WASHINGTON (AP) — As Janeese Lewis George paves a path to the mayor’s office in Washington, D.C., she’s told voters they could have it all.
Her unapologetically expansive, left-wing agenda includes subsidized or even free childcare, increased down payment assistance for homebuyers and community resources to reduce crime, plus a promise to aggressively confront President Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the nation’s capital.
“People are tired of hearing what government can’t do. They want to hear what government can do,” Lewis George said in an interview before the city’s primary, where she defeated her Democratic opponents and positioned herself to win the general election in November in a city dominated by Democrats.
Lewis George’s victory signals a break with a quarter-century of centrist governance in Washington, and it puts her in the vanguard of democratic socialists who have ascended in urban politics over the last year. Zohran Mamdani toppled Andrew Cuomo, the scion of a political dynasty, on his way to becoming New York City mayor. Katie Wilson won an upset victory to lead Seattle last fall. And this month, Nithya Raman clinched a spot in the November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
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All of them are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA. The political organization has seen its membership ranks swell from a few thousand to more than 100,000 nationwide over the last decade after an influx of younger Americans joined following the presidential bids of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, also a self-described democratic socialist.
There’s little sign of national coordination among the candidates, and it’s unclear whether voters are gravitating toward their promises of improved government services, their vows to fight the Trump administration or their critiques of capitalism.
But from coast to coast, confrontational progressives are advancing in mayoral races. City leaders can draw outsized attention for their successes and failures, and democratic socialists will be under pressure from residents to deliver on their vows for a new kind of governance. Whether that translates to national politics is a next test for their movement.
“They are all channeling a displeasure with a status quo and a serious desire for economic populism that the establishment Democratic Party hasn’t been preaching,” said Eric Stern, a Democratic strategist with Fight Agency, a political consulting firm that strategized Mamdani’s mayoral campaign.
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Stern added that Democratic voters appeared more willing to support the most progressive candidate in mayoral races rather than in contests for the U.S. House. Candidates like Mamdani and Raman, Stern said, are “daring voters to dream and fall in love not just with the individual candidates but also the political process as a whole.”
A rising left navigates America’s urban challenges
The trend of progressives surging in urban areas may have limits for its broader impact on Democratic politics. Democratic mayors in cities including Atlanta, Houston, Miami and San Francisco won on relatively moderate platforms in recent years.
Progressive have also faced noteworthy challenges. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was endorsed by the city’s DSA chapter during his 2023 mayoral run but has since faced criticism from both moderate and liberal local leaders on issues such as immigration, the local budget and public safety. Recalls and public pressure ousted progressives elected to district attorney offices in multiple jurisdictions over the last five years, when criminal justice reform efforts ran into dissatisfaction over public disorder following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump’s hardline immigration and law enforcement tactics have also become a challenge for liberal cities. The president’s agenda poses an especially serious threat to Washington, D.C., because of its status as a federal territory.
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“Maybe we take back Washington and run it on a federal basis,” Trump told reporters this month when asked about the potential election of a democratic socialist as the district’s mayor. “We won’t put up with it.”
But progressives hope the current wave of anti-Trump furor in deep blue cities across the country will help buoy the chances of those on the hard left.
“It’s not folks looking for the leftmost option so much as looking for a candidate who’s gonna be on their side,” said Ravi Mangla, speaking for the left-wing Working Families Party. The party often endorses the same candidates as the DSA and is readying to target more mayoral offices in the country’s biggest metropolises this fall and in 2028.
“It’s less about whether you are on the right or on the left so much as whether you are willing to punch up at the powerful,” he added.
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Mamdani and Lewis George are both self-described “sewer socialists” who emphasize the need for responsive government services rather than critiques of market economics. The phrase recalls the socialist Gilded Age mayors whom critics derided as too preoccupied with managing public works projects.
The term’s revival is partly a strategic move to align leftist ideas with concerns over affordability and the economy, voters’ top concern in the midterm elections, and shift the public perception of democratic socialists from firebrands who support radical policies to independent-minded public servants.
“This is absolutely a change election and I’m excited to bring the change that people want, which is really putting people first in the city and having the moral clarity and courage to stand up to Trump,” Lewis George said.
