The remarks drew an angry response, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating no prime minister has the right to ‘high-handedly’ remove the provision as set out by the Good Friday Agreement

Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not make a mistake when he said in Belfast that a poll on Irish unity is “off the table”, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has said.

Sir Chris said Mr Burnham was speaking about the situation “now” and insisted they are both “full square behind every single part of the Good Friday Agreement ”.

The Prime Minister caused a political row this week with his comments during his first visit to Northern Ireland since coming into office.

Asked about the prospects of a border poll, he responded: “I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table.

“I think we’ve got to focus on bringing people together as best we can, and I think we’ve lived through a decade where there’s been a referendum on Brexit, we had Scottish independence just before it.”

The remarks drew an angry response from nationalist politicians, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that no prime minister has the right to “high-handedly” remove the provision for a unity referendum from the Good Friday Agreement.

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DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the comments, stating the Prime Minister had “put to bed the nonsense” speculation over a unity poll.

Asked if Mr Burnham’s comment was a mistake, Sir Chris told UTV: “No, it wasn’t.

“I sat next to Andy throughout all the conversations yesterday, and he made absolutely clear, time and time again, and I’m happy to do it again now, that we stand full square behind every single part of the Good Friday Agreement, including the provisions in relation to a border poll.”

He added: “He was asked specifically about whether he was going to be discussing a border poll, holding a border poll now, and he was saying that we’re taking that off the table today.

“It was simply about the conversations yesterday.

“I’ve spoken to the First Minister and to other political leaders today to make it absolutely clear, I and Andy are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement with all its provisions, including in relation to a border poll.”

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the secretary of state can decide to hold a border poll, and it also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

The people of the Republic of Ireland must also vote in favour to effect constitutional change.

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It’s the rock festival which his father famously headlined 26 years ago.

And today, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher’s youngest son Gene, 25, took to the stage at the Reading music extravaganza with his band Villanelle.

Gene, whose mother is Nicole Appleton, looked remarkably similar to his famous dad with his rock chic black hair and sunglasses as he performed his biggest gig yet at the event which has twin festivals which take place in both Reading and Leeds today and across the weekend.

Along with his two bandmates, he appeared on the Canopy stage, which is smaller than the main stage where Oasis were in 2000.

But he wasn’t the only musical nepo baby to perform at the festival. This weekend there are several offspring of world famous musicians appearing there which has prompted accusations of elitism after organisers of the festivals axed the BBC Introducing stage which was first launched in 2008 to host new talent.

Despite it launching the careers of musicians such as Ed Sheeran and Florence + the Machine, as well as around 70 per cent of British artists in this year’s line up, bosses of Festival Republic announced an overhaul of stages last month saying it would now be open to a ‘much wider pool of emerging talent.’

However, after handing performing slots to the likes of Cruz, Gene, Violet and Moses, there has been much online.

Shortly before Gene took to the stage, Moses Martin, the 20-year-old son of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, took to the stage with his indie-pop band People I’ve Met at the Reading music extravaganza for a 35-minute set 27 years after his father sang there with Coldplay.

Shortly before Gene took to the stage, Moses Martin, the 20-year-old son of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow took to the stage with his indie-pop band People I’ve Met

Wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue denim jeans, Moses, who like his father is his band’s lead singer, took to the stage with the band which is also made up of Orlando Wiltshire and Andrew Suster.

They originally formed the group during their time in school together in Los Angeles, California but only started performing live two years ago.

Gene and Moses’ appearances set up a second-generation twist on one of Britpop’s frostier rivalries, which saw Oasis star Liam, 53, mock Coldplay frontman Chris as looking like a ‘geography teacher’ and branded the band’s fans as ‘bedwetters’.

Also taking to the stage on Friday was Violet Grohl, the daughter of Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, who had a slot at the Leeds event which is held at the city’s Bramham Park before appearing at Reading on Sunday.

