Vice President JD Vance sought last week to use a military helicopter to ferry himself and his son across Washington for a golf lesson, one of a number of allegedly unusual travel requests that has left the Republican’s security detail “fed up,” MS Now reports.

The alleged travel plans aboard Marine Two were ultimately canceled due to weather, but Secret Service agents nonetheless discussed it among themselves unhappily, according to the outlet.

Past vice presidents have had Secret Service agents drive their children to activities, rather than use military hardware, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour to operate.

A series of last-minute travel requests, known as “off the record” movements, has reportedly led to anger and low morale within the detail.

“The detail is tired of them not giving notice on things and making everything an OTR [off the record],” a source familiar with the mood inside the service told MS Now. “He [Vance] thinks he can still move around like a U.S. Senator.”

The Independent has contacted the vice president’s office for comment.

“When U.S. Secret Service Special Agents choose to join a protective detail, they understand the commitment required: long hours, frequent travel, and the need for constant flexibility,” Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said in a statement. “Nights, weekends, and holidays are part of the job. Our agents work tirelessly to ensure protectees’ safety and security, while also preserving normalcy to the extent possible.”

Vance isn’t the only one reportedly facing scrutiny for his use of security and travel resources.

FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly canceled a planned trip to visit his musician girlfriend in Chicago as his plane was on the tarmac Friday when frustrated White House officials summoned him to Washington for a meeting.

“Patel was coming (to Chicago) today for a fake office visit for his girlfriend’s country concert this weekend,” a source briefed on the trip told MS Now.

The outlet reported that while the precise reason for the meeting was unclear, Trump administration officials have been growing increasingly “disturbed” by Patel’s recent actions, including his plans to leave town amid the re-escalation of the Iran war, which has included talk of potential Iranian plots against the president’s life.

Patel has called the reporting “false.”

Democrats in the House and Senate are investigating Patel to see if he misused taxpayer funds for department purchases and recreational travel.

In a July 8 letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Dick Durbin alleged Patel had been accused of demanding “perks” during international travel, including “VIP snorkeling” trips in Hawaii, plus jet skiing and a helicopter during FBI business.

The lawmakers also claimed there was concern an FBI attache in Wellington, New Zealand “may have been established in part to facilitate or justify a sightseeing trip there.”

In a previous statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the FBI said the allegations in the letter are “completely false.”

Patel has “reimbursed ALL personal travel and expenses, strictly following the Office of Management and Budget rules, in the exact same manner as all previous FBI Directors — and is fully compliant,” the bureau said.

The Secret Service has struggled in recent years with understaffing and high workloads. The agency was understaffed by more than 20 percent in 2024 when a gunman attempted to kill Donald Trump during a campaign rally, an inspector general report released this month found.

The 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina is now best known for Diego Maradona‘s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal – which saw the Three Lions knocked out of the tournament in Mexico.

But another kind of divine intervention was at work for two spectators in the stands at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City that day.

Ollie Craxton, then 28, a local government worker from Ealing, west London, had jetted out with a group of primary school friends to watch the match, as well as several others in the contest.

Meanwhile, Sofia Larrinua, a then 21-year-old chemistry student from Mexico City, had bagged a last-minute ticket to accompany her pals to the now legendary game.

Following a series of incredible coincidences, they were seated next to each other – and the romance of a lifetime soon unfolded, with the pair marrying four years later, before eventually settling in Hackney, east London, where they still live now.

The couple returned to the Azteca stadium for the first time earlier this month, to watch England’s eventual 3-2 win against Mexico at this year’s World Cup.

And now, four decades on from the controversial England-Argentina match that brought Ollie and Sofia together, the two nations are set to face each other again, at the semi-final of this year’s tournament on Wednesday night.

Ahead of the potentially history-making game, Sofia, now 61, sat down with the Daily Mail to tell the couple’s amazing story – and offer her thoughts on the upcoming match.

The pair have now been married nearly 40 years – and returned to the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, where they met, for the first time earlier this month, to watch this year’s World Cup. Pictured: Ollie and Sofia on their recent visit to the stadium

Now, four decades on from the controversial England-Argentina match that brought Ollie and Sofia together, the two nations are set to face each other again, at the semi-final of this year’s tournament on Wednesday night. Pictured: Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal 

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In 1986, Ollie, now 68, and his friends had decided to take ‘a holiday of a lifetime’, Sofia said, and head to Mexico to watch several of the World Cup games.

