‘The Mirror has campaigned for SMA screening since 2021. From October, that campaign delivers as every newborn in England will be tested. This is a landmark victory for all expectant and new parents’
SMA test win for all
No baby should face a lifetime of disability because a simple £5 test was skipped at birth. Spinal muscular atrophy causes irreversible nerve damage before parents even know something is wrong. Yet health chiefs spent years refusing to add screening to the NHS heel-prick test, despite treatments that can halt the disease if given early enough.
That delay meant babies were diagnosed only after permanent harm was done, left unable to walk, breathe unaided or feed normally. The Mirror has campaigned for this screening since 2021. From October, that campaign delivers: every newborn in England will be tested.
This is a landmark victory for all expectant and new parents, as well as for Jesy Nelson, who turned her twins’ late diagnosis into a fight for change alongside us. Her petition, backed by this site, won 150,000 signatures and forced Parliament to listen. Wes Streeting deserves credit for bringing the rollout forward and scrapping the plan to leave 163,000 babies untested as a control group. This is what campaigning journalism achieves: real change and a healthier future for thousands of children.
MP threat risk
The arrest of a man over an alleged threat to shoot Nigel Farage is welcome and necessary, particularly in the shadow of Ann Widdecombe’s murder. No politician should live under the threat of violence simply for doing their job. But this danger reaches far beyond one party or leader.
MPs across the Commons face daily abuse, intimidation and death threats, with women and those from minority backgrounds targeted most heavily. Jess Phillips once received more than 600 rape threats in a single night. Jo Cox and Sir David Amess were murdered while serving their constituents.
Ms Widdecombe’s death is another terrible reminder of where possible political hatred can lead. Police must investigate threats swiftly, social media firms must act, and Parliament must protect every representative. Democracy is weakened when decent people, particularly women, are driven away before they even stand.
Bed Rock star
Can you smell what the Rock is reading? Dwayne Johnson has wrestled giants, conquered Hollywood and sailed through Moana. Now The Rock faces his gentlest challenge yet: bedtime. His CBeebies story celebrates friendship, courage and finding common ground despite our differences.