An England player is without a club after his contract came to an end at the World Cup

John Stones is among several high-profile free agents featuring at the World Cup, having reached the end of his contract at Manchester City. The 32-year-old currently finds himself without a club, but will be eager to add to his 91 England caps when the Three Lions face Mexico at the tournament.

The centre-back spent a decade at the Etihad following a lucrative transfer from Everton, joining in the same summer that Pep Guardiola took charge. During his time with City, Stones won 15 major honours, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Once a cornerstone of City’s backline, the England international slipped down the defensive pecking order after struggling with injury last season. With Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov establishing themselves as a dependable partnership, and Nathan Ake preferred ahead of him for the Carabao Cup final triumph, Stones confirmed in April that he would be leaving at the end of the campaign.

“They say all good things must come to an end… but this thing we have had has been the greatest and it will remain a part of me forever,” Stones wrote on Instagram.

Stones confirmed his decision shortly after Guardiola had publicly addressed the defender’s fitness issues. “I don’t have doubts with John,” the City boss said.

“When he reaches his level, he is a top central defender. Unfortunately, I only want him fit and unfortunately, like last season, a lot of the time it is not possible.”

Despite making just five league starts, including an emotional farewell on the final day of the season, Stones earned a place in England’s World Cup squad. Furthermore, Thomas Tuchel opted for the experienced centre-back ahead of his City teammate Guehi for the Three Lions’ opening win against Croatia.

Stones has since lost his place in the England side but will be pushing for a starting berth in the country’s round of 16 clash with Mexico. However, the defender left his club future unresolved before travelling to the World Cup and has become a free agent during the tournament.

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At the start of July, Stones and three other players officially departed City upon the expiry of their contracts, leaving his next destination up in the air. BBC Sport has reported that former club Everton and AC Milan are among the sides linked with his signature.

In the build-up to the World Cup, the centre-back made clear his determination to prove Guardiola wrong following his limited playing time. “I was fit enough 100 per cent, it comes down to various things, the manager (Guardiola) and that’s something I can’t control and I think it’s always difficult to pick an XI and I say to this to him,” Stones said last month.

“He knows how much I wanted to play, how much I wanted to be there and you can look at it in so many ways. I think I feel as good as I’ve ever been before a tournament.”

Stones joins Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, Manchester United star Casemiro and Croatian icon Luka Modric in the list of World Cup stars currently without a club. His former City teammate Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, has recently joined Real Madrid as a free agent.

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National Highways has confirmed one lane remains closed on the M3 while the other two lanes are now open.

In a post on X, it said: “Lane 1 (of 3) remains closed on the #M3 westbound in #Hampshire between J12 #Eastleigh & J13 #Southampton following a collision.

“Lanes 2 & 3 are now open past the scene. Emergency services are working on scene. Current delays of 60 minutes, 6 miles of congestion on approach.”

A new forensic test – that can get DNA when others in the past could not – is being carried out to look for other suspects.

A man serving life sentences for the brutal murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan is having a new DNA sample taken to find another suspect and prove he was never at the scene.

Michael Stone, 66, will be visited in prison by an investigator from the miscarriage of justice watchdog, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, on Thursday, according to the Sunday Times.

The test, which includes taking his saliva, coincides with the 30th anniversary of the two murders which took place in July 1996.

Stone has repeatedly asked for new DNA tests since new techniques have been developed, including one where they can now separate male DNA in mixed samples.

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If new male DNA is found, it could be compared to serial killer Levi Bellfield, who has previously confessed to being the real killer behind the two murders.

Stone is currently in HMP Frankland in Co Durham, serving three life sentences for what was seen as among Britain’s most brutal murders.

Dr Lin Russell, 45, was walking her two daughters Megan, six and Josie, nine, home from school, along a country lane near the pretty village of Chillenden in Kent.

A car pulled up and a man got out, tying them up, dragging them into a copse and beating them with a hammer. The mum and her youngest child were killed. Josie was the only survivor after suffering severe head injuries. The family’s dog, Lucy, was also killed.

According to the Sunday Times, a new forensic strategy by a scientist at the laboratory Eurofins was shared with Stone’s lawyers last week.

