skies may notice a number of changes as they head to Europe.
Here’s what you need to know…
Air travel changes
Face as passport
E-gates at UK airports will soon work without a passport for British nationals by using facial recognition to match travellers with their passport image held on Home Office systems.
Free personal item
Since July, passengers can take a small bag (40x30x15cm) on board for free. EU airlines must also include at least a carry-on trolley bag in the starting price for flights.
The EU’s EES is now in full effect at most Schengen area airports, causing delays for passengers who will now need to register biometric data at gates.
Anyone trying to avoid the queues should try to secure a seat towards the front of the plane to be able to dash to passport control before queues form.
Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday charged with a terror plot against Nigel Farage.
The court was told Kerry is alleged to have carried out online reconnaissance of “prominent people and institutions” between 31 May, 2024, and 8 July this year, including Farage.
The court heard the Reform UK leader’s partner, Laure Ferrari, discovered her main front door had been damaged on 20 April last year. She found part of the wooden door frame was hanging off and a bottle of lighter fluid was found in the porch.
A list of more than 100 high-profile individuals, including the name of a former senior Cabinet minister, is understood to have been found at Kerry’s home.
The revelation has raised fresh questions about whether police did enough to warn politicians whose names appeared in the material and whether security measures should have been put in place sooner.
The MP said: “It’s outrageous that we were not told sooner.”
The i Paper was first told about the possibility of a list in July. Neither police nor the Home Office responded to questions about it at the time.
It was discovered during searches of the home of Kerry, who has been charged with the murder of Widdecombe at her home in Devon in July, and separately with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against Nigel Farage.
A source familiar with the investigation said that “pieces of paper” were found all over Kerry’s home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which included details of “a variety of VIPs and politicians”.
Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court on Wednesday that a tool mark from a 27mm blade was found on the doorframe, and that “the inference is that an attempt was made to gain entry to (Farage’s) house”.
Reform spokeswoman and former Tory minister Widdecombe, 78, died on 8 July after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, a court previously heard.
After Widdecombe’s death, Reform MPs were given enhanced security arrangements.
Kerry, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, was previously charged with Widdecombe’s murder on July 20.
In August, counter-terror police reopened a year-long probe into an alleged attack at Farage’s home in south London.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the latest developments “raise serious questions about the security of those in public life”.
She said: “We must use this as an opportunity to reset. Once Parliament returns [on 12 October], I will update on our work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve.”
Farage has previously said that he was the target of an attempted firebombing at his home in April last year. The investigation into that incident was initially treated as an attempted burglary and was later reopened by counter-terrorism officers examining the circumstances surrounding the Widdecombe investigation.
Kerry is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.
The Met Police and Home Office have been contacted for comment.