Charlotte Harrison, chief executive of homes at Skipton Building Society, said: “The strong house price growth reflects the continued strength of demand in comparatively lower-cost northern markets, where many first-time buyers are prioritising flexibility, value and space.

Anyone who struggles with frizzy hair may actually have naturally wavy hair according to one brand, with a user discovering they had the ‘most gorgeous beachy waves’

Frizzy hair can prove tricky to style and keep maintained throughout the day. Carefully curated hairstyles rarely stay put, flicking outwards or constantly sporting that halo of fluff – and when left to air dry, it never appears quite sleek but rather puffy.

This maddening frizz is usually an indication that hair is desperately needing moisture, or, as haircare brand Merwave explains, is ‘stressed, or just missing the right care’. At other times, it’s a consequence of overwashing with unsuitable products, heat styling, or humidity during warm weather.

The brand now offers a Wavy Hair Starter Kit – which is worth £85 but is priced at £65 – and it gives users beachy waves for just 72p a day, as the bundle has been designed to last for 90 days. With a free refresh spray worth £17 also included, it’s a lightweight yet simple 5-step system created specifically for wavy hair.

READ MORE:

Users have been impressed online, with one customer saying: “My hair was always naturally poker straight/glossy but since my 40s just frizzy, dry and dull… saw the Merwave ad, did some digging (felt sure it’s a gimmick).

“But the reviews were pretty decent and I found that lots of the before pics looked a fair bit like my mess, so I took the plunge. Oh my days! Who knew my hair does this!

Get the look

Shop the Wavy Hair Starter Kit at Merwave

“Not curls sure, but the most gorgeous beachy waves. I mean, seriously! My mind is blown, and I can’t stop looking at it, going “whose hair is this?!”

“So many compliments… I honestly didn’t know I had good hair. It doesn’t feel dry and requires minimal styling (can skip the heat entirely even!)… invested in the starter kit and protein treatment… don’t you go anywhere Merwave!”

This customer isn’t alone in this discovery, as a 2026 study carried out by the brand revealed 47% of women never realised their hair was secretly wavy. The brand’s founder, Abi, said: “I struggled with hair I thought was straight, unmanageable and frizzy until I found out the kinks, frizz and flicked-out ends were secret signs my hair is wavy.

“But there was a problem…I found the hair category bundled curls and waves together, with most products loaded with heavy butters and oils that were too heavy for my waves. Merwave was born from a passion to create what I wasn’t able to find anywhere else.”

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Now, the distinction between curls and waves is fairly straightforward: curls form a tighter spiral pattern that begins at or close to the root, while waves create a looser S-shaped pattern that starts further down the head. The brand’s formulas — housed in stunning, eye-catching wavy bottles — are designed to avoid weighing hair down, helping users embrace and enhance their natural waves while banishing frizz.

Beauty enthusiasts who suspect they fall into this hair category but aren’t sure where to begin can pick up the aforementioned Merwave Wavy Hair Starter Kit to help. The kit contains a straightforward five-step routine comprising a shampoo, conditioner, wave cream, cast foam and a gel.

Shoppers will also receive a complimentary refresh spray — perfect for those post-wash days when waves need a little revival. The Cleanse Shampoo harnesses the power of jojoba oil and avocado extract to soothe, nourish and cleanse without robbing hair of its moisture, while the Repair Conditioner tackles knots, tames frizz and fortifies hair.

The third step, the Wave Cream, promises to ‘awaken natural texture’, delivering a soft hold while pracaxi oil and flaxseed extract provide an added moisture boost. The Cast Foam works to lock in the wavy shape while keeping frizz firmly in check, and the Protect Gel ‘smooths and sets’ hair with ‘no stiffness or crunch’.

The full routine is said to last approximately three months — working out at roughly £21 per month for five haircare products. The brand confirms it is safe for use on coloured, bleached and grey hair, and also prides itself on being free from silicones, sulphates and parabens.

