EXCLUSIVE: In a wide-ranging interview, Paul O’Kane reflected on a campaign that saw Scottish Labour collapse to their fifth defeat in a row to the SNP.

A former Labour MSP and defeated candidate has criticised his party’s election strategy after their worst ever Holyrood defeat.

Paul O’Kane said Labour focused too much on constituencies over regional Lists and lacked “ambition” in their manifesto.

He also said “everything should be on the table” after being asked about the creation of an independent Scottish Labour party.

Anas Sarwar’s party returned 17 MSPs earlier this month – their worst tally at a Scottish Parliament election.

The performance of the UK Government is widely blamed for the loss, but criticism is mounting over Sarwar’s campaign.

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OPINION

Insiders say targeting 38 first-past-the-post seats was too ambitious and claim there was no strategy for the regional lists, where Labour does best.

O’Kane, a moderate who was Sarwar’s shadow education secretary, was one of three sitting MSPs to lose his seat on May 7th.

In an interview with the Record’s Planet Holyrood podcast, he said Starmer was a “principal” factor in the result, but warned:

“It would be wrong for us not to take time to have self-reflection in Scotland as well, and in the Scottish Party, about what happened in the campaign, about the way the campaign was run, about the decisions that were made around various issues of policy.

“I wouldn’t want us to just see the issues with the UK Government and the Prime Minister as a reason not to have a wider reflection and a wider piece of work that looks at all of the issues in the round.”

He criticised the failure to focus on the regional lists when polling showed Labour trailing the SNP in the constituencies:

“I do think there are questions to ask about that sort of 38 seat strategy, whether that was a strategy that could evolve with the changing picture of polling.”

He said: “My sense is there should have been more focus on a list strategy and thinking about that more widely.”

He added: “The challenge for me is just, again, what was the contingency? What was the balancing factor? Because with the best will in the world, a lot of the national polling was starting to show that that was quite a narrow path.”

On the manifesto, O’Kane said Labour were “trying to be honest” with voters about challenges with public finances.

He said it would not have been right to “promise the Earth and not deliver it”, but said his party could have been more “ambitious and hopeful in our language”.

O’Kane is also in favour of greater autonomy for Scottish Labour from the UK party.

While he did not back an independent Scottish party, he kept the door open on the idea:

“As part of any wider review…I think everything should be on the table. I think it would be wrong if we sort of closed off ideas about how we might move forward.”

He said: “We are the party of devolution. We believe in devolution. We believe in devolution that progresses. But we probably didn’t do that for our internal party structures and we need to accept that in a devolved UK, looking at more devolved structures to the Scottish Labour Party isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

He is also worried this party could suffer the same fate as Labour in Ireland, which has for generations been in the shadow of nationalism:

“There’s definitely a danger in it [Scottish politics] becoming really entrenched into two polarising sort of nationalisms where…the politics of working people, of aspiration, of support and all of the things I’ve just spoken about gets lost and squeezed to a point where it becomes slightly irrelevant, which is I think what you see in Ireland. “

O’Kane said he supported a UK constitutional convention which could look at various issues including House of Lords reform and even the trigger point for indyref2:

“I’m not really sure why we as Labour would advocate for a process that I don’t think is being demanded by the people, because I think what we saw actually was people wanted action on the cost of living, education, the health service, all of those things.

“That said, do I think there is a space for a wider conversation and discussion about the UK as a whole in terms of its constitutional arrangement? Yes, I do.”

He explained: “And of course, if we want to, as part of that process, have a discussion about how we define future votes on a whole range of issues, including independence, then that should absolutely form part of that. But I’m not in a rush to have a Scottish-only conversation.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “In the election we ran an ambitious campaign for change. Unfortunately we did not win that argument, so we must reflect and learn from that result.

“We will now be the credible opposition Scotland needs – holding this SNP government to account to make sure it delivers on its promises and that the Scottish Parliament is focussed on the issues raised in this election, from the NHS to the cost of living.”

Man Utd beat Brighton 3-0 at the Amex Stadium to end the Prmeier League season on a high under Michael Carrick.

Michael Carrick praised the performances of Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu after they starred in an outstanding team performance at Brighton.

United brought the curtain down on the campaign with a 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium thanks to goal from Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes.

There were a string of fine performances on the south coast, with Fernandes breaking the Premier League’s single-season assist record with his 21st of the campaign, while youngsters Dorgu, Amad and Kobbie Mainoo shone.

