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Facebook down as users hit with site unavailable message

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Manchester Evening News

The issue appears to be affecting the desktop version of the social media network

Facebook is down for users this morning amid a ‘site issue’.

The desktop version of the Meta social media network appears to be unavailable.

Users are being faced with the message: “Account Temporarily Unavailable. Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue. We expect this to be resolved shortly. Please try again in a few minutes.”

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The DownDetector website has shown a spike in searches for ‘Facebook down’ just before 9am this morning.

This article will be updated.

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Keir Starmer insists he wasn’t a failure as PM in farewell speech before heading to see the King… as Andy Burnham braces to become Britain’s seventh PM in a decade

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Keir Starmer insists he wasn't a failure as PM in farewell speech before heading to see the King... as Andy Burnham braces to become Britain's seventh PM in a decade

Keir Starmer insisted he has not been a failure as PM today as he heads to see the King and officially quit.

The outgoing premier has given a farewell address outside the famous black door of No10, just two years after winning an extraordinary election landslide.

Sir Keir said he was ‘closing the book on my time’, saying ‘my work is done’ and the country is ‘stronger’. He insisted Andy Burnham – who orchestrated a coup to secure the leadership – would have his ‘full support’.

‘I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything we have achieved,’ he said, thanking wife Victoria and his family. 

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Close Cabinet allies including David Lammy and Rachel Reeves had gathered with hundreds of aides in a sunny Downing Street to watch Sir Keir say goodbye. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was also present for the emotional moment. 

The departure will leave a vacancy that will be immediately filled by Mr Burnham, who will follow him into Buckingham Palace. He is the seventh PM in just a decade. 

But the former Greater Manchester Mayor is already facing a crucial moment as he names his Cabinet this afternoon.

The Labour Left is still clamouring for Ed Miliband to be made Chancellor, despite alarm from businesses and moderates. Markets have been calmer following speculation that Shabana Mahmood will get the role instead, but any surprises could prompt a panicky response.

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Meanwhile, the fates of big beasts such as Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper are due to be decided.

Resignations have begun, with prisons minister Lord Timpson announcing he is going alongside Sir Keir.  

On another momentous day in UK politics:

  • Mr Burnham has revealed his Alzheimer’s-hit father does not know he is going to be PM, as he vows to overhaul social care;
  • The new PM has hinted at an earlier end to the freeze on the basic rate tax threshold, without saying how it would be funded; 
  • Mr Burnham will become the first openly Catholic PM in around 500 years, with work-arounds put in place to protect the Church of England; 
  • Loudspeakers have been banned near Downing Street today after protesters blighted Sir Keir’s speech announcing his resignation.

Keir Starmer is giving a farewell address outside the famous black door of No10, just two years after winning an extraordinary election landslide 

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Close Cabinet allies including David Lammy and Rachel Reeves had gathered with hundreds of aides in a sunny Downing Street to watch Sir Keir say goodbye

There was a hug for Chancellor Rachel Reeves - also expected to lose her job - after the speech

There was a hug for Chancellor Rachel Reeves – also expected to lose her job – after the speech

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria got into a car to be driven to Buckingham Palace after his speech

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria got into a car to be driven to Buckingham Palace after his speech

Keir Starmer will officially exit Downing Street today – as Britain braces to find out what an Andy Burnham premiership means

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The handover comes barely a month after Mr Burnham returned to Westminster following his victory in the Makerfield by-election.

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He has been installed by Labour MPs in a ‘coronation’, without a formal vote by activists – or having to spell out any policies.

Among the vague commitments laid out by the incoming PM so far are devolving power away from Westminster.

He has announced he will scrap Sir Keir’s flagship digital ID programme to focus money and attention on the cost of living.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Burnham said he had already spoken to the Treasury about his planned announcements and stressed the importance of making people ‘feel better’.

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Adding that complaints about frozen tax thresholds had been ‘lodged in his mind’ since the Makerfield contest, he said: ‘So when people, they’re just characterising me as a tax raiser, well again, it’s never that simplistic is it? The breathing space point is a really serious one.’

