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NewsBeat

Europe rejects Putin’s pick for peace mediator after claim war is ‘coming to an end’

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Europe rejects Putin’s pick for peace mediator after claim war is ‘coming to an end’

Putin says Ukraine war ‘coming to an end’

Russian president Vladimir Putin said he believes the Ukraine war is “coming to an end,” remarks made shortly after Russia held a noticeably scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow.

Putin also hinted at possible future negotiations on European security and floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential intermediary, though many European leaders rejected the idea.

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Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 04:13

Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of violating ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of repeatedly violating a US-backed temporary ceasefire almost immediately after it came into effect.

Kyiv reported continued drone strikes, battlefield clashes, and civilian deaths, while Moscow claimed Ukrainian drones and shelling targeted Russian territory and positions.

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Despite the truce reducing some large-scale attacks, both sides said fighting never truly stopped.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 04:28

Germany sceptical on Putin’s suggestion of Schroeder role in Ukraine peace talks

Germany rejected Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could help mediate peace talks between Russia and the European Union over Ukraine.

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Putin had named Schröder as his preferred intermediary after European Council president Antonio Costa said there was “potential” for talks with Moscow about Europe’s future security structure.

But German officials dismissed the idea as not credible, saying Russia had not changed any of its demands on Ukraine or shown serious interest in negotiations.

One official told Reuters the Kremlin was making bogus offers aimed at dividing Western allies and said a real test of Russia’s intentions would be whether it agreed to extend a temporary three-day ceasefire.

Schröder remains controversial in Germany because of his close ties to Putin and his work with Russian energy companies after leaving office. Berlin also stressed that any talks involving the EU must be closely coordinated with Ukraine and European member states.

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Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 04:44

Latvian defence minister resigns after Ukrainian drones hit oil tanks

Latvian defence minister Andris Spruds resigned after two Ukrainian drones crossed into Latvia from Russia and struck oil storage tanks in the eastern city of Rezekne.

Latvian prime minister Evika Silina demanded his resignation, saying the country’s anti-drone systems were not activated quickly enough.

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The incident prompted Latvia and neighbouring Lithuania to urge Nato to strengthen air defences in the Baltic region.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the drones were Ukrainian but claimed they had been deliberately diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare while targeting sites inside Russia.

Ukraine also said it was considering sending experts to help improve Baltic air security after the incident.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 04:55

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Moscow accuses Armenia for giving Zelensky platform for ‘anti-Russia remarks’

Russia criticised Armenia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made remarks in Yerevan suggesting Russia feared possible drone attacks over Moscow’s Red Square during the 9 May Victory Day parade.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused Armenia of giving Zelenskyy “a platform for anti-Russian remarks” and said Moscow expected an explanation from Yerevan.

Peskov stressed that Russia did not want Armenia to adopt an “anti-Russian stance”, AS growing tensions between the two longtime allies as Armenia moves closer to Western and European partners.

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Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 05:18

Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile US-brokered ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes

Russia has accused Kyiv of breaking a US-brokered ceasefire, while Ukrainian officials claimed one person had been killed and more injured by Russian drone and artillery strikes in the past 24 hours.

Two people were injured by Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine‘s Kherson region, the area’s Moscow-installed leader Vladimir Saldo said on Sunday.

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Separately, Russia’s ministry of defence accused Kyiv of committing more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, state media reported, citing a daily briefing on Sunday. The ministry stated Ukrainian forces had attacked civilian targets in several Russian regions and carried out strikes against Russian military positions on the frontline.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 05:40

Germany divided after Putin floats Schroder as Ukraine mediator

Vladimir Putin recently suggested that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder could help negotiate peace in Ukraine, saying he believes the war may be “coming to an end”.

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The idea divided opinion in Germany. Former lawmaker Michael Roth said a mediator “cannot be Putin’s buddy” and stressed that Ukraine should decide who can take part in peace talks.

“Neither Moscow nor we can decide that on Kyiv’s behalf,” he said in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

But some members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party said the proposal should still be “carefully considered” with European partners.

Schroder has stayed close to Russian president Putin even after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He also worked on major Russian energy projects, including the Nord Stream gas pipelines and the Russian oil company Rosneft.

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Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 06:17

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner expected to visit Moscow soon

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow soon for fresh talks aimed at pushing forward peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine, according to news agency Interfax.

