Keir Starmer is quitting as an MP after being ousted from No10 by Andy Burnham, it was revealed today.

The former PM previously insisted he would stay on as the member for Holborn and St Pancras.

However, in one final U-turn he has now opted to resign his seat, triggering a potentially tricky by-election for Labour against the Greens.

The move immediately prompted speculation that Sir Keir could pitch for the Nato general secretary job. 

It could also open the door for a comeback by a Labour big beast in a relatively safe seat – with David Miliband long the subject of rumours.

Allies paid tribute to the former premier’s political career. But Mr Burnham sniped at his predecessor by telling Cabinet this morning that the public had noticed a ‘change of pace’ since he took over. 

Sir Keir had a majority of over 11,000 in Holborn & St Pancras at the general election, but the Greens have been performing strongly in the polls since then

Sir Keir told his local paper, the Camden New Journal, that he was ready to ‘pass the baton to a successor’ and wanted to focus on ‘international affairs’.

‘It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government,’ he said. 

‘I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

‘I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. 

‘It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.’

In June Sir Keir’s spokesman was adamant that he was ‘going to remain’ as an MP at least for the rest of the Parliament. 

Sir Keir has represented the north London constituency for 11 years, having been director of public prosecutions before entering politics. 

Sir Keir was effectively kicked out of power by Andy Burnham (pictured) in July 

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: ‘Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future.

‘It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on.

‘The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country.

‘The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.’

Meanwhile, Mr Burnham is finally facing a grilling from MPs this afternoon – six weeks after becoming PM.

The premier is making a statement to Parliament as it returns from the summer break.

But he could be in for a torrid time, with anger mounting over the prisoner early release scheme and the prospect of tax hikes to fund more spending.

Ministers have warned of ‘difficult’ decisions looming in the Budget, as Government borrowing costs spiked again.

Interest rates on 30-year gilts – one of the main ways the Treasury finances debt – hit 5.89 per cent this morning, the highest level since 1998.  

Global markets have been spooked by inflation pressures from the Middle East crisis and fears about an AI crash.

Mr Burnham took over from Keir Starmer just as Parliament went into its break, meaning he has benefited from a ‘soft launch’ with the public’s focus largely on the sunshine instead of politics.

The new leader has gifted Labour a bounce in the polls. However that looks to be fading and the former Greater Manchester mayor has already been forced into a bewildering variety of policy shifts.

According to a Downing Street readout, Mr Burnham kicked off Cabinet by thanking his colleagues for establishing ‘a strong sense of momentum’ in his first few weeks.

‘He said the country have noticed a change of pace with the Government setting the agenda and starting the process of giving local areas the levers they need to create good growth,’ the spokesman said.

‘He said that during his summer tour, it was clear that life was hard for many people, that they wanted to have hope and hear a positive outlook for the country.’

In a statement issued on X, Sir Keir Starmer said it was the right time to “hand the baton over to a successor”.

He said: “Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor.

“It’s been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls.

“As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home.

“I look back with pride on what my constituency team and I have delivered in Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and I thank all those who I was privileged to work with on so many issues of local concern: affordable housing projects, delivering first class education and tackling youth violence through our Camden Youth Safety Taskforce.

“I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as prime minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners.

“I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras. I could not have done this job without them.

“There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government.

“Keir Starmer.”

A fraudster who pretended to be from Royal Mail in a sophisticated mobile phone scam has been jailed in one of the first cases of its kind.

Mohammed Faiyaz Iqbal, 43, bombarded nearby phone users with messages claiming to be from several companies.

He aimed to trick recipients into providing payment and personal details, with his victims believing they were communicating with legitimate organisations.

A typical message read: ‘Sorry we missed you as no one was home to sign your parcel.’

It then told recipients to ‘rearrange a redelivery to your home address please visit’ the fraudulent website, and said payment may be required.

