Bolton West MP Phil Brickell challenged ministers in the House of Commons, as Labour called on the Electoral Commission to investigate whether financial support provided to Mr Farage should have been declared.

Mr Brickell spoke during a Commons statement on strengthening political donations and foreign lobbying rules.

Phil Brickell said: “Given the weekend’s newspapers were awash with stories about the Honourable Member for Clacton’s financial interests, what assurances can the Minister provide me that the measures the Government is introducing will prevent people such as George Cottrell, convicted in the US of wire fraud, who we know has provided thousands of pounds worth of benefits.

“Or Bendello, who has been convicted for flouting American anti money laundering rules, yet has donated £4 million to Reform.

“From being able to pump tens of millions of pounds into British politics?”

The question came after Labour wrote to the Electoral Commission urging it to investigate reports that Cottrell, a long-time ally of Mr Farage, provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected to Parliament.

Labour has also questioned whether Mr Cottrell, who is based in Montenegro, was a permissible donor and whether the reported support should have been declared under parliamentary and electoral rules.

Mr Farage has denied any wrongdoing and said he followed the rules.

Phil speaking out in the commons. (Image: Parliament)

Responding to Mr Brickell, a minister said: “The reporting in The Sunday Times was clearly concerning for all of us in the House, and what I would say is that there are a number of agencies that I have set out in my statement earlier who deal with the regulation, the enforcement, and the potential legal action that may be necessary in cases that involve illegal behaviour.

“I’m sure that those organisations will be paying very close attention to the media reports over the weekend.”

The reports concern claims that Mr Cottrell recruited and paid three members of staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the 2024 General Election and continued to allow him to use a property near Buckingham Palace.

The Liberal Democrats have separately called for Parliament’s Standards Commissioner to investigate the reported support.

(Image: PA)

Parliament’s Standards Commissioner is already investigating whether Mr Farage should have registered an undisclosed £5 million gift from businessman Christopher Harborne.

Mr Farage has rejected the allegations nationally, saying: “I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against The Sunday Times.

“It’s now clear the establishment will stop at nothing to hurt Reform.

“We want to smash their cosy consensus.”

The Reform UK leader has repeatedly said he was not required to register the reported gift because it was personal rather than connected to his parliamentary activities.

Anglian Water has said it cannot rule out a hosepipe ban this summer as Cambridgeshire faces another heatwave, but readers say fixing leaks should come first

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The prospect of yet another heatwave has prompted Anglian Water to revisit its stance on whether to implement a hosepipe ban across the Eastern region. In June, the water authority released a statement confirming it had “no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban this year.”

However, the latest meteorological forecasts — which indicate another prolonged period of exceptionally hot weather this July — have compelled Anglian Water to reconsider its position.

Ian Rule, Anglian Water’s Director of Water Services said: “Although we’re not putting hosepipe bans in place at the moment, the situation is changing very quickly and we can’t completely rule them out for this summer.”

The forthcoming hot weather will mark the third heatwave experienced this year. Anglian Water suggested heatwaves could become the ‘new normal’ as the climate crisis deepens.

Mr Rule added: “Right now, we’re facing another hot spell, and we know we’re likely to see more of this weather this summer – not to mention the years to come.”

Several readers argued that leaks should be addressed first. Banallbikes writes: “They should repair all the leaks and we wouldn’t be short of water.”

Whynot2 comments: “As a lot of people are now on a meter, they pay for what they use, so why would they want to waste it?”

Welshknight thinks: “Nationalise it and scrap the bonuses and implement a pay restraint of 80k/annum. Sort them out.”

While over on our Facebook page, Wendy C comments: “If they actually got their act together and repaired the water leaks which I’ve seen several of, and 2 near to where I live, then perhaps that might just help save water.”

Mark D says: “What after how much water has gone up, you must be joking, build more reservoirs with the profits.”

Clare D mentions: “The water that comes out of our taps is grey water anyway, it’s full of chemicals and other nasties. Why are they not sourcing water from underground springs rather than giving us recycled water?”

Darren S asks: “Why are the car washers still using tens of thousands of gallons of fresh water to wash dusty cars every day if there are shortages.”

Claire P writes: “Maybe they need to start planning for the future. When was the last reservoir built? Didn’t we have a wet match? How much do the shareholders get when we have so many leaks?”

Georgina C feels: “Until they fix the 6 or so leaks I drive past daily, and have for weeks/months, I doubt many will adhere to it.”

De Havilland Mark believes: “Weather has nothing to do with the water shortage, stop building 1000s of new houses and no new reservoirs.”