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Carrick believes those young players will be better for the experience with United and then reserved praise for Dorgu, who was starting his first game in four months, and Mount, who was making just his second start under Carrick.

“It gives us confidence, without getting carried away and taking anything for granted,” he said of recent results. “We’ve had a good spell, but I do think, again, experience, especially for the younger players, you can’t put a price on what a season or two in this league and playing for Manchester United, dealing with that and learning and understanding what it feels like to then perform really, and the boys have shown that.

“I think Patrick especially, it was a massive setback for him at the time when he got injured, but the way he’s just got on with it. It’s incredible to think he’s so young still. To come back like he did today is great.

“I have to say, I thought Mason in particular as well, coming and playing midfield, I was delighted for him. I thought he did ever so well and Kobbie just keeps improving all the time.”

Donald Trump has warned that Tehran “must understand” it cannot have a nuclear weapon as the two sides edge towards a potential peace deal.

The US says it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations rising that a breakthrough could be imminent.

However, while adopting a more positive tone on Sunday, following previous reports the US was considering further strikes against Iran, Trump said his team would “not be rushed”. His comments came soon after the US secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested an announcement could be made “within hours”.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!

“Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”

Details of the draft agreement emerged on Sunday after Trump said that the deal had been “largely negotiated”.

The deal reportedly includes Iran giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with the details and timelines to be worked out later. It would also include no tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran would be able to freely sell oil.

Plans for Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which Washington has insisted it give up, would be negotiated within 30 to 60 days, the reports said. The peace agreement is likely to unfold in stages, with the first stage focused on formally ending the war and resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

A 30-day window for further negotiations would then take place, which could be extended, according to Reuters. In exchange for movement in the strait, the US would agree to lift its blockade on Iranian shipping.

Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that he was “ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons”, but warned that Tehran’s negotiating team will “not compromise when it comes to our country’s honour and dignity”.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency has said there is still conflict over one or two parts of the deal, but did not give details about which aspects these are.

A senior Iranian source also told Reuters that, if Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum it will be sent to the supreme leader for final approval.

Fars news agency, which is close to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that even if the Strait of Hormuz is open, it will still be under the monopoly of Iran.

World leaders cautiously welcomed reports that a peace deal could be close on Sunday. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he hoped any agreement would end the conflict and reopen the strait with “unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation”.

“It’s vital that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” the prime minister said in a statement. “My government will continue to do everything we can to protect British people from the impact of this conflict.”

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen echoed Sir Keir’s comments on the strait, the closure of which has wreaked havoc on the world’s oil and gas supply.

“I welcome the progress towards an agreement between the US and Iran. We need a deal that truly de-escalates the conflict, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and guarantees toll-free full freedom of navigation. Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” Von der Leyen wrote on X.

But even if the war ends now, full ​flows through the strait will not return before the first or second quarter of ‌2027, the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said last week.

The IRGC said 33 vessels had passed through the strait over the past 24 hours after getting permission from Tehran, still far short of the 140 that passed on a typical day before the war.

Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Trump that Israel should remain free to act against threats in Lebanon as details of the peace deal emerged, a source told Reuters.

Israel carried out further strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, reportedly killing at least four people and reducing buildings to rubble. Conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has continued in the region since a US-brokered ceasefire was announced in April.

Israel has occupied around 235 square miles of territory in south Lebanon and has said that it will only withdraw when the safety of the residents in northern Israel can be assured.

Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden in Richmond, will welcome visitors on June 14 from 1pm to 5pm, with all money raised going towards next year’s Richmond MayFest.

The garden, an 18th-century gem once part of the Yorke family estate, has been lovingly restored by current owners Dennis and Marcia McLuckie, who transformed the once-overgrown space into a tranquil, informal haven.

Iris Eckersley Amongst the Blooms in Mr. Yorke’s Walled Garden (Image: Supplied)

Mrs McLuckie said: “I love coming into the garden early in the morning when the dew is on the grass and the birds are singing away.

“The garden feels fresh and lush and full of promise.

“Dennis and I like to share the garden whilst raising money for local charities, such as MayFest and Just the Job.”

Peonies and Euphorbia in Mr. Yorke’s Walled Garden, Richmond (Image: Supplied)

Visitors will be treated to live flute and harp performances, while Richmond artist Judi Allinson will be painting in the garden and offering her artwork and handmade gifts for sale.

