The research also suggested racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland

Three in five people in Northern Ireland support immigration checks on the border with the Republic of Ireland, even if it means creating a harder border, according to new polling carried out in the aftermath of last month’s riots.

The More in Common survey, which saw interviewed 1,000 adults across NI, found 62 per cent backed border checks, while 71 per cent said the UK Government, Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive should work together on migration issues. Nationalist voters were almost evenly split, with 45 per cent supporting checks and 44 per cent preferring to keep the border open as it is.

The research, conducted a month after the disorder erupted across parts of Belfast and Northern Ireland in the wake of the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, also found immigration is now one of the public’s biggest concerns.

Some 44 per cent of respondents ranked it among the three most important issues facing Northern Ireland, while 78 per cent said they were concerned about illegal immigration compared with 34 per cent who expressed concern about legal migration.

However, the survey also found strong public condemnation of the violence, with 62 per cent describing the disorder as riots rather than protests, 60 per cent saying it brought shame on Northern Ireland, and 77 per cent saying those involved did not speak for them.

The polling also found overwhelming opposition to violent acts committed during the unrest. Nine in ten respondents said setting fire to vehicles was unjustified, 87 per cent said attacks on migrant homes and businesses could not be justified, and 80 per cent opposed intimidating migrants into leaving their communities. Peaceful protest was the only action tested that attracted majority support, with 75 per cent saying it was justified.

The research suggests racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Three-quarters of respondents (76 per cent) described racism as a serious problem, compared with 73 per cent who said the same of sectarianism, while 68 per cent cited paramilitary activity. Six in ten believed racism had increased over the past five years, and half felt society had not done enough to tackle it.

Asked how politicians should respond to outbreaks of violence, 58 per cent said their priority should be reducing tensions, correcting misinformation and avoiding inflaming the situation. Just 4 per cent believed politicians should encourage public anger.

The survey also painted a mixed picture of public attitudes towards Northern Ireland more broadly. Nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) said the region feels divided, yet 60 per cent believed its best years are still ahead, and three-quarters said people generally look out for one another.

Conleth Burns, Associate Director for Northern Ireland at More in Common, said: “A month on from the riots, what’s clear from this research is that people right across Northern Ireland – from all community backgrounds – condemn the riots. People looked at burning cars, buses and homes and said this is not us, and this is not who we want to be.

“The same public in Northern Ireland that rejected the violence is worried about both racism, which people now rate as a more serious problem than sectarianism, and about immigration, which is a top concern for many voters and the top concern for unionist voters.

“We also find a depth of public concern about immigration in Northern Ireland. While the political debate seems to be stuck on whether legitimate concerns exist at all, the public are past that argument and asking what should be done, particularly on illegal immigration.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The long summer holidays can be an expensive time for families. The cost of day trips to theme parks or zoos or soft play centres quickly adds up.

Discounts sound like a good idea. So this summer, the UK government has slashed the VAT rate from 20% to 5% on admission to a wide range of family activities.

They’ve even given the policy a catchy name: Great British Summer Savings, and in theory, a family could save a decent amount.

If a business passes on the full reduction (they are not legally obliged to), the Treasury says a family of four could save around £20 on theme park tickets for example. The temporary discount, which lasts until September 1, also applies to children’s meals in restaurants.

According to other estimates though, the cut, which will cost the Treasury around £300 million, could be worth just £10 per household. So critics could easily dismiss the whole idea as a not very impressive gesture with an expensive price tag.

But the ten-week VAT drop is also designed to help struggling hospitality businesses, thousands of which were forced to close last year.

Wage rises and changes to national insurance and business rates introduced in April 2025 added an estimated £3.4 billion a year to sector costs. And against that background, a temporary VAT cut can make a difference.

It lowers prices and can improve cash flow by giving attractions a simple message to advertise: this summer’s day out should be cheaper.

But the policy also demonstrates a weakness in the UK’s “visitor economy” – the money generated by people visiting a place for business or pleasure.

Spending on things like accommodation, transport, and food and drink can be a key driver of local economic growth. But when it comes to encouraging visitors to enjoy British hospitality, the UK is not strong. It ranks 113th out of 119 countries for price competitiveness.

