Fire crews have issued a stern warning to parents after a child went missing on Mother’s Beach in Maine while their parent was to distracted by their mobile phone to notice

The parent of a child who went missing on a beach has been given a stern warning after being distracted by their phone at the time.

The worrying incident occured at Mother’s Beach in the coastal town of Kennebunkport on Monday. The child, who has not been named, briefly went missing while their caregiver was distracted by their phone, according to an announcement from Kennebunk Fire-Rescue posted on Facebook.

The fire department said that the child was reunited with their parent after authorities located the youngster in “a completely different beach area.”

The post reads: “A Reminder to Parents and Caregivers: Phones Down. Eyes Up.

“Many of you became aware of the missing child incident at Mother’s Beach today. Thankfully, the child was located safely and reunited with their caregiver. However, this was a very preventable incident and an important reminder for everyone responsible for children around the water.

“When you are at the beach, pool, lake, or anywhere near the water with a child, put the phone down and keep your eyes up. Active supervision means maintaining constant awareness of where your child is and what they are doing.

“In today’s incident, the child had travelled into a completely different beach area from where the caregiver was located. After the child was safely reunited with the caregiver, our personnel observed the caregiver immediately return their attention to their phone. A stern warning was given regarding the seriousness of what had occurred and the caregiver’s responsibility to actively supervise the child.

“We also want to emphasize that situations like this are extremely unfair to our Ocean Guards. Our guards are there to protect everyone using our beaches—they are not babysitters and cannot replace parental or caregiver supervision.

“Our Ocean Guards are responsible for continuously scanning large areas of water and beach, identifying swimmers in distress, recognizing changing surf and water conditions, providing emergency medical care, and responding to life-threatening emergencies. When a child is left inadequately supervised, guards may be forced to divert their attention and resources from those responsibilities to search for a child whose caregiver should know where they are.

“Lifeguards provide an incredibly important layer of protection, but their presence does not transfer the responsibility for supervising a child from the caregiver to the lifeguard.

“Drowning and other water-related emergencies can develop incredibly quickly and often without the yelling, splashing, or obvious signs people expect. That is why active, uninterrupted supervision is so important.

“Please help us protect your children and allow our Ocean Guards to protect everyone on our beaches: Phones down. Eyes up. Know where your children are at all times. A few seconds of distraction near the water can have lifelong consequences.”

Several people thanked Kennebunk Fire-Rescue for its announcement in the comments of the Facebook post and expressed anger at parents getting distracted by their phones.

One user commented: “Very well said, I do believe we should push for beaches being cell phone zone free”, another said: “Why go to the beach and stare at your phone? I put my phone in my beach bag, I only check it when I want to see the time or get a picture.”

Extreme heat warnings have been issued by the Met Office for 12 counties across Britain as the mercury looks set to climb to 38C in its fifth heatwave of the summer

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Large swathes of the UK could be poised to bake as temperatures look set to reach 38C during the fifth heatwave of the summer, with parched conditions hindering firefighting teams tackling blazes nationwide.

One firefighters’ union leader has gone so far as to declare a wildfire “national emergency” for the UK, while the Met Office has disclosed that Britain is on course for the hottest summer on record.

Several uncommon amber “extreme heat” warnings have been issued for 12 counties spanning London and areas of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire, effective from 9am Tuesday (August 11) through to midnight on Thursday (August 13).

The alerts caution that temperatures could climb to 33C on Wednesday before rising to peaks of 37C or 38C on Thursday, the Met Office reports.

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer stated: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.”

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“High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has additionally issued its own amber heat health alerts, with warnings in place for all regions throughout the UK. The UKHSA’s amber heat health alerts, which are designed to caution Britons when extreme temperatures are likely to affect the health and wellbeing of the population, run from Tuesday (August 11) at 9am through to Friday (August 14) at 9pm.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright told Times Radio the country is currently facing a national emergency “right now”, with blazes being seen “all across” the UK.

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 during the first 10 days of August alone.

July proved to be the busiest month on record for wildfires, with 458 incidents logged.

Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been tackling a blaze in the New Forest, which broke out after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.

The affected area is protected heathland and is home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.

Mr Wright said: “In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.

“They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.”

Only standard weather conditions are required for the remainder of August for the UK to surpass the record for the warmest summer, which was established just last year.

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Almost three quarters of England and the entirety of Wales are now experiencing drought, following a record dry July and exceptionally dry beginning to August coupled with elevated temperatures placing strain on water supplies.

Southern Water has submitted an application for an uncommon drought order which would prohibit businesses from non-essential water usage, including washing vehicles and filling non-domestic swimming pools.

The firm stated an “exceptional” absence of rainfall had threatened supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

It cautioned that 165,000 residents in the Southampton West supply area could encounter restricted supplies.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will determine the application, which would be the first such prohibition since May 2006.

Meanwhile, water stations have been established in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, following burst water mains which left properties and businesses without water or with reduced water pressure since Sunday, Thames Water confirmed. Record-breaking heatwaves during May and June resulted in more than 2,800 fatalities, while sections of the nation were affected by additional heatwaves last month as England and Wales witnessed their driest July since records commenced in 1836.

The Environment Agency reported that 71.3% of England is currently experiencing “flash drought”, following a parched beginning to August after the country’s driest July on record.

Flash drought is a phenomenon that emerges extremely rapidly due to a combination of exceptionally low rainfall and elevated temperatures.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings.

“Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.”

Commissioner says a “lack of consideration for neighbours” could “give rise to potential for unacceptable noise and disturbance as a direct consequence of the short-term let use.”

A Belfast city centre dwelling house has been caught out acting as a short-term let without planning permission.

An appeal by Mr Peter Tobin, regarding a property at 20 Brown Street, in the Millfield area of central Belfast, against an enforcement notice by Belfast City Council for the unauthorised change of use from dwelling house to short-term let accommodation, has failed, and the council decision upheld at the Planning Appeals Commission.

Commissioner Carrie McDonagh upheld the enforcement in an August session of the committee. The enforcement notice requires that the use as short-term let permanently cease within two months of the date that the notice takes effect. The landlord asked for three months “to honour existing bookings” but Commissioner McDonagh said two months was “a reasonable timeframe.”

READ MORE: Has the Fleadh become the tipping point for more pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre?

READ MORE: Belfast Council to spend up to £100K on boat race

Short-term let accommodation refers to renting out a property or room for a short period, from one night to a few weeks or months, rather than for a permanent residence. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo list these types of rentals, which offer visitors more choice and a different experience from traditional hotels.

An array of Belfast councillors from a variety of political parties have warned that communities all over the city could soon face a housing crisis caused by short-term lets, similar to the crisis caused by HMOs in areas such as the Holylands.

In the appeal decision document for 20 Brown Street, Commissioner Carrie McDonagh states the subject property was certified as a self-catering accommodation from April 24 2023 by Tourism NI, and adds there was no dispute that the property was in use as a short-term let at the time the notice was issued. Thus, she said,the alleged use had occurred.

The landlord, known as the appellant in the hearing, argued that the periodic occupation of the dwelling by guests meant that it continued to operate like a single household. Mr Tobin argued its use for short stay letting did not change its character because the use did not adversely impact local residents. Accordingly, he argued, there was no breach of planning control.

Commissioner McDonagh wrote: “In terms of the pattern of arrivals and departures, with associated traffic movement, the council argued that the pattern of use described, in particular the focus on weekends and summer, would be clearly holiday based. They go on to argue that the pattern of use would be mostly transient, which points towards commercial type activity rather than a more settled domestic use.

“The appellant argues the arrivals and departures are unremarkable and akin to the daily comings and goings at any domestic residence, and even if the turnover is more frequent, that is not indicative of a material change in the overall character of the use. To support his proposition, he provided examples whereby larger families or residents with careers such as child minding or dog sitting would generate more trips, as would domiciliary visits by carers or other service providers.”

