The former mayor was swarmed by reporters at Euston station this afternoon

Andy Burnham has issued his verdict on calls for a general election following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation earlier today (June 22).

The former Greater Manchester mayor was officially sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Makerfield in the House of Commons this afternoon following his decisive victory in the constituency last Thursday (June 18).

But Burnham has said it would be “jumping several hurdles ahead” to call a general election should he become the next prime minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation, which followed a weekend spent mulling his future with his family at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence, according to PA.

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In a statement outside Downing Street this morning that competed with a protester playing the EU anthem Ode To Joy, Sir Keir said his party had asked “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.

He said: “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”

Defending his record, he pledged to give his successor “my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago”.

With a wavering voice, he added: “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”

As he arrived in London this afternoon, Mr Burnham was asked about comments he made when Rishi Sunak became prime minister, when he called for a general election.

Asked if he would now call an election, he said: “You’re jumping several hurdles ahead there.”

The former mayor of Greater Manchester added that his “priority” for the day was to officially swear in as an MP, adding: “It’s been very kind of sad for me today to leave Greater Manchester.

“The people have been brilliant to me over the last few years. I’ve loved every minute of the role. I hope I leave Manchester in a better place.”

A coronation for the former Greater Manchester mayor looks increasingly likely after his main rival Wes Streeting backed him. If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to received the support needed to stand in the contest for the vacant Labour leadership, he could become prime minister in mid-July.

And his chances of becoming the next prime minister were boosted by the backing of former health secretary Mr Streeting, who denied he had been offered a job in a future Burnham government in return for his support.

Mr Streeting quit the Cabinet in protest at Sir Keir’s leadership and had previously indicated he would be prepared to fire the starting gun on a contest to oust him if he did not voluntarily quit.

He said he had spoken with Mr Burnham “at length” and concluded he could “win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism”.

Sir Keir said he would ask Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to set out a timetable that would see a new leader in place by the time Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1.

But the anointing of a new leader could come much sooner, with nominations closing on July 16. Sir Keir’s decision to quit means the UK will now have its seventh prime minister in a decade.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election in the wake of Sir Keir’s resignation, tweeting: “If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said there should be an election “if Andy Burnham is not able to set out how he’s going to keep our country safe” amid an ongoing row within government over defence funding.

Other opposition figures stopped short of demanding an election, but urged Sir Keir’s successor to be bold.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Whoever becomes prime minister needs to drop the caution and complacency and show the ambition our country deserves.”

Green leader Zack Polanski said the country needed “a bold change of direction”, adding: “The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone – if he becomes the next PM, Burnham must be bold or he will be bust.”

A major incident was declared on Friday (June 19) after two East Midlands Railway trains collided near Elstow in Bedfordshire, with more than 100 people taken to hospital and driver Shaun Burton confirmed dead

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Eight people remain critically ill in hospital following a collision between two trains in Bedfordshire. More than 100 people were taken to hospital and a major incident declared on Friday (June 19) after two trains crashed on the line by Elstow in Bedfordshire.

Police were called just after 5.15pm to reports two East Midlands Railway locomotives had collided. Officers from the British Transport Police (BTP), Bedfordshire Police, National Police Air Service and local fire fighters and ambulance crews attended the scene.

The BTP confirmed on Monday evening that 53 people remained in hospital, eight of whom are in a critical condition. Officers however believe this number is “likely to continue to change” as time moves on.

The driver of one of the trains, 60-year-old Shaun Burton, died in the crash. In a statement issued through the police, his family said: “We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident.”

Dave Calfe, general secretary of train driver union Aslef, told the BBC: “We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton, which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends and colleagues that will never be filled.”

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Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, from the BTP, said: “First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone at BTP are with the driver Shaun Burton’s family and colleagues, and all those injured and affected by the collision on Friday.”

Dep Ch Const Cundy went on to describe the investigation as a “priority” for the BTP, adding that the senior investigating officer is working in close collaboration with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the precise sequence of events. He confirmed that personal belongings have been retrieved from the trains.

The officer continued: “Friday evening witnessed an awful incident that presented complexities and challenges for all those who responded. I have been humbled by the actions of passengers and staff who were on the trains, and by the professionalism of our officers, the wider emergency services and partners.

“The recovery operation is now underway, and work continues this week to remove the damaged trains and carriages and allow the railway to reopen.”

