These are your latest rugby headlines on Friday, March 13.

Wales won’t discount Faletau

Steve Tandy has refused to rule out an international comeback for Taulupe Faletau but insists Wales must also look to the future.

The 35-year-old is one of Wales’ greatest ever back-rowers but has become very injury prone in recent years and is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

In his absence, Aaron Wainwright has been outstanding while Olly Cracknell has also shown up well – and Tandy believes Wales need to look to the future.

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“I don’t think you can ever write anyone off, especially with someone of his quality,” the Wales head coach said.

“But ultimately we’ve got a lot of young men that are starting to perform, starting to get consistency, so for me it’ll always be based on performance.

“There’s also, for me as a coach, it’d be a balance of where we are going and whether people can get to World Cups,” Tandy added.

“But for me, everyone that’s playing regionally, or is available to us, then I wouldn’t write anyone off.

Maro Itoje: No rift in England squad after on-field row

By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent, Paris

Maro Itoje insists there is “no crack” in England’s leadership group following the on-field disagreement that took place against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico last Saturday.

Itoje was involved in a discussion with fly-half Fin Smith and vice captains Ellis Genge and Jamie George early in the second half of the 23-18 Guinness Six Nations defeat that has plunged England into crisis.

It centred around a debate over whether to use a penalty to go for goal or set up an attacking line-out and ended with Itoje shouting at Smith, “Don’t argue with me. Take the three”.

England are aiming to end their three-Test losing run when they face France in Paris on Saturday and Itoje says they enter the climax to the Championship without any tension between senior players.

“There’s no crack. There’s no crack between us. Fin’s a good guy and I get on with him very well,” the team’s captain said.

“When you have good relationships with people you’re able to have those sorts of conversations and are able to move on from it pretty quickly.

“There was no residue from that. Naturally, I guess because of the loss, it was made into a bigger thing than it actually was.”

Itoje’s forceful delivery of his instruction to Smith was the first time the British and Irish Lions skipper has raised his voice on the field in that way.

“I didn’t really lose it!” the Saracens second row laughed. “You don’t often see me with a mic, I’m not always mic’d up but maybe I’m portraying a false image!

“Fin is my guy. As always, the way I try to do things is I like to hear what my key decision makers think of what is going on, and whoever plays 10 they will obviously have an important role in that.

“I initially asked what we thought we should do and I guess he expressed a view, I expressed a view, and I just wanted to quickly move on to the next thing.

“I actually think it’s a good thing that people in the team feel they can express a view and in sport, if anything, that’s the most kosher of fallouts that the world has ever seen. We have had far more blunt conversations between ourselves and other teammates!

“There’s no really biggie. After that interaction, we even laughed about it a little bit on the pitch as well.”

Farrell responds to star’s bullish comments

By Edward Elliot, Press Association, Dublin

Andy Farrell says Scotland wing Darcy Graham is entitled to think Ireland are “there for the taking” ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash in Dublin.

The Scots travel to Aviva Stadium chasing a first Triple Crown in 36 years to remain in contention for a maiden Guinness Six Nations title on the back of a thumping 50-40 round-four victory over France.

Ireland, who have won the last 11 meetings between the sides dating back to 2017, also go into the final-day shootout with aspirations of the Triple Crown and potential championship glory.

Edinburgh player Graham made headlines earlier this week by claiming the hosts are “there for the taking” and have “probably not been firing as well as they have in previous campaigns”.

Ireland head coach Farrell, who selected the 28-year-old for last year’s British and Irish Lions tour, offered a diplomatic response, saying: “He’s entitled to his opinion first and foremost.

“He’s a great lad, Darcy, actually. Obviously, I got to know him in the Lions, so it’s how he feels and obviously how the squad feels, and rightly so, in my opinion.

“They were outstanding last week against France and we’ve been preparing for another Scottish performance like that. We know that we’ll have to be at our best to beat them as they’re a side that we’ve always respected.”

Ireland must extend their nine-year dominance over Scotland to remain in the title hunt before table-topping France host England in the final match of ‘Super Saturday’.