Despite cancelling two gigs in Liverpool and Manchester earlier this week after losing her voice, she recovered in time to sing hits from her album Be Sweet to Me.

Like Gene and Moses, Violet’s father Dave also appeared at Leeds and Reading seven times, the last outing being in 2019 when they headlined.

Also this weekend David and Victoria Beckham’s youngest son Cruz, 21, is also performing with his band The Breakers in Reading on Saturday and Leeds on Sunday.

His proud parents, who have previously attended his gigs, will see his sets as they are continuing their summer holidays in Spain.

The nepo-babies will tag-team both festivals throughout the weekend.

Other headliners include Fontaines DC, former Little Mix singer JADE, RAYE, Chase And Status and Florence and the Machine.

Liam Gallagher’s youngest son Gene is the lead singer and guitarist for the grunge/indie rock band Villanelle (pictured together in 2018)

Just like his famous father, Moses has carved out a career in music (pictured together)

Gene, whose mother is Nicole Appleton , looked remarkably similar to his famous dad with his rock chic black hair and sunglasses

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Along with his two bandmates, he appeared on the Canopy stage, which is smaller than the main stage were Oasis were in 2000

Gene performed his biggest gig yet at the event

Also taking to the stage on Friday was Violet Grohl, the daughter of Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl

Violet is the eldest daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Jordyn Blum (pictured together in January)

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Over 100,000 festival-goers are expected to descend on both locations during the three days.

And it appears Britain’s long summer spell of hot and dry weather is over as crowds of people were spotted on Thursday donning their wellies and ponchos as they arrived at both festival locations to set up camp, bracing for rainy conditions.

The Introducing stage first launched in 2008 and also hosted the 1975 and Charli XCX, who is one of this year’s headliners, before they got their big breaks in the music industry.

Reading Festival launched in 1971 and was expanded into Leeds in 1999.

Its biggest sets are being televised by the BBC and streamed on iPlayer, including RAYE on Saturday night and Chase And Status the following evening.

Donald Trump’s construction of the new ballroom at the White House caused radio issues that led air traffic controllers to not hear messages sent from pilots preparing to carry the US President

Ongoing construction at the White House contributed to radio problems that reportedly caused radio problems which resulted in Marine One’s near miss with a passenger jet, a report has found.

Federal investigators said on Thursday the construction work resulted in air traffic controllers being unable to hear warning calls that Donald Trump’s helicopter was preparing to take off. This resulted in them clearing an airline jet to take off as Marine One lifted off earlier this month, the investigators said on Thursday.

In the week leading up to the near-miss, air traffic controllers met with Marine One pilots to discuss having not received the standard three-minute warning call ahead of its flights, a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report said.

They planned to relay radio calls through someone else if there were future problems but that was also unsuccessful on the day of the August 4 incident. Communication issues would come up again on Thursday, when the air traffic controllers at Ronald Raegan Washington National Airport were not able to hear Marine One and had to ask a support helicopter for help just before take-off.

“I can’t hear Marine One,” an air traffic controller says to the support helicopter. “If you hear Marine One, can you let me know?”

Following the incident earlier this month, technicians discovered the reason Marine One was having trouble talking to the tower at times was because the helicopter shifted to a new location during the construction. So, the Federal Aviation Administration moved the radio receiver out of a neighbourhood near the airport and to the top of the tower at Raegan to fix the problem.

“Even though they were aware of some previous communications issues, they never got at the root cause,” aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press. A recording posted by ATC.com showed the Marine One pilot telling the tower it was “three minutes to lift” just like the 2013 agreement between the FAA and the military calls for. But the controller seemed surprised a few minutes later when it took off.

“Uh, Marine One, you said, uh, you’re proceeding as briefed?” the controller asked before giving directions and continuing: “OK, no three minutes, roger, proceed as briefed.”

