Thousands of Britons will become victims of crime as a result of Andy Burnham‘s early prison release scheme.

Sex offenders, robbers, arsonists and violent criminals will commit nearly 90,000 extra offences after being freed early, according to analysis.

Despite mounting public fury, the Prime Minister has decided to pursue the controversial Labour plans which let thousands out of jail before the end of their sentences to ease overcrowding in prisons.

But the Conservatives have found that, thanks to Mr Burnham green-lighting the scheme, there will be around 500 added sex offences, nearly 1,800 violent crimes and just under 36,000 thefts before the end of this Parliament in 2029.

The grim forecast also estimates that 1,500 crimes for possessing a weapon, more than 7,000 drug-related offences and up to 3,000 public order offences will be recorded.

This will lead to an extra 89,225 crimes in total being committed by mid-2029, the Tories found.

Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy said: ‘Labour’s early release scheme is still set to let thousands of dangerous criminals out early, and this will mean communities seeing dangerous offenders let back on to their streets.

‘Nearly 90,000 more offences will be committed over this Parliament because of Andy Burnham’s early release scheme – it is a disaster. Conservatives are calling on Labour to finally listen to victims… and bring emergency legislation to end this mess.’

The Prime Minister paused the scheme last month after a public outcry over the possible early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper, who was dragged by a car for a mile after responding to a burglary report in 2019.

And Mr Burnham is now facing mounting pressure to block more of Britain’s worst criminals from being released – after only disqualifying rapists and the most serious sex offenders from the scheme.

The Ministry of Justice admitted last month that early release ‘may have impacts’ on a recent rise in re-offending rates.

Early release was introduced by Labour as an emergency measure in September 2024, and has seen 20,000 criminals let out of jail.

The new scheme, set to take effect in October, forms part of the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to ease overcrowding in prisons.

In the latest data published by the Government, the proven re-offending rate was 29.9 per cent, up 1.9 per cent on the year before.

A Government document admitted ‘various policy changes’ including its early release scheme ‘may have impacts upon… re-offending rates’.

But it said: ‘It is not possible to isolate the impact of individual policies on re-offending rates’.

Nick Timothy, the Tory Shadow Justice Secretary, said the prison release scheme would see ‘dangerous offenders’ allowed back on the streets

Mr Burnham – who jetted off on holiday within weeks of taking the keys to No 10 – has been forced to review whether to block all criminals charged with the death of emergency workers from early release to ensure PC Andrew Harper’s killers remain behind bars.

A petition to keep them in jail to serve their full sentences had 861,000 signatures on Sunday night.

Brian Booth, the deputy national chairman of the Police Federation, said Mr Burnham was ‘being watched’ by the wider public on ‘how he deals with this incident’.

While the PM may block the release of PC Harper’s killers, a source from the probation officers’ union Napo told The Sun that ‘more people, largely women, will be killed or harmed’ thanks to the scheme.

It comes as the Daily Mail revealed last week that 9,300 domestic abusers as well as 363 offenders convicted of manslaughter are set to be released early from prison before the end of this Parliament.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf will announce plans on Monday to halt early release for those jailed for murder and serious violent crimes and will vow to deport foreign criminals.

He said: ‘Andy Burnham is about to release killers from jail early, including the men who killed PC Harper. The Tories released thousands of prisoners early, including murderers and rapists.

‘It was the Tories that created the prison capacity crisis, importing 6million net new people through immigration and building just 455 net new prison places to cope.

‘Reform will deport all 10,000 foreign nationals from our prisons, sending them to serve their sentences in countries like El Salvador. We will use the space created to ensure serious criminals stay where they belong: behind bars.’

Under Labour’s new plans, criminals who faced serving two-thirds of their sentence before being considered for release can now be let out after only half their term.

Reform UK’s justice spokesman Zia Yusuf will announce plans on Monday to stop early release for those convicted of murder and serious violent crimes

Less serious offenders will be released after serving just a third of their sentence instead of half.

