Voters in the Greater Manchester seat cast their ballots on Thursday, with the outcome closely watched for its potential impact on Sir Keir Starmer, Labour and the national political picture

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The result of the Makerfield by-election, a contest widely viewed as a major test for Britain’s political parties, has been declared.

Voters in the Greater Manchester seat cast their ballots on Thursday, with the outcome closely watched for its potential impact on Sir Keir Starmer, Labour and the national political picture.

It was confirmed on Friday morning that the Labour Party and Andy Burnham secured victory with 24,927 votes – Reform and Rob Kenyon finished the night on 15,696 votes.

The by-election was called following the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simmons, who stepped aside to give Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the opportunity to seek a return to Parliament.

Burnham, who had been blocked by Labour from contesting the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, which was won by the Green Party, entered the race as the clear favourite.

His main challenger was Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, a plumber and Wigan councillor who had faced questions over historic social media posts.

In total there were 14 candidates contesting the seat.

Burnham previously served as MP for Leigh from 1997 to 2017, and was Culture Secretary and briefly Health Secretary under Gordon Brown.

He was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, winning three terms.

Before polls opened, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was willing to offer Burnham a “big” job in his Government, should he win.

However Burnham is widely expected to challenge Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party, and seek to replace him in No 10.

The Makerfield poll was one of the three parliamentary by-elections taking place today, with voters in two Scottish constituencies also selecting new MPs.

The contests in Aberdeen South and the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency were triggered following the election of local SNP MPs Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins to Holyrood last month.

They were won by the Conservatives in Aberdeen South and held by SNP in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry.

The full list of candidates in the Makerfield by-election were (in alphabetical order by surname):

• Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats
• Count Binface, Count Binface Party
• Andy Burnham, Labour and Co-operative Party
• Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party
• John Dyer, Independent
• Ed Gemmell, Climate Party
• Paul Gould, Independent
• Alan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
• Robert Kenyon, Reform UK
• Robert Pownall, Independent
• Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain
• Sarah Wakefield, Green Party
• Peter Ward, Rejoin EU
• Michael Winstanley, Conservative Party

US Open, round one leaderboard

-6 W Clark (US**); -2 S Stevens (US), R Cowan (US*), M McGreevy (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng**), G Woodland (US**), J Rahm (Spa**)

-1 R McIlroy (NI), L Aberg (Swe), B DeChambeau (US**); Level T Fleetwood (Eng); +1 J Parry (Eng), A Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Full leaderboard

Shinnecock Hills served up a tale of changing conditions that altered the dynamic on the opening day of the fog-hampered US Open.

The gloom of the early morning caused a two-hour delay and when play did resume, only six of the 78 early starters broke par as strong winds buffeted the notoriously tricky course on Long Island, New York.

However, having initially lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest tests in golf, a shift in the weather allowed the afternoon wave to capitalise as conditions became more benign.

The 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark led the charge, establishing a four-shot lead at six under with two holes of his first round remaining when darkness fell.

The 32-year-old American – one of 50 players who must return at 06:35 (11:35 BST) on Friday to finish their rounds – carded five birdies, an eagle and just a solitary bogey in his 16 completed holes.

In fact, 11 of the 17 players under par when the hooter signalled the end of play, were in the latter half of the draw, where the scoring average was a shot better than those out early.

That made the rounds of early starters Sam Stevens, Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg all the more impressive.

Unfancied American Stevens led the way on two under, with world number two McIlroy and his Ryder Cup team-mate Aberg among those a shot adrift.

At that point, and with conditions forecast to deteriorate further, they would likely have expected to end the day closer to the lead than they are given how tough scoring is at Shinnecock Hills.

In the four most recent US Opens held at this venue, there have been 1,792 rounds and only 161 (9%) have been played under par. Just three players have ended up under par after 72 holes.

Much of that was down to the substandard playing conditions in both 2004 and 2018 with players accusing championship organisers the United States Golf Association (USGA) of “losing the course”.

