​Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has softened her stance on proposals for the introduction of a new levy on overnight stays in North Yorkshire, which has been described as a “game changer” by the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith.

​Mr Skaith has suggested that a “modest levy” on 41 million annual visitors to the region could raise £50 million for York and North Yorkshire to “turbocharge investment”, but hoteliers have expressed “deep concern” about its potential impact on businesses.

​Labour’s Ms Hume previously said that “local coastal communities absolutely should benefit from a simple tourist tax.”

​However, on Tuesday, June 2, the MP said she was yet to be convinced on how it would work on the coast.

​Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), she said: “I’m having conversations with Mayor David Skaith about how the tourism levy will work.

“Whilst I think introducing a tourist tax is a great idea for York, as it’s a city which attracts a lot of international tourists used to paying tourist levies, I remain to be convinced on how it would work on the coast where domestic tourism is the lifeblood of our visitor economy.

​“Family finances are already squeezed and I worry that a tourist levy could be seen as a tax on the family holiday.”

​Ms Hume added that she would “also like to see a licensing system for Airbnbs and short-term holiday lets introduced at pace, so residents aren’t squeezed out or unfairly disadvantaged.

​“There’s a balance to be struck and it’s achievable.”

Alison Hume And David Skaith At Constituency Office In Scarborough 19.07.25 Courtesy Anttoni Numminen/LDRS

​It comes as the Government announced its first post-Covid campaign to promote national tourism with a focus on coastal communities.

​Mayor Skaith has emphasised that he will “work with local authorities, businesses, and the tourism sector as a whole, to really bring them all on the journey together and actually work out what we want to see from such a levy, how it’d work, how it’d be collected”.

​Last week, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for Open to Business, Cllr Mark Crane said that “a lot of businesses are very concerned about the introduction of such a tax and we want to make the mayor aware that there is a strong opposition from businesses who would be hit by the introduction of the tax”.

​The conservative councillor added: “That being said, it’s his decision and his alone to do it, and if he does it, we understand that some of that money will go to the Local Visitor Economy Partnership, which I sit on and officers from this council sit on and we would have some control on how it would be spent.”

​The Government’s consultation on the overnight levy closed on February 18 and responses are being analysed.

(Image: Newsquest)

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, who led the Met investigation, said: “Ahmed Ali Jama was a delivery driver, who had visited his home estate and was talking to an old friend during his shift. He was unarmed and defenceless as he was fatally stabbed by Hashani on the orders of Adaw, Ahmed’s cousin.

The Black Horse on Consett Front Street, is up for sale for £225,000, according to a listing on Rightmove.

The building includes the ground floor pub – with no suggestions that it will close – a first floor three-bedroom manager’s flat, and additional basement storage space.

In central Consett, the Black Horse is positioned directly opposite the town’s popular Wetherspoon’s pub.

The ground floor offers what is called “traditional ground floor trading accommodation” and is said to have an open plan public bar with a central bar servery and a games area to the side.

Furnished with loose tables, chairs, and bench seating, it provides seating for up to 40 customers.

The basement includes a beer cellar and further storage facilities.

According to the listing, the first floor comprises a manager’s flat with three bedrooms, lounge, office, kitchen, and bathroom.

Outside, the premises offer an enclosed beer patio and garden described as having seating for 25 covers. There is also a detached single storey outbuilding used for storage.

The Black Horse ‘s premises licence allows the sale of alcohol from 10:00am to 01:00am, seven days a week.

Fixtures and fittings, except specific items such as tills, IT equipment, leased and branded items, can be included in the sale.

The rateable value is listed as £22,000, estate agents Savills said although

The listing can be seen here: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/754381367089249.

Senate Republicans have greeted President Donald Trump’s decision to name Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of National Intelligence with either ignorance or opposition.

Pulte’s name was a shock. Aside from the fact that he lacks any real qualifications, there’s also the fact that for the past year, Pulte has used his perch to go after Trump’s perceived enemies, such as Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

It’s just the latest sign that Senate Republicans’ patience with the president is wearing thin at a time when they should be unified to pass his massive immigration spending bill and to protect the Republican majority.