The figures revealing nearly 90,000 extra offences will be committed were gathered using Ministry of Justice data detailing how many criminals committing specific crimes are now up for early release under the scheme.

The crimes include sexual, public order, motoring and drug-related offences, theft, robbery, fraud, violence, criminal damage and arson, possession of weapons, fraud and other crimes against society.

It was then calculated how much time each criminal will now spend in communities and not in jail, combined with their likelihood of re-offending.

This gives an estimate of the number of additional re-offences that will be committed during this Parliament thanks to the Government continuing the early release scheme.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘This is highly speculative and an inaccurate method of calculating the impact of sentencing reforms. Without them, we risk prisons reaching capacity and collapsing.

‘If that happened, police could not make arrests, courts could not remand offenders and there would be unchecked criminality on our streets.

‘The Sentencing Act is restoring order to a prison system left on the brink of collapse, while our record £700million investment in probation and community punishment ensures staff have the resources… needed to manage offenders safely in the community.’

Drivers on the dual carriageway were told to flee their vehicles ‘if you want to stay alive’. Traffic came to a halt juts before 5.30pm when the van went up in flames, with drivers ordered to get out of their cars by police.

A policewoman told drivers to get out of their cars and move to the central reservation ‘if you want to stay alive’. People have left their vehicles on the road with no time frame of when they can be collected.

A crash has closed a main road near York.

Police and an air ambulance have been called to the scene on the A19 south of York near Deighton on Sunday afternoon (August 9).

The AA said the road is closed in both directions from Naburn Lane to Howden Lane after the collision first reported at 3.15pm.

Traffic is queuing due to the crash, it said.

An eye witness said drivers are being turned around towards Crockey Hill.

By ALEX DOYLE, SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 22:56 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 23:09 BST, 9 August 2026

They were friends for decades, sharing a love of music – and a lorra lorra laughs.

And no doubt Cilla Black would have enjoyed the touching tribute from Cliff Richard, 85, in his annual calendar.

The singer has released images from his 2027 edition, including a shot of him wearing a tie-dye jacket and shorts, and standing at the back of a boat named ‘Cilla’.

Sir Cliff and Ms Black, who died in 2015 at the age of 72, had enjoyed a close friendship for more than 50 years and they both had holiday homes in Barbados where they spent time together.

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His latest calendar cover shows the singer, whose many hits include The Young Ones and We Don’t Talk Anymore, depicted on a postage stamp, standing in front of a cruise ship. 

In one month Sir Cliff is shown lying on a cream sofa, and holding a hardback copy of his first autobiography, It’s Great To Be Young, which he released in 1960 at the ripe old age of 19.

Sir Cliff Richard has released images that are included in his 2027 calendar

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These images included a shot of him wearing a tie-dye jacket and shorts, and standing at the back of a boat named ‘Cilla’

Sir Cliff and Ms Black, who died in 2015 at the age of 72, had enjoyed a close friendship for more than 50 years and they both had holiday homes in Barbados where they spent time together

The pop veteran started releasing a calendar in 1979 and they are thought to have earned him more than £2million.

According to Calendar Club, which tracks sales, his 2022 release was the bestselling of any music star’s calendars, beating Harry Styles.

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In 2023, Sir Cliff stopped posing shirtless for the calendar, saying: ‘It’s time to gracefully exit the Chippendales market.’

‘Not going to make it, I’m sorry,’ I typed. ‘I know in my heart it won’t impact how amazing your day is, and I already wasn’t up for participating, so in a way it’s for the best.’

Before I sent this text telling my best friend, Cinthya*, that I wasn’t coming to her destination wedding the evening before my flight, I knew it was a foul move.

I was part of her bridal party, after all.

It actually occurred to me this was the ultimate friendship betrayal. But as I thought about the selfish way Cinthya had behaved that year, I decided I didn’t have much of a friend left to lose.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the 17 years of friendship that accounted for more than half our lives, ever since we’d sat next to each other in sixth-grade science, age 13.

