UK society shifts: care homes, midwives and football’s cultural reckoning

A care home campaign that changed the law

Anita Le Brun, an 87-year-old resident of a care home in Kent, has become an unlikely architect of legal reform. Her two-year campaign to allow alcohol to be served in care homes without requiring a separate licence has succeeded, with the government announcing this week that it will amend the Licensing Act 2003. The change, expected to come into force by autumn, removes a bureaucratic hurdle that had long frustrated both residents and staff.

Le Brun’s advocacy began when her care home’s weekly "Happy Hour" was cancelled after local authorities warned that serving wine or sherry required a full alcohol licence. "It wasn’t about getting drunk," she told the BBC. "It was about dignity, about marking the end of the week with a small pleasure." The campaign gained traction after a petition gathered 12,000 signatures, and was supported by Age UK, which argued that the rule disproportionately affected older people’s quality of life.

The reform reflects a broader shift in how Britain views elderly care. While the focus often remains on medical needs, this change acknowledges the importance of social rituals in residential settings. However, it also raises questions about safeguarding. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has emphasised that while the law is changing, providers must still ensure that alcohol is served responsibly, particularly for residents with dementia or those taking medication.

Midwives under 35 are leaving the NHS in record numbers

The NHS in England is facing a growing crisis in its maternity services, as data obtained by The Guardian reveals that an increasing number of midwives are quitting before they turn 35. The figures show that in 2025, 1,243 midwives under 35 left their roles—up 18% from 2023. The trend is particularly acute in London and the South East, where nearly a quarter of all midwives who resigned were in their 20s or early 30s.

The reasons for the exodus are complex but centre on burnout. Midwives report working 12-hour shifts with insufficient breaks, chronic understaffing, and the emotional toll of caring for women in traumatic situations. "You’re expected to be superhuman," said one former midwife who left the profession last year. "But when you’re constantly short-staffed, you can’t give the care you want to give—and that’s heartbreaking."

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has warned that the loss of younger midwives is creating a "demographic time bomb" for the NHS. "We’re losing the very people who should be the future of the profession," said Gill Walton, the RCM’s chief executive. The college is calling for urgent investment in training, better working conditions, and mental health support for staff.

The impact on patients is already visible. In some hospitals, women are being turned away from antenatal classes due to staff shortages, while others report delays in receiving pain relief during labour. The NHS has pledged to recruit 3,650 more midwives by 2027, but with the current attrition rate, experts question whether this will be enough to plug the gap.

Wayne Rooney’s verdict on the World Cup final’s half-time show

As Spain celebrated its World Cup victory last week, England’s former captain Wayne Rooney delivered a withering assessment of the tournament’s opening half-time show. The 11-minute spectacle, which featured performances by Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, was criticised by Rooney as "a complete waste of time" and "disrespectful to the players."

Speaking to the Independent, Rooney argued that the show—intended to be a celebration of global music—undermined the momentum of the match. "Football fans don’t tune in for a concert," he said. "They want to see the game. When you have a half-time show that long, it kills the atmosphere. The players come back cold, and the fans are left frustrated."

Rooney’s comments have reignited a debate about the commercialisation of football’s biggest stage. While FIFA has defended the show as a way to "broaden the appeal" of the sport, critics argue that it prioritises entertainment over the integrity of the game. The controversy comes at a time when football’s governing bodies are already under scrutiny for their handling of player welfare, with concerns about fixture congestion and the mental health toll of high-pressure tournaments.

The half-time show’s backlash also highlights a cultural divide. While some fans praised the star-studded performances, others saw them as emblematic of football’s drift away from its working-class roots. As one supporter wrote on social media: "This isn’t the Super Bowl. It’s the World Cup. Let the football speak for itself."

What to watch

The care home alcohol reform, while seemingly minor, signals a broader rethinking of how Britain treats its elderly. The next test will be whether the change leads to better social engagement in care settings—or simply becomes another administrative footnote.

For the NHS, the midwife exodus is a warning sign. If younger staff continue to leave at this rate, the consequences for maternal care could be severe. The government’s recruitment targets will need to be matched by real improvements in working conditions.

And in football, Rooney’s critique taps into a growing unease about the sport’s direction. As the Premier League and FIFA push for global expansion, the risk is that the game’s soul gets lost in the spectacle. The World Cup final’s half-time show may have been a misstep, but it’s unlikely to be the last.