Wes Streeting has followed the lead of Ed Miliband in launching a ‘charm offensive’ on Donald Trump. 

The new Defence Secretary is said to be seeking to repair the UK’s relationship with the US President by rebuilding bridges after the ‘special relationship’ turned sour under Sir Keir Starmer‘s leadership. 

Mr Streeting wants to ‘work together’ with the President to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and build a global coalition to safeguard shipping through the commercial trade route. 

Both Mr Streeting and Mr Miliband can expect an uphill battle, having previously publicly criticised Donald Trump and key figures in his Government.  

In a post on X on Friday night, the Defence Secretary said he had a ‘good first call’ with the US Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth. 

Mr Streeting wrote: ‘The UK and US are the closest allies on defence and security. I look forward to working together on our vital shared security interests in an increasingly dangerous world.’ 

The pair reportedly discussed proposals for a conference in London this week which would bring together NATO allies, defence ministers and military leaders from up to 40 countries. 

Previously Europeans had held regular meetings without American leaders, but after a difficult few months the summit would aim to reconcile all sides.  

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will also be seeking to rebuild bridges. He jetted off to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio within 24 hours of being appointed  

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’. In April, Mr Streeting called Trump’s social media posts ‘incendiary’, ‘provocative’ and ‘outrageous’

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The UK-US relationship had become increasingly tense after the outbreak of the Iran war earlier this year. 

Mr Streeting commented back in April that the relations between the two nations were ‘strained’. 

He had called President Trump’s social media posts ‘incendiary’, ‘provocative’, and ‘outrageous’ on Sky News following the President’s expletive-laden comments about the Iran War, and suggested Brits should ignore his posts. 

Then the Health Secretary, Mr Streeting said the US President should be judged on ‘what he does, not just what he says‘ and admitted that the Iran conflict had ‘strained’ relations with Mr Trump’s administration. 

Andy Burnham’s new Defence Secretary is also said to have discussed defence investment and the UK’s commitment to meeting its NATO commitments. 

Mr Streeting has stated he plans to modernise and reform the Armed Forces amid a new age of drone warfare. 

He will be following in the footsteps of Ed Miliband, who held his first bilateral meeting on Wednesday with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, after being appointed as Foreign Secretary by the new Prime Minister. 

Mr Miliband jetted off to the Philippines within his first 24 hours of being Foreign Secretary to meet with Mr Rubio at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit of foreign ministers. 

Mr Streeting is said to be looking to modernise the Armed Forces as Defence Secretary in Andy Burnham’s new Government

But the Foreign Secretary also faces a tricky task in trying to win over Mr Rubio, a close ally of Donald Trump, following his past criticism of the US President. 

The ‘Net Zero’ agenda of Mr Miliband, which he doggedly pursued in his former role as Energy Secretary, is also anathema to the Trump administration.

And there are concerns in Washington about Mr Miliband’s role in blocking the US from using British bases for strikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom – the governor of California and one of Mr Trump’s fiercest political opponents – has risked complicating matters further by heaping praise on Mr Miliband.

In his first bilateral talks with Mr Rubio, Mr Miliband is believed to have reiterated his commitment to mending the fraying ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK.

Transatlantic ties were pushed to crisis point at the outbreak of the Iran war earlier this year.

Former prime minister Keir Starmer initially refused to allow US bombers to strike Iran from British air bases, before later altering his stance to allow their use for ‘defensive’ operations after Tehran launched missiles and rockets across the Middle East. 

Mr Miliband was reported at the time to have been instrumental in leading Cabinet opposition to the use of British bases by the US. 

When Andy Burnham later launched his successful bid to oust Sir Keir, senior officials in Mr Trump’s administration were said to have privately warned the new PM that appointing Mr Miliband as his Chancellor would be a ‘mistake’. 

There will also be concerns that Mr Miliband’s undiplomatic comments about Mr Trump in the past will complicate his job in trying to steady transatlantic ties.

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’.

He also used an interview with GQ magazine to condemn Mr Trump’s ‘very scary authoritarian tendencies’ and vow to join protests against him visiting Britain.

RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire on Friday to intercept the Qatar Airways flight in response, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a report from the National Air Traffic Services at around 6pm on Friday (July 24) relating to a threat made towards an aircraft travelling to Manchester Airport.

Working alongside partners, including the Royal Air Force and airport authorities, officers deployed the necessary resources to ensure the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board.

The aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport and there was no threat to passengers or crew.

Following enquiries, officers established that the report was a hoax.

The 14-year-old boy, who was not on board the flight, has been identified and is assisting police with their enquiries.

Chief Inspector Gary Homa of the Airport Policing Unit at Manchester Airport said: “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

“The safety of the public is always our top priority and every report of this nature is treated extremely seriously.

