A spokesperson called the allegations “deeply distasteful”
The Government has described claims that it may have used knowledge of Jeffrey Donaldson’s sex offending as “leverage” in a deal to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland in 2024 as “deeply distasteful and absolute nonsense”.
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TUV leader Jim Allister had raised questions over whether the former DUP leader, who was convicted this week for a string of sex offences, had been “compromised to the detriment of unionism”.
A jury at Newry Crown Court unanimously found the ex-MP guilty on Monday of 18 offences against two women when they were children, including one count of rape.
Donaldson has been told he faces a “lengthy” prison sentence when he is sentenced later in the year.
In 2022, Donaldson, then the DUP leader, collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions in protest over the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.
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Two years later he struck a deal with the then UK government to restore the institutions.
Mr Allister, the North Antrim MP, and a fierce critic of the deal which brought back the powersharing Executive and Assembly, issued a statement following the conviction in which he referred to a “chilling and troubling issue”.
Mr Allister said: “To me it is inconceivable that the government was unaware of his proclivities and the idea of such being used as leverage is far from fanciful.
His about-turn from ‘unalterable opposition’ to the protocol to protocol facilitator was telling.
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“From sharing platforms with me and others in robust opposition, he somersaulted to lying salesmanship of the phoney ‘Safeguarding the Union’ document.
“Who could forget his brazen lies that the Irish Sea border was gone?
“How did this come about?”
A UK Government spokesperson responded: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson who have shown immense courage in coming forward and giving evidence.
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“Mr Allister’s allegations are deeply distasteful and absolute nonsense.”
Emma and Matt Willis’ relationship has not been without its challenges, with the Busted bassist revealing they had couples counselling, where they kept having the “same conversation”
Emma Willis’ husband, Matt, has shed light on a “small” issue in their marriage that was holding that caused a “big problem” in their marriage. The Strictly Come Dancing host has been married to the Busted bassist since 2008. They share three children, Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie, but their relationship has not been without its challenges.
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Matt, who spent time in rehab and appeared in the documentary Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with cocaine and alcohol, but has now been sober since 2016.
He and Emma also went to couples counselling, but he said they kept having the “same conversation”. Speaking to Pop Idol winner Will Young, Matt admitted they were “never getting anywhere”.
He explained on his addiction-themed On the Mend podcast: “We had this same thing that was kind of coming up in our relationship. I won’t go into too many details, but same thing, same conversation over and over again, never getting anywhere.”
Matt added: “Once we actually got to the root of what that was, we have never had that problem ever again. And it was so small when I think about it, you know, but it was actually massive.
“You know, and now, looking back at it, I was like, ‘That was everything that was holding us away from truly loving’.”
Last month, Emma was announced as the new host of Strictly, alongside Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe. They replace Strictly veterans Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who quit the BBC show in 2025.
Emma said in a statement: “I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a 10 from them!”
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Meanwhile, Matt has previously said Emma gives him constructive feedback, and he has asked her what he needs to work on as part of his personal development. Emma noted that he had a tendency not to follow through with his plans.
Speaking on the podcast previously, he said: “I asked Emma about it, and she thought about it for quite a while, and then she basically gave me the same one which I’ve said before, which is I don’t follow through with things. It was worded slightly different, but that was the message.”
He added: “She basically said, ‘You have so many ideas, which is hard to keep up with at times, and I don’t want to disregard your passion and ideas for stuff, but there’s so many, and so few of them are going to take flight’.
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“And she was like, ‘I don’t want to stop you from being this creative thing that comes up with all this stuff, but you don’t follow through on most of them, and some of them which you come to that are important, you don’t follow through with’.”
Matt admitted her criticism was “hard to hear”, but said it was something he needed to work on.
The teenager also ignored red traffic lights and drove the wrong way around a roundabout
A teenager ignored red traffic lights and drove at more than 100mph in a bid to escape police. Zachary Hassan, 18, was spotted speeding in a Ford Kuga, in High Street, Fletton, Peterborough, at about 2am on May 23.
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Officers used their blue lights, but Hassan failed to stop and attempted to flee from police. At one point Hassan drove at about 125mph as he tried to get away, as well as reaching 65mph in a 30mph zone.