The Irish have claimed eight Triple Crowns during the Six Nations era, including three in the past four years, but endured an 18-year drought between 1985 and 2004.

“Of course, you would love to dream like that (of championship glory),” said Farrell, who guided Ireland to back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. “Obviously, the rest of it is out of our hands, but there’s something that’s in our hands.

“We concentrate on our performance first and foremost of trying to win something that’s pretty special to us, that’s the Triple Crown. Over the years, it’s been hard to come by when you’re playing for Ireland, so we’re desperate to make sure that we get across that.”

Townsend: Title bid is out of our hands

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Gregor Townsend flatly refused to indulge in talk of a first Guinness Six Nations title for Scotland as he outlined the scale of the task still facing his side in their quest to make history.

The Scots go into Super Saturday as one of three teams in the mix for the championship, alongside table-topping France and opponents Ireland.

In short, Scotland must collect more match points in Dublin in the first game of the day than Les Bleus manage against England in the late kick-off in Paris.

Asked if he had allowed himself to ponder leading the Scots to a first title of the Six Nations era, head coach Townsend said: “No. It’s out of our hands, really. We can only do a certain amount. It’s a game for us to play against an opponent that’s had the upper hand on us for years.

“We’re playing them away from home. They’ve got a brilliant record at home. It’s a challenge but a real opportunity for us to go and deliver an even better performance than we did last week.

“It would be great to finish the championship with a win and finish on a high. That will obviously carry on the momentum and if that means we win the game, we obviously know there’s something at stake.

“Those that have been selected know that it is a big opportunity. It’s not a cup final, there’s not just two teams in this championship, but there is an element of that. It’s the last game of the tournament, so we’ll leave everything out there.”

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Gordon will train on a treadmill at altitude during a series of sessions which will help him begin to acclimatise and prepare for the charity hike.

A man with type 1 diabetes is using a cutting-edge environmental chamber in Lanarkshire to help him prepare for a charity hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Gordon Hill, from Waterfoot in the south side of Glasgow, will use the facility at the University of the West of Scotland’s Lanarkshire campus ahead of climbing the mountain in Tanzania, raising funds for Diabetes UK.

The chamber replicates environmental extremes – from walking in the desert to climbing the highest mountain in the world – and will allow the personal trainer to train at an altitude of up to 5895m, which is the equivalent of the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body produces little to no insulin, requiring lifelong insulin therapy to manage blood sugar levels.

Climbing at altitude can present extra challenges for those with the condition, as intense exertion and physical stress can cause blood sugar levels to drop or rise, making monitoring and planning important.

Gordon will train on a treadmill at altitude during a series of sessions which will help him begin to acclimatise and prepare for the hike, scheduled to take place in September.

Meanwhile, it is hoped the training will help UWS researchers in learning more about the specific needs of people with type 1 diabetes when they are challenged at altitude.

Gordon said: “Living with diabetes is a daily challenge which requires constant monitoring – from what you can eat to what exercise you do and how it all affects blood sugar levels. But it doesn’t have to hold you back.

“I’ve always been into sports, which really helps with managing my diabetes, as regular exercise is important in helping with blood sugar control. As a PT, staying active is also part of my job, however, I’ve never set myself a goal like climbing Kilimanjaro. I wanted to challenge myself.

“Doing this climb is important to me not only to raise funds for Diabetes UK, but also to hopefully inspire others with the condition that they can do what they put their mind to.”

Professor James Miller, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, said: “Gordon is an inspiration to us all, and we are honoured to be able to support him in preparing for this climb in aid of Diabetes UK.

“Our state-of-the-art environmental chamber has helped many athletes prepare for major sporting events, while allowing our researchers to study the impact of physical activity in extreme environments.

“By collaborating with Diabetes UK in supporting Gordon, we aim to learn more about the needs of those with type 1 diabetes in this kind of setting, something which we hope will have real world impact in deepening understanding and management of the condition.”