But about three weeks before the tournament started, he received the devastating news that the travel agency he had used to buy the trip had scammed him and several other customers, taking their money without actually making any bookings.

After selling his brand new car to his dad to make some quick cash and rebook (‘he was hoping to impress girls with his car,’ Sofia joked), he was thankfully still able to go on part of the holiday – and, crucially, attend the quarter-final.

Sofia and her friends, meanwhile, had developed a love for the England team in 1985 when they came to Mexico City for pre-World Cup friendlies against Germany, Italy and Mexico.

‘We used to go to hotels to have coffee and breakfast as university students and one day, we were in the lobby of this hotel and suddenly, this group of gorgeous-looking men came over,’ she said.

‘We go, “Oh my God, it’s the Italian football team!” And it wasn’t.

‘I remember, there was this nice man with this very nice pair of thighs and he had on these very small shorts with three lions on.

‘I thought, “What is that?” And then I just made a connection. I thought, “I’ve seen those before”, and then I thought, “Oh my God, it’s England!”. And those legs belonged to Gary Lineker.’

She continued: ‘We became like groupies to them. We were just following them. We would go and wait for them and wave at them.

‘Bobby Robson was so sweet. He would just wave and say, “Hello, girls!”, and he was very kind… We were like the little girls following the Beatles.’

It meant she and her pals were delighted to discover the Three Lions were set to play in her native Mexico City at the quarter-final.

Sofia, however, was facing a dilemma: she had a university exam the day after the match – so she initially told her friends she would have to miss the game, in order to do some final revision.

Eventually, though, her pals convinced her to abandon her pre-exam studies – some of the last of her degree, which she was about to finish – so she could accompany them.

But while they had all immediately bought tickets, Sofia’s last-minute decision meant she was left without one – and she only ended up snagging one after a serendipitous encounter.

‘I drove to the Azteca Stadium and I thought, “Well, I must find somebody on the resale”,’ she explained – and she soon found someone, inexplicably, reselling their ticket, who came to her ‘like an angel’.

‘And when I got out of the car, I found this man with a child who came to me and he said, “Would you like to buy my ticket?” And I said, “Yeah, I would.”

‘So, I bought it on resale for the equivalent of about $5, at the time. It was that easy!’

Sofia (pictured), now 61, had developed a love for the England team in 1985 when they came to her native Mexico City for pre-World Cup friendlies – so she was delighted when, the next year, she found out the Three Lions were returning to the city for the actual World Cup 

Ollie, now 68, meanwhile had decided to take ‘a holiday of a lifetime’ with his friends, Sofia said, and head to Mexico to watch several of the World Cup games – including the quarter-final. Pictured: One of the couple’s original tickets to the match 

Snagging a last-minute ticket to support England at the quarter-final, Sofia (pictured with Ollie) found herself seated next to an Englishman who would go on to be her husband

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Ollie and Sofia (pictured together more recently) soon got chatting, bonding over their shared love of Manchester United – and a whirlwind holiday romance ensued 

After Ollie returned to London, the pair (pictured later, at the London 2012 Olympics) spent the next year calling and writing letters to each other

She was also saving up to visit him in the UK, which she did several times over the next few years – and it only saw their love blossom even more, before Ollie proposed in 1989. Pictured: The couple with friends, in an older photograph 

They quickly fell in love and were married four years later. Pictured: Ollie and Sofia’s wedding day 

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‘We have so many things in common. We like travelling and music and we like doing things. We have had a very active life,’ said Sofia (pictured with Ollie on their wedding day) 

She said she soon headed for her seat: ‘I came to this section where I was surrounded by Argentinian supporters and I had an England T-shirt on.

‘At the time, it was very soon after the Falklands War had finished so there was a lot of animosity between Argentinians and English people so I felt very unsafe and wanted to move.’

Again, serendipity served: a stranger offered to swap their ticket with hers so she could sit with her friends in the English end of the stadium.

When they arrived, Sofia saw they would be sat next to a group of young Englishmen, including Ollie, who was also not sitting in his ticketed seat, having moved to join the English end too.

Sofia recalls: ‘I looked at this Englishman smiling at us and at the time, I felt very self-conscious – I was only 21, I was very shy and so I thought, “Oh I’m not going to sit next to these guys”.’

The girls tried sitting in two other sets of seats to avoid the men but were both times eventually kicked out when the original ticketholders arrived to claim their spots.