The planned visit comes as a fragile three-day ceasefire brokered by the US faced strain, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of continued attacks and battlefield clashes.

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Donald Trump had presented the temporary truce, announced during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, as a possible first step toward ending the war.

However, Ukrainian officials reported deadly Russian drone strikes and hundreds of frontline clashes after the ceasefire began, while Russia accused Ukraine of launching dozens of drones into Russian territory.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 06:50

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EU’s Kallas criticises Putin’s suggestion of Schroder as mediator in peace talks

European Union’s Kaja Kallas criticised Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder could help mediate Ukraine peace talks.

Kallas said Schroder, who worked with Russian state energy companies after leaving office, would effectively be “sitting on both sides of the table”.She added that it “would not be wise to give Russia right to negotiate on our behalf”.

Her remarks came after Putin proposed Schroder as a possible intermediary between Russia and the European Union, a suggestion that has sparked criticism across Europe because of Schroder’s long-standing ties to the Kremlin and Russian energy interests.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 07:12

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Kremlin dismisses Zelensky’s remarks over Victory Day parade as ‘silly joke’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier said Russian authorities “fear drones may buzz over Red Square” during Moscow’s Victory Day parade, later joked that the area would temporarily be spared from Ukrainian strikes so the celebrations could proceed.The Kremlin dismissed his remarks as a “silly joke”.

Earlier, a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine announced by Donald Trump on Friday eased concerns over a possible Ukrainian attack during Moscow’s Red Square Victory Day parade, though it appeared unlikely to lead to a wider peace agreement.

Earlier unilateral ceasefires declared by both sides had quickly broken down, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of violations.

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Trump said the leaders of both countries had agreed to pause fighting from Saturday through Monday and carry out a prisoner exchange, adding that the temporary truce could mark the “beginning of the end” of the war, which is now in its fifth year.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 May 2026 07:40

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Morrisons makes major change across 450 stores in ‘vital message’ to shoppers

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Manchester Evening News

A new range of products will be rolled out across Morrisons stores throughout May

Morrisons has made a major change across a range of products sold across its supermarkets in a bid to send a “vital message” to shoppers.

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In partnership with the NHS, Morrisons has now begun placing cancer advice on its own-brand bath and shower products. Shoppers will be able to see clear advice printed on the bottles, which will urge them to look out for lumps, skin changes and unexplained bruising upon their bodies.

The supermarket’s new range will also feature messages, including “Be body aware” and “Know the signs of cancer”. They will begin to appear in about 450 Morrisons stores, as well as online, throughout May.

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David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director at Morrisons, said: “We are proud to be partnering with the NHS again to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer through the new body awareness messages on our own brand bath and shower products.

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“The messaging highlights the importance of spotting the symptoms early and encouraging people to reach out to their GP if something does not feel right, both of which can lead to earlier treatment and ultimately saving lives. It is a vital message and we believe in the importance of helping the NHS reach as many customers as possible to encourage them to get checked and be body aware.”

Ed, who was 27 when he noticed a dull ache in his right testicle, has shared his support for the supermarket’s new range. He first noticed the pain in summer 2024 and when it became sharper a few months later, he got it checked.

He was then diagnosed with testicular cancer after a blood test and ultrasound. After surgery and a short round of chemotherapy, Ed was told he was cancer free within three months.

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Ed said: “You just never expect to hear the words ‘you’ve got cancer’, and for me it was a total shock. Thankfully, because I found it early, scans showed that it hadn’t spread anywhere else.

“I went through surgery within weeks and, to give myself the best chance of it not returning, I completed a short round of chemotherapy. Less than three months after my diagnosis, I was told I was cancer free.

“Having NHS messaging on things like shower gels is a great way to get across an important reminder to check for cancer while you might be washing in the privacy of a bathroom.

“It’s especially key for something like testicular cancer, which can easily go unnoticed if you’re not paying attention to your body and checking yourself regularly.

“If you do find something, it’s important not to be embarrassed about it – it could be nothing at all, but it’s always better to get it checked.”

Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, added: “If you notice a lump, swelling, skin change or anything else that doesn’t look or feel right while you’re in the bath or shower, please contact your GP practice.

“This campaign is about turning an everyday routine into a simple health check reminder, helping people know their bodies better and spot possible signs of cancer earlier. In most cases it won’t be cancer but, if it is, finding it early can make all the difference.”

