Power outages in south west London caused disruption on the London Underground as stations closed, gates and display boards were left without power and engers were severely delayed.

The Bakerloo, Mildmay and Waterloo & City lines were suspended, and there were severe delays on the Piccadilly, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines. 

Chris Date was trying to get home to north London from Waterloo, one of the worst London Underground stations affected by the power outage.

Date said: “Underground staff [were] diverting engers to buses outside, or just waiting in hope the gates would reopen. 

“There was a power surge reported which caused a number of assets across London Underground to fail.”

A notice board at Earl’s Court station read: “Due to a power failure, the gates in Earl’s Court road ticket hall are not working to touch in.”

The power outage reportedly happened at 2.30pm this afternoon.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said the outage occurred due to a National Grid issue, leading everything to shut down for a matter of minutes.

The spokesperson added: “When the power goes out the trains will have stopped.

“We’ve cleared some stations. 

“Because there’s no electricity it might not necessarily be safe for them to open.”

South Kensington and Embankment were among the Underground stations which were forced to closed.

TfL’s chief operating officer Claire Mann said: “Due to a brief interruption of the power supply to our network, several lines lost power for a short period earlier this afternoon.

“We apologise to customers whose journeys will have been affected.

“We are working to get the whole network up and running again as quickly as possible.”

The National Grid apologised for the fault.

A spokesperson said the fault was resolved within seconds and did not interrupt supply from the network.

They added a voltage dip might have briefly affected power supplies on the low-voltage distribution network in the area.

A small contained fire was caused by a cable fault.

Feature image credit: Jack Darlington

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The number of domestic abuse victims dying by suicide has sured those killed by their partner for the second year in a row.

The mental health crisis amongst women who suffer domestic abuse is often overlooked, yet it can result in devastating consequences.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council recent report reveals that in the 12 months to March 2024, 98 people were suspected to have taken their own life following domestic abuse, while 80 people were killed by a partner. 

South West Londoner spoke with Sona Barbosa, Head of Therapeutic Services at the London-based specialist charity, Woman’s Trust, about the crisis.

Watch the video below for more.

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Residents of Putney and Wimbledon have called for Transport for London (TfL) to drastically reform a bus services in “absolute shambles”.

The petition calls for an increased frequency of buses in hopes of reducing wait times, ensuring adequate sizing of buses to combat overcrowding, and clearer and more timely information to avoid enger confusion.

It is focused specifically on services provided by Go Ahead London and TfL on routes 93, 14, 493 and 430.

The petition – posted on the platform change.org on 16 October – already has over 750 signatures.

Ricardo Arnostti Keidel, 43, a Wimbledon resident who started the petition, said: “People rely on these buses for work, school, and appointments.

“When the buses aren’t reliable, it disrupts everyone.

The petition comes following network performance data published by TfL revealing that from 1 April to 21 June this year, 13.7% of buses departed 5-15 minutes late.

Arnostti Keidel said: “TfL and Go-Ahead usually respond with generic replies and don’t seem to be making any real changes.

“The same problems keep happening, so it feels like they’re not really listening.”

The performance data also found that just over two thirds of bus s felt valued as a customer and only 71% felt they were “in control of their journey.”

Arnostti Keidel added: “These issues go beyond delays and route changes – it’s about respecting engers and meeting community needs.”

Andrea Gilbert, a 36-year-old Putney resident impacted by the services said: “We are ing forces with the bus drivers who are getting the brunt of it through unhappy engers.

“The Mayor and TfL need to come up with a plan for buses to be fully functioning and running so they better serve our community because as it stands now it is an absolute shambles.”

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields also created a petition alongside local councillors in June this year calling for better buses in Putney and Roehampton.

It calls for TfL to reform routes 170, 85 and 265 and has received over 1,000 signatures.

The Labour MP had previously written to Commissioner for TfL Andy Lord in December 2023, outlining pre-existing issues with the bus service.

Fleur Anderson told South West Londoner: “I launched this petition in the summer as our buses were already struggling, in large part due to the ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge.”

She added she receives hundreds of emails each month regarding the bus service – residents have shared s of waiting for up to an hour, with overcrowded buses eventually arriving with no space to pick up engers. 