The comments raise more questions about how Mr Burnham will pay for giveaways, after he backed a ‘land tax’ and harked back to the 1970s condemning Thatcherite reforms.

But the weekend was dominated by bungled briefing over whether the new Government will allow new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

The leader’s team has now confirmed he will stick to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which promised not to issue new licences.

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Instead he could merely allow expanded drilling at the Rosebank and Jackdaw sites – something that was being considered by Sir Keir’s administration.

That could bode badly for Mr Burnham’s relations with Donald Trump, who yesterday jubilantly hailed more drilling as a way of stopping Britain being a ‘poverty stricken disaster’.

Mr Burnham also faces a decision on whether to temporarily nationalise Thames Water as the firm struggles with a £20billion debt pile.

He has already expressed support for greater public control of essential services, and Thames Water’s main creditors have said they are willing to discuss the issue with his new ministers in an effort to agree a rescue deal and avoid the business falling into a so-called ‘special administration regime’.

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Another priority is likely to be reforming social care, which he has said is something he wishes to ‘expend political capital’ on.

The famous black door of No10 is given a buff up as the big moment looms

The famous black door of No10 is given a buff up as the big moment looms 

The Labour Left is still clamouring for Ed Miliband to be made Chancellor, despite alarm from businesses and moderates

The Labour Left is still clamouring for Ed Miliband to be made Chancellor, despite alarm from businesses and moderates

The fates of big beasts such as Angela Rayner, pictured on the campaign trail with Mr Burnham, are due to be decided

The fates of big beasts such as Angela Rayner, pictured on the campaign trail with Mr Burnham, are due to be decided

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Kemi Badenoch warned Mr Burnham he will have to cut spending instead of increasing taxes

Kemi Badenoch warned Mr Burnham he will have to cut spending instead of increasing taxes

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has urged Mr Burnham to engage other parties to solve the ‘social care crisis’, calling for guaranteed rights for family carers, a universal safety net and protection against ‘catastrophic costs’.

Kemi Badenoch has also written to Mr Burnham, saying her party will work with him to cut the welfare bill and calling for him to rule out tax rises and back new oil and gas drilling.

Mrs Badenoch told Mr Burnham she would ‘never shirk’ from holding him to account, adding: ‘You will enter office without having set out a clear plan on any of the issues facing our country.

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‘You have refused calls to come to Parliament for questions from MPs, and you have not submitted yourself to serious media scrutiny. This is not a promising start.’

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Official Palestinian X account mocks Argentina and Israel after World Cup loss

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Official Palestinian X account mocks Argentina and Israel after World Cup loss

The official X account for the State of Palestine has mocked Israel after Spain defeated Argentina to win the Fifa World Cup on Sunday.

Spain secured a 1-0 victory thanks to an extra-time winner from Ferran Torres, ending Lionel Messi’s final World Cup campaign in defeat.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made no secret of the fact that he had wanted their ally to take the trophy, saying on Saturday: “We support Argentina in so many ways, including tomorrow. I don’t hide that I’m rooting for Argentina. I think most Israeli citizens are rooting for Argentina. Good luck! Vamos Argentina.”

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also expressed his support for the country to win.

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The Palestinian social media account @Palestine_UN reposted a picture of Argentinian ambassador to Israel, Shimon Axel Wahnish, gifting Netanyahu a football and shirt on the day Netanyahu declared support for the team, with a picture of the Spanish winners and the caption “Campeones del Mundo” (champions of the world).

The image has since been viewed nearly nine million times at the time of writing.

Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates holding the world cup trophy alongside his teammates
Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates holding the world cup trophy alongside his teammates (PA)

Netanyahu and Argentinian president Javier Milei share a close relationship, with the Israel leader calling Milei a “great friend” of the country. After US-Israel attacks in Iran, Milei said that he was “proud to be the most Zionist president in the world”.

During Israel’s 78th independence day celebration in April, Milei said Israel and Argentina shared “unbreakable bonds for life, united by shared moral values”.