Those affected by the incident are urged to get in touch with the BTP.

The York-based rail firm, which operates the East Coast Main Line from Edinburgh to London, said it “strongly recommends” that people do not to travel on Wednesday (June 24) and Thursday.

Network Rail may have to introduce speed restrictions in parts of the country on Wednesday and Thursday due to the heat.

LNER said it will be running fewer services on Wednesday and Thursday as there is likely to be delays caused by longer journey times.

It comes as a rare red weather warning covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham is in place from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Thursday.

Forecasters say the heatwave could see temperatures hit 38C to 40C in some parts of England and Wales, smashing the June record set in 1976 by several degrees as human-driven climate change intensifies the impact of a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe.

LNER said some restrictions on tickets have already been lifted for customers travelling on the East Coast Main Line up until Friday “to help make their journeys more comfortable”.

Customers with tickets for Wednesday and Thursday can use them to travel on LNER services on Friday at no extra cost or claim a full refund from their point of purchase if they prefer not to travel, the company said.

For more information, visit www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travel-updates/

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“This fan is really great. It’s quiet but still powerful. The speed settings are easy to adjust, and it moves smoothly.”

Shoppers at Amazon are running out of time to take advantage of a summer-essential deal. Despite Amazon’s Prime Day starting tomorrow (June 23), shoppers can get a variety of deals ahead of time, saving money in the process.

One such deal that is set to run out in just a few hours is the NebulaFlow Mist Fan, which has seen its price drop from £139.99 to £99.98, equating to 29% in savings. Shoppers should act quick though as the deal will end by midnight tonight (June 22).

The NebulaFlow is a clever electric fan that can provide extra cooling with its misting function. This is supplied by a generously large 4L water tank that can help cool you down quickly when you need it most.

READ MORE: Dunelm’s prettiest bedspread that can be used instead of a duvet in summer reduced to £28

READ MORE: Headphones ‘perfect’ for podcast listeners heavily reduced from £130 to £30

This is especially useful for those across the country who may feel unprepared by the latest mini heatwave that could see temperatures exceed 30C in some parts. The fan also comes with five speed modes and three misting modes, helping you to personalise the settings to best suit your needs.

The 70-degree oscillation from the fan can also help cool down a wider area, ensuring that your whole room feels cooler as temperatures rise outside. Better yet, it can run at just 35dB, allowing it to be a suitable device to use at night without disrupting your sleep with loud noises.

If you would prefer a more dedicated air conditioning unit, however, you could opt for the CosmartAir Portable Air Conditioner, which is available on Amazon for £97.99. This mini air conditioner can help cool down the air and even has its own cool mist function, which is all controllable with an included remote control.

Otherwise, you could grab the Bush Black Desk Fan from Argos for £22. This desk fan is compact enough to easily fit on your desk, shelf, or bedside table to help you cool down whenever it’s convenient, coming equipped with three speed settings and horizontal oscillation.

The NebulaFlow Mist fan has already proved a hit with shoppers, earning 4.4 stars in reviews, with one happy customer writing: “This fan is really great. It’s quiet but still powerful. The speed settings are easy to adjust, and it moves smoothly. It also looks nice . Totally worth the price, I use it every day and love it.”

While another added: “Prepare for hot summer it’s a good choice. This fan doesn’t have noise, it’s very silent. And small enough to fit on the table and stable. Have four levels of fun power, last level has big power.”

A third said: “Nice quality portable fan at a good price point. Nice amount of fan speed adjustment and low noise levels. Battery life seems very good and performance of the fan is especially useful for keeping cool whilst PC gaming but as it is portable, it could be used anywhere.”

While a fourth said: “Easy to assemble , well made , sturdy unlike some others I’ve purchased and a lot quieter.”

However, one less pleased customer wrote: “Looks great, very fancy. However this does not perform any better than a regular bladed floor fan. The atomiser looks great and you can see the vapour, but it doesn’t feel like a handheld mister or atomiser. I locked this fan in a very small double bedroom for an hour and despite the powerful fan the temp didn’t drop. My kid loves it. But I feel it’s a novelty.”

While another added: “Not very powerful.”

Dragons may be fictional, but the struggle for the throne, influence and legitimacy in House of the Dragons has roots in conflicts that shaped real history.

Long before the fictional Westeros, women across Europe and Asia faced rival claimants, political factions and systems designed to keep them from power.