Trump announced the move on the heels of the Justice Department’s notification on Monday that it would abandon its planned $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. On Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told the House Appropriations Committee it“was not moving forward with the fund,” which had infuriated many Republicans.

It seemed like–to borrow a phrase from Sen. Susan Collins–the president had learned his lesson. But Trump’s decision seemed to cross yet another line.

And it’s coming as Trump has a contingent of Republicans who have an axe to grind after the president drove them out of a job. Known colloquially as the “YOLO caucus,” these are Republicans whom Trump drove out either through supporting primary challenges or forcing them not to seek re-election.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told a gaggle of reporters that “I don’t see any evidence of qualifications for that job, but I’m willing to listen.”

Cornyn remains understandably salty after Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary last week. The four-term Texas Republican lost his primary last week and now Texas’s Senate seat risks falling into Democratic hands.

Unsurprisingly, Sen. Thom Tillis, the unofficial chairman of the YOLO caucus, had the loudest criticism for Blanche. The North Carolina Republican announced last year he would not seek re-election after he opposed Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” and helped drive Kristi Noem out of the job as Homeland Security secretary.

“I had no idea he had national security experience,” he told The Independent. “I’m gonna have to look into his resume.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) told a local Louisiana First News that he had his own reservations, saying Pulte “doesn’t seem to be qualified.”

Cassidy lost his primary last month after Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow to replace him as payback after Cassidy voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6.

The reaction from Cornyn and Tillis symbolizes the changing attitude among Republicans compared to last year. Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard in deference to Trump’s re-election and to save his own skin.

Tillis voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense despite his own reservations toward Hegseth. And Cassidy famously sacrificed his credibility as a physician to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

But now that they are out of a job, the group is free to vote according to their conscience.

Combine that with Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who needs to break with the president to win re-election in a blue state, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose home state has ranked-choice voting, and that makes five out of 53 Republicans. That’s just enough to sink any of Trump’s major legislative priorities or nominees.

But it’s not just the YOLO Caucus and the Mod Squad who have reservations. When Murkowski’s fellow Alaskan Sen. Dan Sullivan was informed about the nomination, he said, “I don’t know who that is.”

This is poppycock. In March of last year, Sullivan voted to confirm Pulte to lead FHFA. But Sullivan is embroiled in a tough race against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola in Alaska.

For the past year, Trump has used his return to Washington as an opportunity to poke, prod and tweak Republicans, especially the older establishment types whom he felt were never fully on the MAGA train.

But he still has to work with them to get his agenda through and needs to present a united front against the Democrats. And after repeatedly antagonizing Republicans in the upper chamber, he might have pushed them to their limit.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes rolled through the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the Vegas Golden Knights picked up speed with each round before pulling off a shocking sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

That has brought them to the Stanley Cup Final for Tuesday night’s opener, with the Golden Knights chasing a second championship in four seasons while the Hurricanes are playing for the Cup for the first time since coach Rod Brind’Amour captained them to the 2006 title.

The Hurricanes went 12-1 through three rounds to get here, sweeping through Ottawa and Philadelphia before taking the last four games of a five-game win against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. That made the Hurricanes the first team since 1983 to reach the Stanley Cup Final with one loss, and the first since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987.

The Golden Knights — who surged after a late-season coaching change by firing Bruce Cassidy to hire John Tortorella — pushed past Utah and Anaheim in a pair of six-game series, and have won six straight games entering Tuesday’s Game 1 against Carolina after beating the Avs.

Defense has been the standout feature for both teams. Carolina has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 13 playoff games, including a shutout win in all three Eastern playoff rounds. Vegas allowed just seven goals in the sweep of the Avalanche, who led the league in regular-season scoring (3.63 goals per game) behind high-end skill like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas.

Vegas took both regular-season meetings with Carolina, first with a 4-1 home win on Oct. 20. Eight days later, Jack Eichel scored twice in the last 4:59 for a 6-3 win that included Carolina having multiple injuries that had them down to four defensemen for a significant stretch of the night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The NHS York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it was working to find solutions curb queues backing up from the site onto Wigginton Road.