Meanwhile, Spain has been one of Israel’s most ardent critics with prime minister Pedro Sanchez openly accusing the country of committing a genocide against the Palestinian people. Israel has repeatedly denied it is committing a genocide.

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After Spanish player Lamine Yamal, 19, waved a Palestinian flag at Barcelona’s title parade earlier this year, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz accused him of choosing to “incite hate against Israel”.

Yamal’s actions led to murals of the player being painted among the rubble in the Gaza Strip as Palestinians took to social media to show their support for the teenager.

There has been growing backlash to Israel’s participation sporting tournaments following their military campaign in the Gaza strip, which has killed over 73,000 people and rising as the bombing continues.

In October last year, when Norway faced Israel for a qualifying match, the Norwegian Football Federation announced that all proceeds from the win would be donated to relief aid in Gaza. Palestinian flags were unfurled in the stands and chants of “Free Palestine” rang out.

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Netanyahu said he wanted Argentina to win
Netanyahu said he wanted Argentina to win (X/@IsraeliPM)

Israel participated in the World Cup qualifiers but did not advance to the play-offs.

The Palestinian Football Association has been pushing for Israel to be suspended from the tournament in the same manner as Russia was excluded following its invasion of Ukraine. It cited atrocities in Gaza, football clubs operating in illegal West Bank settlements, and discrimination against Arab athletes.

Israel also drew criticism after a Palestinian aid official who organised World Cup screenings in Gaza was killed moments before a highly-anticipated screening of an Egypt versus Argentina match on 8 July this year.

Palestinian artists paint a mural depicting football player Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag during the Catalans' title parade, on the rubble of buildings destroyed during the war, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City on May 13, 2026.
Palestinian artists paint a mural depicting football player Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag during the Catalans’ title parade, on the rubble of buildings destroyed during the war, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City on May 13, 2026. (AFP/Getty)

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor estimates that Israeli strikes have killed at least 894 Palestinian athletes since October 2023.

Other Argentinian players including Diego Maradona have expressed open sympathy with the Palestinian cause with the football legend declaring: “In my heart, I am Palestinian” in 2018.

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Santander to scrap yearly statement of fees with customers told to use online banking

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Daily Mirror

The yearly statement of fees shows any charges that have been paid over the past 12 months, such as overdraft fees or from using your card abroad

Santander will soon no longer send customers an annual statement showing them any fees they have been charged.

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The yearly statement of fees shows any charges that have been paid over the past 12 months, such as overdraft fees or from using your card abroad.

For example, Santander current accounts typically charge a standard variable rate of 39.94% for arranged overdrafts. The yearly statement of fees also shows any interest you may have earned.

This statement will be axed from August, but Santander says customers can already check any fees they may have been charged through online or mobile banking.

Your regular bank statements also show any fees or charges on your account. But in better news for customers, Santander recently launched a new regular saver account that pays 8% interest.

A regular savings account allows savers to put aside a certain amount of money each month in exchange for a higher interest rate.

The new Santander account comes with a rate of 8% which includes a 5% bonus for the first 12 months. After 12 months, the rate reduces to 3%. The rates are variable, which means they can be changed.

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Santander customers save up to £200 a month through this regular saver, meaning you maximum they can build up with interest after one year is £2,504, then £5,018 in year two.

Customers can make withdrawals without penalties, but only by moving the money to a Santander current account. The regular saver is exclusively available to all Santander current account customers.

It comes after the Spanish owner of Santander revealed plans to cut costs by more than 500 million euros (£433 million) by accelerating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Banco Santander said it is targeting more than one billion euros (£860 billion) in extra revenues and cost savings from AI by the end of 2028, with over half expected to come through cost-cutting.

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The savings are set to come from automation, productivity gains and process simplification. The lending giant did not disclose how many jobs will be impacted as part of the plan.

It is understood the group has not announced a programme to cut its workforce linked to the AI rollout.

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Ann Widdecombe murder suspect ‘had newspaper clippings about Nigel Farage and Reform UK pinned to walls in his house’

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Ann Widdecombe murder suspect 'had newspaper clippings about Nigel Farage and Reform UK pinned to walls in his house'

The suspect in the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe had pinned newspaper clippings of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the walls of his house, it was reported today.