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An NHS spokesman said it was open to working with other supermarkets who may wish to add labels to their products. Morrisons’ initiative also follows a previous Morrisons and NHS campaign to feature breast and testicular cancer advice on the supermarket’s Nutmeg branded underwear.

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Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: Spurs spurn opporunity to move clear of Premier League relegation zone

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Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: Spurs spurn opporunity to move clear of Premier League relegation zone

There would be no winning goal, though, after Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky thwarted Sean Longstaff’s powerful stoppage-time strike before a late penalty appeal for Lukas Nmecha’s tackle on Maddison was turned down to leave Tottenham only two points above the bottom three.

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Teen charged after crash on Walker Fold Road in Smithills

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17-year-old girl seriously injured after Bolton car crash

The 17-year-old – who cannot be named – was charged with nine separate offences, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of an offensive weapon, and aggravated vehicle taking.

The collision took place on Walker Fold Road, Smithills, on Tuesday, May 5.

The crash occurred at around 6:25pm (Image: Phil Taylor)

He will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ court tomorrow (May 12).

Greater Manchester Police said: “A boy has been charged following a serious collision on Walker Fold Road, Bolton on Tuesday 5 May.

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“A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with the following offences:

  • Causing serious injury by dangerous driving
  • Aggravated vehicle taking
  • Failing to stop
  • Failing to provide a specimen of analysis
  • Possession of cannabis
  • Possession of an offensive weapon x2
  • Possess with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A x2

“He was bailed but was subsequently further charged with a breach of court bail.

The location of last night’s crash (Image: Phil Taylor)

“He will next appear at Manchester Magistrates Court tomorrow (12 May 2026).”

The incident occurred on Walker Fold Road at around 6.30pm on Tuesday, May 5.

The location of last night’s crash (Image: Phil Taylor)

The 17-year-old girl in the car with the boy received ‘severe, life-threatening injuries’ and was treated at the scene.

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A 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old female were also arrested on the scene. Police have been approached for more information on these two arrests.

They were treated for minor injuries.

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It’s time for Scottish Labour to back own independence and break from UK party

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Daily Record

Record View says the party must must forge a distinctive Scottish path of its own if it is to rebuild post election.

Independence – from Keir chaos

Anas Sarwar tried his best to distance Scottish Labour from the chaos that has periodically engulfed the UK Government since 2024. He even went as far as to call for Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister.

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Ultimately, it made little difference as many Scots voters had made up their minds on Labour’s performance in the Commons. They don’t like Starmer or his ­Government and were put off voting for Labour at last week’s election as a result.

Starmer was far from the only reason the SNP was re-elected for an unprecedented fifth term but the scale of his unpopularity cannot be denied.

Whether it takes six days, six weeks or six months, the PM will eventually bow to the inevitable and announce he’s making way for someone else.

Scottish Labour in the meantime must take stock of the fact the party has not won a Holyrood election since 2003. It faced an energetic and hardworking SNP brimming with ideas in a couple of those elections.

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This time round it faced a tired and lumbering Nationalist government that many Scots are fed up with – hence a turnout of just 53 per cent last week – but still managed to lose heavily.

Perhaps it’s time for Scottish Labour to back its own independence in the form of breaking from the UK party.

A standalone Scottish Labour could contest elections on a policy platform created by and for Scots, with no possibility of being overruled by bosses down south.

The party must forge a distinctive Scottish path of its own if it is to rebuild.

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Sticking point

Scottish politics looks like being stuck in the same loop for another five years.

The SNP will demand IndyRef2 and the UK Government will turn down its request. A refusal will be used as a campaigning tool and the SNP will hold on to its large core support of pro-independence backers.

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney’s suggestion of a cross-party convention to agree a trigger point for IndyRef2 is therefore welcome. One party, the SNP, should not be allowed to dictate the terms of such an important vote.

Nor should the pro-UK parties be allowed to get away with sticking their fingers in their ears forever. A mature compromise would be an agreed approach to a second referendum linked to various milestones being met.

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An impasse has developed at Holyrood that is stopping political parties from working together.

A new cross-party agreement on IndyRef2 could break the logjam and act as a path to a better politics.

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Family thank those who offered support following death of beloved son Blake Greer

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Belfast Live

‘Your kindness, love and support have been a great comfort to us.’