Due to concerns around the safety of engers disembarking at Putney Heath, bus services have now started terminating at Lytton Grove and Tibbett’s Corner, causing considerable distress for residents and particularly impacting the elderly and disabled. 

Anderson said: “I’ve been hugely distressed to hear of residents experiencing these delays, with little to no useful information, the overcrowding and buses terminating unexpectedly.

“I’ve written to TfL and they have agreed to meet with me urgently, along with bus contractors, the relevant utility companies and bus driver representatives, so they can hear exactly what we need improved. 

“We have had a perfect storm of transport issues over the last two months in Putney, with traffic congestion and the District Line going down, and many residents really are at wits’ end.

“The impact this is having on people is really huge.”

Roehampton Councillor Jenny Yates has been working with Anderson and TfL to improve provision. 

Cllr Yates said that the council have partnered up with Roehampton University to enable free public use of the university bus.

She added: “We’ve also started the Roehampton Transport Club minibus to provide door-to-door service for those who find it difficult to use public transport.”

TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning Geoff Hobbs said: “Our buses form a vital part of London’s transport network, providing millions of Londoners affordable, green, and accessible ways to travel around the capital every day.

“Unfortunately, bus services in this area are being affected by several sets of road works, delays on Putney High Street, and the ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge, and we are working to reduce the impact of this wherever possible.

“We continue to regularly review the bus network performance and will keep working closely with Wandsworth, neighbouring authorities, the operators and relevant utility companies to ensure we provide the best possible service for all.”  

TfL was involved in an attack on its cyber security network starting on 1 September this year which has impacted technical issues with displays and the TfL app.

Customer data had been accessed by hackers which included thousands of names, addresses, bank details and other information.

The public transport network told the BBC the cost of the cyber-attack had been “several million pounds”.

Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Scabies cases in London are increasing at a sharper rate than in other UK regions, new data from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has revealed.

Records of the skin condition in the capital are two thirds higher than they usually are at this time of the year and the recent spike in London follows numerous reports that scabies cases have risen across the UK as a whole.

A London-based doctor told South West Londoner the rise in cases have raised concerns within both communities and healthcare providers.

They said: “While scabies can affect anyone, it is particularly common in crowded living conditions, such as shelters, dormitories, and long-term care facilities.

“Regular bathing, laundering clothing and bedding in hot water, and avoiding sharing personal items can reduce transmission risks.”

NHS figures show 3,689 scabies cases were confirmed in English hospitals in the year to April which is up 2,128 the previous year in 2023.

The highly contagious condition is caused by the Sarcoptes Scabiei mite, which burrows into skin and lays eggs.

This can cause severe itching and an incessant bumpy rash often found in skin folds such as the underarms, waistline or between the fingers.

It can be spread not only through close physical , but also by sharing bedding, clothes and towels.

According to the World Health Organisation, the eggs hatch in three to four days and become adult mites within two weeks.

Symptoms, however, often do not appear until after six weeks of infection, meaning early diagnosis is crucial to avoid the spread.

The doctor said the sudden rise in cases is most likely caused by over-crowding due to increased socioeconomic challenges, delayed diagnoses, as well as seasonal factors where outbreaks often peak during festival season.

They added: “The recent scabies outbreak serves as a reminder of vigilance in public health.”

“By understanding the causes, symptoms, and preventative measures, communities can work together to mitigate the spread of scabies and protect vulnerable populations.”

South West Londoner also spoke to a sufferer of scabies, who wished to remain anonymous.

They said: “Scabies has spread throughout my family and different have suffered to varying extents.

“I have only had mild symptoms, but others have experienced relentless sleepless nights from the itching.”

The sufferer added they were particularly concerned about spreading it to their partner and friends due to the social stigma which surrounds the condition.

They said: “Each time we have tried to treat and eradicate scabies, we have had to wash every item of laundry again, and again.

“I work a full-time job and this whole condition has been extremely draining for me, both physically and mentally.”

The most common treatments for scabies are permethrin cream or malathion lotion – both of which can be bought over the counter in pharmacies or by prescription.

Awareness campaigns are helpful as they encourage individuals recognise the condition and seek treatment properly and quickly.

Chair of the RCGP Professor Kamilla Hawthorne said: “We recognise that patients may be apprehensive to seek treatment given the social stigma that surrounds the condition, but it is important that they don’t ignore their symptoms.