For voters the ‘socialist’ label did not seem to matter
While conservatives have used the “socialist” label to attack Democrats as extreme or incompetent, some D.C. voters appeared ambivalent before Tuesday’s primary.
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Several lifelong residents said they believed Lewis George was a “fighter” but didn’t think she’d have much of an impact on the local economy, given the city’s status as a federal district.
“I go back and forth on my own labels and whether I am supportive of that movement or not, but I am supportive of making D.C. more affordable,” Owen Fitzgerald, a University of Maryland graduate student, said of his support for democratic socialism.
Fitzgerald voted for Lewis George because she would stand up to Trump and said he’d first learned of her campaign from friends in his neighborhood. But he didn’t know she was a democratic socialist until he saw news reports describing her with the label.
“It sends a cultural message to this administration that the people who are surrounding them in the capital are opposed to their platform, opposed to their political agenda, and I think that it will send a message, both nationally and internationally,” Fitzgerald said.
Anne Hathaway has revealed that she is expecting a baby.
On Friday afternoon, the Oscar winner shared a clip of herself on Instagram, walking into the shot and revealing her pregnancy bump before excitedly walking out of frame.
“The first time [being pregnant] didn’t work out for me,” she shared during an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, before recalling how, as part of the play, her character had to “give birth onstage every night”.
“It was too much to keep it in when I was onstage pretending everything was fine,” she explained, revealing she had “to keep it real” with friends who came to visit her while she was part of the theatre production.
She’s already appeared in the musical psychological thriller Mother Mary and the long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, and has no fewer than three films still in the pipeline for the rest of the year.
Following this, she’s also set to appear in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity, in addition to her supporting role in the Adam Driver outing Alone At Dawn, which is expected to hit cinemas in 2027.
Video footage shows a huge crowd of around 40 or 50 revellers following the fight as they moved across the festival site, before a steward eventually broke it up.
Fight breaks out at TRNSMT as huge crowd look on
A fight broke out at TRNSMT this evening while a huge crowd looked on.
Two teenagers were seen punching each other close to the big wheel area of the festival around 8pm.
Video footage shows a huge crowd of around 40 or 50 revellers following the fight as they moved across the festival site, before a steward eventually broke it up.
One onlooker said that stewards were slow to respond.
She said: “The guy that was getting battered looked absolutely knackered.
“It just seems like a lot of people here can’t handle their drink – they were really going for it.
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“I said to a few of the stewards.- ‘there’s a fight can you help’. But they just said ‘aw it’ll be all right.
“And then I said to a couple of other stewards but they just said ‘oh ok’.
“When they were at the big wheel, a guy came in a yellow vest with a radio and split it up.
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“But before that it was just a free for all – there were about 50 people following them.”
TRNSMT organisers DF Concerts have been contacted for comment.
Scotland’s biggest music festival opened its doors to music fans once again today at Glasgow Green from today.
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Acts such as Kasabian, CMAT, Richard Ashcroft, Amy Macdonald and Lewis Capaldi will take to the stage and revellers will undoubtedly make the most of their weekend of live music.
Tonight, the festival is also showing Scotland’s game against Morocco in a huge fan zone.
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Three days after carving out a slender win over Armagh, Jim McGuinness revealed his plans to his team.
Odhran Mac Niallais, who scored a crucial Donegal goal against Armagh, could feel the belief grow as McGuinness spoke 12 years ago.
Donegal were already 6/1 outsiders as Dublin – unbeatable in the eyes of many – lay in wait in an All-Ireland semi-final.
This was the one McGuinness had planned for.
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The Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy was still in the early stages of its development as McGuinness outlined his blueprint in a dank portacabin.
“No videos, tactics boards or anything like that,” Mac Niallais recalled. “He spoke to us for a good half-an-hour to 40 minutes and basically told us how we would beat Dublin and what we would have to do.
“Nobody else spoke at all. It was half-an-hour of just Jim talking about how we could hurt Dublin.
“At that time, you had three weeks between games and I remember Jim saying to us: ‘We’re going to train like we have never trained before’ and I was terrified!”
It was a case of repeat, repeat, repeat for Donegal over the three weeks.
In front of a heaving Croke Park, Donegal staged an ambush for the ages.
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Donegal were five down and pailing water from the boat when, suddenly, the tide turned.