Leon E remarks: “Okay, I will put a water bill ban on then.”

Do you believe that hosepipe bans are good for the environment? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

Manchester United are keen to snap up Andrey Santos from Chelsea, having agreed a deal for Ederson, amid ongoing links with Aurelien Tchouameni, Alex Scott, Felix Nmecha and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Man City are also keen on Bouaddi. Chelsea remain in talks to sign Maxence Lacroix and Pep Chavarria, but a deal for Granit Xhaka looks very tough to do. Tyrique George is set to join Everton permanently for £22million.

Jannik Sinner is the master of timing. Not just of a tennis shot, but how to make your way through to the latter stages of a major tournament. Do what is necessary, do not waste your energy, keep improving and get ready for the serious opposition. He even appears as though he has learned how to handle the heat.

After his unfortunate exit at the French Open, when the heatwave left him floundering against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the defending champion progressed to the semi-final stage once again here, having apparently barely broken sweat. And this on a day when Jan-Lennard Struff, his hefty-serving German opponent, appeared to have had a bucket of water poured over his head within moments of arriving on a baking hot No 1 Court. But that is what winners do: they do not sweat the small stuff.

For Struff, on the other hand, this was a rare moment in the sun. Since a glorious season in 2018 when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the semi-finals at the US Open, this is the furthest the veteran German has gone in a major tournament. You could tell he was playing at a different level to his Italian opponent by a glance at the two players’ support teams up in the stands.

Sinner’s team – uniformed in identical kit of lime green shirts and blue peaked caps – moved as one, leaping to their feet in synchronised togetherness at every winner by their man. They looked, in their coordination, like the devotees of some weird sect. Struff’s bench, in contrast, was made up entirely of his mates from down the bierkeller. It is what comes, presumably, as the reward for being No 1 in the world as opposed to number 74.

Still, whatever the gap in remuneration, at 36 Struff looked keen to make a statement, his blunderbuss serve registering at more than 135mph, being in full bloom. In the first set the pair exchanged services, Struff usually dispatching his in double quick time, Sinner making harder work of things, three times being taken to deuce, often after making an entirely unforced error.

But here is the thing. Struff was not able to take advantage of his opponent’s early mistakes. Sinner may have faltered, but he never let the other man take advantage. It quickly became evident that Sinner was too wily, too experienced and too good. He knows precisely how to steer momentum, when to push ahead himself and when to put his foot on the throat of his opponent’s ambition.

So it was that he took the first set with a single break, then the second after a tie-break. He looked, as he steered things in his direction, as if he were enjoying himself out there. At one point, he waved back a fan who was shouting out their unrequited love between serves. You suspect that, had he been losing, his response would not have been as charming. But that is a champion for you.

Ramon Logan, a father-of-four known as ‘Ray’, died on June 30 aged 42, two years after he was left in a critical condition following an attack during Euros final celebrations in Oldham

A murder probe has been relaunched two years following a brutal attack on a ‘devoted husband and father’ in Oldham. Ramon Logan, a dad of four, was left fighting for his life after the incident which unfolded following his night out celebrating the Euros final in 2024.

His assailant, Sebastian Jones, was subsequently imprisoned for the vicious assault in Oldham town centre. Jones, 38, carried out the attack at approximately 4am on July 15 2024.

Video footage showed the moment Jones emerged from a nightclub before approaching Ramon and striking him. The impact from the blow sent the victim crashing to the pavement, where Jones persisted with the assault.

Bystanders alerted police to the scene on Yorkshire Street, where officers found Ramon lying on the ground with severe head injuries. He was transported to hospital in a critical state, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Jones remained at large for a week while a manhunt was underway, before being apprehended in Bury and charged with S18 assault. After a three-day trial, Jones, of Dickens Street in Oldham, was convicted and sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Nevertheless, it has now been confirmed that Ramon, affectionately known as ‘Ray’ by family and friends, passed away on June 30 this year aged 42. A murder investigation has been reopened by Greater Manchester Police, though no arrests have been made as yet.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that a Home Office post-mortem examination has been carried out, with additional investigations under way to establish the cause of death.

In a heartfelt tribute, Ramon’s wife Charlotte said: “It is with a broken heart I announce the passing of my beautiful husband, Ray Logan, on 30th June. Ray was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend to many, and will be missed immensely by everyone who knew him.

“Ray was a part of so many people’s lives, and as much as we all have our existing memories to remember him by, it is heart-breaking that we won’t get to make any new ones. Ray never stopped fighting to get better for the last two years, all we can wish for now is that he gets the justice he deserves.”