A plant sale will also take place, organised by the charity Just the Job, with proceeds supporting their Big Green Build project to improve facilities at their Gallowfields site.

Homemade cakes and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Marcia McLuckie Serving Cakes at Mr. Yorke’s Walled Garden Open Day (Image: Supplied)

Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden was built by John Yorke II and formed part of a grand estate that once included a 17th-century mansion, formal gardens, stables, the Green Walk, Culloden Tower, and Temple Grounds.

The family mansion was demolished in the early 19th century, and the walled garden later became a market garden.

During the 1980s, it was planted with saplings intended for sale, many of which remain as mature trees today.

Rose ‘Champagne Moment’ Mr. Yorke’s Walled Garden, Richmond (Image: Supplied)

Since acquiring the garden, the owners have worked to preserve its historical features while gradually redesigning the space.

The garden now extends over an acre, featuring a mix of mature trees, shrubs, fruit trees both old and new, lawns, parterres, herbaceous borders, roses, ponds, and a stream.

Its informal style stands in contrast to more structured planting schemes and offers a peaceful retreat behind Cravengate’s high walls.

Mrs McLuckie said: “I have lost count of the number of plants we have introduced from our local garden centres and as gifts from friends and family.

“We have some beautiful roses and this year has been fantastic for the crab apple, cherry, and apple tree blossom.”

All proceeds from ticket sales and refreshments will go towards funding next year’s Richmond MayFest.

Richmond MayFest is now an established weekend of music, dance and storytelling in the Richmond calendar.

Plant sales will support Just the Job’s Big Green Build project, which will improve the facilities at their Gallowfields site.

Visitors are advised that there is no parking at the garden itself.

Parking is available at Nuns Close and Yorke Square pay-and-display car parks, as well as disc parking areas in Newbiggin and the Market Place.

The garden is situated on a hill, and while main grass paths are wheelchair accessible, they are quite steep.

Admission is £6 for adults and free for accompanied children under 16.

Guests are asked to bring cash as no card payment facilities will be available.

Interest in the limited-run publications by the late Norman Hindley has remained strong, with residents still regularly asking if copies are available.

Some editions are now difficult to find, with one recent publication believed to have had only 25 copies printed.

John Holdens Mill, which is now the cotton works. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

Cllr Hilary Fairclough, representing Astley Bridge, said: “People were almost clamouring for it. I couldn’t believe it.

“When you look at it, they like the fact that they think it was a village, which of course it was, and self-governing really, it wasn’t part of Bolton.”

Norman Hindley, who died in 2020 aged 89, spent decades researching the history of Astley Bridge, collecting photographs, records and memories from across the community.

Friends and fellow local historians helped complete and publish The Village of Astley Bridge after his death, fulfilling what had been a long-held ambition.

It even speaks a bit about Doffcocker. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

Cllr Fairclough said: “He was absolutely the font of all knowledge when it came to Astley Bridge.

“He spent his whole life looking at Astley Bridge and looking at the history of it.”

She said Norman had worked closely with community groups and had strongly supported the Friends of Astley Bridge organisation.

Cllr Fairclough added: “He always wanted to do a book.

“I’ve got lots and lots of boards with pictures and things on, all these drafts and stuff like that.”

She said Norman became seriously ill before the project could be finished, but supporters were able to tell him that publication plans were moving ahead while he was still in hospital.

Cllr Fairclough is a fanatic. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

Cllr Fairclough said: “We were able to get a message to him to say that we were getting the book published, which was very nice for him.”

The original print runs quickly sold out, with proceeds going towards the Friends of Astley Bridge.

Cllr Fairclough said demand for the books had surprised even those involved in the project.

She said: “I get asked probably three or four times a year, ‘I’ve seen this book, have you got a copy, can you let me have it?’

“They are a niche thing, but people seem to be very interested in the heritage of where they live, particularly if they were born in Astley Bridge.”

A page containing details of Astley Bridge Cemetery. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

The books explore the area’s industrial and social history, including cotton mills, churches, schools, shops and long-demolished community buildings.

Cllr Fairclough, who has lived in Astley Bridge all her life, said many residents still strongly identify with the area’s former village character.

She said: “People are very proud of where they live.

“There was the mills down in Eagley, then there was Bank Top, which was another little village in itself really.”

Eden Orphanage. The Gatehouse still remains as private property today. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

She also reflected on how dramatically the area has changed during her lifetime.

