Latest from Glasgow Times
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
‘Great buzz' at Irish shop which sold EuroMillions jackpot-winning ticket
Clifford's Centra on Shandon Street in Cork city has been announced as the shop which sold the 250 million euro jackpot-winning ticket. Owner Ted Clifford said the news is 'very exciting'. With sweltering temperatures across Ireland on Friday, he said: 'It is definitely going to be the hottest day of the year at Shandon Street.' Mr Clifford, who was informed of the win on Thursday evening, initially believed it was a 'wind up'. However, he said it is not the first time the shop has sold a big-prize ticket. 'It is fantastic news – this all kicked off on New Year's Eve when we sold a 100,000 euro ticket to a local person. 'That's when our luck, or winning streak, started.' 📞🤩 The moment Clifford's Centra, Shandon Street, Cork City, found out their shop sold the winning #EuroMillions ticket of €250 MILLION! #ItCouldBeYou 18+ Play Responsibly Play for Fun — The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) June 20, 2025 Mr Clifford, who is the third generation owner of the store which has been operating for 95 years, said he is 'proud to be part of the community'. Speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland, he sent his 'warmest congratulations' to the winner and their family. Asked if he knows who that might be, he replied: 'I have no idea, it's a busy shop – there's a lot of people in and out. 'Hopefully they will have good fortune with their money.' Mr Clifford said it is a 'life-changing amount of money', but the National Lottery will support the winner. He said he will use 25,000 euro in prize money for the shop to have a 'big celebration' with the staff. He said there was a 'great buzz' and 'a lot of people around' following the announcement. The winner of the jackpot has already contacted the National Lottery. It is the 18th Irish winner and the largest ever Irish win of the EuroMillions jackpot. The winning numbers from Tuesday's draw were 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, with lucky stars 3 and 5. Irish National Lottery chief executive Cian Murphy had urged the winner earlier in the week to 'stay calm' as the 'massive' win could come as a shock. The EuroMillions jackpot is capped once it reaches 250 million euro – or £208 million on current currency conversions. This jackpot reached the maximum amount on Friday June 6 after rolling over several times. In total, more than 92,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games. The last Irish winner of the EuroMillions jackpot was in February 2022, when a person won 30.9 million euro with a quick pick ticket they purchased at a service station in Ballina, Co Tipperary.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Woman charged over murder of 69-year-old in north London
Nancy Pexton, also 69, has been charged with murdering Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, who was found dead at her flat in Camden last Friday (June 13), the Metropolitan Police said. Ms Abbott was found by her niece and neighbours, who broke her door down after her family had not heard from her for several days. Jennifer Abbott, 69, was known by neighbours for walking her pet corgi (Metropolitan Police/PA) A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma. Neighbours said they regularly saw Ms Abbott walking her pet corgi in the area with one describing her as 'exuberant' and 'vivacious'. Scotland Yard previously said officers were investigating whether Ms Abbott's death was linked to a diamond-encrusted Rolex missing from her home. Pexton is due to appear at Highbury Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Race horse sculpture by Sir Alfred Munnings to be sold at auction
The piece, by Sir Alfred Munnings, who is known as one of Britain's greatest equestrian painters, will go under the hammer at Christie's London on July 2. Racehorse Brown Jack had six consecutive victories at Ascot between 1929 and 1934. The tabletop bronze sculpture was created in an edition of just five, and is currently owned by the Munnings Art Museum in Colchester, Essex, which also owns a second. Brown Jack had six consecutive victories at Ascot between 1929 and 1934 (AV Swaebe/Estate of Sir Alfred Munnings/PA) Scarlett Walsh, sculpture specialist at Christie's London, said: 'Sir Alfred Munnings is rightly celebrated as one of Britain's greatest equestrian painters, and Brown Jack reveals his extraordinary ability to capture the character and form of the horse in three dimensions. 'Executed with anatomical precision and deep personal affection, the work stands as a powerful tribute to one of the most iconic racehorses in British sporting history. 'Brown Jack offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a work of remarkable artistic and historical significance, also with outstanding provenance. It is a masterpiece of equine portraiture and a lasting testament to the artist's lifelong devotion to the subject he loved most.' The sculpture is estimated to sell for up to £300,000 at the auction, Christie's Old Masters To Modern Day Sale: Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Minister insists no major welfare rebellion on the horizon after whip quits
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Vicky Foxcroft was the only frontbencher who had spoken to her about resigning. MPs must 'look to their conscience' when deciding how to vote, Ms Nandy said, but added that the Government believes the Commons will back the reforms. Vicky Foxcroft (PA) Lewisham North MP Ms Foxcroft said she understood 'the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill' but did not believe the proposed cuts 'should be part of the solution', in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system, which are expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Ms Nandy said a 'handful' of backbench MPs had expressed concerns to her about the 'detail' of the Bill, but added she was confident the Government had listened and the package of reforms was 'absolutely right'. 'It would be wrong to say that when you bring forward big reforms, there aren't concerns and there aren't dissenting voices, of course there are. But Vicky is the only frontbencher that I've had a conversation with about resigning,' she told BBC Breakfast. She told Times Radio that Ms Foxcroft 'did the honourable thing' by standing down. 