It’s worth noting that certain brands offer targeted products suitable for both curls and waves — such as Only Curls’ The Wavy Bundle, £65. Featuring one fewer step than Merwave’s starter kit, it includes a cleanser (shampoo), conditioner, creme and gel with lightweight formulas designed to add definition and hold without weighing down curls.

Another prominent name in the textured-hair arena is Umberto Giannini, whose Natural Waves Wash and Style Routine bundle is ideal for those watching their spending, priced at £38.06 with a 25% discount. Created specifically for Type 2 hair (wavy hair), it promises to deliver definition, hydration and a glossy finish to natural waves while avoiding heaviness.

Those who’ve tested Merwave’s products have praised the brand for helping them achieve dreamy, beachy waves that feel soft and hydrated. One five-star review of the starter kit read: “I have always had ‘kinky’ hair – I’ve tried everything possible to make it look its best.

“Naturally, it went fluffy and limp. Traditional mousses left a crusty coating. Curly products were heavy and weighed it down. So, I resorted to straightening or even perming to give some shape.

“I took the long-awaited plunge into Merwave. Oh my gosh, I’ll never go back! I can’t believe it took me so long to give it a try! I could have had these luscious, bouncy waves far sooner!”

Another customer explained how Merwave helped them to ‘stop fighting my hair’, in a five-star review which read: “For years I would straighten my hair, then I used the straighteners to put waves in on top of my own in an attempt to tame them. It’s not really curly, so curly products don’t work, nor do heatless curls stay in longer than five minutes.

“What I really wanted was to embrace the waves without the heat damage, but it’s unruly and always looks frizzy when I leave it natural. Finally, after months of seeing ads, I gave Merwave a go. Thanks for creating something that means I feel more comfortable embracing my natural locks.”

However, a recurring issue amongst those who knocked off stars was getting the right amount of product to maintain flawless waves on the second and third days. One three-star customer shared: “I love how the products make the curl in my hair really come to life, I don’t like how it’s made my hair feel. I’m sure it’s practice and working out what my hair needs to avoid the straw-like birds nest I’m left with the following day.

They continued: “I’m not giving in and will continue to play around with the steps and quantities.” Despite this, plenty of shoppers weren’t put off and had a similar outcome to this beauty enthusiast who said: “I went from wild frizz and straightening every day to a mix of lovely waves and curls and so many compliments!”

Harrogate and Knaresborough representative, Tom Gordon, used this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions to call for urgent improvements in IBD care – drawing on his own experience living with ulcerative colitis.

Speaking directly to Keir Starmer, the MP described waiting “over a decade” for his diagnosis and criticised the “postcode lottery” of care facing IBD patients across the country.

Recommended reading:

Mr Gordon said: “I welcome the PM’s warm words but need action, but the IBD community needs action, not promises.

“As someone with lived experience as a patient, and a professional background in health policy, I’ve listened to the clinicians. They are clear: we need a National Clinical Lead to raise the bar.

“The IBD community has shown me enormous support. The least I can do is fight for consistent, high-quality care everywhere in the country.

“IBD Alliance UK have done vital work on this. Their 2026 framework should be applied as standard, and I will keep pushing until it is.”

The MP described waiting “over a decade” for his diagnosis and criticised the “postcode lottery” of care facing IBD patients across the country (Image: Supplied)

He added that care for IBD patients “often falls far short of the mark”, and his was a “fluctuating” condition that was not always visible.

The MP has called on the government to create the IBD Standard – a practical framework setting out high-quality care benchmarks for healthcare staff.

He also urged the appointment of a National Clinical Lead for IBD to help deliver the improvements.

The Prime Minister thanked Tom personally for sharing his lived experience of IBD and congratulated him on running the London Marathon in aid of Crohn’s & Colitis UK this year.

While he acknowledged that care for patients with IBD should be “high-quality and consistent” and committed to providing “further details” about the national schemes in place in due course.

You can read more here.