So Britain’s problem is bigger than being an expensive place to entertain children in the school holidays. And perhaps the whole hospitality sector needs either a permanent VAT reduction, or a better-targeted seasonal cut, to provide it with a long-term boost.

My research used economic modelling to compare year-round VAT reductions to shorter periods. It asked a straightforward question: does the extra business activity created by a tax cut justify the reduction in tax revenue?

Using an economic model to predict effects in the English county of Dorset, a popular tourist destination, the year-round options did increase tourism activity and employment. But the benefits did not outweigh the cost.

Targeting the relief from November to March performed better. It came much closer to breaking even and significantly reduced the government’s losses.

The central lesson was simple. Timing mattered.

Tourism and timing

The current scheme being run by the government is in place when demand for family leisure is usually strong. Some of the households now planning a trip to a theme park this August may well have done so without a tax cut.

In those cases, the policy makes an existing day trip cheaper, but it does not create a new visit. A lower price is more likely to change behaviour when attractions have spare capacity and families are deciding whether a trip is worth making at all.

Attracting people to a popular attraction in the summer holidays is not the same as persuading them to visit in the middle of winter.

During quieter months, hotels, attractions and restaurants have unused rooms, tables and space. Extra visitors at those quieter times can make a big difference. In peak season, the same discount may simply reduce the price paid by people who were planning to come anyway.

A ten-week summer cut will not fix Britain’s visitor economy. But it creates a quiet precedent: the government has accepted that the VAT rate can change when there is a reason to change it.

The next step should be a more strategic approach, one that supports competitiveness but concentrates relief where spare capacity and price-sensitive demand give it the best chance of creating genuinely additional visits.

The government should not limit itself to saving some families a few pounds on a summer day out. A more ambitious approach would be to use a well-timed VAT cut to persuade those same families to make a trip they were not already planning, to a half-empty attraction in February.

Fulham’s owner Shahid Khan said Arbeloa “built an exceptional case” for himself throughout interviews in June, saying: “I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our Club.”

My neighbour has put up a new fence and won’t let me paint my side of it. 

It’s making my garden look ugly and disjointed but he insists the wood needs to ‘breathe’. What should I do?

Name and address supplied.

Dean Dunham replies: I am afraid your neighbour is right on the fundamental point, even if his ‘breathing’ explanation is nonsense. The crucial question here is one of ownership.

If your neighbour erected the fence, on his land, then it is his fence and therefore his property, in the full legal sense.

In these circumstances you have no automatic right to paint, stain, alter or even attach anything to a structure that belongs to someone else.

Doing so without his permission would technically amount to trespass and criminal damage, however harmless a lick of paint might seem. So his refusal, frustrating as it is, is within his rights.

As for the wood needing to breathe, that’s not a legal argument, it’s a horticultural myth. However, it doesn’t matter, because he doesn’t need a good reason.

So, what are your options? First, check the boundary position. Look at your title deeds and any Land Registry plans. If the fence sits on your side of the boundary, or straddles it, the picture changes entirely.

That’s because of a longstanding rule that things fixed into the ground become part of the land they’re attached to. 

So if a proper check establishes that the posts and panels are sitting wholly on your side of the boundary, there’s a strong argument the fence is legally yours and that your neighbour has arguably trespassed.

But, assuming it is genuinely your neighbour’s, my advice is to work with the boundary rather than against it. 

You are perfectly entitled to erect your own fence, trellis or screening on your own land, immediately in front of his, provided it sits wholly within your boundary and doesn’t lean on his structure. 

Fast-growing climbers, a run of trellis, or hardy evergreen planting will hide the offending timber in a season or two.

Before you do anything, a friendly, non-confrontational chat is always worth a try, as you should always do all you can to avoid a neighbour dispute.

Council’s rubbish with bins can I get a tax refund? 

The local authority where I live is making a hash of bin collections. 

Can I complain about this, and can I opt out of the bin collections and get a reduction in my council tax?

G.W., Preston, Lancs.

Dean Dunham replies: First, the good news: yes, you can absolutely complain – and you should. Waste collection is a statutory duty. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, your council has a legal obligation to arrange the collection of household waste.