Guzzetti told the agency he did not believe the controllers were at fault as they never heard Marine One’s warnings. He added: “In this case, the controller did absolutely nothing wrong.

“He did not receive the transmission saying that they were three minutes away from taking off. So he had no reason to hold the airplane that was lining up and waiting.”

Three Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the scene on the A76 alongside paramedics, with an air ambulance also spotted flying in the vicinity.

One person has been injured in a crash involving a police vehicle in Ayrshire. Emergency services were called to the A76 at Kingencleugh, near Mauchline, following the collision at around 2.40pm on Friday, August 28.

The road remains closed following the incident while investigations into the crash are ongoing. Three Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the scene alongside paramedics, with an air ambulance also spotted flying in the vicinity.

A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed one casualty, the passenger of a car, was extricated by firefighters who assisted police and paramedics. It is understood both police officers travelling in the police vehicle were not seriously injured following the collision.

The Record also understands the car was not involved in a police pursuit. The car passenger’s condition or seriousness of their injuries are unknown.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The A76 is closed at Mauchline following a crash involving a police vehicle and a car, reported around 2.40pm on Friday, August 28. Emergency services are in attendance, and motorists should use an alternative route.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted to a two-vehicle RTC south of Mauchline at around 2.40pm. Operations control mobilised three fire appliances to attend.

“Crews used rescue equipment to extricate a passenger.”

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Meg Mason’s new book, Sophie, Standing There, has been advertised as a bittersweet story of love, loneliness and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.

Most reviews describe Sophie, Standing There as a novel about loneliness, chaos or obsession. Others focus on its insider insights on the world of literary festivals, drawing parallels with Mason’s own rapid rise to literary success.

However, what stands out to me is the novel’s depiction of intense introspection. Sophie is, as the title implies, a static participant in her own life. At times, her reflection and awkwardness is gruelling to observe. But while some readers might become impatient, others will feel a strong affinity with her minute self-analysis.

Sophie is a sound technician working in a precarious, seasonal role at literary festivals. She deferred her career to support her husband’s job, but the novel opens with her grieving the end of her marriage – he brutally ended their relationship while she was showering.

Sophie dwells on the immediate practical and emotional consequences of their separation, but does not disclose details until late in the novel. Throughout, plot elements are gradually and painstakingly conveyed: perseverance is the key.

Few novels have such self-effacing main characters. Sophie is something like the “witness-protagonist” figure – a major character who observes the central plot from the margins, such as Nelly in Wuthering Heights or Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby.

However, both Nelly and Carraway largely observe the transformative effects of events on others while, arguably, influencing events from the periphery. This novel conveys Sophie’s life intimately, so her passivity is more perplexing.

Essentially, Sophie, Standing There is a love story – even though it’s about books and writers, readers and reading. In many ways, it is a conventional contemporary romance. Lacking self-worth and eager to be of service, Sophie is recovering from her marriage breakdown and failed IVF, and is struggling financially.

Beautiful but unhappy and unable to advocate for herself, she develops an obsession with a successful writer who, it transpires, will be a surprise replacement headliner at the upcoming literary festival she’s working at.

This revelation instigates Sophie’s fantasies about lacing microphone wires under the author’s clothes. She fails to pursue her fantasies to an erotic conclusion, though, as she cannot imagine herself being sexually attracted to women.

Reviewers have made comparisons to Virginia Woolf and Bridget Jones, and to sad-girl fiction – a genre Sophie avoids now that it evokes her own life. But in its introspective emotional analysis, unlikely coincidences and catastrophes, this novel also resembles a contemporary Jane Austen story.

As well as Sophie’s dream author’s sudden proximity, several other unexpected events arise: spilled soup and expensive trousers, sudden feverish illness and inopportune recovery.

There are also volte-face revelations about the people in her life. Sophie’s ineffectual and impolite manager Annaliese is redeemed as vulnerable and loyal, for example, while her flighty best friend Emma conveys unexpectedly astute emotional intelligence.