Samples from a bloodstained plimsoll lace which was used to tie Lin Russell’s wrist are of particular interest to the new scientist on the case, they say.

Tapings taken from Lin and Megan’s bodies are also marked ‘top priority’ according to the Sunday Times, because they were recovered directly from the victims’ skin and have not been tested since 1996, reducing the risk of contamination.

Some exhibits including a plastic lunchbox with a bloody fingerprint on it, have gone missing while others were contaminated. Many of the items were tested for DNA in 1996 but no matches were found for any suspects.

One of the items put under the microscope could be a boot lace, which was stained with the victims blood and found 45 metres from the horrifying murder scene. In 2010 the lace was said to be missing, with just an empty envelope left. It was also claimed at one point it had been tested to destruction.

But it was then discovered in 2020 by police and this is thought to be one of the items which will be looked at again.

It is believed some other items of evidence have not been tested at all, including fingernail scrapings from Lyn’s left hand and samples from the family dog, from its teeth and its back.

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Stone, a former heroin user with previous convictions for violence, has always protested his innocence over the murders and his conviction for the attempted murder of Josie Russell.

One year after the attack an e-fit of the suspect was shown on the BBC’s Crimewatch. It led to Stone, a heroin user with previous convictions for violence, including a previous hammer attack on a man, being identified as a possible suspect by his psychiatrist.

He was put in an identity parade, but Josie did not pick him out. However Stone had no alibi and said he could not remember what he was doing at the time of the attack.

At his trial fellow prisoners testified they’d heard him confess, one through the heating pipe. But a day after the trial one inmate said he’d made it all up.

Stone appealed and a retrial was ordered and he was convicted again despite there being no DNA evidence linking him to the crime. Stone had an appeal against his conviction turned down in 2019.

According to the Sunday Times the new specimen from Stone is needed to conduct newly developed tests that isolate male DNA even if a sample is a mixture of DNA from a female victim and an unknown man.

The same advances in DNA testing were used to prove the innocence of Andrew Malkinson, who was in prison for 17 years for rape, a crime he didn’t commit.

In this case scientists tested for new DNA from the victim’s clothing and this helped quash Malkinson’s conviction in 2023 and the real culprit was later jailed.

Stone’s legal team believe that if the DNA of another man is found, it could lead to another suspect being identified in his case.

Levi Bellfield, the serial killer who murdered the schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002, allegedly confessed that he was responsible for the Russell murders but later retracted the claim.

Since then, he is said to have made a further detailed written confession after talking to prison psychologists. It was claimed Bellfield wanted relatives of those who were killed to have ‘resolution’.

The CCRC, the only body with the power to send cases back to the Court of Appeal, has said Bellfield’s claims were not credible and that he had made false confessions to other crimes.

Mark McDonald, Stone’s barrister, told the Sunday Times: “Michael Stone has been in custody for 29 years for a murder he did not commit. He is innocent.”

The new forensic investigation will rely on two techniques. The first is DNA-17, a test that only became commonplace in 2014 and can isolate male and female genetic material.

The chance of two unrelated individuals sharing the same DNA-17 profile is less than one in a billion.

The saliva from Stone is reportedly needed for another test called Y-STR, verifying male line relationships. This can separate even trace amounts of male DNA from a mixed sample. Results from this cannot be searched on the police database but can be used to search against specific alternative suspects.

If scientists find male DNA that does not match Stone or Lin Russell’s husband, Shaun Russell, it could lead a new suspect.

If the CCRC wants to compare the sample with Bellfield’s DNA, it has been advised that it might need to obtain a new sample from him – or use old material from cases where he was convicted.

Stone’s lawyer pointed out to the Sunday Times, how his client had been pushing for more forensic work on the case for decades, saying: “A guilty man doesn’t do that”.

The Global Passport Index for 2026 has been released.

The index, published by Global Citizens Solutions, analyses 200 countries using 15 indicators across three pillars: enhanced mobility, investment potential, and quality of life.

Global Citizens Solutions said: “The Global Passport Index provides the most comprehensive and data-driven assessment of nationalities worldwide, evaluating how each country empowers its citizens to move, invest, and thrive across borders.