Members were told to remain vigilant

Greater Manchester Police were called to a mosque in Bolton after the discovery of a ‘suspicious package’. Officers attended the Zakariya Mosque in Bolton following reports of the incident on Wednesday (June 10).

A statement issued by the Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM) said the package contained a ‘device that was left in the masjid.’

The group said that GMP are investigating the matter. It added that while there was ‘no cause for alarm’ worshippers were encouraged to remain vigilant and continue reporting anything ‘unusual or suspicious.’

The M.E.N understands the package contained a battery pack.

The full statement by BCoM, reads: “Dear respected members of the community,

There was an incident at Zakariya Mosque, Bolton this morning. This is an update regarding the incident.

A suspect package which contained a device was left in the masjid. BCOM is in communication with GMP and the local authority regarding this very serious matter. At present, the GMP are investigating this incident.

BCOM would encourage everyone attending the mosques for prayers to remain vigilant and report anything unusual or suspicious to the committees.

“Further, please note that if anyone notices any unattended item, package or object that causes concern then the following guidance should be adopted:

• Do not touch, move, or investigate the suspect package yourself.
• Move away from the immediate area.
• Inform mosque officials immediately.
• Contact 999 if there is an immediate safety concern.

“At this stage BCOM understands that there is no cause for alarm, but vigilance and cooperation would be appreciated. Whilst the investigation is ongoing we urge not to speculate anything.

“BCOM will provide further updates when additional information is available from the GMP. If anyone has witnessed anything on this matter, they must contact GMP with the log number 920 of today’s date.”

GMP has been approached for comment.

Burton claimed he walked down to observe the gathering after being alerted to a social media posting by an individual known as ‘Freedom Dad’

A Belfast man danced on the roof of a police Land Rover and incited others to riot following a serious knife attack in the city, a court heard today.

Dwayne Burton, 42, also allegedly attacked the vehicle with a shopping trolley before attempting to get inside.

He was arrested after public disorder erupted in the Newtownards Road area on Tuesday evening.

Crowds had gathered as part of wider protests staged following a street stabbing at Kinnaird Avenue in the both of the city the previous night.

Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, has been remanded in custody accused of attempting to murder a man in his 40s who suffered serious eye injuries, as well as other deep wounds to his face and back.

Burton, of Clara Street, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with riotous assembly, attempted criminal damage and assaulting a police designated person.

A PSNI constable said he was spotted as the Newtownards Road became blocked during the developing unrest.

Burton allegedly lifted a shopping trolley and threw it at one of the police Land Rovers before gesturing to others gathered at the scene.

“He was also seen in the middle of the road with his hands up, inciting the crowd to engage in the riot,” the officer claimed.

She told the court Burton then removed the trolley and climbed on top of the vehicle.

“He had a distinctive backpack and appeared to be dancing on the truck,” the constable added.

“The defendant was also observed punching the police Land Rover and attempting to open the passenger door.”

Burton was arrested and taken to Musgrave Police Station, where he allegedly kicked out at a custody detention officer.

During interviews he said he had consumed half a bottle of vodka as he spent the day drinking heavily.

Burton claimed he walked down to observe the gathering after being alerted to a social media posting by an individual known as ‘Freedom Dad’.

“He accepted that he was the male in the footage…. And accepted on viewing the footage that he has committed the offences,” the constable said.

Opposing bail, she argued that Burton had been an active participant in unrest which could spread further.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Burke accepted: “Obviously it is a grotesque set of circumstances which led to this defendant coming before (the court).

“The only credit in relation to his behaviour is the full acceptance of his involvement.”

Mr Burke acknowledged concerns about his client’s alcohol misuse, describing him as a man with “significant vulnerabilities”.

Burton was refused bail and remanded in custody until July 8.

District Judge Steven Keown stated: “People knowingly involved themselves in this wide-scale public disorder having been called onto the streets with that very aim in mind.”