Iqbal used a so-called ‘SMS blaster’ – specialist technology used to bypass phone networks’ anti-spam protections and send out texts en masse without obtaining the victims’ numbers.

It meant Iqbal was able to target potentially hundreds of people, in close proximity, simultaneously.

He was stopped when detectives searched his van at the Trafford Centre in Manchester after becoming suspicious of the large number of fraudulent text messages being sent from the area on May 24 2024.

Officers searching his van at the Trafford Centre in Manchester found the technology hidden within wooden panels

KIt meant Iqbal, 43, was able to send hundreds of messages to nearby mobile phones by using the technology, circumventing mobile phone masts which may have stopped the scam in its tracks

Advertisement

One of the text messages Iqbal spammed mobile phones with

Iqbal used sophisticated technology to bombard mobile phones with messages which he used to scam people

He was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting one count of fraud by false representation, one count of possession of articles for use in fraud, one count of acquiring and possessing criminal property, one count of possession of false identity documents, and one count of unauthorised use of wireless telegraphy apparatus.

City of London Police, who were involved in the investigation, said this was the first known case of discovering an SMS blaster in the UK as part of a criminal investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Little, from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, said: ‘This case demonstrates the evolving nature of fraud and the lengths offenders will go to in order to target victims at scale.

‘The seizure of this equipment is a significant step in disrupting emerging threats that seek to bypass established telecommunications safeguards.

‘We will continue to work closely with partners across banking and telecommunications to identify, pursue and bring to justice those responsible for committing fraud.’

Iqbal, of Preston in Lancashire, was sitting in his van at the Trafford Centre when he was stopped by police.

A search uncovered multiple mobile phones in the front of the vehicle.

In the rear of the van, officers located an SMS blaster system concealed within purpose-built wooden compartments.

The equipment included power sources, Wi-Fi components and aerials installed into the roof of the vehicle, City of London Police said.

The devices were turned on and actively being used in conjunction with applications on mobile phones.

The equipment acted as a rogue mobile antenna, bypassing telecommunications network security and broadcasting SMS messages directly to nearby devices.

Examination of Iqbal’s mobile phones revealed 7,859 compromised payment card details, detectives said.

Further searches at his home address uncovered additional compromised banking material and three counterfeit UK driving licences, which were being used to set up impersonation bank accounts to launder criminal proceeds.

The conviction was achieved thanks to the police working with mobile network operators, the National Cyber Security Centre and Ofcom.

A Sudanese migrant has died after trying to jump onto the roof of a moving Britain-bound lorry from the top of a Calais road toll booth.

The 22-year-old was on top of the structure at the Setques toll plaza in Pas-de-Calais when he attempted to leap onto the vehicle at around 2.40am on Sunday.

But he failed to reach the vehicle and plunged onto the road behind it, according to the Saint-Omer prosecutor’s office. 

The young man was seriously injured and rushed to the University Hospital of Lille in a critical condition, but died on Sunday afternoon. 

CCTV footage reviewed by authorities reportedly showed the migrant attempting to reach the roof of the moving truck before falling onto the road.

Another person at the scene had successfully managed to get onto the same vehicle moments earlier.

An investigation into the cause of the 22-year-old’s death was opened following the incident.

Prosecutors said the CCTV evidence suggested an accident was the most likely cause and the case was subsequently closed without further action.

The victim’s body was returned to his family.

Migrants leave after attempting to climb into the back of lorries bound for Britain while traffic is stopped upon waiting to board shuttles at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel site on November 19, 2020, in Calais, northern France

Advertisement

Migrants continue to attempt to reach Britain by hiding in lorries despite security measures around the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel.

In recent years, many have instead attempted the perilous journey across the Channel in small boats.

Since the beginning of January, at least 16 people have died at sea off the French coast and three others have died on land while attempting to reach the UK.

But Channel crossings over the summer have fallen to their lowest level since 2020, with 6,949 migrants making the journey between June and August. 