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Jenn Hall, national director of Diabetes Scotland said: “We are so grateful to Gordon for taking on this immense challenge in aid of Diabetes UK and for leading the charge in showing what people living with diabetes can achieve. Every pound raised will help us fund more research for new treatments, campaign for better care, and provide vital support to people who need us through our helpline.”

The work directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal 17, Partnership for the Goals.

You can donate to Gordon’s Kilimanjaro fundraiser in aid of Diabetes UK via his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/page/gordon-hill-4

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Now well into its second week, the US-Israeli war against Iran has gone beyond the “combat operation” the US president, Donald Trump, announced when it began on February 28. Civilians and infrastructure have been struck across the region from Lebanon, to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The conflict has spread rapidly across the Middle East. Now, with the strait of Hormuz effectively closed, oil prices have risen sharply threatening global economic chaos.

This is not an abstract strategic contest. It is unfolding in a region shaped by decades of conflict driven both by external intervention and by regional actors themselves. Israel’s overwhelming use of military force in recent years in Gaza, Lebanon and now against Iran has been a central factor in the current escalation, while Iran and allied armed movements such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis have pursued their own strategies of deterrence and retaliation.

The latest US-Israeli strikes and Tehran’s response therefore add another layer to an already volatile landscape in which multiple actors pursue security, influence or survival through force. The human cost is mounting. Meanwhile, the legal principles meant to constrain the use of force under the UN Charter have increasingly been overshadowed by power politics.

In this context, the meaning of the “America first” slogan on which Donald Trump campaigned in 2024 demands urgent reassessment. So does the manner in which American power operates.

US involvement in and response to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show a pattern of Washington enlisting regional partners to help realise its foreign policy aims. It is letting Europe bear the main burden in economic terms in the Ukraine conflict while in the Middle East, it has partnered with Israel. Meanwhile, it is happy to directly manage affairs in the Americas – in the Venezuela raid in January, for example, or the Cuba blockade.

When Barack Obama called it “leading from behind”, there was a furore on the American right. But now, this approach is central to maintaining America’s dominant global position.

One of this article’s authors, Inderjeet Parmar, has highlighted elsewhere how US policy seeks to combine realist power projection with liberal ideological framing, using the language of universal values such as human rights. This enables it to legitimise interventions, alliances and proxy arrangements that distribute burdens to partners and sustain America’s global position while helping avoid overextension. Washington’s approach masks self-interested expansionism as consensual leadership rather than the naked unilateralism it actually represents.

This approach reduces the risk of domestic backlash from costly direct engagements. It avoids the pitfalls of imperial overstretch that were seen in cases such as Iraq, while retaining ultimate control and benefits.

In his analysis of US actions, this article’s other author, Bamo Nouri, suggests that US foreign policy often serves corporate and elite interests under such guises as the promotion of democracy. Nouri portrays how Washington’s use of partners in foreign policy arenas in recent years has been a calculated tactic that sustains empire efficiently. But it risks partner fatigue, escalation, or blow-back when partners falter, fail to achieve their goals or where it leads to wider regional escalation.

But ultimately it underscores a consistent US strategy: using its networked power to get its way. In other words, leading from behind.

‘America first’ interrogated

The “America first” slogan that Trump has adopted (a 19th-century phrase used by nativists. It gained prominence in the US after the first world war when it became associated with the Ku Klux Klan and other far-right organisations) was framed by the president as a decisive break from the post-cold war bipartisan foreign policy consensus. Trump denounced regime change, criticised the Iraq war’s architects, and promised to end “forever wars”. That resonated with a weary American public lamenting costly interventions that destabilised the Middle East while achieving little.

America first was presented as a strategic correction: abandoning liberal interventionism, rejecting ideological crusades and restoring prudence to US statecraft. Intellectually, it appeared to prioritise realist recognition of limits, restraint and national interests over moral grandstanding.

Yet Trump 2.0 actions – with the raid on Venezuela, threats against Greenland and Canada and now the full-scale war against Iran – have cast serious doubts on that claim. Evidence suggests continuity in the pursuit of American primacy, but expressed now in more nationalist and unapologetic language. The rhetoric has shifted, but the structure of power and the willingness to employ force remain strikingly familiar.