Speaking recently to the No Laying Up podcast, USGA’s John Bodenhamer, the man responsible for course set-up this year accepted the previous conditions had been suboptimal but insisted they had “learned a lot”.

And that was clearly evident on Thursday, with the USGA ensuring the greens were not playing too quickly early on. They are also watering the putting surfaces and surrounds during the opening two rounds to stop them from drying out, and to keep the grass alive.

It was a decision that may have backfired slightly given the relatively benign conditions for the later wave, but the caution could be understood given the criticism they have faced.

The US Open is generally regarded as the toughest of the major tests and in the build-up all the players spoke of needing to remain patient. And that patience was tested from the off on Thursday with low-lying cloud and fog shrouding the course.

Once it had been dispersed by the strong gusts whipping in off the Atlantic Ocean, the true nature of the challenge ahead was laid bare.

Thick rough, five inches deep, flanks the fairways. Wispy fescue and undulating greens add further layers of complexity to Shinnecock’s fearsome reputation.

Not that McIlroy seemed perturbed as the wind gusted beyond 30mph across the 7,440-yard track.

The six-time major winner, who started on the 10th, knocked in two birdies in his opening three holes and even bogeys at the 13th and 16th did not appear to provide him with any cause to revaluate his approach.

During the round McIlroy, who successfully defended his Masters title in April, told Sky Sports pundit and two-time Solheim Cup winner Mel Reid that because conditions were “consistent” he was not finding the course too tricky.

He aptly demonstrated that after the turn with a birdie at the third and by carding a sensational eagle on the par-five fifth after hitting his tee shot a wind-assisted 396 yards before nudging his second shot to 11 feet and holing the putt.

The disruption is also impacting Manchester Airport trains.

The issue affected numerous Northern routes, with services either cancelled, delayed, or revised.

A spokesperson for Northern said: “Services between Bolton and Manchester Oxford Road are being disrupted due to a broken-down TfW train.

“You can travel on the next Northern service to your destination, where available.

“Please note that other train operators may also be affected by disruption.

“Please check your whole journey before travelling.”

Northern confirmed that all ticket restrictions, including advance and peak, were lifted for affected routes during the disruption.

Services on the following routes will be affected by this disruption:
Between Manchester Airport and Blackpool North.
Between Manchester Airport and Barrow-in-Furness.
Between Manchester Airport and Windermere.
Between Rochdale and Blackburn / Clitheroe
Between Southport and Stalybridge
Between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria
Between Southport and Manchester Oxford Road.

Raisins and sultanas are both dried grapes, but there are key differences in their colour, sweetness, and texture

When it comes to dried fruit, there is no shortage of options available. Whether you’re incorporating them into cooking, baking, or simply enjoying them as a snack, it can be tempting to grab whatever happens to be on the supermarket shelf without giving it much thought.

Yet there are numerous varieties to choose from, including raisins, sultanas and even currants.

Despite their similar appearance, each variety possesses slightly distinct characteristics, flavours and culinary applications. Understanding the difference between raisins and sultanas, in particular, can help you select the right one for recipes, snacking and baking, where both texture and sweetness play a crucial role.

What are raisins?

Raisins are dried grapes, produced from larger, darker grape varieties. They are typically dried naturally in the sun or through a controlled dehydration process.

They are cultivated and consumed across the globe, with the drying method influencing the shape, size, colour and flavour of the finished raisin.

Raisins don’t actually taste like fresh grapes, as the drying process concentrates the fruit’s sugar content considerably.

Key characteristics of a raisin include a dark, rich colour, a chewy consistency and a subtly caramel-like taste.

Owing to their robust flavour and firmer texture, raisins are frequently used in baking, on cereals and in flapjacks. They can also complement savoury dishes such as tagines or rice pilaf.

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What are sultanas?

Sultanas are likewise dried grapes, though they originate from green, seedless varieties and undergo a slightly different drying method.

They frequently dry more rapidly and are occasionally treated to preserve their paler hue and moisture content.