With the match about to start and only one space in the stands left, they eventually resolved to sit next to the smiling Englishman – a decision that would change Ollie and Sofia’s lives forever.

She later found out the reason for his grinning: ‘He saw these three Mexican girls wearing England T-shirts and he thought, “Oh my God, that’s nice.

‘”There are some nice Mexican girls here and they’re young and it would be nice to chat to them”.’

Ollie and Sofia quickly got chatting, bonding over their shared love of Manchester United – and he soon won her admiration for looking out for the girls among the rowdy crowds.

‘The English fans had put up flags on the fences but at the time of the national anthems, the Argentinians started burning the English flags,’ Sofia explained.

‘The English people got very upset and there was a bit of a brawl. But before all this, Ollie said to me, “If there is a problem, don’t worry, I’ll protect you”.

‘At the time, he was a very skinny young man and I thought, “Yeah, protect me? I don’t think so!”

‘Then, when the brawl started, everybody moved but Ollie stayed there trying to protect us. I thought, “Oh my God, that’s really nice”.’

The pair enjoyed the now iconic quarter-final together, which saw Maradona accused of illegally using his left hand to score the ‘Hand of God’ goal.

Only four minutes later, he then also scored the ‘Goal of the Century’, having dashed some 60 yards down the field, taking Argentina to their eventual 2-1 victory over England.

‘We didn’t have children because we were so happy doing nice things! We bypassed that,’ added Sofia (pictured with Ollie more recently)

Ollie has now retired from his career in local government and Sofia is semi-retired from her career as a food anthropologist, now spending much of her time on art and textiles 

But in the nearly four decades – and counting – they have spent together, they have never had a chance to return to the Azteca stadium

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This year’s World Cup, however, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, offered the perfect opportunity. Pictured: Ollie and Sofia at England’s round of 16 match against Mexico earlier this month 

And just as they did on the day the couple (pictured) met, England are now set to face off Argentina again, at the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night

‘I don’t want to say it but I’ve got a feeling that England is going to win this because they have got a very good team,’ said Sofia 

This time, Ollie and Sofia are set to watch the Three Lions battle Argentina not from the Azteca stadium – but from their local working men’s club in north London. Pictured: A newspaper clipping marking their 20th wedding anniversary 

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Sofia said: ‘He plainly cheated. He scored with his hand and we saw that – we were at the top. We saw the whole thing and the referee didn’t see it and so that was very upsetting.’

After the final whistle, she offered to show Ollie and his friends around Mexico City, before eventually going to have drinks together at their hotel.

The pair soon embarked on a holiday romance, as did one of her friends and one of his – but while the others’ relationship ended after three months, Ollie and Sofia kept theirs going.

After he returned to London, the pair spent the next year calling and writing letters to each other: ‘The telephone bills were really expensive – it was a very, very expensive rate to call Mexico.’

She was also saving up to visit him in the UK, which she did several times over the next few years – and it only saw their love blossom even more.

Ollie proposed in 1989 on top of the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, near Mexico City. Sofia said: ‘I didn’t want to climb it and Ollie kept saying, “You’ll want to climb this, it’s going to be worth your while!”‘

The pair were married a year later, she said: ‘We have so many things in common. We like travelling and music and we like doing things. We have had a very active life.

‘We have been to many parts of the world and many nice things together, like Wimbledon and Glastonbury and all kinds of things. We were very happy doing these things.

‘We didn’t have children because we were so happy doing nice things! We bypassed that.’

Ollie has now retired from his career in local government and Sofia is semi-retired from her career as a food anthropologist, now spending much of her time on art and textiles. ‘We’re just enjoying this second part of our lives,’ she said.

But in the nearly four decades – and counting – they have spent together, they have never had a chance to return to the Azteca stadium.

This year’s World Cup, however, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, offered the perfect opportunity.

The couple went to England’s round of 16 match against Mexico at the arena on July 5, wearing the T-shirts they had on – as well as the cap Sofia was wearing, and later gifted to Ollie – when they met in those very same stands.

And just as they did on that fateful day, England are now set to face off Argentina again, at the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

Sofia said: ‘I don’t want to say it but I’ve got a feeling that England is going to win this because they have got a very good team.

‘I’m just hoping there won’t be anything controversial, red cards or anything silly like that. It’s just amazing and magical they’re meeting again – and hopefully this time, it will be a better result.’

This time, Ollie and Sofia are set to watch the Three Lions battle Argentina not from the Azteca stadium – but from their local working men’s club in north London.

