For the French president, Emmanuel Macron, this year’s meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) in the spa town of Évian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17 had several pressing issues to address. As well as reaching a coordinated approach towards artificial intelligence, trade and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Macron needed to get Donald Trump to stay for the entire meeting.

This was no easy task. the US president left the 2018 summit in Quebec, Canada early due to a summit with North Korea and personal tensions with the host, Justin Trudeau. And he left the 2025 summit in Alberta, also in Canada, due to the Israeli war with Iran, which the US was to join a few days later.

While the G7 meeting is normally a moment for some of the world’s biggest economies to show unity – with the US usually in lockstep with its G7 allies – the Trump era has made this event more unpredictable. The major questions facing Macron as host were: what might Trump say to undermine G7 unity – and would he leave early once again?

In both respects, Macron was able to avoid a negative outcome. But it was no easy feat. Macron’s masterstroke was to resort to flattery, inviting Trump to a dinner at the opulent 2,300 room Palace of Versailles at the end of the summit on June 17, billed as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence. Macron had purposely pushed back the G7 schedule so that Trump could attend a mixed martial arts fight at the White House on his 80th birthday.

Kissing up to Trump was something that Europeans have gone along with for most of Trump’s first and second terms. But when European leaders failed to answer Trump’s call for assistance in the US and Israel’s war against Iran, they were the target of bitter attacks from the US president.

The US recently announced it is reducing the number of F-16 and F-15 fighter jets available to Nato from 150 to 100. Maritime reconnaissance aircraft would also be reduced from 26 to 15 and eight refuelling tanker jets that were previously available to Europe will also be withdrawn. This is a big deal for G7 member states, all of which – apart from Japan – are members of Nato.

Against this background, Macron did not want Trump and other geopolitical tensions to undermine the summit. One of his key victories was to achieve what appears to have been a united stance on Ukraine – something which Macron labelled as “re-synchronisation” after what he said was a “very deep change in the US approach”.

The Russian president, Vladmir Putin, may have hoped that the summit would expose divisions. But this year’s G7 meeting managed to highlight western unity on Ukraine, releasing a statement pledging unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity. Even Trump signed the statement after what he said was a “very good” meeting with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit’s sidelines.

Ukraine will also receive more air defence systems along with licenses to produce them – with the US ready to provide “backstop” for these efforts.

Trump also signalled that with the Strait of Hormuz open, the sanctions on Russian oil sales he had lifted during the war with Iran would be reimposed, telling reporters he would do whatever he could to push for peace in Ukraine.

What a difference a year makes. The 2025 G7 summit ended without a unified statement on Ukraine after Trump’s walkout. Instead, the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney made his own statement, what he called a “chair’s summary”. It was reported that Trump would not agree to the original statement’s strong language against Russia.

Mending fences

This year Trump got what he wanted: praise for his 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran, which he signed during the state dinner at the Palace of Versailles.

Just months ago Trump was lashing out at his European allies over Iran. It was a low point in relations that looked as if it would be hard to fix. In April, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Iran had “humiliated” Trump, while Macron and Keir Starmer also issued defiant statements that they would not play ball with Trump’s demands for their assistance. Macron hit back at complaints from Israel and the US that “they are alone in an operation they decided on alone. It’s not our operation.”

Even Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni – once a staunch Trump ally – distanced herself, after Trump’s attack on Pope Leo for criticising the conflict, saying his behaviour towards the pope was “unacceptable”. But this week Meloni and Trump appeared to have made up. When European Council president, António Costa, joked to Trump and Meloni that they appeared to be “friends again”, Meloni replied: “We have always been friends.” Trump retorted: “I was abandoned.” Meloni responded with a smile: “No, you were not.”

This G7 showed European leaders are willing to make nice with Trump. Unlike last year there was no sense they felt they were walking on eggshells in dealing with the US president. A case in point: when Trump walked into the G7 meeting on Wednesday morning, the last to arrive at the summit table, he told the waiting leaders: “I’m the boss”. It was greeted with friendly laughter, rather than with derision.

Throwing a state banquet at Versailles for Trump has sent a clear message that Macron wants to preserve the transatlantic relationship – even though relations are strained.

The meeting was not without its tensions. There were concerns at what appeared to be Trump’s mixed messages on Ukraine when, despite his apparent backing for Zelensky, he commented that the war has “nothing to do with us”. And his assertion that if the Iran deal doesn’t work out the US would “go back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head” will have worried assembled leaders.