To Trump’s base, the appeal of America first was partly due to its critique of liberal internationalism. For decades, both Republican and Democratic administrations justified US primacy through the language of promoting democracy, humanitarian intervention and multilateral order-building. Trump argued that these ventures drained American resources while delivering little tangible benefit. Indeed, both parties’ presidential candidates in 2020 stood on a platform of ending “forever wars”. But ultimately, America first was largely a branding exercise led by influential thinktanks.

The Washington-based conservative thinktank, the Heritage Foundation, played an important role in developing policy frameworks and identifying personnel for Trump’s second administration.

Heritage had historically championed a robust national defence and assertive US leadership. Under Trump, newer networks explicitly branded under the banner of America First Policy Institute emerged to provide intellectual support for the movement. These institutions promoted the idea that Trumpism represented a decisive shift toward state-centred realism, as opposed to liberal nation-building.

But realism, properly understood, is not simply a rhetoric of strength, but a doctrine of prudence. Classical realists, from the German-born scholar Hans Morgenthau onwards, have always stressed the dangers of ideological crusading, the unpredictability of military escalation and the limits of power. War was to be a last resort, not a way to demonstrate power and resolve.

But America first has not dismantled the core architecture of US global primacy. The US continues to rely on military superiority, sanctions regimes and alliance systems to maintain its position of global primacy. The difference lies in presentation. Liberal internationalists justified primacy through universalist ideals. America first recasts it in nationalist terms: sovereignty, strength, deterrence. But the underlying strategic objective remains constant – preventing the emergence of challengers and preserving US dominance.

The escalation with Iran underscores this continuity. It signals that when confronted with perceived threats to its authority or credibility, Washington will often consider the use of coercion, whether economic or other means, including force. In this sense, America first may represent not a rejection of primacy but its simplification, stripped of multilateral vocabulary and reframed as unapologetic power politics.

The costs of abandoning restraint

The consequences are profound. Domestically, America first promised a renewed focus on national reconstruction. But the gap between promise and practice risks deepening public cynicism about foreign policy and political leadership alike.

If Trump’s foreign policy “art of the deal” culminates in airstrikes, region-wide escalation and blowback, the claim that it represents a realist recalibration of US foreign policy becomes difficult to sustain. Rather than ending liberal interventionism, America first appears to have refashioned American primacy in starker, less apologetic terms, without the veneer of restraint.

The recent strikes are therefore more than tactical decisions for the Trump administration. They reveal how deeply embedded primacy politics remains in Washington, regardless of who is doing it. The rhetoric has shifted. The structural impulse to defend US dominance through force has not.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the first season of Scarpetta.

I’ll give it to you straight – Scarpetta is my most disappointing TV watch of the year so far.

I’m writing this review hours after finishing the last of the eight episodes. I hoped that the finale would deliver a payoff to make up for the discombobulation leading up to it.

Sadly, I was left feeling even more dissatisfied.

Scarpetta isn’t without its merits, so much so that I considered giving it a three-star rating, instead of two. The serial killer thriller – which is based on the book series by Patricia Cornwell – stars the formidable Nicole Kidman as Dr Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist.

In the present day, Kay comes out of retirement to resume her post as chief medical examiner in Virginia to investigate a gruesome murder. The show then flits back to the past, when a younger version of Kay – played by British actress Rosy McEwen – is trying to track down a serial killer who’s killed several women in the most disturbing ways.

On paper, you would think that this would be enough for a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller. But there’s so much else going on. Needlessly, I might add.

Kay’s older sister, Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis), is an eccentric loose cannon whose sole purpose seems to be to highlight how straight-laced and serious the titular character is. I’ve admired Jamie as an actress my whole life, and Dorothy is clearly meant to provide comic relief in an otherwise horrifying story, but it just doesn’t work.

Elsewhere, Ariana DeBose plays Lucy, a tech whiz who’s Dorothy’s daughter and Kay’s niece. She recently suffered the death of her wife Janet (Janet Montgomery), and to deal with her grief, she’s created an AI version of her late partner, whom she talks to almost constantly every day.