Argentina scored two late goals to secure their spot in the final against Spain in Atlanta, after England’s Anthony Gordon netted a 55th-minute goal following a scoreless first half.

The Prince of Wales has expressed a strong passion for football, often seen cheering on Aston Villa FC.

“Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament,” his statement said.

The Royal Family joined in reacting to England’s loss.

“Commiserations to Harry and the team,” a post on its social media read, sharing a photo of England captain Harry Kane sombrely embracing Jude Bellingham.

The statement continued: “While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again.”

Sir Keir’s final address to the House of Commons as prime minister on Wednesday had also featured multiple references to the English side’s nervous build-up to the knock-out match.

“Tonight wasn’t the result we all hoped for,” Sir Keir said in a statement after the full-time whistle was blown. “But this England team has given it their all.”

The popular bar will use the venue for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and Belfast Pride

One of Belfast’s most famous bars has announced it will be utilising a previously unused space for two major events.

Lavery’s has announced the exciting plans to take over a listed Belfast City Centre building for the Fleadh and Belfast Pride.

The bar complex will be taking over the Belfast Electric Light Station on Chapel Lane, which was the city’s very first municipal power station, built to generate electricity for a city taking its first steps into the electric age.

Although it was soon outgrown by larger facilities, it remains the oldest surviving civic power station of its kind in Northern Ireland and a rare piece of Belfast’s industrial heritage.

Organisers have said: “For one incredible week, we’ll bring this historic space back to life. A building that once powered the city will become a home for music, culture and unforgettable nights throughout the Fleadh.”

The first event held in the make-shift venue will be an all-day party over Pride weekend to celebrate Belfast Pride.

A special one-off takeover of Lavery’s Comedy Club will also arrive at the Electric Light Station. For one night only, one of Belfast’s biggest comedy nights swaps its iconic home for an atmospheric new venue, bringing a huge lineup of laughs to a truly unique setting.

On Sunday, July 26, comedians like Ciaran Bartlett, Diona Doherty and Aaron Butler will take to the stage in a one-off night of laughs.

Following this, they will then open up the venue for a series of events across the week of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Over 800,000 visitors are expected to attend events between Sunday, August 2, and Sunday, August 9.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world’s biggest celebration of traditional Irish music and culture.

The eight-day festival will bring musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers and visitors from across the world to Belfast for All-Ireland competitions, concerts, céilí bands, civic events, fringe activity and spontaneous street sessions.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

The football World Cup is often seen as an opportunity to bring different groups within a nation together as they celebrate their team’s achievements. And while the performance of the England side’s young and dynamic squad may not have taken them to the final, there remains something to celebrate.

Thomas Tuchel’s squad has offered a vision of England that stands in stark contrast to Downton Abbey-type cultural representations that often feel nostalgic and parochial. And it challenges, head on, claims that have been made recently regarding Englishness and ethnicity.

Selected by a German manager, the 26-man squad featured 20 players who had the option to play for another country. This is because the heritage rules of football’s governing body Fifa allow players to represent the nation of their parents’ or grandparents’ birth.

But those options – Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, Ireland and Kenya, to name just some – are not a happy accident. They represent a rollcall of England’s (and subsequently Britain’s) imperial engagements. To quote Sri Lankan novelist A Sivanandan: “They are here, because you were there.”

These representatives of the English nation have generated huge, broad support and excitement. Viewer data indicates that the team’s progress has been watched by record audiences and the beer-throwing antics of fans across the country have been dominating social media.

And yet the exploits of a team led by the grandson of Irish immigrants in Harry Kane and driven forward by the son of Kenyan and Irish immigrants in Jude Bellingham might seem like an anomaly given the nation’s political climate. The rise of rightwing populists has seen heritage and country of birth thrust into the spotlight.

English or British?

The team also seems to represent a vision of Englishness at odds with wider public attitudes. On one hand, official polling data has consistently shown that identifying as English is much less attractive to ethnic minorities than categorising themselves as British. This may be because, outside football, Englishness for many minorities represented a more exclusive identity that focuses on ethnic rather than civic forms of belonging.

And on the other hand, these questions of identity are also exemplified by those who lean right politically. These groups are much more likely to define themselves as more English than British.

Both sets of data link to my work on national hierarchies of belonging. These put forward the argument that there are some groups within a nation who are seen to belong more than others. It is those who unquestioningly believe and are treated as if they “really” belong who position themselves as the rightful arbiters and managers of the nation.