“This could lead to them getting worse and risks transmitting the condition to other people – particularly if they are living in close proximity to others such as on a university campus.

“We are aware that the symptoms can affect a patient’s quality of life so we will try our best to ensure an individual receives prompt and effective treatment.”

Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on being elected as President of the United States.

Trump’s victory is all but assured now he has won three of the key swing states required to clinch the presidency.

The former President’s wins in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina have left him just four electoral college votes short of confirming his win.

Starmer said: “Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

“From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”

Despite a controversy involving Labour party volunteers campaigning for the Democrats, Starmer has previously expressed willingness to work with Donald Trump  meeting him for a two hour dinner in September.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also issued a congratulatory message on X, despite previously saying he would protest a Trump’s state visit to the UK and calling him a racist online in 2017.

He posted: “The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.”

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on your victory.

The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.

We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 6, 2024

Newly elected leader of the Conservative party Kemi Badenoch also extended her congratulations to the President-elect in a post on X. 

She said: “Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.

“The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.”

During her first Prime Minister’s Questions as leader of the opposition today, she called on Starmer to apologise for the Foreign Secretary’s past Trump comments and asked if Labour would say sorry for the volunteers who went to campaign for the Democrats. 

Badenoch also voiced agreement with Trump’s calls for increased NATO defence spending, urging Starmer to raise Britain’s defence budget.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also welcomed Trump to the White House, after the President-elect name-checked him during a rally in Pennsylvania yesterday.

In a post on X, Farage said: “Donald Trump is a genuine friend of the United Kingdom. Keir Starmer must roll out the red carpet for the 47th President of the USA. This is a huge opportunity to be grasped.”

However, leader of the Liberal Democrats and Kingston MP Ed Davey was more critical in a post on X.

He said: “This is a dark, dark day for people around the globe. The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was not explicitly critical of Trump, but in a public statement, claimed many Londoners would be anxious at the result.

He added: “London is – and will always be – for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights.

“The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable. But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever – re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on.”

Featured image credit taken from Sky News via YouTube under fair dealing

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Donald Trump has secured victory in the 2024 United States presidential election.

The former president crossed the 270 electoral college votes needed to win his second term in office, as key swing states Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina all declared in his favour.

While Democratic opponent Kamala Harris is yet to speak publicly and cancelled a planned speech at her alma mater, Howard University.

Trump gave a victory speech in Florida, home to his five-star Mar-a-Lago resort.

He said: “Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family, and your future.

“Every single day I will be fighting for you, with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve, and that you deserve.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”

Trump also referenced the assassination attempt at his rally in Pennsylvania, claiming God saved his life for a reason.

The Republicans have also taken the majority in the US Senate and kept their majority in the House of Representatives.

With the Supreme Court already being under Republican control, this represents what is known as a “red wave”.

The election was expected to be a much closer race than it has shown to be, with Trump making significant inroads with traditionally reliable Democratic voting blocks, such as Latinos, Black men, and Jews.

Some traditionally democratic cities have also demonstrated shock flips, such as Miami-Dade County in Florida, which went Republican for the first time in 30 years.

Alongside the key swing states that have already declared, Trump looks set for victories in key states Arizona, Nevada, and Michigan, which would give him a clean sweep of the seven states considered up for grabs.

You can follow developments on Wednesday on our live blog here, as the US election 2024 continues.

Featured image credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr under CC BY-SA 2.0 licence

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The BBC’s election debate featured representatives of the seven major parties clashing over issues including immigration, Brexit, and tax policy.

Here is a fact-check of some of the contentious claims made during the debate.

Trident 1u6v4p

Early in the debate Conservative Penny Mordaunt criticised Labour’s Angela Rayner for voting against Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons programme in 2016, under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

She claimed that this undermined Labour’s credibility in handling the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Following the 2016 vote, Rayner said on X: “Lost vote 472-117 on Trident renewal, I stand by my vote against…”

However, this Monday Rayner posted on X that she fully s Labour’s current triple lock on Trident, and claimed that she has never ed unilateral disarmament.

Her post has received a community note citing her 2016 vote against Trident renewal, and an article she wrote in 2020, arguing for reducing the nuclear stockpile across the world.

The £2,000 tax claim 40561

Mordaunt invoked the Conservatives’ widely criticised claim that Labour’s policies would cost households £2,000 over four years, which Keir Starmer has denied is the case.