“Hoax calls can cause significant disruption, divert vital emergency service resources and create unnecessary concern for passengers, crew and the wider public.

“Thankfully, this incident concluded safely, but making false reports is not a prank and can have serious consequences.

“We will always investigate incidents of this kind thoroughly and take robust action where offences have been committed.”

By JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER

Published: 12:59 BST, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 03:03 BST, 26 July 2026

The former England cricket captain was taken to see the statue during a visit to Middlesbrough in late April while working in the area with broadcaster and media consultant Paul ‘Goffy’ Gough.

Shocked by its condition, Boycott publicly voiced his concerns, attracting widespread support from football fans across Teesside and beyond.

April 2026 as Sir Geoffrey Boycott visits the Brian Clough statue in Albert Park, Middlesbrough (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Within days, council workers arrived to dismantle the statue and begin restoration work.

Speaking after seeing the restored monument, Sir Geoffrey said: “I’m delighted to see Brian’s statue back and looking so much better.

“When I raised concerns earlier this year, it was simply because Brian was a great friend and I felt somebody of his standing deserved better.

Brain Clough’s statue pictured on its return to Albert Park after major restoration (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“The response from the public was tremendous and it’s pleasing to see that concerns were listened to and acted upon so quickly.”

“His goalscoring record for Boro and Sunderland is on another level – the fans adored him.

“It made no sense to me to see his hometown legacy was being so unloved.”

Brian Clough and Sir Geoffrey Boycott (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Boycott, who remained close to Clough throughout his life and spoke at the legend’s family funeral, said the restoration would have meant a great deal to the football icon’s family.

“His lovely late wife Barbara would have been heartbroken to see the statue in the sorry state it had fallen into.

“She was immensely proud of Brian and everything he achieved.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough alongside the Wilf Mannion statue – Sir Geoffrey has suggested Brian would be better placed outside of the ground. (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“Most importantly, it will be a source of comfort to Brian’s sons Nigel and Simon, and his daughter Elizabeth, to see the statue restored and cared for properly.”

The Yorkshire cricket legend also believes Clough’s legacy deserves even greater recognition.

“I’ve always felt the statue might have been better placed outside the Riverside Stadium alongside Middlesbrough greats such as George Hardwick and Wilf Mannion.

“Brian is certainly worthy of that honour.

“I was over at the ground recently and they all look very comfortable there.

“People sometimes forget it all began just down the road at Hartlepool in 1965.

“From those first steps in management, Brian went on to become one of the greatest football managers the game has ever known.

“I can only hope lessons have been learnt.

“The important thing now is that the statue has been restored, protected and can continue inspiring future generations.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke this week confirmed the statue had returned to Albert Park following restoration work, describing it as “a true homage to one of our region’s legendary sporting icons.”

The statue returned to the park on Thursday, July 22, with a team of council workers getting it back to pristine condition in the coming days – eventually without fencing.

Sir Geoffrey is back in the North East with ‘An Evening With Sir Geoffrey Boycott’ taking place at Cullercoats Crescent Club, North Shields, on Friday, October 9th, 2026.

Tickets and information are here: TicketsSource link

Families jetting off abroad during the summer holidays have been warned by a travel expert about a vital check they must ensure they do before heading to the airport

A travel expert has issued a warning to families about the one important check they must do before jetting off abroad.

There’s a lot to think about before making your way to the airport for that sun-soaked getaway, from checking the family’s passports are all in date, to packing the suitcases and planning the itinerary. But there’s one crucial task that can’t be missed, and experts are reminding families to ensure it’s in place as the summer holidays are set to be among the busiest travel periods.

Graeme Buck, director of communications at ABTA, the Travel Association, said: “It’s holiday time for many families, as schools start to break up, meaning lots more people will be heading abroad to visit new destinations or return to their old favourites.”

He warned: “Before you set off, we’re encouraging people to take a moment to make sure they have all of their holiday essentials – including travel insurance that covers the activities they plan to do.”

Travel insurance is crucial to have in place before any trip abroad, as it can give you extra protection should anything go wrong with the holiday. Citizens Advice outlined that it can protect you against the following:

• cancelling or cutting short your trip for reasons beyond your control
• missed transport or delayed departure for reasons beyond your control
• medical and other emergencies
• personal injury and death
• lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money
• accidental damage or injury caused by you.

The expert at ABTA also urged families to ensure that the “whole family’s passports are in date” and reminded them that “children’s passports are only valid for five years.” If you or your child needs to renew their passport, you can do it online through the government website.

The standard fee for a child’s passport, aged under 16, costs £66.50 when applied for online, while a postal application costs £80. Meanwhile, it costs £102 to renew or replace an adult passport when applied online, or £115.50 when applied in a paper form.