This not only gives them an important sense of agency, in an era where growing numbers of people feel disenfranchised, but also informs powerful claims to key social, economic and cultural resources. There is a strong link between belonging and entitlement, so that “I belong more than you” can also come to mean “I deserve more than you”.

The struggles between groups within the same nation are not new. But they have been supercharged by growing inequality and the undermining of collective institutions, including those associated with politics and the media. The rise of nativist views and policies, which prioritise the rights of people born in a country over those of immigrants, is a feature of these processes.

A new England?

But it could be possible for England to address these issues. It’s worth noting that ethnic minorities in both Wales and Scotland are much more likely to identify as Welsh or Scottish. This is because these national categories are primarily defined in relation to the dominant group in the UK (that is, the English).

In other words, the “English question” (the debate over whether MPs from the other home nations should be allowed to vote on English-only affairs) still needs to be answered. This was first raised more than 40 years ago with the prospect, and then the reality, of devolved politics in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Increased devolution to the English regions may go some way to addressing grievances in the south-west, the Midlands and the north. And specific English cultural institutions – why not have an English national museum, library and broadcaster, for example – could generate new forms of belonging.

But above all, England and the English need to start telling some more convincing – and relevant – stories about who they are. These can move beyond the past and an obsession with former “glories”.

One of those stories may well involve this English football team. After all, it may ultimately not have won this World Cup, but it still offers a different, and highly visible, inclusive representation of the nation.

Local developer Believe Housing’s application to redevelop land in Newton Hall, near Durham, was approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday. 

The development will replace the former properties at the site on a one-for-one basis, meaning there will be no increase in the number of homes on the site.

New properties due to be built as part of the estate include three two-bedroom bungalows, 10 two-bedroom houses, six three-bedroom houses and three four-bedroom houses. All 22 properties will be designated as affordable housing.

Mark Wilkes, Liberal Democrat member for Framwellgate and Newton Hall, praised the plans and thanked the housing developer for listening to local concerns around parking. 

Access to the development will be from Farnham Road, with each home provided with off-street parking.

In its planning statement, Believe Housing said the scheme would replace outdated housing with “attractive affordable homes” while helping to meet housing demand across County Durham.

It said: “The proposed development of 22 dwellings would provide a sustainable community that is responsive to local character and community aspirations, whilst being fully policy-compliant and contributing to Durham’s county-wide housing targets, particularly through the provision of 100 per cent affordable dwellings.”

Believe Housing said the redevelopment would improve parking, as existing residents previously relied on on-street spaces.

“The current parking situation at the site is that all vehicles have to park on the street, whereas the proposed development will be significantly improved by providing in-curtilage off-street parking spaces for all properties,” the statement added.

Additional visitor parking bays are also proposed to help ease pressure on nearby roads.

Councillors unanimously approved the planning application at Tuesday’s committee meeting. 

By LIAM MORGAN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 00:11 BST, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 00:39 BST, 16 July 2026

Micah Richards has revealed he was told of the death of his father, Lincoln, moments before going on air for the BBC‘s coverage of England‘s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina.

Richards, 38, wrote an emotional post on Instagram shortly after the BBC programme ended. He had been working as a pundit for the BBC’s broadcast of the match live from Atlanta and covered the game despite receiving the heartbreaking news.

‘Not long before going on air today, I received the awful news that my father Lincoln had passed away,’ he wrote, alongside a picture from his childhood. 

‘His death was unexpected, and he has left us all too soon.

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‘He was my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.

‘I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else. I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.

Micah Richards’ father Lincoln, right, has died, the pundit said in an emotional social media post

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Richards revealed he was told of the death of his father just before working as a pundit for the BBC’s coverage

‘Thinking of my siblings and all my wider family today as we remember my father Lincoln, my hero and inspiration.’

Richards received a string of messages of support from players and former team-mates.

Ex-Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, working alongside Richards in Atlanta, wrote: ‘Sending love Meeks … here for you all. RIP Lincoln.’

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Spurs midfielder James Maddison said: ‘Sending love mate.’ 

Jamie Carragher, who works with Richards on Sky Sports and CBS, said: ‘Sending love to you & all the family.’ 

Jill Scott added: ‘Thinking of you and your family Micah.’

Former England and Manchester City star Richards has regularly spoken of the influence of his father, who immigrated to the UK from St. Kitts in the 1960s, in his career.

