The Station pub in Stockton has been given the go-ahead to transform part of a cobbled back alley into a small beer garden under strict time and noise controls.
The application, made by Paul Simpson, proposes using a 12-metre stretch of the alley between Alma Street and Inkerman Street for outdoor seating and storage for the pub.
According to planning documents, the area, which is currently described as “untidy and litter-strewn,” will be fenced off, with two benches for about eight people, and part used for a screened bin and storage space.
Stockton Borough Council allowed the transformation under delegated powers, making the decision on Monday, March 23.
Advertisement
The Station pub in Stockton has won approval to turn a ‘scruffy’ alleyway into a beer garden. (Image: GOOGLE)
The new beer garden can only open between 9.30am and 10pm daily and no amplified music or sound will be allowed in the area.
Council highways officers raised no objection to the proposal but recognised that the alley does provide rear access to several properties, and any gating must be settled privately between owners.
Environmental health officers initially objected, saying there was “insufficient information” on hours, number of seats and noise management.
Advertisement
Concerns were raised about the potential noise that the beer garden could generate, affecting nearby homes on Inkerman Road and Alma Street.
However, planning officials believe the limited scale of the development, access via the pub’s lobby, and the added conditions should keep any disturbance to an acceptable level.
The report from the planning officer described the external seating facility as an “investment in an existing town-centre business,” which will enhance Stockton’s evening economy and town-centre vitality.
Asked if she was worried about the impact of a potential leadership race on the economic policies she has been working on these past few years, she said: “Labour MPs have got an important decision to make today, but the numbers show that the economy is growing and that when we entered this conflict, our economy was growing strongly because of the decisions that I have made as chancellor, we shouldn’t put that at risk.”
Sometimes in the heat of an argument, tweens and teens might say things they really shouldn’t. They might’ve told you to “f*** off” or called you a derogatory term that made your blood boil.
“When your teen is shouting insults or swearing, it can help to remember that the priority isn’t winning the argument, it’s more about regulating the temperature of the interaction,” she says.
Advertisement
If your teen is dysregulated – which they likely are if they’re hurling nastiness at you – there’s no ability there to reflect, be empathetic or problem solve.
The therapist explains their anger is usually the visible emotion sitting on top of something more vulnerable underneath like shame, fear, rejection, overwhelm, embarrassment, or feeling powerless.
How you respond in this moment, then, is crucial as it teaches them how to handle conflict going forward.
How to respond when kids swear at you
Advertisement
The therapist suggests a calm boundary is “always more powerful” than a shouting match. That said, remaining calm doesn’t mean allowing verbal abuse.
“A parent could say, ‘I understand you’re angry, and you still cannot speak to me like that,’ before taking time apart to cool off and revisit the conversation later,” she suggests.
One writer shared on Medium how her son called her a “fucking bitch” one morning – and while she would’ve previously “lost it” and raised her voice in response (which often serves to escalate the situation), this time she didn’t.
“I just sat down next to him and said, ‘You don’t have to call me that. I’m just telling you how I feel.’ And then I walked away. No screaming. No breakdown. No trying to control his reaction,” she wrote.
Advertisement
To her surprise, as her son was leaving for school, he then apologised.
The parent added: “That’s when it hit me. The old me would have thought, I’m letting him walk all over me. I’m allowing abuse. But no. That wasn’t it at all. I set my boundary, I said my piece, and I let it go. And on his own, he realised his mistake. I didn’t have to force him. I didn’t have to control him.”
Pete English, another BACP-accredited counsellor who works with children in schools, suggests parents should try and work out what’s really underneath the word grenades their kids throw at them.
“Don’t try to reason with them at the time, but pick up calmly when they’ve calmed down,” he advises.
Advertisement
“Use ‘I feel’ statements when things have blown over. ‘I felt hurt when you said that I never listen to you. Can you help me understand when you don’t feel heard?’”
While English suggests a consequence may be needed (ie. “unfortunately your behaviour earlier means you won’t be able to go out later”), Jefferson is more of a view that parents should try offering space to reflect and open up opportunities for accountability.
This could be through apologising, repairing trust, having a conversation about what happened, or thinking together about how they could handle anger differently next time.
