'Utterly scandalous'

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July 06, 2023 View online 1 /N-word scandal grows as DWP launches probe into racial slur also used by Met Office A scandal over the use of racial slurs by British institutions has deepened as it emerged the Met Office used the term 'N*****d' to describe Black people.   The weather forecaster's use of the offensive word, in a report about the impact of solar radiation on human health, emerged as the Department for Work and Pensions launched an investigation into the use of the same term in official guidance.   DWP paperwork, first issued in 2010 to help doctors assess disability benefit claims but still in use until just days ago, referred to Black people as being of the "N*****d race", the Independent revealed this week. The Met Office study – Monitoring of mean radiant temperature for man – was published in 2012 and was also publicly available until now.   Both documents have now been removed online after they were highlighted by The Independent and the Met Office has apologised for any offence caused.   But campaigners said it was "utterly scandalous" that the "language of racism" continues to exist in 2023 "because Britain stubbornly refuses to deal with the legacy of empire and of colonialism". 2 / 'Vanishingly small' chance Sunak can cut NHS waiting lists by election, warn experts  PM on course to break his promise after his other big pledges thrown into doubt 3 /Starmer pledges to smash 'class ceiling' with education reforms The Labour leader will set a goal of half a million more children reaching their early learning targets by 2030 4 /Manchester Arena attack police chief could face criminal charges over inquiry evidence Former chief Inspector Dale Sexton previously claimed he was too busy to ring other emergency services during the attack 5 /Kevin Spacey grabbed man 'like a cobra' while making crude comments, court told Hollywood actor's third alleged victim tells jury he froze and pushed star's arm away when Spacey allegedly assaulted him THE BIG QUESTION Which areas in the UK have the most sewage overspills? Water companies have "systemically underinvested" in sewage treatment as the country's river systems are on the brink of collapse, an environment expert has warned. It comes as Thames Water was on Tuesday fined £3.3 million for dumping sewage in rivers near Gatwick Airport in October 2017. There was a "significant and lengthy" period of polluting the Gatwick Stream and River Mole between Crawley in West Sussex and Horley in Surrey on October 11 2017, the court heard. Recent data from The Rivers Trust shows a total of 384,568 sewage leaks into the rivers and creeks across England and Wales, amounting to a duration of 2,348,439 hours. For the full article click here  Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more SUBSCRIBE NOW Watch / Just Stop Oil interrupt Wimbledon for second time on day three of the tournament NUMBER OF THE DAY 7% – The UK base rate could be raised as high as 7 per cent to tackle stubbornly high inflation, a leading economist has warned – hitting stretched mortgage-holders even harder. Read more QUOTE OF THE DAY "It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument."   – The UK-based tourist who triggered widespread outrage for carving his name into Rome's Colosseum has claimed he was not aware of the monument's age. 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