She concluded: “I consider the short-term let accomodation represents a transient tourism use mainly geared towards a continuous stream of short-stay visitors. In the evidential context, I am satisfied that such usage is materially different from that typically associated with a residential dwelling.

“That is mainly because the pattern of arrival and departures, including the footfall and cleaning regime would be more intensive, there is the occupation by non-family/household groups with frequent party-type activities potentially arising. Moreover, the associated lack of consideration for neighbours, combined with the close proximity and position of the outdoor space in context of other dwellings, gives rise to potential for unacceptable noise and disturbance as a direct consequence of the short-term let use.”

She added: “It follows that this material change of use constitutes development for which planning permission is necessary. The absence of this requisite permission constitutes a breach of planning control.”

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Tearful staff gave an update on when the popular seaside café may reopen

Popular Swansea café, Verdi’s has given a sad update following a fire that “absolutely devastated” the venue in July. The family-run business has been closed since the incident that occurred on July 29 with the Hole family updating beloved customers on the future of the much-loved café.

In an emotional video to the “friends” of the cafe, long-standing employee Guiseppe revelled despite the team’s hope in opening back up as soon as possible, Verdi’s may be closed until Easter 2027.

A tearful Guiseppe said: “It’s about time that I let you know what happened and the future of the Verdi’s. Last Thursday we had a phone call at 3 o’clock in the morning and we’ve been called down because Verdi’s caught on fire.

“It’s going to be hard to see (Verdi’s open) before the end of the year, maybe even Easter. We hope that as soon as possible it is opened. Hopefully in 2027 we will make it better than before.”

Once owned by the Moruzzi family for generations, has many loyal customers for its ice cream, coffees, and authentic Italian food, with stunning views of Swansea Bay that have been “heartbroken” by the fire. The café was taken over by the Hole family, a local family who run a number of restaurants in Swansea, in 2023.

The cause of the fire that broke out in the early hours of the morning is not yet known. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

An updated message from the team working at Verdi’s read: “A message to you, our customers. Last Thursday, the unimaginable happened to our venue. A fire happened in the middle of the night.

“We are devastated and heartbroken. But we are determined to move forward. Verdi’s is so much more than a building, it’s a part of this community, a family unit, a place to call home.

“What happens next is uncertain. It’s a long journey ahead. But what we can promise, is that we will be back. And we will come back stronger. Over the next few weeks and months, we will take you with us, as we rebuild, and regrow what we’ve lost.

“From Guiseppe, Jon and the team, thank you for your continued support.”

A road in Torfaen may remain closed into the weekend as police continue to probe a suspected murder in the area, a council spokesperson has said.

Hospital Road in Pontnewynydd will be closed “until at least Friday” as a police investigation into the death of Anthony “Tony” Jones, 56, continues. Mr Jones, from Brecon, died from injuries sustained in a violent incident on Thursday, August 6.

Gwent Police received a report of violent disorder involving a group of men in Mill Street, at around 7pm. Mr Jones was sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries alongside two other men as a result of the alleged street brawl.

Ten men, aged 31, 33, 34, 39, 40, 40, 45, 59, 61 and 73, have been arrested in connection with the disorder. Three men – aged 39, 45 and 61 – have been released on bail. The other seven men remain in police custody. Read on

Vanessa Feltz wrote in The Mail on Sunday’s YOU magazine this week that ‘it’s a big fat bore being “mummy” to a hulking great adult’.

Apparently referring to her ex-fiance Ben Ofoedu, she claimed that the former pop star ten years her junior ‘cheated so ferociously I had to throw him out’.

Now, Ben has hit back, claiming that the distinguished broadcaster, 64, ‘abused’ him during their long relationship.

‘For 17 years she emasculated me, verbally abused me, and made me feel small,’ he tells me. ‘When you’re in an abusive relationship, you don’t even know you’re being abused.’

The Phats & Small singer claims: ‘She spoke to me in a derogatory way in front of so many people and would tell me off like a mother. She would constantly tease me and say that what I did wasn’t important.