Hassan also drove the wrong way around a roundabout, ignored red traffic lights, and contravened keep-left bollards. When the pursuit ended in Huntsman’s Gate, Bretton, Hassan ran but was arrested a short while later hiding in a bush.
Hassan, of Lythemere, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, possession of cannabis, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.
The 18-year-old was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for year, and disqualified from driving for a year on Monday, June 15, at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
Stanway, 27, a double European champion with the Lionesses, was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list in December 2025.
She was awarded the honour alongside England teammates Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh and Ella Toone whilst their captain, Leah Williamson, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Stanway could be seen smiling, laughing and shaking hands with King Charles III at the Windsor Castle investiture ceremony.
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The Barrovian was among 71 people officially given their honours by the King at Windsor Castle today.
Taking to social media, an England Football Team spokesperson said: “Congratulations Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway, who was awarded her MBE today at Windsor Castle.”
Georgia Stanway with His Majesty King Charles III at Windsor Castle (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA)
Stanway wrote on Instagram: “No words. MBE!! An unbelievably proud day with family.”
The official Royal Family social media account said: “Congratulations to all those who received honours at today’s investitures at Windsor Castle.”
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Stanway received the honour in recognition of her services to association football.
Honours such as those Stanway and the Lionesses received are announced twice a year, at the New Year and on the King’s official birthday.
They recognise those who have made significant contributions to Britain and public life.
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Born in Barrow, Stanway, a midfielder, was part of the England team which won the UEFA European Women’s Championship in July 2025 when they beat Spain on penalties in the final in Basel, Switzerland.
The honour comes after the Lioness also received the Freedom of Barrow at the town hall in December 2025.
Other notable people to receive their honours at Windsor Castle today were Katherine Scriver-Brunt, who was awarded her OBE for services to women’s cricket and to the community in Yorkshire, as well as Anne Reid, who was awarded a CBE for services to drama.
A woman has suffered serious injuries after a crash on the A1. Emergency services were called to a crash on the A1 near Sawtry just before 5am on Wednesday (June 24).
The crash involved a lorry and car. The driver of the car suffered serious injuries.
A police spokesperson said: “We were called at about 4.50am this morning (June 24) to the northbound carriageway of the A1(M) near Sawtry after reports of a collision between a car and a lorry.
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“The car driver, a woman, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital suffering from serious injuries. The lorry driver was uninjured.”
National Highways closed two of the four lanes on the road while the crash was dealt with. The road reopened just before 6am.
The head of a major review into adult social care in England has said her interim report later this year will suggest some “quite big” changes to the system.
Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading an independent commission on adult social care, confirmed she had been in contact with would-be prime minister Andy Burnham, who has spoken recently on the potential for a care levy.
While the commission was announced in early January 2025, and formally began a few months later in April, it is thought its second phase, making long-term recommendations for the sector, might not report until 2028.
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But Baroness Casey pointed to the phrase “by 2028” in the commission’s terms of reference, indicating the overall work might be completed sooner.
Speaking last month, before he became an MP, Mr Burnham said he thought the NHS was “almost being overwhelmed” by a “broken” care system.
He said he did not “resile” from previous comments he had made about abolishing inheritance tax in favour of a care levy.
The politician, whose father has Alzheimer’s, said he believed there should be a different way of paying for care.
Channel 4 has shared a first look at the latest instalment of Dominic Savage’s I Am series, starring Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole
Channel 4 has released a first look at a “deeply terrifying” new drama featuring Bridgerton and Peaky Blinders stars.
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Nicola Coughlan and Joe Cole lead the latest entry in Dominic Savage’s acclaimed I Am series. Nicola takes the central role as Helen, while Joe’s character remains undisclosed.
However, he appears to portray Helen’s partner, with promotional images depicting the pair seated on a bed in what seems to be a heated exchange, reports the Mirror.
The newest addition to the critically lauded anthology series, entitled I Am Helen, is created, written and directed by Dominic Savage, and promises to explore the “experience of womanhood within a world shaped by masculine power, aggression, and control”.
The official synopsis states: “Told through a female lens, the story examines the pressures and expectations placed on women while confronting the realities of toxic masculinity and the damage it can create in modern relationships.”