If it is persistently missing collections or generally doing a bad job, that’s a failure to deliver a service it is bound to provide. Start with the council’s formal complaints procedure. Put it in writing, keep a dated log of every missed collection or any other issues you experience with the collections and request a reference number.

It is also worth garnering support from your neighbours, which will strengthen your position. If you exhaust the council’s official complaints process, you can escalate the issue to the Local Government And Social Care Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman investigates maladministration and can recommend a remedy, including, in some cases, a modest financial payment for the distress and inconvenience caused.

Now the disappointing part. You cannot opt out of bin collections in exchange for a council tax reduction. I know that feels counterintuitive but council tax is not a fee for specific services rendered.

It’s a general property-based tax that funds everything from social care and schools to street lighting and libraries, many of which an individual may never personally use.

There’s simply no mechanism to itemise it or claim a rebate for a service you would rather forego.

So, complain vigorously and hold them to their legal duty – but don’t pin your hopes on a refund.

Persistence through the proper channels is your most powerful tool here.

As warm weather continues across the UK, a professional gardener shares essential July pruning tips to keep your garden blooming all summer long

As the warm weather persists throughout the month, gardens right across the UK have erupted into vibrant colour. If you’re keen to ensure your outdoor space looks just as stunning next year, it’s essential to invest the effort now.

Many of the UK’s best-loved plants will flourish even more abundantly with a spot of careful attention during this period — and with the sunshine streaming down, it’s an ideal opportunity to venture into the garden and tend to your cherished flowers.

Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Splash, has shared his expert recommendations for maintaining the garden this month and guaranteeing it blossoms once again next year.

He said: “As we head into July, the garden is truly in full bloom. It has been an absolutely fantastic year for roses, and with a little bit of careful maintenance this month, we can keep the spectacular show going right through the summer.”

Roses

During the warmer months, it’s vital to stay on top of your rose bushes.

Noah said: “Keep deadheading diligently. When a rose flower fades, don’t just snip the head off, cut the spent stem back to a healthy set of five leaves. This tricks the plant into pushing out another flush of gorgeous blooms.”

Wisteria

To manage the shape and flowering of your wisteria, now is the ideal moment to prune it back. Noah explained: “July is the perfect time for a summer wisteria prune.

“By now, it has likely sent out long, grabby, whippy green vines. Cut these unruly shoots back to about five buds to control the shape and encourage better flowering next year.”

Herbaceous Perennials

If your geraniums or other early summer perennials have completed their initial flowering period, now is an ideal opportunity to trim them back.

Noah said: “Cutting them back hard now will encourage a fresh foliage and a second wave of flowers.”

Sweet Peas

These blooms respond exceptionally well to frequent pruning. According to Noah, “the more you pick, the more they grow”.

He explained: “Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming.”

Topiary

Give your topiary hedges a trim now to refine their outlines and maintain their appearance throughout the remainder of the summer.

Fruit trees

If you’re fortunate enough to have fruit trees in your garden, you may have observed they can occasionally produce excessive amounts. This month presents an excellent chance to prune them.

Noah explained: “If you see large, congested clusters of fruit, thin them down to just two or three healthy fruits per cluster. This ensures the tree channels its energy into growing larger, healthier fruit rather than a crowd of tiny ones.”

They’ve only recently gone public with their romance, but it seems Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks can’t get enough of one another.

Pete, 37, looked enthralled by Olivia’s rock chick new look as they passionately kissed at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza on Monday evening.

Ever the gent, Pete carried Olivia’s £2,150 ALAÏA Le Teckel leather shoulder bag, while heading to their table, as she posed for pictures to document her ensemble. 

Olivia, 34, looked incredible in a simple white T-shirt with capped sleeves and statement PVC trousers, while sporting backcombed hair and heavy eye make-up. 

Her KISS co-host Pete showed off his tattooed muscular biceps while wearing a black vest, matching trousers and loafers. 

Showing off a new rock-chick makeover, it seems as though Pete, 37, couldn’t get enough of Olivia’s sexy new look

Advertisement

Pete waited patiently while holding Olivia’s bag as she had photos taken with a group of glamorous friends. 