This storyline in itself is interesting, and reminds me of the Black Mirror episode Be Right Back. As fascinating as this concept is (and pertinent for the times we’re living in), it feels as though it’s been squished into an already packed narrative.

That’s not all. We also have another element of the plot about a lab in space that crashes to Earth, where scientists were creating biosynthetic organs. I promise I’m not making this up.

Then there’s the dysfunctional family drama element of it all. Kay is married to FBI agent Benton Wesley (Simon Baker), whom she first met while investigating a serial killer in her younger years. Dorothy is married to former detective Peter Marino (Bobby Cannavale), who is also a longtime colleague of Kay’s.

Kay and Dorothy are always at each other’s throats. Dorothy, who was largely an absent mother to Lucy when she was growing up, is worried about her daughter’s dependency on an AI version of her late wife. Kay and Benton are keeping various secrets from each other. And their family ties complicate the murder case that they’re all involved in.

It’s all just a bit much.

For me, the saving grace for Scarpetta is the flashback scenes. As much as I love Nicole as a performer, I would have been very happy watching a version of this show set entirely in the past, with Rosy’s version of Kay working with her future husband and future brother-in-law to hunt down the serial killer brutalising and terrifying their neighbourhood.

When deciding how I would rate Scarpetta, I considered if this is a show that I would recommend to my friends. While I was invested to a certain degree, sadly the answer is no.

At times, it feels as though this drama doesn’t know what it’s trying to be. Is it a serial killer thriller? Is it a family drama? Is it a dark dystopian sci-fi? There’s nothing to say that a TV show can’t fall under several different genres, but Scarpetta spreads itself too thin by trying to be too much.

Given that the drama ends on a cliffhanger, it makes sense that season two is already in the works. At this moment, I don’t know whether my curiosity will get the better of me when the second season comes around. Right now, I think I’m going to let the dead rest.

Scarpetta is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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Rev Colin Renwick confirmed Dunblane Cathedral will be open to allow locals to mourn.

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Dunblane locals will mark the 30-year anniversary of the massacre with “quiet dignity and respect”, the minister of the town’s cathedral has said.

Rev Colin Renwick, who moved to Dunblane Cathedral 12 years ago, said the 16 children and their teacher who were murdered “will never be forgotten”.

Dunblane Cathedral will be open until 8pm on Friday, March 12, the day of the anniversary of the school shooting, to allow for “quiet and respectful remembering”. Other churches in the area will also be open.

Some Dunblane residents will also be placing candles in their windows as a “quiet way to remember and pay their respects”.

The massacre in the Stirlingshire town, where 16 children and their teacher Gwen Mayor died, shocked the nation and led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world.

The Church of Scotland also released some remarks from Rev Renwick, as well as a special prayer he will read at Dunblane Cathedral on Sunday March 15.

Rev Renwick said: “For those people whose lives were shattered by the tragic events in Dunblane on March 13 1996, remembering is not confined to particular anniversaries. There are still those who, every day, think of a child they lost.

“Each birthday, each Christmas, the marriage of a sibling or contemporary, and many other events, still bring times of poignant remembering and wishing things had been different.”

He continued: “The 16 children of Dunblane who died that day, and the teacher who died trying to protect them, will never be forgotten.

“Nor will people forget the determination and persistence of those who campaigned so hard to ensure that the gun laws in the United Kingdom were changed, making this country a safer place.

“Thirty years on, the people of Dunblane will, as they have always done, remember with quiet dignity and respect.

“It is important that people are given the space, opportunity and peace to remember and grieve in ways that are appropriate to them.”

Dunblane Cathedral contains a stone memorial to the victims of the tragedy.

Rev Renwick’s prayer includes a reference to the snowdrop campaign, which achieved a ban on UK private handgun ownership in the wake of the tragedy.

One part of the prayer reads: “As the fragile snowdrop breaks through the cold winter earth, and somehow endures the elements that buffet it,

“We give thanks for the resilience of many, and for the determination, arising out of tragedy, that this country should be a safer place than it used to be.”