But as they sat down to lobster, caviar and truffles in Versailles it appeared that the level of discord between the G7 leaders and Trump had subsided – at least for now.

An astronaut left a tragic legacy after being sent on a mission to space in a faulty aircraft. He crash landed back on earth and became the first human to die in a spaceflight incident

An astronaut completed a haunting and selfless final act before he was blasted into space, knowing he wouldn’t return alive.

Space travel and exploration is a global mission seen as an essential tool in guaranteeing the long-term survival of the human race, while also bringing about a deeper understanding of the universe – and our place in it.

Space agencies and programmes around the world are united in their quest to procure medical and environmental information, technological advances, answers to important scientific questions, and more. There’s also the hope space travel will uncover groundbreaking discoveries to further aid humanity.

Throughout our tenure into space travel and exploration, animals have been sent to their deaths as part of the research to allow humans to go into space, and some astronauts have also lost their lives.

Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer and cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov was sent on a mission to space in a faulty aircraft, becoming the first human to die in a spaceflight incident.

After successfully commanding Voskhod 1, the first spaceflight to carry more than one crew member in October of 1964, he was awarded the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union.

Komarov was later chosen as the solo pilot of Soyuz 1, the Soviet space program’s first crewed test flight. His back-up cosmonaut was national hero, Yuri Gagarin.

On April 24 1967, Komarov successfully re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on his 19th orbit but it still ended in tragedy – his parachute failed to deploy which caused the Soyuz capsule to crash at full-speed into the ground, killing Komarov instantly.

Komarov had worked with back-up pilot Gagarin and the two were said to be friends.

According to former KGB agent Venyamin Russayev, the Soyuz spacecraft wasn’t safe – and Komarov and Gagarin knew it.

Russayev claims Komarov told him: “I’m not going to make it back from this flight.”

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To which Russayev replied: “If you’re so convinced you’re going to die, then why don’t you refuse the mission?”

Komarov is said to have answered: “If I don’t make this flight, they’ll send the back-up pilot instead. That’s Yuri, and he’ll die instead of me. We’ve got to take care of him.”

In a BBC interview back in 1997, Russayev recounted this tale and said it was at this point that Komarov “burst into tears.”

He added: “He cracked. Maybe he just let out all the tension, and he began to cry.”

The former KGB agent also claimed Gagarin attempted to have Komarov “bumped” from the mission, under the belief Soviet leadership wouldn’t risk him, a national hero, on the doomed flight.

But Komarov wouldn’t hear of it and, despite believing the mission was destined for disaster, he wouldn’t put Gagarin’s life at risk.

Russsayev’s claims have been contested by some space historians, who dispute his version of events.

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first person to journey into outer space during the first successful crewed spaceflight.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT An experienced climber popped the question to his girlfriend and then delivered a haunting eight word message – but just a few hours later, he would plummet 300 feet to his death

An experienced climber shared a tragic eight word message after proposing to his girlfriend, only to fall to his death just a few hours later.

Brad Parker was 36-years-old when, after getting down on one knee to pop the question to his girlfriend Jainee Dial, he ventured on a solo climb in Yosemite National Park, CA, which ended in disaster.

Parker was no stranger to adventure, having spent two years travelling around the world and exploring countries including Thailand and New Zealand. He’d also previously climbed the face of Yosemite’s Half Dome “in near-record time”, according to his father.

But on Saturday, August 16, 2014, his life would come to a tragic and heartbreaking end.

The day started off happy and positive. Brad and his girlfriend Jainee Dial embarked on a climb to the summit of Cathedral Peak.

It was there he asked Jainee to marry him, and she said yes.

Hauntingly, his father Bill Parker revealed Brad had told Jainee: “This is the happiest day of my life”, not knowing it would be his last.

The couple then separated and Brad headed alone to the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. He climbed the approximately mile-long Matthes Crest, a narrow, upright ridge of rock with two summits separated by a deep crevice.

Despite his talent, skill and experience, other climbers reported seeing him fall at around 5.45pm, plummeting 300 feet off the rock face to his death below, per Yosemite Park Ranger Kari Cobb.

Brad had been “free-soloing”, climbing the crest alone and without ropes, on a well-established route which, while challenging, wasn’t known or viewed as technically difficult.

According to Mountain Project: “Generally, people do the traverse from South to North. This is because the crest slopes upwards in that direction and therefore you will end up at a higher elevation. Doing it North to South would involve more downclimbing.”

Brad’s free-soloing method was also seen as a wise and logical way to climb the summit. Mountain Project advise: “Probably best to Simul or Solo much of the route. To rope up for every single pitch would take a horrendous amount of time.”