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I Am Helen follows three previous seasons, each charting women’s personal journeys through distinct individual stories. In 2023, Kate Winslet headlined the third instalment, I Am Ruth, which earned two BAFTAs and received widespread critical acclaim.
Launching in 2019, the inaugural series starred Vicky McClure in I Am Nicola, Samantha Morton in I Am Kirsty, and Gemma Chan in I Am Hannah. The second season featured Suranne Jones in I Am Victoria, Letitia Wright in I Am Danielle, and Lesley Manville in I Am Maria.
When the series was initially revealed, Nicola informed her followers: “It’s an absolute honour to be part of telling the next I Am… story alongside Dominic Savage – a singular talent and a storyteller deeply committed to exploring the breadth of the female experience.
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“To follow in the footsteps of the brilliant women who’ve collaborated with him on this series feels truly surreal, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this journey.”
After the initial preview, supporters have been quick to express their reactions on social media, with one writing: “I’m so excited to watch Nicola portraying this theme about the manosphere.”
Another commented: “Ahhh! ! I can’t wait to watch this next instalment! I already know it’s going to break my heart in the best way.”
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A third remarked: “Most excited! I know Nicola is going to slay me.” Someone else added: “Can’t wait to see this. Two fantastic actors.”
Another posted: “I’m not sure I am ready to see Nicola Coughlan play a character that gets annoyed/harassed by a man for the first time. I think this might wreck me.”
One person stated: “Aw heck, she’s great but already I want to cry.” While another responded: “This is going to really hit home isn’t it. I can’t wait, deviate myself.”
England are guaranteed a top-three finish in their World Cup group, though progression to the knockout stages has not yet been confirmed.
Level on points with Ghana, who beat Panama 1-0 before Tuesday’s stalemate in Boston, England lead the way by virtue of a slightly superior goal difference, which is now the secondary tiebreaker in use at this World Cup when two teams finish level on points during the group stage, behind head-to-head record.
A victory over Ghana would have sealed England’s passage through to the last 32 with a game to spare. A draw obviously puts them level on head to head.
Croatia’s 1-0 win over Panama, who are officially eliminated from the tournament, means Thomas Tuchel’s side can finish no lower than third in Group L, and with four points on the board, it would take an extraordinary set of results for England to be heading home early.
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Blip: England are still on course to finish top of Group L at the World Cup
PA
To guarantee qualification for the newly-created round of 32 at this expanded 48-team World Cup, the minimum requirement for the Three Lions is a point against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday.
Although, that would leave them at risk of finishing as runners-up should there be a winner between Ghana and Croatia, a game that kicks off at the same time in Philadelphia.
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Simply put, a win for England will confirm top spot as long as Ghana do not beat Croatia by a margin that is greater than theirs by two.
A draw against Panama coupled with Ghana drawing with Croatia would also be enough to progress as group winners because of goal difference.
Where it gets tricky is in the event of the Three Lions suffering a shock loss to Panama. In that scenario, England can only finish top if Ghana do not overtake them on goal difference.
If England and Ghana finish level on points with the same head-to-head record, the same goal difference in head-to-head matches, same number of goals scored in head-to-head matches and same goal difference in all group stage matches, then it will come down to greatest number of goals scored in all group stage matches to separate them.
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Having netted four against Croatia, England are currently ahead on that metric with Ghana only scoring once so far.
How England can finish third
If England and Ghana both lose their final group games, then Croatia will top the group with six points. Though the scorelines in each fixture will determine who finishes second and third.
For example, if Croatia beat Ghana 1-0 and England lose 3-0 to Panama, the Black Stars would claim the runners-up spot due to having a goal difference of zero compared to -1 for the Three Lions.
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That said, even if England were to finish third, they are almost certain to reach the knockout phase as their current points total is greater than every single current third-placed ranked team ahead of the final round of group games.
The best eight third-placed teams will join the 12 group winners and 12 group runners-up in the last 32.
Andy Burnham only arrived back in Parliament on Monday after winning a by-election last week (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
The British public is more likely to think Andy Burnham will make a good Prime Minister compared to Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage, a new poll has found.
