Rachel Sylvester

“Stopping breast cancer screening at 70 is crazy” - Labour peer Margaret Hodge tells me now her own diagnosis at the age of 80 made her decide to campaign for the NHS age limit to be raised observer.co.uk/news/politics/…

Excellent summary of the case for changing the threshold for jury trials. This is important stuff for us all and well worth a read 👇

Trials being set for 2029, judges mopping courtroom floors and victims denied justice - my piece for @ObserverUK on the crisis in the courts ahead of Sir Brian Leveson’s landmark review observer.co.uk/news/national/…

Kathleen Folbigg was convicted in 2003 of killing her four infant children and was labelled Australia’s worst female serial killer. Their deaths were initially believed to be caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but after the fourth child died, suspicions were raised.…

The lab detective: how DNA breakthrough freed a mother jailed for killing her children. Kathleen Folbigg spent 20 years in prison until Carola Vinuesa uncovered the truth in a drop of blood. Read more: bit.ly/4f5F5H1

The Lab Detective - how genetics freed a mother jailed for murdering her babies - my piece for @ObserverUK about our new investigative podcast series observer.co.uk/news/internati…

Murder, motherhood misogyny - how genomics is overturning miscarriages of justice particularly in cases of women accused of killing their children. The Lab Detective, a new investigate podcast from @ObserverUK, is released today. Do listen lnk.to/thelabdetectiv…

Great article @RSylvester1 on the special needs reforms that are leading the way. observer.co.uk/news/national/…

How to fix special educational needs provision, as the government faces another backbench revolt - my piece for @ObserverUK observer.co.uk/news/national/…

Ministers step in to save Teach First observer.co.uk/news/politics/…

The equivalent scheme for mental health social workers @ThinkAheadMH has been axed. The 2025-26 intake will be the last.

Penniless and homeless, Raynor and Moth Winn found fame with The Salt Path: the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. It became a global bestseller and was adapted into a major film. But we can reveal it wasn’t the whole truth. @chloehadj Read: bit.ly/3GtJXsy

“We need to bring people with us a bit more in future. We need to tell a better story about what we are doing and how we are doing it,” one cabinet minister says. @CatNeilan and I report on the fallout from another difficult week for the government observer.co.uk/news/politics/…

A sign of how bitter and brutal the assisted dying debate has become - MP denied communion by priest for backing the bill observer.co.uk/news/politics/…