A Ryan McHugh goal lit the fuse and Donegal added two more goals, through McHugh and Colm McFadden, to silence Hill 16.
“Definitely one of my best days for Donegal,” Mac Niallais said of the 3-14 to 0-17 win.
“In the first 20 minutes, everything Dublin kicked went over the bar. They were stroking over from everywhere. I was only a young lad and thinking I wanted the ground to swallow me up. But we got a purple patch and we made hay.
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“The one positive in the early part of the game was that we got a lot of kick-outs away. We just weren’t very efficient on it for a while.
“The momentum shifted then. Momentum is a massive thing and we had it all of a sudden. We got a goal and tagged on a few points. You could just feel the change. Dublin were probably going in at half-time thinking: ‘Jesus, what has happened?’.”
Celtic and Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand’s mother, Sarah (Boyle) was a grandaunt of Mac Niallais. Gaoth Dobhair football great Hughie Tim Boyle was a granduncle so the football bloodlines were strong.
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His languid, elegant style stood out and Mac Niallais was an All-Star nominee in 2014.
It had been a long road to that point. Three years beforehand, at 18, he played two Dr McKenna Cup games and was brought back into the panel in the winter of 2012. Donegal were All-Ireland champions, but they had a painful defence, falling to Mayo heavily in an All-Ireland quarter final.
MacNiallais wondered what the future held and but for the intervention of Gaoth Dobhair and Donegal team-mates Neil and Eamon McGee he might’ve taken a different course.
He said: “They were a huge help to me. They were massive. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have stuck around if it wasn’t for them. They pushed me to go for it, to stick at it. It was tough in 2013 when I didn’t play a whole lot and I was probably thinking that I wouldn’t get a chance at all.”
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By his own admission, Mac Niallais was “never a man for working hard or training hard”, but he knuckled down. Extra training and gym sessions every morning that winter took Mac Niallais into a new orbit.
In a Donegal team littered with star quality, Mac Niallais emerged as a real weapon, often deployed at midfield by McGuinness.
Mac Niallais played as Donegal wrestled the provincial title back from Monaghan.
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He said: “That Ulster in 2014 was a very sweet one – especially after the disappointment of 2013. It was an amazing experience.
“That Ulster was the springboard for me really. I felt more confident that I belonged there.
“I was privileged to play with that Donegal team. I was training every night with the likes of Michael Murphy, Karl Lacey and Neil McGee – some of the best Donegal have ever had. I was actually in dreamland more than anything and I definitely wasn’t feeling like I deserved it.”
Mac Niallais isn’t in the least bit surprised that Donegal are thriving again after the second coming of McGuinness. Coaxed back following the swift departure of Paddy Carr and then interim manager Aidan O’Rourke in 2023.
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He said: “Jim operates at a different level. If he told you to run through a brick wall, you’d do it. He has such an aura about him. When he talks, you listen. He brings massive belief with him, too. He instills that belief in a team and he can make you feel 10 foot tall. That is such a powerful thing. The Donegal team was struggling and you could see the effect Jim coming back had. There was such a buzz around the whole county.
“He got Murphy back too. Michael is in some shape. I’ve never seen him as lean. It’s great to have him back at it. When he retired that time, I thought it was too soon. Michael has so much to offer – and he has proved that. The break probably did him good.
After beating Dublin in that epic semi-final, Donegal were beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland final.
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Twelve years have passed, but the lingering regrets remain.
Mac Niallais said: “It is a big regret, definitely, that we didn’t get over the line in the final. I think about it most days. It’s just one of those things. For every young lad playing football, winning an All-Ireland is the dream. We came so close and didn’t do it. It’s not that it bothers me or that I’m losing sleep over it, but it crosses the mind often.”
Marcus Rashford scored for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia but complained of muscle tightness at the end of Wednesday’s game in Dallas
Marcus Rashford has given England a fitness scare ahead of their World Cup clash with Ghana. The forward complained of muscle tightness at the end of England’s win over Croatia as he also appeared to be feeling his hamstring.
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The Manchester United man, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona, came on as a late substitute, and his electric pace helped him score a fourth goal to seal the win over Croatia. However, it is hoped that Rashford did not suffer any major issue ahead of England’s next Group match with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
But clearly they will be taking care of England players in the quick turnaround of a tournament, especially as they have all been training and playing in different weather conditions, which may have resulted in several complaining of cramp.
Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has spoken about the value of his wingers – and particularly how there can be starters and “finishers” to come on from the bench.
Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon started against Croatia, with Bukayo Saka and Rashford coming on in the closing stages to great effect.
Tuchel plans to use them in a similar fashion through the tournament and also said that Saka is closer to full match fitness now after an Achilles issue.
Tuchel said after the game: “Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready. I think once we go to the last game of this group he will be ready. He was strong in training in small spaces. It was just a matter of if the game was open and he was up and down.”
While on Rashford, Tuchel said after the win on Wednesday: “He struggled for us to be decisive when he started, but he was always trying and got a bit unlucky for a long time.
“We just had a talk [on Tuesday] where I told him that I’m very, very impressed with his last 16 days – how he was in camp, how he pushes on the field.”
Meanwhile, England’s players have been given a full day off on Friday and have been told they can relax with WAGs, friends and loved ones as they please, reports the Mirror.
Several families were at the Croatia game in Dallas and saw the players afterwards while they have also been allowed to see the stars in camp in Kansas City.
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Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.
Scotland are hoping to follow up their 1-0 win over Haiti with another positive result against Morocco as they eye progression into the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup.
Steve Clarke’s side are back on the global stage for the first time since 1998, where they were knocked out in the group stages in France.
Now, they are in with a genuine chance of reaching the latter stages of the sport’s biggest competition for the very first time in their history.
John McGinn’s goal was a historic one, giving the Tartan Army something to cling onto as their tasks continue to get trickier.
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Goalscorer: John McGinn
PA Wire
Date, kick-off time and venue
Scotland vs Morocco is scheduled for an 11pm BST kick-off today, Friday, June 19, 2026.
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The match will take place at the Boston Stadium, in Massachusetts.
Where to watch Scotland vs Morocco for FREE
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 10pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via ITVX app or the channel’s website.
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Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the ground.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel.
Scotland vs Morocco team news
For Scotland, there is one injury concern. That is former Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna, who suffered a calf injury before the win over Haiti.
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He missed training once more in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday.
It seems unlikely that he will feature here. Otherwise, Clarke has a full complement to pick from.
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly
Defenders: Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Dom Hyam, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney
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Midfielders: Ryan Christie, Findlay Curtis, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Tyler Fletcher, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay
Forwards: Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Ross Stewart
Noussair Mazraoui
Getty
As for the Moroccans, there are no injury concerns for manager Mohamed Ouahbi. He will be placing his faith in the same group of players that practically played Brazil off the park for much of their opening encounter, with young midfield star Ayyoub Bouaddi showing why he is being linked to some of the top sides in Europe as he ran the engine room.
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Ismael Saibari, the PSV forward destined for Bayern Munich, is likely to lead the line again after his deft chip against Brazil, while their right-hand side is where they carry the most threat through captain Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz.
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajou, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Chadi Riad, Issa Diop, Anass Salah-Eddine, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Redouane Halhal, Youssef Belammari, Marwane Saadane
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari, Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Gessime Yassine
Scotland will need to produce a markedly better performance than what they served up against Haiti if they are to avoid defeat here.
Morocco were slick, aggressive and up for the fight against Brazil, undone only by a moment of individual brilliance.
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Can Clarke’s men conjure up another historic victory?
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Scotland vs Morocco match odds
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Emergency services are responding to a train crash between Luton and Bedford this evening, after two passenger trains collided on the London St Pancras line
19:08, 19 Jun 2026Updated 21:42, 19 Jun 2026
One person has been confirmed dead after two trains collided this evening (Friday), with several more injured and a major incident confirmed. There has been a large emergency response following the incident between London St Pancras and Bedford, which involved two passenger trains.
Images of the aftermath appear to show two damaged East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains that are still on the tracks. At least one is a Luton Airport Express train and passengers could be seen gathering by the neighbouring fields.
The collision happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.
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Bedford hospital was expecting at least 50 casualties to arrive and had ordered “all hands on deck”, The Times is reporting. Appeals have been sent for staff to come in to assist with the response.
In a statement, British Transport Police said: “Officers are continuing to respond to a collision between two trains on the line in Bedford, following reports around 5.15pm today (19 June). We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.
“A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services. The collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains.”