In contrast to raisins, sultanas are generally coated in an oil-based solution before drying to accelerate the process. Consequently, they tend to be paler in appearance than raisins and currants.

They are characteristically smaller than raisins and possess a sweeter, juicier quality with a lighter shade.

Due to these properties, they’re commonly featured in cakes, scones, hot cross buns and fruit loaves.

Where do currants fit in?

While frequently grouped with raisins and sultanas, currants represent a distinct variety of dried fruit, produced from small, seedless Black Corinth grapes.

They are considerably smaller than raisins and sultanas and deliver a sharper, more concentrated flavour.

This makes them particularly suited to Christmas pudding and fruit cakes.

New DWP guidance explains how Universal Credit claimants with savings over £6,000 could see their payments reduced, and what capital may be temporarily disregarded

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Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, meaning the amount a recipient receives is determined by their financial situation, including earnings, savings and other capital. Under Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules, those with savings exceeding £16,000 are generally ineligible for Universal Credit.

Furthermore, savings above £6,000 can reduce the monthly amount someone receives. Guidance on GOV.UK states that if a claimant or their partner holds between £6,000 and £16,000 in savings or capital, their Universal Credit payments will be incrementally reduced.

The DWP treats every £250, or part of £250, above the £6,000 threshold as generating monthly income which reduces a claimant’s award.

Savings and capital can include:

money held in bank or building society accounts

cash savings

ISAs

premium bonds

lump sum payments

inherited money

some investments

Joint savings held with another person may also be taken into account as part of a Universal Credit claim, reports the Daily Record.

Those claiming Universal Credit are required to report any changes to their savings via their online Universal Credit account. Failing to report changes promptly could result in overpayments which may later need to be repaid.

Certain forms of capital may be disregarded for a period of time under DWP rules. For instance, compensation payments, insurance payouts or money from the sale of a home may occasionally be temporarily discounted depending on individual circumstances.

Specific pension savings may also be exempt while someone is below State Pension age and has yet to begin drawing from their pension pot. Universal Credit is intended to assist those on a low income, out of work, or unable to work with their everyday living costs. Newly released figures from the DWP, published on Tuesday, reveal that 8.3 million people are currently claiming the benefit.

The sum an individual receives may also vary depending on housing costs, childcare expenses, health conditions and whether they have dependent children.

Those uncertain about how savings or lump sum payments might affect their Universal Credit claim are encouraged to consult the latest guidance on GOV.UK, or seek benefits advice from non-profit organisations such as Citizens Advice or Turn2Us.

Further details regarding Universal Credit savings and capital rules can be found through GOV.UK[dot].

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is dismissing a sprawling criminal case that alleged President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others tried to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss in the state.

The decision announced Thursday marks the third such fake elector case filed by states to be dismissed, though the Democratic attorney general is vowing to bring it back to a grand jury in hopes of securing another indictment.

The legal maneuver is aimed at getting around a Friday deadline for starting new grand jury proceedings after Mayes lost an appeal earlier this month. The appeal was filed after defense attorneys argued successfully that the original grand jury hadn’t been shown the relevant parts of a law that governs how presidential contests are certified.

“This case is complex and will require substantial presentation of evidence and time to accommodate defendants’ request to testify and present evidence,” prosecutors wrote, explaining the new presentation of the case to a grand jury won’t happen by the deadline. Mark L. Williams, an attorney for Giuliani, said his client and the others charged in the case did nothing wrong and were only exercising their rights to free speech and to petition the government.

“This action was brought to punish Mr. Giuliani and the other Republican defendants for exercising their constitutional rights,” Williams said. “It’s appropriate that it’s being dismissed.”

Kelli Ward, the state GOP’s chair during the 2020 election season and one of the 18 defendants in the case, wrote on social media that Mayes had damaged the reputations and finances of those charged and “certainly seems unwilling to admit her overreach & put this behind us. She wants to keep persecuting her political opponents.”

Mayes’ office has declined to comment on Ward’s criticism.

