Cllr McDonald “brought knowledge and enthusiasm to all that she did”.

South Lanarkshire Council has said that Councillor Lesley McDonald sadly passed away after a short illness.

Cllr McDonald was chair of the Finance and Corporate Resources Committee at the time of her death, and had served as an elected member for Ward 20 (Larkhall) from 2007 to 2017, and again since 2022.

The council’s chief executive Paul Manning said: “Councillor McDonald was a hard-working councillor and much-liked across the political groups.

“I can say from years of experience of working with her, that she was extremely supportive as chair of the Finance and Corporate Resource, and she brought knowledge and enthusiasm to all that she did.

“Everyone who knew Lesley will know that this extended well beyond politics and the workings of the council – she was a real aficionado of the works of Robert Burns and a passionate supporter of the Scottish rugby team and Glasgow Warriors, among many other interests.

“Cllr McDonald will be greatly missed and as a sign of respect the council’s flags have been lowered to half-mast for two days. They will be placed similarly on the day of her funeral.”

Cllr McDonald was also chair of the Machan Trust in Larkhall.

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Today, Olly Robbins the sacked former Foreign Office chief, says number 10 had a “dismissive” attitude to the vetting of Lord Mandelson.

Robbins told MPs when he took over the role there was “already a very very strong expectation” from No 10 that Mandelson “needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible”. Downing Street has denied showing a “dismissive” approach to the vetting, and says Robbins made an “error of judgement”.

So where does this leave the Prime Minister? Adam and Chris discuss.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris. The social producer was . The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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It’s a big week for the detective sergeant as she and fiancee Carla Connor will tie the knot

Coronation Street fans were quick to share their upset on Lisa Swain’s behalf as they made a ‘heartbreaking’ observation about the popular character.

It’s a big week for the detective sergeant as she and fiancee Carla Connor will tie the knot, making them the first two women to successfully do so in the ITV soap’s 65-year history.

Ahead of their nuptials taking place, during Sunday’s (April 19) episode of Corrie saw Carla heading to the Chariot Square Hotel where she was seen being shown around by her nephew, Ryan Connor, as she plotted what the day will look like, finding out that that event won’t be totally private as hotel guests will still be able to mingle in shared areas.

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But Carla was soon distracted as she picked up a phonecall from Sheila, the maternal grandmother of her baby niece, Connie. As Corrie fans know, the little one recently ended up in Carla and Lisa’s care after Sheila needed someone to look after Connie, the daughter of Carla’s brother, Rob Donovan, while she headed into the hospital for an operation.

Sheila confirmed to Carla that she was now well enough to look after Connie again, and back at No.6, a clearly upset Carla was seen packing up the tot’s belongings and avoiding having to say goodbye. Eventually, Lisa stepped in but before Carla could say a farewell to Connie, Sheila arrived.

Despite being heartbroken by Connie’s departure, as they saying goes, the show must go on, and Lisa was seen preparing for her big day by practising her wedding vows on her daughter, Betsy. Her mum’s words left the teen in tears, ones she couldn’t stop when Carla emerged and wondered what was going on.

As Betsy gushed over Lisa’s vows, panic swept through Carla’s body and she later turned to Betsy herself, revealing she was considering using the internet to help her write her vows, until the teen stepped in.

With vows put to one side, Tuesday’s (April 21) episode of Corrie saw it was time for Carla’s hen and while she and Betsy headed for a night in the Rovers Return, Lisa went off to what she thought would be her own hen organised by her police colleagues. However, as Sally Metcalfe nipped out to the corner shop for some supplies, she found Lisa looking at meals for one.

She dragged her over to the Rovers where Carla and Betsy were quick to feel sorry for the DS when she revealed her colleagues hadn’t actually planned anything at all. While Lisa said she was fine with that being the case and she didn’t want to crash Carla’s night, her future wife gave her no choice and she was soon sporting a devil horn headband like the rest of the partygoers.