‘I really knew we’d hit rock bottom because she said to me once that if we ever finished, “No one would care about you because I’m a national treasure, and you’re just a one-hit wonder”. So I just became this kind of lapdog that was adjacent to her life.’

His comments come as former Radio 2 star Vanessa prepares to follow Holly Willoughby’s example and launch her own YouTube show, filmed at her home in St John’s Wood, London, known as Feltz Towers.

‘She’s incredibly controlling, incredibly domineering, and when you go to Feltz Towers, all that matters is Vanessa,’ Ben claims. ‘It’s a world of Vanessa.’

Ben has now found love with beauty entrepreneur Vanessa Brown, whom he affectionately calls ‘Vanessa 2.0’. They were married last year in a lavish £100,000 ceremony at Rose Castle in Cumbria.

‘Now I’m in a healthy relationship, married and happy,’ he says. ‘I think to myself, “How did I do that for 17 years?” Always on the back foot, always watching my Ps and Qs around her.’

Feltz declines to respond to Ben’s claims.

Hannah reveals her next role – being a mum

English actress and singer Hannah Arterton has revealed that she’s expecting her first child (pictured right with sister Gemma)

Hannah Arterton has credited big sister Gemma with helping guide her through her early acting career. Now, she may be calling on her for a different kind of advice.

The actress, 37, has revealed that she’s expecting her first child with her husband, musician Chris Hyson, 38.

Former Bond girl Gemma, 40, has two young sons with the Irish actor Rory Keenan. Hannah shared photos on social media of herself in a red dress during a European getaway and of an empty cot at home in south London.

‘Summer ’26 so far,’ she captioned it, prompting a flurry of congratulations from friends.

Hollywood star Taron Egerton has revealed that he no longer speaks to his father, David.

The Merseyside-born actor, 36, moved to Anglesey in north Wales with his mother after his parents split up when he was two years old.

‘There was a point where I pushed the ejector seat and haven’t seen him since,’ explains the star of films including Kingsman and Sir Elton John biopic Rocketman.

Speaking on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, he adds: ‘He’s living his own life and doing his own thing and I’ll always love him. I just don’t think we work very well in terms of our relationship.’

Spidey thwarts Spencer! 

Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews attend the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May 2026

Tom Holland and Zendaya recently celebrated their wedding at Beaverbrook Hotel in Surrey

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Spider-Man stars Tom Holland and Zendaya’s wedding celebrations at Beaverbrook Hotel last week proved a fly in the ointment for Spencer Matthews’ birthday plans.

TV presenter Vogue Williams, 40, who is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer, reveals that she had hoped to take him and their three children to the Surrey Hills estate for his 38th birthday. ‘I was, like, it would be nice to go to a hotel near London so I’m near my doctor if I have to come back,’ says Vogue, who is pregnant with their fourth child. ‘We were going to go up to Spenny’s parents’ place in Scotland, but I wasn’t allowed to fly, so I was meant to go to Beaverbrook, but Zendaya and Tom Holland had gotten married there, so they were totally booked out.’

Sleep’s overrated, says TV chef Tom

Struggling to sleep in the successive heatwaves? Tom Kerridge can’t relate.

‘I find sleep overrated,’ declares the Great British Menu star, who owns four pubs including the Hand And Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which is the only British boozer with two Michelin stars.

‘I’ll get five hours. After that, if I wake up early and the sun’s up… I love it now.’ Five hours represents something of a lie-in compared with his earlier days as a chef.

‘The Saturday night you could finish work, go out on the beer, have a great night, get to bed at 3am, and the alarm goes off three hours later because you’ve got the breakfast shift on the Sunday. It’s not pleasant, but I loved it.’

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, who stood for Labour in Mid Sussex at the last general election, hopes Andy Burnham could help revive his political career. ‘I’ve known Andy a long time,’ Rowntree, 62, tells me at the private view of his photography exhibition at Indelible Fine Art in Brighton, East Sussex. ‘Each time I do it [stand for political office] I come away thinking, “I will never ever do it again”. But if an interesting opportunity comes up, for a part of the world that I love, I might do it again.’ 

