The event, running from May 21 to 25, promises festival-style decorations, entertainment, and chilled Magners cider at participating pubs.

A spokesman for Pub Fest said: “Forget the queues and muddy fields, the real festival atmosphere will be found right on your doorstep.

“Pub Fest promises to bring a taste of festival season to locals.”

Pubs taking part include: 

• Alma Inn, Bolton
• Beeley’s Bar, Bolton
• Gilnow Arms, Bolton
• Keg & Thread, Bolton
• Lamb Hotel, Bolton
• Lord Raglan, Bolton
• Royal Hotel, Bolton
• Victoria, Bolton, BL5

EXCLUSIVE: Linda Clarke, a member of Scottish Labour’s governing body, has hit out at Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie.

A Scottish Labour official has accused Anas Sarwar of admitting “zero” mistakes after a “dire” Holyrood election result.

Linda Clarke also questioned if the party leadership is capable of any “insightful analysis or change” after the crushing defeat.

Her criticisms come as Scottish Labour agreed a review of their defeat to John Swinney’s SNP.

Labour went down to their worst ever Holyrood election result on May 7th, falling to 17 MSPs.

Senior party figures blame Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the defeat, but they also admit failings with the Scottish Labour campaign.

Insiders feel Sarwar tried to win too many constituencies and produced a manifesto lacking in ambition.

READ MORE: Scottish Labour official blasts “toxic” and “authoritarian” party after election humbling

OPINION

Paul Hutcheon

A frank exchange of views took place at Labour’s governing Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) on Saturday.

In a message to an internal Scottish Labour Facebook forum, leaked to the Record, SEC member Linda Clarke hit out at Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie.

She wrote: [The] meeting did not vote to support the SLP top leadership – or give it any seal of approval.

“Nor did it vote to censure or replace it. However there was a very very frank discussion.

“Unfortunately IMO, the top leadership is committed to ZERO change and admitted to ZERO mistakes in policy or strategy.

“I don’t see any evidence that Sarwar or Bailie are capable of any insightful analysis or change.

“There is clearly still a lot of work to be done within the SLP to learn and act from these dire results.”

Clarke represents the Scottish Labour Women’s Committee on the SEC.

A party source rejected Clarke’s claims and said she held a “minority view” on the governing body, adding that Sarwar was willing to take responsibility for the campaign.

The insider also said the SEC agreed a review that would involve interviews with members, staff and candidates.

They also said there is a general acceptance that the Scottish Labour hierarchy could have motivated party members better in relation to the campaign.

Clarke’s criticisms came after another SEC member, Alison Ann-Dowling, also blasted the state of the party.

In a message posted in a feminist WhatsApp group, also leaked to the Record, she wrote:

“I’m afraid I don’t share the view that categorising any challenge to the scottish labour leadership about their performance and the outcome of the election is in fighting or disruptive.

“The way the Scottish Party has been run has been problematic for years, long before Starmer and Reform.”

She claimed the party is too centralised around Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie, and criticised the Holyrood campaign:

“I also think it’s wrong and counter productive to give individuals in positions of leadership full control over the Party, but decouple that from any personal accountability for their actions.

“We had no list strategy. The 38 constituency strategy was wildly optimistic and failed to read the public mood. We failed to communicate a coherent manifesto election offer that we could sell as an elevator pitch on the doorsteps.

“The entire party has been centralised to a toxic level of control held by a small group of people, to an extent I’ve never seen before. I could go on.”

Sarwar has promised to stay on as leader to provide opposition to the SNP Government.

Fellow Labour MSPs Michael Marra and Paul Sweeney have been tipped as potential successors if he stands down.

Scottish Labour has been contacted.

Stephen Colbert has delivered the final monologue of his tenure on The Late Show, thanking viewers for being along for the ride.

Colbert, 62, began the final broadcast of the long-running CBS show by speaking directly to viewers.