Brad’s father, Bill Parker, said his son was a capable, careful climber “in top physical condition”, per the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The initial climb up Cathedral Peak coupled with the run Brad embarked on from there to Matthes Crest may have led to fatigue which could have been a factor in his fall.

Both Bill and Brad’s mother Gayle Parker said their son’s passion for climbing was “always a concern” for them both.

After Brad’s fall, park rangers hiked in to locate his body. By the time they reached him, it was too late to call for a helicopter so they stayed with him overnight.

The next day, a helicopter collected his body.

Reflecting on his son’s death at the time, Bill added: “We’re all so stunned. What happened is so unbelievable.”

The Bishy Road Street Party will take place on Sunday, June 21, from 11am to 4pm and is expected to attract up to 8,000 visitors.

Celebrating community spirit and independent shops on Bishopthorpe Road, the event will include live music, family activities and food.

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Todd LePage of the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association said: “One of the things that makes Bishy Road special is the strength of the community behind it.

“The Street Party is a chance to celebrate not only our fantastic independent businesses, but also the charities, community groups, volunteers and residents who help make the area such a vibrant and welcoming place.”

Bishopthorpe Road will be closed to traffic between Nunnery Lane and Scarcroft Road for the duration of the event.

The event is organised by the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association and is supported through the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund. (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The main stage, located in the shoppers’ car park, will feature six performances throughout the day, including headline sets from the Yorky Pud Street Band and The Unnamed Band.

Entertainment will also include five dedicated children’s performances and interactive sessions, with appearances from Professor Dan, Josh Benson and more.

Food and drink will be available from Bishopthorpe Road traders, alongside additional street vendors and community stalls.

Charities, artists, makers and community groups will take part, offering games, activities and information.

A dedicated children’s zone will be set up on Ebor Street, and entertainment will be spread across the entire event space.

The street party is organised by the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association and supported by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.

Todd LePage said: “We’ve been delighted by the support we’ve received from volunteers, local businesses, performers and partners across the city.

“Events like this simply wouldn’t happen without the huge amount of goodwill and effort that people are prepared to contribute.

“We’re hoping for a great turnout and, fingers crossed, a little bit of sunshine.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “High streets are constantly changing, but they have, and always will be, hubs for our communities.

“Like the Bishy Road Street Party, which will bring thousands to this special part of York for a celebration like no other while supporting independent businesses, charities and community groups.”

The event is free to attend and no booking is required.

Canada’s 6-0 World Cup 2026 victory over Qatar was marred by a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Kone, sparking an emotional confrontation between players and coaching staff from both sides

Players and coaching staff from both Canada and Qatar clashed after Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone sustained a sickening injury.

Fifty minutes into their 2026 World Cup Group B encounter, which Canada ultimately won 6-0, Assim Madibo lunged in from behind on Kone, leaving the Canadian star writhing in agony on the pitch with an horrific broken leg that left players close to him distraught and the game halted for some time.

Madibo was immediately spotted burying his head in his hands as a number of Canadian players surrounded the distraught Qatari while medical staff rushed to treat Kone. Tensions rapidly boiled over as players from both sides allowed their emotions to get the better of them, with several of Kone’s teammates visibly distressed by the harrowing scenes unfolding in front of them.

Jonathan David, who bagged a hat-trick in the match, was seen in tears, as was manager Jesse Marsch shortly afterwards.

As the confrontation between players and coaches intensified, a member of the Canadian backroom staff was heard telling a referee: “His leg’s hanging off. It’s a f***ing broken leg over there.”

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Canadian manager Marsch was visibly distraught, reportedly making his way towards the Qatari dugout to confront their coaching staff. Madibo was shown a straight red card as the altercations on the pitch continued, leaving Qatar reduced to just nine men for the remainder of the match, reports the Mirror.

After medical staff stabilised Kone’s left leg, he was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and taken away from Vancouver Stadium. In a poignant moment, the crowd rose to their feet to give the stricken player a standing ovation, to which he responded with a defiant thumbs-up.

Approximately 14 minutes later, Nathan Saliba scored from a free kick, with the ball clipping the post before sneaking past Mahmud Abunada’s arm and into the net. As he wheeled away in celebration, Saliba formed an “8” with his two hands, Kone’s number.

He then raced to the touchline, grabbed Kone’s jersey and held it aloft to the supporters, drawing a thunderous reception as both fans and players continued to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Canada extended their advantage in the 75th minute when Mohammaed Manai turned the ball into his own net to make it 5-0.