The number of boats arriving in Britain also fell to its lowest level since 2019.

While critics have put the decrease down to bad weather, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood attributed the drop to increased international co-operation blocking people smugglers’ supply chain for boats, lifebelts and outboard motors.

She also credited a £662million deal with France to place more officers on beaches and take on new interception tactics.

A total of 16,391 migrants have crossed from France to the UK so far this year, down 43 per cent on the same time last year, and an 18 per cent decrease on the same period in 2024.

Ms Mahmood said: ‘This Government is committed to restoring order at our border. This work is beginning to bear fruit, with June, July and August recording the lowest number of small-boat crossings in seven years. But we know there is more to do.

‘We will be relentless in targeting the criminal gangs behind these crossings, and we will continue to remove the incentives that draw people here on unsafe and illegal routes.’

Small-boat crossings will be one of the main issues discussed when Andy Burnham hosts French President Emmanuel Macron in No 10 for the first time, according to officials.

The Prime Minister will be eager to continue the one-in, one-out scheme with France, designed to act as a deterrent to crossings.

August crossings – up to August 30 – were down 46 per cent on last year, falling to their lowest level since records began in 2018.

July saw the fewest number of crossings since 2019, down 64 per cent on 2025.

And June recorded its lowest level of crossings since 2019, down 50 per cent on last year.

However, Labour’s attempts to tackle the Channel crisis were still branded a ‘complete laughing stock’ earlier this month after a record 230 migrants arrived on one dinghy.

The huge number – more than the capacity of a Boeing 737 jet – crossed from France on August 10, prompting the Conservatives to taunt Ms Mahmood for ‘presiding over a complete and utter farce’.

Measuring 49ft from bow to stern, it was 7ft larger than vessels which set previous records in July, and more than 10ft longer than a standard double-decker bus.

Higher-intensity exercise may help you get more “bang for your buck.”

So, is just a few minutes of vigorous exercise each day enough?

Overall, exercise is “probably as effective as several medicines.”

Mark Harris, chief executive at mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: “On the ground, some lenders have been easing mortgage rates in recent days and weeks but swap rates, which underpin the pricing of mortgages, remain extremely volatile in response to tensions in the Middle East.”

The retailer expects retro-inspired toys to prove popular, with a mini vinyl record player, a wooden train set, and Donkey Kong in Lego form featuring on its list

Argos has revealed the toys that it predicts will dominate Christmas wishlists for 2026.

The retailer expects retro-inspired toys to prove popular, with a mini vinyl record player, a wooden train set, and Donkey Kong in Lego form featuring on its list.

The Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset, priced at £20, is a fully functioning vinyl record player that plays songs from artists such as Katy Perry and Chappell Roan.

Meanwhile, the Chad Valley Alfie And Jo Wooden Train Set is the cheapest on the list at £15 and features easy-connect tracks for little hands.

The Lego Donkey Kong Arcade Building Set brings the classic 80s arcade game to the living room – but is one of the most priciest toys at £150.

Film and TV favourites including Toy Story 5, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig and KPop Demon Hunters are also predicted to be big hitters.

The Argos-exclusive Toy Story 5 Bullseye Jumbo Plush is a huggable version of Woody’s loyal companion, priced at £50.

And the Megasaurus Dino Vehicle, £60, brings the PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie to life in the form of a 76cm dinosaur that inflates at the press of a button.

Chantal Pearce, Head of Toy Buying at Argos, said: “We’re always monitoring market trends to discover what truly sparks children’s imaginations, and our 2026 Top Toys list reflects the toys we expect to capture their attention this Christmas.

“From movie magic and retro nostalgia to screen-free storytellers and hands-on crafting, we’ve curated a range that inspires imagination, supports children’s development and encourages creativity through play.”