“Unlike traditional rankings, the Global Passport Index evaluates not only a passport’s access to travel freedom, but the stability, quality of life, and economic opportunity it enables.

“Using up-to-date data, this edition measures passport strength across three core pillars—Enhanced Mobility, Investment Potential, and Quality of Life—reflecting the real advantages that citizenship and residence provide in today’s world.

“With 200 countries analyzed through 15 key indicators, the Global Passport Index offers a holistic and updated snapshot of global freedom, economic opportunity, and personal well-being, helping individuals, investors, and policymakers understand how nationality shapes access to a globalized world.”

Sweden topped the Global Passport Index 2026. (Image: Getty Images)

Sweden topped the Global Passport Index 2026, followed by Switzerland and Finland.

Global Passport Index 2026 – Top 10

1. Sweden
2. Switzerland
3. Finland
4. Germany
5. The Netherlands
6. Denmark
7. Ireland
8. United Kingdom
9. Norway
10. Singapore

UK has “one of the most desirable passports in the world”

The UK passport ranked eighth in the 2026 index.

It was praised for its high scores in investment potential and quality of life.

Global Citizens Solutions said: “The United Kingdom passport currently ranks in 8th place according to the Global Passport Index 2026.

“It provides visa-free access to 114 countries.

“This makes it one of the most desirable passports in the world, with very high investment and quality of life scores.

“United Kingdom passport holders have visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to countries such as United States, Germany, France, China, Japan, Andorra, Belize, and Switzerland, allowing almost instant travel worldwide.”

UK passport holders enjoy widespread mobility, but there are still around 15 countries where a visa is required for entry, including:

• The Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Algeria
• Eritrea
• Ghana
• Honduras
• Iran

The UK held the same eighth-place position in the 2025 rankings.

Do you have any holidays booked this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Townspeople historically claimed there was a witch among them

A South Cambridgeshire village has an unusual connection to a witch, townspeople historically claimed. Willingham is a charming village just outside the Fens which offers an array of local amenities and a pretty atmosphere – but its history is by far more intriguing.

Local legend has it that a man, named Jabez Few, was branded by townspeople as the witch of Willingham. Historically, Mr Few kept white mice, which was deemed peculiar by his fellow villagers. The ‘witch’ died in the 1920s and locals shared a strong belief that his mice were his familiar spirits.

They tried and tried to get rid of them, but the mice just would not flee. The locals reportedly resulted in eccentric measures to get rid of them – by holding them over running water.

Although this historic witchery does not paint the picture of a calming village, nowadays, it is a highly sought-after place to live. The village hosts a primary school, library, doctor’s surgery, post office and restaurants. It is also home to a historic house believed to date back to the 15th-century.

In 1933, there were reportedly still seven pubs operating before it reduced to five in 1982. Nowadays, the village has three pubs called The Porterhouse, The Duke of Wellington and The Bank.

Ideally located, Willingham offers transport links through the A14, bus services and Waterbeach railway station, less than 20-minutes away by driving. The village is neighbour to Northstowe, a planned ‘New Town’ of up to 10,000 new homes.

House prices in Willingham are cheaper than south Cambridgeshire as a whole. Willingham house prices had an overall average of £373,746 over the last year, according to Rightmove. Meanwhile, the average house price in south Cambridgeshire was £433,000 in April 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Clarkson’s Farm’s Kaleb Cooper has married his long-term partner and mother of his three children Taya Wilkinson in an idyllic ceremony in Oxfordshire. 

The farmhand, who is often referred to as ‘The Fetus’ by his acerbic boss, soared to fame on Jeremy Clarkson‘s show in 2021 and is now a beloved star of the show.

The couple, who are parents to Oscar, five, Willa, three, and Ashton, 11 months, tied the knot in the Cotswolds with Jeremy present with his girlfriend Lisa Hogan. 

Taking to Instagram to announce news of their big day, Kaleb shared a snap with his 3.2million followers alongside the caption: ‘Such an amazing day yesterday celebrating our wedding! We both had the most amazing day! Mr and Mrs cooper’.

Kaleb arrived at 500-acre Merriscourt in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, in a £250,000 McLaren supercar with son Oscar alongside.    