Like Rhaenys Targaryen, Alicent Hightower and other powerful women in the series, they learned to navigate court, forge alliances, manage public opinion and fight for their place in the political order. Here are four of the real women who inspired the characters in the TV series.

1. Rhaenyra Targaryen and Empress Matilda (1102–1167)

Like the real Empress Matilda in England, the fictional Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D’Arcy) faces criticism from her contemporaries and rivals for qualities that often earn the admiration of male rulers – including determination, pride and political ambition. While both women came close to achieving their goals and nearly retained power, neither held it for long.

They both faced determined opposition from rival claimants. Matilda entered London in 1141 and was recognised as England’s ruler, but was driven out before being crowned.

Matilda’s claim to the kingdom was contested by her cousin Stephen of Blois, whose seizure of the English throne triggered the civil war known as the anarchy.

Similarly, in House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra’s claim was challenged by her half-brother Aegon II, despite her father’s clear designation of her as heir. Aegon’s coronation divides Westeros and plunges it into conflict.

In both cases, crises emerge because powerful factions oppose a female ruler. The author of the Game of Thrones book series that inspired the show, George R.R. Martin, has cited England’s 12th-century anarchy as inspiration for Westeros’s struggles.

À lire aussi :
HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ was inspired by a real medieval dynastic struggle over a female ruler

2. Rhaenys Targaryen and Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1124-1204)

Like Rhaenys Targaryen (played by Eve Best), Eleanor of Aquitaine held a position that gave her prestige and influence – queen of France and later England. Although neither became the principal ruler of their kingdom, both wield considerable political power through family ties, diplomacy and reputation.

Eleanor was respected for her political acumen and ability to navigate dynastic conflict, much like Rhaenys.

She played a key role in France and England, whereas Rhaenys is one of the experienced and level-headed voices within the Targaryen family. They share an understanding of succession and family alliances, shaping the political future of their descendants beyond their generation.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was a political figure who served as regent, negotiated alliances and directly governed the state. By contrast, Rhaenys exerts influence through counsel, family ties and her place in the Targaryen dynasty. Eleanor’s power spanned kingdoms and decades, while Rhaenys’s role is largely confined to the struggle between rival claimants to the iron throne – the seat of power in Westeros.

À lire aussi :
‘House of the Dragon’ was inspired by the chaos of the Middle Ages, a world without law and order

3. Alicent Hightower and Catherine de’ Medici (1519–1589)

Like Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in House of the Dragon, Queen Consort of France Catherine de’ Medici sought to secure her children’s future and strengthen her dynasty during political instability.

In the show, Alicent uses dynastic marriage alliances as political tools, viewing her children’s connections as vital to safeguarding her family’s future – just as Catherine did in real life.

Both women found themselves at the centre of affairs in times of crisis: Alicent during the dance of the dragons (a catastrophic civil war of succession), Catherine during the French wars of religion (eight significant civil conflicts fought between French Catholics and Calvinist Protestants).

Though devoted to their children’s futures, both women ultimately witnessed dynastic tragedy. Catherine outlived several children, while in House of the Dragon, Alicent sees her family destroyed by civil war.

Following the death of Henry II in 1559, Catherine became a leading figure in French politics, serving as regent for her son Charles IX and later as chief adviser to some of the Valois kings, a branch of the Capetian dynasty that ruled France from 1328 to 1589.

À lire aussi :
Who was Catherine de’ Medici? The Serpent Queen gives us a clever, powerful and dangerous woman

By contrast, Alicent exerts influence through her status as queen, the king’s mother and a member of the Hightower family. She is devoted to the Faith of the Seven, the dominant religion of Westeros, and justifies her actions with religious rhetoric. Catherine, though Catholic, adopted a pragmatic approach, prioritising dynastic stability and the interests of the French crown over confessional loyalty.

4. Helaena Targaryen and Zinaida Volkonskaya (1792–1862)

Not all influential women through history have sought power directly. Like Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) in House of the Dragon, the Russian princess Zinaida Volkonskaya belonged to high echelons but remained removed from politics.

In the TV show, Helaena is known as the “dreamer of House Targaryen”, set apart from the rest of her family by prophetic visions. Volkonskaya, meanwhile, was known for her intellectual and artistic interests. Like Helaena, who is beloved in the capital city of Westeros, King’s Landing, she inspired admiration beyond her circles. Volkonskaya’s salons attracted Tsar Alexander I.