In further guidance for holidaymakers, Graeme added: “We have advice to help you plan and prepare for your trip, and if you are still planning to book a holiday, ABTA members are on hand to make sure you can get the best family holiday for your budget.”

It comes as the summer holidays are set to see a staggering 30 million British holidaymakers pass through UK airports in July and August alone. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the busiest day to fly will be this Friday (25 July), as 500,000 passengers, including thousands of families, ditch the UK for a sun-soaked getaway abroad.

All travellers jetting off abroad have also been warned to pack their power bank in their carry-on bag instead of their checked-in luggage. This follows a recorded number of safety incidents on board flights caused by lithium batteries found in power banks.

The CAA safety experts warned: “Incorrectly packed lithium batteries are increasingly causing delays and cancellations due to bags having to be offloaded. If a fire breaks out onboard, flights may have to be rerouted or evacuated.”

Therefore, power banks must be carried on board in hand luggage, “to enable swift action to be taken if they start to overheat”. Passengers should also be mindful that they can carry only two power banks per person on the flight, but they should check directly with their airline regarding specific restrictions, as certain airlines may have additional requirements.

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Two cops have been rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” following a hit-and-run in Larkhall.

Two police officers have been rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” after a van was “deliberately driven at them” in a hit-and-run.

Emergency crews rushed to Glen Avenue in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, this afternoon. An alarm was raised around 2pm after police received a report of two of their cops having been knocked down.

The force confirmed that the pair had been carrying out enquiries at a property in the area before a van was “deliberately driven at them”. Paramedics attended the scene and both were blue-lighted to hospital.

It’s understood that the two officers have suffered serious injuries. Police Scotland are now working to find both the vehicle and driver as enquiries continue.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.10pm on Saturday, July 25, officers were carrying out enquiries are a property on Glen Avenue, Larkhall when a van was deliberately driven at them.

“Two officers have been taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

“Enquiries are ongoing to trace the vehicle and the driver and establish the full circumstances.”

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Crews spent the night battling the blaze

Aerial images show the impact of a huge fire which burned overnight in Rochdale.

The large broke out in an open area on Spring Mill Walk in Smallbridge at around 8:15pm last night (Friday, July 24).

Dramatic photos on social media showed enormous plumes of black smoke billowing from the site, visible from across Rochdale as the fire ripped through a large quantity of waste at the site.

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Firefighters worked throughout to extinguish the blaze.

They then remained on the scene until around 1pm this afternoon (Saturday), damping down hotspots and monitoring the aftermath.

Pictures shot by a drone camera this afternoon show a huge area of scorched earth and debris left behind by the fire.

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It is understood officials from the Environment Agency were also called in and the local council alerted due to the fact it involved waste.

Sainsbury’s is to increase supplies of British tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers amid fears of drought affecting crops imported from abroad.

The UK’s second biggest supermarket has signed new 10-year partnerships with UK producers Evesham Vale Growers and Thanet Earth to ensure it can keep a steady supply of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on its shelves.

The produce has been badly affected by weather-based shocks in the past.

In early 2023, supermarkets imposed limits of three on packs of tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, salad bags and some vegetables after a combination of bad weather and related transport problems in north Africa and Europe led to widespread shortages on UK shelves.

Sainsbury’s said British-grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers were already an important part of its salad offer to customers, but extreme weather across warmer growing regions had underlined the need for supermarkets to think differently about how they build more resilient supply chains.

The grocer said it hoped its long-term agreement with Thanet Earth would extend availability of British cucumbers beyond the summer season into the winter months for the first time, after traditionally relying more heavily on imports.

The new British winter crop will be grown at Thanet Earth in Kent, the UK’s largest single site glasshouse complex, where supplementary lighting, heat, and CO2 are managed to create the conditions cucumber plants need to keep growing through the darkest months of the year.

Benefits of the agreements would be seen on shelves as early as this summer with the launch of the new Taste the Difference British Salad Selection 800g box.

Hannah O’Reilly, category director of produce at Sainsbury’s, said: “With our changing weather, it’s more important than ever to find new, innovative solutions to make sure our customers can continue to enjoy the quality produce they want all year-round.

“Investing in more British production and supporting our suppliers to innovate is helping us build a stronger, more resilient supply chain in a category that has been impacted by weather-based shocks in recent years.

“By giving our brilliant British growers the certainty to invest and innovate through long-term contracts such as these with Thanet Earth and Evesham Vale Growers will help us to continue to support British farming for years to come.”

Rob James, technical director at Thanet Earth, said: “Working with Sainsbury’s in this way means we can plan ahead with more certainty and keep pushing what’s possible for British growing.

“A good example is our investment in the technology needed to grow cucumbers through the winter, creating the right conditions for the crop and helping bring more British-grown produce to customers at a time of year when that has not previously been possible.”