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It can shoot down short and medium-range ballistic missiles, using hit-to-kill technology. That is, kinetic energy destroys the incoming warhead. It can do this at a high altitude, beyond even the Earth’s atmosphere, which was seen as especially useful in South Korea, because it could be used to intercept and destroy a nuclear warhead.

Ed Miliband has vowed that price gougers will face a crackdown by regulators if they take advantage of Brits’ pockets during the Iran War.

The Energy Secretary warned retailers who carry out unfair practices during the rising levels of oil prices will face a ‘range of powers’ from the government and industry regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority.

It comes after the price of petrol this week skyrocketed up to 140p a litre and diesel up to 158p a litre when the price of crude oil reached nearly $120 per barrel nearly two weeks after the US’ conflict with Iran.

Concerns have been raised about worldwide fuel reserves and markets have been growing since the start of the Iran war as oil tankers are effectively blocked from using the Strait of Hormuz.

Prices between petrol stations are currently varying from £1.27 per litre to £1.80, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said.

Speaking to Metro after the government received reports that some companies were hiking their prices, Miliband said: ‘The Chancellor and I will be meeting the petrol retailers, and we will be making clear that we will not tolerate unfair practises and price gouging.

‘The Competition and Markets Authority stands ready to act.

‘They have a whole range of powers to act, and companies, whether it’s in heating oil or in petrol, should be in no doubt the government will act if we find price gouging, unfair practises.

‘We are determined to make sure that consumers are not ripped off during this situation.’

The government has today launched a new tool called Fuel Finder, which allows drivers can use to find the cheapest petrol station nearby.

It is expected to lower fuel prices for consumers by encouraging competition between forecourts, and to have all major retailers sign up to it.

Meanwhile, almost two million households still rely on heating oil, and they have seen their prices, which are uncapped, skyrocket.

Talking about measures to help struggling families with heating bills, Miliband said the government will ‘do everything we can to fight people’s corner.’

That includes the latest energy price cap, which will reduce a typical household’s bills by around £117 between April and June.

When asked if Brits should follow residents in Denmark – who are being encourage by their Energy Secretary to use less to save money on bills, Miliband said: ‘Of course, if people want to save energy, to cut their bills, that’s a good thing to do, but we are absolutely confident about our security of supply and we have confidence in the price cap.’

Miliband, who faced criticism from the Conservatives over the price cap promise, continued: ‘People should know that if they’re on the energy price cap, their bills will be falling in April because of the actions the government has taken, and they’re guaranteed that until the end of June.

‘We have a diverse range of energy supplies in this country, and people should feel confident in that.’

Elon Musk’s Tesla granted licence to power British homes

Yesterday, as the conflict came towards the end of its second week, it was confirmed Elon Musk’s Tesla has been given the green light to start supplying electricity to households and businesses in Britain after being given the green light by Ofgem.

The company’s subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, has been granted a licence after a seven-month review which looked into whether the company could safely and reliably run an energy business.

Tesla has been involved in the UK energy market since 2020, when it was granted a licence to be an electricity generator. It current supplies electricity in the US state of Texas.

The move is likely to raise some eyebrows due to Musk’s controversial opinions and his vocal support of Donald Trump and right-wing figure Tommy Robinson.

Miliband has previously described Musk as a ‘dangerous person,’ and accused him of inciting violence on the streets.

Ofgem has stressed that it does not assess or grant licences to individuals.

When asked about Tesla and Musk’s links to the UK energy sector, he said: ‘Tesla already have a business in this country.

‘They applied for a licence.

‘This is a decision made by Ofgem, not by the government, and it’s arm’s length from government, and that’s the right thing to do.

‘Ofgem conduct what’s called a fit and proper person test for the company. They’ve reached their judgment, and I’m not going to comment further on that.’

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: ‘After more than 18,000 of our supporters wrote to Ofgem highlighting real public concern over Musk’s powergrab, Best for Britain are calling on the Energy Secretary to step in and urgently reverse Ofgem’s misguided decision. It’s not too late to do the right thing.’

Miliband has powers to veto applications for certain supply licences, but not the one that Tesla applied for.

‘Keir Starmer made the right decision with Iran War’

Last week, Miliband faced claims in The Spectator that he was behind a coalition of cabinet ministers who stopped Keir Starmer from allowing the US to use bases at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to launch the attacks on Iran.

Sir Keir initially tried to limit British involvement in the conflict and denied the US’ request to use the bases after it launched strikes on Iran on February 28th.

A day later, he decided the sites could be used by the US for ‘defensive’ strikes to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.

It led to spat between Trump and Starmer, with Trump saying the PM ‘was not Winston Churchill’. It’s believed the pair have since smoothed things over after speaking on the phone last week.

But The Spectator article claimed Starmer wanted to allow the US to use the sites, but was blocked from doing so by Miliband, Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Responding to the article, Miliband told Metro: ”I’m not going to comment on those reports. What I will say is that it’s the Prime Minister who has led our country and made, the right decision, a decision the British people support, not to be involved in this conflict at the outset, because he didn’t believe that we should engage in the conflict without a clear thought through plan, but then to act, to support the US in defensive action, to support our allies who are being indiscriminately attacked by Iran and British citizens.

‘I think it’s the Prime Minister who’s shown important leadership and leadership the country supports.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Michael Owen has said he “can’t believe people are questioning” whether Michael Carrick should become the permanent manager of Manchester United.

Former midfielder Carrick, who made 464 appearances for United, was appointed caretaker head coach after the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January.

The 44-year-old has won six of his eight matches in charge and the club have moved from sixth to third in the Premier League.

Former Manchester United and England striker Owen, who played with Carrick at Old Trafford between 2009 and 2012, believes he has “brought a calm back to the club”.

“I can’t believe people are questioning whether he should get the job,” Owen said on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

“Manchester United have waited about 12 years – they’ve gone for proven, legends, everything since Sir Alex [Ferguson].

“And the one time they are starting to play well, get results, the fans are on board – you’re telling me at the end of the season if he gets third [place] they will say ‘thanks, but no thanks’. How is that possible?”

Rooney, who has praised Carrick and previously said the caretaker has given United fans a taste of the Fergie era, is in agreement with Owen.

“Everyone at Manchester United loves Michael Carrick and they are just scared it doesn’t go right. He’s done an unbelievable job,” Rooney said.

The club are understood to be looking at other candidates – along with Carrick – to take over as permanent manager in the summer.

City have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup every season since 2018. In the last four years their record in the competition is 19 wins in 21 games, with those two defeats coming in the final against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. It is not like anything we have seen before. Guardiola said he was extremely proud of that record, but still the perceived injustice gnawed away at him. He remained in a volatile mood. It was his sixth yellow card of the season, but none have provoked a reaction as strong or as perilously close to losing control as this.

Guardiola is a ferocious competitor and apparently no longer cares who he offends. Read into that what you will regarding his future beyond the end of this season. While the rest of English football complains about the fact the 115 charges against City for breaching PSR rules have still not been resolved, he seethes at a perceived injustice of a different kind.

Guardiola made his feelings clear. For all his success, for all the trophies he has won and the dominance of English football he has overseen, he believes it has been done despite dark forces conspiring against him and his players. It has become a recurring theme in his dealings with the media.

Asked what had annoyed him so much, Guardiola replied: “When Jeremy Doku dribbles [Kieran] Trippier and goes alone to the box and is being pulled from behind, I’m not asking for a yellow card but it’s a foul.

“I will defend my team. I will tell you something – we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards.

“I want all records and now I have it. Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. Oh my god. Oh my god. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams. They continue to do it…”

It all felt a little bizarre given the result. Despite falling behind in the first half to Harvey Barnes’ fine goal, which capped an excellent opening 20-minute spell, City moved through the gears and toyed with Newcastle after equalising through Savinho. The second half was one-way traffic as two goals from Marmoush hammered home City’s superiority.