The key difference between Volkonskaya and the fictional Helaena lies in how they expressed their talents. Helaena has remained on the sidelines of public life, rarely turning her visions or ideas into political action. By contrast, Volkonskaya transformed her intellectual and artistic interests into cultural influence.

As well as hosting salons in Moscow and Rome, she wrote poetry, composed music, performed in private theatres and became a patron of the arts. Whereas Helaena’s influence is personal and symbolic, Volkonskaya’s was active, public and cultural, exercised through the networks she created.

The real historical women whose stories can be found in the heroines of House of the Dragon exercised power in very different ways. Empress Matilda fought for a throne that many believed a woman should never have inherited. Eleanor of Aquitaine shaped the politics of kingdoms through diplomacy, family alliances and her own experiences.

Catherine de’ Medici sought to preserve her dynasty during one of the most turbulent periods in French history. And Zinaida Volkonskaya demonstrated that influence can be wielded through culture, patronage and social networks, rather than solely through official political office.

Their stories are a reminder that female power has never been confined to a single model. Some women ruled; others advised, negotiated, engaged in patronage, or inspired. But they are united by their ability to shape the world around them, despite the constraints imposed upon them.

Mohinder Kaur Mahal died after a stroke at Royal Derby Hospital 12 days after she received her vaccination for coronavirus

A Derby grandmother who used to bang her pans in appreciation for the NHS has died just days after getting her Covid-19 booster vaccine.

Mohinder Kaur Mahal, 85, struggled to speak a week after having the vaccine and a flu jab in Derby before she had to be taken to hospital. Twelve days after getting vaccinated, the widow died after a stroke at Royal Derby Hospital on October 31, 2022, an inquest into her death heard on Monday, June 22.

The woman’s family later expressed their concerns about a possible link between the Covid jab and her stroke. Baldev Mahal, Mrs Mahal’s son, who was her principal carer, told the inquest at Leicester Coroner’s Court on Monday: “When I look back now, I’m convinced, in my own opinion, there’s some kind of a trigger.

“Something’s jolted my mum’s system to send her down that road. I respectfully say to anyone, it’s not trying to put a downer on the vaccine… it’s what happened in my mum’s circumstances.”

The inquest heard Mrs Mahal was “frightened of getting Covid” and refused the vaccine a number of times before she eventually changed her mind. Mr Mahal told the inquest that he and his mother were not told during the appointment that she was being given a booster jab.

The son added they were given no leaflet about the Covid or flu vaccines and were told if she experienced any pain to take paracetamol. He said: “When you think of it from a clinical point of view, informed consent was not gained.

“For my mum’s academic level, it could have been put simply that this one isn’t for you… some kind of explanation to go along with it.”

Senior coroner Professor Catherine Mason asked: “At any point did your mum say ‘I don’t want a vaccine’?” Mr Mahal replied: “Those words weren’t spoken.”

He told the inquest that his mother had blurred vision, pain and confusion after the jab was administered. He said: “Certainly the same day she suffered quite a big headache, that afternoon, and decided to sleep it off.

“When it started being weakness in the legs and certainly blurred vision I just thought she’s probably got a migraine.” On October 26, Mr Mahal found his mother partly dressed on the bed.

He said: “Her jaw had locked. She could not speak, was murmuring. I could see from her eye movement she was very agitated.” Mr Mahal told the ambulance workers who came to her home that his mother had recently had two vaccinations.

She was taken to hospital, where she later died. Mr Mahal then spoke to a doctor at his mother’s GP surgery on November 23.

He said: “I told him my mum had died. He checked mum’s records and he said she should not have had that one (vaccination).” Mr Mahal said he then referred his mother’s death to the coroner.

Mr Mahal added: “It’s not about the vaccine. It’s about how it’s been administered to somebody like my mum with all these health conditions.” The inquest heard Mrs Mahal had diabetes and previously had a stroke in January 2021.

Dr James Scott, a stroke consultant at Royal Derby Hospital, told the coroner he does not think the vaccination played a part in Mrs Mahal’s stroke.

He said: “She had heart failure, she had an injury to the brain, to the other side, from her previous stroke. So she did not have a fair fight on her hands.”

In a pen portrait, one of Mrs Mahal’s other children Jaspal said: “My mum was frightened of the pandemic, Covid-19. She was isolated from her friends and family. This did have a massive impact on her. She would say she’s scared but we must bang our pans for all the doctors and nurses.

