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The Telegraph •

I’m a prison officer and was stalked by an inmate. But the way I was treated by male colleagues was far worse

During my time as a female prison officer, I was stalked by an inmate who was imprisoned for harassing his “first love” – the only girl who had ever shown him attention in the school playground. Every day, he would follow me relentlessly, professing his love at any opportunity he could. He told the prison nurse he wanted to take me hostage, rape me and kill me. I lived in constant fear, dreading going to work, never knowing what he might do next.However, while the prisoner’s actions were terrify...
The Telegraph •

‘His love letter was riddled with spelling mistakes’: Your biggest ‘icks’

My friends and I have been compiling “ick” lists for years. High up on mine: ordering vanilla ice cream or tomato pasta, having a green driver’s licence, black bedsheets and – perhaps the ultimate deal-breaker – holding your nose when you jump in the pool.For Telegraph readers, their lists include Sir Keir Starmer, bad table manners and incorrect use of language.Reader Vicki Lester puts it bluntly: “If I wrote up all the first dates where something totally horrified me and I bolted, it would be...
The Telegraph •

How has Kemi Badenoch fared in her first 100 days as Tory leader?

Monday, Feb 10 marked 100 days since Kemi Badenoch became the leader of the Conservative Party.When she took office on Nov 2, the former business secretary pledged to hold the Labour Government to account and ensure that, by the next general election, the Conservatives would have a compelling set of policies and a clear plan to implement them.However, her first months in charge have not been without their difficulties.Mrs Badenoch has struggled to counter Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, and some criti...
The Telegraph •

Gen Z-er fed up with local potholes finds novel way to fill them

A landscaper and decorator fed up with the state of the roads in his home town decided to take matters into his own hands – by filling potholes with flowers.Since launching his Pretty Potholes campaign in West Sussex last June, Harry Smith-Haggett, 22, has documented his efforts on TikTok, with some videos notching up more than 3.5 million views.“It all started because there was a big pothole near my house and it was winding me up,” he explained. “I wanted to do something about it because the co...
The Telegraph •

I went to a rehab clinic with crystal meth addicts to get over my phone addiction

After arriving at the quaint train station of rural Cuddington, Cheshire, I dragged my suitcase up the snow-dusted hill towards a charming-looking building, feeling every bit like Cameron Diaz in the film The Holiday. Like her, I was in need of a fresh start, craving a bit of escapism while hoping to get my life back on track. The difference? While she was about to stumble into the arms of Jude Law, I was checking into rehab for my social media addiction.The week before I arrived at Delamere, th...
The Telegraph •

Thousands of drivers denied pothole compensation by councils

Councils are routinely refusing to pay compensation for car damage caused by potholes, analysis by The Telegraph suggests.Authorities in charge of roads received almost 66,000 claims from motorists in the three years to March last year, but only paid out in approximately 10,000 cases, meaning more than five in six claims by motorists were rejected.Car owners whose vehicles are damaged by poor-quality road surfaces can request compensation from the council responsible.But a controversial loophole...
The Telegraph •

He’s 18, she’s 80. But can they agree on 2024’s biggest stories?

As 2024 draws to a close, we invited one of our lifelong readers and one of our newest and youngest subscribers to go head-to-head on the stories that sparked fierce debate this year.Mary-Grace Browning, 80, and Adam Ibrahim, 18, met in The Telegraph’s offices in London this month and spent the afternoon with Kamal Ahmed and Camilla Tominey debating the headlines on a special episode of The Daily T podcast.We chose topics that divided our readers, from Kemi Badenoch and the rise of Reform UK to...
The Telegraph •

What your go-to coffee shop says about you, from Gail’s to Greggs

This year has been quite the whirlwind for the coffee industry, sparking intense debate amongst Telegraph readers.In July, we witnessed the complete implosion of Pret A Manger’s far-too-generous five-a-day coffee scheme. Meanwhile, Leon seized the opportunity to launch a rival subscription service, “Roast Rewards”. In Walthamstow, locals rallied against the upmarket bakery chain Gail’s, with more than 1,800 people signing a petition to block its plans for the “threatening” new store.High street...
The Telegraph •