In Sophie, Standing There, as with Austen, the domestic everyday is overwhelming: egg sandwiches dripping inelegantly, dogs leaning warmly against legs, cold bathrooms, loose leggings, electric car chargers, playlists and light switches. An abundance of insignificant obstructions apply pressure. Among the painstaking minutiae of everyday life emerges gradual recovery.

Perseverance is rewarded with the late revelation of an important truth – a key enabling the fragile and passive heroine to start shaping her life. When that revelation comes (and the title’s specific meaning is revealed), Sophie’s inaction comes into sharp and painful focus.

Authors’ endorsements that describe this book as heartbreaking, moving and breathtaking suddenly make sense. Sophie forgives herself and others, and the reader can only do the same.

While reviews of this novel have generally been very positive, some have described reading it as unsettling and uneasy, or suggested that the object of Sophie’s obsession is unsatisfyingly distant. One found the late, hasty revelation of Sophie’s backstory inadequately explored.

While the swiftness of these revelations does feel at odds with the rest of the novel, their startling impact on Sophie seems realistic in light of her lifelong suppressed feelings and self-effacement.

Comparisons have been made with Mason’s previous novel, the runaway bestseller Sorrow and Bliss. Sophie, Standing There is described as less hilarious, more touching but just as well-observed.

Many readers will enjoy the deferred ending and opportunities to imagine alternatives. Alongside this, there is a hearty dose of criticism for the literary industry – including festival employees who barely read, author gossip, and impolite and inappropriate writers.

There is a constant reminder to look beyond the surface (to not judge a book by its cover, perhaps). The novel shows repeatedly that things happen in life – often financial or related to family dependencies – that impede politeness, effectiveness or keeping in touch. While some exploit those vulnerabilities, others make allowances and offer support.

Beyond revealing what is beneath Sophie’s surface behaviour, Sophie, Standing There is about the importance and complexity of friendship.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and contains links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

Due to a shortage of train crew between Swansea and Llandrindod, Transport For Wales says services will be cancelled in both directions.

It adds: “We expect the incident to last until 10pm, and disruption to services is expected from 5.47pm until the end of the day.

“We have organised buses to run between Swansea and Llandrindod to assist customers to complete journeys where possible at no extra cost.

“These will arrive at Swansea at approximately 5.47pm travelling as far as Llandrindod, provided by Gower.

“When arriving into Llandrindod customers will be met by another bus that will stop as required as far as Shrewsbury. Further replacement road transport will also be arriving into Llandrindod at 8:07pm travelling all stops to Swansea, provided by Francis.

“These arrangements are in place on services until 10pm.”

South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved funding to help a church with repairs to improve public safety

A council has agreed to help fund “urgent repairs” to a village church amid safety concerns. St Andrew’s Church in Wimpole had already spent £14,000 of their own money repairing the aging building from damage caused by water ingress and deteriorating masonry.

The Grade II listed building is owned by the Diocese of Ely and, as well as providing church services, also hosts concerts, community events and art exhibitions. But the church’s future has been put at risk with water damage causing staining, plaster deterioration and even falling debris.

The church applied for £2,000 of funding from South Cambridgeshire District Council’s community chest to continue repairs. This will also go towards restoring two historic monuments – reattaching the lion to the effigy of Thomas Chicheley and cleaning and refixing the brass plaque to Reginald York.

This will cost £3,719 while the roof and masonry work will cost £11,234. The church said they will meet their remaining costs through fundraising activities, existing reserves, private donations and applications to external funders.

They have submitted applications to the Cambridge Historic Churches Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund – and secured a £1,000 private donation, with indications of future private support.

Council officers recommended approving the funding as it would support “the continued use of a well-used community facility and heritage site, ensuring it remains accessible to residents, visitors and researchers for years to come”.

They said the repairs were necessary to stop the building deteriorating further and to improve public safety. The council approved the funding.

