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Keir Starmer says next election will be Labour v Reform with defining question ‘what is it to be British?’

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Daily Mirror

More revelations about Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting have raised concerns among Labour MPs, who are also worried about the party’s prospects in the May elections

Keir Starmer has vowed he can win the next election and that it will be a battle between Labour and Reform.

More revelations about Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting had raised concerns among Labour MPs, who are also worried about the May elections.

However, speaking with The Times, the embattled PM insisted Labour could defy the odds and turn things around.

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READ MORE: Keir Starmer’s former top aide urged to hire lawyers before facing MPs by Tom Watson

Asked about winning the general election, he said: “I think we can. I think it’s going to be a very important general election. It’s likely to be Labour versus Reform. An election where the defining question is, what is it to be British? An election where what I would call patriotic values of tolerance, decency, live and let live, diversity, are under challenge like we’ve never seen before.”

The PM claimed “of course” he’s going to continue as leader, and that he had a mandate from voters. He said: “We didn’t wait 14 years to get elected, we didn’t change the Labour Party, we didn’t do all that it entailed to win the election and the mandate for change, not to deliver on it.”

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It comes with his former top aide Morgan McSweeney set to appear before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, a week on from Sir Olly Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, who claimed he was put “under pressure” in relation to the Mandelson appointment.

Dismissing talk over his future, the PM argued these things happen in politics “all of the time”. He continued: “There is always talk. What you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job. And that is the vast majority of people in the parliamentary Labour Party.

“They’re pleased to be in power. They’ve waited a long time to be in power. And they just want to get on with their job. They don’t make a lot of noise about it. They don’t talk to journalists about it. It’s really important that is reflected in these debates.”

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Secluded village with strange name and a pub that was almost lost in a fire

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The village has two pubs, a bakery, and a few takeaways

Found to the north-east of Huntingdon, Warboys is a little village with a strange name that dates back to the Saxon era. The name was first referenced in a Saxon charter of 974 and could be from the Old Norse vardi and buski, which means beacon with bushes.

The village has grown over the centuries with it having a population of 168 to 240 people in 1086 and is now home to around 4,323 people. It is understandable that many people would want to move to the village with house prices being more affordable than most areas in Cambridgeshire.

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According to Rightmove, the average house price in Warboys was £314,050 over the last year. Detached properties in the area cost an average of £460,133 with semi-detached homes selling for around £261,538.

The village, while being surrounded by countryside, has a few of its own amenities so you do not need to leave Warboys when you need to pick up a midweek loaf of bread. The village has both a One Stop and a SPAR for those little bits that you might have forgotten to get when doing the big shop.

Whether you want to enjoy lunch or a sweet treat at the bakery, or just need to pop in for some fresh bread, the Windmill Bakery has a range of homemade sweet and savoury goods to choose from. The bakery also does custom celebration cakes with plenty of flavours and decorations available.

The village also has a few takeaways including Oceans Fish Bar where you can get traditional fish and chips. Warboys is home to two pubs including the White Hart, which is currently temporarily closed, and dates back to the 17th century.

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The historic pub was almost lost in the 1990s because of a fire. In 1996, an electrical fault caused the roof to catch fire, which ended up destroying the top floor of the building, but it was rebuilt and opened again in 1997.

The other pub is the Royal Oak, which serves a range of drinks from real ales and wines to spirits and non-alcoholic options. Throughout the winter, the pub has a log burner found in its “cosy” bar area as well as a fully enclosed beer garden that is a “sun trap” in the summer.

Warboys is also close to a few family-friendly attractions such as Johnsons Zoo, which has plenty of activities to keep children occupied. If you need to travel out of Cambridgeshire, the village is only around a 20-minute drive away from Huntingdon train station.

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Roy Hodgson refuses to call time on managerial career ahead of final week at Bristol City

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Roy Hodgson refuses to call time on managerial career ahead of final week at Bristol City

Roy Hodgson is refusing to rule out a return to management ahead of what will be his final week as Bristol City interim and potentially the last one of a 50-year career.

