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 02, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The NHS care watchdog is [considering a criminal prosecution against Nottingham University Hospitals Trust]( over its failure to provide safe care to mothers and babies, it can be revealed. The Care Quality Commission has warned the Nottingham trust that it may bring a criminal case against it following the death of baby Wynter Andrews in September 2019. It is also examining evidence of whether the trust may have committed a criminal offence in not being open and transparent with families after deaths and incidents of avoidable harm. Wynter Andrews died after being starved of oxygen due to gross failings in care by maternity staff in 2019 that saw her delivered by caesarean section after long delays. A coroner ruled last year she would have survived if action had been taken sooner and criticised the “unsafe culture” at the trust. The Independent and Channel 4 News on Wednesday revealed dozens of baby deaths at the Nottingham trust as a result of negligence over recent years, including 46 cases of babies being left permanently brain damaged due to delays and poor monitoring. Labour has [unexpectedly seen off a Tory challenge to one of its seats]( in West Yorkshire, edging home with a significantly reduced majority of just 300 votes in Batley and Spen. Expectations were rock-bottom for Labour ahead of the contest, where a by-election was held on Thursday to replace former MP Tracy Brabin. The narrow surprise victory is good news for Sir Keir Starmer, who has been fearing a leadership challenge were he to lose yet another seat to the Conservatives. Sir Keir called the defence a “fantastic result for the brilliant and brave” Kim Leadbeater. “Kim ran a positive campaign of hope, in the face of division. She will be an outstanding Labour MP for Batley and Spen,” he said. Follow the latest updates on the result [in our liveblog](. Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, has warned of the [“worrying tone of political debate” in Britain]( following the by-election. Mr Cox said some candidates who contested the seat in Batley and Spen where his wife was killed by a neo-Nazi in 2016 had sought to “divide communities, to turn people against each other, and pour petrol on flames rather than bringing communities together”. He told The Independent the campaign had tipped over from robust political debate into “intimidation and abuse”, after physical attacks on canvassers. Victorious Labour candidate Ms Leadbeater, who is Ms Cox’s sister, was chased by an anti-LGBT+ activist shouting about “indoctrination” in schools days before voters went to the polls. . 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 [‘Historic day’ as 130 nations back global 15% corporate tax rate]( [EU vaccine passport scheme ‘could exclude some Britons with AZ jab’]( [Mother to take newborn to jury service to protest ‘ludicrous rules’]( . . Stories chosen for you - [DUP leader rocked by resignation on first day in charge]( - [Relief for Keir Starmer as Labour defies polls and wins by-election]( - [Expand Covid symptoms list so cases aren’t missed, scientists urge government]( - [Sunak reveals EU and UK fail to sign agreement for financial services]( - [Inside the Batley and Spen count: How Labour scraped by-election that went down to ‘squeaky bum time’]( . 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](.