Earlier in the week, Olivia finally addressed intimate pictures of herself with Pete on a boat that were captured in Ibiza last year. 

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. 

It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley Dack – who she split from months later, in January this year.

Talking to Olivia’s House, a Platform Media original show, Olivia said: ‘Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete.

‘Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on [Pete] on the yacht, but nothing happened.’

Olivia added: ‘Our friend Megan Elliot, who we love, we adore her. She is my second sister. She is my blood, my family.

‘But love her, sometimes, she is a couple of sandwiches short of the whole picnic. Sometimes she comes out with things, we go “Oh, shut up, Megan!”

‘So anyway, she goes, we’re in the middle of the ocean, right? And not posted anything for days.

‘There’s a catamaran, so if you don’t know what a catamaran is, it’s one of those boats that has two bits, and then the middle bit is like, it’s a weird boat.

Ever the gent, Pete carried Olivia’s £2,150 ALAÏA Le Teckel medium grained leather shoulder bag, while heading to their table

Pete waited patiently while holding Olivia’s bag as she had photos taken with a group of glamorous ladies

Advertisement

Olivia, 34, looked incredible sporting backcombed hair and heavy eye make-up, wearing a simple white T-shirt with capped sleeves with her statement trousers

Olivia and Pete looked hugely in love as they wrapped their arms around one another 

Pete couldn’t keep his hands off Olivia

Oiivia had a big smile on her face as Pete chased after her 

Advertisement

Another glamorous lady was seen taking pictures of the radio host 

‘She goes, “Someone is taking pictures of us off that boat! I saw a flash, it was massive”.

‘And we go “Shut up, Megan!” We were all taking the p**s. Someone is taking pictures of us. Who do you think you are? Jennifer Aniston?!

‘We were actually mocking her for it. And then she was like “No I swear!” We carried on about our business, next day we’re at the pool and I’m so hungover, I think I’m going to die.

‘I’m on the back. I’m on the bed, and she comes in and she goes “Told you.” And then she was going all like “I told you, I told you”.

‘She’s scrolling through and she goes “I knew it, I knew it. I saw…” She had her t*ts out.’

Pete spoke about their romance for the first time the week before, after the couple enjoyed a holiday together in St Tropez.

Pete discussed their recent PDA-filled holiday to St Tropez as their connection continues to heat up.

The couple were spotted sharing steamy kisses by the pool at the celeb-favourite haunt Nikki Beach club this month.

On a recent episode of his Staying Relevant podcast with best pal Sam Thompson, Pete opened up about the Mediterranean getaway for the first time.

He said: ‘It was delightful. Switched off from the world as much as I could.’

Pete showed off his tattooed biceps in his black vest and trousers combo 

Advertisement

The couple enjoyed a mini photoshoot as Pete grappled with Olivia’s hips 

He looked pretty pleased with himself as they prepared to head to their table 

Earlier in the week, Olivia finally addressed the intimate pictures of herself with Pete on a boat that were captured in Ibiza last year

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley Dack – who she split from months later, in January this year

Advertisement

She insisted that no matter how the pictures look, ‘nothing happened’ at the time 

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what ‘mistruths’ are as she claimed Bradley ‘lied and cheated’ during their relationship, and now she feels like a ‘f*****g idiot’

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete

Olivia took to Instagram Stories to joke about how she was on yet another night out 

Advertisement

She showed off a picture of a detailed look at the back of her trousers 

Olivia and Pete pictured on the yacht in Ibiza in August 2025

Sam, 33, couldn’t resist bringing up the pictures of Pete and Olivia smooching, which were taken by an onlooker staying at the same resort.

He asked: ‘Question, if you don’t mind, why I’ve never been locked in an embrace with you in a pool? I’ve never been in that position with you before, you looked so comfortable and relaxed.’

Deliberately dodging Sam’s question, Pete replied: ‘I had a very, very lovely holiday.

‘And do you know what? For me, obviously, you know, I don’t go on holiday. This year I’m on holiday, this is holiday mode Pete.

‘It’s very nice to get away for a few days. I must say, I don’t know what I’ve been missing for the past 37 years of my life. 