The 78-year-old saw his Robins team beaten 2-1 at Birmingham, with first-half goals from Phil Neumann and Jhon Solis giving the hosts a lead they would never lose.

An 82nd-minute penalty from Tomi Horvat gave the Robins late hope but as he looks ahead to next Saturday’s curtain call against Stoke City, the former England boss is not making any promises.

He said: “I’ve got to be very careful what I say now, I’ve made a bit of a fool of myself two or three times already, there’s only so many gold watches you can get.

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“Who knows? I’ve never been putting my CV out to clubs anyway. I’ve not had an agent ringing around trying to find me a job.

“I’ve just been fortunate, I suppose, that one or two jobs have found me, that I felt I’m able to do – and have broken a retirement promise to my wife and come back and taken them.

Roy Hodgson watched his side suffer a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday
Roy Hodgson watched his side suffer a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday (Getty)

“I refuse really anymore to say ‘right, this was great, I shall never even contemplate being in football in another role again’. That would be a mistake because I might.

“Some nice little national team might come and say ‘come and join us for a little bit, work every now and again’, I might enjoy that.

“I didn’t expect this one, it was a real surprise when this came out but it was a pleasant surprise, it happens, and one that I’m glad that I took the opportunity.”

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Hodgson has lost none of his competitive edge and even disputed the veracity of Birmingham’s second goal.

Blues took the lead when Neumann volleyed home Demarai Gray’s eighth-minute free-kick and doubled their advantage after Sam Morsy conceded possession under pressure from Solis.

The Columbian volleyed the loose ball as Radek Vitek scrambled back but referee Robert Jones awarded the goal and Hodgson said: “For some reason the referee’s watch buzzed.

“I’d like to have been there alongside him when it buzzed, because it didn’t look anywhere near over the line from where I was sitting, but there you go.”

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Gonzalez stunner completes late Manchester City turnaround to crush Southampton’s FA Cup dreams

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Gonzalez stunner completes late Manchester City turnaround to crush Southampton’s FA Cup dreams

Hello and welcome to our live blog for the first of this season’s FA Cup semi-finals as Manchester City take on Southampton at a sun-soaked Wembley Stadium.

It’s the business end of the season, and Pep Guardiola’s sky blue machine is purring. Man City head into this contest on a five-game winning run, where they’ve collected two victories over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and the Premier League, while also beating Liverpool, Chelsea and Burnley.

Having already ticked the Carabao Cup off their list, Man City are charging towards a domestic treble. They’re now top of the Premier League and are the overwhelming favourites to win the FA Cup as they’re expected to bulldoze Southampton here at Wembley, and whoever gets to the final out of Chelsea and Leeds United.

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Despite all Guardiola’s glittering success at Man City, this season’s FA Cup is an opportunity for redemption after losing the competition’s last two finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Southampton stand in Man City’s way, and they’re in phenomenal form. Tonda Eckert’s men are on a stunning 20-match unbeaten streak, dating back to January when they lost 2-1 against Hull City. This run has catapulted Southampton into the play-offs as they sit fifth in the Championship.

FA Cup victories over top-flight duo Fulham and Arsenal have also been standout moments for the club in 2026, and they enter this fixture with confidence, knowing they’re perfectly capable of causing an upset.

While promotion to the Premier League is probably Southampton’s ultimate aim, an unlikely FA Cup triumph would put this current group of players in the history books and etch them into the club’s folklore.

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This game is an all-conquering force against a team with absolutely nothing to lose. For Man City, trips to Wembley are a regular occurrence and happen each season, while for Southampton, they will dream of an extraordinary upset.

Kick-off is at 17:15, with team news on the way shortly.