And then I clicked send, exhaling hundreds of memories away.

It’s hard to pinpoint when Cinthya’s bridal era became my villain origin story.

When she announced that her boyfriend had proposed in February 2023, I flew from my home in Minneapolis to hers in Miami for her engagement party. Although I was going through a hard time personally, I knew the moment called for me to suck it up and celebrate my best friend, and I did. It was a no brainer – I loved her partner and couldn’t be happier for them to take this next step.

But by the time I’d landed in Puerto Rico a few months later for her bachelorette trip, my personal life had snowballed into a blizzard.

My grandmother, who helped raise me, had stage four cancer. I had just left my partner of four years; and I had moved to a new city, away from my friends, where I was working a stressful job that made me feel like the walls were caving in every week.

I wish I’d had the wisdom to tell Cinthya I wasn’t in the position to be the fabulous bridal gay she wanted me to be, and that I couldn’t fathom being on her bachelorette trip, because I was also trying to get sober.

But I didn’t.

I felt so alone, without a moment to breathe. Not to mention, I was becoming fed up listening to all the petty drama that accompanied Cinthya planning her big day – most annoying was listening to cattiness about some of the bridesmaids she’d chosen – and resentment began to build as I realised she hadn’t asked me about my life since she’d got engaged.

In the end, that particular weekend went fine. But there were still moments that irked me – like when she asked me to fetch coffee for the group, or offer everyone water. She and I stayed a couple of extra days, just the two of us, and she refused to get lunch with my friend on the island; even though I had spent the previous three days with a dozen of hers.

Fast forward to her bridal shower when, after four months, I flew to Miami once again. At this point, I was thinking twice about what I meant to Cinthya, but our friendship didn’t hit rock bottom until I saw her seating arrangements.

I had already realised how little significance I carried when she decided to not let me wear my chosen tux matching the bridesmaids, instead asking me to match the groomsmen and stand on their side. It felt like a dagger to our friendship and that’s not what I had agreed to when accepting to be part of her bridal party.

I poured myself several glasses of wine and thought about what a bitch Cinthya had become

Then, at the bridal shower, I immediately noticed there was no room for me on Cinthya’s table at the meal. A random person I’d never heard of was in what I had assumed would be my seat – Cinthya explained that she didn’t want this person to sit alone, since they didn’t know anyone.

I was already angry at things in my own life that I couldn’t control – and it was easier to be furious at Cinthya over superficial things like this than it was to open a Pandora’s box of emotions about what was going on at home by thinking about how everything about my life had changed.

So I poured myself several glasses of wine and thought about what a bitch Cinthya had become.

As Cinthya’s wedding approached, in November 2024, I couldn’t believe it when I found out I was the only person in the bridal party not given a plus one.

‘Only people with partners,’ Cinthya explained to me – which hurt, considering I had best friends, like her, who meant so much more to me than a partner.

It was obvious she didn’t feel the same.

It hit me that I’d be spending the entire weekend alone – and suddenly, I realised I didn’t have to.

That’s when I sent her that message.

My emotional bandwidth had run dry. I was determined to abstain from drinking, and she had taken away the possibility of having someone who loved me there to keep me company the whole weekend.

After I’d messaged her, I knew Cinthya was upset, but she didn’t show it. I just felt her energy in the absence of a reply.

I felt relieved skipping the wedding. I visited my grandmother instead, and it was a very special weekend.

Both Cinthya and I gave each other space, despite never getting in an actual fight about the situation – and a few months later, I reached out only to tell her I decided we weren’t best friends anymore. At the time, I said this was because I wanted to live authentically; but looking back, I realise I just wanted her attention.

She assured me we were still best friends, thinking I thought she was mad at me. I explained, again, that I didn’t want to be friends with her at all.