Joshua Kerry, 28, was detained by police at his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on suspicion of the killing of the 78-year-old former Conservative MP, who was more recently a Reform UK spokesperson.

Police reportedly found a number of articles about the party and its leader Farage at his council house, where he had lived alone since the death of his father last year, during searches.

This is seemingly what prompted counter-terror officers to take over the investigation, after Devon and Cornwall Police originally said they had found no evidence Miss Widdecombe’s killing was politically motivated.

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The former MP and MEP was found dead at her home in Dartmoor on the morning of July 9.

Police believe she was battered to death a day earlier at around 12.30pm, just 30 minutes before she was due to appear on a Channel 5 programme.

Footage previously emerged of a man believed to be Kerry leaving his home just before 8am on July 8, with what appeared to be a long object sticking out of his pocket.

He did not return home until 6pm that night.

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Ann Widdecombe, a former MEP and Tory minister, appearing on TalkTV on July 8, believed to be the day she was killed

Footage shows a group of armed officers descending on the 28-year-old's property in Rotherham last Saturday

Footage shows a group of armed officers descending on the 28-year-old’s property in Rotherham last Saturday

A source told The Sun the clippings on his walls were about Reform UK, Farage and the party’s immigration policies.

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They added: ‘It would appear he had a profound dislike of the party, its leader and its policies.’

Kerry, one of three brothers, is said to have become more reclusive since the death of his father Paul Yates last year.

Neighbours this week described him as polite, ‘quiet and shy’, saying he would take the bins out for them or hold on to parcels on their behalf. 

‘While his dad was unwell, Josh would take him out shopping in his car,’ one resident said. But after his father’s death Kerry stopped working.

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The family are well-known on the Kimberworth Park estate, with several relatives having served in the military. 

Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday, July 11 after police swooped on his home. 

Courtney Foster, 25, who lives next door with partner Rayed Astle, 26, said: ‘We were in the kitchen and just saw the officers running up. Some were armed. Then they banged on the door very loudly.

Floral tributes outside Ms Widdecombe's home, including a framed photo of the former MP

Floral tributes outside Ms Widdecombe’s home, including a framed photo of the former MP

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‘They didn’t smash the door down because he opened it. They asked him his name, he confirmed it and they took him away.’

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Kerry was later re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Describing him, Mr Astle said that he had barely spoken to anyone since his father, who he had moved in with around a year ago, died last December.

‘He was someone you’d have a conversation with but that changed after his dad died. He became very quiet. He kept himself to himself and wouldn’t really speak to anyone,’ he added.

Relatives previously expressed shock at his arrest, with his uncle saying he was left ‘absolutely flabbergasted’. 

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He said he was in ‘total shock’ – but added that his nephew had ‘spiralled’ after the death of his father from cancer. 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood previously told the House of Commons that the arrested suspect was not known to Prevent, the UK’s anti-extremism programme. 

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Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister and announce his Cabinet today: Live updates

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Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister and announce his Cabinet today: Live updates

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Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister later this morning following his ‘coronation’ as Labour leader last week.

The 56-year-old – the first Northern PM since Huddersfield-born Harold Wilson – will be invited to form a new Government by the King later today, shortly after Keir Starmer travels to Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation.

Burnham is expected to use his first speech on Downing Street to set out his path for what he will call a ‘more stable and responsible politics’, and will reveal his first Cabinet appointees.

But he continues to face calls to stage a general election, having been made PM without a mandate – and faces a momentous challenge in trying to convince voters in the south that he is the man for them.

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Polling conducted for the Daily Mail reveals that, outside of his Manchester stronghold, many question Mr Burnham’s right to be PM after he effectively took power by stealth.

Mr Burnham may have sought to show he is the man for the south on Friday – after staging his first engagement in Gravesend in Kent.

His coronation comes just months after he was blocked from running as a candidate in February’s Gordon and Denton by-election, which was won by the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer, as Mr Starmer sought to hold onto the keys to No 10.