Detective Inspector Andy Day, from GMP’s Oldham district, said: “We know how difficult and painful the last two years have been for Ramon’s family, and we are continuing to support them following his death last week.

“We have now launched a murder investigation, and are keeping his family updated as we progress our enquiries. We are assessing all available material and will be making further reviews in due course.”

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Geta Schian, 33, Geneza Dumitru, 35, and Sefora Mazarache, 27, were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, July 6, after admitting their roles in a series of thefts and robberies committed between October 2025 and January 2026.

The court heard the trio worked together to distract, charm and steal from lone women, with one of the victims being a 97-year-old woman.

The elderly woman was waiting for her husband to pick her up on Dale Street in Manchester city centre at around 3.30pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026, when Mazarache and Schian approached her.

As she rested on her walking aid, the pair held her hand before hugging and kissing her.

During the distraction, they stole her jade antique bracelet before leaving the scene.

Anyone who may have seen this bracelet is urged to contact the police (Image: GMP)

Earlier that same day, the three women also approached another woman waiting for her daughter on Oxford Street.

While two of the offenders spoke to her, a third acted as a lookout.

One of the women hugged the victim and attempted to remove a ring from her finger before the group fled after she shouted for help.

The court also heard that on November 27, 2025, Mazarache and Schian approached a woman walking home along Oxford Road.

After asking her to buy them food or give them money, they led her beneath an archway where one of them reached up her sleeve and stole a gold bracelet before running off.

Geta Schian (Image: GMP)

In a separate incident on October 9, 2025, Mazarache approached a mother walking her son to nursery on Meldon Road in Rusholme.

She complimented the woman and her child before grabbing the victim’s hand and attempting to pull a ring from her finger, causing pain.

She also tried to snatch the woman’s mobile phone before walking away as the victim screamed for help.

Geneza Dumitru (Image: GMP)

The three women were arrested on January 14, 2026, on suspicion of theft and robbery-related offences.

Schian, of Calbourne Avenue, east London, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for attempted theft from the person.

Mazarache, of Jessop Street, Manchester, was jailed for 38 months for attempted robbery.

Dumitru, of Dukinfield Road, Manchester, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for robbery.

Sefora Mazarache (Image: GMP)

PC Dombai, from the Neighbourhood Crime Team at Longsight, said: “We take reports like these very seriously. Our local police teams are committed to tackling crime and keeping the people of our communities safe.

“We hope this sentence sends a message that robbery will not be tolerated. We will pursue offenders and bring them to justice.

“If you see anything like this, please do report it to the police and we will pursue it with the greatest importance.”

Anyone wishing to report crime can contact Greater Manchester Police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Reform UK leader said he would stand again in the resulting by-election, describing it as a contest between “the people versus the establishment”.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Farage insisted he had “done nothing wrong” and denied breaking parliamentary rules or the law.

“I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law,” he said.

His decision comes after reports that long-time associate George Cottrell helped fund security and staffing in the year before Mr Farage entered Parliament.

Labour has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate whether that support should have been declared under electoral rules, arguing Mr Farage remained a leading political figure before he returned to Westminster in the 2024 general election.

Nigel Farage (Image: Jordan Pettitt)

The party has also questioned whether Mr Cottrell, who is based in Montenegro, was eligible to make political donations at the time because it is unclear whether he was registered to vote in the UK.

Mr Farage is separately under investigation by Parliament’s standards commissioner over whether he should have declared a £5 million gift from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before becoming an MP.

Under Commons rules in force at the time of his election, new MPs were required to register gifts worth more than £300 received during the previous 12 months unless they could not reasonably be linked to their political activities.

File photo dated 04/06/24 of Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage with George Cottrell (left) , as Mr Farage has a milkshake thrown over him leaving the Moon and Starfish pub after launching his General Election campaign in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Farage (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)

‘People versus the establishment’

Announcing his resignation, Mr Farage said he wanted his constituents to decide whether he should remain in Parliament.

“I’ve decided today I will resign as a Member of Parliament for Clacton… thereby forcing a by-election,” he said.

“I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions.”

He added: “This will be a people versus the establishment by-election.”

Nigel Farage (Image: Chris RADBURN)

The Reform leader confirmed he would stand again, saying: “I will fight to win. I will fight to continue the political revolution that Reform has started.”

Farage says media scrutiny was ‘the final straw’

Mr Farage said recent reporting about his finances and support arrangements formed part of what he called an “establishment hit job”.

He accused political opponents, sections of the media and state institutions of attempting to damage Reform UK as it continues to lead opinion polls.

He also defended the £5 million gift from Mr Harborne, saying it had been made on an unconditional personal basis and would help fund security after years of threats and attacks.