But the new figures also show danger could lie ahead for the Labour heir apparent, as Brits prefer for him to face a contest for the party leadership as opposed to the more likely coronation.
Polling by Ipsos revealed 35% thought Burnham would do a good job as PM compared to 24% who believed he would do a bad job.
He was the only politician in the survey where more people had confidence than lacked it. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was backed by 29% while 37% said she would do badly in the role.
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Farage, the leader of Reform UK, had the highest percentage of people saying he would do a bad job among top politicians – 53% – while 27% believed he would be a good PM.
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The former Mayor of Greater Manchester’s path to Downing Street became clearer this morning, as Starmer loyalist Darren Jones said he would not run against him.
There had been speculation the current Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister could join a contest on behalf of those irked that Starmer had been forced from office.
But Jones told Sky News this morning he had a ‘reassuring conversation’ with Burnham about his economic plans that convinced him not to stand.
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All eyes are now on former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who has not yet ruled out a crack at the top job – though few would expect him to beat the favourite.
Nevertheless, the Ipsos poll suggests many people would like someone to have a go, with 39% wanting a contest compared to 13% who would like a Burnham coronation.
And there was further skepticism that Labour could provide ‘strong and stable leadership’, with more than six in ten voicing doubts – perhaps unsurprisingly, since the leader only stepped down on Monday.
Keiran Pedley, the Ipsos Director of Politics, said: ‘Given that Andy Burnham is seen as more likely to do a good job as Prime Minister than Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch it is reasonable to suggest that a Burnham led Labour Party could improve in the polls once he takes office.
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‘However, given than 6 in 10 lack confidence that Labour can offer strong and stable leadership, there is work to do for the expected incoming Prime Minister to show that Labour has the answers for the long term.’
The first wave of EVs leaned more into a futuristic image to help make them stand out. While this was to be expected in a vehicle that has its sights on the future, it made motorists a bit wary about driving such a flashy, unusual vehicle. Thankfully, EVs have toned down the overall design to simply resemble a modern vehicle, regardless of how it is powered, as the goal is to be premium and versatile, without such an outlandish look.
The cleaner lines and simpler tech-filled interiors have helped to assure drivers that they’re not driving a car from the distant future, but have a vehicle that matches the times and requirements of the era we’re in now.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the transformation of the EV image is that of SUVs. The call for bigger family vehicles is loud and clear across the automotive industry, and now electric SUVs have become one of the faster-growing sectors of the market.
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The smart #5 electric SUV, for instance, is one example that is focusing its attention on what modern drivers are searching for when it comes to an electric family vehicle. The improved cabin space fits the overall larger design, but it’s also the long-range capability and in-car tech that displays how far smart has come with changing perceptions of the EV.
A larger focus on practicality
Earlier EV models were often thought of as only suitable for shorter city trips and had basic, sparse interiors. However, the EVs we see on the roads in Britain today have a much stronger emphasis on catering toward bigger families as well as weekend travellers.
From increased cabin size to comfier seats to bigger boot capacity, modern EVs fit into everyday life and have slowly but surely become suitable for drivers searching for comfort and safety in a new family car.
It goes without saying that battery technology has seen a major improvement. Many EV naysayers would always point to range anxiety as a reason to never drive an electric car, but those concerns have been easing thanks to new developments.
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The sheer amount of charging stations dotted across the UK has helped quell any issues with battery range, but it’s also the fact that chargers are so much faster and more efficient nowadays. This means that EVs can be charged overnight at home, but the battery can also be replenished at numerous fast-charging points when taking long-distance trips.
The next era for the modern EV
The push behind electric vehicles in the UK is only going to grow. Industry figures show that there are over two million EVs on British roads as of now, and projections suggest one in three new cars sold in the UK will be electric by 2027.
What’s more, manufacturers assure motorists that battery range will increase, charging infrastructure will improve, and in-car tech will get smarter and more efficient as the years progress. The question is no longer whether EVs are the future, but how fast they will become commonplace on UK roads.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have gotten their World Cup campaigns off to a flyer.
17:15, 23 Jun 2026Updated 17:35, 23 Jun 2026
This will be the World Cup of Gladiators – says former Ireland striker Tony Cascarino.