“This show, I want you to know, has been a joy for us to do for you. In fact, we call this show ‘The Joy Machine,’” Colbert said. “We call it ‘The Joy Machine,’ because to do this many shows it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears.

“I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other, and how much we mean to each other,” he continued.

“Now, I’ll say to you what I’ve said to every audience for the last 11 years, and I’ve met it every time. Have a good show. Thanks for being here. And let’s do it, y’all.”

Colbert then dove into his monologue about the news of the day, which featured cameos from Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and Ant-Man’s Paul Rudd.

CBS’s long-running Late Show franchise will come to an end Thursday after 33 years on air. It originated in 1993 with David Letterman, who later passed the torch to Colbert in 2015. The network has promised an “extended” send-off beyond the show’s typical one-hour time slot.

The network announced its cancellation last July, just days after Colbert criticized the network’s parent company, Paramount, for reaching a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over accusations that its newsmagazine series 60 Minutes deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

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CBS staffers told The Independent it was a continuation of the “Trump shakedown” that began with the settlement.

More to follow

Why should I look at my leaves in the morning?

What should I do if I suspect drought?

Smith, in a televised address, said the question being put to Albertans this coming autumn will be: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

The defendant caused his children to feel ‘sad’ and ‘anxious’ due to his aggressive behaviour, which left them retreating to their bedrooms in fear

A father who punched, kicked and slapped his children after losing his temper left them feeling “sad” and “anxious” in the house. His children said they were relieved their father was no longer living in the house.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the defendant was abusive towards his children, who described him as “controlling” and “angry”. He frequently shouted at the children for being noisy, which caused them to feel “anxious and frightened” of him.

He would smack the children on the legs and play roughly with them, leaving them with marks and injuries. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

When he would lose his temper, the children would retreat to their bedrooms in fear.

One of the children described the defendant becoming angry with them and would punch, slap and kick.

He punched her to the legs, causing pain and bruising and she was struck by her father on a number of occasions, including kicking her to the knee. She said she was often “scared and upset”.

Another child said his father shouted, swore and became angry towards him and his siblings and hit them around two to three times a week.

He said the defendant slapped and punched him, leaving handprints and bruising. One child said his father hit him to his arms and legs, and described being slapped and punched causing him pain and marks.

The oldest child said the defendant dragged her upstairs by her hair, causing her pain and distress. He also smacked her legs. In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Sali Harmes, the children’s mother said life had been easier since their father left the house.

She said: “The atmosphere in the house is different, we’re no longer waiting for the next raised voice or slammed door. Life seems easier and the children are happier and not anxious any more. They sleep and eat better, communicate better.

“They miss him but they understand why he needs to be punished. The house is calm and children are allowed to be children and it’s lovely watching them play together.”

The children said they felt happier they were no longer living with their father, because there was less shouting and they didn’t have to deal with his moods.

One of them said: “We miss him but we don’t feel scared anymore and feel less anxious at home.”

The defendant later pleaded guilty to four counts of causing/assaulting/ill treating/neglecting/abandoning of child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.

In mitigation, Alice Sykes said her client had “poor emotional control” and his experience in the armed forces had left him with trauma.

The barrister said the defendant is now having counselling through a veterans charity to address his aggressive behaviour. Ms Sykes added: “He is deeply deeply ashamed of his behaviour.”

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “You treated those children abominably. Children are a joy… Of course they drive you to distraction from time to time but that’s the nature of a child. Treating them in the way you did was a disgrace.”

The defendant was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out a rehabilitation activity requirement, to pay costs of £150, and made subject to a restraining order for three years.

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Cllr Margaret Wells, Labour ward councillor for Clifton, has returned to the role following to York Council’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Mayor Making ceremony on Thursday, May 21.

The Lord Mayor said it was a real honour to return to the role which she held in 2024/5.

Cllr Claire Douglas, the authority’s Labour leader, said it was a pleasure to welcome Cllr Wells back to the role after her previous fantastic work.