“She banged them so hard she broke the pans. I said ‘you cannot do it every day mum, it’s only Thursdays’.” One of Mrs Mahal’s other sons Jasvinder said in a written statement “family was everything” to her.

The inquest heard that proceedings were moved to Leicester from Derby because Baldev Mahal alleged the previous coroner was “biased”, which she has denied. The inquest continues.

Harry Brook (Yorkshire, Captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Luke Wood (Lancashire)

Fixtures:

Wednesday 1 July – Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street

Saturday 4 July – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Tuesday 7 July – Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Thursday 9 July – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol

Saturday 11 July – Utilita Bowl, Southampton

The building has failed two sales, however a new bid could give it a new lease of life

A Grade II listed library in Cambridge, which has been left empty for several years, could be sold at the third attempt. The former Mill Road Library building has had two failed sales, however it could be set to get a new lease of life after receiving a bid to convert it into a community-led arts centre.

Cambridgeshire County Council papers said it had received a bid from the Mill Road Community Interest Company (CIC) by its January 2026 deadline.

If the sale goes through, the plans would see an auditorium with retractable seating, a mixed-use gallery and café space, creative work areas and facilities to support exhibitions, workshops, performances, film screenings, co-working and community outreach. The Grade II listed building has been owned by Cambridgeshire County Council since the 1970s.

The former library was registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and was under a six-month moratorium period which ran until February 2026. This meant that it could only be sold to eligible community groups during this time.

The property can now be sold on the open market for a 12-month window before another moratorium can be triggered.

The first potential buyer, children’s charity Centre 33, was chosen in 2023. The charity later pulled out of the process due to the amount of work they said the building needed to make it fit for purpose.

In October 2024, the county council agreed to sell the building to a new bidder. However, the buyer later withdrew the offer due to a land ownership dispute, according to the former bidder.

Papers from council’s assets and procurement committee said that the centre would “operate daily as an inclusive hub for arts, culture, volunteering and social programmes, with partnerships already established with local organisations”.

The latest proposal represents a “significant improvement” on the group’s previous submissions, according to the council papers.

It said that the funding for the purchase has been confirmed and will come from “two private sources” and “any need for future converting of the building will be funded through a combination of grants and pledges, some of which have already been secured”.

The papers added: “The bidders have requested that the Council enter an option to buy until 15 February 2027 to allow time to complete the purchase. Should the option not be implemented within this period, the property will be remarketed.”

Following the library closure in 1996, the building was leased to an Indian Community and Cultural Association until 2019. It was then let on a temporary basis to Hill Group for office and welfare use until February 2023.

Nico O’Reilly might have enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for club and country but the Manchester City star has eyes on a new role.

The Blues ace believes his future lies in midfield, raising the prospect of O’Reilly potentially forming a partnership with prospective new Blues signing Elliot Anderson.

City are working on a deal for the Nottingham Forest midfielder and the prospect of O’Reilly and Anderson together in the middle of midfield would be an attractive pairing, particularly with long-term uncertainty around Rodri’s future.

While that may create a vacancy at left-back, a position which O’Reilly has made his own for club and country, the Manchester native believes he will return to midfield, where he played throughout his time in the City academy, in due course.

“I think in the future I will be back in midfield,” he said. “My profile, everything fits there and maybe a box to box midfielder but left-back I have been enjoying it and it has got me here now to a World Cup.

“Playing at left-back I have been playing in the middle for most of it anyway so it’s not like I am playing as a traditional left-back, even in England, I am still coming inside and allowed to drift in and drift out wide so it is a bit more relaxed.”

O’Reilly started for England in the 4-2 win over Croatia last week and is in line to do so again against Ghana on Tuesday.

There he will likely come up against clubmate Antoine Semenyo, a key player for the Black Stars who also began their World Cup campaign with a victory.

And O’Reilly knows just what to expect from a player he has been impressed by since his January move to the Etihad.

“Antoine is a very good player. I’ve seen it first hand in training and playing with him,” O’Reilly said. “I know Ghana are going to be very physical. If we play our game, we do what we did towards the end of the last game, I think we should be okay.

“He’s very strong. He’s always in the gym! He’s a big lad but he can’t win the game by himself so if we double up on him, we’ll see.

“We’ve got a physical squad ourselves. Set pieces were a threat in the last game and I’m sure they’ll be looking at that.”