“Accountability is most effective when it encourages reflection and repair, rather than simply focusing on punishment,” adds the therapist.
Advertisement
“The repair afterwards is the really vital step,” she ends. “Repair after conflict reinforces the importance of your relationship while still upholding accountability, responsibility, and makes space for the reality that we are all imperfect humans navigating big emotions.
“Acknowledging your own part if you also became reactive can be incredibly powerful for a teenager to witness too.”
The most macho chefs may insist they can do pretty much anything with a single chopping board and the right knife, but in reality, almost all of them have at least one gadget they can’t live without that give them (and maybe you) the same reliably delicious results at home as in a professional setting.
Here seven of London’s top foodies share their kitchen essentials to elevate the everyday for as little as £4.
Jago Rackham, cook and writer
Veark magnetic rack system
The Veark magnetic rack system is something of a statement piece, turning the storing of tools into a wonderful work of art. I particularly like the way it blends practicality with aesthetics — adhering to William Morris’s useful and beautiful equation — which is something I feel strongly about. It’s modular so you can build on it. At any rate, in every shoot that’s ever been done in my flat, they’ve used a picture of the rack, so I guess picture editors do too?
Advertisement
Sub-Zero & Wolf warming drawer
Sub-Zero & Wolf
In a professional kitchen, timing is everything. You’re plating multiple dishes simultaneously, holding sauces, proteins and plates at precise temperatures. The Sub-Zero & Wolf warming drawer gives me that same control at home. It’s not just about keeping things warm; it’s about keeping things right. A rested piece of meat held at the perfect temperature, a sauce that hasn’t lost its consistency. It removes the chaos from that final 10 minutes before you serve, which anyone who’s cooked for a table will know is when everything can fall apart.
Mortar and pestle
My cobek and ulekan — an Indonesian volcanic stone mortar and pestle — is non-negotiable. I carried mine back from Indonesia in my hand luggage, and it was worth every raised eyebrow at security. The stone is rougher than anything widely available here because it’s basalt, and that texture is the whole point — no blender replicates what it does to a spice paste: that surface creates friction that tears and bruises rather than just crushing, which is what releases the essential oils properly and gives Indonesian spice pastes their characteristic texture and depth. It lives permanently on my counter, it’s stunning to serve food straight from. If you’re buying one here, skip the marble — look for the roughest, most porous stone.
Flexible Dough Scraper
Flexible Dough Scraper
Advertisement
I bought a bright blue pastry scraper for around £4 10 years ago, and I’ve used it most days since. It lifts and moves ingredients, portions dough, scrapes every last bit of sticky batter from a mixing bowl, cleans down surfaces in seconds, and does the job of about five “specialist” tools — it’s always on hand and probably the best value per use of anything I own.
Hannah Crosbie, Wine writer
Hannah Crosbie
I will keep banging the drum about Zara Home stemware until everyone has it. Specifically their ultralight crystalline range, which has zero business being this good. Lightweight and thin-stemmed, you can also buy them one at a time so they are easy to replace when the delicate things are broken.
James Cochran, Chef at Around the Cluck
Advertisement
Meateater temperature probe
It might make you look like you’re cosplaying on Boiling Point but a temperature probe is your secret weapon when it comes to being an effortless home chef. It makes for 100 per cent consistency of cooking meat — ideal for everything from the summer barbecues we shall be hosting, to checking your oil has come to temperature for deep frying for proper crispy results. You can get them as cheap as the chips you’re about to fry to perfection, but how nice is this Meater one from Borough Kitchen.
magimix
I first came across French brand Magimix while working in professional kitchens. I use it to make mayo, whipped cod’s roe and flavoured breadcrumbs for sprinkling over salads and crostinis. The 4200XL model is still my go-to food processor at home and gets pulled out of my cupboard multiple times a week when I’m recipe testing at home. It’s like having a helper in the kitchen and can make anyone a pro.
The man breached a court order five times, sending emails, flowers, and turning up at her local pub
A man from Cambridge who would not leave his ex alone, bombarding her with messages, flowers and breaking a court restraining order five times, has now been jailed.