But the former Labour leader relented and the party’s national executive committee allowed him to run in the Makerfield by-election last month, which he won with an outright majority.

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Watch LIVE – and scroll down to read the latest updates throughout the day:

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All hands on deck at No 10

Preparations are well under way on Downing Street for Keir Starmer’s departure – and Andy Burnham’s arrival.

Cleaners were on hand to shine up the most famous front door in the world and sound engineer Tobias Gough – better known as the ‘Podium Guy’ – has been spotted ahead of Mr Starmer’s final speech.

It may be a single outing for him, however: there is speculation that Mr Burnham will not use a lectern to deliver his first speech on the steps of No 10.

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We’ve also seen the first of Mr Burnham’s new neighbours: Chief Mouser, Larry the Cat.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 20: A woman cleans the door of number 10 Downing Street on the morning that Labour Party Leader, Andy Burnham, will take over as Prime Minister following the resignation of Keir Starmer on July 20, 2026 in London, England. The Member of Parliament for Makerfield becomes the UK's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in June. (Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Veysey/Shutterstock (16994053d) Sound engineer Tobias Gough aka 'Podium Guy' Sir Keir Starmer departs as outgoing Prime Minister, Downing Street, London, UK - 20 Jul 2026
Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sits on the doorstep to No10 Downing Street as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Why can Andy Burnham become Prime Minister without winning an election?

The United Kingdom’s unique political system often perplexes observers in other countries, particularly where new leaders of Government are democratically chosen every time, without fail.

Andy Burnham’s ascension to the Labour throne – and subsequently, to No 10 – without any kind of mandate is, therefore, surprising.

But in the UK, the prime minister invited to form a Government by the King is simply whichever leader of a political party commands a majority in the House of Commons.

This is usually a single party but is, as we saw in 2010 with the Cameron-Clegg government, occasionally propped up with the help of another minority group.

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But so long as Labour commands a majority in the Commons, as it does now, its leader can effectively become Prime Minister without having to prove that they are what voters want.

And that leader is only really elected by their local constituents when they vote to make them their local MP – as Andy Burnham was when he ran in the Makerfield by-election last month.

Opposition parties are calling for Mr Burnham to call a general election now and prove that he has a mandate – but there are no signs he plans to do so.

But he will have to face the music eventually. By law, a general election must be held by August 15 2029. Like it or not, he must concede voters will eventually get their say.

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TOPSHOT - Labour candidate Andy Burnham waves to the crowd after Burnham wins the election for MP of Makerfield, at the count centre venue, the Edge in Wigan, northwest England on June 19, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)

Before Andy Burnham has even set foot in No 10, it is clear he faces an uphill battle to convince voters of his legitimacy.

Exclusive polling conducted for the Daily Mail by Survation reveals that voters outside of his Manchester home territory are unconvinced that he speaks for them.

In the South East of England, fewer than a quarter believe his rise to power has been ‘legitimate’, compared with 40 per cent who say it was not.

And 51 per cent of the 2,060 adults asked last week feel he should call an early general election, compared to 31 per cent who believe he can continue without securing a mandate.

Read the full story here:

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Good morning

Welcome to the Daily Mail’s live blog, as Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister later today.

In around an hour and a half, Keir Starmer will leave No 10 for the last time.

He will make the short journey to Buckingham Palace where he will meet King Charles III and formally offer his resignation as Prime Minister.

Minutes later, Mr Burnham (seen below this morning) will travel to the Palace himself and the King will ask him to form a Government – after which he will travel to No 10 and begin the tricky task of persuading voters across Britain that he can lead the country without a mandate.

Follow our live blog for updates throughout today.

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London, United Kingdom. July 20  2026 -  Andy Burnham, the incoming prime minister, is seen arriving at his temporary headquarter in Westminster. Credit: Tayfun Salci

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Andy Burnham LIVE as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to speak outside Downing Street for final time

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Manchester Evening News

Good morning.

Today, the UK is getting a new Prime Minister – the seventh in just over 10 years.