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Cambridgeshire school with the worst attendance rate named

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Cambridgeshire Live

Truancy rates have been going down, but have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels

The school with the worst attendance rate in Cambridgeshire has been named. Newly released data from the Department of Education shows the rate of truancy, or unauthorised absences from school, in every state-funded secondary school in the country.

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Pupils at state-funded secondaries in Cambridgeshire missed the equivalent of around one in 42 days through unauthorised absences in the 2024/25 academic year, equalling a rate of 2.4% lost “school sessions”. This rate was well below the national average of 3.2% which was also down from 3.5% in 2023/24 and 3.4% in 2022/23.

However, truancy rates both nationally and in Cambridgeshire have never recovered to their pre-pandemic numbers where only 1.8% of sessions were lost nationally to unauthorised absences. The rates of truancy were also far higher at certain schools compared to others.

City of Peterborough Academy had the highest rate in Cambridgeshire, with around one in every 15 school sessions last year (6.5%) lost due to unauthorised absences. That saw the school ranked 233rd in the whole of England.

A spokesperson for the Academy said: “We are committed to supporting strong attendance for all our pupils, recognising the clear link between regular attendance and positive educational outcomes. Since the 2024/25 academic year, the Academy has taken positive steps to strengthen attendance, including drawing on best practice and effective strategies from across the Trust.

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“Our focus remains on ensuring that every pupil is supported to attend regularly, access the full benefits of their education and be well-prepared for life beyond the school gates.”

Thomas Deacon Academy in Peterborough had the county’s next highest rate of unauthorised absences at 4.8%. That was followed by St Peter’s School in Cambridgeshire at 4.3%, and Neale-Wade Academy at 4.1%

You can check to see how your child’s school is performing with our interactive list below.

The schools with the 10 worst rates in Cambridgeshire are as follows:

National rank. School: Unauthorised absence rate

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233. City of Peterborough Academy, Peterborough: 6.5%

657. Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough: 4.8%

838. St Peter’s School, Cambridgeshire: 4.3%

953. Neale-Wade Academy, Cambridgeshire: 4.1%

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980. North Cambridge Academy, Cambridgeshire: 4.0%

981. Queen Katharine Academy, Peterborough: 4.0%

1293. Longsands Academy, Cambridgeshire: 3.5%

1343. Thomas Clarkson Academy, Cambridgeshire: 3.4%

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1403. Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Cambridgeshire: 3.3%

1636. Cromwell Community College, Cambridgeshire: 3.0%

Truancy has shown to have potentially detrimental consequences to children’s development and academic attainment.

Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that the government needs to take more responsibility for unauthorised absences. “Schools are working very hard to reduce absences and improve attendance because every day counts in terms of good outcomes and life chances,” he said.

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“Absence is driven by a range of complex factors… and what we need is more support from the government to deal with some of these issues. This includes things like better access to mental health support for children who are experiencing severe school anxiety, and more attendance officers who can work with families to get children back into education.”

Di’Iasio also cited parents taking their children on holiday during term time, often in an attempt to avoid the surge pricing that typically occurs during term breaks, as a major contributor to the attendance rats. “We would like to see the government engage with the travel industry to limit the massive price hikes which take place in school holiday periods and clearly drive this behaviour,” he said.

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Tributes to woman at centre of Manchester murder probe

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Tributes to woman at centre of Manchester murder probe

Amber O’Brien, 33, died after an incident on Broadmoss Drive in Blackley, North Manchester last week on Sunday April 19.

A murder investigation was launched in the wake of Ms O’Brien’s death and her family have now released a tribute describing her as a “devoted daughter and sister”.

A statement from Ms O’Brien’s family said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Amber. Her passing has left us devastated, and she will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Amber O’Brien (Image: GMP)

“Amber was known for her warm smile and her natural ability to lift others up. She had a truly kind heart and made everyone around her feel valued and appreciated.

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“She was a devoted daughter and sister, and a beautiful soul whose bright spirit brought joy, laughter, and comfort wherever she went.