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: “We’ve declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing. We’re working at pace to establish exactly what’s happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to”.
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The statement added: “Officers from British Transport Police and Bedfordshire Police are on scene with colleagues from the local authority to assist any members of the public concerned about loved ones.”
ThamesLink stated on its website: “The emergency services are dealing with an incident between Luton and Bedford. Whilst they carry out their work, all lines are closed.
“As a result, trains between London St Pancras International and Bedford / Leicester may be cancelled or revised. This is expected until the end of the day.”
It further added: “Trains are unable to run in or out on London St Pancras for the remainder of this evening. Passengers are advised not to travel.”
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National Rail confirmed: “Emergency services are dealing with an incident between Luton and Bedford. Whilst they carry out their work, all lines are closed. As a result, trains between London St Pancras International and Bedford / Leicester may be cancelled or revised. This is expected until the end of the day.”
East Midlands Railway services said that its services to and from London St Pancras are also suspended for the remainder of today.
The fire and rescue service said: “Crews are currently in attendance at an incident on the railway just south of Bedford. Please avoid the area. Thank you for your co-operation.”
East of England Ambulance Service said: “We have sent a number of resources, including air ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, to a major incident on the railway south of #Bedford. We encourage people to avoid the area.
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“Further updates will be provided in due course. Please only call 999 in an emergency.”
Dr Pete Knapp wrote on Bluesky: “Train heading south from Bedford crashed at 17:12. Front of train ok, third carriage off rails. “I’m ok with bloody legs and back impact.
“Others are not good. Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning.
“No explosion, just stopped instantly.”
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Dr Knapp, 40, told the Press Association: “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.
“I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”
He added: “My first thought was I needed to get out of the train just in case it was a terrorist explosion, I thought it was safer to get off the train.”
He said he had not felt the train slow down before the crash, but other passengers told him they had. He told PA he saw people with “life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see straight”, while others like him were still able to walk.
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He said: “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m alright.”
Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin said he was “very sorry” to hear of the train crash between Bedford and Luton and would share more information “soon”.
In a post on his Facebook page, he said: “I’m very sorry to hear there has been a train collision between Bedford and Luton. Emergency services are at the scene.
“I will try to share more details soon.”
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Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned” by reports of a collision between two passenger trains in Bedfordshire.
In a post on X, the Transport Secretary said: “I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.
“I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.
“We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.”
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A Rail, Maritime and Transport union spokesperson said: “We are deeply concerned by reports of a train collision between Bedford and Luton and the serious injuries sustained by on-board train staff and passengers. The thoughts of the whole union are with those affected and we continue to monitor the situation.”
Stuart May, aged 82, was unmasked as a paedophile in 2023 before being convicted of further sex offences against boys in the 1970s
Carl Jackson Court Reporter and Ted Peskett News Editor
21:43, 19 Jun 2026
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A paedophile ex-scout leader had his jail time doubled for new offences after describing prison as ‘hell’. Stuart May committed a strong of offences against multiple boys in the 1970s the when he was a scout leader in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, preying upon his victims in his car, on trips and the scout hut.
May was exposed as a child sex predator in 2023 and admitted to 11 offences in relation to four boys before he was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison.
Since then three more victims have come forward. And even though May, now 82, confessed his previous crimes he put the latest complainants through the ordeal of a trial. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter
Ultimately they were vindicated and a jury found May guilty of six charges of indecent assault on a male and two counts of indecency with a child.
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Some of the sexual attacks took place at his home and others in his scout office and at a public swimming pool, reports Birmingham Live.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, June 18 he was sentenced to another eight years, to run consecutively to his previous term.
May, most recently of Leicestershire, had been expecting to be moved to an open prison ahead of a possible release in November next year but that has now been quashed.
One of the victims, who was the subject of five of the latest offences, said May had ‘destroyed so many young lives’.
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He recalled blaming himself for the abuse he was subjected to and prayed every day because he was from a religious family and feared he would go to hell.
He told May that after he was gone he would be remembered in the ‘most horrific form’ as a child abuser and paedophile.
Peter Glenser, prosecuting, said May had groomed the boys and abused his position of trust.
Describing May’s demeanour at trial he added: “He expressed precious little insight into his offending and into the devastation he has reaped on the lives of young children.”