£3.7m Doctor Who star can afford to lord it

Former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi, who turned down a spot on Celebrity Traitors, is clearly in no need of a stint on Claudia Winkleman’s hit show.

Newly published accounts reveal that the Glaswegian actor, 68, notched up £3.7million in riches at Tod Productions and Asparia, the private companies into which he channels his earnings.

Their ongoing profits, reported for the year to April, include a £630,000 profit for 2026 – the equivalent of a canny £12,000 in weekly earnings.

Capaldi was the 12th Time Lord, travelling in the Tardis between 2014 and 2017.

James McHugh, 62, was killed in Monday’s road traffic collision in Cavan, while his wife Noreen, aged in her 60s, has now also died of her injuries

The wife of Donegal All-Ireland winner James McHugh, who tragically lost his life in a road traffic collision on Monday, has also passed away.

Noreen, who was in her 60s, was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious injuries following the crash in Cavan on Monday, but sadly succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.

The collision occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday (August 10).

James, 62, who claimed All-Ireland glory with Donegal in 1992, was driving a car that collided with a van. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with his remains taken to Cavan General Hospital.

McHugh made his senior debut for Donegal in 1990 against Cavan, the same year the county claimed the Ulster title following a victory over Armagh. Two years on, he was a key member of the historic Donegal All-Ireland winning side of 1992, alongside his brother Martin, reports the Irish Mirror.

The talented forward also earned an All-Star award that same year, while enjoying considerable club success with Cill Chartha, winning the championship in 1985, 1989 and 1993.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Gardaí confirmed: “Gardaí in Bailieborough investigating the fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan, Co. Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday 10th August 2026 have confirmed a second person has passed away.

“The collision involved a car and a van.

“The male driver of the car, aged in his 60s, was fatally injured in the collision. His female passenger, also aged in her 60s, was seriously injured and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment but passed away this evening Tuesday 11th August, 2026.

“Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this collision or who was travelling on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan, particularly between 1pm and 2pm to come forward.

“Gardaí are appealing to any motorists who may have dashcam or other camera footage of the area during this time to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieboro Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”

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Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant announced a show first during Tuesday’s episode which left contestants gobsmacked

The Great British Sewing Bee sewing room was turned on its head as the remaining contestants were told they would have to put their fate in someone else’s hands.

The pressure was already mounting for the eight sewers still competing in this year’s series. But Tuesday (August 11) night’s episode brought an unexpected twist when judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young revealed that, for one challenge, the contestants would no longer be working alone.

Instead, they were randomly paired up and given the tricky task of turning windsurfing sails into matching two-piece outfits.

The unusual challenge formed part of Sports Week, with the contestants having to demonstrate creativity, technical skill and, crucially, the ability to work with another sewer under intense time pressure.

As the Transformation Challenge got underway, presenter Sophie Fletcher introduced the task before turning to Patrick for the details.

Patrick told the contestants: “We’ve given you wind surfer sails. We want you to transform these into a two-piece outfit but for the first time in the sewing room, you will be working and being judged in pairs.”

The announcement prompted a series of shocked reactions from the contestants, who had expected to be judged on their individual work.

And there was another surprise waiting for them. Patrick explained that the pairs would be selected at random, meaning nobody had the opportunity to choose the person they would be relying on to help them through the challenge.

The contestants were split into four teams, with Adele paired with Tim, Emma working with Heather, Beth teamed up with Minnie and Rebecca partnered with Anna.

The challenge was about much more than simply producing two good garments.

Esme told the sewers they needed to create a “cohesive outfit”, stressing the importance of working together to ensure their individual designs looked like part of the same overall look.

That proved particularly challenging because of the material they had been handed. Windsurfing sails are designed to withstand demanding conditions rather than being turned into fashionable clothing, leaving the contestants with the difficult job of cutting, shaping and manipulating the specialist fabric.

With the clock ticking, the pairs had to find a way to combine their ideas while avoiding a clash between their designs. Ultimately, it was Rebecca and Anna who managed to impress the judges most.