“Our hearts are broken. Amber’s memory will live on with us forever.”

Earlier this week, Greater Manchester Police announced that Stephan Garner, 31 of Somerton Court, Blackley was charged with Ms O’Brien’s murder.

He remains remanded in custody ahead of a further court appearance.

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How one orangutan braved new bridge to unite his split community

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How one orangutan braved new bridge to unite his split community

When a road was built through the forest where the orangutans lived in Indonesia’s Sumatra, it split the Sumatran orangutan community in two and lead to fears that inbreeding could cause health implications and eventual extinction.

Conservation groups the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) and Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa, with the help of the government, built a canopy bridge in the hope the orangutan communities would use it to pass between the two forest sides.

However, the bridge remained unused for two years – that was until one orangutan braved the crossing and made it to the other side.

Helen Buckland, chief executive of SOS, told the BBC how the long anticipated and exciting crossing could vastly change things for the primates.

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Video Emaan Warraich.

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Vote for your favourite Cambridgeshire beer garden

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Cambridgeshire Live

We want to know which pub offers the best beer garden

Warmer temperatures and lighter evenings mean many of us will be enjoying a pint or two at a pub. There’s nothing quite like sitting back and enjoying the spring and summer sunshine in a beer garden.

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Perhaps your ideal drinking spot has a beautiful view of the River Cam – or maybe you prioritise room for children to play in a play area. Your perfect seat might be under the shade of a tree or next to a heater, ready for when the temperature drops off in the evening.

Cambridgeshire has many amazing and special pubs to shout about – but only one can be named the best. Wherever your best beer garden can be found, CambridgeshireLive wants to know about it.

Vote for your favourite Cambridgeshire beer garden below. If the interactive below doesn’t work, click here to place your vote.

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Trump’s appearance at White House correspondents’ dinner reignites debate over press relations

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Trump’s appearance at White House correspondents’ dinner reignites debate over press relations

Donald Trump is set to make his inaugural appearance as president at Saturday’s annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, an event poised to cast a stark public light on his administration’s often-strained relationship with the media.

His presence at the gathering, hosted by the very journalists who cover his administration, will be under intense scrutiny. Historically, presidents attending this dinner have used the platform to champion free speech and the First Amendment, often interspersing their remarks with good-natured jabs at individual reporters.

Notably, the Republican president bypassed the event throughout his first term and the initial year of his second. His previous appearances include a guest appearance in 2011, where he was the subject of jokes by then-President Barack Obama, and another as a private citizen in 2015.

Trump was the subject of jokes by then-President Barack Obama in the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 2011
Trump was the subject of jokes by then-President Barack Obama in the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 2011 (Local Library)

Past dinners have also featured comedians who poke at presidents. This year, the group opted to hire mentalist Oz Pearlman as the featured entertainment.

Trump’s planned appearance is rekindling a longer-running debate about the dinner and events like it — in particular, whether it is poor form for journalists to be seen socializing with the people they cover. The New York Times, for example, stopped attending the dinner more than a decade ago for that reason.

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“What was once (a fairly long time ago) a well-intended night of fundraising and camaraderie among professional adversaries is now simply a bad look,” wrote Kelly McBride, ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank.

A contentious relationship

Between berating individual reporters, fighting organizations like the Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press in court and restricting press access to the Pentagon, the administration’s animus toward journalists has been a fixture of Trump’s second term.

On the eve of the dinner, nearly 500 retired journalists signed a petition calling on the association “to forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.”

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“The White House Correspondents’ dinner reinforces the importance of the First Amendment in our democracy,” said the WHCA president, Weijia Jiang, a CBS News reporter. “As we mark America’s 250th birthday, our choice to gather as journalists, newsmakers and the president in the same room is a reminder of what a free press means to this country and why it must endure. Not for the media or the president, but for the people who depend on it.”