‘I’ve refused to go on holiday because I’m pathetic and think it’s a waste of time.

‘I’ve now decided that holidays are not a waste of time. Do you know what, we had a lovely time. We had lots of plans, we had lots of different things going on, we had a whole itinerary.

‘On the down day, got up early, sat by the pool, had a little coffee, I went for a massage.’

Shortly after splitting from Bradley, Olivia accused him of cheating on her multiple times. Despite their huge ITV wedding, they never made their union legally binding.

The television personality admitted on Gogglebox: ‘I didn’t think my first marriage would be amazing, but I didn’t think it would be that bad.

‘I’ve decided now I am going to get married a few times, or engaged, because I like the ring.’

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what ‘mistruths’ are as she claimed Bradley ‘lied and cheated’ during their relationship, and now she feels like a ‘f*****g idiot’.

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete.

Olivia wrote: ‘I have stood by Brad for the last ten years during which he lied and cheated on me multiple times. The breakdown of our relationship is because of this.

‘I was in love with him and the potential I saw in him and wanted always to help him try to be the best version of himself – as I did for ten years – covering up. Lying to my family and friends. Arranging therapy. Believing the grovelling apologies.

‘I of course now feel like a f*****g idiot. (Especially as more things come to the surface) I never wanted to say any of this. I find the whole situation utterly humiliating.’

Olivia went on to speak about the moment she decided to walk away from the relationship, as well as confirming her relationship with ITV is strong following reports the broadcaster was ‘furious’ over the fake wedding scandal.

She continued: ‘This January when I was confronted at the screening of one of my shows by someone reporting to me yet another night he had gone back with a random girl – I decided it was time to finally leave.

‘I’m not losing my job, I’m not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. Yes I’m dating.

‘Yes I’m getting up every single day even when I have cried all night to film the shows I love filming, record my podcast, record my radio show, shoot campaigns and somewhere in there TRY to move on.’

Oasis are reportedly planning an extensive UK tour next year and a triumphant return to Knebworth

Advertisement

Oasis are reportedly set to return to the stage next year, with sources confirming a series of shows in Manchester and Hertfordshire.

Noel, 59, and Liam, 53, are expected to retain the same line-up as their previous shows, including guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, 61, who was forced to take a break from the tour after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Sources claim the brothers will embark on a 12-date residency at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, as well as a record-breaking run of six concerts at Knebworth – which would surpass the record for the most times any act has performed there, reports the Mirror.

Fans have been clamouring for more following their Live 25 tour, which took the world by storm after a 14-year absence from the stage.

An insider told The Sun: “Oasis’ schedule is booked. It’s 12 nights at the Etihad over six weeks starting in June. They will then play Knebworth six times over a three-week period in September. Dates could be added but for now that’s the master plan.”

A source added: “Noel and Liam always planned for the tour to have a second run. There were discussions about announcing it during the World Cup because of the connection between Wonderwall and the Three Lions in this tournament. But they’ve settled on August.”

There is also speculation that further dates outside England could be on the cards, with Rome and Celtic Park in Glasgow among the potential venues being discussed. The band’s PR team and the stadium are yet to respond to the speculation.

However, Liam took to X to address an enthusiastic fan who tweeted: “12 night at the Etihad?”, appearing to confirm that Oasis would be performing in Manchester next year, while seemingly correcting the number of dates. The Don’t Believe the Truth star replied: “12? I thought it was 10 ffs”.

Following their triumphant world tour, in which the brothers wowed audiences across the globe with their greatest hits, Liam and Noel are now counted among the wealthiest individuals in the UK.

The Mancunian siblings joined the ranks of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney and the Glastonbury Eavis family on the Sunday Times Rich List, published in May.

The duo are reported to have accumulated a projected fortune of £375million in the wake of their hugely successful reunion tour – just £25million short of Emily Eavis and her family, the founders and organisers of Glastonbury Festival, who are listed as having an extraordinary combined wealth of £400million.

The Mirror has contacted the band’s representatives for comment.

Deputy minister for skills and tertiary education Cefin Campbell spoke with Sion Barry

University mergers in Wales are to be considered part of an extensive, independent review of the nation’s troubled higher education sector that will look at all options for the under-pressure sector.