Debate Mishal Hussain replied to Mordaunt: “You’re using a figure that’s been criticised by the UK statistics watchdog.”

The Office For Statistics Regulation has said that, to someone hearing this claim without context, it is not readily apparent that the £2,000 figure is an estimate summed together over four years.

The Treasury’s permanent secretary James Bowler added that these figures should not be presented as having been produced by the Civil Service.

The independent fact-checker Full Fact concluded that the £2,000 figure is unreliable, as even if Labour’s policies were correctly costed, their effects on tax is as yet unknown.

Sunak, who cited this statistic in his debate with Starmer, denied he risked misleading people over Labour’s plans.

Immigration 5j2o3j

On immigration, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed most of the migrants coming into the UK are not productive of the economy and are dependants.

This was a claim that led to Plaid Cymru’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accusing him of “bigotry”.

The 2021 census showed that 56% of UK residents are currently employed, the second-lowest level of employment by country of birth in the UK.

Moreover, the Office for National Statistics data for 2023 shows that the two most common reasons to come to the UK are work and study.

Meanwhile, the Green Party’s Carla Denyer said: “If you meet a migrant in the NHS, they are more likely to be treating you than to be ahead of you in the queue.”

A research briefing by the House of Commons library indicates that nearly one in five NHS staff report a nationality other than British.

The proportion of NHS staff reporting Asian and African nationalities have both increased since 2016.

Stop and search 1s6g46

Farage also said stop and search will help stop knife crime, and that it was necessary to treat people equally in implementing stop and search.

A House of Commons Library briefing states that there is little evidence that stop and search is an effective deterrent to offending, though this policy is more effective at detection.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also called for action against the disproportionate use of stop and search on people from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.

In London, there remain persistent racial disparities in stop and search numbers, something Farage defended in the debate.

Brexit k2i6h

The SNP’s Stephen Flynn claimed Brexit has impacted the economy more than the COVID-19 pandemic.

While this comparison is a broad and far-reaching one, it parallels statements made by the Office of Budget Responsibility’s chairman following the 2021 Budget.

As reported by the BBC, chairman Richard Hughes predicted that Brexit’s impact on the UK economy will be worse in the long run compared to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch has said the Brexit dividend has helped grow the economy and fund public services.

She said EU law has been reformed, and trade deals negotiated with 73 countries, in order to champion the goals of free trade and free markets.

You can check out all of the Londoners’ general election coverage here.

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West London clinics are the worst places for ear-wax removal, a newly published report shows, with many patients suffering with hearing loss from inadequate care.

The Integrated Care Boards (ICB) within North West London and South West London were revealed as two of seven areas in England which do not commission ear wax removal services on the NHS at all.

This makes them some of the worst places for people with ear wax build up, who are unable to access without paying privately.

RNID, the national charity which s people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, has called for an urgent government review to ensure everyone who needs wax removal can access it on the NHS and the call is backed by the UK’s leading audiology professional bodies.

Victoria Boelman, Director of Insight and Policy at RNID, said: “It’s absolutely wrong that people in England who need ear wax removal to be able to hear and take part in everyday life are being left to face painful and debilitating symptoms, forced to fork out for private treatment, or risk dangerous self-removal methods.

“There is no medical reason for the withdrawal of this vital service, which is essential for 2.3 million people in the UK.”

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a body that provides national best practice guidance and advice to improve health and social care.

It states that GP surgeries or community clinics should offer to remove ear wax, if build-up is contributing to someone’s hearing loss or causing other symptoms, or needs to be removed in order to examine the ear or take an impression of the ear canal.

An estimated 2.3 million people in the UK require professional ear wax removal every year.

Older people, hearing aid s and people with learning disabilities are more likely to be at risk, and many people need professional removal multiple times a year – which if forced to go privately, can become very expensive.

Private ear wax cleaning can cost a pretty penny as it can set patients back between £50-£80 every time there is a build-up of debris in their ears.

Many GP practices are now advising self-management as the first line treatment for ear wax build-up.

A quarter of respondents reported a healthcare professional had instructed them to manage their ear wax themselves.

The NHS website advises using 2-3 drops of medical grade olive oil, 3-4 times a day for three to five days.