‘It is time for Britain to make old people feel valued, not hasten them out the door’

On Friday, MPs spent five hours debating Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, before voting in favour of legalising the Bill.The legislation would allow adults aged 18 and over in England and Wales, who are mentally capable, terminally ill, and in the final six months of their lives, to seek medical assistance to end their life.An exclusive poll conducted by The Telegraph showed that 61 per cent of more than 40,000 readers thought the Bill should not be passed....
The Telegraph •

‘Labour will cripple our family business – despite us paying £11m in taxes last year’

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced a number of tax changes that sound the death knell for many family businesses across the country, undermining the Government’s growth agenda.From Rachel Reeves’s decision to tighten inheritance tax relief on business property to increases in capital gains tax (CGT) and employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs), we’ve spoken to readers about the damaging effects the Chancellor’s reforms will have on their businesses.‘We paid £11m in taxes last year...
The Telegraph •

‘This farmers’ IHT raid is not socialism, it is crony capitalism’

The farmers’ rally in London on Tuesday was met by a wave of support from Telegraph readers, some of whom travelled cross-country to attend the protest, including non-farmers.Since the protest, readers have got in touch to describe how their family farms will be affected, with concerns they could have to stop farming altogether. Many were fearful that they would have to sell their land to foot the bill when relatives die.The UK’s farming community was left reeling after Labour announced that far...
The Telegraph •

‘I agree with my wife Trump isn’t likeable, but his policies are stronger’

Throughout the US election campaign, The Telegraph has spoken to four American families who disagree on who should be taking up residency in the White House – Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.These Telegraph readers first spoke to us in March – when Joe Biden, the US president, was still running for a second term – to reveal which key policy they differed most on, with answers ranging from immigration to abortion rights to support for Ukraine.Over the past seven months, the families have said wheth...
The Telegraph •

Telegraph readers on Kemi Badenoch’s victory: ‘She will give Starmer a headache’

On July 5, former prime minister Rishi Sunak announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Conservatives.Six candidates entered the race to become the next party leader: Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. On Saturday, Mrs Badenoch has been chosen as the face of the party’s future.Mrs Badenoch now confronts the dual task of uniting a party that has been marred by in-fighting over the past three years and reviving the Tories’s electoral...
The Telegraph •

Telegraph readers on Kemi Badenoch’s victory: ‘She will give Starmer a headache’

On July 5, former prime minister Rishi Sunak announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Conservatives.Six candidates entered the race to become the next party leader: Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch. On Saturday, Mrs Badenoch has been chosen as the face of the party’s future.Mrs Badenoch now confronts the dual task of uniting a party that has been marred by in-fighting over the past three years and reviving the Tories’s electoral...
The Telegraph •

‘It’s not that a gin and tonic is common – it’s if the tonic isn’t Fever Tree’

After Lady Glenconnor, the former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, recently declared that the use of fish knives is distinctively middle class, William Hanson, an etiquette expert, revealed the other telltale signs that you are “common”. In response, thousands of you Telegraph readers wrote in with your own. For Nicholas Swann, it’s “saying to a customer, ‘alright my lovely’, rather than, ‘good morning, Sir’”.Meanwhile, Ali Heyes, weighed in, saying: “Buttering a whole bread roll. It should...
The Telegraph •

‘Technology is replacing common sense’: everything Telegraph readers hate about modern cars

Most of us yearn for a simpler life, or at least one in which technology makes things easier. But when it comes to modern cars, it seems that the plethora of electronic gizmos has the opposite effect, with concerns that previously simple and intuitive functions of driving have been subsumed into myriad touchscreen menus and sub-menus.Not least is the concern for safety. While peering and prodding at a screen on the dash, the driver must avert his eyes from the road. But it’s also immensely frust...
The Telegraph •