Andy Burnham has twice sought the Labour Party leadership, losing out to Ed Miliband in 2010 and then Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.

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But last week, the former mayor of Greater Manchester announced as the new Labour leader at a special conference on Friday. It followed the Makerfield MP emerging as the only eligible candidate, receiving 379 endorsements from his party’s MPs.

After weeks of frantic speculation, the so-called ‘King of the North’ has arrived in Westminster, ready to take on the top job.

Mr Burnham has spent nine years representing Greater Manchester as its mayor and quickly became one of the country’s most recognisable regional leaders.

He became, for many Mancunians, the public face of a city increasingly confident in speaking for itself.

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But now, as our editorial states, the crushing reality of national government begins.

You can read more here.

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Six nations are already guaranteed for World Cup 2030 in new FIFA format

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Manchester Evening News

The next World Cup will be even more different than the 2026 edition

World Cup 2026 is in the history books and the next edition of the tournament is set to see even more change.

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This summer’s festival of football was the first to be co-hosted by three nations. The United States, Mexico and Canada all earned automatic qualification.

There are also going to be a trio of host countries for the World Cup 2030. Spain, Portugal and Morocco won the honour to host the tournament.

However, three more countries will also stage a match. That’s to mark the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each play their opening matches on home turf to mark the centenary.

While the remainder of the tournament will be held thousands of miles away, they are also not required to navigate the gruelling qualification process in a special exemption to the standard rules. The World Cup 1930 was staged and won by Uruguay.

They defeated Argentina in the final, while Paraguay have been included in the arrangement as recognition as the home of CONMEBOL, the first and only football confederation at that time. The centenary matches will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June, 2030.

There will be a few days break before the tournament then gets started in Spain, Morocco and Portugal on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th. The matches involving the other teams in the groups of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will take place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th, and the second round of matches in that group will be on the following weekend to allow for travel time.

“The intended schedule will provide approximately 11 to 12 days for travel and rest before the second game of the six teams playing in South America, with approximately five to six days for travel and rest for the remaining six group opponents, and all other participating teams,” FIFA said in a statement published in March 2026.

“The three matches played in South America will be brought forward to a few days before the official opening matches of the FIFA World Cup, which will be played in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.”

This year’s tournament marked the first World Cup to feature 48 nations. Nevertheless, the governing body has been exploring the possibility of expanding the competition to 64 teams ahead of the centenary edition.

“When you organise a World Cup, it’s important that you organise it for the whole world,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Blue Sport. “It’s not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively.

“Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup. We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it’s getting higher and higher everywhere in the world. If you don’t give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.”

The World Cup 2026 allocated 16 guaranteed places to European nations, nine to Africa, eight to Asia, six each to North and South America (including the three North American host nations), one to Oceania and two to the winners of the intercontinental play-offs. Those play-offs were claimed by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, boosting Africa and Asia’s total allocations to 10 and nine respectively.

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Travellers set up camp on Moss Bank Park over weekend in Bolton

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Travellers set up camp on Moss Bank Park over weekend in Bolton

On Sunday evening, the large encampment appeared on the Johnson Fold side of Moss Bank Park.

This follows a swift removal of Travellers on the same park last week.

Within the encampment, there were washing lines, a quad bike, and what looked to be a group of approximately 10 caravans.

Bolton Council has been contacted for comment.

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(Image: NQ)

Its usual action is to serve a notice to leave the encampment within 10 days, or face a court summons, from a council officer.

This procedure has happened in other parks in the borough, including Longsight Park in Harwood.

Travellers also moved onto golf courses in Westhoughton this month.

Recently, new barriers have been installed at two entrances to Longsight Park, which follows an unauthorised traveller encampment earlier this year and ongoing concerns over antisocial behaviour.

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One barrier has been fitted at the main park entrance, with another installed at the Arboretum entrance.

The new measures come after eight caravans occupied the park in May, prompting a clean-up operation after volunteers reported rubbish, damage, and human waste had been left behind.

Town hall chiefs have spent more than £19,000 to remove Travellers from their land.