By ALEX BURGHART, SHADOW CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Published: 22:48 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 23:03 BST, 9 August 2026

Rod Stewart’s daughter has announced the birth of her second child in a cure Instagram post, with the new addition becoming the rocker’s sixth grandchild

Rod Stewart has become a grandfather for the sixth time. The rockstar’s daughter, Ruby, welcomed her second child with fiance Jake Kalick and shared the news on social media.

Ruby, 39, gave birth to a son, Levi. Posting pics of her newborn to Instagram, she said: “We welcomed our little (big) Levi Rhodes Kalick at 6:58pm on 8/4/26 at 9lbs 20inches….”

She added that her favourite moment was when her eldest son Otis met his little brother: “His name Levi means My Heart and his arrival has grown our hearts to 10 times the size… seeing Otis and Levi meet for the first time might have been the greatest experience of my life so far… Otis is already the best big brother and we are already so in love with this sweet boy… Welcome sweet Levi!”

In the pictures, Ruby’s mother, Kelly Emberg, 67, could be seen smiling down at her new grandbaby. Kelly and Rod, 81, dated for several years in the 1980s.

Rod has eight children. His eldest child is Sarah Streeter, who is also the child of Susannah Boffey. Sarah was adopted and raised by her parents, Gerald and Evelyn Thubron. Rod also had two children with his first wife Alana Collins. Their children are Kimberly and Sean Stewart. After having Ruby with Kelly Emberg, Rod had Renee and Liam with his second wife Rachel Hunter and Alastair and Aiden with his third wife Penny Lancaster.

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Renee hopped into the comments of her sister’s post to say: “Levi. Love you guys.” Ruby’s husband Jake also commented: “Boy mum!” This came after Ruby announced her pregnancy in April by debuting her baby bump at a jazz festival in New Orleans, where her dad was performing.

Alongside Ruby’s two sons, Rod has four other grandchildren. Kimberly has a daughter, Delilah, whom she shares with Benicio Del Toro, and a son that was born last year. Liam Stewart also has two children, Louie and Elsie.

Rod was recently criticised by fans after he cancelled a gig just hours before it was due to start, citing health issues, only to head to the World Cup alongside sons Liam and Alastair.

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His Instagram post, in which he and his sons were on their way to watch Scotland play, was captioned: “Me and the boys off to Boston to see our Scotland in the World Cup! No Scotland no party.”

The cheerful message came after a statement from his team broke the news to fans on Instagram of his cancelled gig. It said: “Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California.

“He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take to the stage this evening.”

After sharing the post to Instagram, one fan replied: “Missed you last night in San Diego Rod – we hope you are doing better!!” Another said: “Seems like he is on the mend.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Andy Burnham has vowed to tackle “rip-off” subscription traps as part of his blitz of policies to tackle the cost of living crisis and provide “everyday fixes” for rising bills.

The prime minister, who will begin a summer tour of the country on Monday, will accelerate plans to force companies to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and provide more information about costs up-front rather than quietly auto-renewing them at a higher price.

Mr Burnham will travel the country during August where he will ask the public how the government can improve their lives, with officials insisting the PM will be in “listening mode” as he vowed to “pull every single lever we can to provide people with some room to breathe on the cost of living”.

The changes to subscriptions, announced in April under Sir Keir Starmer’s government, had been expected to come into force next spring, but Mr Burnham will bring their introduction forward to January.

He will also launch a consultation on adding deceptive discount offers to the Competition and Markets Authority’s list of banned practices.

This would make it easier for the watchdog to punish firms that artificially inflate prices and then immediately offer a “discount” to make a product look much better value than it is.

The prime minister said: “I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps. Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life.

“I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”

Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, welcomed the proposals, saying subscription traps and deceptive discounts were “a widespread problem”.

Citizens Advice has previously found 26 per cent of UK adults had accidentally taken out a subscription in a single year, with the government saying its action could save households £14 per month.