A trust spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they recognised parking and congestion could be frustrating for patients, visitors and staff.

The issue and potential solutions including providing travel advice to patients and looking at visiting hours were discussed at the trust’s board of directors meeting on Wednesday, May 27.

It follows a petition from Labour Guildhall councillors calling for action to tackle congestion which was leading to unreliable and stressful journeys in the area.

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People shared their views about the issue on The Press website.

PsDsTsTsK said: “There isn’t a solution unless the hospital is rebuilt somewhere else.

“Let’s be honest- you can have as many consultations, meetings, and research projects as you like, the bottom line is that this city is overpopulated, and because of that, there are too many cars on the road.”

ChiefTired said: “You wanna try working there and getting to work on time.”

Joe Hebden said: “I have frequently seen blue light ambulances being delayed by traffic near the hospital, Gillygate and Lord Mayor’s Walk.

“It would be good to allow emergency vehicles only to pass both ways through The Groves using a rising bollard, or similar system.”

Gderek said: “Promote using Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride as one alternative, 10 minute regular bus journey to stop at Bootham Park, then a 10 minute walk through Bootham Park to the hospital, return journey from bus stop opposite the Churchill Hotel.

“Keeps more traffic out of the city centre and away from Wigginton Road.”

The issue of congestion near York Hospital is currently under review (Image: Mike Laycock)

Heworthgent said: “I guess no solution can be cost free but this is a major problem that with a little thought and some common sense can certainly be improved.

“First job is to make a lane for turning right into the hospital for traffic coming into town down Wigginton Road.

“Next make the entrance wider going in, so that traffic can flow to the main entrance as well as the car park at the same time.”

Mr Sensible said: “The fact that more traffic than necessary is diverted passed the hospital has to be a big factor towards causing the congestion.

“Wanting people to use alternatives is very well, but managing the volume that actually exists, must be faced.

“Blocking alternative routes is a ridiculous thing to do under these circumstances.”

Tony Fisher said: “The congestion has nothing to do with ‘alternative routes’.

“It is caused entirely by the queue of traffic waiting to enter the multi-storey car park backing up on to Wigginton Road and reopening through routes through The Groves would make no difference to that.

“Constructing a second lane inbound might speed up traffic flow into the city a little, but would not solve the problem outbound.”

Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to take over as head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot.

Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season and is the clear favourite for the role at Anfield.

According to a report in The Athletic,, external Iraola is set to sign a two-year deal.

Iraola has favoured short-term deals throughout his coaching career at Cypriot side AEK Larnaca, Spanish teams Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano, and Bournemouth.

The 43-year-old Spaniard is keen to bring Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, his assistants at Bournemouth, to Anfield as part of his coaching staff.

BBC Sport understands Bournemouth are yet to have any formal contact from either Elphick or Cooper regarding their futures.

Liverpool are keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and want a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.

Eleanor Tomlinson and Callum Woodhouse star in the tense new psychological drama

The Fortune viewers were unimpressed as the new psychological drama started on Channel 5.

The series follows waitress Amanda Blakefield, played by Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson, whose life is turned upside down when a solicitor turns up at her work to tell her she is due to inherit a massive estate from a man she doesn’t know.

She continues to avoid the solicitor but visits the man’s widow Fiona (Rebecca Front) and son Anthony, played by All Creatures Great and Small star Callum Woodhouse, who are furious and make it clear they plan to fight it.

Meanwhile, Amanda’s husband Jimmy (Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis) appears to be caught up in a mystery of his own as he keeps receiving mysterious phone calls.

As it got underway on Tuesday night (June 2), many viewers posted messages on X admitting they were not convinced, with some questioning the plot.

“Wouldn’t they phone her and ask her into their office instead of just barging into her workplace?” wondered one viewer.

Another commented on the platform, which was formerly Twitter: “How to sort out an unexpected inheritance: (a) consult a solicitor, and get it sorted out; or: (b) throw away the solicitor’s letter and barge in uninvited to a grieving family.”