Nigel Farage speaking during a rally at the Holiday Inn Norwich North in Norwich. (Image: Chris Radburn)

Labour calls for investigation

Labour Party chair Anna Turley has written to the Electoral Commission urging it to examine whether the reported support from Mr Cottrell should have been declared.

She said: “It is now abundantly clear that Mr Farage may have not only broken Parliamentary rules, he may have broken the law.”

“Farage can’t brazenly brush this off as being ‘none of your business’ any longer.”

“He needs to own his self-inflicted scandal and prove he’s not been secretly breaking the rules and taking the British public for fools.”

The Liberal Democrats have also called for Parliament’s standards commissioner to widen his existing investigation into Mr Farage’s financial declarations.

Trump backs Farage

As pressure mounted, US President Donald Trump appeared to publicly back Mr Farage.

On Monday, Mr Trump shared an article on his Truth Social platform arguing that Mr Farage was facing the same tactics used against him during the 2024 US presidential campaign.

According to The Times, Mr Trump also telephoned the Reform leader to congratulate him on what he described as his political success in helping bring about Sir Keir Starmer’s departure from Downing Street.

Who is George Cottrell?

Mr Cottrell has been a close associate of Mr Farage for years and reportedly remains one of his advisers.

According to reports, he recruited and paid three members of staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election and has continued to provide the use of a property near Buckingham Palace.

Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick has described Mr Cottrell as “an old friend” of Mr Farage who has “no formal role within Reform”.

Mr Cottrell was jailed for eight months in the United States in 2017 after pleading guilty to wire fraud, having admitted attempting to defraud criminals on the dark web while posing as a money launderer.

What happens next?

Mr Farage’s resignation will trigger a by-election in Clacton, where he will seek re-election.

If he wins, he will return to Parliament with what he says will be a renewed mandate from voters.

If he loses, Reform UK would lose one of its highest-profile parliamentary figures at a time when the party continues to argue it represents the main electoral challenge to both Labour and the Conservatives.

Mr Farage continues to deny any wrongdoing in relation to both the parliamentary standards investigation and the latest allegations over undeclared support.

Wales U20s were unable to live with South Africa’s power in their must-win Junior World Championship pool match in Tbilisi, losing 52-31.

Wales showed plenty in defeat, going toe-to-toe with the Junior Springboks over the 80 minutes. However, it was the South African’s driving maul – with five tries coming from their lineout.

With South Africa’s age-grade side having won their last eight matches in this competition, coming out of this winner-takes-all clash with a place in the semi-final was going to take an upset.

However, this Wales U20s team is packed with talent. And they showed that with an astonishing start.

After 10 minutes, Richard Whiffin’s side found themselves 14-0 up.

First Caio James, having won a jackal penalty in midfield, found himself at the back of a driving maul to reach over after five minutes.

Then, minutes later, another attacking lineout saw captain Deian Gwynne put centre Steffan Emanuel through a gap to score.

South Africa’s power then took hold, scoring 26 unanswered points in the first-half as Wales’ discipline faltered, even going down to 14 at one point as prop Jac Pritchard was sent to the bin.

Hendre Schoeman, Ethan Adams, Siphosethu Mnebelele and Heinrich Theron all crossed for tries as the reigning champions moved ahead.

Risima Khosa added a fifth after half-time, before wing Cheswill Jooste was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Will Evans thought he had scored Wales’ third, only to have it chalked off for a knock-on. But it mattered little as Osian Darwin-Lewis dived over moments later.

South Africa’s maul brought them another score shortly after, with replacement Liam van Wyk scoring.

However, some lovely Welsh interplay saw Tom Bowen race over for Wales’ fourth.

Their opponents would again turn to their lineout, with van Wyk over for his second and South Africa’s fourth maul try just after the hour-mark.

Mnebelele would return to the pitch to grab his second, unsurprisingly from a maul.

The hooker was then sent to the bin in the dying minutes for a dangerous clearout, with Wales pushing for a consolation try at the death.

They would finally get that as full-back Lewis Edwards crossed, but it was too little, too late.

Wales U20s will now take on Australia as they move into the 5th-to-8th play-offs.

Wales U20s: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Rhys Cummings (Cardiff), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Tom Bowen (Cardiff); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Sion Davies (Cardiff); George Tuckley (Dragons), Tom Howe (Cardiff), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Will Evans (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester, capt), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons).

Replacements: Oscar Thomas (Bath), Dylan James (Ospreys), Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter), Osian Williams (Bristol), Alex Ridgway (Bath), Cai Gealy (Bristol), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff).