College urged to take action over ‘overtly sexualised’ appearance in classrooms An Oxford University college has been accused of neglecting the welfare of its female students by allowing a male lecturer to teach while wearing large prosthetic breasts. St Hilda’s College has received complaints about Matt Rattley, a lecturer in biochemistry, but has cited the need to “protect and promote freedom of expression”. Bearded Mr Rattley often posts pictures of himself at work on social media, wearing low-cut tops, red lipstick and nail varnish. Michael Biggs, professor of sociology at Oxford, said he feared that individual students were “wary of complaining” and that it was the college’s responsibility to represent their interests. Advertisement St Hilda’s, which was founded in 1893 and until 2008 admitted only female students, has produced alumni including the novelist Val McDermid, politicians Baroness Kramer and Baroness Shephard and the broadcaster Zeinab Badawi. The issue of Mr Rattley’s ...
Day of chaos in Parliament as Chancellor appears to backtrack on promise to reduce welfare payments Daily Telegraph 29/10/26 The Prime Minister and Chancellor visited a community centre after the Budget on Wednesday Credit : Richard Pohle/The Times John Healey has been forced to admit there will be no cuts to Britain’s welfare bill before the next general election. In a day of chaos in Parliament, the Chancellor appeared to suggest in the morning that Labour would reduce the benefits bill before the next national vote. Treasury sources downplayed Mr Healey’s remarks later on Thursday, before Mr Burnham’s spokesman insisted that the Government “never set an arbitrary target or timetable”. On Thursday evening, Mr Healey then said the welfare bill would not be reduced before the next election. He told Channel 4 News : “We’re certainly committed to bringing the cost of the welfare bill down. I’ve said that, the Prime Minister’s said that. “It is not correct to say that we set any sc...