Universities need “meaningful change” if the severe financial challenges they face are to be resolved, Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Cefin Campbell said in an interview with WalesOnline.

The minister also said tackling the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs – is a priority, while the new Plaid Cymru administration in Cardiff Bay could be open to setting a specific target to reduce their numbers.

The financial challenges facing the Welsh university sector have resulted in well over 1,000 job losses at higher education institutions across Wales over the past year.

Mr Campbell said: “It has to be meaningful change, as the definition of insanity is that you keep on doing the same old thing expecting different results.”

He said developing skills and trying to retain young people in Wales were all being considered with the aim of increasing productivity and contributing to a higher-skilled workforce in Wales.

He said the first major audit of the skills requirements of Welsh employers for 14 years, which is currently under way, will help better align support with the needs of businesses seeking to expand.

UK Government visa restrictions on family members of international postgraduate students, together with shorter post-study visas for graduates, have led to falling numbers of higher fee paying international students. This has pushed many universities into financial difficulty.

The market for international students is global, while Chinese universities are improving in international rankings and attracting more domestic students who might previously have taken up places at UK universities.

According to the latest published figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the number of international students at Welsh universities fell by around 7,000 in the 2024–25 academic year compared with the previous year.

The biggest decline in overseas non-EU students was at the University of South Wales, where numbers fell by just over 2,000.

While smaller institutions such as Bangor University, Aberystwyth University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David remain solvent, the latest HESA data show they each have little more than 30 days’ net liquidity.

On the challenges facing the sector, Mr Campbell said: “We recognise that our universities are facing serious financial pressures, and that is why we are committed to ensuring the system is financially sustainable moving forward, and that more of the overall value of public investment benefits Wales.

!That is why I have announced – and it was in our manifesto – that we will be conducting a review of higher education funding. It is a priority.”

On the size of the review panel, he added: My inclination is to have a smaller number rather than a larger group, because I think it’s easier to concentrate efforts with a smaller group focusing on really granular detail and coming up with some really far-reaching and radical proposals.”

But how radical could the panel’s conclusions be? Could they recommend mergers and universities focusing on building particular areas of expertise? Also, while there could be VAT implications, could new vehicles be set up to provide back-office functions across institutions?

Mr Campbell said: “Nothing is off the table, and our terms of reference will ask the panel to look at all kinds of options, including some of the ones that you’ve referenced, so that they have a wide scope to look at all the potential options available to making our university sector more sustainable.”

He was asked whether Welsh university management teams and their respective boards should shoulder an element of responsibility for their challenging trading positions, having pursued the overseas student market and, in some cases, taken on increasing levels of debt to expand campuses.

He replied: “So, you play what’s in front of you, and there were opportunities for universities to tap into that international market, and they did that very successfully until it basically changed overnight… and they couldn’t foresee that. “So there’s no criticism of them. Like any business case, it is a matter of how you spread your investments, and some have suffered more than others.

“My priority now is thinking ahead to where we take our universities because they are so important, not only as seats of learning, but also because of their work in research and innovation. They are anchor institutions in their regions and employ thousands of people.

“When you think of Aberystwyth, Bangor and Trinity Saint David universities, and the number of people they employ in rural areas, they are so important. So, we have to help them to become more resilient moving forward. There is no doubt that there have been a number of factors at play as to why our universities are under pressure. One of them is the change in visa regulations.

“Some of our universities in Wales, but across the UK as well, put a lot of their eggs into that basket, and now those changes have put their business plans under pressure.

“So this will be looked at in the round and it will be part of the panel’s work. Unless things change with an Andy Burnham UK Government on visa policy, we will have to play the cards that we have. The international student option might not be one that is a reasonable consideration in the future.”

He said he will be looking for the review panel to conclude its work relatively quickly. He explained ““I don’t want this to be a long process because we want to start implementing some of the recommendations as soon as we can. Some individual universities in Wales are teetering on the brink. They need support as soon as they can get it rather than waiting for a medium-term plan of action.”