Cllr Fairclough recalled growing up near Hesketh Mill and watching the demolition of its huge chimney as a child.

She said: “We went upstairs and watched this chimney come down. It’s probably the best thing I’d ever seen.”

Among her strongest memories was severe flooding in the 1960s, which saw water rush through parts of Astley Bridge after heavy rain.

Listed buildings in the district. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

Cllr Fairclough said: “I can remember seeing the water going down Blackburn Road.

“There were properties in Astley Bridge, Berkeley Road for instance, where their carpets ended up in the lodge. There was that much rain and that much water.”

She said the books had become important partly because they preserved memories and landmarks many younger residents would never have known existed.

One example was the former parochial hall attached to St Paul’s Church, which once hosted community events, performances and youth groups before being demolished decades ago.

Cllr Fairclough said: “It would have certainly been a centrepiece for Astley Bridge.

Sir John Holden, who is now buried at Walmsley Church. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

“I think it’s so important to have a community hub for people.”

She also pointed to public anger after a historic marker stone in Bank Top was removed during driveway work in recent years.

Cllr Fairclough said: “People were rightly outraged.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough has a copy. (Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

“It’s heritage, though. That’s what they want.”

As copies of the books continue to circulate between residents and collectors, she believes their popularity reflects a lasting attachment to Astley Bridge’s identity and history.

Cllr Fairclough added: “I think people like the nostalgia of it perhaps.

“That’s the thing that appeals to people.”

Offering families and thrill-seekers a range of activities including ten pin bowling and rides, this summer attraction could make for a memorable road trip

A popular summer attraction has been named one of the best things to do in Europe – and it is not too far from Cambridge. Clacton Pier in Essex has been given a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award.

The busy destination has ranked 17th in Europe in the Amusements and Water Parks category. The pier welcomes thousands of visitors annually and hosts a variety of seasonal events throughout the year, including fireworks displays, Oktoberfest, and Halloween activities.

Clacton Pier is well-accustomed to high recognition. Last year, it was hailed as one of the best three piers in the UK by the Daily Express. It’s a free-to-visit pier, although some attractions and rides may require tickets or tokens.

From Cambridge, it takes approximately 90 minutes to get to Clacton Pier by car depending on traffic. The drive is well worth the wait as visitors can enjoy ten pin bowling, darts, ‘shufl’, adventure golf, and a range of rides to please the thrill seekers.

The TripAdvisor awards acknowledge the highest-rated experiences and attractions around the world based on millions of reviews and ratings from its global community. The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh has been crowned the top attraction in the world.

Reviews on Tripadvisor by previous visitors only highlight the pier’s popularity. One person said: “I went to Clacton Pier on firework night and it was the best experience I could have possibly had.”

Others described the pier as a “fantastic” day out with “great service” and “great value for money”.

The 44-year-old expert paraglider somehow managed to walk away from the bone-chilling mid-air collision with bumps and bruises – the moment was captured on camera

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Terrifying footage has captured the moment a small plane collided with a paraglider midair, shredding through the canopy and sending a woman hurtling through the sky towards the ground. The video, posted to social media by account @sab-thi, shows a woman known only as Sabrina soaring through the stunning, clean-aired skies over northern Austria. Her breathtaking views are soon interrupted, however, by a buzzing sound. A small plane then comes into frame – identified by a Cessna 172 – with the light plane swooping down and shredding through her paragliding canopy.

With her paragliding canopy torn to bits, yells and muffled cries can be heard as the 44-year-old plummeted to the ground.

In the moments that followed, Sabina can be seen wrestling with a flurry of cords and limbs as she rushed to deploy the emergency reserve parachute. Sabrina can be seen racing to free her tangled legs from the harness to land safely, a move the expert paraglider managed to pull off, all the while narrowly avoiding striking a tree on her way down. Sabrina said in a translated caption via Instagram: “Happy birthday to me,” alongside Saturday’s date, revealing the date of her horror fall was also her birthday.

She continued: “I actually still can’t believe that I’m sitting here typing this and apart from a few nasty bumps and bruises, all around nothing really happened.”

The horror incident took place near Piesendorf, close to Zell am See in Austria’s Pinzgau region, according to local Austrian media, citing police.

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Both Sabrina and the plane pilot, a 28-year-old man, escaped serious injury, police said.