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Sharon Bailey, defending, confirmed May was married but told the court both he and his wife were fortunate to have no serious health issues at present.
She said: “He is painfully aware his wife has been left on her own and he is painfully aware the sentence passed today may mean he never leaves custody.”
The barrister added: “Serving a prison sentence at his time of life has been particularly difficult. He was fortunate in two of the prisons he has been kept in, they had particular facilities for people of his age.
“At the moment he is in HMP Birmingham. He describes that experience as ‘nothing short of hell’.”
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Ms Bailey concluded that May last offended in 1977.
Judge Roderick Henderson, passing sentence, told him: “This is the most obvious case of grooming and abuse of a position as a scout master who was trusted in the community.
“It was made worse by manipulating those boys to keep quiet, telling them they would be in trouble if they let anyone know what you had done to them.”
He added: “You told a lot of lies in this trial.
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“One thing you did say that I have no doubt was true, was that between then and now you didn’t give those boys much thought at all until the chickens came home to roost.”
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“For Nigel Farage, the Makerfield result is crushing. His party’s senior leadership expected to be the story of the night. Instead, it fell more than 9,000 votes short and was relegated to a footnote”
21:32, 19 Jun 2026Updated 21:33, 19 Jun 2026
Andy Burnham’s win in Makerfield was not protest noise. It was proof that voters still have not given up hope that Labour can deliver the change they were promised.
Crucially, they did not turn to Reform in frustration. Instead, they turned out in greater numbers and backed Labour to finish the job. That is renewal, not rejection.
For Nigel Farage, the Makerfield result is crushing. His party’s senior leadership expected to be the story of the night. Instead, it fell more than 9,000 votes short and was relegated to a footnote.
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But Labour cannot simply celebrate. The result has forced a timetable onto a choice it can no longer avoid.
Sir Keir Starmer says he will not walk away, but that cannot shield him from the urgency of this message. The question is not whether Labour needs a new face. It is who charts its new and faster course.
Drift and denial are no longer options for Labour. For now, trust has been renewed. It will, however, not survive further months of inaction.
Please, think twice
Britain could face its hottest June day on record next week, with temperatures forecast to hit 34C. As the heat builds, so will the temptation for youngsters to cool off in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
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One of our Save Lives for Sam campaign messages is a simple plea: please, think twice. Cold water can kill within minutes, whatever the temperature and however strong a swimmer you believe yourself to be.
Last month’s heatwave claimed 19 lives, including 13 children. That is exactly why we launched our fight, and why the Mirror will keep going until every young person understands the danger.
We urge ministers to bring campaigners, experts and families together before the school holidays begin, when most of these needless losses happen.
Every drowning is a tragedy. Almost every one can be prevented.
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Kick in the teeth
World Cup fever is high, and the Premier League fixtures are now out, so fans are daring to dream again.
But as clubs bank huge TV riches and players earn millions, season ticket rises are a kick in the teeth.
As clubs grow richer and players earn more, they must remember supporters hit by the cost of living. Loyalty should not be exploited.
What has Achraf Hakimi been accused of hours before Scotland v Morocco? | Wales Online
Scotland v Morocco has been overshadowed by news about PSG player Achraf Hakimi
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Achraf Hakimi accustation and bombshell news hours before Scotland v Morocco
Scotland face Morocco in a pivotal World Cup Group C match, knowing a positive result could move Steve Clarke’s side closer to the knockout stages.
The build-up to the game has been dominated by news involving Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, one of the tournament’s highest-profile players.
Hakimi is set to stand trial in France over a rape allegation dating back to 2023, following a ruling by a French Court of Appeal.
The 27-year-old has consistently denied the allegations against him, and has publicly maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.
No trial date has yet been set, with reports indicating proceedings are expected to take place after Morocco’s World Cup campaign has concluded.
Despite the legal developments, Hakimi remains with the Morocco squad and is expected to continue captaining the team at the tournament.
The defender is regarded as one of Morocco’s key players, with Scotland manager Steve Clarke describing the North Africans as one of the strongest teams in the competition and potentially even better than the side that reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
Scotland head into the match after beating Haiti 1-0 in their opener, while Morocco impressed in a 1-1 draw with Brazil, setting up a potentially decisive contest in the battle to qualify from Group C.
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