Advertisement
Daniel Wilson, 38, of Neptune Close, Cambridge, was handed a non‑molestation order and a restraining order last year, both prohibiting him from contacting the victim in any way. But Wilson totally disregarded the court order and even approached the victim in her local pub, where he threatened her and her new partner.
In the first of five breaches, Wilson went to the victim’s local pub at about 7.45pm on December 12. When the victim confronted him, Wilson, who was holding a glass, turned to her and threatened, “keep staring at me and I will smash this glass in your face”.
On Christmas Day, Wilson emailed the victim, wishing her a happy Christmas. He later sent another email stating, “All I wanted for Christmas is you, but I never got it.”
In a third breach four days later, he emailed again, writing, “Tell me you’re fully happy with your life now and I’ll leave you alone.” He then sent a further message saying, “I’m getting you back if it’s the last thing I do.”
Advertisement
On February 5 this year, Wilson returned to the victim’s local pub. While there, he became abusive towards his ex’s partner, telling him “to watch yourself,” before cycling away.
On Valentine’s Day, Wilson sent the victim a bouquet of flowers with a card signed, “Love Daniel”. Later that month, Wilson was arrested at his home.
In an attempt to avoid further consequences, Daniel made a bid to encourage his ex-partner from continuing with her case. While at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge, he made a phone call to a relative and was overheard saying, “tell her to drop this.”
On Thursday, May 7, at Cambridge Crown Court, Wilson was sentenced to one year and four months in prison. He pleaded guilty to harassment by breach of a restraining order, breach of a non‑molestation order, and common assault.
Advertisement
A charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, and a charge of committing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice, were ordered to lie on file. Wilson was also handed a further ten‑year restraining order.
DC Luisa McCready, who investigated, said: “Wilson repeatedly ignored court orders designed to protect the victim and instead continued a sustained course of unwanted and intimidating behaviour.
“His actions were persistent, controlling and entirely unacceptable, and would have caused significant distress and fear. Breaching non‑molestation and restraining orders is a serious offence, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those who believe they are above the law.
“I hope this sentence provides the victim with reassurance and the space she needs to move forward and serves as a clear message that harassment and stalking will not be tolerated.”
When WCDG began in 1972, there was no residential property on the South Bank, says Ball, with River Court, 600 flats beside Blackfriars Bridge, the first development, followed in the 1980s by projects in Coin Street and the 1990s by County Hall. “The South Bank itself used to be wharfs with dense housing one block back from the river,” he says. “There was, and still is, 19th-century housing on York Road, Stamford Street and Southwark Street, plus council housing. In 1980, 65 per cent of homes in Waterloo were council homes with a further 25 per cent on protected rent. Much social housing around Waterloo Station has been lost. The area on the far side is still primarily social rent housing.” Council housing increases the further you head into Lambeth.
Two Boeing 747 passenger jetliners — KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 — suffered a horrific collision on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport, Tenerife, resulting in the deadliest plane crash in aviation history
March 27 stands as one of aviation’s darkest days, marking the anniversary of the deadliest air disaster in history, which claimed 583 lives and left a further 61 people injured.
Advertisement
The catastrophic crash involved not one, but two aircraft, and unfolded on the airport runway itself.
On 27 March 1977, two Boeing 747 passenger jets were involved in a horrific collision which resulted in loss of life on a scale never before witnessed in the aviation industry.
KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 met their tragic end at 5:06pm GMT amid thick fog on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Spain (now known as Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport).
Neither Boeing 747 was originally scheduled to land at Tenerife’s Los Rodeos Airport; both were bound for Gran Canaria Airport in Las Palmas.
Advertisement
However, a bomb blast at the latter earlier that day meant they were diverted to Los Rodeos, the only other nearby airport capable of handling a 747.
What happened on that fateful day
Los Rodeos, a modest airport more accustomed to handling smaller aircraft, was overwhelmed with diverted flights and had scant parking space for planes of the Boeing 747’s size.
To compound matters, KLM’s captain, Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten, was growing increasingly impatient with the hold-ups, as he and his crew were required to return to Amsterdam after depositing passengers at Las Palmas once the threat had been cleared.