Courts have dismissed similar cases in Michigan and Georgia, and a special prosecutor dropped a federal case in late 2024 that charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Those cases ended after Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Cases related to the fake elector scheme remain in Nevada and Wisconsin.

The Nevada charges were dismissed in 2024 after a judge concluded Clark County, the state’s most populous county and home to Las Vegas, was the wrong venue for the case. Later that year, though, the case was refiled in Carson City, Nevada’s capital.

The Arizona case had been stalled for well over a year while Mayes pursued the appeal.

In Arizona, defense lawyers argued the law allowed for multiple slates of electors to be submitted to Congress in case the results were disputed. Federal law was amended in 2022 to specify that any given state could put forward only one slate of electors and that state governors are responsible for signing off.

Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020 by 10,457 votes.

The state attorney general has faced steep challenges in making her case.

It was filed nearly three and a half years after the 2020 election and levels complicated conspiracy charges against the 18 defendants. A dozen dismissal requests filed by defense attorneys have slowed progress in court.

The first judge on the case recused himself in late 2024 after an email surfaced in which he told fellow judges to speak out against attacks on Harris’ campaign for the presidency. The next judge ordered the case to be sent back to a grand jury.

Of the 18 Arizona defendants, two were former Trump aides, five were lawyers working for Trump and 11 were Republicans who submitted a document falsely claiming Trump won Arizona.

Three defendants have resolved their cases, including one who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

The rest pleaded not guilty. Some said they signed the certificate in case Trump won court challenges and a new slate of electors was needed urgently before Congress’ Jan. 6 deadline to tally votes.

The case has factored into Arizona’s attorney general race, where both Republicans vying to challenge Mayes in the Nov. 3 general election have publicly said they would dismiss the charges if they were elected to the post. Mayes is running unopposed in the July 21 primary.

Mike O’Neil, an Arizona pollster and political analyst, said he believes Mayes would face criticism from Democrats if she had decided to abandon the case altogether. “People who are upset about this aren’t the people who would vote for her anyway,” O’Neil said.

Durham County Council has ruled more information is needed on plans to flatten the former Spectrum Leisure Complex in Willington. 

The facility closed in August 2024 and was later damaged following an arson attack and repeated anti-social behaviour. 

Under plans submitted to the local authority, the entire building is set to be demolished and the site cleared for potential future development. 

(Image: Paul Norris)

The leisure centre was opened in 1982 by the Wear Valley District Council and previously included a dry ski slope, which was ceremoniously opened by Franz Klammer – the then-reigning downhill world champion. 

A BMX track was later built after the site was saved from closure by Ian and Alison Hirst, who formed the Slam Community Development Trust.

But it closed in August 2024 after the company in charge of the site was issued a winding-up order by the High Court.

Slam, a private operator, said the closure was “due to circumstances currently beyond our control with regard to both internal and external issues”.  

The closure was described as a “huge loss” to the community in 2024, despite the condition of the building rapidly declining. 

A planning report states that the building is of no historic or aesthetic value.

Documents submitted as part of the proposal add: “The proposed restoration scheme would ensure the site would be left in a clean and tidy state in preparation for potential future redevelopment. As such, it is considered that the scheme would not unacceptably harm the visual amenity of the area.”

But the local authority said more information on the demolition plan is needed. 

“On the basis of the details submitted, it is considered that insufficient information has been provided to enable the local planning authority to fully assess the proposed method of demolition in relation to the impact upon protected species and trees within close proximity to the building. As such, prior approval is required and refused,” a decision ruled. 

Ivan Toney and Morgan Rogers were among the scorers as England recorded a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City in a practice match on Thursday.

The game, played behind closed doors at England’s Swope Soccer Village training facility, featured the players not used in Wednesday’s World Cup 4-2 win over Croatia and the squad members who did not play significant minutes in Dallas.

Toney scored a hat-trick while Aston Villa duo Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins were also on target as England ran out comfortable winners.

Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah were among the players also involved in the training game.

The game was broken up into two halves of around 25 minutes each.

BBC Sport revealed on Tuesday that the Football Association had arranged the friendly to get minutes into certain players’ legs.