Argos top toys for 2026

• Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset – £20
• Lego Donkey Kong Arcade Building Set – £150
• Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Garage – £130
• Chad Valley Alfie And Jo Wooden Train Set – £15
• Chad Valley Wooden Classic Kitchen – £30
• Tonies Lite – £60
• LLP My Magical Dragon Skye – £55
• Primal Hatch Megalodon Hatching Egg Shark Toy – £55
• VTech Kidi 12-In-1 Guitar Superstar – £50
• Projector Karaoke Machine – £90
• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Battle – £30
• Armosaurs Armor-Up Dinosaur T-Rex – £45
• Giftie Badge Maker – £35
• Jupiter Workshops Four Storey Wooden Doll House – £150
• Flutter Monster 40 cm Soft Toy – £20
• Toy Story 5 Bullseye Jumbo Plush – £50
• KPop Demon Hunters Golden Singing Dolls – £35
• Paw Patrol The Dino Movie Megasaurus Dino Vehicle – £60
• Peppa Pig Ready Pedal Peppa – £30
• Minions & Monsters Fart Blaster Pro – £30

Hipswell and Colburn councillor Kevin Foster said he was disappointed that the authority had declined to change the priority status of Gough Road and part of Plumer Road.

Senior councillors have agreed with highways officers that the roads should remain at their existing priority two status.

Cllr Foster highlighted Gough Road’s importance as an access route to several large retail outlets and the local leisure centre.

He also raised concerns about the incline close to its junction with the A6136, which he said becomes hazardous during icy weather.

The councillor pointed out that Gough Road and Plumer Road were used by service buses operating every 30 minutes in each direction during working hours.

He argued it was therefore important for the roads to be kept safe during cold weather.

But highways officers recommended against upgrading the route, saying its existing treatment was in line with council policy and consistent with arrangements elsewhere in North Yorkshire.

Reacting to the decision, Cllr Foster said: “I’m very disappointed in this decision.

“This is another issue when councillors are asking for improvements and it’s been decided by officers without debate.

“I made the request as it’s a major bus route going past Tesco, which is an important place for people to get to in bad weather.”

The recommendation was among a series of decisions on changes requested to the council’s winter gritting network ahead of the 2026/27 season.

All the recommendations put forward by officers were agreed.

Only one of the requests considered resulted in an upgrade.

North Cowton Parish Council successfully asked for the route into the village from the B1263 to receive more regular treatment.

Officers agreed that the road and the route around the village green should be upgraded from Priority 3 to Priority 2 because of the size of the village and frequency of buses, including school services. The change will add about one kilometre to an existing gritting route.

Elsewhere in the Richmondshire area, a resident’s request to upgrade the road through Whitaside, near Low Row, was rejected despite concerns about black ice, compacted snow and difficulties getting children to their school bus.

The council said priority three remained appropriate, although it will check the provision and spacing of grit heaps and bins on routes considered in the review before winter.

The authority has an £8.59m winter service budget, with the North Cowton change expected to cost less than £5 for each gritting run.

The film saw Parton nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars

A ‘masterpiece’ Dolly Parton comedy has been added to Netflix just days after the iconic singer’s devastating death.

The Jolene singer passed away on Tuesday, August 25, after what her representatives described as a ‘brief battle’ with cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.

Parton, who was 80, had spoken candidly in recent months about a number of health issues that had forced her to cancel and postpone public engagements, including a planned Las Vegas residency. Just days before her passing, she disclosed that certain health concerns had gone unattended while she was devoted to looking after her husband.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

She lost her husband Carl Thomas Dean in March 2025 following an unspecified illness. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years.

Speaking after being compelled to withdraw from an appearance at Dollywood, Parton said: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health. But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.”

Parton is to be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband. A small group of the singer’s family members congregated at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville over the weekend.

Prior to her passing, Parton had decided against a huge public send off, instead opting for an intimate goodbye attended solely by those nearest and dearest to her. “At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family,” her family said.

Advertisement

It has yet to be confirmed whether Friday’s (August 29) gathering was the funeral itself. But Page Six reports that relatives arrived bearing flowers while police and security personnel were stationed around the cemetery.