(Image: NQ)

The Bolton News submitted a Freedom of Information Request following a number of unauthorised Traveller encampments in and around Bolton in recent weeks and months.

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The money spent covers the past two years, but almost all of the costs have fallen within a single year.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act show the authority spent £16,926.90 during 2024/25, compared with nothing in 2023/24 and £2,430 in 2025/26.

(Image: NQ)

The figures cover the cost of removing or evicting travellers from land after unauthorised encampments across the borough.

Unauthorised encampments on private land are generally the responsibility of the landowner, who must take legal steps if they wish to seek possession of the land.

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Gypsies and Travellers are protected from discrimination under equality legislation, while landowners also have legal rights when unauthorised encampments take place.

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Middlesbrough home care agency in top 20 for North East

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Middlesbrough home care agency in top 20 for North East

Patience Healthcare NE Ltd, in Middlesbrough, has earned a spot in the Top 20 Home Care Providers in North East England for 2026.

The award recognises the agency’s commitment to delivering person-centred care that enables clients to remain independent in their own homes.

Jack Baker, director of Patience Healthcare NE Ltd, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised as one of the Top 20 Home Care Providers.

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“This award is a testament to the dedication, compassion and professionalism of every member of our team, who go above and beyond every single day to make a genuine difference in the lives of the people we support.

“Our team are immensely proud of this achievement, often going the extra mile to ensure every client receives the highest standard of care.”

The Top 20 Home Care Awards, run by homecare.co.uk, recognise the highest-rated care providers across the UK based on reviews from clients and their families.

Patience Healthcare NE Ltd was one of 20 providers selected from more than 300 providers in the North East.

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Homecare.co.uk features more than 13,000 home care services across the UK.

Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager at homecare.co.uk, said: “High-quality home care plays a vital role in enabling people to remain independent and continue living in their own homes for as long as possible.

“Carers provide not only practical support but also companionship, reassurance and continuity, often becoming an important part of a person’s daily life.

“The reviews on homecare.co.uk come directly from people using home care services and their families, helping others make informed decisions when choosing care.

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“We would like to congratulate Patience Healthcare NE Ltd on being recognised as one of North East England’s Top 20 Home Care Providers for 2026.”

The demand for home care continues to rise as the UK’s population ages, helping to support individuals with daily living activities such as personal care, medication management, and companionship, while enabling them to remain in familiar surroundings.

To read reviews of Patience Healthcare NE Ltd, visit the homecare website.

Click here to view the full list of winners across North East England.

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Tom Stoltman reportedly joining cast of BBC’s Gladiators

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Tom Stoltman reportedly joining cast of BBC's Gladiators

Tom Stoltman is said to be appearing in the BBC One show’s fourth series, due to begin filming in Sheffield later this month.

The 6ft 8in strongman is one of the UK’s most celebrated strength athletes.

Tom Stoltman reportedly joining the cast of BBC’s Gladiators

“This is a dream opportunity and I’m incredibly proud to become a Gladiator,” he told The Sun.

“I’ve spent my whole life pushing myself to see what I can achieve, and joining this incredible show is the next challenge.”

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He aims to bring his trademark qualities to the arena.

He said: “I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena, but most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges.”

Newsquest has contacted the BBC for comment.

This won’t be Stoltman’s first TV appearance, as he was one of the masked henchmen who lifted Claudia Winkleman on last year’s The Traitors.

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Stoltman is a three-time winner of the World’s Strongest Man in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

He also won the national title of Britain’s Strongest Man in the same years, as well as in 2026.

He is nicknamed “The Albatross” due to his sizeable arm span, and is known for his prowess with the Atlas Stones.

He holds the world records for the five Atlas stones (light set), weighing between 100 kg and 180 kg, completing them in 16.01 seconds, as well as the heaviest Manhood stone at 286 kg.

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His Gladiator moniker has yet to be announced.

The show will return for season four and a fresh celebrity special next year, with father-and-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh back as hosts.

Who is your favourite star on Gladiators? Let us know in the comments.

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