Passengers on the easyJet flight from Manchester to Antalya say they were told to leave the runway just ten minutes before departure, before their replacement flight was diverted to Milan over crew duty-time limits

Hundreds of holidaymakers have been left stranded 1,200 miles from where they should be after their flight from Manchester was abruptly cancelled, causing hours of chaos and disruption.

Travellers on this morning’s easyJet service to Antalya, on Friday (August 28), claim they were ordered off the runway just ‘ten minutes’ before departure. One passenger reported they were about to board when they were instructed to head back to the terminal.

The carrier blamed weather-related delays which meant the crew would exceed their ‘legally permitted hours’.

After waiting over four hours, passengers – initially scheduled to leave at 7.45am – finally got airborne around midday once replacement crew members had been secured, the Manchester Evening News understands.

Yet once in the sky, travellers say they were informed the flight had to be diverted to Milan, as staff could no longer legally continue working due to reaching their duty-time restrictions.

Passengers from the aircraft, which they described as being mainly filled with families travelling with young children, found themselves at Milan Airport – more than 1,200 miles short of where they were meant to be. They’ve been handed a €25 food voucher while awaiting their fresh crew, who are reportedly flying out from Manchester Airport and expected to arrive at approximately 7.30 local time (6.30pm GMT).

EasyJet confirmed the original flight was delayed due to air traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather across Europe, with the knock-on effect pushing the crew beyond their legally permitted working hours, prompting an unscheduled stop in Milan to bring in a fresh crew.

However, passenger James Lanson, who has been travelling with his wife and two-year-old daughter since this morning, spoke to the Manchester Evening News while awaiting yet another replacement flight, describing the ordeal as deeply challenging. “It’s been unbelievably difficult with our toddler,” he said.

“She hasn’t eaten, she can’t understand what’s going on. There’s no facilities in this airport for her or any of the other kids. I used to work as a prison officer and the prison that I used to work in kept the prisoners in better condition.

“We got on the coach, drove to the airplane and pulled up next to it and the doors didn’t open. The bus driver said the pilot had called in sick and that he was gonna have to take us back to the airport.

“So me, being a scouser, I thought it was a little bit of humour and he was gonna say he was joking and tell us to have a good holiday. But no, he drove us back to the terminal and they said they were trying to source us a new pilot.

“We were due to get there at 12pm. We thought we’d get there nice and early and have a full day there today. So it’s a great start to the holiday, which was meant to be seven days and is now going to be six days.”

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News from Milan Airport, he revealed that easyJet staff informed passengers the hold-up was down to weather conditions and air traffic control restrictions.

He said: “I’ve been looking at Flight Radar and planes have been landing in Antalya all day, so I don’t know where this thing with this problem with the weather has come from.

“But a Jet2 flight took off just before ours was due to leave and that’s landed in Antalya a couple of hours ago. And we’ve just seen our old crew leave five minutes ago and get on a flight home. Which is great, while we’re stuck here.

“They’ve given us a €25 voucher but the only place you can use it in this really small, tiny airport is a Pret. I think I’ve gone back about five or six times since we landed, so in three hours, and the queue’s enormous and it’s not moving.

“It’s a sh**show. We’ve been told the crew that are coming to fly our plane to take us to Antalya are coming from Manchester. No one’s given us any information. All they’ve done is given us a voucher.”

He further revealed that his two-year-old child had not eaten since 8am, with the Pret outlet struggling to keep up with food supplies.

EasyJet confirmed the flight was delayed owing to air traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather across Europe, adding that the delay would have caused the crew to breach their legally permitted working hours, prompting an unscheduled stop in Milan to swap out the crew. According to the Manchester Evening News, the aircraft is set to be refuelled before continuing its journey on to Antalya.

An easyJet spokesperson commented: “We are sorry for any inconvenience this will have caused and did all we could to minimise the impact of the disruption. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”

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