But the moment did get Corrie fans flocking to social media. @terrilindsay said: “Right @itvcorrie I need you to give Lisa some friends or more family because this is the saddest thing ever. Also whilst I’m putting my requests in, can we have her birthday as well please? Cheers #Swarla.” @ediitedbysoph asked: “Why Corrie? WHY ARE YOU DOING LISA LIKE THAT?!?”

@carrlaconnor complained: “Right so who on that writing staff has it out for lisa swain and is hell bent on humiliating her at every turn?” @WayhaughtLunar commented: “Right who do I need to speak to, to get Lisa some friends because that was just heartbreaking watching her having to admit no one organised anything for her! #Swarla #Corrie.”

@lifesinpiecesx posted: “That was cute but I’d convinced myself there was a really good reason Lisa wasn’t having a hen night, not just that she doesn’t have any friends #swarla.” But @Emmmmmer added: “As sad as it makes me that she has no friends,I actually kinda find it intriguing. Why doesn’t she have friends?Has she always had no friends? I wish they would dig deeper into her backstory so we could understand why she is the way she is.Her character is fascinating #swarla.”

A veteran diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer was turned away by the Department of Veterans Affairs after being told he makes too much money to qualify for healthcare benefits, he has claimed.

Chuck Brewer, a father and grandfather, was diagnosed with colon cancer with lung metastasis in March, according to a GoFundMe page established by his sister.

Brewer joined the Army at 20 years old and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He was stationed in North Carolina and worked as an administrative specialist. After receiving an honorable discharge, Brewer received his degree in social work and spent two decades working in pharmaceutical and medical sales, WKYT reported.

In March, Brewer, who lives in Kentucky, was diagnosed with cancer. “It was very difficult. It was scary at first, but I think I was more scared for my family,” Brewer told WKYT.

While Brewer has not started chemotherapy, he is currently facing the high costs of other procedures and a monthly ostomy bag. He says he went to the VA office for healthcare support but was told he makes too much money to qualify for benefits.

The VA does support veterans and their families but specific benefits vary by state. According to the VA website, a person’s eligibility for care is determined by their income and other factors.

Households which earned $63,086 or more in 2025 may not be eligible based on income but some veterans may still qualify for care based on their VA disability rating, according to the website. The Independent has contacted the VA for comment.

Brewer’s sister, Glena Doorlag, started a GoFundMe page to try to pay for his medical bills, writing that “after multiple surgeries and cancer treatments, the cost will be astronomical, something they cannot afford.”

She continued: “Chuck is the kind of man people naturally gravitate toward. The one who can make you laugh when you need it most and remind you, without even trying, what a good heart looks like. Chuck has spent his life showing strength, resiliences, and quiet courage. But beyond his service, he is, first and foremost, a devoted family man.”

“He is a loving son, a loyal brother, a dedicated husband to his wife Becky, and a proud father to Tiffany, Kelsey, Kaitlyn, and their 8 year old son Cash. And grandfather to Colton,” the fundraiser adds.

The fundraising page had received $16,000 in donations by Tuesday. “I’m appreciative, regardless if we don’t earn another dollar,” Brewer said.

The veteran said it was overwhelming to have people give back to him. “Everybody struggles a little bit financially and they’re struggling too, but they still decided to give, so it means a lot,” he said.

Chelsea will hope to arrest their dismal run of form as they head south to visit Brighton this evening. The Blues come into the match winless since putting four past Aston Villa ahead of the March international break, failing even to score in their four league outings since. That run has seen them slip to sixth in the standings, and they could fall further still should they be beaten again this evening.

Nigel Farage is under pressure to disown a string of Reform UK local election candidates after newly unearthed social media posts showed that some appear to hold “grotesque” racist, misogynistic and homophobic views.

Reform has been plagued by vetting issues and vowed to clean up its process following a series of “abhorrent” incidents involving candidates, including one who stood down last month after a photo of him resurfaced in which he appeared to be performing a Nazi salute.

But The Independent has found that three of Reform’s candidates have professed extreme views on social media, with Labour demanding they are suspended even though it is now too late for them to be withdrawn as candidates.