The final whistle brought the players together once more in a heated confrontation. Canada manager Marsch also appeared to become embroiled in a fiery exchange with his Qatar counterpart, Julen Lopetegui..

“Ismael is such a great kid, he’s imperfect but that is why we love him,” said Canada head coach Marsch after the game. “He can do things that no other player can do. He embodies a lot of what this team is. He was our best player against Bosnia. He is a huge loss for us. Our hearts are with him, but that kid has a huge future.”

We may be mid-World Cup but Premier League excitement can begin with the fixtures being released on Friday morning.

The 2026/27 season is set to start on Saturday August 22. That is a week later than the previous campaign as domestic bosses look to ensure maximum player recovery following the World Cup in North America. The upcoming season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek rounds. We will also see the return of Boxing Day football with December 26 falling on a Saturday this year.

The Premier League has stated that over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours “to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule within the expanded international calendar”.

Arsenal will go into the season as defending champions for the first time since 2004/05 – that year they finished second. This will also be the first season in a decade where Manchester City are not led out by Pep Guardiola.

Elsewhere there’s plenty of intrigue around Liverpool and Chelsea, who both begin the campaign with new managers. Manchester United will also hope to continue with the momentum they built under Michael Carrick.

Mirror Football will bring you everything from fixture release day.

It’s really happening… and fans now don’t have long to wait until P.Louise City at Trafford Palazzo finally opens its doors

Beauty entrepreneur P.Louise has confirmed the opening date of her massive Trafford Palazzo all-pink beauty megastore after months of delays. The huge new beauty flagship will open at the shopping mall fresh from the major expansion of the beauty brand into Boots stores for the first time earlier this month.

The make-up brand was founded by inspiring Droylsden entrepreneur Paige Louise Williams, who forged her company from scratch and now steers what has become a multi-million turnover global brand. P.Louise City was due to open in October last year, but was hit by last minute delays.

But now Paige has confirmed the official opening date of what is billed as a “world first immersive superstore”. Huge queues are expected to head to the Trafford mall to be first through the doors, and security measures are already in place to prepare for the big opening.

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To celebrate the launch on Sunday, July 5, a major event is planned with more details set to be announced soon via the brand’s website, where fans can join a waitlist for more information.

Due to anticipated high demand, comprehensive security, crowd management and safety measures will be in place throughout the event to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees, organisers have told the M.E.N..

Paige has been sharing numerous updates about the build inside the store at Trafford Palazzo in recent months, whetting the appetites of her fans. It will feature a spectacular all-pink interior with vast beauty activations, a make-up studio and even a dance studio and theatre space inside.

Sharing the news of the opening P.Louise issued a statement last night saying: “There’s a moment in every Disney park when you walk through the gates and you feel what can only be described as magic. Very few brands have ever come close to recreating that feeling – until now.

“Following its nationwide Boots takeover, which transformed stores through pink castle facades, giant experiential gondolas, branded lorries, nationwide tannoy takeovers and community events, viral beauty powerhouse and TikTok’s No.1 brand P.Louise is continuing its mission to reinvent retail with the opening of P.Louise City, a highly-anticipated, world-first immersive beauty destination at Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo.

“Spanning 19,000 sq ft across two floors, P.Louise City is a fully realised beauty universe designed for beauty lovers, content creators and experience-seekers alike. Built to challenge everything consumers expect from traditional retail, the concept transforms shopping into an immersive destination in its own right.”

Shoppers are being told to expect a fully immersive “beauty playground” with a host of interactive experiences to “blur the lines between shopping and entertainment.”

The launch marks the next chapter in the brand’s rapid retail evolution. Earlier this month, the brand partnered with Boots to challenge traditional beauty retail through a series of industry-first activations, including pink castle store fronts, immersive shop-in-shop experiences, giant experiential displays, branded lorry takeovers and nationwide tannoy announcements. P.Louise takes that same thinking even further.

“We have had opportunities to go into retail before but I have always said we’d only do it if we could do it our way,” says Paige Williams, founder and CEO of P.Louise. “Launching in Boots was a huge milestone for us because it brought P.Louise to the high street for the very first time, but P.Louise City takes that experience to another level.

“This isn’t just a store, it is our world brought to life. Everything we do is about creating memorable moments for our community and giving them bigger and better ways to connect with the brand they love, and that’s exactly what P.Louise City is all about.”