Someone else called the show “a dud” and another viewer admitted: “Oh I really want to like this but so far I’m struggling.”

“This is absolute s***e,” insisted another viewer, as one posted: “Mrs Poldark the only thing saving this so far…”

“Channel 5 either do b****y brilliant dramas or shockingly bad am/dram… #thefortune is tipping ever so slowly to the latter… ludicrous,” said somebody else, as one viewer complained about the “exaggerated sighs” and “pauses”.

Meanwhile, a review in The Telegraph gave it just one out of five stars, calling it “rubbish”.

However, others thought the series – which was filmed across Hartlepool, Northumberland, Newcastle and north Yorkshire last year – had promise.

“So far looking good,” said one viewer. Another noted the stellar line-up, which also includes Denis Lawson, Stephen Tompkinson, Paula Wilcox, Danielle Walters and Nina Wadia.

“It’s got a really good cast too,” they posted. “Well known faves.”

The Fortune is airing on Channel 5.

Coach Charlotte Edwards will be delighted with the momentum England have gained and the quality of their cricket but now faces her biggest decision since being appointed as coach before the start of last summer.

Capsey hit a match-winning 74 not out against New Zealand last month but when Wyatt-Hodge was available for Saturday’s match in Bristol she was pushed down from opener to number four – a sign that Dunkley and Wyatt-Hodge were still the preferred opening partnership.

How long can that remain the case?

Dunkley, who has opened in all of England’s T20s under Edwards, made a start again, reaching double figures for the fifth time in a row, before hitting straight to deep mid-wicket. Her highest score this summer is 26.

Wyatt-Hodge has made 29 and five since returning after the birth of her first child but has the advantage of holding the experience of 179 internationals.

While Knight played a series of sweeps and reverses, Capsey, who looks fitter and more composed in 2026, targeted the straight boundaries with power.

She hit one glorious carving drive over extra cover for six early on and in the 15th over kicked for home by hitting spinner Sree Charani for a four and two thumping sixes.

Knight reached her fifty in 31 deliveries – the quickest she has reached that landmark for England in any format. She was unrecognisable from the batter who started the summer with five innings at less than a run a ball.

The next question is whether England can translate this performance into one under pressure on the world stage, something they have failed to do in recent years.

There are some new faces at the helm of our 11 local authorities

This week marks the selection of 11 new mayors and council chairs across our local authorities.

The largely ceremonial role of mayor rotates on a yearly cycle and is shared among the major parties in the chamber. It includes chairing Council meetings, attending civic and ceremonial events, welcoming visitors, and supporting initiatives that promote community wellbeing and local pride.

The Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act states that councils’ annual general meetings must take place in June during which new mayor and deputy mayors are nominated. It comes ahead of council elections across Northern Ireland next year.

While most council areas welcomed new mayors on Monday, selections will take place throughout this week.

Here’s our run down of the new faces selected so far to hold the top positions on Northern Ireland councils for the coming year.

Belfast City Council

The new Irish-speaking Lord Mayor of Belfast has said diversity will be at the heart of her message over the coming year.

Installed at the full council meeting on Monday evening, is Sinn Féin Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, a 30-year-old operations manager in the community sector.

A native of Ballymurphy in West Belfast, Róis-Máire has been a councillor for three and a half years, representing the Black Mountain District Electoral Area. In her coming term she says she wants to focus on young people, the cost of living crisis, the Irish language, and the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Róis-Máire Donnelly replaced DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly in the mayoral role. Alliance Ormiston Councillor Hedley Abernethy was appointed Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Derry City and Strabane District Council

Sinn Fein’s Cllr Grace Uí Niallais accepted the Mayoral chain for Derry City and Strabane District Council on Monday evening from her predecessor Cllr Ruairí McHugh at the Council’s AGM in the Guildhall. The new Mayor will be supported in her role by the SDLP Deputy Mayor Councillor Catherine McDaid.