Advertisement
The Dutch government had recently updated crew duty time restrictions, and a prolonged delay at Tenerife risked pushing the crew of KLM Flight 4805 well beyond their permitted duty hours, which would have resulted in significant operational and financial consequences.
Indeed, upon catching sight of the airport in Tenerife, senior pilot Zanten was heard saying: “I’ve seen postage stamps bigger than this place. Now we’re going to get boxed in here, goddammit.”
Zanten was undoubtedly carrying an enormous burden — he was KLM’s most senior pilot, head of safety and the airline’s chief flight instructor, his face emblazoned across the company’s advertising which proudly declared: “KLM. From the people who make punctuality possible.”
Zanten had opted to refuel the aircraft prior to departure, and it was the devastating combination of catastrophic miscommunication, treacherous weather conditions, and a full fuel tank that ultimately triggered the horrifying collision — with the now-defunct Pan American’s Flight 1736 still making its way along the runway as KLM Flight 4805 attempted to take off.
Captain Zanten mistakenly believed he had received clearance for take-off, sending the KLM aircraft hurtling down the runway at full speed, directly into the path of the taxiing Pan Am plane.
Pilot’s chilling last words
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recovered from the Pan Am’s Black Box following the crash captured the aircraft’s captain, Victor Grubbs, crying out: “There he is!” upon spotting the KLM craft’s landing lights piercing through the thick fog.
When Grubbs realised the KLM plane was hurtling towards them at full takeoff speed, the captain’s chilling final words were: “There he is… look at him. Goddamn, that son-of-a-b**** is coming!”, while first officer Robert Bragg screamed: “Get off! Get off! Get off!”
Advertisement
In a desperate bid to avert a collision, Grubbs applied full power to the Pan Am’s throttles and executed a sharp left turn towards the grass. However, by the time the KLM pilots spotted the other aircraft, they had already surpassed their V1 speed, making it impossible for them to abort.
In a last-ditch attempt to avoid a crash, the KLM pilots tried to lift off, resulting in a tailstrike instead. Although the KLM aircraft was briefly airborne, its fuselage carved through the Pan Am’s aft fuselage, obliterating it and tearing off the tail entirely.
The KLM 747 careered on and plummeted out of control 150 metres further ahead, sliding a further 300 metres down the runway, while simultaneously erupting into flames upon impact with the runway surface, igniting its full fuel load into a devastating fireball that took several hours to bring under control.
Advertisement
The catastrophic collision claimed the lives of all 248 people aboard the KLM flight, including all crew members, while 335 of the 396 passengers and crew on board the Pan Am flight also perished.
All 61 survivors from the Pan Am flight were seated in the forward section of the aircraft, with one survivor later remarking that being positioned in the nose of the plane likely saved his life.
Remarkably, all five in the Pan Am flight’s cockpit — the three-man crew plus two off-duty employees occupying the jumpseats — survived.
When KLM executives first received news of the catastrophic crash, they had reportedly attempted to contact KLM’s Golden Boy, Captain Zanten, hoping to send him to Tenerife to assist the investigation team, unaware that he was the captain of the flight involved in the accident and had perished in the crash.
Advertisement
The miscommunications and misunderstandings before the accident between the pilots, cockpit crew and Air Traffic Control tower prompted a comprehensive overhaul of international airline regulations, transforming them permanently.
Following the Tenerife disaster, air traffic controllers were mandated to use standardised English phrases and were required to make decisions through mutual agreement. In a significant advancement in crew resource management, guidelines were established which enabled pilots to challenge the captain with far less difficulty.
Marco Rubio’s reaction to Great Hall of the People ceiling goes viral
US secretary of state Marco Rubio appeared to praise the ceiling of the Great Hall of the People.
Video footage showed Rubio craning his neck to look up at the ornate ceiling, pointing towards it and gesturing animatedly while speaking with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth.
The clip quickly spread across X and Chinese social media platforms, where many users appeared amused by Rubio’s visible fascination with the setting – with some also jokingly noting that the US secretary of state remains under Chinese sanctions.
Advertisement
“Look at those lights – we should replace ours when we get back,” a Weibo user wrote.
Another said on X, “Let’s redecorate the White House like this when we get back.”