Leandra Dwyer, Asset Manager at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “The opening of P.Louise’s first permanent flagship store at Trafford Palazzo marks a significant milestone for the brand and a proud moment for our team. The bold and immersive retail concept set to launch at P. Louise’s city store aligns seamlessly with the core vision of Trafford Palazzo – to deliver an extraordinary blend of experiential shopping and entertainment at TraffordCity, the UK’s foremost retail and leisure destination.”

P.Louise City forms a much wider evolution of retail for the brand. While traditional beauty retail historically has focused on transactions, P.Louise continues to champion an experience-led retail model, creating destinations where customers can fully immerse themselves into the P.Louise world.

Following the success of its Boots launch, P.Louise City represents the next step in the brand’s vision to “push the boundaries on shopping, entertainment, content and community” bosses say.

P.Louise City is due to open at Trafford Palazzo from Sunday, July 5.

Grammy-nominated producer Tay Keith has died at the age of 29.

The hip-hop star, who was behind Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode and Drake’s Nonstop, was found dead at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday during a police welfare check.

The Metro Nashville police department has said that ‘no foul play is suspected’, and the cause of death is yet to be determined.

Keith has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Beyonce and Cardi B.

In 2018, he co-produced two of the biggest songs including Scott’s Sicko Mode, which reached No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and Drake’s Nonstop, which came in at No 2 on the same chart in the same year.

In 2018, he also founded music label and creative space Drumatized Music Group, based in Memphis, alongside his manager, Cambrian Strong.

The duo were featured together on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Music list in 2024.

Throughout his career, Keith received two Grammy award nominations, the first of which came in 2019 for Sicko Mode and the second in 2024 for his production on Drake and 21 Savage’s Rich Flex.

Born and raised in Memphis, Keith started producing music aged 14.

Alongside Drake and Beyonce, he has also worked with numerous other artists, including Eminem, Future, Lil Nas X and Miley Cyrus.

He most recently produced Megan Thee Stallion’s 2024 album Megan, Jack Harlow’s single Just Us featuring Doja Cat and Travis Scott’s single 4×4, both of which were released in 2025.

Taking to Instagram, rapper BlocBoy JB – who was one of Keith’s early collaborators – shared a photo of the pair with the caption: ‘Damn Cuz You Just Hurt Me Bad’ with a heart broken emoji.

He also shared a log of phone calls between the pair and added: ‘We talked everyday yeen tell me you was leaving.’

Further tributes have been paid by Memphis music producer Hitkidd and Florida-based DJ and producer DJ Scheme.

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Andy Burnham will return to Parliament as an MP after storming to victory in the Makerfield by-election.

The Greater Manchester Mayor won more votes than all the other parties put together, in a result that paves the way for a leadership coup against Keir Starmer.

The historic vote ended up being a two-horse race between Labour and Reform UK’s candidate Rob Kenyon.

Restore Britain came in a distant third place, while the Conservative Party won less than 1,000 votes.

Follow Metro’s live coverage of the Makerfield by-election results here.

The results were a huge change in fortune for Labour and Reform in Makerfield.

Just over a month ago, at the local elections, Reforum won the equivalent of 51 per cent of the vote, while Labour got 24 per cent.

Burnham’s victory means he has achieved a 23 point swing in just six weeks.

Turnout at the election was also unusually high, at 58.8 per cent.

More people actually voted in this poll than at the general election in 2024, which is unusual for by-elections.

Put together these results will be enough to persuade many Labour MPs that Burnham can beat Reform and revive their party’s political fortunes.

It is thought that Labour MPs, Cabinet members and the new Makerfield represenative himself will try convince Keir Starmer to resign on his own terms.

Burnham is thought to want to avoid a bruising leadership battle with the Prime Minister, who has so far vowed to fight any challenge.

Sir Keir did upload a rather short post congratulating his political rival.

He said on X: ‘Congratulations, Andy Burnham, Labour’s new MP for Makerfield.

‘Voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.’

Sky Newschief political commentator Jon Craig labelled the post ‘miserable’ and ‘grudging’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield byelection doesn’t simply mark the return of one of Labour’s most recognisable figures to parliament. With his clear ambitions to lead his party – and the country – it may also represent a landmark moment in English devolution. His thumping win – taking 55% of the votes and more than Restore UK and Reform Britain combined – means the political significance of metro mayors has never been higher.

For much of the post-war era, ambitious British politicians followed a familiar path. Success meant climbing the Westminster ladder through ministerial office, shadow cabinet positions and party leadership contests. Burnham’s career has taken a more unusual route.