Having arrived back from Dallas at around 10.30pm local time on Wednesday, England players were afforded most of Thursday off.

Players were allowed to see family and friends immediately after the Group L game against Croatia, and loved ones were given access into the camp on Thursday to spend time with the team before they start preparations for next Tuesday’s game against Ghana in Boston (21:00 BST).

Captain Harry Kane and manager Thomas Tuchel were among a group of players and staff that attended a baseball game between Kansas City Royals and St Louis Cardinals later on Thursday.

David Taylor, formerly of Oak Avenue, was on Thursday (June 18) convicted of the murder of child killer Kyle Bevan.

Taylor, 64, and fellow killers Mark Fellows and Lee Newell teamed up to stab Bevan 25 times at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire last November.

David Taylor. (Image: WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE)

A week ahead of his trial in February he admitted the murder of Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin, 24, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, telling Manchester Crown Court: “Yeah, I’m guilty”.

Alisha was reported missing by her family in February 2022.

Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin. (Image: GMP)

He was also convicted by a jury in December of the attempted murder of Detective Constable Darren Bratby, whose chest he plunged an improvised weapon into in an interview room at HMP Frankland in Durham in July 2024.

The detective survived the stabbing and spent four days in hospital.

And on Thursday he was convicted at Leeds Crown Court of Kyle Bevan’s murder. Bevan was jailed in 2023 for the murder of his partner’s two-year-old daughter Lola James.

Kyle Bevan. (Image: DYFED-POWYS POLICE)

Jurors in the trial at Leeds Crown Court were told of Taylor’s recent convictions for murder and attempted murder, but fuller details can be reported today.

He could face a whole-life order with no possibility of release.

The attack on DC Bratby came after Taylor, who was on remand at Frankland, contacted Greater Manchester Police through his solicitor.

He claimed to have new information about the whereabouts of Ms Apostoloff-Boyarin, whose disappearance in February 2022 led to a murder investigation.

Taylor maintained she was alive, the court heard, and was living in different parts of the country.

Taylor’s request for a police visit was a ruse.

When DC Bratby arrived for the meeting at HMP Frankland, Taylor plunged an improvised metal weapon into his chest.

(Image: Stuart Boulton)

Despite a partially collapsed lung, DC Bratby and a colleague managed to subdue and restrain Taylor.

He denied intending to kill the detective and said he “lost it” and exploded in anger at being “stitched up” by GMP for a murder he said he did not commit.

Born in Glossop and previously living in Ashton-under-Lyne, Taylor described himself during the attempted murder trial as “an old fashioned villain” with a long criminal history.

He was convicted of aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon in 2007 and was handed an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP).

Taylor was released on licence in 2013, claiming to have rehabilitated through studies in humanist psychology and counselling, as well as earning a foundation degree from the Open University.

In March 2022, police found rifle ammunition at his home on Oak Avenue in Willington, leading to his recall to prison.

Police in Oak Avenue, Willington, as part of the murder inquiry in 2024. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Footage of the attack on DC Bratby was shown in court, showing a calm Taylor suddenly leap to his feet from his chair and stab the officer.

Taylor later told prison staff he held no ill will toward them, saying: “I don’t have a problem with any of yous. It’s that f*****. He has given me 99 years.”

He also referred to Greater Manchester Police as “scumbags” who had tried to set him up for murder.

In a later conversation with the prison governor, Taylor confessed: “OK, so it was a planned attack.

“I’m going to tell you straight.

“It was a planned attack and I went to f****** kill him.

“There’s no two ways about it.

“It was orchestrated by me and the target was central mass.

Mark Fellows, who joined Taylor in murdering Kyle Bevan. (Image: GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE)

Lee Newell, who joined Taylor in murdering Kyle Bevan. (Image: WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE)

“That’s it.”

He also revealed that his preferred target had been a sergeant who did not attend the interview.

Taylor is be sentenced at a later date for the murder of Ms Apostoloff-Boyarin and the attempted murder of DC Bratby.