The Boys in Green legend is convinced that it will be a shootout between the best players on the planet – with the top stars already serving up some scintillating performances.
France and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe got the ball rolling with his brace against Senegal, and that was quickly followed by two for Norway and Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
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Not content with just two goals, Lionel Messi got holders Argentina off to a flyer with a hat-trick against Mexico.
And Bayern Munich hitman Harry Kane was next to deliver the goods with a brace for England in their impressive 4-2 win against Croatia.
Messi, Mbappe and Haaland have all added two more goals each in their second group games, while Kane is in action on Tuesday night against Ghana,
The race for the Golden Boot looks set to be one of the major storylines of this year’s tournament.
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And it’s one on which Cascarino is keeping a close eye.
“I came away from the first round of games thinking, is this going to be the World Cup of the gladiators, where all the big players turn it on,” Cascarino said, speaking on behalf of Tonybet to mark the launch of their World Cup Card Collection campaign where Irish customers can win up to €100,000.
“Haaland, knowing that Mbappe scored two, played the next game and scored two.
“Then Lionel Messi turned up for the later game and said, we’ll they got two, so I’ll go and get three.
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“So I just keep thinking, is this going to be the gladiator World Cup where the big names all turn up?
“I’m really looking forward to how this pans out. Some of them are in the twilight of their careers, they are literally at the end of their careers and they are still scoring goals.”
The one letdown so far has been Cristiano Ronaldo, whose presence in the starting-11 appeared to be a hindrance to Portugal as they slumped to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
But the first round of games has Cascarino believing that it is going to be a World Cup to remember.
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Who is he tipping for the top scorer prize?
“I do think whoever gets to the deepest stages of the tournament is going to have the best opportunity,” he replied.
“I always believe Haaland will get goals whenever he plays. Everywhere he has been, from club football to international football, his goal record is sensational.
“But I don’t see a semi-final team in Norway.
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“I think the top goalscorer normally comes from one of the top four teams at the World Cup. I know that’s not always the case, but I do think Mbappe has got a golden chance to do it.
“Mbappe has got so much ability and pace, and he’s got Olise on the right playing the type of ball that only he can do, that gets Mbappe on the wrong side of the defender to score.
“I just think that’s another option for him to get goals.
“France are going to go deep, and I think Mbappe will be the one to beat in the goal stakes. I really do.”
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Cascarino admits it’s tough watching Czechia in this summer’s World Cup.
Ireland looked set to progress to a play-off final clash with Denmark when they raced into a 2-0 lead in Prague in March, but Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men coughed up that advantage and went out on penalties.
According to the former Millwall, Chelsea, Celtic and Marseille striker, the Boys in Green would have given their fans plenty of reasons to cheer had they made it.
“We have to look at what the modern World Cup is, and that is nearly three teams progressing in every group qualifying,” he said.
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“You are only losing 16 teams and there are all the rock-bottom teams going out, so for me I look at us and I’d go, I don’t think we’d come bottom of the group, we probably would have gotten third, so it’s how our goal-difference would have been.
“We would have been in Mexico’s group, so one thing that came out of their game (against South Africa) was that Mexico didn’t look good in midfield areas.
“It looked like there was an enormous amount of space in there to take advantage of.
“Now, we’re not blessed with incredible midfielders to take advantage of that, but I think we are good enough.
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“In 1990 we didn’t win a game – we won a penalty shootout – and everyone went mad. It was brilliant.
“In 2002 we lost in a penalty shootout to Spain. That was harsh because I felt we played really well in that tournament. We were just really dreadful in that penalty shootout.
“1994, we had the emergence of players like Roy Keane and Denis Irwin, which was a massive plus, but I don’t think we generally had the legs all over the squad, and we weren’t as good.
“We had injuries too. Quinny did his knee, I got injured the week before the start of the tournament, so Tommy Coyne played up front, and Jack had to change his system slightly.
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“I didn’t think we played as well as in 1988 and 1990.
“I’d like to think this time around we’d have gotten out of the group to the last-32, but I don’t think we’ve got enough quality to go much deeper than that.
“That would have sent Ireland mad anyway! We’d have had parties for that.”
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