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‘I grew up in Chapeltown, a rough area of Leeds,’ Richards said in 2007. ‘There was all sorts of stuff – drugs and fighting. There is a point when you are 15 or 16 when you might want to get involved in it. There was definitely a temptation but I stayed grounded.

‘I have been able to deal with all the stuff that has come my way. That’s down to Dad. He’s brought me up well. My Dad is a strong character. He is very principled. He’s a Rastafarian. He has set standards for me.

‘It’s been great to have that sort of person behind me but at the same time I learned how to be my own man. Dad’s always been here for me. He has missed only one game I have ever played in and that was my debut at Arsenal when I wasn’t even been supposed to be in the squad.’

In 2023, Richards described his father as ‘my rock and my hero’ but said their relationship had changed after his dad and mother, Heather, separated. 

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Around 400 workers are due to walk out for a second time in weeks at the bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis’ Scarborough factory in a dispute over wages.

​Alison Hume, the Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said she recognises the concerns being raised by staff who rejected a four per cent offer from the company after “the cost-of-living crisis was compounded by years of sub-par pay increases”.

​The first round of strike action took place from June 25 to July 1, and staff are set to strike again, shutting down the factory’s operations from July 16 to 20.

Union officials have warned that further strikes are possible if the dispute is not resolved.

​Ms Hume said: “I recognise the concerns being raised by employees at Alexander Dennis and understand the strength of feeling among staff during this dispute.

“They play a vital role in making Scarborough a centre of excellence for bus manufacturing, and their voices deserve to be heard.

​“Alexander Dennis is a major employer in Scarborough, supporting hundreds of local livelihoods and playing a vital role in our economy.

“While the company faces intense competition from overseas manufacturers, the workforce, without doubt, remains its greatest asset.”

​The union Unite said that between August 2021 and May 2026, the Retail Prices Index (RPI) rose by approximately 35.1 per cent and factoring in pay rises increases to date, the wages of workers had fallen 19.8 per cent behind the cost of living.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the MP said her priority was to see a fair resolution that protected jobs and gave people confidence about the future.

Ms Hume added: “I urge the company and the union to continue constructive dialogue and find a solution that works for employees – therefore securing even greater opportunities moving forward for the Scarborough site.

“More broadly, I have consistently pressed for more weight to be given to social value in public procurement decisions. When taxpayers’ money is being spent on new buses, we should be supporting British buses and British jobs.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These workers have seen their pay plummet in real terms. Enough is enough.

“Alexander Dennis must come back with a pay offer that matches their hard work and commitment. Strikes will not end until that happens.”

A spokesperson for Alexander Dennis previously said it was “one of the top-paying employers in Scarborough” and had made “a very fair and above-inflation offer of a four per cent pay rise”.

They added: “The UK bus manufacturing sector is under intense pressure – costs are rising and half of all new buses now come from overseas. Against this backdrop, it is incredibly disappointing that our offer has been rejected.

“We are committed to working with the union and our team members to bring this matter to a resolution. We do not expect customer deliveries to be affected in the meantime.”

TVD Group launched the purpose-built facility at its headquarters on July 13, designed to showcase complete commercial outdoor AV solutions.

Located outdoors, the centre lets customers and industry professionals experience the technology in lighting conditions and scenarios that reflect real-world use.

Lucia Maguire, managing director of TVD Group, said: “Our original Experience Centre has always been about helping customers visualise what’s possible.

The facility displays a full suite of integrated AV technologies, including weatherproof televisions, outdoor LED walls (Image: Supplied)

“The addition of our outdoor AV experience centre gives customers, consultants and specifiers the opportunity to experience AV technologies operating cohesively in a real-world environment.

“They can compare different solutions, ask technical questions and understand how every element can work together to deliver the best outcome for each project.”

The facility displays a full suite of integrated AV technologies, including weatherproof televisions, outdoor LED walls, professional audio systems, and control solutions, all designed to function seamlessly in external settings.

Visitors can explore how AV infrastructure, networking, control, and mounting systems combine to create impactful and reliable environments for hospitality, leisure, and entertainment.

Designed to be interactive and hands-on, the centre lets users engage with the technology, evaluate visual displays in daylight, test audio coverage, and examine the infrastructure that underpins successful outdoor AV installations.

These elements can help demonstrate how underused external areas can be turned into revenue-generating spaces.

Applications include live sport, entertainment, digital signage, and background music for hospitality and leisure venues.

The centre is open whatever the weather, and is designed for customers, consultants, project specifiers, and commercial end users.