Adam Eley

Greenock and the wider Inverclyde area are facing severe population decline, job losses, ageing residents and pressure on public services. Inverclyde Council is attempting to reverse the trend by attracting migrants and refugees, supporting English learning and access to skilled work, and investing in housing, schools and job creation. Immigration has helped stabilise the population and strengthen the health and care workforce, but residents question where new arrivals will work, while asylum seekers who cannot legally work face frustration. The town has experienced economic decline since the loss of major employers including IBM, alongside further departures by companies such as Amazon and EE. Despite tensions over asylum accommodation and a recent hate-crime incident, many migrants describe Greenock as welcoming. Local alternatives include developing the area as a commuter town linked to Glasgow and converting a former sugar refinery into an education and skills hub.

Fifty women told the BBC they were pressured or coerced by partners into having sex with strangers through swinging encounters, with many describing lasting trauma. Six said they were raped, 16 reported that intimate images were shared without consent, and others described threats, manipulation and coercive control. Most encounters were arranged through FabSwingers, which users accused of failing to prevent abuse, respond to complaints or cooperate adequately with police; the company denied indifference and said it prioritizes serious reports and uses moderators, artificial intelligence and automated controls. Former moderators said they received no training, while the platform’s lack of mandatory identity verification raised further concerns. Jess Phillips called for the site to be closed, and Ofcom said it was seriously concerned, although it had not opened an investigation. Police handling of reports was also criticized, prompting calls for better training on coercive control and sexual violence.

Fifty women told BBC News that partners pressured or coerced them into sex with strangers through swinging, often using threats, manipulation or control. Many described lasting trauma, while six said they were raped by men met through FabSwingers and sixteen reported intimate images being uploaded without consent. Users and former moderators accused FabSwingers of failing to address abuse and cooperate adequately with police, although the site says it prioritises reports, works with law enforcement and is not responsible for private conduct. Jess Phillips called for the site to be shut down, while Ofcom said it was concerned and was speaking with the provider. The investigation also highlighted gaps in police responses to coercive control and sexual exploitation.

An inquest concluded that Tim Hull, a 56-year-old man from Worcester, died from infections caused by being bedbound after lengthy delays in receiving essential equipment from the NHS. Hull, who was exceptionally tall and living with a rare neurological condition, spent months confined to an undersized and painful bed while waiting for a suitable hoist, bed extension and wheelchair. The situation led him to stop taking medication required to maintain his transplanted kidney. Evidence highlighted administrative errors, long waits for equipment, and a lack of coordinated oversight for complex patients. The coroner ruled the death as natural causes and noted that staff did what they could despite systemic issues, while local NHS bodies stated they continue to review care delivery practices.

An inquest found that Tim Hull, a 56‑year‑old man with hereditary spastic paraplegia, died from infections caused by being bedbound after months of delays in receiving essential NHS equipment, including a hoist and a properly sized bed. Hull stopped taking vital post‑transplant medication due to distress over inadequate support, leading to a rapid decline in his health. Evidence highlighted systemic gaps for patients with complex needs, including administrative errors and lack of coordinated oversight across services. The coroner concluded death from natural causes but noted Hull’s prolonged suffering, while local NHS bodies stated they aim to ensure safe patient transitions and continue reviewing care delivery.