The family of popular Belfast barman Blake Greer expressed “their sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks” to everyone who reached out with sympathy and support following the death of their beloved son.

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Blake Greer passed away suddenly on April 11, bringing much sadness to his family, friends and colleagues. He was described as a “witty, kind and charismatic” young man who brought smiles to the faces of everyone that he met.

He was a popular barman at The Northern Whig in Belfast City Centre and Denvirs Hotel in Downpatrick prior to this and is fondly remembered by many of his customers.

The Greer family have issued a statement on social media via Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors where they have thanked Blake’s friends, former colleagues and everyone who reached out to offer them sympathy and support following their beloved son’s sudden death.

It said: “The family of the late Blake Greer wish to express their sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all those who sympathised with them and supported them following the sudden loss of their beloved son Blake. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who called to our home and to the funeral home, to all who sent messages of sympathy, attended the funeral or helped us in any way.

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“Thank you to Blakes friends and colleagues who shared their stories and cherished memories of Blake. Your kindness, love and support have been a great comfort to us. “We extend our thanks to all our neighbours and friends from Cathedral View and Cathedral Park for their kindness at this difficult time. “To those who made a donation to CRY in memory of Blake. “We offer our heartfelt thanks to Rev Alan Burke for the most beautiful and very personal service of thanksgiving for Blake. “We extend our deep appreciation to the emergency services, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Hospital Belfast for their exceptional care and compassion. “We would also like to thank Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors, for their guidance, professionalism, and for the dignity and respect with which the funeral arrangements were carried out. “A special word of thanks to the Management and staff of the Northern Whig and Denvirs Hotel for their thoughtfulness and generosity at the most difficult time. Their kinds words and tributes to Blake were deeply touching. “As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our family’s deep appreciation and gratitude.”

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

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“My daughter’s killer will get fake ID if he’s released” Mum of murdered Paige shares fears

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Daily Record

“The police told me at the time he will get a new identity and he’ll go under the radar with nobody knowing who he is.”

The mum of murdered teen Paige Doherty has said her daughter’s killer will receive a new identity upon his release from prison.

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The 15-year-old was killed in a savage attack launched by John Leathem who left her with more than 140 wounds after she visited his takeaway in Clydebank on March 19, 2016. Letham, who pled guilty to murdering Paige, was originally sentenced to 27 years behind bars before his sentence was reduced to 23 years following an appeal.

Paige’s mother, Pamela Doherty, has now claimed police told her that the evil murderer would be given a fake ID if he was ever to be released, concealing his brutal crime for anyone who encounters him.

Speaking on the Jim King Podcast, Pamela said: “The police told me they were hopeful that he would receive one of the highest sentences for a child killer.

“If he is to ever get out, he will have to show remorse and admit why he did it.

“But the police told me at the time he will get a new identity and he’ll go under the radar with nobody knowing who he is.”

Paige failed to show up for her part-time job at a hair salon after having slept at friend’s house on March 19, 2016. A neighbouring shopkeeper to her killer’s Delicious Deli told cops Leathem had closed his shutters and kept them down for an hour or so that morning after Paige entered his store around 8.15am and didn’t leave.

Leathem even went into the nearby shop to buy bleach, gloves and bin bags. Pamela was later called by Leathem to reassure her that Paige hadn’t come into any harm in his shop before phoning her again the following day offering to supply rolls for the family during their search for Paige – but they refused his offer.

The schoolgirl’s body was discovered on March 21 in a woodlands off Great Western Road. Pamela was taken to the mortuary the next morning and saw Paige’s head tilted to one side – which she later learned that was to hide most of the dozens of stab wounds, cuts and slashes to her neck, face and head.

In March, we reported that Paige’s mum, Pamela, had challenged her daughter’s killer to meet her face to face, as she searched for answers on why he murdered her in a fit of violence.

She said: “I want him to face me, look me in the eye and tell me why he took my daughter’s life when she had so much ahead of her.”

Just four months after Paige’s death, Pamela set up the charity, Paige’s Promise, in her honour and she continues to support other families who had lost children in tragic circumstances.

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Police Scotland, SPS, SCTS and the Crown Office were approached for comment.

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Leigh and Atherton MP, Jo Platt, calls on Starmer to resign

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Leigh and Atherton MP, Jo Platt, calls on Starmer to resign

Jo Platt, of Leigh and Atherton, has made a public statement asking the prime minister to announce a ‘clear and measured timetable for his resignation’.