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 07:08
Advertisement
Trump exclaims ‘China’s beautiful’ after visiting Temple of Heaven
“Great place, incredible,” Donald Trump told Xi Jinping as the two leaders posed for photographs at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, with its iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the background.
“China’s beautiful,” Trump added.
The vast imperial-era complex, dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, was traditionally used by Chinese emperors to perform ceremonial prayers for good harvests.
China’s President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump talk during their visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing (AFP/Getty)
As the leaders walked through the historic site, reporters travelling with Trump repeatedly shouted questions about whether Taiwan had been discussed during the talks, but neither president responded.
Advertisement
Asked separately how negotiations were progressing, Trump replied with a single word: “Great.”
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:57
Trump and Xi discussed Ukraine, Iran war and Korean peninsula tensions
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump exchanged views on a range of major global flashpoints, including the Middle East crisis, the war in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean peninsula, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Advertisement
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:52
Trump is leaving Temple of Heaven after short visit
Trump has already left the Temple of Heaven after a short visit with Xi to the 15th century temple, with his motorcade seen rolling away.
Motorcade that is believed to be carrying U.S. President Donald Trump travels on Chang’an Avenue in Beijing (Reuters)
Later in the day, there will be a state banquet held in honour of Trump.
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:49
Advertisement
Asian shares mixed and Chinese stocks trade lower
Asian shares were mixed Thursday as investors closely monitored takeaways from Trump’s summit with Chinese leader Xi in Beijing.
The Shanghai Composite index lost 1% to 4,199.19. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.3% to 26,478.99.
Markets in Japan and South Korea were higher, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 up 0.2% and Seoul’s Kospi gaining 1%.Investors are watching for progress on the Iran war and US-China trade relations from the Xi-Trump summit, as well as possible trade deals on areas such as soybeans, airplanes and chips.
Advertisement
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:44
In pictures: Trump arrives at Temple of Heaven
The 15th century temple was Trump’s next stop after meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People.
The White House and Chinese state media said the leaders concluded their meeting after about two hours of talks.
Advertisement
The leaders discussed trade, Taiwan and other differences in the US-China relationship.
China’s President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump pose for a photo at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing (AFP/Getty)
China’s President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and US President Donald Trump (2nd L) pose for a photo with Eric Trump (R) and his spouse Lara Trump at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing (Reuters)
China’s President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and US President Donald Trump (R) visit the Temple of Heaven on May 14, 2026 in Beijing (Getty)
China’s President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven (Getty)
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:41
Trump declines to say if he and Xi discussed Taiwan
Trump said, “great,” when reporters asked how the talks with Xi went.
But that’s about all he said.
Advertisement
Follow-up questions about whether they discussed Taiwan were asked.
Trump didn’t answer as he posed alongside Xi for photos after they arrived at the Temple of Heaven.
(AFP/Getty)
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:36
Inside Trump’s billionaire entourage for Beijing as Elon Musk and Tim Cook join the President on China trip
President Donald Trump is being accompanied on his key trip to China by an entourage of the super-rich, boasting a combined net worth in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Advertisement
The list of tech and financial industry titans joining the commander-in-chief during his summit with China’s President Xi Jinping includes Elon Musk, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Musk posted from Air Force One on Wednesday that he was on his way to Beijing, and was pictured greeting dignitaries on the red carpet when the plane landed that evening.
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:33
Advertisement
Xi says trade teams produced ‘balanced and positive outcomes’
Behind closed doors, Xi said negotiations between economic and trade teams on Wednesday had reached an “overall balanced and positive outcome”, according to a readout by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
“China-US economic ties are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature,” it quoted Xi as saying.
“Yesterday, our economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes. This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world,” Xi said.
Facts have shown time and again that trade wars have no winner, he noted.
Advertisement
“Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right choice,” he said, calling on the two sides to jointly sustain the good momentum that they have worked hard to create.
The latest round of negotiations aimed to maintain the trade truce struck between Trump and Xi last October and establish mechanisms to support future trade and investment, officials with knowledge of the matter said.