'If you can't stick with collective responsibility in Government, you have to resign. 'She's done the honourable thing. It will enable her to have a voice, and she – as the former shadow disabilities minister – is very keen to use it. 'But I think most Labour MPs, including her, agree with the principle of the reforms that we're making.' She added: 'It's now up to every MP, as it always is at moments of major reform, to look to their conscience and vote the way that they believe is right. 'And we believe this package of reforms are right and will carry the confidence of the House.' Ms Foxcroft is the second Labour frontbencher to go in protest over policy issues after Anneliese Dodds quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget. Anneliese Dodds (Ben Whitley/PA) Rebel Labour MPs welcomed Ms Foxcroft's decision, with Hartlepool's Jonathan Brash saying he had the 'utmost respect' for her 'principled stand' and Crewe and Nantwich's Connor Naismith saying it 'must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles'. She said she had wrestled with whether to resign or remain in the Government and 'fight from within'. 'Sadly it… now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. 'I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances.' Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, the personal independence payment (Pip). Ministers also want to cut the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it so only those aged 22 and over can claim it. The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were 'impossible to support'. Pip is aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. Data published on Tuesday showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants. Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government's proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's legislation. The assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Responding to Ms Foxcroft's resignation, a Government spokesperson said: 'This Labour Government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it. 'Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Assisted dying campaigners make last-ditch pleas to MPs before crunch vote
Legalisation could move a step closer for England and Wales depending on the result on Friday. The outcome will lead to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill either clearing the House of Commons and moving to the Lords, or falling completely – with a warning the latter could mean the issue might not return to Westminster for a decade. Bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater (Jonathan Brady/PA) The relatively narrow majority of 55 from the historic yes vote in November means every vote will count on Friday. The Bill would fall if 28 MPs switched directly from voting yes to no, but only if all other MPs voted the same way as in November, including those who abstained. Supporters and opponents of a change in the law gathered at Westminster early on Friday, holding placards saying 'Let us choose' and 'Don't make doctors killers'. On the eve of the vote, in what will be seen as a blow to the Bill, four Labour MPs confirmed they will switch sides to oppose the proposed new law. Paul Foster, Jonathan Hinder, Markus Campbell-Savours and Kanishka Narayan wrote to fellow MPs to voice concerns about the safety of the proposed legislation. They branded it 'drastically weakened', citing the scrapping of the High Court judge safeguard as a key reason. Kemi Badenoch (Lucy North/PA) Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged her MPs to vote against the legislation, describing it as 'a bad Bill' despite being 'previously supportive of assisted suicide'. As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater has insisted the replacement of High Court judge approval with multidisciplinary panels is a strengthening of the legislation, incorporating wider expert knowledge to assess assisted dying applications. Before confirmation of the four vote-switchers, Ms Leadbeater acknowledged she expected 'some small movement in the middle' but that she did not 'anticipate that that majority would be heavily eroded'. She insisted her Bill is 'the most robust piece of legislation in the world' and has argued that dying people must be given choice at the end of their lives in a conversation which has seen support from high-profile figures including Dame Esther Rantzen. Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter Rebecca Wilcox outside Parliament (Yui Mok/PA) MPs have a free vote on the Bill, meaning they decide according to their conscience rather than along party lines. There is no obligation on MPs to take part in the vote, and others present on Friday could formally abstain. All eyes will be on whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and senior colleagues continue their support for the Bill. Sir Keir indicated earlier this week that he had not changed his mind since voting yes last year, saying his 'position is long-standing and well-known'. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described Ms Leadbeater's work on the proposed legislation as 'extremely helpful', but confirmed in April that he still intended to vote against it. Wes Streeting (Ben Whitley/PA) Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has voiced her continued backing of the Bill, saying she she hopes it can clear the Commons and continue its progress to becoming law. She told Sky News she has a 'long-standing personal commitment to change the law on assisted dying with appropriate safeguards' and praised the 'very considered and respectful debate over the last few months on all sides'. A vote must be called before 2.30pm, as per parliamentary procedure. Ms Leadbeater has warned it could be a decade before legislation returns to Parliament if MPs reject her Bill on Friday. A YouGov poll of 2,003 adults in Great Britain, surveyed last month and published on Thursday, suggested public support for the Bill remains at 73% – unchanged from November. The proportion of people who feel assisted dying should be legal in principle has risen slightly, to 75% from 73% in November.