The MP said that her call for resignation came from conversations with her constituents, who are ‘losing faith’ in labour and ‘demanding change’.

MP Platt then stated that the National Executive Committee should allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand for the position of Labour leader.

(Image: UK Parliament)

MP Platt said: “Last week’s local lection results sent a clear message. In Leigh and Atherton, and in communities across the country, voters are losing faith in our party and demanding change.

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“Keir Starmer is an honourable man who las led with integrity and professionalism. I believe he entered politics for the right reasons – drive by despite to improve the lives of working people. I also recognise the difficult inheritance this government faced, and the important achievements it has delivered in office.

“But the reality is that progress is nit being felt quickly enough by the people we were elected to serve, and Labour heartlands are now collapsing in front of us.

“The message from the constituents is clear and consistent: they want change, including new leadership. As the MP for this constituency, it is my duty to be honest about what I am hearing from residents on the doorstep.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (Image: Newsquest)

“As a movement we cannot progress under this leadership. That is why I am calling on the prime minister to announce a clear and measured timetable for his resignation, with an orderly transition of leadership to take place by September. This must not be a moment of chaos, but a moment of honesty, renewal, and democratic accountability.

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“I also believe the National Executive Committee should allow Andy Burnham to stand, so that members and supporters can have a genuine choice about the future direction of the Labour Party.

“This is not a call made lightly. But leadership means listening, even when the message is difficult to hear. The country wants change and hope, and our party must now show that it is capable of delivering it.”

Last week’s local elections saw Reform take nine council seats in Bolton, with Labour only winning two seats out of the 20 contested.

Several high-profile labour councillors lost their seats, including former council leader Nick Peel.

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Labout lost 1,460 council seats throughout the country, in areas such as Birmingham, Redditch, Hartlepool, Tameside, Hyndburn, and Cannock Chase.

In Wigan, the results were even more stark, with Reform winning 24 of the available 25 seats

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An independent Scottish Labour party is the obvious option for Anas Sarwar

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Daily Record

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the bold move may be the only way for Scottish Labour to win another Holyrood election.

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar should heed the adage of never letting a good crisis go to waste.

Sarwar’s party is in a slumber after recording its worst election result since the creation of the Parliament.

They have gone backwards at every election since 1999 and polled a pitiful 16% on the regional List vote.

Friday’s humbling was Labour’s fifth loss to the SNP in row and they look to be in terminal decline.

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Despite running a poor campaign, Sarwar is correct in his assessment that Keir Starmer’s hapless premiership was the key factor in the result.

Voters were furious with the Prime Minister and they took it out on Sarwar.

Scottish Labour was judged in relation to the UK party and a crushing loss was baked in months ago.

So what are Sarwar’s options for a rethink of this toxic relationship as he edges towards the end of his five year spell as leader?

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READ MORE: Susan Aitken to stand down as Glasgow City Council leader after nine yearsREAD MORE: Top Scottish Labour MP urges Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister

With no leadership contest in sight, he has a degree of political space to bequeath a positive political legacy to his successor.

He could – although this would be inadvisable – maintain the status quo.

This would mean depending on UK Labour for cash, data and staff, as well as Scottish MPs being part of a wider group in the Commons.

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It would also mean continuing to take the political flak in Scotland for decisions made hundreds of miles away in London.

Scottish Labour’s chances of winning the Holyrood election in 2031 would be linked to a more favourable political climate emerging at Westminster.

This “fingers crossed” strategy would outsource the party’s chances in Scotland to a failing UK party.

The next Scottish Labour leader could produce the best manifesto ever written, but success would be determined by events outwith their control.

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Another option would be to seek greater autonomy from Labour south of the border.

But this has been tried before and voters make no distinction between Labour at Holyrood or Westminster.

A more credible option – if Scottish Labour wants to stand or fall on its own merits – may be to become an independent party, even with a new name.

This would involve becoming financially self-sufficient and having full control over policy and personnel.

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Scottish Labour would be a separate party at Westminster with their own whipping arrangement.

They could break sharply with UK Labour on welfare or oil and gas jobs without facing any consequences.

Lord Haughey, who has helped bankroll Labour for years, recently outed himself as a supporter of the plan.

He said: “I’ve said for years and years and years that maybe we should look at an independent Labour Party in Scotland.”