‘If we have to pay at point of use, then that’d be better than waiting years in pain’

Sir Keir Starmer launched a “national conversation” on NHS reform on Monday, inviting the public, experts and staff to weigh in through a public survey and idea suggestion page, which the Government intend to use to help shape its 10-year health plan.As part of the biggest conversation on the NHS since its inception, the public was encouraged to suggest their ideas for reform – of which there were more than 800 within hours – and vote others’ suggestions up or down in a league table.In response,...
The Telegraph •

‘The old me would’ve stretched a bottle of hand sanitiser into ten drinks by diluting it with juice’

Gary Pattison, aged 50, had his first sip of alcohol at 17 years old. As an athletic teen, he prioritised his health over partying. In adulthood, Gary pursued a career as a firefighter, ensuring he stayed in peak physical condition to meet the job’s rigorous demands. However, a few years ago, Gary’s life began to spiral out of control.The sudden loss of his dear friend, a family member’s devastating health diagnosis and the harsh realities of life as a first responder took Gary down a calamitous...
The Telegraph •

Labour’s war on pubs: ‘We’re witnessing an Orwell’s Animal Farm re-enactment’

First, a proposed ban on smoking in pub gardens. Now, landlords could be forced to close their doors early. What will be next in Labour’s “war on pubs”?Last month, Sir Keir Starmer said the Government could ban smoking in pub gardens, arguing that the move would reduce the burden on the NHS.Sir Keir said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS, and of cour...
The Telegraph •

‘Poor weather, filthy cities and rip-off prices’: What’s wrong with Britain, according to readers

When you imagine a holiday in Britain, you might picture scones and jam in a charming tearoom, cobbled streets and village greens, old-fashioned seaside towns with wooden piers and sandy beaches. But then you check the news. Headlines about sewage, knife crime, chaos on the railways and skyrocketing costs and suddenly your idyllic getaway doesn’t seem so appealing. Perhaps the Med might be a better bet, after all...The Telegraph’s destination expert Chris Moss recently responded to the news that...
The Telegraph •

‘A player who made us dream’: Telegraph readers’ ode to Andy Murray

Last night, an emotional Andy Murray expressed gratitude for “going out on my own terms” after the curtain came down on his magnificent nineteen-year career, before joking that he “never even liked tennis anyway”.Britain’s greatest-ever tennis player set numerous records during arguably the most competitive era in men’s tennis, including winning three Grand Slam singles titles, two Olympic Gold medals, leading his country to Davis Cup success and achieving the World No-1 ranking.However,  it was...
The Telegraph •

‘We were treated like criminals’: Telegraph readers on their A&E experiences

Last week, Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson found herself in “a scene from the third world.” After being taken to A&E in an ambulance due to debilitating chest pains, she witnessed our broken health service firsthand. Despite her severe condition, she waited in a wheelchair for over six hours to receive any pain relief, confronting a system defunct of kindness and efficiency.“No one loves the NHS any more; we just pray it doesn’t kill us,” wrote Allison.Allison is not alone in enduring long w...
The Telegraph •

The British woman who broke Three Peaks record fuelled by ice lollies

When Imo Boddy set out to become the fastest woman to complete the Three Peaks Challenge on foot, ice lollies would not have featured in her planning. As it turned out, however, the unexpected warm conditions she faced across the week meant they were key to her succeeding in the record attempt. “The intense heat left me dehydrated and suffering from heat stroke right from the start,” says 24-year-old Boddy. “Every single day was so unbearably hot that I was purely fuelled by a diet of ice cream,
The Telegraph •

‘Don’t wallow in self-pity, instead help others’: Telegraph readers on how to combat loneliness

The impact of loneliness on mortality is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, declared Dr Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, in a report focused on the latest global health epidemic last November. Despite living in a hyper-connected world, 33 per cent of adults struggle with loneliness. The problem is so prevalent, that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared loneliness a “global health threat” and launched the WHO Commission on Social Connection to fight it. Middle-aged people
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