Andrew Mahon, who is standing in Blackburn South East, appears to have made a number of homophobic remarks about health secretary Wes Streeting and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

Last month, on Facebook, Mr Mahon appeared to state: “I wonder if Wes Streeting likes sausage? I wonder if he eats meat?”

And a now-deleted post on X in March, posted in Mr Mahon’s name, said: “Hannah Spencer the Green MP knows all about ballcocks and I bet she knows all about her heavy-duty plumber’s snake. I wonder, is she has unblocked any flue’s in Zac Polanski’s residence or undertaken any pipe cleaning [sic]”.

In another now deleted post, Mr Mahon appears to say: “No disrespect but why can black people use the word n***** but white people cannot. Seriously, why is this the case?”

In a Facebook post from 2024, Mr Mahon is seen saying on X that Angela Rayner “should consider weight loss jabs”.

Brett Muscroft, standing in Wakefield’s Castleford Central and Glasshoughton ward, seems to have openly supported the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

In August 2024, a Facebook post in Mr Muscroft’s name said that making Robinson secretary of state for defence would mean “we may get Great Britain back”.

In a post on Facebook from February 2025, an image caption reads: “Islam is like cancer. If you don’t remove it on time, it will kill you.”

Arnold Tabor, who is standing in Wakefield’s South Elmsall and South Kirkby ward, appears to have left a comment on a YouTube video in 2022 suggesting that the navy should shoot migrants in the English Channel.

Another comment, posted in 2023 on a YouTube video, says that migrants should be put in a “huge walled workhouse city” and be made to “work for no pay”.

Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, has demanded Mr Farage take action.

She said: “These vile comments expose the type of candidates Reform are happy to put on the ballot paper. Despite all Nigel Farage’s claims about improving vetting in the party, he continues to stand candidates who hold grotesque views. Voters deserve better.

“Farage needs to act and kick these people out of his party for good.”

A spokesperson for Reform said the party was investigating the allegations.

Britain’s Got Talent 2026 auditions are over – here’s the full list of all nine golden buzzer acts heading straight through to the live semi-finals

The Britain’s Got Talent 2026 auditions have concluded, but which performers secured the prestigious golden buzzers ahead of the programme’s semi-finals? Ant and Dec returned to host the ITV show’s 19th series, with Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden joined by KSI on the judging panel.

KSI, who appeared as a guest judge last year, took over from Bruno Tonioli following the former Strictly star’s departure. Beginning in February, the auditions concluded with Saturday night’s final episode (April 18).

ITV has since confirmed that Britain’s Got Talent’s opening semi-final will be broadcast on Saturday, April 25. As with last year, the semi-finals will air on a weekly basis rather than being condensed into a single week as previously done.

This year’s grand final will be held on Saturday, May 30, where one performer will claim £250,000 and a place at this year’s Royal Variety Performance. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter

Following the show’s established format, audiences remain unaware which acts receiving four votes will progress to the semi-finals.

However, certain performers were awarded a golden buzzer and advanced automatically. Nine acts were awarded golden buzzers this year, with semi-finals typically featuring eight or nine performances per evening. This means that nearly 50 acts appearing across the semi-final rounds.

Para-athlete Paul Nunnari became the first recipient of a golden buzzer when Simon pressed his button after watching him ascend red silks using only his hands, having left his wheelchair below. The judge’s second golden buzzer choice was vocalist Matty Juniosa.

Magician Rafferty Coope followed in the footsteps of last year’s winner Harry Moulding, earning his place through KSI’s golden buzzer.

A hilarious moment occurred when Alesha managed to press her buzzer before Simon for light-up dance and movement troupe Antigravity.

Amanda Holden selected Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers Choir, a performance which moved her to tears, alongside dance ensemble World Wings.

KSI awarded his final golden buzzer to Mr Cherry, whose act involved crushing cans and opening wine bottles using his bottom.

The judging panel weren’t alone in making selections, as Ant and Dec chose comedian Ted Hill, while stand-in judge Stacey Solomon put through the Solomon Braunstone Community Primary School dance troupe.

You can watch Britain’s Got Talent this Saturday, April 25 from 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.