“The propeller of the motor plane severely damaged the paraglider, prompting the experienced paraglider to deploy her reserve parachute,” police said in a statement. As per local reports, the 44-year-old paraglider pilot from Upper Austria had launched from Schmittenhöhe, a mountain popular with paragliders, and was flying toward Piesendorf when the light plane approached and collided with her parachute. She suffered bruises and contusions but avoided serious injury, as per local reports.

Local media identifies the Cessna pilot as a 28-year-old man from Tyrol, in the west Austrian Alps. He was on a sightseeing flight at the time, and managed to safely land the aircraft at Zell am See Airport after the collision.

The Cessna pilot reportedly told police that he could not avoid the paraglider before the collision. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, as per local authorities.

A Northern California animal rescue that billed itself as a safe haven for unwanted dogs is now at the center of a disturbing investigation after authorities say several dogs transferred there from Bay Area shelters were found shot and buried on the property.

The allegations, outlined in a Humboldt County search warrant affidavit, have prompted both Oakland Animal Services and Berkeley Animal Care Services to sever ties with the rescue as investigators work to determine what happened to hundreds of dogs sent there over the years.

Investigators recovered eight dead dogs from the rescue property in Humboldt County, about 4.5 hours north of San Francisco, according to the affidavit obtained by ABC7. At least one of those dogs had recently been transferred from the Bay Area.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Wednesday that the Major Crimes Division is investigating Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California, over “credible allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy.”

As of Friday, neither the owner of the rescue nor any employees had been charged.

The investigation began on April 22 after two women contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the rescue was taking in dogs primarily for financial gain.

One of the women, Jennifer Raymond, who owns a spay-and-neuter clinic in Humboldt County, said she had been concerned about the rescue for years and that she bought property next door to monitor the operation.

Raymond and the other woman had obtained trail camera footage that appeared to show dead dogs being dumped in a field. After noticing a mound of dirt on the property, the women entered the property at night and began digging, she told investigators, according to the affidavit.

“I began digging, and I continued, and I uncovered a dog,” Raymond said. “Its muzzle was covered in dried blood. Their bodies were still warm.”

“It was gruesome. I will never forget the sight of those dogs with blood dripping out of their noses, out of their mouths, out of their ears,” she added.

Eight dogs were recovered and several appeared to have bullet holes in their heads, according to the affidavit. Raymond acknowledged she trespassed onto the property and said she is prepared to face the consequences.

Deputies executed a search warrant on May 1 seeking records, contracts, financial documents and other evidence. At the time of the search, the rescue was already over capacity.

Investigators said six of the eight recovered dogs had microchips. One was identified as Zora, a dog transferred from Oakland Animal Services less than a month earlier. The affidavit states the rescue owner previously sent Oakland Animal Services a photo of Zora on a leash alongside the message, “Zora adopted,” before the dog was later identified among the dead animals.

According to the affidavit, the rescue owner denied killing and dumping the dogs, but later told investigators he was not operating a no-kill shelter and had done the best he could with limited resources. He added that animals were typically euthanized by a veterinarian, though he sometimes shot animals himself when immediate action was necessary to prevent suffering.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, the owner allegedly wrote: “Many of you, like me, have been appalled by the allegations we’ve read in the media and online. Not everything we’re seeing is true. A legal process is now underway to sort the facts from the lies. I have cared for thousands of animals and devoted 31 years of my life to the rescue. I intend to vigorously defend myself and continue this important work.”

Authorities allege the rescue received more than 600 dogs from shelters over the past year, along with an estimated $510,000 in funding.

Oakland Animal Services transferred 445 animals to the rescue between 2023 and 2025, according to the affidavit. Investigators estimate those transfers generated roughly $178,000 in payments at about $400 per dog.

“It is my belief that (the rescue) murdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,” a Humboldt County investigator wrote in the affidavit.

Oakland and Berkeley officials said they will no longer transfer dogs to the rescue. Berkeley officials said at least 22 dogs had been sent there since the start of 2025, and the city is still trying to determine what happened to those animals.

“Just sick to my stomach. There’s been a lot of tears shed here at the shelter,” said Joe DeVries, director of Oakland Animal Services. “When we see a partner, and we see hope, we put our hope and our trust in them, and to see it violated like that, it’s just devastating.”

The animals living at the property are being monitored by Humboldt County Animal Control, and the rescue appears to remain operational, officials said. No arrests have been made but authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

UFC president Dana White says that there is no way that Donald Trump is racist – because the president was friends with Michael Jackson.