Taking to Instagram to announce news of their big day, Kaleb shared a snap with his 3.2million followers alongside the caption: ‘Such an amazing day yesterday celebrating our wedding! We both had the most amazing day! Mr and Mrs cooper’

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The groom posed alongside Jeremy (right) for a silly snap, shared by one of his pals

The newlyweds looked overjoyed as they hit the dancefloor 

In images obtained by The Sun, Jeremy, who provided the booze for the event from his Hawkstone brewery, could be seen arriving as he stepped out in the wake of announcing he was in remission from ‘aggressive cancer’. 

Last month, an episode of Clarkson’s Farm saw the the visibly emotional 66-year-old relay the news to his shaken co-stars Charlie Ireland and Kaleb.

He revealed on the series, filmed from late 2024 to September 2025, how he had been diagnosed in May last year, telling Kaleb that ten per cent of his prostate, ‘where the cancer is’, is ‘dead’. 

In June, Kaleb spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail about his nuptials, saying: ‘I want to say I’m really hands on but that’s a lie,’ he tells me. ‘I can’t really say that, it is Taya that has done the majority of it.’

He said: ‘It’s both of our dreams to get married. But Taya is very much like “I want it in a certain way, I want my dress to be a certain way”, which is good…

The wedding featured tractors making an arch among the greenery

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The couple are pictured in 2024

Taya and Kaleb have been together for 10 years and on Christmas Day, 2022, he got down on one knee, and in a touching social media post he confirmed: ‘She said yes!’

Last month, an episode of Clarkson’s Farm saw the the visibly emotional 66-year-old relay the news to his shaken co-stars Charlie Ireland and Kaleb

‘I think everyone should have that in their life and go, right, if you’re going to get married, it’s a very special day for everybody, family included, so therefore you’ve got to have your own say of how you want it to go.’

Taya and Kaleb have been together for ten years and on Christmas Day, 2022, he got down on one knee, and in a touching social media post he confirmed: ‘She said yes!’ 

Kaleb’s Clarkson’s Farm fame has proved lucrative, with the star boasting a net worth north of £1million, with his three firms registered with Companies House. 

Kaleb Cooper Productions, in particular, in which he deposits his media earnings, has seen its account swell from £242,000 in 2023 to £817,000 last year, according to its latest figures.

Away from television, Kaleb has built a business empire that takes in his farm contracting, merchandise sales including branded hoodies and tops, and a livestock firm specialising in the sale of premium beef joints.

Taya and Kaleb welcomed their second child Ashton last August 

 She is known for her incredible looks while blazing the promo trail. 

And Zendaya made no exceptions on Sunday as she wowed while plugging her new movie The Odyssey alongside co-stars Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton at the IET Building in London.

The foursome looked incredible for the event, where Zendaya, 29, whose co-star husband Tom Holland was present, sported a dramatic draped number with a coordinating head scarf. 

Lupita’s look complemented Zendaya’s, as she sported a plunging black and white number while Anne opted for a thigh-skimming white mini and knee-high boots. 

The entire cast were present at the event alongside the four actresses, including Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel, director Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas 

The Christopher-fronted film is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, which sees the titular Greek King embark on a perilous journey home after the Trojan War in a bid to reunite with his beloved wife Penelope. 

Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Samantha Morton (L-R) were plugging the film

Benny Safdie, Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, director Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas (L-R) posed at the event

Known for her ‘method dressing’ – in which Zendaya fashions her looks around the theme of her movie – she wore a pair of gold earrings from Barron London. 

She was sporting 1st millennium BC ancient disks mounted into a contemporary pair of earrings using 18k yellow gold and diamonds.

She also chose to wear an Old Mine Cut oval diamond ring set in yellow gold, as well as a selection of stacked ‘Twist’ and Marquise diamond rings set in yellow gold, all by Barron London.

Her ensemble was simple yet head-turning thanks to the bare back and headwear.

While they did not pose together, Zendaya’s husband Tom, who plays Telemachus, Odysseus’s son and the prince of Ithaca, was nearby and was seen leaving the event clutching an England football shirt ahead of the team’s pending game against Brazil.