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Former party MP Brian Wilson, never an enthusiast for devolution, also wrote recently about a much looser arrangement between Scottish and UK Labour:

“This re-setting of the relationship would strengthen rather than weaken devolution because it would transcend the dividing line between what is reserved and what is devolved.

“It should be perfectly natural for Scottish Labour to take a different line from Westminster Labour on either side of that distinction, without childish charges of it being a “split”.”

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And Monica Lennon, who lost out at the Holyrood election, wrote in 2020:

“We either continue at the mercy of the UK party’s distant structures or we become a party in our own right.”

She added: “If we look like a pressure group within a UK party structure, we will continue to be rejected.”

Becoming a separate party could be followed by producing a policy platform that chimes with voters.

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Some Scottish Labour figures will inevitably counter that severing ties would be too difficult and result in the loss of shared resources.

But holding on to shared spreadsheets seems trivial compared to winning elections at Holyrood.

Twenty seven years of devolution have resulted in Scottish Labour collapsing from 56 MSPs to 17.

They have fallen from 908,346 constituency votes in 1999 to 440,708 last week.

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Sarwar will not lead his party into the next Holyrood election and will likely be gone by the end of the year.

He has racked up two defeats in a row and will be wondering if he has any sort of legacy.

Creating a party that will be given a hearing by voters would fit the bill.

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St Peter’s Way northbound towards Bolton to be closed overnight

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St Peter's Way northbound towards Bolton to be closed overnight

The order is for the A666 to be shut between 8pm and not reopen until 6am.

The closures will be in place overnight for three weeks to allow resurfacing works to take place.

This week the carriageway will be shut from 10pm until 6am up to and including Friday, according to signs placed at the slip road and National Highways.

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This will prohibit all traffic from going on to St Peters Way, northbound carriageway towards Bolton from Kearsley Roundabout to Topp Way, to allow the works to take place.

Alternative route is via Farnworth, Manchester Road, Bradshawgate, Manor Street, Bank Street, Bow Street, Bridge Street.

Signs have gone up warning motorists about the closure. To keep up to date with with closures visit https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road-closure-report/

National Highways states: “Overall Scheme details: M61 northbound M61Nb Kearsley Spur to St Peters Way – carriageway for works on behalf of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.”

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Greggs set to open only international store in Tenerife

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Greggs set to open only international store in Tenerife

The popular bakery announced that it will be selling sausage rolls and other treats to holidaymakers jetting off from the Canary Islands airport.

Greggs previously operated shops abroad in Belgium in 2008, but said Tenerife was “the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting”.

The company said the store in the international departures area will serve a range of bakes, rolls, sweet treats, and freshly-made sandwiches.

An artist’s impression of what the Greggs Tenerife South Airport branch will look like (Image: Greggs/PA Wire)

A Spanish Omelette Roll will be served for breakfast, along with freshly squeezed orange juice, prepared and bottled in-shop daily.

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The bakery chain says the seating area will have a capacity of up to 92 customers.

Tenerife South Airport receives around 13 million tourists every year.

Half of those come from and go to the UK.

Saying the location was the perfect way to round off a trip without breaking the bank, Greggs chief executive, Roisin Currie, said: “Tenerife South Airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting.

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“It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.”

Lagardere Travel Retail will work with Greggs to open the shop.

The business operates more than 5,000 stores in airports, railway stations, and other locations in over 50 countries worldwide.

Greggs planning to open 120 new bakeries in the UK in 2026

Back in March, Greggs announced it was targeting around 120 further openings this year as it highlighted ambitions to grow to “significantly more than 3,000 UK shops over [the] longer term”.

Sales growth was also supported by the expansion of its delivery business and an increase in evening trade.

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More recently, like-for-like sales across its managed shops grew by 1.6% over the first nine weeks of 2026, with total sales up 6.3% on the back of store openings.

This announcement came despite a fall in statutory pre-tax profits, which dropped by 17.9% to £167.4 million for the year to December 27, compared with a year earlier.


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Greggs shared that this was partly linked to the tough market backdrop and a “spell of particularly hot weather” which knocked high street footfall.

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It also told shareholders that total sales grew by 6.8% to £2.15 billion over the year, with like-for-like growth also buoyed by its continued store opening programme.

Will you plan to try out the Greggs store if you’re heading to Tenerife this year? Let us know in the comments.

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