Many reporters who attend, however, consider it a valuable opportunity to get story ideas and establish personal connections with those in government, one that may pay dividends with returned telephone calls in the future.

Some news organizations invite sources as guests

Journalists often invite sources as guests at the dinner. It will be noticed on Saturday whether administration officials who have also expressed hostility to the press will attend, and with whom they will be sitting.

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The AP has invited Taylor Budowich, a former White House deputy chief of staff who left last fall for the private sector. The invitation is notable because Budowich, in his role crafting White House communications policy, was a named defendant last year when the AP sued the administration after it reduced its access to the president because the news outlet did not follow Trump’s lead in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

“We maintain professional relationships with people across the political spectrum because we are nonpartisan by design — focused on reporting the facts in the public’s interest,” AP spokesman Patrick Maks said.

The White House correspondents will also hand out awards for exemplary reporting. That includes some stories that displeased Trump, such as one from the Journal about a birthday message Trump once sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The story led to a presidential lawsuit.

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Osaka might be in an unusual place but it is not one to overlook

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Belfast Live

A taste of Japan arrived on Boucher Road of all places

We tried the Japanese restaurant Osaka

I put together a list of restaurants that opened in 2025 that we all needed to check out in 2026, and I finally took my own advice and gave this Japanese restaurant a go.

Set just off the Boucher Road, it is quite an unusual spot, but it has been regularly popping up on social media with every influencer heading along to it.

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What we ordered:

  • Teriyaki Chicken Roll
  • Pork Gyoza
  • Sizzling Duck with Teriyaki Sauce
  • Honey Chilli Chicken
  • Fried Rice
  • Chips
  • Japanese Cheesecake
  • 2 cocktails

What we liked:

I always start with how the restaurant looks, and this one really surprised me because it looked amazing. Clearly, so much time had gone into sourcing all the decor to make it feel like you had just stepped into Japan with something new to look at from floor to ceiling.

The staff were brilliant and chatted us through the very extensive menu, helping us pick a few things we would like. I believe this is why we ended up with so many great dishes that we really enjoyed.

What we didn’t like/ would change:

I got a bramble when I headed in, and I didn’t really enjoy it that much because it was a little too strong in my opinion. However, I will say that the other cocktail we got was really delicious.

How much it cost:

Everything we got, excluding the cocktails, came to £62.50, and I think that’s pretty good value for everything we got. The amount of food we got, plus the portion sizes, matched up to the price in my opinion here. There were 2 of us, but realistically, we could have split this amount between 3 people easily.

Osaka is a spot I kept putting off going to, and I regret it a lot because I wish I had tried it sooner for two reasons. The first is that it would have meant I could have gone again a few times. The second is that I could have recommended it to you sooner, so you could check it out.

I think when you hear it is on the Boucher Road, it does seem odd, but when you see past that, you will find a really lovely restaurant with great staff and really good food to boot. I can’t wait to go back, and I hope to see some of you heading along!

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Mohamed Salah: Liverpool have to ‘wait and see’ how serious injury is

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Mohamed Salah

Salah was able to walk from the field unaided but took his time as he did so and turned to applaud all sides of Anfield.

Salah joined Liverpool in 2017 and has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup and two EFL Cups, as well as the Community Shield, in an iconic career.

His tally of 257 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds has him third on the club’s goalscorers list, behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285).

Slot said he believed the fact it could be the Egyptian’s final game for the club will have been on his mind as he was substituted.

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“My honest answer is yes, the way he came off,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“It went through his mind because there are only a few weeks to go but we are hoping he plays for us again.

“You have tests to do and then we have to wait for the prognosis.”

Any issue would likely rule Salah out of a final Liverpool appearance away against rivals Manchester United next Sunday. He has scored 16 goals in 18 Liverpool appearances against United.

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After that, Liverpool host Chelsea on 9 May and travel to Aston Villa on 17 May before their season concludes against Brentford.

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