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Cllr Wells succeeded Conservative Cllr Martin Rowley at the ceremony on Thursday.

Osbaldwick and Derwent’s Cllr Rowley served alongside former Conservative councillor Paul Doughty who took on the role of Sheriff of York during the last municipal year.

Cllr Rowley’s time in the role included the creation of a Lord Mayor’s Commendation Scheme set up to recognise the work of selected people in York.

Cllr Wells’ civic party for the coming municipal year includes her consort Trevor Gant, Geoff Cossins who is serving as Sheriff of York and Stuart Jarman, the Sheriff’s Consort.

Cllr Margaret Wells (left) served as York’s Lord Mayor in 2024/5 (Image: Supplied)

The incoming Lord Mayor said she looked forward to meeting the amazing people of York and helping to raise money for fantastic causes.

Cllr Wells said: “It is a real honour to be chosen as the Lord Mayor of York again.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Rowley for all his hard work and dedication during his tenure as Lord Mayor.

“Alongside my colleagues in the Civic Party, I’m looking forward to continuing our work as ambassadors for this fantastic city.”

Council Leader Cllr Douglas said she was grateful to Cllr Rowley and the outgoing Civic Party for their outstanding work.

The Labour council leader said: “Mayor making is an ancient tradition steeped in history and it is a real honour to formally welcome York’s new Lord Mayor and Civic Party for the next year.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Cllr Wells back as The Lord Mayor after the fantastic work she did along with the Civic Party for the city when she was last Lord Mayor.”

The office of York’s mayor dates back to 1217 and was first held by Hugh de Selby.

It became a lord mayoralty under Richard II in 1389 and is second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence in England.

Past office holders include William Harrington, the great-grandfather of Guy Fawkes, architect John Carr and confectionary magnates Joseph Terry and John Rowntree.

York is one of 15 towns and cities which still has a sheriff, an office whose origins date back to Anglo-Saxon times.

They were officials appointed to help govern the country’s shires and were called shire reeves, which gradually became sheriff.

Sheriffs represented the monarch at a local level, helping to collect taxes and administer justice, but the role is now ceremonial.

The ITV soap hopes to “challenge the perception of what homelessness looks like”.

The broadcaster has partnered with charities, including The Salvation Army, to develop the plot, which will centre on mechanic Kammy Hadiq, played by Shebz Miah, as it emerges that he’s homeless.

Despite maintaining a job and relationships in the village, fan-favourite Kammy has secretly been sleeping rough in vehicles and in barns.

Emmerdale’s most emotional exits

Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper said: “This storyline is a vital look at ‘hidden homelessness’, showing that people can be living on the edge of society, sleeping in their vehicle or barns, while still successfully holding down a job and maintaining relationships.

“For many reasons, a person’s circumstances can change dramatically and we wanted to challenge the perception of what homelessness looks like and prove that what people present to the outside world isn’t necessarily the whole story.

“We hope this narrative encourages our viewers to look closer and remember that things are not always quite as they seem.”

Emmerdale said it hopes the storyline will raise awareness of the realities of hidden homelessness and that those concealing their struggles often “miss out on the support and help they need”.

This is not the first time the soap has addressed homelessness.

Back in 2019, Emmerdale was praised for Bob Hope’s storyline, which saw the character, played by Tony Audenshaw, sleeping rough after a relationship breakdown.

More recently, the soap worked with the charity Missing People for a plot in which teenager April Windsor, played by Amelia Flanagan, ran away from home during the Christmas season.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and STV, and from 7am on ITVX, STV, and YouTube.

What do you think has been the most powerful Emmerdale storyline? Tell us in the comments below.

“I don’t ask why (they rejected the proposal). They just told me, it doesn’t work, because, you know, there are contractual issues, TV rights, and I think everybody wants the last game day, the big celebration, the trophy, that goes to Arsenal, everything together. I think that’s the reason.”