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

The Thursday letters page still has a very mixed opinion about the recent Nintendo Direct, as a reader feels sorry for the head of Xbox.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The wrong games
I’m not surprised to see the mixed reaction the Nintendo Direct, including from GC, as personally I thought it was a very weak one. On paper there was lots of games, but very few from Nintendo themselves and almost no surprises. Personally, I’d say that Fire Emblem, Xenoblade, Splatoon, and Wii Sports were amongst the least interesting Nintendo franchises, even if they’re probably a lot more popular in Japan.

The problem, as has been said, that there’s nothing else to go with them. Usually you’d get those games and something more mainstream, now you’re just getting them. Whether Nintendo thinks its made a mistake or not is a question I doubt we’ll ever get answered but they certainly don’t seem to be in a hurry to change their approach.

But, and this is something GC picked up, it’s the poor staging of the Direct that surprised me. Opening with Rhythm Paradise Groove was a terrible idea and so was only showing five seconds of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.

With the price rise coming up I think there’s a real question as to whether the Switch 2 has enough good games to justify the purchase, especially when you’re talking about Nintendo games, and despite all the games at the Direct I don’t think any of them are most people’s idea of a system seller.
Zeiss

Fair summary
Quite a range of opinions on the latest Nintendo Direct. I think if you only own a Switch 2 it was probably a pretty exciting show, but if you thought that such a lengthy Direct would see a strong focus on first party games then it’s hard to see it as anything other than a mild disappointment.

Ports, remasters, more ports, Wii Sports… Splatoon Raiders looked like it should be fun, and I’m sure some people will be buzzing at the announcement of a new Xenoblade game (my backlog in that particular series already stretches back to the Wii).

The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time tease was disappointingly short, but I suppose from Nintendo’s point of view that’s just the initial announcement. Overall, I thought it was jam-packed with content but not a huge amount that I’m really interested in. In contrast, the PlayStation and Xbox shows had fewer games but did a better job of showing off their big hitters in my opinion.
Magnumstache

Impossible mission
I’m sure she’s being paid a ridiculous salary but I still kind of feel sorry for the boss of Xbox. Talk about being handed a poisoned chalice. I don’t how on earth she’s supposed to turn around Xbox considering not only is it practically dead as a hardware business, but the entire console business is in danger of extinction – as she seems to realise.

We all said Phil Spencer should’ve gone years ago and the situation Xbox is in at the moment shows exactly why. All he was doing was digging a deeper hole and now someone else has got to find a way out and it may be impossible. It’s grim times, given how many companies Xbox owns.
Korbie

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Direct your anger
I thought that was one of the worst and embarrassing Nintendo Directs for a long time. There are lots of people saying that it was jam-packed and very varied and had something for everyone. But if you think about the context, it’s the big summer one, there’s about to be a massive price increase, there hasn’t been any really big first party announcements for a very long time, and not many at all for the Switch 2; it was awful.

The majority of announcements were ports or games for very young children. It’s a slight joke there has yet to be a new 3D Mario or a new Metroid and slightly ridiculous that the new Zelda is a remake of an old game. For me personally, there was nothing that was exciting and it seemed like half the games had already been announced in the PlayStation State of Play or Summer Game Fest.

It was particularly telling that it started off with a rhythm game and then proceeded to spend a disproportionate amount of time on that. And then it seemingly didn’t get any better.

I was really looking forward to it. I came away actually quite angry, which I know sounds very irrational.
John

Consumer doubt
I don’t know who Microsoft is trying to fool with this Gears Of War: E-Day exclusivity. They’re caught uploading a video with the PlayStation 5 version in it and then they pretend they never intended to make it. Whatever.

We’re all used to Xbox being economical with the truth, but this latest nonsense just makes them look incompetent. Especially the bit about people buying an Xbox console to play Gears Of War. People haven’t cared about the franchise for 15 years and I don’t think remaking the same game again, except this time they’re in civvies, is going to push anyone over the edge.
Boz

Regular releases
Got to say, I personally felt the Nintendo Direct was a bit of a disappointment. I do think however, that it’s not entirely clear cut as to whether or not Nintendo are dropping the ball at the moment.