Shweta Sharma14 May 2026 06:27
Advertisement
China’s Xi promises US business leaders greater access in Beijing meeting
Chinese president Xi Jinping told US CEOs accompanying president Donald Trump on a Beijing visit that China’s door would only open wider, and that he believed US companies would have broader prospects in the country, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
Xi met with the delegation of CEOs, including Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Apple’s Tim Cook in the Great Hall of the People, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Trump had said on Tuesday that he would ask Xi to “open up” China during his summit with the leader.
The World Cup final this summer will feature a half-time show for the first time with Madonna to perform alongside two other headline names at the MetLife Stadium
The first ever World Cup final half-time show will be co-headlined by Shakira, Madonna and BTS, FIFA announced early on Thursday morning.
Advertisement
The blend of music from Latin, pop and Korea is seen as a collaboration that best reflects sounds from around the globe. The World Cup final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
The artists for the World Cup half-time show were selected by Coldplay lead Chris Martin, who shared the line-up in a video on social media that featured characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets. He told Elmo: “It’s a chance to show how amazing all different kinds of humans are.”
Madonna is the winner of seven Grammy Awards with her music career dating back decades whilst Colombian sensation Shakira has won four herself. BTS was the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination.
Madonna headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012, and Shakira shared the Super Bowl stage with Jennifer Lopez in 2020. That concept, which is common place in the NFL, will now filter into football as North American looks to combine sport and high profile entertainment.
FIFA and Global Citizen conducted a trial half-time show at MetLife Stadium last summer during final of the FIFA Club World Cup, where Chelsea bat PSG. On that occasion it included the American rapper Doja Cat, the Nigerian singer Tems and the Colombian artist J Balvin. The performers sang from a stage that was built into the stands, but there is talk that the pitch could be used this summer, forcing a change to football’s tradition schedule.
Half-time during the final could therefore be notably longer than the standard 15 minutes. It would be the first time that the tournament will ignore the sport’s usual quarter of an hour pause to put on entertainment
Content cannot be displayed without consent
In last year’s Club World Cup final the half-time break lasted just over 24 minutes, rather than the 15 minutes that is set out in the Laws of the Game, as a result of the half-time entertainment.
Advertisement
Now that the plans are announced several of those involved in the final will need to make amendments to their usual strategy. Coaches will have to consider how they conduct team talks with the break now longer than usual. Those involved in sports science will have to consider how the extended pause will impact on players.
Broadcasters will have a longer half-time period, which will allter their programming and schedules.
Join our new WhatsApp community! Clickthis linkto receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Advertisement
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Angela Rayner has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the tax man – leaving her free to launch a Labour leadership bid.
The former deputy prime minister has paid the £40,000 she owed His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, who said they were satisfied there had been no tax avoidance.
Speaking to The Guardian, Rayner also refused to rule out standing in a Labour leadership contest, but insisted she would not directly challenge Keir Starmer.
Rayner said: “I’ve made it clear that I wasn’t going to trigger the prime minister – and that I want to see change. I want to see actions, not just words.”
Advertisement
Pressed on whether the prime minister should step aside for another leader, she said he would “have to reflect on that.”
She added: “I’ve said to Keir this is a really significant moment for our party and the country.
“The pace of change hasn’t been enough for voters to see, and also mistakes have really blown us off course and made voters doubt us.”
Rayner said she would “play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change” as she refused to rule out throwing her hat into the ring if a leadership contest takes place.
Advertisement
“Whatever role I can play, I will keep pushing and pushing hard because I want the people out there at the moment who are really struggling … to know that I’m putting all my energy into fighting for them,” she said.
Rayner was forced to quit as deputy PM last September after it emerged she did not pay the correct amount of stamp duty when buying a property near Brighton.
Pressure is also mounting on Andy Burnham to say whether or not he has found a Labour MP who has agreed to stand down to let him run in a by-election so he can return to Westminster to mount his own leadership bid.
Advertisement
Rayner told ITV that she has not done any deals with the Greater Manchester mayor which would see her stay out of any contest to allow him to run.
Ed Miliband is also thought to be considering whether he should run as the soft-left candidate in any race.
Cabinet ministers are also rallying support for Starmer, who has told allies he will not quit.