White, 56, who has been one of Trump’s most vocal supporters and has frequently appeared alongside him at UFC events and political rallies, defended his friend during an interview on The New Yorker Radio Hour with editor David Remnick on May 22.

“These things that he’s a racist and he’s a Nazi and he’s this and that – I mean, Donald Trump, all this stuff’s coming out now,” White said.

“You know, the Michael movie just came out, and you see all these videos now popping up of Trump defending Michael Jackson and the type of person that he was and that Michael Jackson was around his children and around his family a lot.”

Remnick appeared stunned by White’s example and pushed back.

“But wait a minute, Dana – Michael Jackson – as talented as he was, as brilliant as he was, was a deeply, deeply flawed human being, to say the least,” Remnick said. “And was abusive [from] everything we know about him.”

White acknowledged Jackson was flawed before asking: “He was abusive?”

“To kids, yes. It’s terrible,” Remnick responded.

Jackson faced multiple allegations of child sexual abuse during his lifetime, including accusations in 1993 and a criminal trial in 2005. The pop star was acquitted on all counts in the later case.

“I don’t know if that’s true, but I can tell you the president had a very good relationship with Michael Jackson and had Michael Jackson around his kids all the time,” White said. “And you know, defended him when that stuff was going down. So to call the guy a racist is crazy. He’s not a racist.”

During the interview, Remnick also brought up a controversial Truth Social post Trump shared earlier this year depicting former President Barack Obama as an ape, asking White if the post gave him “the willies.”

“If he was that type of person, I never would associate with that type of a person, no matter who he was,” White said.

“But if he does that, how is he not that kind of person?” Remnick asked.

“He’s not,” White replied.

“I don’t know about the Obama thing, to speak on that,” White added. “I’ve never seen it. I didn’t know that. But I can tell you this: He’s not a racist. He’s not a fascist. He loves this country. And if you’re an American – race, religion, whatever it is – President Trump is on your team. That I guarantee you.”

The three-day festival is taking place across 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, and has been billed as a celebration of the skills and produce of British farmers

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Some traders have opted to pack up and leave Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm-Fest ahead of schedule, claiming they were failing to make any money.

The three-day festival is taking place over the bank holiday weekend across 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, where adult tickets cost £35 for a half-day or £60 for an all-day admission, reports the Mirror.

The event celebrates the skills and produce of Britain’s farmers, combining “the traditional joy of a large country fair with the excitement and energy of a modern music festival”, according to the venue.

Reports suggest that the music festival and country fair drew 20,000 visitors on Saturday alone, with 55,000 attendees expected across the entire weekend.

There are 12 arenas spread across the site, ranging from talks and displays featuring Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper to live music from Alex James from Blur, 10cc, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and a DJ set by Groove Armada.

It is estimated that more than 400 stalls were confirmed for the bank holiday event, yet a number of stallholders have voiced their dismay at being forced to depart early. Business owners have posted tearful videos on social media, with one trader titling hers ‘what a shambles’.

Korrine Pallas, who owns pet product firm Phoenix Equestrian and Pet Supplies, was amongst those who departed the festival prematurely. She described Friday as ‘the worst day’s trading we have ever had’. In a video uploaded to the company’s TikTok account, she said: ‘It has been darn right awful at Farm-Fest.’ “When I say it’s not worth getting out of bed for, it’s an understatement. It has been horrific, and I know everyone else is feeling the same and is in the same boat as us.”

Korrine updated her followers yesterday in a tearful message in which she announced she was departing a day early — something the company had never previously done at a trade show. Fighting back tears, she said: “It has been catastrophic for us, and when you are already a small family business in hard times it is heart-wrenching.”

She revealed they were a ‘few grand down’ and that it would cost her £400 to attend on Sunday ‘and I haven’t even come near that in the last couple of days’.

Emma, who co-founded pet brand Pops and Coco, described the event as a shambles in a TikTok video today. She said: “There have been a lot of traders who have gone home – lots of traders left last night, particularly dog traders.

“I would say 90 per cent of traders across the whole showground, whatever they are selling, have either made a loss and they haven’t made their costs back or they are only just making some money now.”

A spokesman for Jeremy Clarkson’s Great British Farm-Fest said: “We have been working closely with traders at The Great British Farm-Fest to provide support during our inaugural weekend. We are surprised that a handful of exhibitors, out of the 400 who attended, left the show within a few hours of the first day without experiencing an event that has attracted over 50,000 visitors.” The Mirror has reached out for comment.