The pair produced a striking crisscross trouser suit which stood out from the original sail and demonstrated the transformation the challenge demanded.

Esme was equally enthusiastic about the finished look, simply declaring: “I think it’s brilliant.”

The Great British Sewing Bee is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

One in three women in NI have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 30 have been murdered here since 2020.

A workplace programme is helping to end violence against women and girls by challenging misogyny, training staff, and improving safety policies.

One in three women in Northern Ireland have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 30 women have been murdered in the region since 2020.

The Belfast Trust is the largest health and social care organisation and one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland. The Trust recognises the vital role it plays in contributing to a changed society where women and girls can live free from gender-based violence, abuse and harm, including the attitudes, systems and structural inequalities that cause them.

Through the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Take a Pledge programme run by Nexus NI, the Trust reaffirmed its commitment to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive working environment for staff affected by or at risk of abuse, and to provide a supportive and responsive service to anyone affected by abuse when accessing health and social care.

Jennifer Welsh, Belfast Trust Chief Executive said: “It is so important for all of our staff within the Trust to work together to contribute to changing the culture and society in Northern Ireland.

“Our staff come to work every day to look after others, but we also have a responsibility to look after each other; to be aware of and call out behaviour that is abusive or harmful, particularly towards women and girls.

“The Take a Pledge programme from Nexus NI shows that Belfast Trust is unswerving in its vision and actions to building a safer, more respectful future for all.”

The pledge encourages organisations across Northern Ireland to take meaningful action to prevent violence, support those affected, and promote a culture where abuse is not tolerated.

It is supported by The Executive Office’s Change Fund as part of the regional strategy to end violence against women and girls.

Prof Stuart Elborn, Chair of Belfast Trust, said: “Visible leadership and a collective effort are vital to driving culture change and tackling violence against women and girls.

“I am proud to say that our Trust Board recently welcomed Nexus to a Board meeting to discuss the prevalence of violence, its impact on victims and survivors, and the requirements of the EVAWG pledge. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to fulfil this pledge.

“As a Board, we are fully committed to supporting and driving this important organisational commitment.”

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Wednesday that he survived a leadership vote among his own party’s lawmakers less than three months before an election.

The vote took place during a hastily convened meeting of Luxon’s center-right National Party lawmakers at Parliament in Wellington, which was held behind closed doors and ran for more than three hours. Luxon then emerged flanked by his lawmakers to give a brief statement and departed without taking any questions from reporters.

“There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting,” he said. “I had the full support of our caucus and our caucus is united and it is determined to win this election.”

Luxon didn’t say how many lawmakers had voted for him to continue in the job, although such ballots are usually a secret.

It was Luxon’s 2nd confidence vote since April

The vote was the second Luxon had called about his own leadership since April and leaves lingering questions coming so close to the election scheduled for Nov. 7.

The April vote followed drops in polling for National, while this week’s followed recent public remarks Luxon had made on various issues that some in his party saw as gaffes.

On Tuesday, the leader took the rare step of disclosing on social media that he faced renewed rumblings about his leadership, and announcing he would call a meeting of his lawmakers Wednesday to resolve it.

“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election,” he wrote on X. “I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand people, and dedicated National Party candidates, supporters and volunteers, when there is so much at stake.”

National has led a right-wing coalition government since New Zealand’s 2023 election. Luxon, a former airline executive who entered Parliament in 2000, had led the party since 2021.

Luxon’s remarks in recent weeks prompted fresh speculation

Among the recent remarks that appeared to prompt renewed leadership murmurings were comments Luxon made to a business audience earlier this month, when he said some business leaders in the country had a “parent-child mentality” and too often looked to the government for direction. Luxon, who was once an executive at Unilever when he lived in the United States, has always sold himself as a business expert and has sometimes pointed out where he sees New Zealand as falling short of global trends.

When elected, he pledged to use his experience to reverse New Zealand’s economic woes of recent years. This month’s remarks were lambasted, including by some in his own party, as being out of touch while the economy remained sluggish.