With fans around the world listening to her music as a coping mechanism, many are beginning to take a look at her filmography. On top of her music achievements, Parton was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Nominated for Best Original Song in 2005 for ‘Travelin’ Thru’ from Transamerica, the film which landed Parton her first Oscar nomination has just been added to Netflix. Also the name of one of her best songs, it’s an essential watch for any Parton fan.

Released in 1980, 9 to 5 is directed by Colin Higgins, who would go on to work with Parton again on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Higgins, who died of AIDS-related illness in 1988, at the age of 47, is also known for writing Harold and Maude.

Parton, in her film debut, stars alongside Hollywood legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the film that many households stick on during the Christmas period. Also starring in 9 to 5 is You’ve Got Mail’s Dabney Coleman, The Addams Family’s Elizabeth Wilson and Dr. Strangelove’s Sterling Hayden.

It tells the story of three working women who live out their fantasies of getting even with and overthrowing their company’s autocratic vice president, who is played by Coleman. In order to do this they decide to kidnap him and run his business on their own.

Costing just £10 million to make, 9 to 5 was a massive hit for 20th Century Fox, grossing over $103.3 million. On top of this, the success to the title track launched Parton into mainstream pop culture.

Despite critics at the time only giving it a score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 9 to 5’s legacy has been colossal. A TV show based on the film ran for five seasons in the 1980s, and a musical stage adaptation with new songs written by Parton opened on Broadway in 2009.

As fans and musicians from all around the world continue to mourn Parton’s loss, now is the perfect time to discover or revisit why Parton could have become one of the film industry’s greats if she didn’t have a music career to go back to.

The advice also warns against cutting grass when the ground is very soft, wet or frozen

Households across the UK are being urged to stop mowing their lawns when temperatures drop to a specific level.

As we enter September, people will be trying to catch the last glimpses of warm weather before the seasons change, which means keeping their garden intact.

But gardeners are being urged to check the temperature outdoors before reaching for the mower. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), you should stop cutting your grass when temperatures drop to 7C, although frost and the condition of the ground matters just as much as the reading.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

The RHS says grass ‘continues to grow in temperatures above 7C,’ making 7C a practical threshold for deciding when to stop regular mowing when temperatures consistently fall below this level. But it also warns against mowing when ground is very soft, wet or frozen.

If a mild spell of warm weather keeps the grass growing, the RHS says winter mowing can still be done occasionally on a high cut setting.

Six checks to make before the final cut

1. Use 7°C as a weather marker. Look at the forecast and the grass itself, then stop routine cuts once the temperature is no longer supporting visible growth.

2. Wait for a dry, defrosted lawn. A cold or saturated surface is more easily damaged and can be compacted by the mower.

3. Leave the mower higher for the final cut. The RHS gives up to 40mm as a general spring and autumn height for ordinary domestic lawns.

4. Never remove more than one-third of the blade at once. If the grass is long, make a lighter pass instead of trying to reach the final height in one go.

5. Change the direction of travel. Alternating the cut helps prevent ruts forming in lawns that are mown repeatedly along the same lines.

6. Clean the machine before storage and test its safety controls. The RHS specifically advises checking the dead man’s handle, while electric mower users should fit an RCD.

The advice also says that the last cut should not be a race to make the lawn as short as possible. Using a higher autumn setting leaves more leaf area, and waiting for dry conditions reduces the risk of tearing turf or pressing down wet soil.

Daniel Weston, Founder at SEO Backlinks, said: “Treat 7°C as a guide, not a promise. Check the forecast and the condition of the grass before the final cut, and leave the mower in the shed when the ground is wet or frozen.”

That means a lawn can still need attention after the thermometer dips, but not necessarily another full cut. If it is still growing in mild weather, make a light pass on a high setting. If the ground is wet or frozen, leave the mower in the shed.