If the panel recommends mergers, they would require buy-in from the universities themselves. Attempting to force any mergers could end up in a legal quagmire, and one only has to recall how the previous Welsh Government of Rhodri Morgan failed in trying to force Cardiff Metropolitan University to merge with what were then Newport and Glamorgan universities.

However, Mr Campbell said: “It has to be meaningful change, as the definition of insanity is that you keep on doing the same old thing expecting different results.

“It needs to be part of a wider picture as well, in terms of how universities can play their role in increasing productivity in Wales and contributing to a higher-skilled workforce in order to grow the economy.”

Part of Plaid’s higher education strategy will involve aiming to increase the number of Welsh students attending universities in Wales, as part of wider efforts to reduce the ‘brain drain’ and the negative impact this creates for the economy.

The minister said: “What I would like to see is more of our young people staying in Wales and enrolling in universities here because a recent graduate destination survey showed that about 50% of those who responded, who went to universities in England, stayed there.

“They stayed there to work and then obviously settled down there, and they don’t return to Wales. So, we know we are losing a lot of that young talent already.

“So if we could get them to stay in Wales and help build our economy, and make our universities more aware of our economic aims, we could align and create job pathways through further education, apprenticeships and higher education to help create meaningful employment.

We also need a scheme to attract those who are working in England at the moment, young graduates in particular, back to Wales by creating high-value jobs here.”

He is not advocating preventing Welsh students from studying at universities in England, while also recognising that English students who study in Wales often remain after graduating to work.

However, on the net brain drain out of Wales, he added: “This is a net loss that needs to be recognised. What we want to see is as much Welsh Government funding staying in Wales as possible.

“Now, we don’t want to deter any young person from studying in England. That is not the point. And there will be very good reasons why they want to go to England or anywhere else to study.

“But what I want to see is our Welsh universities becoming more competitive so that they can gain more of that domestic market than they are currently achieving.”

Plaid is calling for publicly funded UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding to be devolved. Welsh universities currently secure just under 2% of the billions of pounds distributed annually to UK universities.

There is an argument that they have failed to position themselves, including by bringing in expertise and research capacity, to ensure Wales receives at least a fair funding allocation in line with its share of the UK population, which is around 5%.

Mr Campbell said: “It is disappointing that Welsh universities don’t get a fair slice of that funding. There are many reasons.

“Some universities have aligned themselves to be more research-orientated, whereas others have concentrated on a broader spectrum of learning as opposed to research intensification. Universities are autonomous at the end of the day, and they decide what they think is best.

“I’ve had conversations with some universities that are currently thinking about realigning themselves to being something different from what they are now in order to try and reach out to a different kind of market.

“So all of these models will be considered by the panel. But I think we should have control over that UKRI funding, so it takes an element of UK competition out of it and creates competition within Wales that would allow universities to become more innovative and work with industry and businesses.”

As well as responsibility for the review of higher education, Mr Campbell’s wide-ranging portfolio includes skills.

On the rationale for the skills audit currently under way, which is being undertaken by Learning Skills Wales, the minister said: “The previous national skills audit for Wales was 14 years ago, so there is a gap in our data with regards to our knowledge of the skills needs of Wales.

“It will identify the skills we need now and in the future to grow the Welsh economy. I am obviously working closely with Adam (Price, the Economy Minister) on this.

“It includes identifying the sectors and roles where demand is likely to be strongest in the future.

Essentially, it will help us plan a skills system that responds to employers’ needs and, more importantly, the direction we want to take the economy.”

He added: “What we will then do is convene a future skills summit, and we are looking at dates in October where we will bring representatives from business, industry, further education and higher education together.

“I am keen that those experts create the skills system of the future with Welsh Government.”

Wales has a higher than UK average number of 16 to 24-year-olds classified as NEETs. The figure currently stands at 17%.

The minister said: “It is hugely concerning, and it is a priority for me and for this government. When you look at 17% of young people in that age group who are not in any way engaged with education, employment or training, it is frightening to think what will become of that generation.

“So it will be a priority for this government because we need to give it a strong focus in terms of prevention and early intervention. “The recent Alan Milburn report shows that one of the key factors behind why so many of these young people are NEETs is linked to Covid and the mental health issues around that.