On the one hand, whilst people lament the lack of triple-A exclusives that really showcase the Switch 2, Nintendo will still by the end of 2026 have released Pokémon Pokopia, Yoshi And The Mysterious Book, Nintendo Switch Sport Resort, a new Fire Emblem game, a new Splatoon game, and a remake of a beloved Zelda game. A new exclusive every two months on average isn’t bad output.

However, let’s face it, what people really want is a new mainline 3D Mario or Zelda game. The issue is that games take so long to make these days that we might only get one mainline Mario and Zelda game every decade. Surely, though, a Mario 3D must be well underway by this point, given it’s nearly nine years since Super Mario Odyssey?

Normally I’m not a fan of companies making an announcement years before release date (I’m looking at you The Elder Scrolls 6). However, given the recent scrutiny perhaps some kind of announcement even just a very brief teaser might’ve resulted in some good will.

I think for me the most disappointing part of the direct was the Zelda:Ocarina of time reveal. Despite being a teenager when released I’ve never played the original but Breath of the Wild is my favourite game of all time and I’m really keen to play earlier Zelda games. The reveal though was so lacklustre. I’d really hoped some gamplay would be shown even if only a few seconds.

I do think some of the issues Nintendo are having at the moment are overblown. You only have to look at companies like Rockstar, Naughty Dog, and CD Projekt Red to see how long the gaps between major releases are. The trouble is Nintendo no longer have as much scope to rely on plugging the gaps with re-releases and remasters like they did with the original Switch and need to come up with ideas for new or existing franchises that aren’t their more established IP.

As a Switch 2 owner I’m satisfied so far, but I do play most third party games on the Switch 2, as I’m happy to make accommodations to play games in handheld mode. So I recognise that some Switch 2 owners are understandably a bit more negative.
matc7884

Not-so-super bros.
I always try to keep letters as concise as possible. No need to ramble on and over analyse everything.

As I said previously, there’s never been a better time to be a gamer but, blimey, that was a poor show from Mr Nintendo. Load of guff, bro’!
Paul C.

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Nintendo Fest
A bit late to the party, but I thought it was a good, not great, Nintendo Direct. I liked Star Fox getting a demo, as I’ve never played the original and the graphics look great but it’s been a long time since I’ve played an on-rails shooter, so I’m not sure if I’d get on with it.

Happy the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake rumour was true but, like many, I would’ve liked to see some actual gameplay of it, especially with it releasing this year.

The thing that impressed me most was the number of impressive looking ports of current gen games. Kingdom Hearts 4 on release day, Lies Of P, Lords Of The Fallen 2, and Devil May Cry 5 (a PlayStation 4 game but a very good looking one) all looked visually impressive, even if they’re not the sort of games I go to.

These and Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, and Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight (when the latter two are released), suggest the Switch 2 is capable of delivering high-end current gen games.

My hope is that other developers take note because I was concerned how few games from Summer Game Fest, the PlayStation State of Play, and Xbox Showcase seemed to be coming to Switch 2. Maybe I’m misremembering, but Star Wars Zero Company sticks out as one that lacked a Switch 2 release, which was surprising because it doesn’t look that demanding (although I’m not a developer, so maybe it is) and I’d imagine the audience is there for it on Switch 2.
J-Sco

GC: It’s a shame because mouse controls would likely suit it well, but that game has been in development for a long time – long before the Switch 2 was announced – and the team probably wasn’t big enough to work on that as well.

Inbox also-rans
As a follow up to my letter – I mean in gaming terms they are doing poorly. Business is obviously booming for Nintendo.
Simon

I have to admit, the idea of playing Resident Evil 4 remake on the go has me very tempted to double dip on Switch 2.
Cleng

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: Was the summer Nintendo Direct a disappointment?

MORE: Games Inbox: What will be in the Nintendo Direct today?