Further announcements are expected over the summer, with the prime minister describing Monday’s proposals as “just the start”.

The upcoming tour, which is expected to inform his 10-year plan for the country, will also see Mr Burnham focus on improving high streets.

A spokesperson for the prime minister added he would be “getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are”.

But opposition figures have criticised his August plans as a “vanity tour” offering only “tinkering”, and urged him to implement broader tax cuts. Meanwhile, there have also been concerns raised over how Mr Burnham’s cost of living blitz will be funded.

It comes after he announced a swathe of policies to bring down bills in his first week in office, including a 20 per cent business rate cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues, a VAT cut to electricity bills, and bus fares capped to £2 from January.

The business rate cut alone is expected to cost the government around £100m per year – but it is unclear how it will be funded.

Mr Burnham is also facing at least a £4.7bn black hole to fill in Sir Keir’s defence spending plan. But announcing that his first Budget will take place on 28 October, chancellor John Healey vowed it would be “built on fiscal discipline”.

Last month, the prime minister was warned that he will have to raise taxes or cut spending if he wants to fund his new priorities, in a grim analysis by one of the UK’s leading economic think tanks.

Economists at the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) cautioned the prime minister and Mr Healey that “there is no capacity to borrow any more” and that inflation will push up the cost of living much higher than the Bank of England (BoE) is forecasting.

Responding to the latest measures to tackle the cost of living, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: “Andy Burnham has already run out of ideas.

“The cost of living didn’t become a problem last week, so you have to ask why it has taken Labour so long to enact legislation passed by the previous government.

“Labour’s tax hikes have sent costs soaring for hardworking families and destroyed jobs. Consultations and reheated measures won’t make up for that.”

Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Hibernian at Ibrox in a match overshadowed by a controversial VAR penalty decision and injury concerns over Youssef Chermiti

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A lunar eclipse is approaching this week.

Yet at Ibrox, anxieties are mounting once more that they face another campaign living in Celtic’s considerable shadow.

Just three matches into the club’s latest new chapter and Rangers supporters are still awaiting Derek McInnes’ promised revival to materialise.

What should have been a match made in heaven with the former Ibrox favourite taking the manager’s position has thus far been clouded in uncertainty.

And unless circumstances align swiftly to deliver the offensive reinforcements he desperately requires, Rangers can abandon any ambitions of halting Martin O’Neill’s revitalised Hoops, reports the Daily Record.

Celtic’s confidence returned emphatically at Rugby Park.

Rangers, by contrast, continue stumbling about trying to identify their strongest XI.

David Gray’s Hibs arrived under pressure themselves following their disappointing opening to the campaign.

However, this proved precisely the tonic they needed as a contentious Josh Campbell spot-kick and Callum Wright’s dramatic late strike extinguished a Rangers comeback after Miguel Chaiwa’s own goal.

Precious few inside Ibrox could fathom why Hibs had been granted a 10th-minute penalty – even after glimpsing replays on their mobile devices.

Fresh Serbian acquisition Vanja Dragojevic – making his maiden start in an unaccustomed right-back position – appeared bewildered as referee Don Robertson was directed to the monitor to review his clash with Jason Kerr at a Hibs set-piece. At most, it appeared generous, yet referee Robertson alongside VAR official Matt MacDermid deemed the infringement worthy of awarding a penalty.

Campbell seized the opportunity without hesitation, calmly converting the opening goal.

Despite considerable time remaining, Ibrox’s recent history meant supporters couldn’t stay composed, with anxiety quickly engulfing the stadium.

Opportunities arose for Rangers to equalise, though their finishing let them down repeatedly in crucial attacking areas.

The away side’s determination to hold onto their advantage only intensified the home crowd’s growing exasperation.

Shankland nearly scored when his strike rattled the woodwork, but Rangers eventually found parity with just four minutes remaining.

A catastrophic defensive pass from Felix Passlack was intercepted by Thelo Aasgaard, before Djeidi Gassama’s delivery was turned into his own goal by Chaiwa.