Formally accepting the chain of office, Mayor Uí Niallais said pledged to be “a Mayor for All” and prioritise action on Violence Against Women and Girls as she outlined her priorities for the year ahead during her inaugural address at the Guildhall.

Antrim and Newtownabbey

Councillor Henry Cushinan has been appointed as the first Sinn Fein Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, with the DUP’s Councillor Alison Bennington appointed as Deputy Mayor for the incoming year.

Councillor Cushinan was also the first elected Sinn Fein Councillor in legacy Antrim Borough Council in 1985 and was re-elected to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2015 and 2019.

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The new Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alison Bennington represents the Glengormley Urban District Electoral Area (DEA) and has served as a Councillor from 2019.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Sinn Féin Councillor Mary O’Dowd has been formally installed as the new Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.

Elected to represent the Lurgan District Electoral Area in May 2023, Councillor O’Dowd described her appointment as “an incredible honour”. In her inaugural address, she set out her ambition to lead an inclusive and successful council that puts every citizen at its heart and champions fairness, opportunity, and progress for all.

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DUP Councillor Lavelle McIlwrath has been appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the incoming year. Elected to represent the Portadown District Electoral Area in 2019, Councillor McIlwrath previously served on Armagh City and District Council, having been co-opted in December 2013, a role he held until June 2015.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

Causeway Coast and Glens Council made history this week with female Mayor and Deputy Mayor appointments.

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The DUP’s Dawn Huggins is taking on the role of mayor while UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter, who represents the Causeway DEA, will serve as deputy.

In her opening Mayoral address, Councillor Huggins said: “To be entrusted with this role by my colleagues in this chamber is both a privilege and a responsibility that I accept with humility and determination.”

The Bann DEA representative takes over the chain of office from Councillor Oliver McMullan.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

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Two Sinn Féin councillors have been appointed Chair and Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council with Councillor Debbie Coyle nominated as Council Chair and Councillor Stephen McCann as Vice Chair.

The new Chair has pledged to champion equality, support local communities and raise awareness of domestic abuse through her chosen charity, Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid.

The Enniskillen councillor becomes only the fourth woman to serve as Chair since Fermanagh and Omagh District Council was established in 2015.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

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Alderman Thomas Gordon has been named as the new Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, while Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris (UUP), who represents Carrick Castle area has been appointed Deputy Mayor.

Alderman Thomas Gordon (DUP), who represents Bannside, takes up the role of Mayor from Councillor Jackson Minford who served as the Borough’s First Citizen during 2025/26.

Speaking following the appointment, the new Mayor said it was a great honour to assume the role: “Over the next year, I want to use this role to celebrate the people and places that make our Borough special, support initiatives that bring communities together, as well as champion the opportunities we have across industry, tourism and the environment.”

Mid Ulster District Council

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Dungannon Councillor Deirdre Varsani (Sinn Féin) has been named as the new Chair of Mid Ulster with Cookstown Councillor Eva Cahoon (DUP) named as Deputy Chair.

Originally from Armagh, Cllr Varsani also spent 13 years working in London and has been a resident of Dungannon for the past 26 years. She is a former teacher and vice-principal who has a long-standing interest in heritage, history, culture, sport and the Irish language.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Councillor Glyn Hanna (DUP) has been appointed Chairperson in Newry, Mourne and Down, with Councillor Doire Finn (SDLP) elected as Deputy Chairperson.

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In his inaugural speech as Chairperson, Cllr Hanna said it was an honour to take up the role and he was “proud and humbled” to serve as the first Unionist Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council since its creation in 2015.

Other councils

Ulster Unionist Craig Blaney is expected to be the next Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council. The Bangor Central councillor will officially take up his chain of office on Wednesday, June 3, at the council’s annual meeting.

His deputy will be a DUP councillor although the party has yet to announce who that will be.

Mr Blaney was deputy mayor from 2022 to 2023 and said the opportunity to be Mayor is ‘something very special indeed’. As a local businessman, Mr Blaney said he was keen to ‘shine a light’ on local business, entrepreneurship and town centre regeneration.

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Meanwhile Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council will select their new Mayor and Deputy Mayor on Friday.

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