“We need to work with stakeholders who provide welfare and mental health support to get those young people to take that first step back into training and education.”

Asked whether he would be keen on introducing a target for reducing NEET numbers in Wales, alongside the stated aim of reducing the Welsh productivity gap with the UK by half over the next decade, he said ““It may well be something we would look at, but at the moment we are trying to understand the NEETs agenda.

“We are working closely with Careers Wales because they have a key role in identifying and supporting this at-risk group of young people. But the target for us is to bring it down.”

He acknowledged that the financial cost of university meant more young people were considering earlier career pathways.

The argument had traditionally been that, over a career, graduate average earnings would outperform those of non-graduates, even accounting for tuition fee costs. However, this is now coming under increasing pressure, particularly for some non science-related degrees.

Mr Campbell said: I’’m really keen to allow young people to see what different pathways are available to them. “Let’s be honest, university isn’t for everybody. So personally, and for this government, I want to see more emphasis on vocational training and vocational opportunities.

“That goes right down to the 14 to 19 pathway model. I want schools, further education and training providers to work together far more effectively in providing a suite and range of options that are vocational and academic.

“But what is absolutely crucial for me is that there is parity of esteem between the vocational and academic routes, because we know there are different pathways into employment.

“Universities are one route, but apprenticeships are another pathway into employment. I want to make sure that young people are aware of all these different pathways and that we can support them in whatever choice they make.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press honored Breanna Stewart before the New York Liberty’s game Tuesday night for being one of the greatest women’s college basketball players during the Top 25 poll era.

The AP celebrated the 50th anniversary of the women’s basketball poll last season. As part of it, a 13-member panel voted for the greatest college players of the past five decades. Stewart and Cheryl Miller were selected as the top players over the past 50 years.

The UConn great won four straight national championships and was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four each time. She was presented with her trophy at center court by AP Global Sports Editor Josh Hoffner a few minutes before tipoff of the Liberty’s game against the Dallas Wings.

Miller accepted her trophy at the Final Four in Phoenix last April at the “The AP Top 25 Fan Poll Experience,” which was held at Arizona State’s First Amendment Forum in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Stewart couldn’t make that ceremony.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

White bedding can turn dingy fast, but there is one way to keep it bright and fresh

Maintaining white clothing and bedding in pristine condition can prove difficult. White laundry tends to show stains more prominently than other shades and loses its brightness far more quickly.

Daily use, spills, perspiration, and frequent washing can affect fabrics, making white fabrics appear worn. The good news is that with appropriate care, it’s entirely possible to keep whites looking fresh and bright for considerably longer.

This includes a range of natural techniques and the separation of colours from whites during washing.

On occasion, using a whitening booster can be useful for restoring whites without being damaging to fabrics.

One of my preferred methods for keeping white bedding bright is to simply dry it outdoors in the sunshine.

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays, which have a natural bleaching effect that can help whiten fabrics and reduce the appearance of yellowing over time.

Fresh air also helps to create a clean, fresh scent to bedding, making line drying a straightforward, natural approach to keeping sheets looking at their finest.

Moreover, drying sheets outdoors without tumble-drying is considerably gentler on the fabric, meaning they’ll endure much longer.

Advertisement

For optimal results, position white items in direct sunlight and ensure they are evenly distributed so the light reaches as much of the fabric as possible.

Rotating larger items, such as duvet covers and sheets, midway through drying can help ensure they dry evenly on both sides.

While sunlight is an excellent natural way to maintain white fabrics, it’s equally crucial not to expose delicate materials to intense sunlight for extended periods.

Lengthy exposure may compromise certain fibres over time.

For routine items, including cotton bedding, towels, and durable white garments, regular outdoor drying can provide a straightforward way to preserve that clean, brilliant look.

I’ve previously relied on Napisan, an antibacterial stain remover, on some grimy, lacklustre socks to eliminate persistent marks.

It’s a trusted solution for sanitising and tackling tough stains on baby clothes, but it can equally help revive whites.

Simply dissolve a scoop in warm water and allow your items, such as socks, to soak for one to two hours before washing. It’s also effective at preventing school shirts and white trainers from becoming grey.