First elected as MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester in 2001, Burnham quickly established himself as one of Labour’s rising stars. Following his re-election in 2005, he embarked on a run of ministerial and shadow ministerial appointments, serving in cabinet under Gordon Brown and later holding senior opposition roles. By the mid-2010s he appeared to be a perennial contender for the Labour leadership, finishing fourth to Ed Miliband in 2010 and later competing in the contest won by Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.

At that point, Burnham’s political trajectory appeared to have stalled. Yet his decision to leave Westminster and contest the new Greater Manchester mayoralty in 2017 would ultimately transform his fortunes.

What initially looked like a retreat from national politics became an opportunity for political reinvention. As mayor, Burnham acquired something that many Westminster politicians lack: executive authority over a place.

While the powers of England’s metro mayors remain modest by international standards, they provide direct responsibility for transport, economic development, housing and strategic planning across large urban regions.

The COVID pandemic was particularly significant. Burnham’s confrontation with Boris Johnson’s government over lockdown restrictions and financial support for Greater Manchester elevated him to a national figure.

For supporters, he became a voice for local autonomy and regional interests. For critics, he was a skilled political operator using devolved office to challenge central government. Either way, the mayoralty gave him a platform distinct from Westminster.

This matters because Burnham’s return raises a broader question: could England’s metro mayors become an alternative route to national leadership?

Historically, Britain has been unusual in the extent to which political power has been concentrated in national institutions. While local government has produced influential politicians, it has rarely served as a direct launching pad to the highest offices. Unlike in many other democracies, municipal leadership has generally been viewed as subordinate to national politics, rather than a parallel route.

Across much of the world, however, mayoral office is recognised as a pathway to national leadership. France offers perhaps the closest comparison. Former presidents including Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande all combined local executive experience with national ambitions. Among former prime ministers, Pierre Mauroy was mayor of Lille, Alain Juppé was mayor of Bordeaux, Jean-Marc Ayrault was mayor of Nantes and Édouard Philippe is currently mayor of Le Havre.

More recently, leaders including Matteo Renzi in Italy, Joko Widodo in Indonesia and Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico have demonstrated how governing major urban areas can provide a route to national office.

But not every mayoral career results in a successful leap into national leadership. New York’s Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio all failed to convert municipal prominence into success on the national stage. And Paris mayors Bertrand Delanoë and Anne Hidalgo fell short in bids for higher office. Yet the fact that their ambitions were considered plausible shows the stature that executive city leadership can confer.

Not the Boris Johnson route

England’s metro mayor system is relatively young. Most combined authority mayors have held office for less than a decade, meaning the political consequences of devolution are still unfolding. Burnham may represent the first genuine test of whether these institutions have matured enough to produce a credible contender for national leadership.

The comparison with Boris Johnson is often made. Yet Johnson’s route to Downing Street still passed through parliament and the Foreign Office following his tenure as mayor of London. Burnham’s trajectory is different. Rather than rebuilding his reputation through shadow cabinet appointments or Westminster manoeuvring, he rebuilt it by governing Greater Manchester. In that sense, this twist in his career owes as much to devolution as it does to parliament.

Burnham is unusual in another respect. His appeal rests not simply on electoral popularity but on the kind of political experience he has accumulated as mayor. The governance of a combined authority requires continual negotiation between councils, business leaders, public agencies and central government. Success depends less on party discipline than on coalition-building, consensus and partnership.

These are skills that national politics increasingly appears to value. At a time when public trust in Westminster remains fragile and the challenges facing government cut across departmental silos, experience of assembling broad civic coalitions may prove as valuable as parliamentary combat.

None of this guarantees Burnham success in parliament or in leadership. Nor is he a typical metro mayor. Unlike many other mayors, he entered local executive office after a long parliamentary and ministerial career. His experience gives him a political profile that few other mayors possess.

Yet that should not obscure the wider significance of his return. Whatever happens to Burnham’s leadership ambitions, England’s metro mayors have moved beyond their original role as administrators of transport and economic development. Less than a decade after most of the offices were created, they are becoming independent centres of political authority potentially capable of producing national leaders.

For decades, local government was viewed primarily as a stepping stone to Westminster. Burnham’s career suggests a more complex relationship is emerging. Ambitious politicians may come to view city-regional government not as an alternative to Westminster, but as a route through it.

The question raised by Burnham’s return is not simply whether he can lead Labour. It is whether England’s experiment with devolution has reached the point where governing a city-region can be considered preparation for governing the country.