Daily roundup 25 October: Child refugees, homelessness, and maternity leave

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has announced that "several hundred" more children will arrive in Britain from the "Jungle" migrant camp in Calais in the next three weeks. The BBC reports that she told MPs they would be in addition to the 200 children that have already arrived since demolition of the site began.


The government has said that it will support a backbench MP's private member's bill that would impose a statutory duty on councils to help people who are in danger of becoming homeless. The Guardian reports that under the bill, councils in England would be legally obliged to provide free advice and support for anyone at risk of homelessness, regardless of whether they are deemed to be in "priority need" under existing laws. ?


Mothers of premature babies are calling for their statutory maternity leave to be extended. The BBC reports that the 52 weeks leave begins for mothers of premature babies the day after the baby is born, meaning women can lose bonding time at home due to spending weeks in hospital before being allowed to leave. MPs will now debate whether to allow a leave extension after a campaign by London mum-of-two Catriona Ogilvy. 


A man is to appear in court today charged with the murder of a youth worker. The Guardian reports that Jodie Wilkinson, 27, died in hospital after being attacked in Newcastle on Monday 17 October at shortly before 3.50pm. David Waterston, 43, of Hamilton Place in Newcastle is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court today charged with murder.