The vast majority of respondents (85%) within the report, were advised to use ear drops, however half reported not being given sufficient advice on how to use them.

Some patients were only told to follow the instructions on the label, given vague advice such as to use drops daily, or were given no advice at all. 

More concerningly so, around 10% reported being told to use a bulb syringe, a device that was widely used before but has been deemed as unsafe and ineffective by NICE.

These outdated and vague guidance and advice has led to severe implications for many where 71% of respondents resorted to attempting to remove ear wax themselves, although two thirds did not feel confident doing this.

Of the symptoms that were reported, these issues impacted not only the patients’ hearing aids and scheduling audiology appointments but also the mental health of patients who were unable to get treated professionally by doctors.

For Susan, 73, from North West London, hearing aid is no longer sufficient due to her experiencing hearing loss from ear-wax buildup, but her GP won’t refer her to an audiologist for a new hearing aid until she has her ear wax removed, which isn’t available at her surgery. 

Susan said: “The GP won’t refer me as they say the (ear-wax removal service) isn’t available and my only option is to go private, which I can’t afford as I need three to four treatments a year and my pension won’t stretch that far.”

Susan’s increasing deafness means she now avoids social situations for fear of confusion and embarrassment. 

In the midst of the cost of living crisis many, like Susan, may may face financial difficulties in all other aspects of day to day living, and now it is increasingly apparent that having to pay for private ear-wax removal services for many Londoners is another financial burden to worry about.

The NHS and the Department of Health have been reached out to for comment.

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A person died yesterday (30th November) after being struck by a South Western Railway (SWR) train near Mortlake railway station, in south west London.

The tragic incident occurred between Mortlake and St. Margaret’s station just after 1pm yesterday.

The train was heading to Reading via Twickenham, after departing from Waterloo station at 12.50pm.

A spokesperson from the British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to Mortlake railway station at around 1.08pm to reports of a casualty on the track.

“Paramedics also attended, but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called yesterday at 1:12pm to reports of a casualty on the tracks of Mortlake station.”

The spokesperson also said that multiple resources were sent to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and London’s Air Ambulance was also dispatched.

Multiple police cars and response units were seen stationed outside Mortlake station.

This incident is not being treated as suspicious by British Transport Police and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

London Ambulance Service said a woman onboard the train was assessed and discharged at the scene after engers were told about the fatal incident.

engers were escorted off once the area was secured just after 2pm.

All routes between Clapham Junction and Twickenham were heavily impacted by this incident, with most services cancelled or severely delayed.

SWR said that disruption to services lasted until 9pm last night (30/11), after earlier estimates of 5pm and 6pm were pushed back.

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The London mayor has announced plans to convert large numbers of private housing into council homes before the next decade. 

Sadiq Khan says The Mayor’s Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP) will provide councils with the funds to purchase homes from the private market.

The announcement aims to ease the crisis of social housing and temporary accommodation across the capital. 

Over 170,000 Londoners are currently living in insecure temporary accommodation, including more than 83,000 children. 

Many families are stuck in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, with 1 in 23 children in London  living without a secure place to call home. 

Average monthly rent reached its highest  in England between April 2022 and March 2023 at £825 per month, higher than at any other point in history, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

Council homes are at the heart of my plan to boost housing in the capital.

My new Council Homes Acquisition Programme allows boroughs to move at pace to increase council homes in our city, with a goal for councils to buy 10,000 homes over the next decade.

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) November 17, 2023

All London boroughs will be able to bid for funding as part of the new programme and every home funded through CHAP must comply with the Decent Homes Standard and meet strict building safety standards.

Local authorities will be able to purchase a range of homes from the private market, including former council homes lost to previous Right to Buy schemes. 

The programme is the most recent initiative from Khan who has already launched the Mayor’s Right to Buy-back scheme which saw over 1,200 homes acquired by councils.

Mayor Khan explained: “My new Council Homes Acquisition Programme will allow boroughs to move at pace to increase the number of council homes in our city, offering a lifeline for thousands of Londoners who are facing high housing costs.

“Bringing these homes into public ownership is a key part of my plan to build a better London for everyone – a city that is greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.” 

Lewisham Mayor Damien Egan said: “Tackling the housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing councils in London.

“This funding will help address the desperate need for more social housing and temporary accommodation in our borough.” 

Image credit: Flickr / Google creative commons

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