Anne, who plays Penelope in the movie, appeared to be borrowing from the 00s, as she opted to pair the white dress with a pair of suede knee-high boots while keeping her beauty look simple. 

Despite the film being in the trusted hands of Oscar-winning director Christopher, fans haven’t quite got to grips with the casting yet.

In what has been dubbed his ‘most extreme project to date’ alongside an incredibly starry cast – the pressure for Christopher to win over critics is like no other.

The foursome looked incredible for the event, where Zendaya, 29, sported a dramatic draped number with a coordinating head scarf

She pulled all her best poses for the camera 

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Zendaya’s husband Tom, who plays Telemachus, Odysseus’s son and the prince of Ithaca, was nearby and was seen leaving the event clutching an England football shirt ahead of the team’s pending game against Brazil

Already known for his impressive art and high-budget fare, Christopher’s latest film could prove to be his most ambitious yet, with the $250million budget the most expensive of his career, his first to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras.

Lead stars Matt Damon and Anne have joined forces with Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, and Travis Scott as well as Elliot Page.

Matt is starring as the titular hero Odysseus, while Devil Wears Prada icon Anne plays his devoted queen, who is forced to fend off potential suitors in her husband’s absence.

Yet the film has received heaps of attention for all the wrong reasons – sparking backlash over its ‘bizarre’ casting, being accused of fuelling ‘brutal repression’ and sending Elon Musk into meltdown.

Christopher recently defended his decision to cast Kenyan actress Nyong’o in the movie after Musk called the casting ‘historically inaccurate’.

Nyong’o, 43, is set to play Helen of Troy’s sister Clytemnestra, and was named People Magazine’s ‘Most Beautiful Woman’ in 2014 following her triumphant Best Supporting Actress Oscar win for 12 Years A Slave.

After recently tying the knot to Tom Holland, she gave a nod to bridal style

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The leading ladies looked sensational 

Nolan defended his castings, saying: ‘Hopefully they’ll enjoy the film, even if they don’t agree with everything. The oldest depictions of Homeric characters tend to be depicted in the manner of people living in Homer’s time…

‘So there’s a pretty strong case there for portraying things that way because that’s the way the first audience received the story.’

Musk was called out for his remarks about the casting in January by The View host Sunny Hostin. She said: ‘Anyone can portray a fictional character. It doesn’t have to be a white person that plays this part.’

She added: ‘I think we have to call a thing a thing when we’re talking about someone like Elon Musk… We know what this is. He is a white supremacist. In my view, he is a racist.’

Emmy-winner Alec Baldwin has since weighed in on Musk’s anti-woke campaign against Nolan’s movie. 

In a public display of support for Nyong’o and Nolan, Baldwin wrote on Instagram: ‘Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world…Alec’.

They were also hoined by Robert Pattinson and Himesh Patel 

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The crash happened just before 10.20pm on Saturday, July 4, where Derby Street becomes St Helens Road in Daubhill.

Emergency services were called to the scene with an area between Willows Lane and Florence Street taped off. Police have now confirmed that the rider is in a “critical condition”.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “At around 10.18pm yesterday evening, July 4, officers responded to reports of a collision involving an off-road bike and a stationary car on St Helens Road, Bolton.

“Officers were already in the area at the time of the collision and were quickly on scene to provide assistance and first aid to the injured party.

Police were on the scene (Image: Public)

“The rider suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

“Two men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of obstructing police while officers attempted to assist the injured male.”

Residents around the Derby Street and St Helens Road area reported seeing police officers on the scene and groups of people gathered around late on Saturday night.

The crash happened on Saturday night (Image: Public)

One person reported seeing “police cars and the road was blocked” at around 11pm, while another described the aftermath as a “really bad accident”.

The scene was cleared later into the night and, as of Sunday morning, traffic was understood to be able to pass through Derby Street and St Helens Road as normal.

Cllr Ayyub Patel, of Rumworth, said: “Road safety is one of the top priorities that residents raise with me and this is another example of just how important it is to make sure our roads are kept safe.

“I’ll be continuing to work with the police and council on this to make sure that residents’ concerns are heard, that the appropriate measures are in place, and that we continue to do everything we can to make our roads safe.”