It looked like a frantic finale was brewing in added time. Yet it was Hibs who broke forward, with Passlack setting up Wright whose strike took a deflection off Tuur Rommens before nestling in the net, sparking wild celebrations amongst the travelling faithful.

Here’s five talking points from Ibrox Stadium:.

McInnes’ Rangers’ recipe still missing vital ingredient

While still in the early stages, what has become apparent is that McInnes continues to search for his ideal starting line-up. After rotating five players from the season’s opening fixture at Tannadice for Thursday’s Europa League encounter in Poland, McInnes was back at it again with a further six alterations for this match.

The substitutions persisted at the interval as Dragojevic became the sixth player across just three fixtures to be withdrawn at the break – yet all this shuffling has produced thus far is a side appearing fragmented and lacking in confidence.

The Ibrox boss has made it plain he’s still seeking to bolster his attacking options before the transfer deadline – with negotiations for Couhaib Driouech ongoing.

Meanwhile, he must extract performances from the offensive players at his disposal. Should he fail to do so promptly, he may discover the title race has already reached its conclusion.

VAR sends Del demented again

Scotland’s VAR controversy reached unprecedented levels last season. Just two matches into the current campaign, it appears we’re set for another twelve months of heated debate and frustration.

McInnes is already serving a three-match suspension following the “disgusting” tirade he delivered last term criticising officiating standards during Hearts’ championship challenge.

And he has legitimate grounds to feel equally hard done by after witnessing referee Don Robertson and VAR official Matt MacDermid collaborate to award Hibs their disputed penalty which opened the scoring.

Dragojevic was culpable of being caught in an awkward position while grappling with Jason Kerr at a Hibs set-piece, though both players had their arms raised in a tussle that involved minimal contact. The match officials, nonetheless, judged there to be sufficient contact to grant the penalty, which Campbell confidently converted.

The Ibrox crowd responded with fury – while McInnes appeared equally shocked by the decision.

Choked up Chermiti

Prior to kick-off, reports emerged that Rangers had rejected what would represent a club-record £22million bid from Galatasaray for Youssef Chermiti.

The decision was made in anticipation that the Turkish club would come back with an improved offer.

However, those hopes now appear uncertain following a distressing incident just before the interval, which saw the 22-year-old Portuguese forward stretchered from the field.

The ex-Everton player committed fully to a tackle with Megwa but was clearly in considerable pain from the resulting injury, leaving the pitch with his face concealed.

Should this result in an extended absence, it will fall to Ibrox executives Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe – both present ahead of Monday’s shareholder summit – to clarify how they intend to finance a replacement.

Forging a fortress

Earlier this week, McInnes challenged his side to put opponents “under greater stress” at Ibrox, having observed from afar how Rangers sides have frequently struggled with home expectations in recent campaigns.

In fairness, he couldn’t have selected better opposition to begin strengthening Ibrox’s reputation as a difficult venue.

Across his previous 17 home fixtures managing St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Killie and Hearts, the new Rangers manager had maintained an unbeaten record against the Edinburgh outfit. Yet Gray’s team showed no signs of intimidation, displaying the same composure they had when securing victory here against Danny Rohl’s Rangers in May, snatching another dramatic late winner just as they had on that occasion.

The growing unease at Ibrox isn’t doing the Light Blues any favours, with much of the discontent from the terraces filtering down to the players. However, the only remedy for that is to begin collecting victories.

Hibs’ hounds have their day

Two lacklustre Europa League performances sandwiched between their home defeat to Motherwell had intensified the scrutiny on Gray.

However, he’ll take immense pride in how his players threw themselves into the battle.

The number of crucial blocks was impossible to tally, but Megwa, Kerr and Adam Mayor all warrant recognition for their valiant efforts as Rangers mounted wave after wave of attacks.

Wright’s clinical strike was the perfect culmination of a well-earned triumph.

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