News
Boris Johnson attacks anti-vaxers, saying they are talking ‘mumbo jumbo’
THE PRIME MINISTER says it is a “tragedy” that there is “all this pressure” on the NHS due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and “you’ve got people out there spouting complete nonsense about vaccinations”.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination centre in Northampton, the prime minister said he wanted to keep a “voluntary approach” to COVID-19 jabs, noting that other European countries are “going for coercion”.
Implying that the unvaccinated were selfish and partly responsible for the crisis in hospitals, he said it was a “tragedy” that there was “all this pressure” on the NHS due to the Omicron variant, with “30-40% of those in hospital in this current wave are unvaccinated”, and “you’ve got people out there spouting complete nonsense about vaccination”.
He continued: “They are totally wrong, and I think it is time that I, the government, call them out on what they are doing.
“It is absolutely wrong, it is totally counterproductive, and the stuff they’re putting out on social media is completely mumbo jumbo.”

As he urged Britons to get the COVID jab, the PM said: “The saddest words in the English language are ‘too late’. When you’re in ICU and you haven’t been vaccinated, sadly it’s too late to get vaccinated, so get boosted now.”
An estimated 4.5 million people aged 18 and over in the UK have yet to receive a first dose, more than six million people have not had two jabs, and nearly nine million eligible people have yet to take up the offer of a booster.
Mr Johnson also acknowledged that the NHS was under “huge pressure” now, but said it is “not true” that the health service does not have enough staff to cope with the pressures it is facing.
Health leaders have warned that the NHS is facing a “staffing crisis”, with 24 trusts declaring a critical incident.
This is the highest level of alert which means the trust fears priority services cannot be safely delivered.
While he acknowledged the health service was currently under “huge pressure”, the PM denied putting the NHS on a war footing without the right staffing.
Mr Johnson said, “it’s been continuous over the last 18 months, wave after wave of COVID”, while stressing he understood how frustrating it was to see another wave.
He defended the government’s record on bolstering staff numbers saying, “there are 5,000 more doctors this year and 10,000 more nurses”, as he insisted the government was recruiting many more.
It comes as Environment Secretary George Eustice predicted the country would get past the Omicron peak of infections “relatively soon”, with NHS struggles set to be “quite short lived”.
Speaking on TV, the cabinet minister said: “This is a difficult situation.
“It will be quite short lived because obviously we will get past this peak of infections relatively soon, but in the meantime, we’ve taken that step to reduce the isolation period and we’re doing all we can to make sure we can redeploy resources (in the NHS).”
Local Government
National Park Authority publishes Welsh language standards report
PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY has published its latest Welsh Language Standards Annual Report, setting out the work carried out over the past year to support and promote the use of Welsh across its services.
The report covers the period from April 2025 to March 2026 and outlines the Authority’s progress in meeting its statutory duties under the Welsh Language Standards.
The Standards require public bodies in Wales to provide services and communicate with the public in Welsh, ensuring that people can access information, take part in public life and engage with organisations through the language of their choice.
The legal framework for the Standards is set out in the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, which places duties on public organisations, including National Park Authorities, to treat the Welsh language no less favourably than English.
For Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the report is not only a statutory requirement but also a reflection of the importance of Welsh to many communities across the county.
The Authority says its work under the Standards supports residents, schools, community groups, volunteers and visitors, while helping to ensure that Welsh remains visible and accessible in everyday life.
Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said: “The Welsh language is central to the identity, culture and everyday life of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
“As an Authority, we recognise our responsibility not only to comply with the Welsh Language Standards, but to help create the conditions in which Welsh can be used naturally and confidently.
“For many people in Pembrokeshire, Welsh is the language of home, family and community, and it is important that they are able to engage with the Authority in their first language.
“This work is reflected across the Authority’s services, from the way we share information with the public to our work with schools, communities, volunteers and visitors.
“The Annual Report provides an opportunity to look at what has been achieved over the past year, while also recognising where further progress can be made.”
The Authority’s wider commitment to the Welsh language is also reflected in its Welsh Language Strategy, National Park Management Plan and Local Development Plan 2.
The full Welsh Language Standards Annual Report is available at: www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/welsh-language-standards/.
Crime
Serviceman caught drink-driving in BMW Z4 near Nolton
Robert Seymour was three times the legal limit after police received reports of a car swerving near Pembrokeshire coastal village
A FORMER serviceman has been banned from the road after being caught driving a BMW Z4 while three times over the drink-drive limit.
Robert Seymour, 56, was seen driving between Portfield Gate and Nolton Haven at around 9.15pm on June 13 after police were alerted by a member of the public concerned about his driving.
“The Z4 had been seen swerving all over the road,” Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.
Officers found the car around ten minutes later, reversing slowly out of a caravan park before moving forward.
Ms Vaughan said Seymour had removed the keys from the ignition when officers approached.
“He was very intoxicated and was slurring his words,” she said.
“There was also a very strong smell of alcohol emanating from the vehicle.”
Seymour, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested.
At the police station, he gave a lowest breath reading of 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Seymour pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Defending, solicitor Michael Kelleher said Seymour had served in the military for nearly 30 years and was now employed as a public servant with the Department for Work and Pensions.
“His full-time work takes him to various centres all over Dyfed,” he said.
“This is going to have a huge effect on his life, however his employers have said that he is going to retain his job.”
Magistrates fined Seymour £750 and ordered him to pay a £300 surcharge and £85 costs, making a total of £1,135.
He was disqualified from driving for two years.
Crime
Concerns for prisoner at Haverfordwest video link hearing
Michael Carruthers was described as “shaking and shivering” at Parc Prison before court appearance was adjourned
CONCERN was raised for a Pembroke Dock prisoner after he was unable to appear before magistrates by video link from Parc Prison.
Michael Carruthers, 34, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning charged with assaulting a police officer by beating.
The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on April 24.
But prison staff told the court Carruthers was not in a fit state to appear by live link from the Bridgend prison.
“After being taken out from his cell, he sat shaking and shivering on the floor and was holding his head in his hands,” a prison officer told the court.
“His head isn’t really in it.”
When asked whether Carruthers had been seen by a prison medic, prison staff confirmed he had not.
Defending, solicitor Tom Lloyd said Carruthers’ behaviour was consistent with his medical history.
“He’s appeared before this court many times before, but he’s severely autistic and has PTSD,” said Mr Lloyd.
“He has severe issues. When the prison officers described the way in which he is today, it’s clear that today came as a particular shock to him, as the first he learned of today’s court appearance was this morning.”
Mr Lloyd asked for the case to be adjourned so he could speak to Carruthers and prepare him for his next appearance.
Magistrates agreed, and the case was adjourned until July 14.
The court’s legal adviser stressed the importance of Carruthers attending the next hearing.
“People can’t hide by being in prison,” she said.
“If he’s deliberately refusing to come to court, then he must be physically brought here by the prison staff.”
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