Cllr Patel encouraged members of the community to avoid sharing any unverified information or AI-generated videos that may have been circulating online.

He said the CCTV footage confirmed that what these AI videos have claimed to show is not accurate.

Cllr Patel said: “There is no wider risk to the community and the police presence in the area is simply part of the investigation.”

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police put a large cordon in place as paramedics and the Great North Air Ambulance Service attended the incident at the Benton Road and Goathland Avenue junction in North Tyneside, near Four Lane Ends.

One patient was taken to the RVI in Newcastle by road for further treatment.

Police remain at the scene with a large taped cordon in place (Image: PROVIDED)

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said they requested support from colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who flew in.

Pictures show a large police cordon has been erected at the scene taping off the whole junction.

Heavy traffic is building in surrounding areas as traffic management is in place.

Police remain at the scene with a large taped cordon in place (Image: NE TRAFFIC CAMERAS)

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 9.26am on Sunday 5 July to reports of a road traffic incident on the junction of Benton Road and Goathland Avenue in Newcastle.

“We dispatched an ambulance crew and specialist paramedic to the scene, and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by air.

“One patient was taken to the RVI by road for further treatment.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Northumbria Police and GNAAS for a statement on the incident.

Artificial intelligence software will be used on the NHS app to determine which service is most appropriate for patients in England, the health service has announced.

A new triage tool will ask patients a series of questions, and will use the responses to direct them to a GP appointment, pharmacy, A&E, community service or offer self-care advice.

NHS England said the update would reach more than 200,000 patients in the next 12 months and be available to all app users by April 2028 as part of a “major overhaul” of its technology.

The rollout has been largely welcomed, but some health bodies urged the NHS to prioritise patient safety, confidentiality and inclusion as it grows more reliant on AI.

According to NHS England, the triage tool will provide advice and suggest services or book appointments. Part of its aim is to reduce waiting on the phone when GP surgeries typically open their lines at 08:00.

An initial trial at Wealden Ridge Medical Partnership in Sussex saw a 29% reduction in the number of people queuing on the phone for an appointment.

Dr Ragu Rajan, who works at the practice, said integrating the tool “means our patients can tell us what they need, when they need it, and be directed to the right care first time.

“It hasn’t replaced our judgement – it’s given us back the time to use it.”

Health Secretary James Murray said the rollout did not mean an AI programme would ultimately decide if patients saw a doctor.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Murray said it meant investment would be put in to “modernise” the NHS and ensure benefits were spread out “around the country”.

It comes as part of a £10bn investment, allocated by the government in 2025, to overhaul the NHS’s technology, digital and data systems.

Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said the tool would “help get patients to the best service for their needs first time… so that clinicians can make sure those most in need of a GP appointment can get one sooner”.

There will also be an England-wide rollout of AI tools that record conversations between patients and NHS staff to generate real-time transcriptions and clinical summaries.

It will start with hospital appointments not requiring an overnight stay at four NHS trusts in and around London – St George’s, Epsom and St Helier, Croydon, and Kingston and Richmond.

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust are also expanding their AI notetaking programmes.

A trial led by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and carried out across nine NHS sites in London found NHS staff spent almost 25% more of their time interacting with patients when using the notetaking technology.

The Royal College of Nursing’s chief nursing officer, Prof Lynn Woolsey, said the rollout could mark “an important step in upgrading technology in the NHS” and “ease the administrative burden on nursing staff”.

But she also emphasised that patient safety and confidentiality must be at the “heart of any AI triage system, with a guarantee that a health professional will be the one making decisions at key points in that process”.

Pritesh Mistry, fellow at the King’s Fund think-tank, said the announcement “could help turbo-charge improvements in how [the] NHS uses modern technology to deliver better care for patients”.

“People should find it easier to have support at the right time and in a way that best suits them, digitally or physically,” she added.

“And this means the NHS will need to keep a strong focus on ensuring that people are not digitally excluded as clinical services become increasingly reliant on technology.”

Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said: “Any innovation that improves patient care and helps the NHS work more effectively should be welcomed.

“But new technology must be introduced with a fully-funded plan that delivers value for taxpayers.”