MORE: Games Inbox: Why is Gears Of War: E-Day not on PS5?

The county council has funding for some early works on Mill Road, including £11,000 for new planters and funding for partial road resurfacing

Mill Road could see changes to its “streetscape” as Cambridge residents have been asked for feedback on the street. Cambridgeshire County Council has asked local architects and urban designers 5th Studio to run engagement events about the future of Mill Road.

The council said improvements could include more places to sit, planters, crossings, parking, new trees and greenery, changes to lighting, additional art, and more provision for shop deliveries and active travel. Public drop-in sessions will be held in the area in late June and July.

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Mill Road is one of the most special streets in Cambridge. It is a real hub of our community, full of brilliant independent businesses, and a place that people who live, work, study and shop here feel genuinely proud of. It belongs to all of us, and that is exactly why I want us to shape its future together.

“Co-design is about putting that future in the community’s hands right from the start. We have asked local experts 5th Studio to lead this engagement and to feed back to us on what they hear. There are no proposals on the table and no survey to fill in. We simply want to hear from local people at the very beginning, before any ideas are drawn up.”

The county council has funding for some early works on Mill Road, including £11,000 for new planters and funding for partial road resurfacing. Any future large-scale works would be subject to securing additional funding.

Cllr Beckett continued: “So please come along and tell us what you value, what already works, and what could work better for everyone. If there is an appetite for change, we want to know how much and what kind. Mill Road is loved by all of us, and if we come together now we have a real chance to create something amazing for the whole community.”

Informal community drop-in events will be held on:

• Tuesday 30 June, 12pm – 3pm at St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Rd, Cambridge, CB1 3AN.
• Saturday 4 July, 10:30am – 5pm at The Old School Hall (St Barnabas Centre), St Barnabas Church, Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD. Entrance separate from the Church.
• Thursday 16 July, 4:30pm – 7:30pm at St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Rd, Cambridge, CB1 3AN.
• Wednesday 22 July, 4:30pm – 7:30pm at Mill Road Community Centre, 6 Hazell Street, Cambridge, CB1 2GN.

“The current unrest is having a profound impact on all of our services, which are already under enormous strain.”

The chief executives of Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care Trusts have condemned the ongoing unrest and say international staff being intimidated or feeling too frightened to come to work is “completely unacceptable”.

They were speaking after scenes of violence saw homes set alight in parts of Belfast as serious disorder broke out on Tuesday night.

Mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire a day after a man was violently attacked in North Belfast in an incident on Monday which was filmed and widely shared online.

Sudanese man Hadi Alodid appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.

Amid concerns of more disturbances on Wednesday, the health chiefs issued a joint statement this afternoon, saying: “We are deeply concerned and appalled at the violence which we are witnessing in our communities.

“It is completely unacceptable that our international staff, who provide an invaluable service, should be intimidated or feel too frightened to come to work.

“The current unrest is having a profound impact on all of our services, which are already under enormous strain.

“All the Trusts are trying to operate as normally as possible but the disruption is making this increasingly difficult.”

They added: “As Chief Executives, we value every single member of our staff, who are trying to care for vulnerable people, both in our hospitals and in the community every day.

“The safety of our patients, service users and our staff is paramount.

“It is imperative that everyone who works across our Health and Social Care Service, including Care Homes, Community Pharmacies, Home Care and Primary Care, are able to provide essential care to everyone that needs it, without fear or intimidation.

“We would like to sincerely thank all our staff for their continued dedication, in really difficult circumstances.”

For the latest on this developing story follow our live blog here.

Live from the Manchester Evening News hustings

Hello,

There was tension, ideological clashes and a big laugh when one man was brave enough to cite Margaret Thatcher as a political hero in the former Wigan mining town.

As I send this email, the Manchester Evening News has just finished hosting a hustings for the Makerfield by-election candidates at the wonderful Winstanley College.

Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, Conservative and Reform UK candidates were quizzed on everything from women’s rights to greenbelt development. Everything from hyperlocal issues such as the Bickershaw tip fire to national topics like immigration came up during 60 minutes of, sometimes tense, discussion.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

And they didn’t have an easy ride thanks to the very good questions posed by members of our audience. But it was perhaps the opening question from our editor and moderator Sarah Lester that produced the most interesting responses.

She asked the candidates about the horrific events in Belfast yesterday – and the violence on the streets that followed. Labour’s Andy Burnham said: “It’s never the answer to violence like this to then produce more violence on the streets. Violence that attacks people’s homes or public transport.

“Politicians and their words have consequences, and we’ve got to move back from a society where we’re stoking up further problems with violence leading to more violence on our streets.

Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon said: “Violence is not the answer. But people have got the right to have their voices heard.” He went to to say there “weren’t that many stabbings” in Wigan 20 years ago and suggested knife crime is “becoming normalised”. And he said “a real strict immigration policy” is needed.

“People who want to come in the country, by all means, come in the country, contribute, that’s fine you’re welcome to come here. Anyone who comes in illegally, this incident wouldn’t have happened if we had a firm grip on illegal immigration,” he said.

The candidates were also asked how they would manage immigration effectively whilst ensuring public services can meet demand. Mr Kenyon said Reform supports “net negative immigration” and said migrants who want to work for the NHS are “welcome to come”.

“If we’ve got the demand, the need, by all means come,” he said. “But as we’ve seen over the last few years, the floodgates have opened, the more people you have in the country, the more housing you’re going to need.

“It puts a massive strain on infrastructure like hospitals, doctors, dentists, schools, roads, and so on. So, at the minute, the population has grown massively.

“So, I do think we need to have net negative, start with removing people who shouldn’t be here, keep the ones who we want here, it’s as simple as that.”

Mr Burnham took issue with his rival’s phrasing, though he agreed that immigration is “a huge concern on the doorsteps” in Makerfield. He insisted the way to deal with it is “with care and control rather than rhetoric and division”.

“I’ll pick up on the floodgates comment,” he said. “Who was in charge of the immigration system when we saw net migration at the highest levels I think we’ve ever seen in recent times? Two prominent members of Reform – Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick.

“So I think there needs to be some reflection here from all parties. There’s progress. Small boat crossings are down 40 per cent this year compared to last year. Net migration is down 80 per cent.

“Those are good foundations now to get the system back in a place where the public have confidence.” He added: “Let’s remember people here working here who contribute to our society, contribute to our economy, contribute to our NHS. Let’s get this whole issue back in proper balance.”

It was a sparky performance from the two front runners in this race. But there were clashes throughout the afternoon.

Mr Kenyon accused Burnham of being a “cardboard cut out” who will be at the other end of the country if he is elected. “You may as well vote for his PA as that’s who you’ll be speaking to,” he said. He promised to meet constituents regularly – including holding a surgery at the college – if he was elected.

Mr Burnham shunned the label and said “it’s always been this place where my heart is”. “The more power you’ve got to help people, the more this constituency would become the most powerful in the land,” he said.

In the midst of a campaign where Mr Kenyon in particular has been scrutinised over his attitude to women, it was a question from a WASPI woman that prompted him to clarify his thinking.

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He insisted that Reform would protect women’s rights. “Every single one of them rights, pregnant, the lot, are all going to be protected when you talk about women’s protection,” he said, in a moment that garnered audible laughter from some in the audience.

This is just a flavour of the conversations today and there will be comprehensive coverage on the Manchester Evening News website throughout the evening. You can read all our coverage of the Makerfield by-election here.

And you can read about all 14 candidates standing in the byelection here. As I send this newsletter out, our video gurus are working hard to get hustings uploaded for your perusal. You can watch the full thing on our Youtube channel here later today.

The missing candidate

Since Rebecca Shepherd was announced as Restore Britain’s candidate for Makerfield, the Manchester Evening News has been requesting an interview, just as we have with all the other polling candidates.