Under Labour rules, any challenger would need the support of one-fifth of the party’s MPs, which at the moment is 81.
Advertisement
As the sitting leader, Starmer would automatically go on the ballot paper, and has told allies he is determined to stand.
The PM spent yesterday meeting ministers and Labour MPs in a bid to rally support behind him.
Cabinet ministers loyal to the prime minister have also been in the Commons tearoom urging Labour MPs not to back any challenge to his leadership and “plunge the party into chaos”.
They said any contest would “paralyse” the government for months.
Advertisement
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed that the Force is assessing a complaint made in relation to the weekend’s policing.
One horrified mum said how her tearful daughter was nearly knocked to the floor when a mounted police officer rode his horse into the crowds.
The Bantams lost 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers in the first leg of their EFL League One play-off semi-final on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 8pm.
Just over 2,000 supporters travelled across the Pennines for the weekend’s fixture and tempers flared as fans emerged from Bolton’s Toughsheet Community Stadium after the game, at about 10pm.
Advertisement
Chaos at the Bolton Wanderers v Bradford City play-off match at the weekend (Image: UGC)
GMP, who have jurisdiction in Bolton, said at the weekend that a 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray and a 46-year-old man was detained on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
A number of fans have since reached out to The Bolton News sister paper Telegraph & Argus and raised concerns about the policing of the match.
Declan Holmes, a lifelong Bantams supporter, attended the game and claims “police caused all the problems on Saturday night”.
He said: “They were using their horses as weapons and abusing every ounce of authority they had.”
Advertisement
Claire Hickey, a 42-year-old school teacher from Eccleshill, took her 11-year-old daughter Scarlett to the match, as she does for every Bradford City game.
She claimed even before the crunch tie mounted police were “reckless in their actions, riding into oncoming traffic and screaming at traffic when they were the ones who were clearly not in control of their animals.”
Police allegedly used horses as “weapons” to separate Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City supporters after their play-off match at the weekend (Image: UGC)
This came to a head when video footage seemingly showed one officer on horseback stepping on another officer who was either detaining or tending to somebody lying on the ground.
It drew gasps from those who were watching nearby, with one fan remarking, “they’re knocking each other out now”.
Advertisement
GMP revealed today that an officer was seriously injured on the night after being kicked in the head by someone while making an arrest.
Both Declan and Claire raised a lack of segregation as the two sets of fans left the ground as a major issue.
Declan said: “No segregation after the game, just let all the fans mix, then decided to jump in with their horses to split up instead of creating a segregation from the off.”
Claire said all fans were “mixed together” and “for the most part, there were no problems” until police got involved.
Advertisement
She added: “I have brought my children up to have the utmost respect for the police force and for the job they do, but last night I think that all went out the window when one male on horseback nearly knocked my daughter to the floor.”
Claire claimed mounted officers rode horses into the fans to try to separate them.
Police allegedly used horses as “weapons” to separate Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City supporters after their play-off match at the weekend (Image: Declan Holmes)
She said: “One gentleman, an older gentleman, on his own, told the policeman to stop treating his horse like a weapon, he was not abusive nor threatening in his comment or manner, but the police man took offence and drove his horse into him knocking my daughter sideways and frightening her to tears in the process.”
At the coach park, Claire saw a supporter who was fighting and then tackled by the police.
Advertisement
She said he was thrown to the floor and then five other police officers got involved physically, which she said “was completely unnecessary and obviously riled those around.”
Claire added: “While I am not saying that the Bradford City fans were without fault, they were definitely not the raging hooligans they were made out to be.”
A spokesperson for GMP said: “Officers working at the Bolton Wanderers vs Bradford City match at the weekend arrested two people following an altercation outside the ground.
“One man was arrested on suspicion of affray and another was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
Advertisement
“An officer received a serious injury during the incident.
“For all sporting events, we implement a comprehensive policing service to ensure the safety of those in attendance.
“This includes specialist resources from within different teams across the force, and extensive planning alongside our partners.
“These extra teams and units are utilised where necessary to support operations and provide a further layer of security for the public.
Advertisement
“We are in receipt of a complaint with regards to the weekend, and this will be assessed appropriately in the coming days.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login