Maternity scandal in one of UK’s largest hospitals

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing July 01, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Dozens of babies have [died or been left brain-damaged after errors during childbirth]( at one of Britain’s biggest hospitals - while managers failed to properly investigate concerns and altered reports to take blame away from the maternity unit. An investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 News has uncovered repeated examples of poor care over the past decade at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, with parents forced to fight to find out the truth about what happened to their child. Families say that if lessons had been learnt, further tragedies at the hospital could have been prevented. Naomi Lewin, whose baby Freddie died after a harrowing labour, told The Independent: “They don’t listen to families. It’s ignorance. If they don’t learn from it, it’s going to be a repeat cycle over and over and over again.” Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has said a report that her supporters are [preparing a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer]( if he loses the Batley and Spen by-election is “news to me.” MPs have been canvassing support among parliamentary colleagues and trade unions, The Times reported. She would need the support of 40 MPs, 20 per cent of the parliamentary party, to mount a challenge. Left-wing MPs have been approached about a possible mutiny if Labour’s performance at Thursday’s by-election is poor, the newspaper said. But Rayner herself tweeted on Wednesday night: “The ‘story’ on the front page of @thetimes tomorrow is news to me.” Police [breached fundamental rights at the Sarah Everard vigil]( and demonstrations against controversial protest laws in Bristol, a parliamentary inquiry has found. Officers misinterpreted coronavirus laws to apply a “presumption of illegality” to the events in March, antagonised protesters and used excessive force, said a report published on Thursday. It found that following a “kill the bill” protest that descended into violence and vandalism in Bristol, male police officers gained entry into two young women’s homes while disguised as postal workers - before realising they had been wrongly identified as suspects and were innocent. One of the women, a student, was handcuffed while partially undressed and having a panic attack, while the other was threatened with multiple Tasers. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution said police had been put in a difficult position ahead of the process by the “ambiguity” of Covid restrictions at the time, which neither explicitly permitted nor explicitly banned protest. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [How the climate crisis set California ablaze]( [The rise, fall and jaw-dropping release from jail of Bill Cosby]( [Andy Murray rebukes government for ‘pathetic’ 1% NHS pay rise]( . . Stories chosen for you - [Matt Hancock facing calls to quit as MP in local Tory revolt]( - [Angela Rayner says reported Labour leadership challenge to Keir Starmer is ‘news to me’]( - [Andy Murray rebukes Boris Johnson over ‘pathetic’ 1% NHS pay rise]( - [Government starts preparations for autumn Covid booster jab programme]( - [Theresa May blasts Boris Johnson for failing to create ‘outward-looking’ Global Britain]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.