We also invited Ms Shepherd to the hustings. She was not in attendance this afternoon.

Tips from the kids

We were lucky enough to hold our hustings at the wonderful Winstanley College – an esteemed institution that names Richard Ashcroft and Shaun Briscoe among its alumni.

And we were ably assisted in the filming of the event by students from Winstanley TV – part of the college’s media department.

At least one candidate, the Green Party’s Sarah Wakefield, spent quite a long time at the college chatting to students beforehand. She mentioned that she was asked better questions by the students than those posed to her by journalists. Duly noted and a win for any budding hacks in the audience today.

Ask a daft question…

It’s the question that strikes fear into the hearts of many a politician – what’s your favourite Greater Manchester band? In fairness, it’s not as easy to answer as you might think.

When we asked Robery Kenyon ahead of the hustings, he fired off eight. “It’s tough one,” he said.

“You’ve got Oasis, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, Blossoms, Courteeners, Joy Division, New Order, The Verve.” Forced to pick one he said: “It’s got to be Oasis.”

Green Sarah Wakefield told us simply: “It would have to be James.” While Tory Michael Winstanley went local and picked The Verve.

Andy Burnham was more confident, firmly confirming Oasis as his favourite. While Lib Dem Jake Austin said The Smiths, naming The Queen Is Dead as one of his all time greatest albums. “I love their sound, I love their vibe,” he said.

Maggie, Leslie, Caroline

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It was a much more manageable question posed at the end of today’s event by our editor Sarah Lester. ‘Who is your political hero?’ she asked the candidates.

Jake Austin’s answer was niche – he cited Leslie Knope, the local government official from the hit TV show Parks and Recreation.

“Winston Churchill”, said Reform’s Rob Kenyon with certainty. “On the brink of being invaded by the Germans he kept us on the right track and turned things around for us,” he said.

“Caroline Lucas” came the answer from Green candidate Sarah Wakefield. “It takes bravery to stand up in a room where you’re the only person amongst 600 to say ‘we need to do things better’. And she built coalitions, she built friendships across party divides because that’s how we get stuff done in this country,” she said.

Burnham cited both Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock as inspirations before landing on Nye Bevan. “We need to get back to a time when politicians have the courage to stand before the country and say, ‘here is a massive idea that will change things for the better for everybody, that includes everybody’,” he said.

But it was Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley who garnered the biggest reaction when he revealed – in a surprise to absolutely nobody – that his political hero was Mrs Thatcher.

“She turned this country round like no other politician, and gave us the vision to stand on that world stage,” he said. There were some ‘boos’ and a few laughs among the audience of Wiganers – let’s not forget this is a former mining town. But you can’t say Mr Winstanley hasn’t stuck to his guns.

Who are the candidates?

I’ve spent the last few weeks talking to the polling candidates in the Makerfield by-election. We’ve got a full rundown of who is standing for which party here.

And you can read my interview with Labour’s Andy Burnham, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, Lib Dem Jake Austin, Tory Michael Winstanley and Green Sarah Wakefield by clicking on each of these links.

Dolly looms

As the remaining few M.E.N journalists filed our copy from a room at Winstanley College this evening, there was a rather surprising moment. Just after 5pm the unmistakable opening chords of Dolly Parton’s ‘Working 9 to 5’ suddenly started blasting from some very powerful speakers.

The familiar ditty overpowered our riveting conversations about politics and the tap tapping of our keyboards. College staff will say the interruption was a mistake linked to a neighbouring dance class. But we think it might have been a subtle hint from our very patient hosts to get the heck out.

Weather etc

Thursday: Heavy rain. 18C.

Roads: A58 Gerard Street Westbound, Ashton-in-Makerfield closed due to roadworks from A5062 Wigan Road to A58 / A49 (Kings Arms traffic lights) until November 22.

No through traffic allowed due to emergency repairs and roadworks on A6010 Alan Turing Way Northbound from A635 Ashton Old Road to Wilson Street until June 16.